Page:Vikram and the vampire; or, Tales of Hindu devilry (IA vikramvampireort00burtrich).pdf/368

 'I think your majesty spoke? ' asked the Vampire, in an inquisitive and insinuating tone of voice.

'Hem!' ejaculated the monarch.

The Baital held his peace for a few minutes, coughing once or twice impatiently. He suspected that the extraordinary nature of this last tale, combined with the use of the future tense, had given rise to a taciturnity so unexpected in the warrior king. He therefore asked if Vikram the Brave would not like to hear another little anecdote.

'This time the king did not even say 'hem!' Having walked at an unusually rapid pace, he distinguished at a distance the fire kindled by the devotee, and he hurried towards it with an effort which left him no breath wherewith to speak, even had he been so inclined.

'Since your majesty is so completely dumb-foundered by it, perhaps this acute young prince may be able to answer my question?' insinuated the Baital, after a few minutes of anxious suspense.

But Dharma Dhwaj answered not a syllable.