The Imaginary Invalid | Page 7

money as he likes, as long as be does not dispose of my heart in the same way. You see, Toinette, to what violence it is subjected. Do not forsake me, I beseech you, in this my extremity.
TOI. I forsake you! I had rather die. In vain does your stepmother try to take me into her confidence, and make me espouse her interests. I never could like her, and I have always been on your side. Trust me, I will do every thing to serve you. But, in order to serve you more effectually, I shall change my tactics, hide my wish to help you, and affect to enter into the feelings of your father and your stepmother.
ANG. Try, I beseech you, to let Cléante know about the marriage they have decided upon.
TOI. I have nobody to employ for that duty but the old usurer Punchinello, my lover; it will cost me a few honeyed words, which I am most willing to spend for you. To-day it is too late for that, but to-morrow morning early I will send for him, and he will be delighted to....

SCENE XI.--BéLINE (_in the house_), ANGéLIQUE, TOINETTE.
BEL. Toinette.
TOI. (to ANGéLIQUE). I am called away. Good night. Trust me.

FIRST INTERLUDE.

ACT II.
SCENE I.--CLéANTE, TOINETTE.
TOI. (not recognising CLéANTE). What is it you want, Sir?
CLE. What do I want?
TOI. Ah! ah! is it you? What a surprise! What are you coming here for?
CLE. To learn my destiny, to speak to the lovely Angélique, to consult the feelings of her heart, and to ask her what she means to do about this fatal marriage of which I have been told.
TOI. Very well; but no one speaks so easily as all that to Angélique; you must take precautions, and you have been told how narrowly she is watched. She never goes out, nor does she see anybody. It was through the curiosity of an old aunt that we obtained leave to go to the play where your love began, and we have taken good care not to say anything about it.
CLE. Therefore am I not here as Cléante, nor as her lover, but as the friend of her music-master, from whom I have obtained leave to say that I have come in his stead.
TOI. Here is her father; withdraw a little, and let me tell him who you are.

SCENE II.--ARGAN, TOINETTE.
ARG. (_thinking himself alone_). Mr. Purgon told me that I was to walk twelve times to and fro in my room every morning, but I forgot to ask him whether it should be lengthways or across.
TOI. Sir, here is a gentleman....
ARG. Speak in a lower tone, you jade; you split my head open; and you forget that we should never speak so loud to sick people.
TOI. I wanted to tell you, Sir....
ARG. Speak low, I tell you.
TOI. Sir...(_She moves her lips as if she were speaking._)
ARG. What?
TOI. I tell you that...(As before.)
ARG. What is it you say?
TOI. (_aloud_). I say that there is a gentleman here who wants to speak to you.
ARG. Let him come in.

SCENE III:--ARGAN, CLéANTE, TOINETTE.
CLE. Sir.
TOI. (to CLéANTE). Do not speak so loud, for fear of splitting open the head of Mr. Argan.
CLE. Sir, I am delighted to find you up, and to see you better.
TOI. (_affecting to be angry_). How! better? It is false; master is always ill.
CLE. I had heard that your master was better, and I think that he looks well in the face.
TOI. What do you mean by his looking well in the face? He looks very bad, and it is only impertinent folks who say that he is better; he never was so ill in his life.
ARG. She is right.
TOI. He walks, sleeps, eats, and drinks, like other folks, but that does not hinder him from being very ill.
ARG. Quite true.
CLE. I am heartily sorry for it, Sir. I am sent by your daughter's music-master; he was obliged to go into the country for a few days, and as I am his intimate friend, he has asked me to come here in his place, to go on with the lessons, for fear that, if they were discontinued, she should forget what she has already learnt.
ARG. Very well. (To TOINETTE) Call Angélique.
TOI. I think, Sir, It would be better to take the gentleman to her room.
ARG. No, make her come here.
TOI. He cannot give her a good lesson if they are not left alone.
ARG. Oh! yes, he can.
TOI. Sir, it will stun you; and you should have nothing to disturb you in the state of health you are in.
ARG. No, no; I like music, and I should be glad to...Ah! here she is. (To TOINETTE) Go and see if my wife is dressed.

SCENE IV.--ARGAN, ANGéLIQUE, CLéANTE.
ARG. Come, my daughter, your music-master is gone into the country, and here is a person whom