FATE OF THE AMEER. 403 The Shah's only sister, the wife of Meerza Teki Khan, was devotedly attached to her husband, and no one had the heart to tear him from her arms. No princess educated in a Christian court and accustomed to the con- templation of the brightest example of conjugal virtues that the history of the world has recorded, could have shown more tenderness and devotion than did the sister of the Shah of Persia towards her unfortunate husband. Every day his guards took the precaution of summoning him from his room, in order that they might make sure that he had not escaped ; and when he went outside to show himself, his wife was, at first, in the habit of accom- panying him. Seeing, however, that this ceremony was a mere matter of form, she ceased to go forth with him, and contented herself with the precaution of tasting of every dish that was set before him. But a man was found who volunteered to put the Ameer to death without the princess being made aware of what was going to take place. One Haji AH Khan, a clever and worthless adven- turer, had been admitted into the Shah's service by the Ameer, and had been made chief of his ferashes ; a post of some importance. In order to show his zeal in the service of his new master, the Ferash-Bashi now volun- teered to be the executioner of his benefactor. When he appeared at Kashan, the retainers of the ex-minister were filled with joy ; for they believed that one who had owed his advancement in life to their lord had been chosen to be the bearer of good news. They were doomed to a cruel disappointment. On the 9th of January, 1852, the ex-minister was called forth, as usual, by his guards, and on his appearing alone was seized, gagged, and dragged to an adjoining house, where he was 262
