The World of Courtesans c12.48

c12.48

The bawd watched her daughter's infatuation for Ratnadatta and she worked out a stratagem to separate the lovers. She approached the king and complained that her daughter was being forcibly carried away by a thug. The king at once ordered the arrest of Ratnadatta. A police officer proceeded to Ratnadatta's place but all he saw was a handsome young youth sleeping in the lap of his beloved. The thought struck him that the bawd was perhaps a liar. He waited for Ratnadatta to get up. Impatient at the officer's delay the king sent his slaves to bring back Ratnadatta but they too waited with the officer. His patience exhausted, the king himself visited him and was thoroughly impressed by Ratnadatta. He offered him a large number of villages as a gift but the young man refused the offer and decided to proceed onwards accompanied by Lavanyasundari.