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yes； to such a consummation does our age approach！〃
The venerable Malesherbes sighed。 Perhaps he feared the
consummation might not come in time for him。 The handsome
Marquis de and the ladies； yet handsomer than he； looked
conviction and delight。
But two men there were； seated next to each other； who joined not
in the general talk： the one a stranger newly arrived in Paris；
where his wealth； his person； and his accomplishments； had
already made him remarked and courted； the other； an old man；
somewhere about seventy；the witty and virtuous； brave； and
still light…hearted Cazotte； the author of 〃Le Diable Amoureux。〃
These two conversed familiarly； and apart from the rest； and only
by an occasional smile testified their attention to the general
conversation。
〃Yes；〃 said the stranger；〃yes； we have met before。〃
〃I thought I could not forget your countenance； yet I task in
vain my recollections of the past。〃
〃I will assist you。 Recall the time when； led by curiosity； or
perhaps the nobler desire of knowledge； you sought initiation
into the mysterious order of Martines de Pasqualis。〃
（It is so recorded of Cazotte。 Of Martines de Pasqualis little
is known； even the country to which he belonged is matter of
conjecture。 Equally so the rites； ceremonies； and nature of the
cabalistic order he established。 St。 Martin was a disciple of
the school； and that； at least； is in its favour； for in spite of
his mysticism； no man more beneficent； generous； pure； and
virtuous than St。 Martin adorned the last century。 Above all； no
man more distinguished himself from the herd of sceptical
philosophers by the gallantry and fervour with which he combated
materialism； and vindicated the necessity of faith amidst a chaos
of unbelief。 It may also be observed； that Cazotte； whatever
else he learned of the brotherhood of Martines； learned nothing
that diminished the excellence of his life and the sincerity of
his religion。 At once gentle and brave； he never ceased to
oppose the excesses of the Revolution。 To the last； unlike the
Liberals of his time； he was a devout and sincere Christian。
Before his execution； he demanded a pen and paper to write these
words： 〃Ma femme； mes enfans； ne me pleurez pas； ne m'oubliez
pas； mais souvenez…vous surtout de ne jamais offenser Dieu。〃
（〃My wife； my children； weep not for me； forget me not； but
remember above everything never to offend God。）Ed。）
〃Ah； is it possible！ You are one of that theurgic brotherhood？〃
〃Nay； I attended their ceremonies but to see how vainly they
sought to revive the ancient marvels of the cabala。〃
〃Such studies please you？ I have shaken off the influence they
once had on my own imagination。〃
〃You have not shaken it off；〃 returned the stranger； bravely； 〃it
is on you still；on you at this hour； it beats in your heart； it
kindles in your reason； it will speak in your tongue！〃
And then； with a yet lower voice； the stranger continued to
address him； to remind him of certain ceremonies and doctrines；
to explain and enforce them by references to the actual
experience and history of his listener； which Cazotte thrilled to
find so familiar to a stranger。
Gradually the old man's pleasing and benevolent countenance grew
overcast； and he turned； from time to time； searching； curious；
uneasy glances towards his companion。
The charming Duchesse de G archly pointed out to the lively
guests the abstracted air and clouded brow of the poet； and
Condorcet； who liked no one else to be remarked； when he himself
was present； said to Cazotte； 〃Well； and what do YOU predict of
the Revolution；how； at least； will it affect us？〃
At that question Cazotte started； his cheeks grew pale； large
drops stood on his forehead； his lips writhed； his gay companions
gazed on him in surprise。
〃Speak！〃 whispered the stranger； laying his hand gently upon the
arm of the old wit。
At that word Cazotte's face grew locked and rigid； his eyes dwelt
vacantly on space； and in a low； hollow voice； he thus answered
（The following prophecy （not unfamiliar； perhaps； to some of my
readers）； with some slight variations； and at greater length； in
the text of the authority I am about to cite； is to be found in
La Harpe's posthumous works。 The MS。 is said to exist still in
La Harpe's handwriting； and the story is given on M。 Petitot's
authority； volume i。 page 62。 It is not for me to enquire if
there be doubts of its foundation on fact。Ed。）；
〃You ask how it will affect yourselves；you； its most learned；
and its least selfish agents。 I will answer： you； Marquis de
Condorcet； will die in prison； but not by the hand of the
executioner。 In the peaceful happiness of that day； the
philosopher will carry about with him not the elixir but the
poison。〃
〃My poor Cazotte；〃 said Condorcet； with his gentle smile； 〃what
have prisons； executioners； and poison to do with an age of
liberty and brotherhood？〃
〃It is in the names of Liberty and Brotherhood that the prisons
will reek； and the headsman be glutted。〃
〃You are thinking of priestcraft； not philosophy； Cazotte；〃 said
Champfort。
（Champfort； one of those men of letters who； though misled by the
first fair show of the Revolution； refused to follow the baser
men of action into its horrible excesses； lived to express the
murderous philanthropy of its agents by the best bon mot of the
time。 Seeing written on the walls； 〃Fraternite ou la Mort；〃 he
observed that the sentiment should be translated thus； 〃Sois mon
frere； ou je te tue。〃 （〃Be my brother； or I kill thee。〃）） 〃And
what of me？〃
〃You will open your own veins to escape the fraternity of Cain。
Be comforted； the last drops will not follow the razor。 For you；
venerable Malesherbes； for you； Aimar Nicolai； for you； learned
Bailly；I see them dress the scaffold！ And all the while； O
great philosophers； your murderers will have no word but
philosophy on their lips！〃
The hush was complete and universal when the pupil of Voltaire
the prince of the academic sceptics； hot La Harpecried with a
sarcastic laugh； 〃Do not flatter me； O prophet； by exemption from
the fate of my companions。 Shall _I_ have no part to play in
this drama of your fantasies。〃
At this question； Cazotte's countenance lost its unnatural
expression of awe and sternness； the sardonic humour most common
to it came back and played in his brightening eyes。
〃Yes； La Harpe； the most wonderful part of all！ YOU will
becomea Christian！〃
This was too much for the audience that a moment before seemed
grave and thoughtful； and they burst into an immoderate fit of
laughter； while Cazotte； as if exhausted by his predictions； sank
back in his chair； and breathed hard and heavily。
〃Nay； said Madame de G； 〃you who have predicted such grave
things concerning us； must prophesy something also about
yourself。〃
A convulsive tremor shook