Dor. Overcome by a pleasant sleepiness, he passed from the table to his room and got at once into his warmed bed, where he slept comfortably till the next morning.
Org. Poor man!
Dor. At last, yielding to our persuasions, she consented to be bled, and immediately felt relieved.
Org. And Tartuffe?
Dor. He took heart right valiantly, and fortifying his soul against all evils, to make up for the blood which our lady had lost, drank at breakfast four large bumpers of wine.
Org. Poor man!
Dor. Now, at last, they are both well: and I will go and tell our lady how glad you are to hear of her recovery.
Tartuffe repays the trust and love of his benefactor by making improper advances to that benefactor’s wife. Orgon’s son, who does not share his father’s confidence in Tartuffe, happens to be an unseen witness of the man’s infamous conduct. He exposes the hypocrite to Orgon, with the result of being himself expelled from the house for his pains; while Tartuffe, in recompense for the injury done to his feelings, is presented with a gift-deed of Orgon’s estate. But now Orgon’s wife contrives to let her husband see and hear for himself the vileness of Tartuffe. This done, Orgon confronts the villain, and, with just indignation, orders him out of his house. Tartuffe reminds Orgon that the shoe is on the other foot; that he is himself now owner there, and that it is Orgon, instead of Tartuffe, who must go. Orgon has an interview with his mother, who is exasperatingly sure still that Tartuffe is a maligned good man:
Madame Pernelle. I can never believe, my son, that he would commit so base an action.