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In Harpagon's soliloquy, after the theft, the modern poet has introduced the most incredible exaggerations. The calling on the pit to discover the theft, which, when well acted, produces so great an effect, is a trait of the old comedy of Aristophanes, and may serve to give us some idea of its powers of entertainment.

Boredom perched in every nook; the curtains hung dolefully; the dining-room was like Harpagon's. Even if Lousteau had not known all about Malaga, he could have guessed that the notary's real life was spent elsewhere. The journalist saw a tall, fair girl with blue eyes, at once shy and languishing.

His family was not rich; so far from it, indeed, that the great object of the Earl had been to marry his daughters like Harpagon's "sans dot," a task which was not yet satisfactorily accomplished; and all he had been able to do for his younger son, had been to use the very small political influence he possessed, to start him in life as an attaché.

But we may go even farther, and maintain that there are faults at which we laugh, even though fully aware that they are serious, Harpagon's avarice, for instance. And then, we may as well confess though somewhat reluctantly that we laugh not only at the faults of our fellow-men, but also, at times, at their good qualities. We laugh at Alceste.

If it had held a Harpagon's Interest Computer, instead of a well-thumbed Virgil, or Oldcodger's Commercial Statistics for 184 , instead of an antique, leather-covered Montaigne, Straws would have had no use for the cupboard.

Boredom perched in every nook; the curtains hung dolefully; the dining-room was like Harpagon's. Even if Lousteau had not known all about Malaga, he could have guessed that the notary's real life was spent elsewhere. The journalist saw a tall, fair girl with blue eyes, at once shy and languishing.

With the strictest economy, and by suppressing out of his life and that of his children all amusements and superfluous outlay, he has succeeded now for many years in living on the income of his income. Time will never hang heavy on this Harpagon's hands.