412 AN ATTACK UPON THE " 11IGHTS OF MAN." 



parte, to write to that general to stipulate for a private article in the 

 treaty, requiring the restitution of Count Zenobio's property in the 

 Venetian territory. This having been effectuated, the Count's grati- 

 tude to Paine induced him to invite the latter to consider his house as 

 a home, and Paine accordingly was a constant visitor at Zenobio's 

 residence, in Paris and in the country. 



The Count had taken a beautiful mansion and demesne, at a place 

 called Plaisepiquer, about half a league from Sceaux, and Paine, 

 who used to stay there for several days together, had a room in it 

 wholly appropriated to his use. Paine was rude in his manners, 

 domineering, and somewhat peevish ; fond of his bottle, though a 

 man always ready to do a friendly action, and very kind to those he 

 considered his inferiors ; Zenobio a learned, highly accomplished and po- 

 lite gentleman. It happened that on a Sunday evening, sometime in the 

 year 1798, he was sitting at table, after dinner, next to Court Zeno- 

 bio; there was a tolerably large party, and among others was citizen or 



Monsieur D , (a very particular friend of the Countess's), one of the 



Secretaries of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, whose little child, a 

 boy of about two or three years old, was placed on the table, where 

 he was trotting about, knocking down the glasses, spilling the wine, 

 pelting the fruit, and kicking up a devil of a noise. On his approach- 

 ing Paine, who was deeply engaged in a political discussion with the 

 Count, onwhich he might fancy the fate of Empires depended, Paine 

 turned round to a servant, and said snappishly, " take this troublesome 

 brat away out of the room." Madame Zenobio, (an Englishwoman, 

 and who ruled the roast), immediately said, commmandingly, " Mis- 

 ter Paine, that child shall remain wherever I am. " Then," said 

 Paine, unhesitatingly, <( take yourselves off, both together ." On 

 this, the Countess looked thunders at her little Count, who, rising 

 from table, said, " Mr. Paine, the Countess Zenobio is in her own 

 house, if any one, sir, is to leave the room, it must be you." Paine 

 left the room immediately, went to his chamber to make up his 

 bundle for departure, (a philosopher's luggage is generally of small 

 bulk), and having written a challenge to Count Zenobio, went back 

 to the dining-room, and asked if he could be accommodated with the 

 carriage to take him to Sceaux, where he would find the stage for 

 Paris. This was, of course, assented to. 



It happened that when Paine returned to the dining-room, Count 

 Zenobio was standing with his back to the fire and his hands behind 

 him; Paine assumed exactly the same position, and for the purpose of 

 preventing the act of delivering the challenge from being seen by the 

 ladies, who were still there, he slipped the paper into the Count's hand 

 behind, who never suspecting its import, read it immediately, tore it, 

 and threw the scraps in the fire, without saying a word. Paine instantly 

 gave him a slap in the face ! Then all became uproar and confusion ; 

 the male visitors flew at Paine ; the ladies screamed and fainted ; the 

 servants came to their master's assistance. Louis, the old butler, the 

 big fat Dutch footman, the humpbacked Italian Latin secretary, 

 cooks, scullions, dogs, and stable-boys, all, all attacked the unhappy 

 Paine, who was knocked down, mauled, and merely escaped broken 

 bones by the number and scramble of the assailants, and by the 



