Act IV
Scene VII
TARTUFFE, ELMIRE, ORGON
TARTUFFE (not seeing Orgon)
All things conspire toward my satisfaction,
Madam, I’ve searched the whole apartment through.
There’s no one here; and now my ravished soul . . .
ORGON (stopping him)
Softly! Ah ha!
My holy man! You want to put it on me!
How is your soul abandoned to temptation!
Marry my daughter, eh?—and want my wife, too?
I doubted long enough if this was earnest,
Expecting all the time the tone would change;
But now the proof’s been carried far enough;
I’m satisfied, and ask no more, for my part.
ELMIRE (to Tartuffe)
‘Twas quite against my character to play
This part; but I was forced to treat you so.
TARTUFFE
What? You believe . . . ?
ORGON
Come, now, no protestations.
Get out from here, and make no fuss about it.
TARTUFFE
But my intent . . .
ORGON
That talk is out of season.
TARTUFFE
You’re the one
To leave it, you who play the master here!
This house belongs to me, I’ll have you know,
And show you plainly it’s no use to turn
To these low tricks, to pick a quarrel with me,
And that you can’t insult me at your pleasure,
For I have wherewith to confound your lies,
Avenge offended Heaven, and compel
Those to repent who talk to me of leaving.