Have you any debts? Is your estate mortgaged?

Mericourt
You would not think much of my friend if he had not debts.

De la Brive
I will be frank, sir, there is a mortgage of forty-five thousand
francs on my estate.

Mercadet (aside)
An innocent young man! he might easily-- (Rising from his seat. Aloud)
You have my consent; you shall be my son-in-law, and are the very man
I would choose for my daughter's husband. You do not realize what a
fortune you possess.

De la Brive (to Mericourt)
This is almost too good to be true.

Mericourt (to De la Brive)
He is dazzled by the good speculation which he sees ahead.

Mercadet (aside)
With government protection, which can be purchased, salt pits may be
established. I am saved! (Aloud) Allow me to shake hands with you,
after the English fashion. You fulfill all that I expected in a son-
in-law. I plainly see you have none of the narrowness of provincial
land-holders; we shall understand each other thoroughly.

De la Brive
You must not take it in bad part, sir, if I, on my part, ask you--

Mercadet
The amount of my daughter's fortune? I should have distrusted you if
you hadn't asked! My daughter has independent means; her mother
settles on her her own fortune, consisting of a small property--a farm
of two hundred acres, but in the very heart of Brie, and provided with
good buildings. Besides this, I shall give her two hundred thousand
francs, the interest of which will be for your use, until you find a
suitable investment for it. So you see, young man, we do not wish to
deceive you, we wish to keep the money moving; I like you, you please
me, for I see you have ambition.

De la Brive
Yes, sir.

Mercadet
You love luxury, extravagance; you wish to shine at Paris--

De la Brive
Yes, sir.

Mercadet
You see that I am already an old man, obliged to lay the load of my
ambition upon some congenial co-operator, and you shall be the one to
play the brilliant part.

De la Brive
Sir, had I been obliged to take my choice of all the fathers-in-law in
Paris, I should have given the preference to you. You are a man after
my own heart! Allow me to shake hands, after the English fashion!
(They shake hands for the second time.)

Mercadet (aside)
It seems too good to be true.

De la Brive (aside)
He fell head-first into my salt marshes!

Mercadet (aside)
He accepts an income from me!

(Mercadet retires towards the door on the left side.)

Mericourt (to De la Brive)