Besides, he had always an eye open for new business.

At that time, when the war was raging with France, gold was at a premium.

The guinea was worth about twenty-six or twenty-seven shillings.

Bianconi therefore began to buy up the hoarded-up guineas of the peasantry.

The loyalists became alarmed at his proceedings, and began to circulate the report that Bianconi, the foreigner, was buying up bullion to send secretly to Bonaparte! The country people, however, parted with their guineas readily; for they had no particular hatred of "Bony," but rather admired him.
Bianconi's conduct was of course quite loyal in the matter; he merely bought the guineas as a matter of business, and sold them at a profit to the bankers.
The country people had a difficulty in pronouncing his name.