"They might ask ten," said Molina, smiling. "They would give it!"
"And you wish me to subscribe to your Algerian gas?" asked Vaudrey.
The fat Molina burst out into loud laughter this time.
"I? I simply wish to give you the opportunity to make a fortune!"
"How?"
"That is one scheme. I will bring you four, five, ten of them! I have another, the Luxemburg coal. A deposit equal to that of Charleroi. You have only to allow me to print in the list of directors: Monsieur Sulpice Vaudrey, former President of the Council."
Vaudrey looked the fat man squarely in the face.
"Besides you will be in good company!" said the banker as he read over the names of deputies, senators, statesmen, coupled with those of financiers.
Sulpice knew most of them.
He despised nearly all of them. It was such that Molina styled good company!