"'Then shalt thou say to the Vetala:
"'"O illustrious Vetala, tell me, I pray thee, what doth this golden key
unlock?"
"'Then if the aspect of the Vetala be fierce, fear not, for he must needs
reply: such is the virtue of the key; and by his words thou shalt direct
thy course. Verily it is for such a trial that the gods have endowed thee
with wisdom beyond the common lot of men.
"'Vikramaditya performed in all points the jogi's bidding; and having in
the presence of the Vetala laid the golden key upon the palm of his hand,
a voice within bade him ask the question:
"'"O Vetala, what art thou apt to do? What knowest thou?"
"'And the Vetala answered:
"'"All that I have in my mind, that I am apt to perform. I know all
things."
"'And the king said:
"'"Speak, then; what is the number of my years?"
"'And the Vetala answered:
"'"The years of thy life are a hundred."
"'Then said the king:
"'"I am troubled because in the tale of my years there are two gaps;
grant me, then, one year in excess of a hundred, or from the hundred take
one."
"'And the Vetala answered:
"'"O King, thou art in the highest degree good, liberal, merciful, just,
lord of thyself, and honored of gods and of Brahmans; the measure of joys
that are ordained to fill thy life is full; to add anything thereto, to
take anything therefrom, are alike impossible."
"'Having heard these words, the king was satisfied, and the Vetala
departed unto his own place.
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