“The magistrate having heard this, and being very covetous, thought:  ’If this man is convicted, his property will be confiscated, and I shall get a share of it.’  He therefore began to take proceedings against Balabhadra, who was greatly alarmed.  But his wife said to him, ’Do not be frightened; put a good face on the matter, and say:  “This is not Kanakavati, the daughter of Niddhipatidatta; this is my own lawful wife, the daughter of Grihagupta, who lives at Valabhi.  She was married to me with the proper ceremony and with the full consent of her parents.  This woman’s accusation is altogether false; but if you will not believe my assertion, send to Valabhi, to my wife’s father, and hear what he will say—­or send to the town where I formerly lived, and make inquiries there."’

“This was done, he was admitted to bail, and a letter was written to the father of Ratnavati, who answered it in person, and declared that the lady in question was really his daughter.  Thus the matter was settled; but the husband, thinking that the old man was deceived by the likeness, held to his former belief, and continued to live happily with his wife, without ever discovering the delusion.  Therefore I say that love is only imagination.”

The Rakshas, though appearing to be satisfied with these stories, required me to relate that of Nitambavati, which I proceeded to do.

“In a city called Madhura, there dwelt a man named Kalahakantaka, of great strength and vigour, ready at any time to take up the quarrel of a friend, famed for deeds of violence, and devoted to pleasures and amusements.

“One day he saw a picture exhibited by a painter, a new-comer, and stopped to look at it.  It was the portrait of a lady so beautiful that he fell in love with her at once.  Desirous of finding out whom it represented, he praised the picture exceedingly, and having put the artist in good humour, got him to say who the lady was.  ‘Her name,’ said he, ’is Nitambavati; she is the wife of a merchant living at Avanti or Oujein, and I was so struck by her beauty that I sought and obtained permission to paint her portrait.’

“On hearing this, Kalahakantaka, taking another name, went to Oujein; and there, having disguised himself as a mendicant, got admission to the merchant’s house, saw the lady, whose beauty exceeded even his expectation, and was confirmed in his wicked purpose.

“At this time a guardian or watchman was wanted for the public cemetery, and he applied for and obtained the office.

“With the clothes which he took from the bodies brought to be burnt there, he bribed an old woman to take a message from him.  She went to Nitambavati, and said:  ’A very handsome young man is much in love with you—­pray let him see you if only for once.’  On receiving this message, the merchant’s wife was very indignant, and sent the old woman away with angry words.  Kalahakantaka, however, was not discouraged, and said