The King of the Dark Chamber: Scene 13

Scene 13

XIII

[KING OF KANCHI and SUVARNA]

SUVARNA. You say, then, that there will be no more necessity of
any fight amongst yourselves?

KANCHI. No, you need not be afraid. I have made all the princes
agree that he whom the Queen accepts as her husband will have
her, and the others will have to abandon all further struggle.

SUVARNA. But you must have done with me now, Your Highness--so I
beg to be let off now. Unfit as I am for anything, the fear of
impending danger has unnerved me and stunned my intellect. You
will therefore find it difficult to put me to any use.

KANCHI. You will have to sit there as my umbrella-holder.

SUVARNA. Your servant is ready for anything; but of what profit
will that be to you?

KANCHI. My man, I see that your weak intellect cannot go with a
high ambition in you. You have no notion yet with what favour
the Queen looked upon you. After all, she cannot possibly throw
the bridal garland on an umbrella-bearer's neck in a company of
princes, and yet, I know, she will not be able to turn her mind
away from you. So on all accounts this garland will fall under
the shade of my regal umbrella.

SUVARNA. Your Highness, you are entertaining dangerous
imaginings about me. I pray you, please do not implicate me in
the toils of such groundless notions. I beg Your Highness most
humbly, pray set me at liberty.

KANCHI. As soon as my object is attained, I shall not keep you
one moment from your liberty. Once the end is attained, it is
futile to burden oneself with the means.

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