CEL. Yes, yes, my choice is such as cannot be blamed. LEL. You do well to defend it. SGAN. No doubt, she does well to defend my rights, but what you have done, sir, is not according to the laws; I have reason to complain; were I less discreet, much blood would be shed. LEL. Of what do you complain? And why this... SGAN. Do not say a word more. You know too well where the shoe pinches me. But conscience and a care for your own soul should remind you that my wife is my wife, and that to make her yours under my very nose is not acting like a good Christian. LEL. Such a suspicion is mean and ridiculous! Harbour no scruples on that point: I know she belongs to you; I am very far from being in love with... CEL. Oh! traitor! how well you dissemble! LEL. What! do you imagine I foster a thought which need disturb his mind? Would you slander me by accusing me of such a cowardly action? CEL. Speak, speak to himself; he can enlighten you. SGAN. (_To Celia_), No, no, you can argue much better than I can, and have treated the matter in the right way. SCENE XXII.--CELIA, LELIO, SGANARELLE, SGANARELLE'S WIFE, CELIA'S MAID. SGAN.'S WIFE. (_To Celia_). I am not inclined, Madam, to show that I am over-jealous; but I am no fool, and can see what is going on. There are certain amours which appear very strange; you should be better employed than in seducing a heart which ought to be mine alone. CEL. This declaration of her love is plain enough. [Footnote: Some commentators think it is Lelio who utters these words, but they are clearly Celia's.] SGAN. (_To his wife_). Who sent for you, baggage? You come and scold her because she takes my part, whilst you are afraid of losing your gallant. CEL. Do not suppose anybody has a mind to him. (_Turning towards Lelio_). You see whether I have told a falsehood, and I am very glad of it. LEL. What can be the meaning of this? MAID. Upon my word, I do not know when this entanglement will be unravelled. I have tried for a pretty long time to comprehend it, but the more I hear the less I understand. Really I think I must interfere at last. (_Placing herself between Lelio and Celia_). Answer me one after another, and (_To Lelio_) allow me to ask what do you accuse this lady of? LEL. That she broke her word and forsook me for another. As soon as I heard she was going to be married I hastened hither, carried away by an irrepressible love, and not believing I could be forgotten; but discovered, when I arrived here, that she was married. MAID. Married! To whom? LEL. (_Pointing to Sganarelle_). To him. MAID. How! to him? LEL. Yes, to him. MAID. Who told you so? LEL. Himself, this very day. MAID. (_To Sganarelle_)Is this true? SGAN. I? I told him I was married to my own wife. LEL. Just now, whilst you looked at my picture, you seemed greatly moved. SGAN. True, here it is.