He laughed heartily, but he said I was right.
Her niece arrived a few minutes after; she was a young girl about fourteen years of age, reserved, modest, and very intelligent.

I had given her five or six lessons in Italian, and as she was very fond of that language and studied diligently she was beginning to speak.
Wishing to pay me her compliments in Italian, she said to me, "'Signore, sono in cantata di vi Vader in bona salute'." "I thank you, mademoiselle; but to translate 'I am enchanted', you must say 'ho pacer', and for to see you, you must say 'di vedervi'." "I thought, sir, that the 'vi' was to be placed before." "No, mademoiselle, we always put it behind." Monsieur and Madame Preodot were dying with laughter; the young lady was confused, and I in despair at having uttered such a gross absurdity; but it could not be helped.

I took a book sulkily, in the hope of putting a stop to their mirth, but it was of no use: it lasted a week.

That uncouth blunder soon got known throughout Paris, and gave me a sort of reputation which I lost little by little, but only when I understood the double meanings of words better.

Crebillon was much amused with my blunder, and he told me that I ought to have said after instead of behind.