ChapterVII。
　　M。DEVOLTAIREHASAPAINFULJEW—LAWSUIT。
　　Voltaire’sTerrestrialParadiseatBerlindidnotlongcontinueperfect。ScarcelyhadthatgrandCarrouselvanishedintheazurefirmaments，whenlittlecloudsbeganrisinginitsstead；
　　andbeforelong，blackthunder—stormsofaverystrangeandevendangerouscharacter。
　　ItmusthavebeenapainfulsurprisetoFriedrichtohearfromhisVoltaire，somefewweeksafterthosemunificences，Thathe，Voltaire，wasinveryconsiderabledistressofmind，fromthebad，nottocallitthefeloniousandtraitorous，conductofM。D’Arnaud，——onceFriedrich’sshoeing—hornand"rising—sun"forVoltaire’sbehoof；nowavagueflauntingcreature，withoutsignificancetoFriedrichoranybody！ThatD’Arnaudhaddonethisanddonethat，ofanAnti—Voltairian，treasonousnature；——andthat，inshort，lifewasimpossibleintheneighborhoodofsuchaD’Arnaud！"D’ArnaudhascorruptedmyClerk（PrinceHenrihungeringinvainforLAPUCELLE，hasgotsightofit，inthisway）；
　　[Clerkwasdismissedaccordingly（oneTinois，aningeniouscreature），——andCOLLINIappointedinhisstead。]D’ArnaudhasbeengossipingtoFreronandtheParisNewspapers；D’Arnaudhas"
　　[VoltairetoFriedrich（OEuvresdeFrederic，
　　xxii。257），undated，"November，1750。"]——Has，ineffect，beenaflauntingyoungfool；ofdissolute，esurient，slightlyprofligateturn；occasionallyhelpingintheTheatricals，andmuchstudioustomakehimselfnotable，andusefultothePrincelykind。AD’Arnaudofnearlynosignificance，toFriedrichortoanybody。AD’Arnaudwhosebitsoffooleriesandstruttingsabout，inthepeacockorjackdawway，mightsurelyhavebeenbelowthenoticeofaTrismegistus！
　　Friedrich，painfullymadesensiblewhataskinlessexplosiveTrismegistushehasgotonhand，answers，Isuppose，inwordslittleornothing，——inLetters，Iobserve，answersabsolutelynothing，toVoltairerepeatingandre—repeating；——doessimplydismissD’Arnaud（a"BONDIABLE，"asVoltaire，toimpartialpeople，callshim），oracceptD’Arnaud’sdemission，andcutthepoorfooladrift。Whosalliesoutintoinfinitespace，toParislatterly（"alivetherein1805"）；andclaimshenceforthperpetualoblivionfromusandmankind。Andnowtherewillbepeaceinourgardenofthegods，andperpetualazurewillreturn？
　　Alas，D’Arnaudisnotwellgone，whentherehasbegunbrewinginthreefoldsecrecyamassofgalvanicmatter，which，infewweeksmore，filledtheHeavenswithmiraculousfoulgasesandtheblacknessofdarkness；——which，inshort，explodedaboutNew—year’stime，astheworld—famousVOLTAIRE—HIRSCHLAWSUIT，stillremembered，thoughonlyasaportentandmystery，byobservanton—lookers。Ofwhichitisnowoursaddutytosaysomething；
　　thoughnowhere，intheAnnalsofJurisprudence，isthereamoredespicablething，oradeeperinvolvedinliesanddeliriumsbycurrentreportersofit，aboutwhichthesanemindcanbecalleduponaccidentallytospeakaword。Beaten，riddled，shovelled，washedinmanywaters，byapatientthoughdisgustedPredecessorinthisfield，thereliesbymeacopiousbutwearisomeNarrativeofthismatter；——themorevividportionsofwhich，ifrightlydisengaged，andshowninsequence，maysatisfythecurious。
　　Duvernet（who，Icanguess，hadtalkedwithD’Argetonthesubject）
　　has，aloneoftheFrenchBiographers，someglimmerofknowledgeaboutit；DuvernetadmitsthatitwasathingofIllegalStock—
　　jobbing；that——
　　1。"ThatM。deVoltairehadagreedwithaJewnamedHirschtogotoDresdenand，illegally，PURCHASEagoodlotofSTEUER—SCHEINE
　　[SaxonExchequerBills，whicharepayableingoldtoaBONAFIDE
　　PRUSSIANholdingthem，butaremuchindiscountotherwise，asreadersmayremember]；andgivenHirschaDraftonParis，dueaftersomeweeks，forpaymentofthesame；HirschleavinghimastockofjewelsinpledgetilltheSTEUER—SCHEINEthemselvescometohand。
　　2。"ThatHirsch，havingthingsofhisowninviewwiththemoney，sentnoSTEUER—SCHEINEfromDresden，nothingbutvaguelyingtalkinsteadofSTEUER:sothatVoltaire’ssuspicionsnaturallykindling，hestoppedpaymentoftheParisDraft，andorderedHirschtocomehomeatonce。
　　3。"ThatHirschcoming，asettlementwastried:’GivemebackmyDraftonParis，youobjectionableblockheadofaHirsch；thereareyourDiamonds，thereissomethingevenforyourexpenses（somefairmoiety，Ithink）；andletmeneverseeyourunpleasantfaceagain！’
　　TowhichHirsch，examiningthediamonds，answered[saysDuvernet，notsubstantiallyincorrecthitherto，thoughsteppingalongintotaldarkness，andverypartialonVoltaire’sbehalf]，——Hirsch，examiningthediamonds，answered，’Butyouhavechangedsomeofthem！Icannottakethese！’——anddroveVoltairequitetodespair，andintotheLaw—Courts；whichimprisonedHirsch，andmadehimdojustice。"[Duvernet（T。J。D。V。），170，173，175:——vagueutterly；
　　dateless（triesonedate，andismistakenevenintheYear）；
　　wronginnearlyeverydetail；"the’STAIREorSTEUERwasaBANK？"
　　&c。&c。]
　　Inwhichlastclause，stillmoreintheconclusion，thatitwas"tothetriumphofVoltaire，"Duvernetdoessubstantiallymistake！
　　Andindeed，exceptasthebestParisianreflexofthismatter，hisAccountisworthnothing:——thoughitmayserveasIntroductiontothefollowingirrefragableDocumentsandmoreexplicitfeaturings。
　　Welearnfromhim，anditistheonethingwelearnofcredible，That"Voltaire，whenitcametoLawProcedures，beggedMaupertuistospeakforhimtoM。Jarriges，"aPrussianFrenchman，"oneoftheJudges；andthatMaupertuisanswered，’Icannotinterfereinabadbusiness（MEMELERD’UNEMAUVAISEAFFAIRE）。’"TheotherFrenchBiographies，definableas"IGNOR—AMUSspeakinginaloudvoicetoIGNOR—ATIS，"requiretobealtogethersweptasideinthismatter。
　　Even"Clog。"jumblingVoltaire’sundatedLETTERSintoconfusionthriceconfounded，anddroningoutvituperativelyinthedark，becomesaMINUSquantityintheseFriedrichaffairs。InregardtotheHirschProcess，ouroneirrefragablesetofevidencesis:
　　ThePrussianLAW—REPORTbyKLEIN，——especiallytheDocumentsproducedinCourt，andtheSentencegiven。[ErnstFerdinandKlein，AnnalenderGesetzgebungundRechtsgelehrsamkeitindenPreussischenStaaten（BerlinundStettin），1790，"
　　v。215—260。]Otherlightsaretobegathered，withseverescrutinyandcaution，fromthecircumambientcontemporaryrumor，——especiallyfromthePREFACEtoa"Comedy"socalledof"TANTALEENPROCES
　　（Tantalus，"Voltaire，"atLaw"）；——whichPREFACEisevidentlyHirsch’sownStory，putintolanguageforhimbysomehumanefriend，andaddressedtoa"clear—seeingPublic。"[TANTALEEN
　　PROCES（ascribedtoFriedrichhimself，bysomewonderfulpersons！）
　　isinSupplementauxOEuvresPosthumesdeFredericII。
　　（Cologne，1789），i。319etseq。AmongtheweakestofComedies（mightbebyD’Arnaud，orsomesuchhand）；nothinginitworthreadingexceptthePreface。]"Andinfine，"saysmyManuscript，"bysweepingoutthedistinctlyfalse，andwelldiscriminatingtheindubitablefromwhatisstillinpartdubitable，sufficienttwilight[abridgableinahighdegree，I
　　hope！]risesovertheAffair，torenderitvisibleinallitsmainfeatures。"
　　THEVOLTAIRE—HIRSCHTRANSACTION:PARTI。ORIGINOFLAWSUIT
　　（10thNovember—25thDecember，1750）。
　　"SaxonSTEUER—SCHEIN，somereadersknow，is，intherough，equivalenttoExchequerBill。PayableattheSaxonTreasury；
　　toPrussians，ingold；toallothermen，inpaperonly，——which（thankstoBruhlandhisunheard—ofexpendituresandfinancierings）
　　isnowatadiscountsayof25，oreven30percent。ByArticleEleventhoftheDresdenTREATYOFPEACE，KingFriedrich，ifourreadershavenotforgotten，gotstipulated，ThatallPrussianholdersoftheseSCHEINEshouldbepaidingold；interestattheduedays；andattheduedaysprincipalitself:——ingoldthey，whateverbecameofothers。Nofartherspecifications，astoproof，method，limitsorconditionsofanykind，occurinregardtothisEleventhArticle；whichisajustone，beyonddoubt，butmostcarelesslydrawnup。ApparentlyittrustsaltogethertothepersonalhonestyofallPrussiansubjects:’ProveyourselfaPrussiansubject，andwepayyourSteuer—Scheininrealmoney。’
　　ButnowifaSaxonorotherNon—Prussian，whocangetnopaymentsaveinpaper，weretohavehisNotesmuggledortraffickedoverintoPrussia，andpresentedasaPrussianone？Inourtime，suchtrafficwouldstartonthemorrowmorning；andinaweekortwo，allNoteswhatsoeverwouldbepresentedasPrussian，payableingold！Notsointhosedays；——thoughasmallcontrabandofthatkinddoesbydegreesthreatentoestablishitself，andFriedrichhadtopublishsevererescripts（onebeforethisHirsch—Voltairebusiness，[10thAugust，1748（Seyfarth，i。62）。]onestillsevererafter），andmenaceitdownagain。Themalpracticeseemstohaveprovedmenaceableinthatmanner；norwasanynewarrangementmadeuponit，——nochange，tilltheSteuer—Scheine，bytheirgradualterms，wereallpaideitherinrealmoneyorimaginary，andthus，inthecourseofyears，thethingburnttothesocket，andwentout。"
　　Voltaire’srashAdventure，dangerousNavigationandgradualWreck，inthisForbiddenSeaofSteuer—Scheine，——willbecomeconceivabletoreaders，onstudydiligentenoughofthefollowingDocumentsandselectDetails:——
　　DOCUMENTFIRST（asmallMissive，inVoltaire’shand）。
　　"Jeprieinstammentmonsieurherschdevenirdemainmardimatinapotsdampouraffairepressante，etd’aporter（SIC）avecluylesdiamantsquidoiventservirpourlarepresentationdelatragediequisejoueraacinqheuresdesoirchezS。A。R。MonseigneurlePrincehenri"Celundyamidy。VOLTAIRE。"
　　Whichbeinginterpreted，rightlyspelt，anddated（asbychancewecando）withdistinctness，willrunasfollowsinEnglish:——
　　"POTSDAM，Monday，9thNovember，1750。
　　"IearnestlyrequestMr。Hirschtocometo—morrowTuesdaymorningtoPotsdam，onbusinessthatisurgent；andtobringwithhimtheDiamondsneededfortheTragedywhichistoberepresented，atfiveintheevening，inHisRoyalHighnessPrinceHenry’sApartment。"
　　[Klein，v。260。]
　　"OnTuesdaythe10th，"saytheOldNewspapers，"wasROMESAUVEE；"——
　　withVoltaire，perceptiblethereas"CICERON，"[Rodenbeck，i。209。]
　　induesplendorofdiamonds；Hirschhavingnodoubtbeenpunctual。
　　AgloriousenoughCicero；——andsuchapieceof"urgentbusiness"
　　donewithyourHirsch，justbeforeemergingonthestage！
　　"Hirsch，inthatNARRATIVE，describeshimselfasayounginnocentcreature。Notveryold，wewillbelieve:butastoinnocence！——Forcertain，heisnamedAbrahamHirsch，orHirschel:aBerlinJewofthePeriod；whomoneinclinestofigureasafloridoilyman，ofSemiticfeatures，intheprimeoflife；whodealsmuchinjewels，moneys，loans，exchanges，allkindsofJewbarter；whetherabsolutelyinoldclothes，wedonotknow——certainlynotunlessthereisapennytobeturned。ThemanisofoilySemitictype，notoldinyears，——thereisafraternalHirsch，andalsoapaternal，whoisheadofthefirm；——andthisyoungoneseemstobealreadyoldinJewart。SpeaksFrenchandotherdialects，inaHebrew，partiallyintelligiblemanner；suppliesVoltairewithdiamondsforhisstage—dresses，asweperceive。Toallappearance，nearlydestituteofhumanintellect，butwithabundanceofvulpineinstead。Verycunning；stupid，seemingly，asamuleotherwise；——
　　and，onthewhole，resemblinginvariouspointsofcharacteramuleputintobreeches，andmadeacquaintedwiththeusesofmoney。
　　Heiscome’onpressingbusiness，’——perhapsnotofstage—diamondsalone？HerenowisDOCUMENTSECOND；nearlyofthesamedate；maybeoftheverysame；——morelikelyisafewdayslater，andbetokensmysteriousdialogueandconsultationheldonTuesday10th。Itisintwohands:writtenonsomescraporTORNbitofpaper，tojudgebythelengthofthelines。
　　DOCUMENTSECOND。
　　"InVoltaire’shand，thispart:——
　　’Savoirs’ilestencoretemsdedeclarerlesbilletsqu’onasurlasteure。sionenspecifielenumerodansladeclaration。’
　　’Ifitisstilltimetodeclare[toannounceinSaxonyanddemandpaymentfor]NotesoneholdsontheSteuer？IfoneistospecifytheNo。inthedeclaration？’
　　"InHirsch’shand，thispart:——
　　’l’onpeutdeclarerdesbilletssurlasteure，qu’onaendepostenpaysetranger，etdontonnepourrasavoirlenumeroquedansquinzejoursoutroisSemaines。’[Klein，259。]
　　’OnecandeclareNotesontheSteuer，whichoneholdsindepositinForeignCountries；andofwhichonecannotstatetheNo。tillafterafortnightorthreeweeks。’
　　"WhichoftheseTwowastheSerpent，whichtheEve，inthisSTEUER—
　　SCHEINTreeofKnowledge，thatgrewinthemiddleofParadise，remainsentirelyuncertain。Hirsch，ofcourse，saysitwasVoltaire；Voltaire（notawarethatDOCUMENTSECONDremainedinexistence）haddeniedthathisHirschbusinesswasinanywayconcernedwithSTEUER；——andmusthavebeenagooddealstruck，whenDOCUMENTSECONDcametolight；thoughwhatcouldhedobutstilldeny！Hirschassertshimselftohaveobjectedthe’illegality，theKing’sanger；’butthatVoltaireansweredinhintsabouthisfavorwiththeKing；’abouthispowertomakeoneaCourt—Jeweller，’ifheliked；andsoatlasttemptedthebabyinnocenceofHirsch；——fortherest，admitsthattheSteuer—NoteswereexpectedtoyieldaProfit——of35percent:——and，infact，adramaticreadercanimaginetohimselfdialogueenough，atdifferenttimes，goingon，partlybywords，partlybyhint，innuendoanddumb—show，betweenthisPairofStage—Beauties。But，fornearafortnightafterDOCUMENTFIRST，thereisnothingdated，orthatcanbeclearlybelieved，——till，"MONDAY，23dNOVEMBER，1750。ItiscrediblycertaintheJewHirschcameagain，thisday，totheRoyalSchlossofPotsdam，toVoltaire’sapartmentthere[rightoverheadofKingFriedrich’s，itis！]——where，aftersuchdialogueascanbeguessedat，therewashandedtoHirschbyVoltaire，intheformofTwonegotiableBills，asumofabout2，250pounds；withwhichtheJewistomakeatonceforDresden，andbuySteuer—Scheine。[Hirsch’sNarrative，inPrefacetoTantaleenProces，p。340。]
　　Steuer—Scheinewithoutfail:’butintalkingorcorrespondingonthematter，wearealwaystocallthemFURSorDIAMONDS，’——mysteryofmysteriesbeingtheruleforus。Thisconsiderablesumof2，250
　　poundsmayitnototherwise，contrivesVoltaire，becalleda’Loan’
　　toJewellerHirsch，soobligingaJeweller，tobuy’Furs’or’Diamonds’with？Atagainof35per100Pieces，therewillbeabove800poundstome，afterallexpensescleared:averyprettystrokeofbusinessdo—ableinfewdays！"——
　　"Monday，23dNovember:"ThebeautifulWilhelmina，oneremarks，isjustmakingherpackages；rightsadtoendsuchaVisitasthishadbeen！Thursdaynight，fromherfirstsleeping—place，thereisatouchingFarewelltoherBrother；——tender，melodiouslysorrowful，astheSongoftheSwan。[WilhelminatoFriedrich，"Brietzen，26thNovember，JOURFUNESTEPOURMOI"（OEuvresdeFrederic，xxvii。i。197）。]ToVoltaireshewasalwaysgood；
　　alwayslikedVoltaire。VoltairewouldbesayinghisAdieus，instate，amongtheothers，tothathighBeing，——justinthehourswhilesuchascandalousHirsch—Concoctionwent，onunderground！
　　"AstotheTwoBillsandVoltaire’ssecurityforthem，readersaretonoteasfollows。BillFIRSTisaDraft，onVoltaire’sParisBankerfor40，000livres（about1，600pounds），notpayableforsomeweeks:’ThisIlendyou，MonsieurHirsch；mind，LENDyou，——tobuyFurs！’’Yes，truly，whatwecallFurs；——andbeforetheBillfallspayable，therewillbeeffectsforitinMonseigneurdeVoltaire’shand；whichissecurityenoughforMonseigneur。’TheSECONDBill，again"——Truthis，therewereinsuccessiontwoSecondBills，anINTENDED—Second（ofthissameMonday23d），whichdidnotquitesuit，andanACTUAL—Second（twodayslater），whichdid。INTENDED—
　　SecondBillwasonefor4，000thalers（about600pounds），drawnbyVoltaireontheSieurEphraim，——averyfamousJewofBerlinnowandhenceforth，withwhomasmoney—changer，ifnotyetotherwise（whichperhapsEphraimthinksunlucky），Voltaire，itwouldseem，isinfrequentcommunication。ThisBill，Ephraimwouldnotaccept；
　　toldHirschheowedM。deVoltairenothing；"turnedmerudelyaway，"saysHirsch（twoofatrade，andnofriends，heandI！）——sothatthereisnothingtobesaidofthisEphraimBill；andexceptasitelucidatessomedarkportionsofthewhirlpools，neednothavebeennoticedatall。"Hirsch，"continuesmyAuthority，"gotonlyTwoavailableBills；thefirstonParisfor1，600pounds，payableinsomeweeks；and，afteradayortwo，thisother:TheACTUALBILLSECOND；whichisaDraftfor4，430thalers（about650
　　pounds），byoldFatherHirsch，headoftheFirm，onVoltairehimself:——’Furstoowiththat，MonsieurHirsch，attherateof35
　　perpiece，youunderstand？’’Yea，truly，Monseigneur！’——DraftacceptedbyVoltaire，andthecashforitnowhandedtoHirschSon:
　　theonlyabsolutelyreadymoneyhehasyetgottowardstheaffair。
　　"FortheseTwoBills，especiallyforthisSecond，Iperceive，Voltaireholdsborrowedjewels（borrowedintheatricaltimes，orpartlybought，fromtheHirschFirm，andnotpaidfor），whichmakehimsuretillheseetheSTEUERPapersthemselves。——（Andnowoff，mygoodSieurHirsch；andknowthatifyoupleaseME，thereare——
　　thingsinmypowerwhichwouldsuitamanintheJewellerandHebrewline！’HirschpusheshometoBerlin；primedandloadedinthismanner；Voltairenaturallyauxiousenoughthattheshotmayhit。Alas，theshotwillnotevengooff，forsometime:
　　anillomen！
　　"SUNDAY，29thNOVEMBER，Hirsch，wehear，isstillinBerlin。
　　FancythehumorofVoltaire，aftersuchaweekaslast！TUESDAY，December1st）Hirschstillisnotoff:’Go，yousonofAmalek！’
　　urgesVoltaire；andsendshisServantPicard，averysharpfellow，forperhapsthethirdtime，——whohasordersnow，asHirschdiscovers，tostaywithhim，notquitsightofhimtillhedogo。
　　[Hirsch’sNarrative；seeVoltaire’sLettertoD’Arget（
　　OEuvres，lxiv。11）。]Hirsch’shourofdepartureforDresdenisnotmentionedintheACTS；butIguesshecouldhardlygetoverWednesday，withPicarddogginghimontheseterms；
　　andmusthavetakenthediligenceonWednesdaynight:toarriveinDresdenaboutDecember4th。’Well；atleast，ourshotisoff；
　　hasnotburstout，andlodgedinourpersonhere，——thankedbeallthegods！’
　　"Off，sureenough:——andwhatshouldwesayifthewholematterwerealreadyoozingout；if，onthissameSundayevening，November29th）
　　notquiteaweek’stimeyet，thematter（aswelearnlongafterwards）hadbeenprivatelywhisperedtohisMajesty:
　　’ThatVoltairehassentoffaJewtobuySteuer—Scheine，andhaspromisedtogethimmadeCourt—Jeweller！’[Voltaire，
　　OEuvres，lxxiv。314（"LettertoFriedrich，February，1751，"——AFTERCatastrophe）。]，So；withinaweek，andbeforeHirschisevengone！Formenareveryporous；weightysecretsoozingoutofthem，likequicksilverthroughclayjars。Icouldguess，Hirsch，bywayofgallinginsolentEphraim，hadblabbedsomething:andinthecourseoffivedays，ithasgottotheveryKing，——thisKammerherrVoltairebeingsuchafavoriteandfamousmanasneverwas；theverybull’s—eyeofallkindsofBerlingossipinthesedays。’Hm，Steuer—Scheine，andtheJewHirschtobeCourt—Jeweller，yousay？’thinkstheKing，thatSundaynight；butlockstherumorinhisRoyalmind，he，forhispart；ordismissesitasincredible:
　　’Thereoughttobeimperviousvesselstoo，amongtheporous！’
　　Voltairenoticesnothingparticular，ornothingthathespeaksofasparticular。Thismusthavebeenahorridweektohim，tillHirschgotaway。"Hirschisaway（December2d）；inDresden，safeenough；but——
　　"But，thefortnightthatfollowsisconceivableasstillworse。
　　Hirschwritingdarkly，nothingtothepurpose；VoltairedrivingoftenintoBerlin，hearingfromEphraimhintsabout，’NoconnectionwiththatHouse；’’IfMonseigneurhaveintrustedHirschwithmoney，——maytherebeagoodaccountofit！’andthelike。
　　BlackCaredevouringMonseigueur；butnothingdefinite；exceptthefacttooevident，ThatHirschdoesnotsendorbringthesmallestshadowofSteuer—Scheine，——’Peltries，’or’Diamonds，’wemean，——oranyvaluewhateverforthatParisBillofours，payableshortly，andwhichhehasalreadygotcashedinDresden。Nothingbutexcuses，prevarications；stupid，incoherentlydeceptivejargon，asofamuleintentonplayingfoxwithyou。VividCorrespondenceisconceivable；butnothingofitdefinitetous，exceptthissample"
　　（whichwegivetranslated）:——
　　DOCUMENTTHIRD（tornfractioninVoltaire’shand:ToHirsch，doubtless；earlyinDecember）……"Notproper（ILNEFALLAITPAS）
　　tonegotiateBillsofExchange，andneverproduceasinglediamond"——bitofpeltry，orwareofanykind，yousonofAmalek！
　　"Notpropertosay:Ihavegotmoneyforyourbillsofexchange，andIbringyounothingback；andIwillrepayyourmoneywhenyoushallnolongerbehere[inGermanyatall]。Notpropertopromiseat35louis，andthensay30。Tosay30，andthennextmorning25。
　　Youshouldatleasthaveproducedgoods（ILFALLAITENDONNER）atthepricecurrent；veryeasytodowhenonewasonthespot。
　　Allyourprocedureshavebeenfaultshitherto。[Klein，v。259。]
　　"Thesearedreadfulsymptoms。Steuer—Notes，promisedat35
　　discount，arenottobehadexceptat30。Say30then，andgetdonewithit，muleofascoundrel！Nextdaythe30sinksto25；andnotaSteuer—Note，onanyterms，comestohand。Andthemuleofascoundrelhasdrawnmoney，inDresdenyonder，formyBillonParis，——excellenttohimfortradeofhisown！WhatistobedonewithsuchanAssofBalaam？Hehasgotthebitinhisteeth，itwouldseem。Heavens，hetooiscapableofstoppingshort，carelessofspurandcudgel；andmiraculouslyspeakingtoaNEWProphet[strangenew"RevealeroftheLord’sWill，"inmoderndialect]，inthisenlightenedEighteenthCenturyitself！——OnethingthenewProphet，cando:protesthisParisBill。
　　"DECEMBER12th[ournextbitofcertainty]，Voltairewrites，haste，haste，toParis，’Don’tpay；’andintimatestoHirsch，’YouwillhavetoreturnyourDresdenBankerhismoneyforthatParisBill。
　　AtParisIhaveprotestedit，markme；andthereitneverwillbepaidtohimoryou。Andyoumustcomehomeagaininstantly，jobundone，liesnotuntold，you——！’Hirsch，withmoneyinhand，appearsnottohavewantedforabriskishtradeofhisownintheDresdenmarts。Butthisofcuttingoffhissuppliesbringshiminstantlyback:"——andatBerlin，DECEMBER16th，newfactsemergeagainofadefinitenature。
　　"WEDNESDAY，16thDECEMBER，1750。’To—daytheKingwithCourtandVoltairecometoBerlinfortheCarnival；’[Rodenbeck，i。209。]
　　to—dayalsoVoltaire，notinCarnivalhumor，hasappointedhisJewtomeethim。IntheRoyalPalaceitself，——wehope，wellremotefromFriedrich’sApartment！——thissordidconference，needingone’schoicestdiplomacywithal，andsuchexquisitehandlingofbitandspur，goeson。Andprobablyatgreatlength。Ofwhich，astheFINALE，andoneclearfeaturesignificanttothefancy，hereis，——
　　forrecordofwhattheycall’COMPLETESETTLEMENT，’whichitwasfarfromturningouttobe:——
　　DOCUMENTFOURTH（inHirsch’shand，FirstPieceofit）。
　　"’PourquittancegeneralepromettantderendreaMr。deVoltairetousbillets，ordresetlettresdechangeamoydonnezjusqu’acejour，16Decembre，1750。
　　"’Accountallsettled；IpromisingtoreturnM。deVoltaireallLetters，OrdersandBillsofExchangegivenmetothisday，16thDecember，1750。
　　[Hirschsigns。Butyouhaveforgottensomething，MonsieurHirsch！
　　Whereupon]
　　etprometsdedonneraMr。deVoltairedanslejourdedemainouapresauplustarddeuxcentguatre—vingtfredericsd’oraulieudedeuxcentquatre—vingtlouisd’or，quejeluiaipayez，letoutpourquittancegenerale，ce16Decembre，1750，aberlin
　　AndpromisetogiveM。deVoltaire，inthecourseofto—morrow，orthedayafterto—morrowatlatest，280FREDERICSD’OR，insteadof280LOUISD’OR[goldFREDERICSthepreferabecoin，sayexperts]
　　whichIhavenowpaidhim；wherebyAllwillbesettled。
　　[Hirschagainsigns；buthasagainforgottensomething，mostimportantthing。And]
　　jeluiremettraisurtoutles40，000livresdebilletsdechangesurparisqu’ilmavoitdonnezetfiez’
　　IwillespeciallyreturnhimtheBillonParisfor40，000livres（1，600pounds）whichhehadgivenandtrustedtome，’——buthassinceprotested，asistooevident。
　　[andHirschsignsforthelasttime]。"[Klein，pp。258，260。]——
　　Symptomatic，surely，ofahagglysettlement，theseTHREEshotsinsteadofone！——"Voltaire’sreturnis:——
　　"’Pourquittancegeneraledetoutcomptesoldeentrenous，toutpayeausieurabrahamherschaberlin，16Decembre，1750。——Voltaire’
　　"’Accountallsettledbetweenus，paymentoftheSieurAbrahamHirschinfull:Berlin，16thDeember，1750。’
　　[whichSecondPiece，weperceive，istolieinHirsch’shand，tokeep，ifhefinditvaluable]。
　　"This’COMPLETESETTLEMENT，’——littlelessthanmiraculoustoVoltaireandus，——onefinds，aftersifting，tohavebeenthefruitofVoltaire’sexquisiteskillintreatingandtuninghisHirsch（noharshnessofrebuke，rathersomegleamofhope，offuturebargains，helpatCourt）:（Yourexpenses；compensationforprotestingofthatBillonParis？Tush，cannotwemakeallthatgood！Inthefirstplace，IwillBUYofyoutheseJewels[thisonediscoverstohavebeentheessenceoftheoperation！]，allorthebestpartofthem，whichIhavehereinpawnforPapa’sBill:650poundswasitnot？
　　Well，supposeIontheinstanttake450poundsworth，orso，oftheseJewels（Iwantagreatmanyjewels）；andyoutopaymedowna200orsoofgoldLOUISasbalance，——goldLOUIS，no，wewillsayFREDERICSrather。Therenow，thatissettled。Nothingmorebetweenusbutsettlesitself，ifwecontinuefriends！’UponwhichHirschwalkedhome，thankfulforthegoodjobinJewels；wonderingonlywhattheAllowanceforExpensesandCompensationwillbe。
　　AndVoltairestepsout，new—burnished，intotheRoyalCarnivalsplendors，withaloadrolledfromhismind。
　　"ThisCOMPLETESETTLEMENT，meanwhile，restsevidentlyontwolegs，bothofwhicharehollow。’WhatwillthehandsomeCompensationbe，Iwonder？’thinksHirsch；——andishorror—strucktofindshortly，thatVoltaireconsiders60thalers（about9pounds）willbethefairsum！’Morethantentimesthat！’isHirsch’sprivatelyfixedidea。Ontheotherhand，Voltairehasbeenaskinghimself，’My450
　　poundsworthofJewels，weretheyjustlyvalued，though？’
　　JewEphraim（exaggerativeandanenemytothisHirschHouse）
　　answers，’Justly？Iwouldgivefrom300poundsto250poundsforthem！’——Sothatthelegsbothcrumblingtopowder，CompleteSettlementcrashesdownintochaos:andthereensues，"——Butwemustendeavortobebriefer！
　　Thereensues，foraboutaweekfollowing，suchaninextricablescramblebetweentheSieurHirschandM。deVoltaireas，——asnoreader，nothimselfintheJew—Billline，orpaidforunderstandingit，couldconsenttohaveexplainedtohim。Voltaire，bywayofmendingthebadjewel—bargain，willbuyofHirsch200poundsworthmorejewels；getsthenew200poundsworthinhand，cannotquitesettlewhatarticleswillsuit:"This，thinkyou？That，thinkyou？"
　　Andintricatelyshufflesthemabout，toHirschandback。
　　Hirsch，singulartonotice，holdsfastbythatProtestedParisBill；onfrivolouspretexts，alwaysforgetstobringthat:
　　"Mayhaveitsuses，that，inaCourtofJusticeyet！"
　　Meetingsthereare，almostdaily，intheVoltairePalace—Apartment；
　　DECEMBER19thandDECEMBER24th）thereareTwoDOCUMENTS（whichwemustsparethereader，thoughhewillhearofthemagain，ashighlynotable，especiallyofoneofthem，asnotableintheextreme！）——
　　indicatingtheabstrusestjewel—bargainings，scramblings，re—bargainings。
　　"MyJewelsaretrulyvalued！"asseveratesHirschalways:"Ephraimismyenemy；askHerrReklam，chiefJewellerinBerlin，animpartialman！"Themeetingsareoccasionallyofstormycharacter；
　　Voltaire’spatiencenearlyout:"Butdidn’tIreturnyouthatTopazRing，value75pounds？AndyouhaveNOTdeductedit；you——！"
　　"Oneday，PicardandhepulledaRing[doubtlessthisTopaz]offmyfinger，"saysthepatheticHirsch，"andviolentlyshovedmeoutoftheroom，slammingtheirdoor，"——andsentmehome，alongthecorridors，inaveryscurvyhumor！Thus，underaskinofsecondsettlement，therearetwogalvanicelements，gettingevermoregalvanic，whichnoskinofsettlementcanpreventexplodingbeforelong。
　　Explosionthereaccordinglywas；mostsadanddismal；whichrangthroughalltheCourtcirclesofBerlin；and，likeasoundofhootingandofweepingmixed，isaudibleoverseastothisday。
　　Butletnotthereaderinsistontracingthecourseofithenceforth。Klein，thoughfaithfulandexact，isnotaPitaval；
　　andwefindinhimerrorsofthepress。TheacutestActuarymightspendweeksoverthesedistractedMoney—accounts，andinconsistentListsofJewelsboughtandnotbought；andwouldbeunreadableifsuccessful。Letussay，Thebusinesscatchesfireatthispoint；
　　theVoltaire—Hirschtheatreisasifblownupintomerewhirlwindsofigneousrumandsmokydarkness。HenceforthallplungesintoLawsuit，intochaosofconflictinglies，——undecipherable，notworthdeciphering。Letusgivewhatfewglimpsesofthethingareclearlydiscernibleattheirsuccessivedates，andleavetheresttopictureitselfinthereader’sfancy。
　　Itappears，thatMeetingofDECEMBER24th，abovealludedto，wasfollowedbyanotheronChristmas—day，whichprovedthefinalone。
　　Finaltotalexplosiontookplaceatthisnewmeeting；——which，wefindfarther，wasatChasot’sLodging（theCHAPEAUofHanbury），whoisnowinTown，likealltheworld，forCarnival。HirschdoesnotdirectlyventureonnamingChasot:butbyimplication，byglimmersofevidenceelsewhere，onesufficientlydiscoversthatitishe:
　　Lieutenant—Colonel，King’sFriend，amanglorious，especiallyeversinceHohenfriedberg，andthathaulofthe"sixty—sevenstandards"
　　allatonce。InthewayofArbitration，VoltairethinksChasotmightdosomething。Inregardtothose450poundsworthofboughtJewels，thereisnotsuchajudgeintheworld！Hirschsays:
　　"Nextmorning[December25th，morrowafterthatjumblyAccount，withprobableslammingofthedoor，andstillworse！]，VoltairewenttoaLieutenant—ColonelintheKing’sservice；andaskhimtosendforme。"[Duvernet（Second），p。172；Hirsch’sNarrative（inTantale，p。344）。]ThisisChasot；whoknowsthesejewelswell。Duvernet，——whohadtalkedagooddealwithD’Arget，inlatteryears，andaloneofFrenchmensometimesyieldsatrueparticleoffeatureinthingsPrussian，——Duvernettellsus，theseJewelswereonceChasot’sown:givenhimbyafondDuchessofMecklenburg，——musicaloldDuchess，vergingtowardssixty；
　　HONISOIT，myfriend！WhatHirschgaveChasotfortheseJewelsisnotadoubtfulquantity；andmaythrowconvictionintoHirsch，hopesVoltaire。
　　DECEMBER25th，1750。TheinterviewatChasot’swasnotlengthy，butitwasdecisive。HirschneverbringsthatParisBill；privatelyfixed，onthatpoint。Hirsch’sclaims，aswegraduallyunraveltheintricatemule—mindofhim，riseveryhighindeed。"AndastothevalueofthoseJewels，andwhatIallowedYOUforthem，MonsieurChasot；thatisnorule:trade—profits，youknow"——Nay，themuleintimates，asalastshift，ThatperhapstheyarenotthesameJewels；thatperhapsM。deVoltairehaschangedsomeofthem！
　　Whereuponthemattercatchesfire，irretrievablyexplodes。
　　M。deVoltaire’spatiencefliesquitedone；and，fire—eyedfurynowguiding，hespringsuponthethroatofHirschlikeacat—o’—
　　mountain；clutchesHirschbythewindpipe；tumbleshimabouttheroom:"Infamouscanaille，doyouknowwhomyouhavegottodowith？
　　Thatitisinmypowertostickyouintoaholeundergroundfortherestofyourlife？Sirrah，Iwillruinandannihilateyou！"——and"tossedmeabouttheroomwithhisfistonmythroat，"saysHirsch；
　　"offeringtohavepitynevertheless，ifIwouldtakebacktheJewels，andreturnallwritings。"[Narrative（inTantale）。]Eyesglancinglikearattlesnake’s，asweperceive；
　　andsuchaphenomenonasHirschhadnotexpected，thisChristmas！
　　Inshort，thematterhasherefairlyexploded，andisblazingaloft，asamassofintricatefuliginousruin，nottobedecipheredhenceforth。SuchasceneforChasotontheChristmas—dayatBerlin！
　　AndwehavegottoPARTII。THELAWSUITITSELF（30thDecember，1750—18thand26thFebruary，1751）。
　　Hirschslunkhurriedlyhome，uncertainwhetherdeadoralive。
　　OldHirsch，hearingofsuchexplosion，consideredhishouseandfamilyruined；and，beingoldandfeeble，tooktobeduponit，threateningtobreakhisheart。VoltairewritestoNieceDenis，onthemorrow；nothintingattheHirschmatter，farfromthat；butinuncommonlydrearyhumor:"Mysplendorhere，myglory，neverwasthelikeofit；MAIS，MAIS，"BUT，andeveragainBUT，ateachnewitem，——infact，thehumorofagloriousPhoenix—Peacocksuddenlydouchedanddrenchedindirtywater，andfeelingfrostathand！
　　["ToMadameDenis"（lxxiv。279，"BerlinPalace，26thDecember，1750；"——andib。249，257，&c。ofotherdates）。]Humorintelligibleenough，whendatesarecompared。
　　Betterthanthat，Voltaireisapplying，onallpointsofthecompass，toLegalandInfluentialPersons，forhelpinaCourtofLaw。ToChancellorCocceji；toJarriges（eminentPrussianFrenchman），PresidentofCourt；toMaupertuis，whoknowsJarriges，but"willnotmeddleinabadbusiness；"——atlast，eventodullreverendFormey，whomhehadnotcalledonhitherto。Coccejiseemstohaveanswered，totheeffect，"Mostcertainly:theCourtsarewideopen；"——butasto"help"！December30th，theSuit，VoltaireVERSUSHirsch，"comestoProtocol，"——thatis，Cocceji，Jarriges，Loper，threeeminentmen，havebeennamedtotryit；andHerrHofrathBell，AdvocateforVoltairePlaintiff，handsinhisFirstStatementthatday。Berlinresounds，wemayfancyhow！
　　Rumor，laughterandwonderareinallpolitequarters；
　　andcontinue，moreorlessvivid，forabovetwomonthscoming。
　　HereisonedirectglimpseofPlaintiff，inthisinterim；whichwewillgive，thoughtheeyesarenoneofthebest:"ThefirstvisitI，"Formey，"hadfromVoltairewasintheafternoonofJanuary8th）
　　1751[Suitbeguntendaysago]。Ihad，atthetime，alargepartyoffriends。VoltairewalkedacrosstheApartment，withoutlookingatanybody；and，takingmebythehand，mademeleadhimtoacabinetadjoining。HisLawsuitwithaJewwasthematteronhand。
　　HetalkedtomeatlargeabouthisLawsuit，andwiththegreatestvehemence；hewoundupbyaskingmetospeaktoLaw—PresidentM。deJarriges（sinceChancellor）:Iansweredwhatwassuitable；"——
　　probablydidspeaktoJarriges，butmightaswellhaveheldmytongue。"Voltairethentookhisleave:steppingathwarttheformerApartmentwithsomeprecipitation，henoticedmyeldestlittlegirl，theninherfourthyear，whowasgazingatthediamondsonhisCrossoftheOrderofMerit。’Bagatelles，bagatelles，MON
　　ENFANT！’saidhe，anddisappeared。"[Formey，i。232。]
　　OnNew—Year’sday，Friday，1stJanuary，1751，VoltairehadlegallyappliedtoHerrMinistervonBismark，forWarranttoarrestHirsch，asapersonthatwillnotgiveupPapersnotbelongingtohim。
　　Warrantwasgranted，andHirschlodgedinLimbo。WhichworsensthestateofpooroldFatherHirsch；threateningnowreallytodie，ofheart—breakandothercauses。HirschSon，fromtheinteriorofLimbo，appealstoBismark，"LordChancellorCoccejiisseizedofmyPlea，yourgraciousLordship！"——"Allthesame，"answersBismark；
　　"produceCAUTION，oryoucan’tgetout。"Hirschproducescaution；
　　andgetsout，afteradayortwo；——andhasbeen"broughttoProtocolJanuary4th。"NodelayinthisCourt:bothparties，throughtheirAdvocates，arenowbroughttobook；thepointstheyagreeinwillbesiftedout，andlaidonthissideastruth；whattheydifferin，leftlyingonthatside，asamixtureofliestobeoperatedonbyfartherprocessesandprotocols。
　　WewillnotdetailtheLawsuit；——whatIchieflyadmireinitisitsbrevity。Coccejihasnotreformedinvain。GoodAdvocates，noneotherallowed；andnoAdvocatetalks；hemerelyendeavorstothink，seeanddiscover；holdshistongueifhecandiscovernothing:
　　thatdoubtlessisonesourceofthebrevity！——ManyliesarestatedbyHirsch，manybyVoltaire:buttheJudges，withoutdifficulty，shoveltheseaside；andcomestepbystepuponthetruth。
　　Hirschsaysplainly，HewassenttobuySTEUER—SCHEINEat35percentdiscount；VoltaireentirelydeniestheSteuer—Notes；says，ItwasanaffairofPeltriesandJewelries，originatinginloansofmoneytothisungratefulJew。WhichnecessitatesmuchwrigglingonthepartofM。deVoltaire；——buthehashimselfwritteninaLawyer’sOffice，inhisyoungdays，andknowshowtotwistaturnofexpression。TheJudgesarenottheretojudgeaboutSteuer—
　　Notes；buttheygiveyoutounderstandthatVoltaire’sPeltry—and—
　　Jewelrystoryismoonshine。HirschproducestheVoltaireScrapsofWriting，alreadyknowntoourreaders；Voltairesays，"Mereextinctjottings；whichHirschhasfurtivelypickedoutofthegrate，"——ormaybesaidtohavepicked；PapersannihilatedbyourBargainofDecember16th，andwhichshouldhavebeeninthegrate，iftheywerenot；thisfelonneverhavingkepthiswordinthatrespect。
　　PeltriesandJewelries，Isay:hewillnotgivemebackthatParisBillwhichwasprotested；paysmetheother3，000crowns（Draftof650pounds）inJewelsovervaluedbyhalf。——"JewelsfurtivelychangedsincePlaintiffhadthemofme！"answersHirsch；——andthesteadyJudgeskeeptheirsievesgoing。
　　TheonlyDocumentsproducedbyVoltaireareTwo；of19thDECEMBER
　　andof24thDECEMBER；——whichthereaderhasnotyetseen，butoughtnowtogainsomenotionof，ifpossible。Theyaffectoncemore，asthatofDecember16thhaddone，tobe"FinalSettlements"（orFinalSettlementof19th，withCODICILof24th）；andturnonconfusedListsofJewels，bought，returned，re—bought（that"Topazring"
　　tornfromone’shand，aconspicuousitem），whichnoreaderwouldhavepatiencetounderstand，exceptinthesuccinctform。Letallreadersnotethem，however，——atleastthefirstofthem，thatofDecember19th；especiallythewordswemarkinItalics，whichhavemeritedasadplaceforITinthehistoryofhumansinandmisery。
　　KleinhasgivenbothDocumentsinengravedfac—simile；wemusthelpourselvesbysimplermethods。Berlin，December19th，1750；
　　Voltairewrites，Hirschsigns；——andtheItalicsarebelievedtobewordsfoistedinbyM。deVoltaire，weeksafter，whiletheHirschpleadingsweregettingstringent！Read，——averysadmemorialofM。deVoltaire，——
　　DOCUMENTFIFTH（inVoltaire’shand，writtenattwotimes；andtheoldwritingMENDEDinparts，tosuitthenew！）。——"FORPAYMENTOF
　　3，000THALERSBYMEDUE，IhavesoldtoM。deVoltaire，atthepricecostingbyestimationandtax，with2percentformycommission["ORGRATIFICATION，"writtenabove]，thefollowingDiamonds，taxed[blottedinto"TAXABLE"]，ashereadjoined；viz。"——
　　sevenpiecesofjewelry，pendeloques，&c。，withpriceaffixed，amongwhichistheviolatedTopaz，——"thewholeestimatedbyhim["him"crossedout，and"ME"writtenoverit]，being3，640thalers。
　　Whereupon，receivedfromMonsieurdeVoltaire[whatisverystrange；notintelligiblewithoutstudy！]thesumof2，940thalers，andhehasgivenmebacktheTopaz，with60crownsformytrouble。
　　——Berlin，19thDecember，1750。"（HithertoinVoltaire’shand；