MERCADET A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS BY HONORE DE BALZAC Presented for the First Time in Paris At the Theatre du Gymnase-Dramatique August 24, 1851 PERSONS OF THE PLAY Mercadet, a speculatorMadame Mercadet, his wifeJulie, their daughterMinard, clerk of MercadetVerdelin, friend of MercadetGoulard, creditor of MercadetPierquin, creditor of MercadetViolette, creditor of MercadetMericourt, acquaintance of MercadetDe la Brive, suitor to JulieJustin, valetTherese, lady's maidVirginie, cookVarious other creditors of Mercadet SCENE: Paris, in the house of Mercadet TIME: About 1845 MERCADET ACT I SCENE FIRST (A drawing-room. A door in the centre. Side doors. At the front, tothe left, a mantel-piece with a mirror. To the right, a window, andnext it a writing-table. Armchairs. ) Justin, Virginie and Therese Justin (finishing dusting the room)Yes, my dears, he finds it very hard to swim; he is certain to drown, poor M. Mercadet. Virginie (her basket on her arm)Honestly, do you think that? JustinHe is ruined! And although there is much fat to be stewed from amaster while he is financially embarrassed, you must not forget thathe owes us a year's wages, and we had better get ourselves discharged. ThereseSome masters are so frightfully stubborn! I spoke to the mistressdisrespectfully two or three times, and she pretended not to hear me. VirginieAh! I have been at service in many middle-class houses; but I havenever seen one like this! I am going to leave my stove, and become anactress in some theatre. JustinAll of us here are nothing but actors in a theatre. VirginieYes, indeed, sometimes one has to put on an air of astonishment, as ifjust fallen from the moon, when a creditor appears: "Didn't you knowit, sir?"--"No. "--"M. Mercadet has gone to Lyons. "--"Ah! He is away?"--"Yes, his prospects are most brilliant; he has discovered some coal-mines. "--"Ah! So much the better! When does he return?"--"I do notknow. " Sometimes I put on an expression as if I had lost the dearestfriend I had in the world. Justin (aside)That would be her money. Virginie (pretending to cry)"Monsieur and mademoiselle are in the greatest distress. It seems thatwe are going to lose poor Madame Mercadet. They have taken her away tothe waters! Ah!" ThereseAnd then, there are some creditors who are actual brutes! They speakto you as if you were the masters! VirginieThere's an end of it. I ask them for their bill and tell them I amgoing to settle. But now, the tradesmen refuse to give anythingwithout the money! And you may be sure that I am not going to lend anyof mine. JustinLet us demand our wages. Virginie and ThereseYes, let us demand our wages. VirginieWho are middle-class people? Middle-class people are those who spend agreat deal on their kitchen-- JustinWho are devoted to their servants-- VirginieAnd who leave them a pension. That is how middle-class people ought tobehave to their servants. ThereseThe lady of Picardy speaks well. But all the same, I pity mademoiselleand young Minard, her suitor. JustinM. Mercadet is not going to give his daughter to a miserablebookkeeper who earns no more than eighteen hundred francs a year; hehas better views for her than that. Therese and VirginieWho is the man he thinks of? JustinYesterday two fine young gentlemen came here in a carriage, and theirgroom told old Gruneau that one of them was going to marry Mlle. Mercadet. VirginieYou don't mean to say so! Are those gentlemen in yellow gloves, withfine flowered waistcoats, going to marry mademoiselle? JustinNot both of them, lady of Picardy. VirginieThe panels of their carriage shone like satin. Their horse hadrosettes here. (She points to her ears. ) It was held by a boy ofeight, fair, with frizzed hair and top boots. He looked as sly as amouse--a very Cupid, though he swore like a trooper. His master is asfine as a picture, with a big diamond in his scarf. It ain't possiblethat a handsome young man who owns such a turnout as that is going tobe the husband of Mlle. Mercadet? I can't believe it. JustinYou don't know M. Mercadet! I, who have been in his house for the lastsix years, and have seen him since his troubles fighting with hiscreditors, can believe him capable of anything, even of growing rich;sometimes I say to myself he is utterly ruined! Yellow auctionplacards flame at his door. He receives reams of stamped creditor'snotices, which I sell by the pound for waste paper without beingnoticed. But presto! Up he bobs again. He is triumphant. And whatdevices he has! There is a new one every day! First of all, it is ascheme for wooden pavements--then it is dukedoms, ponds, mills. Idon't know where the leakage is in his cash box; he finds it so hardto fill; for it empties itself as easily as a drained wine-glass! Andalways crowds of creditors! How well he turns them away! Sometimes Ihave seen them come with the intention of carrying off everything andthrowing him into prison. But when he talks to them they end by beingthe best of friends, and part with cordial handshakes! There are somemen who can tame jackals and lions. That's not a circumstance; M. Mercadet can tame creditors! ThereseOne of them is not quite so easily managed; and that is M. Pierquin. JustinHe is a tiger who feeds on bankrupts. And to think of poor oldViolette! VirginieHe is both creditor and beggar--I always feel inclined to give him aplate of soup. JustinAnd Goulard! ThereseA bill discounter who would like very much to--to discount me. Virginie (amid a general laugh)I hear madame coming. JustinLet us keep a civil tongue in our heads, and we shall learn somethingabout the marriage. SCENE SECOND The same persons and Mme. Mercadet. Mme. MercadetJustin, have you executed the commissions I gave you? JustinYes, madame, but they refused to deliver the dresses, the hats, andindeed all the things you ordered until-- VirginieAnd I also have to inform madame that the tradesmen are no longerwilling-- Mme. MercadetI understand. JustinThe creditors are the cause of the whole trouble. I wish I knew how toget even with them. Mme. MercadetThe best way to do so would be to pay them. JustinThey would be mightily surprised. Mme. MercadetIt is useless to conceal from you the excessive anxiety which I sufferover the condition of my husband's affairs. We shall doubtless be inneed of your discretion--for we can depend upon you, can we not? AllYou need not mention it, madame. VirginieWe were just saying, what excellent employers we had. ThereseAnd that we would go through fire and water for you! JustinWe were saying-- (Mercadet appears unnoticed. ) Mme. MercadetThank you all, you are good creatures. (Mercadet shrugs hisshoulders. ) Your master needs only time, he has so many schemes in hishead!--a rich suitor has offered himself for Mlle. Julie, and if-- SCENE THIRD The same persons and Mercadet. Mercadet (interrupting his wife)My dearest! (The servants draw back a little. In a low voice tomadame) And so this is how you speak to the servants! To-morrow theylaugh at us. (To Justin) Justin, go at once to M. Verdelin's house, and ask him to come here, as I want to speak to him about a piece ofbusiness that will not admit of delay. Assume an air of mystery, for Imust have him come. You, Therese, go to the tradesmen of Madame deMercadet, and tell them, sharply, that they must send the things thathave been ordered. --They will be paid for--yes--and cash, too--go atonce. (Justin and Therese start. ) Ah!--(They stop. ) If--these peoplecome to the house again, ask them to enter. (Mme. Mercadet takes aseat. ) JustinThese--these people?-- Therese and VirginieThese people? Eh! MercadetYes, these people--these creditors of mine!-- Mme. MercadetHow is this, my dear? Mercadet (taking a seat opposite his wife)I am weary of solitude--I want their society. (To Justin and Therese)That will do. (Justin and Therese leave the room. ) SCENE FOURTH Mercadet, Mme. Mercadet and Virginie. Mercadet (to Virginie)Has madame given you any orders? VirginieNo, sir, and besides the tradespeople-- MercadetI hope you will do yourself credit to-day. We are going to have fourpeople to dinner--Verdelin and his wife, M. De Mericourt and M. De laBrive--so there will be seven of us. Such dinners are the glory ofgreat cooks! You must have a fine fish after the soup, then twoentrees, very delicately cooked-- VirginieBut, sir, the trades-- MercadetFor the second course--ah, the second course ought to be at once richand brilliant, yet solid. The second course-- VirginieBut the tradespeople-- MercadetNonsense! You annoy me--To talk about tradespeople on the day when mydaughter and her intended are to meet! VirginieThey won't supply anything. MercadetWhat have we got to do with tradespeople that won't take our trade? Wemust get others. You must go to their competitors, you must give themmy custom, and they will tip you for it. VirginieAnd how shall I pay those that I am giving up? MercadetDon't worry yourself about that, --it is my business. VirginieBut if they ask me to pay them-- Mercadet (aside, rising to his feet)That girl has money of her own. (Aloud) Virginie, in these days, credit is the sole wealth of the government. My tradespeoplemisunderstand the laws of their country, they will show themselvesunconstitutional and utter radicals, unless they leave me alone. --Don't you trouble your head about people who raise an insurrectionagainst the vital principles of all rightly constituted states! Whatyou have got to attend to, is dinner, --that is your duty, and I hopethat on this occasion you will show yourself to be what you are, afirst-class cook! And if Mme. Mercadet, when she settles with you onthe day after my daughter's wedding, finds that she owes you anything, I will hold myself liable for it all. Virginie (hesitating)Sir-- MercadetNow go about your business. I give you here an opportunity of gainingan interest of ten per cent every six months!--and that is better thanthe savings banks will do for you. VirginieThat it is; they only give four per cent a year! Mercadet (whispering to his wife)What did I tell you!--(To Virginie) How can you run the risk ofputting your money into the hands of strangers--You are quite cleverenough to invest it yourself, and here your little nest-egg willremain in your own possession. VirginieTen per cent every six months!--I suppose that madame will give me theparticulars with regard to the second course. I must start to work onit. (Exit. ) SCENE FIFTH Mercadet and Mme. Mercadet Mercadet (watching Virginie as she goes out)That girl has a thousand crowns of our good money in the savings bank, so that we needn't worry about the kitchen for awhile. Mme. MercadetAh! sir, how can you stoop to such a thing as this? MercadetMadame, these are mere petty details; don't bother about the means toan end. You, a little time ago, were trying to control your servantsby kindness, but it is necessary to command and compel them, and to doit briefly, like Napoleon. Mme. MercadetHow can you order them when you don't pay them? MercadetYou must pay them by a bluff. Mme. MercadetSometimes you can obtain by affection what is not attainable by-- MercadetBy affection! Ah! Little do you know the age in which we live--To-day, madame, wealth is everything, family is nothing; there are nofamilies, but only individuals! The future of each one is to bedetermined by the public funds. A young girl when she needs a dowry nolonger appeals to her family, but to a syndicate. The income of theKing of England comes from an insurance company. The wife depends forfunds, not upon her husband, but upon the savings bank!--Debts arepaid, not to creditors, but to the country, through an agency, whichmanages a sort of slave-trade in white people! All our duties arearranged by coupons--The servants which we exchange for them are nolonger attached to their masters, but if you hold their money theywill be devoted to you. Mme. MercadetOh, sir, you who are so honorable, so upright, sometimes say things tome which-- MercadetAnd what is said may also be done, that is what you mean, isn't it?Undoubtedly I would do anything to save myself, for (he pulls out afive-franc piece) this represents modern honor. Do you know why thedramas that have criminals for their heroes are so popular? It isbecause all the audience flatter themselves and say, "at any rate, Iam much better than that fellow!" Mme. MercadetMy dear! MercadetFor my part I have an excuse, for I am bearing the burden of mypartner's crime--of that fellow Godeau, who absconded, carrying withhim the cash box of our house!--And besides that, what disgrace is itto be in debt? What man is there who does not owe his father hisexistence? He can never repay that debt. The earth is constantlybankrupt to the sun. Life, madame, is a perpetual loan! Am I notsuperior to my creditors? I have their money, when they can onlyexpect mine. I do not ask anything of them, and yet they areconstantly importuning me. --A man who does not owe anything is notthought about by any one, while my creditors take a keen interest inme. Mme. MercadetThey take rather too much! To owe and to pay is well enough--but toborrow without any prospect of returning-- MercadetYou feel a great deal of compassion for my creditors, but ourindebtedness to them springs from-- Mme. MercadetTheir confidence in us, sir. MercadetNo, but from their greed of gain! The speculator and the broker areone and the same--each of them aims at sudden wealth. I have done afavor to all my creditors, and they all expect to get something out ofme! I should be most unhappy but for the secret consciousness I havethat they are selfish and avaricious--so that you will see in a fewmoments how I will make each of them play out his little comedy. (Hesits down. ) Mme. MercadetYou have actually ordered them to be admitted? MercadetThat I may meet them as I ought to!--(taking her hand. ) I am at theend of my resources; the time has come for a master-stroke, and Juliemust come to our assistance. Mme. MercadetWhat, my daughter! MercadetMy creditors are pressing me, and harassing me. I must manage to makea brilliant match for Julie. This will dazzle them; they will give memore time. But in order that this brilliant marriage may take place, these gentlemen must give me more money. Mme. MercadetThey give you more money! MercadetIsn't there need of it for the dresses which they are sending to you, and for the trousseau which I am giving? And a suitable trousseau togo with the dowry of two hundred thousand francs, will cost fifteenthousand. Mme. MercadetBut you are utterly unable to give such a dowry. Mercadet (rising)All the more reason why I should give the trousseau. Now this is whatwe stand in need of: twelve or fifteen thousand francs for thetrousseau, and a thousand crowns to pay the tradesmen and to preventany appearance of straitened circumstances in our house, when M. De laBrive arrives. Mme. MercadetHow can you count on your creditors for that? MercadetDon't they now belong to the family? Can you find any relation who isas anxious as they are to see me wealthy and rich? Relations arealways a little envious of the happiness of the wealth which comes tous; the creditor's joy alone is sincere. If I were to die, I shouldhave at my funeral more creditors than relations, and while the lattercarried their mourning in their hearts or on their heads, the formerwould carry it in their ledgers and purses. It is here that mydeparture would leave a genuine void! The heart forgets, and crapedisappears at the end of a year, but the account which is unpaid isineffaceable, and the void remains eternally unfilled. Mme. MercadetMy dear, I know the people to whom you are indebted, and I am quitecertain that you will obtain nothing from them. MercadetI shall obtain both time and money from them, rest assured of that. (Mme. Mercadet is perturbed. ) Don't you see, my dear, that creditorswhen once they have opened their purses are like gamblers who continueto stake their money in order to recover their first losses? (Growingexcited. ) Yes! they are inexhaustible gold mines! If a man has nofather to leave him a fortune, he finds his creditors are so manyindefatigable uncles. Justin (entering)M. Goulard wishes to know if it is true that you desire to see him? Mercadet (to his wife)My message astounded him. (To Justin) Beg him to come in. (Justin goesout. ) Goulard! The most intractable of them all!--who has threebailiffs in his employ. But fortunately he is a greedy though timidspeculator who engages in the most risky affairs and trembles all thetime they are being conducted. Justin (announcing)M. Goulard! (Exit Justin. ) SCENE SIXTH The same persons and Goulard. Goulard (in anger)Ah! you can be found, sir, when you want to be! Mme. Mercadet (aside to her husband)My dear, how angry he seems! Mercadet (making a sign that she should be calm)This is one of my creditors, my dear. GoulardYes, and I sha'n't leave this house until you pay me. Mercadet (aside)You sha'n't leave this house until you give me some money--(Aloud) Ah!you have persecuted me most unkindly--me, a man with whom you have hadsuch extensive dealings! GoulardDealings which have not always been to my advantage. MercadetAll the more credit to you, for if advantage were the sole results ofbusiness, everybody would become a money-lender. GoulardI hope you haven't asked me to come here, in order to show me howclever you are! I know that you are cleverer than I am, for you havegot over me in money matters. MercadetWell, money matters have some importance. (To his wife) Yes, yes, yousee in this man one who has hunted me as if I were a hare. Come, come, Goulard, admit it, you have behaved badly. Anybody but myself wouldhave taken vengeance on you--for of course I could cause you to lose aconsiderable sum of money. GoulardSo you could, if you didn't pay me; but you shall pay me--yourobligations are now in the hands of the law. Mme. MercadetOf the law? MercadetOf the law! You are losing your senses, you don't know what you aredoing, you are ruining us both--yourself and me--at the same time. Goulard (anxiously)How?--You--that of course is possible--but--but--me? MercadetBoth of us, I tell you! Quick, sit down there--write--write--! Goulard (mechanically taking his pen)Write--write what? MercadetWrite to Delannoy that he must make them stay the proceedings, andgive me the thousand crowns which I absolutely need. Goulard (throwing down the pen)That is very likely, indeed! MercadetYou hesitate, and, when I am on the eve of marrying my daughter to aman immensely wealthy--that is the time you choose to cause my arrest. And by that means you are killing both your capital and interest! GoulardAh! you are going to marry your daughter-- MercadetTo the Comte de la Brive; he possesses as many thousand francs as heis years old! GoulardThen if he is up in years, there is reason for giving you some delay. But the thousand crowns--the thousand crowns--never. --I am quitedecided on that point. I will give you nothing, neither delay nor--Imust go now-- Mercadet (with energy)Very well! You can go if you like, you ungrateful fellow!--But don'tforget that I have done my best to save you. Goulard (turning back)Me?--To save me--from what? Mercadet (aside)I have him now. (Aloud) From what?--From the most complete ruin. GoulardRuin? It is impossible. Mercadet (taking a seat)What is the matter with you? You, a man of intelligence, of ability--astrong man, and yet you cause me all this trouble! You came here and Ifelt absolutely enraged against you--not because I was your friend, Iconfess it, but through selfishness. I look upon our interests asidentical. I said to myself: I owe him so much that he is sure to giveme his assistance when I have such a grand chance--like the one atthis moment! And you are going to let out the whole business and tolose everything for the sake of a paltry sum! Everything! You areperhaps right in refusing me the thousand crowns--It is better, perhaps, to bury them in your coffers with the rest. All right! Sendme to prison! Then, when all is gone, you'll have to look somewhereelse for a friend! Goulard (in a tone of self-reproach)Mercadet!--my dear Mercadet!--But is it actually true? Mercadet (rising from his seat)Is it true? (to his wife) You would not believe he was so stupid. (ToGoulard) She has ended by becoming a daring speculator. (To his wife)I may tell you, my dear, that Goulard is going to invest a large sumin our great enterprise. Mme. Mercadet (ashamed)Sir! MercadetWhat a misfortune it will be if it does not turn out well. GoulardMercadet!--Are you talking about the Basse-Indre mines? MercadetOf course I am. (Aside) Ah! You have some of the Basse-Indre stock, Isee. GoulardBut the investment seems to me first-class. MercadetFirst-class--Yes, for those who sold out yesterday. GoulardHave any stockholders sold out? MercadetYes, privately. GoulardGood-bye. Thanks, Mercadet; madame, accept my respects. Mercadet (stopping him)Goulard! GoulardEh? MercadetWhat about this note to Delannoy? GoulardI will speak to him about the postponement-- MercadetNo; write to him; and in the meantime I will find some one who willbuy your stock. Goulard (sitting down)All my Basse-Indre? (He takes up a pen. ) Mercadet (aside)Here you see the honest man, ever ready to rob his neighbor. (Aloud)Very well, write--ordering a postponement of three months. Goulard (writing)Three months! There you have it. MercadetThe man I allude to, who buys in secret for fear of causing a rise, wants to get three hundred shares; do you happen to have threehundred? GoulardI have three hundred and fifty. MercadetFifty more! Never mind! He'll take them all. (Examining what Goulardhas written. ) Have you mentioned the thousand crowns? GoulardAnd what is your friend's name? MercadetHis name? You haven't mentioned?-- GoulardHis name! MercadetThe thousand crowns. GoulardWhat a devil of a man he is! (He writes. ) There, you have it! MercadetHis name is Pierquin. Goulard (rising)Pierquin. MercadetHe at least is the nominal buyer. --Go to your house and I will sendhim to you; it is never a good thing to run after a purchaser. GoulardNever!--You have saved my life. Good-bye, my friend. Madame, accept myprayers for the happiness of your daughter. (Exit. ) MercadetOne of them captured! Now watch me get the others! SCENE SEVENTH Mme. Mercadet, Mercadet, then Julie. Mme. MercadetIs there any truth in what you just now said? I could not quite followyou. MercadetIt is to the interest of my friend Verdelin to cause a panic in Basse-Indre stock; this stock has been for a long time very risky and hassuddenly become of first-class value, through the discovery of certainbeds of mineral, which are known only to those on the inside. --Ah! IfI could but invest a thousand crowns in it my fortune would be made. But, of course, our main object at present is the marriage of Julie. Mme. MercadetYou are well acquainted with M. De la Brive, are you not? MercadetI have dined with him. He has a charming apartment, fine plate, asilver dessert service, bearing his arms, so that it could not havebeen borrowed. Our daughter is going to make a fine match, and he--when either one of a married couple is happy, it is all right. (Julie enters. ) Mme. MercadetHere comes our daughter. Julie, your father and I have something tosay to you on a subject which is always agreeable to a young girl. JulieM. Minard has then spoken to you, father? MercadetM. Minard! Did you expect, madame, to find a M. Minard reigning in theheart of your daughter? Is not this M. Minard that under clerk ofmine? JulieYes, papa. MercadetDo you love him? JulieYes, papa. MercadetBut besides loving, it is necessary for a person to be loved. Mme. MercadetDoes he love you? JulieYes, mamma! MercadetYes, papa; yes, mamma; why don't you say mammy and daddy?--As soon asdaughters have passed their majority they begin to talk as if theywere just weaned. Be polite enough to address your mother as madame. JulieYes, monsieur. MercadetOh! you may address me as papa. I sha'n't be annoyed at that. Whatproof have you that he loves you? JulieThe best proof of all; he wishes to marry me. MercadetIt is quite true, as has been said, that young girls, like littlechildren, have answers ready enough to knock one silly. Let me tellyou, mademoiselle, that a clerk with a salary of eighteen hundredfrancs does not know how to love. He hasn't got the time, he has towork too hard-- Mme. MercadetBut, unhappy child-- MercadetAh! A lucky thought strikes me! Let me talk to her. Julie, listen tome. I will marry you to Minard. (Julie smiles with delight. ) Now, lookhere, you haven't got a single sou, and you know it; what is going tobecome of you a week after your marriage? Have you thought about that? JulieYes, papa-- Mme. Mercadet (with sympathy, to her husband)The poor child is mad. MercadetYes, she is in love. (To Julie) Tell me all about it, Julie. I am notnow your father, but your confidant; I am listening. JulieAfter our marriage we will still love each other. MercadetBut will Cupid shoot you bank coupons at the end of his arrows? JulieFather, we shall lodge in a small apartment, at the extremity of theFaubourg, on the fourth story, if necessary!--And if it can't behelped, I will be his house-maid. Oh! I will take an immense delightin the care of the household, for I shall know that it will all bedone for him. I will work for him, while he is working for me. I willspare him every anxiety, and he will never know how straitened we are. Our home will be spotlessly clean, even elegant--You shall see!Elegance depends upon such little things; it springs from the soul, and happiness is at once the cause and the effect of it. I can earnenough from my painting to cost him nothing and even to contribute tothe expenses of our living. Moreover, love will help us to passthrough the days of hardship. Adolphe has ambition, like all those whoare of lofty soul, and these are the successful men-- MercadetSuccess is within reach of the bachelor, but, when a man is married, he exhausts himself in meeting his expenses, and runs after a thousandfranc bill as a dog runs after a carriage. JulieBut, papa, Adolphe has strength of will, united with such capacitythat I feel sure I shall see him some day a Minister, perhaps-- MercadetIn these days, who is there that does not indulge more or less thehope of being a minister? When a man leaves college he thinks himselfa great poet, or a great orator! Do you know what your Adolphe willreally become?--Why, the father of several children, who will utterlydisarrange your plans of work and economy, who will end by landing hisexcellency in the debtor's prison, and who will plunge you into themost frightful poverty. What you have related to me is the romance andnot the reality of life. Mme. MercadetDaughter, there can be nothing serious in this love of yours. JulieIt is a love to which both of us are willing to sacrifice everything. MercadetI suppose that your friend Adolphe thinks that we are rich? JulieHe has never spoken to me about money. MercadetJust so. I can quite understand it. (To Julie) Julie, write to him atonce, telling him to come to me. Julie (kissing him)Dear papa! MercadetAnd you must marry M. De la Brive. Instead of living on a fourth floorin a suburb, you will have a fine house in the Chaussee-d'Antin, and, if you are not the wife of a Minister, you perhaps will be the wife ofa peer of France. I am sorry, my daughter, that I have no more tooffer you. Remember, you can have no choice in the matter, for M. Minard is going to give you up. JulieOh! he will never do that, papa. He will win your heart-- Mme. MercadetMy dear, suppose he loves her? MercadetHe is deceiving her-- JulieI shouldn't mind being always deceived in that way. (A bell is heard without. ) Mme. MercadetSome one is ringing, and we have no one to open the door. MercadetThat is all right. Let them ring. Mme. MercadetI am all the time thinking that Godeau may return. MercadetAfter eight years without any news, you are still expecting Godeau!You seem to me like those old soldiers who are waiting for the returnof Napoleon. Mme. MercadetThey are ringing again. MercadetJulie, go and see who it is, and tell them that your mother and I havegone out. If any one is shameless enough to disbelieve a young girl--it must be a creditor--let him come in. (Exit Julie. ) Mme. MercadetThis love she speaks of, and which, at least on her side, is sincere, disturbs me greatly. MercadetYou women are all too romantic. Julie (returning)It is M. Pierquin, papa. MercadetA creditor and usurer--a vile and violent soul, who humors me becausehe thinks me a man of resources; a wild beast only half-tamed yetcowed by my audacity. If I showed fear he would devour me. (Going tothe door. ) Come in, Pierquin, come in. SCENE EIGHTH The same persons and Pierquin. PierquinMy congratulations to you all. I hear that you are making a grandmarriage for your daughter. Mademoiselle is to marry a millionaire;the report has already gone abroad. MercadetA millionaire?--No, he has only nine hundred thousand francs, at themost. PierquinThis magnificent prospect will induce a lot of people to give youtime. They are becoming devilishly tired of your talk about Godeau'sreturn. And I myself-- MercadetWere you thinking about having me arrested? JulieArrested! Mme. Mercadet (to Pierquin)Ah! sir. PierquinNow listen to me, you have had two years, and I never before let abond go over so long; but this marriage is a glorious invention and-- Mme. MercadetAn invention! MercadetSir, my future son-in-law, M. De la Brive, is a young man-- PierquinSo that there is a real young man in the case? How much are you goingto pay the young man? Mme. MercadetOh! Mercadet (checking his wife by a sign)No more of this insolence! Otherwise, my dear sir, I shall be forcedto demand a settlement of our accounts--and, my dear M. Pierquin, youwill lose a good deal of the price at which you sold your money to me. And at the rate of interest you charge, I shall cost you more than thevalue of a farm in Bauce. PierquinSir-- Mercadet (haughtily)Sir, I shall soon be so rich that I will not endure to be twitted byany one--not even by a creditor. PierquinBut-- MercadetNot a word--or I will pay you! Come into my private room and we willsettle the business about which I asked you to come. PierquinI am at your service, sir. (Aside) What a devil of a man! (Pierquin and Mercadet bow to the ladies and enter Mercadet's room. ) Mercadet (following Pierquin; aside to his wife)The wild beast is tamed. I'll get this one, too. SCENE NINTH Mme. Mercadet, Julie, and later, Servants. JulieO mamma! I cannot marry this M. De la Brive! Mme. MercadetBut he is rich, you know. JulieBut I prefer happiness and poverty, to unhappiness and wealth. Mme. MercadetMy child, happiness is impossible in poverty, while there is nomisfortune that wealth cannot alleviate. JulieHow can you say such sad words to me? Mme. MercadetChildren should learn a lesson from the experience of parents. We areat present having a very bitter taste of life's vicissitudes. Take myadvice, daughter, and marry wealth. Justin (entering, followed by Therese and Virginie)Madame, we have carried out the master's orders. VirginieMy dinner will be ready. ThereseAnd the tradesmen have consented. JustinAs far as concerns M. Verdelin-- SCENE TENTH The same persons and Mercadet (carrying a bundle of papers). MercadetWhat did my friend Verdelin say? JustinHe will be here in a moment. He was just on his way here to bring somemoney to M. Bredif, the owner of this house. MercadetBredif is a millionaire. Take care that Verdelin speaks to me beforegoing up to him. How did you get on, Therese, with the milliners anddressmakers? ThereseSir, as soon as I gave them a promise of payment, every one greeted mewith smiles. MercadetVery good. And shall we have a fine dinner, Virginie? VirginieYou will compliment it, sir, when you eat it. MercadetAnd the tradespeople? VirginieThey will wait your time. MercadetI shall settle with you all to-morrow. You can go now. (They go out. )A man who has his servants with him is like a minister who has thepress on his side! Mme. MercadetAnd what of Pierquin? Mercadet (showing the papers)All that I could extort from him is as follows. --He will give me time, and this negotiable paper in exchange for stock. --Also notes forforty-seven thousand francs, to be collected from a man namedMichonnin, a gentleman broker, not considered very solvent, who may bea crook but has a very rich aunt at Bordeaux; M. De la Brive is fromthat district and I can learn from him if there is anything to be gotout of it. Mme. MercadetBut the tradesmen will soon arrive. MercadetI shall be here to receive them. Now leave me, leave me, my dears. (Exeunt the two ladies. ) SCENE ELEVENTH Mercadet, then Violette. Mercadet (walking up and down)Yes, they will soon be here! And everything depends upon that somewhatslippery friendship of Verdelin--a man whose fortune I made! Ah! whena man has passed forty he learns that the world is peopled by theungrateful--I do not know where all the benefactors have gone to. Verdelin and I have a high opinion of each other. He owes megratitude, I owe him money, and neither of us pays the other. And now, in order to arrange the marriage of Julie, my business is to find athousand crowns in a pocket which pretends to be empty--to findentrance into a heart in order to find entrance into a cash-box! Whatan undertaking! Only women can do such things, and with men who are inlove with them. Justin (without)Yes, he is in. MercadetIt is he. (Violette appears. ) Ah! my friend! It is dear old Violette! VioletteThis is the eleventh call within a week, my dear M. Mercadet, and myactual necessity has driven me to wait for you three hours in thestreet; I thought the truth was told me when I was assured that youwere in the country. But I came to-day-- MercadetAh! Violette, old fellow, we are both hard up! VioletteHumph! I don't think so. For my part, I've pledged everything I couldput in the pawn-shop. MercadetSo have we. VioletteI have never reproached you with my ruin, for I believe it is yourintention to enrich me, as well as yourself; but still, fine wordsbutter no parsnips, and I am come to implore you to give me a smallsum on account, and by so doing you will save the lives of a wholefamily. MercadetMy dear old Violette, you grieve me deeply! Be reasonable and I willshare with you. (In a low voice) We have scarcely a hundred francs inthe house, and even that is my daughter's money. VioletteIs it possible! You, Mercadet, whom I have known so rich? MercadetI conceal nothing from you. VioletteUnfortunate people owe it to each other to speak the truth. MercadetAh! If that were the only thing they owed how prompt would be thepayment! But keep this as a secret, for I am on the point of making agood match for my daughter. VioletteI have two daughters, sir, and they work without hope of beingmarried! In your present circumstances I cannot press you, but my wifeand my daughters await my return in the deepest anxiety. MercadetStay a moment. I will give you sixty francs. VioletteAh! my wife and my girls will bless you. (Aside, while Mercadet leavesthe room for a moment. ) The others who abuse him get nothing out ofhim, but by appealing to his pity, little by little I get back mymoney. (Chuckles and slaps his pocket. ) Mercadet (on the point of re-entering sees this action)The beggarly old miser! Sixty francs on account paid ten times makessix hundred francs. Come now, I have sown enough, it is time to reapthe harvest. (Aloud) Take this. VioletteSixty francs in gold! It is a long time since I have seen such a sum. Good-bye, we sha'n't forget to pray for the speedy marriage of Mlle. Mercadet. MercadetGood-bye, dear old Violette. (Holding him by the hand. ) Poor old man, when I look at you, I think myself rich--your misfortunes touch medeeply. And yesterday I thought I would soon be on the point of payingback to you not only the interest but the principal of what I owe you. Violette (turning back)Paying me back! In full! MercadetIt was a close shave. VioletteWhat was? MercadetImagine, my dear fellow, that there exists a most brilliantopportunity, a most magnificent speculation, the most sublimediscovery--an affair which appeals to the interest of every one, whichwill draw upon all the exchanges, and for the realization of which astupid banker has refused me the miserable sum of a thousand crowns--when there is more than a million in sight. VioletteA million! MercadetYes, a million, from the start. Afterwards no one can calculate wherethe rage for protective pavement will stop. ViolettePavement? MercadetProtective pavement. A pavement on which no barricade can be raised. VioletteReally? MercadetYou see, that from henceforth all governments interested in thepreservation of order will become our chief shareholders--Ministers, princes and kings will be our chief partners. Next come the gods offinance, the great bankers, those of independent income in commerceand speculation; even the socialists, seeing that their industry isruined, will be forced to buy stocks for a living from me! VioletteYes, it is fine! It is grand! MercadetIt is sublime and philanthropic! And to think I have been refused fourthousand francs, wherewith to send out advertisements and launch myprospectus! VioletteFour thousand francs! I thought it was only-- MercadetFour thousand francs, no more! And I was to give away for the loan ahalf interest in the enterprise--that is to say a fortune! Tenfortunes! VioletteListen--I will see--I will speak to some one-- MercadetSpeak to no one! Keep it to yourself! The idea would at once besnatched up--or perhaps they wouldn't understand it so well as youhave immediately done. These money dealers are so stupid. Besides, Iam expecting Verdelin here-- VioletteVerdelin--but--we might perhaps-- Mercadet'Twill be lucky for Verdelin, if he has the brains to risk sixthousand francs in it. VioletteBut you said four thousand just now. MercadetIt was four thousand that they refused me, but I need six thousand!Six thousand francs, and Verdelin, whom I have already made amillionaire once, is likely to become so three, four, five times over!But he will deserve it, for he is a clever fellow, is Verdelin. VioletteMercadet, I will find you the money. MercadetNo, no, don't think of it. Besides, he will be here in a moment, andif I am to send him away without concluding the business with him, itwill be necessary to have it settled with some one else beforeVerdelin comes--and, as that is impossible--good-bye--and good luck--Ishall certainly be able to pay you your thirty thousand francs. VioletteBut say--why couldn't I--? Mme. Mercadet (entering)M. Verdelin has come, my dear. Mercadet (aside)Good, good! (Aloud) Just detain him a minute. (Mme. Mercadet goesout. ) Well, good-bye, dear old Violette-- Violette (pulling out a greasy pocketbook)Wait a moment--here, I have the money with me--and will give it youbeforehand. MercadetYou! Six thousand francs! VioletteA friend asked me to invest it for him, and-- MercadetAnd you couldn't find a better opening. We'll sign the contractpresently! (He takes the bills. ) This closes the deal--and so much theworse for Verdelin--he has missed a gold mine! VioletteWell, I'll see you later. MercadetYes--see you later! You can get out through my study. (Mercadet shows Violette the way out. Mme. Mercadet enters. ) Mme. MercadetMercadet! Mercadet (reappearing)Ah! my dear! I am an unfortunate man! I ought to blow my brains out. Mme. MercadetGood heavens! What is the matter? MercadetThe matter is that a moment ago I asked this sham bankrupt Violettefor six thousand francs. Mme. MercadetAnd he refused to give them to you? MercadetOn the contrary, he handed them over. Mme. MercadetWhat, then, do you mean? MercadetI am an unlucky man, as I told you, because he gave them so quicklythat I could have gotten ten thousand if I had only known it. Mme. MercadetWhat a man you are! I suppose you know that Verdelin is waiting foryou. MercadetBeg him to come in. At last I have Julie's trousseau; and we now needonly enough money for your dresses and for household expenses untilthe marriage. Send in Verdelin. Mme. MercadetYes, he is your friend, and of course you will gain your end with him. (Exit Mme. Mercadet. ) Mercadet (alone)Yes, he is my friend! And he has all the pride that comes withfortune; but he has never had a Godeau (looking round to see if he isalone). After all, Godeau! I really believe that Godeau has brought mein more money than he has taken from me. SCENE TWELFTH Mercadet and Verdelin. VerdelinGood-day, Mercadet. What is doing now? Tell me quickly for I wasstopped here on my way up-stairs to Bredif's apartment. MercadetOh, he can wait! How is it that you are going to see a man likeBredif? Verdelin (laughing)My dear friend, if people only visited those they esteem they wouldmake no visits at all. Mercadet (laughing and taking his hand)A man wouldn't go even into his own house. VerdelinBut tell me what you want with me? MercadetYour question is so sudden that it hasn't left me time to gild thepill. VerdelinOh! my old comrade. I have nothing, and I am frank to say that even ifI had I could give you nothing. I have already lent you all that mymeans permit me to dispose of; I have never asked you for payment, forI am your friend as well as your creditor, and indeed, if my heart didnot overflow in gratitude towards you, if I had not been a mandifferent from ordinary men, the creditor would long ago have killedthe man. I tell you everything has a limit in this world. MercadetFriendship has a limit, that's certain; but not misfortune. VerdelinIf I were rich enough to save you altogether, to cancel your debtentirely, I would do so with all my heart, for I admire your courage. But you are bound to go under. Your last schemes, although cleverlyprojected, have collapsed. You have ruined your reputation, you arelooked upon as a dangerous man. You have not known how to takeadvantage of the momentary success of your operations. When you areutterly beggared, you will always find bread at my house; but it isthe duty of a friend to speak these plain truths. MercadetWhat would be the advantage of friendship unless it gave us thepleasure of finding ourselves in the right, and seeing a friend in thewrong--of being comfortable ourselves and seeing our friend indifficulties and of paying compliment to ourselves by sayingdisagreeable things to him? Is it true then that I am little thoughtof on 'Change? VerdelinI do not say so much as that. No; you still pass for an honest man, but necessity is forcing you to adopt expedients-- MercadetWhich are not justified by the success which luckier men enjoy! Ah, success! How many outrageous things go to make up success. You'lllearn that soon enough. Now, for instance, this morning I began tobear the market on the mines of Basse-Indre, in order that you maygain control of that enterprise before the favorable report of theengineers is published. VerdelinHush, Mercadet, can this be true? Ah! I see your genius there! (Putshis arm around him. ) MercadetI say this in order that you may understand that I have no need ofadvice, or of moralizing, --merely of money. Alas! I do not ask anything of you for myself, my dear friend, but I am about to make amarriage for my daughter, and here we are actually, although secretly, fallen into absolute destitution. We are in a house where povertyreigns under the appearance of luxury. The power of promises, and ofcredit, all is exhausted! And if I cannot pay in cash for certainnecessary expenses, this marriage must be broken off. All I went hereis a fortnight of opulence, just as all that you want is twenty-fourhours of lying on the Exchange. Verdelin, this request will never berepeated, for I have only one daughter. Must I confess it to you? Mywife and daughter are absolutely destitute of clothes! (Aside) He ishesitating. Verdelin (aside)He has played me so many tricks that I really do not know whether hisdaughter is doing to be married or not. How can she marry? MercadetThis very day I have to give a dinner to my future son-in-law, whom amutual friend is introducing to us, and I haven't even my plateremaining in the house. It is--you know where it is--I not only need athousand crowns, but I also hope that you will lend me your dinnerservice and come and dine here with your wife. VerdelinA thousand crowns! Mercadet! No one has a thousand crowns to lend. Onescarcely has them for himself; if he were to lend them whenever he wasasked, he would never have them. (He retires to the fire-place. ) Mercadet (following him, aside)He will yet come to the scratch. (Aloud) Now look here, Verdelin, Ilove my wife and my daughter; these sentiments, my friend, are my soleconsolation in the midst of my recent disasters; these women have beenso gentle, so patient! I should like to see them placed beyond thereach of distress. Oh! It is on this point that my sufferings are mostreal! (They walk to the front of the stage arm in arm. ) I haverecently drunk the cup of bitterness, I have slipped upon my woodenpavement, --I organized a monopoly and others drained me of everything!But, believe me, this is nothing in comparison with the pain of seeingyou refuse me help in this extremity! Nevertheless, I am not going todwell upon the consequences--for I do not wish to owe anything to yourpity. Verdelin (taking a seat)A thousand crowns! But what purpose would you apply them to? Mercadet (aside)I shall get them. (Aloud) My dear fellow, a son-in-law is a bird whois easily frightened away. The absence of one piece of lace on a dressreveals everything to them. The ladies' costumes are ordered, themerchants are on the point of delivering them--yes, I was rash enoughto say that I would pay for everything, for I counted on you!Verdelin, a thousand crowns won't kill you, for you have sixtythousand francs a year. And the life of a young girl of whom you arefond is now at stake--for you are fond of Julie! She has a sincereattachment for your little girl, they play together like the happiestof creatures. Would you let the companion of your daughter pine awaywith despair? Misfortune is contagious! It brings evil on all around! VerdelinMy dear fellow, I have not a thousand crowns. I can lend you my plate;but I have not-- MercadetYou can give me your note on the bank. It is soon signed-- Verdelin (rising)I--no-- MercadetAh! my poor daughter! It is all over. (Falls back overcome in anarmchair near the table. ) God forgive me, if I put an end to thepainful dream of life, and let me awaken in Thy bosom! Verdelin (after a short silence)But-- Have you really found a son-in-law? Mercadet (rising abruptly to his feet)You ask if I have found a son-in-law! You actually throw a doubt uponthis! You may refuse me, if you like, the means of effecting thehappiness of my daughter, but do not insult me! I am fallen lowindeed! O Verdelin! I would not for a thousand crowns have had such anidea of you, and you can never win absolution from me excepting bygiving them. Verdelin (wishing to leave)I must go and see if I can-- MercadetNo! This is only another way of refusing me! Can I believe it? Willnot you whom I have seen spend the same sum upon some such trifle as apassing love affair--will you not apply the thousand crowns to theperformance of a good action? Verdelin (laughing)At the present time there are very few good actions, or transactions. MercadetHa! Ha! Ha! How witty! You are laughing, I see there is a reaction! VerdelinHa! Ha! Ha! (He drops his hat. ) Mercadet (picking up the hat and dusting it with his sleeve)Come now, old fellow. Haven't we seen life! We two began it together. What a lot of things we have said and done! Don't you recollect thegood old time when we swore to be friends always through thick andthin? VerdelinIndeed, I do. And don't you recollect our party at Rambouillet, whereI fought an officer of the Guard on your account? MercadetI thought it was for the lovely Clarissa! Ah! But we were gay! We wereyoung! And to-day we have our daughters, daughters old enough tomarry! If Clarissa were alive now, she would blame your hesitation! VerdelinIf she had lived, I should never have married. MercadetBecause you know what love is, that you do! So I may count upon youfor dinner, and you give me your word of honor that you will send me-- VerdelinThe plate? MercadetAnd the thousand crowns-- VerdelinAh! You still harp upon that! I have told you I cannot do it. Mercadet (aside)It is certain that this fellow will never die of heart failure. (Aloud) And so it seems I am to be murdered by my best friend? Alas!It is always thus! You are actually untouched by the memory ofClarissa--and by the despair of a father! (He cries out towards thechamber of his wife. ) Ah! it is all over! I am in despair! I am goingto blow my brains out! SCENE THIRTEENTH The same persons, Mme. Mercadet and Julie. Mme. MercadetWhat on earth is the matter with you, my dear? JulieHow your voice frightened us, papa! MercadetThey heard us! See how they come, like two guardian angels! (He takesthem by the hand. ) Ah! you melt my heart! (To Verdelin) Verdelin! Doyou wish to slay a whole family? This proof of their tenderness givesme courage to fall at your feet. JulieOh, sir! (She checks her father. ) It is I who will implore you forhim. Whatever may be his demand, do not refuse my father; he must, indeed, be in the most terrible anguish! MercadetDear child! (Aside) In what accents does she speak! I couldn't speakso naturally as that. Mme. MercadetM. Verdelin, listen to us-- Verdelin (to Julie)You don't know what he is asking, do you? JulieNo. VerdelinHe is asking for a thousand crowns, in order to arrange your marriage. JulieThen, forget, sir, all that I said to you; I do not wish for amarriage which has been purchased by the humiliation of my father. Mercadet (aside)She is magnificent! VerdelinJulie! I will go at once and get the money for you. (Exit. ) SCENE FOURTEENTH The same persons, except Verdelin; then the servants. JulieOh, father! Why did you not tell me? Mercadet (kissing her)You have saved us all! Ah! when shall I be so rich and powerful that Imay make him repent of a favor done so grudgingly? Mme. MercadetDo not be unjust; Verdelin yielded to your request. MercadetHe yielded to the cry of Julie, not to my request. Ah! my dear, he hasextorted from me more than a thousand crowns' worth of humiliation! Justin (coming in with Therese and Virginie)The tradespeople. VirginieThe milliner and the dressmaker-- ThereseAnd the dry-goods merchants. MercadetThat is all right! I have succeeded in my scheme! My daughter shall beComtesse de la Brive! (To the servants) Show them in! I am waiting, and the money is ready. (He goes proudly towards his study, while theservants look at him with surprise. ) Curtain to the First Act. ACT II SCENE FIRST (Mercadet's study, containing book-shelves, a safe, a desk, anarmchair and a sofa. ) Minard and Justin, then Julie. MinardDid you say that M. Mercadet wished to speak with me? JustinYes, sir. But mademoiselle has requested that you await her here. Minard (aside)Her father asks to see me. She wishes to speak to me before theinterview. Something extraordinary must have happened. JustinMademoiselle is here. (Enter Julie. ) Minard (going towards her)Mlle. Julie! JulieJustin, inform my father that the gentleman has arrived. (ExitJustin. ) If you wish, Adolphe, that our love should shine as bright inthe sight of all as it does in our hearts, be as courageous as I havealready been. MinardWhat has taken place? JulieA rich young suitor has presented himself, and my father is actingwithout any pity for us. MinardA rival! And you ask me if I have any courage! Tell me his name, Julie, and you will soon know whether I have any courage. JulieAdolphe! You make me shudder! Is this the way in which you are goingto act with the hope of bending my father? Minard (seeing Mercadet approach)Here he comes. SCENE SECOND The same persons and Mercadet. MercadetSir, are you in love with my daughter? MinardYes, sir. MercadetThat is, at least, what she believes, and you seem to have had thetalent to persuade her that it is so. MinardYour manner of expressing yourself implies a doubt on your part, whichin any one else would have been offensive to me. Why should I not lovemademoiselle? Abandoned by my parents, it was from your daughter, sir, that I have learned for the first time the happiness of affection. Mlle. Julie is at the same time a sister and a friend to me. She is mywhole family. She alone has smiled upon me and has encouraged me; andmy love for her is beyond what language can express! JulieMust I remain here, father? Mercadet (to his daughter)Swallow it all! (To Minard) Sir, with regard to the love of youngpeople I have those positive ideas which are considered peculiar toold men. My distrust of such love is all the more permissible becauseI am not the father blinded by paternal affection. I see Julie exactlyas she is; without being absolutely plain, she has none of that beautythat makes people cry out, "See!" She is quite mediocre. MinardYou are mistaken, sir; I venture to say that you do not know yourdaughter. MercadetPermit me-- MinardYou do not know her, sir. MercadetBut I know her perfectly well--as if--in a word, I know her-- MinardNo, sir, you do not. MercadetDo you mean to contradict me again, sir? MinardYou know the Julie that all the world sees; but love has transfiguredher! Tenderness and devotion lend to her a transporting beauty that Ialone have called up in her. JulieFather, I feel ashamed-- MercadetYou mean you feel happy. And if you, sir, repeat these things-- MinardI shall repeat them a hundred times, a thousand times, and even then Icouldn't repeat them often enough. There is no crime in repeating thembefore a father! MercadetYou flatter me! I did believe myself her father; but you are thefather of a Julie whose acquaintance I should very much like to make. MinardYou have never been in love, I suppose? MercadetI have been very much in love! And felt the galling chain of gold likeeverybody else. MinardThat was long ago. In these days we love in a better way. MercadetHow do you do that? MinardWe cling to the soul, to the idea! MercadetWhat we used to call under the Empire, having our eyes bandaged. MinardIt is love, pure and holy, which can lend a charm to all the hours oflife. MercadetYes all!--except the dinner hour. JulieFather, do not ridicule two children who love each other with apassion which is true and pure, because it is founded upon a knowledgeof each other's character; on the certitude of their mutual ardor inconquering the difficulties of life; in a word, of two children whowill also cherish sincere affection for you. Minard (to Mercadet)What an angel, sir! Mercadet (aside)I'll angel you! (Putting an arm around each. ) Happy children!--You areabsolutely in love? What a fine romance! (To Minard) You desire herfor your wife? MinardYes, sir. MercadetIn spite of all obstacles? MinardIt is mine to overcome them! JulieFather, ought you not to be grateful to me in that by my choice I amgiving you a son full of lofty sentiments, endowed with a courageoussoul, and-- MinardMademoiselle--Julie. JulieLet me finish; I must have my say. MercadetMy daughter, go and see your mother, and let me speak of matters whichare a great deal more material than these. JulieI will go, father-- MercadetCome back presently with your mother, my child. (Mercadet kisses Julie and leads her to the door. ) Minard (aside)I feel my hopes revive. Mercadet (returning)Sir, I am a ruined man. MinardWhat does that mean? MercadetTotally ruined. And if you wish to have my Julie, you are welcome toher. She will be much better off at your house, poor as you are, thanin her paternal home. Not only is she without dowry, but she isburdened with poor parents--parents who are more than poor. MinardMore than poor! There is nothing beyond that. MercadetYes, sir, we are in debt, deeply in debt, and some of these debtsclamor for payment. MinardNo, no, it is impossible! MercadetDon't you believe it? (Aside) He is getting frightened. (Taking up apile of papers from his desk. Aloud) Here, my would-be son-in-law, arethe family papers which will show you our fortune-- MinardSir-- MercadetOr rather our lack of fortune! Read-- Here is a writ of attachment onour furniture. MinardCan it be possible? MercadetIt is perfectly possible! Here are judgments by the score! Here is awrit of my arrest. You see in what straits we are! Here you see all mysales, the protests on my notes and the judgments classed in order--for, young man, understand well in a disordered condition of things, order is above all things necessary. When disorder is well arranged itcan be relieved and controlled-- What can a debtor say when he seeshis debt entered up under his number? I make the government my model. All payments are made in alphabetic order. I have not yet touched theletter A. (He replaces the papers. ) MinardYou haven't yet paid anything? MercadetScarcely anything. You know the condition of my expenses. You know, because you are a book-keeper. See, (picking up the papers again) thetotal debit is three hundred and eighty thousand. MinardYes, sir. The balance is entered here. MercadetYou can understand then how you must make me shudder when you comebefore my daughter with your fine protestations! Since to marry a poorgirl with nothing but an income of eighteen hundred francs, is likeinviting in wedlock a protested note with a writ of execution. Minard (lost in thought)Ruined, ruined! And without resources! Mercadet (aside)I thought that would upset him. (Aloud) Come, now, young man, what areyou going to do? MinardFirst, I thank you, sir, for the frankness of your admissions. MercadetThat is good! And what of the ideal, and your love for my daughter? MinardYou have opened my eyes, sir. Mercadet (aside)I am glad to hear it. MinardI thought that I already loved her with a love that was boundless, andnow I love her a hundred times more. MercadetThe deuce you do! MinardHave you not led me to understand that she will have need of all mycourage, of all my devotion! I will render her happy by other meansthan my tenderness; she shall feel grateful for all my efforts, sheshall love me for my vigils, and for my toils. MercadetYou mean to tell me that you still wish to marry her? MinardDo I wish! When I believed that you were rich, I would not ask her ofyou without trembling, without feeling ashamed of my poverty; but now, sir, it is with assurance and with tranquillity of mind that I ask forher. Mercadet (to himself)I must admit that this is a love exceedingly true, sincere and noble!And such as I had believed it impossible to find in the whole world!(To Minard) Forgive me, young man, for the opinion I had of you--forgive me, above all, for the disappointment I am about to cause you. MinardWhat do you mean? MercadetM. Minard--Julie--cannot be your wife. MinardWhat is this, sir? Not be my wife? In spite of our love, in spite ofall you have confided to me? MercadetYes, and just because of all I have confided to you. I have shown youMercadet the rich man in his true colors. I am going to show you himas the skeptical man of business. I have frankly opened my books toyou. I am now going to open my heart to you as frankly. MinardSpeak out, sir, but remember how great my devotion to Mlle. Julie is. Remember that my self-sacrifice and unselfishness are equal to my lovefor her. MercadetLet it be granted that by means of night-long vigils and toils youwill make a living for Julie! But who will make a living for us, herfather and mother? MinardAh! sir--believe in me! MercadetWhat! Are you going to work for four, instead of working for only two?The task will be too much for you! And the bread which you give to us, you will have to snatch out of the hands of your children-- MinardHow wildly you talk! MercadetAnd I, in spite of your generous efforts, shall fall, crushed underthe weight of disgraceful ruin. A brilliant marriage for my daughteris the only means by which I would be enabled to discharge theenormous sums I owe. It is only thus that in time I could regainconfidence and credit. With the aid of a rich son-in-law I canreconquer my position, and recuperate my fortune! Why, the marriage ofmy daughter is our last anchor of salvation! This marriage is ourhope, our wealth, the prop of our honor, sir! And since you love mydaughter, it is to this very love that I make my appeal. My friend, donot condemn her to poverty; do not condemn her to a life of regretover the loss and disgrace which she has brought upon her father! Minard (in great distress)But what do you ask me to do? Mercadet (taking him by the hand)I wish that this noble affection which you have for her, may arm youwith more courage than I myself possess. MinardI will show such courage-- MercadetThen listen to me. If I refuse Julie to you, Julie will refuse the manI destine for her. It will be best, therefore, that I grant yourrequest for her hand, and that you be the one-- MinardI!-- She will not believe it, sir-- MercadetShe will believe you, if you tell her that you fear poverty for her. MinardShe will accuse me of being a fortune hunter. MercadetShe will be indebted to you for having secured her happiness. Minard (despairingly)She will despise me, sir! MercadetThat is probable! But if I have read your heart aright, your love forher is such that you will sacrifice yourself completely to thehappiness of her life. But here she comes, sir, and her mother is withher. It is on their account that I make this request to you, sir; canI count on you? MinardYou--can. MercadetVery good--I thank you. SCENE THIRD The preceding, Julie and Mme. Mercadet. JulieCome, mother, I am sure that Adolphe has triumphed over all obstacles. Mme. MercadetMy dear, M. Minard has asked of you the hand of Julie. What answerhave you given him? Mercadet (going to the desk)It is for him to say. Mercadet (aside)How can I tell her? My heart is breaking. JulieWhat have you got to say, Adolphe? MinardMademoiselle-- JulieMademoiselle! Am I no longer Julie to you? Oh, tell me quickly. Youhave settled everything with my father, have you not? MinardYour father has shown great confidence in me. He has revealed to mehis situation; he has told me-- JulieGo on, please go on-- MercadetI have told him that we are ruined-- JulieAnd this avowal has not changed your plans--your love--has it, Adolphe? Minard (ardently)My love! (Mercadet, without being noticed, seizes his hand. ) I shouldbe deceiving you--mademoiselle--(speaking with great effort)--if Iwere to say that my intentions are unaltered. JulieOh! It is impossible! Can it be you who speak to me in this strain? Mme. MercadetJulie-- Minard (rousing himself)There are some men to whom poverty adds energy; men capable of dailyself-sacrifice, of hourly toil; men who think themselves sufficientlyrecompensed by a smile from a companion that they love--(checkinghimself). I, mademoiselle am not one of these. The thought of povertydismays me. I--I could not endure the sight of your unhappiness. Julie (bursting into tears and flinging herself into the arms of hermother)Oh! Mother! Mother! Mother! Mme. MercadetMy daughter--my poor Julie! Minard (in a low voice to Mercadet)Is this sufficient, sir? Julie (without looking at Minard)I should have had courage for both of us. I should always have greetedyou with a smile, I should have toiled without regret, and happinesswould always have reigned in our home. You could never have meantthis, Adolphe. You do not mean it. Minard (in a low voice)Let me go--let me leave the house, sir. MercadetCome, then. (He retires to the back of the stage. ) MinardGood-bye--Julie. A love that would have flung you into poverty is athoughtless love. I have preferred to show the love that sacrificesitself to your happiness-- JulieNo, I trust you no longer. (In a low voice to her mother) My onlyhappiness would have been to be his. Justin (announcing visitors)M. De la Brive! M. De Mericourt! MercadetTake your daughter away, madame. M. Minard, follow me. (To Justin) Askthem to wait here for a while. (To Minard) I am well satisfied withyou. (Mme. Mercadet and Julie, Mercadet and Minard go out in oppositedirections, while Justin admits Mericourt and De la Brive. ) SCENE FOURTH De la Brive and Mericourt. JustinM. Mercadet begs that the gentlemen will wait for him here. (Exit. ) MericourtAt last, my dear friend, you are on the ground, and you will be verysoon officially recognized as Mlle. Mercadet's intended! Steer yourbark well, for the father is a deep one. De la BriveThat is what frightens me, for difficulties loom ahead. MericourtI do not believe so; Mercadet is a speculator, rich to-day, to-morrowpossibly a beggar. With the little I know of his affairs from hiswife, I am led to believe that he is enchanted with the prospect ofdepositing a part of his fortune in the name of his daughter, and ofobtaining a son-in-law capable of assisting him in carrying out hisfinancial schemes. De la BriveThat is a good idea, and suits me exactly; but suppose he wishes tofind out too much about me. MericourtI have given M. Mercadet an excellent account of you. De la BriveI have fallen upon my feet truly. MericourtBut you are not going to lose the dandy's self-possession? I quiteunderstand that your position is risky. A man would not marry, excepting from utter despair. Marriage is suicide for the man of theworld. (In a low voice) Come, tell me--can you hold out much longer? De la BriveIf I had not two names, one for the bailiffs and one for thefashionable world, I should be banished from the Boulevard. Woman andI, as you know, have wrought each the ruin of the other, and, asfashion now goes, to find a rich Englishwoman, an amiable dowager, anamorous gold mine, would be as impossible as to find an extinctanimal. MericourtWhat of the gaming table? De la BriveOh! Gambling is an unreliable resource excepting for certain crooks, and I am not such a fool as to run the risk of disgrace for the sakeof winnings which always have their limit. Publicity, my dear friend, has been the abolition of all those shady careers in which fortuneonce was to be found. So, that for a hundred thousand francs ofaccepted bills, the usurer gives me but ten thousand. Pierquin sent meto one of his agents, a sort of sub-Pierquin, a little old man calledViolette, who said to my broker that he could not give me money onsuch paper at any rate! Meanwhile my tailor has refused to bank uponmy prospects. My horse is living on credit; as to my tiger, the littlewretch who wears such fine clothes, I do now know how he lives, orwhere he feeds. I dare not peer into the mystery. Now, as we are notso advanced in civilization as the Jews, who canceled all debts everyhalf-century, a man must pay by the sacrifice of personal liberty. Horrible things will be said about me. Here is a young man of highesteem in the world of fashion, pretty lucky at cards, of a passablefigure, less than twenty-eight years old, and he is going to marry thedaughter of a rich speculator! MericourtWhat difference does it make? De la BriveIt is slightly off color! But I am tired of a sham life. I havelearned at last that the only way to amass wealth is to work. But ourmisfortune is that we find ourselves quick at everything, but not goodat anything! A man like me, capable of inspiring a passion and ofmaintaining it, cannot become either a clerk or a soldier! Society hasprovided no employment for us. Accordingly, I am going to set upbusiness with Mercadet. He is one of the greatest of schemers. You aresure that he won't give less than a hundred and fifty thousand francsto his daughter. MericourtJudge yourself, my dear friend, from the style which Mme. Mercadetputs on; you see her at all the first nights, in her own box, at theopera, and her conspicuous elegance-- De la BriveI myself am elegant enough, but-- MericourtLook round you here--everything indicates opulence--Oh! they are welloff! De la BriveYet, it is a sort of middle-class splendor, something substantialwhich promises well. MericourtAnd then the mother is a woman of principle, of irreproachablebehavior. Can you possibly conclude matters to-day? De la BriveI have taken steps to do so. I won at the club yesterday sufficient togo on with; I shall pay something on the wedding presents, and let thebalance stand. MericourtWithout reckoning my account, what is the amount of your debts? De la BriveA mere trifle! A hundred and fifty thousand francs, which my father-in-law will cut down to fifty thousand. I shall have a hundredthousand francs left to begin life on. I always said that I shouldnever become rich until I hadn't a sou left. MericourtMercadet is an astute man; he will question you about your fortune;are you prepared? De la BriveAm I not the landed proprietor of La Brive? Three thousand acres inthe Landes, which are worth thirty thousand francs, mortgaged forforty-five thousand and capable of being floated by a stock jobbingcompany for some commercial purpose or other, say, as representing acapital of a hundred thousand crowns! You cannot imagine how much thisproperty has brought me in. MericourtYour name, your horse, and your lands seem to me to be on their lastlegs. De la BriveNot so loud! MericourtSo you have quite made up your mind? De la BriveYes, and all the more decidedly in that I am going into politics. MericourtReally--but you are too clever for that! De la BriveAs a preparation I shall take to journalism. MericourtAnd you have never written two lines in your life! De la BriveThere are journalists who write and journalists who do not write. Theformer are editors--and horses that drag the car; the latter, theproprietors, who furnish the funds; these give oats to their horsesand keep the capital for themselves. I shall be a proprietor. Youmerely have to put on a lofty air and exclaim: "The Eastern questionis a question of great importance and of wide influence, one aboutwhich there cannot be two opinions!" You sum up a discussion bydeclaiming: "England, sir, will always get the better of us!" or youmake an answer to some one whom you have heard speak for a long timewithout paying attention to him: "We are advancing towards an abyss, we have not yet passed through all the evolutions of the evolutionaryphase!" You say to a representative of labor: "Sir, I think there issomething to be done in this matter. " A proprietor of a journal speaksvery little, rushes about and makes himself useful by doing for a manin power what the latter cannot do himself. He is supposed to inspirethe articles, those I mean, which attract any notice! And then, if itis absolutely necessary he undertakes to publish a yellow-backedvolume on some Utopian topic, so well written, so strong, that no oneopens it, although every one declares that he has read it! Then he islooked upon as an earnest man, and ends by finding himselfacknowledged as somebody, instead of something. MericourtAlas! What you say is too true, in these times! De la BriveAnd we ourselves are a startling proof of this! In order to claim apart in political power you must not show what good but what harm youcan do. You must not alone possess talents, you must be able also toinspire fear. Accordingly, the very day after my marriage, I shallassume an air of seriousness, of profundity, of high principles! I cantake my choice, for we have in France a list of principles which is asvaried as a bill of fare. I elect to be a socialist! The word pleasesme! At every epoch, my dear friend, there are adjectives which formthe pass-words of ambition! Before 1789 a man called himself aneconomist; in 1815 he was a liberal; the next party will call itselfthe social party--perhaps because it is so unsocial. For in France youmust always take the opposite sense of a word to understand itsmeaning. MericourtLet me tell you privately, that you are now talking nothing but thenonsense of masked ball chatter, which passes for wit among those whodo not indulge in it. What are you going to do when a certain definiteknowledge becomes necessary? De la BriveMy dear friend! In every profession, whether of art, science orliterature, a man needs intellectual capital, special knowledge andcapacity. But in politics, my dear fellow, a man wins everything andattains to everything by means of a single phrase-- MericourtWhat is that? De la Brive"The principles of my friends, the party for which I stand, lookfor--" MericourtHush! Here comes the father-in-law! SCENE FIFTH The same persons and Mercadet. MercadetGood-day, my dear Mericourt! (To De la Brive) The ladies have kept youwaiting, sir. Ah! They are putting on their finery. For myself, I wasjust on the point of dismissing--whom do you think?--an aspirant tothe hand of Mlle. Julie. Poor young man! I was perhaps hard on him, and yet I felt for him. He worships my daughter; but what could I do?He has only ten thousand francs' income. De la BriveThat wouldn't go very far! MercadetA mere subsistence! De la BriveYou're not the man to give a rich and clever girl to the first comer-- MericourtCertainly not. MercadetBefore the ladies come in, gentlemen, we must talk a little seriousbusiness. De la Brive (to Mericourt)Now comes the tug of war! (They all sit down. ) Mercadet (on the sofa)Are you seriously in love with my daughter? De la BriveI love her passionately! MercadetPassionately? Mericourt (to his friend)You are over-doing it. De la Brive (to Mericourt)Wait a moment. (Aloud) Sir, I am ambitious--and I saw in Mlle. Julie alady at once distinguished, full of intellect, possessed of charmingmanners, who would never be out of place in the position in which myfortune puts me; and such a wife is essential to the success of apolitician. MercadetI understand! It is easy to find a woman, but it is very rare that aman who wishes to be a minister or ambassador finds a wife. You are aman of wit, sir. May I ask your political leaning? De la BriveSir, I am a socialist. MercadetThat is a new move! But now let us talk of money matters. MericourtIt seems to me that the notary might attend to that. De la BriveNo! M. Mercadet is right; it is best that we should attend to thesethings ourselves. MercadetTrue, sir. De la BriveSir, my whole fortune consists in the estate which bears my name; ithas been in my family for a hundred and fifty years, and I hope willnever pass from us. MercadetThe possession of capital is perhaps more valuable in these days. Capital is in your own hand. If a revolution breaks out, and we havehad many revolutions lately, capital follows us everywhere. Landedproperty, on the contrary, must furnish funds for every one. There itstands stock still like a fool to pay the taxes, while capital dodgesout of the way. But this is not real obstacle. What is the amount ofyour land? De la BriveThree thousand acres, without a break. MercadetWithout a break? MericourtDid I not tell you as much? MercadetI never doubted it. De la BriveA chateau-- MercadetGood-- De la BriveAnd salt marshes, which can be worked as soon as the administrationgives permission. They would yield enormous returns! MercadetAh, sir, why have we been so late in becoming acquainted! Your land, then, must be on the seashore. De la BriveWithout half a league of it. MercadetAnd it is situated? De la BriveNear Bordeaux. MercadetYou have vineyards, then? De la BriveNo! fortunately not, for the disposal of wines is a troublesomematter, and, moreover, the cultivation of the vine is exceedinglyexpensive. My estate was planted with pine trees by my grandfather, aman of genius, who was wise enough to sacrifice himself to the welfareof his descendants. Besides, I have furniture, which you know-- MercadetSir, one moment, a man of business is always careful to dot his i's. De la Brive (under his voice)Now we're in for it! MercadetWith regard to your estate and your marshes, --I see all that can begot out of these marshes. The best way of utilizing them would be toform a company for the exploitation of the marshes of the Brive! Thereis more than a million in it! De la BriveI quite understand that, sir. They need only to be thrown upon themarket. Mercadet (aside)These words indicate a certain intelligence in this young man. (Aloud)Have you any debts? Is your estate mortgaged? MericourtYou would not think much of my friend if he had not debts. De la BriveI will be frank, sir, there is a mortgage of forty-five thousandfrancs on my estate. Mercadet (aside)An innocent young man! he might easily-- (Rising from his seat. Aloud)You have my consent; you shall be my son-in-law, and are the very manI would choose for my daughter's husband. You do not realize what afortune you possess. De la Brive (to Mericourt)This is almost too good to be true. Mericourt (to De la Brive)He is dazzled by the good speculation which he sees ahead. Mercadet (aside)With government protection, which can be purchased, salt pits may beestablished. I am saved! (Aloud) Allow me to shake hands with you, after the English fashion. You fulfill all that I expected in a son-in-law. I plainly see you have none of the narrowness of provincialland-holders; we shall understand each other thoroughly. De la BriveYou must not take it in bad part, sir, if I, on my part, ask you-- MercadetThe amount of my daughter's fortune? I should have distrusted you ifyou hadn't asked! My daughter has independent means; her mothersettles on her her own fortune, consisting of a small property--a farmof two hundred acres, but in the very heart of Brie, and provided withgood buildings. Besides this, I shall give her two hundred thousandfrancs, the interest of which will be for your use, until you find asuitable investment for it. So you see, young man, we do not wish todeceive you, we wish to keep the money moving; I like you, you pleaseme, for I see you have ambition. De la BriveYes, sir. MercadetYou love luxury, extravagance; you wish to shine at Paris-- De la BriveYes, sir. MercadetYou see that I am already an old man, obliged to lay the load of myambition upon some congenial co-operator, and you shall be the one toplay the brilliant part. De la BriveSir, had I been obliged to take my choice of all the fathers-in-law inParis, I should have given the preference to you. You are a man aftermy own heart! Allow me to shake hands, after the English fashion!(They shake hands for the second time. ) Mercadet (aside)It seems too good to be true. De la Brive (aside)He fell head-first into my salt marshes! Mercadet (aside)He accepts an income from me! (Mercadet retires towards the door on the left side. ) Mericourt (to De la Brive)Are you satisfied? De la Brive (to Mericourt)I don't see the money for my debts. Mericourt (to De la Brive)Wait a moment. (To Mercadet) My friend does not dare to tell you ofit, but he is too honest for concealment. He has a few debts. MercadetOh, please tell me. I understand perfectly--I suppose it is aboutfifty thousand you owe? MericourtVery nearly-- De la BriveVery nearly-- MercadetA mere trifle. De la Brive (laughing)Yes, a mere trifle! MercadetThey will serve as a subject of discussion between your wife and you;yes, let her have the pleasure of-- But, we will pay them all. (Aside)In shares of the La Brive salt pits. (Aloud) It is so small an amount. (Aside) We will put up the capital of the salt marsh a hundredthousand francs more. (Aloud) The matter is settled, son-in-law. De la BriveWe will consider it settled, father-in-law. Mercadet (aside)I am saved! De la Brive (aside)I am saved! SCENE SIXTH The same persons, Mme. Mercadet and Julie. MercadetHere are my wife and daughter. MericourtMadame, allow me to present to you my friend, M. De la Brive, whoregards your daughter with-- De la BriveWith passionate admiration. MercadetMy daughter is exactly the woman to suit a politician. De la Brive (to Mericourt. Gazing at Julie through his eyeglass)A fine girl. (To Madame Mercadet) Like mother, like daughter. Madame, I place my hopes under your protection. Mme. MercadetAnyone introduced by M. Mericourt would be welcome here. Julie (to her father)What a coxcomb! Mercadet (to his daughter)He is enormously rich. We shall all be millionaires! He is anexcessively clever fellow. Now, do try and be amiable, as you ought tobe. Julie (answering him)What would you wish me to say to a dandy whom I have just seen for thefirst time, and whom you destine for my husband? De la BriveMay I be permitted to hope, mademoiselle, that you will look favorablyupon me? JulieMy duty is to obey my father. De la BriveYoung people are not always aware of the feelings which they inspire. For two months I have been longing for the happiness of paying myrespects to you. JulieWho can be more flattered than I am, sir, to find that I haveattracted your attention? Mme. Mercadet (to Mericourt)He is a fine fellow. (Aloud) We hope that you and your friend M. De laBrive will do us the pleasure of accepting our invitation to dinewithout ceremony? MercadetTo take pot-luck with us. (To De la Brive) You must excuse oursimplicity. Justin (entering, in a low voice to Mercadet)M. Pierquin wishes to speak to you, monsieur. Mercadet (low)Pierquin? JustinHe says it is concerning an important and urgent matter. MercadetWhat can he want with me? Let him come in. (Justin goes out. Aloud) Mydear, these gentlemen must be tired. Won't you take them into thedrawing-room? M. De la Brive, give my daughter you arm. De la BriveMademoiselle-- (offers her his arm) Julie (aside)He is handsome, he is rich--why does he choose me? Mme. MercadetM. De Mericourt, will you come and see the picture which we are goingto raffle off for the benefit of the poor orphans? MericourtWith pleasure, madame. MercadetGo on. I shall be with you in a moment. SCENE SEVENTH Mercadet (alone)Well, after all, this time I have really secured fortune and thehappiness of Julie and the rest of us. For a son-in-law like this is averitable gold mine! Three thousand acres! A chateau! Salt marshes!(He sits down at his desk. ) Pierquin (entering)Good-day, Mercadet. I have come-- MercadetRather inopportunely. But what do you wish? PierquinI sha'n't detain you long. The bills of exchange I gave you thismorning, signed by a man called Michonnin, are absolutely valueless. Itold you this beforehand. MercadetI know that. PierquinI now offer you a thousand crowns for them. MercadetThat is either too much or too little! Anything for which you willgive that sum must be worth infinitely more. Some one is waiting forme in the other room. I will bid you good-evening. PierquinI will give you four thousand francs. MercadetNo! PierquinFive--six thousand. MercadetIf you wish to play cards, keep to the gambling table. Why do you wishto recover this paper? PierquinMichonnin has insulted me. I wish to take vengeance on him; to sendhim to jail. Mercadet (rising)Six thousand francs worth of vengeance! You are not a man to indulgein luxuries of that kind. PierquinI assure you-- MercadetCome, now, my friend, consider that for a satisfactory defamation ofcharacter the code won't charge you more than five or six hundredfrancs, and the tax on a blow is only fifty francs-- PierquinI swear to you-- MercadetHas this Michonnin come into a legacy? And are the forty-seventhousand francs of these vouchers actually worth forty-seven thousandfrancs? You should post me on this subject and then we'll cry halves! PierquinVery well, I agree. The fact of it is, Michonnin is to be married. MercadetWhat next! And with whom, pray? PierquinWith the daughter of some nabob--an idiot who is giving her anenormous dowry. MercadetWhere does Michonnin live? PierquinDo you want to issue a writ? He is without a fixed abode in Paris. Hisfurniture is held under the name of a friend; but his legal domicilemust be in the neighborhood of Bordeaux, in the village of Ermont. MercadetStay a while. I have some one here from that region. I can get exactinformation in a moment--and then we can begin proceedings. PierquinSend me the paper, and leave the business to me-- MercadetI shall be very glad to do so. They shall be put into your hands inreturn for a signed agreement as to the sharing of the money. I am atpresent altogether taken up with the marriage of my daughter. PierquinI hope everything is going on well. MercadetWonderfully well. My son-in-law is a gentleman and, in spite of that, he is rich. And, although both rich and a gentleman, he is clever intothe bargain. PierquinI congratulate you. MercadetOne word with you before you go. You said, Michonnin, of Ermont, inthe neighborhood of Bordeaux? PierquinYes, he has an old aunt somewhere about there! A good woman calledBourdillac, who scrapes along on some six hundred francs a year, butto whom he gives the title of Marchioness of Bourdillac. He pretendsthat her health is delicate and that she has a yearly income of fortythousand francs. MercadetThank you. Good-evening-- PierquinGood-evening. (goes out) Mercadet (ringing)Justin! JustinDid you call, sir? MercadetAsk M. De la Brive to speak with me for a moment. (Justin goes out. ) MercadetHere is a windfall of twenty-three thousand francs! We shall be ableto arrange things famously for Julie's marriage. SCENE EIGHTH Mercadet, De la Brive and Justin. De la Brive (to Justin, handing him a letter)Here, deliver this letter. And this is for yourself. Justin (aside)A louis! Mademoiselle will be sure to have a happy home. (Exit. ) De la BriveYou wish to speak with me, my dear father-in-law? MercadetYes. You see I already treat you without ceremony. Please to take aseat. De la Brive (sitting on a sofa)I am grateful for your confidence. MercadetI am seeking information with regard to a debtor, who, like you, livesin the neighborhood of Bordeaux. De la BriveI know every one in that district. MercadetIt is said he has relations there. De la BriveRelations! I have none but an old aunt. Mercadet (pricking up his ears)An--old aunt--? De la BriveWhose health-- Mercadet (trembling)Is--is--delicate? De la BriveAnd her income is forty thousand francs. Mercadet (quite overcome)Good Lord! The very figure! De la BriveThe Marchioness, you see, will be a good woman to have on hand. I meanthe Marchioness-- Mercadet (vehemently rushing at him)Of Bourdillac, sir! De la BriveHow is this? Do you know her name? MercadetYes, and yours too! De la BriveThe devil you do! MercadetYou are head over ears in debt; your furniture is held in anotherman's name; your old aunt has a pittance of six hundred francs;Pierquin, who is one of your smallest creditors, has forty-seventhousand francs in notes of hand from you. You are Michonnin, and I amthe idiotic nabob! De la Brive (stretching himself at full length on the sofa)By heavens! You know just as much about it as I do! MercadetWell--I see that once more the devil has taken a hand in my game. De la Brive (aside, rising to his feet)The marriage is over! I am no longer a socialist; I shall become acommunist. MercadetAnd I have been just as easily deceived, as if I had been on theExchange. De la BriveShow yourself worthy of your reputation. MercadetM. Michonnin, your conduct is more than blameworthy! De la BriveIn what particular? Did I not say that I had debts? MercadetWe'll let that pass, for any one may have debts; but where is yourestate situated. De la BriveIn the Landes. MercadetAnd of what does it consist? De la BriveOf sand wastes, planted with firs. MercadetGood to make toothpicks. De la BriveThat's about it. MercadetAnd it is worth? De la BriveThirty thousand francs. MercadetAnd mortgaged for-- De la BriveForty-five thousand! MercadetAnd you had the skill to effect that? De la BriveWhy, yes-- MercadetDamnation! But that was pretty clever! And your marshes, sir? De la BriveThey border on the sea-- MercadetThey are part of the ocean! De la BriveThe people of that country are evil-minded enough to say so. That iswhat hinders my loans! MercadetIt would be very difficult to issue ocean shares! Sir, I may tell you, between ourselves, that your morality seems to me-- De la BriveSomewhat-- MercadetRisky. De la Brive (in anger)Sir! (calming himself) Let this be merely between ourselves! MercadetYou gave a friend a bill of sale of your furniture, you sign yournotes of hand with the name of Michonnin, and you call yourself merelyDe la Brive-- De la BriveWell, sir, what are you going to do about it? MercadetDo about it? I am going to lead you a pretty dance-- De la BriveSir, I am your guest! Moreover, I may deny everything-- What proofshave you? MercadetWhat proofs! I have in my hands forty-seven thousand francs' worth ofyour notes. De la BriveAre they signed to the order of Pierquin? MercadetPrecisely so. De la BriveAnd you have had them since this morning? MercadetSince this morning. De la BriveI see. You have given worthless stock in exchange for valueless notes. MercadetSir! De la BriveAnd, in order to seal the bargain, Pierquin, one of the leastimportant of your creditors, has given you a delay of three months. MercadetWho told you that? De la BriveWho? Who? Pierquin himself, of course, as soon as he learned I wasgoing to make an arrangement-- MercadetThe devil he did! De la BriveAh! You were going to give two hundred thousand francs as a dowry toyour daughter, and you had debts to the amount of three hundred andfifty thousand! Between ourselves it looks like you who had beentrying to swindle the son-in-law, sir-- Mercadet (angrily)Sir! (calming himself) This is merely between ourselves, sir. De la BriveYou took advantage of my inexperience! MercadetOf course I did! The inexperience of a man who raises a loan on hissand wastes fifty per cent above their value. De la BriveGlass can be made out of sand! MercadetThat's a good idea! De la BriveTherefore, sir-- MercadetSilence! Promise me that this broken marriage-contract shall be keptsecret. De la BriveI swear it shall-- Ah! excepting to Pierquin. I have just written tohim to set his mind at rest. MercadetIs that the letter you sent by Justin? De la BriveThe very one. MercadetAnd what have you told him? De la BriveThe name of my father-in-law. Confound it!--I thought you were rich. Mercadet (despairingly)And you have written that to Pierquin? It's all up! This fresh defeatwill be known on the Exchange! But, any way, I am ruined! Suppose Iwrite to him-- Suppose I ask him-- (He goes to the table to write. ) SCENE NINTH The same persons, Mme. Mercadet, Julie and Verdelin. Mme. MercadetMy friend, M. Verdelin. Julie (to Verdelin)Here is my father, sir. MercadetAh! It is you, is it, Verdelin--and you are come to dinner? VerdelinNo, I am not come to dinner. Mercadet (aside)He knows all. He is furious! VerdelinAnd this gentleman is your son-in-law? (Verdelin bows to De la Brive. )This is a fine marriage you are going to make! MercadetThe marriage, my dear sir, is not going to take place. JulieHow happy I feel! (De la Brive bows to Julie. She casts down her eyes. ) Mme. Mercadet (seizing her hand)My dear daughter! MercadetI have been deceived by Mericourt. VerdelinAnd you have played on me one of your tricks this morning, for thepurpose of getting a thousand crowns; but the whole incident has beenmade public on the Exchange, and they think it a huge joke! MercadetThey have been informed, I suppose-- VerdelinThat your pocket-book is full of the notes of hand signed by your son-in-law. And Pierquin tells me that your creditors are exasperated, andare to meet to-night at the house of Goulard to conclude measures forunited action against you to-morrow! MercadetTo-night! To-morrow! Ah! I hear the knell of bankruptcy sound! VerdelinYes, to-morrow they are going to send a prison cab for you. Mme. Mercadet and JulieGod help us! MercadetI see the carriage, the hearse of the speculator, carrying me toClichy! VerdelinThey wish, as far as possible, to rid the Exchange of all sharpers! MercadetThey are fools, for in that case they will turn it into a desert! Andso I am ruined! Expelled from the Exchange with all the sequelae ofbankruptcy, --shame, beggary! I cannot believe it--it is impossible! De la BriveBelieve me, sir, that I regret having been in some degree-- Mercadet (looking him in the face)You! (in a low voice to him) Listen to me: you have hurried on mydestruction, but you have it in your power to help me to escape. De la BriveOn what conditions? MercadetI will make you a good offer! (Aloud, as they start toward oppositedoors) True, the idea is a bold one! But to-morrow, the 'Change willrecognize in me one of its master spirits. VerdelinWhat is he talking about? MercadetTo-morrow, all my debts will be paid, and the house of Mercadet willbe turning over millions! I shall be acknowledged as the Napoleon offinance. VerdelinWhat a man he is! MercadetAnd a Napoleon who meets no Waterloo! VerdelinBut where are your troops? MercadetMy army is cash in hand! What answer can be made to a business man whosays, "Take your money!" Come let us dine now. VerdelinCertainly. I shall be delighted to dine with you. Mercadet (while they all move towards the dining-room, aside)They are all glad of it! To-morrow I will either command millions, orrest in the damp winding-sheet of the Seine! Curtain to the Second Act. ACT III SCENE FIRST (Another apartment in Mercadet's house, well furnished. At the backand in the centre is a mantel-piece, having instead of a mirror aclear plate of glass; side doors; a large table, surrounded by chairs, in the middle of the stage; sofa and armchairs. ) Justin, Therese and Virginie, then Mercadet. (Justin enters first and beckons to Therese. Virginie, carryingpapers, sits insolently on the sofa. Justin looks through the keyholeof the door on the left side and listens. ) ThereseIs it possible that they could pretend to conceal from us thecondition of their affairs? VirginieOld Gruneau tells me that the master is soon to be arrested; I hopethat what I have spent will be taken account of, for he owes me themoney for these bills, besides my wages! ThereseOh! set your mind at rest. We are likely to lose everything, for themaster is bankrupt. JustinI can't hear anything. They speak too low! They don't trust us. VirginieIt is frightful! Justin (with his ear to the half-open door)Wait, I think I hear something. (The door bursts open and Mercadet appears. ) Mercadet (to Justin)Don't let me disturb you. JustinSir, I--I--was just putting-- MercadetReally! (To Virginie, who jumps up suddenly from the sofa) Keep yourseat, Mlle. Virginie, and you, M. Justin, why didn't you come in? Wewere talking about my business. JustinYou amuse me, sir. MercadetI am heartily glad of it. JustinYou take trouble easy, sir. Mercadet (severely)That will do, all of you. And remember that from this time forth I seeall who call. Treat no one either with insolence or too much humility, for you will meet here no creditors, but such as have been paid. JustinOh, bosh! MercadetGo! (The central door opens. Mme. Mercadet, Julie and Minard appear. Theservants leave the room. ) SCENE SECOND Mercadet, Mme. Mercadet, Julie and Minard. Mercadet (aside)I am annoyed to see my wife and daughter here. In my presentcircumstances, women are likely to spoil everything, for they havenerves. (Aloud) What is it, Mme. Mercadet? Mme. MercadetSir, you were counting on the marriage of Julie to establish yourcredit and reassure your creditors, but the event of yesterday has putyou at their mercy-- MercadetDo you think so? Well, you are quite mistaken. I beg your pardon, M. Minard, but what brings you here? MinardSir--I-- JulieFather--it is-- MercadetAre you come to ask again for my daughter? MinardYes, sir. MercadetBut everybody says that I am going to fail-- MinardI know it, sir. MercadetAnd would you marry the daughter of a bankrupt? MinardYes, for I would work to re-establish him. JulieThat's good, Adolphe. Mercadet (aside)A fine young fellow. I will give him an interest in the first bigbusiness I do. MinardI have made known my attachment to the man I look upon as a father. Hehas informed me--that I am the possessor of a small fortune-- MercadetA fortune! MinardWhen I was confided to his care, a sum of money was entrusted to him, which has increased by interest, and I now possess thirty thousandfrancs. MercadetThirty thousand francs! MinardOn learning of the disaster that had befallen you, I realized thissum, and I bring it to you, sir; for sometimes in these cases anarrangement can be made by paying something on account-- Mme. MercadetHe has an excellent heart! Julie (with pride)Yes, indeed, papa! MercadetThirty thousand francs. (Aside) They might be tripled by buying someof Verdelin's stock and then doubled with-- No, no. (To Minard) Myboy, you are at the age of self-sacrifice. If I could pay two hundredfrancs with thirty thousand, the fortune of France, of myself and ofmost people would be made. No, keep your money! MinardWhat! You refuse it? Mercadet (aside)If with this I could keep them quiet for a month, if by some boldstoke I could revive the depression in my property, it might be allright. But the money of these poor children, it cuts me to the heartto think of it, for when they are in tears people calculate amiss; itis not well to risk the money of any but fellow-brokers--no--no(Aloud) Adolphe, you may marry my daughter. MinardOh! Sir--Julie--my own Julie-- MercadetThat is, of course, as soon as she has three hundred thousand francsas dowry. Mme. MercadetMy dear! JuliePapa! MinardAh, sir! How long are you going to put me off? MercadetPut you off? She will have it in a month! Perhaps sooner-- AllHow is that? MercadetYes, by the use of my brains--and a little money. (Minard holds outhis pocket-book. ) But lock up those bills! And come, take away my wifeand daughter. I want to be alone. Mme. Mercadet (aside)Is he going to hatch some plot against his creditors? I must find out. Come, Julie. JuliePapa, how good you are! MercadetNonsense! JulieI love you so much. MercadetNonsense! JulieAdolphe, I do not thank you, I shall have all my life for that. MinardDearest Julie! Mercadet (leading them out)Come, now, you had better breathe out your idyls in some more retiredspot. (They go out. ) SCENE THIRD Mercadet, then De la Brive. MercadetI have resisted--it was a good impulse! But I was wrong to obey it. IfI finally yield to the temptation, I can make their little capitalworth very much more. I shall manage this fortune for them. My poordaughter has indeed a good lover. What hearts of gold are theirs! Dearchildren! (Goes towards the door at the right. ) I must make theirfortune. De la Brive is here awaiting me. (Looking through the opendoor) I believe he is asleep. I gave him a little too much wine, so asto handle him more easily. (Shouting) Michonnin! The constable! Theconstable! De la Brive (coming out, rubbing his eyes)Hello! What are you saying? MercadetDon't be frightened, I only wanted to wake you up. (Takes his seat atthe table. ) De la Brive (sitting at the other side of the table)Sir, an orgie acts on the mind like a storm on the country. It bringson refreshment, it clothes with verdure! And ideas spring forth andbloom! /In vino varietas/! MercadetYesterday, our conversation on business matters was interrupted. De la BriveFather-in-law, I recall it distinctly--we recognized the fact that ourhouses could not keep their engagements. We were on the point ofbankruptcy, and you are unfortunate enough to be my creditor, while Iam fortunate enough to be your debtor by the amount of forty-seventhousand, two hundred and thirty-three francs and some centimes. MercadetYour head is level enough. De la BriveBut my pocket and my conscience are a little out. Yet who can reproachme? By squandering my fortune I have brought profit to every trade inParis, and even to those who do not know me. We, the useless ones! We, the idlers! Upon my soul! It is we who keep up the circulation ofmoney-- MercadetBy means of the money in circulation. Ah! you have all your wits aboutyou! De la BriveBut I have nothing else. MercadetOur wits are our mint. Is it not so? But, considering your presentsituation, I shall be brief. De la BriveThat is why I take a seat. MercadetListen to me. I see that you are going down the steep way which leadsto that daring cleverness for which fools blame successful operators. You have tasted the piquant intoxicating fruits of Parisian pleasure. You have made luxury the inseparable companion of your life. Parisbegins at the Place de l'Etoile, and ends at the Jockey Club. That isyour Paris, which is the world of women who are talked about too much, or not at all. De la BriveThat is true. MercadetYou breathe the cynical atmosphere of wits and journalists, theatmosphere of the theatre and of the ministry. It is a vast sea inwhich thousands are casting their nets! You must either continue thisexistence, or blow your brains out! De la BriveNo! For it is impossible to think that it can continue without me. MercadetDo you feel that you have the genius to maintain yourself in style atthe height to which you aspire? To dominate men of mind by the powerof capital and superiority of intellect? Do you think that you willalways have skill enough to keep afloat between the two capes, whichhave seen the life of elegance so often founder between the cheaprestaurant and the debtors' prison? De la BriveWhy! You are breaking into my conscience like a burglar--you echo myvery thought! What do you want with me? MercadetI wish to rescue you, by launching you into the world of business. De la BriveBy what entrance? MercadetLet me choose the door. De la BriveThe devil! MercadetShow yourself a man who will compromise himself for me-- De la BriveBut men of straw may be burnt. MercadetYou must be incombustible. De la BriveWhat are the terms of our copartnership? MercadetYou try to serve me in the desperate circumstances in which I am atpresent, and I will make you a present of your forty-seven thousand, two hundred and thirty-three francs, to say nothing of the centimes. Between ourselves, I may say that only address is needed. De la BriveIn the use of the pistol or the sword? MercadetNo one is to be killed; on the contrary-- De la BriveThat will suit me. MercadetA man is to be brought to life again. De la BriveThat doesn't suit me at all, my dear fellow. The legacy, the chest ofHarpagon, the little mule of Scapin and, indeed, all the farces whichhave made us laugh on the ancient stage are not well received nowadaysin real life. The police have a way of getting mixed up with them, andsince the abolition of privileges, no one can administer a drubbingwith impunity. MercadetWell, what do you think of five years in debtors' prison? Eh? What afate! De la BriveAs a matter of fact, my decision must depend upon what you want me todo to any one, for my honor so far is intact and is worth-- MercadetYou must invest it well, for we shall have dire need of all that it isworth. I want you to assist me in sitting at the table which theExchange always keeps spread, and we will gorge ourselves with thegood things there offered us, for you must admit that while those whoseek for millions have great difficulty in finding them, they arenever found by those who do not seek. De la BriveI think I can co-operate with you in this matter. You will return tome my forty-seven thousand francs-- MercadetYes, sir. De la BriveI am not required to be anything but be--very clever? MercadetNimble, but this nimbleness will be exercised, as the English say, onthe right side of the law. De la BriveWhat is it you propose? Mercadet (giving him a paper)Here are your written instructions. You are to represent somethinglike an uncle from America--in fact, my partner, who has just comeback from the West Indies. De la BriveI understand. MercadetGo to the Champs-Elysees, secure a post-chaise that has been muchbattered, have horses harnessed to it, and make your arrival herewrapped in a great pelisse, your head enveloped in a huge cap, whileyou shiver like a man who finds our summer icy cold. I will receiveyou; I will conduct you in; you will speak to my creditors; not one ofthem knows Godeau; you will make them give me more time. De la BriveHow much time? MercadetI need only two days--two days, in order that Pierquin may completecertain purchases which we have ordered. Two days in order that thestock which I know how to inflate may have time to rise. You will bemy backer, my security. And as no one will recognize you-- De la BriveI shall cease to be this personage as soon as I have paid you forty-seven thousand, two hundred and thirty-three francs and some centimes. MercadetThat is so. But I hear some one--my wife-- Mme. Mercadet (enters)My dear, there are some letters for you, and the bearer requires ananswer. (Mme. Mercadet withdraws to the fireplace. ) MercadetI suppose I must go. Good-day, my dear De la Brive. (In a low voice)Not a word to my wife; she would not understand the operation, andwould misconstrue it. (Aloud) Go quickly, and forget nothing. De la BriveYou need have no fear. (Mercadet goes out by the left; De la Brive starts to go out by thecentre, but Mme. Mercadet intercepts him. ) SCENE FOURTH Mme. Mercadet and De la Brive. De la BriveMadame? Mme. MercadetForgive me, sir! De la BriveKindly excuse me, madame, I must be going-- Mme. MercadetYou must not go. De la BriveBut you are not aware-- Mme. MercadetI know all. De la BriveHow is that? Mme. MercadetYou and my husband are bent upon resorting to some very ancientexpedients proper to the comic drama, and I have employed one which ismore ancient still. And as I told you, I know all-- De la Brive (aside)She must have been listening. Mme. MercadetSir, the part which you have been induced to undertake is blameworthyand shameful, and you must give it up-- De la BriveBut after all, madame-- Mme. MercadetOh! I know to whom I am speaking, sir; it was only a few hours agothat I saw you for the first time, and yet--I think I know you. De la BriveReally? I am sure I do not know what opinion you have of me. Mme. MercadetOne day has given me time to form a correct judgment of you--and atthe very time that my husband was trying to discover some foible inyou he might make use of, or what evil passions he might rouse in you, I looked in your heart and discerned that it still contained goodfeelings which eventually may prove your salvation. De la BriveProve my salvation? Excuse me, madame. Mme. MercadetYes, sir, prove your salvation and that of my husband; for both of youare on the way to ruin. For you must understand that debts are nodisgrace to any one who admits them and toils for their payment. Youhave your whole life before you, and you have too much good sense towish that it should be blighted through engaging in a business whichjustice is sure to punish. De la BriveJustice! Ah! You are right, madame, and I certainly would not lendmyself to this dangerous comedy, unless your husband had some notes ofhand of mine-- Mme. MercadetWhich he will surrender to you, sir, I'll promise you that. De la BriveBut, madame, I cannot pay them-- Mme. MercadetWe will be satisfied with your word, and you will discharge yourobligation as soon as you have honestly made your fortune. De la BriveHonestly! That will be perhaps a long time to wait. Mme. MercadetWe will be patient. And now, sir, go and inform my husband that hemust give up this attempt because he will not have your co-operation. (She goes towards the door on the left. ) De la BriveI should be rather afraid to face him-- I should prefer to write tohim. Mme. Mercadet (pointing out to him the door by which he entered)You will find the necessary writing materials in that room. Remainthere until I come for your letter. I will hand it to him myself. De la BriveI will do so, madame. After all I am not so worthless as I thought Iwas. It is you who have taught me this; you have a right to the wholecredit of it. (He respectfully kisses her hand. ) Thank you, madame, thank you! (He goes out. ) Mme. MercadetI have succeeded--if only I could now persuade Mercadet. Justin (entering from the center)Madame--madame--here they are--all of them. Mme. MercadetWho? JustinThe creditors. Mme. MercadetAlready? JustinThere are a great many of them, madame. Mme. MercadetLet them come in here. I will go and inform my husband. (Mme. Mercadet goes out by one door. Justin opens the other. ) SCENE FIFTH Pierquin, Goulard, Violette and several other creditors. GoulardGentlemen, we have quite made up our minds, have we not? AllWe have, we have-- PierquinNo more deluding promises. GoulardNo more prayers and expostulations. VioletteNo more pretended payments on account, thrown out as a bait to getdeeper into our pockets. SCENE SIXTH The same persons and Mercadet. MercadetAnd do you mean to tell me that you gentlemen are come to force meinto bankruptcy? GoulardWe shall do so, unless you find means to pay us in full this very day. MercadetTo-day! PierquinThis very day. Mercadet (standing before the fireplace)Do you think that I possess the plates for striking off Bank of Francenotes? VioletteYou mean that you have no offer to make? MercadetAbsolutely none! And you are going to lock me up? I warn him who isgoing to pay for the cab that he won't be reimbursed from any assetsof mine. GoulardI shall add that along with all that you owe me to the debit of youraccount-- MercadetThank you. You've all made up your mind, I suppose? The CreditorsWe have. MercadetI am touched by your unanimity! (pulling out his watch) Two o'clock. (Aside) De la Brive has had quite time enough--he ought to be on hisway here. (Aloud) Gentlemen, you compel me to admit that you are menof inspiration and have chosen your time well! PierquinWhat does he mean? MercadetFor months, for years, you have allowed yourselves to be humbugged byfine promises, and deceived--yes, deceived by preposterous stories;and to-day is the day you choose for showing yourselves inexorable!Upon my word and honor, it is positively amusing! By all means let usstart for Clichy. GoulardBut, sir-- PierquinHe is laughing. Violette (rising from his chair)There is something in the wind. Gentlemen, there is something in thewind! PierquinPlease explain to us-- GoulardWe desire to know-- Violette (rising to his feet)M. Mercadet, if there is anything--tell us about it. Mercadet (coming to the table)Nothing! I shall say nothing, not I--I wish to be put behind thebars!--I would like to see the figure you all will cut to-morrow orthis evening, when you find he has returned. Goulard (rising to his feet)He has returned? PierquinReturned from where? VioletteWho has returned? Mercadet (coming forward)Nobody has returned. Let us start for Clichy, gentlemen. GoulardBut listen, if you are expecting any assistance-- PierquinIf you have any hope that-- VioletteOr if even some considerable legacy-- GoulardCome, now! PierquinAnswer-- VioletteTell us-- MercadetNow, take care, I beg you. You are giving way, you are giving way, gentlemen, and if I wished to take the trouble, I could win you overagain. Come now, act like genuine creditors! Ridicule the past, forgetthe brilliant strokes of business I put within the power of each ofyou before the sudden departure of my faithful Godeau-- GoulardHis faithful Godeau! PierquinAh! If there were only-- MercadetForget all that preposterous past, take no account of what mightinduce him to return--after being waited for so long--and--let usstart for Clichy, gentlemen, let us start for Clichy! VioletteMercadet, you are expecting Godeau, aren't you? MercadetNo! Violette (as with a sudden inspiration)Gentlemen, he is expecting Godeau! GoulardCan it be true? PierquinSpeak. AllSpeak! Speak! Mercadet (with feeble deprecations)Why, no, no--yet I do not know--I-- Certainly, it is possible thatsome day or other he may return form the Indies with some--considerable fortune-- (In a decided tone) But I give you my word ofhonor that I don't expect Godeau here to-day. Violette (excitedly)Then it must be to-morrow! Gentlemen, he expects him to-morrow! Goulard (in a low voice to the others)Unless this is some fresh trick to gain time and ridicule us-- Pierquin (aloud)Do you think it might be? GoulardIt is quite possible. Violette (in a loud tone)Gentlemen, he is fooling us. Mercadet (aside)The devil he is! (Aloud) Come, gentlemen, we had better be starting. GoulardI swear that-- (The rumbling of carriage wheels is heard. ) Mercadet (aside)At last! (Aloud) Oh, heavens! (He lays his hand upon his heart. ) A Postillion (outside)A carriage at the door. MercadetAh! (Falls back on a chair near the table. ) Goulard (looking through the pane of glass above the mantel)A carriage! Pierquin (doing the same)A post-chaise! Violette (doing the same)Gentlemen, a post-chaise is at the door. Mercadet (aside)My dear De la Brive could not have arrived at a better moment! GoulardSee how dusty it is! VioletteAnd battered to the very hood! It must have come from the heart of theIndies, to be as battered as that. Mercadet (mildly)You don't know what you are talking about, Violette! Why, my goodfellow, people don't arrive from the Indies by land. GoulardBut come and see for yourself, Mercadet; a man has stepped out-- PierquinEnveloped in a large pelisse--do come-- MercadetNo--pardon me. The joy--the excitement--I-- VioletteHe carries a chest. Oh! what a huge chest! Gentlemen, it is Godeau! Irecognize him by the chest. MercadetYes--I was expecting Godeau. GoulardHe has come back from Calcutta. PierquinWith a fortune. MercadetOf incalculable extent! VioletteWhat have I been saying? (Violette goes in silence to Mercadet and grasps his hand. The twoothers follow his example, and then all the creditors form a ringround Mercadet. ) Mercadet (with seeming emotion)Oh! Gentlemen--my friends--my dear comrades--my children! SCENE SEVENTH The same persons and Mme. Mercadet. Mme. Mercadet (entering from the left)Mercadet! My dear! Mercadet (aside)It is my wife. I thought that she had gone out. She is going to ruineverything! Mme. MercadetMy dear! I see that you don't know what has happened? MercadetI? No, I don't--if I-- Mme. MercadetGodeau is returned. MercadetAh! You say? (Aside) I wonder if she suspects-- Mme. MercadetI have seen him--I have spoken to him. It was I who saw him first. Mercadet (aside)De la Brive has won her over! What a man he is! (To Mme. Mercadet, low) Good, my dear wife, good! You will be our salvation. Mme. MercadetBut you don't understand me, it is really he, it is-- Mercadet (in a low voice)Hush! (Aloud) I must--gentlemen--I must go and welcome him. Mme. MercadetNo--wait, wait a little, my dear; poor Godeau has overtaxed hisstrength--scarcely had he reached my apartment when fatigue, excitement and a nervous attack overcame him-- MercadetReally! (Aside) How well she does it! ViolettePoor Godeau! Mme. Mercadet"Madame, " he said to me, "go and see your husband. Bring me back hispardon; I do not wish to see him face to face, until I have repairedthe past. " GoulardThat was fine. PierquinIt was sublime. VioletteIt melts me to tears, gentlemen, it melts me to tears. Mercadet (aside)Look at that! Well! There's a woman worth calling a wife! (Taking herby the hand) My darling-- Excuse me, gentlemen. (He kisses her on bothcheeks. In a low voice) Things are going on finely. Mme. Mercadet (in a low voice)How lucky this is, my dear! Better than anything you could havefancied. MercadetI should think so. (Aside) It is very much better. (Aloud) Go and lookafter him, my dear. And you, gentlemen, be good enough to pass into myoffice. (He points to the left. ) Wait there till we settle ouraccounts. (Mme. Mercadet goes out. ) GoulardI am at your service, my friend-- PierquinOur excellent friend. VioletteFriend, we are at your service. Mercadet (supporting himself half-dazed against the table)What do you think? And people said that I was nothing but a sharper! GoulardYou! You are one of the most capable men in Paris. PierquinWho is bound to make a million--as soon as he has a-- VioletteDear M. Mercadet, we will give you as much time as you want. AllCertainly. MercadetThis is a little late--but gentlemen, I thank you as heartily as ifyou had said it yesterday morning. Good-day. (In a low voice toGoulard) Within an hour your stock shall be sold-- GoulardGood! Mercadet (in a low voice to Pierquin)Stay where you are. (All the others enter the office. ) PierquinWhat can I do for you? SCENE EIGHTH Mercadet and Pierquin. MercadetWe are now alone. There is no time to lose. The stock of Basse-Indrewent down yesterday. Go to the Exchange, buy up two hundred, threehundred, four hundred--Goulard will deliver them to you-- PierquinAnd for what date, and on what collateral? MercadetCollateral? Nonsense! This is a cash deal; bring them to me to-day, and I will pay to-morrow. PierquinTo-morrow? MercadetTo-morrow the stock will have risen. PierquinI suppose, considering your situation, that you are buying for Godeau. MercadetDo you think so? PierquinI presume he gave his orders in the letter which announced his return. MercadetPossibly so. Ah! Master Pierquin, we are going to take a hand inbusiness again, and I guess that you will gain from this to the end ofthe year something like a hundred thousand francs in brokerage fromus. PierquinA hundred thousand francs! MercadetLet the stock be depressed below par, and then buy it in, and--(handing him a letter) see that this letter appears in the eveningpaper. This evening, at Tortoni's, you will see an immediate rise inthe quotations. Now be quick about this. PierquinI will fly. Good-bye. (Exit. ) SCENE NINTH Mercadet, then Justin. MercadetHow well everything is going on, when we consider our recentcomplications! When Mahomet had three reliable friends (and it washard to find them) the whole world was his! I have now won over as myallies all my creditors, thanks to the pretended arrival of Godeau. And I gain eight days, which means fifteen, with regard to actualpayment. I shall buy three hundred thousand francs' worth of Basse-Indre before Verdelin. And when Verdelin asks for some of that stock, he will find it has risen, for a demand will have raised it above thecurrent quotation, and I shall make at one stroke six hundred thousandfrancs. With three hundred thousand I will pay my creditors and showmyself a Napoleon of finance. (He struts up and down. ) Justin (from the back of the stage)Sir-- MercadetWhat is it--what do you want, Justin? JustinSir-- MercadetGo on! Tell me. JustinM. Violette has offered me sixty francs if I will let him speak withM. Godeau. MercadetSixty francs. (Aside) He fleeced me out of them. JustinI am sure, sir, that you wouldn't like me to lose such a present. MercadetLet him have his way with you. JustinAh! sir, but--M. Goulard also--and the others-- MercadetDo as you like--I give them over into your hands. Fleece them well! JustinI'll do my best. Thank you, sir. MercadetLet them all see Godeau. (Aside) De la Brive is well able to lookafter himself. (Aloud) But, between ourselves, keep Pierquin away. (Aside) He would recognize his dear friend, Michonnin. JustinI understand, sir. Ah! here is M. Minard. (Exit. ) SCENE TENTH Mercadet and Minard. Minard (coming forward)Ah, sir! MercadetWell, M. Minard, and what brings you here? MinardDespair. MercadetDespair? MinardM. Godeau has come back; and they say that you are now a millionaire! MercadetIs that the cause of your despair? MinardYes, sir. MercadetWell, you are a strange fellow! I disclose to you the fact of my ruinand you are delighted. You learn that good fortune has returned to meand you are overwhelmed with despair! And all the while you wish toenter into my family! Yet you act like my enemy-- MinardIt is just my love that makes your good fortune so alarming to me; Ifear all the while that you will now refuse me the hand-- MercadetOf Julie? My dear Adolphe, all men of business have not put theirheart in their money-bags. Our sentiments are not always to bereckoned by debit and credit. You offered me the thirty thousandfrancs that you possessed--I certainly have no right to reject you onaccount of certain millions. (Aside) Which I do not possess! MinardYou bring back life to me. MercadetWell, I suppose that is true, but so much the better, for I am veryfond of you. You are simple, honorable. I am touched, I am delighted. I am even charmed. Ah! Let me once get hold of my six hundred thousandfrancs and--(Sees Pierquin enter) Here they come-- SCENE ELEVENTH The same persons, Pierquin and Verdelin. Mercadet (leading Pierquin to the front of the stage without perceivingVerdelin)Is it all right? Pierquin (in some embarrassment)It is all right. The stock is ours. Mercadet (joyfully)Bravo! Verdelin (approaching Mercadet)Good-day! MercadetWhat! Verdelin-- VerdelinI find out that you have bought the stock before me, and that now Ishall have to pay very much higher than I expected; but it is allright, it was well managed, and I am compelled to cry, "Hail to theKing of the Exchange, Hail to the Napoleon of Finance!" (He laughsderisively. ) Mercadet (somewhat abashed)What does he mean? VerdelinI'm only repeating what you said yesterday-- MercadetWhat I said? PierquinThe fact of it is, Verdelin does not believe in the return of Godeau-- MinardAh, sir! MercadetIs there any doubt about it? Verdelin (ironically)Doubt about it! There is more than doubt about it. I at once concludedthat this so-called return was the bold stroke that you spoke ofyesterday. MercadetI--(Aside) Stupid of me! VerdelinI concluded that, relying upon the presence of this fictitious Godeau, you made purchases with the idea of paying on the rise, which wouldfollow to-morrow, and that to-day you have actually not a single sou-- MercadetYou had imagined all that? Verdelin (approaching the fireplace)Yes, but when I saw outside that triumphal post-chaise--that model ofIndian manufacture, and I realized that it was impossible to find sucha vehicle in the Champs-Elysees, all my doubts disappeared and-- Buthand him over the bonds, M. Pierquin! PierquinThe--bonds--it happens that-- Mercadet (aside)I must bluff, or I am lost! (Aloud) Certainly, produce the bonds. PierquinOne moment--if what this gentleman has said is true-- Mercadet (haughtily)M. Pierquin! MinardBut, gentlemen--M. Godeau is here--I have seen him--I have talked withhim. Mercadet (to Pierquin)He has talked with him, sir. Pierquin (to Verdelin)The fact of it is, I have seen him myself. VerdelinI don't doubt it! By the bye, on what vessel did our friend Godeau sayhe arrived? MercadetBy what vessel? It was by the--by the /Triton/-- VerdelinHow careless the English newspapers are. They have published thearrival of no other English mail packet but the /Halcyon/. PierquinReally! MercadetLet us end this discussion. M. Pierquin--those bonds-- PierquinPardon me, but as you have offered no collateral, I would wish--I dowish to speak with Godeau. MercadetYou shall not speak with him, sir. I cannot permit you to doubt myword. VerdelinThis is superb. MercadetM. Minard, go to Godeau-- Tell him that I have obtained an option onthree hundred thousand francs' worth of stock, and ask him to send me--(with emphasis)--thirty thousand francs for use as a margin. A manin his position always has such a sum about him. (In a low voice) Donot fail to bring me the thirty thousand. MinardYes, sir. (Goes out, through the right. ) Mercadet (haughtily)Will that satisfy you, M. Pierquin? PierquinCertainly, certainly. (To Verdelin) It will be all right when he comesback. Verdelin (rising from his seat)And you expect that he will bring thirty thousand francs? MercadetI have a perfect right to be offended by your insulting doubt; but Iam still your debtor-- VerdelinBosh! You have enough in Godeau's pocket-book wherewith to liquidate;besides, to-morrow the Basse-Indre will rise above par. It will go up, up, till you don't know how far it will go. Your letter workedwonders, and we were obliged to publish on the Exchange the results ofour explorations by boring. The mines will become as valuable as thoseof Mons--and--your fortune is made--when I thought I was going to makemine. MercadetI now understand your rage. (To Pierquin) And this is the origin ofall the doubtful rumors. VerdelinRumors which can only vanish before the appearance of Godeau's cash. SCENE TWELFTH The same persons, Violette and Goulard. GoulardAh! my friend! Violette (following him)My dear Mercadet! GoulardWhat a man this Godeau is! Mercadet (aside)Fine! VioletteWhat high sense of honor he has! Mercadet (aside)That's pretty good! GoulardWhat magnanimity! Mercadet (aside)Prodigious! VerdelinHave you seen him? VioletteOf course, I have! PierquinHave you spoken to him? GoulardJust as I speak to you. And I have been paid. AllPaid! MercadetPaid? How--how have you been paid? GoulardIn full. Fifty thousand in drafts. Mercadet (aside)That I can understand. GoulardAnd eight thousand francs net, in notes. MercadetIn bank-notes? GoulardBank-notes. Mercadet (aside)It is past my understanding. Ah! Eight thousand! Minard might havegiven them, so that now he'll bring me only twenty-two thousand. VioletteAnd I--I, who would have been willing to make some reduction--I havebeen paid in full! MercadetAll! (in a low voice to him) I suppose in drafts? VioletteIn first-class drafts to the amount of eighteen thousand francs. Mercadet (aside)What a fellow this De la Brive is! VioletteAnd the balance, the other twelve thousand-- VerdelinYes--the balance? VioletteIn cash. Here it is. (He shows the bank-notes. ) Mercadet (aside)Minard won't bring me more than ten. Goulard (taking a seat at the table)And this very moment he is paying in the same way all your creditors. MercadetIn the same way? Violette (taking a seat at the table)Yes, in drafts, in specie, and in bank-notes. Mercadet (forgetting himself)Lord, have mercy upon me! (Aside) Minard will bring me nothing at all. VerdelinWhat is the matter with you? MercadetMe! Nothing--I-- SCENE THIRTEENTH The same persons and Minard, followed by creditors. MinardI have done your errand. Mercadet (trembling)And you--have brought me--a few--bank-notes? MinardA few bank-notes? Of course. M. Godeau wouldn't let me even mentionthe thirty thousand francs. (Goulard and Violette rise. Minard stands before the table, surroundedby creditors. ) MercadetI can quite understand that. Minard"You mean, " he said, "a hundred thousand crowns; here are a hundredthousand crowns, with my compliments!" (He pulls out a large roll ofbank-notes, which he places on the table. ) Mercadet (rushing to the table)What the devil! (Looking at the notes) What is all this about? MinardThe three hundred thousand francs. PierquinMy three hundred thousand francs! VerdelinThe truth for once! Mercadet (astounded)Three hundred thousand francs! I see them! I touch them! I grasp them!Three hundred thousand--where did you get them? MinardI told you he gave them to me. Mercadet (with vehemence)He!-- He--! Who is he? MinardDid not I say, M. Godeau? MercadetWhat Godeau? Which Godeau? MinardWhy the Godeau who has come back from the Indies. MercadetFrom the Indies? VioletteAnd who is paying all your debts. MercadetWhat is this? I never expected to strike a Godeau of this kind. PierquinHe has gone crazy! (All the other creditors gather at the back of the stage. Verdelinapproaches them, and speaks in a low voice. ) Verdelin (returning to Mercadet)It's true enough! All are paid in full! MercadetPaid? Every one of them? (Goes from one to the other and looks at thebank-notes and the drafts they have. ) Yes, all settled with--settledin full! Ah! I see blue, red, violet! A rainbow seems to surround me. SCENE FOURTEENTH The same persons, Mme. Mercadet, Julie (entering at one side) and Dela Brive (entering at the other side). Mme. MercadetMy friend, M. Godeau, feels himself strong enough to see you all. MercadetCome, daughter, wife, Adolphe, and my other friends, gather round me, look at me. I know you would not deceive me. JulieWhat is the matter, father? MercadetTell me (seeing De la Brive come in) Michonnin, tell me frankly-- De la BriveLuckily for me, sir, I followed the advice of madame--otherwise youwould have had two Godeaus at a time, for heaven has brought back toyou the genuine man. MercadetYou mean to say then--that he has really returned! VerdelinDo you mean to say that you didn't know it after all? Mercadet (recovering himself, standing before the table and touchingthe notes)I--of course I did. Oh, fortune, all hail to thee, queen of monarchs, archduchess of loans, princess of stocks and mother of credit! Allhail! Thou long sought for, and now for the thousandth time come hometo us from the Indies! Oh! I've always said that Godeau had a mind oftireless energy and an honest heart! (Going up to his wife anddaughter) Kiss me! Mme. Mercadet (in tears)Ah! dear, dear husband! Mercadet (supporting her)And you, what courage you have shown in adversity! Mme. MercadetBut I am overcome by the happiness of seeing you saved--wealthy! MercadetBut honest! And yet I must tell you my wife, my children--I could nothave held out much longer--I was about to succumb--my mind always onthe rack--always on the defensive--a giant might have yielded. Therewere moments when I longed to flee away-- Oh! For some place ofrepose! Henceforth let us live in the country. Mme. MercadetBut you will soon grow weary of it. MercadetNo, for I shall be a witness in their happiness. (Pointing to Minardand Julie. ) And after all this financial traffic I shall devote myselfto agriculture; the study of agriculture will never prove tedious. (Tothe creditors) Gentlemen, we will continue to be good friends, butwill have no more business transactions. (To De la Brive) M. De laBrive, let me pay back to you your forty-eight thousand francs. De la BriveAh! sir-- MercadetAnd I will lend you ten thousand more. De la BriveTen thousand francs? But I don't know when I shall be able-- MercadetYou need have no scruples; take them--for I have a scheme-- De la BriveI accept them. MercadetAh! It is one of my dreams. Gentlemen (to the creditors who arestanding in a row) I am a--creditor! Mme. Mercadet (pointing to the door)My dear, he is waiting for us. MercadetYes, let us go in. I have so many times drawn your attention toGodeau, that I certainly have the right to see him. Let us go in andsee Godeau! Final curtain.