r, I see well enough; I
have had suspicions for a long time, and I'm not a fool. This is
very low of you, of a great lord, to lend a hand as you do to the
follies of my husband. And you, Madame, for a great lady, it is
neither fine nor honest of you to cause dissension in a household
and to allow my husband to be in love with you.

DORIMENE: What is she trying to say with all this? Goodness
Dorante! You have outdone yourself by exposing me to the absurd
fantasies of this ridiculous woman.

DORANTE: Madame, wait! Madame, where are you going?

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Madame! Monsieur Count, make excuses to her and
try to bring her back. Ah! You impertinent creature, this is a fine
way to act! You come and insult me in front of everybody, and you
drive from me people of quality.

MADAME JOURDAIN: I laugh at their quality.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: I don't know who holds me back, evil creature,
from breaking your head with the remains of the repast you came to
disrupt. (The table is removed).

MADAME JOURDAIN: (Leaving) I'm not concerned. These are my rights
that I defend, and I'll have all wives on my side.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: You do well to avoid my rage. She arrived very
inopportunely. I was in the mood to say pretty things, and I had
never felt so witty. What's that?

ACT FOUR

SCENE III (Covielle, disguised; Monsieur Jourdain, Lackey)

COVIELLE: Sir, I don't know if I have the honor to be known to
you?

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: No, sir.

COVIELLE: I saw you when you were no taller than that.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Me?

COVIELLE: Yes. You were the most beautiful child in the world, and
all the ladies took you in their arms to kiss you.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: To kiss me?

COVIELLE: Yes, I was a great friend of your late father.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Of my late father?

COVIELLE: Yes. He was a very honorable gentleman.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: What did you say?

COVIELLE: I said that he was a very honorable gentleman.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: My father?

COVIELLE: Yes.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: You knew him very well?

COVIELLE: Assuredly.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: And you knew him as a gentleman?

COVIELLE: Without doubt.

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: Then I don't know what is going on!

COVIELLE: What?

MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: There are some fools who want to tell me that he
was a tradesman.

COVIELLE: Him, a tradesman! It's pure slander, he never was one.
All that he did was to be very obliging, very ready to help; and,
since he was a