VOLTAIRE. 79 



tained. It is needless to add how difficult a task this 

 proved. For some weeks he appears to have lost the 

 power of fixing his attention upon the occupations in 

 which he attempted to engage. The first thing which 

 tended to divert his mind from his affliction, was the 

 interest he took in a comedy written by Madame 

 Denis, ' La Coquette punie.' He admitted the talents 

 which it showed, but was apprehensive about its success ; 

 and after much consideration he was found to be right 

 in his reluctance to have it produced in public. In 

 the course of two or three months his active mind 

 recovered its elasticity, and he was occupied with the 

 representation of the ' Orestes,' which, partly, as is sup- 

 posed, through the cabals of Crebillon, met with a 

 reception at first most stormy, but afterwards was suf- 

 fered to obtain some share of success. 



Many conjectures have, of course, been raised, as at 

 the time much scandal was circulated, respecting the 

 nature of the attachment between Voltaire and the 

 accomplished friend whom he thus lost. There seems 

 upon the whole no sufficient reason to question its 

 having been Platonic. The conduct of the husband, a 

 respectable and honourable man, the character of 

 the lady herself, but above all the open manner in 

 which their intimacy was avowed, and the constant 

 recognition of it by persons so respectable as the Ar- 

 gentals and Argensons, so punctilious as the Deffands 

 and the Henaults, seem to justify this conclusion. It is 

 well known that, both in former times and in our own, 

 the laws of French society are exceedingly rigorous, 

 not indeed to the exclusion of the realities, but to the 

 saving of the appearances " Les convenances avant 

 tout" is the rule. It is never permitted, where a grave 



