MRS. JOUR. I have no need of spectacles, Sir, and I see clearly enough what is going on. It is some time since I have seen things as they are, and I am no fool. It is very wrong of you, a great lord, to encourage my husband in his delusion. And for you, Madam, a great lady, it is neither handsome nor honest to sow dissension in a family, and to allow my husband to be in love with you. DORI. What does all this mean? How very wrong of you, Dorante, to expose me to the preposterous fancies of this foolish woman. DOR. (_following_ DORIMENE, _who is going away_). Madam, stop, I pray; where are you going? MR. JOUR. Madam.... My Lord the Count, present my humblest apologies to her and try to bring her back. SCENE III.--MRS. JOURDAIN, MR. JOURDAIN, A SERVANT. MR. JOUR. Ah! insolent woman that you are; these are your fine doings. You come and abuse me before everybody, and send away from my house persons of quality. MRS. JOUR. I don't care a pin for their quality. MR. JOUR. I don't know, accursed woman that you are, what prevents me from beating your skull in with what remains of the feast you have come and disturbed. MRS. JOUR. (_going away_). I despise your threats. I come here to defend my own rights, and all wives will be on my side. MR. JOUR. You do wisely to avoid my anger, I can tell you. SCENE IV.--MR. JOURDAIN (_alone_). She came in at a most unlucky moment. I was in a mood to tell her very pretty things, and I never felt so full of wit. But what does this mean? SCENE V.--MR. JOURDAIN, COVIELLE (_disguised_). COV. Sir, I am not sure if I have the honour of being known to you. MR. JOUR. No, Sir. COV. (_putting his hand about a foot from the ground_). I saw you when you were not taller than that. MR. JOUR. Me? COV. Yes! You were the most beautiful child in the world, and all the ladies used to lift you up in their arms to kiss you. MR. JOUR. To kiss me? COV. Yes. I was a great friend of the late nobleman your father. MR. JOUR. Of the late nobleman my father? COV. Yes, he was a most kind gentleman. MR. JOUR. What do you say? COV. I say that he was a most kind gentleman. MR. JOUR. My father? COV. Your father. MR. JOUR. You knew him well? COV. Very well indeed. MR. JOUR. And you know him to have been a nobleman? COV. Undoubtedly. MR. JOUR. Well, I don't understand what the world means. COV. What do you say? MR. JOUR. There are some stupid people who try to persuade me that he was a shopkeeper. COV. He a shopkeeper! It is sheer calumny. All he did was this: he was extremely kind and obliging, and understood different kinds of stuff very well; therefore he used to go everywhere and choose some; then, he had them brought to his house, and was in the habit of letting his friends have some for money if they chose. MR. JOUR. I am delighted to have made your acquaintance, so that you may testify that my father was a nobleman. COV. I will maintain it before the whole world.