Alpha Book

Therefore they are not sold."
"But surely there are other banks in Rome, and private individuals--"
"No, I do not believe that there are," said Orsino with conviction. "My
cousin of San Giacinto thinks that the selling days are over, and I
fancy he is right, except about Del Ferice, who is cleverer than any of
us. We had better not deceive ourselves, Contini. Del Ferice sold our
house for us, and unless we keep with him we shall not sell another so
easily. His bank has a lot of half-finished houses on its hands secured
by mortgages which are worthless until the houses are habitable. Del
Ferice wants us to finish those houses for him, in order to recover
their value. If we do it, we shall make a profit. If we attempt anything
on our own account we shall fail. Am I right or not?"
"What can I say? At all events you are on the safe side. But why has not
the count given all this work to some old established firm of his
acquaintance?"
"Because he cannot trust any one as he can trust us, and he knows it.


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