Mercadet | Page 9

grieve me deeply! Be reasonable
and I will share with you. (In a low voice) We have scarcely a hundred
francs in the house, and even that is my daughter's money.
Violette Is it possible! You, Mercadet, whom I have known so rich?
Mercadet I conceal nothing from you.
Violette Unfortunate people owe it to each other to speak the truth.
Mercadet Ah! If that were the only thing they owed how prompt would
be the payment! But keep this as a secret, for I am on the point of

making a good match for my daughter.
Violette I have two daughters, sir, and they work without hope of being
married! In your present circumstances I cannot press you, but my wife
and my daughters await my return in the deepest anxiety.
Mercadet Stay a moment. I will give you sixty francs.
Violette Ah! my wife and my girls will bless you. (Aside, while
Mercadet leaves the room for a moment.) The others who abuse him
get nothing out of him, but by appealing to his pity, little by little I get
back my money. (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 makes six hundred francs.
Come now, I have sown enough, it is time to reap the harvest. (Aloud)
Take this.
Violette Sixty 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.
Mercadet Good-bye, dear old Violette. (Holding him by the hand.)
Poor old man, when I look at you, I think myself rich--your misfortunes
touch me deeply. And yesterday I thought I would soon be on the point
of paying back to you not only the interest but the principal of what I
owe you.
Violette (turning back) Paying me back! In full!
Mercadet It was a close shave.
Violette What was?
Mercadet Imagine, my dear fellow, that there exists a most brilliant
opportunity, a most magnificent speculation, the most sublime
discovery--an affair which appeals to the interest of every one, which
will draw upon all the exchanges, and for the realization of which a

stupid banker has refused me the miserable sum of a thousand crowns--
when there is more than a million in sight.
Violette A million!
Mercadet Yes, a million, from the start. Afterwards no one can
calculate where the rage for protective pavement will stop.
Violette Pavement?
Mercadet Protective pavement. A pavement on which no barricade can
be raised.
Violette Really?
Mercadet You see, that from henceforth all governments interested in
the preservation of order will become our chief shareholders--Ministers,
princes and kings will be our chief partners. Next come the gods of
finance, the great bankers, those of independent income in commerce
and speculation; even the socialists, seeing that their industry is ruined,
will be forced to buy stocks for a living from me!
Violette Yes, it is fine! It is grand!
Mercadet It is sublime and philanthropic! And to think I have been
refused four thousand francs, wherewith to send out advertisements and
launch my prospectus!
Violette Four thousand francs! I thought it was only--
Mercadet Four thousand francs, no more! And I was to give away for
the loan a half interest in the enterprise--that is to say a fortune! Ten
fortunes!
Violette Listen--I will see--I will speak to some one--
Mercadet Speak to no one! Keep it to yourself! The idea would at once
be snatched up--or perhaps they wouldn't understand it so well as you
have immediately done. These money dealers are so stupid. Besides, I

am expecting Verdelin here--
Violette Verdelin--but--we might perhaps--
Mercadet 'Twill be lucky for Verdelin, if he has the brains to risk six
thousand francs in it.
Violette But you said four thousand just now.
Mercadet It was four thousand that they refused me, but I need six
thousand! Six thousand francs, and Verdelin, whom I have already
made a millionaire once, is likely to become so three, four, five times
over! But he will deserve it, for he is a clever fellow, is Verdelin.
Violette Mercadet, I will find you the money.
Mercadet No, no, don't think of it. Besides, he will be here in a moment,
and if I am to send him away without concluding the business with him,
it will be necessary to have it settled with some one else before
Verdelin comes--and, as that is impossible--good-bye--and good luck--I
shall certainly be able to pay you your thirty thousand francs.
Violette But 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 goes out.) Well, good-bye, dear old Violette--
Violette (pulling out