The Flying Doctor

Sgan. You entreat me so much, that although I swore I would never forgive him, here, shake hands, I forgive him. I assure you that I impose a great restraint upon myself, and that I must have great regard for you. Farewell, Mr. Gorgibus.

(Gorgibus goes into his house; exit Sganarelle.)

SCENE XII. – VALÈRE, SGANARELLE

Val. I am forced to acknowledge that I should never have thought that Sganarelle could have done so well. (Sganarelle returns in his servant's dress) Ah! my dear fellow, under what obligation I am to you! how happy I am! and how …

Sgan. Yes, this is all very well, but Gorgibus met me, and if it had not been for a trick I thought of on the spur of the moment, all would have been discovered, (seeing Gorgibus) Run away; here he is. (Exit Valère.)

SCENE XIII. – GORGIBUS, SGANARELLE

Gor. I was looking for you everywhere to tell you that I have spoken to your brother. He has promised me that he will forgive you, but in order that I may be more sure of it, I want him to embrace you in my presence; step into my house, I will go and fetch him.

Sgan. But, Mr. Gorgibus, I don't think you could find him now; besides, I should not like to stop in your house; I dread his anger too much.

Gor. Indeed! you will stay there, for I shall lock you in. I am going now to fetch your brother; fear nothing; I assure you that he is no longer angry. (Exit Gorgibus.)

Sgan. (at the window). Well! I am caught this time. I see no way of escape. The clouds are very dark, and I greatly fear that, if they break, they will rain hard blows on my back; or that by a prescription stronger even than that of all the doctors, they will apply a royal cautery[5 - I.e. brand.] to my shoulders. But why should I despair? Since I have done so much, I must go on to the end. Yes, yes; I must get clear of all this, and show that Sganarelle is the king of rogues. (Sganarelle jumps out of the window and runs away.)

SCENE XIV. – GROS-RENÉ, GORGIBUS, SGARANELLE

Gr. – Re. Upon my word this is funny! How people jump out of the windows in this place! I must just stop here and see what comes of it. (Hides.)

Gor. I cannot find the doctor; I wonder where he went to hide himself. (seeing Sganarelle returning with his doctor's gown) Ah! here he is. It is not sufficient, sir, to have forgiven your brother, I beg you to give me the satisfaction of seeing you embrace him. He is in my house; I was looking everywhere for you, to ask you to make your peace with him in my presence.

Sgan. You are joking, Mr. Gorgibus; is it not sufficient that I should have forgiven him? I will never see him again.

Gor. Do it for my sake, sir, I pray.

Sgan. I can refuse you nothing: tell him to come down (while Gorgibus goes into the house by the door, Sganarelle goes in by the window).

Gor. (at the window). Here is your brother waiting for you yonder; he has promised me that he will do all you like.

Sgan. (at the window). Mr. Gorgibus, I beg of you to make him come here; let me see him, and ask him, in private, to forgive me, for no doubt he would treat me roughly, and would shame me before everybody. (Gorgibus comes out of his house by the door; Sganarelle by the window.)

Gor. Very well, I will tell him. Sir, he says that he is thoroughly ashamed, and he begs you to come in, so that he may ask you in private to forgive him. Here is the key, you may come in. I beg of you not to refuse me, but give me this satisfaction.

Sgan. There is nothing I can refuse you. You will hear how I will speak to him. (within the house) Ah! so you are here, scoundrel! – My brother, I beg your pardon, I assure you it was not my fault. – Profligate wretch! I will teach you to dare importune Mr. Gorgibus, and plague him with your absurdities! – Ah! my brother … – Hold your tongue, I tell you. – I would not disoblige … – … Be silent, rascal. —

Gr. – Re. (coming forward). Who do you think is in your house at present?

Gor. Why! it is the Doctor with his brother Narcissus; they have had a quarrel, but they are making it up.

Gr. – Re. Deuce take it, if they are more than one!

Sgan. (within the house) Drunkard that you are! I will teach you how to behave. – He may well look down! He feels he has done wrong, the good-for-nothing scoundrel! Ah, the hypocrite, how he pretends to be good!

Gr. – Re. (to Gorgibus). Sir, do ask him, just for fun, to make his brother show himself at the window.

Gor. Very well. Sir, pray make your brother show himself at the window.

Sgan. (from the window). He is unworthy of being seen by honourable people; and, besides, I could not bear to have him by the side of me.

Gor. Sir, do not refuse me this favour, after all those you have granted me.

Sgan. (from the window). Truly, Mr. Gorgibus, you have so much power over me that I can refuse you nothing. Show yourself, scoundrel! (after having disappeared one moment, he reappears as a valet.) Mr. Gorgibus, I am so much indebted to you. (Disappears, and reappears again as doctor.) Well, did you see that picture of drunkenness?

Gr. – Re. (to Gorgibus). I know they are but one, and to prove it, tell him that you want to see them both together.

Gor. But grant me the favour of showing yourself with him, and of embracing him at the window before me.

Sgan. (from the window). It is a thing I would refuse to any one but you; but, to show you that I would do anything for your sake, I consent, though with difficulty, and I wish that he should first ask you to forgive him for the trouble he has given you. – Yes, Mr. Gorgibus, I beg your pardon for having troubled you so much; and I promise you, my brother, in the presence of Mr. Gorgibus, to be so careful in future that you will never have reason to complain. I beg of you not to think any more of what is past (he kisses his hat and his ruff, which he has put at the end of his elbow).

Gor. Well, did you not see them both?

Gr. – Re. Upon my word, he is a sorcerer!

Sgan. (coming out of the house as doctor). I give you back the key of your house, sir. I do not wish this scoundrel to come down with me, for he makes me ashamed of him. I would not, for anything, that he should be seen with me in this town, where I have some reputation. You can send him away when you please. I wish you good morning, and am your humble servant (feigns to go, but, after having thrown down his gown, enters the house by the window).

Gor. I must go, and set this poor fellow free. To say the truth, if his brother has forgiven him, it is not before ill-treating him very much (goes into his house, and comes out with Sganarelle as a servant).

Sgan. I thank you very much, sir, for the trouble you have taken and the kindness you have shown me. I shall be obliged to you for it all my life.

Gr. – Re. (to Gorgibus). Where do you think the doctor is now?

Gor. He is gone away.

Gr. – Re. (who has picked up Sganarelle's gown). I hold him under my arm. There is the knave who played the doctor and deceived you; and, while he is deceiving you and playing you off, Valère and your daughter are together, doing all they like.

Gor. Ah! how unfortunate I am! But you shall be hanged! you knave! you scoundrel!

Sgan. Why, sir, what good will it do you to hang me? Hear a word or two, I beg of you. It is true that, thanks to my stratagem, my master is with your daughter; but, while serving him, I have done you no wrong. It is a good match for her, both as to birth and money. Believe me, do not make a scandal which would turn to your shame; but send this knave here to the devil along with Villebrequin. But here are our lovers.

SCENE XV. – VALÈRE, LUCILE, GORGIBUS, SGANARELLE

Val. We come to ask you to forgive us.

Gor. I forgive you; and, on seeing such a good son-in-law, think myself happily deceived by Sganarelle. Now, let us all go to the wedding, and drink the health of the company.

THE END

notes

1

The actor seems in this place to have been left to add any nonsense that came into his head. The MS. has "… &c. (galimatias)."

2