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CHAPTER SEVEN
In the morning the queen saw the mango-plantation with its fruit plucked, causing distress like a picture-gallery whose pictures have been destroyed.
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The queen told the king and the king instructed Abhaya: Search for the thief of the mangoes whose foot-path is invisible. Injury to the harem can arise from a thief who has such excessive superhuman power, son."
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Abhaya said: "I, like a surety for his appearance, shall hand over the thief very soon." After making this promise, from that day Abhaya wandered in the city day and night with the hope of seeing the thief. One day as Abhaya, first of the clever, roamed in the city, he went to a concert some place being given by the citizens. Seated on a seat provided by the citizens, Abhaya said to them: "Listen to a story until the actors come."
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Story of the truthful bride (83-115)
"There was an old merchant, a resident of Vasantapura, very poor. He had a grown daughter, suitable for a husband. Mindful of worshipping a god to acquire a good husband, she gathered flowers daily by theft in a certain garden. One day the gardener said, "I will catch the flower-thief today," and hid himself inside and remained motionless as a hunter. He saw her, who had come as before with confidence, gathering the flowers. She was beautiful and the gardener became agitated. Trembling, he caught her by the arm and, his anger at the taking of the flowers forgotten, said: 'Best of women, dally with me who have come eager for dalliance. Otherwise I shall not let you go. For I have bought you with flowers.' The flower-gatherer said to him: Do not, do not touch me with your hand. I am a maiden. I am not yet suitable to be touched by a man, gardener. The gardener said to her: 'As soon as you are married, you must make this body a vessel of pleasure to me first.' The girl agreed, Very well,' and the gardener released her. She went home, her maidenhood unharmed.
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