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

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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