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to…day to rail at； and then forgive me。 Ah； here is a letter from D'Alembert。 Well； this is doubtless an agreeable letter； for it will inform me that D'Alembert accepts my proposal； and has decided to become the president of my Academy of Science。〃
He hastily broke the seal； and while he read a dark cloud overshadowed his brow。 〃He declines my offer；〃 he said； discontentedly。 〃His pride consists in a disregard for princes； he wishes posterity to admire him for his unselfishness。 Oh； he does not yet know posterity。 She will either be utterly silent on this subject or； should it be spoken of； it will be considered an act of folly which D'Alembert committed。 He is a proud and haughty man； as they all are。〃 He again took the letter and read it once more； but more slowly and more carefully than before； gradually the clouds disappeared from his brow； and his eyes beamed with pleasure。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃I have misjudged D'Alembert。 My displeasure at a disappointed hope blinded me； D'Alembert is not a small； vain man； but a free and great spirit。 He now refuses my presidency； with a salary of six thousand thalers； as he last year refused the position of tutor to the heir of the throne of Russia； with a salary of a hundred thousand francs。 He prefers to be poor and needy； and to live up five flights of stairs； and be his own master； than to live in a palace as the servant of a prince。 I cannot be angry with him； for he has thought and acted as a wise man； and were I not Frederick； I would gladly be D'Alembert。 I will not love him less because he has refused my offer。 Ah； it is a real pleasure to know that there are still men who are independent enough to exercise their will and judgment in opposition to the king。 Princes would be more noble； if those with whom they associated were not so miserable and shallow…hearted。 D'Alembert shall be a lesson and a consolation to me； there are still men who are not deceivers and flatterers； fools and betrayers； but really men。〃
He carefully refolded the letter； and； before placing it in his portfolio； nodded to it as pleasantly as if it had been D'Alembert himself。 He then took another letter。
〃I do not recognize this writing；〃 he said； as he examined the address。 〃It is from Switzerland； and is directed to me personally。 From whom is it？〃
He opened the letter； and glanced first at the signature。
〃Ah；〃 he said； 〃from Jean Jacques Rousseau！ I promised him an asylum。 The free Switzers persecuted the unhappy philosopher； and my good Lord Marshal prayed my assistance for him。 Lord Marshal is now in Scotland； and it will not benefit him to have his friend here。 Well； perhaps it may lead to his return； if he hopes to find Rousseau here。 I must see what the philosopher says。〃
The letter contained only a few lines； which the king read with utter astonishment。 〃Vraiment！〃 he exclaimed； 〃philosophers all belong to the devil。 This Jean Jacques does not content himself with declining my offer； but he does it in an unheard…of manner。 This is a work of art； I must read it again。〃
The king read aloud in a most pathetic voice： 〃Votre majeste m'offre un asyle； et m'y prome la liberte； mais vous avez une epee； et vous etes roi。 Vous m'offrez une pension； a moi； qui n'a rien fait pour vous。 Mais en avez…vous donne a tous les braves gens qui ont perdu bras et jambes en vos services？〃
〃Well；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃if being a ruffian makes one a philosopher； Jean Jacques Rousseau deserves to be called the greatest philosopher in the world。 Truly； Fortune is playing curious pranks with me to…day； and seems determined to lower my royal pride。 Two refusals at one time； two philosophers who decline my invitation。 No； not two philosophersD'Alembert is a philosopher； but Rousseau is in truth a fool。〃
He tore this letter； and threw the pieces in the fire。 He then seized another letter； but laid it down again before opening it。 He had heard the great clock in the hall strike eight。 That was the sign that the business of the day； which he shared with his attendants； should begin； and that the king had no more time to devote to his private correspondence。 The last stroke of the clock had scarcely sounded； as a light knock was heard at the door； which was instantly opened by the command of the king。
Baron von Kircheisen； the prefect of Berlin； entered the room。 He came to make his weekly report to the king。 His respectful greeting was returned merely by a dark side…glance； and the king listened to his report with evident displeasure。
〃And that is your entire report？〃 asked his majesty； when the prefect had finished。 〃You are the head of police for the city of Berlin； and you have nothing more to tell me than any policemen might know。 You inform me of the number of arrivals and departures； of the births and deaths； and of the thefts which have been committed； and that is the extent of your report。〃
〃But I cannot inform your majesty of things that have not occurred；〃 returned Baron von Kircheisen。
〃So nothing else has occurred in Berlin。 Berlin is then a most quiet； innocent city； where at the worst a few greatly…to…be…pitied individuals occasionally disturb the repose of the righteous by mistaking the property of others for their own。 You know nothing。 You do not know that Berlin is the most vicious and immoral of cities。 You can tell me nothing of the crimes which are certainly not of a kind to be punished by the law； but which are creeping from house to house； poisoning the happiness of entire families； and spreading shame and misery on every hand。 You know nothing of the many broken marriage…vows； of the dissension in families； of the frivolity of the young people who have given themselves up to gambling and dissipation of all kinds。 Much misery might be avoided if you knew more of these matters； and were ready with a warning at the right moment。〃
〃Sire； will you permit me to say that is not the task of the ordinary police； for such matters a secret police is required。〃
〃Well； why do you not have a secret police？ Why do you not follow the example of the new minister of police at Paris； De Sartines？ That man knows every thing that happens in Paris。 He knows the history of every house； every family； and every individual。 He occasionally warns the men when their wives are on the point of flying from them。 He whispers to the wives the names of those who turn their husbands from them。 He shows the parents the faro…bank at which their sons are losing their property； and sometimes extends a hand to save them from destruction。 That is a good police； and it must be acknowledged that yours does not resemble it。〃
〃If your majesty desires it； I can establish such a police in Berlin as De Sartines has in Paris。 But your majesty must do two things： First； you must give me a million of thalers annually。〃
〃Ah！ a million！ Your secret police is rather expensive。 Continue。 What do you desire besides the million？〃
〃Secondly； the permission to destroy the peace of families； the happiness of your subjectsto make the son a spy upon his father the mother an informer against her daughterthe students and servants the betrayers of their teachers and employers。 If your majesty will permit me to undermi