disturbs me greatly.

Mercadet
You women are all too romantic.

Julie (returning)
It is M. Pierquin, papa.

Mercadet
A creditor and usurer--a vile and violent soul, who humors me because
he thinks me a man of resources; a wild beast only half-tamed yet
cowed by my audacity. If I showed fear he would devour me. (Going to
the door.) Come in, Pierquin, come in.



SCENE EIGHTH


The same persons and Pierquin.


Pierquin
My congratulations to you all. I hear that you are making a grand
marriage for your daughter. Mademoiselle is to marry a millionaire;
the report has already gone abroad.

Mercadet
A millionaire?--No, he has only nine hundred thousand francs, at the
most.