You that shake with fear and shiver.
All a-tremble, all a-quiver; You that cannot trip enough.
On the level ground and rough; You that stain your social station, Family, and reputation! 4
_Gambler._ [_Examining the footprints._] Here he goes. And here the tracks are lost.
_Mathura._ [_Gazes at the footprints. Reflectively._] Look! The feet are turned around. And the temple hasn"t any image. [_After a moment"s thought._] That rogue of a shampooer has gone into the temple with his feet turned around.
_Gambler._ Let"s follow him.
_Mathura._ All right. [_They enter the temple and take a good look, then make signs to each other._]
_Gambler._ What! a wooden image?
_Mathura._ Of course not. It"s stone. [_He shakes it with all his might, then makes signs._] What do we care? Come, let"s have a game. [_He starts to gamble as hard as he can._]
_Shampooer._ [_Trying with all his might to repress the gambling fever. Aside._] Oh, oh!
Oh, the rattle of dice is a charming thing, When you haven"t a copper left; It works like a drum on the heart of a king, Of all his realm bereft. 5
For gamblers leap down a mountain steep-- I know I shall not play.
Yet the rattle of dice is as sweet as the peep Of nightingales in May. 6
_Gambler._ My turn, my turn!
P. 56.10]
_Mathura._ Not much! it"s my turn.
_Shampooer._ [_Coming up quickly from behind._] Isn"t it _my_ turn?
_Gambler._ We"ve got our man.
_Mathura._ [_Seizing him._] You jail-bird, you"re caught. Pay me my ten gold-pieces.
_Shampooer._ I"ll pay you this very day.
_Mathura._ Pay me this very minute!
_Shampooer._ I"ll pay you. Only have mercy!
_Mathura._ Come, will you pay me now?
_Shampooer._ My head is getting dizzy. [_He falls to the ground. The others beat him with all their might._]
_Mathura._ There [_drawing the gamblers ring_] you"re bound by the gamblers" ring.
_Shampooer._ [_Rises. Despairingly._] What! bound by the gamblers"
ring? Confound it! That is a limit which we gamblers can"t pa.s.s.
Where can I get the money to pay him?
_Mathura._ Well then, you must give surety.
_Shampooer._ I have an idea. [_He nudges the gambler._] I"ll give you half, if you"ll forgive me the other half.
_Gambler._ All right.
_Shampooer._ [_To Mathura._] I"ll give you surety for a half. You might forgive me the other half.
_Mathura._ All right. Where"s the harm?
_Shampooer._ [_Aloud._] You forgave me a half, sir?
[31.24. S.
_Mathura._ Yes.
_Shampooer._ [_To the gambler._] And you forgave me a half?
_Gambler._ Yes.
_Shampooer._ Then I think I"ll be going.
_Mathura._ Pay me my ten gold-pieces! Where are you going?
_Shampooer._ Look at this, gentlemen, look at this! Here I just gave surety to one of them for a half, and the other forgave me a half.
And even after that he is dunning me, poor helpless me!
_Mathura._ [_Seizing him._] My name is Mathura, the clever swindler, and you"re not going to swindle me this time. Pay up, jail-bird, every bit of my money, and this minute, too.
_Shampooer._ How can I pay?
_Mathura._ Sell your father and pay.
_Shampooer._ Where can I get a father?
_Mathura._ Sell your mother and pay.
_Shampooer._ Where can I get a mother?
_Mathura._ Sell yourself and pay.
_Shampooer._ Have mercy! Lead me to the king"s highway.
_Mathura._ Go ahead.
_Shampooer._ If it must be. [_He walks about._] Gentlemen, will you buy me for ten gold-pieces from this gambling-master? [_He sees a pa.s.ser-by and calls out._] What is that? You wish to know what I can do? I will be your house-servant. What! he has gone without even answering. Well, here"s another. I"ll speak to him. [_He repeats his offer._] What! this one too takes no notice of me. He is gone. Confound it! I"ve had hard luck ever since Charudatta lost his fortune.
_Mathura._ Will you pay?