Only it did not occur to her that as head of French finances her policy of strict economy would have reduced her husband to beggary.

French finances were further sunk by failing investments abroad, principally in railroads.

BNP's sell-off will be followed by others, and this should, eventually, produce a sea-change in French finance.

For all that, Mr. Pinault's razzle-dazzle had made him the bete noire of French finance.

The flow of reparation from Germany played a central role in French finances.

The English Minister, Mr. Pitt, has frequently alluded to the state of the French finances in his budgets, without understanding the subject.

And Mr. Bebear, 63, a king maker in French finance, is said to want the deal done.

A turning point came in 1984 when Jacques Delors (former French finance minister) assumed the presidency of the EC.

But Mr. Hefes had already crashed through the clubby confines of French finance.

The French instability further weakened the reforms that were essential in the re-establishment of stable French finances.