Part 26 (1/2)

All Paid!

Mercadet Paid? How--how have you been paid?

Goulard In full. Fifty thousand in drafts.

Mercadet (aside) That I can understand.

Goulard And eight thousand francs net, in notes.

Mercadet In bank-notes?

Goulard Bank-notes.

Mercadet (aside) It is past my understanding. Ah! Eight thousand! Minard might have given them, so that now he'll bring me only twenty-two thousand.

Violette And I--I, who would have been willing to make some reduction--I have been paid in full!

Mercadet All! (in a low voice to him) I suppose in drafts?

Violette In first-cla.s.s drafts to the amount of eighteen thousand francs.

Mercadet (aside) What a fellow this De la Brive is!

Violette And the balance, the other twelve thousand--

Verdelin Yes--the balance?

Violette In cash. Here it is. (He shows the bank-notes.)

Mercadet (aside) Minard won't bring me more than ten.

Goulard (taking a seat at the table) And this very moment he is paying in the same way all your creditors.

Mercadet In the same way?

Violette (taking a seat at the table) Yes, in drafts, in specie, and in bank-notes.

Mercadet (forgetting himself) Lord, have mercy upon me! (Aside) Minard will bring me nothing at all.

Verdelin What is the matter with you?

Mercadet Me! Nothing--I--

SCENE THIRTEENTH

The same persons and Minard, followed by creditors.

Minard I have done your errand.