Part 3 (1/2)

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 a.s.sistance 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 Ba.s.se-Indre mines?

Mercadet Of course I am. (Aside) Ah! You have some of the Ba.s.se-Indre stock, I see.

Goulard But the investment seems to me first-cla.s.s.

Mercadet First-cla.s.s--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.