This man, with his slow speech and queer eyes, produced a fascinating effect on one like a serpent.

He was repugnant, and yet, in spite of one's self one was led on.

He, had at once introduced the grain question, but in this he found himself face to face with the real Madame Desvarennes; and no politeness held good on her part when it was a question of business.

From his first words, she had found a weak point in the plan, and had attacked him with such plainness that the financier, seeing his enterprise collapse at the sound of the mistress's voice-like the walls of Jericho at the sound of the Jewish trumpets--had beaten a retreat, and had changed the subject.
He was about to float a credit and discount company superior to any in the world.

He would come back and talk with Madame Desvarennes about it, because she ought to participate in the large profits which the matter promised.