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 Prince. "There are dangers in the way."

Bimala. "Then I will go to Maharaja Man Singha."

"Why so?" enquired the Prince.

Bimala. "Why? I have a suit to bring forward to him. The General he has appointed is unable to remove the fears of our way; he is incapable of destroying his enemies."

"The General will reply," said the Prince laughing, "that the destruction of foes even the gods are not equal to;—what is man? Witness, that enemy whom Mahadeva had reduced to ashes in the Grove of austerities,—'tis only a fortnight since the same Manmatha has created strange disturbance in this his very temple. Such prowess!"

"At whom was the disturbance aimed, I pray?" asked Bimala, with a smile.

"At the General himself," replied the Prince.

"Why," said Bimala "will the Maharaja believe in so impossible a thing?"

Prince. "I have a witness."

Bimala. "And who is such a witness, Sir?"

Prince. "You, good-natured—"

Bimala interposed by saying,

"Your humble servant is very ill-natured; call me Bimala, if you please."

"Bimala is my witness."

Bimala. "No, Bimala will never give such evidence."

Prince. "Indeed, most probable. She that can in no more