About this time, a fortnight or nearly so before the election, Mr Longestaffe came up to town and saw Mr Melmotte very frequently.  He could not go into his own house, as he had let that for a month to the great financier, nor had he any establishment in town; but he slept at an hotel and lived at the Carlton.  He was quite delighted to find that his new friend was an honest Conservative, and he himself proposed the honest Conservative at the club.  There was some idea of electing Mr Melmotte out of hand, but it was decided that the club could not go beyond its rule, and could only admit Mr Melmotte out of his regular turn as soon as he should occupy a seat in the House of Commons.  Mr Melmotte, who was becoming somewhat arrogant, was heard to declare...