The short conversion System::Variant::short returns a short or a reference to a short that is a conversion of this System::Variant::Variant. If the short* conversion is used, the System::Variant::short sets the varByRef bit, meaning that the System::Variant::Variant contains a reference as opposed to a value. 

If the conversion operation is not possible because of an invalid variant type conversion, an ESystem::Variant::VariantError exception is thrown.