arrival of a strange gentleman, requested him to sit down. Nagendra, inquiring for Siva Prasad Brahmachari, was informed that he had left the place.
Much dejected, Nagendra asked, "Where is he gone?"
"That I do not know; he never remains long in one place."
"Does any one know when he will return?" asked Nagendra.
"I have some business with him, therefore I also made that inquiry, but no one can tell me."
"How long is it since he left?"
"About a month."
"Could any one show me the house of Haro Mani Boisnavi, of this village?"
"Haro Mani's house stood by the roadside; but it exists no longer, it has been destroyed by fire."
Nagendra pressed his forehead. In a weak voice he asked, "Where is Haro Mani?"
"No one can say. Since the night her house was burned she has fled somewhere. Some even say that she herself set fire to it."
17
