Then the thought flashed across her that it might be Kunda, of whose expulsion from the house of Nagendra she had heard.

She speedily determined upon a means of resolving her doubt.
Hira had brought from Nagendra's house a young deer, which, because of its restlessness, she kept tied up.

Malati, pretending to feed the creature, loosened the fastening, and it instantly bounded away.

Hira ran after it.
Seizing the opportunity of Hira's absence, Malati began to call out in a voice of distress: "Hira! Hira! What has happened to my Hira ?" Then rapping at Kunda's door, she exclaimed: "Kunda Thakurun, come out quickly; something has happened to Hira!" In alarm Kunda opened the door; whereupon Malati, with a laugh of triumph, ran away.

Kunda again shut herself in.