China and the West

Trollope, Anthony. The way we live now. (London : Chapman and Hall, 1875).
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Melmotte's large gifts to charitable organizations and lavish entertainments convinced the public of his financial genius, and money flowed through his hands. He was asked by the Government as a great London merchant to give a dinner for the Emperor of China; the Conservatives called on him to contest Westminster for a seat in Parliament. Shortly before the dinner vague rumors began to float about that Melmotte's finances were not in order, and that one of the papers in the sale of an estate he was purchasing had been forged. Public opinion veered sharply. The great dinner was but sparsely attended, but at the election next day he won the Westininster seat.
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