e on his table gave but a poor light, and even seemed
to increase the appearance of discomfort in his apartment; it gave
sufficient light to enable him to read the letters which lay upon his
table, and which had arrived the previous day. His ministers might
sleep--the king waked and worked. He read every letter and petition,
and wrote a few words of answer on the margin of each. After reading all
business communications, the king took his own letters, those that
were addressed to him personally, and came from his absent friends. His
countenance, which before was grave and determined, assumed a soft and
gentle expression, and a smile played upon his lips. The receipts for
to-day were small. There were but few letters, and the large proportion
of them came from relations of the king, or from distant acquaintances.

"No letter from D'Argens," said the king, smiling. "My ecclesiastic
letter has accomplished the desired end, and the good marquis will
arrive here 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 Fre