The Enchantress Of Florence

Akbar decides to take Mogor to the new “debating chamber” (97) that he ordered built in the wake of the execution of the princeling. There, the greatest minds of the city debate “the impermanence of the things of the mind” (99). When Mogor makes a critical comment about one of Akbar’s statements, the room holds its breath. Rather than punish Mogor, however, the emperor is intrigued by this “rationalist’s taunt” (101). He begins to think that he could “open his heart to this Mogor” (102).

Since his arrival in the city, Mogor has been followed by the emperor‘s best and most elusive spy. Umar the Ayyar is a young eunuch who is unknown even to the emperor’s most trusted advisors. He meets the emperor and reveals that the mysterious Florentine is said to possess “a secret so astonishing that it could shake the dynasty itself” (105), though he weeps because he has not been able to discern the nature of the secret.

Mogor accompanies the emperor on a boat and, after the rituals and ceremonies have been performed, he reveals to Akbar that he has a secret. He begins to tell a story about “an adventurer-prince named Argalia or Arcalia” (108) but he is interrupted by a second boat containing the emperor’s advisors.