Pierquin
Answer—
Violette
Tell us—
Mercadet Now, take care, I beg you. You are giving way, you are giving way, gentlemen, and if I wished to take the trouble, I could win you over again. Come now, act like genuine creditors! Ridicule the past, forget the brilliant strokes of business I put within the power of each of you before the sudden departure of my faithful Godeau—
Goulard
His faithful Godeau!
Pierquin
Ah! If there were only—
Mercadet Forget all that preposterous past, take no account of what might induce him to return—after being waited for so long—and—let us start for Clichy, gentlemen, let us start for Clichy!
Violette
Mercadet, you are expecting Godeau, aren't you?
Mercadet
No!
Violette (as with a sudden inspiration)
Gentlemen, he is expecting Godeau!
Goulard
Can it be true?