The Flying Doctor

Gor. Don't distress yourself; I will make your peace with your brother. I am his friend, and I promise you that he shall forgive you. I will speak to him the first time I meet him.

Sgan. I shall be much obliged to you, Mr. Gorgibus. (Exit Sganarelle.)

SCENE XI. – SGANARELLE (dressed as a doctor), GORGIBUS

Sgan. One must say, that when patients will not follow the advice of the doctor, but give themselves up to excesses …

Gor. Sir, your very humble servant. I have a favour to ask of you.

Sgan. What is it, sir? Can I be of service to you?

Gor. Sir, I have just met your brother, who is extremely sorry to …

Sgan. He is a scoundrel, Mr. Gorgibus.

Gor. I assure you that he is so distressed to have put you in a passion, that …

Sgan. He is a drunkard, Mr. Gorgibus.

Gor. Eh! sir, do you wish to drive the poor fellow to despair?

Sgan. Do not speak to me of him. Just fancy that scoundrel's impudence to go and ask you to make his peace for him. I beg of you not to speak of him to me.

Gor. In Heaven's name, sir, do it for my sake! If it is in my power to do anything to oblige you in return, I will do it with all my heart. I gave him my word, and …

Sgan. You entreat me so much, that although I swore I would never forgive him, here, shake hands, I forgive him. I assure you that I impose a great restraint upon myself, and that I must have great regard for you. Farewell, Mr. Gorgibus.

(Gorgibus goes into his house; exit Sganarelle.)

SCENE XII. – VALÈRE, SGANARELLE

Val. I am forced to acknowledge that I should never have thought that Sganarelle could have done so well. (Sganarelle returns in his servant's dress) Ah! my dear fellow, under what obligation I am to you! how happy I am! and how …

Sgan. Yes, this is all very well, but Gorgibus met me, and if it had not been for a trick I thought of on the spur of the moment, all would have been discovered, (seeing Gorgibus) Run away; here he is. (Exit Valère.)

SCENE XIII. – GORGIBUS, SGANARELLE

Gor. I was looking for you everywhere to tell you that I have spoken to your brother. He has promised me that he will forgive you, but in order that I may be more sure of it, I want him to embrace you in my presence; step into my house, I will go and fetch him.

Sgan. But, Mr. Gorgibus, I don't think you could find him now; besides, I should not like to stop in your house; I dread his anger too much.

Gor. Indeed! you will stay there, for I shall lock you in. I am going now to fetch your brother; fear nothing; I assure you that he is no longer angry. (Exit Gorgibus.)

Sgan. (at the window). Well! I am caught this time. I see no way of escape. The clouds are very dark, and I greatly fear that, if they break, they will rain hard blows on my back; or that by a prescription stronger even than that of all the doctors, they will apply a royal cautery⁵ to my shoulders. But why should I despair? Since I have done so much, I must go on to the end. Yes, yes; I must get clear of all this, and show that Sganarelle is the king of rogues. (Sganarelle jumps out of the window and runs away.)

SCENE XIV. – GROS-RENÉ, GORGIBUS, SGARANELLE

Gr. – Re. Upon my word this is funny! How people jump out of the windows in this place! I must just stop here and see what comes of it. (Hides.)

Gor. I cannot find the doctor; I wonder where he went to hide himself. (seeing Sganarelle returning with his doctor's gown) Ah! here he is. It is not sufficient, sir, to have forgiven your brother, I beg you to give me the satisfaction of seeing you embrace him. He is in my house; I was looking everywhere for you, to ask you to make your peace with him in my presence.

Sgan. You are joking, Mr. Gorgibus; is it not sufficient that I should have forgiven him? I will never see him again.

Gor. Do it for my sake, sir, I pray.

Sgan. I can refuse you nothing: tell him to come down (while Gorgibus goes into the house by the door, Sganarelle goes in by the window).

Gor. (at the window). Here is your brother waiting for you yonder; he has promised me that he will do all you like.