Melmotte had insisted that Lord Alfred should sit next to himself at the big table, and having had the objectionable bar removed, and his own chair shoved one step nearer to the centre, had carried his point.  With the anxiety natural to such an occasion, he glanced repeatedly round the hall, and of course became aware that many were absent.  ’How is it that there are so many places empty?’ he said to his faithful Achates.

‘Don’t know,’ said Achates, shaking his head, steadfastly refusing to look round upon the hall.

Melmotte waited awhile, then looked round again, and asked the question in another shape:  ’Hasn’t there been some mistake about the numbers?  There’s room for ever so many more.’

‘Don’t know,’ said Lord Alfred, who was unhappy...