that compact.  Indeed, beholding the cat and the mouse make that covenant for accomplishing their mutual ends, the mongoose and the owl both left that spot and went away to their respective abodes.  After this, the mouse Palita, conversant with the requirements of time and place, began, as he lay under the body of the cat, to cut strings of the noose slowly, waiting for the proper time to finish his work.  Distressed by the strings that entangled him, the cat became impatient upon seeing the mouse slowly cutting away the noose.  Beholding the mouse employed so slowly in the work, the cat wishing to expedite him in the task, said:  ’How is it, O amiable one, that thou dost not proceed with haste in thy work?  Dost thou disregard me now, having thyself succeeded in thy object?  O slayer of foes, do thou cut these strings quickly.  The hunter will soon come here.’  Thus addressed by the cat who had become impatient, the mouse possessed of intelligence said these beneficial words fraught with his own good unto the cat who did not seem to possess much wisdom:  ’Wait in silence, O amiable one!  Expedition is not necessary.  Drive all thy fears.  We know the requirements of time.  We are not wasting time.  When an act is begun at an improper time, it never becomes profitable when accomplished.  That act, on the other hand, which is begun at the proper time, always produces splendid fruits.  If thou be freed at an improper time, I shall have to stand in great fear of thee.  Therefore, do thou wait for the proper time.  Do not be impatient, O friend!  When I shall see the hunter approach towards this spot armed with weapons, I shall cut the strings at that moment of fear to both of us.  Freed then, thou wilt ascend the tree.  At that time thou wilt not think of anything else save the safety of thy life.  And when thou, O Lomasa, wilt fly away in fear, I shall enter my hole and thou wilt get upon the tree.’  Thus addressed by the mouse in words that were beneficial to him, the cat, possessed of intelligence and eloquence, and impatient of saving his life, replied unto the mouse in the following words.  Indeed, the cat, who had quickly and properly done his own part of the covenant, addressing the mouse who was not expeditious in discharging his part, said, ’I rescued thee from a great danger with considerable promptness.  Alas! honest persons never do the business of their friends in this way.  Filled with delight while doing it, they do it otherwise.  Thou shouldst do what is for my good with greater expedition.  O thou of great wisdom, do thou exert a little so that good may be done to both of us.  If, on the other hand, remembering our former hostility thou art only suffering the time to slip away, know, O wicked wight, that the consequence of this act of thine will surely be to lessen the duration of thy own life![410] If I have ever, before this, unconsciously done thee any wrong, thou shouldst not bear it in remembrance.  I beg thy forgiveness.  Be gratified with me.’