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

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stances. The widow possessed a depth of knowledge and
cunning worthy of a statesman, and though she was struck
dumb with surprise for awhile at the monarch's whim, she
requested him to point out the individual from whom he
had purchased the diamond, saying that she would try to
bring about the wishes of the king. The fisherman was
immediately brought before Shambae, who ordered him on
pain of death to inform her truly from whence he had pro-
cured the diamond. He replied, with much trepidation,
that if she would be pleased first to assure him of his
majesty's pardon for the deception he had practised, he
would reveal the truth. ‘Well,’ replied Shambae, ‘I will
secure for you his majesty's pardon, be the circumstances
what they may. Speak fearlessly.’ The fisherman then
told her his adventure, exactly as it had occurred, and what
his profession really was, renewing at the conclusion his
solicitation for the king's clemency. Shambae made him
wait until she returned from the king, to whom she hastened,
and represented the case, saying that the person whom his
majesty had taken for an impoverished citizen was a fisher-
man, and assuring his majesty that he need not be under
any apprehension, for that, if he would rely on her, and
have patience for a few days, she would, by employing her
utmost zeal in his service, afford him the pleasure, and that
very soon, of possessing the object of his love and admira-
tion. She then set out, accompanied by the fisherman, in
search of the place where the fish containing the diamond
had been caught. The fisherman guided her to the spot :
it was a beautiful and charming locality, and the pellucid
stream flowing tranquilly along added to the charms of the
scene. Shambae bade the fisherman leave her, after he
had shown her the exact spot, and while revolving in her
mind what plan to adopt, she happened to cast her eye on
the traces of footsteps on the pathway along which Prince
Sewdass and the lady of the cave had but a short time before
walked. She followed up these footmarks until she came
to the entrance of the cave, which was not very far from