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JU

. It is in vain for you to affect a false modesty; your wit is well known, and I do not see why you should hide what you write.

VISC

. Ah! we must tread here with the greatest circumspection. It is a dangerous thing to set up for a wit. There is inherent to it a certain touch of absurdity which is catching, and we should be warned by the example of some of our friends.

JU

. Nonsense, Cleante; I see that, in spite of all you say, you are longing to give me your verses; and I feel sure that you would be very unhappy if I pretended not to care for them.

VISC

. I unhappy? Oh! dear no, I am not so much of a poet for you to think that I … but here is the Countess of Escarbagnas; I’ll go by this door, so as not to meet her, and will see that everything is got ready for the play I have promised you.

SCENE II

.–THE COUNTESS, JULIA; ANDREE and CRIQUET in the background.

COUN

. What, Madam, are you alone? Ah! what a shame! All alone! I thought my people had told me that the Viscount was here.

JU

. It is true that he came, but it was sufficient for him to know that you were not at home; he would not stop after that.

COUN

. What! did he see you?

JU

. Yes.

COUN

. And did he not stop to talk with you?

JU

. No, Madam; he wished to show you how very much he is struck by your charms.

COUN

. Still, I shall call him to account for that. However much any one may be in love with me, I wish them to pay to our sex the homage that is due to it. I am not one of those unjust women who approve of the rudeness their lovers display towards other fair ones.

JU

. You must in no way be surprised at his conduct. The love he has for you shows itself in all his actions, and prevents him from caring for anybody but you.

COUN

. I know that I can give rise to a strong passion; I have for that enough of beauty, youth, and rank, thank Heaven; but it is no reason why those who love me should not keep within the bounds of propriety towards others. (Seeing CRIQUET.) What are you doing there, little page? is there not an ante-room for you to be in until you are called? It is a strange thing that in the provinces we cannot meet with a servant who knows his place! To whom do you think I am speaking? Why do you not move? Will you go outside, little knave that you are!

SCENE III

.–THE COUNTESS, JULIA, ANDREE.

COUN

. Come hither, girl.

AND

. What do you wish me to do, Ma’am?

COUN

. To take off my head-dress. Gently, you awkward girl: how roughly you touch my head with your heavy hands!

AND

. I do it as gently as I can, Ma’am.

COUN

. No doubt; but what you call gently is very rough treatment for my head. You have almost put my neck out of joint. Now, take also this muff; go and put it with the rest into the closet; don’t leave anything about. Well! where is she going to now? What is the stupid girl doing?

AND

. I am going to take this into the closet, as you told me, Ma’am.