But the complications were so many!  Perhaps in his admiration for the country of his adoption Mr Melmotte had allowed himself to attach higher privileges to the British aristocracy than do in truth belong to them.  He did in his heart believe that could he be known to all the world as the father-in-law of the eldest son of the Marquis of Auld Reekie he would become, not really free of the law, but almost safe from its fangs in regard to such an affair as this.  He thought he could so use the family with which he would be connected as to force from it that protection which he would need.  And then again, if he could tide over this bad time, how glorious would it be to have a British Marquis for his son-in-law!  Like many others he had failed altogether...