There was a very stingy man who never gave entertainments at home. One day,
his neighbor obtained the use of his hall and gave a banquet there.
A passer-by who saw the scene of bustle and excitement asked the valet of the
stingy man: "Is your master entertaining his guests today?"
"Decidedly not, " answered the valet. " It'll be a generation
hence that you will hear of our master giving a dinner party. "
His master happened to overhear the remark and soundly berated him: "Who gave you leave to fix a date?"