Minard
More than poor!  There is nothing beyond that.

Mercadet
Yes, sir, we are in debt, deeply in debt, and some of these debts
clamor for payment.

Minard
No, no, it is impossible!

Mercadet Don’t you believe it? (Aside) He is getting frightened. (Taking up a pile of papers from his desk.  Aloud) Here, my would-be son-in-law, are the family papers which will show you our fortune—­

Minard
Sir—­

Mercadet
Or rather our lack of fortune!  Read—­ Here is a writ of attachment on
our furniture.

Minard
Can it be possible?

Mercadet It is perfectly possible!  Here are judgments by the score!  Here is a writ of my arrest.  You see in what straits we are!  Here you see all my sales, the protests on my notes and the judgments classed in order—­ for, young man, understand well in a disordered condition of things, order is above all things necessary.  When disorder is well arranged it can be relieved and controlled—­ What can a debtor say when he sees his debt entered up under his number?  I make the government my model.  All payments are made in alphabetic order.  I have not yet touched the letter A. (He replaces the papers.)

Minard
You haven’t yet paid anything?

Mercadet Scarcely anything.  You know the condition of my expenses.  You know, because you are a book-keeper.  See, (picking up the papers again) the total debit is three hundred and eighty thousand.

Minard
Yes, sir.  The balance is entered here.

Mercadet You can understand then how you must make me shudder when you come before my daughter with your fine protestations!  Since to marry a poor girl with nothing but an income of eighteen hundred francs, is like inviting in wedlock a protested note with a writ of execution.

Minard (lost in thought)
Ruined, ruined!  And without resources!

Mercadet (aside)
I thought that would upset him. (Aloud) Come, now, young man, what are
you going to do?

Minard
First, I thank you, sir, for the frankness of your admissions.

Mercadet
That is good!  And what of the ideal, and your love for my daughter?

Minard
You have opened my eyes, sir.

Mercadet (aside)
I am glad to hear it.

Minard
I thought that I already loved her with a love that was boundless, and
now I love her a hundred times more.

Mercadet
The deuce you do!

Minard Have you not led me to understand that she will have need of all my courage, of all my devotion!  I will render her happy by other means than my tenderness; she shall feel grateful for all my efforts, she shall love me for my vigils, and for my toils.

Mercadet
You mean to tell me that you still wish to marry her?

Minard Do I wish!  When I believed that you were rich, I would not ask her of you without trembling, without feeling ashamed of my poverty; but now, sir, it is with assurance and with tranquillity of mind that I ask for her.