tected?

_Vasantasena._ Well, what was his name?

_Madanika._ Why, he lives in the merchants' quarter.

_Vasantasena._ But I asked you for his name.

_Madanika._ His name, mistress, is a good omen in itself. His name
is Charudatta.

_Vasantasena._ [_Joyfully._] Good, Madanika, good. You have guessed
it.

_Madanika._ [_Aside._] So much for that. [_Aloud._] Mistress, they say
he is poor.

_Vasantasena._ That is the very reason why I love him. For a courtezan
who sets her heart on a poor man is blameless in the eyes of
the world.

P. 59.14]

_Madanika._ But mistress, do the butterflies visit the mango-tree
when its blossoms have fallen?

_Vasantasena._ That is just why we call _that_ sort of a girl a butterfly.

_Madanika._ Well, mistress, if you love him, why don't you go and
visit him at once?

_Vasantasena._ Girl, if I should visit him at once, then, because he
can't make any return--no, I don't mean that, but it would be
hard to see him.

_Madanika._ Is that the reason why you left your jewels with him?

_Vasantasena._ You have guessed it.

* * * * *

_A voice[40] behind the scenes_. Oh, sir, a shampooer owes me ten
gold-pieces, and he got away from us. Hold him, hold him! [_To the
fleeing shampooer._] Stop, stop! I see you from here. [_Enter hurriedly
a frightened shampooer._]

_Shampooer._ Oh, confound this gambling business!

Freed from its tether, the ace--
I might better say "ass"--how it kicks me!
And the cast of the dice called the "spear"
Proves true to its name; for it sticks me. 1

The keeper's whole attention
Was busy with the score;
So it took no great invention
To vanish through the door.
But I cannot stand forever
In the unprotected street.
Is there no one to deliver?
I would fall before his feet. 2

While the keeper and the gambler are looking somewhere else
for me, I'll just walk backwards into this empty temple and turn
goddess. [_He makes all sorts of gestures, takes his place, and waits._]

[_Enter Mathura and the gambler._]

[30.1. S.

_Mathura._ Oh, sir, a shampooer owes me ten gold-pieces, and he got
away from us. Hold him, hold him! Stop, stop! I see you from
here.

_Gambler._

You may run to hell, if they'll take you in;
With Indra, the god, you may stay:
For there's never a