Verdelin I'm only repeating what you said yesterday--

Mercadet What I said?

Pierquin The fact of it is, Verdelin does not believe in the return of G.o.deau--

Minard Ah, sir!

Mercadet Is there any doubt about it?

Verdelin (ironically) Doubt about it! There is more than doubt about it. I at once concluded that this so-called return was the bold stroke that you spoke of yesterday.

Mercadet I--(Aside) Stupid of me!

Verdelin I concluded that, relying upon the presence of this fict.i.tious G.o.deau, you made purchases with the idea of paying on the rise, which would follow to-morrow, and that to-day you have actually not a single sou--

Mercadet You had imagined all that?

Verdelin (approaching the fireplace) Yes, but when I saw outside that triumphal post-chaise--that model of Indian manufacture, and I realized that it was impossible to find such a vehicle in the Champs-Elysees, all my doubts disappeared and-- But hand him over the bonds, M. Pierquin!

Pierquin The--bonds--it happens that--

Mercadet (aside) I must bluff, or I am lost! (Aloud) Certainly, produce the bonds.

Pierquin One moment--if what this gentleman has said is true--

Mercadet (haughtily) M. Pierquin!

Minard But, gentlemen--M. G.o.deau is here--I have seen him--I have talked with him.

Mercadet (to Pierquin) He has talked with him, sir.

Pierquin (to Verdelin) The fact of it is, I have seen him myself.

Verdelin I don't doubt it! By the bye, on what vessel did our friend G.o.deau say he arrived?

Mercadet By what vessel? It was by the--by the /Triton/--

Verdelin How careless the English newspapers are. They have published the arrival of no other English mail packet but the /Halcyon/.

Pierquin Really!

Mercadet Let us end this discussion. M. Pierquin--those bonds--

Pierquin Pardon me, but as you have offered no collateral, I would wish--I do wish to speak with G.o.deau.

Mercadet You shall not speak with him, sir. I cannot permit you to doubt my word.

Verdelin This is superb.

Mercadet M. Minard, go to G.o.deau-- Tell him that I have obtained an option on three hundred thousand francs' worth of stock, and ask him to send me --(with emphasis)--thirty thousand francs for use as a margin. A man in his position always has such a sum about him. (In a low voice) Do not fail to bring me the thirty thousand.

Minard Yes, sir. (Goes out, through the right.)

Mercadet (haughtily) Will that satisfy you, M. Pierquin?

Pierquin Certainly, certainly. (To Verdelin) It will be all right when he comes back.

Verdelin (rising from his seat) And you expect that he will bring thirty thousand francs?

Mercadet I have a perfect right to be offended by your insulting doubt; but I am still your debtor--

Verdelin Bosh! You have enough in G.o.deau's pocket-book wherewith to liquidate; besides, to-morrow the Ba.s.se-Indre will rise above par. It will go up, up, till you don't know how far it will go. Your letter worked wonders, and we were obliged to publish on the Exchange the results of our explorations by boring. The mines will become as valuable as those of Mons--and--your fortune is made--when I thought I was going to make mine.

Mercadet I now understand your rage. (To Pierquin) And this is the origin of all the doubtful rumors.

Verdelin Rumors which can only vanish before the appearance of G.o.deau's cash.

SCENE TWELFTH

The same persons, Violette and Goulard.

Goulard Ah! my friend!

Violette (following him) My dear Mercadet!

Goulard What a man this G.o.deau is!

Mercadet (aside) Fine!

Violette What high sense of honor he has!

Mercadet (aside) That's pretty good!

Goulard What magnanimity!

Mercadet (aside) Prodigious!

Verdelin Have you seen him?

Violette Of course, I have!

Pierquin Have you spoken to him?

Goulard Just as I speak to you. And I have been paid.