THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA Nubar's arrival in Egypt — Appointed secretary to Ibrahim Pasha — Anecdotes of Ibrahim— Enters public service as manager of the State railways.

It must have been some time in the early forties when Nubar Pasha first came to Egypt. His uncle had rendered services in bygone years to the Lion of the Levant, which secured himself and his family the goodwill of Mahomet AH after the latter had become hereditary Viceroy of Egypt. Nubar was then a young man of eighteen. He belonged to an Armenian family, engaged in trade at Smyrna, a family of good repute, but only possessed of a moderate fortune. The sons had to make their own way in the world, and did so, after the fashion of their race, by transacting for the Turkish pashas the business affairs which they were too ignorant or too indolent to transact for themselves.

Immediately on his arrival at Alexandria, Nubar obtained employment as interpreter in the Vice-regal Court. Mahomet Ali was so much impressed by the lad's ability, that, when Ibrahim, his eldest son was