Mercadet | Page 2

as a picture,
with a big diamond in his scarf. It ain't possible that a handsome young
man who owns such a turnout as that is going to be the husband of Mlle.

Mercadet? I can't believe it.
Justin You don't know M. Mercadet! I, who have been in his house for
the last six years, and have seen him since his troubles fighting with his
creditors, can believe him capable of anything, even of growing rich;
sometimes I say to myself he is utterly ruined! Yellow auction placards
flame at his door. He receives reams of stamped creditor's notices,
which I sell by the pound for waste paper without being noticed. But
presto! Up he bobs again. He is triumphant. And what devices he has!
There is a new one every day! First of all, it is a scheme for wooden
pavements--then it is dukedoms, ponds, mills. I don't know where the
leakage is in his cash box; he finds it so hard to fill; for it empties itself
as easily as a drained wine-glass! And always crowds of creditors! How
well he turns them away! Sometimes I have seen them come with the
intention of carrying off everything and throwing him into prison. But
when he talks to them they end by being the best of friends, and part
with cordial handshakes! There are some men who can tame jackals
and lions. That's not a circumstance; M. Mercadet can tame creditors!
Therese One of them is not quite so easily managed; and that is M.
Pierquin.
Justin He is a tiger who feeds on bankrupts. And to think of poor old
Violette!
Virginie He is both creditor and beggar--I always feel inclined to give
him a plate of soup.
Justin And Goulard!
Therese A bill discounter who would like very much to--to discount
me.
Virginie (amid a general laugh) I hear madame coming.
Justin Let us keep a civil tongue in our heads, and we shall learn
something about the marriage.

SCENE SECOND
The same persons and Mme. Mercadet.
Mme. Mercadet Justin, have you executed the commissions I gave you?
Justin Yes, madame, but they refused to deliver the dresses, the hats,
and indeed all the things you ordered until--
Virginie And I also have to inform madame that the tradesmen are no
longer willing--
Mme. Mercadet I understand.
Justin The creditors are the cause of the whole trouble. I wish I knew
how to get even with them.
Mme. Mercadet The best way to do so would be to pay them.
Justin They would be mightily surprised.
Mme. Mercadet It is useless to conceal from you the excessive anxiety
which I suffer over the condition of my husband's affairs. We shall
doubtless be in need of your discretion--for we can depend upon you,
can we not?
All You need not mention it, madame.
Virginie We were just saying, what excellent employers we had.
Therese And that we would go through fire and water for you!
Justin We were saying--
(Mercadet appears unnoticed.)
Mme. Mercadet Thank you all, you are good creatures. (Mercadet
shrugs his shoulders.) Your master needs only time, he has so many

schemes in his head!--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 to madame) And so this is how you speak to the
servants! To-morrow they laugh 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 of business that will not admit of delay. Assume an
air of mystery, for I must have him come. You, Therese, go to the
tradesmen of Madame de Mercadet, and tell them, sharply, that they
must send the things that have been ordered.--They will be paid
for--yes--and cash, too--go at once. (Justin and Therese start.)
Ah!--(They stop.) If--these people come to the house again, ask them to
enter. (Mme. Mercadet takes a seat.)
Justin These--these people?--
Therese and Virginie These people? Eh!
Mercadet Yes, these people--these creditors of mine!--
Mme. Mercadet How 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?
Virginie No, sir, and besides the tradespeople--
Mercadet I hope you will do yourself credit to-day. We are going to
have four people to dinner--Verdelin and his wife, M. de Mericourt and
M. de la Brive--so there will be seven of us. Such dinners are the glory
of great cooks! You must have a fine