intimacy between the Grendall family,—­that is Lord Alfred’s branch of the Grendalls,—­and the Melmottes; which was as it should be, as each could give much and each receive much.  It was known that Lord Alfred had not a shilling; but his brother was a duke and his sister was a duchess, and for the last thirty years there had been one continual anxiety for poor dear Alfred, who had tumbled into an unfortunate marriage without a shilling, had spent his own moderate patrimony, had three sons and three daughters, and had lived now for a very long time entirely on the unwilling contributions of his noble relatives.  Melmotte could support the whole family in affluence without feeling the burden;—­and why should he not?  There had once been an idea that Miles should attempt to...