Jenny (innocently) No, it was only to trap the ghost. Albert I don't know what prevents me from beating you up! Arabella Sir, easy. Albert You, too, my pretty, could earn some slaps. Shut up, if you please. To punish her audacity, I will drive her from my house. How do you like that? Jenny (crying) Just heaven, what a sentence. Sir-- Albert (adamant) No, out of the nest, if you please. Jenny (laughing) Ah, my word, sir, you flatter yourself if you think that leaving your sad company will make me suffer the least pang. A school boy leaving his tutor, a woman a long time celibate who leaves her relatives to get married--a slave who leaves the hands of his masters, an old prisoner who breaks his chains after thirty years, an heir who sees his uncle give up the ghost, a husband when the plague takes his plaguey wife--doesn't have half the pleasure I take in receiving from you this happy discharge. Albert Leaving me would please you? Jenny The greatest pleasure I will have in my life. Albert Really! If that is so, I've changed my mind. I do not intend to give you this pleasure. You will stay here to do penance. And you will, without arguing, go in, and be diligent. (Arabella reenters and curtsies. As Jenny starts to go, Albert stops her.) Albert You stay--I wish to speak to you without witnesses. (aside) I'll have to butter her up--I need her services. (aloud) Come on--let's make peace and live sensibly. At bottom I love you--and more than you think. Jenny And I also love you more than you think. Albert A pretty amour, truly to break my nose. But, I pardon all, and promise you that you will enjoy my bounty--if you serve me on occasion. Jenny Let's see. What service is in question? Albert You've known for a long time, that as regards Arabella, I have, as one ought, a soul a--bit tender. But for the precautions I take for her the wench would soon take the bit in her teeth. She's always spent her life in high society with the lady from London--Mrs. Worthy--who took care of her until she was fifteen. That lady, having died, a relation begged me to take care of her, and confided her to me. Since then love has stolen into my heart. I have a plan to make her my wife. Jenny Your wife! Fie! Albert What do you mean by that tone? Jenny Fie, I tell you. Albert What? Jenny Hey, fie! Fie--I tell you. You are too intelligent to commit such a stupidity--and I tell you to your grey beard. Albert I never had children by my late wife--and I wish to finish what I've begun--to have heirs whose happy birth will ruin the hopes of all my collaterals. Jenny My word, sir, make as many as you please. You won't have any posterity left behind, and it is I who tell you so. Albert And why is that? Jenny How do I know? Albert Who has given you the privilege of soothsaying? Say, speak, respond! Jenny My God--I said nothing except what's reasonable, and you know it! I understand myself and that's sufficient.