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The Unforseen Return

by Jean-François Regnard

Pages
about 24
Category
Literature & Fiction
Language
English
Reading time
26 min at 250 wpm
Start readingThe whole book, as cards or one word at a time. 15 min at 450 wpm in Read mode.

From the opening

Mr. Edward Richly (Clitandre) Belinda (Lucile) Clarissa (Cydalise) Squire (Marquis) Lucy (Lisette) Mrs. Prim (Mme. Bertrand) Roger (Merlin) Jeremy (Jacquinet) Mr. Andre (M. Andre) Mr. Richly (M. Geronte)

The scene is a street before Richly's house. Lucy, a maid is approaching from one side and encounters Mrs. Prim.

Mrs. Prim: Ah, there you are! I'm very glad to meet you. Let's take the opportunity to have a little serious conversation, Miss Lucy.

Mrs. Prim: You know perfectly well that I am displeased with the behavior of my niece.

Mrs. Prim. She does nothing but wrong--and to make it worse she surrounds herself with a wench like you who gives her the worst possible advice and who pushes her over the precipice--where she's heading if she hasn't already fallen.

Lucy: Well, Mrs. Prim, this is at the very least, a serious conversation as you put it--and if I were to respond as seriously I don't know where it might end. But the respect I have for your age, and for the aunt of my mistress prevents me from responding to you without respect.

Lucy: It would be nice if you were, too, Madam. You are not the first to spread scandal about your niece; remarks that have no foundation except in your disordered imagination.

Mrs. Prim: My disordered imagination! What impudence. (furiously) It's the disorder of your actions which make me speak out--and there is nothing worse than the life you are living.

Mrs. Prim: What? Is there anything more scandalous than the expenditures Belinda is constantly making--a girl without a penny in income.

Mrs. Prim: Just what she needs to maintain a large house and extravagant tastes.

Lucy: Very innocently. She drinks, eats, sings, laughs, gambles, walks to take the air--and wealth comes to us while we sleep, I assure you.

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