MATHAVYA.—­By what luck did you contrive to escape her?

CHATURIKA.—­While her maid was disengaging her mantle, which had caught in the branch of a shrub, I ran away.

KING.—­Here, my good friend, take the picture and conceal it.  My attentions to the Queen have made her presumptuous.  She will be here in a minute.

MATHAVYA.—­Conceal the picture! conceal myself, you mean. [Getting up and taking the picture.] The Queen has a bitter draught in store for you, which you will have to swallow as Siva did the poison at the Deluge.  When you are well quit of her, you may send and call me from the Palace of Clouds,[42] where I shall take refuge.
          [Exit, running.

SANUMATI [aside].—­Although the King’s affections are transferred to another object, yet he respects his previous attachments.  I fear his love must be somewhat fickle.

VETRAVATI [entering with a despatch in her hand].—­Victory to the King!

KING.—–­Vetravati, did you observe the Queen Vasumati coming in this direction?

VETRAVATI.—­I did; but when she saw that I had a despatch in my hand for your Majesty, she turned back.

KING.—­The Queen has too much regard for propriety to interrupt me when I am engaged with state-affairs.

VETRAVATI.—­So please your Majesty, your Prime Minister begs respectfully to inform you that he has devoted much time to the settlement of financial calculations, and only one case of importance has been submitted by the citizens for his consideration.  He has made a written report of the facts, and requests your Majesty to cast your eyes over it.

KING.—­Hand me the paper.
          [Vetravati delivers it.

KING [reading].—­What have we here?  “A merchant named Dhanamitra, trading by sea, was lost in a late shipwreck.  Though a wealthy trader, he was childless; and the whole of his immense property becomes by law forfeited to the King.”  So writes the minister.  Alas! alas! for his childlessness.  But surely, if he was wealthy, he must have had many wives.  Let an inquiry be made whether any one of them is expecting to give birth to a child.

VETRAVATI.—­They say that his wife, the daughter of the foreman of a guild belonging to Ayodhya, has just completed the ceremonies usual upon such expectations.

KING.—­The unborn child has a title to his father’s property.  Such is my decree.  Go, bid my minister proclaim it so.

VETRAVATI.—­I will, my liege. [Going.

KING.—­Stay a moment.

VETRAVATI.—­I am at your Majesty’s service.

KING.—­Let there be no question whether he may or may not have left
offspring;
    Rather be it proclaimed that whosoe’er
    Of King Dushyanta’s subjects be bereaved
    Of any loved relation, an it be not
    That his estates are forfeited for crimes,
    Dushyanta will himself to them supply
    That kinsman’s place in tenderest affection.