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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 of it, but he is too honest for concealment. He has a few debts.
Mercadet Oh, please tell me. I understand perfectly--I suppose it is about fifty thousand you owe?
Mericourt Very nearly--
De la Brive Very nearly--
Mercadet A mere trifle.
De la Brive (laughing) Yes, a mere trifle!
Mercadet They 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 hundred thousand francs more. (Aloud) The matter is settled, son-in-law.
De la Brive We 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.
Mercadet Here are my wife and daughter.
Mericourt Madame, allow me to present to you my friend, M. de la Brive, who regards your daughter with--
De la Brive With pa.s.sionate admiration.
Mercadet My daughter is exactly the woman to suit a politician.
De la Brive (to Mericourt. Gazing at Julie through his eyegla.s.s) A fine girl. (To Madame Mercadet) Like mother, like daughter. Madame, I place my hopes under your protection.
Mme. Mercadet Anyone introduced by M. Mericourt would be welcome here.
Julie (to her father) What a c.o.xcomb!
Mercadet (to his daughter) He is enormously rich. We shall all be millionaires! He is an excessively clever fellow. Now, do try and be amiable, as you ought to be.
Julie (answering him) What would you wish me to say to a dandy whom I have just seen for the first time, and whom you destine for my husband?
De la Brive May I be permitted to hope, mademoiselle, that you will look favorably upon me?
Julie My duty is to obey my father.
De la Brive Young people are not always aware of the feelings which they inspire.
For two months I have been longing for the happiness of paying my respects to you.
Julie Who can be more flattered than I am, sir, to find that I have attracted your attention?
Mme. Mercadet (to Mericourt) He is a fine fellow. (Aloud) We hope that you and your friend M. de la Brive will do us the pleasure of accepting our invitation to dine without ceremony?
Mercadet To take pot-luck with us. (To De la Brive) You must excuse our simplicity.
Justin (entering, in a low voice to Mercadet) M. Pierquin wishes to speak to you, monsieur.
Mercadet (low) Pierquin?
Justin He says it is concerning an important and urgent matter.
Mercadet What can he want with me? Let him come in. (Justin goes out. Aloud) My dear, these gentlemen must be tired. Won't you take them into the drawing-room? M. de la Brive, give my daughter you arm.
De la Brive Mademoiselle-- (offers her his arm)
Julie (aside) He is handsome, he is rich--why does he choose me?
Mme. Mercadet M. de Mericourt, will you come and see the picture which we are going to raffle off for the benefit of the poor orphans?
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.
