She was made welcome in the inner apartment and sat down for a long chat, in the course of which she asked after Kamini’s husband.

“He has gone out for a stroll,” her hostess replied, “but I expect him back every minute.”

The words were hardly out of her mouth ere a young man came in hurriedly and, not noticing Hiramani who sat in the shade, asked for a drink of water.  Hiramani doubted not that he was Debendra Babu’s son-in-law, Pulin by name, who had lately come to live with his wife’s family.  She introduced herself as a friend of his father-in-law’s and, being very witty when she chose to exert herself, soon managed to make a favourable impression on the young man, He asked her to come again whenever she pleased, adding that he was generally at home after sunset.

Hiramani had prepared the ground for a further attack.  She left the house with a certainty that she had made a good impression.

Thenceforward hardly a day passed without at least one visit to Debendra Babu’s.  Hiramani wormed all Kamini’s little harmless secrets out of her and obtained enough knowledge of the girl’s tastes and habits to serve her own designs.

One day, finding herself alone with Pulin, she threw out dark hints against his wife’s character.  The young man’s suspicion was excited.  He pressed for more explicit information, but Hiramani shook her head mysteriously without replying.  Pulin insisted on being told the truth, whereon Hiramani poured out a whispered story of Kamini’s intrigues, mentioning names of male relatives who were known to frequent the house.  Pulin was stung to the quick.  Regardless of a stranger’s presence, he called Kamini into the room, abused her roundly, and declared that he would never live with her again.  Then gathering up a few belongings in a bundle, he quitted the house, leaving his wife in a flood of tears.  Hiramani was overjoyed by the results of her machinations.  She affected sympathy with the deserted wife, who was too young and innocent to suspect her of having caused the quarrel.

Debendra Babu had a servant, Ram Harak by name, who had been in the family for nearly forty years and was treated as one of them.  He had watched the growing intimacy between Hiramani and the young couple and, knowing the old woman’s character well, endeavoured to counteract her evil influence.  Finding this impossible he sought Debendra Babu in the parlour, salamed profoundly, and stood erect, without uttering a word.  His master asked, with some surprise, what he wanted.

“Mahasay,” replied Ram Harak, “have I not served you for two-score years with obedience and fidelity?  Have you ever found me untrue to my salt?”

“Certainly not; I know you are a good and faithful servant.”

“Then, Mahasay, you ought to protect me against enemies of your house.  That odious hag, Hiramani, has abused me foully.”

“Now, Ram Harak, it is you who are abusive.  What have you done to offend her?”