Pour. I believe you.
Sbri. If I had the honour of being known to you, you would find that I am altogether sincere.
Mr. Pour. I do not doubt it.
Sbri. An enemy to deceit.
Mr. Pour. I feel sure of it.
Sbri. And that I am incapable of disguising my thoughts.
Mr. Pour. It is exactly what I think.
Sbri. You look at my dress, which is not like that of other people; but I came originally from Naples, at your service; and I always like to keep up the way of dressing as well as the sincerity of my country.5
Mr. Pour. You are quite right. For my part, I was desirous of appearing in the court dress for the country.6
Sbri. Truly, it becomes you better than it does all our courtiers.
Mr. Pour. Exactly what my tailor told me. The coat is suitable and rich; it will tell here among these people.
Sbri. You will go to the Louvre, no doubt?
Mr. Pour. Yes; I must go and pay my court.
Sbri. The king will be charmed to see you.
Mr. Pour. I believe so.
Sbri. Have you fixed upon rooms?
Mr. Pour. No; I was going to look for some.
Sbri. I shall be very glad to go with you; I know all this city well.
SCENE VI. – ÉRASTE, MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC, SBRIGANI
Era. Ah, who is this? What do I see? What a happy meeting! Mr. de Pourceaugnac! How delighted I am to see you! What! anyone would think that you find it difficult to remember me!
Mr. Pour. Sir, I am your servant.
Era. Is it possible that five or six years can have made you forget me? Do you not remember the best friend of the de Pourceaugnacs?
Mr. Pour. Yes, yes. (Aside to Sbrigani) Deuce take me if I know who he is.
Era. There is not one of the de Pourceaugnacs of Limoges that I do not know, from the greatest to the smallest; I visited only them during my stay there, and I had the honour of seeing you every day.
Mr. Pour. The honour was mine, Sir.
Era. You do not remember my face?
Mr. Pour. Yes, yes. (To Sbrigani) I don't know him a bit.
Era. You do not remember that I had the pleasure of drinking with you I don't know how many times?
Mr. Pour. Excuse me. (To Sbrigani) I don't know anything about it.
Era. What is the name of that pastrycook who cooks such capital dinners?
Mr. Pour. Petit-Jean.
Era. Just so. We used often to go there together to enjoy ourselves. How do you call that place where people go for a walk?
Mr. Pour. The cemetery of the Arènes.
Era. Exactly. It is there I enjoyed so many happy hours of your pleasant talk. Don't you remember it all now?
Mr. Pour. Pardon me; yes, I remember. (To Sbrigani) Deuce take me if I do.
Sbri. (aside to Mr. de Pourceaugnac). There are a hundred things like that which one is apt to forget altogether.
Era. Let us embrace, I pray, and renew our former friendship.
Sbri. (to Mr. de Pourceaugnac). This man seems to have a great affection for you.
Era. Tell me some news of all the family. How is that gentleman your … he who is such an honest man?
Mr. Pour. My brother the sheriff? 7
Era. Yes.
Mr. Pour. He is as well as can be.
Era. I am delighted to hear it. And that good tempered man? You know, your …
Mr. Pour. My cousin, the assessor?
Era. Exactly.
Mr. Pour. Always gay and hearty.
Era. It gives me much pleasure to hear it. And your uncle, the …
Mr. Pour. I have no uncle.
Era. But you had one in those days?
Mr. Pour. No; only an aunt…
Era. Ah! it's what I meant; your aunt; Mrs… How is she?
Mr. Pour. She died six months ago.
Era. Alas! poor woman. She was so good, too!
Mr. Pour. We have also my nephew, the canon, who almost died of the smallpox.
Era. What a pity if it had happened!
Mr. Pour. Do you know him also?
Era. Indeed I do; a tall handsome fellow.
Mr. Pour. Not so very tall.
Era. No; but well-shaped.
Mr. Pour. Yes, yes.
Era. He's your nephew, isn't he?
Mr. Pour. Yes.
Era. Son of your brother or your sister?
Mr. Pour. True.
Era. A canon of the church of… How do you call it?
Mr. Pour. Saint Stephen.
Era. Just so; I don't know any other.
Mr. Pour. (to Sbrigani). He knows all my relations.
Sbri. He knows you better than you think.
Mr. Pour. You must have lived a long time in our town, I see.
Era. Two whole years.
Mr. Pour. You were there, then, when our governor was godfather to my cousin the assessor's child?
Era. To be sure; I was one of the first invited.
Mr. Pour. The thing was well done.
Era. Very.
Mr. Pour. The dinner was well got up.
Era. Yes, indeed.
Mr. Pour. Then you must remember the quarrel I had with that gentleman from Périgord.
Era. Yes.
Mr. Pour. He met with
The Neapolitans had no great reputation for sincerity.
