The friends of Melmotte had moreover a basis of hope, and were enabled to sound premonitory notes of triumph, arising from causes quite external to their party.  The ‘Breakfast Table’ supported Melmotte, but the ‘Breakfast Table’ was not a Conservative organ.  This support was given, not to the great man’s political opinions, as to which a well-known writer in that paper suggested that the great man had probably not as yet given very much attention to the party questions which divided the country,—­but to his commercial position.  It was generally acknowledged that few men living,—­perhaps no man alive,—­ had so acute an insight into the great commercial questions of the age as Mr Augustus Melmotte.  In whatever part of the world he might have acquired his commercial experience,—­...