“How long since this adventure?” ask’d the prude Orphisa.

“Madam,” replied Hannetillon, “its epoch is not present to my memory. I must have recourse to the chronological tables of my good fortune. There may be seen the day and minute: but ’tis a large volume, with which my servants amuse themselves in the antechamber.”

“Hold,” says Alciphenor; “I recollect that it was precisely a year after Grifgrif fell out with Madam la Seneschale. She has the memory of an angel, and can tell you exactly.”

“That nothing is more false than your date,” answered the Seneschal’s lady gravely. “ ’Tis well known that blockheads were never of my taste.”

“Yet, madam,” replied Alciphenor, “you will never persuade us, that Marmolin was excessively wise, when he was conducted into your apartment by the back stairs, whenever his highness summoned the Seneschal to council.”