_Maitreya._ Do you mean to say that you pity the rascally robber? Thinks he--"Here's a great house. Here's the place to carry off a jewel-casket or a gold-casket." [_He remembers the casket. Despondently. Aside._] Where _is_ that golden casket? [_He remembers the events of the night. Aloud._] Look, man! You are always saying "Maitreya is a fool, Maitreya is no scholar." But I certainly acted wisely in handing over that golden casket to you. If I hadn't, the son of a slave would have carried it off. _Chārudatta._ A truce to your jests! _Maitreya._ Just because I'm a fool, do you suppose I don't even know the place and time for a jest? _Chārudatta._ But when did this happen? _Maitreya._ Why, when I told you that your fingers were cold. _Chārudatta._ It might have been. [_He searches about. Joyfully._] My friend, I have something pleasant to tell you. _Maitreya._ What? Wasn't it stolen? _Chārudatta._ Yes. _Maitreya._ What is the pleasant news, then? _Chārudatta._ The fact that he did not go away disappointed. _Maitreya._ But it was only entrusted to our care. _Chārudatta._ What! entrusted to our care? [_He swoons._] _Maitreya._ Come to yourself, man. Is the fact that a thief stole what was entrusted to you, any reason why you should swoon? 53.5. S.] _Chārudatta._ [_Coming to himself._] Ah, my friend, Who will believe the truth? Suspicion now is sure. This world will show no ruth To the inglorious poor. 24 Alas! If envious fate before Has wooed my wealth alone. Why should she seek my store Of virtue as her own? 25 _Maitreya._ I intend to deny the whole thing. Who gave anybody anything? who received anything from anybody? who was a witness? _Chārudatta._ And shall I tell a falsehood now? No! I will beg until I earn The wherewithal my debt to pay. Ignoble falsehood I will spurn. That steals the character away. 26 _Radanikā._ I will go and tell his good wife. [_She goes out, returning with Chārudatta's wife._] _Wife._ [_Anxiously._] Oh! Is it true that my lord is uninjured, and Maitreya too? _Radanikā._ It is true, mistress. But the gems which belong to the courtezan have been stolen. [_Chārudatta's wife swoons._] O my good mistress! Come to yourself! _Wife._ [_Recovering._] Girl, how can you say that my lord is uninjured? Better that he were injured in body than in character. For now the people of Ujjayinī will say that my lord committed this crime because of his poverty. [_She looks up and sighs._] Ah, mighty Fate! The destinies of the poor, uncertain as the water-drops which fall upon a lotus-leaf, seem to thee but playthings. There remains to me this one necklace, which I brought with me from my mother's house. But my lord would be too proud to accept it. Girl, call Maitreya hither. P. 95.7]