It is from this point onwards that our information grows scanty and confused.  We know that Voltaire was in Calais early in May, and it is generally agreed that he crossed over to England shortly afterwards.  His subsequent movements are uncertain.  We find him established at Wandsworth in the middle of October, but it is probable that in the interval he had made a secret journey to Paris with the object—­in which he did not succeed—­of challenging the Chevalier de Rohan to a duel.  Where he lived during these months is unknown, but apparently it was not in London.  The date of his final departure from England is equally in doubt; M. Foulet adduces some reasons for supposing that he returned secretly to France in November 1728, and in that case the total length of the English visit was just two and a half years.  Churton Collins, however, prolongs it until March 1729.  A similar obscurity hangs over all the details of Voltaire’s stay.  Not only are his own extant letters during this period unusually few, but allusions to him in contemporary English correspondences are almost entirely absent.  We have to depend upon scattered hints, uncertain inferences, and conflicting rumours.  We know that he stayed for some time at Wandsworth with a certain Everard Falkener in circumstances which he described to Thieriot in a letter in English—­an English quaintly flavoured with the gay impetuosity of another race.  ‘At my coming to London,’ he wrote, ’I found my damned Jew was broken.’ (He had depended upon some bills of exchange drawn upon a Jewish broker.)

I was without a penny, sick to dye of a violent ague, stranger, alone, helpless, in the midst of a city wherein I was known to nobody; my Lord and Lady Bolingbroke were into the country; I could not make bold to see our ambassadour in so wretched a condition.  I had never undergone such distress; but I am born to run through all the misfortunes of life.  In these circumstances my star, that among all its direful influences pours allways on me some kind refreshment, sent to me an English gentleman unknown to me, who forced me to receive some money that I wanted.  Another London citisen that I had seen but once at Paris, carried me to his own country house, wherein I lead an obscure and charming life since that time, without going to London, and quite given over to the pleasures of indolence and friendshipp.  The true and generous affection of this man who soothes the bitterness of my life brings me to love you more and more.  All the instances of friendshipp indear my friend Tiriot to me.  I have seen often mylord and mylady Bolinbroke; I have found their affection still the same, even increased in proportion to my unhappiness; they offered me all, their money, their house; but I have refused all, because they are lords, and I have accepted all from Mr. Faulknear because he is a single gentleman.

We know that the friendship thus begun continued for many years, but as to who or what Everard Falkener was—­besides the fact that he was a ’single gentleman’—­we have only just information enough to make us wish for more.