VIRUPAKSHA.
Small wonder that you can’t believe my words—you who think yourself sage enough to reject the opinions of your parents and superiors. How long do you think you could have stayed in this country if the King did not remain in hiding? You are no better than a flagrant heretic.
VISHU.
My dear pillar of orthodoxy! Do you think any other King would have hesitated to cut off your tongue and make it food for dogs? And you have the face to say that our King is horrid to look at!
VIRUPAKSHA.
Look here, Vishu. will you curb your tongue?
VISHU.
It would be superfluous to point out whose tongue needs the curbing.
FIRST CITIZEN.
Hush, my dear friends—this looks rather bad. . . . It seems as if they are resolved to put me in danger as well. I am not going to be a party to all this.[Exit.]
[Enter a number of men, dragging in GRANDFATHER, in boisterous exuberance]
SECOND CITIZEN.
Grandpa, something strikes me to-day . . .
GRANDFATHER.
What is it?
SECOND CITIZEN.
This year every country has sent its people to our festival, but every one asks, “Everything is nice and beautiful—but where is your King?” and we do not know what to answer. That is the one big gap which cannot but make itself felt to every one in our country.
GRANDFATHER.
“Gap,” do you say! Why, the whole country is all filled and crammed and packed with the King: and you call him a “gap”! Why,he has made every one of us a crowned King!