Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/166

 Other chiefs and warriors were duly received, and a number of learned men, illustrious in philosophy, science or song, then came and made their salutations one by one.

"Do you see that sage, with a thoughtful face and sad demeanour, bowing before the Emperor?" asked Gajapati.

"I see him, but know him not," replied Noren.

"Can you believe that that humble, retiring man is the most learned in this learned Court—the most illustrious in this age which has produced so many that are illustrious?"

"You surprise me, friend Gajapati."

"Yet so he is, a renowned statesman, a philosopher, and a historian. His name is Abul Fazel."

"Is that the great Abul Fazel, the lamp of this radiant Court, whose name is honoured to the ends of Hindustan?"

"Honoured, my friend, but hated also. As a boy he was expelled from the Court, and for years he lived in poverty and distress. But our Emperor, when he came of age, received him with open arms, and received from him, so people say, the doctrines of the Faith of God, by which he seeks to unite Hindus and Mohammedans. The learned Mollas of the Court hate him, and few are the Musalmans who will accept his teaching. Seest thou how the Prince Selim glares at him in anger? We tremble for the learned sage and historian when Prince Selim comes to the throne."

"Ay, but the Prince can be merry sometimes," remarked Noren, with a smile, as some recollections came to his mind.

"Hush! hush! we have listeners around us, and