SCENE I.--ÉRASTE, SBRIGANI.
SBRI. Yes; everything is succeeding splendidly; and as his knowledge of things is very
shallow, and his understanding of the poorest, I put him in such a terrible fright at the
severity of the law in this country, and at the preparations which were already set on foot
to put him to death, [Footnote: Bigamists were really put to death.] that he is determined
to run away, and in order the better to escape from the people who, I have told him, are
placed at the city gates to stop him, he has decided upon disguising himself as a woman.
ERA. How I should like to see him dressed up in that way!
SBRI. Take care you carry out the farce properly; and whilst I go through my parts with
him, you go and.... (Whispers to him.) You understand, don't you?
SBRI. And when I have taken him where I mean.... (Whispers.)
SBRI. And when the father has been forewarned by me.... (Whispers.)
ERA. Nothing could be better.
SBRI. Here is our young lady. Go quickly; she must not see us together.
SCENE II.--MR. DE POURCEAUGNAC (as a lady), SBRIGANI.
SBRI. For my part, I don't think any one can know you, and you look exactly like a lady
of birth.
MR. POUR. I am so astonished that in this province the forms of justice should not be
observed.
SBRI. Yes; as I have already told you, they begin by hanging a man, and try him
afterwards.
MR. POUR. What unjust justice!
SBRI. It is devilishly severe, particularly on this kind of crime.
MR. POUR. Still, when one is innocent?
