I wished to take the trouble, I could win you over
again. Come now, act like genuine creditors! Ridicule the past, forget
the brilliant strokes of business I put within the power of each of
you before the sudden departure of my faithful Godeau--

Goulard
His faithful Godeau!

Pierquin
Ah! If there were only--

Mercadet
Forget all that preposterous past, take no account of what might
induce him to return--after being waited for so long--and--let us
start for Clichy, gentlemen, let us start for Clichy!

Violette
Mercadet, you are expecting Godeau, aren't you?

Mercadet
No!

Violette (as with a sudden inspiration)
Gentlemen, he is expecting Godeau!

Goulard
Can it be true?

Pierquin
Speak.

All
Speak! Speak!

Mercadet (with feeble deprecations)
Why, no, no--yet I do not know--I-- Certainly, it is possible that
some day or other he may return form the Indies with some--
considerable fortune-- (In a decided tone) But I give you my word of
honor that I don't expect Godeau here to-day.

Violette (excitedly)
Then it must be to-morrow! Gentlemen, he expects him to-morrow!

Goulard (in a low voice to the others)
Unless this is some fresh trick to gain time and ridicule us--

Pierquin (aloud)
Do you think it might be?

Goulard
It is quite possible.

Violette (in a loud tone)
Gentlemen, he is fooling us.

Mercadet (aside)
The devil he is! (Aloud) Come, gentlemen, we had better be starting.

Goulard
I swear that--

(The rumbling of carriage wheels is heard.)

Mercadet (aside)
At last! (Aloud) Oh, heavens! (He lays his hand upon his heart.)

A Postillion (outside)
A carriage at the door.

Mercadet
Ah! (Falls back on a chair near the table.)

Goulard (looking through the pane of glass above the mantel)
A carriage!

Pierquin (doing the same)
A post-chaise!

Violette (doing the same)
Gentlemen, a post-chaise is at the door.

Mercadet (aside)
My dear De la Brive could not have arrived at a better moment!

Goulard
See how dusty it is!

Violette
And battered to the very hood! It must have come from the heart of the
Indies, to be as battered as that.

Mercadet (mildly)
You don't know what you are talking about, Violette! Why, my good
fellow, people don't arrive from the Indies by land.

Goulard
But come and see for yourself, Mercadet; a man has stepped out--

Pierquin
Enveloped in a large pelisse--do come--

Mercadet
No--pardon me. The joy--the excitement--I--

Violette
He