t, sir. May I ask your political leaning?

De la Brive
Sir, I am a socialist.

Mercadet
That is a new move! But now let us talk of money matters.

Mericourt
It seems to me that the notary might attend to that.

De la Brive
No! M. Mercadet is right; it is best that we should attend to these
things ourselves.

Mercadet
True, sir.

De la Brive
Sir, my whole fortune consists in the estate which bears my name; it
has been in my family for a hundred and fifty years, and I hope will
never pass from us.

Mercadet
The possession of capital is perhaps more valuable in these days.
Capital is in your own hand. If a revolution breaks out, and we have
had many revolutions lately, capital follows us everywhere. Landed
property, on the contrary, must furnish funds for every one. There it
stands stock still like a fool to pay the taxes, while capital dodges
out of the way. But this is not real obstacle. What is the amount of
your land?

De la Brive
Three thousand acres, without a break.

Mercadet
Without a break?

Mericourt
Did I not tell you as much?

Mercadet
I never doubted it.

De la Brive
A chateau--

Mercadet
Good--

De la Brive
And salt marshes, which can be worked as soon as the administration
gives permission. They would yield enormous returns!

Mercadet
Ah, sir, why have we been so late in becoming acquainted! Your land,
then, must be on the seashore.

De la Brive
Without half a league of it.

Mercadet
And it is situated?

De la Brive
Near Bordeaux.

Mercadet
You have vineyards, then?

De la Brive
No! fortunately not, for the disposal of wines is a troublesome
matter, and, moreover, the cultivation of the vine is exceedingly
expensive. My estate was planted with pine trees by my grandfather, a
man of genius, who was wise enough to sacrifice himself to the welfare
of his descendants. Besides, I have furniture, which you know--

Mercadet
Sir, one moment, a man of business is always careful to dot his i's.

De la Brive (under his voice)
Now we're in for it!

Mercadet
With regard to your estate and your marshes,--I see all that can be
got out of these marshes. The best way of utilizing them would be to
form a company for the exploitation of the marshes of the Brive! There
is more than a million in it!

De la Brive
I quite understand that, sir. They need only to be thrown upon the
market.

Mercadet (aside)
These words indicate a certain intelligence in this young man. (Aloud)