Prault writes that he has deferred replying to Voltaire’s last letter [D8704] because he fell out with the editors of Receuil D1 who wanted to include the libellous piece that Prault wanted to remove to protect Voltaire’s reputation. He claims that the editors wanted this piece printed in other collections and that he protested against this (to no avail). Prault then notes that he visited D’Argental three times, knowing him to be a friend to Voltaire, but that he never found him at home, finding him there on a fourth visit. He begged for D’Argental’s help, he notes, and D’Argental promised to do so. Prault then notes that he visited Malesherbes, explaining to him that he had the rights to Voltaire’s libellous work because he had bought it from his father, and showing Malesherbes his correspondence with Voltaire outlining his commitment to prevent the piece from being published. Malesherbes told him to order the printers not to print the collections, and to see the censor to recommend that he did not approve the documents if they were sent to him.