"Your excellency."
"Your carpet?" he broke in. "Quite right, my dear M. Paoli. The orders have been given and you shall have it when you leave us at the other station."
But here again, alas, nothing! And, as I complained to a third excellency of this strange piece of neglect:
"It's an omission. Come with us as far as Strassburg, where you will receive satisfaction."
At this rate, they would have carried me, by easy stages, to Teheran. I, therefore, gave up all hopes of my carpet. And, taking leave of these amiable functionaries, I heard the good Shah's voice crying in the distance:
"Good-bye, Paoli, worthy Paoli! Till our next meeting!"
I never saw him again.