avoid the loss of virtue which would ensue. Give the Brahman's girl to
the counsellor's son. And when the Brahman returns, further measures
will suggest themselves."

To this the king agreed, and promised to give the sham girl to the
counsellor's son. So Master-mind in his girl form was brought from the
chamber of the princess, and he said to the king: "Your Majesty, I was
brought here by somebody for a given purpose. If you give me to
somebody else, well and good. You are the king. Right and wrong depend
on you. I will marry him to-day, but only on one condition. My husband
shall go away immediately after the marriage and not return until he
has been on a pilgrimage for six months. Otherwise I shall bite out my
tongue."

So the counsellor's son was summoned, and he joyfully assented. He made
the man his wife at once, put the sham wife in a guarded room and
started on a pilgrimage. So Master-mind lived there in his woman form.

When he realized that the counsellor's son would soon return,
Master-mind fled by night. And Root heard the story, and again assumed
the form of an old Brahman. He took his friend Moon, went to
Glory-banner, and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have brought my
son. Pray give me my daughter-in-law."

The king was afraid of a curse, so he said: "Brahman, I do not know
where your daughter-in-law has gone. Be merciful. To atone for my
carelessness, I will give your son my own daughter."

The prince of rogues in the form of an old Brahman angrily refused. But
the king finally persuaded him, and with all due form married his
daughter Moonlight to Moon, who pretended to be the old Brahman's son.
Then Root went home with the bride and bridegroom.

But then Master-mind came, and in the presence of Root, a great dispute
arose between him and Moon.

Master-mind said: "Moonlight should be given to me. I married the girl
first with my teacher's permission."

Moon said: "Fool! What rights have you in my wife? Her father gave her
to me in regular marriage."

So they disputed about the princess whom one had won by fraud and the
other by force. But they could reach no decision.

O King, tell me. Whose wife is she? Resolve my doubts, and remember the
agreement about your head.

Then the king said: "I think she is the rightful wife of Moon. For she
was married to him in the regular way by her father in the presence of
her relatives. Master-mind married her secretly, like a thief. And when
a thie