She then went to her husband， and related the whole matter to him. But he had ceased to love her， and he said， "Neither a king nor a minister， nor a wife， nor a person's hair nor his nails， look well out of their places. And the beauty of the kokila is its note， of an ugly man knowledge， of a devotee forgiveness， and of a woman her chastity."

　　The Vampire having narrated thus far， suddenly asked the king， "Of these three， whose virtue was the greatest？"

　　Vikram， who had been greatly edified by the tale， forgot himself， and ejaculated， "The Thief's."

　　"And pray why？" asked the Baital.

　　"Because，" the hero explained， "when her husband saw that she loved another man， however purely， he ceased to feel affection for her. Somdatt let her go unharmed， for fear of being punished by the king. But there was no reason why the thief should fear the law and dismiss her； therefore he was the best."

　　"Hi！ hi！ hi！" laughed the demon， spitefully. "Here， then， ends my story."

　　Upon which， escaping as before from the cloth in which he was slung behind the Raja's back， the Baital disappeared through the darkness of the night， leaving father and son looking at each other in dismay.

　　"Son Dharma Dhwaj，" quoth the great Vikram， "the next time when that villain Vampire asks me a question， I allow thee to take the liberty of pinching my arm even before I have had time to answer his questions. In this way we shall never， of a truth， end our task."

　　"Your words be upon my head， sire，" replied the young prince. But he expected no good from his father's new plan， as， arrived under the sires-tree， he heard the Baital laughing with all his might."

　　Surely he is laughing at our beards， sire，" said the beardless prince， who hated to be laughed at like a young person.

　　"Let them laugh that win，" fiercely cried Raja Vikram， who hated to be laughed at like an elderly person.

　　* * * * * * *

　　The Vampire lost no time in opening a fresh story.