qui as fait l'Annee
galante! Bonjour." Later on, the men of letters returned the custom. The
day came when Fabre d'Eglantine said to the Duchesse de Rohan, "N'est-tu
pas la Chabot?"

For Barkilphedro to be "thee'd" and "thou'd" was a success; he was
overjoyed by it. He had aspired to this contemptuous familiarity. "Lady
Josiana thees-and-thous me," he would say to himself. And he would rub
his hands. He profited by this theeing-and-thouing to make further way.
He became a sort of constant attendant in Josiana's private rooms; in no
way troublesome; unperceived; the duchess would almost have changed her
shift before him. All this, however, was precarious. Barkilphedro was
aiming at a position. A duchess was half-way; an underground passage
which did not lead to the queen was having bored for nothing.

One day Barkilphedro said to Josiana,--

"Would your Grace like to make my fortune?".

"What dost thou want?"

"An appointment."

"An appointment? for thee!"

"Yes, madam."

"What an idea! _thou_ to ask for an appointment! thou, who art good for
nothing."

"That's just the reason."

Josiana burst out laughing.

"Among the offices to which thou art unsuited, which dost thou desire?"

"That of cork drawer of the bottles of the ocean."

Josiana's laugh redoubled.

"What meanest thou? Thou art fooling."

"No, madam."

"To amuse myself, I shall answer you seriously," said the duchess. "What
dost thou wish to be? Repeat it."

"Uncorker of the bottles of the ocean."

"Everything is possible at court. Is there an appointment of that kind?"

"Yes, madam."

"This is news to me. Go on."

"There is such an appointment."

"Swear it on the soul which thou dost not possess."

"I swear it."

"I do not believe thee."

"Thank you, madam."

"Then thou wishest? Begin again."

"To uncork the bottles of the ocean."

"That is a situation which can give little trouble. It is like grooming
a bronze horse."

"Very nearly."

"Nothing to do. Well 'tis a situation to suit thee. Thou art good for
that much."

"You see I am good for something."

"Come! thou art talking nonsense. Is there such an appointment?"

Barkilphedro assumed an attitude of deferential gravity. "Madam, you had
an august father, James II., the king, and you have an illustrious
brother-in-law, George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland; your father was,
and your brother is, Lord High Admiral of England--"

"Is what thou tellest me fresh new