Mercadet Part 11

Mercadet Let it be granted that by means of night-long vigils and toils you will make a living for Julie! But who will make a living for us, her father and mother?

Minard Ah! sir--believe in me!

Mercadet What! Are you going to work for four, instead of working for only two?

The task will be too much for you! And the bread which you give to us, you will have to s.n.a.t.c.h out of the hands of your children--

Minard How wildly you talk!

Mercadet And I, in spite of your generous efforts, shall fall, crushed under the weight of disgraceful ruin. A brilliant marriage for my daughter is the only means by which I would be enabled to discharge the enormous sums I owe. It is only thus that in time I could regain confidence and credit. With the aid of a rich son-in-law I can reconquer my position, and recuperate my fortune! Why, the marriage of my daughter is our last anchor of salvation! This marriage is our hope, our wealth, the prop of our honor, sir! And since you love my daughter, it is to this very love that I make my appeal. My friend, do not condemn her to poverty; do not condemn her to a life of regret over the loss and disgrace which she has brought upon her father!

Minard (in great distress) But what do you ask me to do?

Mercadet (taking him by the hand) I wish that this n.o.ble affection which you have for her, may arm you with more courage than I myself possess.

Minard I will show such courage--

Mercadet Then listen to me. If I refuse Julie to you, Julie will refuse the man I destine for her. It will be best, therefore, that I grant your request for her hand, and that you be the one--

Minard I!-- She will not believe it, sir--

Mercadet She will believe you, if you tell her that you fear poverty for her.

Minard She will accuse me of being a fortune hunter.

Mercadet She will be indebted to you for having secured her happiness.

Minard (despairingly) She will despise me, sir!

Mercadet That is probable! But if I have read your heart aright, your love for her is such that you will sacrifice yourself completely to the happiness of her life. But here she comes, sir, and her mother is with her. It is on their account that I make this request to you, sir; can I count on you?

Minard You--can.

Mercadet Very good--I thank you.

SCENE THIRD

The preceding, Julie and Mme. Mercadet.

Julie Come, mother, I am sure that Adolphe has triumphed over all obstacles.

Mme. Mercadet My dear, M. Minard has asked of you the hand of Julie. What answer have you given him?

Mercadet (going to the desk) It is for him to say.

Mercadet (aside) How can I tell her? My heart is breaking.

Julie What have you got to say, Adolphe?

Minard Mademoiselle--

Julie Mademoiselle! Am I no longer Julie to you? Oh, tell me quickly. You have settled everything with my father, have you not?

Minard Your father has shown great confidence in me. He has revealed to me his situation; he has told me--

Julie Go on, please go on--

Mercadet I have told him that we are ruined--

Julie And this avowal has not changed your plans--your love--has it, Adolphe?

Minard (ardently) My love! (Mercadet, without being noticed, seizes his hand.) I should be deceiving you--mademoiselle--(speaking with great effort)--if I were to say that my intentions are unaltered.

Julie Oh! It is impossible! Can it be you who speak to me in this strain?

Mme. Mercadet Julie--

Minard (rousing himself) There are some men to whom poverty adds energy; men capable of daily self-sacrifice, of hourly toil; men who think themselves sufficiently recompensed by a smile from a companion that they love--(checking himself). I, mademoiselle am not one of these. The thought of poverty dismays me. I--I could not endure the sight of your unhappiness.

Julie (bursting into tears and flinging herself into the arms of her mother) Oh! Mother! Mother! Mother!

Mme. Mercadet My daughter--my poor Julie!

Minard (in a low voice to Mercadet) Is this sufficient, sir?

Julie (without looking at Minard) I should have had courage for both of us. I should always have greeted you with a smile, I should have toiled without regret, and happiness would always have reigned in our home. You could never have meant this, Adolphe. You do not mean it.

Minard (in a low voice) Let me go--let me leave the house, sir.

Mercadet Come, then. (He retires to the back of the stage.)

Minard Good-bye--Julie. A love that would have flung you into poverty is a thoughtless love. I have preferred to show the love that sacrifices itself to your happiness--

Julie No, I trust you no longer. (In a low voice to her mother) My only happiness would have been to be his.

Justin (announcing visitors) M. de la Brive! M. de Mericourt!

Mercadet Take your daughter away, madame. M. Minard, follow me. (To Justin) Ask them to wait here for a while. (To Minard) I am well satisfied with you.

(Mme. Mercadet and Julie, Mercadet and Minard go out in opposite directions, while Justin admits Mericourt and De la Brive.)

SCENE FOURTH