When the comedy was nearly completed, Moliere began trying to think of a name to give the main character in the play, who is an imposter.  One day while at dinner with the Papal Nuncio, he noticed two ecclesiastics, whose air of pretended mortification fairly represented the character he had depicted in the play.  While considering them closely, a peddler came along with truffles to sell.  One of the pious ecclesiastics who knew very little Italian, pricked up his ears at the word truffles, which seemed to have a familiar sound.  Suddenly coming out of his devout silence, he selected several of the finest of the truffles, and holding them out to the nuncio, exclaimed with a laugh:  “Tartuffoli, Tartuffoli, signor Nuncio!” imagining that he was displaying his knowledge of the Italian language by calling out “Truffles, truffles, signor Nuncio,” whereas, what he did say was “Hypocrites, hypocrites, Signor Nuncio.”  Moliere who was always a close and keen observer of everything that transpired around him, seized upon the name “Tartuffe” as suitable to the hypocritical imposter in his comedy.

Ninon’s brilliancy was so animated, particularly at table, that she was said to be intoxicated at the soup, although she rarely drank anything but water.  Her table was always surrounded by the wittiest of her friends and her own flashes kept their spirits up to the highest point.  The charm of her conversation was equal to the draughts of Nepenthe which Helen lavished upon her guests, according to Homer to charm and enchant them.

One story told about Ninon is not to her credit if true, and it is disputed.  A great preacher arose in France, the “Eagle of the Pulpit,” as he was called, or “The great Pan,” as Madame de Sevigne, loved to designate him.  His renown for eloquence and piety reached Ninon’s ears and she conceived a scheme, so it is said; to bring this great orator to her feet.  She had held in her chains from time to time, all the heroes, and illustrious men of France, and she considered Pere Bourdaloue worthy of a place on the list.  She accordingly arrayed herself in her most fascinating costume, feigned illness and sent for him.  But Pere Bourdaloue was not a man to be captivated by any woman, and, moreover, he was a man too deeply versed in human perversity to be easily deceived.  He came at her request, however, and to her question as to her condition he answered:  “I perceive that your malady exists only in your heart and mind; as to your body, it appears to me to be in perfect health.  I pray the great physician of souls that he will heal you.”  Saying which he left her without ceremony.

The story is probably untrue and grew out of a song of the times, to ridicule the attempts of numerous preachers to convert Ninon from her way of living.  They frequented her social receptions but those were always public, as she never trusted herself to any one without the knowledge and presence of some of her “Birds,” taking that precaution for her own safety and to avoid any appearance of partiality.  The song referred to, composed by some unknown scribe begins as follows: