Mericourt With pleasure, madame.

Mercadet Go on. I shall be with you in a moment.



SCENE SEVENTH

Mercadet (alone) Well, after all, this time I have really secured fortune and the happiness of Julie and the rest of us. For a son-in-law like this is a veritable gold mine! Three thousand acres! A chateau! Salt marshes! (He sits down at his desk.)

Pierquin (entering) Good-day, Mercadet. I have come—

Mercadet Rather inopportunely. But what do you wish?

Pierquin I sha'n't detain you long. The bills of exchange I gave you this morning, signed by a man called Michonnin, are absolutely valueless. I told you this beforehand.

Mercadet I know that.

Pierquin I now offer you a thousand crowns for them.

Mercadet That is either too much or too little! Anything for which you will give that sum must be worth infinitely more. Some one is waiting for me in the other room. I will bid you good-evening.

Pierquin I will give you four thousand francs.

Mercadet No!

Pierquin Five—six thousand.

Mercadet If you wish to play cards, keep to the gambling table. Why do you wish to recover this paper?

Pierquin Michonnin has insulted me. I wish to take vengeance on him; to send him to jail.

Mercadet (rising) Six thousand francs worth of vengeance! You are not a man to indulge in luxuries of that kind.

Pierquin I assure you—

Mercadet Come, now, my friend, consider that for a satisfactory defamation of character the code won't charge you more than five or six hundred francs, and the tax on a blow is only fifty francs—

Pierquin I swear to you—

Mercadet Has this Michonnin come into a legacy? And are the forty-seven thousand francs of these vouchers actually worth forty-seven thousand francs? You should post me on this subject and then we'll cry halves!

Pierquin Very well, I agree. The fact of it is, Michonnin is to be married.

Mercadet What next! And with whom, pray?

Pierquin With the daughter of some nabob—an idiot who is giving her an enormous dowry.

Mercadet Where does Michonnin live?

Pierquin Do you want to issue a writ? He is without a fixed abode in Paris. His furniture is held under the name of a friend; but his legal domicile must be in the neighborhood of Bordeaux, in the village of Ermont.

Mercadet Stay a while. I have some one here from that region. I can get exact information in a moment—and then we can begin proceedings.

Pierquin Send me the paper, and leave the business to me—

Mercadet I shall be very glad to do so. They shall be put into your hands in return for a signed agreement as to the sharing of the money. I am at present altogether taken up with the marriage of my daughter.

Pierquin I hope everything is going on well.

Mercadet Wonderfully 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 into the bargain.

Pierquin I congratulate you.

Mercadet One word with you before you go. You said, Michonnin, of Ermont, in the neighborhood of Bordeaux?

Pierquin Yes, he has an old aunt somewhere about there! A good woman called Bourdillac, who scrapes along on some six hundred francs a year, but to whom he gives the title of Marchioness of Bourdillac. He pretends that her health is delicate and that she has a yearly income of forty thousand francs.

Mercadet Thank you. Good-evening—

Pierquin Good-evening. (goes out)

Mercadet (ringing) Justin!

Justin Did you call, sir?

Mercadet Ask M. de la Brive to speak with me for a moment. (Justin goes out.)

Mercadet Here is a windfall of twenty-three thousand francs! We shall be able to 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 Brive You wish to speak with me, my dear father-in-law?

Mercadet Yes. You see I already treat you without ceremony. Please to take a seat.

De la Brive (sitting on a sofa) I am grateful for your confidence.

Mercadet I am seeking information with regard to a debtor, who, like you, lives in the neighborhood of Bordeaux.

De la Brive I know every one in that district.

Mercadet It is said he has relations there.

De la Brive Relations! I have none but an old aunt.

Mercadet (pricking up his ears) An—old aunt—?

De la Brive Whose health—

Mercadet (trembling) Is—is—delicate?

De la Brive And her income is forty thousand francs.

Mercadet (quite overcome) Good Lord! The very figure!

De la Brive The Marchioness, you see, will be a good woman to have on hand. I mean the Marchioness—

Mercadet (vehemently rushing at him) Of Bourdillac, sir!

De la Brive How is this? Do you know her name?

Mercadet Yes, and yours too!

De la Brive The devil you do!

Mercadet You are head over ears in debt; your furniture is held in another man's name; your old aunt has a pittance of six hundred francs; Pierquin, who is one of your smallest creditors, has forty-seven thousand francs in notes of hand from you. You are Michonnin, and I am the 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!

Mercadet Well—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 a communist.

Mercadet And I have been just as easily deceived, as if I had been on the Exchange.

De la Brive Show yourself worthy of your reputation.

Mercadet M. Michonnin, your conduct is more than blameworthy!

De la Brive In what particular? Did I not say that I had debts?

Mercadet We'll let that pass, for any one may have debts; but where is your estate situated.

De la Brive In the Landes.

Mercadet And of what does it consist?

De la Brive Of sand wastes, planted with firs.

Mercadet Good to make toothpicks.

De la Brive That's about it.

Mercadet And it is worth?

De la Brive Thirty thousand francs.

Mercadet And mortgaged for—

De la Brive Forty-five thousand!

Mercadet And you had the skill to effect that?

De la Brive Why, yes—

Mercadet Damnation! But that was pretty clever! And your marshes, sir?

De la Brive They border on the sea—

Mercadet They are part of the ocean!

De la Brive The people of that country are evil-minded enough to say so. That is what hinders my loans!

Mercadet It would be very difficult to issue ocean shares! Sir, I may tell you, between ourselves, that your morality seems to me—

De la Brive Somewhat—

Mercadet Risky.

De la Brive (in anger) Sir! (calming himself) Let this be merely between ourselves!

Mercadet You gave a friend a bill of sale of your furniture, you sign your notes of hand with the name of Michonnin, and you call yourself merely De la Brive—

De la Brive Well, sir, what are you going to do about it?

Mercadet Do about it? I am going to lead you a pretty dance—

De la Brive Sir, I am your guest! Moreover, I may deny everything— What proofs have you?

Mercadet What proofs! I have in my hands forty-seven thousand francs' worth of your notes.

De la Brive Are they signed to the order of Pierquin?

Mercadet Precisely so.

De la Brive And you have had them since this morning?

Mercadet Since this morning.

De la Brive I see. You have given worthless stock in exchange for valueless notes.

Mercadet Sir!

De la Brive And, in order to seal the bargain, Pierquin, one of the least important of your creditors, has given you a delay of three months.

Mercadet Who told you that?

De la Brive Who? Who? Pierquin himself, of course, as soon as he learned I was going to make an arrangement—

Mercadet The devil he did!

De la Brive Ah! You were going to give two hundred thousand francs as a dowry to your daughter, and you had debts to the amount of three hundred and fifty thousand! Between ourselves it looks like you who had been trying to swindle the son-in-law, sir—

Mercadet (angrily) Sir! (calming himself) This is merely between ourselves, sir.

De la Brive You took advantage of my inexperience!

Mercadet Of course I did! The inexperience of a man who raises a loan on his sand wastes fifty per cent above their value.

De la Brive Glass can be made out of sand!

Mercadet That's a good idea!

De la Brive Therefore, sir—

Mercadet Silence! Promise me that this broken marriage-contract shall be kept secret.

De la Brive I swear it shall— Ah! excepting to Pierquin. I have just written to him to set his mind at rest.

Mercadet Is that the letter you sent by Justin?

De la Brive The very one.

Mercadet And what have you told him?

De la Brive The 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 defeat will be known on the Exchange! But, any way, I am ruined! Suppose I write to him— Suppose I ask him— (He goes to the table to write.)



SCENE NINTH

The same persons, Mme. Mercadet, Julie and Verdelin.

Mme. Mercadet My friend, M. Verdelin.

Julie (to Verdelin) Here is my father, sir.

Mercadet Ah! It is you, is it, Verdelin—and you are come to dinner?

Verdelin No, I am not come to dinner.

Mercadet (aside) He knows all. He is furious!

Verdelin And this gentleman is your son-in-law? (Verdelin bows to De la Brive.) This is a fine marriage you are going to make!

Mercadet The marriage, my dear sir, is not going to take place.

Julie How happy I feel!

(De la Brive bows to Julie. She casts down her eyes.)

Mme. Mercadet (seizing her hand) My dear daughter!

Mercadet I have been deceived by Mericourt.

Verdelin And you have played on me one of your tricks this morning, for the purpose of getting a thousand crowns; but the whole incident has been made public on the Exchange, and they think it a huge joke!

Mercadet They have been informed, I suppose—

Verdelin That 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, and are to meet to-night at the house of Goulard to conclude measures for united action against you to-morrow!

Mercadet To-night! To-morrow! Ah! I hear the knell of bankruptcy sound!

Verdelin Yes, to-morrow they are going to send a prison cab for you.

Mme. Mercadet and Julie God help us!

Mercadet I see the carriage, the hearse of the speculator, carrying me to Clichy!

Verdelin They wish, as far as possible, to rid the Exchange of all sharpers!

Mercadet They are fools, for in that case they will turn it into a desert! And so I am ruined! Expelled from the Exchange with all the sequelae of bankruptcy,—shame, beggary! I cannot believe it—it is impossible!

De la Brive Believe 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 my destruction, but you have it in your power to help me to escape.

De la Brive On what conditions?

Mercadet I will make you a good offer! (Aloud, as they start toward opposite doors) True, the idea is a bold one! But to-morrow, the 'Change will recognize in me one of its master spirits.

Verdelin What is he talking about?

Mercadet To-morrow, all my debts will be paid, and the house of Mercadet will be turning over millions! I shall be acknowledged as the Napoleon of finance.

Verdelin What a man he is!

Mercadet And a Napoleon who meets no Waterloo!

Verdelin But where are your troops?

Mercadet My army is cash in hand! What answer can be made to a business man who says, "Take your money!" Come let us dine now.

Verdelin Certainly. 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, or rest 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 back and in the centre is a mantel-piece, having instead of a mirror a clear 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, carrying papers, sits insolently on the sofa. Justin looks through the keyhole of the door on the left side and listens.)

Therese Is it possible that they could pretend to conceal from us the condition of their affairs?

Virginie Old Gruneau tells me that the master is soon to be arrested; I hope that what I have spent will be taken account of, for he owes me the money for these bills, besides my wages!

Therese Oh! set your mind at rest. We are likely to lose everything, for the master is bankrupt.

Justin I can't hear anything. They speak too low! They don't trust us.

Virginie It 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.

Justin Sir, I—I—was just putting—

Mercadet Really! (To Virginie, who jumps up suddenly from the sofa) Keep your seat, Mlle. Virginie, and you, M. Justin, why didn't you come in? We were talking about my business.

Justin You amuse me, sir.

Mercadet I am heartily glad of it.

Justin You take trouble easy, sir.

Mercadet (severely) That will do, all of you. And remember that from this time forth I see all 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.

Justin Oh, bosh!

Mercadet Go!

(The central door opens. Mme. Mercadet, Julie and Minard appear. The servants 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 present circumstances, women are likely to spoil everything, for they have nerves. (Aloud) What is it, Mme. Mercadet?

Mme. Mercadet Sir, you were counting on the marriage of Julie to establish your credit and reassure your creditors, but the event of yesterday has put you at their mercy—

Mercadet Do you think so? Well, you are quite mistaken. I beg your pardon, M. Minard, but what brings you here?

Minard Sir—I—

Julie Father—it is—

Mercadet Are you come to ask again for my daughter?

Minard Yes, sir.

Mercadet But everybody says that I am going to fail—

Minard I know it, sir.

Mercadet And would you marry the daughter of a bankrupt?

Minard Yes, for I would work to re-establish him.

Julie That's good, Adolphe.

Mercadet (aside) A fine young fellow. I will give him an interest in the first big business I do.

Minard I have made known my attachment to the man I look upon as a father. He has informed me—that I am the possessor of a small fortune—

Mercadet A fortune!

Minard When I was confided to his care, a sum of money was entrusted to him, which has increased by interest, and I now possess thirty thousand francs.

Mercadet Thirty thousand francs!

Minard On learning of the disaster that had befallen you, I realized this sum, and I bring it to you, sir; for sometimes in these cases an arrangement can be made by paying something on account—

Mme. Mercadet He has an excellent heart!

Julie (with pride) Yes, indeed, papa!

Mercadet Thirty thousand francs. (Aside) They might be tripled by buying some of Verdelin's stock and then doubled with— No, no. (To Minard) My boy, you are at the age of self-sacrifice. If I could pay two hundred francs with thirty thousand, the fortune of France, of myself and of most people would be made. No, keep your money!

Minard What! You refuse it?

Mercadet (aside) If with this I could keep them quiet for a month, if by some bold stoke I could revive the depression in my property, it might be all right. But the money of these poor children, it cuts me to the heart to think of it, for when they are in tears people calculate amiss; it is not well to risk the money of any but fellow-brokers—no—no (Aloud) Adolphe, you may marry my daughter.

Minard Oh! Sir—Julie—my own Julie—

Mercadet That is, of course, as soon as she has three hundred thousand francs as dowry.

Mme. Mercadet My dear!

Julie Papa!

Minard Ah, sir! How long are you going to put me off?

Mercadet Put you off? She will have it in a month! Perhaps sooner—

All How is that?

Mercadet Yes, by the use of my brains—and a little money. (Minard holds out his pocket-book.) But lock up those bills! And come, take away my wife and 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.

Julie Papa, how good you are!

Mercadet Nonsense!

Julie I love you so much.

Mercadet Nonsense!

Julie Adolphe, I do not thank you, I shall have all my life for that.

Minard Dearest Julie!

Mercadet (leading them out) Come, now, you had better breathe out your idyls in some more retired spot.

(They go out.)



SCENE THIRD

Mercadet, then De la Brive.

Mercadet I have resisted—it was a good impulse! But I was wrong to obey it. If I finally yield to the temptation, I can make their little capital worth very much more. I shall manage this fortune for them. My poor daughter has indeed a good lover. What hearts of gold are theirs! Dear children! (Goes towards the door at the right.) I must make their fortune. De la Brive is here awaiting me. (Looking through the open door) I believe he is asleep. I gave him a little too much wine, so as to handle him more easily. (Shouting) Michonnin! The constable! The constable!

De la Brive (coming out, rubbing his eyes) Hello! What are you saying?

Mercadet Don't be frightened, I only wanted to wake you up. (Takes his seat at the 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 brings on refreshment, it clothes with verdure! And ideas spring forth and bloom! /In vino varietas/!

Mercadet Yesterday, our conversation on business matters was interrupted.

De la Brive Father-in-law, I recall it distinctly—we recognized the fact that our houses could not keep their engagements. We were on the point of bankruptcy, and you are unfortunate enough to be my creditor, while I am fortunate enough to be your debtor by the amount of forty-seven thousand, two hundred and thirty-three francs and some centimes.

Mercadet Your head is level enough.

De la Brive But my pocket and my conscience are a little out. Yet who can reproach me? By squandering my fortune I have brought profit to every trade in Paris, 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 of money—

Mercadet By means of the money in circulation. Ah! you have all your wits about you!

De la Brive But I have nothing else.

Mercadet Our wits are our mint. Is it not so? But, considering your present situation, I shall be brief.

De la Brive That is why I take a seat.

Mercadet Listen to me. I see that you are going down the steep way which leads to 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. Paris begins at the Place de l'Etoile, and ends at the Jockey Club. That is your Paris, which is the world of women who are talked about too much, or not at all.

De la Brive That is true.

Mercadet You breathe the cynical atmosphere of wits and journalists, the atmosphere of the theatre and of the ministry. It is a vast sea in which thousands are casting their nets! You must either continue this existence, or blow your brains out!

De la Brive No! For it is impossible to think that it can continue without me.

Mercadet Do you feel that you have the genius to maintain yourself in style at the height to which you aspire? To dominate men of mind by the power of capital and superiority of intellect? Do you think that you will always have skill enough to keep afloat between the two capes, which have seen the life of elegance so often founder between the cheap restaurant and the debtors' prison?

De la Brive Why! You are breaking into my conscience like a burglar—you echo my very thought! What do you want with me?

Mercadet I wish to rescue you, by launching you into the world of business.

De la Brive By what entrance?

Mercadet Let me choose the door.

De la Brive The devil!

Mercadet Show yourself a man who will compromise himself for me—

De la Brive But men of straw may be burnt.

Mercadet You must be incombustible.

De la Brive What are the terms of our copartnership?

Mercadet You try to serve me in the desperate circumstances in which I am at present, 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 Brive In the use of the pistol or the sword?

Mercadet No one is to be killed; on the contrary—

De la Brive That will suit me.

Mercadet A man is to be brought to life again.

De la Brive That doesn't suit me at all, my dear fellow. The legacy, the chest of Harpagon, the little mule of Scapin and, indeed, all the farces which have made us laugh on the ancient stage are not well received nowadays in real life. The police have a way of getting mixed up with them, and since the abolition of privileges, no one can administer a drubbing with impunity.

Mercadet Well, what do you think of five years in debtors' prison? Eh? What a fate!

De la Brive As a matter of fact, my decision must depend upon what you want me to do to any one, for my honor so far is intact and is worth—

Mercadet You must invest it well, for we shall have dire need of all that it is worth. I want you to assist me in sitting at the table which the Exchange always keeps spread, and we will gorge ourselves with the good things there offered us, for you must admit that while those who seek for millions have great difficulty in finding them, they are never found by those who do not seek.

De la Brive I think I can co-operate with you in this matter. You will return to me my forty-seven thousand francs—

Mercadet Yes, sir.

De la Brive I am not required to be anything but be—very clever?

Mercadet Nimble, but this nimbleness will be exercised, as the English say, on the right side of the law.

De la Brive What is it you propose?

Mercadet (giving him a paper) Here are your written instructions. You are to represent something like an uncle from America—in fact, my partner, who has just come back from the West Indies.

De la Brive I understand.

Mercadet Go to the Champs-Elysees, secure a post-chaise that has been much battered, have horses harnessed to it, and make your arrival here wrapped in a great pelisse, your head enveloped in a huge cap, while you shiver like a man who finds our summer icy cold. I will receive you; I will conduct you in; you will speak to my creditors; not one of them knows Godeau; you will make them give me more time.

De la Brive How much time?

Mercadet I need only two days—two days, in order that Pierquin may complete certain purchases which we have ordered. Two days in order that the stock which I know how to inflate may have time to rise. You will be my backer, my security. And as no one will recognize you—

De la Brive I 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.

Mercadet That is so. But I hear some one—my wife—

Mme. Mercadet (enters) My dear, there are some letters for you, and the bearer requires an answer.

(Mme. Mercadet withdraws to the fireplace.)

Mercadet I 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, and would misconstrue it. (Aloud) Go quickly, and forget nothing.

De la Brive You need have no fear.

(Mercadet goes out by the left; De la Brive starts to go out by the centre, but Mme. Mercadet intercepts him.)



SCENE FOURTH

Mme. Mercadet and De la Brive.

De la Brive Madame?

Mme. Mercadet Forgive me, sir!

De la Brive Kindly excuse me, madame, I must be going—

Mme. Mercadet You must not go.

De la Brive But you are not aware—

Mme. Mercadet I know all.

De la Brive How is that?

Mme. Mercadet You and my husband are bent upon resorting to some very ancient expedients proper to the comic drama, and I have employed one which is more ancient still. And as I told you, I know all—

De la Brive (aside) She must have been listening.

Mme. Mercadet Sir, the part which you have been induced to undertake is blameworthy and shameful, and you must give it up—

De la Brive But after all, madame—

Mme. Mercadet Oh! I know to whom I am speaking, sir; it was only a few hours ago that I saw you for the first time, and yet—I think I know you.

De la Brive Really? I am sure I do not know what opinion you have of me.

Mme. Mercadet One day has given me time to form a correct judgment of you—and at the very time that my husband was trying to discover some foible in you 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 good feelings which eventually may prove your salvation.

De la Brive Prove my salvation? Excuse me, madame.

Mme. Mercadet Yes, sir, prove your salvation and that of my husband; for both of you are on the way to ruin. For you must understand that debts are no disgrace to any one who admits them and toils for their payment. You have your whole life before you, and you have too much good sense to wish that it should be blighted through engaging in a business which justice is sure to punish.

De la Brive Justice! Ah! You are right, madame, and I certainly would not lend myself to this dangerous comedy, unless your husband had some notes of hand of mine—

Mme. Mercadet Which he will surrender to you, sir, I'll promise you that.

De la Brive But, madame, I cannot pay them—

Mme. Mercadet We will be satisfied with your word, and you will discharge your obligation as soon as you have honestly made your fortune.

De la Brive Honestly! That will be perhaps a long time to wait.

Mme. Mercadet We will be patient. And now, sir, go and inform my husband that he must give up this attempt because he will not have your co-operation. (She goes towards the door on the left.)

De la Brive I should be rather afraid to face him— I should prefer to write to him.

Mme. Mercadet (pointing out to him the door by which he entered) You will find the necessary writing materials in that room. Remain there until I come for your letter. I will hand it to him myself.

De la Brive I will do so, madame. After all I am not so worthless as I thought I was. It is you who have taught me this; you have a right to the whole credit of it. (He respectfully kisses her hand.) Thank you, madame, thank you! (He goes out.)

Mme. Mercadet I have succeeded—if only I could now persuade Mercadet.

Justin (entering from the center) Madame—madame—here they are—all of them.

Mme. Mercadet Who?

Justin The creditors.

Mme. Mercadet Already?

Justin There are a great many of them, madame.

Mme. Mercadet Let 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.

Goulard Gentlemen, we have quite made up our minds, have we not?

All We have, we have—

Pierquin No more deluding promises.

Goulard No more prayers and expostulations.

Violette No more pretended payments on account, thrown out as a bait to get deeper into our pockets.



SCENE SIXTH

The same persons and Mercadet.

Mercadet And do you mean to tell me that you gentlemen are come to force me into bankruptcy?

Goulard We shall do so, unless you find means to pay us in full this very day.

Mercadet To-day!

Pierquin This very day.

Mercadet (standing before the fireplace) Do you think that I possess the plates for striking off Bank of France notes?

Violette You mean that you have no offer to make?

Mercadet Absolutely none! And you are going to lock me up? I warn him who is going to pay for the cab that he won't be reimbursed from any assets of mine.

Goulard I shall add that along with all that you owe me to the debit of your account—

Mercadet Thank you. You've all made up your mind, I suppose?

The Creditors We have.

Mercadet I 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 his way here. (Aloud) Gentlemen, you compel me to admit that you are men of inspiration and have chosen your time well!

Pierquin What does he mean?

Mercadet For months, for years, you have allowed yourselves to be humbugged by fine 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 us start for Clichy.

Goulard But, sir—

Pierquin He is laughing.

Violette (rising from his chair) There is something in the wind. Gentlemen, there is something in the wind!

Pierquin Please explain to us—

Goulard We 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 the bars!—I would like to see the figure you all will cut to-morrow or this evening, when you find he has returned.

Goulard (rising to his feet) He has returned?

Pierquin Returned from where?

Violette Who has returned?

Mercadet (coming forward) Nobody has returned. Let us start for Clichy, gentlemen.

Goulard But listen, if you are expecting any assistance—

Pierquin If you have any hope that—

Violette Or if even some considerable legacy—

Goulard Come, now!

Pierquin Answer—

Violette Tell us—

Mercadet Now, 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 over again. Come now, act like genuine creditors! Ridicule the past, forget the brilliant strokes of business I put within the power of each of you before the sudden departure of my faithful Godeau—

Goulard His faithful Godeau!

Pierquin Ah! If there were only—

Mercadet Forget all that preposterous past, take no account of what might induce him to return—after being waited for so long—and—let us start for Clichy, gentlemen, let us start for Clichy!

Violette Mercadet, you are expecting Godeau, aren't you?

Mercadet No!

Violette (as with a sudden inspiration) Gentlemen, he is expecting Godeau!

Goulard Can it be true?

Pierquin Speak.

All Speak! Speak!

Mercadet (with feeble deprecations) Why, no, no—yet I do not know—I— Certainly, it is possible that some day or other he may return form the Indies with some— considerable fortune— (In a decided tone) But I give you my word of honor 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?

Goulard It 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.

Goulard I 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.

Mercadet Ah! (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!

Goulard See how dusty it is!

Violette And battered to the very hood! It must have come from the heart of the Indies, to be as battered as that.

Mercadet (mildly) You don't know what you are talking about, Violette! Why, my good fellow, people don't arrive from the Indies by land.

Goulard But come and see for yourself, Mercadet; a man has stepped out—

Pierquin Enveloped in a large pelisse—do come—

Mercadet No—pardon me. The joy—the excitement—I—

Violette He carries a chest. Oh! what a huge chest! Gentlemen, it is Godeau! I recognize him by the chest.

Mercadet Yes—I was expecting Godeau.

Goulard He has come back from Calcutta.

Pierquin With a fortune.

Mercadet Of incalculable extent!

Violette What have I been saying?

(Violette goes in silence to Mercadet and grasps his hand. The two others follow his example, and then all the creditors form a ring round 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 ruin everything!

Mme. Mercadet My dear! I see that you don't know what has happened?

Mercadet I? No, I don't—if I—

Mme. Mercadet Godeau is returned.

Mercadet Ah! You say? (Aside) I wonder if she suspects—

Mme. Mercadet I 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. Mercadet But 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. Mercadet No—wait, wait a little, my dear; poor Godeau has overtaxed his strength—scarcely had he reached my apartment when fatigue, excitement and a nervous attack overcame him—

Mercadet Really! (Aside) How well she does it!

Violette Poor Godeau!

Mme. Mercadet "Madame," he said to me, "go and see your husband. Bring me back his pardon; I do not wish to see him face to face, until I have repaired the past."

Goulard That was fine.

Pierquin It was sublime.

Violette It 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 her by the hand) My darling— Excuse me, gentlemen. (He kisses her on both cheeks. 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 have fancied.

Mercadet I should think so. (Aside) It is very much better. (Aloud) Go and look after him, my dear. And you, gentlemen, be good enough to pass into my office. (He points to the left.) Wait there till we settle our accounts.

(Mme. Mercadet goes out.)

Goulard I am at your service, my friend—

Pierquin Our excellent friend.

Violette Friend, 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!

Goulard You! You are one of the most capable men in Paris.

Pierquin Who is bound to make a million—as soon as he has a—

Violette Dear M. Mercadet, we will give you as much time as you want.

All Certainly.

Mercadet This is a little late—but gentlemen, I thank you as heartily as if you had said it yesterday morning. Good-day. (In a low voice to Goulard) Within an hour your stock shall be sold—

Goulard Good!

Mercadet (in a low voice to Pierquin) Stay where you are.

(All the others enter the office.)

Pierquin What can I do for you?



SCENE EIGHTH

Mercadet and Pierquin.

Mercadet We are now alone. There is no time to lose. The stock of Basse-Indre went down yesterday. Go to the Exchange, buy up two hundred, three hundred, four hundred—Goulard will deliver them to you—

Pierquin And for what date, and on what collateral?

Mercadet Collateral? Nonsense! This is a cash deal; bring them to me to-day, and I will pay to-morrow.

Pierquin To-morrow?

Mercadet To-morrow the stock will have risen.

Pierquin I suppose, considering your situation, that you are buying for Godeau.

Mercadet Do you think so?

Pierquin I presume he gave his orders in the letter which announced his return.

Mercadet Possibly so. Ah! Master Pierquin, we are going to take a hand in business again, and I guess that you will gain from this to the end of the year something like a hundred thousand francs in brokerage from us.

Pierquin A hundred thousand francs!

Mercadet Let the stock be depressed below par, and then buy it in, and— (handing him a letter) see that this letter appears in the evening paper. This evening, at Tortoni's, you will see an immediate rise in the quotations. Now be quick about this.

Pierquin I will fly. Good-bye. (Exit.)



SCENE NINTH

Mercadet, then Justin.

Mercadet How well everything is going on, when we consider our recent complications! When Mahomet had three reliable friends (and it was hard to find them) the whole world was his! I have now won over as my allies all my creditors, thanks to the pretended arrival of Godeau. And I gain eight days, which means fifteen, with regard to actual payment. 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 the current quotation, and I shall make at one stroke six hundred thousand francs. With three hundred thousand I will pay my creditors and show myself a Napoleon of finance. (He struts up and down.)

Justin (from the back of the stage) Sir—

Mercadet What is it—what do you want, Justin?

Justin Sir—

Mercadet Go on! Tell me.

Justin M. Violette has offered me sixty francs if I will let him speak with M. Godeau.

Mercadet Sixty francs. (Aside) He fleeced me out of them.

Justin I am sure, sir, that you wouldn't like me to lose such a present.

Mercadet Let him have his way with you.

Justin Ah! sir, but—M. Goulard also—and the others—

Mercadet Do as you like—I give them over into your hands. Fleece them well!

Justin I'll do my best. Thank you, sir.

Mercadet Let them all see Godeau. (Aside) De la Brive is well able to look after himself. (Aloud) But, between ourselves, keep Pierquin away. (Aside) He would recognize his dear friend, Michonnin.

Justin I understand, sir. Ah! here is M. Minard. (Exit.)



SCENE TENTH

Mercadet and Minard.

Minard (coming forward) Ah, sir!

Mercadet Well, M. Minard, and what brings you here?

Minard Despair.

Mercadet Despair?

Minard M. Godeau has come back; and they say that you are now a millionaire!

Mercadet Is that the cause of your despair?

Minard Yes, sir.

Mercadet Well, you are a strange fellow! I disclose to you the fact of my ruin and you are delighted. You learn that good fortune has returned to me and you are overwhelmed with despair! And all the while you wish to enter into my family! Yet you act like my enemy—

Minard It is just my love that makes your good fortune so alarming to me; I fear all the while that you will now refuse me the hand—

Mercadet Of Julie? My dear Adolphe, all men of business have not put their heart in their money-bags. Our sentiments are not always to be reckoned by debit and credit. You offered me the thirty thousand francs that you possessed—I certainly have no right to reject you on account of certain millions. (Aside) Which I do not possess!

Minard You bring back life to me.

Mercadet Well, I suppose that is true, but so much the better, for I am very fond 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 thousand francs 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 perceiving Verdelin) Is it all right?

Pierquin (in some embarrassment) It is all right. The stock is ours.

Mercadet (joyfully) Bravo!

Verdelin (approaching Mercadet) Good-day!

Mercadet What! Verdelin—

Verdelin I find out that you have bought the stock before me, and that now I shall have to pay very much higher than I expected; but it is all right, it was well managed, and I am compelled to cry, "Hail to the King of the Exchange, Hail to the Napoleon of Finance!" (He laughs derisively.)

Mercadet (somewhat abashed) What does he mean?

Verdelin I'm only repeating what you said yesterday—

Mercadet What I said?

Pierquin The fact of it is, Verdelin does not believe in the return of Godeau—

Minard Ah, sir!

Mercadet Is there any doubt about it?

Verdelin (ironically) Doubt about it! There is more than doubt about it. I at once concluded that this so-called return was the bold stroke that you spoke of yesterday.

Mercadet I—(Aside) Stupid of me!

Verdelin I concluded that, relying upon the presence of this fictitious Godeau, you made purchases with the idea of paying on the rise, which would follow to-morrow, and that to-day you have actually not a single sou—

Mercadet You had imagined all that?

Verdelin (approaching the fireplace) Yes, but when I saw outside that triumphal post-chaise—that model of Indian manufacture, and I realized that it was impossible to find such a vehicle in the Champs-Elysees, all my doubts disappeared and— But hand him over the bonds, M. Pierquin!

Pierquin The—bonds—it happens that—

Mercadet (aside) I must bluff, or I am lost! (Aloud) Certainly, produce the bonds.

Pierquin One moment—if what this gentleman has said is true—

Mercadet (haughtily) M. Pierquin!

Minard But, gentlemen—M. Godeau is here—I have seen him—I have talked with him.

Mercadet (to Pierquin) He has talked with him, sir.

Pierquin (to Verdelin) The fact of it is, I have seen him myself.

Verdelin I don't doubt it! By the bye, on what vessel did our friend Godeau say he arrived?

Mercadet By what vessel? It was by the—by the /Triton/—

Verdelin How careless the English newspapers are. They have published the arrival of no other English mail packet but the /Halcyon/.

Pierquin Really!

Mercadet Let us end this discussion. M. Pierquin—those bonds—

Pierquin Pardon me, but as you have offered no collateral, I would wish—I do wish to speak with Godeau.

Mercadet You shall not speak with him, sir. I cannot permit you to doubt my word.

Verdelin This is superb.

Mercadet M. Minard, go to Godeau— Tell him that I have obtained an option on three hundred thousand francs' worth of stock, and ask him to send me —(with emphasis)—thirty thousand francs for use as a margin. A man in his position always has such a sum about him. (In a low voice) Do not fail to bring me the thirty thousand.

Minard Yes, sir. (Goes out, through the right.)

Mercadet (haughtily) Will that satisfy you, M. Pierquin?

Pierquin Certainly, certainly. (To Verdelin) It will be all right when he comes back.

Verdelin (rising from his seat) And you expect that he will bring thirty thousand francs?

Mercadet I have a perfect right to be offended by your insulting doubt; but I am still your debtor—

Verdelin Bosh! 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 worked wonders, and we were obliged to publish on the Exchange the results of our explorations by boring. The mines will become as valuable as those of Mons—and—your fortune is made—when I thought I was going to make mine.

Mercadet I now understand your rage. (To Pierquin) And this is the origin of all the doubtful rumors.

Verdelin Rumors which can only vanish before the appearance of Godeau's cash.



SCENE TWELFTH

The same persons, Violette and Goulard.

Goulard Ah! my friend!

Violette (following him) My dear Mercadet!

Goulard What a man this Godeau is!

Mercadet (aside) Fine!

Violette What high sense of honor he has!

Mercadet (aside) That's pretty good!

Goulard What magnanimity!

Mercadet (aside) Prodigious!

Verdelin Have you seen him?

Violette Of course, I have!

Pierquin Have you spoken to him?

Goulard Just as I speak to you. And I have been paid.

All Paid!

Mercadet Paid? How—how have you been paid?

Goulard In full. Fifty thousand in drafts.

Mercadet (aside) That I can understand.

Goulard And eight thousand francs net, in notes.

Mercadet In bank-notes?

Goulard Bank-notes.

Mercadet (aside) It is past my understanding. Ah! Eight thousand! Minard might have given them, so that now he'll bring me only twenty-two thousand.

Violette And I—I, who would have been willing to make some reduction—I have been paid in full!

Mercadet All! (in a low voice to him) I suppose in drafts?

Violette In first-class drafts to the amount of eighteen thousand francs.

Mercadet (aside) What a fellow this De la Brive is!

Violette And the balance, the other twelve thousand—

Verdelin Yes—the balance?

Violette In 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.

Mercadet In 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.

Verdelin What is the matter with you?

Mercadet Me! Nothing—I—



SCENE THIRTEENTH

The same persons and Minard, followed by creditors.

Minard I have done your errand.

Mercadet (trembling) And you—have brought me—a few—bank-notes?

Minard A few bank-notes? Of course. M. Godeau wouldn't let me even mention the thirty thousand francs.

(Goulard and Violette rise. Minard stands before the table, surrounded by creditors.)

Mercadet I can quite understand that.

Minard "You mean," he said, "a hundred thousand crowns; here are a hundred thousand crowns, with my compliments!" (He pulls out a large roll of bank-notes, which he places on the table.)

Mercadet (rushing to the table) What the devil! (Looking at the notes) What is all this about?

Minard The three hundred thousand francs.

Pierquin My three hundred thousand francs!

Verdelin The 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?

Minard I told you he gave them to me.

Mercadet (with vehemence) He!— He—! Who is he?

Minard Did not I say, M. Godeau?

Mercadet What Godeau? Which Godeau?

Minard Why the Godeau who has come back from the Indies.

Mercadet From the Indies?

Violette And who is paying all your debts.

Mercadet What is this? I never expected to strike a Godeau of this kind.

Pierquin He has gone crazy!

(All the other creditors gather at the back of the stage. Verdelin approaches them, and speaks in a low voice.)

Verdelin (returning to Mercadet) It's true enough! All are paid in full!

Mercadet Paid? Every one of them? (Goes from one to the other and looks at the bank-notes and the drafts they have.) Yes, all settled with—settled in 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 De la Brive (entering at the other side).

Mme. Mercadet My friend, M. Godeau, feels himself strong enough to see you all.

Mercadet Come, daughter, wife, Adolphe, and my other friends, gather round me, look at me. I know you would not deceive me.

Julie What is the matter, father?

Mercadet Tell me (seeing De la Brive come in) Michonnin, tell me frankly—

De la Brive Luckily for me, sir, I followed the advice of madame—otherwise you would have had two Godeaus at a time, for heaven has brought back to you the genuine man.

Mercadet You mean to say then—that he has really returned!

Verdelin Do you mean to say that you didn't know it after all?

Mercadet (recovering himself, standing before the table and touching the 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! All hail! Thou long sought for, and now for the thousandth time come home to us from the Indies! Oh! I've always said that Godeau had a mind of tireless energy and an honest heart! (Going up to his wife and daughter) Kiss me!

Mme. Mercadet (in tears) Ah! dear, dear husband!

Mercadet (supporting her) And you, what courage you have shown in adversity!

Mme. Mercadet But I am overcome by the happiness of seeing you saved—wealthy!

Mercadet But honest! And yet I must tell you my wife, my children—I could not have held out much longer—I was about to succumb—my mind always on the rack—always on the defensive—a giant might have yielded. There were moments when I longed to flee away— Oh! For some place of repose! Henceforth let us live in the country.

Mme. Mercadet But you will soon grow weary of it.

Mercadet No, for I shall be a witness in their happiness. (Pointing to Minard and Julie.) And after all this financial traffic I shall devote myself to agriculture; the study of agriculture will never prove tedious. (To the creditors) Gentlemen, we will continue to be good friends, but will have no more business transactions. (To De la Brive) M. de la Brive, let me pay back to you your forty-eight thousand francs.

De la Brive Ah! sir—

Mercadet And I will lend you ten thousand more.

De la Brive Ten thousand francs? But I don't know when I shall be able—

Mercadet You need have no scruples; take them—for I have a scheme—

De la Brive I accept them.

Mercadet Ah! It is one of my dreams. Gentlemen (to the creditors who are standing in a row) I am a—creditor!

Mme. Mercadet (pointing to the door) My dear, he is waiting for us.

Mercadet Yes, let us go in. I have so many times drawn your attention to Godeau, that I certainly have the right to see him. Let us go in and see Godeau!



Final curtain.

THE END