FRONTIN: Imperceptible—
BELISE: Leads me to the brink—
FRONTIN: The foot slips and here I am.
BELISE: Here I am. But at least the world agrees I have chosen you from taste, from wisdom.
FRONTIN: Our marriage is the wisest type.
BELISE: But all my embarrassment is, that by marrying, I must—here's the trouble—, I must pay this forfeiture. What to do? This forfeiture note that I gave to Valere. That crazy sister of mine invented the forfeiture. We made two promissory notes to this cursed nephew. All falls on me, since I am marrying, so I will have to pay up all by myself, and I'm going to have to put up with all kinds of jesting from her. Blush to death.
FRONTIN: While our love remains secret, compose yourself and retrieve your promissory notes from Valere.
BELISE: That's my intention. I am going to my notary to take some money to my nephew. Without a doubt he will instantly return my promissory note to me. But if my sister should learn of it, oh, my heart palpitates. From reason and from shame, I avoid her carefully. After seeing you, I dare not see her.
(Exit Belise)
FRONTIN: We shall get to tap that money she's going to receive.