Monsieur de Pourceaugnac | Page 3

perplex me in my duty, by speaking of sad expedients to which we may not be obliged to have recourse. Allow me to be led by the course of events.
ERA. Will....
SBRI. Sir, here is our man. Be careful.
NER. Ah! what a guy! [Footnote: Sbrigani and Nérine are merely the conventional rogues of the stage. Compare Mascarille, Scapin.]

SCENE V.--MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC, SBRIGANI.
MR. POUR. (_turning to the side he came from, and speaking to the people who are following him_). Well, what is it? What is the matter? What do you want? Deuce take this stupid town, and the people who live in it! Nobody can walk a step without meeting a lot of asses staring and laughing like fools at one. You boobies, mind your business; and let folk pass without grinning in their faces. Deuce take me if I don't knock down the first man I see laughing.
SBRI. (_speaking to the same people_). What are you about? What is the meaning of such conduct? What is it you want? Is it right to make fun like that of strangers who come here?
MR. POUR. Here is a man of sense at last.
SBRI. What manners! And what is there to laugh at?
MR. POUR. Quite right.
SBRI. Is there anything ridiculous in this gentleman?
MR. POUR. I ask you?
SBRI. Is he not like other people?
MR. POUR. Am I crooked or hunchbacked?
SBRI. Learn to distinguish people.
MR. POUR. Well said.
SBRI. This gentleman's qualities call for your respect.
MR. POUR. Perfectly true.
SBRI. He is a person of quality.
MR. POUR. Yes, a gentleman from Limoges.
SBRI. A man of intelligence.
MR. POUR. Who has studied the law. [Footnote: Compare act ii. scene xii.]
SBRI. He does you too much honour in coming to this town.
MR. POUR. Ay, indeed.
SBRI. This gentleman has nothing in him that can make you laugh.
MR. POUR. Certainly not.
SBRI. And the first who laughs at him, I will call to account.
MR. POUR. (to SBRIGANI). Sir, I am extremely, obliged to you.
SBRI. I am sorry, Sir, to see a person like you received after such a fashion.
MR. POUR. Your servant, Sir.
SBRI. I saw you breakfasting this morning, Sir, with the other passengers; and the grace with which you ate created in me at once a great friendship for you; and as I know that you have never been here before, and that you are a perfect stranger, I am glad I met you, to offer you my services at your arrival, and to assist you among these people, who do not always behave to strangers of quality as they should.
MR. POUR. You are really very kind.
SBRI. I have told you already; the moment I saw you, I felt an inclination for you.
MR. POUR. I am greatly obliged to you.
SBRI. Your countenance pleased me.
MR. POUR. You do me much honour.
SBRI. I read honesty in it.
MR. POUR. I am your servant
SBRI. Something amiable.
MR. POUR. Ah! ah!
SBRI. Graceful.
MR. POUR. Ah! ah!
SBRI. Sweet.
MR. POUR. Ah! ah!
SBRI. Majestic.
MR. POUR. Ah! ah!
SBRI. Frank.
MR. POUR. Ah! ah!
SBRI. And cordial.
MR. POUR. Ah! ah!
SBRI. Believe that I am entirely yours.
MR. POUR. I am greatly obliged to you.
SBRI. I speak from the bottom of my heart.
MR. POUR. I believe you.
SBRI. If I had the honour of being known to you, you would find that I am altogether sincere.
MR. POUR. I do not doubt it.
SBRI. An enemy to deceit.
MR. POUR. I feel sure of it.
SBRI. And that I am incapable of disguising my thoughts.
MR. POUR. It is exactly what I think.
SBRI. You look at my dress, which is not like that of other people; but I came originally from Naples, at your service; and I always like to keep up the way of dressing as well as the sincerity of my country. [Footnote: The Neapolitans had no great reputation for sincerity.]
MR. POUR. You are quite right. For my part, I was desirous of appearing in the court dress for the country. [Footnote: Mode de la cour pour la campagne.]
SBRI. Truly, it becomes you better than it does all our courtiers.
MR. POUR. Exactly what my tailor told me. The coat is suitable and rich; it will tell here among these people.
SBRI. You will go to the Louvre, no doubt?
MR. POUR. Yes; I must go and pay my court.
SBRI. The king will be charmed to see you.
MR. POUR. I believe so.
SBRI. Have you fixed upon rooms?
MR. POUR. No; I was going to look for some.
SBRI. I shall be very glad to go with you; I know all this city well.
SCENE VI.--éRASTE, MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC, SBRIGANI.
ERA. Ah, who is this? What do I see? What a happy meeting! Mr. de Pourceaugnac! How delighted I am to see you! What! anyone would think that you find it difficult to remember me!
MR. POUR. Sir, I am your servant.
ERA. Is it possible that five or six years can have made you forget me? Do you not remember the