legacy? And are the forty-seven
thousand francs of these vouchers actually worth forty-seven thousand
francs? You should post me on this subject and then we'll cry halves!

Pierquin
Very well, I agree. The fact of it is, Michonnin is to be married.

Mercadet
What next! And with whom, pray?

Pierquin
With the daughter of some nabob--an idiot who is giving her an
enormous dowry.

Mercadet
Where does Michonnin live?

Pierquin
Do you want to issue a writ? He is without a fixed abode in Paris. His
furniture is held under the name of a friend; but his legal domicile
must be in the neighborhood of Bordeaux, in the village of Ermont.

Mercadet
Stay a while. I have some one here from that region. I can get exact
information in a moment--and then we can begin proceedings.

Pierquin
Send me the paper, and leave the business to me--

Mercadet
I shall be very glad to do so. They shall be put into your hands in
return for a signed agreement as to the sharing of the money. I am at
present altogether taken up with the marriage of my daughter.

Pierquin
I hope everything is going on well.

Mercadet
Wonderfully well. My son-in-law is a gentleman and, in spite of that,
he is rich. And, although both rich and a gentleman, he is clever into
the bargain.

Pierquin
I congratulate you.

Mercadet
One word with you before you go. You said, Michonnin, of Ermont, in
the neighborhood of Bordeaux?

Pierquin
Yes, he has an old aunt somewhere about there! A good woman called
Bourdillac, who scrapes along on some six hundred francs a year, but
to whom he gives the title of Marchioness of Bourdillac. He pretends
that her health is delicate and that she has a yearly income of forty
thousand francs.

Mercadet
Thank you. Good-evening--

Pierquin
Good-evening. (goes out)

Mercadet (ringing)
Justin!

Justin
Did you call, sir?

Mercadet
Ask M. de la Brive to speak with me for a moment. (Justin goes out.)

Mercadet
Here is a windfall of twenty-three thousand francs! We shall be able
to arrange things famously for Julie's marriage.

SCENE EIGHTH

Mercadet, De la Brive and Justin.

De la Brive (to Justin, handing him a letter)
Here, deliver this letter. And this is for yourself.

Justin (aside)
A louis! Mademoiselle will be sure to have a happy home. (Exit.)

De la Brive
You wish to speak with me, my dear father-in-law?

Mercadet
Yes. You see I already treat you without cere