The Egyptian and the Hindoo looked at each other; the former waved his hand; the latter bowed, and began: "Our brother has spoken well.

May my words be as wise." He broke off, reflected a moment, then resumed: "You may know me, brethren, by the name of Melchior.

I speak to you in a language which, if not the oldest in the world, was at least the soonest to be reduced to letters--I mean the Sanscrit of India.

I am a Hindoo by birth.

My people were the first to walk in the fields of knowledge, first to divide them, first to make them beautiful.