mind you speak very indistinctly, so that no one can understand you." Well, Keśava followed his advice and the judge who could not make out a word he said, exclaimed: " I cannot see that this man is guilty of anything. Indeed, I should say he was a most respectable person." And so by the help of Vitarka's wit and friendship he not only escaped condemnation, but acquired a very good character.
Story LXIX
THERE was once a merchant, whose wife was named Vagikâ, and he was extremely fond of her. It so happened one day that her husband wanted a bath. She was getting it ready for him, when all of a sudden she saw one of her admirers going along the road. So, saying that she had not enough water, she ran out of the house, pretending that she was going to get some more, and stayed out a considerable time with her friend. All this time her husband was waiting for his bath, and so the question for her was this, what excuse to make for her lengthened absence. She reflected for a moment, and then with a great splash jumped into the tank
