iastic support of the Count's suit.

The intrigue is all to the credit of Dubois, who not only has to fan the
flame of love in the heart of Araminte, but also finds himself obliged to
rally his master's failing courage, as when Dorante objects that she is
too much above him, since he has neither rank nor wealth, and the valet
replies: "Point de bien! votre bonne mine est un Perou. Tournez-vous un
peu, que je vous considere encore; allons, monsieur, vous vous moquez; il
n'y a point de plus grand seigneur que vous a Paris; voila une taille qui
vaut toutes les dignites possibles, et notre affaire est infaillible
absolument infaillible." His genius for intrigue is certainly admirable,
and, were that a sufficient claim for glory, we would chime in with him in
his final cry of victory, as the piece closes: "Ouf! ma gloire m'accable.
Je meriterais bien d'appeler cette femme-la ma bru." The plot is
complicated by the role of Mlle. Marton, companion to Araminte, who is led
by M. Remy, Dorante's uncle, to consider herself the object of the young
man's affection, and thus to second his ambition. She is easily consoled
for her disappointment, however, and all ends to the honor of Dorante, who
frankly confesses to Araminte his share in the intrigue, but assures her
that a desire for her hand and property has culminated in a more noble
passion, and we have again the _triumph of love_.

Marivaux, made use of the same theme in a later comedy, _le Prejuge
vaincu_, but the prejudice attacked was that of birth, instead of wealth,
as here, where both parties belong to the world of the _bourgeoisie_.[121]

_L'Epreuve_ has been called _le chant du cygne_ of Marivaux. It was the
last play he gave to the Theatre-Italien, and was performed November 19,
1740. It is a little comedy in one act, and belongs to the small number of
those that were enthusiastically received on their "first night." Marivaux
admits this characteristic of his plays in the _Avertissement_ to _les
Serments indiscrets_. "Presque aucune des miennes n'a bien pris d'abord;
leur succes n'est venu que dans la suite, et je l'aime bien autant venu de
cette maniere-la."

This time it is a question of a rich young man, Lucidor, who loses his
heart to a poor girl, another Angelique, but, to test her love and to
learn, if possible, whether her affection is for himself rather than for
his wealth, he puts her to a cruel test. He informs her that he has in
mind for her a wealthy party