The Brahman thought that it must have been

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

For many months the Brahman led a double life; until one day, when he went as usual to his hiding-place, he saw at once that someone had been there before him. Eagerly he knelt down, full of fear to know exactly what had actually happened. All his care in concealing the hole which held all his riches had been wasted, for it was quite empty. The poor man could not believe his eyes. Then he felt round and round the hole, hoping that he was mistaken. At last he was obliged to believe the truth that there was no sign of his money and jewels. He became almost mad with misery. He began to run from tree to tree, peering among roots, and when there was nothing to be seen, he rushed back again to his empty hole, to look into it once more. Then he wept and tore at his hair, stamped and cried aloud to all the gods he believed in, making all kinds of promises of what he would do if they would give him back his treasures. No answer came, and he began to wonder who could have done such a terrible thing. It must have been one of the people of Sravasti; and he remembered he had noticed that a good many of them had looked into his bowl with longing eyes when they saw the money and precious stones in it. "What horrible, wicked people they are," he said to himself. "I hate them. I would like to hurt them as they have hurt me." As he thought this he got more and more angry, until he became quite worn out with giving way to his rage.