of Kings that we should judge them! It is like throwing stones
in the dark--you are almost sure of hitting your mark. I go on
obeying and acknowledging--if it is a real King, well and good:
if not, what harm is there?

KUMBHA. I should not have minded if the stones were nothing
better than stones. But they are often precious things: here, as
elsewhere, extravagance lands us in poverty, my friend.

MADHAV. Look! There comes the King! Ah, a King indeed! What a
figure, what a face! Whoever saw such beauty--lily-white,
creamy-soft! What now, Kumbha? What do you think now?

KUMBHA. He looks all right--yes, he may be the real King for all
I know.

MADHAV. He looks as if he were moulded and carved for kingship,
a figure too exquisite and delicate for the common light of day.

[Enter the "KING"]

[Transcriber's note: The author indicates the trumped up King as
"KING" in this play, enclosing the word King in double quotes to
help us distinguish the imposter from the real one.]

MADHAV. Prosperity and victory attend thee, O King! We have
been standing here to have a sight of thee since the early
morning. Forget us not, your Majesty, in your favours.

KUMBHA. The mystery deepens. I will go and call