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Library / Literature & Fiction

The Forfeiture

by Charles Rivière Dufresny

Pages
about 17
Category
Literature & Fiction
Language
English
Reading time
19 min at 250 wpm
Start readingThe whole book, as cards or one word at a time. 10 min at 450 wpm in Read mode.

From the opening

GERONTE, father of Isabelle ISABELLE, lover of Valere BELISE, Valere's older aunt ARAMINTE, her younger sister VALERE, nephew of Belise and Araminte FRONTIN, Valere's valet A Lackey 4 men, 3 women

VALERE: Yes, the more I think of it the less I see of a way out.

VALERE: What cruelty! To be desolated side by side without finding any way to placate these crazies.

ISABELLE: My father has spoken sharply to them and is going to threaten them again, separately. For each stays in her own apartment.

VALERE: Yes, from the little I see the two avoid each other, speak only a few words in passing and leave each other. As for me, when I am speaking to them they turn their backs. Their hardness towards me appears on every occasion.

ISABELLE: Their hardness towards you condemns them. Ah, Valere, they push their ill natures too far. To not love you!

VALERE: I hoped that through you, my two aunts would do something for us, and that having seen you, adorable Isabelle, they could be counted on.

ISABELLE: Their barbarity is such that they speak of you with aversion.

ISABELLE: To be capable of hating Valere. Their evil hearts make me tremble. I despair over it.

VALERE: Your father is still going to press them. Thus we may still hope. He's going to meet us here.

ISABELLE: Yes, give us at least a moment of hope. But I am indignant when I think of their latest remarks.

VALERE: You should count on them for they showed you a hundred signs of friendship yesterday.

ISABELLE: It's from that that I see they have scorned me. For only in embracing did they refuse me. The Prude scorned me with her haughty airs, took a soft tone mixed with disdain, affected caresses and vapid joking. You die in flattery.

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