AN AUDACIOUS RASCAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 271, 22 November 1878, Page 5

AN AUDACIOUS RASCAL.

["Ph'h Mill Gazette."]

I came across, the other day, an amtjsing anecdote of Francois ißravay, the well-known favorite of Said Pusha", the late Viceroy or Egypt. Bravay.lmay say, is thi* original of tbe "Nabab," ! in Baudot's novel of that narad. iiSomeyears ago 'he settled in and rapHly became a prime fWorite with Said Paaha.' Through hia ready.wit, , unfailing audacity, and by obtaining large cpmmieaiona for the furnishing of palaceis ancl "the supplying! of barems, he almost equally rapidly! became a , millioqaire^ ; That; the YJceroy paid dearly for all h)s commissions— -often 200 per cent^he was perfectly aware, for : ha ; wputd|. .oftea observe, .whilst standing .by, rsin'jsinz biAuietf " with some broad French calemhifurg, " You see that man — ha robs me frightfully-^ he is a ijrand Voleur ! Is'lt not ao, Bravay ?<" 'To'whiSh the other o would respond,- «It iadot proper P fpV> me to contradict ',- your Highnefk!.".* /And then Said, 'in! persou and character, a? far as: an Eastern Prince might be, the counterpart .of bluff Kibg Har," bf England, would roar with, 'laugh ier, andadd:— ««But he amusas^e,-' While others rob .aniuaingl ftfe; ! . .Ho it is. . still fair.':' , , Sometimes, iwhen :i Bra r vay had made a greater i coup t&an. usiial, abd', aboje good-natured '.' :/rienii. tiad irritated, the Viceroy ab'otjt it, he would bo in disgrace for a; short time; but ; he was soon in favor! a^aiti • . his. Wit :and drollery, as well aa Ma ad'rbUness,. being inexhaustible. | Venturing into the prjaeuce one day, \yhile still in i disgracs, when Said Pasha; wa^ sitting' j by a wihdow on a lerel wijtli- the garden, he was sternly ordersi to leave his sight. "Pass that dodr,V sndlthe. Viceroy^ sternly; "and do not epter it agoin without my permission.; Withfc, lowly revereocc?, Bravay Ire ired, ; ap-: parenily crushed by" the rebuke ;' but ten minutes after ha bauudad info the room through the op m window, prostrated himself before the ! astonished; Viceroy, eimply remarking " Your Highness did; not forbid ray returning by tbe window ; you only! mentioned the dqor." The audacity of ') the act tickled the fancy of tise capricious despot, and he was immediatiiy reinstated in Royal favor.