This was a sad disappointment to all his admirers; but to the
astrologer himself, it was a real thunderbolt. He picked up the paper
pensively, examined it on both sides, then dashed it on the ground in a
fury; and suddenly arising, exclaimed, "My Vidya* is a delusion, and I
am a liar!"
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* Secret knowledge, magic.
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The subsequent behaviour of the poor man made us fear lest this great
disappointment should drive him to commit some desperate act. In fact
he seemed determined to drown himself in the well, saying that he was
dishonoured. While we were trying to console him, the Mudalyar came
forward, caught hold of his hands, and besought him to sit down and
calmly listen to his explanation, assuring him that he was not a liar,
and that his copy was perfectly accurate. But the astrologer would not
be satisfied; he supposed that all this was said simply to console him;
and cursed himself and his fate most horribly. However, in a few
minutes he became calmer and listened to the Mudalyar's explanation,
which was in substance as follows The only way for the sceptic to
account for this phenomenon, is to suppose that the astrologer opened
the covers dexterously and read their contents.
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