you may meet with them in the government, the courts of justice, the churches, and the public spectacles of this odd nation.”
“Is it true,” said Candide, “that the people of Paris are always laughing?”
“Yes,” replied the Abbé, “but it is with anger in their hearts; they express all their complaints by loud bursts of laughter, and commit the most detestable crimes with a smile on their faces.”
“Who was that great overgrown beast,” said Candide, “who spoke so ill to me of the piece with which I was so much affected, and of the players who gave me so much pleasure?”
“A good-for-nothing sort of a man,” answered the Abbé, “one who gets his livelihood by abusing every new book and play; he abominates to see anyone meet with success, like eunuchs, who detest every one that possesses those powers they are deprived of; he is one of those vipers in literature who nourish themselves with their own venom; a pamphlet-monger.”
“A pamphlet-monger!” said Candide, “what is that?”
“Why, a pamphlet-monger,” replied the Abbé, “is a writer of pamphlets, a Fréron.”
Candide, Martin, and the Abbé of Périgord argued thus on the staircase, while they stood to see people go out of the playhouse.
“Though I am very earnest to see Miss Cunegund again,” said Candide, “yet I have a great inclination to sup with Mlle. Clairon, for I am really much taken with her.”
The Abbé was not a person to show his face at this lady’s house, which was frequented by none but the best company.
“She is engaged this evening,” said he; “but I will do myself the honour of introducing you to a lady of quality of my acquaintance, at whose house you will see as much of the manners of Paris as if you had lived here for four years.” Candide, who was naturally curious, suffered himself to be conducted to this lady’s house, which was in the suburb of St. Honoré. The company were engaged at faro; twelve melancholy punters held each in his hand a small pack of cards, the corners of which doubled down were so many registers of their ill fortune. A profound silence reigned throughout the assembly, a pallid dread was in the countenances of the punters, and restless anxiety in the face of him who kept the bank; and the lady of the house, who was seated next to him, observed pitilessly with lynx’s eyes every parole, and sept-et-le-va as they were going, as likewise those who tallied, and made them undouble their cards with
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