It is simply saying that all is now in chaos. I am assuming the part that is confusing is "the quiet sands have run." It could easily be alluding to the way that during a sandstorm, the calm sands of the surface are no longer there as the chaos of the storm casts them about.
Answer: it emphasizes the difference between the financial situation of the dentist and the mayor.
By involving the narrator with an odd cast of characters <span />
By agreeing to marry Paris
