to offend you in case we are wrong.

SUDARSHANA. Would that Surangama were here! There would remain
no room for doubt then.

ROHINI. Do you think her cleverer than any of us?

SUDARSHANA. Oh no, but she would recognise him instantly.

ROHINI. I cannot believe that she would. She merely pretends to
know him. There is none to test her knowledge if she professes
to know the King. If we were as shameless as she is, it would
not have been difficult for us to boast about our acquaintance
with the King.

SUDARSHANA. But no, she never boasts.

ROHINI. It is pure affectation, the whole of it: which often
goes a longer way than open boasting. She is up to all manner of
tricks: that is why we could never like her.

SUDARSHANA. But whatever you may say, I should have liked to ask
her if she were here.

ROHINI. Very well, Queen. I shall bring her here. She must be
lucky if she is indispensable for the Queen to know the King.

SUDARSHANA. Oh no--it isn't for that--but I would like to hear
it said by every one.