Page:The Enchanted Parrot.djvu/73

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THE ENCHANTED PARROT
69


time you escaped. You know all the money you took away belonged to me."

This she kept on asserting with oaths and imprecations, until Kâlavatî and her mother took the woman disguised as a Chandalâ into the house and said: " Madam ! tell us: Where do you come from ? What is your name ? In short who are you ? " " I," she replied, " am one of Sudarśana's minstrels, the king of Padmavatî: this son of mine took away all my money, and you stole it from him." Kâlavatî and her mother were thoroughly frightened and said: " Here is the money ! pray take it ! " " No," answered Dhûrtamâyâ, not unless the king of this country gives me permission."

Then they fell down at her feet and said: " We pray you accept it and have mercy on us ! " So she took it, and having been treated with the greatest respect by Kâlavatî and her mother, went back with Rama rejoicing to their own country.

Story XXV

THERE is a town called Chandrapurâ, and in it lived a Buddhist mendicant. His name was Siddhasena, and he had a high reputation among