The Village Coquette | Page 9

there? Don't I see the seal?
Girard Clever. Are you curious? (putting the list on the side where Lucas is not) Read here.
Lucas Very well. But show me better then.
Girard To an avaricious reader--oh beautiful thought. May a happy fool with a lucky number--
Lucas Ha, ha, that's it!
Girard Yes, it is. Hum, hum.
Lucas Let's see that.
Girard (turning the list to the other side) With pleasure. Let's see.
Lucas Eh! I can't see anything that way.
Girard (turning the other side even worse) Let's read. Let's see. Ah!
(Girard is moving and raising and lowering the paper so Lucas can't see.)
Lucas (with a little joy) What is it? Show me then, friend.
Girard No. I was mistaken. But, hum, hum. I hope-- (letting Lucas see the paper) God, I don't see a thing.
Lucas Ah, by God, I see. Let's see quickly there, Girard. I see something about me.
Girard (hiding the list) No, it's nothing at all.
Lucas (joyfully) And I have seen. My name is there!
Girard Take it easy. You probably have won nothing. I will give you a hundred francs at best.
Lucas No, no. I've seen what I've seen. Lucas, it's my name.
Girard If you have, at least I want to be reimbursed. Return my money, it's my only resource.
Lucas All right. Show quickly.
Girard It's one of the numbers. It's at least a thousand francs. I have seen several zeroes.
Lucas Several zeroes? I intend to see as many as grains of sand.
Girard You're a man insatiable for zeroes.
Lucas (joyous) Ah, it's ten thousand francs.
Girard Curious, yes, I see. But, if that isn't the numeral?
Lucas By God, I'm really frightened.
Girard Let's confirm.
Lucas (thoughtful) Yes, there it is, the fifth.
Girard (giving the list) Read it over, and calculate it yourself.
Lucas (taking the list, upset) My heart beats--beats. I am quite transported. I'm afraid to have seen double, and to have counted too many. One, two, three, four, and five.
Girard Let's say--
Lucas (upset) One, two, three, did I say three?
Girard Yes.
Lucas Ah, I see the number that's formed. I'm a bit overwhelmed.
Girard In short, Lucas has the Grand Prize?
Lucas Ouf!
Girard (relaxing) Relax. Take off your coat.
Lucas The Grand Prize!
Girard Since one is rich, one must get a little better clothes.
Lucas One hundred thousand francs!
Girard How much we'll drink at Lucas' place!
Lucas Let's go quickly to Paris.
Girard I will get you a carriage and horses.
Lucas Ah, I believe I'll die of luxury. Let's see the lottery quickly, so I can see myself first again.
Girard Are you going to remain a farmer?
Lucas (indignant) Me! A farmer.
Girard Forgive me for saying the word. I quite see the question is crazy. Well, give me your rents. You won't want them. You'll be a great lord. I am a poor devil, and your loyal friend. You will give them to me for this good news.
Lucas Yes. Get me a carriage and horses that go very fast, very fast.
Girard Yes, like birds. But, at first, in passing, let's stop at the notary to give me the rents. All right, father?
Lucas Yes, I won't need it myself. I will leave you all the rents from my timberland. I am going straight to Paris to get some nobility.
CURTAIN

ACT III
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 na?ve 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