Whilst seated one morning in my room, inspecting my face in my looking-glass and combing my beard, preparatory to going to the daily selam before the king, and thanking Allah from the bottom of my heart for being secure in my mediocrity from all the storms and dangers of public life, a loud knocking at my gate announced a visiter of no small importance. My servant, for I kept one, quickly opened it, and I soon was greeted by the _selam al aikum_ of one of the royal ferashes, who exclaimed "The Shah wants you." So unusual a summons first startled, then alarmed me. A thousand apprehensions rushed through my mind as quick as lightning, for on such occasions in Persia one always apprehends--one never hopes. However, I immediately gave the usual "_Becheshm!_--Upon my eyes be it!" and prepared to obey his command. "Can I have said '_Belli_' in the wrong place," thought I, "at the last selam? or did I perchance exclaim '_Inshallah_--Please God,' instead of saying '_Mashallah_--Praise be to God'? Allah only knows," thought I, shrugging up my shoulders, "for I am sure I do not. Whatever has happened, Khoda is merciful!" I followed the ferash, but could gain no intelligence from him which could in the least clear up my doubts. One thing I discovered, which was that no _felek_, or sticks, had been displayed in the Shah's presence as preparatory to a bastinado; and so far I felt safe. The Shah was seated in the _gulistan_, or rose-garden; the grand vizier stood before him, as well as Mirza Firooz, my old master. When I appeared, all my apprehensions vanished, for with a goodnatured voice the king ordered me to approach. I made my most profound bow, and stood on the brink of the marble basin without my shs. The king said, "_Mashallah!_ the Hajji is still a _khoobjuan_--a fine youth; he is a good servant." Upon hearing these ominous words, I immediately felt that some very objectionable service was about to be required of me. I answered, "May the shadow of the centre of the universe never be less! Whatever your slave can do, he will by his head and by his eyes." After consulting with the grand vizier, who was standing in the apartment in which the king was seated, his majesty exclaimed, "Hajji, we require zeal, activity, and intelligence at your hands. Matters of high import to the state of Persia demand that one, the master of wit, the lord of experience, and the ready in eloquence, should immediately depart from our presence, in order to seek that of our brother the King of England. You are the man we have selected; you must be on horseback as soon as a fortunate hour occurs, and make your way _chappari_--as a courier, to the gate of power in London." With my thanks for so high an honour sticking in my throat, I knelt down, and kissed the ground; but if any one present had been skilful in detecting the manning of looks, surely he would have read dismay and disappointment in mine.