TOI. Pray, do not give up the interest of your niece. BER. No, I shall do all in my power to forward her wishes. TOI. We must prevent this foolish marriage which he has got into his head, from taking place. And I thought to myself that it would be a good thing to introduce a doctor here, having a full understanding of our wishes, to disgust him with his Mr. Purgon, and abuse his mode of treating him. But as we have nobody to act that part for us, I have decided upon playing him a trick of my own. BER. In what way? TOI. It is rather an absurd idea, and it may be more fortunate than good. But act your own part. Here is our man. SCENE III.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE. BER. Let me ask you, brother, above all things not to excite yourself during our conversation. ARG. I agree. BER. To answer without anger to anything I may mention. ARG. Very well. BER. And to reason together upon the business I want to discuss with you without any irritation. ARG. Dear me! Yes. What a preamble! BER. How is it, brother, that, with all the wealth you possess, and with only one daughter—for I do not count the little one—you speak of sending her to a convent? ARG. How is it, brother, that I am master of my family, and that I can do all I think fit? BER. Your wife doesn’t fail to advise you to get rid, in that way, of your two daughters; and I have no doubt that, through a spirit of charity, she would be charmed to see them both good nuns. ARG. Oh, I see! My poor wife again! It is she who does all the harm, and everybody is against her. BER. No, brother; let us leave that alone. She is a woman with the best intentions in the world for the good of your family, and is free from all interested motives. She expresses for you the most extraordinary tenderness, and shows towards your children an inconceivable goodness. No, don’t let us speak of her, but only of your daughter. What can be your reason for wishing to give her in marriage to the sort of a doctor? ARG. My reason is that I wish to have a son-in-law who will suit my wants. BER. But it is not what your daughter requires, and we have a more suitable match for her. ARG. Yes; but this one is more suitable for me. BER. But does she marry a husband for herself or for you, brother? ARG. He must do both for her and for me, brother; and I wish to take into my family people of whom I have need. BER. So that, if your little girl were old enough, you would give her to an apothecary? ARG. Why not? BER. Is it possible that you should always be so infatuated with your apothecaries and doctors, and be so determined to be ill, in spite of men and nature? ARG. What do you mean by that, brother?