Madame Musalli and his dinner-parties at Mustapha’s, he knew to whom he owed the annoyance and acted accordingly. The French troops had not got to Tunis before M. De Sancy awoke M. Roustan one morning to say that Zainzain had offered to tell the secrets of the _Mostakel_ for a consideration, while Bokhos repaired to Paris to make the best bargain he could for Signor Pestalozza’s MSS. A short time afterwards he sold his dossier to a patriotic banker, and it was finally published in the _Paris_ newspaper, but contained nothing beyond the veriest bathos. The only result of this department of Signor Maccio’s diplomacy was to irritate the French, to put money into the pockets of two Levantine adventurers, and to materially increase for three days the sale of a Parisian evening journal. M. Roustan was not inactive during his opponent’s absence in Sicily. By his advice the parties interested in Tunisian commercial development, liberally subventioned a large section of the French press, and the _Agence Havas_ began to throw out _ballons d’essai_. As early as the 12th January the following telegram was circulated in Tunis:— “PARIS, _11th January_. “A letter from Algiers to the Havas Agency proves that a French Protectorate over Tunis is indispensable for the security of the Algerian frontier. France seeks no annexion, but she will never allow a rival influence to be established there.” The _Temps_, commenting on this letter, indicates the services rendered by France to Tunis, asserts that an uninterrupted protectorate of fifty years constitutes _ipso facto_ a permanent protectorate, and concludes with these words,—“He who touches Tunis touches France!” On the 31st January M. Roustan had a long interview with Muhamed es Sadek. Almost as soon as they were seated the French _Chargé d’Affaires_ made a most astounding announcement to the Bey. “Mustapha,” said M. Roustan, “has been intriguing at Constantinople to succeed you. He has sent £25,000 to Sheikh Zafar, the Sultan’s _imám_, to get the succession altered, but the Sultan was so displeased with the proposal that he has decided to dethrone you in favour of your arch-enemy Kheir-ed-Din. France, your ancient ally, will protect you; are you prepared to accept her protection?” The Bey knew the first part of the statement was a diplomatic falsehood, and so doubted the whole. After a lengthy conversation he finally declined to alter the _status quo_. “We are all in the hands of God,” he said, “and if force is to overcome right and justice, all I can do is to leave my fate and that of Tunis to Him.” England was not, however, destined to be a mere spectator of the game of chess between the French and Italian _consuls de combat_. The Enfida case soon threatened to make her also one of the parties to the dispute. The story of this fresh phase of the Tunisian question can be told in few words.