Har. (to Marianne). Pray, excuse me; I will come back directly.

SCENE XIV.——HARPAGON, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, CLÉANTE, FROSINE, LA MERLUCHE.

La Mer. (comes in running, and throws Harpagon down). Sir …

Har. Oh! he has killed me.

Cle. What's the matter, father? Have you hurt yourself?

Har. The wretch must have been bribed by some of my debtors to break my neck.

Val. (to Harpagon). There is nothing serious.

La Mer. (to Harpagon). I beg your pardon, Sir; I thought I had better run fast to tell you….

Har. What?

La Mer. That your two horses have lost their shoes.