She watched the young man narrowly for some time; then, sure she was not mistaken as to his capacity, she bluntly proposed to give him money to start a business.

Cayrol, who had already saved eighty thousand francs, received twelve hundred thousand from Madame Desvarennes, and settled in the Rue Taitbout, two steps from the house of Rothschild.
Madame Desvarennes had made a lucky hit in choosing Cayrol as her confidential agent.

This short, thickset Auvergnat was a master of finance, and in a few years had raised the house to an unexpected degree of prosperity.

Madame Desvarennes had drawn considerable sums as interest on the money lent, and the banker's fortune was already estimated at several millions.

Was it the happy influence of Madame Desvarennes that changed everything she touched into gold, or were Cayrol's capacities really extraordinary?
The results were there and that was sufficient.