Mercadet Part 24

Pierquin A hundred thousand francs!

Mercadet Let the stock be depressed below par, and then buy it in, and-- (handing him a letter) see that this letter appears in the evening paper. This evening, at Tortoni's, you will see an immediate rise in the quotations. Now be quick about this.

Pierquin I will fly. Good-bye. (Exit.)

SCENE NINTH

Mercadet, then Justin.

Mercadet How well everything is going on, when we consider our recent complications! When Mahomet had three reliable friends (and it was hard to find them) the whole world was his! I have now won over as my allies all my creditors, thanks to the pretended arrival of G.o.deau.

And I gain eight days, which means fifteen, with regard to actual payment. I shall buy three hundred thousand francs' worth of Ba.s.se- Indre before Verdelin. And when Verdelin asks for some of that stock, he will find it has risen, for a demand will have raised it above the current quotation, and I shall make at one stroke six hundred thousand francs. With three hundred thousand I will pay my creditors and show myself a Napoleon of finance. (He struts up and down.)

Justin (from the back of the stage) Sir--

Mercadet What is it--what do you want, Justin?

Justin Sir--

Mercadet Go on! Tell me.

Justin M. Violette has offered me sixty francs if I will let him speak with M. G.o.deau.

Mercadet Sixty francs. (Aside) He fleeced me out of them.

Justin I am sure, sir, that you wouldn't like me to lose such a present.

Mercadet Let him have his way with you.

Justin Ah! sir, but--M. Goulard also--and the others--

Mercadet Do as you like--I give them over into your hands. Fleece them well!

Justin I'll do my best. Thank you, sir.

Mercadet Let them all see G.o.deau. (Aside) De la Brive is well able to look after himself. (Aloud) But, between ourselves, keep Pierquin away.

(Aside) He would recognize his dear friend, Michonnin.

Justin I understand, sir. Ah! here is M. Minard. (Exit.)

SCENE TENTH

Mercadet and Minard.

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?