Goulard
That was fine.

Pierquin
It was sublime.

Violette
It melts me to tears, gentlemen, it melts me to tears.

Mercadet (aside) Look at that!  Well!  There’s a woman worth calling a wife! (Taking her by the hand) My darling—­ Excuse me, gentlemen. (He kisses her on both cheeks.  In a low voice) Things are going on finely.

Mme. Mercadet (in a low voice)
How lucky this is, my dear!  Better than anything you could have
fancied.

Mercadet I should think so. (Aside) It is very much better. (Aloud) Go and look after him, my dear.  And you, gentlemen, be good enough to pass into my office. (He points to the left.) Wait there till we settle our accounts.

(Mme. Mercadet goes out.)

Goulard
I am at your service, my friend—­

Pierquin
Our excellent friend.

Violette
Friend, we are at your service.

Mercadet (supporting himself half-dazed against the table)
What do you think?  And people said that I was nothing but a sharper!

Goulard
You!  You are one of the most capable men in Paris.

Pierquin
Who is bound to make a million—­as soon as he has a—­

Violette
Dear M. Mercadet, we will give you as much time as you want.

All
Certainly.

Mercadet
This is a little late—­but gentlemen, I thank you as heartily as if
you had said it yesterday morning.  Good-day. (In a low voice to
Goulard) Within an hour your stock shall be sold—­

Goulard
Good!

Mercadet (in a low voice to Pierquin)
Stay where you are.

(All the others enter the office.)

Pierquin
What can I do for you?

Sceneeighth

Mercadet and Pierquin.

Mercadet We are now alone.  There is no time to lose.  The stock of Basse-Indre went down yesterday.  Go to the Exchange, buy up two hundred, three hundred, four hundred—­Goulard will deliver them to you—­

Pierquin
And for what date, and on what collateral?

Mercadet
Collateral?  Nonsense!  This is a cash deal; bring them to me to-day,
and I will pay to-morrow.

Pierquin
To-morrow?

Mercadet
To-morrow the stock will have risen.

Pierquin
I suppose, considering your situation, that you are buying for Godeau.

Mercadet
Do you think so?

Pierquin
I presume he gave his orders in the letter which announced his return.

Mercadet Possibly so.  Ah!  Master Pierquin, we are going to take a hand in business again, and I guess that you will gain from this to the end of the year something like a hundred thousand francs in brokerage from us.

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.