SECOND MAN. But who could approach them? They were all secure inside the enclosures.

GRANDFATHER. So they have escaped you! Could you not throw the least bit of colour on them? You should have forced your way there.

THIRD MAN. My dear old man, they have a different sort of red specially to themselves. Their eyes are red: the turbans of their guards and retinue are red too. And the latter flourished their swords about so much that a little more nearness on our part would have meant a lavish display of the fundamental red colour.

GRANDFATHER. Well done, friends--always keep them at a distance.

They are the exiles of the Earth--and we have got to keep them so.

THIRD MAN. I am going home, Grandpa; it is past midnight.[Goes out.]

[Enter a BAND of SINGERS, singing.]

All blacks and whites have lost their distinction And have become red--red as the tinge of your feet.

Red is my bodice and red are my dreams, My heart sways and trembles like a red lotus.

GRANDFATHER. Excellent, my friends, splendid! So you had a really enjoyable time!

SINGERS. Oh, grand! Everything was red, red! Only the moon in the sky gave us the slip--it remained white.

GRANDFATHER. He only looks so innocent from the outside. If you had only taken off his white disguise, you would have seen his trickery. I have been watching what red colours he is throwing on the Earth to-night. And yet, fancy his remaining white and colourless all the while!

SONG.

With you is my game, love, my love!

My heart is mad, it will never own defeat, Do you think you will escape stainless yourself reddening me with red powder?

Could I not colour your robe with the red pollens of the blossom of my heart?

[They go out.]

[Enter the "KING" and KANCHI.]

KANCHI. You must do exactly as I have told you. Let there be no mistake of any kind.

"KING". There shall be no mistake.

KANCHI. The Queen Sudarshana's mansions are in the ...

"KING". Yes, sire, I have seen the place well.

KANCHI. What you have got to do is to set fire to the garden, and then you will take advantage of the bustle and confusion to accomplish your object straightway.

"KING". I shall remember.

KANCHI. Look here, Sir Pretender, I cannot help thinking that a needless fear is troubling us--there is really no King in this country.

"KING". My sole aim is to rid this country of this anarchy. Your common man cannot live without a King, whether a real one or a fraud! Anarchy is always a source of danger.

KANCHI. Pious benefactor of the people, your wonderful self- sacrifice should really be an example to all of us. I am thinking of doing this extraordinary service to the people myself. [They go out.]

VI

ROHINI. What is the matter? I cannot make out what is all this!

[To the GARDENERS.] Where are you all going away in such a hurry?

FIRST GARDENER. We are going out of the garden.

ROHINI. Where?

SECOND GARDENER. We do not know where--the King has called us.

ROHINI. Why, the King is in the garden. Which King has called you?

FIRST GARDENER. We cannot say.

SECOND GARDENER. The King we have been serving all our life, of course.

ROHINI. Will you all go?

FIRST GARDENER. Yes, all--we have to go instantly. Otherwise we might get into trouble. [They go out.]

ROHINI. I cannot understand their words.... I am afraid. They are scampering off like wild animals that fly just before the bank of a river breaks down into the water.

[Enter KING OF KOSHALA]

KOSHALA. Rohini, do you know where your King and Kanchi have gone?

ROHINI. They are somewhere in the garden, but I could not tell you where.

KOSHALA. I cannot really understand their intentions. I have not done well to put my trust in Kanchi. [Exit.]

ROHINI. What is this dark affair going on amongst these kings?

Something dreadful is going to happen soon. Shall I too be drawn into this affair? [Enter AVANTI]

AVANTI. Rohini, do you know where the other princes are?

ROHINI. It is difficult to say which of them is where. The King of Koshala just pa.s.sed by in this direction.

AVANTI. I am not thinking of Koshala. Where are your King and Kanchi?

ROHINI. I have not seen them for a long time.