Memoirs of Marmontel (Volume 1); A Collection of the Most Instructive and Amusing Lives Ever Published, Written by the Parties Themselves with Brief I (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1827. Excerpt: ... if you have any excellent red hermitage, give vat six bottles of it, and pay yourself out of this louis." She looked at me with an air of satisfaction, pleased at the confidence I was willing to repose in her. "As for excellent red wine," said she, "I have none; but I have some white of the very best." I confided in her; and this wine, for which she took only two shillings a bottle, proved to be nothing less than nectar. Eager to get to Geneva, we did not even give ourselves time to see Lyons; reserving for our return the pleasure of admitting the master-pieces of industry in that great workshop of luxury. Nothing can be more singular, or more original, than the reception Voltaire gave us. He was in bed when we arrived. He extended his arms to us, and wept for joy while he embraced me. He embraced the son of his old friend, M. Gaulard, with the same emotion. "You find me dying," said he: "do you come to restore me to life, or to receive my last sighs?" My companion was alarmed at this preface; but I, who had a hundred times heard Voltaire say he was dying, gave Gaulard a gentle sign of encouragement. And, indeed, a moment afterwards, the dying man, making us sit down by his bed-side, said, "My dear friends, how happy am I to see you particularly at the moment when I have a man with me whom you will be charmed to hear. It is M. de l'Ecluse, the surgeon-dentist of the late king of Poland, now the lord of an estate near Montargis, and who has been pleased to come to repair the irreparable teeth of madame Denis. He is a charming man: but don't you know him ?"-- "The only l'Ecluse that I know," answered I, "is an actor of the old comic opera-house."--" 'Tis he, my friend--'tis he himself. If you know him, you have heard the song of the ' Grinder, ' which he plays and sings so well." And ...