|
CHARLES. Ah! /

GORIOT. Not without his veyther's consent! And he hasn't got it; and
what's more, he can't get it: and what's more, he hasn't got a veyther
to get it from. It's the law of France.

ALINE. Then the law of France ought to be ashamed of itself.

ERNESTINE. O, couldn't we ask the Notary again?

CURATE. Indubitably you may ask him.

MACAIRE. Can't they marry? \
|
DUMONT. Can't he marry? |
|
ALINE. Can't she marry? |
> _Together._
ERNESTINE. Can't we marry? |
|
CHARLES. Can't I marry? |
|
GORIOT. Bain't I right? /

NOTARY. Constracting parties.

CURATE. Possibly to-morrow at an early hour he may be more perspicuous.

GORIOT. Ay, before he've time to get at it.

NOTARY. Unoffending jurisconsult overtaken by sorrow. Possibly by
applying justice of peace might afford relief.

MACAIRE. Bravo! \
|
DUMONT. Excellent! |
|
CHARLES. Let's go at once! > _Together._
|
ALINE. The very thing! |
|
ERNESTINE. Yes, this minute! /

GORIOT. I'll go. I don't mind getting advice, but I wun't take it.

MACAIRE. My friends, one word: I perceive by your downcast looks that
you have not recognised the true nature of your responsibility as
citizens of time. What is care? impiety. Joy? the whole duty of man.
Here is an opportunity of duty it were sinful to forego. With a word, I
could lighten your hearts; but I prefer to quicken your heels, and send
you forth on your ingenuous errand with happy faces and smiling
thoughts, the physicians of your own recovery. Fiddlers, to your catgut!
Up, Bertrand, and show them how one foots it in society; forward, girls,
and choose me every one the lad she loves; Dumont, benign old man, lead
forth our blushing Curate; and you, O bride, embrace the uniform of your
beloved, and help us dance in your wedding-day. (_Dance, in the course
of which MACAIRE picks DUMONT'S pocket of his keys, selects the key of
the cash-box, and returns the others to his pocket. In the end, all
dance out; the wedding-party, headed by FIDDLERS, L.C.; the MAIDS and
ALINE into the inn, R.U.E. Manet, BERTRAND and MACAIRE._)

SCENE VIII

_MACAIRE, BERTRAND, who instan