The Four Simple Bráhmans. 181

of my wife, that he might be prosecuted andpunished, according to the severe rules ofthe caste.

I solemnly attested her innocence, and toldthe real cause of the shaving of her hair;when a universal burst of surprise took place,every one exclaiming, how monstrous it wasthat a married woman should be so degraded,without having committed the crime of in-fidelity." Either this man," said they," mustbe a liar, or he is the greatest fool on the faceof the earth!" Such, I daresay, gentlemen,you will think me, and I am sure you willconsider my folly[ looking with great disdainon the first speaker] as being far superior tothat of the render of body- clothing.

The court agreed that the speaker had putin a very strong case; but justice required thatthe other two should also be heard. Thethird claimant was indeed burning with im-patience for his turn, and as soon as he hadpermission, he thus spoke:

Story of the Third Brahman. ubois, 4601My name was originally Anantya; now all Nasr n° 237the world call me Betel Anantya, and I willtell you how this nickname arose. My wife,having been long detained at her father'shouse, on account of her youth, had cohabited