HAR. (_aside_). O my beloved casket! (_To_ VALÈRE) My treasure has not left my house? VAL. No, Sir. HAR. Well, then, tell me, have you taken any liberties with...? VAL. Ah! Sir, you wrong us both; the flame with which I burn is too pure, too full of respect. HAR. (_aside_). He burns for my casket! VAL. I had rather die than show the least offensive thought: I found too much modesty and too much purity for that. HAR. (_aside_). My cash-box modest! VAL. All my desires were limited to the pleasures of sight, and nothing criminal has profaned the passion those fair eyes have inspired me with. HAR. (_aside_). The fair eyes of my cash-box! He speaks of it as a lover does of his mistress. VAL. Dame Claude knows the whole truth, and she can bear witness to it. HAR. Hallo! my servant is an accomplice in this affair? VAL. Yes, Sir, she was a witness to our engagement; and it was after being sure of the innocence of my love that she helped me to persuade your daughter to engage herself to me. HAR. Ah! (_Aside_) Has the fear of justice made him lose his senses? (_To_ VALÈRE) What rubbish are you talking about my daughter? VAL. I say, Sir, that I found it most difficult to make her modesty consent to what my love asked of her. HAR. The modesty of whom? VAL. Of your daughter; and it was only yesterday that she could make up her mind to sign our mutual promise of marriage. HAR. My daughter has signed a promise of marriage? VAL. Yes, Sir, and I have also signed. HAR. O heavens! another misfortune! JAC. (_to the_ OFFICER). Write, Sir, write. HAR. Aggravation of misery! Excess of despair! (_To the_ OFFICER) Sir, discharge your duty, and draw me up an indictment against him as a thief and a suborner. JAC. As a thief and a suborner. VAL. These are names which I do not deserve, and when you know who I am.... SCENE IV.--HARPAGON, ÉLISE, MARIANNE, VALÈRE, FROSINE, MASTER JACQUES, THE POLICE OFFICER. HAR. Ah! guilty daughter! unworthy of a father like me! is it thus that you put into practice the lessons I have given you? You give your love to an infamous thief, and engage yourself to him without my consent! But you shall both be disappointed. (_To_ ÉLISE) Four strong walls will answer for your conduct in the future; (_to_ VALÈRE) and good gallows, impudent thief, shall do me justice for your audacity. VAL. Your anger will be no judge in this affair, and I shall at least have a hearing before I am condemned. HAR. I was wrong to say gallows; you shall be broken alive on the wheel.