You are very, very welcome. Here is a seat. Pray be seated. _Maitreya._ Here is a seat. Be seated, madam. [_Vasantasenā sits, then the others._] _Chārudatta._ But see, my friend, The dripping flower that decks her ear, droops down, And one sweet breast Anointed is, like a prince who wears the crown, With ointment blest. 38 My friend, Vasantasenā's garments are wet. Let other, and most beautiful, garments be brought. _Maitreya._ Yes, sir. _Maid._ Good Maitreya, do you stay here. I will wait upon my mistress. [_She does so._] _Maitreya._ [_Aside to Chārudatta._] My friend, I'd just like to ask the lady a question. _Chārudatta._ Then do so. _Maitreya._ [_Aloud._] Madam, what made you come here, when it is so stormy and dark that you can't see the moon? _Maid._ Mistress, the Brahman is very plain-spoken. P. 148.17] _Vasantasenā._ You might better call him clever. _Maid._ My mistress came to ask how much that pearl necklace is worth. _Maitreya._ [_Aside to Chārudatta._] There! I told you so. She thinks the pearl necklace is cheap, and the golden casket is expensive. She isn't satisfied. She has come to look for something more. _Maid._ For my mistress imagined that it was her own, and gambled it away. And nobody knows where the gambling-master has gone, for he is employed in the king's business. _Maitreya._ Madam, you are simply repeating what somebody said before. _Maid._ While we are looking for him, pray take this golden casket. [_She displays the casket._ _Maitreya hesitates._] Sir, you examine it very closely. Did you ever see it before? _Maitreya._ No, madam, but the skilful workmanship captivates the eye. _Maid._ Your eyes deceive you, sir. This _is_ the golden casket. _Maitreya._ [_Joyfully._] Well, my friend, here is the golden casket, the very one that thieves stole from our house. _Chārudatta._ My friend, The artifice we tried before, Her stolen treasure to restore, Is practised now on us. But no, I cannot think 't is really so. 39 _Maitreya._ But it is so. I swear it on my Brahmanhood. _Chārudatta._ This is welcome news. _Maitreya._ [_Aside to Chārudatta._] I'm going to ask where they found it. _Chārudatta._ I see no harm in that. _Maitreya._ [_Whispers in the maid's ear._] There! _Maid._ [_Whispers in Maitreya's ear._] So there! [89.19. S. _Chārudatta._ What is it? and why are we left out? _Maitreya._ [_Whispers in Chārudatta's ear._] So there! _Chārudatta._ My good girl, is this really the same golden casket? _Maid._ Yes, sir, the very same. _Chārudatta._ My good girl, I have never let the bearer of welcome news go unrewarded. Take this ring as your recompense. [_He looks at his finger, notices that the ring is gone, and betrays his embarrassment._] _Vasantasenā._ [_To herself._] I love you for that. _Chārudatta._ [_Aside to Maitreya._] Alas,