A frightful calm now came over me as I returned to my room. There was nothing more to be considered, no doubt to be combated, no questions to be answered. All was decided; his Karma willed it so. By his double treachery his life was plainly forfeit to me and to Angulimala.
So great was this calm that I fell asleep instantly I laid myself down on my couch, as though my whole being were anxiously endeavouring to bridge over the empty hours of waiting.
When it became dark I went to the Terrace; the moon had not yet risen. I had not long to wait; Angulimala's powerful figure swung itself over the parapet and came straight to the bench on which I sat half averted from him.
I did not move and, without raising my eyes from the pattern of the coloured marble tiles, I spoke—
"What thou dost wish to learn, I know. Everything. The hour when he leaves, the strength of his escort, the direction he takes, and the roads and paths over which he goes. Under the influence of his evil Karma, he himself forced his confidence upon me, otherwise I should have known nothing of it, for I would never have drawn it from him by feigned tenderness."
I had well considered these words of mine; for so foolish are we in our pride that even now, when I was
