when she saw that I had a despatch in my hand for
your Majesty, she turned back.

KING.--The Queen has too much regard for propriety to interrupt me when
I am engaged with state-affairs.

VETRAVATI.--So please your Majesty, your Prime Minister begs
respectfully to inform you that he has devoted much time to the
settlement of financial calculations, and only one case of importance
has been submitted by the citizens for his consideration. He has made a
written report of the facts, and requests your Majesty to cast your eyes
over it.

KING.--Hand me the paper.
[_Vetravati delivers it_.

KING [_reading_].--What have we here? "A merchant named Dhanamitra,
trading by sea, was lost in a late shipwreck. Though a wealthy trader,
he was childless; and the whole of his immense property becomes by law
forfeited to the King." So writes the minister. Alas! alas! for his
childlessness. But surely, if he was wealthy, he must have had many
wives. Let an inquiry be made whether any one of them is expecting to
give birth to a child.

VETRAVATI.--They say that his wife, the daughter of the foreman of a
guild belonging to Ayodhya, has just completed the ceremonies usual upon
such expectations.

KING.--The unborn child has a title to his father's property. Such is my
decree. Go, bid my minister proclaim it so.

VETRAVATI.--I will, my liege. [_Going_.

KING.--Stay a moment.

VETRAVATI.--I am at your Majesty's service.

KING.--Let there be no question whether he may or may not have left
offspring;
Rather be it proclaimed that whosoe'er
Of King Dushyanta's subjects be bereaved
Of any loved relation, an it be not
That his estates are forfeited for crimes,
Dushyanta will himself to them supply
That kinsman's place in tenderest affection.

VETRAVATI.--It shall be so proclaimed.

[_Exit Vetravati, and reenter after an interval_.

VETRAVATI.--Your Majesty's proclamation was received with acclamations
of joy, like grateful rain at the right season.

KING [_drawing a deep sigh_].--So then, the property of rich men, who
have no lineal descendants, passes over to a stranger at their decease.
And such, alas! must be the fate of the fortunes of the race of Puru at
my death; even as when fertile soil is sown with seed at the wrong
season.

VETRAVATI.--Heaven forbid!

KING.--Fool that I was to reject such happiness when it offered itself
for my acceptance!

SANUMATI [_aside_].--