strong jaw and a lofty forehead make up the catalogue of his features. His skin is darker than that of the average Hindu. He wears a magnificent turban, the front of which is adorned with a sparkling jewel. For the rest, his clothes are European and finely tailored withal.

His slightly didactic statement does not appeal to the old gentleman behind the counter; in fact, vigorous opposition is offered it.

“How can that be,” comes the sceptical observation, “when the East Mediterranean cities were flourishing centres of culture and civilization in the pre-Christian era? Did not the greatest intellects of antiquity live in the era which embraced Athens and Alexandria? So, surely their ideas were carried Southward and Eastward until India was reached?”

The Indian smiles tolerantly.

“Not at all,” is his immediate reply. “What really happened was quite the reverse of your assertion.”

“Indeed! You seriously suggest that the progressive West had to receive its philosophy from the laggard East? No Sir!” expostulates the bookseller.

“Why not? Read your Apuleius again, my friend, and learn how Pythagoras came to India, where he was instructed by the Brahmins. Then notice how he began to teach the doctrine of metempsychosis after his return to Europe. This is but a single instance. I can find others. Your reference to the laggard East makes me smile. Thousands of years ago our sages pondered over the deepest problems while your own countrymen were not even aware that such problems existed.”

He stops curtly, looks intently at us, and waits for his words to sink into our minds. I fancy the old bookseller is a little perplexed. Never before have I seen him so struck into silence or so obviously impressed by another man’s intellectual authority.

Suddenly, the stranger turns again and approaches me. He draws a wallet out of his pocket and selects a visiting card.

“Would you care to pursue this conversation with me?” he asks, half smiling. I am taken by surprise, but gladly agree. He offered me the card, adding an invitation to dinner.