MASC. It is I, I tell you, who told it to your father, and produced this happy result for you.
VAL. Really, without jesting?
MASC. The devil take me if I jest, and if it is not as I tell you.
VAL. (_Drawing his sword_). And may he take me if I do not this very moment reward you for it.
MASC. Ha, sir! what now? Don"t surprise me.
VAL. Is this the fidelity you promised me? If I had not deceived you, you would never have owned the trick which I rightly suspected you played me. You rascal! your tongue, too ready to wag, has provoked my father"s wrath against me, and utterly ruined me. You shall die without saying another word.
MASC. Gently; my soul is not in a fit condition to die. I entreat you, be kind enough to await the result of this affair. I had very good reasons for revealing a marriage which you yourself could hardly conceal. It was a masterpiece of policy; you will not find your rage justified by the issue. Why should you get angry if, through me, you get all you desire, and are freed from the constraint you at present lie under?
VAL. And what if all this talk is nothing but moonshine?
MASC. Why, then, it will be time enough to kill me; but my schemes may perchance succeed. Heaven will a.s.sist his own servants; you will be satisfied in the end, and thank me for my extraordinary management.
VAL. Well, we shall see. But Lucile...
MASC. Hold, here comes her father
SCENE VIII.--ALBERT, VALeRE, MASCARILLE.
ALB. (_Not seeing Valere_). The more I recover from the confusion into which I fell at first, the more I am astonished at the strange things Polydore told me, and which my fear made me interpret in so different a manner to what he intended. Lucile maintains that it is all nonsense, and spoke to me in such a manner as leaves no room for suspicion... Ha! sir, it is you whose unheard-of impudence sports with my honour, and invents this base story?
MASC. Pray, Signor Albert, use milder terms, and do not be so angry with your son-in-law.
ALB. How! son-in-law, rascal? You look as if you were the main-spring of this intrigue, and the originator of it.
MASC. Really I see no reason for you to fly in such a pa.s.sion.
ALB. Pray, do you think it right to take away the character of my daughter, and bring such a scandal upon a whole family?
MASC. He is ready to do all you wish.
ALB. I only want him to tell the truth. If he had any inclination for Lucile, he should have courted her in an honourable and open way; he should have acted as he ought, and asked her father"s leave; and not have had recourse to this cowardly contrivance, which offends modesty so much.
MASC. What! Lucile is not secretly engaged to my master?
ALB. No, rascal, nor ever will be.
MASC. Not quite so fast! If the thing is already done, will you give your consent to ratify that secret engagement?
ALB. And if it is certain that it is not so, will you have your bones broken?
VAL. It is easy, sir, to prove to you that he speaks the truth.
ALB. Good! there is the other! Like master, like man. O! what impudent liars!
MASC. Upon the word of a man of honour, it is as I say.
VAL. Why should we deceive you?
ALB. (_Aside_) They are two sharpers that know how to play into each other"s hands.
MASC. But let us come to the proof, and without quarrelling. Send for Lucile, and let her speak for herself.
ALB. And what if she should prove you a liar?
MASC. She will not contradict us, sir; of that I am certain. Promise to give your consent to their engagement; and I will suffer the severest punishment if, with her own mouth, she does not confess to you that she is engaged to Valere, and shares his pa.s.sion.
ALB. We shall see this presently. (_He knocks at his door_).
MASC. (To Valere). Courage, Sir; all will end well.
ALB. Ho! Lucile, one word with you.
VAL. (_To Mascarille_), I fear...
MASC. Fear nothing.
SCENE IX.--VALeRE, ALBERT, LUCILE, MASCARILLE.
MASC. Signor Albert, at least be silent. At length, madam, everything conspires to make your happiness complete. Your father, who is informed of your love, leaves you your husband and gives his permission to your union, provided that, banishing all frivolous fears, a few words from your own mouth corroborate what we have told him.
LUC. What nonsense does this impudent scoundrel tell me?
MASC. That is all right. I am already honoured with a fine t.i.tle.
LUC. Pray, sir, who has invented this nice story which has been spread about today?
VAL. Pardon me, charming creature. My servant has been babbling; our marriage is discovered, without my consent.
LUC. Our marriage?
VAL. Everything is known, adorable Lucile; it is vain to dissemble.
LUC. What! the ardour of my pa.s.sion has made you my husband?
VAL. It is a happiness which causes a great many heart-burnings. But I impute the successful result of my courtship less to your great pa.s.sion for me than to your kindness of heart. I know you have cause to be offended, that it was the secret which you would fain have concealed. I myself have put a restraint on my ardour, so that I might not violate your express commands; but...