others, or to a revival of his former love, could not be known. Whatever the cause, his endeavours proved vain.
Mansingha's army began to break up the encampment. Next day they would march. The time for reading the note that had been attached to the reins of Jagat Sinhga's steed, came the day before the march. Eagerly opening it, the Prince read the following lines;
"If you righteously fear sin, if you fear a Brahmin's curse, please come here alone as soon as you read the contents. Thus much,
A Brahmin."
The Prince was taken with surprise. Once he thought, "This may be the artifice of an enemy. Should I go?" Next he remarked that the letter was written in pure Devanagari characters; and concluded it to be most likely as coming from a Brahmin. In a Rajput breast, the fear of a Brahmin's curse outweighs every other fear. The Prince accordingly decided on going. He directed his followers not to "wait for him, should he not join them before they marched. No matter if they went before: he could meet them at Burdwan or at Rajmahal." Having given these directions, he proceeded alone towards the sal forest. On reaching the gate of the ruined habitation, he (as before) fastened his charger to a sal tree. He looked around him, but found none. He then entered the ruin. There was the same grave on one side, and the funeral pyre on the other. A Brahmin sat upon the wood of the pyre. He had hung down his head, and was weeping.
"Is it you, Sir," asked the Prince, "that have desired me to come here?"
