The Village Coquette, Charles Dufresny [books to read to be successful txt] 📗

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 to marry the Baron.

Lucas Yes, for he's more rich and you will gain by the change. In the case of the three lovers, here's how it goes: The Baron's worth more than Argon, he's got six times his money. Argon's better, worth more than Girard, and Girard's better than nothing.

Lisette He's like nothing, yes, but with respect to the other two, we will keep your plans and mine secret.

Lucas Yes, better to be secret. For these two good spouses won't be married, if they know about each other.

Lisette The Baron's returning.

Lucas Yes, I am going to do what you told me.

Lisette Pretend to be enraged. We must see if he will marry me.

(Enter Baron.)

Lucas Oh, that's definitive. He'll marry you to death, for he looks thoughtful.

Baron Lucas intends to leave me. This disturbs me. How can I bear not to see Lisette any more?

Lisette (after having spoken low) Yell very loud, then leave without speaking to him.

Lucas (loud so that the Baron hears) Yes, I intend to leave our master, and I'm going to start going about it.

Lisette (pretending to be very angry to leave the Baron) No! Don't leave him!

Lucas I have told him, and I am no traitor. I've told him of it a while ago, and I'm going.

Lisette To leave to find a master!

Lucas As you are growing up, it's a cruelty to stay here. In a village, you lose your time and your beauty. You can merchandise your youth better in the Paris marriage market. Yes, I will take you to Paris, and very soon, because time presses. Although a vertigo irritates me momentarily, what I want is only reasonable, and I shall be as bold as brass. (pushing his hat onto his head and passing before the Baron) I am upset to leave him, but death, I shall console myself. (exits)

Baron He was very abrupt with me on a frivolous subject. Has he gone crazy? What can he intend to do?

Lisette (twisting her handkerchief) I will never see you any more. I am in despair.

Baron There's always some shadow maiming fortune.

Lisette He's wrong, for, sir, I see what he is hoping.

Baron He would suddenly become a great lord.

Lisette (looking tenderly at the Baron) Yes, to see me a great lady, and that is my misfortune. He imagines something that can't be. The daughter of a farmer is not for his master.

Baron You will be with me as if you were my own child.

Lisette Oh, sir, that's not what he has in mind.

Baron I believe he intends to pay me less rent.

Lisette He intends something far different.

Baron Yes, what a repayment.

Lisette (starting to cry) No, that's not what one day you said; that day you were full of love for me. You intended, you said, to write a promise. You no longer love me!

Baron That day was like today. My feelings were full for you. I love you, Lisette.

Lisette And, if I still must leave?

Baron Of my love, you will have a sure pledge. A contract.

Lisette (stopping her tears) Today?

Baron A marriage contract. It's already written. I did it right away, first thing. Second thing is to sign.

Lisette You won't sign it?

Baron I will sign.

Lisette But, when? For my father is taking me off. He is so proud.

Baron My word is reliable.

Lisette I believe you, but my father--

Baron Yes, I will give you my oath.

Lisette (crying again) Don't swear to me. I believe you already. But my father--

Baron I will go appease him. I swear to you.

Lisette (crying and holding him by the arm) No, he's going to take me off. Of that I am sure.

Baron No, no. I am going to keep Lucas.

Lisette (pretending to be outré with rage against him) It's I who wish to leave, because you don't love me!

(Exit Baron.)

Lisette (suddenly stops crying) No--this is only a deceiver, who thinks me innocent. I must soon take my relative, the Widow's, lover. He has no wealth. That's my last resource. But, he's coming to the garden to speak to me. Let's continue. I played the naïve and tender. Now to play the dreamer.

(Enter Argon.)

Argon Yes, Lisette is going to return. (he turns to look closely at her) How pretty she is, dreaming. How many charms I see. She sighs. Good! I feel that she is for me. What are you dreaming of?

(Lisette, after having let Argon look her over, pretends to be astonished to see Argon so near her.)

Lisette Oh! You've startled me so! I was dreaming--that I have so much freedom--suddenly in the garden.

Argon That's what charmed me. You've already told me, not that I am loved, but that you will soon love me.

Lisette I am confused by what you are thinking. I ask pardon. To love you would be to lack respect for you.

Argon Lack respect? Yes, I intend to. A too respectful love obtains nothing.

Lisette But, I don't love. Speak more. Encourage me, then.

Argon To give you courage, I make a contract. But, complete my wishes.

(The Widow enters and listens.)

Argon Add a word to your looks, your sighs. This word is a great word. Tell me--"I love you."

Lisette I've told you a hundred times--and to myself, a thousand.

Argon To yourself?

Lisette Alas, yes.

Argon What naivete!

Lisette Why hide it from you if it is the truth?

Argon Behold love. Behold pure sincerity. This calls me to love, like nature. There, Lisette, here's the role I have taken. I intend to take you, in secret, to Paris, for I will, at first, marry you secretly. Let's hide all from the Widow. She would be jealous of it. I will marry you without her knowing anything of it. In her place, in a word, you will have all my wealth.

Lisette I want nothing from you, but your person. Give her all your wealth.

Argon But, if I give it to her, what will the two of us and our children live on?

Lisette I don't want it for myself, but you'll need it.

Argon (taking her hand) There, let us separate. No, stay here.

Lisette I am staying.

Argon Go--and be in the nearby woods in an hour. (he kisses her hand) Go quickly. Wait! The marriage is made.

Lisette (perceiving the Widow) Ah! All is discovered.

Argon I am an indiscreet fool!

(Exit Lisette.)

Widow What have I heard? I am struck mute with shock!

Argon And I! I am mute with shame. From frankness, I am going to admit to you that what you have seen--I am wrong. The marriage I contracted with you ought to prevent me from making another. But, as friendship alone made ours, it would seem love is stronger. Still, I was wrong to betray you thus. But, if you know how Lisette loves me, from friendship for me, you yourself would say--marry her, sir, I freely consent. What pleasure, at my age of fifty-four years, to be loved for myself. Yes, only for my person. For she refused my wealth which I would give, only wanting me. But, I am doubly wrong to betray you, to anger you. From prudence, I ought never to speak of Lisette. Yes, Madame, I am wrong, a hundred times wrong. But she will be my wife.

Widow I cannot recover. This blow is overwhelming. I excuse Argon. At bottom, he loves blindly. As for me, I really deserve for Lisette to deceive me. But, for this marriage--it is necessary that I break it. Were the good Argon never to marry me, let us try to disabuse him-- from friendship.

CURTAIN


ACT II

The Widow is overwhelmed with chagrin. Girard is holding in his hand a packet of letters for the Baron. He separates one letter and substitutes another.

Girard Without breaking the seal, and without compromising myself, I half open the Baron's letter and replace the false with the true. My hand trembles for this is my first attempt in falseness.

Widow (dreaming, not listening) Argon will marry Lisette?

Girard He will never marry my charming coquette. This will see to him--as I told you.

Widow Very good! But, let me digest my spite. The one who married me, marries my coquette. Was this what I raised Lisette for? With impunity, Lisette has played me this trick, when I instructed her to pretend love. I was the plaything of her apprenticeship.