In april 1859 a revolution of sorts swept through Paris, or at least its bourse. At the instigation of the market's regulated brokers, about 20 unlicensed stockbrokers (coulissiers) were arrested and had their papers seized. But the blue-blooded agents de change of the Paris Bourse found themselves under attack from their clients, who wanted to continue to do business with the unlicensed brokers. Not only were they cheaper, but they could take risk and make markets instead of simply matching buyers and sellers. "The affair caused such a commotion that the government got frightened," a correspondent reported at the time. Within days the unregulated brokers were freed.
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