THE ROAD TO RUIN. 87 independently of, and often in ignorance of, each other. No agent of his was ever certain whether he was not himself the dupe of his employer. As illustrative of this strange side of Ismail's character, let me recall an incident which was communicated to me by the person who, next to Ismail, had the best reasons for knowing the true facts of the case. After his exile, Ismail was, as usual, in want of money, and applied to an English gentleman, with whom he had had previous business relations, to effect a settlement with some creditors pressing for payment. At this time his Highness was residing in Italy, and my informant, by his request, went to breakfast with him at the Favorita palace in the neighbourhood of Naples, which had been offered the ex- Khedive as a temporary abode by Victor Emmanuel. Ismail was, as usual, charming in his reception of his guest, and began talking to him about their common acquaintances in bygone days. Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by the announcement that a messenger from a local bank had brought a letter, which required an immediate answer. The messenger was introduced, and presented a letter. After reading it, Ismail dismissed the messenger with the curt answer, " I will write in reply," and then, with apparent hesitation, turned round to his visitor and said, ** Read this, and you will understand why I am upset." The letter was a formal notice from the bank, calling* attention to the fact that his Highnesses account was overdrawn to the extent of several thousand pounds, and