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, Dalani's letter, which was carried by the good hermit, was duly laid before the Nawab. The Nawab thus came to know Dalani's whereabouts. Palanquins were sent to Pratap's house to bring Dalani and Kulsam.

The day had far advanced then. In that house there was none but Shaibalini. The Nawab's men saw her and concluded that she was the Begum.

Shaibalini heard that she was to go to the castle. All on a sudden an evil intention sprang up in her mind. The poets forget themselves in their eulogy of hope. And no doubt, hope is often the source of many pleasures and enjoyments of this world; but at the same time, it is hope which is the origin of sorrow and misery. All crimes are committed in the hope of gain. Only good works are done without any expectation of return. Those, who perform noble deeds for the golden prospects in heaven, cannot be said to have been doing good works. It was hope which completely captivated