Mercadet (taking a seat) What is the matter with you? You, a man of intelligence, of ability--a strong man, and yet you cause me all this trouble! You came here and I felt absolutely enraged against you--not because I was your friend, I confess it, but through selfishness. I look upon our interests as identical. I said to myself: I owe him so much that he is sure to give me his assistance when I have such a grand chance--like the one at this moment! And you are going to let out the whole business and to lose everything for the sake of a paltry sum! Everything! You are perhaps right in refusing me the thousand crowns--It is better, perhaps, to bury them in your coffers with the rest. All right! Send me to prison! Then, when all is gone, you'll have to look somewhere else for a friend! Goulard (in a tone of self-reproach) Mercadet!--my dear Mercadet!--But is it actually true? Mercadet (rising from his seat) Is it true? (to his wife) You would not believe he was so stupid. (To Goulard) She has ended by becoming a daring speculator. (To his wife) I may tell you, my dear, that Goulard is going to invest a large sum in our great enterprise. Mme. Mercadet (ashamed) Sir! Mercadet What a misfortune it will be if it does not turn out well. Goulard Mercadet!--Are you talking about the Basse-Indre mines? Mercadet Of course I am. (Aside) Ah! You have some of the Basse-Indre stock, I see. Goulard But the investment seems to me first-class. Mercadet First-class--Yes, for those who sold out yesterday. Goulard Have any stockholders sold out? Mercadet Yes, privately. Goulard Good-bye. Thanks, Mercadet; madame, accept my respects. Mercadet (stopping him) Goulard! Goulard Eh? Mercadet What about this note to Delannoy? Goulard I will speak to him about the postponement-- Mercadet No; write to him; and in the meantime I will find some one who will buy your stock. Goulard (sitting down) All my Basse-Indre? (He takes up a pen.) Mercadet (aside) Here you see the honest man, ever ready to rob his neighbor. (Aloud) Very well, write--ordering a postponement of three months. Goulard (writing) Three months! There you have it. Mercadet The man I allude to, who buys in secret for fear of causing a rise, wants to get three hundred shares; do you happen to have three hundred? Goulard I have three hundred and fifty. Mercadet Fifty more! Never mind! He'll take them all. (Examining what Goulard has written.) Have you mentioned the thousand crowns? Goulard And what is your friend's name? Mercadet His name? You haven't mentioned?-- Goulard His name! Mercadet The thousand crowns. Goulard What a devil of a man he is! (He writes.) There, you have it! Mercadet His name is Pierquin. Goulard (rising) Pierquin. Mercadet He at least is the nominal buyer.--Go to your house and I will send him to you; it is never a good thing to run after a purchaser.