The Village Coquette; Or, The Supposed Lottery Part 10

Widow Friends.h.i.+p without love. That's what we agree makes a good marriage.

Love is restless and bores itself in a household.

Baron You would have had our wealth. You will be confounded.

Lucas Let them say--then you will have three times more, four times more.

Lisette Let's go quickly to Paris to be in abundance.

Lucas Between the land and our money--there's the difference. Their land and their chateau. It's nothing but a little plot. It will never increase, no, not even an abortion. But my money is in a great adventure. It will swell at first, and then like a river, it will increase.

Lisette Increase.

Lucas Increase--it will increase.

Lisette Ah, how I will have lovers who will respect me. What happiness! I will see brilliant fortunes. What a following I am going to have. Lackeys, servants.

Girard And valets de chambre--for page--Girard.

Lucas Let them bring on my horses.

Widow They will harness you a carriage.

Girard Go on foot, from fear that your carriage will break down. This is going to reform the pomp of your train. (giving the list to Lisette) This is the true list.

Widow Yes, the reversal is very afflicting. But you've shone already for your money. A hundred thousand francs for you in the air.

Baron One hundred thousand francs to laugh at.

Lisette What are they talking about? What?

Lucas (looking for the place where the prize was shown in his other list) Eh! Go on, go on, let them talk. Here, here. It's here. For Lucas, the Grand Prize.

Baron You will not buy my chateau, master fool.

Lucas (troubled) It was there.

Girard The zeroes are left.

Lisette Oh! Father, they are mocking you.

Argon Yes, here's the mystery.

Widow You have nothing.

Girard But nothing--gets nothing. I made the false list, and I found wealth.

I've gotten all of Lucas' rents. My love for you makes heroic sacrifices. I give them all to you, Lisette.

Argon Let's go to supper at my place.

Baron Yes, let's go.

Girard Yes, I have pity for the trouble in which I see you. These gentlemen, without their ranks. My offer ought to please you. They have made their fortune, and I have my fortune to make. But, I am, in a day, by myself, more amorous than the two of them can be in a month. They have not been able to acquire a young girl. But n.o.bility acquires more than riches.

Lisette (to widow) How much I owe you, Madame! It's you who turned my spirit upside down, in telling me that one must be a coquette.

Widow I am well punished for my bad advice. I agree, I was wrong.

Lisette (to Girard) I listened to her. You must have a Baron, she always said. No, I would never have thought of anyone but you, except for her. If I had followed my natural inclination, from tenderness I would have chosen you.

Girard Eh! Choose me then! Lucas will consent.

Lucas (in going) Ouf!

Girard Speak

Lucas Ouf!

Girard Two times ouf, in mute language, is worth one yes.

Widow That's the fate of a coquette. After high prospects, one sees her, sooner or later, confused, confounded, and reduced to a Girard.

CURTAIN