The Village Coquette | Page 8

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 as she agrees, won't Argon be disgusted?
Lucas Oh--that's it! I see clearly.
Lisette (dreaming again) For me, I don't see. For, on the other side, perhaps the Baron really wanted to marry me. That would embarrass, no, yes, the more I think about it-- May I have enough wit and not be too clever by half.
Lucas Listen to my good advice. I have marvelous ideas. For, in the state where things are perilous, you have wit, but in a family affair, a father, as they say, is older than his daughter. Here then is my good advice. Let's go find the Baron. He's the most important.
Lisette No.
Lucas No?
Lisette No.
Lucas It's the second who is good. Lets go find Argon.
Lisette No.
Lucas Then I don't know any more than an animal? Oh, my third advice, it's to have a tete-a-tete.
Lisette Go find the Baron alone.
Lucas Yes, I understand.
Lisette And, I alone am going to find Mr. Argon. You finish one side, I will finish the other.
Lucas Wow! That's very good. I will marry them both before the notary.
Lisette As for me, when both contracts are drawn up--I will see. The first one to sign--that's the one I'll take.
Lucas You will take hastily. It's the chance of the game. Let's sign two contracts soon, for fear we will lack one.
Lisette Mr. Argon's waiting for me. I'm off.
(Exit Lisette.)
Lucas (alone) Go, quick, go. But how can she get that all out of her own head? I believe she must have two brains, for she always amazes me. Yes, she's only my daughter. By God, her wit is already far ahead of mine.
(Enter Girard)
Girard (aside) Let's latch on to the father. I risk nothing, for without him the Baron can conclude nothing. By making him read this phony list, let us disturb his head. Let's throw the dice. (counterfeiting the newsboys) Lists, lists of winners!
Lucas Lottery winners! Let's see a bit. What did you say there?
Girard Let's see if this lottery came out good.
Lucas What do I see