"Pooh!" said Dickie Marsh, "he would be swallowed in one mouthful in Wall Street. As for the small affairs on this side of the water, he understands them well enough. But it is just because he understands them that his advice will ruin Chésy. It will not bore you to have me explain how and why I am sure that a crash is coming in that famous silver mine syndicate which you have at least heard of. All those who buy for a rise--whom we call the bulls--will be caught. Chésy has a fortune of $300,000. He explained his position to me; he will lose $250,000. If it has not happened already, it will happen to-morrow." "And you have told him all that?" "What's the use?" the American replied. "It would only spoil his trip. And then it will be time enough at Genoa, where he can telegraph. But you, Baroness, will help me to do them a real service. You see that if Brion advises Chésy to join the bulls, it is because he himself is with the bears. That is our name for those who play for a decline. All this is legitimate. It is a battle. Each one for himself. All the financiers who give advice to men of society do the same, and they are right. Only Brion has still another reason: imagine Madame de Chésy with an income of ten thousand francs.--You understand." "It is ignoble enough for him, that calculation," Ely said with disgust. "But how can I help you to prevent that scoundrel from proposing to the poor little woman to be his paid mistress, since that is certainly what you mean?" "Exactly," replied the American. "I wish you would say to her, not this evening, or to-morrow, but when things have turned the way I know they will. 'You have need of some one to help you out of your embarrassment? Remember Dickie Marsh, of Marionville.' I would tell her myself. But she would think me like Brion, amorous of her, and offering money for that. These Frenchwomen are very clever, but there is one thing they will never understand; that is that a man may not be thinking with them about the 'little crime,' as they call it themselves. That is the fault of the men of this country. All Europe is rotten to the core. If you speak to her, there will be a third person between her and me, and she will know very well that I have another reason."