POL. I am a strange man, and very peculiar to accuse so good and discreet a son. He lives like a saint, and is at prayers and in the house from morning to evening. It is a great untruth to say that he perverts the order of nature, and turns day into night! It is a horrible falsehood to state that upon several occasions he has shown no consideration for father or kindred; that very lately he married secretly the daughter of Albert, regardless of the great consequences that were sure to follow; they mistake him for some other! The poor innocent creature does not even know what I mean! Oh, you villain! whom Heaven has sent me as a punishment for my sins, will you always do as you like, and shall I never see you act discreetly as long as I live? (_Exit_). VAL. (_Alone, musing_). Whence comes this blow? I am perplexed, and can find none to think of but Mascarille, he will never confess it to me; I must be cunning, and curb my well-founded anger a little. SCENE VII.--VALÈRE, MASCARILLE. VAL. Mascarille, my father whom I just saw knows our whole secret. MASC. Does he know it? VAL. Yes. MASC. How the deuce could he know it? VAL. I do not know whom to suspect; but the result has been so successful, that I have all the reason in the world to be delighted. He has not said one cross word about it; he excuses my fault, and approves of my love; I would fain know who could have made him so tractable. I cannot express to you the satisfaction it gives me. MASC. And what would you say, sir, if it was I who had procured you this piece of good luck? VAL. Indeed! you want to deceive me. MASC. It is I, I tell you, who told it to your father, and produced this happy result for you. VAL. Really, without jesting? MASC. The devil take me if I jest, and if it is not as I tell you. VAL. (_Drawing his sword_). And may he take me if I do not this very moment reward you for it. MASC. Ha, sir! what now? Don't surprise me. VAL. Is this the fidelity you promised me? If I had not deceived you, you would never have owned the trick which I rightly suspected you played me. You rascal! your tongue, too ready to wag, has provoked my father's wrath against me, and utterly ruined me. You shall die without saying another word. MASC. Gently; my soul is not in a fit condition to die. I entreat you, be kind enough to await the result of this affair. I had very good reasons for revealing a marriage which you yourself could hardly conceal. It was a masterpiece of policy; you will not find your rage justified by the issue. Why should you get angry if, through me, you get all you desire, and are freed from the constraint you at present lie under? VAL. And what if all this talk is nothing but moonshine? MASC. Why, then, it will be time enough to kill me; but my schemes may perchance succeed. Heaven will assist his own servants; you will be satisfied in the end, and thank me for my extraordinary management. VAL. Well, we shall see. But Lucile...