Relations with Russia, Persia, Turkey.

In short, Big Business, which in Tartarin's eyes was of enormous proportions.
The establishment had another advantage in that it was sometimes attacked by bandits.

On these occasions the gates were slammed shut, the staff armed themselves, the consular flag was hoisted and "Pan! Pan!" They fired through the windows at the bandits.
I need hardly tell you with what enthusiasm Tartarin-Quixote greeted this proposal; unfortunately Tartarin-Sancho did not see the matter in the same light, and as his views prevailed the affair came to nothing.
At the time there was a great deal of talk in the town.

Was he going or not going?
It was a matter for eager discussion.
Although in the end Tartarin did not go, the event brought him a great deal of credit.

To have nearly gone to Shanghai and actually to have gone there was for Tarascon much the same thing.