Mercadet | Page 5

unkindly--me, a
man with whom you have had such extensive dealings!
Goulard Dealings which have not always been to my advantage.
Mercadet All the more credit to you, for if advantage were the sole
results of business, everybody would become a money-lender.
Goulard I hope you haven't asked me to come here, in order to show
me how clever you are! I know that you are cleverer than I am, for you
have got over me in money matters.
Mercadet Well, money matters have some importance. (To his wife)

Yes, yes, you see 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 would have taken vengeance on you--for of course I could cause
you to lose a considerable sum of money.
Goulard So you could, if you didn't pay me; but you shall pay me--your
obligations are now in the hands of the law.
Mme. Mercadet Of the law?
Mercadet Of the law! You are losing your senses, you don't know what
you are doing, you are ruining us both--yourself and me--at the same
time.
Goulard (anxiously) How?--You--that of course is
possible--but--but--me?
Mercadet Both of us, I tell you! Quick, sit down there--write--write--!
Goulard (mechanically taking his pen) Write--write what?
Mercadet Write to Delannoy that he must make them stay the
proceedings, and give me the thousand crowns which I absolutely need.
Goulard (throwing down the pen) That is very likely, indeed!
Mercadet You hesitate, and, when I am on the eve of marrying my
daughter to a man immensely wealthy--that is the time you choose to
cause my arrest. And by that means you are killing both your capital
and interest!
Goulard Ah! you are going to marry your daughter--
Mercadet To the Comte de la Brive; he possesses as many thousand
francs as he is years old!
Goulard Then if he is up in years, there is reason for giving you some
delay. But the thousand crowns--the thousand crowns--never.--I am
quite decided on that point. I will give you nothing, neither delay nor--I

must go now--
Mercadet (with energy) Very well! You can go if you like, you
ungrateful fellow!--But don't forget 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.
Goulard Ruin? It is impossible.
Mercadet (taking a seat) What is the matter with you? You, a man of
intelligence, of ability--a strong man, and yet you cause me all this
trouble! You came here and I felt absolutely enraged against you--not
because I was your friend, I confess it, but through selfishness. I look
upon our interests as identical. I said to myself: I owe him so much that
he is sure to give me his assistance when I have such a grand
chance--like the one at this moment! And you are going to let out the
whole business and to lose everything for the sake of a paltry sum!
Everything! You are perhaps right in refusing me the thousand
crowns--It is better, perhaps, to bury them in your coffers with the rest.
All right! Send me to prison! Then, when all is gone, you'll have to
look somewhere else 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. (To Goulard) 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 sum in our great enterprise.
Mme. Mercadet (ashamed) Sir!
Mercadet What a misfortune it will be if it does not turn out well.

Goulard Mercadet!--Are you talking about the Basse-Indre mines?
Mercadet Of course I am. (Aside) Ah! You have some of the
Basse-Indre stock, I see.
Goulard But the investment seems to me first-class.
Mercadet First-class--Yes, for those who sold out yesterday.
Goulard Have any stockholders sold out?
Mercadet Yes, privately.
Goulard Good-bye. Thanks, Mercadet; madame, accept my respects.
Mercadet (stopping him) Goulard!
Goulard Eh?
Mercadet What about this note to Delannoy?
Goulard I will speak to him about the postponement--
Mercadet No; write to him; and in the meantime I will find some one
who will buy 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.
Mercadet The 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