"Ah, sire," said the duke, with animation, "how happy will my king
be to learn that his ambassador has been so graciously received by
your majesty!"

The king smiled. "I thought the ceremony was all over," said he,
"and that I no longer spoke with the ambassador, but with the Duke
de Nivernois, whom I know and love, and whose intellectual
conversation will afford me a rare pleasure. Let us, therefore, chat
together innocently, and forget the stiff ceremonies with which, I
think, we have both been sufficiently burdened today. Tell me
something of Paris, monsieur, of that lovely, enchanting, but
overbold coquette, Paris, whom the world adores while it ridicules,
and imitates while it blames."

"Ah, sire, if I must speak of Paris, I must first tell you of my
king--of my king, who wishes nothing more ardently than the renewal
of the bond of friendship between your majesty and himself, and the
assurance of its long continuance, who--"

"That is most kind of his majesty," said Frederick, interrupting
him, "and I certainly share the friendly wishes of my exalted
brother of France. But tell me now something of your learned men.
How goes it with the Academy? Do they still refuse Voltaire a seat,
while so many unknown men have become academicians?"

"Yes, sire these academicians are obstinate in their conclusions,
and, as the Academy is a sort of republic, the king has no power to
control them If that were not so, my exalted master, King Louis, in
order to be agreeable to your majesty, would exert all his
influence, and--"