Scene VIII
Laffemas, Gracieux
GRACIEUX (to Laffemas).
My lord,
I do not understand you!
[Aside.] Humph! A costume
Of Alcaid and a figure of police;
Small eyes, adorned with big eyebrows! I think
He plays the part of Alguazil in this
Locality.
LAFFEMAS (pulling out his purse).
My friend!
GRACIEUX (drawing near, low to Laffemas).
My lord—I see!
Chimène has interested you. You wish
To know—
LAFFEMAS (low, smiling).
Who is her Roderick?
GRACIEUX.
You mean
Her lover?
LAFFEMAS.
Yes!
GRACIEUX.
Who groans beneath her spell?
LAFFEMAS (impatiently).
There’s one?
GRACIEUX.
Of course!
LAFFEMAS (approaching him eagerly).
Then show him to me, quick!
GRACIEUX (with profound obeisance).
It’s I, my lord. I’m mad about her!
LAFFEMAS.
You!
[Laffemas, disappointed, turns away with annoyance; then he comes back and shakes his purse in Gracieux’s eyes and ears.
Know you the sound of ducats?
GRACIEUX.
Heavenly tones!
LAFFEMAS (aside).
I’ve got my Didier!
[To Gracieux.] Do you see this purse?
GRACIEUX.
How much!
LAFFEMAS.
Gold ducats—twenty!
GRACIEUX.
Humph!
LAFFEMAS (jingling the gold in his face).
Will you?
GRACIEUX (grabbing the purse from him).
Most certainly!
[With theatrical tone to Laffemas, who listens anxiously.
My lord, if your back bore
Just in the center a great hump, as big
As is your belly, and if those two bags
Were filled with louis, sequins, and doubloons,
In that case—
LAFFEMAS (eagerly).
Well, what would you do?
GRACIEUX (putting the purse into his pocket).
I’d take
The whole of it, and I would say—
[With profound obeisance.
I thank you;
You are a gentleman!
LAFFEMAS (aside, furious).
Plague on the monkey!
GRACIEUX (aside, laughing).
The devil take the cat!
LAFFEMAS (aside).
They have agreed
On what to do, if any one suspects.
’Tis a conspiracy. They’ll all be dumb;
Accursed gypsy devils!
[To Gracieux who is going away.
Give me back
My purse!
GRACIEUX (turning around, with tragic tone).
What do you take me for, my lord?
What will the world think of us, pray, if you
Propose and I agree to anything
So infamous as sell for gold a life,
My soul? [Turns to go.
LAFFEMAS.
That’s as you please; but give me back
My money!
GRACIEUX.
No, I keep my honor, sir,
And we have no accounts to settle.
[He salutes him and re-enters barn.