His lordship smiled and said very pleasantly that he would read it after dinner, and would see what he could do for his friend Zaguri. Our dialogue was over in a few seconds. Thinking him extremely rude I turned my back and went downstairs, arriving just in time to prevent the postillion taking out the horses. I promised him a double gratuity if he would take me to some village at hand, where he could bait his horses while I breakfasted. Just as the postillion had got on horseback a servant came running up. He told me very politely that his excellence begged me to step upstairs. I put my hand in my pocket and gave the man my card with my name and address, and telling him that that was what his master wanted, I ordered the postillion to drive off at a full gallop. When we had gone half a league we stopped at a good inn, and then proceeded on our way back to Bologna. The same day I wrote to M. de Zaguri, and described the welcome I had received at the hands of the marquis. I enclosed the letter in another to M. Dandolo, begging him to read it, and to send it on. I begged the noble Venetian to write to the marquis that having offended me grievously he must prepare to give me due satisfaction. I laughed with all my heart next day when my landlady gave me a visiting card with the inscription, General the Marquis of Albeygati. She told me the marquis had called on me himself, and on hearing I was out had left his card. I began to look upon the whole of his proceedings as pure gasconnade, only lacking the wit of the true Gascon. I determined to await M. Zaguri's reply before making up my mind as to the kind of satisfaction I should demand. While I was inspecting the card, and wondering what right the marquis had to the title of general, Severini came in, and informed me that the marquis had been made a Knight of the Order of St. Stanislas by the King of Poland, who had also given him the style of royal chamberlain. "Is he a general in the Polish service as well?" I asked. "I really don't know." "I understand it all," I said to myself. "In Poland a chamberlain has the rank of adjutant-general, and the marquis calls himself general. But general what? The adjective without a substantive is a mere cheat." I saw my opportunity, and wrote a comic dialogue, which I had printed the next day. I made a present of the work to a bookseller, and in three or four days he sold out the whole edition at a bajocco apiece. CHAPTER XIX Farinello and the Electress Dowager of Saxony--Madame Slopitz--Nina--The Midwife--Madame Soavi--Abbe Bolini--Madame Viscioletta--The Seamstress--The Sorry Pleasure of Revenge--Severini Goes to Naples--My Departure--Marquis Mosca Anyone who attacks a proud person in a comic vein is almost sure of success; the laugh is generally on his side.