SCENE X.—LUCILE, CLÉONTE, COVIELLE, NICOLE.
NIC. (to LUCILE). I was quite shocked at it.
LUC. It can only be what I tell you, Nicole; but there he is.
CLE. (to COVIELLE). I will not condescend even to speak to her.
COV. I will do like you.
LUC. What is it, Cléonte? What can be the matter with you?
NIC. What ails you, Covielle?
LUC. What trouble afflicts you?
NIC. What fit of bad temper has got hold of you?
LUC. Are you dumb, Cléonte?
NIC. Have you lost your tongue, Covielle?
CLE. How deceitful she is!
COV. How Judas-like!
LUC. I see that our meeting of this morning has troubled your mind.
CLE. (to COVIELLE). Ah! ah! we are conscious of what we have done?
NIC. Our reception of this morning has put you out.
COV. (to CLÉONTE). We know where the shoe pinches.
LUC. Is it not true, Cléonte; is not this the cause of your vexation?
CLE. Yes, faithless girl, it is, since I am to speak; but I must inform you that you shall not have, as you fancy, all the glory of your faithlessness; I wish to be the first to break with you, and you shall not have the pleasure of driving me away. I shall find it hard, I know, to conquer the love I feel for you; it will bring grief to me; I am sure, to suffer for a while; but I will overcome it, and I had rather stab myself to the heart than be weak enough to return to you.
COV. (to NICOLE). As the master says, so says the man.
LUC. This is much ado about nothing, Cléonte, and I wish to tell you what made me avoid you this morning.
CLE. (trying to go away to avoid LUCILE). I will hear nothing.
NIC. (to COVIELLE). I want to tell you why we passed you so quickly.
COV. (trying also to go away to avoid NICOLE). I will hear nothing.
LUC. (following CLÉONTE). Know, then, that this morning….
CLE. (still walking away without looking at LUCILE). No, I tell you.
NIC. (following COVIELLE). Let me tell you….
COV. (still walking away without looking at NICOLE). No, you jilt!
LUC. Listen.
CLE. Don't trouble me.
NIC. Let me tell you.
COV. I am deaf.
LUC. Cléonte!
CLE. No.
NIC. Covielle!
COV. No.
LUC. Wait.
CLE. Nonsense.
NIC. Listen to me.
COV. Rubbish.
LUC. One moment.
CLE. Not a bit.
NIC. A little patience.
COV. Fiddle-de-dee!
LUC. A couple of words.
CLE. No; all is over.
NIC. One word.
COV. Not one.
LUC. (stopping). Very well! Since you will not listen to me, keep your own thoughts to yourself, and do as you please.
NIC. (stopping also). Since you act in that fashion, think what you like.
CLE. (turning towards LUCILE). Well, what was the reason for such a welcome?
LUC. (going away in her turn, to avoid CLÉONTE). I don't choose to tell you now.
COV. (turning towards NICOLE). Give us that story.
NIC. (going away also, to avoid COVIELLE). I don't wish to tell it you now.
CLE. (following LUCILE). Tell me….
LUC. (walking away without looking at CLÉONTE). No; I will tell you nothing.
COV. (following NICOLE). Relate to me….
NIC. (walking away without looking at COVIELLE). No; I shall relate nothing.
CLE. For mercy's sake!
LUC. No, I tell you.
COV. For pity's sake!
NIC. No; not another word.
CLE. I beseech you.
LUC. Leave me.
COV. I entreat you.
NIC. Get away from here.
CLE. Lucile!
LUC. No.
COV. Nicole!
NIC. Nothing.
CLE. For heaven's sake.
LUC. I will not.
COV. Speak to me.
NIC. I won't.
CLE. Clear up my doubts.
LUC. No; I will do nothing of the kind.
COV. Ease my mind.
NIC. No; it is not my wish to do so.
CLE. Very well! Since you care so little to relieve my grief, and to justify yourself of the unworthy treatment my love has received from you, you see me for the last time; and I am going away from you to die of grief and love.
COV. (to NICOLE). And I will follow his steps.
LUC. (to CLÉONTE, who is going). Cléonte!
NIC. (to COVIELLE, who is going). Covielle!
CLE. (stopping). Hey?
COV. (stopping also). What do you say?
LUC. Where are you going?
CLE. Where I have told you.
COV. We are going to die.
LUC. You are going to die, Cléonte?
CLE. Yes, cruel one, since you wish it.
LUC. I! I wish you to die!
CLE. Yes, you wish it.
LUC. Who told you such a thing?
CLE. Is it not wishing it, to refuse to clear up my suspicions?
LUC. Is it my fault? If you had but listened to me, I would have told you at once that the treatment you complain of was caused by the presence of an old aunt, who persists in saying that the mere approach of a man is dishonour to a girl; she is always lecturing us about it, and depicts all men to us as so many scamps whom we ought always to avoid.
NIC. (to COVIELLE.) This is the whole secret of the affair.
CLE. (to LUCILE). Are you not deceiving me, Lucile?
COV. (to NICOLE). Are you not imposing upon me?
LUC. It is the exact truth.
NIC. That's how it is.
COV. (to CLÉONTE). Shall we surrender after this?
CLE. Ah! Lucile! How you can with one word bring back peace to my heart; and how easily we suffer ourselves to be persuaded by those we love.
COV. How easily these queer animals succeed in getting round us.