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latter, to make the former more desirous of his acquaintance; and in the display of a thousand other accomplishments, knowing what an infatuation the Marquis had for the very name of erudition, he assured him that Matta was one of the most learned men in Europe.

The Marquis, therefore, from the moment they sat down to supper, had expected some stroke of learning from Matta, to bring his own into play; but he was much out in his reckoning. No one had read less, no one thought less, and no one had ever spoken so little at an entertainment as he had done as he did not wish to enter into conversation, he opened his mouth only to eat, or ask for wine.

The other, being offended at a silence which appeared to him affected, and wearied with having uselessly attacked him upon other subjects, thought he might get something out of him by changing the discourse to love and gallantry; and therefore, to begin the subject, he accosted him in this

manner:

"Since you are my wife's gallant"-"I!" said Matta, who wished to carry it discreetly: "those who told you so, told a damned lie." "Zounds, Sir," said the Marquis, "you speak in a tone which does not at all become you; for I would have you to know, notwithstanding your contemptuous airs, that the Marchioness de Senantes is perhaps as worthy of your attentions as any of your French ladies, and that I have known some, greatly your superiors, who have thought t an honour to serve her." 66 Very well," said Matta; "I hink she is very deserving, and since you insist upon it, I m her servant and gallant, to oblige you."

"You think, perhaps," continued the other, "that the ame custom prevails in this country as in your own, and that he ladies have lovers, with no other intentions than to grant

likewise, that even if such events were frequent in this court, I should not be at all uneasy." "Nothing can be more civil,” said Matta, "but wherefore would you not?" "I will tell you why," replied he: "I am well acquainted with the affection my wife entertains for me; I am acquainted with her discretion towards all the world; and what is more, I am acquainted with my own merit."

"You have a most uncommon acquaintance then," replied Matta; "I congratulate you upon it; I have the honour to drink it in a bumper." The Marquis pledged him; but seeing that the conversation dropped on their ceasing to drink, after two or three healths, he wished to make a second attempt, and attacked Matta on his strong side, that is to say, on his learning.

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He desired him, therefore, to tell him, at what time he thought the Allobroges came to settle in Piedmont. Matta, who wished him and his Allobroges at the devil, said, “that it must be in the time of the civil wars.' "I doubt that," said the other. "Just as you like," said Matta. "Under what consulate ?" replied the Marquis. "Under that of the League," said Matta, "when the Guises brought the Lansquenets into France; but what the devil does that signify?"

The Marquis was tolerably warm, and naturally savage, so that God knows how the conversation would have ended, if the Chevalier de Grammont had not unexpectedly come in to appease them. It was some time before he could find out what their debate was; for the one had forgotten the questions, and the other the answers, which had disobliged him, in order to reproach the Chevalier with his eternal passion for play, which made him always uncertain. The Chevalier, who knew that he was still more culpable than they thought, bore it all with patience, and condemned himself more than they desired.

greater tranquillity than it had begun. The conversation was again reduced to order; but he could not enliven it as he usually did. He was in very ill humour, and as he pressed them every minute to rise from table, the Marquis was of opinion that he had lost a great deal. Matta said, on the contrary, that he had won; but for want of precautions had made perhaps an unfortunate retreat; and asked him if he had not stood in need of Sergeant La Place, with his ambusade.

This piece of history was beyond the comprehension of the Marquis, and being afraid that Matta might explain it, the Chevalier changed the discourse, and was for rising from able; but Matta would not consent to it. This effected a econciliation between him and the Marquis, who thought his was a piece of civility intended for him; however, it was ot for him, but for his wine, to which Matta had taken a rodigious liking.

The Duchess, who knew the character of the Marquis, was armed with the account which the Chevalier de Grammont ave her of the entertainment and conversation; she sent for [atta to know the truth of it from himself; he confessed, at before the Allobroges were mentioned the Marquis was r quarrelling with him, because he was not in love with his ife.

Their acquaintance having begun in this manner, all the teem which the Marquis had formerly expressed for the evalier seemed now directed towards Matta. He went ery day to pay Matta a visit, and Matta was every day with s wife. This did not at all suit the Chevalier. He rented of his having chid Matta, whose assiduity now interoted all his schemes; and the Marchioness was still more barrassed. Whatever wit a man may have, it will never

she had been formerly guilty of some trifling advances towards him.

Matta began to find charms in her person, and might have found the same in her conversation, if she had been inclined to display them; but it is impossible to be in good humour with persons who thwart our designs. While his passion increased, the Chevalier de Grammont was solely occupied in endeavouring to find out some method, by which he might accomplish his intrigue; and this was the stratagem which he put in execution, to clear the coast, by removing at one and the same time both the lover and the husband.

He told Matta, that they ought to invite the Marquis to supper at their lodgings, and he would take upon himself to provide every thing proper for the occasion. Matta desired to know if it was to play at quinze, and assured him that he should take care to render abortive any intention he might have to engage in play, and leave him alone with the greatest blockhead in all Europe. The Chevalier de Grammont did not entertain any such thought, being persuaded that it would be impossible to take advantage of any such opportunity, in whatever manner he might take his measures, and that they would seek for him in every corner of the city rather than allow him the least repose: his whole attention was therefore employed in rendering the entertainment agreeable, in finding out means of prolonging it, in order ultimately to kindle some dispute between the Marquis and Matta. For this purpose he put himself in the best humour in the world, and the wine produced the same effect on the rest of the company.

The Chevalier de Grammont expressed his concern, that he had not been able to give the Marquis a little concert, as he had intended in the morning; for the musicians had been

them at his country-house the following evening, and invited the same company to sup with him there. Matta asked what the devil they wanted with music, and maintained, that it was of no use on such occasions but for women, who had something to say to their lovers, while the fiddles prevented them from being overheard; or for fools, who had nothing to say when the music ended. They ridiculed all his arguments: the party was fixed for the next day, and the music was voted by the majority of voices. The Marquis, to console Matta, as well as to do honour to the entertainment, toasted a great many healths: Matta was more ready to listen to his arguments on this topic than in a dispute; but the Chevalier, perceiving that a little would irritate them, desired nothing more earnestly than to see them engaged in some new controversy. It was in vain that he had from time to time started some subject of discourse with this intention; but having luckily thought of asking what was his lady's maiden ame, Senantes, who was a great genealogist, as all fools are vho have good memories, immediately began by tracing out er family, by an endless confused string of lineage. The Chevalier seemed to listen to him with great attention; and erceiving that Matta was almost out of patience, he desired im to attend to what the Marquis was saying, for that othing could be more entertaining. "All this may be very rue," said Matta; "but for my part, I must confess, if I ere married, I should rather choose to inform myself who as the real father of my children, than who were my wife's randfathers." The Marquis, smiling at this rudeness, did ot leave off until he had traced back the ancestors of his pouse, from line to line, as far as Yolande de Senautes : fter this, he offered to prove, in less than half an hour, that e Grammonts came originally from Spain. Very well,"

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