Notes

Since he was young, Tallyerand knew Voltaire personally. At one social event, Tallyerand "sought out the author of Candide (Voltaire), knelt before him, and implored his blessings. The old apostate and excommunicate, whose works were (to his delight) all on the Index of Forbidden Books, stretched out his hand and touched the head of the young subdeacon of the Church, and the spectators burst into applause" (Bernard, p. 42)