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.