which would
be the day of the election, Mr Melmotte was not expected in the City,
and the priest was referred to his present private residence in Bruton
Street. There he was told that the great man might probably be found
in Grosvenor Square, and at the house in the square Father Barham was
at last successful. Mr Melmotte was there superintending the
arrangements for the entertainment of the Emperor.

The servants, or more probably the workmen, must have been at fault in
giving the priest admittance. But in truth the house was in great
confusion. The wreaths of flowers and green boughs were being
suspended, last daubs of heavy gilding were being given to the wooden
capitals of mock pilasters, incense was being burned to kill the smell
of the paint, tables were being fixed and chairs were being moved; and
an enormous set of open presses were being nailed together for the
accommodation of hats and cloaks. The hall was chaos, and poor Father
Barham, who had heard a good deal of the Westminster election, but not
a word of the intended entertainment of the Emperor, was at a loss to
conceive for what purpose these operations were carried on. But
through the chaos he made his way, and did soon find himself in the
presence of Mr Melmotte in the banqueting hall.

Mr Melmotte was attended both by Lord Alfred and his son. He was
standing in front of the chair which had been arranged for the
Emperor, with his hat on one side of his head, and he was very angry
indeed. He had been given to understand when the dinner was first
planned, that he was to sit opposite to his august guest;--by which he
had conceived that he was to have a seat immediately in face of the
Emperor of Emperors, of the Brother of the Sun, of the Celestial One
himself. It was now explained to him that this could not be done. In
face of the Emperor there must be a wide space, so that his Majesty
might be able to look down the hall; and the royal princesses who sat
next to the Emperor, and the royal princes who sat next to the
princesses, must also be so indulged. And in this way Mr Melmotte's
own seat became really quite obscure. Lord Alfred was having a very
bad time of it. 'It's that fellow from "The Herald" office did it, not
me,' he said, almost in a passion. 'I don't know how people ought to
sit. But that's the reason.'

'I'm d---- if I'm going to be treated in this way in my own house,'
were the first words which the priest heard. And as Father Barham
wa