Part 16 (1/2)
De la Brive The Marchioness, you see, will be a good woman to have on hand. I mean the Marchioness--
Mercadet (vehemently rus.h.i.+ng at him) Of Bourdillac, sir!
De la Brive How is this? Do you know her name?
Mercadet Yes, and yours too!
De la Brive The devil you do!
Mercadet You are head over ears in debt; your furniture is held in another man's name; your old aunt has a pittance of six hundred francs; Pierquin, who is one of your smallest creditors, has forty-seven thousand francs in notes of hand from you. You are Michonnin, and I am the idiotic nabob!
De la Brive (stretching himself at full length on the sofa) By heavens! You know just as much about it as I do!
Mercadet Well--I see that once more the devil has taken a hand in my game.
De la Brive (aside, rising to his feet) The marriage is over! I am no longer a socialist; I shall become a communist.
Mercadet And I have been just as easily deceived, as if I had been on the Exchange.
De la Brive Show yourself worthy of your reputation.
Mercadet M. Michonnin, your conduct is more than blameworthy!
De la Brive In what particular? Did I not say that I had debts?
Mercadet We'll let that pa.s.s, for any one may have debts; but where is your estate situated.
De la Brive In the Landes.
Mercadet And of what does it consist?
De la Brive Of sand wastes, planted with firs.
Mercadet Good to make toothpicks.
De la Brive That's about it.
Mercadet And it is worth?
De la Brive Thirty thousand francs.
Mercadet And mortgaged for--
De la Brive Forty-five thousand!
Mercadet And you had the skill to effect that?
De la Brive Why, yes--
Mercadet d.a.m.nation! But that was pretty clever! And your marshes, sir?