Mercadet
I am an unlucky man, as I told you, because he gave them so quickly
that I could have gotten ten thousand if I had only known it.

Mme. Mercadet
What a man you are!  I suppose you know that Verdelin is waiting for
you.

Mercadet Beg him to come in.  At last I have Julie’s trousseau; and we now need only enough money for your dresses and for household expenses until the marriage.  Send in Verdelin.

Mme. Mercadet
Yes, he is your friend, and of course you will gain your end with him.

(Exit Mme. Mercadet.)

Mercadet (alone) Yes, he is my friend!  And he has all the pride that comes with fortune; but he has never had a Godeau (looking round to see if he is alone).  After all, Godeau!  I really believe that Godeau has brought me in more money than he has taken from me.

Scenetwelfth

Mercadet and Verdelin.

Verdelin
Good-day, Mercadet.  What is doing now?  Tell me quickly for I was
stopped here on my way up-stairs to Bredif’s apartment.

Mercadet
Oh, he can wait!  How is it that you are going to see a man like
Bredif?

Verdelin (laughing)
My dear friend, if people only visited those they esteem they would
make no visits at all.

Mercadet (laughing and taking his hand)
A man wouldn’t go even into his own house.

Verdelin
But tell me what you want with me?

Mercadet
Your question is so sudden that it hasn’t left me time to gild the
pill.

Verdelin Oh! my old comrade.  I have nothing, and I am frank to say that even if I had I could give you nothing.  I have already lent you all that my means permit me to dispose of; I have never asked you for payment, for I am your friend as well as your creditor, and indeed, if my heart did not overflow in gratitude towards you, if I had not been a man different from ordinary men, the creditor would long ago have killed the man.  I tell you everything has a limit in this world.

Mercadet
Friendship has a limit, that’s certain; but not misfortune.

Verdelin If I were rich enough to save you altogether, to cancel your debt entirely, I would do so with all my heart, for I admire your courage.  But you are bound to go under.  Your last schemes, although cleverly projected, have collapsed.  You have ruined your reputation, you are looked upon as a dangerous man.  You have not known how to take advantage of the momentary success of your operations.  When you are utterly beggared, you will always find bread at my house; but it is the duty of a friend to speak these plain truths.

Mercadet What would be the advantage of friendship unless it gave us the pleasure of finding ourselves in the right, and seeing a friend in the wrong—­of being comfortable ourselves and seeing our friend in difficulties and of paying compliment to ourselves by saying disagreeable things to him?  Is it true then that I am little thought of on ’Change?