The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

When all was set to rights, I came downstairs again into the basse cour with my valet de place, in order to sally out towards the tomb of the two lovers, etc.

-- and was a second time stopp'd at the gate -- -- -not by the ass -- but by the person who struck him; and who, by that time, had taken possession (as is not uncommon after a defeat) of the very spot of ground where the ass stood.