Charles Rivière Dufresny

“ Lucas: That's good advice. You must tell everybody so that your opinion's spread by rumor. For my part, I know that your wife's temper is like a whirligig that's always turning one way then another in the wind. Therefore, we must make the wind appear to blow from the West so shell blow to the East. Ah, there must be two winds blowing about Miss Angelica. Nelson on one side, and Young Richly on the other. We have only to say that it's Richly we want and she will force this gentleman on us just to cross us. ”

“ But it isn't natural that she should contradict my garden.
Townly:
Patience, Lucas, patience.
Lucas: To be perfectly frank I don't like being gardener here—or anywhere there are women. A woman in a garden causes more damage than a million hedgehogs. ”

“ Townly: You've said it exactly. If my daughter wishes to get married she'd better not show it.
Lucas: Madam has already tried to worm it out of me. "But Lucas," she said to me, "what do you think of this marriage?" "I think nothing, Madam." "But my daughter, for her part—" "Nothing." "But my husband, for his part—" Silence. "And because they know I can't breathe when I'm contradicted, they hide it from me. But it won't work. And I have tricks for figuring out when I'm being contradicted. It's a blind alley." What a woman. Very well. Leave it to me to put everything right. She's coming. ”

“ Didn't I tell you that I have formed a project to secure my freedom, and that to implement this project, it is necessary that my mother be unable to tell whether I love you or someone else? My father must also be kept from the truth—and therefore you also must be kept in the dark—for if you know it, my father, my mother, and any one who sees you will be well informed. ”

“ I don't know how I can live with you. A daughter like this is a real domestic calamity. I want to get rid of you for sure. Yes, miss—I will marry you off today. The two candidates are Edward Richly on one side and Mr. Nelson on the other. I will not give you the honor, I will not give you the choice. You will take the one I choose. I will speak to your father one more time. If his ideas are reasonable, I will agree. If not, no.
(Exit Mrs. Townly in a rage)
Angelica: (sighing) What violence is necessary to turn me into a dissimulator with all the world. I am naturally sincere. ”

“ Nelson:
That's the trick. Here are a hundred pounds, Lucas.
Lucas: It's necessary to tie two knots to do the job right. For there remains the little matter of putting Madam in the mood to cross you.
Townly: Let's try to do it immediately—our lawyer has been called, the marriage contract is ready.
Lucas: Yes, but to finish this properly she must be put into a rage. I know the secret of irritating her. When she comes to inspect my garden I will pretend not to say a word. Instead, I will scrape the ground with my shovel—that will infuriate her. ”

“ Lucas: I'd be very much put out to leave the employ of that bourgeois. His bourgeois money shines forth more splendidly than the money of noblemen who have a great deal more.
Mrs. Townly: (entering) Have you just put yourself under the protection of my husband? He can tell me to keep you, but I am not going to obey him. ”

“ Townly: Oh, that's too much. Husband, you cross me, you insult me, you outrage me!
(Lucas signals Townly to come in and places Townly beside his wife;
Lucas exits)
Mrs. Townly: (seeing him after a moment in Lucas' place) Continue, sir, continue. I really want to know where you get the things you say to me.
Townly:
I didn't say a word.
Mrs. Townly:
Go ahead, be brave. It takes a lot to get me worked up.
Townly:
It's true that I've come to speak to you.
Mrs. Townly: To speak to me without reason, without sense, that Mr. Nelson wouldn't be good for my daughter.
Townly:
Still, Richly—
Mrs. ”

“ Edward:
Can't do it.
Mrs. Townly: What! You contradict me, too? Oh, I will do so much for you, if you will marry my daughter!
Angelica:
What! Mother! You wouldn't marry me against my will?
Mrs. Townly: Against your will, daughter? Don't think of it—because you have no will, remember?
Angelica: Alas, when I spoke to you thus, I didn't speak sincerely. Why will you prevent a rich match with Mr. Nelson?
Mrs. Townly:
He's got more wealth than you deserve.
Angelica:
Hey, mother, I beg you—
Mrs. ”