192 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

/been authorized by the Egyptian Government to raise f a loan of ;8,ooo,ooo, on the security of the Domain I lands, during his visit to Europe, and with this purpose ' he placed himself in relations with the great house of Rothschild. They agreed to issue a loan for this \ purpose, but insisted upon two conditions: first, that the Domain lands should be under the control of an International Commission ; and secondly, that in order ; to satisfy the French Government, France should be directly represented in the Egyptian Ministry. If there is no good in arguing with the master of many legions, there is still less good in arguing with the masters of many millions ; and both the Khedive and his Prime Minister had to give way. In consequence, M. de Blignieres was appointed Minister of Public JWorks. There was no further necessity for the services of Messrs. Romaine and de Malaret, who had been appointed as financial supervisors with no executive functions, and they consequently resigned their posts.

It is not so easy to understand why Nubar Pasha should have associated himself with an experiment foredoomed to failure. Nobody had better reason to distrust Ismail's professions and promises. Nobody was more aware of how futile the idea of Ministerial . responsibility must be in a country where the sole executive authority rested in the hands of an absolute ruler. He has more than once stated to me in conversation that on his becoming acquainted with Ismail's anxiety for his return to Egypt, in view of his taking