The Khedive of Egypt himself, squat, fat and bearded, came personally to Paris to call on Emperor Napoleon III and to invite the Empress to the party; Eugénie was pleased to accept. It was a great moment for both their nations. After ten years of crises, discouragements and setbacks, France's and Egypt's money had finally driven the canal through from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, and it was Eugénie's own cousin, Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had seen the job through. To celebrate the opening, the Khedive had brought together 500 of...
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