than the representation. I he author does not understand a word of Arabia, and yet he has laid his scene in Arabia; and what is more, he is a fellow who does not believe in innate ideas. To-morrow I will bring you a score of pamphlets that have been written against him.”
Pray, Sir, said Candide to the Abbé, “how many theatrical pieces have you in France?”
“Five or six thousand,” replied the other.
“Indeed! that is a great number,” said Candide: “but how many good ones may there be?”
“About fifteen or sixteen.”
“Oh! that is a great number,” said Martin.
Candide was greatly taken with an actress who performed the part of Queen Elizabeth in a dull kind of tragedy that is played sometimes.
“That actress,” said he to Martin, “pleases me greatly; she has some sort of resemblance to Miss Cunegund. I should be very glad to pav my respects to her.”
The Abbé of Périgord offered his services to introduce him to her at her own house. Candide, who was brought up in Germany, desired to know what might be the ceremonial used on those occasions, and how a Queen of England was treated in France.
“There is a necessary distinction to be observed in these matters,” said the Abbé. “In a country town we take them to a tavern; here in Paris, they are treated with great respect during their lifetime, provided they are handsome, and when they die, we throw their bodies upon a dunghill.”
“How,” said Candide, “throw a queen’s body upon a dunghill!”
“The gentleman is quite right,” said Martin; “he tells you nothing but the truth. I happened to be in Paris when Mile. Monime made her exit, as one may say, out of this world into another. She was refused what they call here the rights of sepulture; that is to say, she was denied the privilege of rotting in a churchyard by the side of all the beggars in the parish. She was buried alone by her troupe at the corner of Burgundy Street, which must certainly have shocked her extremely, as she had very exalted notions of things.”
“This is acting very impolitely,” said Candide.
“Lord!” said Martin, “what can be said to it? It is the way of these people. Figure to yourself all the contradictions, all the inconsistencies possible, and
81
