red partridges.  “And why not?” said Matta:  “ought they to have been blue, too, to match the cockade and sword-knots you made me wear the other day?  Plague not me with your nonsensical whimsies:  my life on it, in one fortnight your equal in foppery and folly will not be found throughout the confines of Turin; but, to reply to your questions, I did not call upon Monsieur de Senantes, because I had nothing to do with him, and because he is of a species of animals which I dislike, and always shall dislike:  as for you, you appear quite charmed with being decked out in green ribands, with writing letters to your mistress, and filling your pockets with citrons, pistachios, and such sort of stuff, with which you are always cramming the poor girl’s mouth, in spite of her teeth:  you hope to succeed by chanting ditties composed in the days of Corisande and of Henry IV., which you will swear yourself have made upon her:  happy in practising the ceremonials of gallantry, you have no ambition for the essentials.  Very well:  every one has a particular way of acting, as well as a particular taste:  your’s is to trifle in love; and, provided you can make Mademoiselle de St. Germain laugh, you are satisfied:  as for my part, I am persuaded, that women here are made of the same materials as in other places; and I do not think that they can be mightily offended, if one sometimes leaves off trifling, to come to the point:  however, if the Marchioness is not of this way of thinking, she may e’en provide herself elsewhere; for I can assure her, that I shall not long act the part of her squire.”

This was an unnecessary menace; for the Marchioness in reality liked him very well, was nearly of the same way of thinking herself, and wished for nothing more than to put his gallantry to the test.  But Matta proceeded upon a wrong plan; he had conceived such an aversion for her husband, that he could not prevail upon himself to make the smallest advance towards his good graces.  He was given to understand that he ought to begin by endeavouring to lull the dragon to sleep, before he could gain possession of the treasure; but this was all to no purpose, though, at the same time, he could never see his mistress but in public.  This made him impatient, and as he was lamenting his ill-fortune to her one day:  “Have the goodness, madam,” said he, “to let me know where you live:  there is never a day that I do not call upon you, at least, three or four times, without ever being blessed with a sight of you.”  “I generally sleep at home,” replied she, laughing; “but I must tell you, that you will never find me there, if you do not first pay a visit to the Marquis:  I am not mistress of the house.  I do not tell you,” continued she, “that he is a man whose acquaintance any one would very impatiently covet for his conversation:  on the contrary, I agree that his humour is fantastical, and his manners not of the pleasing cast; but there is nothing so savage and inhuman, which a little care, attention, and complaisance may not tame into docility.  I must repeat to you some verses upon the subject:  I have got them by heart, because they contain a little advice, which you may accommodate, if you please, to your own case.”