r
the king; and the other had turned muti in her own defence, having been
abandoned by her husband, who had fled from the wrath of the Shah, and
sought refuge among the Russians.

They also endeavoured to persuade me that they were young and handsome,
to which I agreed with as good a grace as I was able; and, having made
the necessary notes in my register, I promised to exert myself to
the best for their advantage. 'Recollect,' said one, 'that I am only
eighteen.' 'Don't forget,' said another, 'that I am still a child.'
'Always keep in mind my two eyebrows that look like one,' roared out the
hakim's widow.

'Upon my eyes be it,' exclaimed I, as I left the room; and then I
consoled myself for the sight of such a trio of frights, by giving vent
to a peal of anathemas and laughter.

[Illustration: The mock marriage. 29.jpg]

CHAPTER LV

Of the man Hajji Baba meets, thinking him dead; and of the marriage
which he brings about.

Having accomplished this part of my business, I strolled to one of the
most frequented caravanserais in the city, to see whether, perchance,
some circumstance might not turn up to advance my master's views. As I
approached it, I found all the avenues blocked up with mules and camels
heavily laden, intermixed with travellers, some of whom wearing a white
band, the distinguishing mark of the pilgrims who have visited the tomb
of Iman Reza, at Meshed, informed me that the caravan came from the
province of Khorassan. I waited to see it gradually unravel from the
maze of the narrow streets, and, after a due allowance of wrangling and
abuse between the mule and camel drivers, I saw it take up its abode in
the square of the building.

'Perhaps', said I, 'my good stars may throw some of my former
acquaintance at Meshed into my way'; and I looked at each traveller with
great earnestness. It was true that many years had now elapsed since my
memorable bastinado, and that time would have made great changes in the
appearances of men; but still, I, who knew each face by heart, and
had studied its expression as it inhaled my smoke, hoped that my
recollection would not fail me.

I had despaired of making a discovery, and was about to walk away, when
a certain nose, a certain round back, and a certain projecting paunch,
met my eye, and arrested my attention.

'Those forms are familiar to me,' said I; 'they are connected with
some of my early ideas; and assuredly are the property of one who is
som