When Walpole received Madame Du Deffand's bequest of both her snuff box and her little black spaniel in May 1781, he wrote to William Mason, "[Tonton] is arrived and . . . it is incredible how fond I am of it, but I have no occasion to brag of my dogmanity. I dined at Richmond House the other day, and mentioning whither I was going, the Duke said, "Own the truth, shall not you call at home first and see Tonton?" He guessed rightly. He is now sitting on my paper as I write--not the Duke, but Tonton."