COVIELLE: Don't you make a fool of yourself by taking it seriously
with a man like that? Don't you see that he is a fool? And would it
cost you anything to accommodate yourself to his fantasies?

CLEONTE: You're right. But I didn't believe it necessary to prove
nobility in order to be Monsieur Jourdain's son-in-law.

COVIELLE: Ha, ha, ha!

CLEONTE: What are you laughing at?

COVIELLE: At a thought that just occurred to me of how to play our
man a trick and help you obtain what you desire.

CLEONTE: How?

COVIELLE: The idea is really funny.

CLEONTE: What is it?

COVIELLE: A short time ago there was a certain masquerade which
fits here better than anything, and that I intend to make part of a
prank I want to play on our fool. It all seems a little phony; but,
with him, one can try anything, there is hardly any reason to be
subtle, and he is the man to play his role marvelously and to
swallow easily any fabrication we want to tell him. I have the
actors, I have the costumes ready, just leave it to me.

CLEONTE: But tell me...

COVIELLE: I am going to instruct you in everything. Let's go, there
he is, returning.

ACT THREE

SCENE XIV (Monsieur Jourdain, Lackey) MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: What the
devil is this? They have nothing other than the great lords to
reproach me with, and as for me, I see nothing so fine as to
associate with the great lords; there is only honor and civility
among them, and I would have given two fingers of a hand to have
been born a count or a marquis. LACKEY: Sir, here's the Count, and
he has a lady with him. MONSIEUR JOURDAIN: What! My Goodness, I
have some orders to give. Tell them I'll be back here soon.

SCENE XV (Dorimene, Dorante, Lackey)

LACKEY: Monsieur says that he'll be here very soon.

DORANTE: That's fine.

DORIMENE: I don't know, Dorante; I feel strange allowing you to
bring me to this house where I know no one.

DORANTE: Then where would you like, Madame, for me to express my
love with an entertainment, since you will allow neither your house
nor mine for fear of scandal?

DORIMENE: But you don't mention that every day I am gradually
preparing myself to receive too great proofs of your passion? As
good a defense as I have put up, you wear down my resistance, and
you have a polite persistence which makes me come gently to
whatever you like. The frequent visits began, declarations
followed, after them came serenades and amusements in their train,
and presents f