BELISE: Yes, this forfeit, right. ARAMINTE: Our promissory notes. BELISE: Our promissory notes. ARAMINTE: We've suffered a great wrong. To promise this nephew a hundred thousand francs each. BELISE: I have just refused this importunate demand and I believe he's unaware of our plans. For a little money he will return our notes to us. ARAMINTE: But to discharge them, what trick can we employ? (Enter Geronte, Valere, Isabelle) VALERE: (to Geronte) Take advantage of the opportunity. Better not wait. They are pushing their explanation a long way. (aloud) Isabelle didn't leave my aunts happily. And I've learned some good news. GERONTE: I come to rejoice for the sake of Isabelle's love. ISABELLE: I come with all my heart to congratulate you and I saw immediately it was in joking that you always declaimed against marriage, for you yourselves-- ARAMINTE: We ourselves-- BELISE: Ah, sis, what language-- VALERE: You are both going to get married. ARAMINTE: (low) So as not to pay out, sister, we must deny it. BELISE: The rumor is false. ARAMINTE: Very false. VALERE: Aunties, I believe it's true. BELISE: What? You takes us for some extravagants? Us, marry! Us! ARAMINTE: We, no, no. It's no longer time. BELISE: No, don't think it. I am past forty. VALERE: You're not. ARAMINTE: And I am more than fifty. VALERE: No. BELISE: We are-- ISABELLE: No. ARAMINTE: The dispute is funny. I believe we know our age better than you. He's joking. And, sister, the notes he has from us are worthless. Worth nothing. It's a vain hope. BELISE: They are worth nothing. But, sister, Isabelle and Valere have a tender feeling for each other. Their legitimate flames make me pity them. Can they, like we, hate marriage? No. We must do something to their advantage. They move me. ARAMINTE: Yes, we are moved. VALERE: You will be moved. Your notes will be fine. BELISE: Let's not joke further. We will give Valere 10,000 ecus in all. ARAMINTE: Yes. That's what we must do. VALERE: No, no. We will wait for it all. BELISE: Huh? ISABELLE: Nothing presses us. ARAMINTE: Take advantage of the opportunity. VALERE: We will wait for you. ARAMINTE: Because I am generous: Fifty thousand franks. BELISE: That's too much. But I will equal it from generosity. VALERE: Fifty thousand ecus. We shall wait. BELISE: Oh, I won't keep more for you. ARAMINTE: My nephew, my nephew, ISABELLE: Manage them Valere, because fifty thousand francs is enough for my father. GERONTE: Yes, that's enough. ARAMINTE: So as not to dispute further, give them. BELISE: Come then, we will execute-- ARAMINTE: I have on me what I got from the notary. BELISE: He has given me some to end this business. VALERE: Let's see if by chance I don't have your promissory notes. Yes, truly, I believe they are here. GERONTE: The business seems to me easy to finish. VALERE: Let's see. BELISE: This is my note. ARAMINTE: Here's my signature. BELISE: Forty thousand francs on my banker and ten.