_Indolent_ (_seating himself_). He who wants to sit down, let him sit down. I have no use for your manners, according to which one has to be urged to sit down. Well, distinguished cavalier ... (_Weathervane bows again foppishly_) please quit your monograms which you are making with your feet. By bowing in flourishes, between us be it said, you will find little favour with me. With all these goatlike leaps a person appears to me to be full of wind and without a soul. Sir, make a mental note of it, if you wish to be my son-in-law. _Weathervane._ If I wish? O ciel! Those are tous mes vœux! Agnes Sorel was not so loved by the French king, as your daughter by me. Je jurerai toujours, I may say without making any court to her, she is a divinité! _Indolent_ (_to his wife in amazement_). From where, dear wife, has God sent you such a cavalier? _Weathervane._ Beaucoup d’honneur, monsieur! So I have found favour in your eyes? I knew I would. You will not find another one like me, monsieur! _Indolent._ Mosyo, give me a chance to regain my senses! I beg you.... _Weathervane._ But you put me to shame: you flatter me by saying that you are stunned by me. _Indolent._ Proceed, tormentor! _Weathervane._ ’Tis true I have merite; without boasting, j’ose vous dire that; but I do not know whether it will cause any delire,--only the world says that it would take a pretty good man to beat me for talent; qu’un homme tel que moi.... _Indolent._ Don’t believe it, the world often rants. _Weathervane._ Comment? _Indolent._ Tell me, are you a Russian or a Frenchman? _Weathervane._ Hélas! I am not a Frenchman! _Indolent._ What makes you groan so? _Weathervane_ (_sorrowfully_). I am a Russian, and that is a burden on my heart. _Indolent._ And so you regard it an insult to be a Russian? A fine distinguished nobleman! _Weathervane._ I am very, very glad, on ne peut plus, that I have pleased you, monsieur; que vous avez the same thoughts as I. How can we best prove our nobility? By not knowing Russian, despising all that is ours,--those are the veritable signs of our descent. _Indolent._ Though I cannot understand everything you say, since I do not know any foreign words, yet by the marks.... _Weathervane._ Vous vous moquez, monsieur. You do know French. _Indolent_ (_angrily_). No, no, no! _Weathervane._ At your age, monsieur, it is not proper for you to deceive me. You speak French like a Frenchman, or like myself. _Indolent_ (_impatiently_). Wife, assure him of it, and put a stop to this nonsense. _Weathervane_ (_angrily_). Je ne le croirai point! How stubborn you are! _Indolent_ (_excitedly_). The devil.... _Mrs. Indolent_ (_rapidly_). My darling, please do not get angry. _Indolent_ (_excitedly_). Both of you go to! I have not seen the like of him in all my life. _Mrs. Indolent._ You are a philosopher, and does Seneca, sir, teach you that? _Indolent_ (_coolly_). I am ready to constrain myself, if only he will talk Russian with me.