Chapter 11

BAR. "Cathau! Cathau!" Well! what is the matter with Cathau? And where do you come from at this time of night, and in such weather?

ANG. Where I come from? Just open the door, and I will tell you.

BAR. Yes, you catch me! You may go and sleep where you come from; I shall not open to a gad-about like you. What! alone at this time of night! I don't know if it is fancy, but my forehead seems to me already rougher by half.

ANG. Well, what do you mean by scolding me because I am alone? You scold me if I have anybody near me; what am I to do?

BAR. Stop at home, give orders for the supper, take care of the household, and of the children; but it is no use talking so much; good-bye, good night, go to the devil and leave me in peace.

ANG. You won't open to me?

BAR. No. I shall not open to you.

ANG. Ah! my dear little husband, I beg of you open the door; do, my darling little heart.

BAR. Ah! crocodile! Ah! dangerous serpent! you caress me to betray me.

ANG. Open, do open.

BAR. Farewell! _Vade retro, Satanas!_

ANG. What, you won't open.

BAR. No!

ANG. You have no pity for the wife who loves you so much?

BAR. No, I am inflexible. You have offended me, I am revengeful like the very devil! that is to say plainly that I am inexorable.

ANG. Do you know that if you push me too far, and put me in a passion, I may do something which will make you repent your unkindness.

BAR. And what will you do, dear little vixen?

ANG. I declare that if you do not open to me, I will kill myself before the door; my parents will no doubt come here before going to bed, to see if we are all right together, and they will find me dead, and you will be hanged.

BAR. Ha! ha! ha! ha! the silly creature! Tell me who would lose the most? Nonsense, you are not so foolish as to play such a trick.

ANG. You don't believe me. See, here is my knife all ready, if you do not open at once I will pierce myself to the heart with it.

BAR. Take care, it is very sharp.

ANG. You won't open to me?

BAR. I have told you twenty times that I shall not open; kill yourself, die, go to the devil, I care not.

ANG. (_pretending to stab herself_). Farewell then.... Ay! I am dead.

BAR. Can she be stupid enough to do such a thing? I must go down with the light and see.

ANG. (_aside_). I will pay you back. If I can only slip into the house while you are looking for me, it shall be my turn. (_She runs past_ BARBOUILLÉ, _and manages to get into the house without his knowledge._)

BAR. Well! I knew she was not so stupid as all that! She is dead, and yet she runs like Pacolet's horse.[8] To say the truth, she really frightened me, she did right to run away, for if I had found her alive after she had given me such a fright, my boot would have taught her not to play the fool. I must go to bed now. Hallo! the wind must have shut the door to, I fear. Hi! Cathau, Cathau, open the door.

ANG. (_at the window_). "Cathau, Cathau! well what is the matter with Cathau?" and where do you come from, you drunkard? Well, well, my parents will soon be here, and will hear all about you. You wine-tap, you infamous wretch, you do not stir from the public-house; but leave a poor wife with little children waiting for you all day at home without caring to know if they want anything.

BAR. Open quickly, she-devil! or I'll break your head open.