The poor Raja， in great trepidation， said， "O Vivinity！ be not thus angry！ I will do whatever you bid me."

　　Said Muldev， "If through dread of my excommunication you will freely give whatever I demand of you， then marry your daughter， Chandraprabha， to this my son. On this condition I forgive you. To me， now a necklace of pearls and a venomous krishna （cobra capella）； the most powerful enemy and the kindest friend， the most precious gem and a clod of earth； the softest bed and the hardest stone； a blade of grass and the loveliest woman——are precisely the same. All I desire is that in some holy place， repeating the name of God， I may soon end my days."

　　Subichar， terrified by this additional show of sanctity， at once summoned an astrologer， and fixed upon the auspicious moment and lunar influence. He did not consult the princess， and had he done so she would not have resisted his wishes. Chandraprabha had heard of Sita's escape from the treasurer's house， and she had on the subject her own suspicions. Besides which she looked forward to a certain event， and she was by no means sure that her royal father approved of the Gandharba form of marriage——at least for his daughter. Thus the Brahman's son receiving in due time the princess and her dowry， took leave of the king and returned to his own village.

　　Hardly， however， had Chandraprabha been married to Shashi the Pandit， when Manaswi went to him， and began to wrangle， and said， "Give me my wife！" He had recovered from the effects of his fall， and having lost her he therefore loved her——very dearly.

　　But Shashi proved by reference to the astrologers， priests， and ten persons as witnesses， that he had duly wedded her， and brought her to his home； "therefore，" said he， "she is my spouse."

　　Manaswi swore by all holy things that he had been legally married to her， and that he was the father of her child that was about to be. "How then，" continued he， "can she be thy spouse？" He would have summoned Muldev as a witness， but that worthy， after remonstrating with him， disappeared. He called upon Chandraprabha to confirm his statement， but she put on an innocent face， and indignantly denied ever having seen the man.

　　Still， continued the Baital， many people believed Manaswi's story， as it was marvellous and incredible. Even to the present day， there are many who decidedly think him legally married to the daughter of Raja Subichar.

　　"Then they are pestilent fellows！" cried the warrior king Vikram， who hated nothing more than clandestine and runaway matches. "No one knew that the villain， Manaswi， was the father of her child； whereas， the Pandit Shashi married her lawfully， before witnesses， and with all the ceremonies.[FN#152] She therefore remains his wife， and the child will perform the funeral obsequies for him， and offer water to the manes of his pitris （ancestors）. At least， so say law and justice."

　　[FN#152] This would be the verdict of a Hindu jury.

　　"Which justice is often unjust enough！" cried the Vampire； "and ply thy legs， mighty Raja； let me see if thou canst reach the sires-tree before I do."

　　* * * * * *

　　"The next story， O Raja Vikram， is remarkably interesting."