Goulard (turning back)
Me?—To save me—from what?
Mercadet (aside)
I have him now. (Aloud) From what?—From
the most complete ruin.
Goulard
Ruin? It is impossible.
Mercadet (taking a seat) What is the matter with you? You, a man of intelligence, of ability—a strong man, and yet you cause me all this trouble! You came here and I felt absolutely enraged against you—not because I was your friend, I confess it, but through selfishness. I look upon our interests as identical. I said to myself: I owe him so much that he is sure to give me his assistance when I have such a grand chance—like the one at this moment! And you are going to let out the whole business and to lose everything for the sake of a paltry sum! Everything! You are perhaps right in refusing me the thousand crowns—It is better, perhaps, to bury them in your coffers with the rest. All right! Send me to prison! Then, when all is gone, you’ll have to look somewhere else for a friend!
Goulard (in a tone of self-reproach)
Mercadet!—my dear Mercadet!—But
is it actually true?
Mercadet (rising from his seat)
Is it true? (to his wife) You would not believe he
was so stupid. (To
Goulard) She has ended by becoming a daring speculator.
(To his wife)
I may tell you, my dear, that Goulard is going to
invest a large sum
in our great enterprise.
Mme. Mercadet (ashamed)
Sir!
Mercadet
What a misfortune it will be if it does not turn out
well.
Goulard
Mercadet!—Are you talking about the Basse-Indre
mines?
Mercadet
Of course I am. (Aside) Ah! You have some of
the Basse-Indre stock, I
see.
Goulard
But the investment seems to me first-class.
Mercadet
First-class—Yes, for those who sold out
yesterday.
Goulard
Have any stockholders sold out?
Mercadet
Yes, privately.
Goulard
Good-bye. Thanks, Mercadet; madame, accept my
respects.
Mercadet (stopping him)
Goulard!
Goulard
Eh?
Mercadet
What about this note to Delannoy?
Goulard
I will speak to him about the postponement—
Mercadet
No; write to him; and in the meantime I will find
some one who will
buy your stock.
Goulard (sitting down)
All my Basse-Indre? (He takes up a pen.)
Mercadet (aside)
Here you see the honest man, ever ready to rob his
neighbor. (Aloud)
Very well, write—ordering a postponement
of three months.
Goulard (writing)
Three months! There you have it.
Mercadet The man I allude to, who buys in secret for fear of causing a rise, wants to get three hundred shares; do you happen to have three hundred?
Goulard
I have three hundred and fifty.
Mercadet
Fifty more! Never mind! He’ll take
them all. (Examining what Goulard
has written.) Have you mentioned the thousand crowns?