“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 it an honour to serve her.”  “Very well,” said Matta, “I think she is very deserving, and since you insist upon it, I am her servant and gallant, to oblige you.”

“You think, perhaps,” continued the other, “that the same custom prevails in this country as in your own, and that the ladies have lovers, with no other intentions than to grant them favours:  undeceive yourself if you please, and know, 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 attack Matta on his strong side, that is to say, on his learning.

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:  this appeased them; and the entertainment ended with 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 Serjeant La Place, with his ambuscade.