What can I do, my dear? I am ashamed of him. I can hardly persuade
myself I am indeed his daughter; I believe that an accident, some time
or other, will discover me to be of a more illustrious descent.
CAT. I believe it; really, it is very likely; as for me, when I consider
myself...
SCENE VII.--CATHOS, MADELON, MAROTTE.
MAR. Here is a footman asks if you are at home, and says his master is
coming to see you.
MAD. Learn, you dunce, to express yourself a little less vulgarly. Say,
here is a necessary evil inquiring if it is commodious for you to become
visible.
[Footnote: All these and similar sentences were really employed by the
_precieuses_.]
MAR. I do not understand Latin, and have not learned philosophy out of
Cyrus, as you have done.
[Footnote: _Artamene, ou le Grand Cyrus_, (1649-1653) a novel in ten
volumes by Madle. de Scudery.]
MAD. Impertinent creature! How can this be borne! And who is this
footman's master?
MAR. He told me it was the Marquis de Mascarille.
MAD. Ah, my dear! A marquis! a marquis! Well, go and tell him we are
visible. This is certainly some wit who has heard of us.
CAT. Undoubtedly, my dear.
MAD. We had better receive him here in this parlour than in our room.
Let us at least arrange our hair a little and maintain our reputation.
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