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

I thought she would absorb no malice from the instruction I gave her. Just a little grain of it for perfection. I ought to have realized from my own example, that malice, once seeded in a woman's heart, profits, multiplies and grows like weeds.

Girard In malice, Lisette is fertile, yet I love her, I adore her, and I will make her my wife. But, what am I saying? I ought to remember, Madame-- (ironically) that you don't give Lisettes to Girards. As I am only a tax collector, I ought through respect for you, her, and myself, to let her marry your lover.

Widow At her age, to manage, under my eyes, three lovers at the same time! Coquettes of Paris and coquettes of the country--some ready language, some trickery. My word, all is equal for coquetry.

Girard (ironically) You intended to give her to some great lord.

Widow Ah, I will give her to the devil, with all my heart.

Girard I beg you for preference over him at least.

Widow So be it but at least provide me some confidence that you will succeed.

Girard You know all. We must lure our credulous, stupid, avaricious, and amorous Baron with this false lottery into offering Lisette marriage, and if she accepts, for Argon to see she's engaged.

Widow Lisette ought to give up Argon for the Baron. The Baron is rich and the trick is so good.

Girard Yes, but I mustn't lose Lisette.

Widow If Argon is undeceived, I will be satisfied.

Girard May he see her half-married to the Baron.

Widow Completely married, if necessary.

Girard Completely? Hell, no!

Widow He's coming.

Girard My insurance which I well know how to use--

(Enter Baron. Girard presents a packet to the Baron.)

Girard I am returning from the post office and I have the honor to give the gentleman what he asked me to bring.

(Exit Girard.)

Baron (to Widow) Neighbor, my love is going to make me despair. Lisette intends to leave.

Widow I take the place of mother to her. I guarantee her tender, wise, and sincere. You don't know how much she is worth. She wants a contract, that's her only fault. And, you don't wish to make one.

Baron I intend to marry her. Who told you otherwise? But, to do such a thing, the later the better. I will marry when I am much older.

Widow Eh! You are old enough, sir, for a wife.

Baron I am very irresolute. I blame myself for it. Ha, ha, good, this letter is from one of my friends. It's for the lottery we've all subscribed to.

Widow Is it, then, published?

Baron Yes, exactly. It's the list.

Widow I am sure to win. A physiognomist has seen great sums of money on my face. What I must do, he told me, to earn it, is to buy a lottery. It's the most prompt way to win for a wise woman.

Baron Hum! Hum! I know, by heart, the puzzle of each. The numbers, the names, I don't see one. Let's read-- Ah!

Widow What's the matter?

Baron Something I see irritates me.

Widow What is it, then? From where does this sudden dolor come?

Baron Lucas: one hundred thousand francs.

Widow To the farmer, the Grand Prize? But, let's see. Reread it. Is it, indeed, his name? Lucas?

Baron I am not the master of my scorn.

Widow Grand Prize to Lucas? You are ruining us, traitor.

Baron To Lucas, the Grand Prize.

Widow You won't allow it. Oh, Fate, unjust Fate, that Lucas be enriched.

Baron I cannot recover. His good fortune desolates me.

Widow (pretending a quick thought, accompanied by joy) But, let us rejoice and laugh.

Baron Are you crazy?

Widow No, at first we both had a stupid inspiration. It's surprised us.

Baron Well?

Widow You are angry that chance has just enriched Lisette's fortune. Fortune, on the contrary, is favoring you. It has determined to make you happy.

Baron Oh, oh!

Widow For the money, and without any love, these days, the most noble marry Lisettes.

Baron Right, one hundred thousand francs would pay off my debts. This motive and love will excuse all.

Widow Yes, but you must marry instantly, before this lottery becomes known. This is delicacy. She will believe she owes your tenderness more. Lucas will get the Grand Prize, but while he is unaware of it, the fool must be taken, so that he gives all his wealth to Lisette. Wealth, present and to come.

Baron Yes, but be discreet. I will say that I am taking Lisette without a sou.

Widow The joke is that everybody will believe you're a fool.

(Enter Lisette.)

Baron Here, Lisette, here.

(The Widow goes to find Lisette, who listens from the depths of the theatre.)

Widow Your fortune is made, Lisette. It is I who am procuring it. Hug me, Lisette.

Baron Your tears have softened me, Lisette. I surrender. Let's sign the contract as quickly as I can inform the notary.

Lisette (aside, while the Widow and the Baron talk in low voices) Do they wish to deceive me? For I understand 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 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