_Maitreya._ Chārudatta bade me go to Vasantasenā, to return her jewels, and he said to me: "Maitreya, Vasantasenā adorned my dear Rohasena with her own jewels, and sent him thus to his mother. It was fitting that she should give him the jewels, but not that we should receive them. Therefore restore them to her." So now I will go to Vasantasenā's house. [_He walks about and looks around, then speaks to a person behind the scenes._] Ah, it is Master Rebhila. Oh, Master Rebhila, why do you seem so exceedingly troubled? [_He listens._] What! do you mean to say that my dear friend Chārudatta has been summoned to court? That can hardly be an insignificant matter. [_He reflects._] I will go to Vasantasenā's house later, but now I will go to the court-room. [_He walks about and looks around._] Here is the court-room. I will go in at once. [_He enters._] May happiness be the lot of the magistrates. Where is my friend? _Judge._ Here. _Maitreya._ My friend, I wish you happiness. _Chārudatta._ It will be mine. _Maitreya._ And peace. _Chārudatta._ That too will be mine. _Maitreya._ My friend, why do you seem so exceedingly troubled? And why were you summoned? _Chārudatta._ My friend, A scoundrel I, who bear the blame, Nor seek in heaven to be blest; A maid--or goddess--'t is the same-- But _he_ will say the rest. 30 _Maitreya._ What? what? _Chārudatta._ [_Whispers._] That is it. _Maitreya._ Who says that? _Chārudatta._ [_Indicating Sansthānaka._] This poor fellow is the instrument that fate uses to accuse me. [131.12. S. _Maitreya._ [_Aside to Chārudatta._] Why don't you simply say that she went home? _Chārudatta._ Though I say it, it is not believed, so unfortunate is my condition. _Maitreya._ But gentlemen! He adorned the city of Ujjayinī with mansions, cloisters, parks, temples, pools, and fountains, and he should be mad enough to commit such a crime--and for a mere trifle? [_Wrathfully._] You offspring of a loose wench, you brother-in-law of the king, Sansthānaka, you libertine, you slanderer, you buffoon, you gilded monkey, say it before me! This friend of mine does n't even draw a flowering jasmine creeper to himself, to gather the blossoms, for fear that a twig might perhaps be injured. How should he commit a crime like this, which heaven and earth call accursèd? Just wait, you son of a bawd! Wait till I split your head into a hundred pieces with this staff of mine, as crooked as your heart. _Sansthānaka._ [_Angrily._] Lishten to that, gentlemen! I have a quarrel, or a lawshuit, with Chārudatta. What right has a man with a pate that looks like a caret, to shplit my head into a hundred pieces? Not much! You confounded rashcal! [_Maitreya raises his staff and repeats his words. Sansthānaka rises angrily and strikes him. Maitreya strikes back. During the scuffle the jewels fall from Maitreya's girdle._]