144 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

resigned office during the Cave Mission. The imme-* diate cause of his resignation was that Ismail Pasha had become suspicious as to his relations with Mr. Cave.

Everything which concerns affairs of State becomes rapidly known in Egypt, and the rumour got about that, notwithstanding the obstacles placed in his way» Mr. Cave had elicited a good deal of information concerning the indissoluble financial connection between the State and the Khedive — a connection / which the latter was anxious to keep in the background. Nubar, as the Khedive had reason to be aware, possessed the information in question, and it was only in accordance with the Khedive's character that he should suspect any one, who possessed valuable information, of being prepared to use it for his own ends and purposes. Anyhow, while the Commission was sitting, Nubar received a letter from his Highness requesting him to retain the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, but to resign that of Commerce. Thereupon Nubar seized the opportunity to sever his connection with the Ministry and to quit Egypt on the plea of health. I have no doubt, however, his real motive lay in his knowledge that Ismail only awaited some excuse to repudiate his debts, and in his desire not to be mixed up with the approaching financial crisis.

Meanwhile Ismail Pasha took matters with a high hand. By a decree, issued a month after his suspen-(sion of payment on the Treasury bonds, he declared "] that all his various debts must be consolidated into