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GOR

. Don’t distress yourself; I will make your peace with your brother. I am his friend, and I promise you that he shall forgive you. I will speak to him the first time I meet him.

SGAN

. I shall be much obliged to you, Mr. Gorgibus.

(Exit Sganarelle.)

SCENE XI

–Sganarelle (dressed as a doctor), Gorgibus.

SGAN

. One must say, that when patients will not follow the advice of the doctor, but give themselves up to excesses …

GOR

. Sir, your very humble servant. I have a favour to ask of you.

SGAN

. What is it, sir? Can I be of service to you?

GOR

. Sir, I have just met your brother, who is extremely sorry to …

SGAN

. He is a scoundrel, Mr. Gorgibus.

GOR

. I assure you that he is so distressed to have put you in a passion, that …

SGAN

. He is a drunkard, Mr. Gorgibus.

GOR

. Eh! sir, do you wish to drive the poor fellow to despair?

SGAN

. Do not speak to me of him. Just fancy that scoundrel’s impudence to go and ask you to make his peace for him. I beg of you not to speak of him to me.

GOR

. In Heaven’s name, sir, do it for my sake! If it is in my power to do anything to oblige you in return, I will do it with all my heart. I gave him my word, and …

SGAN

. You entreat me so much, that although I swore I would never forgive him, here, shake hands, I forgive him. I assure you that I impose a great restraint upon myself, and that I must have great regard for you. Farewell, Mr. Gorgibus.

(Gorgibus goes into his house; exit Sganarelle.)

SCENE XII

.–Valere, Sganarelle.

VAL

. I am forced to acknowledge that I should never have thought that Sganarelle could have done so well. (Sganarelle returns in his servant’s dress) Ah! my dear fellow, under what obligation I am to you! how happy I am! and how …

SGAN

. Yes, this is all very well, but Gorgibus met me, and if it had not been for a trick I thought of on the spur of the moment, all would have been discovered, (seeing Gorgibus) Run away; here he is.

(Exit Valere.)

SCENE XIII

.–Gorgibus, Sganarelle.

GOR

. I was looking for you everywhere to tell you that I have spoken to your brother. He has promised me that he will forgive you, but in order that I may be more sure of it, I want him to embrace you in my presence; step into my house, I will go and fetch him.

SGAN

. But, Mr. Gorgibus, I don’t think you could find him now; besides, I should not like to stop in your house; I dread his anger too much.

GOR

. Indeed! you will stay there, for I shall lock you in. I am going now to fetch your brother; fear nothing; I assure you that he is no longer angry. (Exit Gorgibus.)

SGAN

. (at the window). Well! I am caught this time. I see no way of escape. The clouds are very dark, and I greatly fear that, if they break, they will rain hard blows on my back; or that by a prescription stronger even than that of all the doctors, they will apply a royal cautery[5] to my shoulders. But why should I despair? Since I have done so much, I must go on to the end. Yes, yes; I must get clear of all this, and show that Sganarelle is the king of rogues. (Sganarelle jumps out of the window and runs away.)