orning; for the musicians had been all pre-engaged. Upon this the
Marquis undertook to have 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 name, Senantes, who was a
great genealogist, as all fools are who have good memories, immediately
began by tracing out her family, by an endless confused string of
lineage. The Chevalier seemed to listen to him with great attention;
and perceiving that Matta was almost out of patience, he desired him to
attend to what the Marquis was saying, for that nothing could be more
entertaining. "All this may be very true," said Matta; "but for my part,
I must confess, if I were married, I should rather choose to inform
myself who was the real father of my children, than who were my wife's
grand fathers." The Marquis, smiling at this rudeness, did not leave off
until he had traced back the ancestors of his spouse, from line to line,
as far as Yolande de Senantes: after this he offered to prove, in less
than half an hour, that the Grammonts came originally from Spain. "Very
well," said Matta, "and pray what does it signify to us from whence the
Grammonts are descended? Do not you know, sir, that it is better to know
nothing at all, than to know too much?"

The Marquis maintained the contrary with great warmth, and was preparing
a formal argument to prove that an ignorant man is a fool; but the
Chevalier de Grammont, who was thoroughly acquainted with Matta saw very
clearly that he would send the logician to the devil before he should
arrive at the conclusion of hi