[140.1. S. _Judge._ All this we know. Why should you boast of this your noble birth? 'T is character that makes the man of worth; But thorns and weeds grow rank in fertile earth. 7 State your case. _Sansthānaka._ I will, but even if I was guilty, he wouldn't do anything to me. Well, my shishter's husband liked me, and gave me the besht garden there is, the old garden Pushpakaranda, to play in and look after. And there I go every day to look at it, to keep it dry, to keep it clean, to keep it blosshoming, to keep it trimmed. But fate decreed that I shaw--or rather, I didn't _shee_--the proshtrate body of a woman. _Judge._ Do you know who the unfortunate woman was? _Sansthānaka._ Hello, magishtrates! Why shouldn't I know? A woman like that! the pearl of the city! adorned with a hundred golden ornaments! Shomebody's unworthy shon enticed her into the old garden Pushpakaranda when it was empty, and for a mere trifle--for her money!--shtrangled Vasantasenā and killed her. But _I_ didn't--[_He breaks off, and puts his hand over his mouth._] _Judge._ What carelessness on the part of the city police! Gild-warden and clerk, write down the words "I didn't," as the first article in the case. _Clerk._ Yes, sir. [_He does so._] Sir, it is written. _Sansthānaka._ [_Aside._] Goodnessh! Now I've ruined myshelf, like a man that shwallows a cake of rice and milk in a hurry. Well, I'll get out of it thish way. [_Aloud._] Well, well, magishtrates! I was jusht remarking that I didn't shee it happen. What are you making thish hullabaloo about? [_He wipes out the written words with his foot._] P. 233.3] _Judge._ How do you know that she was strangled--and for her money? _Sansthānaka._ Hello! Why shouldn't I think sho, when her neck was shwollen and bare, and the places where you wear jewels did n't have any gold on them? _Gild-warden and Clerk._ That seems plausible. _Sansthānaka._ [_Aside._] Thank heaven! I breathe again. Hooray! _Gild-warden and Clerk._ Upon whom does the conduct of this case depend? _Judge._ The case has a twofold aspect. _Gild-warden and Clerk._ How so? _Judge._ We have to consider the allegations, then the facts. Now the investigation of the allegations depends upon plaintiff and defendant. But the investigation of the facts must be carried out by the wisdom of the judge. _Gild-warden and Clerk._ Then the conduct of the case depends upon the presence of Vasantasenā's mother? _Judge._ Precisely. My good beadle, summon Vasantasenā's mother, without, however, giving her cause for anxiety. _Beadle._ Yes, Your Honor. [_He goes out, and returns with the mother of the courtezan._] Follow me, madam. _Mother._ My daughter went to the house of a friend to enjoy her youth. But now comes this gentleman--long life to him!--and says "Come! The judge summons you." I find myself quite bewildered. My heart is palpitating. Sir, will you conduct me to the court-room?