Argon is trying to avoid showing himself to the Widow, who grabs him
by the arm.
Widow
I will prove it all to you. Can you doubt it? But, stay one minute, at
least to listen to me.
Argon
Time presses. I have Lisette and the notary together. If Lucas appears
I will finish the business. In love, moments are precious to an older
person.
Widow
If you marry, a quarter of an hour later, you will have time to be
tired of Lisette and to repent a foolish act. Pardon the word, it's
from friendship for you. My zeal is not mixed with any jealous
transport. Better if you never marry me or the coquette. Be undeceived
and I will be satisfied. Eh--can you remain blind. I will prove to both
you and the Baron how she trapped you at once reconciling, by the same
management, traitorous simplicity and naïve lies. By the cleverest
tricks and the most lively manners, she's figured out how to get love
without giving any. She cold-bloodedly talks in the most tender way
and pretends with effrontery to be timidly embarrassed. Tears which go
right to the heart and which bother her not at all. She abuses his
weakness and yours. In offering you one hand, she gives him the other.
Thus a French coquette delivers perfidy with both hands, and if she
needs it will find another hand for a third.
Argon
You've said it twenty times. But for the hundredth time, you still
must prove it.
Widow
Speak low. I see the Baron and Lucas. Keep aside and you will perhaps
be able to see that not only Lucas prefers his master to you, but also
Lisette.
Argon
Let's see. I would be undeceived.
(Argon goes to the side. Enter Girard.)
Widow
Well?
Girard
Lucas is occupied with his Grand Prize.
Widow
But, does the Baron intend to marry--
Girard
Patience. I am given all the rents in advance. For it is I, who have
managed all. Lucas is metamorphosized into a great lord. Since he has
seen the lottery, his sudden riches trouble his head, and have changed
his type. He has nothing human remaining except his form and his
pride. Grave, deciding with a wink of his eye, disdaining to speak or
speaking by sentence. He believes people applaud his silence. Saluting
with his big head, puffed up, swollen, Lucas has become subtly
inflated with a contagious disease. He can be seen thrusting his paunch
two steps ahead of himself.
Widow
In that case, Girard, we must-- But Lisette is running this way. Mr.
Argon is following her. Things aren't turning out right.
Girard
No.
Widow
I am going to join Argon right away. Amuse these two here.
Girard
All that one plans, does not succeed.
(Exit Widow. Lucas is walking in grandly. The Baron, hat in hand,
follows Lucas, who puts his hat back on first.)
Baron
Yes, I beam with pleasure that fortune has fulfilled your wish.
Lucas
Although my fortune may be much higher than yours, I would be father
and companion to you, always. (slaps him on the shoulder) For I am not
proud.
Baron
Indeed, I see that, Lucas.
Girard
You see that the gentleman doesn't underrate himself. He deserves to
fill a great office.
Lucas
Haven't you retained a fine place for me at the Post? For that's
why I am going to Paris.
Girard
I already told you, they're looking for a carriage softer than a bed
for you.
Lucas
But, what's keeping the carriage. I don't want to have to wait.
Girard
The horses will soon be here at your orders. Wait for them here. Hola,
lackey, hola, some chairs.
(Lackeys enter with chairs. Lucas exchanges greetings with the Baron
and seats himself first.)
Lucas
Let's not have any manners while I'm here.
Baron
Let's talk about our business.
Lucas (not replying)
I've got a great idea just now.
Baron
We were discussing--
Lucas
In seeing me, all Paris is going to feast me. The one who won the
Grand Prize.
Baron
Before you leave--
Lucas
All the world will be beggars except me, because my wealth will divert
me. While I am in the grain, I am going to see people cry famine. What
a pleasure!
Baron
Then, Lucas, do you intend to reach a conclusion for my ardent love?
Lucas
They're going to propose to me some pretty expenses, pretty horses,
and pretty families to marry into. This business will increase wealth.
I'll buy whatever's for sale.
Girard
But, to ennoble you, you would have a gentleman for a son-in-law.
Baron
Lisette is waiting for us.
Lucas
I'll have all this, indeed, for when one is very rich, one attracts
all that for nothing.
Baron
You promised me--
Lucas (with an important air)
Huh!
Baron
To finish--
Lucas
What?
Baron
Our business.
Lucas
What business?
Baron
Ours, I have had the notary there, to write the contract. He's waiting
only for you. We are agreed between us.
Lucas
Ah, I believe that I remember something of it. Damn, when one has so
much business, one thinks only of the best. Yes, we spoke of marriage,
but it cannot be. There's only, but a bit--
Girard
What do I hear? What, then, you already intend to disown it?
Baron
Remember, Lucas, that I was your master.
Girard
Lucas, remember that there's great honor, a handsome alliance to have
a lord for a son-in-law.
Lucas
Oh, it's money which makes the best marriages.
Baron
What, you no longer intend?
Lucas
I want no part of your lineage.
Baron
What?
Lucas
But, it's necessary to listen to me. I am a native of this hamlet.
That means, that from friendship, I love your earth, your chateau.
Yet, it's not mine if you become my son-in-law. My opinion is it would
be better if you sold it to me.
Baron
You're joking, I believe. Sell you my chateau?
Lucas
It is all dilapidated, but I will make a lot of improvements.
Baron
He's gone crazy.
Girard (low)
This rascal scorns you.
Lucas
The land will ennoble me. That's what I want of you. While at Paris I
increase my money, you keep the land fallow.
Girard
You will be his farmer.
Baron (rising)
This is too much insolence.
Girard (to Baron)
Sir, calm down. I promise you revenge.
Lucas (aside, also rising)
This little gentleman, he heard all that. He owes money everywhere,
but he believes he is to be respected. But, I will have his chateau.
He'd better leave. He has some creditors. I will have it through the
law.
Girard (after having spoken low to the Baron)
We have done all, sir, for your good. But to revenge yourself, better
say nothing.
(Enter Lisette.)
Lisette
I have been looking for you everywhere. Ouf! I'm out of breath. To
find you, father, took a lot of trouble. I have run--for they say--but
I don't believe it--I heard it everywhere--the Grand Prize. These are
the compliments that greet me everywhere. They say a hundred thousand
francs. Is it true, father?
Lucas
True.
Lisette (impressed)
A hundred thousand francs!
(Enter Argon and the Widow.)
Argon (who runs after her)
Well, are you fleeing from me? Speak! Since you've heard about the lottery, and
you know the news, you scorn me.
Lisette
Yes.
Argon
This is a handsome fortune. But, it ought not to attract your scorn to
me. Answer me, at least. Will you marry me?
Lisette
I obey my father. He has told me that he wishes to defer this
business. (low to Lucas and making a sign with her eyes to him) Tell
him that it's you who refuse.
Lucas
Good, good.
Lisette
That costs nothing. Get me off.
Lucas
No.
Lisette (signaling with her eyes)
Tell them something that will end my engagement, at least.
Lucas
Eh! You trouble yourself too much about them. Leave off your
winking. Not necessary for any polish. You have what you need to
marry.
Widow
Her father covets her, the opulent fool. Foolishness that he doesn't
try to excuse.
Argon
By her own fault, she herself disabused me. As for me, so as not to
risk another love trick, I'm engaging myself to you.
Widow
Friendship without love. That's what we agree makes a good marriage.
Love is restless and bores itself in a household.
Baron
You would have had our wealth. You will be confounded.
Lucas
Let them say--then you will have three times more, four times more.
Lisette
Let's go quickly to Paris to be in abundance.
Lucas
Between the land and our money--there's the difference. Their land and
their chateau. It's nothing but a little plot. It will never increase,
no, not even an abortion. But my money is in a great adventure. It
will swell at first, and then like a river, it will increase.
Lisette
Increase.
Lucas
Increase--it will increase.
Lisette
Ah, how I will have lovers who will respect me. What happiness! I will
see brilliant fortunes. What a following I am going to have. Lackeys,
servants.
Girard
And valets de chambre--for page--Girard.
Lucas
Let them bring on my horses.
Widow
They will harness you a carriage.
Girard
Go on foot, from fear that your carriage will break down. This is
going to reform the pomp of your train. (giving the list to Lisette)
This is the true list.
Widow
Yes, the reversal is very afflicting. But you've shone already for
your money. A hundred thousand francs for you in the air.
Baron
One hundred thousand francs to laugh at.
Lisette
What are they talking about? What?
Lucas (looking for the place where the prize was shown in his other
list)
Eh! Go on, go on, let them talk. Here, here. It's here. For Lucas, the
Grand Prize.
Baron
You will not buy my chateau, master fool.
Lucas (troubled)
It was there.
Girard
The zeroes are left.
Lisette
Oh! Father, they are mocking you.
Argon
Yes, here's the mystery.
Widow
You have nothing.
Girard
But nothing--gets nothing. I made the false list, and I found wealth.
I've gotten all of Lucas' rents. My love for you makes heroic
sacrifices. I give them all to you, Lisette.
Argon
Let's go to supper at my place.
Baron
Yes, let's go.
Girard
Yes, I have pity for the trouble in which I see you. These gentlemen,
without their ranks. My offer ought to please you. They have made
their fortune, and I have my fortune to make. But, I am, in a day, by
myself, more amorous than the two of them can be in a month. They have
not been able to acquire a young girl. But nobility acquires more than
riches.
Lisette (to widow)
How much I owe you, Madame! It's you who turned my spirit upside down,
in telling me that one must be a coquette.
Widow
I am well punished for my bad advice. I agree, I was wrong.
Lisette (to Girard)
I listened to her. You must have a Baron, she always said. No, I would
never have thought of anyone but you, except for her. If I had
followed my natural inclination, from tenderness I would have chosen
you.
Girard
Eh! Choose me then! Lucas will consent.
Lucas (in going)
Ouf!
Girard
Speak
Lucas
Ouf!
Girard
Two times ouf, in mute language, is worth one yes.
Widow
That's the fate of a coquette. After high prospects, one sees her,
sooner or later, confused, confounded, and reduced to a Girard.
CURTAIN
End of Project Gutenberg's The Village Coquette, by Riviere Dufresny