The Village Coquette | Page 8

have to give me.
Lisette Permit me to laugh, seeing you so angry. What? Didn't you see
what my plan was?
Argon (enraged) No, I didn't see it, and all subterfuge is in vain.
Lisette I told the Baron the truth, without ruse or subterfuge, for fear he
would continue in his mistake. I didn't wish to deceive him.
Argon (still enraged) I understand perfectly. But, why speak to me as to
him? To refuse me? Me? Me?
Lisette Let's talk about him first. You see me delighted. I have punished
that liar the way I have quite wanted to.
Argon (still enraged) But me, me?
Lisette Patience. He wanted to marry me today, and my father is on his
side. And you wanted the jealous Widow to see that I love you and will
marry you. If they knew that I can love you they would get me locked
up.
Argon Ha! Ha!
Lisette Truly, I would have completely spoiled the mystery. You told
me yourself before to keep quiet.
Argon You've done very properly. Yes, you're right, and I am the fool.
To deceive the Baron--yes, I see the pretence is prudent and useful.
Lisette I believe, too, well done, at least.

Argon How charming Lisette is. I am not blind, I see clearly that
Lisette prefers me to a far richer man. What love! What wit!
Lisette I have no wit. Love has added to my customary want of it.
Argon We must secretly--
Lisette Yes, but let's separate. I will go alone, in secret, to your place
for a short while.
Argon Without your father--
Lisette He's coming. Leave me, for I tremble if the Baron and he should
see us together.
(Exit Argon. Enter Lucas and the Baron.)
Lisette (aside) Here I am sure of one, but he's my second choice. Let's
retake the other one. He's back to speak to me.
Lucas She must have gone crazy and what she said astonishes me. You
say she doesn't love you and refuses to be a Baroness?
Baron (to Lisette) You have just revived my wrath. Ah, how I ought to
kill my love for you. How can you, at your age, have the audacity to
give me the lie-- me, and look in my face, and tell me that you don't
love me?
Lisette (pretending to have a grudge against him) Yes, I have
maintained it to your face, for it is true.
Baron Without doubt, it happened unexpectedly to you, some vapor
which disturbed your senses and memory. For how else could I believe
that, after the ardent love you've shown me?
Lisette (adding to her simulated scorn) I never loved you.
Baron Still? I am outraged. You have told me a hundred times, and
before your father.
Lisette I never said it to you.
Baron She makes me despair.
Lisette (softening) No, never, or at least--
Baron At least?
Lisette If I said it, I repent it so much. I have so much scorn, that if I
said it, I will say the contrary, always to the whole wide world, to
yourself, to my father. (pretending tenderness) What the world will
know, that I loved you, and that, when I cried from love, you didn't
want to marry me. No, no, and against you, my courage has returned.
Me! I love you? I would indeed have little heart. My love was honest
and yours was deceitful.

Lucas (who has softened, taken in and almost crying) I've seen--she's
right.
Baron Then it's from rage, suspecting my love is not sincere, that you
have told me you don't love me?
Lisette Yes, exactly. Am I wrong?
Baron You love me then?
Lisette Alas!
Baron Let's forget all this, Lisette, let's go quickly to a notary. May a
contract be the prize of your sincere love. Let's hurry.
(Exit Baron.)
Lucas (transported with joy) Quickly, quickly!
Lisette (low to her father, holding him by the arm) Let's go softly.
Lucas I'm going to be papa to a Baroness.
Lisette Oh, I doubt it.
Lucas Why? He's making you his wife and says so.
Lisette No, I can see some trick.
Lucas He marries, and that's that.
Lisette I don't believe a word of it, father.
Lucas To not believe the wedding, when it's come?
Lisette I believe he's deceiving me. First, I saw the Widow when Argon
spoke of the business in a fret with Girard. Raging, despairing--and
now she's just embraced me, knowing that I deceived her, she comes to
caress me.
Lucas Yes, it's treason.
Lisette The Baron refused me. Then, suddenly, he changes and wants
me.
Lucas It's a trick.
Lisette (after having dreamed) If the Widow and Girard, who know
how to trick, said to the Baron: pretend to marry her and as soon