When, during our travels, [wrote Sirdar van Stolk, one of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s secretaries, in “Memories of a Sufi Sage”] Murshid returned to his hotel after the day’s lectures, he would relax. He would invite me to visit him in his room, and then, over a glass of hot milk, would start talking — almost invariably about India. One story after another would fill the quiet evening with its colour; and under the spell of each one I would be lifted out of the austere surroundings in which we sat, and transported to a world of mystery and splendour quite outside my experience.

One story which impressed me particularly concerned a villainous character who had lived in Calcutta several years before, and who had been the leader of a notorious band of gangsters. One day, Murshid, to his astonishment, received a visit from one of the henchmen of this man; it appeared that the Chief wished Inayat Khan to go and sing for him! For a moment Murshid hesitated; then he nodded. He would, he said, go with him. A carriage was waiting at the door, and Murshid and his strange escort were driven to the gang’s headquarters. Upon their arrival, the Chief, delighted that Inayat Khan really had come, received him with the greatest respect — and began to entertain him lavishly. Delectable dishes of food were placed before him; dancing girls, and many other of the rich trimmings of Oriental hospitality, were produced for his enjoyment. And then, after a while, his host turned to him.

“I thought you would refuse my invitation,” he said. “I had anticipated having you brought here by force. But I am glad you did come of your own free will. Now you are my honoured guest — and will not have to sing for us at all.”

For the rest of the evening, Murshid spoke with him upon spiritual matters, of all things; and the man who was such a notorious law-breaker proved, in these subjects, to be astonishingly receptive.