THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 131 



observed that I thought it desirable that I should go to 

 Constantinople and Alexandria, to which the Emperor 

 replied, ' It is very important that you should do so.' 



"My colleagues then retired, but having remarked 

 that the Emperor wished to speak to us, the Due 

 d' Albufera and myself remained behind. The Emperor 

 then said to me in a very friendly tone, ' What do 

 you think we should do now ? ' I replied, * Your 

 Majesty, I think it would be wise to recall the French 

 Consul-Gen eral, who, being a man of great capacity, 

 could be sent to some other post.' ' Well,' remarked 

 the Emperor, ' if that is all, it is easily done. You 

 can tell Walewski so.' 



" I lost not a moment in writing to Count Walew- 

 ski, to tell him what had passed, and I ended my 

 letter by saying : 



" i The practical result of this audience seems to be 

 that, while reserving the political question, which can 

 be left for diplomatic settlement, M. Thouvenel should 

 be instructed to ask the new Grand Vizier (who is, I 

 believe, favourable to the enterprise) for a letter to 

 the Viceroy, authorising him to continue the pre- 

 paratory works as defined in my letter from Corfu on 

 the 3rd of March to the Grand Vizier, and, secondly, 

 that M. Sabatier's services should be utilised any- 

 where else than in Egypt.' 



"It is very fortunate that I happened to be in 

 France, and not in Egypt, during the mission of 

 Muktar Bey, which has occasioned you so much 



