According to his account of himself in the novel, the Persian once served as the chief of police (daroga) in the court of the Shah of Persia during the years that Erik was there. The Shah ordered him to execute Erik after Erik provided his services in construction for the Shah. Being kindhearted, he helped Erik escape from Persia instead, a trick that involved presenting a body washed up on the shore as Erik's. When news of the escape spread, the Shah correctly suspected The Persian of being involved, and punished him by stripping him of his property and sending him into exile. However, as a distant member of the royal family, The Persian continued to be paid a small pension.