Part 24 (2/2)

Minard (coming forward) Ah, sir!

Mercadet Well, M. Minard, and what brings you here?

Minard Despair.

Mercadet Despair?

Minard M. G.o.deau has come back; and they say that you are now a millionaire!

Mercadet Is that the cause of your despair?

Minard Yes, sir.

Mercadet Well, you are a strange fellow! I disclose to you the fact of my ruin and you are delighted. You learn that good fortune has returned to me and you are overwhelmed with despair! And all the while you wish to enter into my family! Yet you act like my enemy--

Minard It is just my love that makes your good fortune so alarming to me; I fear all the while that you will now refuse me the hand--

Mercadet Of Julie? My dear Adolphe, all men of business have not put their heart in their money-bags. Our sentiments are not always to be reckoned by debit and credit. You offered me the thirty thousand francs that you possessed--I certainly have no right to reject you on account of certain millions. (Aside) Which I do not possess!

Minard You bring back life to me.

Mercadet Well, I suppose that is true, but so much the better, for I am very fond of you. You are simple, honorable. I am touched, I am delighted.

I am even charmed. Ah! Let me once get hold of my six hundred thousand francs and--(Sees Pierquin enter) Here they come--

SCENE ELEVENTH

The same persons, Pierquin and Verdelin.

Mercadet (leading Pierquin to the front of the stage without perceiving Verdelin) Is it all right?

Pierquin (in some embarra.s.sment) It is all right. The stock is ours.

Mercadet (joyfully) Bravo!

Verdelin (approaching Mercadet) Good-day!

Mercadet What! Verdelin--

Verdelin I find out that you have bought the stock before me, and that now I shall have to pay very much higher than I expected; but it is all right, it was well managed, and I am compelled to cry, ”Hail to the King of the Exchange, Hail to the Napoleon of Finance!” (He laughs derisively.)

Mercadet (somewhat abashed) What does he mean?

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