ers of his retinue were so young, both
in appearance and conduct, as to be a source of mortification to the
Europeanized minister. This reached the ears of the Shah some time after
his return home; and a summons was sent for the accused to repair to
Teheran. Malcolm Khan, however, was too well versed in Oriental craft to
fall into such a trap, and announced his purpose to devote his future
leisure to airing his knowledge of Persian politics in the London press.
The Persian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Musht-a-Shar-el-Dowlet, then
residing at Tabreez, who was accused of carrying on a seditious
correspondence with Malcolm Khan, was differently situated, unfortunately.
It was during our sojourn in that city that his palatial household was
raided by a party of soldiers, and he was carried to prison as a common
felon. Being unable to pay the high price of pardon that was demanded, he
was forced away, a few days before our departure, on that dreaded journey
to the capital, which few, if any, ever complete. For on the way they are
usually met by a messenger, who proffers them a cup of coffee, a sword,
and a rope, from which they are to choose the method of their doom. This,
then, was the occupant of the mysterious palanquin, which now was opened
as we drew up before the village caravansary. Out stepped a man, tall and
portly, with beard and hair of venerable gray. His keen eye, clear-cut
features, and dignified bearing, bespoke for him respect even in his
downfall, while his stooped shoulders and haggard countenance betrayed the
weight of sorrow and sleepless nights with which he was going to his tomb.

[Illustration: THE CONVEYANCE OF A PERSIAN OFFICIAL TRAVELING IN
DISGRACE TO TEHERAN AT THE CALL OF THE SHAH.]

At Miana, that town made infamous by its venomous insect, is located one
of the storage-stations of the Indo-European Telegraph Company. Its
straight lines of iron poles, which we followed very closely from Tabreez
to Teheran, form only a link in that great wire and cable chain which
connects Melbourne with London. We spent the following night in the German
operator's room.

The weakness of the Persian for mendacity is proverbial. One instance of
this national weakness was attended with considerable inconvenience to us.
By some mischance we had run by the village where we intended to stop for
the night, which was situated some distance off the road. Meeting a
Persian lad, we inquired the distance. He was ready at