What lover， O warrior king Vikram， would have hesitated， under such circumstances， to assure the Pandit that he was the most innocent， earnest， and well-intentioned being in the Three Worlds？

　　The Brahman's son， at least， lost no time in so doing. Hence the simple-minded philosopher put one of the pills into the young man's mouth， warning him on no account to swallow it， and took the other into his own mouth. Upon which Manaswi became a sprightly young maid， and Muldev was changed to a reverend and decrepid senior， not fewer than eighty years old.

　　Thus transformed， the twain walked up to the palace of the Raja Subichar， and stood for a while to admire the gate. Then passing through seven courts， beautiful as the Paradise of Indra， they entered， unannounced， as became the priestly dignity， a hall where， surrounded by his courtiers， sat the ruler. The latter， seeing the Holy Brahman under his roof， rose up， made the customary humble salutation， and taking their right hands， led what appeared to be the father and daughter to appropriate seats. Upon which Muldev， having recited a verse， bestowed upon the Raja a blessing whose beauty has been diffused over all creation.

　　"May that Deity[FN#146] who as a mannikin deceived the great king Bali； who as a hero， with a monkey-host， bridged the Salt Sea； who as a shepherd lifted up the mountain Gobarddhan in the palm of his hand， and by it saved the cowherds and cowherdesses from the thunders of heaven——may that Deity be thy protector！"

　　[FN#146] Vishnu， as a dwarf， sank down into and secured in the lower regions the Raja Bali， who by his piety and prayerfulness was subverting the reign of the lesser gods； as Ramachandra he built a bridge between Lanka （Ceylon） and the main land； and as Krishna he defended， by holding up a hill as an umbrella for them， his friends the shepherds and shepherdesses from the thunders of Indra， whose worship they had neglected.

　　Having heard and marvelled at this display of eloquence， the Raja inquired， "Whence hath your holiness come？"

　　"My country，" replied Muldev， "is on the northern side of the great mother Ganges， and there too my dwelling is. I travelled to a distant land， and having found in this maiden a worthy wife for my son， I straightway returned homewards. Meanwhile a famine had laid waste our village， and my wife and my son have fled I know not where. Encumbered with this damsel， how can I wander about seeking them？ Hearing the name of a pious and generous ruler， I said to myself， ' I will leave her under his charge until my return.' Be pleased to take great care of her."

　　For a minute the Raja sat thoughtful and silent. He was highly pleased with the Brahman's perfect compliment. But he could not hide from himself that he was placed between two difficulties： one， the charge of a beautiful young girl， with pouting lips， soft speech， and roguish eyes； the other， a priestly curse upon himself and his kingdom. He thought， however， refusal the more dangerous； so he raised his face and exclaimed， "O produce of Brahma's head，[FN#147] I will do what your highness has desired of me."

　　[FN#147] The priestly caste sprang， as has been said， from the noblest part of the Demiurgus； the three others from lower members.

　　Upon which the Brahman， after delivering a benediction of adieu almost as beautiful and spirit-stirring as that with which he had presented himself， took the betel[FN#148] and went his ways.

　　[FN#148] A chew of betel leaf and spices is offered by the master of the house when dismissing a visitor.

　　Then the Raja sent for his daughter Chandraprabha and said to her， "This is the affianced bride of a young Brahman， and she has been trusted to my protection for a time by her father-in-law. Take her therefore into the inner rooms， treat her with the utmost regard， and never allow her to be separated from thee， day or night， asleep or awake， eating or drinking， at home or abroad."

　　Chandraprabha took the hand of Sita——as Manaswi had pleased to call himself——and led the way to her own apartment. Once the seat of joy and pleasure， the rooms now wore a desolate and melancholy look. The windows were darkened， the attendants moved noiselessly over the carpets， as if their footsteps would cause headache， and there was a faint scent of some drug much used in cases of deliquium. The apartments were handsome， but the only ornament in the room where they sat was a large bunch of withered flowers in an arched recess， and these， though possibly interesting to some one， were not likely to find favour as a decoration in the eyes of everybody.

　　The Raja's daughter paid the greatest attention and talked with unusual vivacity to the Brahman's daughter-in-law， either because she had roguish eyes， or from some presentiment of what was to occur， whichever you please， Raja Vikram， and it is no matter which. Still Sita could not help perceiving that there was a shade of sorrow upon the forehead of her fair new friend， and so when they retired to rest she asked the cause of it.

　　Then Chandraprabha related to her the sad tale： "One day in the spring season， as I was strolling in the garden along with my companions， I beheld a very handsome Brahman， and our eyes having met， he became unconscious， and I also was insensible. My companions seeing my condition， brought me home， and therefore I know neither his name nor his abode. His beautiful form is impressed upon my memory. I have now no desire to eat or to drink， and from this distress my colour has become pale and my body is thus emaciated." And the beautiful princess sighed a sigh that was musical and melancholy， and concluded by predicting for herself——as persons similarly placed often do——a sudden and untimely end about the beginning of the next month.