_Vasantasenā._ Girl! Girl! You went with me to the park where Kāma's temple stands? _Madanikā._ Yes, mistress. _Vasantasenā._ And yet you ask, as if you were a perfect stranger. _Madanikā._ Now I know. Is it the man who comforted you when you asked to be protected? _Vasantasenā._ Well, what was his name? _Madanikā._ Why, he lives in the merchants' quarter. _Vasantasenā._ But I asked you for his name. _Madanikā._ His name, mistress, is a good omen in itself. His name is Chārudatta. _Vasantasenā._ [_Joyfully._] Good, Madanikā, good. You have guessed it. _Madanikā._ [_Aside._] So much for that. [_Aloud._] Mistress, they say he is poor. _Vasantasenā._ 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] _Madanikā._ But mistress, do the butterflies visit the mango-tree when its blossoms have fallen? _Vasantasenā._ That is just why we call _that_ sort of a girl a butterfly. _Madanikā._ Well, mistress, if you love him, why don't you go and visit him at once? _Vasantasenā._ 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. _Madanikā._ Is that the reason why you left your jewels with him? _Vasantasenā._ 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 Māthura and the gambler._] [30.1. S. _Māthura._ 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 god can save your skin. While Māthura wants his pay. 3 _Māthura._