The Village Coquette | Page 2

vain.
Widow At nine years, she was already a coquette in embryo. I have
only pointed her in her natural direction--so her beauty will not prove
worthless and she will profit by a fine marriage. I only want Lisette to
be wise. She's naturally exquisite, and I've simply added to her talents
all that I have learned.
Girard With so many perfections you will make her a prodigy of
coquetry.

Widow So much the better, I tell you. That's what makes beauty and
wit valued. We've argued about this so many times. By coquette I mean
a girl who is very wise; who knows how to take advantage of other's
foibles; who always exhibits sangfroid in the midst of dangers. One
who profits from opportunity which she knows how to manage and
uses her reason when we lose ours. A wise coquette is more knowing
than anyone else because she is always exposed and always in a battle.
One cannot deny that the strongest virtue is one that undergoes and
survives the hardest tests. The coquette has prerogatives much more
beautiful than a prude's. That beautiful right is the right of being happy.
A prude, in her life, marries, but once or twice, but the clever coquette
never marries at all. She flatters, she raises hopes, she promises, but she
never gives in--thus through her wisdom leaving each one to his love
and desires, she makes pleasure last.
Girard In my opinion Lisette is making my pain too harsh. It's useless
to complain to her father, alas, complaining is no good. He scorns me.
Widow Yes, because you are leaving your condition in life. You are
soliciting my relative and you are only a flat foot.
Girard Very flat-footed, right. But, without belittling myself. Do I owe
Lucas respect? He owes me some, perhaps. But now each of us rests on
his pedestal, and for a collector to be the son-in-law of a farmer, it's by
right of the game.
Widow Good. It's an old game. Regretfully, I see your scheme is in
ruins. Lisette repents of having considered you, and she says she no
longer intends to have Girard. Now, the proud father and daughter find
that your fortune is too recent. Everywhere you find ungrateful hearts,
as in the village, even with regrets. But, during some times, gamble,
pilfer, respect, trim, clip, loot and loot again. By force of conceit, you
will come to listen.
Girard Today my love appears bold to you, you blame my scheme.
Listen, what is the mystery? I have, for more than a month, prowled,
spun around, run about. And in my absence, alas, what has happened?
My eyes are opening at last. Lucas is coming. I leave you. Until we
meet again.
(Exit Girard.)
Widow Go to whatever hurries you.
(Enter Lucas.)

Lucas O fortune, fortune, when will I catch you? You always fly from
me.
Widow Always fortune on the brain?
Lucas Yes, for it hates me. I do this, I do that--labor all my life. Labor
for this one, labor for that one. I work for thirty years. After thirty years,
here I am. To labor for another, it's small palliative. To work for
oneself, that takes courage. To even everything up wouldn't it be right
for the others, in their turn, to work for me?
Widow Lucas wishes to reach the heights.
Lucas Suddenly, yes, to find myself there, as in a miracle. I've got the
character for it--no matter how hazardous. I gamble, win some, lose
some, it's only that it doesn't make one happy. I've played double or
nothing out of boredom. I have forty tickets for this lottery.
Widow That's a very prudent way to place money.
Lucas Yeah. Because I love big lotteries. I am going to make my
fortune that way.
Widow You will make your fortune through your daughter. The Baron
loves her more and more.
Lucas He's becoming hot. But my daughter lacks the feeling to marry
him.
Widow She's shrewd and subtle.
Lucas It's beginning to make him keen.
Widow And, the Baron, who's only a village Baron, hasn't, as you
know, much brains.
Lucas Not necessary to say he's a stupid, because all the world knows it
well. But Lisette can hear us. Come on, daughter, come on. Madame
and I were talking about how your wit satisfies her. She said you were
so subtle, said you were so knowing.
(Enter Lisette, listening.)
Lisette (pretending naivete) Father, I don't know what she thinks of me.
Lucas So much the worse, my daughter, so much the worse.
Widow Today, you've joined some ornament to your simple country
dress.
Lisette It's to please the Baron, as you advised me. I am making myself
over to be loved. I am obedient, and I intend, to