ension never be less!' said I: 'your servant
is the most abject of the least of those who rub their forehead on the
threshold of the gate of Almighty splendour.'

Here ensued a pause and dead silence, when we each appeared absorbed in
deep meditation. The mushtehed then breaking the silence, said to me:--

'Is it true, O Hajji! that your _talleh_, your destiny, has turned its
face upon you, and that you have come hither to seek refuge? We and
the world have long bid adieu to each other; so my questions are not to
satisfy curiosity, but to inform me whether I can be of use to you.
Our holy Prophet (upon whom be blessings and peace!) sayeth, "Let our
faithful followers help each other: those who see, let them lead the
blind; those who prosper, let them help those who are in adversity."'

Upon this I took courage, spoke my sentences from Saadi, as already
recited, and told my tale in such a modified manner, that my auditors, I
verily believe, began to look upon me as very little short of a martyr.

'If it is so,' said the mushtehed, 'perhaps the day is not far off, when
I may be the instrument, in the hands of God, to see justice done you.
The Shah is to visit the tomb before this month is expired, and as he
looks upon me with the eyes of approbation, be assured that I will not
be deficient in endeavouring to procure your release.'

'What can such a sinner as I say to one of your high sanctity? I will
pray for you; the dust of your path shall be collyrium for my eyes.
Whatever you will do for me will be the effect of your goodness.'

'It is plain that you are one of us,' said the mushtehed, apparently
well satisfied at the almost divine honours which I paid him. 'True
Mussulmans always recognize each other in the same manner, as I have
heard to be the case among a sect of the Franks, called _Faramoosh_ [81]
who by a word, a look, or a touch, will discover one another even among
thousands.'

'_Allah ho akbar!_ God is great'; and '_La Allah il Allah!_ there is
but one God' was echoed by the company, in admiration of the mushtehed's
knowledge; and then he continued to address me thus:--

'There is an ajem with you, who calls himself a dervish. Is he an
acquaintance of yours? He says that he and you are _hem dum_, of one
breath. Is it so?'

'_Che arz bekunum?_ what supplication can I make?' said I, not knowing
precisely whether to acknowledge my friend or not.

'Yes, he is a fakir, a poor man, to whom I have given a