The Babu was now speaking very slowly, and an observer watching Desmond would have perceived that his eyes were fixed with a strange look of mingled eagerness and anxiety upon the story-teller. But no one observed this; every man in the group was intent upon the story, hanging upon the lips of the eloquent Babu. "’Having obtained the golden key,’" continued the narrator, "’thou shalt return forthwith to thy palace, and the same night, when the Vetâla Agni has eaten and drunk his fill, thou shalt in his presence lay the key upon the palm of thy left hand, thus----’" (here the Babu quietly took up a key hanging from the bunch attached to the warder’s girdle, and laid it upon his left palm). "’Then shalt thou say to the Vetâla: "O illustrious Vetâla, tell me, I pray thee, what doth this golden key unlock?" Then if the aspect of the Vetâla be fierce, fear not, for he must needs reply: such is the virtue of the key; and by his words thou shalt direct thy course. Verily it is for such a trial that the gods have endowed thee with wisdom beyond the common lot of men. "’Vikramâditya performed in all points the jogi’s bidding; and having in the presence of the Vetâla laid the golden key upon the palm of his hand, a voice within bade him ask the question: "O Vetâla, what art thou apt to do? What knowest thou?" And the Vetâla answered: "All that I have in my mind, that I am apt to perform. I know all things." And the king said: "Speak, then; what is the number of my years?" And the Vetâla answered: "The years of thy life are a hundred." Then said the king: "I am troubled because in the tale of my years there are two gaps; grant me, then, one year in excess of a hundred, or from the hundred take one." And the Vetâla answered: "O king, thou art in the highest degree good, liberal, merciful, just, lord of thyself, and honoured of gods and Brahmans; the measure of the days that are ordained to fill thy life is full; to add anything thereto, to take anything therefrom, are alike impossible." Having heard these words the king was satisfied, and the Vetâla departed unto his own place. "’Upon the night following the king prepared no feast against the coming of the Vetâla, but girt himself for fight. The Vetâla came, and seeing nothing in readiness for the repast, but, on the contrary, all things requisite to a combat, he waxed wroth and said: "O wicked and perverse king, why hast thou made ready nothing for my pleasure this night?" And the king answered: "Since thou canst neither add to my length of years, nor take anything therefrom, why should I make ready a repast for thee continually and without profit?" The Vetâla made answer: "Ho!--’tis thus that thou speakest! Now, truly, come fight with me; this night will I devour thee."