It is already clear that the high risk bet of 2008 has not paid off, any more than it did in 1929. On the contrary, the failure to perform one rescue has made more rescues necessary: of AIG, of HBOS in Britain.  That is unlikely to be the end.  There are lists circulating of which institution is next on the ladder to fall off – or be picked off.  The most appropriate analogy for this kind of mood is Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None …” in which each murder produces more paranoia.
Des listes circulent, annonçant quelles seront les prochaines institutions à tomber – ou à être ramassées. L’analogie la plus appropriée pour ce genre d’ambiance est le Dix petits nègres d’Agatha Christie, dans lequel chaque meurtre augmente le niveau de paranoïa.