"Salem III is worried that we'll station troops in Egypt." Joseph smiled. "Very well, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to make another trip to Constantinople."
Talleyrand bowed and said, "As you command, Your Highness. I will depart tomorrow."
The court guards ahead had already pushed open the doors of the Hall of Mirrors. Joseph turned his head again and instructed, "By the way, you should also go see that officer called Muhammad Ali and have him make preparations in advance."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Joseph walked into the ballroom, the "King's Anthem" played by the court orchestra ringing in his ears, but his mind was occupied with how to stabilize the situation around Suez, and, in the future, how to raise the enormous funds required to dig the canal that would shake all of Europe.
...
Ottoman Empire.
Constantinople.
Within the lavish halls of Topkapi Palace, the British Foreign Minister, Fox, wore an expression full of confusion and astonishment.
