on, and how subtle are the changes which can be rung
upon the two, but there was nothing of that description here. The
officious _attaches_ were simply a party of the Minister's personal
friends, and two or three strangers whose influence might in after
times be useful to him. One was of course a journalist, to supply the
special correspondence of the _Acropolis_ and the _Hellenike Salpinx_.
These would afterwards be worked up into a handy illustrated volume of
experiences and impressions calculated to further deceive the public
with regard to Morocco and the Moors, and to secure for the Minister
his patron, the longed-for promotion to a European Court. Another was
necessarily the artist of the party, while the remainder engaged in
sport of one kind or another.

Si Drees, the "native agent," was employed as master of horse, and
superintended the native arrangements generally. With him rested every
detail of camping out, and the supply of food and labour. Right and
left he was the indispensable factotum, shouting himself hoarse from
before dawn till after sunset, when he joined the gay blades of the
Embassy in private pulls at forbidden liquors. No one worked as hard
as he, and he seemed omnipresent. The foreigners were justly thankful
to have such a man, for without him all felt at sea. He appeared to
know everything and to be available for every one's assistance. The
only draw-back was his ignorance of Greek, or of any language but his
own, yet being sharp-witted he made himself wonderfully understood by
signs and a few words of the strange coast jargon, a mixture of half a
dozen tongues.

The early morning was fixed for the solemn entry of the Embassy into
the city, yet the road had to be lined on both sides with soldiers
to keep back the thronging crowds. Amid the din of multitudes, the
clashing of barbarous music, and shrill ululations of delight from
native women; surrounded by an eastern blaze of sun and blended
colours, rode incongruous the Envoy from Greece. His stiff, grim
figure, the embodiment of officialism, in full Court dress, was
supported on either hand by his secretary and interpreter, almost as
resplendent as himself. Behind His Excellency rode the _attaches_ and
other officials, then the ladies; newspaper correspondents, artists,
and other non-official guests, bringing up the rear. In this order
the party crossed the red-flowing Tansift by its low bridge of many
arches, and drew near to the gate of