Orgon. No, nothing more wicked ever came out of hell.

Elmire. Good Heavens! you ought not to believe things so lightly. Be fully convinced before you give in; and do not hurry for fear of being mistaken. (Elmire pushes Orgon behind her.)

Scene VII.—Tartuffe, Elmire, Orgon.

Tartuffe (without seeing Orgon). Everything conspires, Madam, to my satisfaction. I have surveyed the whole apartment; there is no one there; and my delighted soul … (At the moment that Tartuffe advances with open arms to embrace Elmire, she draws back, and Tartuffe perceives Orgon).

Orgon (stopping Tartuffe). Gently! you are too eager in your amorous transports, and you ought not to be so impetuous. Ha! ha! good man, you wished to victimize me! How you are led away by temptations! You would marry my daughter, and covet my wife! I have been a long while in doubt whether you were in earnest, and I always expected you would change your tone; but this is pushing the proof far enough: I am satisfied, and wish for no more.

Elmire (to Tartuffe). It is much against my inclinations that I have done this: but I have been driven to the necessity of treating you thus.

Tartuffe (to Orgon). What! do you believe …

Orgon. Come, pray, no more. Be off! and without ceremony.

Tartuffe. My design …

Orgon. These speeches are no longer of any use; you must get out of this house, and forthwith.

Tartuffe. It is for you to get out, you who assume the mastership: the house belongs to me, I will make you know it, and show you plainly enough that it is useless to resort to these cowardly tricks to pick a quarrel with me; that one cannot safely, as one thinks, insult me; that I have the means of confounding and of punishing imposture, of avenging offended Heaven, and of making those repent who talk of turning me out hence.

Scene VIII.—Elmire, Orgon.

Elmire. What language is this? and what does he mean?

Orgon. I am, in truth, all confusion, and this is no laughing matter.

Elmire. How so?

Orgon. I perceive my mistake by what he says; and the deed of gift troubles my mind.

Elmire. The deed of gift?

Orgon. Yes. The thing is done. But something else disturbs me too.

Elmire. And what?

Orgon. You shall know all. But first let us go and see if a certain box is still upstairs.