When they came to the metropolis the clerk brought many of his acquaintances to see the student. From his position in the council chamber, he was able to address and induce many of the ablest of the councillors to come and inquire. But as soon as they came into the presence of the student a sort of constraint sprang up between them. They did not take his words as having any real meaning. They were occupied all the time on speculating what motive it was that made him say these things, and as to what kind of difference it was which they felt existing between him and them.
In fact, as time passed on, no one of any position or power would be brought into any sort of approximation to him. On the other hand he used to speak continually with the poorer people. Those that were sick especially delighted in his presence. There seemed to be in him a power of stimulating those that were sinking into apathy back again into life. Those who were worst off in the city seemed to feel when he spoke to them a promise of an alleviation of their sufferings.
One day the clerk asked him
“How is the child?”
“It is well.”
“But it still seems to breathe with as much difficulty.”
“Yes, but see how happily it runs about.”
“How do you manage to preserve it? Any child which I have seen would be pining miserably with such an affliction. What is the power which the being you tell of has given you?”
“It is no power in the sense you mean.”
“Surely it must be. Have I not followed you faithfully and done all I could to get the wisest in the city to listen to you? Surely the time has now come when you will tell me what this power is, and, if you can, let me share it.”