The World of Courtesans c11.19

c11.19

He sat on the stage erected by the Superintendent of Courtesans (*shuladhyaksha*). He was surrounded by bankers, merchants, rakes and four or five bodyguards equipped with swords. Chintamani sat reclining against a pillow, and his cheeks were full of *pan* juice. He cupped them in his palms. He read out senseless verses torn from their context. Not satisfied with this, he interrupted the recitations of others and expressed his approval or disapproval by patting those seated next to him. In private he told his courtiers that the Raja and his father were on terms of great intimacy. He proudly carried a pair of scissors for he wanted to show that he could cut out stencils. Actually he had no knowledge of that art.