Summaries

Synopsis

France has built the Suez Canal, but needing financial help, gave controlling shares to the Khedive (Viceroy) of Egypt. Russia wants the canal to cut off England from India. The Russian Ambassador in London employs Lady Travers to spy on Benjamin Disraeli, the Prime Minister of England. Disraeli, who knows of the scheme, hires Mr. Foljambe (who is Lady Travers' husband) as a clerk, to work at Downing Street.

The Duke of Glastonbury holds a party at Glastonbury Towers, and invites Sir Michael Probert (Governor of the Bank of England) and Lady Travers. Also on hand are Charles, Viscount Deeford, Clarissa (the Duke's daughter), Disraeli and his wife, Lady Beaconsfield. Disraeli confers with the Duke and brings up the subject of the purchase of the Suez Canal, but the Duke waives the matter aside. When Disraeli returns to Downing Street, he sends for Hugh Meyers, a private banker. Meyers promises to obtain the money required to purchase the canal. He receives a cable from Argentina that gold is being shipped to cover his cheque to the Khedive, so he sends Charles to Egypt to close the deal.

Foljambe, who has discovered the plan, heads to Egypt on behalf of Russia. But Charles arrives ahead of him and is successful. The Khedive accepts the cheque and the deal is closed. However, spies succeed in scuttling the ship bearing the gold. Lady Travers spreads rumors which cause a run on Meyers' bank. Meyers is left bankrupt. He informs Disraeli of the disaster, who goes to work to undo the damage. Lady Travers calls on Disraeli, who feigns illness but sees her.

Lady Travers sees a cable from Charles, which reads "The celery is ripe to cut." Next to the cable are the directions to decode the message. Lady Travers takes the message, but Clarissa stops her from decoding it. Disraeli recovers the cable, and decodes it as "The Suez Canal purchase completed and cheque accepted." Lady Travers laughs and tells Disraeli that Meyers is broke. Meanwhile, Disraeli has sent his wife to get Sir Michael Probert. When he arrives, Disraeli explains what has happened and asks Sir Michael to endorse a note for the amount of the purchase price of the canal. Sir Michael refuses, but when Disraeli threatens to close the Bank of England, Sir Michael relents and signs the note. The Queen gives a reception in honor of Disraeli. But his wife, under doctor's orders, cannot attend the reception. The doctor promises to send Disraeli a telegram if there is any change in his wife's condition, and he waits with Clarissa. The Queen bestows honors on Charles, Meyers and Probert. At the moment the Queen is about to receive Disraeli, he receives a telegram and fears the worst. At that instant, his wife appears, having left her sick bed. With his wife by his side, Disraeli passes before the Queen and bows.