156 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
Mirza Zaffi, and of marching immediately to disperse 
the forces of Afrasiab and of Mohummed Kahn, who 
gained strength daily, and who were fast advancing 
upon the capital. This treacherous disclosure was 
detected by M. Paulin, who with the rest of the 
conspiring nobles immediately changed their ground, 
and offered their services for the punishment of the 
insurgents. All this occurred at the early council, 
while Mirza Zaffi, ever more a soldier than a states- 
man, was exercising his troops upon the plain 
without the city gates. He had not, however, left his 
seat without trusty surveillance, and no sooner had 
the Emperor acquiesced in the scheme than his 
secret emissary carried the news to his master. Now 
Mirza Zaffi having his cousin Mujeid ud Dowla with 
about fifteen hundred horse at that moment under 
review, boldly addressed them and declared the 
danger to which he was exposed. With one voice 
they swore him service ; and, after a few seconds 
of deliberation, the wily chief made known his reso- 
lution to hasten forthwith and combine his force with 
that of the very men who were in arms against him. 
With full confidence that their self-interest would prove 
more durable than their enmity, he marched directly 
to their camp, and demanding an audience with the 
chiefs made his proposal, which was immediately ac- 
cepted. Thus were these three hitherto implacable 
enemies bound by the same compact of treachery, 
avarice, ambition, and mutual protection. 
