Mercadet
I conceal nothing from you.

Violette
Unfortunate people owe it to each other to speak the truth.

Mercadet Ah!  If that were the only thing they owed how prompt would be the payment!  But keep this as a secret, for I am on the point of making a good match for my daughter.

Violette I have two daughters, sir, and they work without hope of being married!  In your present circumstances I cannot press you, but my wife and my daughters await my return in the deepest anxiety.

Mercadet
Stay a moment.  I will give you sixty francs.

Violette Ah! my wife and my girls will bless you. (Aside, while Mercadet leaves the room for a moment.) The others who abuse him get nothing out of him, but by appealing to his pity, little by little I get back my money. (Chuckles and slaps his pocket.)

Mercadet (on the point of re-entering sees this action) The beggarly old miser!  Sixty francs on account paid ten times makes six hundred francs.  Come now, I have sown enough, it is time to reap the harvest. (Aloud) Take this.

Violette
Sixty francs in gold!  It is a long time since I have seen such a sum. 
Good-bye, we sha’n’t forget to pray for the speedy marriage of Mlle.
Mercadet.

Mercadet Good-bye, dear old Violette. (Holding him by the hand.) Poor old man, when I look at you, I think myself rich—­your misfortunes touch me deeply.  And yesterday I thought I would soon be on the point of paying back to you not only the interest but the principal of what I owe you.

Violette (turning back)
Paying me back!  In full!

Mercadet
It was a close shave.

Violette
What was?

Mercadet Imagine, my dear fellow, that there exists a most brilliant opportunity, a most magnificent speculation, the most sublime discovery—­an affair which appeals to the interest of every one, which will draw upon all the exchanges, and for the realization of which a stupid banker has refused me the miserable sum of a thousand crowns—­ when there is more than a million in sight.

Violette
A million!

Mercadet
Yes, a million, from the start.  Afterwards no one can calculate where
the rage for protective pavement will stop.

Violette
Pavement?

Mercadet
Protective pavement.  A pavement on which no barricade can be raised.

Violette
Really?

Mercadet You see, that from henceforth all governments interested in the preservation of order will become our chief shareholders—­Ministers, princes and kings will be our chief partners.  Next come the gods of finance, the great bankers, those of independent income in commerce and speculation; even the socialists, seeing that their industry is ruined, will be forced to buy stocks for a living from me!

Violette
Yes, it is fine!  It is grand!

Mercadet It is sublime and philanthropic!  And to think I have been refused four thousand francs, wherewith to send out advertisements and launch my prospectus!