Scene III.—Elmire, Mariane, Damis, Cléante, Dorine.

Elmire (to Cléante). You are very fortunate not to have assisted at the speech to which she treated us at the door. But I have just seen my husband; and as he did not see me, I shall go upstairs to await his coming.

Cléante. I will wait for him here, with small pleasure; and merely say how do ye do to him.

Scene IV.—Cléante, Damis, Dorine.

Damis. Just sound him about this marriage of my sister. I suspect that Tartuffe is opposed to it, because he makes my father use so many evasions; and you are not ignorant how greatly I am interested in it.… If the same passion fires my sister’s and Valére’s heart, the sister of this friend is, as you know, dear to me; and if it were necessary …

Dorine. Here he is.

Scene V.—Orgon, Cléante, Dorine.

Orgon. Ha! good morrow, brother.

Cléante. I was just going, and am glad to see you returned. The country is not very cheering at present.

Orgon. Dorine … (to Cléante). Pray, one moment, brother-in-law. Allow me to inquire the news here to ease my mind. (To Dorine). Has everything gone on well these two days? What are they doing, and how are they all?

Dorine. The day before yesterday my mistress had an attack of fever until evening, accompanied by an extraordinary headache.

Orgon. And Tartuffe?

Dorine. Tartuffe! He is wonderfully well, stout and fat, with a fresh complexion, and a ruddy mouth.

Orgon. Poor fellow!

Dorine. In the evening she felt very sick, and could not touch a morsel of supper, so violent was still the pain in her head.

Orgon. And Tartuffe?

Dorine. He supped by himself in her presence; and very devoutly ate two partridges, and half a leg of mutton hashed.

Orgon. Poor fellow!

Dorine. The whole night she did not close her eyes for a moment. She was so feverish that she could not sleep, and we were obliged to sit up with her until morning.

Orgon. And Tartuffe?

Dorine. Pleasantly overcome with sleep, he went to his room when he left the table; and jumped into his cozy bed, where he slept undisturbed until morning.

Orgon. Poor fellow!

Dorine. We at length prevailed upon the mistress to be bled; and she was almost immediately relieved.