A Matter of Principle

Vir Mishra was an astrologer. He had the ability to read horoscopes and, more impressively, locate lost or stolen goods. He charged two rupees for his service from each client. This story takes place fifty years ago.

One day, Mishra was returning home from a distant village. Exhausted, he lay down on the verandah of a rest house, with his umbrella resting nearby.

Upon waking from his nap, Mishra discovered that his umbrella was missing. Frustrated, he approached the manager of the rest house to lodge a complaint about the disappearance.

“Sir, you are a renowned astrologer. Why don’t you try to locate the lost umbrella through your calculations?” the manager suggested.

Mishra replied haughtily, “Look here, young man, I charge two rupees for any such calculation. My old umbrella is worth only one rupee. Who will pay me my fee? Will you pay it?”