Voltaire

It is said that Voltaire, while a young man. eager for instruction, was perpetually askinf questions. Despreaux, on occasion, with impatience and considerable har.shness, reproved him ior indulging in this propensity. Voltaire never forgot the raproof, and not only gave up nis habit of putting questions, but became more and more averse to answering such as were put to him. ín time he came to rise abruptly and leave the compa'ny of a persistent questioner, without the faintest suggestion of an apology. He is said to have greeted an inhabitant of Geneva, who had furnished him with the idea and model of the interrogating bailiff in the "Droit du Seigneur," with the remark: "Sir, I am very well pleased to see you; but I wish to inform you beforehand that I know nothing about what j-ou are going to ask, whatever it may