Having said this， he threw one of the sweetmeats to the dog； the animal ate it， and presently writhing and falling down， died.
"The wretch！ O the wretch！" cried Vajramukut， transported with wonder and anger. " And I loved her！ But now it is all over. I dare not associate with such a calamity！"
"What has happened， my lord， has happened！" quoth the minister's son calmly. "I was prepared for something of this kind from so talented a princess. None commit such mistakes， such blunders， such follies as your clever women； they cannot even turn out a crime decently executed. O give me dulness with one idea， one aim， one desire. O thrice blessed dulness that combines with happiness， power."
This time Vajramukut did not defend talent.
"And your slave did his best to warn you against perfidy. But now my heart is at rest. I have tried her strength. She has attempted and failed； the defeat will prevent her attempting again ——just yet. But let me ask you to put to yourself one question. Can you be happy without her？"
"Brother！" replied the prince， after a pause， "I cannot"； and he blushed as he made the avowal.
"Well，" replied the other， "better confess then conceal that fact； we must now meet her on the battle-field， and beat her at her own weapons ——cunning. I do not willingly begin treachery with women， because， in the first place， I don't like it； and secondly， I know that they will certainly commence practicing it upon me， after which I hold myself justified in deceiving them. And probably this will be a good wife； remember that she intended to poison me， not you. During the last month my fear has been lest my prince had run into the tiger's brake. Tell me， my lord， when does the princess expect you to return to her？"
"She bade me，" said the young Raja， "not to return till my mind was quite at ease upon the subject of m talented friend."
"This means that she expects you back to-morrow night， as you cannot enter the palace before. And now I will retire to my cot， as it is there that I am wont to ponder over my plans. Before dawn my thought shall mature one which must place the beautiful Padmavati in your power."
"A word before parting，" exclaimed the prince "you know my father has already chosen a spouse for me； what will he say if I bring home a second？ "
"In my humble opinion，" said the minister's son rising to retire， "woman is a monogamous， man a polygamous， creature， a fact scarcely established in physio- logical theory， but very observable in every-day practice For what said the poet？ ——Divorce， friend！ Re-wed thee！ The spring draweth near，[FN#68] And a wife's but an almanac ——good for the year.
[FN#68] Parceque c'est la saison des amours.
If your royal father say anything to you， refer him to what he himself does."
Reassured by these words， Vajramukut bade his friend a cordial good-night and sought his cot， where he slept soundly， despite the emotions of the last few hours. The next day passed somewhat slowly. In the evening， when accompanying his master to the palace， the minister's son gave him the following directions.
"Our object， dear my lord， is how to obtain possession of the princess. Take， then， this trident， and hide it carefully when you see her show the greatest love and affection. Conceal what has happened， and when she， wondering at your calmness， asks about me， tell her that last night I was weary and out of health， that illness prevented my eating her sweetmeats， but that I shall eat them for supper to-night. When she goes to sleep， then， taking off her jewels and striking her left leg with the trident， instantly come away to me. But should she lie awake， rub upon your thumb a little of this ——do not fear， it is only a powder of grubs fed on verdigris ——and apply it to her nostrils. It would make an elephant senseless， so be careful how you approach it to your own face."
Vajramukut embraced his friend， and passed safely through the palace gate. He found Padmavati awaiting him； she fell upon his bosom and looked into his eyes， and deceived herself， as clever women will do. Overpowered by her joy and satisfaction， she now felt certain that her lover was hers eternally， and that her treachery had not been discovered； so the beautiful princess fell into a deep sleep.
