Works of Honore De Balzac

by Honoré de Balzac

  Mercadet (aside) I shall get them. (Aloud) My dear fellow, a son-in-law is a bird who is easily frightened away. The absence of one piece of lace on a dress reveals everything to them. The ladies’ costumes are ordered, the merchants are on the point of delivering them — yes, I was rash enough to say that I would pay for everything, for I counted on you! Verdelin, a thousand crowns won’t kill you, for you have sixty thousand francs a year. And the life of a young girl of whom you are fond is now at stake — for you are fond of Julie! She has a sincere attachment for your little girl, they play together like the happiest of creatures. Would you let the companion of your daughter pine away with despair? Misfortune is contagious! It brings evil on all around!

  Verdelin My dear fellow, I have not a thousand crowns. I can lend you my plate; but I have not —

  Mercadet

  You can give me your note on the bank. It is soon signed —

  Verdelin (rising)

  I — no —

  Mercadet Ah! my poor daughter! It is all over. (Falls back overcome in an armchair near the table.) God forgive me, if I put an end to the painful dream of life, and let me awaken in Thy bosom!

  Verdelin (after a short silence)

  But — Have you really found a son-in-law?

  Mercadet (rising abruptly to his feet) You ask if I have found a son-in-law! You actually throw a doubt upon this! You may refuse me, if you like, the means of effecting the happiness of my daughter, but do not insult me! I am fallen low indeed! O Verdelin! I would not for a thousand crowns have had such an idea of you, and you can never win absolution from me excepting by giving them.

  Verdelin (wishing to leave)

  I must go and see if I can —

  Mercadet No! This is only another way of refusing me! Can I believe it? Will not you whom I have seen spend the same sum upon some such trifle as a passing love affair — will you not apply the thousand crowns to the performance of a good action?

  Verdelin (laughing)

  At the present time there are very few good actions, or transactions.

  Mercadet

  Ha! Ha! Ha! How witty! You are laughing, I see there is a reaction!

  Verdelin

  Ha! Ha! Ha! (He drops his hat.)

  Mercadet (picking up the hat and dusting it with his sleeve) Come now, old fellow. Haven’t we seen life! We two began it together. What a lot of things we have said and done! Don’t you recollect the good old time when we swore to be friends always through thick and thin?

  Verdelin

  Indeed, I do. And don’t you recollect our party at Rambouillet, where

  I fought an officer of the Guard on your account?

  Mercadet I thought it was for the lovely Clarissa! Ah! But we were gay! We were young! And to-day we have our daughters, daughters old enough to marry! If Clarissa were alive now, she would blame your hesitation!

  Verdelin

  If she had lived, I should never have married.

  Mercadet Because you know what love is, that you do! So I may count upon you for dinner, and you give me your word of honor that you will send me —

  Verdelin

  The plate?

  Mercadet

  And the thousand crowns —

  Verdelin

  Ah! You still harp upon that! I have told you I cannot do it.

  Mercadet (aside) It is certain that this fellow will never die of heart failure. (Aloud) And so it seems I am to be murdered by my best friend? Alas! It is always thus! You are actually untouched by the memory of Clarissa — and by the despair of a father! (He cries out towards the chamber of his wife.) Ah! it is all over! I am in despair! I am going to blow my brains out!

  SCENE THIRTEENTH

  The same persons, Mme. Mercadet and Julie.

  Mme. Mercadet

  What on earth is the matter with you, my dear?

  Julie

  How your voice frightened us, papa!

  Mercadet They heard us! See how they come, like two guardian angels! (He takes them by the hand.) Ah! you melt my heart! (To Verdelin) Verdelin! Do you wish to slay a whole family? This proof of their tenderness gives me courage to fall at your feet.

  Julie Oh, sir! (She checks her father.) It is I who will implore you for him. Whatever may be his demand, do not refuse my father; he must, indeed, be in the most terrible anguish!

  Mercadet Dear child! (Aside) In what accents does she speak! I couldn’t speak so naturally as that.

  Mme. Mercadet

  M. Verdelin, listen to us —

  Verdelin (to Julie)

  You don’t know what he is asking, do you?

  Julie

  No.

  Verdelin

  He is asking for a thousand crowns, in order to arrange your marriage.

  Julie Then, forget, sir, all that I said to you; I do not wish for a marriage which has been purchased by the humiliation of my father.

  Mercadet (aside)

  She is magnificent!

  Verdelin

  Julie! I will go at once and get the money for you. (Exit.)

  SCENE FOURTEENTH

  The same persons, except Verdelin; then the servants.

  Julie

  Oh, father! Why did you not tell me?

  Mercadet (kissing her) You have saved us all! Ah! when shall I be so rich and powerful that I may make him repent of a favor done so grudgingly?

  Mme. Mercadet

  Do not be unjust; Verdelin yielded to your request.

  Mercadet He yielded to the cry of Julie, not to my request. Ah! my dear, he has extorted from me more than a thousand crowns’ worth of humiliation!

  Justin (coming in with Therese and Virginie)

  The tradespeople.

  Virginie

  The milliner and the dressmaker —

  Therese

  And the dry-goods merchants.

  Mercadet That is all right! I have succeeded in my scheme! My daughter shall be Comtesse de la Brive! (To the servants) Show them in! I am waiting, and the money is ready. (He goes proudly towards his study, while the servants look at him with surprise.)

  Curtain to the First Act.

  ACT II

  SCENE FIRST

  (Mercadet’s study, containing book-shelves, a safe, a desk, an armchair and a sofa.)

  Minard and Justin, then Julie.

  Minard

  Did you say that M. Mercadet wished to speak with me?

  Justin

  Yes, sir. But mademoiselle has requested that you await her here.

  Minard (aside) Her father asks to see me. She wishes to speak to me before the interview. Something extraordinary must have happened.

  Justin

  Mademoiselle is here.

  (Enter Julie.)

  Minard (going towards her)

  Mlle. Julie!

  Julie Justin, inform my father that the gentleman has arrived. (Exit Justin.) If you wish, Adolphe, that our love should shine as bright in the sight of all as it does in our hearts, be as courageous as I have already been.

  Minard

  What has taken place?

  Julie A rich young suitor has presented himself, and my father is acting without any pity for us.

  Minard

  A rival! And you ask me if I have any courage! Tell me his name,

  Julie, and you will soon know whether I have any courage.

  Julie Adolphe! You make me shudder! Is this the way in which you are going to act with the hope of bending my father?

  Minard (seeing Mercadet approach)

  Here he comes.

  SCENE SECOND

  The same persons and Mercadet.

  Mercadet

  Sir, are you in love with my daughter?

  Minard

  Yes, sir.

  Mercadet That is, at least, what she believes, and you seem to have had the talent to persuade her that it is so.

  Minard Your manner of expressing yourself implies a doubt on your part, which in any one else would have been offensive to me. Why should I not lo
ve mademoiselle? Abandoned by my parents, it was from your daughter, sir, that I have learned for the first time the happiness of affection. Mlle. Julie is at the same time a sister and a friend to me. She is my whole family. She alone has smiled upon me and has encouraged me; and my love for her is beyond what language can express!

  Julie

  Must I remain here, father?

  Mercadet (to his daughter) Swallow it all! (To Minard) Sir, with regard to the love of young people I have those positive ideas which are considered peculiar to old men. My distrust of such love is all the more permissible because I am not the father blinded by paternal affection. I see Julie exactly as she is; without being absolutely plain, she has none of that beauty that makes people cry out, “See!” She is quite mediocre.

  Minard You are mistaken, sir; I venture to say that you do not know your daughter.

  Mercadet

  Permit me —

  Minard

  You do not know her, sir.

  Mercadet

  But I know her perfectly well — as if — in a word, I know her —

  Minard

  No, sir, you do not.

  Mercadet

  Do you mean to contradict me again, sir?

  Minard You know the Julie that all the world sees; but love has transfigured her! Tenderness and devotion lend to her a transporting beauty that I alone have called up in her.

  Julie

  Father, I feel ashamed —

  Mercadet

  You mean you feel happy. And if you, sir, repeat these things —

  Minard I shall repeat them a hundred times, a thousand times, and even then I couldn’t repeat them often enough. There is no crime in repeating them before a father!

  Mercadet You flatter me! I did believe myself her father; but you are the father of a Julie whose acquaintance I should very much like to make.

  Minard

  You have never been in love, I suppose?

  Mercadet I have been very much in love! And felt the galling chain of gold like everybody else.

  Minard

  That was long ago. In these days we love in a better way.

  Mercadet

  How do you do that?

  Minard

  We cling to the soul, to the idea!

  Mercadet

  What we used to call under the Empire, having our eyes bandaged.

  Minard It is love, pure and holy, which can lend a charm to all the hours of life.

  Mercadet

  Yes all! — except the dinner hour.

  Julie Father, do not ridicule two children who love each other with a passion which is true and pure, because it is founded upon a knowledge of each other’s character; on the certitude of their mutual ardor in conquering the difficulties of life; in a word, of two children who will also cherish sincere affection for you.

  Minard (to Mercadet)

  What an angel, sir!

  Mercadet (aside) I’ll angel you! (Putting an arm around each.) Happy children! — You are absolutely in love? What a fine romance! (To Minard) You desire her for your wife?

  Minard

  Yes, sir.

  Mercadet

  In spite of all obstacles?

  Minard

  It is mine to overcome them!

  Julie Father, ought you not to be grateful to me in that by my choice I am giving you a son full of lofty sentiments, endowed with a courageous soul, and —

  Minard

  Mademoiselle — Julie.

  Julie

  Let me finish; I must have my say.

  Mercadet My daughter, go and see your mother, and let me speak of matters which are a great deal more material than these.

  Julie

  I will go, father —

  Mercadet

  Come back presently with your mother, my child.

  (Mercadet kisses Julie and leads her to the door.)

  Minard (aside)

  I feel my hopes revive.

  Mercadet (returning)

  Sir, I am a ruined man.

  Minard

  What does that mean?

  Mercadet Totally ruined. And if you wish to have my Julie, you are welcome to her. She will be much better off at your house, poor as you are, than in her paternal home. Not only is she without dowry, but she is burdened with poor parents — parents who are more than poor.

  Minard

  More than poor! There is nothing beyond that.

  Mercadet Yes, sir, we are in debt, deeply in debt, and some of these debts clamor for payment.

  Minard

  No, no, it is impossible!

  Mercadet Don’t you believe it? (Aside) He is getting frightened. (Taking up a pile of papers from his desk. Aloud) Here, my would-be son-in-law, are the family papers which will show you our fortune —

  Minard

  Sir —

  Mercadet Or rather our lack of fortune! Read — Here is a writ of attachment on our furniture.

  Minard

  Can it be possible?

  Mercadet It is perfectly possible! Here are judgments by the score! Here is a writ of my arrest. You see in what straits we are! Here you see all my sales, the protests on my notes and the judgments classed in order — for, young man, understand well in a disordered condition of things, order is above all things necessary. When disorder is well arranged it can be relieved and controlled — What can a debtor say when he sees his debt entered up under his number? I make the government my model. All payments are made in alphabetic order. I have not yet touched the letter A. (He replaces the papers.)

  Minard

  You haven’t yet paid anything?

  Mercadet Scarcely anything. You know the condition of my expenses. You know, because you are a book-keeper. See, (picking up the papers again) the total debit is three hundred and eighty thousand.

  Minard

  Yes, sir. The balance is entered here.

  Mercadet You can understand then how you must make me shudder when you come before my daughter with your fine protestations! Since to marry a poor girl with nothing but an income of eighteen hundred francs, is like inviting in wedlock a protested note with a writ of execution.

  Minard (lost in thought)

  Ruined, ruined! And without resources!

  Mercadet (aside) I thought that would upset him. (Aloud) Come, now, young man, what are you going to do?

  Minard

  First, I thank you, sir, for the frankness of your admissions.

  Mercadet

  That is good! And what of the ideal, and your love for my daughter?

  Minard

  You have opened my eyes, sir.

  Mercadet (aside)

  I am glad to hear it.

  Minard I thought that I already loved her with a love that was boundless, and now I love her a hundred times more.

  Mercadet

  The deuce you do!

  Minard Have you not led me to understand that she will have need of all my courage, of all my devotion! I will render her happy by other means than my tenderness; she shall feel grateful for all my efforts, she shall love me for my vigils, and for my toils.

  Mercadet

  You mean to tell me that you still wish to marry her?

  Minard Do I wish! When I believed that you were rich, I would not ask her of you without trembling, without feeling ashamed of my poverty; but now, sir, it is with assurance and with tranquillity of mind that I ask for her.

  Mercadet (to himself)

  I must admit that this is a love exceedingly true, sincere and noble!

  And such as I had believed it impossible to find in the whole world!

  (To Minard) Forgive me, young man, for the opinion I had of you —

  forgive me, above all, for the disappointment I am about to cause you.

  Minard

  What do you mean?

  Mercadet

  M. Minard — Julie — cannot be your wife.

  Minard What is this, sir? Not be my wife? In spite of our love, in spite of all you have confide
d to me?

  Mercadet Yes, and just because of all I have confided to you. I have shown you Mercadet the rich man in his true colors. I am going to show you him as the skeptical man of business. I have frankly opened my books to you. I am now going to open my heart to you as frankly.

  Minard

  Speak out, sir, but remember how great my devotion to Mlle. Julie is.

  Remember that my self-sacrifice and unselfishness are equal to my love

  for her.

  Mercadet Let it be granted that by means of night-long vigils and toils you will make a living for Julie! But who will make a living for us, her father and mother?

  Minard

  Ah! sir — believe in me!

  Mercadet

  What! Are you going to work for four, instead of working for only two?

  The task will be too much for you! And the bread which you give to us,

  you will have to snatch out of the hands of your children —

  Minard

  How wildly you talk!

  Mercadet And I, in spite of your generous efforts, shall fall, crushed under the weight of disgraceful ruin. A brilliant marriage for my daughter is the only means by which I would be enabled to discharge the enormous sums I owe. It is only thus that in time I could regain confidence and credit. With the aid of a rich son-in-law I can reconquer my position, and recuperate my fortune! Why, the marriage of my daughter is our last anchor of salvation! This marriage is our hope, our wealth, the prop of our honor, sir! And since you love my daughter, it is to this very love that I make my appeal. My friend, do not condemn her to poverty; do not condemn her to a life of regret over the loss and disgrace which she has brought upon her father!

  Minard (in great distress)

  But what do you ask me to do?

  Mercadet (taking him by the hand) I wish that this noble affection which you have for her, may arm you with more courage than I myself possess.

  Minard

  I will show such courage —

  Mercadet

  Then listen to me. If I refuse Julie to you, Julie will refuse the man

  I destine for her. It will be best, therefore, that I grant your

  request for her hand, and that you be the one —

  Minard

  I! — She will not believe it, sir —

  Mercadet

  She will believe you, if you tell her that you fear poverty for her.

  Minard

  She will accuse me of being a fortune hunter.

  Mercadet

  She will be indebted to you for having secured her happiness.