MAD. (_To Cathos_). My dearest, we begin to be known; people of fashion find the way to our house.
MASC. Ladies, allow me to introduce this gentleman to you. Upon my word, he deserves the honour of your acquaintance.
JOD. It is but just we should come and pay you what we owe; your charms demand their lordly rights from all sorts of people.
MAD. You carry your civilities to the utmost confines of flattery.
CAT. This day ought to be marked in our diary as a red-letter day.
MAD. (_To Almanser_). Come, boy, must you always be told things over and over again? Do you not observe there must be an additional chair?
MASC. 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: Molière 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 à 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 _impériale_.]
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.
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.
JOD. War is a fine thing; but, upon my word, the court does not properly reward men of merit like us.
MASC. That is the reason I intend to hang up my sword.
CAT. As for me, I have a tremendous liking for gentlemen of the army.
[Footnote: Cathos, who only repeats what her cousin says, and has observed that Mascarille admires Madelon, is resolved to worship more particularly the Viscount de Jodelet.]