The Locksmith: A Comic Opera

Oh! Well, dear aunt, you make me think of it. We could take advantage of his madness.

Oh! And how is that?

I only have to pretend to be your lover; you, on your side, will make a pretense as if you love me. Your husband, who will believe us to be in league together, will marry me very quickly to Bastienne just to get rid of me.

Without a doubt.

I want no part of those stratagems.

T R I O.

I cannot do your business.
If, in this matter,
I act for you,
It will be in another
manner.
Even if he believed
That I love you,

Nothing could
Calm his extreme fury.

But listen to our prayer.
You can manage
Our business.
What do you fear from his
anger?
Julien. (If he believed
(That I love you,
He would marry us,
He would give me
Julien. (The one
Bastienne. (The one I love.

Leave me in peace, 'death of my life'! Original: "mort de ma vie!" A common 18th-century French exclamation used to express extreme impatience or annoyance. You are making me lose my patience. I fear that Eloy suspects we are here, since he will not find me at the house. His boy Guillaume is always watching us. The "garçon" or boy refers to Eloy's apprentice or shop assistant, who acts as a lookout for the jealous husband. Go away; no, stay there while I go see what is happening, so that Julien can leave without being seen.