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 ceremony. Please to take a seat. De la Brive (sitting on a sofa) I am grateful for your confidence. Mercadet I am seeking information with regard to a debtor, who, like you, lives in the neighborhood of Bordeaux. De la Brive I know every one in that district. Mercadet It is said he has relations there. De la Brive Relations! I have none but an old aunt. Mercadet (pricking up his ears) An--old aunt--? De la Brive Whose health-- Mercadet (trembling) Is--is--delicate? De la Brive And her income is forty thousand francs. Mercadet (quite overcome) Good Lord! The very figure! De la Brive The Marchioness, you see, will be a good woman to have on hand. I mean the Marchioness-- Mercadet (vehemently rushing at him) Of Bourdillac, sir! De la Brive How is this? Do you know her name? Mercadet Yes, and yours too! De la Brive The devil you do! Mercadet You are head over ears in debt; your furniture is held in another man's name; your old aunt has a pittance of six hundred francs; Pierquin, who is one of your smallest creditors, has forty-seven thousand francs in notes of hand from you. You are Michonnin, and I am the idiotic nabob! De la Brive (stretching himself at full length on the sofa) By heavens! You know just as much about it as I do! Mercadet Well--I see that once more the devil has taken a hand in my game. De la Brive (aside, rising to his feet) The marriage is over! I am no longer a socialist; I shall become a communist. Mercadet And I have been just as easily deceived, as if I had been on the Exchange. De la Brive Show yourself worthy of your reputation. Mercadet M. Michonnin, your conduct is more than blameworthy! De la Brive In what particular? Did I not say that I had debts? Mercadet We'll let that pass, for any one may have debts; but where is your estate situated. De la Brive In the Landes. Mercadet And of what does it consist? De la Brive Of sand wastes, planted with firs. Mercadet Good to make toothpicks.