The Miser | Page 5

LA FL. Give you what?
HAR. What you have stolen from me.
LA FL. I have stolen nothing at all from you.
HAR. Are you telling the truth?
LA FL. Yes.
HAR. Good-bye, then, and now you may go to the devil.
LA FL. (aside). That's a nice way of dismissing anyone.
HAR. I leave it to your conscience, remember!

SCENE IV.--HARPAGON (alone.)
This rascally valet is a constant vexation to me; and I hate the very
sight of the good-for-nothing cripple. Really, it is no small anxiety to
keep by one a large sum of money; and happy is the man who has all
his cash well invested, and who needs not keep by him more than he
wants for his daily expenses. I am not a little puzzled to find in the
whole of this house a safe hiding-place. Don't speak to me of your
strong boxes, I will never trust to them. Why, they are just the very
things thieves set upon!

SCENE V.--_HARPAGON; ÉLISE and CLÉANTE are seen talking
together at the back of the stage._
HAR. (thinking himself alone.) Meanwhile, I hardly know whether I
did right to bury in my garden the ten thousand crowns which were
paid to me yesterday. Ten thousand crowns in gold is a sum
sufficiently.... (Aside, on perceiving ÉLISE and CLÉANTE whispering

together) Good heavens! I have betrayed myself; my warmth has
carried me away. I believe I spoke aloud while reasoning with myself.
(To CLÉANTE and ÉLISE) What do you want?
CLE. Nothing, father.
HAR. Have you been here long?
ELI. We have only just come.
HAR. Did you hear...?
CLE. What, father?
HAR. There...!
CLE. What?
HAR. What I was just now saying.
CLE. No.
HAR. You did. I know you did.
ELI. I beg your pardon, father, but we did not.
HAR. I see well enough that you overheard a few words. The fact is, I
was only talking to myself about the trouble one has nowadays to raise
any money; and I was saying that he is a fortunate man who has ten
thousand crowns in his house.
CLE. We were afraid of coming near you, for fear of intruding.
HAR. I am very glad to tell you this, so that you may not misinterpret
things, and imagine that I said that it was I who have ten thousand
crowns.
CLE. We do not wish to interfere in your affairs.

HAR. Would that I had them, these ten thousand crowns!
CLE. I should not think that....
HAR. What a capital affair it would be for me.
CLE. There are things....
HAR. I greatly need them.
CLE. I fancy that....
HAR. It would suit me exceedingly well.
ELI. You are....
HAR. And I should not have to complain, as I do now, that the times
are bad.
CLE. Dear me, father, you have no reason to complain; and everyone
knows that you are well enough off.
HAR. How? I am well enough off! Those who say it are liars. Nothing
can be more false; and they are scoundrels who spread such reports.
ELI. Don't be angry.
HAR. It is strange that my own children betray me and become my
enemies.
CLE. Is it being your enemy to say that you have wealth?
HAR. Yes, it is. Such talk and your extravagant expenses will be the
cause that some day thieves will come and cut my throat, in the belief
that I am made of gold.
CLE. What extravagant expenses do I indulge in?
HAR. What! Is there anything more scandalous than this sumptuous

attire with which you jaunt it about the town? I was remonstrating with
your sister yesterday, but you are still worse. It cries vengeance to
heaven; and were we to calculate all you are wearing, from head to foot,
we should find enough for a good annuity. I have told you a hundred
times, my son, that your manners displease me exceedingly; you affect
the marquis terribly, and for you to be always dressed as you are, you
must certainly rob me.
CLE. Rob you? And how?
HAR. How should I know? Where else could you find money enough
to clothe yourself as you do?
CLE. I, father? I play; and as I am very lucky, I spend in clothes all the
money I win.
HAR. It is very wrong. If you are lucky at play, you should profit by it,
and place the money you win at decent interest, so that you may find it
again some day. I should like to know, for instance, without mentioning
the rest, what need there is for all these ribbons with which you are
decked from head to foot, and if half a dozen tags are not sufficient to
fasten your breeches. What necessity is there