You must not be astonished to see the Viscount thus; he has but
just recovered from an illness, which, as you perceive, has made him so
pale.
[Footnote: Moliere here alludes to the complexion of the actor
Geoffrin.]
JOD. The consequence of continual attendance at court and the fatigues
of war.
MASC. Do you know, ladies, that in the Viscount you behold one of the
heroes of the age. He is a very valiant man.
[Footnote: In the original _un brave a trois poils_, literally, "a brave
man with three hairs." This is an allusion to the moustache and pointed
beard on the chin, then called _royale_. We have seen the fashion
revived in our days by the late emperor of the French, Napoleon III. and
his courtiers; of course, the _royale_ was then called _imperiale_.]
JOB. Marquis, you are not inferior to me; we also know what you can do.
MASC. It is true we have seen one another at work when there was need
for it.
JOD. And in places where it was hot.
MASC. (_Looking at Cathos and Madelon_). Ay, but not so hot as here. Ha,
ha, ha!
JOD. We became acquainted in the army; the first time we saw each other
he commanded a regiment of horse aboard the galleys of Malta.
MASC. True, but for all that you were in the service before me; I
remember that I was but a young officer when you commanded two thousand
horse.
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