Manorama, having taken leave of Pashupati, swiftly made her way to the picture gallery. During Pashupati’s conversation with Shantashil, she had heard that Hemchandra was confined in that very room. Arriving there, she immediately unlocked the door of the gallery.

She said to Hemchandra, “Hemchandra, go outside.”

Hemchandra stepped out of the room. Manorama accompanied him. Then Hemchandra asked her, “Why was I locked in?”

M: I will tell you later.

H: Who was it that locked me in?

M: Shantashil.

H: Who is Shantashil?

M: A thief-catcher.

H: Is this his house?

M: No.

H: Whose house is this?

M: I will tell you later.

H: Where did the Yavana go?

M: He has gone to the camp.

H: The camp! How many Yavanas have come?

M: Twenty-five thousand.

H: Where is their camp?

M: In the great forest.

H: Where is the great forest?

M: Some distance to the north of this city.

Hemchandra, pressing his hands to his temples, began to ponder. Manorama said, “Why are you so pensive? Do you intend to fight them?”

Hemachandra: “Yes. Is it possible for one man to fight against twenty-five thousand?”

M: “Then what will you do—will you return home?”

H: “No, I shall not go home now.”

M: “Where will you go?”

H: “To the great forest.”

M: “If you will not fight, then why go to the great forest?”

H: “To observe the Yavanas.”

M: “If you will not fight, what good will it do to observe them?”

H: “By observing, I shall learn by what means I may destroy them!”

Manorama started in alarm. She said, “You will kill twenty thousand men? What a disaster. Fie! Fie!”

H: “Manorama, where did you hear all this news?”

M: “There is more news. Tonight, bandits will come to your house to kill you. Do not go home tonight.”

Saying this, Manorama fled in haste, breathless.