Swiss village than gain at this price the dangerousfavour of a king.”
After some delay, occasioned by the journeys of theking of Prussia, during which time Voltaire did goodservice for his court at the Hague, he arrived at Berlin ,and was warmly welcomed. Fetes, operas, suppers —all the amusements that Frederic could command, wereput in requisition to please the illustrious and favouredguest. In the midst of these, the secret negotiationadvanced. Voltaire had infinite tact, and could,like many of his countrymen, mingle the most seriousdesigns with frivolous amusements, and pursue unde-viatingly his own interests, while apparently given upto philosophical disquisitions or witty discussions. Inthe midst, therefore, of easy and jocular conversation,Voltaire discovered the real state of things, which con-sisted in the king of Prussia’s desire to embroilLouis XV. with England. “ Let France declare waragainst England,” said Frederic, “ and I march.”This sufficed for the subtle emissary. He returned toParis , and negotiations ensued which terminated in anew treaty between France and Prussia, and the follow-ing spring Frederic invaded Bohemia with a hundredthousand men. Voltaire , however, reaped no benefitfrom his zeal. The king’s mistress, the duchess deChateauroux, was angry that she had not been consulted.She managed to obtain the dismission of M. Amelot,secretary for foreign affairs, under whose directionVoltaire had acted, and he was enveloped in the dis-grace, that is to say, he gained no court smiles, nor anysolid compensation, for his trouble.
His life was now passed between Paris and Cirey —society and solitude. He and the du Chatelets sharedthe same house in the capital; their studies and theiramusements were in common. We are told * that onone occasion, when madame du Chatelet went to court,and engaged in play, during which she lost a great dealof money, Voltaire told her in English that she was* Memoires de Longchamp.