CREDIT: Peter J. Thompson, National Post Natalie Wardrope, 21, prepares for the Toronto audition for the Millionaire's Club, a dating service for wealthy men. Club founder Patti Stanger says that women shouldn't talk too much or ask too many questions on a date."He's the driver; she's the passenger," she says.

TORONTO - According to Patti Stanger's rules of male-female interaction, developed for her international matchmaking service for ultra-rich men, women should shut up and listen. They should also pretend to be both interested and intrigued by what a man says about his hobbies or his work.

This, she says, is what makes for a successful pairing between a rich man and a beautiful woman.

"For every four questions that a man asks her, she should ask one, and not be so inquisitive to the point where it's too much," she said, in an interview before last night's launch party of the Canadian wing of the Millionaire's Club, a trophy-wife trade show.

"He's the driver; she's the passenger."

Leaving Ms. Stanger's hotel room the other day, it occurred to me that I was the woman in our brief relationship, and she was the man.

In our brief interview, Ms. Stanger was clearly the driver. I could hardly get a word in edgewise. She asked more questions than I did, among them (1) whether I was married and (2) whether I was happily married. She also asked whether I have ever dated a beautiful and successful woman, "but the moment she spoke she was so businesslike that your willy went dead?" (Answer: No)

"When a woman talks too much, he goes, 'God, shut up.' When a woman sits quiet, smiles pretty, 'Thanks for the wine. Great suggestion on the chocolate souffle.' Flicks her hair back. 'Did I tell you I really like your shirt?' He's like, 'Ooh, she's a mystery. I want to know this girl,'" she said.

So, women -- and reporters, it seems -- should be seen and not heard.

For their part, men should compliment women first thing.

Right off the bat, Ms. Stanger said I was cute, which I suspected was strategic flattery, but accepted it graciously and skeptically. (Full disclosure: I also accepted half a club sandwich and a glass of water.)

And with these gender roles reversed, I went out last night to see who wants to marry a millionaire.

As it turns out there are not so many. Twenty minutes after the scheduled start time only 86 applications had been filled out at the Carlu, a downtown event venue. Organizers had expected between 400 and 800 applicants.

Of the women that came, at least a few were professional models sent by their agencies -- ringers to beef up an otherwise poor showing.

"Personally, I would never have done it this way," said Ms. Stanger, saying it was her Canadian partner Mark Healy who wanted such a public launch. "But I have to let him sink before he swims."

Ms. Stanger, who founded the Millionaire's Club in the United States and has now partnered with Mr. Healy to open a Toronto office, has it all figured out. A brash third-generation matchmaker who once worked as an L.A. casting agent, she knows the rules of social engagement, and where everybody should fit in the social order.

She is the least romantic person I have ever met.

As part of her service, she asks men to describe the "prototype of your physicality," which is not as complicated as it sounds.

"A girl comes in, and I rate her, from one to 10. I rate her as she walks in the room," she said. "I'm going to look at it from a male point of view, like, how can I market her? What do I got to sell? Boobs, ass, legs. Those are the three genres. Some guys are ass-and-leg guys, some guys are boob guys. Ass-and-leg guys tend to be latent homosexuals in my opinion, because they don't like boobs, but they don't want to admit it."

She said Canadian men, of whom 10 have already signed up, are "really weird. They're incredibly passive, they disappear for long periods of time, they don't saddle-up as quickly, they're constantly complaining that the girls are not bombshell-gorgeous."

Last night, for instance, one mildly attractive middle-aged woman said she heard about the club in the newspapers and thought it was a good idea.

"I'm a model, I'm an actor, I'm a writer."

And would you give that all up? one of the six judges asked.

"In a heartbeat because I believe in love."

For legal reasons, the Millionaire's Club has to register every woman who applies, but in practice, many are rejected, among them prostitutes or escorts, but not strippers or women who seem boring or stupid. Ms. Stanger also said she rejects gold diggers.

"And I would recommend if someone is overweight to either join a chubby-chaser type of club that caters to your market place," she said. "You gotta be fit, hit the gym three or four times a week for your body type.

Gwen Landolt, national vice-president of Real Women of Canada, a conservative women's group, compared the Millionaire's Club Canada to a modern slave trade, in which the women willingly sell themselves.

"Women are not a commodity.... Men who are looking at women in these terms, they're not really men, they're boys," she said. "A real man wants a woman who is a friend and a companion, and an intellectual equal.... This is a market for physical attributes, and they're going to miss wonderful women."

Moral questions aside, there is clearly a market for this sort of thing, and Ms. Stanger boasts good success rates in the U.S. The question then, is whether the Millionaire's Club has a future among Canada's admittedly smaller stable of rich guys.

"I'm busy, I've got 10 grand, but I'd rather go to Las Vegas where there's more than one way to get lucky with that money," said one young bachelor, a Bay Street investment banker, who knew plenty of rich men who thought about going to last night's event, but none who actually did, and certainly none who would openly admit to paying the $10,000-entry fee.

"Ten grand, plus relationship upkeep costs, plus future alimony -- this is a very expensive club, given that everyone knows you can't actually buy what they're trying to sell," he said.

jbrean@nationalpost.com

For Women: Do Not Be a Gold Digger. For Men: Avoid Drinking Too Much

SOME RULES FOR THE MILLIONAIRE'S CLUB DATING SERVICE FOR MEN:

Leave a maximum of two phone messages for a woman. If she doesn't call you back, she is not interested.

Never ask a woman out at the last minute -- it is extremely disrespectful.

Always have a plan for your date.

Women prefer men who have direction.

Avoid drinking too much on dates. It is certainly tempting, but it will cloud your judgment.

Do not brag, and do not, under any conditions, discuss Millionaire's Club or any other women.

FOR WOMEN:

Return calls promptly and honour dating commitments.

If a gentleman does not offer you a five-star dinner on the first date, please notify the club immediately.

Do not, under any circumstances, discuss Millionaire's Club or any other romantic relationships.

Do not be a gold digger.

Never ask or hint for anything of monetary value.

If a gentleman offers to buy you a designer watch or handbag or anything else of worth, you may accept -- but do not bring up the subject.

Ran with fact box "For Women: Do Not Be a Gold Digger. ForMen: Avoid Drinking Too Much" which has been appended to the story.