(_Knocks at the door of Valère's house_). Let us lose no time; here it is. Who's there? Why, I am dreaming! Hulloa, I say! hulloa somebody! hulloa! I do not wonder, after this information, that he came up to me just now so meekly. But I must make haste, and teach this foolish aspirant... SCENE III.--VALÈRE, SGANARELLE, ERGASTE. SGAN. (_To Ergaste, who has come out hastily_). A plague on the lubberly ox! Do you mean to knock me down--coming and sticking yourself in front of me like a post? VAL. Sir, I regret... SGAN. Ah! you are the man I want. VAL. I, sir? SGAN. You. Your name is Valère, is it not? VAL. Yes. SGAN. I am come to speak to you if you will allow me. VAL. Can I have the happiness of rendering you any service? SGAN. No; but I propose to do you a good turn. That is what brings me to your house. VAL. To my house, sir! SGAN. To your house. Need you be so much astonished? VAL. I have good reason for it; I am delighted with the honour... SGAN. Do not mention the honour, I beseech you. VAL. Will you not come in? SGAN. There is no need. VAL. I pray you, enter. SGAN. No, I will go no further. VAL. As long as you stay there I cannot listen to you. SGAN. I will not budge. VAL. Well, I must yield. Quick, since this gentleman is resolved upon it, bring a chair. SGAN. I am going to talk standing. VAL. As if I could permit such a thing! SGAN. What an intolerable delay! VAL. Such incivility would be quite unpardonable. SGAN. Nothing can be so rude as not to listen to people who wish to speak to us. VAL. I obey you, then. SGAN. You cannot do better. (_They make many compliments about putting on their hats_). So much ceremony is hardly necessary. Will you listen to me? VAL. Undoubtedly, and most willingly. SGAN. Tell me: do you know that I am guardian to a tolerably young and passably handsome girl who lives in this neighbourhood, and whose name is Isabella? VAL. Yes. SGAN. As you know it, I need not tell it to you. But do you know, likewise, that as I find her charming, I care for her otherwise than as a guardian, and that she is destined for the honour of being my wife? VAL. No! SGAN. I tell it you, then; and also that it is as well that your passion, if you please, should leave her in peace. VAL. Who?--I, sir? SGAN. Yes, you. Let us have no dissembling. VAL. Who has told you that my heart is smitten by her? SGAN. Those who are worthy of belief. VAL. Be more explicit. SGAN. She herself. VAL. She! SGAN. She. Is not that enough? Like a virtuous young girl, who has loved me from childhood, she told me all just now; moreover, she charged me to tell you, that, since she has everywhere been followed by you, her heart, which your pursuit greatly offends, has only too well understood the language of your eyes; that your secret desires are well known to her; and that to try more fully to explain a passion which is contrary to the affection she entertains for me, is to give yourself needless trouble.