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Page 3
The General
You! I owe you, my dear friend, an apology; I took you for a man who
was too well aware of his own worth.
Godard
You took me to be conceited! But General, as a matter of fact, I
intend to marry because I don't know how to pay any court to women.
The General (aside)
What a civilian! (Aloud) How is this? You talk like an old man, and--
that is not the way to win my daughter.
Godard
Do not misunderstand me. I have a warm heart; I wish only to feel sure
that I shall be accepted.
The General
That means that you don't mind attacking unwalled towns.
Godard
That is not it at all, General. You quite alarm me, with your banter.
The General
What do you mean then?
Godard
I understand nothing about the tricks of women. I know no more when
their yes means no, than when their no means yes; and when I am in
love, I wish to be loved in return.
The General (aside)
With such ideas as those he has precious little chance.
Godard
There are plenty of men like me, men who are supremely bored by this
little warfare of manners and whims.
The General
But there is something also delightful in it,--I mean in the feminine
show of resistance, which gives one the pleasure of overcoming it.
Godard
Thank you, nothing of that sort for me! When I am hungry, I do not
wish to coquette with my soup. I like to have things decided, and care
very little how the decision is arrived at, although I do come from
Normandy. In the world, I see coxcombs who creep into the favor of
women by saying to them, "Ah! madame, what a pretty frock you have on.
Your taste is perfect. You are the only person who could wear that,"
and starting from such speeches as that they go on and on--and gain
their end. They are wonderful fellows, upon my honor! I don't see how
they reach success by such idle talk. I should beat about the bush
through all eternity before I could tell a pretty woman the effect she
had made on me.
The General
The men of the Empire were not of that sort.
Godard
It is on account of that, that I put on a bold face! This boldness
when backed by an income of forty thousand francs is accepted without
protest, and wins its way to the front. That is why you took me for a
good match. So long as there are no mortgages on the rich pasture
lands of the Auge Valley, so long as one possesses a fine chateau,
well furnished--for my wife need bring with her nothing but her
trousseau, since she will find there even the cashmeres and laces of
my late mother--when a man has all that, General, he has got all the
courage he need have. Besides, I am now Monsieur de Rimonville.
The General
No, you're only Godard.
Godard
Godard de Rimonville.
The General
Godard for short.
Godard
General, you are trying my patience.
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