JUL. Ah! let us separate quickly.

NER. No, no; don't go; I made a mistake.

JUL. How absurd you are, Nerine, to give us such a fright!

ERA. Yes, dear Julia, we have plenty of stratagems ready for the
purpose; and, in accordance with the permission you have given me, we
will not hesitate to make use of every means. Do not ask me what it
is we are going to do; you will have the fun of seeing it, and, as at a
comedy, it will be nice for you to have the pleasure of being surprised
without my letting you know beforehand what is going to take place.
This is telling you that we have many schemes in hand for the
occasion, and that our clever Nerine and the dexterous Sbrigani have
undertaken to bring the affair to a successful issue.

NER. Yes, we have indeed. Is your father crazy to think of entangling
you with his lawyer of Limoges; that Mr. de Pourceaugnac, whom he
has never seen in his life, and who comes by the coach to take you
away before our very eyes? Ought three or four thousand crowns, more
or less--and that, too, upon the word of your uncle--to make him refuse
a lover you like? Besides, are you made for a Limousin? If he has taken
it into his head to marry, why does he not take one of his own
countrywomen, and let Christians be at peace? The very name of
Pourceaugnac puts me in a frightful rage. I boil over with Mr. de
Pourceaugnac. If it were only because of the name, I would do
anything to prevent the match. No, you shall not be Mrs. de
Pourceaugnac. Pourceaugnac! Was ever such a name heard of! [Footnote:
Pourceaugnac equals _pourceau_, "a young pig," plus the local