1 50 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



just heard, and you will be the best judge as to what 

 it is worth. I can see no harm in letting you know 

 this, for if there was the slightest foundation for it, it 

 would be very unfortunate if you were not fore- 

 warned. The information was given to me on the 

 express condition that I should not disclose to you 

 the source from which it came. It appears that a head 

 engineer of the Ponts-et-Chause'es was sent to Egypt 

 by a statesman now in power, with the mission to 

 inspect the works on the isthmus, and address him a 

 report upon the results of his inspection. I am told 

 that this person expressed himself very unfavourably 

 as to what he had seen in the course of his visit, and 

 that he was very severe upon your engineers. It is 

 considered certain that his report will be very hostile, 

 and that he will draw the conclusion that the affair 

 cannot possibly be carried through under present con- 

 ditions. It is anticipated that this report will be 

 handed to the statesman in question, and that he will 

 submit it direct to the Emperor. Armed with this 

 report, the person who presents it will endeavour to 

 persuade the Emperor that the affair is being badly 

 managed, that the capital of the shareholders is in 

 danger, and that the honour and success of the enter- 

 prise is at stake ; while, by way of fresh arguments 

 to use with the Empress, from whom more difficulty 

 is anticipated than from the Emperor, an effort will 

 be made to alarm her and to persuade her that, in 

 your interest, it is desirable to save you from the diffi- 



