Then, jingling her bangles, the spirit entered and sat down by Debendra.  The spirit was covered with a sari, bracelets on her arms, on her neck a charm, ornaments in her ears, silver chain round her waist, on her ankles rings.  She was scented with attar.

Debendra held a light near to the face of the spirit.  He did not know her.

Gently he said, “Who are you? and from whence do you come?” Then holding the light in another direction, he asked, “Whose spirit are you?” At last, finding he could not steady himself, he said, “Go for to-day; I will worship you with cakes and flesh of goat on the night of the dark moon."[10]

[Footnote 10:  At the time of the dark moon the Hindus worship Kalee and her attendant spirits.]

Then the spirit, laughing, said, “Are you well, Boisnavi Didi?”

“Good heavens!” said the tipsy one, “are you a spirit from the Datta family?” Thus saying, he again held the lamp near her face; moving it hither and thither all round, he gravely examined the woman.  At last, throwing down the lamp, he began to sing, “Who are you?  Surely I know you.  Where have I seen you?”

The woman replied, “I am Hira.”

“Hurrah!  Three cheers for Hira!” Exclaiming thus, the drunken man began to jump about.  Then, falling flat on the floor, he saluted Hira, and with glass in hand began to sing in her praise.

Hira had discovered during the day that Haridasi Boisnavi and Debendra Babu were one and the same person.  But with what design Debendra had entered the house of the Dattas it was not so easy to discover.  To find this out, Hira had come to Debendra’s house; only Hira would have had courage for such a deed.  She now said: 

“What is my purpose?  To day a thief entered the Datta’s house and committed a robbery—­I have come to seize the robber.”

Hearing this, the Babu said:  “It is true I went to steal; but, Hira, I went not to steal jewels or pearls, but to seek flowers and fruits.”

“What flower?  Kunda?”

“Hurrah!  Yes, Kunda.  Three cheers for Kunda Nandini!  I adore her.”

“I have come from Kunda Nandini.”

“Hurrah!  Speak! speak!  What has she sent you to say?  Yes, I remember; why should it not be?  For three years we have loved each other.”

Hira was astonished, but wishing to hear more, she said:  “I did not know you had loved so long.  How did you first make love to her?”

“There is no difficulty in that.  From my friendship with Tara Charan, I asked him to introduce me to his wife.  He did so, and from that time I have loved her.”

“After that what happened?” asked Hira.

“After that, because of your mistress’s anger, I did not see Kunda for many days.  Then I entered the house as a Boisnavi.  The girl is very timid, she will not speak; but the way in which I coaxed her to-day is sure to take effect.  Why should it not succeed?  Am I not Debendra?  Learn well, oh lover! the art of winning hearts!”