VILL. You must know, sir, that ... DOC. You are an ignoramus, an unlearned man, ignorant of all good rules; an ass, in plain English. What! you begin a discourse without a word of exordium! Some one else must tell me what happened; will you, young lady, tell me the particulars of all this noise? ANG. Do you see here my fat rascal, my wine-barrel of a husband ... DOC. Gently, if you please, speak with respect of your husband when you are under the nose of a doctor like me. ANG. Ah! I should just think so, doctor! I care little for you or your doctrine, and I am a doctor whenever I please. DOC. You, a doctor when you please. A nice doctor you make. You seem to me to do much as you wish.... But, I say, tell me the subject of your uproar. BAR. Sir, your honour ... DOC. You begin well. "Your honour!" this word has something flattering to the ear, something full of magniloquence; "your honour!" BAR. According to my will. DOC. Quite right.... "According to my will!" the will speaks of a wish, the wish presupposes means to come to one's ends, and the end presupposes an object. It is well said, "according to my will!" BAR. I am bursting with rage. DOC. Cut out this word "bursting." It is a low, vulgar expression. BAR. But, doctor, listen to me for mercy's sake. DOC. _Audi, quæso_, would Cæsar have said.[7] BAR. Seize her, or don't seize her, you will listen to me or I will break your doctoral neck! What the devil do you mean by all this? (LE BARBOUILLÉ, ANGÉLIQUE, GORGIBUS, CATHAU, VILLEBREQUIN, _wish to explain the cause of the quarrel; the_ DOCTOR _explains that peace is a fine thing. They all talk together, and make a dreadful noise. In the midst of all this_, LE BARBOUILLÉ _ties the_ DOCTOR _by the legs with a rope, throws him down on his back, and drags him away; the_ DOCTOR _goes on talking all the time, and counts all his arguments on his fingers, as if he were not on the ground._) GOR. Now, my daughter, go back to your home and live in peace with your husband. VILL. Your servant; good night. (_Exeunt_ VILLEBREQUIN, GORGIBUS, _and_ ANGÉLIQUE.) SCENE VII.--VALÈRE, LA VALLÉE. VAL. I am extremely obliged to you, sir, for the trouble you have taken, and I promise you that in about an hour's time I shall be at the place of rendezvous you give me. LA VAL. It cannot be put off so long, in a quarter of an hour the ball will be over, and you will miss the pleasure of meeting there the person you love. VAL. Let us go together then. (_Exeunt_ VALÈRE _and_ LA VALLÉE.) SCENE VIII.--ANGÉLIQUE (_alone_). While my husband is absent, I will just go round to a ball given by one of our neighbours. I shall be back before him, for he is somewhere drinking; he will not even know that I am gone out. The wretched knave always leaves me alone at home, as if I were his dog. (_Exit_ ANGÉLIQUE.) SCENE IX.--LE BARBOUILLÉ.