SCENE IV.--MR. JOURDAIN (_alone_).
She came in at a most unlucky moment. I was in a mood to tell her very
pretty things, and I never felt so full of wit. But what does this
mean?
SCENE V.--MR. JOURDAIN, COVIELLE (_disguised_).
COV. Sir, I am not sure if I have the honour of being known to you.
MR. JOUR. No, Sir.
COV. (_putting his hand about a foot from the ground_). I saw you
when you were not taller than that.
MR. JOUR. Me?
COV. Yes! You were the most beautiful child in the world, and all the
ladies used to lift you up in their arms to kiss you.
MR. JOUR. To kiss me?
COV. Yes. I was a great friend of the late nobleman your father.
MR. JOUR. Of the late nobleman my father?
COV. Yes, he was a most kind gentleman.
MR. JOUR. What do you say?
COV. I say that he was a most kind gentleman.
MR. JOUR. My father?
COV. Your father.
MR. JOUR. You knew him well?
COV. Very well indeed.
MR. JOUR. And you know him to have been a nobleman?
COV. Undoubtedly.
MR. JOUR. Well, I don't understand what the world means.
COV. What do you say?
MR. JOUR. There are some stupid people who try to persuade me that he
was a shopkeeper.
COV. He a shopkeeper! It is sheer calumny. All he did was this: he was
extremely kind and obliging, and understood different kinds of stuff
very well; therefore he used to go everywhere and choose some; then,
he had them brought to his house, and was in the habit of letting his
friends have some for money if they chose.
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