Hastily coming to the foot of the castle, Bimala entered in, followed by the Prince. While he was entering, his heart trembled and his feet shook. What could it bode to one a single hair of whose head would not be thrown off its accumstomed position in the face of innumerable odds;—what did it bode to him while entering into this mansion of joy?
Bimala shut the door in the same way, and then led the Prince to her bed-room. "I shall be back in a moment," said she. "If you please, for a while sit on this couch. If your mind is not otherwise engaged, pray, Sir, remember that the seat of the Deity was merely a banian leaf."[1]
She went out, and after a little while, opened the door of an adjoining chamber. "Noble Prince," said she from the room, "will you please step in and hear a word?"
Again the Prince's heart trembled!—perhaps, it gave no uncertain sound! He rose up from the couch, and went to Bimala.
Anon she darted out like lightning; the Prince found himself in a perfumed chamber;—a silver lamp was burning. In a corner was a veiled woman;—she was none other than Tilottama.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CLEVER PERSON AND HER FOIL.
Bimala came back to her chamber and sat down on the couch. Her countenance betokened excess of joy at having fulfilled her
- ↑ The Shastra has it that at the reign of chaos, Vishnu reposed on a banian leaf.
