There is trouble between France and the Sick Man of the East. A trifle of thirty thousand pounds or so has been owing to a syndicate of French bankers for the last fow years, and a French company, which had re-sold a concession to the Porte also wanted to see the colour of Abdul Hamid's money. The Sultan discussed the matter with "M. Constans, the French Ambassador, from four o'clock in the afternoon until midnight, and promised to settle up. Next day his Majesty was torn by doubts to the wisdom of "his conduct, and not only omitted to carry out his engagements, but deliberately and unmistakeably went back on them, whereupon M. Constans re-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.