of Jinendra on a certain afternoon and requested intercession to the
god in order that a title-deed might be recovered, that fell down the
nullah when the snakes frightened a man's mule and he himself fell
into the road? Or was it another accident that split that car of thine in
two pieces?"

"Priests cackle like old women," growled the money-lender.

"Nay, but this one cackled to the god. Perhaps Jinendra felt compassionate
toward a poor shroff (money-lender) who can not defend his suit
successfully without that title-deed. Jengal Singh died and his son,
who ought to know, claims that the house was really sold to Dhulap
Singh, who dallies with his suit because he suspects, but does not
know, that Mukhum Dass has lost the paper--eh?"

"How do you know these things?"

"Maybe the god Jinendra told! Which would be better, Mukhum Dass--
to keep great silence, and be certain to receive the paper in time to
defend the lawsuit,--or to talk freely, and so set others talking?"

Who knows that it might not reach the ears of Jengal Singh that the title-deed
is truly lost?"

"He who tells secrets to a priest," swore the money-lender, "would better
have screamed them from the housetop.

"Nay--the god heard. The priest told the god, and the god told a certain
one to whom the finder brought the paper, asking a reward. That person
holds the paper now as security for silence!"