Girard
Forgive me for saying the word. I quite see the question is crazy.
Well, give me your rents. You won't want them. You'll be a great lord.
I am a poor devil, and your loyal friend. You will give them to me for
this good news.
Lucas
Yes. Get me a carriage and horses that go very fast, very fast.
Girard Yes, like birds. But, at first, in passing, let's stop at the notary to give me the rents. All right, father?
Lucas Yes, I won't need it myself. I will leave you all the rents from my timberland. I am going straight to Paris to get some nobility.
CURTAIN
ACT III
Argon is trying to avoid showing himself to the Widow, who grabs him by the arm.
Widow I will prove it all to you. Can you doubt it? But, stay one minute, at least to listen to me.
Argon
Time presses. I have Lisette and the notary together. If Lucas appears
I will finish the business. In love, moments are precious to an older
person.
Widow If you marry, a quarter of an hour later, you will have time to be tired of Lisette and to repent a foolish act. Pardon the word, it's from friendship for you. My zeal is not mixed with any jealous transport. Better if you never marry me or the coquette. Be undeceived and I will be satisfied. Eh—can you remain blind. I will prove to both you and the Baron how she trapped you at once reconciling, by the same management, traitorous simplicity and naïve lies. By the cleverest tricks and the most lively manners, she's figured out how to get love without giving any. She cold-bloodedly talks in the most tender way and pretends with effrontery to be timidly embarrassed. Tears which go right to the heart and which bother her not at all. She abuses his weakness and yours. In offering you one hand, she gives him the other. Thus a French coquette delivers perfidy with both hands, and if she needs it will find another hand for a third.