Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/66

48 touched the weapon, again perform the same ceremony with the koran. Horrified at what she had heard and seen, Meeda turned from the door, and in a very few minutes succeeded in finding her way back to the lighted part of the house, and from thence to her room, where, carefully fastening her door, she sat down to consider what step she ought to take on the morrow.

Next morning, she contrived to write a letter secretly to her lover, informing him of the whole affair, only begging of him, if possible, to avoid mentioning her uncle's name as one of the conspirators. The young officer, on reading this communication of his mistress, was equally perplexed and horrified; for he saw no means by which he could avoid naming the principal in a plot so daring, more especially as it was at his house the secret meetings were held. He therefore divulged the whole matter to the authorities, who lost no time in warning the young susuhunan (emperor),