castle in a wonderful citadel, this citadel in a celebrated town, this town in a fertile island, this island in an opulent province, this province in a flourishing monarchy, this monarchy in the whole world;² that if you gave me the world in which this flourishing monarchy would be, in which this opulent province would be, in which this fertile island would be, in which this celebrated town would be, in which this wonderful citadel would be, in which this gorgeous castle would be, in which this pleasant apartment would be, in which this rare museum would be, in which this wonderful chest would be, in which this precious case would be, in which this rich box would be, in which the purse full of gold would be, I should care no more for it than this (snaps his fingers and exit).

Bar. Well. I made a mistake. Seeing him dressed as a doctor, I felt that of necessity I must speak of money to him; but since he does not want any, nothing can be more easy than to satisfy him. I'll run after him. (Runs out.)

SCENE III.——ANGÉLIQUE, VALÈRE, CATHAU.

Ang. I assure you, sir, that you will oblige me very much by coming to see me sometimes: my husband is so ugly, so ill-behaved, and such a drunkard, that it is perfect martyrdom for me to be with him, and I ask you what pleasure one can have with such a clown as he is?

Val. You do me too much honour. I promise you I shall do my utmost to amuse you, and since you are kind enough to say that my company is not unpleasant, my care and attentions shall prove to you what pleasure this good news gives me.

Cat. Ay! quick, talk of something else; here's our old bugbear coming.

SCENE IV.——LE BARBOUILLÉ, VALÈRE, ANGÉLIQUE, CATHAU.

Val. Mademoiselle,³ I am very sorry to bring you such bad news, but, you would have heard it from some one else, and since your brother is ill….

Ang. Ah! say no more, sir, I am your servant, and thank you very much for the trouble you have taken.

(Exit Valère.)

Bar. Well! what need is there of my having a certificate of my cuckledom from the notary? So! so! you trollop! I find you with a man in spite of all my remonstrances, and you want to send me from Gemini to Capricornus.

Ang. Are you going to scold me for that? This gentleman only just came to tell me of my brother's serious illness: why should you make that a subject of quarrel?

Cat. Ah, directly I saw him, I wondered if we should be long in peace.

Bar. You spoil one another, you women; you, Cathau, you corrupt my wife; she is not half as good now as she was before she had you to wait upon her.

Cat. Really you treat me in a nice manner.

Ang. Leave the drunkard alone; don't you see that he is so muddled that he does not even know what he says.

SCENE V.——GORGIBUS, VILLEBREQUIN, ANGÉLIQUE, CATHAU, LE BARBOUILLÉ.

Gor. Now, there's my cursed son-in-law scolding my daughter again!

Vill. We must see what is the matter.

Gor. What! will you always be quarrelling! Will you never have peace at home?