cond course--

Virginie
But the tradespeople--

Mercadet
Nonsense! You annoy me--To talk about tradespeople on the day when my
daughter and her intended are to meet!

Virginie
They won't supply anything.

Mercadet
What have we got to do with tradespeople that won't take our trade? We
must get others. You must go to their competitors, you must give them
my custom, and they will tip you for it.

Virginie
And how shall I pay those that I am giving up?

Mercadet
Don't worry yourself about that,--it is my business.

Virginie
But if they ask me to pay them--

Mercadet (aside, rising to his feet)
That girl has money of her own. (Aloud) Virginie, in these days,
credit is the sole wealth of the government. My tradespeople
misunderstand the laws of their country, they will show themselves
unconstitutional and utter radicals, unless they leave me alone.--
Don't you trouble your head about people who raise an insurrection
against the vital principles of all rightly constituted states! What
you have got to attend to, is dinner,--that is your duty, and I hope
that on this occasion you will show yourself to be what you are, a
first-class cook! And if Mme. Mercadet, when she settles with you on
the day after my daughter's wedding, finds that she owes you anything,
I will hold myself liable for it all.

Virginie (hesitating)
Sir--

Mercadet
Now go about your business. I give you here an opportunity of gaining
an interest of ten per cent every six months!--and that is better than
the savings banks will do for you.

Virginie
That it is; they only give four per cent a year!

Mercadet (whispering to his wife)
What did I tell you!--(To Virginie) How can you run the risk of
putting your money into the hands of strangers--You are quite clever
enough to invest it yourself, and here your little nest-egg will
remain in your own possession.

Virginie
Ten per cent every six months!--I suppose that madame will give me the
particulars with regard to the second course. I must start to work on
it. (Exit.)

SCENE FIFTH

Mercadet and Mme. Mercadet

Mercadet (watching Virginie as she goes out)
That girl has a thousand crowns of our good money in the savings bank,
so that we needn't worry about the kitchen for awhile.

Mme. Mercadet
Ah! sir, how can you stoop to such a thing as this?

Mercadet
Madame, these are mere petty details; don't bother about the means to
an end. You, a little