Cléante (to Orgon). Do not trust to that; he will find some means to justify his doings against you; and for less than this, a powerful party has involved people in a vexatious maze. I tell you once more, that, armed with what he has, you should never have pushed him thus far.

Orgon. True enough; but what could I do? I was unable to master my resentment at the presumption of the wretch.

Cléante. I wish, with all my heart, that we could patch up even a shadow of peace between you two.

Elmire. Had I but known how he was armed against us, I would have avoided bringing things to such a crisis; and my …

Orgon (to Dorine, seeing M. Loyal come in). What does this man want? Go and see quickly. I am in a fine state for people to come to see me!

Scene IV.—Orgon, Madame Pernelle, Elmire, Mariane, Cléante, Damis, Dorine, M. Loyal.

M. Loyal (to Dorine at the farther part of the stage). Good morning, dear sister; pray, let me speak to your master.

Dorine. He is engaged; and I doubt whether he can see anyone at present.

M. Loyal. I do not intend to be intrusive in his own house. I believe that my visit will have nothing to displease him. I have come upon a matter of which he will be very glad.

Dorine. Your name?

M. Loyal. Only tell him that I am come from Monsieur Tartuffe, for his good.

Dorine (to Orgon). This is a man who comes, in a gentle way, from Monsieur Tartuffe, upon some business, of which, he says, you will be very glad.

Cléante (to Orgon). You must see who this man is and what he wants.

Orgon (to Cléante). Perhaps he comes to reconcile us: How shall I receive him?

Cléante. You must not allow your anger to get the upper hand, and if he speaks of an arrangement, you should listen to him.

M. Loyal (to Orgon). Your servant, Sir! May Heaven punish those who would harm you, and may it favour you as much as I wish!

Orgon (softly to Cléante). This mild beginning confirms my opinion, and augurs already some reconciliation.

M. Loyal. Your whole family has always been dear to me, and I served your father.

Orgon. I am ashamed, Sir, and crave your pardon for not knowing you or your name.

M. Loyal. My name is Loyal, a native of Normandy, and I am a tipstaff to the court in spite of envy. For the last forty years, I have had the happiness, thanking Heaven, of exercising the functions thereof with much honour; and I have come, with your leave, Sir, to serve you with a writ of a certain decree …

Orgon. What! you are here …

M. Loyal. Let us proceed without anger, Sir. It is nothing but a summons; a notice to quit this house, you and yours, to remove your chattels, and to make room for others, without delay or remissness, as required hereby.