FRO. Yes, right enough, no doubt. That is what ought to be done; but how in the world are we to set about it? Wait a moment. Suppose we had a somewhat elderly woman with a little of the ability which I possess, and able sufficiently well to represent a lady of rank, by means of a retinue made up in haste, and of some whimsical title of a marchioness or viscountess, whom we would suppose to come from Lower Brittany. I should have enough power over your father to persuade him that she is a rich woman, in possession, besides her houses, of a hundred thousand crowns in ready money; that she is deeply in love with him, and that she would marry him at any cost, were she even to give him all her money by the marriage contract. I have no doubt he would listen to the proposal. For certainly he loves you very much, my dear, but he loves money still better. When once he has consented to your marriage, it does not signify much how he finds out the true state of affairs about our marchioness. CLE. All that is very well made up. FRO. Leave it to me; I just remember one of my friends who will do beautifully. CLE. Depend on my gratitude, Frosine, if you succeed. But, dear Marianne, let us begin, I beg of you, by gaining over your mother; it would be a great deal accomplished if this marriage were once broken off. Make use, I beseech you, of all the power that her tenderness for you gives you over her. Display without hesitation those eloquent graces, those all-powerful charms, with which Heaven has endowed your eyes and lips; forget not, I beseech you, those sweet persuasions, those tender entreaties, those loving caresses to which, I feel, nothing could be refused. MAR. I will do all I can, and will forget nothing. SCENE II.--HARPAGON, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, FROSINE. HAR. (_aside, and without being seen_). Ah! ah! my son is kissing the hand of his intended stepmother, and his intended stepmother does not seem much averse to it! Can there be any mystery in all this? ELI. Here comes my father. HAR. The carriage is quite ready, and you can start when you like. CLE. Since you are not going, father, allow me to take care of them. HAR. No, stop here; they can easily take care of themselves, and I want you. SCENE III.--HARPAGON, CLÉANTE. HAR. Well, now, all consideration of stepmother aside, tell me what do you think of this lady? CLE. What I think of her? HAR. Yes, what do you think of her appearance, her figure, her beauty and intelligence? CLE. So, so. HAR. But still? CLE. To tell you the truth, I did not find her such as I expected. Her manner is that of a thorough coquette, her figure is rather awkward, her beauty very middling, and her intelligence of the meanest order. Do not suppose that I say this to make you dislike her; for if I must have a stepmother, I like the idea of this one as well as of any other. HAR. You spoke to her just now, nevertheless.... CLE. I paid her several compliments in your name, but it was to please you.