“You know!” exclaimed the Mohammedan in surprise. “You have but down upon your lips; and will you teach graybeards like us?”
The Hindu muttered to himself,—“The Sahib log think that they know everything! They can make roads and bridges, and send messages through wires; but what can they tell of ancient languages to a Brahmin?”
“The language of which I would inform you is not only the one first spoken upon earth, but it is the one now spoken in heaven,” said the Englishman.
The three men stroked their beards, and uttered exclamations of astonishment at the presumption shown by the youth.
“And yet more,” continued the youth, his eyes, blue as the sky, sparkling with animation as he went on,—“without learning to speak this language no man, of whatsoever nation he be, will ever be suffered to enter heaven.”
“Does your honour know this language?” asked the Mohammedan quickly.
“Yes, God be praised!” the Englishman replied.
“And where did you first learn it?” asked the incredulous Jew.
In a softened tone the young man replied, “I learned it first from the lips of my mother.”