_Shy._ Well, well! But how comes it about that you
Whose honoured name has so long held the sway
Of all safe dealing, that men only asked,
"If a BARINGO backed it," to take up
Unquestioning the newest stock,--should thus
With sudden flash flare up and set in blaze
The whole commercial world?

_Bar._ Oh! press me not,
Nor question me too closely! "_Argentines_!"
That fatal word sums up the evil spell
That in these latter luckless days has fallen
Upon our swaying House.

_Shy._ I see your case!
A cry for gold finds you all unprepared,
Your capital locked up beyond the seas.
You cannot realise.

_Bar._ Alas! too true!
That is the situation!

_Shy._ Badly done!
Ah! it has been a sorry piece of work,
Your "management."

_Bar._ I bow my head to that!
But you will lend your aid? You'll pull us through?

_Shy._ Listen, BARINGO. Many a time and oft