In regard to her it was acknowledged that she had been born out of England,--some said in New York; but Madame Melmotte, who must have known, had declared that the great event had taken place in Paris.
It was at any rate an established fact that Mr Melmotte had made his wealth in France.

He no doubt had had enormous dealings in other countries, as to which stories were told which must surely have been exaggerated.

It was said that he had made a railway across Russia, that he provisioned the Southern army in the American civil war, that he had supplied Austria with arms, and had at one time bought up all the iron in England.

He could make or mar any company by buying or selling stock, and could make money dear or cheap as he pleased.

All this was said of him in his praise,--but it was also said that he was regarded in Paris as the most gigantic swindler that had ever lived; that he had made that City too hot to hold him; that he had endeavoured to establish himself in Vienna, but had been warned away by the police; and that he had at length found that British freedom would alone allow him to enjoy, without persecution, the fruits of his industry.