Mercadet Part 22

Pierquin Returned from where?

Violette Who has returned?

Mercadet (coming forward) n.o.body has returned. Let us start for Clichy, gentlemen.

Goulard But listen, if you are expecting any a.s.sistance--

Pierquin If you have any hope that--

Violette Or if even some considerable legacy--

Goulard Come, now!

Pierquin Answer--

Violette Tell us--

Mercadet Now, take care, I beg you. You are giving way, you are giving way, gentlemen, and if I wished to take the trouble, I could win you over again. Come now, act like genuine creditors! Ridicule the past, forget the brilliant strokes of business I put within the power of each of you before the sudden departure of my faithful G.o.deau--

Goulard His faithful G.o.deau!

Pierquin Ah! If there were only--

Mercadet Forget all that preposterous past, take no account of what might induce him to return--after being waited for so long--and--let us start for Clichy, gentlemen, let us start for Clichy!

Violette Mercadet, you are expecting G.o.deau, aren't you?

Mercadet No!

Violette (as with a sudden inspiration) Gentlemen, he is expecting G.o.deau!

Goulard Can it be true?

Pierquin Speak.

All Speak! Speak!

Mercadet (with feeble deprecations) Why, no, no--yet I do not know--I-- Certainly, it is possible that some day or other he may return form the Indies with some-- considerable fortune-- (In a decided tone) But I give you my word of honor that I don't expect G.o.deau here to-day.

Violette (excitedly) Then it must be to-morrow! Gentlemen, he expects him to-morrow!

Goulard (in a low voice to the others) Unless this is some fresh trick to gain time and ridicule us--

Pierquin (aloud) Do you think it might be?

Goulard It is quite possible.

Violette (in a loud tone) Gentlemen, he is fooling us.

Mercadet (aside) The devil he is! (Aloud) Come, gentlemen, we had better be starting.

Goulard I swear that--

(The rumbling of carriage wheels is heard.)

Mercadet (aside) At last! (Aloud) Oh, heavens! (He lays his hand upon his heart.)

A Postillion (outside) A carriage at the door.

Mercadet Ah! (Falls back on a chair near the table.)

Goulard (looking through the pane of gla.s.s above the mantel) A carriage!

Pierquin (doing the same) A post-chaise!

Violette (doing the same) Gentlemen, a post-chaise is at the door.

Mercadet (aside) My dear De la Brive could not have arrived at a better moment!

Goulard See how dusty it is!

Violette And battered to the very hood! It must have come from the heart of the Indies, to be as battered as that.

Mercadet (mildly) You don't know what you are talking about, Violette! Why, my good fellow, people don't arrive from the Indies by land.

Goulard But come and see for yourself, Mercadet; a man has stepped out--

Pierquin Enveloped in a large pelisse--do come--

Mercadet No--pardon me. The joy--the excitement--I--

Violette He carries a chest. Oh! what a huge chest! Gentlemen, it is G.o.deau! I recognize him by the chest.

Mercadet Yes--I was expecting G.o.deau.

Goulard He has come back from Calcutta.

Pierquin With a fortune.

Mercadet Of incalculable extent!

Violette What have I been saying?

(Violette goes in silence to Mercadet and grasps his hand. The two others follow his example, and then all the creditors form a ring round Mercadet.)

Mercadet (with seeming emotion) Oh! Gentlemen--my friends--my dear comrades--my children!