Scene VI.—Sganarelle, Valère, Lucas.

Sganarelle (singing behind the Scene). La, la, la …

Valère. I hear some one singing and cutting wood.

Sganarelle (coming on, with a bottle in his hand, without perceiving Valère or Lucas). La, la, la. … Really I have done enough to deserve a drink. Let us take a little breath. (He drinks). This wood is as salt as the very devil. (Sings).

Come! Zounds! we must take care not to get the blues.

Valère (softly to Lucas). This is the very man.

Lucas (softly to Valère). I think you are right, and that we have just hit upon him.

Valère. Let us look a little closer.

Sganarelle (hugging the bottle). Ah! you little rogue! I love you, my pretty dear! (He sings; but perceiving Lucas and Valère, who are examining him, he lowers his voice.)

(Seeing that they examine him more closely). Whom the deuce do these people want?

Valère (to Lucas). It is surely he.

Lucas (to Valère). There he is, exactly as he has been described to us.

Sganarelle (aside). (At this point he puts down his bottle; and when Valère stoops down to bow to him, he thinks that it is in order to snatch it away, and puts it on the other side. As Lucas is doing the same thing as Valère, Sganarelle takes it up again, and hugs it to his breast, with various grimaces which make a great deal of by-play.) They are consulting each other, while looking at me. What can be their intentions!

Valère. Sir, is not your name Sganarelle?

Sganarelle. Hey! What!

Valère. I ask you if your name is not Sganarelle.

Sganarelle (turning first to Valère, then to Lucas). Yes, and no. It depends on what you want with him.

Valère. We want nothing with him, but to offer him our utmost civilities.

Sganarelle. In that case my name is Sganarelle.

Valère. We are delighted to see you, Sir. We have been recommended to you for what we are in search of; and we have come to implore your help, of which we are in want.

Sganarelle. If it be anything, gentlemen, that belongs to my little trade, I am quite ready to oblige you.

Valère. You are too kind to us, Sir. But put your hat on, Sir, if you please; the sun might hurt you.