'This is Mr Melmotte,' said Lord Alfred, who had deserted the ladies and still stuck to his master. 'Lord De Griffin, let me introduce you to Mr Melmotte.'
'Oh--oh--oh,' said Lord De Griffin, just putting out his hand. 'I am delighted;--ah, yes,' and pretending to see somebody, he made a weak and quite ineffectual attempt to escape.
Melmotte stood directly in his way, and with unabashed audacity repeated his demand. 'I am desirous of being presented to his Imperial Majesty. Will you do me the honour of making my request known to Mr Wilson?' Mr Wilson was the Secretary of State, who was as busy as a Secretary of State is sure to be on such an occasion.
'I hardly know,' said Lord De Griffin. 'I'm afraid it's all arranged. I don't know anything about it myself.'
'You can introduce me to Mr Wilson.'
'He's up there, Mr Melmotte; and I couldn't get at him. Really you must excuse me. I'm very sorry. If I see him I'll tell him.' And the poor under secretary again endeavoured to escape.
Mr Melmotte put up his hand and stopped him. 'I'm not going to stand this kind of thing,' he said. The old Marquis of Auld Reekie was close at hand, the father of Lord Nidderdale, and therefore the proposed father-in-law of Melmotte's daughter, and he poked his thumb heavily into Lord Alfred's ribs. 'It is generally understood, I believe,' continued Melmotte, 'that the Emperor is to do me the honour of dining at my poor house on Monday. He don't dine there unless I'm made acquainted with him before he comes. I mean what I say. I ain't going to entertain even an Emperor unless I'm good enough to be presented to him. Perhaps you'd better let Mr Wilson know, as a good many people intend to come.'
'Here's a row,' said the old Marquis. 'I wish he'd be as good as his word.'
'He has taken a little wine,' whispered Lord Alfred. 'Melmotte,' he said, still whispering; 'upon my word it isn't the thing. They're only Indian chaps and Eastern swells who are presented here,--not a fellow among 'em all who hasn't been in India or China, or isn't a Secretary of State, or something of that kind.'
'Then they should have done it at Windsor, or at the ball,' said Melmotte, pulling down his waistcoat. 'By George, Alfred! I'm in earnest, and somebody had better look to it. If I'm not presented to his Imperial Majesty to-night, by G----, there shall be no dinner in Grosvenor Square on Monday. I'm master enough of my own house, I suppose, to be able to manage that.'