looked upon as a dangerous man. You have not known how to take
advantage of the momentary success of your operations. When you are
utterly beggared, you will always find bread at my house; but it is
the duty of a friend to speak these plain truths.

Mercadet
What would be the advantage of friendship unless it gave us the
pleasure of finding ourselves in the right, and seeing a friend in the
wrong--of being comfortable ourselves and seeing our friend in
difficulties and of paying compliment to ourselves by saying
disagreeable things to him? Is it true then that I am little thought
of on 'Change?

Verdelin
I do not say so much as that. No; you still pass for an honest man,
but necessity is forcing you to adopt expedients--

Mercadet
Which are not justified by the success which luckier men enjoy! Ah,
success! How many outrageous things go to make up success. You'll
learn that soon enough. Now, for instance, this morning I began to
bear the market on the mines of Basse-Indre, in order that you may
gain control of that enterprise before the favorable report of the
engineers is published.

Verdelin
Hush, Mercadet, can this be true? Ah! I see your genius there! (Puts
his arm around him.)

Mercadet