An amazing, incredible tale; but it seemed familiar.
"That," said I, at last, "is incident for incident a scene out of _L'Histoire Comique de Francion._" "Never heard of it," said Pasquale, flashing.
"It was the first French novel of manners published about 1620 and written by a man called Sorel.

I don't dream of accusing you of plagiarism, my dear fellow--that's absurd.

But the ridiculous coincidence struck me.

You and the Grefin and the rest of you were merely reenacting a three hundred year old farce." "Rubbish!" said Pasquale.
"I'll show you," said I.
After wandering for a moment or two round my shelves, I remembered that the book was in the dining-room.

I left Pasquale and went downstairs.
I knew it was on one of the top shelves near the ceiling.