But, hard-hearted man that I was, I forgot to fulfil my promise, owing to the infatuation that took possession of me.

SÁNUMATÍ. [Aside.

A pleasant arrangement! Fate, however, ordained that the appointment should not be kept.

MÁ[T.]HAVYA.

But how did the ring contrive to pass into the stomach of that carp which the fisherman caught and was cutting up?

KING.

It must have slipped from my [S']akoontalá's hand, and fallen into the stream of the Ganges, while she was offering homage to the water of [S']achí's holy pool.

MÁ[T.]HAVYA.

Very likely.

SÁNUMATÍ. [Aside.