“Having made himself invisible, he entered without difficulty the apartment of the princess, and was astonished and enraged on finding her lying in your arms.  His first impulse was to kill you; but some irresistible influence restrained him, so that he contented himself with putting the silver fetter on your feet, and departed without otherwise disturbing you.

“You have, in consequence, suffered all this misery.  Now my transformation is ended, and you are so far free; tell me what I can do for you in atonement for the suffering which I have caused?”

The prince, not thinking of himself, said only, “Go at once to her who is dearer to me than life, and comfort her with news of me.”

At that moment a great clamour was heard, and some persons, rushing from the interior of the palace, called out, loudly, “Help! help!  Chandavarma is murdered! killed by an assassin, who stabbed him as he was about to take the hand of the princess; and that man is now moving about the palace, cutting down all who attempt to seize him.”

Rajavahana, when he heard this, without losing a moment, and before the guards had perceived his feet to be unfettered, with a sudden spring leapt on the elephant intended for his destruction; and having thrust off the driver, urged the beast at a rapid pace, pushing aside the crowd right and left as he went.

Having got into the courtyard, he shouted with a loud voice, “Who is the brave man that has done this great deed, hardly to be accomplished by a mere mortal?  Let him come forth and join me; we two united are a match for a whole army.”

The slayer of Chandavarma hearing this, came out of the palace, and quickly mounting the elephant, who held down his trunk to receive him, placed himself behind the prince.

Great was their mutual astonishment and joy when they recognised each other, the prince exclaiming, “Is it possible?  Is it really you, my dear friend Apaharavarma, who have done this deed?” and the other saying, “Do I indeed see my Lord Rajavahana?” Having thus recognised and embraced each other, they turned the elephant round, and passing through the crowd in the courtyard, went into the main street, now thronged by soldiers.  Through these they forced their way, employing with good effect the weapons placed on the elephant for the use of Chandavarma.

Before, however, they had gone far, they heard the noise of battle at a distance, and saw the soldiers in front of them scattered in all directions.

Soon they saw coming towards them a very well-dressed, handsome man, riding on a swift elephant.  On reaching them, he made obeisance to the prince, saying, “I am sure this is my Lord Rajavahana;” and then turning to Apaharavarma, said, “I have followed your directions exactly, and hastened on the advancing allies.  We have just now encountered and utterly defeated the enemy, so that there is no fear of any further resistance.”