mean?' said he; 'which khan? where? when?'

When I had explained myself, and had presented the letter addressed to
him, he seemed to be thrown into a mixed state of feigned joy and real
sorrow, amazement, and apprehension.

'But are you very sure,' said he, 'that the khan is alive?'

'Very sure,' returned I; 'and before to-morrow is over, you will receive
another courier, who will give you many more particulars of his safety,
and who will bring letters to the king, viziers, and others.'

He then began to make all sorts of incoherent exclamations; 'This is a
wonderful business! What dust has fallen upon our heads? Where shall I
go? What shall I do?'

When he had a little recovered himself, I endeavoured to persuade him to
give me an explanation of his emotions on this occasion, and tell me why
he felt so agitated, and apparently distressed, at what ought only to
be a matter of joy. All I could hear from him was, 'He must be dead;
everybody says he is dead; his wife dreamt that she had lost her largest
tooth--the one that gave her such aching pain, and therefore he is dead;
besides the king has settled it so. He cannot be alive; he must not be
alive.'

'Well,' said I, 'if he is dead, be it so; all I can say is, that he was
one of the true believers at Asterabad, not six days ago; and that he
will soon prove in person, by showing himself at Tehran, in the course
of another week.'

After the Nazir had sat, and wondered, and ruminated for some time, he
said, 'You will not be surprised at my perplexity when I tell you of the
state of things here, in consequence of the report of my master's death.
In the first place, the Shah has seized all his property: his house,
furniture, and live stock, including his Georgian slaves, are to be
given to Khur Ali Mirza, one of the king's younger sons: his village
now belongs to the prime vizier: his place is about to be bestowed upon
Mirza Fuzul; and, to crown all, his wife has married his son's tutor.
Say, then, whether or no I have not a right to be astonished and
perplexed?'

I agreed that there was no disputing his right; 'but, in the meanwhile,'
said I, 'what becomes of my reward?'

'O, as for that,' answered the Nazir, 'you cannot expect anything from
me; for you have brought me no joyful tidings: you may claim it from my
master, when he comes, if you choose, but I can give you nothing.'

Upon which, promising to return on some future day, I left the Nazir to
his own refl