Meanwhile, under cover of the thick smoke arising from the burning of all those substances, I had climbed the wall as before, and was standing in the summer-house when the queen came in.  She said:  “Everything is ready.  I regard myself now as entirely yours; nothing shall part us any more;” and, throwing her arms round my neck, she kissed me again and again.

Saying to her, “Stay here concealed while I finish the work,” I quitted her, went to the place of sacrifice, and rang a bell hanging on a neighbouring tree; and the sound summoned the king, like a messenger of death.

He found me standing by the fire, throwing on it more sandal-wood, lignaloes, and other precious things; and as he stood gazing in fear and astonishment, and hardly believing his eyes, I said to him:  “Remember what you have promised, and now swear to me again, taking this sacred fire as a witness, that you will renounce all other women, and keep to me only.”

He answered:  “O queen, there is no deceit in me.  I will do all that I have promised,” and he repeated his former oaths.

But as if not satisfied with this, I said:  “I must have some other proof of your sincerity.  Tell me some of your state secrets.”

Then he told me:  “My father’s brother, Praharavarma, has been for a long time in prison; with the consent of my ministers, I intend to poison him, and give out that he has died of old age and infirmities.

“I am preparing an army, to be commanded by my brother, for the invasion of Pundra without any declaration of war.

“There is a merchant here possessed of a diamond of immense value.  I ’am contriving a plan by which I shall get it from him at a tenth of its worth.

“There is a man of wealth and influence very displeasing to me.  I have engaged a certain person, named Satahali, the governor of the district, to bring a false accusation against him, and by that means to stir up the people, and so cause his death in a popular tumult, which will take away all blame or suspicion from me.”

When I had heard all these things, saying, “Die the death which your wicked deeds deserve,” I suddenly seized him by the throat, stabbed him in a moment to the heart, and threw the body into the great fire, where it was quickly consumed; after which I went back to the queen, who was anxiously awaiting me.  Though much agitated, she was more relieved at having got rid of that wretch than shocked at the manner of his death; and having quieted and consoled her without much difficulty, I went at once with her to her apartments.

On seeing him, whom they believed to be the king, so changed, the women and attendants who met us were evidently much astonished, but so much had been said beforehand about the wonderful transformation to be expected, that no one seemed to doubt that I was really the king with a new body; and having said a few words of encouragement to them, I was received with great respect.