THE ROAD TO RUIN. 99 of inconvenient principles, their readiness to study his humours and flatter his vanity, were acceptable tp him as a change from the apprehensions of financial disaster, with which his mind was necessarily haunted day and night. Even proof positive that his associates were deliberately defrauding him did not suffice to deprive them of his half-appreciative, half-contemptuous patronage. One of the most notorious members of the crew of Comus, who had made Abdin their headquarters, was detected one day in some act of flagrant dishonesty towards his host, was bidden to Ismail's presence, and was informed with the dignity the Khedive knew so well how to assume, that, after what had occurred, the doors of the Palace would no longer be open for his admittance. The next day, however, the expelled adventurer, who understood the character of his patron, borrowed a ladder and climbed into the Vice-regal audience chamber, remarking as he entered, ** I have, obeyed your Highness's commands, and have crossed your threshold by the window, and not by the door."' The remark appealed to Ismail's sense of humour ; the offence was forthwith forgiven, and the offender was reinstated in the Vice-regal favour. The foreign entourage of the Khedivial Court at this date included men of every nationality, but I should say that France and Italy contributed the most numerous and most successful contingent to this association of free lances. Amongst them there were doubtless not a few of our fellow-countrymen, but they and our Trans-Atlantic kinsmen, though perhaps