tunity of a little satire on the farmers-general of the French revenue:—
"This good prince was always flattered, deceived, and robbed; it was who should most pillage his treasury. The receiver-general of Serendib always set the example, faithfully followed by the rest. This the king knew; he had often changed his treasurers, but he had never been able to change the established mode of dividing the king's revenues into two unequal parts, of which the smallest always came to his majesty, and the largest to the administrators.
"Nabussan confided his trouble to Zadig: 'You who know so many fine things,' said he, 'can you not tell me how to find a treasurer who will not rob me?' 'Assuredly,' said Zadig, 'I know an infallible mode of giving you a man who will keep his hands clean' The king was charmed, and asked, while he embraced him, how this was to be done. 'You have only,' said Zadig, 'to cause all those who present themselves for the dignity of treasurer to dance; he who dances the lightest will be infallibly the most honest man.' 'You jest,' said the king; 'a pleasant way certainly of choosing a receiver of my revenues! What! do you pretend that he who cuts the neatest caper will be the most upright and skilful financier?' 'I will not answer for his being the most skilful,' returned Zadig, 'but I assure you that he will, without doubt, be the most honest.' Zadig spoke with so much confidence that the king believed he had some supernatural secret by which to recognise financiers. 'I do not like the supernatural,' said Zadig; 'people and books who deal in prodigies have always displeased me. If your majesty will allow me to put what I propose to the proof, you will be convinced it is the easiest and simplest thing possible.' Nabussan was much more astonished to hear that the secret was simple, than if it had been given to him as a miracle. 'Well,' said he, 'do as you think proper.' 'Leave me alone for that,' said Zadig; 'you will gain more in this proof than you think for' The same day he made public, in the king's name, that all candidates for the post of receiver-in-chief of the
