Govinda then went into the village close by, threw himself on his back and uttered piercing cries and lamentations. The villagers came and
asked him what was the matter. " My good people," he exclaimed, " I have been assaulted and robbed of my wife by a scoundrel; come and help me ! " At last the matter came to the ears of the chief of the police, and he ordered Vishnu and the witch-like damsel to be brought before him. He asked the pair what answer they had to make to this charge. Vishnu replied: " This is my wife; we were travelling quietly along the road when we met this man, who all of a sudden went out of his senses and attacked us." Govinda was then asked what he had to say; and he made as nearly as possible the same answer as Vishnu.
A soothsayer happened to be present, but to find out the truth was quite beyond his powers. The question therefore arose how was the magistrate to come to a decision. The soothsayer then asked them some further questions, and said: " Would you tell me at what time you met on the road? " They both said, " After dinner." The soothsayer then took the two Brâhmans aside, and asked them separately, " What did the lady eat for dinner? " Govinda of course knew, and was able to answer the question without any diffi-
