such thing as the fall or punishment of man.”

“Your Excellency will pardon me,” answered Pangloss, still more politely; “for the fall of man and the curse consequent thereupon necessarily entered into the system of the best of worlds.”

“That is as much as to say, sir,” rejoined the familiar, “you do not believe in free will.”

“Your Excellency will be so good as to excuse me,” said Pangloss, “free will is consistent with absolute necessity; for it was necessary we should be free, for in that the will-”

Pangloss was in the midst of his proposition, when the familiar beckoned to his attendant to help him to a glass of port wine.