n that the story against Melmotte had
been got up simply as an electioneering trick,--so that Mr Alf might
carry the borough on the next day. As a dodge for an election this
might be very well, but any who might be deterred by such a manoeuvre
from meeting the Emperor and supporting the Prince would surely be
marked men. And none of the wives, when they were consulted, seemed to
care a straw whether Melmotte was a swindler or not. Would the Emperor
and the Princes and Princesses be there? This was the only question
which concerned them. They did not care whether Melmotte was arrested
at the dinner or after the dinner, so long as they, with others, could
show their diamonds in the presence of eastern and western royalty.
But yet,--what a fiasco would it be, if at this very instant of time
the host should be apprehended for common forgery! The great thing was
to ascertain whether others were going. If a hundred or more out of
the two hundred were to be absent how dreadful would be the position
of those who were present! And how would the thing go if at the last
moment the Emperor should be kept away? The Prime Minister had decided
that the Emperor and the Prince should remain altogether in ignorance
of the charges which were preferred against the man; but of that these
doubters were unaware. There was but little time for a man to go about
town and pick up the truth from those who were really informed; and
questions were asked in an uncomfortable and restless manner. 'Is your
Grace going?' said Lionel Lupton to the Duchess of Stevenage,--having
left the House and gone into the park between six and seven to pick up
some hints among those who were known to have been invited. The
Duchess was Lord Alfred's sister, and of course she was going. 'I
usually keep engagements when I make them, Mr Lupton,' said the
Duchess. She had been assured by Lord Alfred not a quarter of an hour
before that everything was as straight as a die. Lord Alfred had not
then even heard of the rumour. But ultimately both Lionel Lupton and
Beauchamp Beauclerk attended the dinner. They had received special
tickets as supporters of Mr Melmotte at the election,--out of the
scanty number allotted to that gentleman himself,--and they thought
themselves bound in honour to be there. But they, with their leader,
and one other influential member of the party, were all who at last
came as the political friends of the candidate for Westminster. The
existing minister