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Rh LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. 305 that the small estate at Oorbeil was going to be sold by one of Monsieur Fouquet's creditors; and you," also, who pro- posed that all his friends should subscribe; more than that, too, it was you who said that you would sell a corner of your house at Chateau-Thierry, in order to furnish your own proportion, and you come and ask, 'The payment of what?' " This remark was received with a general laugh, which made La Fontaine blush. "I beg your pardon," he said, "I had not forgotten it; oh, no! only " "Only you remembered nothing about it," replied Loret. "That is the truth, and the fact is, he is quite right; there is a great difference between forgetting and not remembering." "Well, then," added Pelisson, "you bring your mite in the shape of the price of the piece of land you have sold?" "Sold? no!" "Have you not sold the field, then?" inquired De Gour- ville, in astonishment, for he knew the poet's disin- terestedness. "My wife would not let me," replied the latter, at which there were fresh bursts of laughter, "And yet you went to Chateau -Thierry for that pur- pose," said some one. ""Certainly I did, and on horseback." "Poor fellow!" "I had eight different horses, and I was almost jolted to death." "'You are an excellent fellow! And you rested yourself when you arrived there?" "Rested! Oh, of course I did, for I had an immense deal of work to do." "How so?" "My wife had been flirting with the man to whom I wished to sell the land. The fellow drew back from his bargain, and so I challenged him." "Very good; and you fought?" "It seems not." "You know nothing about it, I suppose?" "No; my wife and her relations interfered in the matter. I was kept a quarter of an hour with my sword in my hand; but I was not wounded." "And your adversary?"
 * 'What! absent as usual! AVhy, it was you who told us