The Village Coquette | Page 7

nothing. (she dreams
profoundly)
(Enter Argon.)
Argon (aside) An explanation would be very nice here.
Lisette Ah, here they both are. All is lost. What to do?
Argon (to the Baron) What did Girard warn me? But, it's your custom.
I've often seen you boast of love. You believe yourself loved by Lisette,
then, sir?
Baron The proof of this is that I am making her my wife.
Argon Girard made no mistake. You intend to overwhelm her with
your wealth. But she cannot betray her love for me.
Baron She hasn't any love for you. I swear it.
Argon It's you who flatter yourself to a fault, I assure you.
Baron I tell you, she has never loved anyone but me.
Argon I am sure of her heart and her good faith. Decide between us to
finish the dispute.
Baron I disdain it. Repeat for the one hundredth time that you love me
tenderly.
Lisette Me, tell you that? Truly, I take little care, sir. It is from respect
that I let you speak. I believed, at first, that you were boasting, to laugh.
But, without offending you, sir, I will tell you, I have no love for you,
nor will I ever have.
Baron What? Why?
Widow What does she say? Ah, how great is my shock!
Baron What do you say?
Argon Must she tell you again?
Baron What? Haven't you said a hundred times that you love me?
Lisette Me? No.
Argon (charmed) What naivete.
Widow (angry that Lisette has not fallen into the trap) What do I hear?
Baron What? Your tears, your sighs?
Lisette Were lies.
Argon I know my neighbor. Without a doubt, it is a dream that he has
seen you in tears and heaving sighs. At his age, while sleeping, these
are pleasant notions.
Baron But, I haven't dreamed what you have written.
Lisette It's my father, and Madame is there to tell you so.

Widow I am enraged.
Argon I know Lucas is ambitious. He prefers your wealth; for you're
worth more to him. But, besides, I believe her--what likelihood is there
that Lisette, who always says what she thinks, has spoken to you of
love, when she loves me?
Lisette What are you saying, sir? I have believed, in good faith, that
you spoke in jest that you love me; but this joke is not true.
Argon Eh--what?
Widow (aside, delighted) What is her plan? Does she dream, or is it I
who dream?
Argon It's in vain that you still think the secret is necessary. (to Baron)
We made a secret of our love. (to Lisette) Speak, I permit you to speak
freely.
Lisette If you permit me to speak freely, I don't love you.
Widow She's frank enough about that.
Argon How indignant I am!
Baron By God, I've my revenge.
Argon But, I understand nothing. Speak clearly, I wish it. Tell them
that you intended to manage us both.
Lisette I had no intention of managing either of you, I assure you, and
you can see it quite well.
Widow That's speaking plainly.
Lisette For, hold on, I prefer my liberty, a hundred times, to all your
grand honors and quality. To be the wife of a great lord, I would be a
servant. As for your kindnesses, of which I am cognizant, pardon me if
I refuse them. In a word, both of you wish to marry me, but I will never
marry either one of you.
Baron There's your dismissal.
Argon It is also yours.
Baron I cannot recover from my astonishment.
Argon Leave her, forget her, that's sufficient to punish her.
Baron Well said. No more love.
Argon Yes, we scorn Lisette
Baron (to Widow) She has a hundred thousand francs which I still
regret.
Widow (low) Keep it up your sleeve. We are going to speak to her.
Argon (low) Madame.

Widow Well, sir?
Argon Would you go get a notary to come to your house? We are going
to conclude our business instantly.
(Argon exits.)
Widow (to Baron, low) He abandons her, for you that's the main thing.
I am going to rid you of a rival.
Baron No, I don’t understand at all.
Widow Neither do I. But, prudence dictates that one go in the greatest
hurry.
(Exit Baron and Widow. Argon returns from the other side, and looks
to see if the Widow sees him.)
Lisette (dreaming, alone) I think--yes, from what I've seen, I've done
well, I believe. When they are with me, by themselves, as they will be,
I will know what to do to have them back.
Argon (aside) The Widow is already far away. Let's Let's penetrate this
mystery. From scorn, I have banished all animosity. I return solely
from curiosity, to see what reasons you will