The World of Courtesans c11.150

c11.150

The next day when Kankalī's maid went to the shopkeeper to draw the daily allowance, she was given some oil, some salt and two *cowries* for vegetables The bawd was determined to have her revenge. She got two similar boxes made and kept stones in one, and ornaments in the other. Taking them to the merchant she showed him first the jewel box and got money from him. But by a sleight of hand she substituted in its place the box containing those stones.