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 proceeding, Pratap heard from Chandra Shekhar all about what happened in the Durbar. After relating to him the whole story, Chandra Shekhar said,

"Pratap! you are really beyond any praise—you know more of this world than I do."

Pratap was surprised and looked Chandra Shekhar in the face. Chandra Shekhar then said in a voice almost choked with emotion,

"Now I have come to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Shaibalini is perfectly stainless. I shall take her into the bosom of my family again, and if for this I have to undergo a penance for the satisfaction of our society, I shall ungrudgingly do it. But, I cannot be happy—fate has ordained it otherwise."

"Why?" enquired Pratap anxiously. "Has not the Swami's medicine proved efficacious?"

"Not yet," replied Chandra Shekhar.

Pratap was much pained—tears came into his eyes. Shaibalini could see this from within her veil. She moved away a little and beckoned Pratap to come near her. Pratap alighted from his horse and came to Shaibalini. She then said to him, in a voice inaudible to others,