in,' said I.

Then, after a pause, he said, 'It is dull living alone, even for a week,
and Tehran is a city full of enjoyment. If there is any service that I
can perform, I will do it--upon my eyes, be it.'

'May your kindness never be less! My business is with the Mollah Nadan.'

'There is no difference between him and me,' said he. 'I can facilitate
any business you may have; and, praise be to Allah, you will be served
to your heart's content. We have at our disposal of all sorts and all
prices.'

'I am not a merchant,' said I.

'There is no necessity to be a merchant,' said he; 'it is enough that
you are a man and a stranger. You will find, be it for a year, a month,
a week, a day, or even an hour, that you will pass your time agreeably;
upon my head be it.'

I became more and more puzzled at his meaning, and was on the point
of asking him to enlighten my understanding, when the Mollah Nadan, in
person, entered the room.

He was a tall handsome man, about forty years of age, with a jet-black
beard, glossy with fresh dye, and with fine brilliant eyes, painted with
the powder of antimony. He wore on his head an immense turban of white
muslin, whilst a _hirkeh_, or Arab cloak, with broad stripes of white
and brown alternately, was thrown over his shoulders. Although his
athletic person was better suited to the profession of arms than to
that of the law, yet his countenance had none of the frankness of the
soldier, but on the contrary bespoke cunning and design, while at the
same time it announced good-humour.

I got up at his approach, and immediately presented my note from the
mushtehed, whilst I did not venture again to sit. Having unrolled it, he
looked at me and then at it, as if to divine what could be my business;
but as soon as he had deciphered the seal, his face expanded into a
bright smile, and he requested me to be seated.

'You are welcome,' said he; and then he asked me a series of questions
concerning the health of the holy man, which I freely answered, as if
intimately acquainted with him.. He read the note with great attention,
but said not a word of its contents. He then began to make apologies for
not having a kalian (a pipe) to offer me, 'for,' said he, 'I am not a
smoker of tobacco. We, who rigidly uphold the true faith, reject all
such luxuries, and mortify our senses. Our Holy Prophet (upon whom
be blessings and peace!) has forbidden to his followers whatever
intoxicates; and although to