Then Apaharavarma introduced the stranger to the prince, saying, “This is my dear friend Dhanamittra, well worthy of your respect and consideration; for he is as brave and clever as he is handsome.  With your permission, he will liberate the King of Anga, and re-establish the former authorities; meanwhile, we will go on to a quiet place, and wait there for him and the princes who have come so opportunely to our assistance.”

Rajavahana agreed to this.  They went a little further, and dismounted at a pleasant cool bank, shaded by a large banian tree, and close to the Ganges.

When they had been for some time seated there, Dhanamittra returned, accompanied by Upaharavarma, Pramati, Mitragupta, Mantragupta, Visruta, Praharavarma King of Mithila, Kamapala lord of Benares, and Sinhavarma King of Anga.

The prince, astonished and delighted at such an unexpected meeting, warmly embraced his young friends, and very respectfully saluted, as a son, the elder men introduced by them.  Many questions were asked on both sides.  After some conversation, Rajavahana told them his own adventures, and those of Somadatta and Pushpodbhava, and then begged his friends to relate theirs.

Apaharavarma spoke first.

* * * * *

ADVENTURES OF APAHARAVARMA.

My Lord, when you had gone away with the brahman, and we were unable to find you, I wandered about searching for you like the rest of your friends.

One day I heard by chance of a very famous muni, living in a forest on the banks of the Ganges, not far from Champa, who was said to have supernatural knowledge of past and future events.

Hoping to obtain some information about you, I determined to seek him out, and accordingly came here for that purpose.  Having found the way to his dwelling, I saw there a miserable-looking man, very unlike the holy devotee whom I had pictured to myself.  Sitting down, however, beside this person, I said, “I have come a long way to consult the celebrated rishi Marichi, having heard that he is possessed of very wonderful knowledge.  Can you tell me where to find him?”

Deeply sighing, he answered:  “There was, not long ago, such a person in this place; but he is changed—­he is no longer what he was.”

“How can that be?” I asked.

“One day,” he replied, “while that muni was engaged in prayer and meditation, he was interrupted by the sudden arrival of a famous actress and dancer, called Kamamanjari, who, with dishevelled hair and eyes full of tears, threw herself at his feet.

“Before he had time to ask the meaning of this, a confused crowd of her companions came up, headed by an old woman, the mother of Kamamanjari, apparently in great agitation and distress.

“When they were all a little quieted, he asked the girl the meaning of her tears, and for what purpose she had come to him.