The layout of the Egyptian palace restaurant is different from that of the French palace. It consists of more than ten small round tables that can accommodate about a hundred people. Each round table is placed with a pair of exquisite ceramic plates, silver tableware, and a seal.
A business card with the guest's name.
Since Governor Said is not a person who particularly likes to mess around, the seats of all guests are arranged according to their past dining positions in the restaurant.
Except for Jerome Bonaparte, most of the guests who enter the restaurant have a vague idea of their position in the restaurant. Every guest who enters the restaurant can find his or her own position smoothly.
Jerome Bonaparte, who was the highlight of the entire banquet, sat closest to the band stage under the arrangement of Governor Said.
When Jérôme Bonaparte and others took their seats one after another, a band wearing black uniforms and holding various musical instruments walked to the bandstand from the other side of the restaurant.
The elegant melody floated from the fingertips of the performer, and the entire restaurant was instantly enveloped in an artistic atmosphere.
The service staff who were waiting quietly in the back kitchen to be summoned heard the melody floating in the restaurant and immediately realized that it was time for them to appear.
"lets go!"
Under the order of the restaurant chef, the service staff in tuxedos divided into two lines and skillfully took the wine bottles placed on the table in their hands, entered the restaurant with uniform steps, and then each walked to their pre-arranged
Nice place to pour a glass of wine for the guests at the table.
The wine that has been stored in the cellar for several years emits a different kind of scarlet color when poured into a glass made of crystal.
Governor Said, who was sitting next to Jérôme Bonaparte, glanced briefly at the tables around him and then raised his hand towards the band on the bandstand.
The band on the stage quickly stopped what they were doing when they saw this, and the artistic atmosphere disappeared in the restaurant instantly.
Next, it is time for Mohammed Said to give a welcome speech.
“Today, I am very happy and honored to have dinner with a monarch who has traveled thousands of miles to Cairo!
This monarch must be very familiar to all of you here, so I won’t introduce it too much!” Muhammad Said’s face turned slightly red and he talked as if he had drunk wine, “I
What I want to say is that since this great monarch is able to travel thousands of miles to visit Egypt for the deep friendship between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Egypt, then we, the local masters of Egypt, should also express our gratitude!"
After that, Mohammed Said announced in front of everyone that he would personally donate a palace near Alexandria to Jerome Bonaparte.
After hearing what Mohammed Said said, Jérôme Bonaparte subconsciously wanted to refuse.
After all, as the monarch of France, he didn't have much time to reach Egypt.
The main reason why I was able to come to Egypt this time was to discuss the cotton issue with Mohammed Said.
However, considering that this was also a kind intention of Mohammed Said himself, there was no need for Jérôme Bonaparte to refuse forcefully.
The palace is a small matter, but the "friendship" between France and Egypt is a big deal.
Thinking of this, Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly and nodded towards Mohammed Said.
"Since His Majesty is willing to accept my gift, I propose that we all raise a toast to His Majesty!" Mohammed Said raised his wine glass levelly and appealed to everyone present.
"No! I think we should toast to the French Empire and the Kingdom of Egypt!" Jérôme Bonaparte interrupted Mohammed Said, "Egypt, like France, is a country with a long history.
, you have experienced glory, and you have also suffered hardship!
However, now you have stood up again. Under the leadership of King Muhammad Ali, you have achieved brilliant victories one after another and broken the shackles that bound you..."
Jérôme Bonaparte eloquently tells the history of the dynasty of Muhammad Ali and the setbacks the Ali dynasty experienced.
When some of the guests present heard about the glorious history of Muhammad Ali, their faces naturally showed pride.
When they heard that Muhammad Ali had experienced a major setback and had to surrender to the Ottoman Empire again, their expressions couldn't help but show a hint of depression, and some even let out sobs at the door.
Most of the people sobbing were elderly people in their 40s and 50s. They had generally experienced the glorious moments of Muhammad Ali, and had also followed Muhammad Ali to witness the entire setback of the Kingdom of Egypt.
process.
Therefore, I feel more sympathetic to the period of history told by Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Although the Kingdom of Egypt is still under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the great Egyptian nation will not be defeated!
You will definitely stand up again like before!
I sincerely believe in this, and hope that the French Empire and the Kingdom of Egypt can support and help each other like brothers and overcome one difficulty after another together!
Long live the French Empire! Long live the Kingdom of Egypt!”
As soon as Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, Governor Mohammed Said and others immediately gave Jerome Bonaparte warm applause.
At the same time, the guests in the audience were "entrusted" by Muhammad Said and also spoke.
"Long live the French Empire, long live His Majesty Jérôme Bonaparte!"
After everyone heard the cry, they immediately realized that Muhammad Said was behind the cry.
As a result, everyone present shouted loudly, "Long live the French Empire, long live His Majesty Jérôme Bonaparte!"
Dozens of voices gathered together as if they were about to overturn the entire restaurant.
After the shouting, everyone, led by Governor-General Mohammed Said, toasted to the health of Jerome Bonaparte.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The first glass of wine finally ended with a lengthy blessing.
When everyone put down their glasses, the service staff standing behind them quickly poured them a second glass of wine, then left the restaurant temporarily and returned to the restaurant's kitchen.
Mohammed Said once again gestured toward the bandstand, and the band on the bandstand played the movement again.
After a while, the service staff who left the restaurant appeared again, and each of them had a silver dinner plate in their hands, with a carefully prepared lobster placed on the plate.
The dinner officially begins when the waiter brings the lobster to the table.
Members of the banquet hall ate to elegant tunes. Perhaps because of the presence of Jerome Bonaparte, everyone's behavior became particularly elegant.
Jerome Bonaparte, who was sitting on the main seat, skillfully used a silver table knife to peel off the shell of the lobster. A rich aroma of milk mixed with the drunken smell of wine poured into Jerome Bonaparte.
It stimulated Jérôme Bonaparte's taste buds.
Then, Jérôme Bonaparte eagerly picked up the silver fork on his right hand and took out the already baked shrimp meat along the shell of the lobster, cooled it for a few seconds and put it in his mouth.
Mohammed Said on the side hurriedly asked Jérôme Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, are you still satisfied with this dish?"
Jérôme Bonaparte chewed twice and crushed the shrimp meat completely before swallowing it completely. Then he asked Mohammed Said as if he had just recovered, "Your Majesty the Governor, what did you just say?"
say what?
Can you say it again!"
"Your Majesty, just call me Said!" Muhammad Said said in a friendly tone, and then repeated the question just now.
Jérôme Bonaparte smiled and nodded and praised Mohammed Said, “Sayed, I didn’t expect to be able to eat such pure French food in Egypt!
The chef who made it is not inferior to those at the Tuileries Palace. I really envy you to have a chef who is good at cooking!
The success of a banquet has something to do with the chef who planned it!"
"Your Majesty, you are ridiculous!" Muhammad Said said with a smile from ear to ear.
After everyone has eaten, the service staff consciously removes the plates and prepares for the next dish.
The distinguished guests present also took advantage of the opportunity to change the dinner plates and started discussing again in twos and threes.
Mohammed Said secretly approached Jerome Bonaparte and conveyed to him tactfully that he wanted to negotiate with Jerome Bonaparte on the cotton issue.
level of cooperation.
When Jerome Bonaparte heard that Mohammed Said wanted to cooperate with him, he immediately realized that Mohammed Said did not fully believe in the blueprint he had laid out for him.
That's why I wanted to win over myself and work together.
"Sayed, you have to think clearly! The profits here may be higher than you think. Have you really decided to cooperate together?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked Mohammed again
Said.
"Of course!" Mahomet Said responded categorically to Jérôme Bonaparte, "I am not a solitary eater!"
After Jerome Bonaparte pondered for a moment, he said to Mohammed Said, "In that case! I have an idea!"
"Your Majesty, please speak!" Muhammad Said assumed a posture of listening attentively.
"We alone may not be able to completely monopolize the entire Egyptian cotton industry!"
Mohammed Said wanted to say something, but Jérôme Bonaparte raised his hand to stop him.
"Mr. Said, I understand what you mean!
But you also have to consider the influence of politics a little bit. Anyone who wants to dominate an industry will encounter hostility from others!
So we should all influential people in Egypt (Egypt + Sudan) get together and form a company together!
This company will have full monopoly on all cotton in Egypt!”
