Pierquin
So that there is a real young man in the case?  How much are you going
to pay the young man?

Mme. Mercadet
Oh!

Mercadet (checking his wife by a sign) No more of this insolence!  Otherwise, my dear sir, I shall be forced to demand a settlement of our accounts—­and, my dear M. Pierquin, you will lose a good deal of the price at which you sold your money to me.  And at the rate of interest you charge, I shall cost you more than the value of a farm in Bauce.

Pierquin
Sir—­

Mercadet (haughtily)
Sir, I shall soon be so rich that I will not endure to be twitted by
any one—­not even by a creditor.

Pierquin
But—­

Mercadet
Not a word—­or I will pay you!  Come into my private room and we will
settle the business about which I asked you to come.

Pierquin
I am at your service, sir. (Aside) What a devil of a man!

(Pierquin and Mercadet bow to the ladies and enter Mercadet’s room.)

Mercadet (following Pierquin; aside to his wife)
The wild beast is tamed.  I’ll get this one, too.

Sceneninth

Mme. Mercadet, Julie, and later, Servants.

Julie
O mamma!  I cannot marry this M. de la Brive!

Mme. Mercadet
But he is rich, you know.

Julie
But I prefer happiness and poverty, to unhappiness and wealth.

Mme. Mercadet
My child, happiness is impossible in poverty, while there is no
misfortune that wealth cannot alleviate.

Julie
How can you say such sad words to me?

Mme. Mercadet Children should learn a lesson from the experience of parents.  We are at present having a very bitter taste of life’s vicissitudes.  Take my advice, daughter, and marry wealth.

Justin (entering, followed by Therese and Virginie)
Madame, we have carried out the master’s orders.

Virginie
My dinner will be ready.

Therese
And the tradesmen have consented.

Justin
As far as concerns M. Verdelin—­

Scenetenth

The same persons and Mercadet (carrying a bundle of papers).

Mercadet What did my friend Verdelin say?

Justin
He will be here in a moment.  He was just on his way here to bring some
money to M. Bredif, the owner of this house.

Mercadet Bredif is a millionaire.  Take care that Verdelin speaks to me before going up to him.  How did you get on, Therese, with the milliners and dressmakers?

Therese
Sir, as soon as I gave them a promise of payment, every one greeted me
with smiles.

Mercadet
Very good.  And shall we have a fine dinner, Virginie?

Virginie
You will compliment it, sir, when you eat it.

Mercadet
And the tradespeople?