she was pining away and tossing on her couch, he asked the
princess one evening: "My dear girl, why do you grow pale and
thin day by day, grieving as if separated from your love? Tell me.
Why not trust a loving, innocent girl like me? If you will not tell
me, I shall starve myself."

And the princess trusted him and said after a little hesitation: "My
dear girl, why should I not trust you? Listen. I will tell you. One
day I went to the spring festival in the garden. There I saw a
handsome Brahman youth, fair as the moon but not so cold, the
sight of whom kindled my love. For he adorned the garden as the
spring-time does. While my eager eyes were feasting on his face, a
great mad elephant that had broken his chain came charging and
thundering past like a black cloud in the dry season. My servants
scattered in terror, and I was helpless. But the Brahman youth took
me in his arms and carried me far away. I seemed to be in a sandal
bath, in a stream of nectar. I cannot tell how I felt as I touched
him. Presently my servants gathered around, and I was brought
here helpless. I felt as if I had fallen from heaven to earth. From
that day I see in my thoughts my dear preserver beside me. I
embrace him in my dreams. What need of more words? I wear
away the time, thinking constantly of him and only him. The fire
of separation from the lord of my life devours me day and night."

When Master-mind heard these welcome words, he rejoiced and
counted himself happy. And thinking the time to reveal himself
had come, he took the pill from his mouth, and disclosed his
natural form. And he said: "Beautiful maiden, I am he whom you
bought and enslaved with a kindly glance in the garden. I was sick
at the separation from you; so I took the form of a girl, and came