Page:The Enchanted Parrot.djvu/38

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34
THE ENCHANTED PARROT

science. Such people will be guilty of any crime; what a respectable man would not dream of doing, comes natural to them."

"So he made up his mind to break the image up for the sake of the wood, when Ganesa said to him: 'If you will leave my image alone I will give you every day five cakes made of sugar and butter; you can come here for them, only you must not tell any one how you come by them. If you let the secret out, I shall be clear of my promise.'

"He gladly consented, and Ganesa gave him the five cakes which he took home and gave to his wife. With some of them she supplied the wants of her own house, and gave what was over to a friend. The friend asked her one day where the cakes came from; Padminî could not answer the question, and the friend said, 'If you don't tell me, then there is an end of our friendship. For, as the saying is—

"'Giving; receiving; imparting secrets; asking questions; eating in company; these are the five proofs of friendship.'

"Padminî replied: 'My husband knows, but he says it is a secret and will not tell me; even if I were to ask him a hundred times I should get nothing out of him,' The friend replied: 'Then