Argan, three francs.” Good; twenty and thirty sous; I am glad that you are reasonable. “Item, on the 28th, a dose of clarified and edulcorated whey, to soften, lenify, temper, and refresh the blood of Mr. Argan, twenty sous.” Good; ten sous. “Item, a potion, cordial and preservative, composed of twelve grains of bezoar, syrup of citrons and pomegranates, and other ingredients, according to the prescription, five francs.” Ah! Mr. Fleurant, gently, if you please; if you go on like that, no one will wish to be unwell. Be satisfied with four francs. Twenty, forty sous. Three and two are five, and five are ten, and ten are twenty. Sixty-three francs four sous six deniers. So that during this month I have taken one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight mixtures, and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve clysters; and last month there were twelve mixtures and twenty clysters. I am not astonished, therefore, that I am not so well this month as last. I shall speak to Mr. Purgon about it, so that he may set the matter right. Come, let all this be taken away. (_He sees that no one comes, and that he is alone._) Nobody. It’s no use, I am always left alone; there’s no way of keeping them here. (_He rings a hand-bell._) They don’t hear, and my bell doesn’t make enough noise. (_He rings again._) No one. (_He rings again._) Toinette! (_He rings again._) It’s just as if I didn’t ring at all. You hussy! you jade! (_He rings again._) Confound it all! (_He rings and shouts._) Deuce take you, you wretch! SCENE II.—ARGAN, TOINETTE. TOI. Coming, coming. ARG. Ah! you jade, you wretch! TOI. (_pretending to have knocked her head_). Bother your impatience! You hurry me so much that I have knocked my head against the window-shutter. ARG. (_angry_). You vixen! TOI. (_interrupting_ ARGAN). Oh! ARG. There is.... TOI. Oh! ARG. For the last hour I.... TOI. Oh! ARG. You have left me.... TOI. Oh! ARG. Be silent! you baggage, and let me scold you. TOI. Well! that’s too bad after what I have done to myself. ARG. You make me bawl till my throat is sore, you jade! TOI. And you, you made me break my head open; one is just as bad as the other; so, with your leave, we are quits. ARG. What! you hussy.... TOI. If you go on scolding me, I shall cry. ARG. To leave me, you.... TOI. (_again interrupting_ ARGAN.) Oh! ARG. You would.... TOI. (_still interrupting him_). Oh! ARG. What! shall I have also to give up the pleasure of scolding her? TOI. Well, scold as much as you please; do as you like. ARG. You prevent me, you hussy, by interrupting me every moment. TOI. If you have the pleasure of scolding, I surely can have that of crying. Let every one have his fancy; ’tis but right. Oh! oh! ARG. I must give it up, I suppose. Take this away, take this away, you jade. Be careful to have some broth ready, for the other that I am to take soon.