imed the executioner, as he arose
and took his staff of office in hand. 'Do not keep the Centre of the
Universe waiting.'

More dead than alive, we were paraded through the avenues of the palace,
and then stepped through the small low door, which introduced us into
the enclosed garden, where we found the king seated in an upper room.

As we approached, I perceived the august monarch twisting his
mustachios, which is always esteemed a sign of wrath. I cast a glance at
Nadan, and I saw him streaming from every pore. We took our shoes off,
as soon as we had come within sight of him, and advanced to the brink of
the marble basin of water. The party who stood before the king consisted
of the mollah bashi, the chief executioner, the Armenian, Nadan, and
myself.

The chief executioner then placed his staff of office on the ground,
and making a low prostration, said, with all the prefatory form of words
usual in addressing the Shah, 'This is the mollah Nadan, and this his
servant,' pointing to me.

'Say, mollah,' said the king, addressing himself to my master in a very
composed tone of voice, 'how long is it since you have undertaken to
ruin my subjects? Who gave you the power? Have you become a prophet? or
do you perhaps condescend to make yourself the king? Say, fellow, what
dirt is this that you have been eating?'

The culprit, who on every other occasion never wanted words, here lost
all power of utterance. He stammered out a few incoherent sentences
about infidels, wine, and the want of rain, and then remained immovable.

'What does he say?' said the king to the mollah bashi. 'I have not
learnt from whom he claims his authority.'

'May I be your sacrifice,' said the chief priest; 'he says, that he
acted for the benefit of your majesty's subjects who wanted rain, which
they could not get so long as the infidels drank wine in Tehran.'

'So you destroy part of my subjects to benefit the remainder! By the
king's beard,' said the king to Nadan, 'tell me, do I stand for nothing
in my own capital? Are a parcel of poor dogs of infidels to be ruined
under my nose, without my being asked a question whether it be my will
or not that they should be so? Speak, man; what dream have you been
dreaming? Your brain has dried up.' Then raising his voice, he said,
'After all, we are something in our dominions, and the kafirs, though
such they be, shall know it. Here, ferashes' (calling his officers to
him), 'here, tear this wretch's