Jadu Babu was certain that his enemy had instigated the charge, and knew that he was quite capable of suppressing Karim in order to get Sadhu into trouble.  He was advised by friends whom he consulted not to poke his nose into so ugly an affair:  but his sense of justice prevailed.  He went to Ghaneshyam Babu, whom he told the whole story related by Sadhu.  On learning that Ramani Babu was implicated, the pleader saw an opportunity of wreaking vengeance on the persecutor of his brother.  Gladly did he undertake the prisoner’s defence.

In due course the charge preferred by Sadhu against Ramani Babu was heard by a Deputy Magistrate.  With Ghaneshyam Babu’s aid, the complainant proved it up to the hilt, and all concerned were heavily fined.  Soon afterwards Sadhu himself appeared before the Deputy Magistrate to answer a charge of murder.  The circumstantial evidence against him was so strong that he was committed to the Sessions Court.  When brought up for trial there, he astounded his backers by pleading guilty and offering to point out the spot where he had buried Karim’s corpse.  The case was forthwith adjourned for a local inquiry; and the European District Superintendent of Police took Sadhu to the place indicated, where he had the soil turned up in all directions without result.  Sadhu admitted that he was mistaken and piloted the police to another spot, where they again failed to discover any trace of the missing man.  On these facts being reported to the judge, he fixed the morrow for final hearing.

At 11 A.M. he took his seat on the bench in a Court packed with eager spectators, and was reading a charge to the jury, strongly adverse to the prisoner, when an uproar was heard outside.  Proceedings were suspended while the judge sent an usher to ascertain the cause; but ere he returned, half a dozen men burst into the courtroom crying Dohai! (justice!).  Jadu Babu, who was one of the intruders, signalled the others to be silent, and thus addressed the judge with folded hands:—­

“Your Honour, the dead has come to life!  Here is Karim, who was supposed to have been murdered!”

There was a tremendous sensation in Court.  When it subsided the judge thrust aside his papers and asked for evidence as to Karim’s identity, which was soon forthcoming on oath.  Then he ordered him to be sworn, and recorded the following deposition:—­

“Incarnation of Justice!  I will make a full confession, whatever may happen to me.  I was sent for about a month ago by my landlord Ramani Babu, who ordered me to insult some woman of Sadhu’s household, in order that he might be excommunicated.  In fear of my life I consented to do so, and that very night I broke into the hut where Sadhu’s sister-in-law lay asleep.  Her cries attracted Sadhu, who grappled with me in his yard.  However, I managed to escape, and on reporting my failure to Ramani Babu, he sent me in charge of a Barkamduz (guard) to Paliti, which is ten coss (20 miles) away.