But he called out to her from where they stood in the body of the court, “Do not fear, your child is safe.”
The woman’s face brightened, and she went with her jailers buoyantly.
The magistrate had remarked who it was that had spoken, and was about to give orders for the disturber of order to be brought up for punishment. But the clerk, who was sitting near to the magistrate with whom he was acquainted, said:
“This is the one I have told you about; pray do not punish him.”
The magistrate accordingly contented himself with warning the audience in general terms.
But he said to the clerk, “Something about him is very repulsive to me, do not tell me anything more about him.”
The three returned together, and together they deliberated as to how the new idea about the king could be made known. It seemed best to go to the metropolis and talk with the wisest and most learned there.
The student asked about the child. His friend’s sister came and told him that its breathing was not any better, but that the child itself was strong and playful.
“It belongs to the woman who was tried to day,” said the student, “and must be kept safely till she is out of prison.”
His friend after some deliberation gave it in charge to a faithful servant to take to the metropolis. A suffering child there would be much more likely to be overlooked, “and you,” he said, “will be able to look after it.”
As the student and the clerk were about to set out on their way to the metropolis his friend took him apart.
“My sister tells me that I had sunk into apathy when you came.”
“How can I thank you! had it not been for you I should never have enjoyed life again. I am grateful to you.”
“Do not say grateful to me, but rather to that power which does for you all your life that which I do for you momentarily now. And even now it is not to me that you should be grateful, but to him, for it is only because he has enabled me to do so that I have taken of your pain.”
With this he took farewell of his friend, and with the clerk proceeded on their way.
They had not got very far when a train of servants came up behind them. They stood by on one side, but from the midst of his attendants a youth stepped forward.
“I have learned what you have done, and I have overtaken you with great haste.”