In this conjunction of his affairs Mr Melmotte certainly lost his head.  He had audacity almost sufficient for the very dangerous game which he was playing; but, as crisis heaped itself upon crisis, he became deficient in prudence.  He did not hesitate to speak of himself as the man who ought to represent Westminster, and of those who opposed him as little malignant beings who had mean interests of their own to serve.  He went about in his open carriage, with Lord Alfred at his left hand, with a look on his face which seemed to imply that Westminster was not good enough for him.  He even hinted to certain political friends that at the next general election he should try the City.  Six months since he had been a humble man to a Lord,—­but now he scolded Earls and...