1673 - He was called to the bar, and bought a post in the revenue department at Caen, which gave him status and an income.
1688 - His Caractères appeared, and at once, as Nicolas de Malezieu had predicted, brought him "bien des lecteurs et bien des ennemis".
1691 - He was defeated thrice, and on one memorable occasion he had but seven votes, five of which were those of Bossuet, Boileau, Racine, Paul Pellisson and Bussy-Rabutin.
1693 - He was elected, and even then an epigram, which, considering his admitted insignificance in conversation, was not of the worst, lacesit lateri: