Mercadet Part 19

Mercadet Thirty thousand francs. (Aside) They might be tripled by buying some of Verdelin's stock and then doubled with-- No, no. (To Minard) My boy, you are at the age of self-sacrifice. If I could pay two hundred francs with thirty thousand, the fortune of France, of myself and of most people would be made. No, keep your money!

Minard What! You refuse it?

Mercadet (aside) If with this I could keep them quiet for a month, if by some bold stoke I could revive the depression in my property, it might be all right. But the money of these poor children, it cuts me to the heart to think of it, for when they are in tears people calculate amiss; it is not well to risk the money of any but fellow-brokers--no--no (Aloud) Adolphe, you may marry my daughter.

Minard Oh! Sir--Julie--my own Julie--

Mercadet That is, of course, as soon as she has three hundred thousand francs as dowry.

Mme. Mercadet My dear!

Julie Papa!

Minard Ah, sir! How long are you going to put me off?

Mercadet Put you off? She will have it in a month! Perhaps sooner--

All How is that?

Mercadet Yes, by the use of my brains--and a little money. (Minard holds out his pocket-book.) But lock up those bills! And come, take away my wife and daughter. I want to be alone.

Mme. Mercadet (aside) Is he going to hatch some plot against his creditors? I must find out.

Come, Julie.

Julie Papa, how good you are!

Mercadet Nonsense!

Julie I love you so much.

Mercadet Nonsense!

Julie Adolphe, I do not thank you, I shall have all my life for that.

Minard Dearest Julie!

Mercadet (leading them out) Come, now, you had better breathe out your idyls in some more retired spot.

(They go out.)

SCENE THIRD

Mercadet, then De la Brive.

Mercadet I have resisted--it was a good impulse! But I was wrong to obey it. If I finally yield to the temptation, I can make their little capital worth very much more. I shall manage this fortune for them. My poor daughter has indeed a good lover. What hearts of gold are theirs! Dear children! (Goes towards the door at the right.) I must make their fortune. De la Brive is here awaiting me. (Looking through the open door) I believe he is asleep. I gave him a little too much wine, so as to handle him more easily. (Shouting) Michonnin! The constable! The constable!

De la Brive (coming out, rubbing his eyes) h.e.l.lo! What are you saying?

Mercadet Don't be frightened, I only wanted to wake you up. (Takes his seat at the table.)

De la Brive (sitting at the other side of the table) Sir, an orgie acts on the mind like a storm on the country. It brings on refreshment, it clothes with verdure! And ideas spring forth and bloom! /In vino varietas/!

Mercadet Yesterday, our conversation on business matters was interrupted.

De la Brive Father-in-law, I recall it distinctly--we recognized the fact that our houses could not keep their engagements. We were on the point of bankruptcy, and you are unfortunate enough to be my creditor, while I am fortunate enough to be your debtor by the amount of forty-seven thousand, two hundred and thirty-three francs and some centimes.

Mercadet Your head is level enough.

De la Brive But my pocket and my conscience are a little out. Yet who can reproach me? By squandering my fortune I have brought profit to every trade in Paris, and even to those who do not know me. We, the useless ones! We, the idlers! Upon my soul! It is we who keep up the circulation of money--

Mercadet By means of the money in circulation. Ah! you have all your wits about you!

De la Brive But I have nothing else.

Mercadet Our wits are our mint. Is it not so? But, considering your present situation, I shall be brief.

De la Brive That is why I take a seat.

Mercadet Listen to me. I see that you are going down the steep way which leads to that daring cleverness for which fools blame successful operators.

You have tasted the piquant intoxicating fruits of Parisian pleasure.

You have made luxury the inseparable companion of your life. Paris begins at the Place de l'Etoile, and ends at the Jockey Club. That is your Paris, which is the world of women who are talked about too much, or not at all.

De la Brive That is true.

Mercadet You breathe the cynical atmosphere of wits and journalists, the atmosphere of the theatre and of the ministry. It is a vast sea in which thousands are casting their nets! You must either continue this existence, or blow your brains out!

De la Brive No! For it is impossible to think that it can continue without me.

Mercadet Do you feel that you have the genius to maintain yourself in style at the height to which you aspire? To dominate men of mind by the power of capital and superiority of intellect? Do you think that you will always have skill enough to keep afloat between the two capes, which have seen the life of elegance so often founder between the cheap restaurant and the debtors' prison?

De la Brive Why! You are breaking into my conscience like a burglar--you echo my very thought! What do you want with me?

Mercadet I wish to rescue you, by launching you into the world of business.

De la Brive By what entrance?

Mercadet Let me choose the door.

De la Brive The devil!

Mercadet Show yourself a man who will compromise himself for me--

De la Brive But men of straw may be burnt.

Mercadet You must be incombustible.