 In Brussels, everyone is panicking due to the proximity of Napoleon's army and the unexpected arrival of the French King, Louis XVIII of France into Brussels exile, yet Sharp's main interest is in humiliating Amelia at the ball over her — in Sharp's eyes — poor quality gown.Soon after, Jos wants to propose to Sharp, but he loses his nerve and subsequently disappears — escaping back to Calcutta — and by the time he eventually does propose, comments Knoepflmacher, "both Becky Sharp and our attitude toward her have moved on".Meanwhile, for Sharp, "he has become her last straw, not her first".