He set off  for Egypt, there to mature his plans.

Fazal was himself to become a devotee of the Assassin chief ,

and Hasan , two decades later ,

reminded him of that day in Isfahan:

"Here I am at Alamut , Master of all I survey : and more .

The Sultan and the peasant Vizier are dead. have i not kept my vow?

Was I the madman you thought me to be?

I found my two devotees, who were necessary to my plans."

                             Reckoning

Hasan himself takes up the story of the how

his fortunes fared after the flight from Persia .

He had been brought up in the secret doctrines of Ismailism ,

and recognized the possibilities of power inherent in such a system.

He knew that in Cairo there was a powerful nucleus of the society.

And , if we are to believe the words of Fazal ,

he already had a plan whereby he could turn their followers

into disciplined , devoted fanatics , willing to die for a leader.

                               Plan

What was this plan ?

He had decided that it was not enough to promise paradise,

fulfilment, eternal joy to people.

He would actually show it to them ;

show it in the form of an artificial paradise,

where houris played

and fountains gushed sweetscented waters ,

where every sensual wish was granted

amid beautiful flowers and gilded pavilions.

And this is what he eventually did.