The consulate was attacked, and several Frenchmen were killed in the streets.
The Khedive hurried from Cairo, on hearing the news.

Arabi was now sending some of his best regiments to Alexandria, while pretending to be preparing for a raid upon the Suez Canal.

He was receiving the assistance of Dervish Pasha, the Sultan's representative; and had been recognized by the Sultan, who conferred upon him the highest order of Medjidie.
In the meantime a conference had been held by the Powers, and it was decided that the Sultan should be entrusted with the work of putting down the insurrection, he being nominally lord paramount of Egypt.

But conditions were laid down, as to his army leaving the country afterwards.
The Sultan sent an evasive reply.

The Khedive was too overwhelmed at the situation to take any decisive course.