"I was never out of the neighbourhood, how should
I know a _Boisnavi_ beggar-man. Ask the women of the _Thakur bari_;
Karuna or Sitala may know her."
"This is not a _Thakur bari Boisnavi_. I want to know who she is,
where her home is, and why she talks so much with Kunda. If you find
all this out for me I will give you a new Benares _sari_, and send you
to see the play."
At this offer Hira became very zealous, and asked, "When may I go to
make inquiry?"
"When you like; but if you do not follow her now you will not be able
to trace her. Be careful that neither the _Boisnavi_ nor any one else
suspects you."
At this moment Kamal returned, and, approving of Surja Mukhi's design,
said to Hira, "And if you can, prick her with _babla_ thorns."
Hira said: "I will do all, but only a Benares _sari_ will not content
me."
"What do you want?" asked Surja.
"She wants a husband," said Kamal. "Give her in marriage."
"Very well," said Surja. "Would you like to have the _Thakur
Jamai_?[8] Say so, and Kamal will arrange it."
[Footnote 8: _Thakur Jamai_--Kamal Mani's husband.]
"Then I will see," said Hira; "but there is already in the house a
husband suited to my mind.
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