a picture, with a big diamond in his scarf. It ain't possible
that a handsome young man who owns such a turnout as that is going to
be the husband of Mlle. Mercadet? I can't believe it.

Justin
You don't know M. Mercadet! I, who have been in his house for the last
six years, and have seen him since his troubles fighting with his
creditors, can believe him capable of anything, even of growing rich;
sometimes I say to myself he is utterly ruined! Yellow auction
placards flame at his door. He receives reams of stamped creditor's
notices, which I sell by the pound for waste paper without being
noticed. But presto! Up he bobs again. He is triumphant. And what
devices he has! There is a new one every day! First of all, it is a
scheme for wooden pavements--then it is dukedoms, ponds, mills. I
don't know where the leakage is in his cash box; he finds it so hard
to fill; for it empties itself as easily as a drained wine-glass! And
always crowds of creditors! How well he turns them away! Sometimes I
have seen them come with the intention of carrying off everything and
throwing him into prison. But when he talks to them they end by being
the best of friends, and part with cordial handshakes! There are some
men who can tame jackals and lions. That's not a circumstance; M.
Mercadet can tame creditors!

Therese
One of them is not quite so easily managed; and that is M. Pierquin.

Justin
He is a tiger who feeds on bankrupts. And to think of poor old
Violette!

Virginie
He is both creditor and beggar--I always feel inclined to give him a
plate of soup.

Justin
And Goulard!

Therese
A bill discounter who would like very much to--to discount me.

Virginie (amid a general laugh)
I hear madame coming.

Justin
Let us keep a civil tongue in our heads, and we shall learn something
about the marriage.

SCENE SECOND

The same persons and Mme. Mercadet.

Mme. Mercadet
Justin, have you executed the commissions I gave you?

Justin
Yes, madame, but they refused to deliver the dresses, the hats, and
indeed all the things you ordered until--

Virginie
And I also have to inform madame that the tradesmen are no longer
willing--

Mme. Mercadet
I understand.

Justin
The creditors are the cause of the whole trouble. I wish I knew how to
get even with them.

Mme. Mercadet
The best way to do so would be to pay them.

Justin
They would be mightily surprised.

Mme. Mercadet
It is usel