History of Bengali Language and Literature c10.121

c10.121

The police officer commenced operations of a thorough inspection of the palace. Vidyā was made to leave her apartment, and the police people flocked to see through what passage a thief might enter the house inspite of such a strong body of guards. It took them no time to discover the hole—the passage made by Sundara. They entered the hole but came back feeling as if the vaults of hell were open,—there was no passage of light or air, the gloom that pervaded it over awed them and choked them. The bravest of them repeated his attempts several times and as many times came back apprehending the approach of a venomous snake or some devil. Dhumaketu, the Inspector, pronounced it to be a hole made by a serpent and Yamaketu, another officer of the staff, said that it must have been made by some black spirit. Whatever it might be, they were unanimous in their opinion that in all probability that was the passage used by the thief. They all sat round the hole and contemplated the best method of carrying on a sifting investigation as to where it could lead. They thought of excavating the whole ground covered by it, but that course would require such an extensive operation through the hard ground-floor of the palace that seven days might not suffice for finishing the work. Kālaketu, a police officer, said:—" Brethren, let us wait here in the disguise of maids; the thief may come of himself to visit the princess."