ARG. Two hundred pistoles! SCA. Yes, and you will save by it. I have made a small calculation in my head of all that justice costs, and I find that by giving two hundred pistoles to your man you will have a large margin left--say, at least a hundred and fifty pistoles--without taking into consideration the cares, troubles, and anxieties, which you will spare yourself. For were it only to avoid being before everybody the butt of some facetious counsel, I had rather give three hundred pistoles than go to law. {Footnote: What would Molière have said if he had been living now!} ARG. I don't care for that, and I challenge all the lawyers to say anything against me. SCA. You will do as you please, but in your place I would avoid a lawsuit. ARG. I will never give two hundred pistoles. SCA. Ah! here is our man. SCENE IX.--ARGANTE, SCAPIN, SILVESTRE, _dressed out as a bravo_. SIL. Scapin, show me that Argante who is the father of Octave. SCA. What for, Sir? SIL. I have just been told that he wants to go to law with me, and to have my sister's marriage annulled. SCA. I don't know if such is his intention, but he won't consent to give the two hundred pistoles you asked; he says it's too much. SIL. S'death! s'blood! If I can but find him, I'll make mince-meat of him, were I to be broken alive on the wheel afterwards. (ARGANTE _hides, trembling, behind_ SCAPIN.) SCA. Sir, the father of Octave is a brave man, and perhaps he will not be afraid of you. SIL. Ah! will he not? S'blood! s'death! If he were here, I would in a moment run my sword through his body. (_Seeing_ ARGANTE.) Who is that man? SCA. He's not the man, Sir; he's not the man. SIL. Is he one of his friends? SCA. No, Sir; on the contrary, he's his greatest enemy. SIL. His greatest enemy? SCA. Yes. SIL. Ah! zounds! I am delighted at it. (_To_ ARGANTE) You are an enemy of that scoundrel Argante, are you? SCA. Yes, yes; I assure you that it is so. SIL. (_shaking_ ARGANTE'S _hand roughly_). Shake hands, shake hands. I give you my word, I swear upon my honour, by the sword I wear, by all the oaths I can take, that, before the day is over, I shall have delivered you of that rascally knave, of that scoundrel Argante. Trust me. SCA. But, Sir, violent deeds are not allowed in this country. SIL. I don't care, and I have nothing to lose. SCA. He will certainly take his precautions; he has relations, friends, servants, who will take his part against you.