u may open the door now, girl.

_Shampooer._ [_To himself._] Ah! Her reasons for not fearing a creditor
are in proportion to her innocence. The proverb is right:

The man who knows his strength and bears a load
Proportioned to that strength, not more nor less,
Is safe from stumbling and from sore distress,
Although he wander on a dreary road. 14

That means me.

_Mathura._ [_Wiping his eyes. To the gambler._] Pay, pay!

_Gambler._ While we were quarreling with Darduraka, sir, the
man escaped.

_Mathura._ I broke that shampooer's nose for him with my fist
Come on! Let's trace him by the blood. [_They do so._]

_Gambler._ He went into Vasantasena's house, sir.

_Mathura._ Then that is the end of the gold-pieces.

_Gambler._ Let's go to court and lodge a complaint.

P. 67.1]

_Mathura._ The swindler would leave the house and escape. No, we
must besiege him and so capture him.

* * * * *

[_Vasantasena gives Madanika a sign._]

_Madanika._ Whence are you, sir? or who are you, sir? or whose son
are you, sir? or what is your business, sir? or what are you afraid of?

_Shampooer._ Listen, madam. My birthplace is Pataliputra, madam.
I am the son of a householder. I practise the trade of a shampooer.

_Vasantasena._ It is a very dainty art, sir, which you have mastered.

_Shampooer._ Madam, as an art I mastered it. It has now become a
mere trade.

_Madanika._ Your answers are most disconsolate, sir. Pray continue.

_Shampooer._ Yes, madam. When I was at home, I used to hear travelers
tell tales, and I wanted to see new countries, and so I came here. And
when I had come here to Ujjayini, I became the servant of a noble
gentleman. Such a handsome, courteous gentleman! When he gave money
away, he did not boast; when he was injured, he forgot it. To cut a long
story short: he was so courteous that he regarded his own person as the
possession of others, and had compassion on all who sought his
protection.

_Madanika._ Who may it be that adorns Ujjayini with the virtues
which he has stolen from the object of my mistress' desires?

_Vasantasena._ Good, girl, good! I had the same thought in mind.

_Madanika._ But to continue, sir--

_Shampooer._ Madam, he was so compassionate and so generous that
now--

_Vasantasena._ His riches have vanished?

_Shampooer._ I didn't say it. How did you guess it, madam?

_Vasantasena._ What was there