Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/175

Rh knew that heavy sorrow weighed down my heart and that I neglected even the household duties in which I had once taken great pleasure. Because I did not express my grief, and tried to conceal it from them, they appeared all the more distressed. Though you led a life which no one liked, I had not the heart to refuse even your slightest wish and I could not but follow you when you asked me to do so.”

“You left your dear parents, and your devoted servants and friends, and with only your virtues for your safeguard, you followed me and shared my sorrows. You have been indeed a ministering angel to me in my distress. Let me now take one of your anklets for sale, and until I return, stay you here and be not afraid that I leave you alone,” said Kovilan, and embracing her tenderly, he took one of her anklets, and left the cottage. Tears dropped down his manly cheeks, but he brushed them aside before thy one could notice it; and with staggering steps he walked through the shepherd street and passed on through the road where courtezans reside, and reached the market road. He met there a man coming up the road, followed by a number of workmen and distinguished by his dress which consisted of a long coat in addition to the usual dress of a Tamil. Learning that he was the chief jeweller to the Pandyan king, he approached the goldsmith and enquired "Can you value an anklet fit to be worn by the queen?”

"Your servant“ replied the jeweller saluting Kovilan with both his hands, “may not be able to estimate the value correctly, but he manufactures crowns and other jewels for the king.”

Kovilan took the jewel out of the cloth in which he had folded it, and showed it to the goldsmith, who was amazed to find it to be a superb anklet set with emeralds and diamonds and engraved most beautifully. “None but the queen is worthy of wearing this jewel,” exclaimed he, “Stay here near my humble abode, I shall inform the king and let you know his wishes.” Kovilan took his seat accordingly within the enclosure of a temple adjoining the goldsmith’s house. The goldsmith thought to himself, “this jewel resembles exactly the queen’s anklet which I have stolen; I may therefore accuse this stranger of having stolen it, before the king finds any reason to suspect me of the theft”