142 The Prince of Wales' Message [1894 



deeds and they all drank champagne in tumblers. The leaders among 

 them were the two Caffins and young Wright of Pryors Farm. The 

 servants, too, at Crabbet are making her a presentation. We have, I 

 think, seven house servants who have been over twenty years with 

 us. 



"21st May. — An answer has come from Arthur Ellis with an in- 

 formal message from the Prince of Wales. It is most satisfactory. 

 He says : ' Whilst the Prince of Wales feels some hesitation in send- 

 ing any message to the Khedive except through the accredited official 

 channel, I may say that should His Highness determine upon a visit to 

 England, he will certainly receive from the Prince of Wales and from 

 society in general every possible attention.' I have written to the 

 Khedive, conveying to him the message." 



This little piece of diplomacy I had afterwards reason to regret, 

 successful as it proved in bringing the Khedive to England. The in- 

 fluence of Marlborough House was not a wholesome one for the Khe- 

 dive's patriotism, and in other ways proved detrimental, as will be seen 

 later. 



" 22nd May. — I see a report in the evening paper that the Sultan 

 has forbidden the Khedive to go to England, but it sounds to me hardly 

 likely. 



" 24th May. — Breakfasted with Sir Henry Loch and had much talk 

 with him about ' civilization ' in Africa. He expressed his fear of the 

 spread of Mohammedanism southwards as likely to prove a danger. I 

 wish I could think it. He also asked about Arabia in a way which 

 sounded as if they may have their eye on it, too, in the scramble that 

 is going on. He told me the Chinese were driving the Russians back 

 in Central Asia. 



"Anne and Judith have taken rooms at 31, South Street for the 

 season. 



" 2jth May (Sunday.) — On Wednesday I called on Randolph 

 Churchill in Grosvenor Square (his mother's house) and had some 

 political talk with him. He is terribly altered, poor fellow, having 

 some disease, paralysis, I suppose, which affects his speech, so that it is 

 painful to listen to him. He makes prodigious efforts to express him- 

 self clearly, but these are only too visible. He talked of his election 

 prospects at Bradford and the desire of the Conservatives to delay the 

 turning out of the Rosebery Government. About Egypt he said, ' You 

 know my opinion about evacuation is unchanged, but my tongue is 

 tied.' ' This was the last time I saw him. I remember that as he came 

 to the door with me he tried again to explain to me what he wanted 

 to tell me about Egypt, but broke down and said, almost in tears, " I 

 know what I want to say, but damn it, I can't say it." 



