He, despairing of finding any other way of appeasing the old man, after some consideration and consultation with his ministers, said to him:  “You have told me that your intended son-in-law is a young man of rare abilities, and more fit to be the husband of a princess than of your daughter, and his appearance is very prepossessing; I offer him then my daughter in the place of yours.  Will this satisfy you?” Then at last the old man professed to be contented; I was treated with much honour, in due time became the husband of the princess, and reached the summit of my wishes.

After a time, an army was sent by my father-in-law to the assistance of the King of Anga, and, thinking of the possibility of meeting you here, I solicited and obtained the command of it, and my hopes have been fulfilled, since I have now the great pleasure of seeing you.

Having heard this story, the prince remarked:  “You have done no deeds of blood, but have gained your ends by gentleness and ingenuity.  This is the way approved of by the wise.”  Then turning to Mitragupta, he said “It is now your turn,” and he immediately began his story thus:—­

* * * * *

ADVENTURES OF MITRAGUPTA.

My lord, I set out on my travels in search of you, like the rest, and arriving one day at Damalipta, I saw a great crowd collected in a large park outside the city.  While looking about me to find some one of whom I might inquire what this festival was, I espied a young man, sitting alone in an arbour, amusing himself with playing on a lute.  Going up to him, I asked “What is this concourse of people?  Why do you sit here alone, away from the others?”

He answered:  “A long time ago, the king of this country, having no children, made many prayers and offerings to the goddess Durga, in the hope of propitiating her.  At last she appeared to him in a dream, and said:  ’Your prayer is granted; your wife shall bear twins—­a daughter who must be your successor, and a son who must be subject to her and to her husband when she marries.  Further, it is my will and pleasure that, beginning from her seventh year, you shall make, every month when the moon is in the constellation Krittika (or the Pleiades), a great festival, to be called the Festival of the Ball Dance, at which she shall publicly exhibit her skill before the people.  I also will, that in reference to a husband, she shall have free choice without any pressure on your part, and that he whom she marries shall have equal power with her, and reign after your death.’

“The promise given in the dream was fulfilled.  The queen bore twins—­a son and a daughter.  The king has duly obeyed the commands of the goddess, and to-day the princess, whose name is Kandukavati, will again perform the ball dance for the propitiation of Durga in the sight of the people here assembled.

“You asked me also why I am sitting here alone.  I will tell you.  The Princess Kandukavati has a dear friend and foster-sister, who is engaged to me.