Then Rajavahana, more deeply in love even than the princess, thought to himself, “There surely must be some reason for this very sudden attraction which I feel towards her.  She must have been my beloved wife in a former existence.  Perhaps a curse was laid upon us; and now that is removed.  If so, the recognition ought to be mutual; at all events I will try what I can do to produce the same feeling in her which exists in my mind.”

While he was considering how this might be accomplished, a swan approached the princess, as if expecting to be fed or caressed; and in sport, she desired Balachandrika to catch it.

Inspired by this circumstance with a happy thought, Rajavahana said to the princess, “Will you allow me to tell you a short story?  There was formerly a king called Samba.  When walking one day together with his beloved wife at the side of a small lake in the pleasure-grounds, he saw a swan asleep, just under the bank.  Having caught it, he tied its legs together, put it down again on the ground, and saying to his wife, ‘This bird sits as quiet as a muni; let him go where he likes,’ amused himself with laughing at its awkward attempts to walk.  Then the swan suddenly spoke:  ’O king, though in the form of a swan, I am a devout brahman; and since you have thus, without cause, ill-treated me while sitting quiet here, engaged in meditation, I lay my curse upon you, and you shall endure the pain of separation from your beloved wife.’

“Hearing this, the king, alarmed and distressed, bowed respectfully to the ground, and said, ’O mighty sage, forgive an act done through ignorance.’

“Then that holy person, having his anger appeased, answered, ’My words cannot be made of no effect.  I will, however, so far modify the curse that it will not take place during your present existence; but in a future birth, when you are united to the same lady in another body, you must endure the misery of separation from her for two months, though you will afterwards enjoy very great happiness with her; and I will also confer on you both the power of recognising each other in your next existence,’—­I beg of you therefore not to tie this bird which you were wishing to catch.”

The princess, hearing this story, was quite ready to believe it; and from her own feelings was convinced that it really referred to a previous existence of herself, now brought to her recollection; and that the love which she felt springing up in her heart was directed towards one who had formerly been her husband.  With a sweet smile, she answered:  “Doubtless Samba tied the bird in that way on purpose to obtain the power of recognition in another birth; and it was very cleverly managed by him.”

From that moment they seemed perfectly to understand each other, and sat without speaking, their hearts full of happiness.

Presently the mother of the princess—­the queen of the ex-king Manasara, who had also come with her attendants into the park, joined her daughter; and Balachandrika having seen her approaching, made a sign to the prince, upon which he and his friend slipped on one side, and hid themselves behind some leafy bushes.