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He carefully refolded the letter； and； before placing it in his portfolio； nodded to it as pleasantly as if it had been D'Alembert himself。 He then took another letter。
〃I do not recognize this writing；〃 he said； as he examined the address。 〃It is from Switzerland； and is directed to me personally。 From whom is it？〃
He opened the letter； and glanced first at the signature。
〃Ah；〃 he said； 〃from Jean Jacques Rousseau！ I promised him an asylum。 The free Switzers persecuted the unhappy philosopher； and my good Lord Marshal prayed my assistance for him。 Lord Marshal is now in Scotland； and it will not benefit him to have his friend here。 Well； perhaps it may lead to his return； if he hopes to find Rousseau here。 I must see what the philosopher says。〃
The letter contained only a few lines； which the king read with utter astonishment。 〃Vraiment！〃 he exclaimed； 〃philosophers all belong to the devil。 This Jean Jacques does not content himself with declining my offer； but he does it in an unheard…of manner。 This is a work of art； I must read it again。〃
The king read aloud in a most pathetic voice： 〃Votre majeste m'offre un asyle； et m'y prome la liberte； mais vous avez une epee； et vous etes roi。 Vous m'offrez une pension； a moi； qui n'a rien fait pour vous。 Mais en avez…vous donne a tous les braves gens qui ont perdu bras et jambes en vos services？〃
〃Well；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃if being a ruffian makes one a philosopher； Jean Jacques Rousseau deserves to be called the greatest philosopher in the world。 Truly； Fortune is playing curious pranks with me to…day； and seems determined to lower my royal pride。 Two refusals at one time； two philosophers who decline my invitation。 No； not two philosophersD'Alembert is a philosopher； but Rousseau is in truth a fool。〃
He tore this letter； and threw the pieces in the fire。 He then seized another letter； but laid it down again before opening it。 He had heard the great clock in the hall strike eight。 That was the sign that the business of the day； which he shared with his attendants； should begin； and that the king had no more time to devote to his private correspondence。 The last stroke of the clock had scarcely sounded； as a light knock was heard at the door； which was instantly opened by the command of the king。
Baron von Kircheisen； the prefect of Berlin； entered the room。 He came to make his weekly report to the king。 His respectful greeting was returned merely by a dark side…glance； and the king listened to his report with evident displeasure。
〃And that is your entire report？〃 asked his majesty； when the prefect had finished。 〃You are the head of police for the city of Berlin； and you have nothing more to tell me than any policemen might know。 You inform me of the number of arrivals and departures； of the births and deaths； and of the thefts which have been committed； and that is the extent of your report。〃
〃But I cannot inform your majesty of things that have not occurred；〃 returned Baron von Kircheisen。
〃So nothing else has occurred in Berlin。 Berlin is then a most quiet； innocent city； where at the worst a few greatly…to…be…pitied individuals occasionally disturb the repose of the righteous by mistaking the property of others for their own。 You know nothing。 You do not know that Berlin is the most vicious and immoral of cities。 You can tell me nothing of the crimes which are certainly not of a kind to be punished by the law； but which are creeping from house to house； poisoning the happiness of entire families； and spreading shame and misery on every hand。 You know nothing of the many broken marriage…vows； of the dissension in families； of the frivolity of the young people who have given themselves up to gambling and dissipation of all kinds。 Much misery might be avoided if you knew more of these matters； and were ready with a warning at the right moment。〃
〃Sire； will you permit me to say that is not the task of the ordinary police； for such matters a secret police is required。〃
〃Well； why do you not have a secret police？ Why do you not follow the example of the new minister of police at Paris； De Sartines？ That man knows every thing that happens in Paris。 He knows the history of every house； every family； and every individual。 He occasionally warns the men when their wives are on the point of flying from them。 He whispers to the wives the names of those who turn their husbands from them。 He shows the parents the faro…bank at which their sons are losing their property； and sometimes extends a hand to save them from destruction。 That is a good police； and it must be acknowledged that yours does not resemble it。〃
〃If your majesty desires it； I can establish such a police in Berlin as De Sartines has in Paris。 But your majesty must do two things： First； you must give me a million of thalers annually。〃
〃Ah！ a million！ Your secret police is rather expensive。 Continue。 What do you desire besides the million？〃
〃Secondly； the permission to destroy the peace of families； the happiness of your subjectsto make the son a spy upon his father the mother an informer against her daughterthe students and servants the betrayers of their teachers and employers。 If your majesty will permit me to undermine the confidence of man to his fellow…manof the brother to his sisterof the parents to their childrenof the husbands to their wives by buying their secrets from themif I may reward such treachery； then； your majesty； we can have such a police as De Sartines has in Paris。 But I do not think that it will promote propriety or prevent crime。〃
The king had listened to him with increasing interest； his brow growing clearer and clearer as the bold speaker continued。 When he finished； the king ceased his walk； and stood motionless before him； looking fully into his excited countenance。
〃It is； then； your positive conviction that a secret police brings with it those evils you have depicted？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； it is my positive conviction。〃
〃He may be right；〃 said the king； thoughtfully。 〃Nothing demoralizes men so much as spies and denunciations； and a good government should punish and not reward the miserable spies who betray their fellow… creatures for gold with the wicked intention of bringing them into misfortune。 A good government should not follow the Jesuits' rule 'That the end consecrates the means。'〃
〃Will your majesty； then； graciously allow me to dispense with a secret police？〃
〃Well； yes。 We will remain as we are； and De Sartines may keep his secret police。 It would not suit us； and Berlin shall not be still further demoralized by spies and betrayers。 Therefore； no more of the secret police。 When crime shows itself by day we will punish it。 We will leave it to Providence to bring it to light。 Continue to report to me； therefore； who has died and who has been born； who have arrived and who have departed； who has stolen and who has done a good business。 I am well pleased with youyou have spoken freely and bravely； and said openly what you thought。 That pleases me； I am pleased when my agents have the courage to speak the truth； and dare occasionally to oppose me。 I hope you will retain this virtue。〃
He bowed pleasantly to the prefect； and offered him his hand。 He then dismissed him； and ordered the ministers to enter with their reports and proposals。 After these came the council； and only after the king had worked with them uninterruptedly for three hours； did he think of taking some repose from all this work； which had occupied him from six o'clock in the morning until nearly twelve。 He was on the point of entering his library as loud voices in the anteroom arrested his attention。
〃But I tell you that the king gives no audiences to…day；〃 he heard one of the servants say。
〃The king has said that every man who wishes to speak to him shall be admitted！〃 exclaimed another voice。 〃I must speak to the king； and he must hear me。〃
〃If you must speak to him； you must arrange it by writing。 The king grants an audience to all who demand it； but he fixes the hour himself。〃
〃Misery and despair cannot await a fixed hour！〃 cried the other。 〃If the king will not listen to unhappiness when it calls to him for redress； but waits until it pleases