Julie
What is the matter, father?
Mercadet
Tell me (seeing De la Brive come in) Michonnin, tell me frankly—
De la Brive Luckily for me, sir, I followed the advice of madame—otherwise you would have had two Godeaus at a time, for heaven has brought back to you the genuine man.
Mercadet
You mean to say then—that he has really returned!
Verdelin
Do you mean to say that you didn't know it after all?
Mercadet (recovering himself, standing before the table and touching the notes) I—of course I did. Oh, fortune, all hail to thee, queen of monarchs, archduchess of loans, princess of stocks and mother of credit! All hail! Thou long sought for, and now for the thousandth time come home to us from the Indies! Oh! I've always said that Godeau had a mind of tireless energy and an honest heart! (Going up to his wife and daughter) Kiss me!
Mme. Mercadet (in tears)
Ah! dear, dear husband!
Mercadet (supporting her)
And you, what courage you have shown in adversity!
Mme. Mercadet
But I am overcome by the happiness of seeing you saved—wealthy!
Mercadet But honest! And yet I must tell you my wife, my children—I could not have held out much longer—I was about to succumb—my mind always on the rack—always on the defensive—a giant might have yielded. There were moments when I longed to flee away— Oh! For some place of repose! Henceforth let us live in the country.