ji Mirza Hasan-'Amu, a trusted associate of the mujtahids of
Karbila, came in with Zaynu'l-Abidin _Kh_an, the Fa_kh_ru'd-Dawlih.
Observing how humbly and deferentially Nabil was kneeling there, the Haji
was astonished.

"Sir," he murmured, "what are you doing in this place?"

Nabil answered, "I came here for the same reason you did."

The two visitors could not recover from their surprise, for it was widely
known that this personage was unique among mujtahids and was the most
favored disciple of the renowned _Sh_ay_kh_ Murtada.

Later, Nabil-i-Akbar left for Persia and went on to _Kh_urasan. The Amir
of Qa'in--Mir Alam _Kh_an--showed him every courtesy at first, and greatly
valued his company. So marked was this that people felt the Amir was
captivated by him, and indeed he was spellbound at the scholar's
eloquence, knowledge, and accomplishments. One can judge, from this, what
honors were accorded to Nabil by the rest, for "men follow the faith of
their kings."

Nabil spent some time thus esteemed and in high favor, but the love he had
for God was past all concealing. It burst from his heart, flamed out and
consumed its coverings.

A thousand ways I tried
My love to hide--
But how could I, upon that blazing pyre
Not catch fire!

He brought light to the Qa'in area and converted a great number of people.
And when he had become known far and wide by this new name, the clergy,
envious and malevolent, arose, and informed against him, sending their
calumnies on to Tihran, so that Nasiri'd-Din _Sh_ah rose up in wrath.
Terrified of the _Sh_ah, the Amir attacked Nabil with all his might. Soon
the whole city was in an uproar, and the populace, lashed to fury, turned
upon him.

That enraptured lover of God never gave way, but withstood them all. At
last, however, they drove him out--drove out that man who saw what they did
not--and he went up to Tihran, where he was a fugitive, and homeless.

Here, his enemies struck at him again. He was pursued by the watchmen;
guards looked everywhere for him, asking after him in every street and
alley, hunting him down to catch and torture him. Hiding, he would pass by
them like the sigh of the oppressed, and rise to the hills; or again, like
the tears of the wronged, he would slip down into the valleys. He could no
longer wear the turban denoting his rank; he disguised himself, putting on
a layman's hat, so that they would fail to recognize him and would let him
be.

In secret,