The English Board of the South Central Pacific and Mexican Railway Objective: to float a company on the London Stock Exchange and raise money to build a transcontinental railway from Salt Lake City to the Gulf of Mexico Chairman: Augustus Melmotte Corporate buccaneer and bully, charmer and dreamer Secretary: Mr. Croll Melmotte's man Sir Felix Carbury Melmotte's daughter Marie falls for this womanizing waster who believes fortunes should be earned without having to get out of bed before three in the afternoon... the hour when his club opens. Paul Montague An honest, young engineer with a suspicion that Melmotte has involved him in something very dishonest Adolphus Longestaffe Will he ever see a penny from the sale of his country estate to Melmotte? Dolly Longestaffe Adolphus' pecuniarily challenged son Marquis of Auld Reekie "Old" Scottish money Lord Nidderdale The Marquis' son and Melmotte's choice of a husband for his daughter, Marie Lord Alfred Grendall Reluctantly jumping through Melmotte's hoops Miles Grendall Lord Alfred's card-cheating son Hamilton K. Fisker Paul Montague's American partner. Is he in league with Melmotte?