The Tricks of Scapin by Molière. Short summary

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Two servants were assigned to look after the lords’ sons. The servants overlooked the young men, one of whom even managed to get married. To avoid admitting their mistake, they conceived a saving «scam.

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A cunning servant was entrusted to look after the young son of a wealthy lord. His friend Sylvester was to look after Octave. One day both young men fell in love with unsuitable girls.

Leander liked the gypsy Zerbinetta, and Octave was crazy about the noble Hyacinth. The second couple manages to get married. Soon there is word of their fathers’ return. They wanted to intermarry and agreed to marry Gironette’s daughter to Octave. The young man was to confess that he had married without his father’s blessing.

The servants do not want to admit that they did not look after their wards. Scapen decides to run a salutary «con.» He stands up for his buddy and the married «nobody knows who» Octave.

In Scapin’s version, the girl’s relatives have simply forced Argant’s son to marry her. If the marriage is dissolved, everyone will know that Octave was married by force. Argant told Geronte everything. As a result, the old men quarreled.