"Well, at that dinner they said to you: 'M. Dumas, you ought to
write a play for Rouen based upon some subject taken from its
own history.'"

"To which I replied: 'Nothing easier; I will come at your first
summons and spend a fortnight in Rouen. You can suggest the subject,
and during that fortnight I will write the play, the royalties
of which I shall devote to the poor.'"

"That is true, you said that."

"I see nothing sufficiently insulting in that to incur the hatred
of the Rouenese."

"Yes, but they added: 'Will you write it in prose?' To which you
replied--Do you remember what you answered?"

"My faith! no."

"You replied: 'I will write it in verse; it is soonest done.'"

"That sounds like me. Well, what then?"

"Then! That was an insult to Corneille, M. Dumas; that is why
the Rouenese are down on you, and will be for a long time."

Verbatim!

Oh, worthy Rouenese! I trust that you will never serve me so ill