r.

_Gas._ Too true; and that is his reason for going.

_Mar._ What! does he dislike people to be fond of him?

_Gas._ Ah, my Marianna, my poor master is desperately in love with your
young mistress; he leads the most wretched life in the world; he knows
their love for each other is increasing every day, and, as they can no
longer hide it, he fears for himself, and for Mademoiselle Giannina.
Your master is rich, and mine is poor. Monsieur Philibert has this only
daughter, and will not give her to a younger son, a soldier; one, in
short, who would have to live on her means. The Lieutenant, though poor,
is a man of honour; he respects the obligations of hospitality, of
friendship, of good faith; he fears he may be overcome and seduced by
love, and that he in turn may seduce his mistress from her duty. This
being the case, he does violence to his feelings, sacrifices love to
principle, and is resolved to go.

_Mar._ I admire his heroic conduct, but could not imitate it.

_Gas._ We must exert self-control.

_Mar._ You can do so more easily than I.

_Gas._ Indeed, a man's resolution is stronger than a woman's.

_Mar._ Say rather his affections are weaker.

_Gas._ So far as regards me, you are wrong.

_Mar._ I look at acts, not words.

_Gas._ What can I do to convince you of my love?

_Mar._ Monsieur Gascoigne does not need me for a teacher.

_Gas._ Do you wish me to marry you before I go?

_Mar._ That would, indeed, remove all doubt.

_Gas._ But then I should have to leave you.

_Mar._ And could you have the heart to abandon me?

_Gas._ Oh, you might go with me!

_Mar._ That would be much better.

_Gas._ To encounter so many hardships?

_Mar._ In truth, that would not suit me so well.

_Gas._ Should I remain here with you, would that satisfy you?

_Mar._ Perfectly.

_Gas._ For how long?

_Mar._ A year at least.

_Gas._ And after a year, would you let me go?

_Mar._ Yes, a year after our marriage, if you found it easy to do so.

_Gas._ I daresay you would let me go after a month.

_Mar._ I know better.

_Gas._ I am sure of it.

_Mar._ Let us try.

_Gas._ My master is coming; another time we will talk it over.

_Mar._ Ah, Monsieur Gascoigne, this conversation has unnerved me; do
what you please, I trust to you.--[_Aside._] Indeed, I know not what I
say. [_Exit._

_Gas._ If I had not more sense than she, the folly would have been
committed before now.

_Enter_ De la Cotterie.