Casanova

During his visit to England, Casanova encountered another kind of behaviour to which he was not used elsewhere.

Emerging from a place of public entertainment one night in London, he found himself without transport back to his lodgings.

So he was glad to accept the offer from a woman for a lift in her carriage.

As they rolled along, the Venetian philanderer sensed a certain availability, and soon was enjoying his companion's favours on the way to his destination.

A few days later, on paying a social call

at a private house,

his nibs saw the said woman in the

drawing-room, reading a newspaper.

He approached her and - clearly expecting an affirmative and gladsome reply - said: "Madame, do you remember me?"

"I remember you perfectly, sir," she said, "but such an adventure is not a basis for acquaintanceship." And she resumed her reading.

(The exchanges took place in French. Casanova had very little English.)