Page:The Enchanted Parrot.djvu/48

44 magician and the Brâhman's daughter, said, " What is there to laugh at? What do you mean by this? " " Sir," replied the magician making a profound bow, " the queen did not faint the other night when she was struck by the young men in whose company she was. Now when I strike her she faints, or pretends to faint." The king grew still more angry and said, " What is this? do you know it of your own knowledge? " The magician answered, " I saw it with my own eyes, and if your majesty is not convinced I will prove it to you." The king went into the matter and found out everything. The magician said, " I suppose your majesty sees now why the Brâhman's daughter would not tell you the reason why the fish laughed." The end of it was that Pushpakâra and the Brâhman's daughter were sent home in a considerable state of trepidation, while the queen and her lovers were sewn up in a sack, and thrown into the river.

In a town called Râjapura lived a paterfamilias whose name was Devasa. He had two wives,