TOI. Now, really, I could never have believed such a thing. But I hear your daughter coming, place yourself as you were just now, and let us see how she will receive the news. It is not a bad thing to try; and since you have begun, you will be able by this means to know the sentiments of your family towards you. SCENE XX.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, TOINETTE. TOI. (_pretending not to see_ ANGÉLIQUE). O heavens! what a sad accident! What an unhappy day! ANG. What ails you, Toinette, and why do you cry? TOI. Alas! I have such sad news for you. ANG. What is it? TOI. Your father is dead. ANG. My father is dead, Toinette? TOI. Yes, just look at him there; he died only a moment ago of a fainting fit that came over him. ANG. O heavens! what a misfortune! What a cruel grief! Alas! why must I lose my father, the only being left me in the world? and why should I lose him, too, at a time when he was angry with me? What will become of me, unhappy girl that I am? What consolation can I find after so great a loss? SCENE XXI.—ARGAN, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE. CLE. What is the matter with you, dear Angélique, and what misfortune makes you weep? ANG. Alas! I weep for what was most dear and most precious to me. I weep for the death of my father. CLE. O heaven! what a misfortune! What an unforeseen stroke of fortune! Alas! after I had asked your uncle to ask you in marriage, I was coming to see him, in order to try by my respect and entreaties to incline his heart to grant you to my wishes. ANG. Ah! Cléante, let us talk no more of this. Let us give up all hopes of marriage. Now my father is dead, I will have nothing to do with the world, and will renounce it for ever. Yes, my dear father, if I resisted your will, I will at least follow out one of your intentions, and will by that make amends for the sorrow I have caused you. (_Kneeling._) Let me, father, make you this promise here, and kiss you as a proof of my repentance. ARG. (_kissing_ ANGÉLIQUE). Ah! my daughter! ANG. Ah! ARG. Come; do not be afraid. I am not dead. Ah! you are my true flesh and blood and my real daughter; I am delighted to have discovered your good heart. SCENE XXII.—ARGAN, BÉRALDE, ANGÉLIQUE, CLÉANTE, TOINETTE. ANG. Ah! what a delightful surprise! Father, since heaven has given you back to our love, let me here throw myself at your feet to implore one favour of you. If you do not approve of what my heart feels, if you refuse to give me Cléante for a husband, I conjure you, at least, not to force me to marry another. It is all I have to ask of you. CLE. (_throwing himself at_ ARGAN’S _feet_). Ah! Sir, allow your heart to be touched by her entreaties and by mine, and do not oppose our mutual love. BER. Brother, how can you resist all this? TOI. Will you remain insensible before such affection? ARG. Well, let him become a doctor, and I will consent to the marriage. (_To_ CLÉANTE) Yes, turn doctor, Sir, and I will give you my daughter.