After the first cigar, Melmotte withdrew, and Lord Alfred went with him.  Lord Alfred would have liked to remain, being a man who enjoyed tobacco and soda-and-brandy,—­but momentous days had come upon him, and he thought well to cling to his Melmotte.  Mr Samuel Cohenlupe also went, not having taken a very distinguished part in the entertainment.  Then the young men were left alone, and it was soon proposed that they should adjourn to the cardroom.  It had been rather hoped that Fisker would go with the elders.  Nidderdale, who did not understand much about the races of mankind, had his doubts whether the American gentleman might not be a ‘Heathen Chinee,’ such as he had read of in poetry.  But Mr Fisker liked to have his amusement as well as did the others, and went up...