The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mercadet, by Honore De Balzac

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Mercadet
A Comedy In Three Acts

Author: Honore De Balzac

Release Date: December 3, 2004 [EBook #14246]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MERCADET ***

Produced by Dagny and John Bickers

MERCADET
A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS

BY

HONORE DE BALZAC

Presented for the First Time in Paris
At the Theatre du Gymnase-Dramatique
August 24, 1851

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Mercadet, a speculator
Madame Mercadet, his wife
Julie, their daughter
Minard, clerk of Mercadet
Verdelin, friend of Mercadet
Goulard, creditor of Mercadet
Pierquin, creditor of Mercadet
Violette, creditor of Mercadet
Mericourt, acquaintance of Mercadet
De la Brive, suitor to Julie
Justin, valet
Therese, lady's maid
Virginie, cook
Various other creditors of Mercadet

SCENE: Paris, in the house of Mercadet

TIME: About 1845

MERCADET

ACT I

SCENE FIRST

(A drawing-room. A door in the centre. Side doors. At the front, to
the left, a mantel-piece with a mirror. To the right, a window, and
next it a writing-table. Armchairs.)

Justin, Virginie and Therese

Justin (finishing dusting the room)
Yes, my dears, he finds it very hard to swim; he is certain to drown,
poor M. Mercadet.

Virginie (her basket on her arm)
Honestly, do you think that?

Justin
He is ruined! And although there is much fat to be stewed from a
master while he is financially embarrassed, you must not forget that
he owes us a year's wages, and we had better get ourselves discharged.

Therese
Some masters are so frightfully stubborn! I spoke to the mistress
disrespectfully two or three times, and she pretended not to hear me.

Virginie
Ah! I have been at service in many middle-class houses; but I have
never seen one like this! I am going to leave my