Sganarelle: Who is the fool that does not want his wife to be dumb? Would to heaven that mine had that complaint! I would take good care she did not recover her speech.
Géronte: Well, monsieur, I beg of you to take all possible pains to cure her of this illness.
Sganarelle (to the patient): Let me feel your pulse. This tells me your daughter is dumb.
Géronte: Yes, monsieur, that is just what her illness is; you have found it out the very first time.
Sganarelle: We great doctors, we know things at once. An ignorant person would have been puzzled, and would have said to you: "It is this, it is that." But I was right the very first time. I tell you your daughter is dumb.
Géronte: But I should be very pleased if you could tell me how this happened.
Sganarelle: It is because she has lost her speech.
Géronte: But, please, what was the cause of the loss of speech?
Sganarelle: All our best authorities will tell you that it is an impediment in the action of her tongue.