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 carries a chest. Oh! what a huge chest! Gentlemen, it is Godeau! I recognize him by the chest. Mercadet Yes--I was expecting Godeau. Goulard He has come back from Calcutta. Pierquin With a fortune. Mercadet Of incalculable extent! Violette What have I been saying? (Violette goes in silence to Mercadet and grasps his hand. The two others follow his example, and then all the creditors form a ring round Mercadet.) Mercadet (with seeming emotion) Oh! Gentlemen--my friends--my dear comrades--my children! SCENE SEVENTH The same persons and Mme. Mercadet. Mme. Mercadet (entering from the left) Mercadet! My dear! Mercadet (aside) It is my wife. I thought that she had gone out. She is going to ruin everything! Mme. Mercadet My dear! I see that you don't know what has happened? Mercadet I? No, I don't--if I-- Mme. Mercadet Godeau is returned. Mercadet Ah! You say? (Aside) I wonder if she suspects-- Mme. Mercadet I have seen him--I have spoken to him. It was I who saw him first. Mercadet (aside) De la Brive has won her over! What a man he is! (To Mme. Mercadet, low) Good, my dear wife, good! You will be our salvation. Mme. Mercadet But you don't understand me, it is really he, it is-- Mercadet (in a low voice) Hush! (Aloud) I must--gentlemen--I must go and welcome him. Mme. Mercadet No--wait, wait a little, my dear; poor Godeau has overtaxed his strength--scarcely had he reached my apartment when fatigue, excitement and a nervous attack overcame him-- Mercadet Really! (Aside) How well she does it! Violette Poor Godeau!