Fakir, I've been feeling a sort of darkness coming over my eyes since the morning. Everything seems like a dream. I long to be quiet. I don't feel like talking at all. Won't the King's letter come? Suppose this room melts away all on a sudden, suppose—
GAFFER (Fanning Amal) The letter's sure to come to-day, my boy.
(Doctor enters)
DOCTOR And how do you feel to-day?
AMAL. Feel awfully well to-day, Doctor. All pain seems to have left me.
DOCTOR (Aside to Madhav) Don't quite like the look of that smile. Bad sign that, his feeling well! Chakradhan has observed—
MADHAV. For goodness sake, Doctor, leave Chakradhan alone. Tell me what's going to happen?
DOCTOR. Can't hold him in much longer, I fear! I warned you before—This looks like a fresh exposure.
MADHAV. No, I've used the utmost care, never let him out of doors; and the windows have been shut almost all the time.
DOCTOR. There's a peculiar quality in the air to-day. As I came in I found a fearful draught through your front door. That's most hurtful. Better lock it at once. Would it matter if this kept your visitors off for two or three days? If someone happens to call unexpectedly—there's the back door. You had better shut this window as well, it's letting in the sunset rays only to keep the patient awake.
MADHAV. Amal has shut his eyes. I expect he is sleeping. His face tells me—Oh, Doctor, I bring in a child who is a stranger and love him as my own, and now I suppose I must lose him!
DOCTOR. What's that? There's your headman sailing in!—What a bother! I must be going, brother. You had better stir about and see to the doors being properly fastened. I will send on a strong dose directly I get home. Try it on him—it may save him at last, if he can be saved at all. (Exeunt Madhav and Doctor.)
(The Headman enters)
HEADMAN. Hello, urchin!
GAFFER (Rising hastily) 'Sh, be quiet.
AMAL. No, Fakir, did you think I was asleep? I wasn't. I can hear everything; yes, and voices far away. I feel that mother and father are sitting by my pillow and speaking to me.
(Madhav enters)
HEADMAN. I say, Madhav, I hear you hobnob with bigwigs nowadays.
MADHAV. Spare me your jests, Headman, we are but common people.
HEADMAN. But your child here is expecting a letter from the King.
MADHAV. Don't you take any notice of him, a mere foolish boy!
HEADMAN. Indeed, why not! It'll beat the King hard to find a better family! Don't you see why the King plants his new Post Office right before your win- dow? Why there's a letter for you from the King, urchin.
AMAL (Starting up) Indeed, really!
HEADMAN. How can it be false? You're the King's chum. Here's your letter (showing a blank slip of paper). Ha, ha, ha! This is the letter.
AMAL. Please don't mock me. Say, Fakir, is it so?
GAFFER. Yes, my dear. I as Fakir tell you it is his letter.
AMAL. How is it I can't see? It all looks so blank to me. What is there in the letter, Mr. Headman?
HEADMAN. The King says, "I am calling on you shortly; you had better arrange puffed rice offerings for me.—Palace fare is quite tasteless to me now." Ha! ha! ha!
MADHAV (With folded palms) I beseech you, headman, don't you joke about these things—
GAFFER. Cutting jokes indeed, dare he!
MADHAV. Are you out of your mind too, Gaffer?
GAFFER. Out of my mind, well then I am; I can read plainly that the King writes he will come himself to see Amal, with the state physician.
AMAL. Fakir, Fakir, 'sh, his trumpet! Can't you hear?
HEADMAN. Ha! ha! ha! I fear he won't until he's a bit more off his head.
AMAL. Mr. Headman, I thought you were cross with me and didn't love me. I never could think you would fetch me the King's letter. Let me wipe the dust off your feet.
HEADMAN. This little child does have an instinct of reverence. Though a little silly, he has a good heart.
AMAL. It's hard on the fourth watch now, I suppose—Hark the gong, "Dong, dong, ding," "Dong, dong, ding." Is the evening star up? How is it I can't see—
GAFFER. Oh, the windows are all shut, I'll open them.
(A knocking outside)
MADHAV. What's that?—Who is it—what a bother!
VOICE (From outside) Open the door.
MADHAV Say, Headman—Hope they're not robbers.
HEADMAN Who's there?—It's Panchanan, the headman, calls—Aren't you afraid of the like of me? Fancy! The noise has ceased! Panchanan's voice carries far.—Yes, show me the biggest robbers!
MADHAV (Peering out of the window) I should think the noise has ceased. They've smashed the door.
(The King's Herald enters)
HERALD. Our Sovereign King comes to-night!
HEADMAN. My God!
AMAL. At what hour of the night, Herald?
HERALD. On the second watch.
AMAL. When from the city gates my friend the watchman will strike his gong, "ding dong ding, ding dong ding"—then?
HERALD. Yes, then. The King sends his greatest physician to attend on his young friend.
(State Physician enters)
STATE PHYSICIAN. What's this? How close it is here! Open wide all the doors and windows. (Feeling Amal's body) How do you feel, my child?
AMAL. I feel very well, Doctor, very well. All pain is gone. How fresh and open! I can see all the stars now twinkling from the other side of the dark.
PHYSICIAN. Will you feel well enough to leave your bed with the King when he comes in the middle watches of the night?
AMAL. Of course, I'm dying to be about for ever so long. I'll ask the King to find me the polar star.—I must have seen it often, but I don't know exactly which it is.
PHYSICIAN. He will tell you everything. (To Madhav) Will you go about and arrange flowers through the room for the King's visit? (Indicating the Headman) We can't have that person in here.
AMAL. No, let him be, Doctor. He is a friend. It was he who brought me
