‘And now,’ he said, ‘tell me what you heard in England about our Canal?’

‘I heard nothing,’ I answered, ’except from Maclean.  He told me that he thought that the Maritime Canal, if supplied from the sea, would become stagnant and unwholesome, and gradually fill.  That that plan was formed when the levels of the two seas were supposed to differ, so that there would be a constant current.

’"Now that the equality of their levels has been ascertained,” he said to me, “the only mode of obtaining a current is to employ the Nile instead of the sea.”  “But can the Nile spare the water?” I asked.  “Certainly,” he answered.  “An hour a day of the water from the Nile, even when at its lowest, would be ample.”  “And what do the other engineers say?” I asked.  “Randall,” he replied, “agrees with me.  The others are at present for the salt water.  But we are to meet in time and discuss it thoroughly."’

‘It is not the opinion of the engineers,’ answered Lafosse, ’that I want, but that of the politicians.

’We are told that Lord Palmerston threatens to prevent it as long as he is Minister.  This makes us very angry.  We think that we perceive in his opposition his old hatred of France and of everything that France supports or even favours—­feelings which we hoped the Alliance had cured.

‘The matter,’ he continued, ’was to have been brought before the Congress.  Buol had promised to Nigrelli to do so, and Cavour to Lesseps and Paleocapa.  But after the occupation of Italy, and the Belgian press, and the rights of Neutrals had been introduced, the Congress got impatient, and it was thought inexpedient to ask them to attend to another episodical matter.  The Emperor, however, did something.  He asked Ali Pasha, the Turkish Minister, what were the Sultan’s views.  “They will be governed,” said Ali Pasha, “in a great measure by those of his allies.”  “As one of them,” said the Emperor, “I am most anxious for its success.”  “In that case,” replied Ali Pasha, “the Sultan can have no objection to it in principle, though he may wish to annex to his firman some conditions—­for instance, as to the occupation of the forts at each end by a mixed garrison of Turks and Egyptians.”  The Emperor then turned to Lord Clarendon.  “What are your views,” he asked, “as to the Suez Canal?” “It is a grave matter,” answered Lord Clarendon, “and one on which I have no instructions.  But I believe it to be impracticable.”  “Well,” replied the Emperor, “but supposing for the sake of the argument, that it is practicable, what are your intentions?” “I cannot but think,” answered Lord Clarendon, “that any new channel of commerce must be beneficial to England.  The real difficulty is the influence which the Canal may have in the relations of Egypt and Turkey.”  “If that be the only obstacle,” replied the Emperor, “there is not much in it, for Ali Pasha has just told me that if we make no objection the Sultan makes none.  We cannot be more Turkish than the Turk."’