olette--

Violette (pulling out a greasy pocketbook)
Wait a moment--here, I have the money with me--and will give it you
beforehand.

Mercadet
You! Six thousand francs!

Violette
A friend asked me to invest it for him, and--

Mercadet
And you couldn't find a better opening. We'll sign the contract
presently! (He takes the bills.) This closes the deal--and so much the
worse for Verdelin--he has missed a gold mine!

Violette
Well, I'll see you later.

Mercadet
Yes--see you later! You can get out through my study.

(Mercadet shows Violette the way out. Mme. Mercadet enters.)

Mme. Mercadet
Mercadet!

Mercadet (reappearing)
Ah! my dear! I am an unfortunate man! I ought to blow my brains out.

Mme. Mercadet
Good heavens! What is the matter?

Mercadet
The matter is that a moment ago I asked this sham bankrupt Violette
for six thousand francs.

Mme. Mercadet
And he refused to give them to you?

Mercadet
On the contrary, he handed them over.

Mme. Mercadet
What, then, do you mean?

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.

SCENE TWELFTH

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 c