Asimov's Foundation

Haut Rodric's eyebrows lifted. "And your leader – the man I am to meet?" "You mean Dr. Pirenne? Yes! He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees – and a personal representative of the Emperor." "Doctor? No other title? A scholar? And he rates above the civil authority?" "Why, certainly," replied Hardin, amiably. "We're all scholars more or less. After all, we're not so much a world as a scientific foundation – under the direct control of the Emperor."There was a faint emphasis upon the last phrase that seemed to disconcert the sub-prefect.

"A strange world! You have no peasantry?" Hardin reflected that it didn't require a great deal of acumen to tell that his eminence was indulging in a bit of fairly clumsy pumping. He replied casually, "No – nor nobility."

He said thoughtfully: "Founded fifty years ago. Hm-m-m! You have a great deal of unexploited land here, mayor. You have never considered dividing it into estates?" "There is no necessity as yet. We're extremely centralized; we have to be, because of the Encyclopedia. Someday, perhaps, when our population has grown–"

In our short history we have had but few members of the higher nobility visiting our poor planet.Hence, our enthusiasm. "It is certain that "higher nobility" did not recognize irony when he heard it.

Hardin raised his voice to be heard above the clamor. "We are a young world, your eminence. In our short history we have had but few members of the higher nobility visiting our poor planet. Hence, our enthusiasm."

"And this city is all your world?"