Mercadet (reappearing)
Ah! my dear! I am an unfortunate man! I ought to blow my brains out.

Mme. Mercadet
Good heavens! What is the matter?

Mercadet
The matter is that a moment ago I asked this sham bankrupt Violette
for six thousand francs.

Mme. Mercadet
And he refused to give them to you?

Mercadet
On the contrary, he handed them over.

Mme. Mercadet
What, then, do you mean?

Mercadet
I am an unlucky man, as I told you, because he gave them so quickly
that I could have gotten ten thousand if I had only known it.

Mme. Mercadet
What a man you are! I suppose you know that Verdelin is waiting for
you.

Mercadet
Beg him to come in. At last I have Julie's trousseau; and we now need
only enough money for your dresses and for household expenses until