The Viennese have got hold of or invented a story
which fully accounts for the unpuuctuality of the Shah. He carries about with him a little fat man, whom he calls his astrologer, and who ascertains for him the propitious moment at which he may begin to do anything. Of course, if the astrologer does not want him -to go, the stars are unpropitious, but if he does, all are favour- able. That story, we fear, will not hold water. Every Oriental Prince has his favourite astrologer, who tells him of times and seasons, but his principal use is to enable his master to do exactly as he likes. The astrologer merely consults his master's wishes, and his master's wish is always to go his own way, except when inconvenient. Consequently, the stars always show the Princes of India that the time fixed for a Durbar is the propitious hour, and a Prince whose stars were obstinate would be suspected very justly of an intentional disrespect. The stars would not presume to disobey the Shah for more than five minutes, any more than St. Januarius's blood refused to obey the French conqueror of Naples.
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