salutation of peace, and
then said, 'that he had a royal order to conduct me into the Shah's
presence wherever I might be found.'

I told him that, with all reverence for his firman, it was my intention
to avail myself of the acknowledged privilege of every true believer,
to seek refuge at the shrine of the saint, and that, of course, he could
not violate it by dragging me from it. 'Besides, this is the favourite
saint of the King of Kings,' said I, 'and he respects this shrine more
than any other.'

'What shall I do then, Hajji?' said he. 'You know this is not written
in the order. If I go back without you, perhaps the Shah may cut off my
ears instead of yours.'

'_Inshallah!_ please God,' said I.

'Please God, do you say?' said he in a fury: 'am I come all this way
that men should call me ass? I am not a man if I do not make you return
with me.' And forthwith we began to wrangle to such a degree that
several of the priests, attached to the endowment, came from their rooms
to inquire into the cause of the disturbance.

'Here is one,' exclaimed I, 'who presumes to violate the sanctuary. I
have taken refuge in it, and he talks of forcing me away! You, that are
men of God,' addressing myself to the mollahs, 'speak, and say whether
you will allow this?'

They all took my part. 'This is unheard of,' said they, 'in Persia.
If you dare to take one from the _bust_, you will not only have the
vengeance of the saint on your head, but the whole corps of the Ullemah
will be upon you; and be you protected by the King of Kings, or the king
of demons, nothing can screen you from their fury.'

The nasakchi remained quite uncertain what to do, and at length,
softening his tone, he endeavoured to make a virtue of necessity,
and began to negotiate with me upon what he might get if he went away
without further molesting me. I did not deny the right he had of being
paid for his trouble, for it is precisely what I should have expected
myself had I been in his place; but I made him recollect how little I
was able to requite him; for he knew as well as I all the circumstances
of my flight, and that I had brought nothing away with me from Tehran.

He suggested that I might give him what effects I had left behind me; to
which I did not in the least agree, but recommended him to go whence he
came, and to leave the afflicted to their miseries.

The fact is, as I afterwards found out, the rogue had already taken
possession of my proper