This important person was asked to supervise the ceremonies, inasmuch as Kumodini Babu's increasing age and infirmities rendered him unfit to do so efficiently, while his eldest son, yclept Jadu Babu, had barely reached man's estate.

He passed the remaining hours of the night under the tree; and early next morning he called on Jadu Babu, to whom he unfolded the story of this latest outrage.

Jadu Babu was certain that his enemy had instigated the charge, and knew that he was quite capable of suppressing Karim in order to get Sádhu into trouble.

Jadu Babu, who was one of the intruders, signalled the others to be silent, and thus addressed the judge with folded hands: "Your Honour, the dead has come to life!

I had to pass through Ghoria Bazar, on my way home this morning, and there I ran up against Jadu Babu, who stopped and questioned me closely about my movements.

Rich people find little difficulty in securing suitable matches for their girls; but Babu Jadunath Basu, widely known as "Jadu Babu," was not blessed with a large share of this world's goods; and his sister Basumati was close on her teens.

A match was at length offered which was passably good, although it did not answer Jadu Babu's expectations.

The old man pleaded that he had done with the world and all its vanities; so Jadu Babu had to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City, where he induced Kumodini Babu to return home with him.

"An excellent college," said Kumodini Babu; then after a whispered consultation with Jadu Babu, he said, "I am delighted with Samarendra's modesty and good manners, and have no objection whatever to giving my daughter to him in marriageprovided Prajapati (the Lord of All) causes no hitch".

At half-past seven, Jadu Babu presented the bride-elect to her future family.

Jadu Babu was stung to the quick on learning these machinations.

The young have no respect whatever for their seniors!" "Nalini is hardly more than a boy," said Jadu Babu with folded hands.

" Jadu Babu fairly lost his temper.

After returning home Nalini disclosed his famous scheme for circumventing the boycott, which Jadu Babu heartily approved.

Ending that she really meant to carry out this awful threat, Jadu Babu apparently yielded, promising to eject his brother.

The pair sat down to a hastily-prepared repast, Jadu Babu chatting and joking with his brother according to his wont.

Then in dispassionate tones Jadu Babu pointed out the treachery of Debendra and his parasite.

He came out and, seeing his sister-in-law there at an unusual hour, asked anxiously whether Jadu was ill.

" Hiramani bit her lips; she knew the author, who was none other than herself, and replied: "It might have been written by Jadu Babu; but I suspect his brother Nalini, who is as venomous as a snake and hates you mortally".

The astrologer listened attentively to his story and then asked whether Jadu Babu would try Báti Chálá (divination by the báta leaf), or some simpler method of discovering the lost jasam.

All obeyed with alacrity, and Gobardhan, after examining the contents of each leaf, assured Jadu Babu that the jasam had not been stolen.

The inference was that the jasam had been mislaid; and Jadu Babu asked whether Gobardhan's lore was equal to recovering it.

" After examining it and receiving a ten-rupee note from Jadu Babu, the astrologer said oracularly that he would return on the following afternoon, with a lad of twelve, who had been born under the Constellation of the Scales.

Jadu Babu and the bhadra-lok (gentle-folk) took their seats there too, while the underlings formed a respectful half-circle in front.

Malik Shah Bal then asked if any king or chief was absent, and if all were arrived; the jinns answered, "Mighty sire, all are present except one named Musalsal Jadu, who has erected a fort on the mountain Kaf by the means of magic; he, from haughtiness, is not come, and we, your majesty's slaves, are not able to bring him by force; the place is strong, and he himself also is a great devil.