what was the end of all that pomp and majesty? When people
sought grants and presents from him, he could not somehow
discover an auspicious day in the Calendar: though all days were
red-letter days when we had to pay our taxes!

SECOND HERALD. Do you mean to insinuate that our King is a bogus
King like the one you have described?

FIRST HERALD. Mr. Uncle-in-law, I believe the time has come for
you to say good-bye to Aunty-in-law.

KUMBHA. Please, sirs, do not take any offence. I am a poor
creature--my sincerest apologies, sirs: I will do anything to be
excused. I am quite willing to move away as far as you like.

SECOND HERALD. All right, come here and form a line. The King
will come just now--we shall go and prepare the way for him.
[They go out.]

SECOND CITIZEN. My dear Kumbha, your tongue will be your death
one day.

KUMBHA. Friend Madhav, it isn't my tongue, it is fate. When the
bogus King appeared I never said a word, though that did not
prevent my striking at my own feet with all the self-confidence
of innocence. And now, when perhaps the real King has come, I
simply must blurt out treason. It is fate, my dear friend!

MADHAV. My faith is, to go on obeying the King--it does not
matter whether he is a real one or a pretender. What do we know