one day, not long after this had happened, as balna was rocking her baby's cradle, and whilst her sisters were working in the room below, there came to the palace door a man in a long black dress, who said that he was a fakir, and came to beg. the servants said to him, "you cannot go into the palace the raja's sons have all gone away; we think they must be dead, and their widows cannot be interrupted by your begging." but he said, "i am a holy man, you must let me in."