The World of Courtesans c10.15

c10.15

Then follows an interesting interlude in which the vicissitudes in the lives of gamblers are described. Mathura, the keeper of a gambling house, is shown shouting aloud, asking people to hold a shampooer who owed him ten gold coins. He and another gambler follow the shampooer to an empty temple. But not finding anybody there, they spend their time gambling. The shampooer hides himself and stands still like a stone image. He sees his pursuers gambling and is unable to check his interest in the game. He is caught by Mathura and given a sound beating. He is reminded of the fact that he was bound by the conventions of the fraternity of gamblers. They force him to give a surety for half the sum that he owed them. As soon as he is ready to leave, Mathura goes back on his own promise and wants full payment. The wrangling starts all over again. At this juncture Darduraka enters and utters stanzas in praise of gambling. He intervenes to stop this quarrel and suggests a novel method of settling the dispute He advises Mathura to advance the shampooer ten more coins to enable him to gamble again. If he won naturally he would be able to pay his debts but if he lost then Mathura would have to bear the loss. Mathura is enraged by this plan and during the wordy exchange that follows the shampooer makes his escape.