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

84 ledged by the world as having done so. The queen was transported with joy at the successful termination of an affair fraught with such fearful consequences to her but for the timely aid rendered by the midwife ; and the only draw- back to her otherwise happy condition was, that she was necessarily in the hands of her accomplices, who could by a single word blast her fame and reputation, and, possibly, take away her life also. However, she consoled herself with the hope that money would purchase their silence. The exchange was so cleverly accomplished that but four individuals, who were one and all necessarily involved in it, were cognisant of it,—the queen, the actress, the midwife, and her confidante. With the queen it was as we have above related ; not so, however, with the princess in her lonely dwelling. Unsuspicious as yet of all around, and fully expecting, according to the prediction she had over- heard, to give birth to a son, she was grievously disappointed to find that it was not so, and expressed herself to that effect to those who were near her. ' I had received an assurance,' said she, ' from Dhanoo, the astrologer, that I should bear a son ; and it is indeed a matter of surprise to me, that it should turn out otherwise.' The positive manner in which she spoke totally upset the equanimity of the actress and her accomplice the midwife : their blunder- ing and foolish explanations roused suspicion in the princess' mind that some foul play had been practised upon her during the hours of insensibility into which she had been plunged at the moment of delivery. ' However,' said she, ' though I feel perfectly assured that the astrologer could not have predicted falsely, and though the care and anxiety with which I had looked forward to a consummation of my desires have been thus cruelly disregarded by some unfriendly hands, who have, perhaps, removed from me my son, yet will I hope that that son will be happy, and live prosperously ; that the Almighty will, if it pleases Him, bring us together ; or if He should in his wisdom ordain otherwise, his will be done ! Into whomsoever's hand my