BANGALORE-BOMBAY 223
Rameharandas started and Trent, only to return
within ten minutes—indeed, he nrast have run fast to and
fro—clutching in his hand a small meshed pouch of twine
which contained all his wealth.
Sitting in front of the sadhu, Ramcharandas opened
the purse and turning it upside down rolled out the
contents, producing a jingling sound. One after the other
the coins dropped down on the floor—four silver rupees and
a four-anna coin. Ramcharandas was about to pick up the
four-anna bit for presenting it to the sudhn when the
sadhn's right hand shot out and his large open palm grab-
])eJ the coins, and collecting all of them in his grasp, he
transferred them coolly into his pocket. All this was the
work of a few seconds. Now Ramcharandas jerked his bead
np and was gazing at the ceiling with the empty pouch in
his hand.
fctBam, why are you. so unkind as to withhold the
bag? Don't you see that he has greater need of it than
yourself ?"
These words of Ramdas caused him to lower his up-
turned head. The last Testige of cheer which he had when
the sugar lump was in his month had completely vanished
from his face. He resigned the bag to the sadhn who,
refilling it with the coins, tenderly slipped it into his
pocket.
The sadhju having played his part rose to depart, and
without the usual formality of leave-taking he walked out
with his chela and disappeared.
All the time Ramdas had been with great difficulty
suppressing the laugh that was seeking an outlet. !Now it
burst out with all its pent up force.
(iii) Feast in the Company of Rishis
When Ramdas continued laughing- for some minutes,
Ramcharandas remained sullen and thoughtful, bnt later,
he also joined in the laugh. He conld not help it.
16*