 Saccard sees an opportunity to rescue his failing bank, Banque Universelle, by financing the solo transatlantic flight of Jacques Hamelin, a pioneering aviator.Saccard intends to capitalise on his popularity to set up a colonial business project in Guyane and to seduce Hamelin's wife Line in his absence.When a rumour circulates that Hamelin has crashed, Saccard exploits the false reports to manipulate shares at the Bourse.