t before, he saw the sea touching the line of the sky on
every side. Then he began to suspect that he might have been
mistaken, and that, if the wind remained in the same quarter,
perhaps he would be borne to that very shore and among those
dwellers on it, about whom his grandmother had so often told him.

_La Marechale._--And of his anxiety you say nothing.

_C._--He had none. He said to himself: "What does it matter,
provided that I find land? I have reasoned like a giddy-pate,
granted; but I have been sincere with myself, and that is all that
can be required of me. If it is no virtue to have understanding, at
any rate it is no crime to be without it." Meanwhile the wind
continued, the man and the plank floated on, and the unknown shore
came into sight. He touched it, and behold him again on land.

_La Marechale._--Ah, we shall all of us see one another there, one
of these days.

_C._--I hope so, madam; wherever it may be, I shall always be very
proud to pay you my homage. Hardly had he quitted his plank, and
put his foot on the sand, when he perceived a venerable old man
standing by his side. He asked him where he was, and to whom he had
the honour of speaking. "I am the sovereign of the country,"
replied the old man; "you have denied my existence?"--"Yes, it is
true."--"And that of my empire?"--"It is true!"--"I forgive you,
because I am he who sees the bottom of all hearts, and I have read
at the bottom of yours that you are of good faith; but the rest of
your thoughts and your actions are not equally innocent." Then the
old man, who held him by the ear, recalled to him all the errors
of his life; and as each was mentioned, the young Mexican bowed
himself upon the ground, beat his breast, and besought forgiveness.

V.

Of Falconet,[220] we have already spoken, as a sculptor of genius, and
as one of Diderot's most intimate friends. Writing to Sophie Voland
(Nov. 21, 1765), Diderot informs her that some pleasantries of
Falconet's have induced him to undertake very seriously the defence of
the sentiment of immortality and respect for posterity.[221] This
apology was carried on in an energetic correspondence which lasted from
the end of 1765 to 1767. Falconet's letters were burned by his
grand-daughter for reasons unknown, and we have only such passages from
them as are more spe