produce in advance for his lifetime, at twelve francs the "measure." His peculiar pride, however, was his Tokay. Every year his predecessor, Francis, become Emperor of Germany, sent him a large cask, escorted all the way by a guard of Austrian grenadiers. As soon as ever that cask arrived, Stanislas set personally to work. What with drugs, and syrups, and sugar, and other wine, he manufactured out of one cask about ten, which he drew off into bottles specially made for the purpose. Some he kept for his own use at dessert. The larger portion he distributed among his friends, who every one of them becomingly declared upon their oath that better Tokay they had never tasted. But there were better things to entertain the Lorrain Court. There were fêtes; there were theatricals--at some of which Voltaire and du Châtelet performed in person, Voltaire as the "Assesseur" in _L'Etourderie_, du Châtelet as "Issé"; there was brilliant conversation, music, everything that money could buy and good company produce. And Voltaire was the fêted of all. "Voltaire était dieu à la Cour de Stanislas," says Capefigue. He could do as he liked--sleep, wake, work, mix with the company, stroll about alone--without any restraint; the king and all were at his beck, all eager for his every word, taking everything from him in the best part, appreciating, admiring, worshipping. His plays were put upon the stage. He was allowed to drill the actors at his pleasure. In this way, _Le Glorieux_ was produced with great pomp; also _Nanine_, _Brutus_, _Mérope_, and _Zaïre_, the last-named, for a novelty, by a troupe of children. Whatever he wrote, he could make sure that he would have an attentive audience of illustrious personages to hear him read out. Je coule ici mes heureux jours, Dans la plus tranquille des Cours, Sans intrigue, sans jalousie, Auprès d'un roi sans courtisans, Près de Boufflers et d'Emilie; Je les vois et je les entends, Il faut bien que je fasse envie. If Voltaire was "god," Madame du Châtelet was "goddess"--waited upon, petted, having her every wish and every whim studied and gratified. There could seemingly be no more congenial, mutually appreciative group of persons than Stanislas and Voltaire, the Marquise de Boufflers and the Marquise du Châtelet.