The Imaginary Invalid

Cléante arrives hoping to see Angélique but meets Toinette, who warns him that he needs to be crafty if he wants to get in the house. Angélique is watched closely, and her attendance at the theater where she met Cléante was an anomaly. Cléante reassures her that his friend, Angélique’s music teacher, is allowing him to substitute for her lessons so he can get close to her. Toinette brings him in, and Cléante introduces himself as the substitute music teacher. He attempts to compliment Argan and say that he looks healthier, but Argan disagrees, insulted. Argan insists that he will stay and listen to Angélique’s lesson, sending Toinette to find out if Béline is dressed. Angélique enters, surprised to see Cléante, but she plays along, exclaiming that she had a dream the night before about a man who looked exactly like Cléante. Toinette reenters and states sarcastically that she changed her mind about the Lillicraps, singing the praises of Angélique’s intended husband. Argan asks Cléante to stay and witness the moment when Angélique meets her fiancé for the first time, also inviting him to the wedding in four days.