masked; and several trustworthy persons have asserted that they had seen
the masked prisoner often, and had noticed that he used the familiar 'tu'
when addressing the governor, while the latter showed his charge the
greatest respect. As Giafer survived Cha-Abas and Sephi-Mirza by many
years, it may be asked why he was never set at liberty; but it must be
remembered it would have been impossible to restore a prince to his rank
and dignities whose tomb actually existed, and of whose burial there were
not only living witnesses but documentary proofs, the authenticity of
which it would have been useless to deny, so firm was the belief, which
has lasted down to the present day, that Giafer died of the plague in
camp when with the army on the frontiers of Flanders. Ali-Homajou died
shortly after the visit he paid to Giafer."

This version of the story, which is the original source of all the
controversy on the subject, was at first generally received as true. On a
critical examination it fitted in very well with certain events which
took place in the reign of Louis XIV.

The Comte de Vermandois had in fact left the court for the camp very soon
after his reappearance there, for he had been banished by the king from
his presence some time before for having, in company with several young
nobles, indulged in the most reprehensible excesses.

"The king," says Mademoiselle de Montpensier ('Memoires de Mademoiselle
de Montpensier', vol. xliii. p. 474., of 'Memoires Relatifs d'Histoire
de France', Second Series, published by Petitot), "had not been satisfied
with his conduct and refused to see him. The young prince had caused his
mother much sorrow, but had been so well lectured that it was believed
that he had at last turned over a new leaf." He only remained four days
at court, reached the camp before Courtrai early in November 1683, was