The Imaginary Invalid Part 7

ARG. Very well. (To TOINETTE) Call Angelique.

TOI. I think, Sir, It would be better to take the gentleman to her room.

ARG. No, make her come here.

TOI. He cannot give her a good lesson if they are not left alone.

ARG. Oh! yes, he can.

TOI. Sir, it will stun you; and you should have nothing to disturb you in the state of health you are in.

ARG. No, no; I like music, and I should be glad to ... Ah! here she is.

(_To_ TOINETTE) Go and see if my wife is dressed.

SCENE IV.--ARGAN, ANGeLIQUE, CLeANTE.

ARG. Come, my daughter, your music-master is gone into the country, and here is a person whom he sends instead, to give you your lesson.

ANG. (_recognising_ CLeANTE). O heavens!

ARG. What is the matter? Why this surprise?

ANG. It is ...

ARG. What can disturb you in that manner?

ANG. It is such a strange coincidence.

ARG. How so?

ANG. I dreamt last night that I was in the greatest trouble imaginable, and that some one exactly like this gentleman came to me.

I asked him to help me, and presently he saved me from the great trouble I was in. My surprise was very great to meet unexpectedly, on my coming here, him of whom I had been dreaming all night.

CLE. It is no small happiness to occupy your thoughts whether sleeping or waking, and my delight would be great indeed if you were in any trouble out of which you would think me worthy of delivering you.

There is nothing that I would not do for ...

SCENE V.--ARGAN, ANGeLIQUE, CLeANTE, TOINETTE.

TOI. (_to_ ARGAN). Indeed, Sir, I am of your opinion now, and I unsay all that I said yesterday. Here are Mr. Diafoirus the father, and Mr. Diafoirus the son, who are coming to visit you. How well provided with a son-in-law you will be! You will see the best-made young fellow in the world, and the most intellectual. He said but two words to me, it is true, but I was struck with them, and your daughter will be delighted with him.

ARG. (_to_ CLeANTE, _who moves as if to go_). Do not go, Sir. I am about, as you see, to marry my daughter, and they have just brought her future husband, whom she has not as yet seen.

CLE. You do me great honour, Sir, in wis.h.i.+ng me to be witness of such a pleasant interview.

ARG. He is the son of a clever doctor, and the marriage will take place in four days.

CLE. Indeed!

ARG. Please inform her music-master of it, that he may be at the wedding.

CLE. I will not fail to do so.

ARG. And I invite you also.

CLE. You do me too much honour.

TOI. Come, make room; here they are.

SCENE VI.--MR. DIAFOIRUS, THOMAS DIAFOIRUS, ARGAN, ANGeLIQUE, CLeANTE, TOINETTE, SERVANTS.

ARG. (_putting up his hand to his night-cap without taking it off_). Mr. Purgon has forbidden me to uncover my head. You belong to the profession, and know what would be the consequence if I did so.

MR. DIA. We are bound in all our visits to bring relief to invalids, and not to injure them.

(MR. ARGAN _and_ MR. DIAFOIRUS _speak at the same time_.)

ARG. I receive, Sir ...

MR. DIA. We come here, Sir ...

ARG. With great joy ...

MR. DIA. My son Thomas and myself ...

ARG. The honour you do me ...

MR. DIA. To declare to you, Sir ...

ARG. And I wish ...

MR. DIA. The delight we are in ...

ARG. I could have gone to your house ...

MR. DIA. At the favour you do us ...

ARG. To a.s.sure you of it ...

MR. DIA. In so kindly admitting us ...

ARG. But you know, Sir ...

MR. DIA. To the honour, Sir ...

ARG. What it is to be a poor invalid ...