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The giver of the ball was Augustus Melirl whom Sir Felix Carbury desired to marry, and the husband of the lady as said to have been a Boheentleh within the last two years he had arrived in London from Paris, and had at first been known as M Melmotte But he had declared of hilishner,--an adlish Mele fluently, but with an accent which betrayed at least a long expatriation Miss Melmotte,--who a very short tilish well, but as a foreigner In regard to her it was acknowledged that she had been born out of England,--some said in New York; but Madareat event had taken place in Paris
It was at any rate an established fact that Mr Melmotte had made his wealth in France He no doubt had had enors in other countries, as to which stories were told which erated It was said that he had made a railway across Russia, that he provisioned the Southern army in the American civil war, that he had supplied Austria with arland
He couldstock, and could make money dear or cheap as he pleased All this was said of hiarded in Paris as the antic swindler that had ever lived; that he had made that City too hot to hold him; that he had endeavoured to establish himself in Vienna, but had been warned away by the police; and that he had at length found that British freedom would alone allow him to enjoy, without persecution, the fruits of his industry He was now established privately in Grosvenor Square and officially in Abchurch Lane; and it was known to all the world that a Royal Prince, a Cabinet Minister, and the very crea to his wife's ball All this had been done within twelve months
There was but one child in the family, one heiress for all this wealth Melh thick hair, with heavy eyebrows, and a wonderful look of power about hisas to redeearity; but the countenance and appearance of the man were on the whole unpleasant, and, I h he were purse-proud and a bully She was fat and fair,--unlike in colour to our traditional Jewesses; but she had the Jewish nose and the Jewish contraction of the eyes There was certainly very little in Madame Melmotte to recommend her, unless it was a readiness to spend ested to her by her new acquaintances It soive away presents to any ould accept them