DORINE
A handsome dowry!
(Orgon turns and stands in front of her, with arms folded, eyeing
her.)
Were I in her place, any man should rue it
Who married me by force, that's mighty certain;
I'd let him know, and that within a week,
A woman's vengeance isn't far to seek.
ORGON (to Dorine)
So — nothing that I say has any weight?
DORINE
Eh? What's wrong now? I didn't speak to you.
ORGON
What were you doing?
DORINE
Talking to myself.
ORGON
Oh! Very well. (Aside.) Her monstrous impudence
Must be chastised with one good slap in the face.
(He stands ready to strike her, and, each time he speaks to his
daughter, he glances toward her; but she stands still and says not a
word.) [3]
[Footnote 3: As given at the Comedie francaise, the action is as
follows: While Orgon says, "You must approve of my design," Dorine is
making signs to Mariane to resist his orders; Orgon turns around
suddenly; but Dorine quickly changes her gesture and with the hand
which she had lifted calmly arranges her hair and her cap. Orgon goes
on, "Think of the husband . . ." and stops before the middle of his
sentence to turn and catch the beginning of Dorine's gesture; but he
is too quick this time, and Dorine stands looking at his furious
countenance with a sweet and gentle expression. He turns and goes on,
and the obstinate Dorine again lifts her hand behind his shoulder to
urge Mariane to resistance: this time he catches her; but just as he
swings his shoulder to give her the promised blow, she stops him by
changing the intent of her gesture, and carefully picking from the top
of his sleeve a bit of fluff which she holds carefully between her
fingers, then blows into the air, and watches intently as it floats
away. Orgon is paralysed by her innocence of expression, and compelled
to hide his rage. — Regnier, /Le Tartuffe des Comediens/.]
