I gathered that there was question of warning certain financiers and rich persons outside of this circle of some danger known only to the initiated.

Indeed, the wealthy were sending their money out of the country as fast and as secretly as possible.
"No, no," cried the young man I have mentioned; "the Baron Giraud--a fine Baron, heaven knows!--has risen with the Empire--nor has he been over-scrupulous as to whom he trod underfoot.

With the Empire he must fall." And one and all fell to abusing the Baron Giraud.

He was a thief, and a despoiler of the widow and orphan.

His wealth had been acquired not honestly, but at the expense,--nay, at the ruin--of others.