“In real earnest?”
“Yes, in real earnest. She threw a loaf of bread at my head, a large loaf.”
“And what did you do?”
“Oh! I upset the table over her and her guests; and then I got on my horse again, and here I am.”
Every one had great difficulty in keeping his countenance at the exposure of this heroi-comedy, and when the laughter had subsided, one of the guests present said to La Fontaine: “Is that all you have brought back?”
“Oh, no! I have an excellent idea in my head.”
“What is it?”
“Have you noticed that there is a good deal of sportive, jesting poetry written in France?”
“Yes, of course,” replied every one.
“And,” pursued La Fontaine, “only a very small portion of it is printed.”