"You are Mr. Campbell, the young gentleman of whom our vice-consul at Tabriz writes to me?"
"Yes, sir."
"It is a sad story that he has told me, and I would willingly do anything in my power for a young countryman thus left so sadly and suddenly on his own resources in a foreign land. He tells me that you speak Arabic as well as Persian, and have some acquaintance with Armenian colloquially, though you cannot write it as you can the two former languages. Do you know any other language at all?"
"I know some Kurdish. One of my father's porters was a Kurd, and I was able to get on fairly with him."
"He tells me that it is your wish to obtain employment of some sort with me, as at present you are not old enough to enter upon trade for yourself, and that you do not wish to return to Scotland."
"No, sir. I have been away for four years, and were I to go back I should lose the advantage that I have gained in learning these Eastern languages."
"Quite right; very sensibly decided," the minister said. "And I suppose that you know something of trade?"
"Yes, sir, my father took much pains in instructing me, and for the past two years I have acted as his assistant, and have learned the value of most articles of trade."
The minister nodded.
"Very good; it will doubtless be of value to you hereafter. However, I can at present utilize your services here. I have with me my secretary, and I have the dragoman employed by my predecessor, who speaks half a dozen languages; but in many ways a sharp young fellow like yourself, able if necessary to mix with the people as one of themselves, and to gather me information as to popular opinion, and who can read and write Persian fluently, would be a welcome addition to my staff. Of course I cannot offer you high pay, as I have an allowance for the expenses of my office upon the same scale as that of my predecessor."