ARGANTE, SCAPIN, SILVESTRE,

dressed out as a bravo.

SIL
Scapin, show me that Argante who is the father of Octave.

SCA
What for, Sir?

SIL
I have just been told that he wants to go to law with me, and to have my sister's marriage annulled.

SCA
I don't know if such is his intention, but he won't consent to give the two hundred pistoles you asked; he says it's too much.

SIL
S'death! s'blood! If I can but find him, I'll make mince-meat of him, were I to be broken alive on the wheel afterwards.

(ARGANTE hides, trembling, behind SCAPIN.)

SCA
Sir, the father of Octave is a brave man, and perhaps he will not be afraid of you.

SIL
Ah! will he not? S'blood! s'death! If he were here, I would in a moment run my sword through his body. (Seeing ARGANTE.) Who is that man?
SCA
He's not the man, Sir; he's not the man.

SIL
Is he one of his friends?

SCA
No, Sir; on the contrary, he's his greatest enemy.

SIL
His greatest enemy?

SCA
Yes.

SIL
Ah! zounds! I am delighted at it. (To ARGANTE) You are an enemy of that scoundrel Argante, are you?

SCA
Yes, yes; I assure you that it is so.

SIL
(shaking ARGANTE'S hand roughly). Shake hands, shake hands. I give you my word, I swear upon my honour, by the sword I wear, by all the oaths I can take, that, before the day is over, I shall have delivered you of that rascally knave, of that scoundrel Argante. Trust me.

SCA
But, Sir, violent deeds are not allowed in this country.
SIL
I don't care, and I have nothing to lose.

SCA
He will certainly take his precautions; he has relations, friends, servants, who will take his part against you.

SIL
Blood and thunder! It is all I ask, all I ask. (Drawing his sword.) Ah! s'death! ah! s'blood! Why can I not meet him at this very moment, with all these relations and friends of his? If he would only appear before me, surrounded by a score of them! Why do they not fall upon me, arms in hand? (Standing upon his guard.) What! you villains! you dare to attack me? Now, s'death! Kill and slay! (He lunges out on all sides; as if he were fighting many people at once.) No quarter; lay on. Thrust. Firm. Again. Eye and foot. Ah! knaves! ah! rascals! ah! you shall have a taste of it. I'll give you your fill. Come on, you rabble! come on. That's what you want, you there. You shall have your fill of it, I say. Stick to it, you brutes; stick to it. Now, then, parry; now, then, you. (Turning towards ARGANTE and SCAPIN.) Parry this; parry. You draw back? Stand firm, man! S'death! What! Never flinch, I say.

SCA
Sir, we have nothing to do with it.

SIL
That will teach you to trifle with me.