The Village Coquette | Page 3

gaze, being quiet, appearing embarrassed. A cold blooded man, seeing a great deal of simpering, will believe less what he sees. He will suspect, examine, and discover the pretence. But, when the dupe is taken--be affected without fear. The grossest kinds of affectation, far from quelling, charm his passions, and he seeks out the beauty of nature.
Lucas I don't understand half your fine preaching. (dumbfounded) But what you say must be good, for you amaze.
Widow Lisette understand perfectly.
Lisette Not so much as you think. You have taught me well, speaking to me of these looks which make women so refined. But I am not so refined. I cannot do as they do.
Widow Oh, you will go far. You know how to please, and how to pretend.
Lisette You deceive yourself. I contradict myself in no respect. I please the Baron without feigning to please him. If he is deceived, I can never be. When I speak contrary to my thought, one can see in my manner that I am embarrassed.
Widow The Baron could, by a tender turn about, mention again the contract he made the other day. He is changeable, peevish in his tenderness. Think to profit by his day of weakness. Has he promised again today?
Lisette Alas, no.
Widow He must have thought it over. It's his day to be reasonable, his good day. But we will recapture him. To make him sign, it's only needful to make him wait. If something can hasten this happy day, it's pretence. Pretend a violent love.
Lisette Alas, I will pretend badly.
Widow Then, I am uneasy. I intend to marry as much as Lisette. Monsieur Argon occupies me and I am going to see him. If he keeps his word, it will be all over today. (exits)
Lucas You must pretend the widder lady says, and you don't know how to pretend a pretense. You say everything that comes into your head and that's a mistake. Have the virtue to lie a bit. You don't know how, and that upsets me.
Lisette Oh, console yourself, father. If I am still stupid, I am not really stupid. I know how to pretend better than the Widow thinks. I have some tricks she hasn't seen yet. If I always tell her I am innocent, and that, despite her lessons, I am ignorant, it's all on purpose so she will be proud of me.
Lucas Oh, you know what you're doing and I cannot complain of you.
Lisette You are going to see how I intend to make a fortune.
Lucas Fortune is our master.
Lisette It is true--it is our master. But, if he should fail me?
Lucas Ha! Ha! I see well what you intend. So as not to lack one, you will have two.
Lisette Yes, at least, father. That's what I'm doing. But the other has less wealth, which annoys me. For Monsieur Baron--here's what I fear--his conversation does not entirely please me. I have spoken to him a lot in pretending to be innocent. No, for marriage he has no plans. He says he wants to stay single for ten more years.
Lucas To remain single--oh, oh. He wants to marry you, so you can remain a virgin?
Lisette To understand him, the loves of a nobleman for girls like me does us much honor
Lucas No, no, of these nobles, love without marriage takes honor from girls that nothing gives back.
Lisette One has much wealth, but he will deceive me. The other hasn't very much, but he will marry me.
Lucas The other is this Girard, correct?
Lisette Fie!
Lucas I'll say fie to him. If he comes round, I'll kick him out.
Lisette Kick him out? Ah, be careful. Let him be in love--that costs nothing. If the others fail, he may make his fortune. Who knows?
Lucas Well said. So, there's to be three for one. But, who is the new one who you say is certain?
Lisette If he marries me, the Widow will be very chagrined.
Lucas (astonished by degrees and then understanding) The Devil!
Lisette I will take her chance.
Lucas Death!
Lisette For I will break her marriage.
Lucas Astounding!
Lisette It is going to astonish you. For I will have the wealth intended for her. I will marry her lover.
Lucas (crying out) My Lord! You will ruin her. She loves you as if you were her daughter.
Lisette Can I do otherwise? I said no, at first. I really would have preferred not to wrong her. But she has given me lessons in fortune hunting. I've got to take advantage of my youth like others. The other lesson she gave me recently was to love at first for one's profit. I love the Widow, but--
Lucas But, you are able to love what profits you? These lessons are her own fault, and she deserves it.
Lisette I'm in despair. At bottom, I have a good heart. I would prefer for her