________________
278
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1890.
“What! Is it my own wife, to whom I want to go next morning, that is now talking so very familiarly to the Kotrál, and reproving him for having made her wait so long P I must see what is going to happen. Fortune has conducted me here by chance, that I might know about my wife's conduct before going to her house." Thus pondered Satyaparakrama, and the conversation that took place between the lady and the Kotwal inside, was more than sufficient to indicate her bad character. Unfortunately for the guilty pair, there were no betel-leaves to chew before they retired to bed. "Are we to sleep today without chewing P” asked the woman; and the Kotwal at once replied, "Don't be afraid, my dear! The fellow who is waiting with the lamp outside, will fetch us some leaves from the nearest báadr." So saying, the Kotwal searched for his keys. And the woman, not wishing to lose his company for even the time when he would be absent searching for his money, pulled off & ring from her right middle finger, and, giving it to her gallant, said that that would do for the occasion to fetch them some leaves. The police officer came out and called the beggar :- “Halloo ! There is a bázár at the end of this street where you will find a Chetli sitting before a lamp with a very small light. Give him this ring, mentioning that the Kotwal sent it, and fetch me fifty betel-leaves. I will get the ring back tomorrow and give him the price." "Your lordship's orders shall be duly obeyed,” said our hero, and instantly disappeared with the ring.
Now our hero did not know that it was his wife that had given the ring as a deposit for a few leaves not worth even a cowry. But the idea that a ring should be sacrificed for a few betel-leaves, awakened in his mind sufficient curiosity to make him examine it to see what it was worth. So he took it to a way-side lamp and examined it, and found it to be his own ring, given by him to his wife just as she was departing for her parents' house. He was pained to see that a wife, who would not part with her jewels to save the life and honour of her own husband, should have so easily given up a valuable ring for a few betel-leaves! But at the same time he was glad of the opportunity thus offered him of proving her guilty character when necessary. So, not wishing to lose it or shew it to any one, he concealed it in his cloth and proceeded to ihe búuár. He found the Chetti there, seated as described, with a very small light, and thus addressed him: "Sir, I am the servant of the Kotwal and he has sent me to you for a few betel-leaves to chow, the price of which he has promised to pay you tomorrow. If you fail to oblige him now when he is in necessity, he has warned you to take care of your head tomorrow."
Now, Kötrods are always objects of dread to the public, and so the poor Chetti asked our hero to take as many leaves as he wanted. He took about fifty, and, not to be idlo on his way, made them into nest halves and folded them op nicely. The master of the house was waiting outside for him, and Satyaparakrama gave the leaves to him folded in half, and while they were being taken into the house, ran off like lightning for his own safety.
The betel-leaves were duly handed over to the woman inside, who at once saw from the manner of folding, which was a special art acquired by her husband, that the pretended servant was no other than her own husband disguised. This made her change colour, and stand as still as & statue. “What is the matter with you, my dear, that you pull such a long face at s time when you cught to be merry ?" asked the Kôtwdl. "I am undone," cried she; "the person who has so nicely folded these leaves in this fashion must be my husband. He has traced me out, and I am sure that I am lost unless he is now captured and killed."
Meanwhile our hero was flying for his life, for he was sure that his wife would discover him, and send her sinful companion after him. And even so it was. No sooner did the Kotwal hear that the pretended servant or beggar was Satyaparakrama, than he left the house, and with all his men began the search for him. Every possible nook and corner of the town was searched with no success, for Satyaparakrams had left the town altogether with the quickness of a serpent and disappeared. But the Kotwal, to console the lady, told her that her husband had been caught and killed.
