विक्रम चरित (उज्जैन सम्राट् विक्रमादित्य - पराक्रम, न्याय एवं ३२ पुतलियों की कथा सटीक)

128 and her nightly dream, and it now struck her, strangely enough, that perhaps this might prove to be Soomunt him- self. As this idea crossed her mind, she ordered a horse to be brought to her immediately, and having mounted, she rode out to the spot where the Manbhavy was impatiently awaiting permission to prosecute his journey. She soon distinguished him, seated on a stone in the road, and as her eye rested on him she recognised her long-lost and dear Prince Soomunt! She rode up to him, prostrated herself at his feet, and, with clasped hands and glistening eyes, paid him pure and earnest adoration, after the manner prescribed by the Hindu law for a devotee. She then entreated him to accompany her to her abode, but the Manbhavy replied, ‘No; I have no business at your majesty’s palace, since, as I have already told your minister, I have taken a vow against partaking of dainties.’ ‘No matter,’ replied Malattee; ‘I shall feel highly obliged by your kindly complying with my request; and I hope and trust that the Almighty will in due time restore you to your former position and happiness.’ She managed, after much persuasion, to prevail upon him to accompany her to the palace in a palanquin. When they had arrived there, the king and the mendicant adjourned to a private apartment, and the former desired the latter to make known the cause of his present disguise. ‘You need not,’ said the king, ‘be under any apprehension. Speak freely.’ Prince Soomunt, seeing the king so eager to learn his secret, immediately told him all, adding, ‘When I returned from the palace with the garland, which I recovered in the chamber of the Gowrihar, and found that my beloved Malattee was not where I had left her, I searched every tree, one by one, thinking I might have missed the right one, but all to no purpose,—she was nowhere to be found! I then made as much haste as I could to escape the pursuit of my uncle, who would, I had no doubt, when he became aware of our absence, send troops out in search of us. Next morning, by sunrise, I had assumed the disguise you now see me in, and have since travelled through cities