Half a month later.
The warm early-winter wind of the eastern Mediterranean Sea gusted in through the window. Talleyrand's aide, Delat, brushed at his wind-tossed hair and could not help thinking of the bill of exchange for three thousand francs in his pocket.
It was the "Egypt special allowance" the Minister of Foreign Affairs had issued to him yesterday.
After struggling with himself for a long time, he still picked up the draft of the Cairo Investment and Technology Agreement from the table, turned, and came before Talleyrand, who was drinking tea. With a serious expression, he said, "My Lord, I still feel these terms seem... not quite proper. Are you truly certain this is His Highness the Crown Prince's intention?" It was not that he was seeing ghosts in every shadow; the terms in the agreement were simply too astonishing. For instance, that clause: "Ensure that Egypt builds within one year an ordnance factory capable of producing fifteen cannons of over eight pounds per month, and possesses the ability to independently cast 18-pounder cannons."
He now strongly suspected that Talleyrand had taken a bribe from the Egyptians and privately made promises to them.
Talleyrand glanced at him and smiled. "This is, of course, His Highness's decision. What are you worried about?"
Delat gritted his teeth. "If this agreement is implemented, a powerful country will soon appear on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
"That Muhammad Defterdar clearly has enormous ambition. If he expands westward, he will bring very great trouble to our country." Talleyrand nodded. Indeed, if Egypt possessed advanced industrial technology, France would have to pay a very high cost if it wanted to control Egypt's expansionist ambitions.
However, he still drank his tea as lightly as wind and drifting clouds. "Frankly speaking, I don't understand the