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102 and that he had made away with their property. A day or two after they reached a city called Airâratî, where a certain Buddhisara lived. He was the king's chief minister, and his fame reached over the whole world. When disputants came before him, they had only to state their case and without the smallest delay he gave his decision, and the decision was always right. So the son of the prince with his other two friends went and laid the whole matter before him. They said: "If you will only examine into the matter, and question us separately, you are certain to find out all the truth, your penetration cannot fail to get to the bottom of the mystery." When Buddhisara heard this he was somewhat perplexed. He tried his best but he could not come to any conclusion as to the thief, or the whereabout of the jewels, and went home in a very dejected state. His daughter observed that he seemed very much out of sorts, and asked him what was the matter. The minister told her the story and she said, "My dear father! don't put yourself out! I will find out where the jewels are." "A likely thing indeed," replied the minister. "If I cannot find it out, I don't know how you possibly can." She answered—

"No one in this world ought to say, 'My skill has forsaken me':