Mercadet
You must be incombustible.
De la Brive
What are the terms of our copartnership?
Mercadet You try to serve me in the desperate circumstances in which I am at present, and I will make you a present of your forty-seven thousand, two hundred and thirty-three francs, to say nothing of the centimes. Between ourselves, I may say that only address is needed.
De la Brive
In the use of the pistol or the sword?
Mercadet
No one is to be killed; on the contrary—
De la Brive
That will suit me.
Mercadet
A man is to be brought to life again.
De la Brive That doesn't suit me at all, my dear fellow. The legacy, the chest of Harpagon, the little mule of Scapin and, indeed, all the farces which have made us laugh on the ancient stage are not well received nowadays in real life. The police have a way of getting mixed up with them, and since the abolition of privileges, no one can administer a drubbing with impunity.
Mercadet Well, what do you think of five years in debtors' prison? Eh? What a fate!
De la Brive As a matter of fact, my decision must depend upon what you want me to do to any one, for my honor so far is intact and is worth—