Ridicule Page #3

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A few years ago, I'd have had him.

Wit eludes us all sometimes.

Not everyone.

Bravo, anyway.

You scored a point

with ''Comes to mouth.''

A pity you laughed.

A tortoise.

An inkwell.

An amethyst.

A porcelain wagon.

A starfish.

A book.

Think.

A snuffbox.

Wrong.

An apple!

How could I forget?

You have odd pastimes.

Children's brains are moist and fluid.

As we get older...

the brain dries up...

and memory declines.

I file every witty remark in here.

Double entendres, repartees, quips...

wordplays, retorts, paradoxes.

Your ''Comes to mouth'' is a repartee.

I had a strange dream.

My head was on the block.

The axman said--

''One quip and you can live.''

Everyone at court has that dream.

Don't laugh with your mouth open.

It's too coarse.

Is Mr. de Montalieri dissatisfied?

Your letter alarmed me.

It's a good post, Mathilde.

Being a governess

will aid your ambitions.

Monsieur is pleased with my work.

But...

it'd be indecent to remain

in his wife's home.

''Monsieur de Montalieri...

shall have access

to his wife's bed twice a month.

Her refusal

will invalidate this contract.

Any breach of this contract...

will terminate the income of 2,000...

which Mr. de Montalieri

bestows on his future wife.''

For the last time, are you sure?

There's no mention

of the workshop I need...

for my research.

It's stipulated in the appendix.

My future bride...

defends her interests.

I approve of that...

but I wish to set one more condition.

My bride shall not...

before or after our wedding...

for any reason...

appear at court.

If she does,

I shall be freed of my commitments.

Mademoiselle de Bellegarde,

do you agree to this?

My daughter detests

the corruption of the court.

Don't you, Mathilde?

I won't put any wedding date...

as Madame de Montalieri

is still... with us.

How is she?

She didn't recognize me yesterday.

Help me.

It's not watertight.

Do you know the water pressure

at 1 00 feet?

3 ounces per square inch.

I've studied Pascal.

Nature put crabs under water

and girls at home.

Nature gave your peasants fever.

- What grease do you use?

- Otter fat? Why?

Seal the seams with tar.

Then observe...

how well it reacts to movement.

Turn around.

Do you love Montalieri?

Love?

I don't believe in it.

Why get married?

It's either that...

stay poor, or be a nun.

My father can't pay for my research.

You'll take a lover,

like all noblewomen.

You can look.

Don't watch your feet!

Now spin.

Spin!

Had only the tyranny of wit

done away with genealogists!

I'm trying to see the king...

to plead that my family

be restored its historic title.

The Bishop of Caen is helping me.

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