按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e sum of 2；250 pounds may it not otherwise； contrives Voltaire； be called a 'Loan' to Jeweller Hirsch； so obliging a Jeweller； to buy 'Furs' or 'Diamonds' with？ At a gain of 35 per 100 Pieces； there will be above 800 pounds to me； after all expenses cleared： a very pretty stroke of business do…able in few days！〃
〃Monday； 23d November：〃 The beautiful Wilhelmina； one remarks； is just making her packages； right sad to end such a Visit as this had been！ Thursday night； from her first sleeping…place； there is a touching Farewell to her Brother；tender； melodiously sorrowful； as the Song of the Swan。 ＇Wilhelmina to Friedrich； 〃Brietzen； 26th November； JOUR FUNESTE POUR MOI〃 （ OEuvres de Frederic； xxvii。 i。 197）。＇ To Voltaire she was always good； always liked Voltaire。 Voltaire would be saying his Adieus； in state； among the others； to that high Being；just in the hours while such a scandalous Hirsch…Concoction went； on underground！
〃As to the Two Bills and Voltaire's security for them； readers are to note as follows。 Bill FIRST is a Draft； on Voltaire's Paris Banker for 40；000 livres （about 1；600 pounds）； not payable for some weeks： 'This I lend you； Monsieur Hirsch； mind； LEND you；to buy Furs！' 'Yes； truly； what we call Furs；and before the Bill falls payable； there will be effects for it in Monseigneur de Voltaire's hand； which is security enough for Monseigneur。' The SECOND Bill； again〃Truth is； there were in succession two Second Bills； an INTENDED…Second （of this same Monday 23d）； which did not quite suit； and an ACTUAL…Second （two days later）； which did。 INTENDED… Second Bill was one for 4；000 thalers （about 600 pounds）； drawn by Voltaire on the Sieur Ephraim；a very famous Jew of Berlin now and henceforth； with whom as money…changer； if not yet otherwise （which perhaps Ephraim thinks unlucky）； Voltaire； it would seem； is in frequent communication。 This Bill； Ephraim would not accept； told Hirsch he owed M。 de Voltaire nothing； 〃turned me rudely away；〃 says Hirsch （two of a trade； and no friends； he and I！）so that there is nothing to be said of this Ephraim Bill； and except as it elucidates some dark portions of the whirlpools； need not have been noticed at all。 〃Hirsch；〃 continues my Authority； 〃got only Two available Bills； the first on Paris for 1；600 pounds； payable in some weeks； and； after a day or two； this other： The ACTUAL BILL SECOND； which is a Draft for 4；430 thalers （about 650 pounds）； by old Father Hirsch； head of the Firm； on Voltaire himself：'Furs too with that； Monsieur Hirsch； at the rate of 35 per piece； you understand？' 'Yea； truly； Monseigneur！'Draft accepted by Voltaire； and the cash for it now handed to Hirsch Son： the only absolutely ready money he has yet got towards the affair。
〃For these Two Bills； especially for this Second； I perceive； Voltaire holds borrowed jewels （borrowed in theatrical times； or partly bought； from the Hirsch Firm； and not paid for）； which make him sure till he see the STEUER Papers themselves。（And now off； my good Sieur Hirsch； and know that if you please ME； there are things in my power which would suit a man in the Jeweller and Hebrew line！' Hirsch pushes home to Berlin； primed and loaded in this manner； Voltaire naturally auxious enough that the shot may hit。 Alas； the shot will not even go off； for some time： an ill omen！
〃SUNDAY； 29th NOVEMBER； Hirsch； we hear； is still in Berlin。 Fancy the humor of Voltaire； after such a week as last！ TUESDAY； December 1st） Hirsch still is not off： 'Go； you son of Amalek！' urges Voltaire； and sends his Servant Picard； a very sharp fellow； for perhaps the third time；who has orders now； as Hirsch discovers； to stay with him； not quit sight of him till he do go。 ＇Hirsch's Narrative； see Voltaire's Letter to D'Arget （ OEuvres； lxiv。 11）。＇ Hirsch's hour of departure for Dresden is not mentioned in the ACTS； but I guess he could hardly get over Wednesday； with Picard dogging him on these terms； and must have taken the diligence on Wednesday night： to arrive in Dresden about December 4th。 'Well； at least； our shot is off； has not burst out； and lodged in our person here；thanked be all the gods！'
〃Off； sure enough：and what should we say if the whole matter were already oozing out； if； on this same Sunday evening； November 29th） not quite a week's time yet； the matter （as we learn long afterwards） had been privately whispered to his Majesty： 'That Voltaire has sent off a Jew to buy Steuer…Scheine； and has promised to get him made Court…Jeweller！' ＇Voltaire； OEuvres； lxxiv。 314 （〃Letter to Friedrich； February； 1751；〃AFTER Catastrophe）。＇； So； within a week； and before Hirsch is even gone！ For men are very porous； weighty secrets oozing out of them； like quicksilver through clay jars。 I could guess； Hirsch； by way of galling insolent Ephraim； had blabbed something： and in the course of five days； it has got to the very King；this Kammerherr Voltaire being such a favorite and famous man as never was； the very bull's…eye of all kinds of Berlin gossip in these days。 'Hm； Steuer…Scheine； and the Jew Hirsch to be Court…Jeweller； you say？' thinks the King； that Sunday night； but locks the rumor in his Royal mind； he； for his part； or dismisses it as incredible： 'There ought to be impervious vessels too； among the porous！' Voltaire notices nothing particular； or nothing that he speaks of as particular。 This must have been a horrid week to him； till Hirsch got away。〃 Hirsch is away （December 2d）； in Dresden； safe enough； but
〃But； the fortnight that follows is conceivable as still worse。 Hirsch writing darkly； nothing to the purpose； Voltaire driving often into Berlin； hearing from Ephraim hints about； 'No connection with that House；' 'If Monseigneur have intrusted Hirsch with money；may there be a good account of it！' and the like。 Black Care devouring Monseigueur； but nothing definite； except the fact too evident； That Hirsch does not send or bring the smallest shadow of Steuer…Scheine；'Peltries；' or 'Diamonds；' we mean；or any value whatever for that Paris Bill of ours； payable shortly； and which he has already got cashed in Dresden。 Nothing but excuses； prevarications； stupid； incoherently deceptive jargon； as of a mule intent on playing fox with you。 Vivid Correspondence is conceivable； but nothing of it definite to us； except this sample〃 （which we give translated）：
DOCUMENT THIRD （torn fraction in Voltaire's hand： To Hirsch； doubtless； early in December）。 。。。 〃Not proper （IL NE FALLAIT PAS） to negotiate Bills of Exchange； and never produce a single diamond〃bit of peltry； or ware of any kind； you son of Amalek！ 〃Not proper to say： I have got money for your bills of exchange； and I bring you nothing back； and I will repay your money when you shall no longer be here ＇in Germany at all＇。 Not proper to promise at 35 louis； and then say 30。 To say 30； and then next morning 25。 You should at least have produced goods （IL FALLAIT EN DONNER） at the price current； very easy to do when one was on the spot。 All your procedures have been faults hitherto。 ＇Klein； v。 259。＇
〃These are dreadful symptoms。 Steuer…Notes； promised at 35 discount； are not to be had except at 30。 Say 30 then； and get done with it； mule of a scoundrel！ Next day the 30 sinks to 25； and not a Steuer…Note； on any terms； comes to hand。 And the mule of a scoundrel has drawn money； in Dresden yonder； for my Bill on Paris；excellent to him for trade of his own！ What is to be done with such an Ass of Balaam？ He has got the bit in his teeth； it would seem。 Heavens； he too is capable of stopping short； careless of spur and cudgel； and miraculously speaking to a NEW Prophet ＇strange new 〃Revealer of the Lord's Will；〃 in modern dialect＇； in this enlightened Eighteenth Century itself！One thing the new Prophet； can do： protest his Paris Bill。
〃DECEMBER 12th ＇our next bit of certainty＇； Voltaire writes； haste； haste； to Paris； 'Don't pay；' and intimates to Hirsch； 'You will have to return your Dresden Banker his money for that Paris Bill。 At Paris I have protested it； mark me； and there it never will be paid to him or you。 And you must come home again instantly； job undone； lies not untold； you！' Hirsch； with money in hand； appears not to have wanted for a briskish trade of his own in the Dresden marts。 But this of cutting off his supplies brings him instantly back：〃and at Berlin； DECEMBER 16th； new facts emerge again of a definite nature。
〃WEDNESDAY； 16th DECEMBER； 1750。 'To…day the King with Court and Voltaire come to Berlin for the Carnival；' ＇Rodenbeck； i。 209。＇ to…day also Voltaire； not in Carnival humor； has appointed his Jew to meet him。 In the Royal Palace itself；we hope； well remote from Friedrich's Apartment！this sordid conference； needing one's choicest diplomacy withal； and such exquisite handling of bit and spur； goes on。 And probably at great length。 Of which； as the FINALE； and one clear feature significant to the fancy； here is； for record of what they call 'COMPLETE SETTLEMENT；' which it was far from turning out to be：
DOCUMENT FOURTH （in Hirsch's hand； First Piece of it）。
〃'Pour quittance generale promettant de rendre a Mr。 de Voltaire tous billets； ordres et lettres de change a moy donnez ju