Mercadet
Nonsense! You annoy me--To talk about tradespeople on the day when my
daughter and her intended are to meet!

Virginie
They won't supply anything.

Mercadet
What have we got to do with tradespeople that won't take our trade? We
must get others. You must go to their competitors, you must give them
my custom, and they will tip you for it.

Virginie
And how shall I pay those that I am giving up?

Mercadet
Don't worry yourself about that,--it is my business.

Virginie
But if they ask me to pay them--

Mercadet (aside, rising to his feet)
That girl has money of her own. (Aloud) Virginie, in these days,
credit is the sole wealth of the government. My tradespeople
misunderstand the laws of their country, they will show themselves
unconstitutional and utter radicals, unless they leave me alone.--
Don't you trouble your head about people who raise an insurrection
against the vital principles of all rightly constituted states! What
you have got to attend to, is dinner,--that is your duty, and I hope