HYA. That is true; but you have this in your favour, that the one you love is under no temptation of contracting another marriage. ZER. A change in a lover's heart is not what we should fear the most. We may justly rely on our own power to keep the conquest we have made; but what I particularly dread is the power of the fathers; for we cannot expect to see them moved by our merit. HYA. Alas! Why must the course of true love never run smooth? How sweet it would be to love with no link wanting in those chains which unite two hearts. SCA. How mistaken you are about this! Security in love forms a very unpleasant calm. Constant happiness becomes wearisome. We want ups and downs in life; and the difficulties which generally beset our path in this world revive us, and increase our sense of pleasure. ZER. Do tell us, Scapin, all about that stratagem of yours, which, I was told, is so very amusing; and how you managed to get some money out of your old miser. You know that the trouble of telling me something amusing is not lost upon me, and that I well repay those who take that trouble by the pleasure it gives me. SCA. Silvestre here will do that as well as I. I am nursing in my heart a certain little scheme of revenge which I mean to enjoy thoroughly. SIL. Why do you recklessly engage in enterprises that may bring you into trouble? SCA. I delight in dangerous enterprises. SIL. As I told you already, you would give up the idea you have if you would listen to me. SCA. I prefer listening to myself. SIL. Why the deuce do you engage in such a business? SCA. Why the deuce do you trouble yourself about it? SIL. It is because I can see that you will without necessity bring a storm of blows upon yourself. SCA. Ah, well, it will be on my shoulders, and not on yours. SIL. It is true that you are master of your own shoulders, and at liberty to dispose of them as you please. SCA. Such dangers never stop me, and I hate those fearful hearts which, by dint of thinking of what may happen, never undertake anything. ZER. (_to_ SCAPIN). But we shall want you. SCA. Oh, yes! but I shall soon be with you again. It shall never be said that a man has with impunity put me into a position of betraying myself, and of revealing secrets which it were better should not be known. SCENE II.--GÉRONTE, SCAPIN. GER. Well! Scapin, and how have we succeeded about my son's mischance? SCA. Your son is safe, Sir; but you now run the greatest danger imaginable, and I sincerely wish you were safe in your house. GER. How is that? SCA. While I am speaking to you, there are people who are looking out for you everywhere. GER. For me? SCA. Yes. GER. But who?