D'Alembert not fallen into disgrace? is not my friend the
encyclopaedian, regarded as a transgressor, and a high traitor
because he uses the undoubted right of free thought, does not
blindly believe, but looks abroad with open eyes and a clear
intellect?"

The duke replied by a few confused and disconnected words, and a
shadow fell upon his clear countenance; three times had Frederick
interrupted him when he sought to speak of the King of France and
his friendship for his brother of Prussia. The duke did not dare
choose this theme for the fourth time, which was so evidently
distasteful to the king; he must, therefore, submit and follow the
lead of his majesty, and in lieu of alliances and state questions
discuss philosophy and the arts. So soon as the duke came to this
conclusion, he smoothed his brow, and, with all his amiability,
animation, and intelligence, he replied to the questions of the
king, and the conversation was carried on in an unbroken stream of
wit and gayety.

"At the next audience I will surely find an opportunity to speak of
politics," said the duke to himself. "The king cannot always be an
immovable as to-day."

But the second and the third audience came, and the king was as
inexplicable as the first time; he conversed with the duke kindly
and freely showed him the most marked attention and personal
confidence; but so often as the duke sought to introduce the subject
of politics and the public interests which had brought him to
Berlin, the king interrupted him and led the conversation to
indifferent subjects. This lasted two weeks, and the French court