diff options
Diffstat (limited to '1267-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 1267-0.txt | 9188 |
1 files changed, 9188 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/1267-0.txt b/1267-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7435c0d --- /dev/null +++ b/1267-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9188 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1267 *** + + KAI LUNG’S GOLDEN HOURS + + BY + + ERNEST BRAMAH + + + With a Preface by + Hilaire Belloc + + + LONDON + GRANT RICHARDS LTD. + ST MARTIN’S STREET + MDCCCCXXII + + + + + PREFACE + +_Homo faber_. Man is born to make. His business is to construct: to +plan: to carry out the plan: to fit together, and to produce a +finished thing. + +That human art in which it is most difficult to achieve this end (and +in which it is far easier to neglect it than in any other) is the art +of writing. Yet this much is certain, that unconstructed writing is at +once worthless and ephemeral: and nearly the whole of our modern +English writing is unconstructed. + +The matter of survival is perhaps not the most important, though it is +a test of a kind, and it is a test which every serious writer feels +most intimately. The essential is the matter of excellence: that a +piece of work should achieve its end. But in either character, the +character of survival or the character of intrinsic excellence, +construction deliberate and successful is the fundamental condition. + +It may be objected that the mass of writing must in any age neglect +construction. We write to establish a record for a few days: or to +send a thousand unimportant messages: or to express for others or for +ourselves something very vague and perhaps very weak in the way of +emotion, which does not demand construction and at any rate cannot +command it. No writer can be judged by the entirety of his writings, +for these would include every note he ever sent round the corner; +every memorandum he ever made upon his shirt cuff. But when a man sets +out to write as a serious business, proclaiming that by the nature of +his publication and presentment that he is doing something he thinks +worthy of the time and place in which he lives and of the people to +whom he belongs, then if he does not construct he is negligible. + +Yet, I say, the great mass of men to-day do not attempt it in the +English tongue, and the proof is that you can discover in their +slipshod pages nothing of a seal or stamp. You do not, opening a book +at random, say at once: “This is the voice of such and such a one.” It +is no one’s manner or voice. It is part of a common babel. + +Therefore in such a time as that of our decline, to come across work +which is planned, executed and achieved has something of the effect +produced by the finding of a wrought human thing in the wild. It is +like finding, as I once found, deep hidden in the tangled rank grass +of autumn in Burgundy, on the edge of a wood not far from Dijon, a +neglected statue of the eighteenth century. It is like coming round +the corner of some wholly desolate upper valley in the mountains and +seeing before one a well-cultivated close and a strong house in the +midst. + +It is now many years--I forget how many; it may be twenty or more, or +it may be a little less--since _The Wallet of Kai Lung_ was sent me by +a friend. The effect produced upon my mind at the first opening of its +pages was in the same category as the effect produced by the discovery +of that hidden statue in Burgundy, or the coming upon an unexpected +house in the turn of a high Pyrenean gorge. Here was something worth +doing and done. It was not a plan attempted and only part achieved +(though even that would be rare enough to-day, and a memorable +exception); it was a thing intended, wrought out, completed and +established. Therefore it was destined to endure and, what is more +important, it was a success. + +The time in which we live affords very few of such moments of relief: +here and there a good piece of verse, in _The New Age_ or in the now +defunct _Westminster_: here and there a lapidary phrase such as a +score or more of Blatchford’s which remain fixed in my memory. Here +and there a letter written to the newspapers in a moment of +indignation when the writer, not trained to the craft, strikes out the +metal justly at white heat. But, I say, the thing is extremely rare, +and in the shape of a complete book rarest of all. + +_The Wallet of Kai Lung_ was a thing made deliberately, in hard +material and completely successful. It was meant to produce a +particular effect of humour by the use of a foreign convention, the +Chinese convention, in the English tongue. It was meant to produce a +certain effect of philosophy and at the same time it was meant to +produce a certain completed interest of fiction, of relation, of a +short epic. It did all these things. + +It is one of the tests of excellent work that such work is economic, +that is, that there is nothing redundant in order or in vocabulary, +and at the same time nothing elliptic--in the full sense of that word: +that is, no sentence in which so much is omitted that the reader is +left puzzled. That is the quality you get in really good statuary--in +Houdon, for instance, or in that triumph the archaic _Archer_ in the +Louvre. _The Wallet of Kai Lung_ satisfied all these conditions. + +I do not know how often I have read it since I first possessed it. I +know how many copies there are in my house--just over a dozen. I know +with what care I have bound it constantly for presentation to friends. +I have been asked for an introduction to this its successor, _Kai +Lung’s Golden Hours_. It is worthy of its forerunner. There is the +same plan, exactitude, working-out and achievement; and therefore the +same complete satisfaction in the reading, or to be more accurate, in +the incorporation of the work with oneself. + +All this is not extravagant praise, nor even praise at all in the +conventional sense of that term. It is merely a judgment: a putting +into as carefully exact words as I can find the appreciation I make of +this style and its triumph. + +The reviewer in his art must quote passages. It is hardly the part of +a Preface writer to do that. But to show what I mean I can at least +quote the following: + + “Your insight is clear and unbiased,” said the gracious + Sovereign. “But however entrancing it is to wander unchecked + through a garden of bright images, are we not enticing your + mind from another subject of almost equal importance?” + +Or again: + + “It has been said,” he began at length, withdrawing his eyes + reluctantly from an unusually large insect upon the ceiling and + addressing himself to the maiden, “that there are few + situations in life that cannot be honourably settled, and + without any loss of time, either by suicide, a bag of gold, or + by thrusting a despised antagonist over the edge of a + precipice on a dark night.” + +Or again: + + “After secretly observing the unstudied grace of her + movements, the most celebrated picture-maker of the province + burned the implements of his craft, and began life anew as a + trainer of performing elephants.” + +You cannot read these sentences, I think, without agreeing with what +has been said above. If you doubt it, take the old test and try to +write that kind of thing yourself. + +In connection with such achievements it is customary to-day to deplore +the lack of public appreciation. Either to blame the hurried millions +of chance readers because they have only bought a few thousands of a +masterpiece; or, what is worse still, to pretend that good work is for +the few and that the mass will never appreciate it--in reply to which +it is sufficient to say that the critic himself is one of the mass and +could not be distinguished from others of the mass by his very own +self were he a looker-on. + +In the best of times (the most stable, the least hurried) the date at +which general appreciation comes is a matter of chance, and to-day the +presentation of any achieved work is like the reading of Keats to a +football crowd. It is of no significance whatsoever to English Letters +whether one of its glories be appreciated at the moment it issues from +the press or ten years later, or twenty, or fifty. Further, after a +very small margin is passed, a margin of a few hundreds at the most, it +matters little whether strong permanent work finds a thousand or fifty +thousand or a million of readers. Rock stands and mud washes away. + +What is indeed to be deplored is the lack of communication between +those who desire to find good stuff and those who can produce it: it +is in the attempt to build a bridge between the one and the other that +men who have the privilege of hearing a good thing betimes write such +words as I am writing here. + HILAIRE BELLOC + + + + KAI LUNG’S GOLDEN HOURS + + + + CHAPTER I + + The Encountering of Six within a Wood + +Only at one point along the straight earth-road leading from Loo-chow +to Yu-ping was there any shade, a wood of stunted growth, and here Kai +Lung cast himself down in refuge from the noontide sun and slept. + +When he woke it was with the sound of discreet laughter trickling +through his dreams. He sat up and looked around. Across the glade two +maidens stood in poised expectancy within the shadow of a wild +fig-tree, both their gaze and their manner denoting a fixed intention +to be prepared for any emergency. Not being desirous that this should +tend towards their abrupt departure, Kai Lung rose guardedly to his +feet, with many gestures of polite reassurance, and having bowed +several times to indicate his pacific nature, he stood in an attitude +of deferential admiration. At this display the elder and less +attractive of the maidens fled, uttering loud and continuous cries of +apprehension in order to conceal the direction of her flight. The +other remained, however, and even moved a few steps nearer to Kai +Lung, as though encouraged by his appearance, so that he was able to +regard her varying details more appreciably. As she advanced she +plucked a red blossom from a thorny bush, and from time to time she +shortened the broken stalk between her jade teeth. + +“Courteous loiterer,” she said, in a very pearl-like voice, when they +had thus regarded one another for a few beats of time, “what is your +honourable name, and who are you who tarry here, journeying neither to +the east nor to the west?” + +“The answer is necessarily commonplace and unworthy of your polite +interest,” was the diffident reply. “My unbecoming name is Kai, to +which has been added that of Lung. By profession I am an incapable +relater of imagined tales, and to this end I spread my mat wherever my +uplifted voice can entice together a company to listen. Should my +feeble efforts be deemed worthy of reward, those who stand around may +perchance contribute to my scanty store, but sometimes this is judged +superfluous. For this cause I now turn my expectant feet from Loo-chow +towards the untried city of Yu-ping, but the undiminished li +stretching relentlessly before me, I sought beneath these trees a +refuge from the noontide sun.” + +“The occupation is a dignified one, being to no great degree removed +from that of the Sages who compiled The Books,” remarked the maiden, +with an encouraging smile. “Are there many stories known to your +retentive mind?” + +“In one form or another, all that exist are within my mental grasp,” + admitted Kai Lung modestly. “Thus equipped, there is no arising +emergency for which I am unprepared.” + +“There are other things that I would learn of your craft. What kind of +story is the most favourably received, and the one whereby your +collecting bowl is the least ignored?” + +“That depends on the nature and condition of those who stand around, +and therein lies much that is essential to the art,” replied Kai Lung, +not without an element of pride. “Should the company be chiefly formed +of the illiterate and the immature of both sexes, stories depicting +the embarrassment of unnaturally round-bodied mandarins, the +unpremeditated flight of eccentrically-garbed passers-by into vats of +powdered rice, the despair of guardians of the street when assailed by +showers of eggs and overripe lo-quats, or any other variety of +humiliating pain inflicted upon the innocent and unwary, never fail to +win approval. The prosperous and substantial find contentment in +hearing of the unassuming virtues and frugal lives of the poor and +unsuccessful. Those of humble origin, especially tea-house maidens and +the like, are only really at home among stories of the exalted and +quick-moving, the profusion of their robes, the magnificence of their +palaces, and the general high-minded depravity of their lives. +Ordinary persons require stories dealing lavishly with all the +emotions, so that they may thereby have a feeling of sufficiency when +contributing to the collecting bowl.” + +“These things being so,” remarked the maiden, “what story would you +consider most appropriate to a company composed of such as she who is +now conversing with you?” + +“Such a company could never be obtained,” replied Kai Lung, with +conviction in his tone. “It is not credible that throughout the Empire +could be found even another possessing all the engaging attributes of +the one before me. But should it be my miraculous fortune to be given +the opportunity, my presumptuous choice for her discriminating ears +alone would be the story of the peerless Princess Taik and of the +noble minstrel Ch’eng, who to regain her presence chained his wrist to +a passing star and was carried into the assembly of the gods.” + +“Is it,” inquired the maiden, with an agreeable glance towards the +opportune recumbence of a fallen tree, “is it a narration that would +lie within the passage of the sun from one branch of this willow to +another?” + +“Adequately set forth, the history of the Princess Taik and of the +virtuous youth occupies all the energies of an agile story-teller for +seven weeks,” replied Kai Lung, not entirely gladdened that she should +deem him capable of offering so meagre an entertainment as that she +indicated. “There is a much-flattened version which may be compressed +within the narrow limits of a single day and night, but even that +requires for certain of the more moving passages the accompaniment of +a powerful drum or a hollow wooden fish.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed the maiden, “though the time should pass like a +flash of lightning beneath the allurement of your art, it is +questionable if those who await this one’s returning footsteps would +experience a like illusion. Even now--” With a magnanimous wave of her +well-formed hand she indicated the other maiden, who, finding that the +danger of pursuit was not sustained, had returned to claim her part. + +“One advances along the westward road,” reported the second maiden. +“Let us fly elsewhere, O allurer of mankind! It may be--” + +“Doubtless in Yu-ping the sound of your uplifted voice--” But at this +point a noise upon the earth-road, near at hand, impelled them both to +sudden flight into the deeper recesses of the wood. + +Thus deprived, Kai Lung moved from the shadow of the trees and sought +the track, to see if by chance he from whom they fled might turn to +his advantage. On the road he found one who staggered behind a +laborious wheel-barrow in the direction of Loo-chow. At that moment he +had stopped to take down the sail, as the breeze was bereft of power +among the obstruction of the trees, and also because he was weary. + +“Greeting,” called down Kai Lung, saluting him. “There is here +protection from the fierceness of the sun and a stream wherein to wash +your feet.” + +“Haply,” replied the other; “and a greatly over-burdened one would +gladly leave this ill-nurtured earth-road even for the fields of hell, +were it not that all his goods are here contained upon an utterly +intractable wheel-barrow.” + +Nevertheless he drew himself up from the road to the level of the wood +and there reclined, yet not permitting the wheel-barrow to pass beyond +his sight, though he must thereby lie half in the shade and half in +the heat beyond. “Greeting, wayfarer.” + +“Although you are evidently a man of some wealth, we are for the time +brought to a common level by the forces that control us,” remarked Kai +Lung. “I have here two onions, a gourd and a sufficiency of millet +paste. Partake equally with me, therefore, before you resume your way. +In the meanwhile I will procure water from the stream near by, and to +this end my collecting bowl will serve.” + +When Kai Lung returned he found that the other had added to their +store a double handful of dates, some snuff and a little jar of oil. +As they ate together the stranger thus disclosed his mind: + +“The times are doubtful and it behoves each to guard himself. In the +north the banners of the ‘Spreading Lotus’ and the ‘Avenging Knife’ +are already raised and pressing nearer every day, while the signs and +passwords are so widely flung that every man speaks slowly and with a +double tongue. Lately there have been slicings and other forms of +vigorous justice no farther distant than Loo-chow, and now the +Mandarin Shan Tien comes to Yu-ping to flatten any signs of +discontent. The occupation of this person is that of a maker of +sandals and coverings for the head, but very soon there will be more +wooden feet required than leather sandals in Yu-ping, and artificial +ears will be greater in demand than hats. For this reason he has got +together all his goods, sold the more burdensome, and now ventures on +an untried way.” + +“Prosperity attend your goings. Yet, as one who has set his face +towards Yu-ping, is it not possible for an ordinary person of simple +life and unassuming aims to escape persecution under this same Shan +Tien?” + +“Of the Mandarin himself those who know speak with vague lips. What is +done is done by the pressing hand of one Ming-shu, who takes down his +spoken word; of whom it is truly said that he has little resemblance +to a man and still less to an angel.” + +“Yet,” protested the story-teller hopefully, “it is wisely written: +‘He who never opens his mouth in strife can always close his eyes in +peace.’” + +“Doubtless,” assented the other. “He can close his eyes assuredly. +Whether he will ever again open them is another matter.” + +With this timely warning the sandal-maker rose and prepared to resume +his journey. Nor did he again take up the burden of his task until he +had satisfied himself that the westward road was destitute of traffic. + +“A tranquil life and a painless death,” was his farewell parting. +“Jung, of the line of Hai, wishes you well.” Then, with many +imprecations on the relentless sun above, the inexorable road beneath, +and on every detail of the evilly-balanced load before him, he passed +out on his way. + +It would have been well for Kai Lung had he also forced his reluctant +feet to raise the dust, but his body clung to the moist umbrage of his +couch, and his mind made reassurance that perchance the maiden would +return. Thus it fell that when two others, who looked from side to +side as they hastened on the road, turned as at a venture to the wood +they found him still there. + +“Restrain your greetings,” said the leader of the two harshly, in the +midst of Kai Lung’s courteous obeisance; “and do not presume to +disparage yourself as if in equality with the one who stands before +you. Have two of the inner chamber, attired thus and thus, passed this +way? Speak, and that to a narrow edge.” + +“The road lies beyond the perception of my incapable vision, +chiefest,” replied Kai lung submissively. “Furthermore, I have slept.” + +“Unless you would sleep more deeply, shape your stubborn tongue to a +specific point,” commanded the other, touching a meaning sword. “Who +are you who loiter here, and for what purpose do you lurk? Speak +fully, and be assured that your word will be put to a corroding test.” + +Thus encouraged, Kai Lung freely disclosed his name and ancestry, the +means whereby he earned a frugal sustenance and the nature of his +journey. In addition, he professed a willingness to relate his most +recently-acquired story, that entitled “Wu-yong: or The Politely +Inquiring Stranger”, but the offer was thrust ungracefully aside. + +“Everything you say deepens the suspicion which your criminal-looking +face naturally provokes,” said the questioner, putting away his +tablets on which he had recorded the replies. “At Yu-ping the matter +will be probed with a very definite result. You, Li-loe, remain about +this spot in case she whom we seek should pass. I return to speak of +our unceasing effort.” + +“I obey,” replied the dog-like Li-loe. “What men can do we have done. +We are no demons to see through solid matter.” + +When they were alone, Li-loe drew nearer to Kai Lung and, allowing his +face to assume a more pacific bend, he cast himself down by the +story-teller’s side. + +“The account which you gave of yourself was ill contrived,” he said. +“Being put to the test, its falsity cannot fail to be discovered.” + +“Yet,” protested Kai Lung earnestly, “in no single detail did it +deviate from the iron line of truth.” + +“Then your case is even more desperate than before,” exclaimed Li-loe. +“Know now that the repulsive-featured despot who has just left us is +Ming-shu, he who takes down the Mandarin Shan Tien’s spoken word. By +admitting that you are from Loo-chow, where disaffection reigns, you +have noosed a rope about your neck, and by proclaiming yourself as one +whose habit it is to call together a company to listen to your word, +you have drawn it tight.” + +“Every rope has two ends,” remarked Kai Lung philosophically, “and +to-morrow is yet to come. Tell me rather, since that is our present +errand, who is she whom you pursue and to what intent?” + +“That is not so simple as to be contained within the hollow of an +acorn sheath. Let it suffice that she has the left ear of Shan Tien, +even as Ming-shu has the right, but on which side his hearing is +better it might be hazardous to guess.” + +“And her meritorious name?” + +“She is of the house of K’ang, her name being Hwa-mei, though from the +nature of her charm she is ofttime called the Golden Mouse. But +touching this affair of your own immediate danger: we being both but +common men of the idler sort, it is only fitting that when high ones +threaten I should stand by you.” + +“Speak definitely,” assented Kai Lung, “yet with the understanding +that the full extent of my store does not exceed four or five strings +of cash.” + +“The soil is somewhat shallow for the growth of deep friendship, but +what we have we will share equally between us.” With these auspicious +words Li-loe possessed himself of three of the strings of cash and +displayed an empty sleeve. “I, alas, have nothing. The benefits I have +in mind are of a subtler and more priceless kind. At Yu-ping my office +will be that of the keeper of the doors of the yamen, including that +of the prison-house. Thus I shall doubtless be able to render you +frequent service of an inconspicuous kind. Do not forget the name of +Li-loe.” + +By this time the approaching sound of heavy traffic, heralded by the +beating of drums, the blowing of horns and the discharge of an +occasional firework, indicated the passage of some dignified official. +This, declared Li-loe, could be none other than the Mandarin Shan +Tien, resuming his march towards Yu-ping, and the doorkeeper prepared +to join the procession at his appointed place. Kai Lung, however, +remained unseen among the trees, not being desirous of obtruding +himself upon Ming-shu unnecessarily. When the noise had almost died +away in the distance he came forth, believing that all would by this +time have passed, and approached the road. As he reached it a single +chair was hurried by, its carriers striving by increased exertion to +regain their fellows. It was too late for Kai Lung to retreat, whoever +might be within. As it passed a curtain moved somewhat, a symmetrical +hand came discreetly forth, and that which it held fell at his feet. +Without varying his attitude he watched the chair until it was out of +sight, then stooped and picked something up--a red blossom on a thorny +stalk, the flower already parched but the stem moist and softened to +his touch. + + + + CHAPTER II + + The Inexorable Justice of the Mandarin Shan Tien + +“By having access to this enclosure you will be able to walk where +otherwise you must stand. That in itself is cheap at the price of +three reputed strings of inferior cash. Furthermore, it is possible to +breathe.” + +“The outlook, in one direction, is an extensive one,” admitted Kai +Lung, gazing towards the sky. “Here, moreover, is a shutter through +which the vista doubtless lengthens.” + +“So long as there is no chance of you exploring it any farther than +your neck, it does not matter,” said Li-loe. “Outside lies a barren +region of the yamen garden where no one ever comes. I will now leave +you, having to meet one with whom I would traffic for a goat. When I +return be prepared to retrace your steps to the prison cell.” + +“The shadow moves as the sun directs,” replied Kai Lung, and with +courteous afterthought he added the wonted parting: “Slowly, slowly; +walk slowly.” + +In such a manner the story-teller found himself in a highly-walled +enclosure, lying between the prison-house and the yamen garden, a few +days after his arrival in Yu-ping. Ming-shu had not eaten his word. + +The yard itself possessed no attraction for Kai Lung. Almost before +Li-loe had disappeared he was at the shutter in the wall, had forced +it open and was looking out. Thus long he waited, motionless, but +observing every leaf that stirred among the trees and shrubs and +neglected growth beyond. At last a figure passed across a distant +glade and at the sight Kai Lung lifted up a restrained voice in song: + + “At the foot of a bleak and inhospitable mountain + An insignificant stream winds its uncared way; + Although inferior to the Yangtze-kiang in every detail + Yet fish glide to and fro among its crannies + Nor would they change their home for the depths of the widest + river. + + The palace of the sublime Emperor is made rich with hanging + curtains. + While here rough stone walls forbid repose. + Yet there is one who unhesitatingly prefers the latter; + For from an open shutter here he can look forth, + And perchance catch a glimpse of one who may pass by. + + The occupation of the Imperial viceroy is both lucrative and + noble; + While that of a relater of imagined tales is by no means + esteemed. + But he who thus expressed himself would not exchange with the + other; + For around the identity of each heroine he can entwine the + personality of one whom he has encountered. + And thus she is ever by his side.” + +“Your uplifted voice comes from an unexpected quarter, minstrel,” said +a melodious voice, and the maiden whom he had encountered in the wood +stood before him. “What crime have you now committed?” + +“An ancient one. I presumed to raise my unworthy eyes--” + +“Alas, story-teller,” interposed the maiden hastily, “it would seem +that the star to which you chained _your_ wrist has not carried you +into the assembly of the gods.” + +“Yet already it has borne me half-way--into a company of malefactors. +Doubtless on the morrow the obliging Mandarin Shan Tien will arrange +for the journey to be complete.” + +“Yet have you then no further wish to continue in an ordinary +existence?” asked the maiden. + +“To this person,” replied Kai Lung, with a deep-seated look, +“existence can never again be ordinary. Admittedly it may be short.” + +As they conversed together in this inoffensive manner she whom Li-loe +had called the Golden Mouse held in her delicately-formed hands a +priceless bowl filled with ripe fruit of the rarer kinds which she had +gathered. These from time to time she threw up to the opening, rightly +deciding that one in Kai Lung’s position would stand in need of +sustenance, and he no less dexterously held and retained them. When +the bowl was empty she continued for a space to regard it silently, as +though exploring the many-sided recesses of her mind. + +“You have claimed to be a story-teller and have indeed made a boast +that there is no arising emergency for which you are unprepared,” she +said at length. “It now befalls that you may be put to a speedy test. +Is the nature of this imagined scene”--thus she indicated the +embellishment of the bowl--“familiar to your eyes?” + +“It is that known as ‘The Willow,’” replied Kai Lung. “There is a +story--” + +“There is a story!” exclaimed the maiden, loosening from her brow the +overhanging look of care. “Thus and thus. Frequently have I importuned +him before whom you will appear to explain to me the meaning of the +scene. When you are called upon to plead your cause, see to it well +that your knowledge of such a tale is clearly shown. He before whom +you kneel, craftily plied meanwhile by my unceasing petulance, will +then desire to hear it from your lips . . . At the striking of the +fourth gong the day is done. What lies between rests with your +discriminating wit.” + +“You are deep in the subtler kinds of wisdom, such as the weak +possess,” confessed Kai Lung. “Yet how will this avail to any length?” + +“That which is put off from to-day is put off from to-morrow,” was the +confident reply. “For the rest--at a corresponding gong-stroke of each +day it is this person’s custom to gather fruit. Farewell, minstrel.” + +When Li-loe returned a little later Kai Lung threw his two remaining +strings of cash about that rapacious person’s neck and embraced him as +he exclaimed: + +“Chieftain among doorkeepers, when I go to the Capital to receive the +all-coveted title ‘Leaf-crowned’ and to chant ceremonial odes before +the Court, thou shalt accompany me as forerunner, and an agile tribe +of selected goats shall sport about thy path.” + +“Alas, manlet,” replied the other, weeping readily, “greatly do I fear +that the next journey thou wilt take will be in an upward or a +downward rather than a sideway direction. This much have I learned, +and to this end, at some cost admittedly, I enticed into loquacity one +who knows another whose brother holds the key of Ming-shu’s +confidence: that to-morrow the Mandarin will begin to distribute +justice here, and out of the depths of Ming-shu’s malignity the name +of Kai Lung is the first set down.” + +“With the title,” continued Kai Lung cheerfully, “there goes a +sufficiency of taels; also a vat of a potent wine of a certain kind.” + +“If,” suggested Li-loe, looking anxiously around, “you have really +discovered hidden about this place a secret store of wine, consider +well whether it would not be prudent to entrust it to a faithful +friend before it is too late.” + +It was indeed as Li-loe had foretold. On the following day, at the +second gong-stroke after noon, the order came and, closely guarded, +Kai Lung was led forth. The middle court had been duly arranged, with +a formidable display of chains, weights, presses, saws, branding irons +and other implements for securing justice. At the head of a table +draped with red sat the Mandarin Shan Tien, on his right the secretary +of his hand, the contemptible Ming-shu. Round about were positioned +others who in one necessity or another might be relied upon to play an +ordered part. After a lavish explosion of fire-crackers had been +discharged, sonorous bells rung and gongs beaten, a venerable +geomancer disclosed by means of certain tests that all doubtful +influences had been driven off and that truth and impartiality alone +remained. + +“Except on the part of the prisoners, doubtless,” remarked the +Mandarin, thereby imperilling the gravity of all who stood around. + +“The first of those to prostrate themselves before your enlightened +clemency, Excellence, is a notorious assassin who, under another name, +has committed many crimes,” began the execrable Ming-shu. “He +confesses that, now calling himself Kai Lung, he has recently +journeyed from Loo-chow, where treason ever wears a smiling face.” + +“Perchance he is saddened by our city’s loyalty,” interposed the +benign Shan Tien, “for if he is smiling now it is on the side of his +face removed from this one’s gaze.” + +“The other side of his face is assuredly where he will be made to +smile ere long,” acquiesced Ming-shu, not altogether to his chief’s +approval, as the analogy was already his. “Furthermore, he has been +detected lurking in secret meeting-places by the wayside, and on +reaching Yu-ping he raised his rebellious voice inviting all to gather +round and join his unlawful band. The usual remedy in such cases +during periods of stress, Excellence, is strangulation.” + +“The times are indeed pressing,” remarked the agile-minded Mandarin, +“and the penalty would appear to be adequate.” As no one suffered +inconvenience at his attitude, however, Shan Tien’s expression assumed +a more unbending cast. + +“Let the witnesses appear,” he commanded sharply. + +“In so clear a case it has not been thought necessary to incur the +expense of hiring the usual witnesses,” urged Ming-shu; “but they are +doubtless clustered about the opium floor and will, if necessary, +testify to whatever is required.” + +“The argument is a timely one,” admitted the Mandarin. “As the result +cannot fail to be the same in either case, perhaps the accommodating +prisoner will assist the ends of justice by making a full confession +of his crimes?” + +“High Excellence,” replied the story-teller, speaking for the first +time, “it is truly said that that which would appear as a mountain in +the evening may stand revealed as a mud-hut by the light of day. Hear +my unpainted word. I am of the abject House of Kai and my inoffensive +rice is earned as a narrator of imagined tales. Unrolling my +threadbare mat at the middle hour of yesterday, I had raised my +distressing voice and announced an intention to relate the Story of +Wong Ts’in, that which is known as ‘The Legend of the Willow Plate +Embellishment,’ when a company of armed warriors, converging upon +me--” + +“Restrain the melodious flow of your admitted eloquence,” interrupted +the Mandarin, veiling his arising interest. “Is the story, to which +you have made reference, that of the scene widely depicted on plates +and earthenware?” + +“Undoubtedly. It is the true and authentic legend as related by the +eminent Tso-yi.” + +“In that case,” declared Shan Tien dispassionately, “it will be +necessary for you to relate it now, in order to uphold your claim. +Proceed.” + +“Alas, Excellence,” protested Ming-shu from a bitter throat, “this +matter will attenuate down to the stroke of evening rice. Kowtowing +beneath your authoritative hand, that which the prisoner only had the +intention to relate does not come within the confines of his +evidence.” + +“The objection is superficial and cannot be sustained,” replied Shan +Tien. “If an evilly-disposed one raised a sword to strike this person, +but was withheld before the blow could fall, none but a leper would +contend that because he did not progress beyond the intention thereby +he should go free. Justice must be impartially upheld and greatly do I +fear that we must all submit.” + +With these opportune words the discriminating personage signified to +Kai Lung that he should begin. + + + The Story of Wong Ts’in and the Willow Plate Embellishment + +Wong Ts’in, the rich porcelain maker, was ill at ease within himself. +He had partaken of his customary midday meal, flavoured the repast by +unsealing a jar of matured wine, consumed a little fruit, a few +sweetmeats and half a dozen cups of unapproachable tea, and then +retired to an inner chamber to contemplate philosophically from the +reposeful attitude of a reclining couch. + +But upon this occasion the merchant did not contemplate restfully. He +paced the floor in deep dejection and when he did use the couch at all +it was to roll upon it in a sudden access of internal pain. The cause +of his distress was well known to the unhappy person thus concerned, +nor did it lessen the pangs of his emotion that it arose entirely from +his own ill-considered action. + +When Wong Ts’in had discovered, by the side of a remote and obscure +river, the inexhaustible bed of porcelain clay that ensured his +prosperity, his first care was to erect adequate sheds and +labouring-places; his next to build a house sufficient for himself and +those in attendance round about him. + +So far prudence had ruled his actions, for there is a keen edge to the +saying: “He who sleeps over his workshop brings four eyes into the +business,” but in one detail Wong Ts’in’s head and feet went on +different journeys, for with incredible oversight he omitted to secure +the experience of competent astrologers and omen-casters in fixing the +exact site of his mansion. + +The result was what might have been expected. In excavating for the +foundations, Wong Ts’in’s slaves disturbed the repose of a small but +rapacious earth-demon that had already been sleeping there for nine +hundred and ninety-nine years. With the insatiable cunning of its +kind, this vindictive creature waited until the house was completed +and then proceeded to transfer its unseen but formidable presence to +the quarters that were designed for Wong Ts’in himself. Thenceforth, +from time to time, it continued to revenge itself for the trouble to +which it had been put by an insidious persecution. This frequently +took the form of fastening its claws upon the merchant’s digestive +organs, especially after he had partaken of an unusually rich repast +(for in some way the display of certain viands excited its unreasoning +animosity), pressing heavily upon his chest, invading his repose with +dragon-dreams while he slept, and the like. Only by the exercise of an +ingenuity greater than its own could Wong Ts’in succeed in baffling +its ill-conditioned spite. + +On this occasion, recognizing from the nature of his pangs what was +taking place, Wong Ts’in resorted to a stratagem that rarely failed +him. Announcing in a loud voice that it was his intention to refresh +the surface of his body by the purifying action of heated vapour, and +then to proceed to his mixing-floor, the merchant withdrew. The demon, +being an earth-dweller with the ineradicable objection of this class +of creatures towards all the elements of moisture, at once +relinquished its hold, and going direct to the part of the works +indicated, it there awaited its victim with the design of resuming its +discreditable persecution. + +Wong Ts’in had spoken with a double tongue. On leaving the inner +chamber he quickly traversed certain obscure passages of his house +until he reached an inferior portal. Even if the demon had suspected +his purpose it would not have occurred to a creature of its narrow +outlook that anyone of Wong Ts’in’s importance would make use of so +menial an outway. The merchant therefore reached his garden +unperceived and thenceforward maintained an undeviating face in the +direction of the Outer Expanses. Before he had covered many li he was +assured that he had indeed succeeded for the time in shaking off his +unscrupulous tormentor. His internal organs again resumed their +habitual calm and his mind was lightened as from an overhanging cloud. + +There was another reason why Wong Ts’in sought the solitude of the +thinly-peopled outer places, away from the influence and distraction +of his own estate. For some time past a problem that had once been +remote was assuming dimensions of increasing urgency. This detail +concerns Fa Fai, who had already been referred to by a person of +literary distinction, in a poetical analogy occupying three written +volumes, as a pearl-tinted peach-blossom shielded and restrained by +the silken net-work of wise parental affection (and recognizing the +justice of the comparison, Wong Ts’in had been induced to purchase the +work in question). Now that Fa Fai had attained an age when she could +fittingly be sought in marriage the contingency might occur at any +time, and the problem confronting her father’s decision was this: +owing to her incomparable perfection Fa Fai must be accounted one of +Wong Ts’in’s chief possessions, the other undoubtedly being his secret +process of simulating the lustrous effect of pure gold embellishment +on china by the application of a much less expensive substitute. Would +it be more prudent to concentrate the power of both influences and let +it become known that with Fa Fai would go the essential part of his +very remunerative clay enterprise, or would it be more prudent to +divide these attractions and secure two distinct influences, both +concerned about his welfare? In the first case there need be no +reasonable limit to the extending vista of his ambition, and he might +even aspire to greet as a son the highest functionary of the +province--an official of such heavily-sustained importance that when +he went about it required six chosen slaves to carry him, and of late +it had been considered more prudent to employ eight. + +If, on the other hand, Fa Fai went without any added inducement, a +mandarin of moderate rank would probably be as high as Wong Ts’in +could look, but he would certainly be able to adopt another of at +least equal position, at the price of making over to him the ultimate +benefit of his discovery. He could thus acquire either two sons of +reasonable influence, or one who exercised almost unlimited authority. +In view of his own childlessness, and of his final dependence on the +services of others, which arrangement promised the most regular and +liberal transmission of supplies to his expectant spirit when he had +passed into the Upper Air, and would his connection with one very +important official or with two subordinate ones secure him the greater +amount of honour and serviceable recognition among the more useful +deities? + +To Wong Ts’in’s logical mind it seemed as though there must be a +definite answer to this problem. If one manner of behaving was right +the other must prove wrong, for as the wise philosopher Ning-hy was +wont to say: “Where the road divides, there stand two Ning-hys.” The +decision on a matter so essential to his future comfort ought not to +be left to chance. Thus it had become a habit of Wong Ts’in’s to +penetrate the Outer Spaces in the hope of there encountering a +specific omen. + +Alas, it has been well written: “He who thinks that he is raising a +mound may only in reality be digging a pit.” In his continual search +for a celestial portent among the solitudes Wong Ts’in had of late +necessarily somewhat neglected his earthly (as it may thus be +expressed) interests. In these emergencies certain of the more +turbulent among his workers had banded themselves together into a +confederacy under the leadership of a craftsman named Fang. It was the +custom of these men, who wore a badge and recognized a mutual oath and +imprecation, to present themselves suddenly before Wong Ts’in and +demand a greater reward for their exertions than they had previously +agreed to, threatening that unless this was accorded they would cast +down the implements of their labour in unison and involve in idleness +those who otherwise would have continued at their task. This menace +Wong Ts’in bought off from time to time by agreeing to their +exactions, but it began presently to appear that this way of appeasing +them resembled Chou Hong’s method of extinguishing a fire by directing +jets of wind against it. On the day with which this related story has +so far concerned itself, a band of the most highly remunerated and +privileged of the craftsmen had appeared before Wong Ts’in with the +intolerable Fang at their head. These men were they whose skill +enabled them laboriously to copy upon the surfaces of porcelain a +given scene without appreciable deviation from one to the other, for +in those remote cycles of history no other method was yet known or +even dreamed of. + +“Suitable greetings, employer of our worthless services,” remarked +their leader, seating himself upon the floor unbidden. “These who +speak through the mouth of the cringing mendicant before you are the +Bound-together Brotherhood of Colour-mixers and Putters-on of +Thought-out Designs, bent upon a just cause.” + +“May their Ancestral Tablets never fall into disrepair,” replied Wong +Ts’in courteously. “For the rest--let the mouth referred to shape +itself into the likeness of a narrow funnel, for the lengthening +gong-strokes press round about my unfinished labours.” + +“That which in justice requires the amplitude of a full-sized cask +shall be pressed down into the confines of an inadequate vessel,” + assented Fang. “Know then, O battener upon our ill-requited skill, how +it has come to our knowledge that one who is not of our Brotherhood +moves among us and performs an equal task for a less reward. This is +our spoken word in consequence: in place of one tael every man among +us shall now take two, and he who before has laboured eight gongs to +receive it shall henceforth labour four. Furthermore, he who is +speaking shall, as their recognized head and authority, always be +addressed by the honourable title of ‘Polished,’ and the dog who is +not one of us shall be cast forth.” + +“My hand itches to reward you in accordance with the inner prompting +of a full heart,” replied the merchant, after a well-sustained pause. +“But in this matter my very deficient ears must be leading my +threadbare mind astray. The moon has not been eaten up since the day +when you stood before me in a like attitude and bargained that every +man should henceforth receive a full tael where hitherto a half had +been his portion, and that in place of the toil of sixteen +gong-strokes eight should suffice. Upon this being granted all bound +themselves by spoken word that the matter should stand thus and thus +between us until the gathering-in of the next rice harvest.” + +“That may have been so at the time,” admitted Fang, with dog-like +obstinacy, “but it was not then known that you had pledged yourself to +Hien Nan for tenscore embellished plates of porcelain within a stated +time, and that our services would therefore be essential to your +reputation. There has thus arisen what may be regarded as a new vista +of eventualities, and this frees us from the bondage of our spoken +word. Having thus moderately stated our unbending demand, we will +depart until the like gong-stroke of to-morrow, when, if our claim be +not agreed to, all will cast down their implements of labour with the +swiftness of a lightning-flash and thereby involve the whole of your +too-profitable undertaking in well-merited stagnation. We go, +venerable head; auspicious omens attend your movements!” + +“May the All-Seeing guide your footsteps,” responded Wong Ts’in, and +with courteous forbearance he waited until they were out of hearing +before he added--“into a vat of boiling sulphur!” + +Thus may the position be outlined when Wei Chang, the unassuming youth +whom the black-hearted Fang had branded with so degrading a +comparison, sat at his appointed place rather than join in the +discreditable conspiracy, and strove by his unaided dexterity to +enable Wong Ts’in to complete the tenscore embellished plates by the +appointed time. Yet already he knew that in this commendable ambition +his head grew larger than his hands, for he was the slowest-working +among all Wong Ts’in’s craftsmen, and even then his copy could +frequently be detected from the original. Not to overwhelm his memory +with unmerited contempt it is fitting now to reveal somewhat more of +the unfolding curtain of events. + +Wei Chang was not in reality a worker in the art of applying coloured +designs to porcelain at all. He was a student of the literary +excellences and had decided to devote his entire life to the engaging +task of reducing the most perfectly matched analogy to the least +possible number of words when the unexpected appearance of Fa Fai +unsettled his ambitions. She was restraining the impatience of a +powerful horse and controlling its movements by means of a leather +thong, while at the same time she surveyed the landscape with a +disinterested glance in which Wei Chang found himself becoming +involved. Without stopping even to consult the spirits of his revered +ancestors on so important a decision, he at once burned the greater +part of his collection of classical analogies and engaged himself, as +one who is willing to become more proficient, about Wong Ts’in’s +earth-yards. Here, without any reasonable intention of ever becoming +in any way personally congenial to her, he was in a position +occasionally to see the distant outline of Fa Fai’s movements, and +when a day passed and even this was withheld he was content that the +shadow of the many-towered building that contained her should obscure +the sunlight from the window before which he worked. + +While Wei Chang was thus engaged the door of the enclosure in which he +laboured was thrust cautiously inwards, and presently he became aware +that the being whose individuality was never completely absent from +his thoughts was standing in an expectant attitude at no great +distance from him. As no other person was present, the craftsmen +having departed in order to consult an oracle that dwelt beneath an +appropriate sign, and Wong Ts’in being by this time among the Outer +Ways seeking an omen as to Fa Fai’s disposal, Wei Chang did not think +it respectful to become aware of the maiden’s presence until a +persistent distress of her throat compelled him to recognize the +incident. + +“Unapproachable perfection,” he said, with becoming deference, “is it +permissible that in the absence of your enlightened sire you should +descend from your golden eminence and stand, entirely unattended, at +no great distance from so ordinary a person as myself?” + +“Whether it be strictly permissible or not, it is only on like +occasions that she ever has the opportunity of descending from the +solitary pinnacle referred to,” replied Fa Fai, not only with no +outward appearance of alarm at being directly addressed by one of a +different sex, but even moving nearer to Wei Chang as she spoke. “A +more essential detail in the circumstances concerns the length of time +that he may be prudently relied upon to be away?” + +“Doubtless several gong-strokes will intervene before his returning +footsteps gladden our expectant vision,” replied Wei Chang. “He is +spoken of as having set his face towards the Outer Ways, there +perchance to come within the influence of a portent.” + +“Its probable object is not altogether unknown to the one who stands +before you,” admitted Fa Fai, “and as a dutiful and affectionate +daughter it has become a consideration with her whether she ought not +to press forward, as it were, to a solution on her own account. . . . +If the one whom I am addressing could divert his attention from the +embellishment of the very inadequate claw of a wholly superfluous +winged dragon, possibly he might add his sage counsel on that point.” + +“It is said that a bull-frog once rent his throat in a well-meant +endeavour to advise an eagle in the art of flying,” replied Wei Chang, +concealing the bitterness of his heart beneath an easy tongue. “For +this reason it is inexpedient for earthlings to fix their eyes on +those who dwell in very high places.” + +“To the intrepid, very high places exist solely to be scaled; with +others, however, the only scaling they attempt is lavished on the +armour of preposterous flying monsters, O youth of the House of Wei!” + +“Is it possible,” exclaimed Wei Chang, moving forward with so sudden +an ardour that the maiden hastily withdrew herself several paces from +beyond his enthusiasm, “is it possible that this person’s hitherto +obscure and execrated name is indeed known to your incomparable lips?” + +“As the one who periodically casts up the computations of the sums of +money due to those who labour about the earth-yards, it would be +strange if the name had so far escaped my notice,” replied Fa Fai, +with a distance in her voice that the few paces between them very +inadequately represented. “Certain details engrave themselves upon the +tablets of recollection by their persistence. For instance, the name +of Fang is generally at the head of each list; that of Wei Chang is +invariably at the foot.” + +“It is undeniable,” admitted Wei Chang, in a tone of well-merited +humiliation; “and the attainment of never having yet applied a design +in such a manner that the copy might be mistaken for the original has +entirely flattened-out this person’s self-esteem.” + +“Doubtless,” suggested Fa Fai, with delicate encouragement, “there are +other pursuits in which you would disclose a more highly developed +proficiency--as that of watching the gyrations of untamed horses, for +example. Our more immediate need, however, is to discover a means of +defeating the malignity of the detestable Fang. With this object I +have for some time past secretly applied myself to the task of +contriving a design which, by blending simplicity with picturesque +effect, will enable one person in a given length of time to achieve +the amount of work hitherto done by two.” + +With these auspicious words the accomplished maiden disclosed a plate +of translucent porcelain, embellished in the manner which she had +described. At the sight of the ingenious way in which trees and +persons, stream and buildings, and objects of a widely differing +nature had been so arranged as to give the impression that they all +existed at the same time, and were equally visible without undue +exertion on the part of the spectator who regarded them, Wei Chang +could not restrain an exclamation of delight. + +“How cunningly imagined is the device by which objects so varied in +size as an orange and an island can be depicted within the narrow +compass of a porcelain plate without the larger one completely +obliterating the smaller or the smaller becoming actually invisible by +comparison with the other! Hitherto this unimaginative person had not +considered the possibility of showing other than dragons, demons, +spirits, and the forces which from their celestial nature may be +regarded as possessing no real thickness of substance and therefore +being particularly suitable for treatment on a flat surface. But this +engaging display might indeed be a scene having an actual existence at +no great space away.” + +“Such is assuredly the case,” admitted Fa Fai. “Within certain +limitations, imposed by this new art of depicting realities as they +are, we may be regarded as standing before an open window. The +important-looking building on the right is that erected by this +person’s venerated father. Its prosperity is indicated by the +luxurious profusion of the fruit-tree overhanging it. Pressed somewhat +to the back, but of dignified proportion, are the outer buildings of +those who labour among the clay.” + +“In a state of actuality, they are of measurably less dignified +dimensions,” suggested Wei Chang. + +“The objection is inept,” replied Fa Fai. “The buildings in question +undoubtedly exist at the indicated position. If, therefore, the +actuality is to be maintained, it is necessary either to raise their +stature or to cut down the trees obscuring them. To this gentle-minded +person the former alternative seemed the less drastic. As, however, it +is regarded in a spirit of no-satisfaction--” + +“Proceed, incomparable one, proceed,” implored Wei Chang. “It was but +a breath of thought, arising from a recollection of the many times +that this incapable person has struck his unworthy head against the +roof-beams of those nobly-proportioned buildings.” + +“The three stunted individuals crossing the bridge in undignified +attitudes are the debased Fang and two of his mercenary accomplices. +They are, as usual, bending their footsteps in the direction of the +hospitality of a house that announces its purpose beneath the sign of +a spreading bush. They are positioned as crossing the river to a set +purpose, and the bridge is devoid of a rail in the hope that on their +return they may all fall into the torrent in a helpless condition and +be drowned, to the satisfaction of the beholders.” + +“It would be a fitting conclusion to their ill-spent lives,” agreed +Wei Chang. “Would it not add to their indignity to depict them as +struggling beneath the waves?” + +“It might do so,” admitted Fa Fai graciously, “but in order to express +the arisement adequately it would be necessary to display them +twice--first on the bridge with their faces turned towards the west, +and then in the flood with their faces towards the east; and the +superficial might hastily assume that the three on the bridge would +rescue the three in the river.” + +“You are all-wise,” said Wei Chang, with well-marked admiration in his +voice. “This person’s suggestion was opaque.” + +“In any case,” continued Fa Fai, with a reassuring glance, “it is a +detail that is not essential to the frustration of Fang’s malignant +scheme, for already well on its way towards Hien Nan may be seen a +trustworthy junk, laden with two formidable crates, each one +containing fivescore plates of the justly esteemed Wong Ts’in +porcelain.” + +“Nevertheless,” maintained Wei Chang mildly, “the out-passing of Fang +would have been a satisfactory detail of the occurrence.” + +“Do not despair,” replied Fa Fai. “Not idly is it written: ‘Destiny +has four feet, eight hands and sixteen eyes: how then shall the +ill-doer with only two of each hope to escape?’ An even more +ignominious end may await Fang, should he escape drowning, for, +conveniently placed by the side of the stream, this person has +introduced a spreading willow-tree. Any of its lower branches is +capable of sustaining Fang’s weight, should a reliable rope connect +the two.” + +“There is something about that which this person now learns is a +willow that distinguishes it above all the other trees of the design,” + remarked Wei Chang admiringly. “It has a wild and yet a romantic +aspect.” + +“This person had not yet chanced upon a suitable title for the +device,” said Fa Fai, “and a distinguishing name is necessary, for +possibly scores of copies may be made before its utility is exhausted. +Your discriminating praise shall be accepted as a fortunate omen, and +henceforth this shall be known as the Willow Pattern Embellishment.” + +“The honour of suggesting the title is more than this commonplace +person can reasonably carry,” protested Wei Chang, feeling that very +little worth considering existed outside the earth-shed. “Not only +scores, but even hundreds of copies may be required in the process of +time, for a crust of rice-bread and handful of dried figs eaten from +such a plate would be more satisfying than a repast of many-coursed +richness elsewhere.” + +In this well-sustained and painless manner Fa Fai and Wei Chang +continued to express themselves agreeably to each other, until the +lengthening gong-strokes warned the former person that her absence +might inconvenience Wong Ts’in’s sense of tranquillity on his return, +nor did Wei Chang contest the desirability of a great space +intervening between them should the merchant chance to pass that way. +In the meanwhile Chang had explained many of the inner details of his +craft so that Fa Fai should the better understand the requirements of +her new art. + +“Yet where is the Willow plate itself?” said the maiden, as she began +to arrange her mind towards departure. “As the colours were still in a +receptive state this person placed it safely aside for the time. It +was somewhat near the spot where you--” + +During the amiable exchange of shafts of polished conversation Wei +Chang had followed Fa Fai’s indication and had seated himself upon a +low bench without any very definite perception of his movements. He +now arose with the unstudied haste of one who has inconvenienced a +scorpion. + +“Alas!” he exclaimed, in a tone of the acutest mental distress; “can +it be possible that this utterly profane outcast has so desecrated--” + +“Certainly comment of an admittedly crushing nature has been imposed +on this one’s well-meant handiwork,” said Fa Fai. With these +lightly-barbed words, which were plainly devised to restore the other +person’s face towards himself, the magnanimous maiden examined the +plate which Wei Chang’s uprising had revealed. + +“Not only has the embellishment suffered no real detriment,” she +continued, after an adequate glance, “but there has been imparted to +the higher lights--doubtless owing to the nature of the fabric in +which your lower half is encased--a certain nebulous quality that adds +greatly to the successful effect of the various tones.” + +At the first perception of the indignity to which he had subjected the +entrancing Fa Fai’s work, and the swift feeling that much more than +the coloured adornment of a plate would thereby be destroyed, all +power of retention had forsaken Wei Chang’s incapable knees and he +sank down heavily upon another bench. From this dejection the maiden’s +well-chosen encouragement recalled him to a position of ordinary +uprightness. + +“A tombstone is lifted from this person’s mind by your +gracefully-placed words,” he declared, and he was continuing to +indicate the nature of his self-reproach by means of a suitable +analogy when the expression of Fa Fai’s eyes turned him to a point +behind himself. There, lying on the spot from which he had just risen, +was a second Willow plate, differing in no detail of resemblance from +the first. + +“Shadow of the Great Image!” exclaimed Chang, in an awe-filled voice. +“It is no marvel that miracles should attend your footsteps, celestial +one, but it is incredible that this clay-souled person should be +involved in the display.” + +“Yet,” declared Fa Fai, not hesitating to allude to things as they +existed, in the highly-raised stress of the discovery, “it would +appear that the miracle is not specifically connected with this +person’s feet. Would you not, in furtherance of this line of +suggestion, place yourself in a similar attitude on yet another plate, +Wei Chang?” + +Not without many protests that it was scarcely becoming thus to sit +repeatedly in her presence, Chang complied with the request, and upon +Fa Fai’s further insistence he continued to impress himself, as it +were, upon a succession of porcelain plates, with a like result. Not +until the eleventh process was reached did the Willow design begin to +lose its potency. + +“Ten perfect copies produced within as many moments, and not one +distinguishable from the first!” exclaimed Wei Chang, regarding the +array of plates with pleasurable emotion. “Here is a means of baffling +Fang’s crafty confederacy that will fill Wong Ts’in’s ears with waves +of gladness on his return.” + +“Doubtless,” agreed Fa Fai, with a dark intent. She was standing by +the door of the enclosure in the process of making her departure, and +she regarded Wei Chang with a set deliberation. “Yet,” she continued +definitely, “if this person possessed that which was essential to Wong +Ts’in’s prosperity, and Wong Ts’in held that which was necessary for +this one’s tranquillity, a locked bolt would be upon the one until the +other was pledged in return.” + +With these opportune words the maiden vanished, leaving Wei Chang +prostrating himself in spirit before the many-sidedness of her wisdom. + +Wong Ts’in was not altogether benevolently inclined towards the +universe on his return a little later. The persistent image of Fang’s +overthreatening act still corroded the merchant’s throat with +bitterness, for on his right he saw the extinction of his business as +unremunerative if he agreed, and on his left he saw the extinction of +his business as undependable if he refused to agree. + +Furthermore, the omens were ill-arranged. + +On his way outwards he had encountered an aged man who possessed two +fruit-trees, on which he relied for sustenance. As Wong Ts’in drew +near, this venerable person carried from his dwelling two beaten cakes +of dog-dung and began to bury them about the root of the larger tree. +This action, on the part of one who might easily be a disguised +wizard, aroused Wong Ts’in’s interest. + +“Why,” he demanded, “having two cakes of dung and two fruit-trees, do +you not allot one to each tree, so that both may benefit and return to +you their produce in the time of your necessity?” + +“The season promises to be one of rigour and great need,” replied the +other. “A single cake of dung might not provide sufficient nourishment +for either tree, so that both should wither away. By reducing life to +a bare necessity I could pass from one harvest to another on the fruit +of this tree alone, but if both should fail I am undone. To this end I +safeguard my existence by ensuring that at least the better of the two +shall thrive.” + +“Peace attend your efforts!” said Wong Ts’in, and he began to retrace +his footsteps, well content. + +Yet he had not covered half the distance back when his progress was +impeded by an elderly hag who fed two goats, whose milk alone +preserved her from starvation. One small measure of dry grass was all +that she was able to provide them with, but she divided it equally +between them, to the discontent of both. + +“The season promises to be one of rigour and great need,” remarked +Wong Ts’in affably, for the being before him might well be a creature +of another part who had assumed that form for his guidance. “Why do +you not therefore ensure sustenance to the better of the two goats by +devoting to it the whole of the measure of dry grass? In this way you +would receive at least some nourishment in return and thereby +safeguard your own existence until the rice is grown again.” + +“In the matter of the two goats,” replied the aged hag, “there is no +better, both being equally stubborn and perverse, though one may be +finer-looking and more vainglorious than the other. Yet should I +foster this one to the detriment of her fellow, what would be this +person’s plight if haply the weaker died and the stronger broke away +and fled! By treating both alike I retain a double thread on life, +even if neither is capable of much.” + +“May the Unseen weigh your labours!” exclaimed Wong Ts’in in a +two-edged voice, and he departed. + +When he reached his own house he would have closed himself in his own +chamber with himself had not Wei Chang persisted that he sought his +master’s inner ear with a heavy project. This interruption did not +please Wong Ts’in, for he had begun to recognize the day as being +unlucky, yet Chang succeeded by a device in reaching his side, bearing +in his hands a guarded burden. + +Though no written record of this memorable interview exists, it is now +generally admitted that Wei Chang either involved himself in an +unbearably attenuated caution before he would reveal his errand, or +else that he made a definite allusion to Fa Fai with a too sudden +conciseness, for the slaves who stood without heard Wong Ts’in clear +his voice of all restraint and express himself freely on a variety of +subjects. But this gave place to a subdued murmur, ending with the +ceremonial breaking of a plate, and later Wong Ts’in beat on a silver +bell and called for wine and fruit. + +The next day Fang presented himself a few gong-strokes later than the +appointed time, and being met by an unbending word he withdrew the +labour of those whom he controlled. Thenceforth these men, providing +themselves with knives and axes, surrounded the gate of the +earth-yards and by the pacific argument of their attitudes succeeded +in persuading others who would willingly have continued at their task +that the air of Wong Ts’in’s sheds was not congenial to their health. +Towards Wei Chang, whose efforts they despised, they raised a cloud of +derision, and presently noticing that henceforth he invariably clad +himself in lower garments of a dark blue material (to a set purpose +that will be as crystal to the sagacious), they greeted his appearance +with cries of: “Behold the sombre one! Thou dark leg!” so that this +reproach continues to be hurled even to this day at those in a like +case, though few could answer why. + +Long before the stipulated time the tenscore plates were delivered to +Hien Nan. So greatly were they esteemed, both on account of their +accuracy of unvarying detail and the ingenuity of their novel +embellishment, that orders for scores, hundreds and even thousands +began to arrive from all quarters of the Empire. The clay enterprise +of Wong Ts’in took upon itself an added lustre, and in order to deal +adequately with so vast an undertaking the grateful merchant adopted +Wei Chang and placed him upon an equal footing with himself. On the +same day Wong Ts’in honourably fulfilled his spoken word and the +marriage of Wei Chang and Fa Fai took place, accompanied by the most +lavish display of fireworks and coloured lights that the province had +ever seen. The controlling deities approved, and they had seven sons, +one of whom had seven fingers upon each hand. All these sons became +expert in Wei Chang’s process of transferring porcelain embellishment, +for some centuries elapsed before it was discovered that it was not +absolutely necessary to sit upon each plate to produce the desired +effect. + +This chronicle of an event that is now regarded as almost classical +would not be complete without an added reference to the ultimate end +of the sordid Fang. + +Fallen into disrepute among his fellows owing to the evil plight +towards which he had enticed them, it became his increasing purpose to +frequent the house beyond the river. On his return at nightfall he +invariably drew aside on reaching the bridge, well knowing that he +could not prudently rely upon his feet among so insecure a crossing, +and composed himself to sleep amid the rushes. While in this position +one night he was discovered and pushed into the river by a devout ox +(an instrument of high destinies), where he perished incapably. + +Those who found his body, not being able to withdraw so formidable a +weight direct, cast a rope across the lower branch of a convenient +willow-tree and thus raised it to the shore. In this striking manner +Fa Fai’s definite opinion achieved a destined end. + + + + CHAPTER III + + The Degraded Persistence of the Effete Ming-shu + +At about the same gong-stroke as before, Kai Lung again stood at the +open shutter, and to him presently came the maiden Hwa-mei, bearing in +her hands a gift of fruit. + +“The story of the much-harassed merchant Wong Ts’in and of the +assiduous youth Wei Chang has reached this person’s ears by a devious +road, and though it doubtless lost some of the subtler qualities in +the telling, the ultimate tragedy had a convincing tone,” she remarked +pleasantly. + +“It is scarcely to be expected that one who has spent his life beneath +an official umbrella should have at his command the finer analogies of +light and shade,” tolerantly replied Kai Lung. “Though by no means +comparable with the unapproachable history of the Princess Taik and +the minstrel Ch’eng as a means for conveying the unexpressed +aspirations of the one who relates towards the one who is receptive, +there are many passages even in the behaviour of Wei Chang into which +this person could infuse an unmistakable stress of significance were +he but given the opportunity.” + +“The day of that opportunity has not yet dawned,” replied the Golden +Mouse; “nor has the night preceding it yet run its gloomy course. +Foiled in his first attempt, the vindictive Ming-shu now creeps +towards his end by a more tortuous path. Whether or not dimly +suspecting something of the strategy by which your imperishable life +was preserved to-day, it is no part of his depraved scheme that you +should be given a like opportunity again. To-morrow another will be +led to judgment, one Cho-kow, a tribesman of the barbarian land of +Khim.” + +“With him I have already conversed and shared rice,” interposed Kai +Lung. “Proceed, elegance.” + +“Accused of plundering mountain tombs and of other crimes now held in +disrepute, he will be offered a comparatively painless death if he +will implicate his fellows, of whom you will be held to be the chief. +By this ignoble artifice you will be condemned on his testimony in +your absence, nor will you have any warning of your fate until you are +led forth to suffer.” + +Then replied Kai Lung, after a space of thought: “Not ineptly is it +written: ‘When the leading carriage is upset the next one is more +careful,’ and Ming-shu has taken the proverb to his heart. To +counteract his detestable plot will not be easy, but it should not be +beyond our united power, backed by a reasonable activity on the part +of our protecting ancestors.” + +“The devotional side of the emergency has had this one’s early care,” + remarked Hwa-mei. “From daybreak to-morrow six zealous and +deep-throated monks will curse Ming-shu and all his ways unceasingly, +while a like number will invoke blessings and success upon your +enlightened head. In the matter of noise and illumination everything +that can contribute has been suitably prepared.” + +“It is difficult to conjecture what more could be done in that +direction,” confessed Kai Lung gratefully. + +“Yet as regards a more material effort--?” suggested the maiden, amid +a cloud of involving doubt. + +“If there is a subject in which the imagination of the Mandarin Shan +Tien can be again enmeshed it might be yet accomplished,” replied Kai +Lung. “Have you a knowledge of any such deep concern?” + +“Truly there is a matter that disturbs his peace of late. He has +dreamed a dream three times, and its meaning is beyond the skill of +any man to solve. Yet how shall this avail you who are no geomancer?” + +“What is the nature of the dream?” inquired Kai Lung. “For remember, +‘Though Shen-fi has but one gate, many roads lead to it.’” + +“The substance of the dream is this: that herein he who sleeps walks +freely in the ways of men wearing no robe or covering of any kind, yet +suffering no concern or indignity therefrom; that the secret and +hidden things of the earth are revealed to his seeing eyes; and that +he can float in space and project himself upon the air at will. These +three things are alien to his nature, and being three times repeated, +the uncertainty assails his ease.” + +“Let it, under your persistent care, assail him more and that +unceasingly,” exclaimed Kai Lung, with renewed lightness in his voice. +“Breathe on the surface of his self-repose as a summer breeze moves +the smooth water of a mountain lake--not deeply, but never quite at +rest. Be assured: it is no longer possible to doubt that powerful +Beings are interested in our cause.” + +“I go, oppressed one,” replied Hwa-mei. “May this period of your +ignoble trial be brought to a distinguished close.” + +On the following day at the appointed hour Cho-kow was led before the +Mandarin Shan Tien, and the nature of his crimes having been explained +to him by the contemptible Ming-shu, he was bidden to implicate Kai +Lung and thus come to an earlier and less painful end. + +“All-powerful,” he replied, addressing himself to the Mandarin, “the +words that have been spoken are bent to a deceptive end. They of our +community are a simple race and doubtless in the past their ways were +thus and thus. But, as it is truly said, ‘Tian went bare, his eyes +could pierce the earth and his body float in space, but they of his +seed do but dream the dream.’ We, being but the puny descendants--” + +“You have spoken of one Tian whose attributes were such, and of those +who dream thereof,” interrupted the Mandarin, as one who performs a +reluctant duty. “That which you adduce to uphold your cause must bear +the full light of day.” + +“Alas, omnipotence,” replied Cho-kow, “this concerns the doing of the +gods and those who share their line. Now I am but an ill-conditioned +outcast from the obscure land of Khim, and possess no lore beyond what +happens there. Haply the gods that rule in Khim have a different +manner of behaving from those in the Upper Air above Yu-ping, and this +person’s narration would avoid the semblance of the things that are +and he himself would thereby be brought to disrepute.” + +“Suffer not that apprehension to retard your impending eloquence,” + replied Shan Tien affably. “Be assured that the gods have exactly the +same manner of behaving in every land.” + +“Furthermore,” continued Cho-kow, with patient craft, “I am a man of +barbarian tongue, the full half of my speech being foreign to your +ear. The history of the much-accomplished Tian and the meaning of the +dreams that mark those of his race require for a full understanding +the subtle analogies of an acquired style. Now that same Kai Lung whom +you have implicated to my band--” + +“Excellence!” protested Ming-shu, with a sudden apprehension in his +throat, “yesterday our labours dissolved in air through the very +doubtful precedent of allowing one to testify what he had had the +intention to relate. Now we are asked to allow a tomb-haunter to call +a parricide to disclose that which he himself is ignorant of. Press +down your autocratic thumb--” + +“Alas, instructor,” interposed Shan Tien compassionately, “the +sympathetic concern of my mind overflows upon the spectacle of your +ill-used forbearance, yet you having banded together the two in a +common infamy, it is the ancient privilege of this one to call the +other to his cause. We are but the feeble mouthpieces of a benevolent +scheme of all-embracing justice and greatly do I fear that we must +again submit.” + +With these well-timed words the broad-minded personage settled himself +more reposefully among his cushions and signified that Kai Lung should +be led forward and begin. + + + The Story of Ning, the Captive God, and the Dreams + that mark his Race + + i. THE MALICE OF THE DEMON, LEOU + +When Sun Wei definitely understood that the deities were against him +(for on every occasion his enemies prospered and the voice of his own +authority grew less), he looked this way and that with a +well-considering mind. + +He did nothing hastily, but when once a decision was reached it was as +unbending as iron and as smoothly finished as polished jade. At about +the evening hour when others were preparing to offer sacrifice he took +the images and the altars of his Rites down from their honourable +positions and cast them into a heap on a waste expanse beyond his +courtyard. Then with an axe he unceremoniously detached their +incomparable limbs from their sublime bodies and flung the parts into +a fire that he had prepared. + +“It is better,” declared Sun Wei, standing beside the pile, his hands +buried within his sleeves--“it is better to be struck down at once, +rather than to wither away slowly like a half-uprooted cassia-tree.” + +When this act of defiance was reported in the Upper World the air grew +thick with the cries of indignation of the lesser deities, and the +sound of their passage as they projected themselves across vast +regions of space and into the presence of the supreme N’guk was like +the continuous rending of innumerable pieces of the finest silk. + +In his musk-scented heaven, however, N’guk slept, as his habit was at +the close of each celestial day. It was with some difficulty that he +could be aroused and made to understand the nature of Sun Wei’s +profanity, for his mind was dull with the smoke of never-ending +incense. + +“To-morrow,” he promised, with a benignant gesture, turning over again +on his crystal throne, “some time to-morrow impartial justice shall be +done. In the meanwhile--courteous dismissal attend your opportune +footsteps.” + +“He is becoming old and obese,” murmured the less respectful of the +demons. “He is not the god he was, even ten thousand cycles ago. It +were well--” + +“But, omnipotence,” protested certain conciliatory spirits, pressing +to the front, “consider, if but for a short breath of time. A day here +is as threescore of their years as these mortals live. By to-morrow +night not only Sun Wei, but most of those now dwelling down below, +will have Passed Beyond. But the story of his unpunished infamy will +live. We shall become discredited and our altar fires extinct. +Sacrifice of either food or raiment will cease to reach us. The Season +of White Rain is approaching and will find us ill provided. We who +speak are but Beings of small part--” + +“Peace!” commanded N’guk, now thoroughly disturbed, for the voices of +the few had grown into a tumult; “how is it possible to consider with +a torrent like the Hoang-Ho in flood pouring through my very ordinary +ears? Your omniscient but quite inadequate Chief would think.” + +At this rebuke the uproar ceased. So deep became the nature of N’guk’s +profound thoughts that they could be heard rolling like thunder among +the caverns of his gigantic brain. To aid the process, female slaves +on either side fanned his fiery head with celestial lotus leaves. On +the earth, far beneath, cyclones, sand-storms and sweeping +water-spouts were forced into being. + +“Hear the contemptible wisdom of my ill-formed mouth,” said N’guk at +length. “If we at once put forth our strength, the degraded Wun Sei is +ground--” + +“Sun Wei, All-knowing One,” murmured an attending spirit beneath his +breath. + +“--the unmentionable outcast whom we are discussing is immediately +ground into powder,” continued the Highest, looking fixedly at a +distant spot situated directly beyond his painstaking attendant. “But +what follows? Henceforth no man can be allowed to whisper ill of us +but we must at once seek him out and destroy him, or the obtuse and +superficial will exclaim: ‘It was not so in the days of--of So-and-So. +Behold’”--here the Great One bent a look of sudden resentment on the +band of those who would have reproached him--“‘behold the gods become +old and obese. They are not the Powers they were. It would be better +to address ourselves to other altars.’” + +At this prospect many of the more venerable spirits began to lose +their enthusiasm. If every mortal who spoke ill of them was to be +pursued what leisure for dignified seclusion would remain? + +“If, however,” continued the dispassionate Being, “the profaner is +left to himself he will, sooner or later, in the ordinary course of +human intelligence, become involved in some disaster of his own +contriving. Then they who dwell around will say: ‘He destroyed the +altars! Truly the hands of the Unseen are slow to close, but their +arms are very long. Lo, we have this day ourselves beheld it. Come, +let us burn incense lest some forgotten misdeed from the past lurk in +our path.’” + +When he had finished speaking all the more reputable of those present +extolled his judgment. Some still whispered together, however, +whereupon the sagacious N’guk opened his mouth more fully and shot +forth tongues of consuming fire among the murmurers so that they fled +howling from his presence. + +Now among the spirits who had stood before the Pearly Ruler without +taking any share in the decision were two who at this point are drawn +into the narration, Leou and Ning. Leou was a revengeful demon, ever +at enmity with one or another of the gods and striving how he might +enmesh his feet in destruction. Ning was a better-class deity, +voluptuous but well-meaning, and little able to cope with Leou’s +subtlety. Thus it came about that the latter one, seeing in the +outcome a chance to achieve his end, at once dropped headlong down to +earth and sought out Sun Wei. + +Sun Wei was reclining at his evening rice when Leou found him. +Becoming invisible, the demon entered a date that Sun Wei held in his +hand and took the form of a stone. Sun Wei recognized the doubtful +nature of the stone as it passed between his teeth, and he would have +spat it forth again, but Leou had the questionable agility of the +serpent and slipped down the other’s throat. He was thus able to +converse familiarly with Sun Wei without fear of interruption. + +“Sun Wei,” said the voice of Leou inwardly, “the position you have +chosen is a desperate one, and we of the Upper Air who are well +disposed towards you find the path of assistance fringed with +two-edged swords.” + +“It is well said: ‘He who lacks a single tael sees many bargains,’” + replied Sun Wei, a refined bitterness weighing the import of his +words. “Truly this person’s friends in the Upper Air are a +never-failing lantern behind his back.” + +At this justly-barbed reproach Leou began to shake with disturbed +gravity until he remembered that the motion might not be pleasing to +Sun Wei’s inner feelings. + +“It is not that the well-disposed are slow to urge your claims, but +that your enemies number some of the most influential demons in all +the Nine Spaces,” he declared, speaking with a false smoothness that +marked all his detestable plans. “Assuredly in the past you must have +led a very abandoned life, Sun Wei, to come within the circle of their +malignity.” + +“By no means,” replied Sun Wei. “Until driven to despair this person +not only duly observed the Rites and Ceremonies, but he even avoided +the Six Offences. He remained by the side of his parents while they +lived, provided an adequate posterity, forbore to tread on any of the +benevolent insects, safeguarded all printed paper, did not consume the +meat of the industrious ox, and was charitable towards the needs of +hungry and homeless ghosts.” + +“These observances are well enough,” admitted Leou, restraining his +narrow-minded impatience; “and with an ordinary number of written +charms worn about the head and body they would doubtless carry you +through the lesser contingencies of existence. But by, as it were, +extending contempt, you have invited the retaliatory propulsion of the +sandal of authority.” + +“To one who has been pushed over the edge of a precipice, a rut across +the path is devoid of menace; nor do the destitute tremble at the +departing watchman’s cry: ‘Sleep warily; robbers are about.’” + +“As regards bodily suffering and material extortion, it is possible to +attain such a limit as no longer to excite the cupidity of even the +most rapacious deity,” admitted Leou. “Other forms of flattening-out a +transgressor’s self-content remain however. For instance, it has come +within the knowledge of the controlling Powers that seven generations +of your distinguished ancestors occupy positions of dignified +seclusion in the Upper Air.” + +For the first time Sun Wei’s attitude was not entirely devoid of an +emotion of concern. + +“They would not--?” + +“To mark their sense of your really unsupportable behaviour it has +been decided that all seven shall return to the humiliating scenes of +their former existences in admittedly objectionable forms,” replied +the outrageous Leou. “Sun Chen, your venerated sire, will become an +agile grasshopper; your incomparable grandfather, Yuen, will have the +similitude of a yellow goat; as a tortoise your leisurely-minded +ancestor Huang, the high public official--” + +“Forbear!” exclaimed the conscience-stricken Sun Wei; “rather would +this person suffer every imaginable form of torture than that the +spirit of one of his revered ancestors should be submitted to so +intolerable a bondage. Is there no amiable form of compromise whereby +the ancestors of some less devoted and liberally-inspired son might be +imperceptibly, as it were, substituted?” + +“In ordinary cases some such arrangement is generally possible,” + conceded Leou; “but not idly is it written: ‘There is a time to +silence an adversary with the honey of logical persuasion, and there +is a time to silence him with the argument of a heavily-directed +club.’ In your extremity a hostage is the only efficient safeguard. +Seize the person of one of the gods themselves and raise a strong wall +around your destiny by holding him to ransom.” + +“‘Ho Tai, requiring a light for his pipe, stretched out his hand +towards the great sky-lantern,’” quoted Sun Wei. + +“‘Do not despise Ching To because his armour is invisible,’” retorted +Leou, with equal point. “Your friends in the Above are neither feeble +nor inept. Do as I shall instruct you and no less a Being than Ning +will be delivered into your hand.” + +Then replied Sun Wei dubiously: “A spreading mango-tree affords a +pleasant shade within one’s courtyard, and a captive god might for a +season undoubtedly confer an enviable distinction. But presently the +tree’s encroaching roots may disturb the foundation of the house so +that the walls fall and crush those who are within, and the head of a +restrained god would in the end certainly displace my very inadequate +roof-tree.” + +“A too-prolific root can be pruned back,” replied Leou, “and the +activities of a bondaged god may be efficiently curtailed. How this +shall be accomplished will be revealed to you in a dream: take heed +that you do not fail by the deviation of a single hair.” + +Having thus prepared his discreditable plot, Leou twice struck the +walls enclosing him, so that Sun Wei coughed violently. The demon was +thereby enabled to escape, and he never actually appeared in a +tangible form again, although he frequently communicated, by means of +signs and omens, with those whom he wished to involve in his sinister +designs. + + + ii. THE PART PLAYED BY THE SLAVE-GIRL, HIA + +Among the remaining possessions that the hostility of the deities +still left to Sun Wei at the time of these happenings was a young +slave of many-sided attraction. The name of Hia had been given to her, +but she was generally known as Tsing-ai on account of the extremely +affectionate gladness of her nature. + +On the day following that in which Sun Wei and the demon Leou had +conversed together, Hia was disporting herself in the dark shades of a +secluded pool, as her custom was after the heat of her labours, when a +phoenix, flying across the glade, dropped a pearl of unusual size and +lustre into the stream. Possessing herself of the jewel and placing it +in her mouth, so that it should not impede the action of her hands, +Hia sought the bank and would have drawn herself up when she became +aware of the presence of one having the guise of a noble commander. He +was regarding her with a look in which well-expressed admiration was +blended with a delicate intimation that owing to the unparalleled +brilliance of her eyes he was unable to perceive any other detail of +her appearance, and was, indeed, under the impression that she was +devoid of ordinary outline. At the same time, without permitting her +glance to be in any but an entirely opposite direction, Hia was able +to satisfy herself that the stranger was a person on whom she might +prudently lavish the full depths of her regard if the necessity arose. +His apparel was rich, voluminous and of colours then unknown within the +Empire; his hair long and abundant; his face placid but sincere. He +carried no weapons, but wherever he trod there came a yellow flame +from below his right foot and a white vapour from beneath his left. +His insignia were those of a royal prince, and when he spoke his voice +resembled the noise of arrows passing through the upper branches of a +prickly forest. His long and pointed nails indicated the high and +dignified nature of all his occupations; each nail was protected by a +solid sheath, there being amethyst, ruby, topaz, ivory, emerald, white +jade, iron, chalcedony, gold and malachite. + +When the distinguished-looking personage had thus regarded Hia for +some moments he drew an instrument of hollow tubes from a fold of his +garment and began to sing of two who, as the outcome of a romantic +encounter similar to that then existing, had professed an agreeable +attachment for one another and had, without unnecessary delay, entered +upon a period of incomparable felicity. Doubtless Hia would have +uttered words of high-minded rebuke at some of the more detailed +analogies of the recital had not the pearl deprived her of the power +of expressing herself clearly on any subject whatever, nor did it seem +practicable to her to remove it without withdrawing her hands from the +modest attitudes into which she had at once distributed them. Thus +positioned, she was compelled to listen to the stranger’s +well-considered flattery, and this (together with the increasing +coldness of the stream as the evening deepened) convincingly explains +her ultimate acquiescence to his questionable offers. + +Yet it cannot be denied that Ning (as he may now fittingly be +revealed) conducted the enterprise with a seemly liberality; for upon +receiving from Hia a glance not expressive of discouragement he at +once caused the appearance of a suitably-furnished tent, a train of +Nubian slaves offering rich viands, rare wine and costly perfumes, +companies of expert dancers and musicians, a retinue of discreet +elderly women to robe her and to attend her movements, a carpet of +golden silk stretching from the water’s edge to the tent, and all the +accessories of a high-class profligacy. + +When the night was advanced and Hia and Ning, after partaking of a +many-coursed feast, were reclining on an ebony couch, the Being freely +expressed the delight that he discovered in her amiable society, +incautiously adding: “Demand any recompense that is within the power +of this one to grant, O most delectable of water-nymphs, and its +accomplishment will be written by a flash of lightning.” In this, +however, he merely spoke as the treacherous Leou (who had enticed him +into the adventure) had assured him was usual in similar +circumstances, he himself being privately of the opinion that the +expenditure already incurred was more than adequate to the occasion. + +Then replied Hia, as she had been fully instructed against the +emergency: “The word has been spoken. But what is precious metal after +listening to the pure gold of thy lips, or who shall again esteem gems +while gazing upon the full round radiance of thy moon-like face? One +thing only remains: remove the various sheaths from off thy hands, for +they not only conceal the undoubted perfection of the nails within, +but their massive angularity renders the affectionate ardour of your +embrace almost intolerable.” + +At this very ordinary request a sudden flatness overspread Ning’s +manner and he began to describe the many much more profitable rewards +that Hia might fittingly demand. As none of these appeared to entice +her imagination, he went on to rebuke her want of foresight, and, +still later, having unsuccessfully pointed out to her the inevitable +penury and degradation in which her thriftless perversity would +involve her later years, to kick the less substantial appointments +across the tent. + +“The night thickens, with every indication of a storm,” remarked Hia +pleasantly. “Yet that same impending flash of promised lightning +tarries somewhat.” + +“Truly is it written: ‘A gracious woman will cause more strife than +twelve armed men can quell,’” retorted Ning bitterly. + +“Not, perchance, if one of them bares his nails?” Thus she lightly +mocked him, but always with a set intent, as a poised dragon-fly sips +water yet does not wet his wings. Whereupon, finally, Ning tore the +sheaths from off his fingers and cast them passionately about her +feet, immediately afterwards sinking into a profound sleep, for both +the measure and the potency of the wine he had consumed exceeded his +usual custom. Otherwise he would scarcely have acted in this incapable +manner, for each sheath was inscribed with one symbol of a magic charm +and in the possession of the complete sentence resided the whole of +the Being’s authority and power. + +Then Hia, seeing that he could no longer control her movements, and +that the end to which she had been bending was attained, gathered +together the fruits of her conscientious strategy and fled. + +When Ning returned to the condition of ordinary perceptions he was +lying alone in the field by the river-side. The great sky-fire made no +pretence of averting its rays from his uncovered head, and the lesser +creatures of the ground did not hesitate to walk over his once sacred +form. The tent and all the other circumstances of the quest of Hia had +passed into a state of no-existence, for with a somewhat narrow-minded +economy the deity had called them into being with the express +provision that they need only be of such a quality as would last for a +single night. + +With this recollection, other details began to assail his mind. His +irreplaceable nail-sheaths--there was no trace of one of them. He +looked again. Alas! his incomparable nails were also gone, shorn off +to the level of his finger-ends. For all their evidence he might be +one who had passed his days in discreditable industry. Each moment a +fresh point of degradation met his benumbed vision. His profuse and +ornamental locks were reduced to a single roughly-plaited coil; his +sandals were inelegant and harsh; in place of his many-coloured +flowing robes a scanty blue gown clothed his form. He who had been a +god was undistinguishable from the labourers of the fields. Only in +one thing did the resemblance fail: about his neck he found a weighty +block of wood controlled by an iron ring: while they at least were +free he was a captive slave. + +A shadow on the grass caused him to turn. Sun Wei approached, a +knotted thong in one hand, in the other a hoe. He pointed to an +unweeded rice-field and with many ceremonious bows pressed the hoe +upon Ning as one who confers high honours. As Ning hesitated, Sun Wei +pressed the knotted thong upon him until it would have been obtuse to +disregard his meaning. Then Ning definitely understood that he had +become involved in the workings of very powerful forces, hostile to +himself, and picking up the hoe he bent his submissive footsteps in +the direction of the laborious rice-field. + + + iii. THE IN-COMING OF THE YOUTH, TIAN + +It was dawn in the High Heaven and the illimitable N’guk, waking to +his labours for the day, looked graciously around on the assembled +myriads who were there to carry his word through boundless space. Not +wanting are they who speak two-sided words of the Venerable One from +behind fan-like hands, but when his voice takes upon it the authority +of a brazen drum knees become flaccid. + +“There is a void in the unanimity of our council,” remarked the +Supreme, his eye resting like a flash of lightning on a vacant place. +“Wherefore tarries Ning, the son of Shin, the Seed-sower?” + +For a moment there was an edging of N’guk’s inquiring glance from each +Being to his neighbour. Then Leou stood audaciously forth. + +“He is reported to be engaged on a private family matter,” he replied +gravely. “Haply his feet have become entangled in a mesh of hair.” + +N’guk turned his benevolent gaze upon another--one higher in +authority. + +“Perchance,” admitted the superior Being tolerantly. “Such things are. +How comes it else that among the earth-creatures we find the faces of +the deities--both the good and the bad?” + +“How long has he been absent from our paths?” + +They pressed another forward--keeper of the Outer Path of the West +Expanses, he. + +“He went, High Excellence, in the fifteenth of the earth-ruler Chun, +whom your enlightened tolerance has allowed to occupy the lower dragon +throne for twoscore years, as these earthlings count. Thus and thus--” + +“Enough!” exclaimed the Supreme. “Hear my iron word. When the +buffoon-witted Ning rises from his congenial slough this shall be his +lot: for sixty thousand ages he shall fail to find the path of his +return, but shall, instead, thread an aimless flight among the frozen +ambits of the outer stars, carrying a tormenting rain of fire at his +tail. And Leou, the Whisperer,” added the Divining One, with the +inscrutable wisdom that marked even his most opaque moments, “Leou +shall meanwhile perform Ning’s neglected task.” + * + +For five and twenty years Ning had laboured in the fields of Sun Wei +with a wooden collar girt about his neck, and Sun Wei had prospered. +Yet it is to be doubted whether this last detail deliberately hinged +on the policy of Leou or whether Sun Wei had not rather been drawn +into some wider sphere of destiny and among converging lines of +purpose. The ways of the gods are deep and sombre, and water once +poured out will flow as freely to the north as to the south. The wise +kowtows acquiescently whatever happens and thus his face is to the +ground. “Respect the deities,” says the imperishable Sage, “but do not +become familiar with them.” Sun Wei was clearly wrong. + +To Ning, however, standing on a grassy space on the edge of a flowing +river, such thoughts do not extend. He is now a little hairy man of +gnarled appearance, and his skin of a colour and texture like a ripe +lo-quat. As he stands there, something in the outline of the vista +stirs the retentive tablets of his mind: it was on this spot that he +first encountered Hia, and from that involvement began the cycle of +his unending ill. + +As he stood thus, implicated with his own inner emotions, a figure +emerged from the river at its nearest point and, crossing the +intervening sward, approached. He had the aspect of being a young man +of high and dignified manner, and walked with the air of one +accustomed to a silk umbrella, but when Ning looked more closely, to +see by his insignia what amount of reverence he should pay, he +discovered that the youth was destitute of the meagrest garment. + +“Rise, venerable,” said the stranger affably, for Ning had prostrated +himself as being more prudent in the circumstances. “The one before +you is only Tian, of obscure birth, and himself of no particular merit +or attainment. You, doubtless, are of considerably more honourable +lineage?” + +“Far from that being the case,” replied Ning, “the one who speaks +bears now the commonplace name of Lieu, and is branded with the brand +of Sun Wei. Formerly, indeed, he was a god, moving in the Upper Space +and known to the devout as Ning, but now deposed by treachery.” + +“Unless the subject is one that has painful associations,” remarked +Tian considerately, “it is one on which this person would willingly +learn somewhat deeper. What, in short, are the various differences +existing between gods and men?” + +“The gods are gods; men are men,” replied Ning. “There is no other +difference.” + +“Yet why do not the gods now exert their strength and raise from your +present admittedly inferior position one who is of their band?” + +“Behind their barrier the gods laugh at all men. How much more, then, +is their gravity removed at the sight of one of themselves who has +fallen lower than mankind?” + +“Your plight would certainly seem to be an ill-destined one,” admitted +Tian, “for, as the Verses say: ‘Gold sinks deeper than dross.’ Is +there anything that an ordinary person can do to alleviate your +subjection?” + +“The offer is a gracious one,” replied Ning, “and such an occasion +undoubtedly exists. Some time ago a pearl of unusual size and lustre +slipped from its setting about this spot. I have looked for it in +vain, but your acuter eyes, perchance--” + +Thus urged, the youth Tian searched the ground, but to no avail. Then +chancing to look upwards, he exclaimed: + +“Among the higher branches of the tallest bamboo there is an ancient +phoenix nest, and concealed within its wall is a pearl such as you +describe.” + +“That manifestly is what I seek,” said Ning. “But it might as well be +at the bottom of its native sea, for no ladder could reach to such a +height nor would the slender branch support a living form.” + +“Yet the emergency is one easily disposed of.” With these opportune +words the amiable person rose from the ground without any appearance +of effort or conscious movement, and floating upward through the air +he procured the jewel and restored it to Ning. + +When Ning had thus learned that Tian possessed these three attainments +which are united in the gods alone--that he could stand naked before +others without consciousness of shame, that his eyes were able to +penetrate matter impervious to those of ordinary persons, and that he +controlled the power of rising through the air unaided--he understood +that the one before him was a deity of some degree. He therefore +questioned him closely about his history, the various omens connected +with his life and the position of the planets at his birth. Finding +that these presented no element of conflict, and that, furthermore, +the youth’s mother was a slave, formerly known as Hia, Ning declared +himself more fully and greeted Tian as his undoubted son. + +“The absence of such a relation is the one thing that has pressed +heavily against this person’s satisfaction in the past, and the +deficiency is now happily removed,” exclaimed Tian. “The distinction +of having a deity for a father outweighs even the present admittedly +distressing condition in which he reveals himself. His word shall +henceforth be my law.” + +“The sentiment is a dutiful one,” admitted Ning, “and it is possible +that you are now thus discovered in pursuance of some scheme among my +more influential accomplices in the Upper Air for restoring to me my +former eminence.” + +“In so meritorious a cause this person is prepared to immerse himself +to any depth,” declared Tian readily. “Nothing but the absence of +precise details restrains his hurrying feet.” + +“Those will doubtless be communicated to us by means of omens and +portents as the requirement becomes more definite. In the meanwhile +the first necessity is to enable this person’s nails to grow again; +for to present himself thus in the Upper Air would be to cover him +with ridicule. When the Emperor Chow-sin endeavoured to pass himself +off as a menial by throwing aside his jewelled crown, the rebels who +had taken him replied: ‘Omnipotence, you cannot throw away your +knees.’ To claim kinship with those Above and at the same time to +extend towards them a hand obviously inured to probing among the stony +earth would be to invite the averted face of recognition.” + +“Let recognition be extended in other directions and the task of +returning to a forfeited inheritance will be lightened materially,” + remarked a significant voice. + +“Estimable mother,” exclaimed Tian, “this opportune stranger is my +venerated father, whose continuous absence has been an overhanging +cloud above my gladness, but now happily revealed and restored to our +domestic altar.” + +“Alas!” interposed Ning, “the opening of this enterprise forecasts a +questionable omen. Before this person stands the one who enticed him +into the beginning of all his evil; how then--” + +“Let the word remain unspoken,” interrupted Hia. “Women do not entice +men--though they admittedly accompany them, with an extreme absence of +reluctance, in any direction. In her youth this person’s feet +undoubtedly bore her occasionally along a light and fantastic path, +for in the nature of spring a leaf is green and pliable, and in the +nature of autumn it is brown and austere, and through changeless ages +thus and thus. But, as it is truly said: ‘Milk by repeated agitation +turns to butter,’ and for many years it has been this one’s ceaseless +study of the Arts whereby she might avert that which she helped to +bring about in her unstable youth.” + +“The intention is a commendable one, though expressed with unnecessary +verbiage,” replied Ning. “To what solution did your incantations +trend?” + +“Concealed somewhere within the walled city of Ti-foo are the sacred +nail-sheaths on which your power so essentially depends, sent thither +by Sun Wei at the crafty instance of the demon Leou, who hopes at a +convenient time to secure them for himself. To discover these and bear +them forth will be the part allotted to Tian, and to this end has the +training of his youth been bent. By what means he shall strive to the +accomplishment of the project the unrolling curtain of the future +shall disclose.” + +“It is as the destinies shall decide and as the omens may direct,” + said Tian. “In the meanwhile this person’s face is inexorably fixed in +the direction of Ti-foo.” + +“Proceed with all possible discretion,” advised Ning. “In so critical +an undertaking you cannot be too cautious, but at the same time do not +suffer the rice to grow around your advancing feet.” + +“A moment,” counselled Hia. “Tarry yet a moment. Here is one whose +rapidly-moving attitude may convey a message.” + +“It is Lin Fa!” exclaimed Ning, as the one alluded to drew near--“Lin +Fa who guards the coffers of Sun Wei. Some calamity pursues him.” + +“Hence!” cried Lin Fa, as he caught sight of them, yet scarcely +pausing in his flight: “flee to the woods and caves until the time of +this catastrophe be past. Has not the tiding reached you?” + +“We be but dwellers on the farther bounds and no word has reached our +ear, O great Lin Fa. Fill in, we pray you, the warning that has been +so suddenly outlined.” + +“The usurper Ah-tang has lit the torch of swift rebellion and is +flattening-down the land that bars his way. Already the villages of +Yeng, Leu, Liang-li and the Dwellings by the Three Pure Wells are as +dust beneath his trampling feet, and they who stayed there have passed +up in smoke. Sun Wei swings from the roof-tree of his own ruined +yamen. Ah-tang now lays siege to walled Ti-foo so that he may possess +the Northern Way. Guard this bag of silver meanwhile, for what I have +is more than I can reasonably bear, and when the land is once again at +peace, assemble to meet me by the Five-Horned Pagoda, ready with a +strict account.” + +“All this is plainly part of an orderly scheme for my advancement, +brought about by my friends in the Upper World,” remarked Ning, with +some complacency. “Lin Fa has been influenced to the extent of +providing us with the means for our immediate need; Sun Wei has been +opportunely removed to the end that this person may now retire to a +hidden spot and there suffer his dishonoured nails to grow again: +Ah-tang has been impelled to raise the banner of insurrection outside +Ti-foo so that Tian may make use of the necessities of either side in +pursuit of his design. Assuredly the long line of our misfortunes is +now practically at an end.” + + + iv. EVENTS ROUND WALLED TI-FOO + +Nevertheless, the alternative forced on Tian was not an alluring one. +If he joined the band of Ah-tang and the usurper failed, Tian himself +might never get inside Ti-foo; if, however, he allied himself with the +defenders of Ti-foo and Ah-tang did not fail, he might never get out +of Ti-foo. Doubtless he would have reverently submitted his cause to +the inspired decision of the Sticks, or some other reliable augur, had +he not, while immersed in the consideration, walked into the camp of +Ah-tang. The omen of this occurrence was of too specific a nature not +to be regarded as conclusive. + +Ah-tang was one who had neglected the Classics from his youth upwards. +For this reason his detestable name is never mentioned in the +Histories, and the various catastrophes he wrought are charitably +ascribed to the action of earthquakes, thunderbolts and other admitted +forces. He himself, with his lamentable absence of literary style, was +wont to declare that while confessedly weak in analogies he was strong +in holocausts. In the end he drove the sublime emperor from his +capital and into the Outer Lands; with true refinement the annalists +of the period explain that the condescending monarch made a journey of +inspection among the barbarian tribes on the confines of his Empire. + +When Tian, charged with being a hostile spy, was led into the presence +of Ah-tang, it was the youth’s intention to relate somewhat of his +history, but the usurper, excusing himself on the ground of literary +deficiency, merely commanded five of his immediate guard to bear the +prisoner away and to return with his head after a fitting interval. +Misunderstanding the exact requirement, Tian returned at the appointed +time with the heads of the five who had charge of him and the excuse +that in those times of scarcity it was easier to keep one head than +five. This aptitude so pleased Ah-tang (who had expected at the most a +farewell apophthegm) that he at once made Tian captain of a chosen +band. + +Thus was Tian positioned outside the city of Ti-foo, materially +contributing to its ultimate surrender by the resourceful courage of +his arms. For the first time in the history of opposing forces he +tamed the strength and swiftness of wild horses to the use of man, and +placing copper loops upon their feet and iron bars between their +teeth, he and his band encircled Ti-foo with an ever-moving shield +through which no outside word could reach the town. Cut off in this +manner from all hope of succour, the stomachs of those within the +walls grew very small, and their eyes became weary of watching for +that which never came. On the third day of the third moon of their +encirclement they sent a submissive banner, and one bearing a written +message, into the camp of Ah-tang. + + “We are convinced” (it ran) “of the justice of your cause. Let + six of your lordly nobles appear unarmed before our ill-kept + Lantern Gate at the middle gong-stroke of to-morrow and they + will be freely admitted within our midst. Upon receiving a + bound assurance safeguarding the limits of our temples, the + persons and possessions of our chiefs, and the undepreciated + condition of the first wives and virgin daughters of such as + be of mandarin rank or literary degree, the inadequate keys of + our broken-down defences will be laid at their sumptuous feet. + + “With a fervent hand-clasp as of one brother to another, and a + passionate assurance of mutual good-will, + + “KO’EN CHENG, + “_Important Official_.” + +“It is received,” replied Ah-tang, when the message had been made +known to him. “Six captains will attend.” + +Alas! it is well written: “There is often a space between the fish and +the fish-plate.” Mentally inflated at the success of their efforts and +the impending surrender of Ti-foo, Tian’s band suffered their energies +to relax. In the dusk of that same evening one disguised in the skin +of a goat browsed from bush to bush until he reached the town. There, +throwing off all restraint, he declared his errand to Ko’en Cheng. + +“Behold!” he exclaimed, “the period of your illustrious suffering is +almost at an end. With an army capable in size and invincible in +determination, the ever-victorious Wu Sien is marching to your aid. +Defy the puny Ah-tang for yet three days more and great glory will be +yours.” + +“Doubtless,” replied Ko’en Cheng, with velvet bitterness: “but the sun +has long since set and the moon is not yet risen. The appearance of a +solitary star yesterday would have been more foot-guiding than the +forecast of a meteor next week. This person’s thumb-signed word is +passed and to-morrow Ah-tang will hold him to it.” + +Now there was present among the council one wrapped in a mantle made +of rustling leaves, who spoke in a smooth, low voice, very cunning and +persuasive, with a plan already shaped that seemed to offer well and +to safeguard Ko’en Cheng’s word. None remembered to have seen him +there before, and for this reason it is now held by some that this was +Leou, the Whisperer, perturbed lest the sacred nail-sheaths of Ning +should pass beyond his grasp. As to this, says not the Wise One: “When +two men cannot agree over the price of an onion who shall decide what +happened in the time of Yu?” But the voice of the unknown prevailed, +all saying: “At the worst it is but as it will be; perchance it may be +better.” + +That night there was much gladness in the camp of Ah-tang, and men +sang songs of victory and cups of wine were freely passed, though in +the outer walks a strict watch was kept. When it was dark the word was +passed that an engaging company was approaching from the town, openly +and with lights. These being admitted revealed themselves as a band of +maidens, bearing gifts of fruit and wine and assurances of their +agreeable behaviour. Distributing themselves impartially about the +tents of the chiefs and upper ones, they melted the hours of the night +in graceful accomplishments and by their seemly compliance dispelled +all thought of treachery. Having thus gained the esteem of their +companions, and by the lavish persuasion of bemusing wine dimmed their +alertness, all this band, while it was still dark, crept back to the +town, each secretly carrying with her the arms, robes and insignia of +the one who had possessed her. + +When the morning broke and the sound of trumpets called each man to an +appointed spot, direful was the outcry from the tents of all the +chiefs, and though many heads were out-thrust in rage of indignation, +no single person could be prevailed upon wholly to emerge. Only the +lesser warriors, the slaves and the bearers of the loads moved freely +to and fro and from between closed teeth and with fluttering eyelids +tossed doubtful jests among themselves. + +It was close upon the middle gong-stroke of the day when Ah-tang, +himself clad in a shred torn from his tent (for in all the camp there +did not remain a single garment bearing a sign of noble rank), got +together a council of his chiefs. Some were clad in like attire, +others carried a henchman’s shield, a paper lantern or a branch of +flowers; Tian alone displayed himself without reserve. + +“There are moments,” said Ah-tang, “when this person’s admitted +accomplishment of transfixing three foemen with a single javelin at a +score of measured paces does not seem to provide a possible solution. +Undoubtedly we are face to face with a crafty plan, and Ko’en Cheng +has surely heard that Wu Sien is marching from the west. If we fail to +knock upon the outer gate of Ti-foo at noon to-day Ko’en Cheng will +say: ‘My word returns. It is as naught.’ If they who go are clad as +underlings, Ko’en Cheng will cry: ‘What slaves be these! Do men break +plate with dogs? Our message was for six of noble style. Ah-tang but +mocks.’” He sat down again moodily. “Let others speak.” + +“Chieftain”--Tian threw forth his voice--“your word must be as +iron--‘Six captains shall attend.’ There is yet another way.” + +“Speak on,” Ah-tang commanded. + +“The quality of Ah-tang’s chiefs resides not in a cloak of silk nor in +a silver-hilted sword, but in the sinews of their arms and the +lightning of their eyes. If they but carry these they proclaim their +rank for all to see. Let six attend taking neither sword nor shield, +neither hat nor sandal, nor yet anything between. ‘There are six +thousand more,’ shall be their taunt, ‘but Ko’en Cheng’s hospitality +drew rein at six. He feared lest they might carry arms; behold they +have come naked. Ti-foo need not tremble.” + +“It is well,” agreed Ah-tang. “At least, nothing better offers. Let +five accompany you.” + +Seated on a powerful horse Tian led the way. The others, not being of +his immediate band, had not acquired the necessary control, so that +they walked in a company. Coming to the Lantern Gate Tian turned his +horse suddenly so that its angry hoof struck the gate. Looking back he +saw the others following, with no great space between, and so passed +in. + +When the five naked captains reached the open gate they paused. Within +stood a great concourse of the people, these being equally of both +sexes, but they of the inner chambers pressing resolutely to the +front. Through the throng of these their way must lead, and at the +sight the hearts of all became as stagnant water in the sun. + +“Tarry not for me, O brothers,” said the one who led. “A thorn has +pierced my foot. Take honourable precedence while I draw it forth.” + +“Never,” declared the second of the band, “never shall it be cast +abroad that Kang of the House of Ka failed his brother in necessity. I +sustain thy shoulder, comrade.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed the third. “This person broke his fast on rhubarb +stewed in fat. Inopportunely--” So he too turned aside. + +“Have we considered well,” said they who remained, “whether this be +not a subtle snare, and while the camp is denuded of its foremost +warriors a strong force--?” + +Unconscious of these details, Tian went on alone. In spite of the +absence of gravity on the part of the more explicit portion of the +throng he suffered no embarrassment, partly because of his position, +but chiefly through his inability to understand that his condition +differed in any degree from theirs; for, owing to the piercing nature +of his vision, they were to him as he to them. In this way he came to +the open space known as the Space of the Eight Directions, where Ko’en +Cheng and his nobles were assembled. + +“One comes alone,” they cried. “This guise is as a taunt.” “Naked to a +naked town--the analogy is plain.” “Shall the mocker be suffered to +return?” + +Thus the murmur grew. Then one, more impetuous than the rest, swung +clear his sword and drew it. For the first time Tian understood that +treachery was afoot. He looked round for any of his band, but found +that he was as a foam-tossed cork upon a turbulent Whang Hai. Cries of +anger and derision filled the air; threatening arms waved +encouragement to each other to begin. The one with drawn sword raised +it above his head and made a step. Then Tian, recognizing that he was +unarmed, and that a decisive moment had arrived, stooped low and tore +a copper hoop from off his horse’s foot. High he swung its polished +brightness in the engaging sun, resolutely brought it down, so that it +pressed over the sword-warrior’s shattered head and hung about his +neck. Having thus effected as much bloodshed as could reasonably be +expected in the circumstances, Tian curved his feet about his horse’s +sides and imparting to it the virtue of his own condition they rose +into the air together. When those who stood below were able to exert +themselves a flight of arrows, spears and every kind of weapon +followed, but horse and rider were by that time beyond their reach, +and the only benevolent result attained was that many of their band +were themselves transfixed by the falling shafts. + +In such a manner Tian continued his progress from the town until he +came above the Temple of Fire and Water Forces, where on a high tower +a strong box of many woods was chained beneath a canopy, guarded by an +incantation laid upon it by Leou, that no one should lift it down. +Recognizing the contents as the object of his search, Tian brought his +horse to rest upon the tower, and breaking the chains he bore the +magic sheaths away, the charm (owing to Leou’s superficial habits) +being powerless against one who instead of lifting the box down +carried it up. + +In spite of this distinguished achievement it was many moons before +Tian was able to lay the filial tribute of restored power at Ning’s +feet, for with shallow-witted obstinacy Ti-foo continued to hold out, +and, scarcely less inept, Ah-tang declined to release Tian even to +carry on so charitable a mission. Yet when the latter one ultimately +returned and was, as the reward of his intrepid services, looking +forward to a period of domestic reunion under the benevolent guidance +of an affectionate father, it was but to point the seasoned proverb: +“The fuller the cup the sooner the spill,” for scarcely had Ning drawn +on the recovered sheaths and with incautious joy repeated the magic +sentence than he was instantly projected across vast space and into +the trackless confines of the Outer Upper Paths. If this were an +imagined tale, framed to entice the credulous, herein would its +falseness cry aloud, but even in this age Ning may still be seen from +time to time with a tail of fire in his wake, missing the path of his +return as N’guk ordained. + +Thus bereft, Tian was on the point of giving way to a seemly despair +when a message concerned with Mu, the only daughter of Ko’en Cheng, +reached him. It professed a high-minded regard for his welfare, and +added that although the one who was inspiring the communication had +been careful to avoid seeing him on the occasion of his entry into +Ti-foo, it was impossible for her not to be impressed by the dignity +of his bearing. Ko’en Cheng having become vastly wealthy as the result +of entering into an arrangement with Ah-tang before Ti-foo was sacked, +it did not seem unreasonable to Tian that Ning was in some way +influencing his destiny from afar. On this understanding he ultimately +married Mu, and thereby founded a prolific posterity who inherited a +great degree of his powers. In the course of countless generations the +attributes have faded, but even to this day the true descendants of +the line of Ning are frequently vouchsafed dreams in which they stand +naked and without shame, see gems or metals hidden or buried in the +earth and float at will through space. + + + + CHAPTER IV + + The Inopportune Behaviour of the Covetous Li-loe + +It was upon the occasion of his next visit to the shutter in the wall +that Kai Lung discovered the obtuse-witted Li-loe moving about the +enclosure. Though docile and well-meaning on the whole, the stunted +intelligence of the latter person made him a doubtful accomplice, and +Kai Lung stood aside, hoping to be soon alone. + +Li-loe held in his hand an iron prong, and with this he industriously +searched the earth between the rocks and herbage. Ever since their +previous encounter upon that same spot it had been impossible to erase +from his deformed mind the conviction that a store of rare and potent +wine lay somewhere concealed within the walls of the enclosure. +Continuously he besought the story-teller to reveal the secret of its +hiding-place, saying: “What an added bitterness will assail your noble +throat if, when you are led forth to die, your eye closes upon the one +who has faithfully upheld your cause lying with a protruded tongue +panting in the noonday sun.” + +“Peace, witless,” Kai Lung usually replied; “there is no such store.” + +“Nevertheless,” the doorkeeper would stubbornly insist, “the cask +cannot yet be empty. It is beyond your immature powers.” + +Thus it again befell, for despite Kai Lung’s desire to escape, Li-loe +chanced to look up suddenly and observed him. + +“Alas, brother,” he remarked reproachfully, when they had thus +contended, “the vessel that returns whole the first time is chipped +the second and broken at the third essay, and it will yet be too late +between us. If it be as you claim, to what end did you boast of a cask +of wine and of running among a company of goats with leaves entwined +in your hair?” + +“That,” replied Kai Lung, “was in the nature of a classical allusion, +too abstruse for your deficient wit. It concerned the story of Kiau +Sun, who first attained the honour.” + +“Be that as it may,” replied Li-loe, with mulish iteration, “five +deficient strings of home-made cash are a meagre return for a +friendship such as mine.” + +“There is a certain element of truth in what you claim,” confessed Kai +Lung, “but until my literary style is more freely recognized it will +be impossible to reward you adequately. In anything not of a pecuniary +nature, however, you may lean heavily upon my gratitude.” + +“In the meanwhile, then,” demanded Li-loe, “relate to me the story to +which reference has been made, thereby proving the truth of your +assertion, and at the same time affording an entertainment of a +somewhat exceptional kind.” + +“The shadows lengthen,” replied Kai Lung, “but as the narrative in +question is of an inconspicuous span I will raise no barrier against +your flattering request, especially as it indicates an awakening taste +hitherto unsuspected.” + +“Proceed, manlet, proceed,” said Li-loe, with a final probe among the +surrounding rocks before selecting one to lean against. “Yet if this +person could but lay his hand--” + + + The Story of Wong Pao and the Minstrel + +To Wong Pao, the merchant, pleasurably immersed in the calculation of +an estimated profit on a junk-load of birds’ nests, sharks’ fins and +other seasonable delicacies, there came a distracting interruption +occasioned by a wandering poet who sat down within the shade provided +by Wong Pao’s ornamental gate in the street outside. As he reclined +there he sang ballads of ancient valour, from time to time beating a +hollow wooden duck in unison with his voice, so that the charitable +should have no excuse for missing the entertainment. + +Unable any longer to continue his occupation, Wong Pao struck an iron +gong. + +“Bear courteous greetings to the accomplished musician outside our +gate,” he said to the slave who had appeared, “and convince him--by +means of a heavily-weighted club if necessary--that the situation he +has taken up is quite unworthy of his incomparable efforts.” + +When the slave returned it was with an entire absence of the +enthusiasm of one who has succeeded in an enterprise. + +“The distinguished mendicant outside disarmed the one who is relating +the incident by means of an unworthy stratagem, and then struck him +repeatedly on the head with the image of a sonorous wooden duck,” + reported the slave submissively. + +Meanwhile the voice with its accompaniment continued to chant the +deeds of bygone heroes. + +“In that case,” said Wong Pao coldly, “entice him into this inadequate +chamber by words suggestive of liberal entertainment.” + +This device was successful, for very soon the slave returned with the +stranger. He was a youth of studious appearance and an engaging +openness of manner. Hung about his neck by means of a cord were a +variety of poems suitable to most of the contingencies of an ordinary +person’s existence. The name he bore was Sun and he was of the house +of Kiau. + +“Honourable greeting, minstrel,” said Wong Pao, with dignified +condescension. “Why do you persist in exercising your illustrious +talent outside this person’s insignificant abode?” + +“Because,” replied Sun modestly, “the benevolent mandarin who has just +spoken had not then invited me inside. Now, however, he will be able +to hear to greater advantage the very doubtful qualities of my +entertainment.” + +With these words Kiau Sun struck the duck so proficiently that it +emitted a life-like call, and prepared to raise his voice in a chant. + +“Restrain your undoubted capacity,” exclaimed Wong Pao hastily. “The +inquiry presented itself to you at an inaccurate angle. Why, to +restate it, did you continue before this uninviting hovel when, under +the external forms of true politeness, my slave endeavoured to remove +you hence?” + +“In the circumstances this person may have overlooked the delicacy of +the message, for, as it is well written, ‘To the starving, a blow from +a skewer of meat is more acceptable than a caress from the hand of a +maiden,’” said Kiau Sun. “Whereunto remember, thou two-stomached +merchant, that although the house in question is yours, the street is +mine.” + +“By what title?” demanded Wong Pao contentiously. + +“By the same that confers this well-appointed palace upon you,” + replied Sun: “because it is my home.” + +“The point is one of some subtlety,” admitted Wong Pao, “and might be +pursued to an extreme delicacy of attenuation if it were argued by +those whose profession it is to give a variety of meanings to the same +thing. Yet even allowing the claim, it is none the less an unendurable +affliction that your voice should disturb my peacefully conducted +enterprise.” + +“As yours would have done mine, O concave-witted Wong Pao!” + +“That,” retorted the merchant, “is a disadvantage that you could +easily have averted by removing yourself to a more distant spot.” + +“The solution is equally applicable to your own case, mandarin,” + replied Kiau Sun affably. + +“Alas!” exclaimed Wong Pao, with an obvious inside bitterness, “it is +a mistake to argue with persons of limited intelligence in terms of +courtesy. This, doubtless, was the meaning of the philosopher Nhy-hi +when he penned the observation, ‘Death, a woman and a dumb mute always +have the last word,’ Why did I have you conducted hither to convince +you dispassionately, rather than send an armed guard to force you away +by violence?” + +“Possibly,” suggested the minstrel, “because my profession is a +legally recognized one, and, moreover, under the direct protection of +the exalted Mandarin Shen-y-ling.” + +“Profession!” retorted Wong Pao, stung by the reference to +Shen-y-ling, for that powerful official’s attitude was indeed the +inner reason why he had not pushed violence to a keener edge against +Kiau Sun, “an abject mendicancy, yielding two hands’ grasp of copper +cash a day on a stock composed of half a dozen threadbare odes.” + +“Compose me half a dozen better and one hand-count of cash shall be +apportioned to you each evening,” suggested Sun. + +“A handful of cash for _my_ labour!” exclaimed the indignant Wong Pao. +“Learn, puny wayfarer, that in a single day the profit of my various +enterprises exceeds a hundred taels of silver.” + +“That is less than the achievement of my occupation,” said Kiau Sun. + +“Less!” repeated the merchant incredulously. “Can you, O boaster, +display a single tael?” + +“Doubtless I should be the possessor of thousands if I made use of the +attributes of a merchant--three hands and two faces. But that was not +the angle of my meaning: your labour only compels men to remember; +mine enables them to forget.” + +Thus they continued to strive, each one contending for the +pre-eminence of his own state, regardless of the sage warning: “In +three moments a labourer will remove an obstructing rock, but three +moons will pass without two wise men agreeing on the meaning of a +vowel”; and assuredly they would have persisted in their intellectual +entertainment until the great sky-lantern rose and the pangs of hunger +compelled them to desist, were it not for the manifestation of a very +unusual occurrence. + +The Emperor, N’ang Wei, then reigning, is now generally regarded as +being in no way profound or inspired, but possessing the faculty of +being able to turn the dissensions among his subjects to a profitable +account, and other accomplishments useful in a ruler. As he passed +along the streets of his capital he heard the voices of two raised in +altercation, and halting the bearer of his umbrella, he commanded +that the persons concerned should be brought before him and state the +nature of their dispute. + +“The rivalry is an ancient one,” remarked the Emperor when each had +made his claim. “Doubtless we ourselves could devise a judgment, but +in this cycle of progress it is more usual to leave decision to the +pronouncement of the populace--and much less exacting to our Imperial +ingenuity. An edict will therefore be published, stating that at a +certain hour Kiau Sun will stand upon the Western Hill of the city and +recite one of his incomparable epics, while at the same gong-stroke +Wong Pao will take his station on the Eastern Hill, let us say for the +purpose of distributing pieces of silver among any who are able to +absent themselves from the competing attraction. It will then be +clearly seen which entertainment draws the greater number.” + +“Your mind, O all-wisest, is only comparable to the peacock’s tail in +its spreading brilliance!” exclaimed Wong Pao, well assured of an easy +triumph. + +Kiau Sun, however, remained silent, but he observed closely the +benignly impartial expression of the Emperor’s countenance. + +When the indicated time arrived, only two persons could have been +observed within the circumference of the Western Hill of the city--a +blind mendicant who had lost his way and an extremely round-bodied +mandarin who had been abandoned there by his carriers when they heard +the terms of the edict. But about the Eastern Hill the throng was so +great that for some time after it was unusual to meet a person whose +outline had not been permanently altered by the occasion. Even Kiau +Sun was present. + +On a protected eminence stood N’ang Wei. Near him was Wong Pao, +confidently awaiting the moment when the Emperor should declare +himself. When, therefore, the all-wisest graciously made a gesture of +command, Wong Pao hastened to his side, an unbecoming elation gilding +the fullness of his countenance. + +“Wong Pao,” said the Illimitable, “the people are here in gratifying +profusion. The moment has thus arrived for you to consummate your +triumph over Kiau Sun.” + +“Omnipotence?” queried Wong Pao. + +“The silver that you were to distribute freely to all who came. +Doubtless you have a retinue of slaves in attendance with weighty +sacks of money for the purpose?” + +“But that was only in the nature of an imagined condition, Sublime +Being, designed to test the trend of their preference,” said Wong Pao, +with an incapable feeling of no-confidence in the innermost seat of +his self-esteem. “This abject person did not for a single +breathing-space contemplate or provide for so formidable an outlay.” + +A shadow of inquiry appeared above the eyebrows of the Sublimest, +although his refined imperturbability did not permit him to display +any acute emotion. + +“It is not entirely a matter of what you contemplated, merchant, but +what this multitudinous and, as we now perceive, generally well-armed +concourse imagined. Greatly do we fear that when the position has been +explained to them, the breathing-space remaining, O Wong Pao, will not +be in your body. What,” continued the liberal-minded sovereign, +turning to one of his attending nobles, “what was it that happened to +Ning-lo who failed to satisfy the lottery ticket holders in somewhat +similar circumstances?” + +“The scorpion vat, Serenest,” replied the vassal. + +“Ah,” commented the Enlightened One, “for the moment we thought it was +the burning sulphur plaster.” + +“That was Ching Yan, who lost approval in the inlaid coffin raffle, +Benign Head,” prompted the noble. + +“True--there is a certain oneness in these cases. Well, Wong Pao, we +are entirely surrounded by an expectant mob and their attitude, after +much patient waiting, is tending towards a clearly-defined tragedy. By +what means is it your intention to extricate us all from the position +into which your insatiable vanity has thrust us?” + +“Alas, Imperishable Majesty, I only appear to have three pieces of +silver and a string of brass cash in my sleeve,” confessed Wong Pao +tremblingly. + +“And that would not go very far--even if flung into the limits of the +press,” commented the Emperor. “We must look elsewhere for +deliverance, then. Kiau Sun, stand forth and try your means.” + +Upon this invitation Sun appeared from the tent in which he had +awaited the summons and advanced to the edge of the multitude. With no +appearance of fear or concern, he stood before them, and bending his +energies to the great task imposed upon him, he struck the hollow duck +so melodiously that the note of expectancy vibrated into the farthest +confines of the crowd. Then modulating his voice in unison Kiau Sun +began to chant. + +At first the narration was of times legendary, when dragons and demons +moved about the earth in more palpable forms than they usually +maintain to-day. A great mist overspread the Empire and men’s minds +were vaporous, nor was their purpose keen. Later, deities and +well-disposed Forces began to exercise their powers. The mist was +turned into a benevolent system of rivers and canals, and iron, rice +and the silk-worm then appeared. Next, heroes and champions, whose +names have been preserved, arose. They fought the giants and an era of +literature and peaceful tranquillity set in. After this there was the +Great Invasion from the north, but the people rallied and by means of +a war lasting five years, five moons and five days the land was freed +again. This prefaced the Golden Age when chess was invented, printed +books first made and the Examination System begun. + +So far Kiau Sun had only sung of things that men knew dimly through a +web of time, but the melody of his voice and the valours of the deeds +he told had held their minds. Now he began skilfully to intertwine +among the narration scenes and doings that were near to all--of the +coming of Spring across the mountains that surround the capital; +sunrise on the great lagoon, with the splash of oars and the +cormorants in flight; the appearance of the blossom in the peach +orchards; the Festival of Boats and of Lanterns, their daily task, and +the reward each saw beyond. Finally he spoke quite definitely of the +homes awaiting their return, the mulberry-tree about the gate, the +fire then burning on the hearth, the pictures on the walls, the +ancestral tablets, and the voices calling each. And as he spoke and +made an end of speaking the people began silently to melt away, until +none remained but Kiau, Wong Pao and the Emperor and his band. + +“Kiau Sun,” said the discriminating N’ang Wei, “in memory of this day +the office of Chanter of Congratulatory Odes in the Palace ceremonial +is conferred on you, together with the title ‘Leaf-crowned’ and the +yearly allowance of five hundred taels and a jar of rice wine. And +Wong Pao,” he added thoughtfully--“Wong Pao shall be permitted to +endow the post--also in memory of this day.” + + + + CHAPTER V + + The Timely Intervention of the Mandarin Shan Tien’s Lucky Day + +When Kai Lung at length reached the shutter, after the delay caused by +Li-loe’s inopportune presence, he found that Hwa-mei was already +standing there beneath the wall. + +“Alas!” he exclaimed, in an access of self-reproach, “is it possible +that I have failed to greet your arriving footsteps? Hear the +degrading cause of my--” + +“Forbear,” interrupted the maiden, with a magnanimous gesture of the +hand that was not engaged in bestowing a gift of fruit. “There is a +time to scatter flowers and a time to prepare the soil. To-morrow a +further trial awaits you, for which we must conspire.” + +“I am in your large and all-embracing grasp,” replied Kai Lung. +“Proceed to spread your golden counsel.” + +“The implacable Ming-shu has deliberated with himself, and deeming it +unlikely that you should a third time allure the imagination of the +Mandarin Shan Tien by your art, he has ordered that you are again to +be the first led out to judgment. On this occasion, however, he has +prepared a cloud of witnesses who will, once they are given a voice, +quickly overwhelm you in a flood of calumny.” + +“Even a silver trumpet may not prevail above a score of brazen horns,” + confessed the story-teller doubtfully. “Would it not be well to engage +an even larger company who will outlast the first?” + +“The effete Ming-shu has hired all there are,” replied Hwa-mei, with a +curbing glance. “Nevertheless, do not despair. At a convenient hour a +trusty hand will let fall a skin of wine at their assembling place. +Their testimony, should any arrive, will entail some conflict.” + +“I bow before the practical many-sidedness of your mind, enchanting +one,” murmured Kai Lung, in deep-felt admiration. + +“To-morrow, being the first of the Month of Gathering-in, will be one +of Shan Tien’s lucky days,” continued the maiden, her look +acknowledging the fitness of the compliment, but at the same time +indicating that the moment was not a suitable one to pursue the detail +further. “After holding court the Mandarin will accordingly proceed to +hazard his accustomed stake upon the chances of certain of the +competitors in the approaching examinations. His mind will thus be +alertly watchful for a guiding omen. The rest should lie within your +persuasive tongue.” + +“The story of Lao Ting--” began Kai Lung. + +“Enough,” replied Hwa-mei, listening to a distant sound. “Already has +this one strayed beyond her appointed limit. May your virtuous cause +prevail!” + +With this auspicious message the maiden fled, leaving Kai Lung more +than ever resolved to conduct the enterprise in a manner worthy of her +high regard. + +On the following day, at the appointed hour, Kai Lung was again led +before the Mandarin Shan Tien. To the alert yet downcast gaze of the +former person it seemed as if the usually inscrutable expression of +that high official was not wholly stern as it moved in his direction. +Ming-shu, on the contrary, disclosed all his voracious teeth without +restraint. + +“Calling himself Kai Lung,” began the detestable accuser, in a voice +even more repulsive than its wont, “and claiming--” + +“The name has a somewhat familiar echo,” interrupted the Fountain of +Justice, with a genial interest in what was going on, rare in one of +his exalted rank. “Have we not seen the ill-conditioned thing before?” + +“He has tasted of your unutterable clemency in the past,” replied +Ming-shu, “this being by no means his first appearance thus. Claiming +to be a story-teller--” + +“What,” demanded the enlightened law-giver with leisurely precision, +“is a story-teller, and how is he defined?” + +“A story-teller, Excellence,” replied the inscriber of his spoken +word, with the concise manner of one who is not entirely grateful to +another, “is one who tells stories. Having on--” + +“The profession must be widely spread,” remarked the gracious +administrator thoughtfully. “All those who supplicate in this very +average court practise it to a more or less degree.” + +“The prisoner,” continued the insufferable Ming-shu, so lost to true +refinement that he did not even relax his dignity at a remark handed +down as gravity-removing from times immemorial, “has already been +charged and made his plea. It only remains, therefore, to call the +witnesses and to condemn him.” + +“The usual band appears to be more retiring than their custom is,” + observed Shan Tien, looking around. “Their lack of punctual respect +does not enlarge our sympathy towards their cause.” + +“They are all hard-striving persons of studious or commercial habits,” + replied Ming-shu, “and have doubtless become immersed in their various +traffics.” + +“Should the immersion referred to prove to be so deep--” + +“A speedy messenger has already gone, but his returning footsteps +tarry,” urged Ming-shu anxiously. “In this extremity, Excellence, I +will myself--” + +“High Excellence,” appealed Kai Lung, as soon as Ming-shu’s departing +sandals were obscured to view, “out of the magnanimous condescension +of your unworldly heart hear an added plea. Taught by the inoffensive +example of that Lao Ting whose success in the literary competitions +was brought about by a conjunction of miraculous omens--” + +“Arrest the stream of your acknowledged oratory for a single +breathing-space,” commanded the Mandarin dispassionately, yet at the +same time unostentatiously studying a list that lay within his sleeve. +“What was the auspicious name of the one of whom you spoke?” + +“Lao Ting, exalted; to whom at various periods were subjoined those +of Li, Tzu, Sun, Chu, Wang and Chin.” + +“Assuredly. Your prayer for a fuller hearing will reach our lenient +ears. In the meanwhile, in order to prove that the example upon which +you base your claim is a worthy one, proceed to narrate so much of the +story of Lao Ting as bears upon the means of his success.” + + + The Story of Lao Ting and the Luminous Insect + +It is of Lao Ting that the saying has arisen, “He who can grasp +Opportunity as she slips by does not need a lucky dream.” + +So far, however, Lao Ting may be judged to have had neither +opportunities nor lucky dreams. He was one of studious nature and from +an early age had devoted himself to a veneration of the Classics. Yet +with that absence of foresight on the part of the providing deities +(for this, of course, took place during an earlier, and probably +usurping, dynasty), which then frequently resulted in the unworthy and +illiterate prospering, his sleeve was so empty that at times it seemed +almost impossible for him to continue in his high ambition. + +As the date of the examinations drew near, Lao Ting’s efforts +increased, and he grudged every moment spent away from books. His few +available cash scarcely satisfied his ever-moving brush, and his +sleeve grew so light that it seemed as though it might become a +balloon and carry him into the Upper Air; for, as the Wisdom has it, +“A well-filled purse is a trusty earth anchor.” On food he spent even +less, but the inability to procure light after the sun had withdrawn +his benevolence from the narrow street in which he lived was an +ever-present shadow across his hopes. On this extremity he patiently +and with noiseless skill bored a hole through the wall into the house +of a wealthy neighbour, and by this inoffensive stratagem he was able +to distinguish the imperishable writings of the Sages far into the +night. Soon, however, the gross hearted person in question discovered +the device, owing to the symmetrical breathing of Lao Ting, and +applying himself to the opening unperceived, he suddenly blew a jet of +water through and afterwards nailed in a wooden skewer. This he did +because he himself was also entering for the competitions, though he +did not really fear Lao Ting. + +Thus denied, Lao Ting sought other means to continue his study, if for +only a few minutes longer daily, and it became his custom to leave his +ill-equipped room when it grew dusk and to walk into the outer ways, +always with his face towards the west, so that he might prolong the +benefit of the great luminary to the last possible moment. When the +time of no-light definitely arrived he would climb up into one of the +high places to await the first beam of the great sky-lantern, and also +in the reasonable belief that the nearer he got to it the more +powerful would be its light. + +It was upon such an occasion that Lao Ting first became aware of the +entrancing presence of Chun Hoa-mi, and although he plainly recognized +from the outset that the graceful determination with which she led a +water-buffalo across the landscape by means of a slender cord attached +to its nose was not conducive to his taking a high place in the +competitions, he soon found that he was unable to withdraw himself +from frequenting the spot at the same hour on each succeeding day. +Presently, however, he decided that his previous misgiving was +inaccurate, as her existence inspired him with an all-conquering +determination to outdistance every other candidate in so marked a +manner that his name would at once become famous throughout the +province, to attain high office without delay, to lead a victorious +army against the encroaching barbarian foe and thus to save the Empire +in a moment of emergency, to acquire vast riches (in a not clearly +defined manner), to become the intimate counsellor of the grateful +Emperor, and finally to receive posthumous honours of unique +distinction, the harmonious personality of Hoa-Mi being inextricably +entwined among these achievements. + +At other times, however, he became subject to a funereal conviction +that he would fail discreditably in the examinations to an +accompaniment of the ridicule and contempt of all who knew him, that +he would never succeed in acquiring sufficient brass cash to ensure a +meagre sustenance even for himself, and that he would probably end his +lower existence by ignominious decapitation, so that his pale and +hungry ghost would be unable to find its way from place to place and +be compelled to remain on the same spot through all eternity. Yet so +quickly did these two widely diverging vistas alternate in Lao Ting’s +mind that on many occasions he was under the influence of both +presentiments at the same time. + +It will thus be seen that Lao Ting was becoming involved in emotions +of a many-sided hue, by which his whole future would inevitably be +affected, when an event took place which greatly tended to restore his +tranquillity of mind. He was, at the usual hour, lurking unseen on the +path of Hoa-mi’s approach when the water-buffalo, with the perversity +of its kind, suddenly withdrew itself from the amiable control of its +attendant’s restraining hand and precipitated its resistless footsteps +towards the long grass in which Lao Ting lay concealed. Recognizing +that a decisive moment in the maiden’s esteem lay before him, the +latter, in spite of an incapable doubt as to the habits and manner of +behaviour of creatures of this part, set out resolutely to subdue +it. . . . At a later period, by clinging tenaciously to its tail, he +undoubtedly impeded its progress, and thereby enabled Hoa-mi to greet +him as one who had a claim upon her gratitude. + +“The person who has performed this slight service is Ting, of the +outcast line of Lao,” said the student with an admiring bow in spite +of a benumbing pain that involved all his lower attributes. “Having as +yet achieved nothing, the world lies before him.” + +“She who speaks is Hoa-mi, her father’s house being Chun,” replied the +maiden agreeably. “In addition to the erratic but now repentant animal +that has thus, as it were, brought us within the same narrow compass, +he possesses a wooden plough, two wheel-barrows, a red bow with +threescore arrows, and a rice-field, and is therefore a person of +some consequence.” + +“True,” agreed Lao Ting, “though perhaps the dignity is less imposing +than might be imagined in the eye of one who, by means of successive +examinations, may ultimately become the Right hand of the Emperor.” + +“Is the contingency an impending one?” inquired Hoa-mi, with polite +interest. + +“So far,” admitted Lao Ting, “it is more in the nature of a vision. +There are, of necessity, many trials, and few can reach the ultimate +end. Yet even the Yangtze-kiang has a source.” + +“Of your unswerving tenacity this person has already been witness,” + said the maiden, with a glance of refined encouragement. + +“Your words are more inspiring than the example of the aged woman of +Shang-li to the student Tsung,” declared Lao Ting gratefully. “Unless +the Omens are asleep they should tend to the same auspicious end.” + +“The exact instance of the moment escapes my recollection.” Probably +Hoa-mi was by no means willing that one of studious mind should +associate her exclusively with water-buffaloes. “Is it related in the +Classics?” + +“Possibly, though in which actual masterpiece just now evades my +grasp. The youth referred to was on the point of abandoning a literary +career, appalled at the magnitude of the task before him, when he +encountered an aged woman who was employed in laboriously rubbing away +the surface of an iron crowbar on a block of stone. To his inquiry she +cheerfully replied: ‘The one who is thus engaged required a needle to +complete a task. Being unable to procure one she was about to give way +to an ignoble despair when chance put into her hands this bar, which +only requires bringing down to the necessary size.’ Encouraged by this +painstaking example Tsung returned to his books and in due course +became a high official.” + +“Doubtless in the time of his prosperity he retraced his footsteps and +lavishly rewarded the one to whom he was thus indebted,” suggested +Hoa-mi gracefully. + +“Doubtless,” admitted Lao Ting, “but the detail is not pursued to so +remote an extremity in the Classic. The delicate poise of the analogy +is what is chiefly dwelt upon, the sign for a needle harmonizing with +that for official, and there being a similar balance between crowbar +and books.” + +“Your words are like a page written in vermilion ink,” exclaimed +Hoa-mi, with a sideway-expressed admiration. + +“Alas!” he declared, with conscious humility, “my style is meagre and +almost wholly threadbare. To remedy this, each day I strive to +perfect myself in the correct formation of five new written signs. +When equipped with a knowledge of every one there is I shall be +competent to write so striking and original an essay on any subject +that it will no longer be possible to exclude my name from the list of +official appointments.” + +“It will be a day of well-achieved triumph for the spirits of your +expectant ancestors,” said Hoa-mi sympathetically. + +“It will also have a beneficial effect on my own material prospects,” + replied Lao Ting, with a commendable desire to awaken images of a more +specific nature in the maiden’s imagination. “Where hitherto it has +been difficult to support one, there will then be a lavish profusion +for two. The moment the announcement is made, my impatient feet will +carry me to this spot. Can it be hoped--?” + +“It has long been this one’s favourite resort also,” confessed Hoa-mi, +with every appearance of having adequately grasped Lao Ting’s desired +inference, “Yet to what number do the written signs in question +stretch?” + +“So highly favoured is our unapproachable language that the number can +only be faintly conjectured. Some claim fivescore thousand different +written symbols; the least exacting agree to fourscore thousand.” + +“You are all-knowing,” responded the maiden absently. With her face in +an opposing direction her lips moved rapidly, as though she might be +in the act of addressing some petition to a Power. Yet it is to be +doubted if this accurately represents the nature of her inner +thoughts, for when she again turned towards Lao Ting the engaging +frankness of her expression had imperceptibly deviated, as she +continued: + +“In about nine and forty years, then, O impetuous one, our converging +footsteps will doubtless again encounter upon this spot. In the +meanwhile, however, this person’s awaiting father is certainly +preparing something against her tardy return which the sign for a +crowbar would fittingly represent.” + +Then urging the water-buffalo to increased exertion she fled, leaving +Lao Ting a prey to emotions of a very distinguished intensity. + +In spite of the admittedly rough-edged nature of Hoa-mi’s +leave-taking, Lao Ting retraced his steps in an exalted frame of mind. +He had spoken to the maiden and heard her incomparable voice. He now +knew her name and the path leading to her father’s house. It only +remained for him to win a position worthy of her acceptance (if the +Empire could offer such a thing), and their future happiness might be +regarded as assured. + +Thus engaged, Lao Ting walked on, seeing within his head the arrival +of the bridal chair, partaking of the well-spread wedding feast, +hearing the felicitations of the guests: “A hundred sons and a +thousand grandsons!” Something white fluttering by the wayside +recalled him to the realities of the day. He had reached the buildings +of the outer city, and on a wall before him a printed notice was +displayed. + +It has already been set forth that the few solitary cash which from +time to time fell into the student’s sleeve were barely sufficient to +feed his thirsty brush with ink. For the material on which to write +and to practise the graceful curves essential to a style he was driven +to various unworthy expedients. It had thus become his habit to lurk +in the footsteps of those who affix public proclamations in the ways +and spaces of the city, and when they had passed on to remove, as +unostentatiously as possible, the more suitable pronouncements and to +carry them to his own abode. For this reason he regarded every notice +from a varying angle, being concerned less with what appeared upon it +than with what did not appear. Accordingly he now crossed the way and +endeavoured to secure the sheet that had attracted his attention. In +this he was unsuccessful, however, for he could only detach a meagre +fragment. + +When Lao Ting reached his uninviting room the last pretence of +daylight had faded. He recognized that he had lost many precious +moments in Hoa-mi’s engaging society, and although he would willingly +have lost many more, there was now a deeper pang in his regret that he +could not continue his study further into the night. As this was +impossible, he drew his scanty night coverings around him and composed +his mind for sleep, conscious of an increasing rigour in the air; for, +as he found when the morning came, one who wished him well, passing in +his absence, had written a lucky saying on a stone and cast it through +the paper window. + +When Lao Ting awoke it was still night, but the room was no longer +entirely devoid of light. As his custom was, an open page lay on the +floor beside him, ready to be caught up eagerly with the first gleam +of day; above this a faint but sufficient radiance now hung, enabling +him to read the written signs. At first the student regarded the +surroundings with some awe, not doubting that this was in the nature +of a visitation, but presently he discovered that the light was +provided by a living creature, winged but docile, which carried a +glowing lustre in its tail. When he had read to the end, Lao Ting +endeavoured to indicate by a sign that he wished to turn the page. To +his delight he found that the winged creature intelligently grasped +the requirement and at once transferred its presence to the required +spot. All through the night the youth eagerly read on, nor did this +miraculously endowed visitor ever fail him. By dawn he had more than +made up the time in which the admiration of Hoa-mi had involved him. +If such a state of things could be assured for the future, the vista +would stretch like a sunlit glade before his feet. + +Early in the day he set out to visit an elderly monk, who lived in a +cave on the mountain above. Before he went, however, he did not fail +to procure a variety of leaves and herbs, and to display them about +the room in order to indicate to his unassuming companion that he had +a continued interest in his welfare. The venerable hermit received him +hospitably, and after inviting him to sit upon the floor and to +partake of such food as he had brought with him, listened attentively +to his story. + +“Your fear that in this manifestation you may be the sport of a +malicious Force, conspiring to some secret ill, is merely +superstition,” remarked Tzu-lu when Lao Ting had reached an end. +“Although creatures such as you describe are unknown in this province, +they undoubtedly exist in outer barbarian lands, as do apes with the +tails of peacocks, ducks with their bones outside their skins, beings +whose pale green eyes can discover the precious hidden things of the +earth, and men with a hole through their chests so that they require +no chair to carry them, but are transposed from spot to spot by means +of poles.” + +“Your mind is widely opened, esteemed,” replied Lao Ting respectfully. +“Yet the omen must surely tend towards a definite course?” + +“Be guided by the mature philosophy of the resolute Heng-ki, who, +after an unfortunate augury, exclaimed to his desponding warriors: ‘Do +your best and let the Omens do their worst!’ What has happened is as +clear as the iridescence of a dragon’s eye. In the past you have lent +a sum of money to a friend who has thereupon passed into the Upper +Air, leaving you unrequited.” + +“A friend receiving a sum of money from this person would have every +excuse for passing away suddenly.” + +“Or,” continued the accommodating recluse, “you have in some other way +placed so formidable an obligation upon one now in the Beyond that his +disturbed spirit can no longer endure the burden. For this reason it +has taken the form of a luminous insect, and has thus returned to +earth in order that it may assist you and thereby discharge the debt.” + +“The explanation is a convincing one,” replied Lao Ting. “Might it not +have been more satisfactory in the end, however, if the gracious +person in question had clothed himself with the attributes of the +examining chancellor or some high mandarin, so that he could have +upheld my cause in any extremity?” + +Without actually smiling, a form of entertainment that was contrary to +his strict vow, the patriarchal anchorite moved his features somewhat +at the youth’s innocence. + +“Do not forget that it is written: ‘Though you set a monkey on +horseback yet will his hands and feet remain hairy,’” he remarked. +“The one whose conduct we are discussing may well be aware of his own +deficiencies, and know that if he adopted such a course a humiliating +exposure would await him. Do not have any fear for the future, +however: thus protected, this person is inspired to prophesy that you +will certainly take a high place in the examinations. . . . Indeed,” + he added thoughtfully, “it might be prudent to venture a string of +cash upon your lucky number.” + +With this auspicious leave-taking Tzu-lu dismissed him, and Lao Ting +returned to the city greatly refreshed in spirit by the encounter. +Instead of retiring to his home he continued into the more reputable +ways beyond, it then being about the hour at which the affixers of +official notices were wont to display their energies. + +So it chanced indeed, but walking with his feet off the ground, owing +to the obliging solitary’s encouragement, Lao Ting forgot his usual +caution, and came suddenly into the midst of a band of these men at an +angle of the paths. + +“Honourable greetings,” he exclaimed, feeling that if he passed them +by unregarded his purpose might be suspected. “Have you eaten your +rice?” + +“How is your warmth and cold?” they replied courteously. “Yet why do +you arrest your dignified footsteps to converse with outcasts so +illiterate as ourselves?” + +“The reason,” admitted Lao Ting frankly, “need not be buried in a +well. Had I avoided the encounter you might have said among +yourselves: ‘Here is one who shuns our gaze. This, perchance, is he +who of late has lurked within the shadow of our backs to bear away our +labour.’ Not to create this unworthy suspicion I freely came among +you, for, as the Ancient Wisdom says: ‘Do not adjust your sandals +while passing through a melon-field, nor yet arrange your hat beneath +an orange-tree.’” + +“Yet,” said the leader of the band, “we were waiting thus in +expectation of the one whom you describe. The incredible leper who +rules our goings has, even at this hour and notwithstanding that now +is the appointed day and time for the gathering together of the +Harmonious Constellation of Paste Appliers and Long Brush Wielders, +thrust within our hands a double task.” + +“May bats defile his Ancestral Tablets and goats propagate within his +neglected tomb!” chanted the band in unison. “May the sinews of his +hams snap suddenly in moments of achievement! May the principles of +his warmth and cold never be properly adjusted but--” + +“Thus positioned,” continued the leader, indicating by a gesture that +while he agreed with these sentiments the moment was not opportune for +their full recital, “we await. If he who lurks in our past draws near +he will doubtless accept from our hands that which he will assuredly +possess behind our backs. Thus mutual help will lighten the toil of +all.” + +“The one whom you require dwells beneath my scanty roof,” said the +youth. “He is now, however, absent on a secret mission. Entrust to me +the burden of your harassment and I will answer, by the sanctity of +the Four-eyed Image, that it shall reach his speedy hand.” + +When Lao Ting gained his own room, bowed down but rejoicing beneath +the weight of his unexpected fortune, his eyes were gladdened by the +soft light that hung about his books. Although it was not yet dark, +the radiance of the glow seemed greater than before. Going to the spot +the delighted student saw that in place of one there were now four, +the grateful insect having meanwhile summoned others to his cause. All +these stood in an expectant attitude awaiting his control, so that +through the night he plied an untiring brush and leapt onward in the +garden of similitudes. + +From this time forward Lao Ting could not fail to be aware that the +faces of those whom he familiarly encountered were changed towards +him. Men greeted him as one worthy of their consideration, and he even +heard his name spoken of respectfully in the society of learned +strangers. More than once he found garlands of flowers hung upon his +outer door, harmonious messages, and--once--a gift of food. Incredible +as it seemed to him it had come to be freely admitted that the unknown +scholar Lao Ting would take a very high place in the forthcoming +competition, and those who were alert and watchful did not hesitate to +place him first. To this general feeling a variety of portents had +contributed. Doubtless the beginning was the significant fact, known +to the few at first, that the miracle-working Tzu-lu had staked his +inner garment on Lao Ting’s success. Brilliant lights were seen +throughout the night to be moving in the meagre dwelling (for the four +efficacious creatures had by this time greatly added to their +numbers), and the one within was credited with being assisted by the +Forces. It is well said that that which passes out of one mouth passes +into a hundred ears, and before dawn had become dusk all the early and +astute were following the inspired hermit’s example. They who +conducted the lotteries, becoming suddenly aware of the burden of the +hazard they incurred, thereat declared that upon the venture of Lao +Ting’s success there must be set two taels in return for one. +Whereupon the desire of those who had refrained waxed larger than +before, and thus the omens grew. + +When the days that remained before the opening of the trial could be +counted on the fingers of one hand, there came, at a certain hour, a +summons on the outer door of Lao Ting’s house, and in response to his +spoken invitation there entered one, Sheng-yin, a competitor. + +“Lao Ting,” said this person, when they had exchanged formalities, “in +spite of the flattering attentions of the shallow”--he here threw upon +the floor a garland which he had conveyed from off Lao Ting’s +door--“it is exceedingly unlikely that at the first attempt your name +will be among those of the chosen, and the possibility of it heading +the list may be dismissed as vapid.” + +“Your experience is deep and wide,” replied Lao Ting, the circumstance +that Sheng-yin had already tried and failed three and thirty times +adding an edge to the words; “yet if it is written it is written.” + +“Doubtless,” retorted Sheng-yin no less capably; “but it will never be +set to music. Now, until your inconsiderate activities prevailed, this +person was confidently greeted as the one who would be first.” + +“The names of Wang-san and Yin Ho were not unknown to the expectant,” + suggested Lao Ting mildly. + +“The mind of Wang-san is only comparable with a wastepaper basket,” + exclaimed the visitor harshly; “and Yin Ho is in reality as dull as +split ebony. But in your case, unfortunately, there is nothing to go +on, and, unlikely though it be, it is just possible that this person’s +well-arranged ambitions may thereby be brought to a barren end. For +that reason he is here to discuss this matter as between virtuous +friends.” + +“Let your auspicious mouth be widely opened,” replied Lao Ting +guardedly. “My ears will not refrain.” + +“Is there not, perchance, some venerable relative in a distant part of +the province whose failing eyes crave, at this juncture, to rest upon +your wholesome features before he passes Upwards?” + +“Assuredly some such inopportune person might be forthcoming,” + admitted Lao Ting. “Yet the cost of so formidable a journey would be +far beyond this necessitous one’s means.” + +“In so charitable a cause affluent friends would not be lacking. +Depart on the third day and remain until the ninth and twenty taels of +silver will glide imperceptibly into your awaiting sleeve.” + +“The prospect of not taking the foremost place in the +competition--added to the pangs of those who have hazarded their store +upon the unworthy name of Lao--is an ignoble one,” replied the +student, after a moment’s thought. “The journey will be a costly task +at this season of the rains; it cannot possibly be accomplished for +less than fifty taels.” + +“It is well said, ‘Do not look at robbers sharing out their spoil: +look at them being executed,’” urged Sheng-yin. “Should you be so +ill-destined as to compete, and, as would certainly be the case, be +awarded a position of contempt, how unendurable would be your anguish +when, amidst the execrations of the deluded mob, you remembered that +thirty taels of the purest had slipped from your effete grasp.” + +“Should the Bridge of the Camel Back be passable, five and forty might +suffice,” mused Lao Tung to himself. + +“Thirty-seven taels, five hundred cash, are the utmost that your +obliging friends would hazard in the quest,” announced Sheng-yin +definitely. “On the day following that of the final competition the +sum will be honourably--” + +“By no means,” interrupted the other, with unswerving firmness. “How +thus is the journey to be defrayed? In advance, assuredly.” + +“The requirement is unusual. Yet upon satisfactory oaths being +offered--” + +“This person will pledge the repose of the spirits of his venerated +ancestors practically back to prehistoric times,” agreed Lao Ting +readily. “From the third to the ninth day he will be absent from the +city and will take no part in anything therein. Should he eat his +words, may his body be suffocated beneath five cart-loads of books and +his weary ghost chained to that of a leprous mule. It is spoken.” + +“Truly. But it may as well be written also.” With this expression of +narrow-minded suspicion Sheng-yin would have taken up one from a +considerable mass of papers lying near at hand, had not Lao Ting +suddenly restrained him. + +“It shall be written with clarified ink on paper of a special +excellence,” declared the student. “Take the brush, Seng-yin, and +write. It almost repays this person for the loss of a degree to behold +the formation of signs so unapproachable as yours.” + +“Lao Ting,” replied the visitor, pausing in his task, “you are +occasionally inspired, but the weakness of your character results in a +lack of caution. In this matter, therefore, be warned: ‘The crocodile +opens his jaws; the rat-trap closes his; keep yours shut.’” + +When Lao Ting returned after a scrupulously observed six days of +absence he could not fail to become aware that the city was in an +uproar, and the evidence of this increased as he approached the cheap +and lightly esteemed quarter in which those of literary ambitions +found it convenient to reside. Remembering Sheng-yin’s parting, he +forbore to draw attention to himself by questioning any, but when he +reached the door of his own dwelling he discovered the one of whom he +was thinking, standing, as it were, between the posts. + +“Lao Ting,” exclaimed Sheng-yin, without waiting to make any polite +reference to the former person’s food or condition, “in spite of this +calamity you are doubtless prepared to carry out the spirit of your +oath?” + +“Doubtless,” replied Lao Ting affably. “Yet what is the nature of the +calamity referred to, and how does it affect the burden of my vow?” + +“Has not the tiding reached your ear? The examinations, alas! have +been withheld for seven full days. Your journey has been in vain!” + +“By no means!” declared the youth. “Debarred by your enticement from a +literary career this person turned his mind to other aims, and has now +gained a deep insight into the habits and behaviour of +water-buffaloes.” + +“They who control the competitions from the Capital,” continued +Sheng-yin, without even hearing the other’s words, “when all had been +arranged, learned from the Chief Astrologer (may subterranean fires +singe his venerable moustaches!) that a forgotten obscuration of the +sun would take place on the opening day of the test. In the face of so +formidable a portent they acted thus and thus.” + +“How then fares it that due warning of the change was not set forth?” + +“The matter is as long as The Wall and as deep as seven wells,” + grumbled Sheng-yin, “and the Hoang Ho in flood is limpid by its side. +Proclamations were sent forth, yet none appeared, and they entrusted +with their wide disposal have a dragon-story of a shining lordly youth +who ever followed in their steps. . . . Thus in a manner of expressing +it, the spirit--” + +“Sheng-yin,” said Lao Ting, with courteous firmness, yet so moving the +door so that while he passed in the former person remained outside, +“you have sought, at the expenditure of thirty-seven taels five +hundred cash, to deflect Destiny from her appointed line. The result +has been lamentable to all--or nearly all--concerned. The lawless +effort must not be repeated, for when heaven itself goes out of its +way to set a correcting omen in the sky, who dare disobey?” + +When the list and order of the competition was proclaimed, the name of +Wang-san stood at the very head and that of Yin Ho was next. Lao Ting +was the very last of those who were successful; Sheng-yin was the +next, and was thus the first of those who were unsuccessful. It was as +much as the youth had secretly dared to hope, and much better than he +had generally feared. In Sheng-yin’s case, however, it was infinitely +worse than he had ever contemplated. Regarding Lao Ting as the cause +of his disgrace he planned a sordid revenge. Waiting until night had +fallen he sought the student’s door-step and there took a potent drug, +laying upon his ghost a strict injunction to devote itself to haunting +and thwarting the ambitions of the one who dwelt within. But even in +this he was inept, for the poison was less speedy than he thought, and +Lao Ting returned in time to convey him to another door. + +On the strength of his degree Lao Ting found no difficulty in earning +a meagre competence by instructing others who wished to follow in his +footsteps. He was also now free to compete for the next degree, where +success would bring him higher honour and a slightly less meagre +competence. In the meanwhile he married Hoa-mi, being able to display +thirty-seven taels and nearly five hundred cash towards that end. +Ultimately he rose to a position of remunerative ease, but it is +understood that he attained this more by a habit of acting as the +necessities of the moment required than by his literary achievements. + +Over the door of his country residence in the days of his profusion he +caused the image of a luminous insect to be depicted, and he engraved +its semblance on his seal. He would also have added the presentment of +a water-buffalo, but Hoa-mi deemed this inexpedient. + + + + CHAPTER VI + + The High-minded Strategy of the Amiable Hwa-mei + +Warned by the mischance attending his previous meeting with Hwa-mei, +Kai Lung sought the walled enclosure at the earliest moment of his +permitted freedom, and secreting himself among the interlacing growth +he anxiously awaited the maiden’s coming. + +Presently a movement in the trees without betrayed a presence, and the +story-teller was on the point of disclosing himself at the shutter +when the approaching one displayed an unfamiliar outline. Instead of a +maiden of exceptional symmetry and peach-like charm an elderly and +deformed hag drew near. As she might be hostile to his cause, Kai Lung +deemed it prudent to remain concealed; but in case she should prove to +be an emissary from Hwa-mei seeking him, his purpose was to stand +revealed. To combine these two attitudes until she should declare +herself was by no means an easy task, but she looked neither near nor +far in scrutiny until she stood, mumbling and infirm, beneath the +shutter. + +“It is well, minstrel,” she called aloud. “She whom you await bid me +greet you with a sign.” At Kai Lung’s feet there fell a crimson +flower, growing on a thorny stem. “What word shall I in turn bear +back? Speak freely, for her mind is as my open hand.” + +“Tell me rather,” said Kai Lung, looking out, “how she fares and what +averts her footsteps?” + +“That will appear in due time,” replied the aged one. “In the +meanwhile I have her message to declare. Three times foiled in his +malignant scheme the now obscene Ming-shu sets all the Axioms at +naught. Distrusting you and those about your path, it is his sinister +intention to call up for judgment Kai-moo, who lies within the +women’s cell beyond the Water Way.” + +“What is her crime and how will this avail him?” + +“Charged with the murder of her man by means of the supple splinter +her condemnation is assured. The penalty is piecemeal slicing, and in +it are involved those of her direct line, in the humane effort to +eradicate so treacherous a strain.” + +“That is but just,” agreed Kai Lung. + +“Truly. But on the slender ligament of a kindred name you will be +joined with her in that end. Ming-shu will see to it that records of +your kinship are not lacking. Being accused of no crime on your own +behalf there will be nothing for you to appear against.” + +“It is written: ‘Even leprosy may be cured, but the enmity of an +official underling can never be dispelled,’ and the malice of the +persistent Ming-shu certainly points to the wisdom of the verse. Is +the person of Kai-moo known to you, and where is the prison-house you +speak of?” + +To this the venerable creature replied that the cell in question was +in a distant quarter of the city. Kai-moo, she continued, might be +regarded as fashioned like herself, being deformed in shape and +repellent in appearance. Furthermore, she was of deficient +understanding, these things aiding Ming-shu’s plan, as she would be +difficult to reach and impossible to instruct when reached. + +“The extremity is almost hopeless enough to be left to the +ever-protecting spirits of one’s all-powerful Ancestors,” declared Kai +Lung at length. “Did she from whom you come forecast any confidence?” + +“She had some assurance in a certain plan, which it is my message to +declare to you.” + +“Her wisdom is to be computed neither by a rule nor by a measure. Say +on.” + +“The keeper of the women’s prison-house lies within her hollowed hand, +nor will silver be wanting to still any arising doubt. Wrapped in +prison garb, and with her face disguised by art, she whose word I bear +will come forth at the appointed call and, taking her place before +Shan Tien, will play a fictitious part.” + +“Alas! dotard,” interrupted Kai Lung impatiently, “it would be well if +I spent my few remaining hours in kowtowing to the Powers whom I shall +shortly meet. An aged and unsightly hag! Know you not, O venerable +bat, that the smooth perfection of the one you serve would shine +dazzling through a beaten mask of tempered steel? Her matchless hair, +glossier than a starling’s wing, floats like an autumn cloud. Her eyes +strike fire from damp clay, or make the touch of velvet harsh and +stubborn, according to her several moods. Peach-bloom held against her +cheek withers incapably by comparison. Her feet, if indeed she has +such commonplace attributes at all, are smaller--” + +“Yet,” interrupted the hag, in a changed and quite melodious voice, +“if it is possible to delude the imagination of one whose longing eyes +dwell so constantly on these threadbare charms, what then will be the +position of the obtuse Ming-shu and the superficial Mandarin Shan +Tien, burdened as they now are by outside cares?” + +“There are times when the classical perfection of our graceful tongue +is strangely inadequate to express emotion,” confessed Kai Lung, +colouring deeply, as Hwa-mei stood revealed before him. “It is truly +said: ‘The ingenuity of a guileless woman will undermine nine +mountains.’ You have cut off all the words of my misgivings.” + +“To that end have I wrought, for in this I also need your skill. +Listen well and think deeply as I speak. Everywhere the outcome of the +strife grows more uncertain day by day and no man really knows which +side to favour yet. In this emergency each plays a double part. While +visibly loyal to the Imperial cause, the Mandarin Shan Tien fans the +whisper that in secret he upholds the rebellious banners. Ming-shu now +openly avers that if this and that are thus and thus the rising has +justice in its ranks, while at the same time he has it put abroad that +this is but a cloak the better to serve the state. Thus every man +maintains a double face in the hope that if the one side fails the +other will preserve him, and as a band all pledge to save (or if need +be to betray) each other.” + +“This is the more readily understood as it is the common case on every +like occasion.” + +“Then doubtless there are instances waiting on your lips. Teach me +such a story whereby the hope of those who are thus swayed may be +engaged and leave the rest to my arranging hand.” + +On the following day at the appointed hour a bent and forbidding hag +was brought before Shan Tien, and the nature of her offence +proclaimed. + +“It is possible to find an excuse for almost everything, regarding it +from one angle or another,” remarked the Mandarin impartially; “but +the crime of destroying a husband--and by a means so unpleasantly +insinuating--really seems to leave nothing to be said.” + +“Yet, imperishable, even a bad coin must have two sides,” replied the +hag. “That I should be guilty and yet innocent would be no more +wonderful than the case of Weng Cho, who, when faced with the +alternative of either defying the Avenging Societies or of opposing +fixed authority found a way out of escaping both.” + +“That should be worth--that is to say, if you base your defence upon +an existing case--” + +“Providing the notorious thug Kai Lung is not thereby brought in,” + suggested the narrow-minded Ming-shu, who equally desired to learn the +stratagem involved. + +“Weng Cho was the only one concerned,” replied the ancient +obtusely--“he who escaped the consequences. Is it permitted to this +one to make clear her plea?” + +“If the fatigue is not more than your venerable personality can +reasonably bear,” replied Shan Tien courteously. + +“To bear is the lot of every woman, be she young or old,” replied the +one before them. “I comply, omnipotence.” + + + The Story of Weng Cho; or, the One Devoid of Name + +There was peach-blossom in the orchards of Kien-fi, a blue sky above, +and in the air much gladness; but in Wu Chi’s yamen gloom hung like +the herald of a thunderstorm. At one end of a table in the ceremonial +hall sat Wu Chi, heaviness upon his brow, deceit in his eyes, and a +sour enmity about the lines of his mouth; at the other end stood his +son Weng, and between them, as it were, his whole life lay. + +Wu Chi was an official of some consequence and had two wives, as +became him. His union with the first had failed in its essential +purpose; therefore he had taken another to carry on the direct line +which alone could bring him contentment in this world and a reputable +existence in the next. This degree of happiness was supplied by Weng’s +mother, yet she must ever remain but a “secondary wife,” with no +rights and a very insecure position. In the heart of the chief wife +smouldered a most bitter hatred, but the hour of her ascendancy came, +for after many years she also bore her lord a son. Thenceforward she +was strong in her authority; but Weng’s mother remained, for she was +very beautiful, and despite all the arts of the other woman Wu Chi +could not be prevailed upon to dismiss her. The easy solution of this +difficulty was that she soon died--the “white powder death” was the +shrewd comment of the inner chambers of Kien-fi. + +Wu Chi put on no mourning, custom did not require it; and now that the +woman had Passed Beyond he saw no necessity to honour her memory at +the expense of his own domestic peace. His wife donned her gayest +robes and made a feast. Weng alone stood apart, and in funereal +sackcloth moved through the house like an accusing ghost. Each day his +father met him with a frown, the woman whom alone he must regard as +his mother with a mocking smile, but he passed them without any word +of dutiful and submissive greeting. The period of all seemly mourning +ended--it touched that allotted to a legal parent; still Weng cast +himself down and made no pretence to hide his grief. His father’s +frown became a scowl, his mother’s smile framed a biting word. A wise +and venerable friend who loved the youth took him aside one day and +with many sympathetic words counselled restraint. + +“For,” he said, “your conduct, though affectionate towards the dead, +may be urged by the ill-disposed as disrespectful towards the living. +If you have a deeper end in view, strive towards it by a less open +path.” + +“You are subtle and esteemed in wisdom,” replied Weng, “but neither of +those virtues can restore a broken jar. The wayside fountain must one +day dry up at its source, but until then not even a mountain placed +upon its mouth can pen back its secret stores. So is it with unfeigned +grief.” + +“The analogy may be exact,” replied the aged friend, shaking his head, +“but it is no less truly said: ‘The wise tortoise keeps his pain +inside.’ Rest assured, on the disinterested advice of one who has no +great experience of mountains and hidden springs, but a life-long +knowledge of Wu Chi and of his amiable wife, that if you mourn too +much you will have reason to mourn more.” + +His words were pointed to a sharp edge. At that moment Wu Chi was +being confronted by his wife, who stood before him in his inner +chamber. “Who am I?” she exclaimed vehemently, “that my authority +should be denied before my very eyes? Am I indeed Che of the house of +Meng, whose ancestors wore the Yellow Scabbard, or am I some nameless +one? Or does my lord sleep, or has he fallen blind upon the side by +which Weng approaches?” + +“His heart is bad and his instincts perverted,” replied Wu Chi dully. +“He ignores the rites, custom, and the Emperor’s example, and sets at +defiance all the principles of domestic government. Do not fear that I +shall not shortly call him to account with a very heavy call.” + +“Do so, my lord,” said his wife darkly, “or many valiant champions of +the House of Meng may press forward to make a cast of that same +account. To those of our ancient line it would not seem a trivial +thing that their daughter should share her rights with a purchased +slave.” + +“Peace, cockatrice! the woman was well enough,” exclaimed Wu Chi, with +slow resentment. “But the matter of this obstinacy touches the dignity +of my own authority, and before to-day has passed Weng shall bring up +his footsteps suddenly before a solid wall.” + +Accordingly, when Weng returned at his usual hour he found his father +awaiting him with curbed impatience. That Wu Chi should summon him +into his presence in the great hall was of itself an omen that the +matter was one of moment, but the profusion of lights before the +Ancestral Tablets and the various symbols arranged upon the table +showed that the occasion was to be regarded as one involving +irrevocable issues. + +“Weng Cho,” said his father dispassionately, from his seat at the head +of the table, “draw near, and first pledge the Ancient Ones whose +spirits hover above their Tablets in a vessel of wine.” + +“I am drinking affliction and move under the compact of a solemn vow,” + replied Weng fixedly, “therefore I cannot do this; nor, as signs are +given me to declare, will the forerunners of our line, who from their +high places look down deep into the mind and measure the heart with an +impartial rod, deem this an action of disrespect to their illustrious +shades.” + +“It is well to be a sharer of their councils,” said Wu Chi, with +pointed insincerity. “But,” he continued, in the same tone, “for whom +can Weng Cho of the House of Wu mourn? His father is before him in his +wonted health; in the inner chamber his mother plies an unfaltering +needle; while from the Dragon Throne the supreme Emperor still rules +the world. Haply, however, a thorn has pierced his little finger, or +does he perchance bewail the loss of a favourite bird?” + +“That thorn has sunk deeply into his existence, and the memory of that +loss still dims his eyes with bitterness,” replied Weng. “Bid the rain +cease to fall when the clouds are heavy.” + +“The comparison is ill-chosen,” cried Whu Chi harshly. “Rather should +the allusion be to the evil tendency of a self-willed branch which, in +spite of the continual watering of precept and affection, maintains +its perverted course, and must henceforth either submit to be bound +down into an appointed line, or be utterly cut off so that the tree +may not suffer. Long and patiently have I marked your footsteps, Weng +Cho, and they are devious. This is not a single offence, but it is no +light one. Appointed by the Board of Ceremony, approved of by the +Emperor, and observed in every loyal and high-minded subject are the +details of the rites and formalities which alone serve to distinguish +a people refined and humane from those who are rude and barbarous. By +setting these observances at defiance you insult their framers, act +traitorously towards your sovereign, and assail the foundations of +your House; for your attitude is a direct reflection upon others; and +if you render such a tribute to one who is incompetent to receive it, +how will you maintain a seemly balance when a greater occasion +arises?” + +“When the earth that has nourished it grows cold the leaves of the +branch fall--doubtless the edicts of the Board referred to having +failed to reach their ears,” replied Weng bitterly. “Revered father, +is it not permitted that I should now depart? Behold I am stricken and +out of place.” + +“You are evil and your heart is fat with presumptuous pride!” + exclaimed Wu Chi, releasing the cords of his hatred and anger so that +they leapt out from his throat like the sudden spring of a tiger from +a cave. “Evil in birth, grown under an evil star and now come to a +full maturity. Go you shall, Weng Cho, and that on a straight journey +forthwith or else bend your knees with an acquiescent face.” With +these words he beat furiously on a gong, and summoning the entire +household he commanded that before Weng should be placed a jar of wine +and two glass vessels, and on the other side a staff and a pair of +sandals. From an open shutter the face of the woman Che looked down in +mocking triumph. + +The alternatives thus presented were simple and irrevocable. On the +one hand Weng must put from him all further grief, ignore his vows, +and join in mirth and feast; on the other he must depart, never to +return, and be deprived of every tie of kinship, relinquishing +ancestry, possessions and name. It was a course severer than anything +that Wu Chi had intended when he sent for his son, but resentment had +distorted his eyesight. It was a greater test than Weng had +anticipated, but his mind was clear, and his heart charged with +fragrant memories of his loss. Deliberately but with silent dignity he +poured the untasted wine upon the ground, drew his sword and touched +the vessels lightly so that they broke, took from off his thumb the +jade ring inscribed with the sign of the House of Wu, and putting on +the sandals grasped the staff and prepared to leave the hall. + +“Weng Cho, for the last time spoken of as of the House of Wu, now +alienated from that noble line, and henceforth and for ever an +outcast, you have made a choice and chosen as befits your rebellious +life. Between us stretches a barrier wider and deeper than the Yellow +Sea, and throughout all future time no sign shall pass from that +distant shore to this. From every record of our race your name shall +be cut out; no mention of it shall profane the Tablets, and both in +this world and the next it shall be to us as though you have never +been. As I break this bowl so are all ties broken, as I quench this +candle so are all memories extinguished, and as, when you go, the +space is filled with empty air, so shall it be.” + +“Ho, nameless stranger,” laughed the woman from above, “here is food +and drink to bear you on your way”; and from the grille she threw a +withered fig and spat. + +“The fruit is the cankered effort of a barren tree,” cast back Weng +over his shoulder. “Look to your own offspring, basilisk. It is given +me to speak.” Even as he spoke there was a great cry from the upper +part of the house, the sound of many feet and much turmoil, but he +went on his way without another word. + +Thus it was that Weng Cho came to be cut off from the past. From his +father’s house he stepped out into the streets of Kien-fi a being +without a name, destitute, and suffering the pangs of many keen +emotions. Friends whom he encountered he saluted distantly, not +desirous of sharing their affection until they should have learned his +state; but there was one who stood in his mind as removed above the +possibility of change, and to the summer-house of Tiao’s home he +therefore turned his steps. + +Tiao was the daughter of a minor official, an unsuccessful man of no +particular descent. He had many daughters, and had encouraged Weng’s +affection, with frequent professions that he regarded only the youth’s +virtuous life and discernment, and would otherwise have desired one +not so highly placed. Tiao also had spoken of rice and contentment in +a ruined pagoda. Yet as she listened to Weng’s relation a new +expression gradually revealed itself about her face, and when he had +finished many paces lay between them. + +“A breaker of sacred customs, a disobeyer of parents and an outcast! +How do you disclose yourself!” she exclaimed wildly. “What vile thing +has possessed you?” + +“One hitherto which now rejects me,” replied Weng slowly. “I had +thought that here alone I might find a familiar greeting, but that +also fails.” + +“What other seemly course presents itself?” demanded the maiden +unsympathetically. “How degrading a position might easily become that +of the one who linked her lot with yours if all fit and proper +sequences are to be reversed! What menial one might supplant her not +only in your affections but also in your Rites! He had defied the +Principles!” she exclaimed, as her father entered from behind a +screen. + +“He has lost his inheritance,” muttered the little old man, eyeing him +contemptuously. “Weng Cho,” he continued aloud, “you have played a +double part and crossed our step with only half your heart. Now the +past is past and the future an unwritten sheet.” + +“It shall be written in vermilion ink,” replied Weng, regaining an +impassive dignity; “and upon that darker half of my heart can now be +traced two added names.” + +He had no aim now, but instinct drove him towards the mountains, the +retreat of the lost and despairing. A three days’ journey lay between. +He went forward vacantly, without food and without rest. A falling +leaf, as it is said, would have turned the balance of his destiny, and +at the wayside village of Li-yong so it chanced. The noisome smell of +burning thatch stung his face as he approached, and presently the +object came into view. It was the bare cabin of a needy widow who had +become involved in a lawsuit through the rapacity of a tax-gatherer. +As she had the means neither to satisfy the tax nor to discharge the +dues, the powerful Mandarin before whom she had been called ordered +all her possessions to be seized, and that she should then be burned +within her hut as a warning to others. This was the act of justice +being carried out, and even as Weng heard the tale the Mandarin in +question drew near, carried in his state chair to satisfy his eyes +that his authority was scrupulously maintained. All those villagers +who had not drawn off unseen at once fell upon their faces, so that +Weng alone remained standing, doubtful what course to take. + +“Ill-nurtured dog!” exclaimed the Mandarin, stepping up to him, +“prostrate yourself! Do you not know that I am of the Sapphire Button, +and have fivescore bowmen at my yamen, ready to do my word?” And he +struck the youth across the face with a jewelled rod. + +“I have only one sword, but it is in my hand,” cried Weng, reckless +beneath the blow, and drawing it he at one stroke cut down the +Mandarin before any could raise a hand. Then breaking in the door of +the hovel he would have saved the woman, but it was too late, so he +took the head and body and threw them into the fire, saying: “There, +Mandarin, follow to secure justice. They shall not bear witness +against you Up There in your absence.” + +The chair-carriers had fled in terror, but the villagers murmured +against Weng as he passed through them. “It was a small thing that one +house and one person should be burned; now, through this, the whole +village will assuredly be consumed. He was a high official and visited +justice impartially on us all. It was our affair, and you, who are a +stranger, have done ill.” + +“I did you wrong, Mandarin,” said Weng, resuming his journey; “you +took me for one of them. I pass you the parting of the woman Che, +burrowers in the cow-heap called Li-yong.” + +“Oi-ye!” exclaimed a voice behind, “but yonder earth-beetles haply +have not been struck off the Tablets and found that a maiden with +well-matched eyes can watch two ways at once, all of a morning: and +thereby death through red spectacles is not that same death through +blue spectacles. Things in their appointed places, noble companion.” + +“Greetings, wayfarer,” said Weng, stopping. “The path narrows somewhat +inconveniently hereabout. Take honourable precedence.” + +“The narrower the better to defend then,” replied the stranger +good-humouredly. “Whereto, also, two swords cut a larger slice than +one. Without doubt fivescore valiant bowmen will soon be a-ranging +when they hear that the enemy goes upon two feet, and then ill befall +who knows not the passes.” As he spoke an arrow, shot from a distance, +flew above their heads. + +“Why should you bear a part with me, and who are you who know these +recent things?” demanded Weng doubtfully. + +“I am one of many, we being a branch of that great spreading lotus the +Triad, though called by the tillers here around the League of +Tomb-Haunters, because we must be sought in secret places. The things +I have spoken I know because we have many ears, and in our care a +whisper passes from east to west and from north to south without a +word being spilled.” + +“And the price of your sword is that I should join the confederacy?” + asked Weng thoughtfully. + +“I had set out to greet you before the estimable Mandarin who is now +saluting his ancestors was so inopportune as to do so,” replied the +emissary. “Yet it is not to be denied that we offer an adequate +protection among each other, while at the same time punishing guilt +and administering a rigorous justice secretly.” + +“Lead me to your meeting-place, then,” said Weng determinedly. “I have +done with the outer things.” + +The guide pointed to a rock, shaped like a locust’s head, which marked +the highest point of the steep mountain before them. Soon the fertile +lowlands ended and they passed beyond the limit of the inhabitable +region. Still ascending they reached the Tiger’s High Retreat, which +defines the spot where even the animal kind turn back and where +watercourses cease to flow. Beyond this the most meagre indication of +vegetable sustenance came to an end, and thenceforward their passage +was rendered more slow and laborious by frequent snow-storms, barriers +of ice, and sudden tempests which strove to hurl them to destruction. +Nevertheless, by about the hour of midnight they reached the rock +shaped like a locust’s head, which stood in the wildest and most +inaccessible part of the mountain, and masked the entrance to a +strongly-guarded cave. Here Weng suffered himself to be blindfolded, +and being led forward he was taken into the innermost council. Closely +questioned, he professed a spontaneous desire to be admitted into +their band, to join in their dangers and share their honours; +whereupon the oath was administered to him, the passwords and secret +signs revealed, and he was bound from that time forth, under the bonds +of a most painful death and torments in the afterworld, to submerge +all passions save those for the benefit of their community, and to +cherish no interests, wrongs or possessions that did not affect them +all alike. + +For the space of seven years Weng remained about the shadow of the +mountain, carrying out, together with the other members of the band, +the instructions which from time to time they received from the higher +circles of the Society, as well as such acts of retributive justice as +they themselves determined upon, and in this quiet and unostentatious +manner maintaining peace and greatly purifying the entire province. In +this passionless subservience to the principles of the Order none +exceeded him; yet at no time have men been forbidden to burn +joss-sticks to the spirit of the destinies, and who shall say? + +At the end of seven years the first breath from out of the past +reached Weng (or Thang, as he had announced himself to be when cast +out nameless). One day he was summoned before the chief of their +company and a mission laid upon him. + +“You have proved yourself to be capable and sincere in the past, and +this matter is one of delicacy,” said the leader. “Furthermore, it is +reported that you know something of the paths about Kien-fi?” + +“There is not a forgotten turn within those paths by which I might +stumble in the dark,” replied Weng, striving to subdue his mind. + +“See that out of so poignant a memory no more formidable barrier than +a forgotten path arises,” said the leader, observing him closely. +“Know you, then a house bearing as a sign the figure of a golden +ibis?” + +“Truly; I have noted it,” replied Weng, changing his position, so that +he now leaned against a rock. “There dwelt an old man of some lower +official rank, who had no son but many daughters.” + +“He has Passed, and one of those--Tiao by name,” said the other, +referring to a parchment--“has schemingly driven out the rest and held +the patrimony. Crafty and ambitious, she has of late married a high +official who has ever been hostile to ourselves. Out of a private +enmity the woman seeks the lives of two who are under our most solemn +protection, and now uses her husband’s wealth and influence to that +end. It is on him that the blow must fall, for men kill only men, and +she, having no son, will then be discredited and impotent.” + +“And concerning this official?” asked Weng. + +“It has not been thought prudent to speak of him by name,” replied the +chief. “Stricken with a painful but not dangerous malady he has +retired for a time to the healthier seclusion of his wife’s house, and +there he may be found. The woman you will know with certainty by a +crescent scar--above the right eye.” + +“Beneath the eye,” corrected Weng instantly. + +“Assuredly, beneath: I misread the sign,” said the head, appearing to +consult the scroll. “Yet, out of a keen regard for your virtues, +Thang, let me point a warning that it is antagonistic to our strict +rule to remember these ancient scars too well. Further, in accordance +with that same esteem, do not stoop too closely nor too long to +identify the mark. By our pure and exacting standard no high +attainment in the past can justify defection. The pains and penalties +of failure you well know.” + +“I bow, chieftain,” replied Weng acquiescently. + +“It is well,” said the chief. “Your strategy will be easy. To cure +this lord’s disorder a celebrated physician is even now travelling +from the Capital towards Kien-fi. A day’s journey from that place he +will encounter obstacles and fall into the hands of those who will +take away his robes and papers. About the same place you will meet one +with a bowl on the roadside who will hail you, saying, ‘Charity, out +of your superfluity, noble mandarin coming from the north!’ To him you +will reply, ‘Do mandarins garb thus and thus and go afoot? It is I who +need a change of raiment and a chair; aye, by the token of the +Locust’s Head!’ He will then lead you to a place where you will find +all ready and a suitable chair with trusty bearers. The rest lies +beneath your grinding heel. Prosperity!” + +Weng prostrated himself and withdrew. The meeting by the wayside +befell as he had received assurance--they who serve the Triad do not +stumble--and at the appointed time he stood before Tiao’s door and +called for admission. He looked to the right and the left as one who +examines a new prospect, and among the azalea flowers the burnished +roof of the summer-house glittered in the sun. + +“Lucky omens attend your coming, benevolence,” said the chief +attendant obsequiously; “for since he sent for you an unpropitious +planet has cast its influence upon our master, so that his power +languishes.” + +“Its malignity must be controlled,” said Weng, in a feigned voice, for +he recognized the one before him. “Does any watch?” + +“Not now,” replied the attendant; “for he has slept since these two +hours. Would your graciousness have speech with the one of the inner +chamber?” + +“In season perchance. First lead me to your lord’s side and then see +that we are undisturbed until I reappear. It may be expedient to +invoke a powerful charm without delay.” + +In another minute Weng stood alone in the sick man’s room, between +them no more barrier than the silk-hung curtains of the couch. He slid +down his right hand and drew a keen-edged knife; about his left he +looped the even more fatal cord; then advancing with a noiseless step +he pulled back the drapery and looked down. It was the moment for +swift and silent action; nothing but hesitation and delay could +imperil him, yet in that supreme moment he stepped back, released the +curtain from his faltering grasp and, suffering the weapons to fall +unheeded to the floor, covered his face with his hands, for lying +before him he had seen the outstretched form, the hard contemptuous +features, of his father. + +Yet most solemnly alienated from him in every degree. By Wu Chi’s own +acts every tie of kinship had been effaced between them: the bowl had +been broken, the taper blown out, empty air had filled his place. Wu +Chi acknowledged no memory of a son; he could claim no reverence as a +father. . . . Tiao’s husband. . . . Then he was doubly +childless. . . . The woman and her seed had withered, as he had +prophesied. + +On the one hand stood the Society, powerful enough to protect him in +every extremity, yet holding failure as treason; most terrible and +inexorable towards set disobedience. His body might find a painless +escape from their earthly torments, but by his oaths his spirit lay in +their keeping to be punished through all eternity. + +That he was no longer Wu Chi’s son, that he had no father--this +conviction had been strong enough to rule him in every contingency of +life save this. By every law of men and deities the ties between them +had been dissolved, and they stood as a man and man; yet the salt can +never be quite washed out of sea-water. + +For a time which ceased to be hours or minutes, but seemed as a +fragment broken off eternity, he stood, motionless but most deeply +racked. With an effort he stooped to take the cord, and paused again; +twice he would have seized the dagger, but doubt again possessed him. +From a distant point of the house came the chant of a monk singing a +prayer and beating upon a wooden drum. The rays of the sun falling +upon the gilded roof in the garden again caught his eyes; nothing else +stirred. + +“These in their turn have settled great issues lightly,” thought Weng +bitterly. “Must I wait upon an omen?” + +“. . . submitting oneself to purifying scars,” droned the voice far +off; “propitiating if need be by even greater self-inflictions . . .” + +“It suffices,” said Weng dispassionately, and picking up the knife he +turned to leave the room. + +At the door he paused again, but not in an arising doubt. “I will +leave a token for Tiao to wear as a jest,” was the image that had +sprung from his new abasement, and taking a sheet of parchment he +quickly wrote thereon: “A wave has beat from that distant shore to +this, and now sinks in the unknown depths.” + +Again he stepped noiselessly to the couch, drew the curtain and +dropped the paper lightly on the form. As he did so his breath +stopped; his fingers stiffened. Cautiously, on one knee, he listened +intently, lightly touched the face; then recklessly taking a hand he +raised the arm and suffered it to fall again. No power restrained it; +no alertness of awakening life came into the dull face. Wu Chi had +already Passed Beyond. + + + + CHAPTER VII + + Not Concerned with any Particular Attribute of + Those who are Involved + +Unendurable was the intermingling of hopes and fears with which Kai +Lung sought the shutter on the next occasion after the avowal of +Hwa-mei’s devoted strategy. While repeatedly assuring himself that it +would have been better to submit to piecemeal slicing without a +protesting word rather than that she should incur so formidable a +risk, he was compelled as often to admit that when once her mind had +formed its image no effort on his part would have held her back. +Doubtless Hwa-mei readily grasped the emotion that would possess the +one whose welfare was now her chief concern, for without waiting to +gum her hair or to gild her lips she hastened to the spot beneath the +wall at the earliest moment that Kai Lung could be there. + +“Seven marble tombstones are lifted from off my chest!” exclaimed the +story-teller when he could greet her. “How did your subterfuge +proceed, and with what satisfaction was the history of Weng Cho +received?” + +“That,” replied Hwa-mei modestly, “will provide the matter for an +autumn tale, when seated around a pine-cone fire. In the meanwhile +this protracted ordeal takes an ambiguous bend.” + +“To what further end does the malignity of the ill-made Ming-shu now +shape itself? Should it entail a second peril to your head--” + +“The one whom you so justly name fades for a moment out of our +concern. Burdened with a secret mission he journeys to Hing-poo, nor +does the Mandarin Shan Tien hold another court until the day of his +return.” + +“That gives a breathing space of time to our ambitions?” + +“So much is assured. Yet even in that a subtle danger lurks. Certain +contingencies have become involved in the recital of your admittedly +ingenious stories which the future unfolding of events may not always +justify. For instance, the very speculative Shan Tien, casting his +usual moderate limit to the skies, has accepted the Luminous Insect as +a beckoning omen, and immersed himself deeply in the chances of every +candidate bearing the name of Lao, Ting, Li, Tzu, Sung, Chu, Wang or +Chin. Should all these fail incapably at the trials a very undignified +period in the Mandarin’s general manner of expressing himself may +intervene.” + +“Had the time at the disposal of this person been sufficiently +enlarged he would not have omitted the various maxims arising from the +tale,” admitted Kai Lung, with a shadow of remorse. “That suited to +the need of a credulous and ill-balanced mind would doubtless be the +proverb: ‘He who believes in gambling will live to sell his sandals.’ +It is regrettable if the well-intending Mandarin took the wrong one. +Fortunately another moon will fade before the results are known--” + +“In the meantime,” continued the maiden, indicating by a glance that +what she had to relate was more essential to the requirements of the +moment than anything he was saying: “Shan Tien is by no means +indisposed towards your cause. Your unassuming attitude and deep +research have enlarged your wisdom in his eyes. To-morrow he will send +for you to lean upon your well-stored mind.” + +“Is the emergency one for which any special preparation is required?” + questioned Kai Lung. + +“That is the message of my warning. Of late a company of grateful +friends has given the Mandarin an inlaid coffin to mark the sense of +their indebtedness, the critical nature of the times rendering the +gift peculiarly appropriate. Thus provided, Shan Tien has cast his +eyes around to secure a burial robe worthy of the casket. The +merchants proffer many, each endowed with all the qualities, but +meanwhile doubts arise, and now Shan Tien would turn to you to learn +what is the true and ancient essential of the garment, and wherein its +virtue should reside.” + +“The call will not find me inept,” replied Kai Lung. “The story of +Wang Ho--” + +“It is enough,” exclaimed the maiden warningly. “The time for +wandering together in the garden of the imagination has not yet +arrived. Ming-shu’s feet are on a journey, it is true, but his eyes +are doubtless left behind. Until a like hour to-morrow gladdens our +expectant gaze, farewell!” + +On the following day, at about the stroke of the usual court, Li-loe +approached Kai Lung with a grievous look. + +“Alas, manlet,” he exclaimed, “here is one direct from the presence of +our high commander, requiring you against his thumb-signed bond. Go +you must, and that alone, whether it be for elevation on a tree or on +a couch. Out of an insatiable friendship this one would accompany you, +were it possible, equally to hold your hand if you are to die or hold +your cup if you are to feast. Yet touching that same cask of hidden +wine there is still time--” + +“Cease, mooncalf,” replied Kai Lung reprovingly. “This is but an eddy +on the surface of a moving stream. It comes, it goes; and the waters +press on as before.” + +Then Kai Lung, neither bound nor wearing the wooden block, was led +into the presence of Shan Tien, and allowed to seat himself upon the +floor as though he plied his daily trade. + +“Sooner or later it will certainly devolve upon this person to condemn +you to a violent end,” remarked the far-seeing Mandarin reassuringly. +“In the ensuing interval, however, there is no need for either of us +to dwell upon what must be regarded as an unpleasant necessity.” + +“Yet no crime has been committed, beneficence,” Kai Lung ventured to +protest; “nor in his attitude before your virtuous self has this one +been guilty of any act of disrespect.” + +“You have shown your mind to be both wide and deep, and suitably +lined,” declared Shan Tien, dexterously avoiding the weightier part of +the story-teller’s plea. “A question now arises as to the efficacy of +embroidered coffin cloths, and wherein their potent merit lies. Out of +your well-stored memory declare your knowledge of this sort, conveying +the solid information in your usual palatable way.” + +“I bow, High Excellence,” replied Kai Lung. “This concerns the story +of Wang Ho.” + + + The Story of Wang Ho and the Burial Robe + +There was a time when it did not occur to anyone in this pure and +enlightened Empire to question the settled and existing order of +affairs. It would have been well for the merchant Wang Ho had he lived +in that happy era. But, indeed, it is now no unheard-of thing for an +ordinary person to suggest that customs which have been established +for centuries might with advantage be changed--a form of impiety which +is in no degree removed from declaring oneself to be wiser or more +profound than one’s ancestors! Scarcely more seemly is this than +irregularity in maintaining the Tablets or observing the Rites; and +how narrow is the space dividing these delinquencies from the actual +crimes of overturning images, counselling rebellion, joining in +insurrection and resorting to indiscriminate piracy and bloodshed. + +Certainly the merchant Wang Ho would be a thousand taels wealthier +to-day if he had fully considered this in advance. Nor would Cheng +Lin--but who attempts to eat an orange without first disposing of the +peel, or what manner of a dwelling could be erected unless an adequate +foundation be first provided? + +Wang Ho, then, let it be stated, was one who had early in life amassed +a considerable fortune by advising those whose intention it was to +hazard their earnings in the State Lotteries as to the numbers that +might be relied upon to be successful, or, if not actually successful, +those at least that were not already predestined by malign influences +to be absolutely incapable of success. These chances Wang Ho at first +forecast by means of dreams, portents and other manifestations of an +admittedly supernatural tendency, but as his name grew large and the +number of his clients increased vastly, while his capacity for +dreaming remained the same, he found it no less effective to close his +eyes and to become inspired rapidly of numbers as they were thus +revealed to him. + +Occasionally Wang Ho was the recipient of an appropriate bag of money +from one who had profited by his advice, but it was not his custom to +rely upon this contingency as a source of income, nor did he in any +eventuality return the amount which had been agreed upon (and +invariably deposited with him in advance) as the reward of his +inspired efforts. To those who sought him in a contentious spirit, +inquiring why he did not find it more profitable to secure the prizes +for himself, Wang Ho replied that his enterprise consisted in +forecasting the winning numbers for State Lotteries and not in solving +enigmas, writing deprecatory odes, composing epitaphs or conducting +any of the other numerous occupations that could be mentioned. As this +plausible evasion was accompanied by the courteous display of the many +weapons which he always wore at different convenient points of his +attire, the incident invariably ended in a manner satisfactory to Wang +Ho. + +Thus positioned Wang Ho prospered, and had in the course of years +acquired a waist of honourable proportions, when the unrolling course +of events influenced him to abandon his lucrative enterprise. It was +not that he failed in any way to become as inspired as before; indeed, +with increasing practice he attained a fluency that enabled him to +outdistance every rival, so that on the occasion of one lottery he +afterwards privately discovered that he had predicted the success of +every possible combination of numbers, thus enabling those who followed +his advice (as he did not fail to announce in inscriptions of +vermilion assurance) to secure--among them--every variety of prize +offered. + +But, about this time, the chief wife of Wang Ho having been greeted +with amiable condescension by the chief wife of a high official of the +Province, and therefrom in an almost equal manner by the wives of even +higher officials, the one in question began to abandon herself to a +more rapidly outlined manner of existence than formerly, and to +involve Wang Ho in a like attitude, so that presently this +ill-considering merchant, who but a short time before would have +unhesitatingly cast himself bodily to earth on the approach of a city +magistrate, now acquired the habit of alluding to mandarins in casual +conversation by names of affectionate abbreviation. Also, being +advised of the expediency by a voice speaking in an undertone, he +sought still further to extend beyond himself by suffering his nails +to grow long and obliterating his name from the public announcements +upon the city walls. + +In spite of this ambitious sacrifice Wang Ho could not entirely shed +from his habit a propensity to associate with those requiring advice +on matters involving financial transactions. He could no longer +conduct enterprises which entailed many clients and the lavish display +of his name, but in the society of necessitous persons who were +related to others of distinction he allowed it to be inferred that he +was benevolently disposed and had a greater sufficiency of taels than +he could otherwise make use of. He also involved himself, for the +benefit of those whom he esteemed, in transactions connected with +pieces of priceless jade, jars of wine of an especially fragrant +character, and pictures of reputable antiquity. In the written manner +of these transactions (for it is useless to conceal the fact that Wang +Ho was incapable of tracing the characters of his own name) he +employed a youth whom he never suffered to appear from beyond the +background. Cheng Lin is thus brought naturally and unobtrusively into +the narrative. + +Had Cheng Lin come into the world when a favourably disposed band of +demons was in the ascendant he would certainly have merited an earlier +and more embellished appearance in this written chronicle. So far, +however, nothing but omens of an ill-destined obscurity had beset his +career. For many years two ambitions alone had contained his mind, +both inextricably merged into one current and neither with any +appearance of ever flowing into its desired end. The first was to pass +the examination of the fourth degree of proficiency in the great +literary competitions, and thereby qualify for a small official post +where, in the course of a few years, he might reasonably hope to be +forgotten in all beyond the detail of being allotted every third moon +an unostentatious adequacy of taels. This distinction Cheng Lin felt +to be well within his power of attainment could he but set aside three +uninterrupted years for study, but to do this would necessitate the +possession of something like a thousand taels of silver, and Lin might +as well fix his eyes upon the great sky-lantern itself. + +Dependent on this, but in no great degree removed from it, was the +hope of being able to entwine into that future the actuality of Hsi +Mean, a very desirable maiden whom it was Cheng Lin’s practice to meet +by chance on the river bank when his heavily-weighted duties for the +day were over. + +To those who will naturally ask why Cheng Lin, if really sincere in +his determination, could not imperceptibly acquire even so large a sum +as a thousand taels while in the house of the wealthy Wang Ho, +immersed as the latter person was with the pursuit of the full face of +high mandarins and further embarrassed by a profuse illiteracy, it +should be sufficient to apply the warning: “Beware of helping yourself +to corn from the manger of the blind mule.” + +In spite of his preoccupation Wang Ho never suffered his mind to +wander when sums of money were concerned, and his inability to express +himself by written signs only engendered in his alert brain an +ever-present decision not to be entrapped by their use. Frequently, +Cheng Lin found small sums of money lying in such a position as to +induce the belief that they had been forgotten, but upon examining +them closely he invariably found upon them marks by which they could +be recognized if the necessity arose; he therefore had no hesitation +in returning them to Wang Ho with a seemly reference to the extreme +improbability of the merchant actually leaving money thus unguarded, +and to the lack of respect which it showed to Cheng Lin himself to +expect that a person of his integrity should be tempted by so +insignificant an amount. Wang Ho always admitted the justice of the +reproach, but he did not on any future occasion materially increase +the sum in question, so that it is to be doubted if his heart was +sincere. + +It was on the evening of such an incident that Lin walked with Mean by +the side of the lotus-burdened Hoang-keng expressing himself to the +effect that instead of lilies her hair was worthy to be bound up with +pearls of a like size, and that beneath her feet there should be +spread a carpet not of verdure, but of the finest Chang-hi silk, +embroidered with five-clawed dragons and other emblems of royal +authority, nor was Mean in any way displeased by this indication of +extravagant taste on her lover’s part, though she replied: + +“The only jewels that this person desires are the enduring glances of +pure affection with which you, O my phoenix one, entwined the lilies +about her hair, and the only carpet that she would crave would be the +embroidered design created by the four feet of the two persons who are +now conversing together for ever henceforth walking in uninterrupted +harmony.” + +“Yet, alas!” exclaimed Lin, “that enchanting possibility seems to be +more remotely positioned than ever. Again has the clay-souled Wang Ho, +on the pretext that he can no longer make his in and out taels meet, +sought to diminish the monthly inadequacy of cash with which he +rewards this person’s conscientious services.” + +“Undoubtedly that opaque-eyed merchant will shortly meet a revengeful +fire-breathing vampire when walking alone on the edge of a narrow +precipice,” exclaimed Mean sympathetically. “Yet have you pressingly +laid the facts before the spirits of your distinguished ancestors with +a request for their direct intervention?” + +“The expedient has not been neglected,” replied Lin, “and appropriate +sacrifices have accompanied the request. But even while in the form of +an ordinary existence the venerable ones in question were becoming +distant in their powers of hearing, and doubtless with increasing +years the ineptitude has grown. It would almost seem that in the case +of a person so obtuse as Wang Ho is, more direct means would have to +be employed.” + +“It is well said,” assented Mean, “that those who are unmoved by the +threat of a vat of flaming sulphur in the Beyond, rend the air if they +chance to step on a burning cinder here on earth.” + +“The suggestion is a timely one,” replied Lin. “Wang Ho’s weak spot +lies between his hat and his sandals. Only of late, feeling the +natural infirmities of time pressing about him, he has expended a +thousand taels in the purchase of an elaborate burial robe, which he +wears on every fit occasion, so that the necessity for its ultimate +use may continue to be remote.” + +“A thousand taels!” repeated Mean. “With that sum you could--” + +“Assuredly. The coincidence may embody something in the nature of an +omen favourable to ourselves. At the moment, however, this person has +not any clear-cut perception of how the benefit may be attained.” + +“The amount referred to has already passed into the hands of the +merchant in burial robes?” + +“Irrevocably. In the detail of the transference of actual sums of +money Wang Ho walks hand in hand with himself from door to door. The +pieces of silver are by this time beneath the floor of Shen Heng’s +inner chamber.” + +“Shen Heng?” + +“The merchant in silk and costly fabrics, who lives beneath the sign +of the Golden Abacus. It was from him--” + +“Truly. It is for him that this person’s sister Min works the finest +embroideries. Doubtless this very robe--” + +“It is of blue silk edged with sand pearls in a line of three depths. +Felicitations on long life and a list of the most venerable persons of +all times serve to remind the controlling deities to what length human +endurance can proceed if suitably encouraged. These are designed in +letters of threaded gold. Inferior spirits are equally invoked in +characters of silver.” + +“The description is sharp-pointed. It is upon this robe that the one +referred to has been ceaselessly engaged for several moons. On account +of her narrow span of years, no less than her nimble-jointed +dexterity, she is justly esteemed among those whose wares are +guaranteed to be permeated with the spirit of rejuvenation.” + +“Thereby enabling the enterprising Shen Heng to impose a special +detail into his account: ‘For employing the services of one who will +embroider into the fabric of the robe the vital principles of youth +and long-life-to-come--an added fifty taels.’ Did she of your house +benefit to a proportionate extent?” + +Mean indicated a contrary state of things by a graceful movement of +her well-arranged eyebrows. + +“Not only that,” she added, “but the sordid-minded Shen Heng, on a +variety of pretexts, has diminished the sum Min was to receive at the +completion of the work, until that which should have required a full +hand to grasp could be efficiently covered by two attenuated fingers. +From this cause Min is vindictively inclined towards him and, +steadfastly refusing to bend her feet in the direction of his +workshop, she has, between one melancholy and another, involved +herself in a dark distemper.” + +As Mean unfolded the position lying between her sister Min and the +merchant Shen Heng, Lin grew thoughtful, and, although it was not his +nature to express the changing degrees of emotion by varying the +appearance of his face, he did not conceal from Mean that her words +had fastened themselves upon his imagination. + +“Let us rest here a while,” he suggested presently. “That which you +say, added to what I already know, may, under the guidance of a +sincere mind, put a much more rainbow-like outlook on our combined +future than hitherto appeared probable.” + +So they composed themselves about the bank of the river, while Lin +questioned her more closely as to those things of which she had +spoken. Finally, he laid certain injunctions upon her for her +immediate guidance. Then, it being now the hour of middle light, they +returned, Mean accompanying her voice to the melody of stringed wood, +as she related songs of those who have passed through great endurances +to a state of assured contentment. To Lin it seemed as though the city +leapt forward to meet them, so narrow was the space of time involved +in reaching it. + +A few days later Wang Ho was engaged in the congenial occupation of +marking a few pieces of brass cash before secreting them where Cheng +Lin must inevitably displace them, when the person in question quietly +stood before him. Thereupon Wang Ho returned the money to his inner +sleeve, ineptly remarking that when the sun rose it was futile to +raise a lantern to the sky to guide the stars. + +“Rather is it said, ‘From three things cross the road to avoid: a +falling tree, your chief and second wives whispering in agreement, and +a goat wearing a leopard’s tail,’” replied Lin, thus rebuking Wang Ho, +not only for his crafty intention, but also as to the obtuseness of +the proverb he had quoted. “Nevertheless, O Wang Ho, I approach you on +a matter of weighty consequence.” + +“To-morrow approaches,” replied the merchant evasively. “If it +concerns the detail of the reduction of your monthly adequacy, my word +has become unbending iron.” + +“It is written: ‘Cho Sing collected feathers to make a garment for his +canary when it began to moult,’” replied Lin acquiescently. “The care +of so insignificant a person as myself may safely be left to the +Protecting Forces, esteemed. This matter touches your own condition.” + +“In that case you cannot be too specific.” Wang Ho lowered himself +into a reclining couch, thereby indicating that the subject was not +one for hasty dismissal, at the same time motioning to Lin that he +should sit upon the floor. “Doubtless you have some remunerative form +of enterprise to suggest to me?” + +“Can a palsied finger grasp a proffered coin? The matter strikes more +deeply at your very existence, honoured chief.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Wang Ho, unable to retain the usual colour of his +appearance, “the attention of a devoted servant is somewhat like +Tohen-hi Yang’s spiked throne--it torments those whom it supports. +However, the word has been spoken--let the sentence be filled in.” + +“The full roundness of your illustrious outline is as a display of +coloured lights to gladden my commonplace vision,” replied Lin +submissively. “Admittedly of late, however, an element of dampness has +interfered with the brilliance of the display.” + +“Speak clearly and regardless of polite evasion,” commanded Wang Ho. +“My internal organs have for some time suspected that hostile +influences were at work. For how long have you noticed this, as it may +be expressed, falling off?” + +“My mind is as refined crystal before your compelling glance,” + admitted Lin. “Ever since it has been your custom to wear the funeral +robe fashioned by Shen Heng has your noble shadow suffered erosion.” + +This answer, converging as it did upon the doubts that had already +assailed the merchant’s satisfaction, convinced him of Cheng Lin’s +discrimination, while it increased his own suspicion. He had for some +little time found that after wearing the robe he invariably suffered +pangs that could only be attributed to the influence of malign and +obscure Beings. It is true that the occasions of his wearing the robe +were elaborate and many-coursed feasts, when he and his guests had +partaken lavishly of birds’ nests, sharks’ fins, sea snails and other +viands of a rich and glutinous nature. But if he could not both wear +the funeral robe and partake unstintingly of well-spiced food, the +harmonious relation of things was imperilled; and, as it was since the +introduction of the funeral robe into his habit that matters had +assumed a more poignant phase, it was clear that the influence of the +funeral robe was at the root of the trouble. + +“Yet,” protested Wang Ho, “the Mandarin Ling-ni boasts that he has +already lengthened the span of his natural life several years by such +an expedient, and my friend the high official T’cheng asserts that, +while wearing a much less expensive robe than mine, he feels the +essence of an increased vitality passing continuously into his being. +Why, then, am I marked out for this infliction, Cheng Lin?” + +“Revered,” replied Lin, with engaging candour, “the inconveniences of +living in a country so densely populated with demons, vampires, +spirits, ghouls, dragons, omens, forces and influences, both good and +bad, as our own unapproachably favoured Empire is, cannot be evaded +from one end of life to the other. How much greater is the difficulty +when the prescribed forms for baffling the ill-disposed among the +unseen appear to have been wrongly angled by those framing the Rites!” + +Wang Ho made a gesture of despair. It conveyed to Lin’s mind the wise +reminder of N’sy-hing: “When one is inquiring for a way to escape from +an advancing tiger, flowers of speech assume the form of noisome +bird-weed.” He therefore continued: + +“Hitherto it has been assumed that for a funeral robe to exercise its +most beneficial force it should be the work of a maiden of immature +years, the assumption being that, having a prolonged period of +existence before her, the influence of longevity would pass through +her fingers into the garment and in turn fortify the wearer.” + +“Assuredly,” agreed Wang Ho anxiously. “Thus was the analogy outlined +to me by one skilled in the devices, and the logic of it seems +unassailable.” + +“Yet,” objected Lin, with sympathetic concern in his voice, “how +unfortunate must be the position of a person involved in a robe that +has been embroidered by one who, instead of a long life, has been +marked out by the Destinies for premature decay and an untimely death! +For in that case the influence--” + +“Such instances,” interrupted Wang Ho, helping himself profusely to +rice-spirit from a jar near at hand, “must providentially be of rare +occurrence?” + +“Esteemed head,” replied Lin, helping Wang Ho to yet another +superfluity of rice-spirit, “there are moments when it behoves each of +us to maintain an unflaccid outline. Suspecting the true cause of your +declining radiance, I have, at an involved expenditure of seven taels +and three hand counts of brash cash, pursued this matter to its +ultimate source. The robe in question owes its attainment to one Min, +of the obscure house of Hsi, who recently ceased to have an existence +while her years yet numbered short of a score. Not only was it the last +work upon which she was engaged, but so closely were the two +identified that her abrupt Passing Beyond must certainly exercise a +corresponding effect upon any subsequent wearer.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Wang Ho, feeling many of the symptoms of contagion +already manifesting themselves about his body. “Was the infliction of +a painless nature?” + +“As to whether it was leprosy, the spotted plague, or acute demoniacal +possession, the degraded Shen Heng maintains an unworthy silence. +Indeed, at the mention of Hsi Min’s name he wraps his garment about +his head and rolls upon the floor--from which the worst may be +inferred. They of Min’s house, however, are less capable of guile, and +for an adequate consideration, while not denying that Shen Heng has +paid them to maintain a stealthy silence, they freely admit that the +facts are as they have been stated.” + +“In that case, Shen Heng shall certainly return the thousand taels in +exchange for this discreditable burial robe,” exclaimed Wang Ho +vindictively. + +“Venerated personality,” said Lin, with unabated loyalty, “the +essential part of the development is to safeguard your own +incomparable being against every danger. Shen Heng may be safely left +to the avenging demons that are ever lying in wait for the +contemptible.” + +“The first part of your remark is inspired,” agreed Wang Ho, his +incapable mind already beginning to assume a less funereal forecast. +“Proceed, regardless of all obstacles.” + +“Consider the outcome of publicly compelling Shen Heng to undo the +transaction, even if it could be legally achieved! Word of the +calamity would pass on heated breath, each succeeding one becoming +more heavily embroidered than the robe itself. The yamens and palaces +of your distinguished friends would echo with the once honoured name +of Wang Ho, now associated with every form of malignant distemper and +impending fate. All would hasten to withdraw themselves from the +contagion of your overhanging end.” + +“Am I, then,” demanded Wang Ho, “to suffer the loss of a thousand +taels and retain an inadequate and detestable burial robe that will +continue to exercise its malign influence over my being?” + +“By no means,” replied Lin confidently. “But be warned by the precept: +‘Do not burn down your house in order to inconvenience even your chief +wife’s mother.’ Sooner or later a relation of Shen Heng’s will turn +his steps towards your inner office. You can then, without undue +effort, impose on him the thousand taels that you have suffered loss +from those of his house. In the meantime a device must be sought for +exchanging your dangerous but imposing-looking robe for one of proved +efficiency.” + +“It begins to assume a definite problem in this person’s mind as to +whether such a burial robe exists,” declared Wang Ho stubbornly. + +“Yet it cannot be denied, when a reliable system is adopted in the +fabrication,” protested Lin. “For a score and five years the one to +whom this person owes his being has worn such a robe.” + +“To what age did your venerated father attain?” inquired the merchant, +with courteous interest. + +“Fourscore years and three parts of yet another score.” + +“And the robe in question eventually accompanied him when he Passed +Beyond?” + +“Doubtless it will. He is still wearing it,” replied Lin, as one who +speaks of casual occurrences. + +“Is he, then, at so advanced an age, in the state of an ordinary +existence?” + +“Assuredly. Fortified by the virtue emanating from the garment +referred to, it is his deliberate intention to continue here for yet +another score of years at least.” + +“But if such robes are of so dubious a nature how can reliance be +placed on any one?” + +“Esteemed,” replied Lin, “it is a matter that has long been suspected +among the observant. Unfortunately, the Ruby Buttons of the past +mistakenly formulated that the essence of continuous existence was +imparted to a burial robe through the hands of a young maiden--hence +so many deplorable experiences. The proper person to be so employed is +undoubtedly one of ripe attainment, for only thereby can the claim to +possess the vital principle be assured.” + +“Was the robe which has so effectively sustained your meritorious +father thus constructed?” inquired Wang Ho, inviting Lin to recline +himself upon a couch by a gesture as of one who discovers for the +first time that an honoured guest has been overlooked. + +“It is of ancient make, and thereby in the undiscriminating eye +perhaps somewhat threadbare; but to the desert-traveller all wells are +sparkling,” replied Lin. “A venerable woman, inspired of certain magic +wisdom, which she wove into the texture, to the exclusion of the +showier qualities, designed it at the age of threescore years and +three short of another score. She was engaged upon its fabrication yet +another seven, and finally Passed Upwards at an attainment of three +hundred and thirty-three years, three moons, and three days, thus +conforming to all the principles of allowed witchcraft.” + +“Cheng Lin,” said Wang Ho amiably, pouring out for the one whom he +addressed a full measure of rice-spirit, “the duty that an obedient +son owes even to a grasping and self-indulgent father has in the past +been pressed to a too-conspicuous front, at the expense of the +harmonious relation that should exist between a comfortably-positioned +servant and a generous and broad-minded master. Now in the matter of +these two coffin cloths--” + +“My ears are widely opened towards your auspicious words, +benevolence,” replied Lin. + +“You, Cheng Lin, are still too young to be concerned with the question +of Passing Beyond; your imperishable father is, one is compelled to +say, already old enough to go. As regards both persons, therefore, the +assumed virtue of one burial robe above another should be merely a +matter of speculative interest. Now if some arrangement should be +suggested, not unprofitable to yourself, by which one robe might be +imperceptibly substituted for another--and, after all, one burial robe +is very like another--” + +“The prospect of deceiving a trustful and venerated sire is so ignoble +that scarcely any material gain would be a fitting compensation--were +it not for the fact that an impending loss of vision renders the +deception somewhat easy to accomplish. Proceed, therefore, +munificence, towards a precise statement of your open-handed +prodigality.” + * + +Indescribable was the bitterness of Shen Heng’s throat when Cheng Lin +unfolded his burden and revealed the Wang Ho thousand-tael burial +robe, with an unassuming request for the return of the purchase money, +either in gold or honourable paper, as the article was found +unsuitable. Shen Heng shook the rafters of the Golden Abacus with +indignation, and called upon his domestic demons, the spirits of +eleven generations of embroidering ancestors, and the illuminated +tablets containing the High Code and Authority of the Distinguished +Brotherhood of Coffin Cloth and Burial Robe Makers in protest against +so barbarous an innovation. + +Bowing repeatedly and modestly expressing himself to the effect that +it was incredible that he was not justly struck dead before the +sublime spectacle of Shen Heng’s virtuous indignation, Cheng Lin +carefully produced the written lines of the agreement, gently +directing the Distinguished Brother’s fire-kindling eyes to an +indicated detail. It was a provision that the robe should be returned +and the purchase money restored if the garment was not all that was +therein stipulated: with his invariable painstaking loyalty Lin had +insisted upon this safeguard when he drew up the form, although, +probably from a disinclination to extol his own services, he had +omitted mentioning the fact to Wang Ho in their recent conversation. + +With deprecating firmness Lin directed Shen Heng’s reluctant eyes to +another line--the unfortunate exaction of fifty taels in return for +the guarantee that the robe should be permeated with the spirit of +rejuvenation. As the undoubted embroiderer of the robe--one Min of the +family of Hsi--had admittedly Passed Beyond almost with the last +stitch, it was evident that she could only have conveyed by her touch +an entirely contrary emanation. If, as Shen Heng never ceased to +declare, Min was still somewhere alive, let her be produced and a +fitting token of reconciliation would be forthcoming; otherwise, +although with the acutest reluctance, it would be necessary to carry +the claim to the court of the chief District Mandarin, and (Cheng Lin +trembled at the sacrilegious thought) it would be impossible to +conceal the fact that Shen Heng employed persons of inauspicious omen, +and the high repute of coffin cloths from the Golden Abacus would be +lost. The hint arrested Shen Heng’s fingers in the act of tearing out +a handful of his beautiful pigtail. For the first time he noticed, +with intense self-reproach, that Lin was not reclining on a couch. + +The amiable discussion that followed, conducted with discriminating +dignity by Shen Heng and conscientious humility on the part of Cheng +Lin, extended from one gong-stroke before noon until close upon the +time for the evening rice. The details arrived at were that Shen Heng +should deliver to Lin eight-hundred and seventy-five taels against the +return of the robe. He would also press upon that person a silk purse +with an onyx clasp, containing twenty-five taels, as a deliberate mark +of his individual appreciation and quite apart from anything to do +with the transaction on hand. All suggestions of anything other than +the strictest high-mindedness were withdrawn from both sides. In order +that the day should not be wholly destitute of sunshine at the Golden +Abacus, Lin declared his intention of purchasing, at a price not +exceeding three taels and a half, the oldest and most unattractive +burial robe that the stock contained. So moved was Shen Heng by this +delicate consideration that he refused to accept more than two taels +and three-quarters. Moreover, he added for Lin’s acceptance a small +jar of crystallized limpets. + +To those short-sighted ones who profess to discover in the conduct of +Cheng Lin (now an official of the seventeenth grade and drawing his +quarterly sufficiency of taels in a distant province) something not +absolutely honourably arranged, it is only necessary to display the +ultimate end as it affected those persons in any way connected. + +Wang Ho thus obtained a burial robe in which he was able to repose +absolute confidence. Doubtless it would have sustained him to an +advanced age had he not committed self-ending, in the ordinary way of +business, a few years later. + +Shen Heng soon disposed of the returned garment for two thousand taels +to a person who had become prematurely wealthy owing to the distressed +state of the Empire. In addition he had sold, for more than two taels, +a robe which he had no real expectation of ever selling at all. + +Min, made welcome at the house of Mean and Lin, removed with them to +that distant province. There she found that the remuneration for +burial robe embroidery was greater than she had ever obtained before. +With the money thus amassed she was able to marry an official of noble +rank. + +The father of Cheng Lin had passed into the Upper Air many years +before the incidents with which this related narrative concerns +itself. He is thus in no way affected. But Lin did not neglect, in the +time of his prosperity, to transmit to him frequent sacrifices of +seasonable delicacies suited to his condition. + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + The Timely Disputation among Those of an + Inner Chamber of Yu-ping + +For the space of three days Ming-shu remained absent from Yu-ping, and +the affections of Kai Lung and Hwa-mei prospered. On the evening of +the third day the maiden stood beneath the shutter with a more +definite look, and Kai Lung understood that a further period of +unworthy trial was now at hand. + +“Behold!” she explained, “at dawn the corrupt Ming-shu will pass +within our gates again, nor is it prudent to assume that his enmity +has lessened.” + +“On the contrary,” replied Kai Lung, “like that unnatural reptile that +lives on air, his malice will have grown upon the voidness of its +cause. As the wise Ling-kwang remarks: ‘He who plants a vineyard with +one hand--’” + +“Assuredly, beloved,” interposed Hwa-mei dexterously. “But our +immediate need is less to describe Ming-shu’s hate in terms of +classical analogy than to find a potent means of baffling its venom.” + +“You are all-wise as usual,” confessed Kai Lung, with due humility. “I +will restrain my much too verbose tongue.” + +“The invading Banners from the north have for the moment failed and +those who drew swords in their cause are flying to the hills. In +Yu-ping, therefore, loyalty wears a fully round face and about the +yamen of Shan Tien men speak almost in set terms. While these +conditions prevail, justice will continue to be administered precisely +as before. We have thus nothing to hope in that direction.” + +“Yet in the ideal state of purity aimed at by the illustrious founders +of our race--” began Kai Lung, and ceased abruptly, remembering. + +“As it is, we are in the state of Tsin in the fourteenth of the +heaven-sent Ching,” retorted Hwa-mei capably. “The insatiable Ming-shu +will continue to seek your life, calling to his aid every degraded +subterfuge. When the nature of these can be learned somewhat in +advance, as the means within my power have hitherto enabled us to do, +a trusty shield is raised in your defence.” + +Kai Lung would have spoken of the length and the breadth of his +indebtedness, but she who stood below did not encourage this. + +“Ming-shu’s absence makes this plan fruitless here to-day, and as a +consequence he may suddenly disclose a subtle snare to which your feet +must bend. In this emergency my strategy has been towards safeguarding +your irreplaceable life to-morrow at all hazard. Should this avail, +Ming-shu’s later schemes will present no baffling veil.” + +“Your virtuous little finger is as strong as Ming-shu’s offensive +thumb,” remarked Kai Lung. “This person has no fear.” + +“Doubtless,” acquiesced Hwa-mei. “But she who has spun the thread +knows the weakness of the net. Heed well to the end that no ineptness +may arise. Shan Tien of late extols your art, claiming that in every +circumstance you have a story fitted to the need.” + +“He measures with a golden rule,” agreed Kai Lung. “Left to himself, +Shan Tien is a just, if superficial, judge.” + +The knowledge of this boast, Hwa-mei continued to relate, had spread +to the inner chambers of the yamen, where the lesser ones vied with +each other in proclaiming the merit of the captive minstrel. Amid this +eulogy Hwa-mei moved craftily and played an insidious part, until she +who was their appointed head was committed to the claim. Then the +maiden raised a contentious voice. + +“Our lord’s trout were ever salmon,” she declared, “and lo! here is +another great and weighty fish! Assuredly no living man is thus and +thus; or are the T’ang epicists returned to earth? Truly our noble one +is easily pleased--in many ways!” With these well-fitted words she +fixed her eyes upon the countenance of Shan Tien’s chief wife and +waited. + +“The sun shines through his words and the moon adorns his utterances,” + replied the chief wife, with unswerving loyalty, though she added, no +less suitably: “That one should please him easily and another therein +fail, despite her ceaseless efforts, is as the Destinies provide.” + +“You are all-seeing,” admitted Hwa-mei generously; “nor is a locked +door any obstacle to your discovering eye. Let this arisement be +submitted to a facile test. Dependent from my ill-formed ears are +rings of priceless jade that have ever tinged your thoughts, while +about your shapely neck is a crystal charm, to which an unclouded +background would doubtless give some lustre. I will set aside the +rings and thou shalt set aside the charm. Then, at a chosen time, this +vaunted one shall attend before us here, and I having disclosed the +substance of a theme, he shall make good the claim. If he so does, +capably and without delay, thou shalt possess the jewels. But if, in +the judgment of these around, he shall fail therein, then are both +jewels mine. Is it so agreed?” + +“It is agreed!” cried those who were the least concerned, seeing some +entertainment to themselves. “Shall the trial take place at once?” + +“Not so,” replied Hwa-mei. “A sufficient space must be allowed for +this one wherein to select the matter of the test. To-morrow let it +be, before the hour of evening rice. And thou?” + +“Inasmuch as it will enlarge the prescience of our lord in minds that +are light and vaporous, I also do consent,” replied the chief wife. +“Yet must he too be of our company, to be witness of the upholding of +his word and, if need be, to cast a decisive voice.” + +“Thus,” continued Hwa-mei, as she narrated these events, “Shan Tien +is committed to the trial and thereby he must preserve you until that +hour. Tell me now the answer to the test, that I may frame the +question to agree.” + +Kai Lung thought a while, then said: + +“There is the story of Chang Tao. It concerns one who, bidden to do an +impossible task, succeeded though he failed, and shows how two +identically similar beings may be essentially diverse. To this should +be subjoined the apophthegm that that which we are eager to obtain may +be that which we have striven to avoid.” + +“It suffices,” agreed Hwa-mei. “Bear well your part.” + +“Still,” suggested Kai Lung, hoping to detain her retiring footsteps +for yet another span, “were it not better that I should fall short at +the test, thus to enlarge your word before your fellows?” + +“And in so doing demean yourself, darken the face of Shan Tien’s +present regard, and alienate all those who stand around! O most obtuse +Kai Lung!” + +“I will then bare my throat,” confessed Kai Lung. “The barbed thought +had assailed my mind that perchance the rings of precious jade lay +coiled around your heart. Thus and thus I spoke.” + +“Thus also will I speak,” replied Hwa-mei, and her uplifted eyes held +Kai Lung by the inner fibre of his being. “Did I value them as I do, +and were they a single hair of my superfluous head, the whole head +were freely offered to a like result.” + +With these noticeable words, which plainly testified the strength of +her emotion, the maiden turned and hastened on her way, leaving Kai +Lung gazing from the shutter in a very complicated state of +disquietude. + + + The Story of Chang Tao, Melodious Vision and the Dragon + +After Chang Tao had reached the age of manhood his grandfather took +him apart one day and spoke of a certain matter, speaking as a +philosopher whose mind has at length overflowed. + +“Behold!” he said, when they were at a discreet distance aside, “your +years are now thus and thus, but there are still empty chairs where +there should be occupied cradles in your inner chamber, and the only +upraised voice heard in this spacious residence is that of your +esteemed father repeating the Analects. The prolific portion of the +tree of our illustrious House consists of its roots; its existence +onwards narrows down to a single branch which as yet has put forth no +blossoms.” + +“The loftiest tower rises from the ground,” remarked Chang Tao +evasively, not wishing to implicate himself on either side as yet. + +“Doubtless; and as an obedient son it is commendable that you should +close your ears, but as a discriminating father there is no reason why +I should not open my mouth,” continued the venerable Chang in a voice +from which every sympathetic modulation was withdrawn. “It is +admittedly a meritorious resolve to devote one’s existence to +explaining the meaning of a single obscure passage of one of the Odes, +but if the detachment necessary to the achievement results in a +hitherto carefully-preserved line coming to an incapable end, it would +have been more satisfactory to the dependent shades of our revered +ancestors that the one in question should have collected street +garbage rather than literary instances, or turned somersaults in place +of the pages of the Classics, had he but given his first care to +providing you with a wife and thereby safeguarding our unbroken +continuity.” + +“My father is all-wise,” ventured Chang Tao dutifully, but observing +the nature of the other’s expression he hastened to add considerately, +“but my father’s father is even wiser.” + +“Inevitably,” assented the one referred to; “not merely because he is +the more mature by a generation, but also in that he is thereby nearer +to the inspired ancients in whom the Cardinal Principles reside.” + +“Yet, assuredly, there must be occasional exceptions to this rule of +progressive deterioration?” suggested Chang Tao, feeling that the +process was not without a definite application to himself. + +“Not in our pure and orthodox line,” replied the other person firmly. +“To suggest otherwise is to admit the possibility of a son being the +superior of his own father, and to what a discordant state of things +would that contention lead! However immaturely you may think at +present, you will see the position at its true angle when you have +sons of your own.” + +“The contingency is not an overhanging one,” said Chang Tao. “On the +last occasion when I reminded my venerated father of my age and +unmarried state, he remarked that, whether he looked backwards or +forwards, extinction seemed to be the kindest destiny to which our +House could be subjected.” + +“Originality, carried to the length of eccentricity, is a censurable +accomplishment in one of official rank,” remarked the elder Chang +coldly. “Plainly it is time that I should lengthen the authority of my +own arm very perceptibly. If a father is so neglectful of his duty, it +is fitting that a grandfather should supply his place. This person +will himself procure a bride for you without delay.” + +“The function might perhaps seem an unusual one,” suggested Chang Tao, +who secretly feared the outcome of an enterprise conducted under these +auspices. + +“So, admittedly, are the circumstances. What suitable maiden suggests +herself to your doubtless better-informed mind? Is there one of the +house of Tung?” + +“There are eleven,” replied Chang Tao, with a gesture of despair, “all +reputed to be untiring with their needle, skilled in the frugal +manipulation of cold rice, devout, discreet in the lines of their +attire, and so sombre of feature as to be collectively known to the +available manhood of the city as the Terror that Lurks for the Unwary. +Suffer not your discriminating footsteps to pause before that house, O +father of my father! Now had you spoken of Golden Eyebrows, daughter +of Kuo Wang--” + +“It would be as well to open a paper umbrella in a thunderstorm as to +seek profit from an alliance with Kuo Wang. Crafty and ambitious, he +is already deep in questionable ventures, and high as he carries his +head at present, there will assuredly come a day when Kuo Wang will +appear in public with his feet held even higher than his crown.” + +“The rod!” exclaimed Chang Tao in astonishment. “Can it really be that +one who is so invariably polite to me is not in every way immaculate?” + +“Either bamboo will greet his feet or hemp adorn his neck,” persisted +the other, with a significant movement of his hands in the proximity +of his throat. “Walk backwards in the direction of that house, son of +my son. Is there not one Ning of the worthy line of Lo, dwelling +beneath the emblem of a Sprouting Aloe?” + +“Truly,” agreed the youth, “but at an early age she came under the +malign influence of a spectral vampire, and in order to deceive the +creature she was adopted to the navigable portion of the river here, +and being announced as having Passed Above was henceforth regarded as +a red mullet.” + +“Yet in what detail does that deter you?” inquired Chang, for the +nature of his grandson’s expression betrayed an acute absence of +enthusiasm towards the maiden thus concerned. + +“Perchance the vampire was not deceived after all. In any case this +person dislikes red mullet,” replied the youth indifferently. + +The venerable shook his head reprovingly. + +“It is imprudent to be fanciful in matters of business,” he remarked. +“Lo Chiu, her father, is certainly the possessor of many bars of +silver, and, as it is truly written: ‘With wealth one may command +demons; without it one cannot summon even a slave.’” + +“It is also said: ‘When the tree is full the doubtful fruit remains +upon the branch,’” retorted Chang Tao. “Are not maidens in this city +as the sand upon a broad seashore? If one opens and closes one’s hands +suddenly out in the Ways on a dark night, the chances are that three +or four will be grasped. A stone cast at a venture--” + +“Peace!” interrupted the elder. “Witless spoke thus even in the days +of this person’s remote youth--only the virtuous did not then open and +close their hands suddenly in the Ways on dark nights. Is aught +reported of the inner affairs of Shen Yi, a rich philosopher who +dwells somewhat remotely on the Stone Path, out beyond the Seven +Terraced Bridge?” + +Chang Tao looked up with a sharply awakening interest. + +“It is well not to forget that one,” he replied. “He is spoken of as +courteous but reserved, in that he drinks tea with few though his +position is assured. Is not his house that which fronts on a +summer-seat domed with red copper?” + +“It is the same,” agreed the other. “Speak on.” + +“What I recall is meagre and destitute of point. Nevertheless, it so +chanced that some time ago this person was proceeding along the +further Stone Path when an aged female mendicant, seated by the +wayside, besought his charity. Struck by her destitute appearance he +bestowed upon her a few unserviceable broken cash, such as one retains +for the indigent, together with an appropriate blessing, when the hag +changed abruptly into the appearance of a young and alluring maiden, +who smilingly extended to this one her staff, which had meanwhile +become a graceful branch of flowering lotus. The manifestation was not +sustained, however, for as he who is relating the incident would have +received the proffered flower he found that his hand was closing on +the neck of an expectant serpent, which held in its mouth an agate +charm. The damsel had likewise altered, imperceptibly merging into the +form of an overhanging fig-tree, among whose roots the serpent twined +itself. When this person would have eaten one of the ripe fruit of the +tree he found that the skin was filled with a bitter dust, whereupon +he withdrew, convinced that no ultimate profit was likely to result +from the encounter. His departure was accompanied by the sound of +laughter, mocking yet more melodious than a carillon of silver gongs +hung in a porcelain tower, which seemed to proceed from the +summer-seat domed with red copper.” + +“Some omen doubtless lay within the meeting,” said the elder Chang. +“Had you but revealed the happening fully on your return, capable +geomancers might have been consulted. In this matter you have fallen +short.” + +“It is admittedly easier to rule a kingdom than to control one’s +thoughts,” confessed Chang Tao frankly. “A great storm of wind met +this person on his way back, and when he had passed through it, all +recollection of the incident had, for the time, been magically blown +from his mind.” + +“It is now too late to question the augurs. But in the face of so +involved a portent it would be well to avert all thought from +Melodious Vision, wealthy Shen Yi’s incredibly attractive daughter.” + +“It is unwise to be captious in affairs of negotiation,” remarked the +young man thoughtfully. “Is the smile of the one referred to such that +at the vision of it the internal organs of an ordinary person begin to +clash together, beyond the power of all control?” + +“Not in the case of the one who is speaking,” replied the grandfather +of Chang Tao, “but a very illustrious poet, whom Shen Yi charitably +employed about his pig-yard, certainly described it as a ripple on the +surface of a dark lake of wine, when the moon reveals the hidden +pearls beneath; and after secretly observing the unstudied grace of +her movements, the most celebrated picture-maker of the province +burned the implements of his craft, and began life anew as a trainer +of performing elephants. But when maidens are as numerous as the +grains of sand--” + +“Esteemed,” interposed Chang Tao, with smooth determination, “wisdom +lurks in the saying: ‘He who considers everything decides nothing.’ +Already this person has spent an unprofitable score of years through +having no choice in the matter; at this rate he will spend yet another +score through having too much. Your timely word shall be his beacon. +Neither the disadvantage of Shen Yi’s oppressive wealth nor the +inconvenience of Melodious Vision’s excessive beauty shall deter him +from striving to fulfil your delicately expressed wish.” + +“Yet,” objected the elder Chang, by no means gladdened at having the +decision thus abruptly lifted from his mouth, “so far, only a +partially formed project--” + +“To a thoroughly dutiful grandson half a word from your benevolent +lips carries further than a full-throated command does from a less +revered authority.” + +“Perchance. This person’s feet, however, are not liable to a similar +acceleration, and a period of adequate consideration must intervene +before they are definitely moving in the direction of Shen Yi’s +mansion. ‘Where the road bends abruptly take short steps,’ Chang Tao.” + +“The necessity will be lifted from your venerable shoulders, revered,” + replied Chang Tao firmly. “Fortified by your approving choice, this +person will himself confront Shen Yi’s doubtful countenance, and that +same bend in the road will be taken at a very sharp angle and upon a +single foot.” + +“In person! It is opposed to the Usages!” exclaimed the venerable; and +at the contemplation of so undignified a course his voice prudently +withdrew itself, though his mouth continued to open and close for a +further period. + +“‘As the mountains rise, so the river winds,’” replied Chang Tao, and +with unquenchable deference he added respectfully as he took his +leave, “Fear not, eminence; you will yet remain to see five +generations of stalwart he-children, all pressing forward to worship +your imperishable memory.” + +In such a manner Chang Tao set forth to defy the Usages and--if +perchance it might be--to speak to Shen Yi face to face of Melodious +Vision. Yet in this it may be that the youth was not so much hopeful +of success by his own efforts as that he was certain of failure by the +elder Chang’s. And in the latter case the person in question might +then irrevocably contract him to a maiden of the house of Tung, or to +another equally forbidding. Not inaptly is it written: “To escape from +fire men will plunge into boiling water.” + +Nevertheless, along the Stone Path many doubts and disturbances arose +within Chang Tao’s mind. It was not in this manner that men of weight +and dignity sought wives. Even if Shen Yi graciously overlooked the +absence of polite formality, would not the romantic imagination of +Melodious Vision be distressed when she learned that she had been +approached with so indelicate an absence of ceremony? “Here, again,” + said Chang Tao’s self-reproach accusingly, “you have, as usual, gone +on in advance of both your feet and of your head. ‘It is one thing to +ignore the Rites: it is quite another to expect the gods to ignore the +Penalties.’ Assuredly you will suffer for it.” + +It was at this point that Chang Tao was approached by one who had +noted his coming from afar, and had awaited him, for passers-by were +sparse and remote. + +“Prosperity attend your opportune footsteps,” said the stranger +respectfully. “A misbegotten goat-track enticed this person from his +appointed line by the elusive semblance of an avoided li. Is there, +within your enlightened knowledge, the house of one Shen Yi, who makes +a feast to-day, positioned about this inauspicious region? It is +further described as fronting on a summer-seat domed with red copper.” + +“There is such a house as you describe, at no great distance to the +west,” replied Chang Tao. “But that he marks the day with music had +not reached these superficial ears.” + +“It is but among those of his inner chamber, this being the name-day +of one whom he would honour in a refined and at the same time +inexpensive manner. To that end am I bidden.” + +“Of what does your incomparable exhibition consist?” inquired Chang +Tao. + +“Of a variety of quite commonplace efforts. It is entitled +‘Half-a-gong-stroke among the No-realities; or Gravity-removing devoid +of Inelegance.’ Thus, borrowing the neck-scarf of the most +dignified-looking among the lesser ones assembled I will at once +discover among its folds the unsuspected presence of a family of +tortoises; from all parts of the person of the roundest-bodied +mandarin available I will control the appearance of an inexhaustible +stream of copper cash, and beneath the scrutinizing eyes of all a +bunch of paper chrysanthemums will change into the similitude of a +crystal bowl in whose clear depth a company of gold and silver carp +glide from side to side.” + +“These things are well enough for the immature, and the sight of an +unnaturally stout official having an interminable succession of white +rabbits produced from the various recesses of his waistcloth +admittedly melts the austerity of the superficial of both sexes. But +can you, beneath the undeceptive light of day, turn a sere and +unattractive hag into the substantial image of a young and beguiling +maiden, and by a further complexity into a fruitful fig-tree; or +induce a serpent so far to forsake its natural instincts as to poise +on the extremity of its tail and hold a charm within its mouth?” + +“None of these things lies within my admitted powers,” confessed the +stranger. “To what end does your gracious inquiry tend?” + +“It is in the nature of a warning, for within the shadow of the house +you seek manifestations such as I describe pass almost without remark. +Indeed it is not unlikely that while in the act of displaying your +engaging but simple skill you may find yourself transformed into a +chameleon or saddled with the necessity of finishing your +gravity-removing entertainment under the outward form of a Manchurian +ape.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed the other. “The eleventh of the moon was ever this +person’s unlucky day, and he would have done well to be warned by a +dream in which he saw an unsuspecting kid walk into the mouth of a +voracious tiger.” + +“Undoubtedly the tiger was an allusion to the dangers awaiting you, +but it is not yet too late for you to prove that you are no kid,” + counselled Chang Tao. “Take this piece of silver so that the +enterprise of the day may not have been unfruitful and depart with all +speed on a homeward path. He who speaks is going westward, and at the +lattice of Shen Yi he will not fail to leave a sufficient excuse for +your no-appearance.” + +“Your voice has the compelling ring of authority, beneficence,” + replied the stranger gratefully. “The obscure name of the one who +prostrates himself is Wo, that of his degraded father being Weh. For +this service he binds his ghost to attend your ghost through three +cycles of time in the After.” + +“It is remitted,” said Chang Tao generously, as he resumed his way. +“May the path be flattened before your weary feet.” + +Thus, unsought as it were, there was placed within Chang Tao’s grasp a +staff that might haply bear his weight into the very presence of +Melodious Vision herself. The exact strategy of the undertaking did +not clearly yet reveal itself, but “When fully ripe the fruit falls of +its own accord,” and Chang Tao was content to leave such detail to the +guiding spirits of his destinies. As he approached the outer door he +sang cheerful ballads of heroic doings, partly because he was glad, +but also to reassure himself. + +“One whom he expects awaits,” he announced to the keeper of the gate. +“The name of Wo, the son of Weh, should suffice.” + +“It does not,” replied the keeper, swinging his roomy sleeve +specifically. “So far it has an empty, short-stopping sound. It lacks +sparkle; it has no metallic ring. . . . He sleeps.” + +“Doubtless the sound of these may awaken him,” said Chang Tao, shaking +out a score of cash. + +“Pass in munificence. Already his expectant eyes rebuke the unopen +door.” + +Although he had been in a measure prepared by Wo, Chang Tao was +surprised to find that three persons alone occupied the chamber to +which he was conducted. Two of these were Shen Yi and a trusted slave; +at the sight of the third Chang Tao’s face grew very red and the +deficiencies of his various attributes began to fill his mind with +dark forebodings, for this was Melodious Vision and no man could look +upon her without her splendour engulfing his imagination. No record of +her pearly beauty is preserved beyond a scattered phrase or two; for +the poets and minstrels of the age all burned what they had written, +in despair at the inadequacy of words. Yet it remains that whatever a +man looked for, that he found, and the measure of his requirement was +not stinted. + +“Greeting,” said Shen Yi, with easy-going courtesy. He was a more +meagre man than Chang Tao had expected, his face not subtle, and his +manner restrained rather than oppressive. “You have come on a long and +winding path; have you taken your rice?” + +“Nothing remains lacking,” replied Chang Tao, his eyes again +elsewhere. “Command your slave, Excellence.” + +“In what particular direction do your agreeable powers of +leisure-beguiling extend?” + +So far Chang Tao had left the full consideration of this inevitable +detail to the inspiration of the moment, but when the moment came the +prompting spirits did not disclose themselves. His hesitation became +more elaborate under the expression of gathering enlightenment that +began to appear in Melodious Vision’s eyes. + +“An indifferent store of badly sung ballads,” he was constrained to +reply at length, “and--perchance--a threadbare assortment of involved +questions and replies.” + +“Was it your harmonious voice that we were privileged to hear raised +beneath our ill-fitting window a brief space ago?” inquired Shen Yi. + +“Admittedly at the sight of this noble palace I was impelled to put my +presumptuous gladness into song.” + +“Then let it fain be the other thing,” interposed the maiden, with +decision. “Your gladness came to a sad end, minstrel.” + +“Involved questions are by no means void of divertisement,” remarked +Shen Yi, with conciliatory mildness in his voice. “There was one, +turning on the contradictory nature of a door which under favourable +conditions was indistinguishable from an earthenware vessel, that +seldom failed to baffle the unalert in the days before the binding of +this person’s hair.” + +“That was the one which it had been my feeble intention to propound,” + confessed Chang Tao. + +“Doubtless there are many others equally enticing,” suggested Shen Yi +helpfully. + +“Alas,” admitted Chang Tao with conscious humiliation; “of all those +wherein I retain an adequate grasp of the solution, the complication +eludes me at the moment, and thus in a like but converse manner with +the others.” + +“Esteemed parent,” remarked Melodious Vision, without emotion, “this +is neither a minstrel nor one in any way entertaining. It is merely +Another.” + +“Another!” exclaimed Chang Tao in refined bitterness. “Is it possible +that after taking so extreme and unorthodox a course as to ignore the +Usages and advance myself in person I am to find that I have not even +the mediocre originality of being the first, as a recommendation?” + +“If the matter is thus and thus, so far from being the first, you are +only the last of a considerable line of worthy and enterprising youths +who have succeeded in gaining access to the inner part of this not +really attractive residence on one pretext or another,” replied the +tolerant Shen Yi. “In any case you are honourably welcome. From the +position of your various features I now judge you to be Tao, only son +of the virtuous house of Chang. May you prove more successful in your +enterprise than those who have preceded you.” + +“The adventure appears to be tending in unforeseen directions,” said +Chang Tao uneasily. “Your felicitation, benign, though doubtless gold +at heart, is set in a doubtful frame.” + +“It is for your stalwart endeavour to assure a happy picture,” replied +Shen Yi, with undisturbed cordiality. “You bear a sword.” + +“What added involvement is this?” demanded Chang Tao. “This one’s +thoughts and intention were not turned towards savagery and arms, but +in the direction of a pacific union of two distinguished lines.” + +“In such cases my attitude has invariably been one of sympathetic +unconcern,” declared Shen Yi. “The weight of either side produces an +atmosphere of absolute poise that cannot fail to give full play to the +decision of the destinies.” + +“But if this attitude is maintained on your part how can the proposal +progress to a definite issue?” inquired Chang Tao. + +“So far, it never has so progressed,” admitted Shen Yi. “None of the +worthy and hard-striving young men--any of whom I should have been +overjoyed to greet as a son-in-law had my inopportune sense of +impartiality permitted it--has yet returned from the trial to claim +the reward.” + +“Even the Classics become obscure in the dark. Clear your throat of +all doubtfulness, O Shen Yi, and speak to a definite end.” + +“That duty devolves upon this person, O would-be propounder of +involved questions,” interposed Melodious Vision. Her voice was more +musical than a stand of hanging jewels touched by a rod of jade, and +each word fell like a separate pearl. “He who ignores the Usages must +expect to find the Usages ignored. Since the day when K’ung-tsz framed +the Ceremonies much water has passed beneath the Seven Terraced +Bridge, and that which has overflowed can never be picked up again. It +is no longer enough that you should come and thereby I must go; that +you should speak and I be silent; that you should beckon and I meekly +obey. Inspired by the uprisen sisterhood of the outer barbarian lands, +we of the inner chambers of the Illimitable Kingdom demand the right +to express ourselves freely on every occasion and on every subject, +whether the matter involved is one that we understand or not.” + +“Your clear-cut words will carry far,” said Chang Tao deferentially, +and, indeed, Melodious Vision’s voice had imperceptibly assumed a +penetrating quality that justified the remark. “Yet is it fitting that +beings so superior in every way should be swayed by the example of +those who are necessarily uncivilized and rude?” + +“Even a mole may instruct a philosopher in the art of digging,” + replied the maiden, with graceful tolerance. “Thus among those uncouth +tribes it is the custom, when a valiant youth would enlarge his face +in the eyes of a maiden, that he should encounter forth and slay +dragons, to the imperishable glory of her name. By this beneficent +habit not only are the feeble and inept automatically disposed of, but +the difficulty of choosing one from among a company of suitors, all +apparently possessing the same superficial attributes, is materially +lightened.” + +“The system may be advantageous in those dark regions,” admitted Chang +Tao reluctantly, “but it must prove unsatisfactory in our more +favoured land.” + +“In what detail?” demanded the maiden, pausing in her attitude of +assured superiority. + +“By the essential drawback that whereas in those neglected outer parts +there really are no dragons, here there really are. Thus--” + +“Doubtless there are barbarian maidens for those who prefer to +encounter barbarian dragons, then,” exclaimed Melodious Vision, with a +very elaborately sustained air of no-concern. + +“Doubtless,” assented Chang Tao mildly. “Yet having set forth in the +direction of a specific Vision it is this person’s intention to pursue +it to an ultimate end.” + +“The quiet duck puts his foot on the unobservant worm,” murmured Shen +Yi, with delicate encouragement, adding “This one casts a more +definite shadow than those before.” + +“Yet,” continued the maiden, “to all, my unbending word is this: he +who would return for approval must experience difficulties, overcome +dangers and conquer dragons. Those who do not adventure on the quest +will pass outward from this person’s mind.” + +“And those who do will certainly Pass Upward from their own bodies,” + ran the essence of the youth’s inner thoughts. Yet the network of her +unevadable power and presence was upon him; he acquiescently replied: + +“It is accepted. On such an errand difficulties and dangers will not +require any especial search. Yet how many dragons slain will suffice +to win approval?” + +“Crocodile-eyed one!” exclaimed Melodious Vision, surprised into +wrathfulness. “How many--” Here she withdrew in abrupt vehemence. + +“Your progress has been rapid and profound,” remarked Shen Yi, as, +with flattering attention, he accompanied Chang Tao some part of the +way towards the door. “Never before has that one been known to leave a +remark unsaid; I do not altogether despair of seeing her married yet. +As regards the encounter with the dragon--well, in the case of the one +whispering in your ear there was the revered mother of the one whom he +sought. After all, a dragon is soon done with--one way or the other.” + +In such a manner Chang Tao set forth to encounter dragons, assured +that difficulties and dangers would accompany him on either side. In +this latter detail he was inspired, but as the great light faded and +the sky-lantern rose in interminable succession, while the +unconquerable li ever stretched before his expectant feet, the +essential part of the undertaking began to assume a dubious facet. In +the valleys and fertile places he learned that creatures of this part +now chiefly inhabited the higher fastnesses, such regions being more +congenial to their wild and intractable natures. When, however, after +many laborious marches he reached the upper peaks of pathless +mountains the scanty crag-dwellers did not vary in their assertion +that the dragons had for some time past forsaken those heights for the +more settled profusion of the plains. Formerly, in both places they +had been plentiful, and all those whom Chang Tao questioned spoke +openly of many encounters between their immediate forefathers and such +Beings. + +It was in the downcast frame of mind to which the delays in +accomplishing his mission gave rise that Chang Tao found himself +walking side by side with one who bore the appearance of an affluent +merchant. The northernward way was remote and solitary, but seeing +that the stranger carried no outward arms Chang Tao greeted him +suitably and presently spoke of the difficulty of meeting dragons, or +of discovering their retreats from dwellers in that region. + +“In such delicate matters those who know don’t talk, and those who +talk don’t know,” replied the other sympathetically. “Yet for what +purpose should one who would pass as a pacific student seek to +encounter dragons?” + +“For a sufficient private reason it is necessary that I should kill a +certain number,” replied Chang Tao freely. “Thus their absence +involves me in much ill-spared delay.” + +At this avowal the stranger’s looks became more sombre, and he +breathed inwards several times between his formidable teeth before he +made reply. + +“This is doubtless your angle, but there is another; nor is it well to +ignore the saying, ‘Should you miss the tiger be assured that he will +not miss you,’” he remarked at length. “Have you sufficiently +considered the eventuality of a dragon killing you?” + +“It is no less aptly said: ‘To be born is in the course of nature, but +to die is according to the decree of destiny.’” + +“That is a two-edged weapon, and the dragon may be the first to apply +it.” + +“In that case this person will fall back upon the point of the adage: +‘It is better to die two years too soon than to live one year too +long,’” replied Chang Tao. “Should he fail in the adventure and thus +lose all hope of Melodious Vision, of the house of Shen, there will be +no further object in prolonging a wearisome career.” + +“You speak of Melodious Vision, she being of the house of Shen,” said +the stranger, regarding his companion with an added scrutiny. “Is the +unmentioned part of her father’s honourable name Yi, and is his +agreeable house so positioned that it fronts upon a summer-seat domed +with red copper?” + +“The description is exact,” admitted Chang Tao. “Have you, then, in +the course of your many-sided travels, passed that way?” + +“It is not unknown to me,” replied the other briefly. “Learn now how +incautious had been your speech, and how narrowly you have avoided the +exact fate of which I warned you. The one speaking to you is in +reality a powerful dragon, his name being Pe-lung, from the +circumstance that the northern limits are within his sway. Had it not +been for a chance reference you would certainly have been struck dead +at the parting of our ways.” + +“If this is so it admittedly puts a new face upon the matter,” agreed +Chang Tao. “Yet how can reliance be spontaneously placed upon so +incredible a claim? You are a man of moderate cast, neither diffident +nor austere, and with no unnatural attributes. All the dragons with +which history is concerned possess a long body and a scaly skin, and +have, moreover, the power of breathing fire at will.” + +“That is easily put to the test.” No sooner had Pe-lung uttered these +words than he faded, and in his place appeared a formidable monster +possessing all the terror-inspiring characteristics of his kind. Yet +in spite of his tree-like eyebrows, fiercely-moving whiskers and +fire-breathing jaws, his voice was mild and pacific as he continued: +“What further proof can be required? Assuredly, the self-opinionated +spirit in which you conduct your quest will bring you no nearer to a +desired end.” + +“Yet this will!” exclaimed Chang Tao, and suddenly drawing his +reliable sword he drove it through the middle part of the dragon’s +body. So expertly was the thrust weighted that the point of the weapon +protruded on the other side and scarred the earth. Instead of falling +lifeless to the ground, however, the Being continued to regard its +assailant with benignant composure, whereupon the youth withdrew the +blade and drove it through again, five or six times more. As this +produced no effect beyond rendering the edge of the weapon unfit for +further use, and almost paralysing the sinews of his own right arm, +Chang Tao threw away the sword and sat down on the road in order to +recall his breath. When he raised his head again the dragon had +disappeared and Pe-lung stood there as before. + +“Fortunately it is possible to take a broad-minded view of your +uncourteous action, owing to your sense of the fitnesses being for the +time in abeyance through allegiance to so engaging a maiden as +Melodious Vision,” said Pe-lung in a voice not devoid of reproach. +“Had you but confided in me more fully I should certainly have +cautioned you in time. As it is, you have ended by notching your +otherwise capable weapon beyond repair and seriously damaging the +scanty cloak I wear”--indicating the numerous rents that marred his +dress of costly fur. “No wonder dejection sits upon your downcast +brow.” + +“Your priceless robe is a matter of profuse regret and my self-esteem +can only be restored by your accepting in its place this threadbare +one of mine. My rust-eaten sword is unworthy of your second thought. +But certainly neither of these two details is the real reason of my +dark despair.” + +“Disclose yourself more openly,” urged Pe-lung. + +“I now plainly recognize the futility of my well-intentioned quest. +Obviously it is impossible to kill a dragon, and I am thus the sport +either of Melodious Vision’s deliberate ridicule or of my own +ill-arranged presumption.” + +“Set your mind at rest upon that score: each blow was competently +struck and convincingly fatal. You may quite fittingly claim to have +slain half a dozen dragons at the least--none of the legendary +champions of the past has done more.” + +“Yet how can so arrogant a claim be held, seeing that you stand before +me in the unimpaired state of an ordinary existence?” + +“The explanation is simple and assuring. It is, in reality, very easy +to kill a dragon, but it is impossible to keep him dead. The reason +for this is that the Five Essential Constituents of fire, water, +earth, wood and metal are blended in our bodies in the Sublime or +Indivisible proportion. Thus although it is not difficult by extreme +violence to disturb the harmonious balance of the Constituents, and so +bring about the effect of no-existence, they at once re-tranquillize +again, and all effect of the ill usage is spontaneously repaired.” + +“That is certainly a logical solution, but it stands in doubtful stead +when applied to the familiar requirements of life; nor is it probable +that one so acute-witted as Melodious Vision would greet the claim +with an acquiescent face,” replied Chang Tao. “Not unnaturally is it +said: ‘He who kills tigers does not wear rat-skin sleeves.’ It would +be one thing to make a boast of having slain six dragons; it would be +quite another to be bidden to bring in their tails.” + +“That is a difficulty which must be considered,” admitted Pe-lung, +“but a path round it will inevitably be found. In the meantime night +is beginning to encircle us, and many dark Powers will be freed and +resort to these inaccessible slopes. Accompany me, therefore, to my +bankrupt hovel, where you will be safe until you care to resume your +journey.” + +To this agreeable proposal Chang Tao at once assented. The way was +long and laborious, “For,” remarked Pe-lung, “in an ordinary course I +should fly there in a single breath of time; but to seize an honoured +guest by the body-cloth and thus transfer him over the side of a +mountain is toilsome to the one and humiliating to the other.” + +To beguile the time he spoke freely of the hardships of his lot. + +“We dragons are frequently objects of envy at the hands of the +undiscriminating, but the few superficial privileges we enjoy are +heavily balanced by the exacting scope of our duties. Thus to-night it +is my degraded task to divert the course of the river flowing below +us, so as to overwhelm the misguided town of Yang, wherein swells a +sordid outcast who has reviled the Sacred Claw. In order to do this +properly it will be my distressing part to lie across the bed of the +stream, my head resting upon one bank and my tail upon the other, and +so remain throughout the rigour of the night.” + +As they approached the cloudy pinnacle whereon was situated the +dragon’s cave, one came forth at a distance to meet them. As she drew +near, alternating emotions from time to time swayed Chang Tao’s mind. +From beneath a well-ruled eyebrow Pe-lung continued to observe him +closely. + +“Fuh-sang, the unattractive daughter of my dwindling line,” remarked +the former person, with refined indifference. “I have rendered you +invisible, and she, as her custom is, would advance to greet me.” + +“But this enchanting apparition is Melodious Vision!” exclaimed Chang +Tao. “What new bewilderment is here?” + +“Since you have thus expressed yourself, I will now throw off the mask +and reveal fully why I have hitherto spared your life, and for what +purpose I have brought you to these barren heights,” replied Pe-lung. +“In the past Shen Yi provoked the Deities, and to mark their +displeasure it was decided to take away his she-child and to +substitute for it one of demoniac birth. Accordingly Fuh-sang, being +of like age, was moulded to its counterpart, and an attendant gnome +was despatched with her secretly to make the change. Becoming +overwhelmed with the fumes of rice-spirit, until then unknown to his +simple taste, this clay-brained earth-pig left the two she-children +alone for a space while he slept. Discovering each other to be the +creature of another part, they battled together and tore from one +another the signs of recognition. When the untrustworthy gnome +recovered from his stupor he saw what he had done, but being +terror-driven he took up one of the she-children at a venture and +returned with a pliant tale. It was not until a few moons ago that +while in a close extremity he confessed his crime. Meanwhile Shen Yi +had made his peace with those Above and the order being revoked the +she-children had been exchanged again. Thus the matter rests.” + +“Which, then, of the twain is she inherent of your house and which +Melodious Vision?” demanded Chang Tao in some concern. “The matter can +assuredly not rest thus.” + +“That,” replied Pe-lung affably, “it will be your engaging task to +unravel, and to this end will be your opportunity of closely watching +Fuh-sang’s unsuspecting movements in my absence through the night.” + +“Yet how should I, to whom the way of either maiden is as yet no more +than the title-page of a many-volumed book, succeed where the father +native to one has failed?” + +“Because in your case the incentive will be deeper. Destined, as you +doubtless are, to espouse Melodious Vision, the Forces connected with +marriage and its Rites will certainly endeavour to inspire you. This +person admittedly has no desire to nurture one who should prove to be +of merely human seed, but your objection to propagating a race of +dragonets turns on a keener edge. Added to all, a not unnatural +disinclination to be dropped from so great a height as this into so +deep and rocky a valley as that will conceivably lend wings to your +usually nimble-footed mind.” + +While speaking to Chang Tao in this encouraging strain, Pe-lung was +also conversing suitably with Fuh-sang, who had by this time joined +them, warning her of his absence until the dawn, and the like. When he +had completed his instruction he stroked her face affectionately, +greeting Chang Tao with a short but appropriate farewell, and changing +his form projected himself downwards into the darkness of the valley +below. Recognizing that the situation into which he had been drawn +possessed no other outlet, Chang Tao followed Fuh-sang on her backward +path, and with her passed unsuspected into the dragon’s cave. + +Early as was Pe-lung’s return on the ensuing morning, Chang Tao stood +on a rocky eminence to greet him, and the outline of his face, though +not altogether free of doubt, was by no means hopeless. Pe-lung still +retained the impressive form of a gigantic dragon as he cleft the +Middle Air, shining and iridescent, each beat of his majestic wings +being as a roll of thunder and the skittering of sand and water from +his crepitant scales leaving blights and rain-storms in his wake. When +he saw Chang Tao he drove an earthward angle and alighting near at +hand considerately changed into the semblance of an affluent merchant +as he approached. + +“Greeting,” he remarked cheerfully. “Did you find your early rice?” + +“It has sufficed,” replied Chang Tao. “How is your own incomparable +stomach?” + +Pe-lung pointed to the empty bed of the deflected river and moved his +head from side to side as one who draws an analogy to his own +condition. “But of your more pressing enterprise,” he continued, with +sympathetic concern: “have you persevered to a fruitful end, or will +it be necessary--?” And with tactful feeling he indicated the gesture +of propelling an antagonist over the side of a precipice rather than +allude to the disagreeable contingency in spoken words. + +“When the oil is exhausted the lamp goes out,” admitted Chang Tao, +“but my time is not yet come. During the visionary watches of the +night my poising mind was sustained by Forces as you so presciently +foretold, and my groping hand was led to an inspired solution of the +truth.” + +“This points to a specific end. Proceed,” urged Pe-lung, for Chang Tao +had hesitated among his words as though their import might not be +soothing to the other’s mind. + +“Thus it is given me to declare: she who is called Melodious Vision is +rightly of the house of Shen, and Fuh-sang is no less innate of your +exalted tribe. The erring gnome, in spite of his misdeed, was but a +finger of the larger hand of destiny, and as it is, it is.” + +“This assurance gladdens my face, no less for your sake than for my +own,” declared Pe-lung heartily. “For my part, I have found a way to +enlarge you in the eyes of those whom you solicit. It is a custom with +me that every thousand years I should discard my outer skin--not that +it requires it, but there are certain standards to which we +better-class dragons must conform. These sloughs are hidden beneath a +secret stone, beyond the reach of the merely vain or curious. When you +have disclosed the signs by which I shall have securance of Fuh-sang’s +identity I will pronounce the word and the stone being thus released +you shall bear away six suits of scales in token of your prowess.” + +Then replied Chang Tao: “The signs, assuredly. Yet, omnipotence, +without your express command the specific detail would be elusive to +my respectful tongue.” + +“You have the authority of my extended hand,” conceded Pe-lung +readily, raising it as he spoke. “Speak freely.” + +“I claim the protection of its benignant shadow,” said Chang Tao, with +content. “You, O Pe-lung, are one who has mingled freely with +creatures of every kind in all the Nine Spaces. Yet have you not, out +of your vast experience thus gained, perceived the essential wherein +men and dragons differ? Briefly and devoid of graceful metaphor, every +dragon, esteemed, would seem to possess a tail; beings of my part have +none.” + +For a concise moment the nature of Pe-lung’s reflection was clouded in +ambiguity, though the fact that he became entirely enveloped in a +dense purple vapour indicated feelings of more than usual vigour. When +this cleared away it left his outer form unchanged indeed, but the +affable condescension of his manner was merged into one of dignified +aloofness. + +“Certainly all members of our enlightened tribe have tails,” he +replied, with distant precision, “nor does this one see how any other +state is possible. Changing as we constantly do, both male and female, +into Beings, Influences, Shadows and unclothed creatures of the lower +parts, it is essential for our mutual self-esteem that in every +manifestation we should be thus equipped. At this moment, though in +the guise of a substantial trader, I possess a tail--small but +adequate. Is it possible that you and those of your insolvent race are +destitute?” + +“In this particular, magnificence, I and those of my threadbare +species are most lamentably deficient. To the proving of this end +shall I display myself?” + +“It is not necessary,” said Pe-lung coldly. “It is inconceivable that, +were it otherwise, you would admit the humiliating fact.” + +“Yet out of your millenaries of experience you must already--” + +“It is well said that after passing a commonplace object a hundred +times a day, at nightfall its size and colour are unknown to one,” + replied Pe-lung. “In this matter, from motives which cannot have been +otherwise than delicate, I took too much for granted it would +seem. . . . Then you--all--Shen Yi, Melodious Vision, the military +governor of this province, even the sublime Emperor--all--?” + +“All tailless,” admitted Chang Tao, with conscious humility. +“Nevertheless there is a tradition that in distant aeons--” + +“Doubtless on some issue you roused the High Ones past forgiveness and +were thus deprived as the most signal mark of their displeasure.” + +“Doubtless,” assented Chang Tao, with unquenchable politeness. + +“Coming to the correct attitude that you have maintained throughout, it +would appear that during the silent gong-strokes of the night, by some +obscure and indirect guidance it was revealed to you that Fuh--that +any Being of my superior race was, on the contrary--” The menace of +Pe-lung’s challenging eye, though less direct and assured than +formerly, had the manner of being uncertainly restrained by a single +much-frayed thread, but Chang Tao continued to meet it with respectful +self-possession. + +“The inference is unflinching,” he replied acquiescently. “I prostrate +myself expectantly.” + +“You have competently performed your part,” admitted Pe-lung, although +an occasional jet of purple vapour clouded his upper person and the +passage of his breath among his teeth would have been distasteful to +one of sensitive refinement. “Nothing remains but the fulfilling of my +iron word.” + +Thereupon he pronounced a mystic sign and revealing the opening to a +cave he presently brought forth six sets of armoured skin. Binding +these upon Chang Tao’s back, he dismissed him, yet the manner of his +parting was as of one who is doubtful even to the end. + +Thus equipped-- + +But who having made a distant journey into Outer Land speaks lengthily +of the level path of his return, or of the evening glow upon the +gilded roof of his awaiting home? Thus, this limit being reached in +the essential story of Chang Tao, Melodious Vision and the Dragon, he +who relates their commonplace happenings bows submissively. + +Nevertheless it is true that once again in a later time Chang Tao +encountered in the throng one whom he recognized. Encouraged by the +presence of so many of his kind, he approached the other and saluted +him. + +“Greeting, O Pe-lung,” he said, with outward confidence. “What bends +your footsteps to this busy place of men?” + +“I come to buy an imitation pig-tail to pass for one,” replied +Pe-lung, with quiet composure. “Greeting, valorous champion! How fares +Melodious Vision?” + +“Agreeably so,” admitted Chang Tao, and then, fearing that so far his +reply had been inadequate, he added: “Yet, despite the facts, there +are moments when this person almost doubts if he did not make a wrong +decision in the matter after all.” + +“That is a very common complaint,” said Pe-lung, becoming most +offensively amused. + + + + CHAPTER IX + + The Propitious Dissension between Two whose General + Attributes have already been sufficiently Described + +When Kai Lung had related the story of Chang Tao and had made an end +of speaking, those who were seated there agreed with an undivided +voice that he had competently fulfilled his task. Nor did Shan Tien +omit an approving word, adding: + +“On one point the historical balance of a certain detail seemed open +to contention. Accompany me, therefore, to my own severe retreat, +where this necessarily flat and unentertaining topic can be looked at +from all round.” + +When they were alone together the Mandarin unsealed a jar of wine, +apportioned melon seeds, and indicated to Kai Lung that he should sit +upon the floor at a suitable distance from himself. + +“So long as we do not lose sight of the necessity whereby my official +position will presently involve me in condemning you to a painful +death, and your loyal subjection will necessitate your whole-hearted +co-operation in the act, there is no reason why the flower of literary +excellence should wither for lack of mutual husbandry,” remarked the +broad-minded official tolerantly. + +“Your enlightened patronage is a continual nourishment to the soil of +my imagination,” replied the story teller. + +“As regards the doings of Chang Tao and of the various other +personages who unite with him to form the fabric of the narrative, +would not a strict adherence to the fable in its classical simplicity +require the filling in of certain details which under your elusive +tongue seemed, as you proceeded, to melt imperceptibly into a discreet +background?” + +“Your voice is just,” confessed Kai Lung, “and your harmonious ear +corrects the deficiencies of my afflicted style. Admittedly in the +story of Chang Tao there are here and there analogies which may be +fittingly left to the imagination as the occasion should demand. Is it +not rightly said: ‘Discretion is the handmaiden of Truth’? and in that +spacious and well-appointed palace there is every kind of vessel, but +the meaner are not to be seen in the more ceremonial halls. Thus he +who tells a story prudently suits his furnishing to the condition of +his hearers.” + +“Wisdom directs your course,” replied Shan Tien, “and propriety sits +beneath your supple tongue. As the necessity for this very seemly +expurgation is now over, I would myself listen to your recital of the +fullest and most detailed version--purely, let it be freely stated, in +order to judge whether its literary qualities transcend those of the +other.” + +“I comply, benevolence,” replied Kai Lung. “This rendering shall be to +the one that has gone before as a spreading banyan-tree overshadowing +an immature shrub.” + +“Forbear!” exclaimed a discordant voice, and the sour-eyed Ming-shu +revealed his inopportune presence from behind a hanging veil. “Is it +meet, O eminence, that in this person’s absence you should thus +consort on terms of fraternity with tomb-riflers and grain-thieves?” + +“The reproach is easily removed,” replied Shan Tien hospitably. “Join +the circle of our refined felicity and hear at full length by what +means the ingenious Chang Tao--” + +“There are moments when one despairs before the spectacle of authority +thus displayed,” murmured Ming-shu, his throat thickening with +acrimony. “Understand, pre-eminence,” he continued more aloud, “that +not this one’s absence but your own presence is the distressing +feature, as being an obstacle in the path of that undeviating justice +in which our legal system is embedded. From the first moment of our +encountering it had been my well-intentioned purpose that loyal +confidence should be strengthened and rebellion cowed by submitting +this opportune but otherwise inoffensive stranger to a sordid and +degrading end. Yet how shall this beneficent example be attained if on +every occasion--” + +“Your design is a worthy and enlightened one,” interposed the +Mandarin, with dignity. “What you have somewhat incapably overlooked, +Ming-shu, is the fact that I never greet this intelligent and +painstaking young man without reminding him of the imminence of his +fate and of his suitability for it.” + +“Truth adorns your lips and accuracy anoints your palate,” + volunteered Kai Lung. + +“Be this as the destinies permit, there is much that is circuitous in +the bending of events,” contended Ming-shu stubbornly. “Is it by +chance or through some hidden tricklage that occasion always finds Kai +Lung so adequately prepared?” + +“It is, as the story of Chang Tao has this day justified, and as this +discriminating person has frequently maintained, that the one in +question has a story framed to meet the requirement of every +circumstance,” declared Shan Tien. + +“Or that each requirement is subtly shaped to meet his preparation,” + retorted Ming-shu darkly. “Be that as it shall perchance ultimately +appear, it is undeniable that your admitted weaknesses--” + +“Weaknesses!” exclaimed the astonished Mandarin, looking around the +room as though to discover in what crevice the unheard-of attributes +were hidden. “This person’s weaknesses? Can the sounding properties of +this ill-constructed roof thus pervert one word into the semblance of +another? If not, the bounds set to the admissible from the taker-down +of the spoken word, Ming-shu, do not in their most elastic moods +extend to calumny and distortion. . . . The one before you has no +weaknesses. . . . Doubtless before another moon has changed you will +impute to him actual faults!” + +“Humility directs my gaze,” replied Ming-shu, with downcast eyes, and +he plainly recognized that his presumption had been too maintained. +“Yet,” he added, with polished irony, “there is a well-timed adage +that rises to the lips: ‘Do not despair; even Yuen Yan once cast a +missile at the Tablets!’” + +“Truly,” agreed Shan Tien, with smooth concurrence, “the line is not +unknown to me. Who, however, was the one in question and under what +provocation did he so behave?” + +“That is beyond the province of the saying,” replied Ming-shu. “Nor is +it known to my remembrance.” + +“Then out of your own mouth a fitting test is set, which if Kai Lung +can agreeably perform will at once demonstrate a secret and a guilty +confederacy between you both. Proceed, O story-teller, to incriminate +Ming-shu together with yourself!” + +“I proceed, High Excellence, but chiefly to the glorification of your +all-discerning mind,” replied Kai Lung. + + + The Story of Yuen Yan, of the Barber Chou-hu, + and His Wife Tsae-che + +“Do not despair; even Yuen Yan once cast a missile at the Tablets,” is +a proverb of encouragement well worn throughout the Empire; but +although it is daily on the lips of some it is doubtful if a single +person could give an intelligent account of the Yuen Yan in question +beyond repeating the outside facts that he was of a humane and +consistent disposition and during the greater part of his life +possessed every desirable attribute of wealth, family and virtuous +esteem. If more closely questioned with reference to the specific +incident alluded to, these persons would not hesitate to assert that +the proverb was not to be understood in so superficial a sense, +protesting, with much indignation, that Yuen Yan was of too courteous +and lofty a nature to be guilty of so unseemly an action, and +contemptuously inquiring what possible reason one who enjoyed every +advantage in this world and every prospect of an unruffled felicity in +The Beyond could have for behaving in so outrageous a manner. This +explanation by no means satisfied the one who now narrates, and after +much research he has brought to light the forgotten story of Yuen +Yan’s early life, which may be thus related. + +At the period with which this part of the narrative is concerned, Yuen +Yan dwelt with his mother in one of the least attractive of the arches +beneath the city wall. As a youth it had been his intention to take an +exceptionally high place in the public examinations, and, rising at +once to a position of responsible authority, to mark himself out for +continual promotion by the exercise of unfailing discretion and +indomitable zeal. Having saved his country in a moment of acute +national danger, he contemplated accepting a title of unique +distinction and retiring to his native province, where he would build +an adequate palace which he had already planned out down to the most +trivial detail. There he purposed spending the remainder of his life, +receiving frequent tokens of regard from the hand of the gratified +Emperor, marrying an accomplished and refined wife who would doubtless +be one of the princesses of the Imperial House, and conscientiously +regarding The Virtues throughout. The transition from this sumptuously +contrived residence to a damp arch in the city wall, and from the high +destiny indicated to the occupation of leading from place to place a +company of sightless mendicants, had been neither instantaneous nor +painless, but Yuen Yan had never for a moment wavered from the +enlightened maxims which he had adopted as his guiding principles, nor +did he suffer unending trials to lessen his reverence for The Virtues. +“Having set out with the full intention of becoming a wealthy +mandarin, it would have been a small achievement to have reached that +position with unshattered ideals,” he frequently remarked; “but having +thus set out it is a matter for more than ordinary congratulation to +have fallen to the position of leading a string of blind beggars about +the city and still to retain unimpaired the ingenuous beliefs and +aspirations of youth.” + +“Doubtless,” replied his aged mother, whenever she chanced to overhear +this honourable reflection, “doubtless the foolish calf who innocently +puts his foot into the jelly finds a like consolation. This person, +however, would gladly exchange the most illimitable moral satisfaction +engendered by acute poverty for a few of the material comforts of a +sordid competence, nor would she hesitate to throw into the balance +all the aspirations and improving sayings to be found within the +Classics.” + +“Esteemed mother,” protested Yan, “more than three thousand years ago +the royal philosopher Nin-hyo made the observation: ‘Better an +earth-lined cave from which the stars are visible than a golden pagoda +roofed over with iniquity,’ and the saying has stood the test of +time.” + +“The remark would have carried a weightier conviction if the +broad-minded sovereign had himself first stood the test of lying for a +few years with enlarged joints and afflicted bones in the abode he so +prudently recommended for others,” replied his mother, and without +giving Yuen Yan any opportunity of bringing forward further proof of +their highly-favoured destiny she betook herself to her own straw at +the farthest end of the arch. + +Up to this period of his life Yuen Yan’s innate reverence and courtesy +of manner had enabled him to maintain an impassive outlook in the face +of every discouragement, but now he was exposed to a fresh series of +trials in addition to the unsympathetic attitude which his mother +never failed to unroll before him. It has already been expressed that +Yuen Yan’s occupation and the manner by which he gained his livelihood +consisted in leading a number of blind mendicants about the streets of +the city and into the shops and dwelling-places of those who might +reasonably be willing to pay in order to be relieved of their +presence. In this profession Yan’s venerating and custom-regarding +nature compelled him to act as leaders of blind beggars had acted +throughout all historical times and far back into the dim recesses of +legendary epochs and this, in an era when the leisurely habits of the +past were falling into disuse, and when rivals and competitors were +springing up on all sides, tended almost daily to decrease the +proceeds of his labour and to sow an insidious doubt even in his +unquestioning mind. + +In particular, among those whom Yan regarded most objectionably was +one named Ho. Although only recently arrived in the city from a +country beyond the Bitter Water, Ho was already known in every quarter +both to the merchants and stallkeepers, who trembled at his +approaching shadow, and to the competing mendicants who now counted +their cash with two fingers where they had before needed both hands. +This distressingly active person made no secret of his methods and +intention; for, upon his arrival, he plainly announced that his object +was to make the foundations of benevolence vibrate like the strings of +a many-toned lute, and he compared his general progress through the +haunts of the charitably disposed to the passage of a highly-charged +firework through an assembly of meditative turtles. He was usually +known, he added, as “the rapidly-moving person,” or “the one devoid of +outline,” and it soon became apparent that he was also quite destitute +of all dignified restraint. Selecting the place of commerce of some +wealthy merchant, Ho entered without hesitation and thrusting aside +the waiting customers he continued to strike the boards impatiently +until he gained the attention of the chief merchant himself. +“Honourable salutations,” he would say, “but do not entreat this +illiterate person to enter the inner room, for he cannot tarry to +discuss the movements of the planets or the sublime Emperor’s health. +Behold, for half-a-tael of silver you may purchase immunity from his +discreditable persistence for seven days; here is the acknowledgement +duly made out and attested. Let the payment be made in pieces of metal +and not in paper obligations.” Unless immediate compliance followed Ho +at once began noisily to cast down the articles of commerce, to roll +bodily upon the more fragile objects, to become demoniacally possessed +on the floor, and to resort to a variety of expedients until all the +customers were driven forth in panic. + +In the case of an excessively stubborn merchant he had not hesitated +to draw a formidable knife and to gash himself in a superficial but +very imposing manner; then he had rushed out uttering cries of terror, +and sinking down by the door had remained there for the greater part +of the day, warning those who would have entered to be upon their +guard against being enticed in and murdered, at the same time groaning +aloud and displaying his own wounds. Even this seeming disregard of +time was well considered, for when the tidings spread about the city +other merchants did not wait for Ho to enter and greet them, but +standing at their doors money in hand they pressed it upon him the +moment he appeared and besought him to remove his distinguished +presence from their plague-infected street. To the ordinary mendicants +of the city this stress of competition was disastrous, but to Yuen Yan +it was overwhelming. Thoroughly imbued with the deferential systems of +antiquity, he led his band from place to place with a fitting regard +for the requirements of ceremonial etiquette and a due observance of +leisurely unconcern. Those to whom he addressed himself he approached +with obsequious tact, and in the face of refusal to contribute to his +store his most violent expedient did not go beyond marshalling his +company of suppliants in an orderly group upon the shop floor, where +they sang in unison a composed chant extolling the fruits of +munificence and setting forth the evil plight which would certainly +attend the flinty-stomached in the Upper Air. In this way Yuen Yan had +been content to devote several hours to a single shop in the hope of +receiving finally a few pieces of brass money; but now his +persecutions were so mild that the merchants and vendors rather +welcomed him by comparison with the intolerable Ho, and would on no +account pay to be relieved of the infliction of his presence. “Have we +not disbursed in one day to the piratical Ho thrice the sum which we +had set by to serve its purpose for a hand-count of moons; and do we +possess the Great Secret?” they cried. “Nevertheless, dispose your +engaging band of mendicants about the place freely until it suits your +refined convenience to proceed elsewhere, O meritorious Yuen Yan, for +your unassuming qualities have won our consistent regard; but an +insatiable sponge has already been laid upon the well-spring of our +benevolence and the tenacity of our closed hand is inflexible.” + +Even the passive mendicants began to murmur against his leadership, +urging him that he should adopt some of the simpler methods of the +gifted Ho and thereby save them all from an otherwise inevitable +starvation. The Emperor Kai-tsing, said the one who led their voices +(referring in his malignant bitterness to a sovereign of the previous +dynasty), was dead, although the fact had doubtless escaped Yuen Yan’s +deliberate perception. The methods of four thousand years ago were +becoming obsolete in the face of a strenuous competition, and unless +Yuen Yan was disposed to assume a more highly-coiled appearance they +must certainly address themselves to another leader. + +It was on this occasion that the incident took place which has passed +down in the form of an inspiriting proverb. Yuen Yan had +conscientiously delivered at the door of his abode the last of his +company and was turning his footsteps towards his own arch when he +encountered the contumelious Ho, who was likewise returning at the +close of a day’s mendicancy--but with this distinction: that, whereas +Ho was followed by two stalwart attendants carrying between them a +sack full of money, Yan’s share of his band’s enterprise consisted +solely of one base coin of a kind which the charitable set aside for +bestowing upon the blind and quite useless for all ordinary purposes +of exchange. A few paces farther on Yan reached the Temple of the +Unseen Forces and paused for a moment, as his custom was, to cast his +eyes up to the tablets engraved with The Virtues, before which some +devout person nightly hung a lantern. Goaded by a sudden impulse, Yan +looked each way about the deserted street, and perceiving that he was +alone he deliberately extended his out-thrust tongue towards the +inspired precepts. Then taking from an inner sleeve the base coin he +flung it at the inscribed characters and observed with satisfaction +that it struck the verse beginning, “The Rewards of a Quiescent and +Mentally-introspective Life are Unbounded--” + +When Yan entered his arch some hours later his mother could not fail +to perceive that a subtle change had come over his manner of behaving. +Much of the leisurely dignity had melted out of his footsteps, and he +wore his hat and outer garments at an angle which plainly testified +that he was a person who might be supposed to have a marked objection +to returning home before the early hours of the morning. Furthermore, +as he entered he was chanting certain melodious words by which he +endeavoured to convey the misleading impression that his chief +amusement consisted in defying the official watchers of the town, and +he continually reiterated a claim to be regarded as “one of the +beardless goats.” Thus expressing himself, Yan sank down in his +appointed corner and would doubtlessly soon have been floating +peacefully in the Middle Distance had not the door been again thrown +open and a stranger named Chou-hu entered. + +“Prosperity!” said Chou-hu courteously, addressing himself to Yan’s +mother. “Have you eaten your rice? Behold, I come to lay before you a +very attractive proposal regarding your son.” + +“The flower attracts the bee, but when he departs it is to his lips +that the honey clings,” replied the woman cautiously; for after Yan’s +boastful words on entering she had a fear lest haply this person might +be one on behalf of some guardian of the night whom her son had flung +across the street (as he had specifically declared his habitual +treatment of them to be) come to take him by stratagem. + +“Does the pacific lamb become a wolf by night?” said Chou-hu, +displaying himself reassuringly. “Wrap your ears well round my words, +for they may prove very remunerative. It cannot be a matter outside +your knowledge that the profession of conducting an assembly of blind +mendicants from place to place no longer yields the wage of even a +frugal existence in this city. In the future, for all the sympathy +that he will arouse, Yan might as well go begging with a silver bowl. +In consequence of his speechless condition he will be unable to +support either you or himself by any other form of labour, and your +line will thereupon become extinct and your standing in the Upper Air +be rendered intolerable.” + +“It is a remote contingency, but, as the proverb says, ‘The wise hen +is never too old to dread the Spring,’” replied Yan’s mother, with +commendable prudence. “By what means, then, may this calamity be +averted?” + +“The person before you,” continued Chou-hu, “is a barber and +embellisher of pig-tails from the street leading to the Three-tiered +Pagoda of Eggs. He has long observed the restraint and moderation of +Yan’s demeanour and now being in need of one to assist him his +earliest thought turns to him. The affliction which would be an +insuperable barrier in all ordinary cases may here be used to +advantage, for being unable to converse with those seated before him, +or to hear their salutations, Yan will be absolved from the necessity +of engaging in diffuse and refined conversation, and in consequence he +will submit at least twice the number of persons to his dexterous +energies. In that way he will secure a higher reward than this person +could otherwise afford and many additional comforts will doubtless +fall into the sleeve of his engaging mother.” + +At this point the woman began to understand that the sense in which +Chou-hu had referred to Yan’s speechless condition was not that which +she had at the time deemed it to be. It may here be made clear that it +was Yuen Yan’s custom to wear suspended about his neck an inscribed +board bearing the words, “Speechless, and devoid of the faculty of +hearing,” but this originated out of his courteous and deferential +nature (for to his self-obliterative mind it did not seem respectful +that he should appear to be better endowed than those whom he led), +nor could it be asserted that he wilfully deceived even the passing +stranger, for he would freely enter into conversation with anyone whom +he encountered. Nevertheless an impression had thus been formed in +Chou-hu’s mind and the woman forbore to correct it, thinking that it +would be scarcely polite to assert herself better informed on any +subject than he was, especially as he had spoken of Yan thereby +receiving a higher wage. Yan himself would certainly have revealed +something had he not been otherwise employed. Hearing the conversation +turn towards his afflictions, he at once began to search very +industriously among the straw upon which he lay for the inscribed +board in question; for to his somewhat confused imagination it seemed +at the time that only by displaying it openly could he prove to +Chou-hu that he was in no way deficient. As the board was found on the +following morning nailed to the great outer door of the Hall of Public +Justice (where it remained for many days owing to the official +impression that so bold and undeniable a pronouncement must have +received the direct authority of the sublime Emperor), Yan was not +unnaturally engaged for a considerable time, and in the meanwhile his +mother contrived to impress upon him by an unmistakable sign that he +should reveal nothing, but leave the matter in her hands. + +Then said Yan’s mother: “Truly the proposal is not altogether wanting +in alluring colours, but in what manner will Yan interpret the +commands of those who place themselves before him, when he has +attained sufficient proficiency to be entrusted with the knife and the +shearing irons?” + +“The objection is a superficial one,” replied Chou-hu. “When a person +seats himself upon the operating stool he either throws back his head, +fixing his eyes upon the upper room with a set and resolute air, or +inclines it slightly forward as in a reverent tranquillity. In the +former case he requires his uneven surfaces to be made smooth; in the +latter he is desirous that his pig-tail should be drawn out and +trimmed. Do not doubt Yan’s capability to conduct himself in a +discreet and becoming manner, but communicate to him, by the usual +means which you adopt, the offer thus laid out, and unless he should +be incredibly obtuse or unfilial to a criminal degree he will present +himself at the Sign of the Gilt Thunderbolt at an early hour +to-morrow.” + +There is a prudent caution expressed in the proverb, “The hand that +feeds the ox grasps the knife when it is fattened: crawl backwards +from the presence of a munificent official.” Chou-hu, in spite of his +plausible pretext, would have experienced no difficulty in obtaining +the services of one better equipped to assist him than was Yuen Yan, +so that in order to discover his real object it becomes necessary to +look underneath his words. He was indeed, as he had stated, a barber +and an embellisher of pig-tails, and for many years he had grown rich +and round-bodied on the reputation of being one of the most skilful +within his quarter of the city. In an evil moment, however, he had +abandoned the moderation of his past life and surrounded himself with +an atmosphere of opium smoke and existed continually in the +mind-dimming effects of rice-spirit. From this cause his custom began +to languish; his hand no longer swept in the graceful and unhesitating +curves which had once been the admiration of all beholders, but +displayed on the contrary a very disconcerting irregularity of +movement, and on the day of his visit he had shorn away the venerable +moustaches of the baker Heng-cho under a mistaken impression as to the +reality of things and a wavering vision of their exact position. Now +the baker had been inordinately proud of his long white moustaches and +valued them above all his possessions, so that, invoking the spirits +of his ancestors to behold his degradation and to support him in his +resolve, and calling in all the passers-by to bear witness to his +oath, he had solemnly bound himself either to cut down Chou-hu +fatally, or, should that prove too difficult an accomplishment, to +commit suicide within his shop. This twofold danger thoroughly +stupefied Chou-hu and made him incapable of taking any action beyond +consuming further and more unstinted portions of rice-spirit and +rending article after article of his apparel until his wife Tsae-che +modestly dismissed such persons as loitered, and barred the outer +door. + +“Open your eyes upon the facts by which you are surrounded, O +contemptible Chou-hu,” she said, returning to his side and standing +over him. “Already your degraded instincts have brought us within +measurable distance of poverty, and if you neglect your business to +avoid Heng-cho, actual want will soon beset us. If you remain openly +within his sight you will certainly be removed forcibly to the Upper +Air, leaving this inoffensive person destitute and abandoned, and if +by the exercise of unfailing vigilance you escape both these dangers, +you will be reserved to an even worse plight, for Heng-cho in +desperation will inevitably carry out the latter part of his threat, +dedicating his spirit to the duty of continually haunting you and +frustrating your ambitions here on earth and calling to his assistance +myriads of ancestors and relations to torment you in the Upper Air.” + +“How attractively and in what brilliantly-coloured outlines do you +present the various facts of existence!” exclaimed Chou-hu, with +inelegant resentment. “Do not neglect to add that, to-morrow being the +occasion of the Moon Festival, the inexorable person who owns this +residence will present himself to collect his dues, that, in +consequence of the rebellion in the south, the sagacious viceroy has +doubled the price of opium, that some irredeemable outcast has carried +away this person’s blue silk umbrella, and then doubtless the alluring +picture of internal felicity around the Ancestral Altar of the Gilt +Thunderbolt will be complete.” + +“Light words are easily spoken behind barred doors,” said his wife +scornfully. “Let my lord, then, recline indolently upon the floor of +his inner chamber while this person sumptuously lulls him into +oblivion with the music of her voice, regardless of the morrow and of +the fate in which his apathy involves us both.” + +“By no means!” exclaimed Chou-hu, rising hastily and tearing away much +of his elaborately arranged pigtail in his uncontrollable rage; “there +is yet a more pleasurable alternative than that and one which will +ensure to this person a period of otherwise unattainable domestic calm +and at the same time involve a detestable enemy in confusion. +Anticipating the dull-witted Heng-cho _this_ one will now proceed +across the street and, committing suicide within _his_ door, will +henceforth enjoy the honourable satisfaction of haunting _his_ +footsteps and rending his bakehouses and ovens untenable.” With this +assurance Chou-hu seized one of his most formidable business weapons +and caused it to revolve around his head with great rapidity, but at +the same time with extreme carefulness. + +“There is a ready saying: ‘The new-born lamb does not fear a tiger, +but before he becomes a sheep he will flee from a wolf,’” said +Tsae-che without in any way deeming it necessary to arrest Chou-hu’s +hand. “Full confidently will you set out, O Chou-hu, but to reach the +shop of Heng-cho it is necessary to pass the stall of the dealer in +abandoned articles, and next to it are enticingly spread out the wares +of Kong, the merchant in distilled spirits. Put aside your reliable +scraping iron while you still have it, and this not ill-disposed +person will lay before you a plan by which you may even yet avoid all +inconveniences and at the same time regain your failing commerce.” + +“It is also said: ‘The advice of a wise woman will ruin a walled +city,’” replied Chou-hu, somewhat annoyed at his wife so opportunely +comparing him to a sheep, but still more concerned to hear by what +possible expedient she could successfully avert all the contending +dangers of his position. “Nevertheless, proceed.” + +“In one of the least reputable quarters of the city there dwells a +person called Yuen Yan,” said the woman. “He is the leader of a band +of sightless mendicants and in this position he has frequently passed +your open door, though--probably being warned by the benevolent--he +has never yet entered. Now this Yuen Yan, save for one or two +unimportant details, is the reflected personification of your own +exalted image, nor would those most intimate with your form and +outline be able to pronounce definitely unless you stood side by side +before them. Furthermore, he is by nature unable to hear any remark +addressed to him, and is incapable of expressing himself in spoken +words. Doubtless by these indications my lord’s locust-like +intelligence will already have leapt to an inspired understanding of +the full project?” + +“Assuredly,” replied Chou-hu, caressing himself approvingly. “The +essential details of the scheme are built about the ease with which +this person could present himself at the abode of Yuen Yan in his +absence and, gathering together that one’s store of wealth +unquestioned, retire with it to a distant and unknown spot and thereby +elude the implacable Heng-cho’s vengeance.” + +“Leaving your menial one in the ‘walled city’ referred to, to share +its fate, and, in particular, to undertake the distressing obligation +of gathering up the atrocious Heng-cho after he has carried his final +threat into effect? Truly must the crystal stream of your usually +undimmed intelligence have become vaporized. Listen well. Disguising +your external features slightly so that the resemblance may pass +without remark, present yourself openly at the residence of the Yuen +Yan in question--” + +“First learning where it is situated?” interposed Chou-hu, with a +desire to grasp the details competently. + +“Unless a person of your retrospective taste would prefer to leave so +trivial a point until afterwards,” replied his wife in a tone of +concentrated no-sincerity. “In either case, however, having arrived +there, bargain with the one who has authority over Yuen Yan’s +movements, praising his demeanour and offering to accept him into the +honours and profits of your craft. The words of acquiescence should +spring to meet your own, for the various branches of mendicancy are +languishing, and Yuen Yan can have no secret store of wealth. Do not +hesitate to offer a higher wage than you would as an affair of +ordinary commerce, for your safety depends upon it. Having secured +Yan, teach him quickly the unpolished outlines of your business and +then clothing him in robes similar to your own let him take his stand +within the shop and withdraw yourself to the inner chamber. None will +suspect the artifice, and Yuen Yan is manifestly incapable of +betraying it. Heng-cho, seeing him display himself openly, will not +deem it necessary to commit suicide yet, and, should he cut down Yan +fatally, the officials of the street will seize him and your own +safety will be assured. Finally, if nothing particular happens, at +least your prosperity will be increased, for Yuen Yan will prove +_industrious_, _frugal_, _not addicted to excesses_ and in every way +_reliable_, and towards the shop of so exceptional a barber customers +will turn in an unending stream.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Chou-hu, “when you boasted of an inspired scheme +this person for a moment foolishly allowed his mind to contemplate the +possibility of your having accidentally stumbled upon such an +expedient haply, but your suggestion is only comparable with a company +of ducks attempting to cross an ice-bound stream--an excessive outlay +of action but no beneficial progress. Should Yuen Yan freely present +himself here on the morrow, pleading destitution and craving to be +employed, this person will consider the petition with an open head, +but it is beneath his dignity to wait upon so low-class an object.” + Affecting to recollect an arranged meeting of some importance, Chou-hu +then clad himself in other robes, altered the appearance of his face, +and set out to act in the manner already described, confident that the +exact happening would never reach his lesser one’s ears. + +On the following day Yuen Yan presented himself at the door of the +Gilt Thunderbolt, and quickly perfecting himself in the simpler +methods of smoothing surfaces and adorning pig-tails he took his stand +within the shop and operated upon all who came to submit themselves to +his embellishment. To those who addressed him with salutations he +replied by a gesture, tactfully bestowing an agreeable welcome yet at +the same time conveying the impression that he was desirous of +remaining undisturbed in the philosophical reflection upon which he +was engaged. In spite of this it was impossible to lead his mind +astray from any weighty detail, and those who, presuming upon his +absorbed attitude, endeavoured to evade a just payment on any pretext +whatever invariably found themselves firmly but courteously pressed to +the wall by the neck, while a highly polished smoothing blade was +flashed to and fro before their eyes with an action of unmistakable +significance. The number of customers increased almost daily, for Yan +quickly proved himself to be expert above all comparison, while others +came from every quarter of the city to test with their own eyes and +ears the report that had reached them, to the effect that in the +street leading to the Three-tiered Pagoda of Eggs there dwelt a barber +who made no pretence of elegant and refined conversation and who did +not even press upon those lying helpless in his power miraculous +ointments and infallible charm-waters. Thus Chou-hu prospered greatly, +but Yan still obeyed his mother’s warning and raised a mask before his +face so that Chou-hu and his wife never doubted the reality of his +infirmities. From this cause they did not refrain from conversing +together freely before him on subjects of the most poignant detail, +whereby Yan learned much of their past lives and conduct while +maintaining an attitude of impassive unconcern. + +Upon a certain evening in the month when the grass-blades are +transformed into silk-worms Yan was alone in the shop, improving the +edge and reflecting brilliance of some of his implements, when he heard +the woman exclaim from the inner room: “Truly the air from the desert +is as hot and devoid of relief as the breath of the Great Dragon. Let +us repose for the time in the outer chamber.” Whereupon they entered +the shop and seating themselves upon a couch resumed their +occupations, the barber fanning himself while he smoked, his wife +gumming her hair and coiling it into the semblance of a bird with +outstretched wings. + +“The necessity for the elaborate caution of the past no longer +exists,” remarked Chou-hu presently. “The baker Heng-cho is desirous +of becoming one of those who select the paving-stones and regulate the +number of hanging lanterns for the district lying around the +Three-tiered Pagoda. In this ambition he is opposed by Kong, the +distilled-spirit vendor, who claims to be a more competent judge of +paving-stones and hanging lanterns and one who will exercise a +lynx-eyed vigilance upon the public outlay and especially devote +himself to curbing the avarice of those bread-makers who habitually +mix powdered white earth with their flour. Heng-cho is therefore very +concerned that many should bear honourable testimony of his engaging +qualities when the day of trial arrives, and thus positioned he has +inscribed and sent to this person a written message offering a +dignified reconciliation and adding that he is convinced of the +necessity of an enactment compelling all persons to wear a smooth face +and a neatly braided pig-tail.” + +“It is a creditable solution of the matter,” said Tsae-che, speaking +between the ivory pins which she held in her mouth. “Henceforth, then, +you will take up your accustomed stand as in the past?” + +“Undoubtedly,” replied Chou-hu. “Yuen Yan is painstaking, and has +perhaps done as well as could be expected of one of his shallow +intellect, but the absence of suave and high-minded conversation +cannot fail to be alienating the custom of the more polished. Plainly +it is a short-sighted policy for a person to try and evade his destiny. +Yan seems to have been born for the express purpose of leading blind +beggars about the streets of the city and to that profession he must +return.” + +“O distressingly superficial Chou-hu!” exclaimed his wife, “do men +turn willingly from wine to partake of vinegar, or having been clothed +in silk do they accept sackcloth without a struggle? Indeed, your +eyes, which are large to regard your own deeds and comforts, grow +small when they are turned towards the attainments of another. In no +case will Yan return to his mendicants, for his band is by this time +scattered and dispersed. His sleeve being now well lined and his hand +proficient in every detail of his craft, he will erect a stall, +perchance even directly opposite or next to ourselves, and by +subtlety, low charges and diligence he will draw away the greater part +of your custom.” + +“Alas!” cried Chou-hu, turning an exceedingly inferior yellow, “there +is a deeper wisdom in the proverb, ‘Do not seek to escape from a flood +by clinging to a tiger’s tail,’ than appears at a casual glance. Now +that this person is contemplating gathering again into his own hands +the execution of his business, he cannot reasonably afford to employ +another, yet it is an intolerable thought that Yan should make use of +his experience to set up a sign opposed to the Gilt Thunderbolt. +Obviously the only really safe course out of an unpleasant dilemma +will be to slay Yan with as little delay as possible. After receiving +continuous marks of our approval for so long it is certainly very +thoughtless of him to put us to so unpardonable an inconvenience.” + +“It is not an alluring alternative,” confessed Tsae-che, crossing the +room to where Yan was seated in order to survey her hair to greater +advantage in a hanging mirror of three sides composed of burnished +copper; “but there seems nothing else to be done in the difficult +circumstances.” + +“The street is opportunely empty and there is little likelihood of +anyone approaching at this hour,” suggested Chou-hu. “What better +scheme could be devised than that I should indicate to Yan by signs +that I would honour him, and at the same time instruct him further in +the correct pose of some of the recognized attitudes, by making smooth +the surface of his face? Then during the operation I might perchance +slip upon an overripe whampee lying unperceived upon the floor; my +hand--” + +“Ah-_ah_!” cried Tsae-che aloud, pressing her symmetrical fingers +against her gracefully-proportioned ears; “do not, thou dragon-headed +one, lead the conversation to such an extremity of detail, still less +carry the resolution into effect before the very eyes of this +delicately-susceptible person. Now to-morrow, after the midday meal, +she will be journeying as far as the street of the venders of woven +fabrics in order to procure a piece of silk similar to the pearl-grey +robe which she is wearing. The opportunity will be a favourable one, +for to-morrow is the weekly occasion on which you raise the shutters +and deny customers at an earlier hour; and it is really more modest +that one of my impressionable refinement should be away from the house +altogether and not merely in the inner chamber when that which is now +here passes out.” + +“The suggestion is well timed,” replied Chou-hu. “No interruption will +then be possible.” + +“Furthermore,” continued his wife, sprinkling upon her hair a perfumed +powder of gold which made it sparkle as it engaged the light at every +point with a most entrancing lustre, “would it not be desirable to use +a weapon less identified with your own hand? In the corner nearest to +Yan there stands a massive and heavily knotted club which could +afterwards be burned. It would be an easy matter to call the simple +Yan’s attention to some object upon the floor and then as he bent down +suffer him to Pass Beyond.” + +“Assuredly,” agreed Chou-hu, at once perceiving the wisdom of the +change; “also, in that case, there would be less--” + +“_Ah_!” again cried the woman, shaking her upraised finger reprovingly +at Chou-hu (for so daintily endowed was her mind that she shrank from +any of the grosser realities of the act unless they were clothed in +the very gilded flowers of speech). “Desist, O crimson-minded +barbarian! Let us now walk side by side along the river bank and drink +in the soul-stirring melody of the musicians who at this hour will be +making the spot doubly attractive with the concord of stringed woods +and instruments of brass struck with harmonious unison.” + +The scheme for freeing Chou-hu from the embarrassment of Yan’s position +was not really badly arranged, nor would it have failed in most cases, +but the barber was not sufficiently broad-witted to see that many of +the inspired sayings which he used as arguments could be taken in +another light and conveyed a decisive warning to himself. A pleasantly +devised proverb has been aptly compared to a precious jewel, and as +the one has a hundred light-reflecting surfaces, so has the other a +diversity of applications, until it is not infrequently beyond the +comprehension of an ordinary person to know upon which side wisdom and +prudence lie. On the following afternoon Yan was seated in his +accustomed corner when Chou-hu entered the shop with uneven feet. The +barriers against the street had been raised and the outer door was +barred so that none might intrude, while Chou-hu had already carefully +examined the walls to ensure that no crevices remained unsealed. As he +entered he was seeking, somewhat incoherently, to justify himself by +assuring the deities that he had almost changed his mind until he +remembered the many impious acts on Yan’s part in the past, to avenge +which he felt himself to be their duly appointed instrument. +Furthermore, to convince them of the excellence of his motive (and +also to protect himself against the influence of evil spirits) he +advanced repeating the words of an invocation which in his youth he +had been accustomed to say daily in the temple, and thereupon Yan knew +that the moment was at hand. + +“Behold, master!” he exclaimed suddenly, in clearly expressed words, +“something lies at your feet.” + +Chou-hu looked down to the floor and lying before him was a piece of +silver. To his dull and confused faculties it sounded an inaccurate +detail of his pre-arranged plan that Yan should have addressed him, +and the remark itself seemed dimly to remind him of something that he +had intended to say, but he was too involved with himself to be able +to attach any logical significance to the facts and he at once stooped +greedily to possess the coin. Then Yan, who had an unfaltering grasp +upon the necessities of each passing second, sprang agilely forward, +swung the staff, and brought it so proficiently down upon Chou-hu’s +lowered head that the barber dropped lifeless to the ground and the +weapon itself was shattered by the blow. Without a pause Yan clothed +himself with his master’s robes and ornaments, wrapped his own garment +about Chou-hu instead, and opening a stone door let into the ground +rolled the body through so that it dropped down into the cave beneath. +He next altered the binding of his hair a little, cut his lips deeply +for a set purpose, and then reposing upon the couch of the inner +chamber he took up one of Chou-hu’s pipes and awaited Tsae-che’s +return. + +“It is unendurable that they of the silk market should be so +ill-equipped,” remarked Tsae-che discontentedly as she entered. “This +pitiable one has worn away the heels of her sandals in a vain +endeavour to procure a suitable embroidery, and has turned over the +contents of every stall to no material end. How have the events of the +day progressed with you, my lord?” + +“To the fulfilling of a written destiny. Yet in a measure darkly, for +a light has gone out,” replied Yuen Yan. + +“There was no unanticipated divergence?” inquired the woman with +interest and a marked approval of this delicate way of expressing the +operation of an unpleasant necessity. + +“From detail to detail it was as this person desired and contrived,” + said Yan. + +“And, of a surety, this one also?” claimed Tsae-che, with an internal +emotion that something was insidiously changed in which she had no +adequate part. + +“The language may be fully expressed in six styles of writing, but who +shall read the mind of a woman?” replied Yan evasively. “Nevertheless, +in explicit words, the overhanging shadow has departed and the future +is assured.” + +“It is well,” said Tsae-che. “Yet how altered is your voice, and for +what reason do you hold a cloth before your mouth?” + +“The staff broke and a splinter flying upwards pierced my lips,” said +Yan, lowering the cloth. “You speak truly, for the pain attending each +word is by no means slight, and scarcely can this person recognize his +own voice.” + +“Oh, incomparable Chou-hu, how valiantly do you bear your sufferings!” + exclaimed Tsae-che remorsefully. “And while this heedless one has been +passing the time pleasantly in handling rich brocades you have been +lying here in anguish. Behold now, without delay she will prepare food +to divert your mind, and to mark the occasion she had already +purchased a little jar of gold-fish gills, two eggs branded with the +assurance that they have been earth-buried for eleven years, and a +small serpent preserved in oil.” + +When they had eaten for some time in silence Yuen Yan again spoke. +“Attend closely to my words,” he said, “and if you perceive any +disconcerting oversight in the scheme which I am about to lay before +you do not hesitate to declare it. The threat which Heng-cho the baker +swore he swore openly, and many reputable witnesses could be gathered +together who would confirm his words, while the written message of +reconciliation which he sent will be known to none. Let us therefore +take that which lies in the cave beneath and clothing it in my robes +bear it unperceived as soon as the night has descended and leave it in +the courtyard of Heng-cho’s house. Now Heng-cho has a fig plantation +outside the city, so that when he rises early, as his custom is, and +finds the body, he will carry it away to bury it secretly there, +remembering his impetuous words and well knowing the net of entangling +circumstances which must otherwise close around him. At that moment +you will appear before him, searching for your husband, and suspecting +his burden raise an outcry that may draw the neighbours to your side +if necessary. On this point, however, be discreetly observant, for if +the tumult calls down the official watch it will go evilly with +Heng-cho, but we shall profit little. The greater likelihood is that +as soon as you lift up your voice the baker will implore you to +accompany him back to his house so that he may make a full and +honourable compensation. This you will do, and hastening the +negotiation as much as is consistent with a seemly regard for your +overwhelming grief, you will accept not less than five hundred taels +and an undertaking that a suitable funeral will be provided.” + +“O thrice-versatile Chou-hu!” exclaimed Tsae-che, whose eyes had +reflected an ever-increasing sparkle of admiration as Yan unfolded the +details of his scheme, “how insignificant are the minds of others +compared with yours! Assuredly you have been drinking at some magic +well in this one’s absence, for never before was your intellect so +keen and lustreful. Let us at once carry your noble stratagem into +effect, for this person’s toes vibrate to bear her on a project of +such remunerative ingenuity.” + +Accordingly they descended into the cave beneath and taking up Chou-hu +they again dressed him in his own robes. In his inner sleeve Yan +placed some parchments of slight importance; he returned the jade +bracelet to his wrist and by other signs he made his identity +unmistakable; then lifting him between them, when the night was well +advanced, they carried him through unfrequented ways and left him +unperceived within Heng-cho’s gate. + +“There is yet another precaution which will ensure to you the +sympathetic voices of all if it should become necessary to appeal +openly,” said Yuen Yan when they had returned. “I will make out a deed +of final intention conferring all I possess upon Yuen Yan as a mark of +esteem for his conscientious services, and this you can produce if +necessary in order to crush the niggard baker in the wine-press of +your necessitous destitution.” Thereupon Yan drew up such a document +as he had described, signing it with Chou-hu’s name and sealing it +with his ring, while Tsae-che also added her sign and attestation. He +then sent her to lurk upon the roof, strictly commanding her to keep +an undeviating watch upon Heng-cho’s movements. + +It was about the hour before dawn when Heng-cho appeared, bearing +across his back a well-filled sack and carrying in his right hand a +spade. His steps were turned towards the fig orchard of which Yan had +spoken, so that he must pass Chou-hu’s house, but before he reached it +Tsae-che had glided out and with loosened hair and trailing robes she +sped along the street. Presently there came to Yuen Yan’s waiting ear +a long-drawn cry and the sounds of many shutters being flung open and +the tread of hurrying feet. The moments hung about him like the wings +of a dragon-dream, but a prudent restraint chained him to the inner +chamber. + +It was fully light when Tsae-che returned, accompanied by one whom she +dismissed before she entered. “Felicity,” she explained, placing +before Yan a heavy bag of silver. “Your word has been accomplished.” + +“It is sufficient,” replied Yan in a tone from which every tender +modulation was absent, as he laid the silver by the side of the +parchment which he had drawn up. “For what reason is the outer door +now barred and they who drink tea with us prevented from entering to +wish Yuen Yan prosperity?” + +“Strange are my lord’s words, and the touch of his breath is cold to +his menial one,” said the woman in doubting reproach. + +“It will scarcely warm even the roots of Heng-cho’s fig-trees,” + replied Yuen Yan with unveiled contempt. “Stretch across your hand.” + +In trembling wonder Tsae-che laid her hand upon the ebony table which +stood between them and slowly advanced it until Yan seized it and held +it firmly in his own. For a moment he held it, compelling the woman to +gaze with a soul-crushing dread into his face, then his features +relaxed somewhat from the effort by which he had controlled them, and +at the sight Tsae-che tore away her hand and with a scream which +caused those outside to forget the memory of every other cry they had +ever heard, she cast herself from the house and was seen in the city +no more. + +These are the pages of the forgotten incident in the life of Yuen Yan +which this narrator has sought out and discovered. Elsewhere, in the +lesser Classics, it may be read that the person in question afterwards +lived to a venerable age and finally Passed Above surrounded by every +luxury, after leading an existence consistently benevolent and marked +by an even exceptional adherence to the principles and requirements of +The Virtues. + + + + CHAPTER X + + The Incredible Obtuseness of Those who had Opposed + the Virtuous Kai Lung + +It was later than the appointed hour that same day when Kai Lung and +Hwa-mei met about the shutter, for the Mandarin’s importunity had +disturbed the harmonious balance of their fixed arrangement. As the +story-teller left the inner chamber a message of understanding, veiled +from those who stood around, had passed between their eyes, and so +complete was the sympathy that now directed them that without a spoken +word their plans were understood. Li-loe’s acquiescence had been +secured by the bestowal of a flask of wine (provided already by +Hwa-mei against such an emergency), and though the door-keeper had +indicated reproach by a variety of sounds, he forbore from speaking +openly of any vaster store. + +“Let the bitterness of this one’s message be that which is first +spoken, so that the later and more enduring words of our remembrance +may be devoid of sting. A star has shone across my mediocre path which +now an envious cloud has conspired to obscure. This meeting will +doubtless be our last.” + +Then replied Kai Lung from the darkness of the space above, his voice +unhurried as its wont: + +“If this is indeed the end, then to the spirits of the destinies I +prostrate myself in thanks for those golden hours that have gone +before, and had there been no others to recall then would I equally +account myself repaid in life and death by this.” + +“My words ascend with yours in a pale spiral to the bosom of the +universal mother,” Hwa-mei made response. “I likewise am content, +having tasted this felicity.” + +“There is yet one other thing, esteemed, if such a presumption is to +be endured,” Kai Lung ventured to request. “Each day a stone has been +displaced from off the wall and these now lie about your gentle feet. +If you should inconvenience yourself to the extent of standing upon +the mound thus raised, and would stretch up your hand, I, leaning +forth, could touch it with my finger-tips.” + +“This also will I dare to do and feel it no reproach,” replied +Hwa-mei; thus for the first time their fingers met. + +“Let me now continue the ignoble message that my unworthy lips must +bear,” resumed the maiden, with a gesture of refined despair. +“Ming-shu and Shan Tien, recognizing a mutual need in each, have +agreed to forego their wordy strife and have entered upon a common +cause. To mark this reconciliation the Mandarin to-morrow night will +make a feast of wine and song in honour of Ming-shu and into this +assembly you will be led, bound and wearing the wooden cang, to +contribute to their offensive mirth. To this end you will not be +arraigned to-morrow, but on the following morning at a special court +swift sentence will be passed and carried out, neither will Shan Tien +suffer any interruption nor raise an arresting hand.” + +The darkness by this time encompassed them so that neither could see +the other’s face, but across the scent-laden air Hwa-mei was conscious +of a subtle change, as of a poise or the tightening of a responsive +cord. + +“This is the end?” she whispered up, unable to sustain. “Ah, is it not +the end?” + +“In the high wall of destiny that bounds our lives there is ever a +hidden gap to which the Pure Ones may guide our unconscious steps +perchance, if they see fit to intervene. . . . So that to-morrow, +being the eleventh of the Moon of Gathering-in, is to be celebrated by +the noble Mandarin with song and wine? Truly the nimble-witted +Ming-shu must have slumbered by the way!” + +“Assuredly he has but now returned from a long journey.” + +“Haply he may start upon a longer. Have the musicians been commanded +yet?” + +“Even now one goes to inform the leader of their voices and to bid him +hold his band in readiness.” + +“Let it be your continual aim that nothing bars their progress. Where +does that just official dwell of whom you lately spoke?” + +“The Censor K’o-yih, he who rebuked Shan Tien’s ambitions and made him +mend his questionable life? His yamen is about the Three-eyed Gate of +Tai, a half-day’s journey to the south.” + +“The lines converge and the issues of Shan Tien, Ming-shu and we who +linger here will presently be brought to a very decisive point where +each must play a clear-cut part. To that end is your purpose firm?” + +“Lay your commands,” replied Hwa-mei steadfastly, “and measure not the +burden of their weight.” + +“It is well,” agreed Kai Lung. “Let Shan Tien give the feast and the +time of acquiescence will have passed. . . . The foothold of to-morrow +looms insecure, yet a very pressing message must meanwhile reach your +hands.” + +“At the feast?” + +“Thus: about the door of the inner hall are two great jars of shining +brass, one on either side, and at their approach a step. Being led, at +that step I shall stumble. . . . the message you will thereafter find +in the jar from which I seek support.” + +“It shall be to me as your spoken word. Alas! the moment of recall is +already here.” + +“Doubt not; we stand on the edge of an era that is immeasurable. For +that emergency I now go to consult the spirits who have so far guided +us.” + +On the following day at an evening hour Kai Lung received an imperious +summons to accompany one who led him to the inner courts. Yet neither +the cords about his arms nor the pillory around his neck could contain +the gladness of his heart. From within came the sounds of instruments +of wood and string with the measured beating of a drum; nothing had +fallen short, for on that forbidden day, incredibly blind to the +depths of his impiety, the ill-starred Mandarin Shan Tien was having +music! + +“Gall of a misprocured she-mule!” exclaimed the unsympathetic voice of +the one who had charge of him, and the rope was jerked to quicken his +loitering feet. In an effort to comply Kai Lung missed the step that +crossed his path and stumbling blindly forward would have fallen had +he not struck heavily against a massive jar of lacquered brass, one of +two that flanked the door. + +“Thy province is to tell a tale rather than to dance a grotesque, as I +understand the matter,” said the attendant, mollified by the +amusement. “In any case, restrain thy admitted ardour for a while; +the call is not yet for us.” + +From a group that stood apart some distance from the door one moved +forth and leisurely crossed the hall. Kai Lung’s wounded head ceased +to pain him. + +“What slave is this,” she demanded of the other in a slow and level +tone, “and wherefore do the two of you intrude on this occasion?” + +“The exalted lord commands that this one of the prisoners should +attend here thus, to divert them with his fancies, he having a certain +wit of the more foolish kind. Kai Lung, the dog’s name is.” + +“Approach yet nearer to the inner door,” enjoined the maiden, +indicating the direction; “so that when the message comes there shall +be no inept delay.” As they moved off to obey she stood in languid +unconcern, leaning across the opening of a tall brass vase, one hand +swinging idly in its depths, until they reached their station. Kai +Lung did not need his eyes to know. + +Presently the music ceased, and summoned to appear in turn, Kai Lung +stood forth among the guests. On the right hand of the Mandarin +reclined the base Ming-shu, his mind already vapoury with the fumes of +wine, the secret malice of his envious mind now boldly leaping from +his eyes. + +“The overrated person now about to try your refined patience to its +limit is one who calls himself Kai Lung,” declared Ming-shu +offensively. “From an early age he has combined minstrelsy with other +and more lucrative forms of crime. It is the boast of this +contumacious mendicant that he can recite a story to fit any set of +circumstances, this, indeed, being the only merit claimed for his +feeble entertainment. The test selected for your tolerant amusement on +this very second-rate occasion is that he relates the story of a +presuming youth who fixes his covetous hopes upon one so far above his +degraded state that she and all who behold his uncouth efforts are +consumed by helpless laughter. Ultimately he is to be delivered to a +severe but well-earned death by a conscientious official whose +leisurely purpose is to possess the maiden for himself. Although +occasionally bordering on the funereal, the details of the narrative +are to be of a light and gravity-removing nature on the whole. +Proceed.” + +The story-teller made obeisance towards the Mandarin, whose face +meanwhile revealed a complete absence of every variety of emotion. + +“Have I your genial permission to comply, nobility?” he asked. + +“The word is spoken,” replied Shan Tien unwillingly. “Let the vaunt be +justified.” + +“I obey, High Excellence. This involves the story of Hien and the +Chief Examiner.” + + + The Story of Hien and the Chief Examiner + +In the reign of the Emperor K’ong there lived at Ho Chow an official +named Thang-li, whose degree was that of Chief Examiner of Literary +Competitions for the district. He had an only daughter, Fa Fei, whose +mind was so liberally stored with graceful accomplishments as to give +rise to the saying that to be in her presence was more refreshing than +to sit in a garden of perfumes listening to the wisdom of seven +elderly philosophers, while her glossy floating hair, skin of crystal +lustre, crescent nails and feet smaller and more symmetrical than an +opening lotus made her the most beautiful creature in all Ho Chow. +Possessing no son, and maintaining an open contempt towards all his +nearer relations, it had become a habit for Thang-li to converse with +his daughter almost on terms of equality, so that she was not +surprised on one occasion, when, calling her into his presence, he +graciously commanded her to express herself freely on whatever subject +seemed most important in her mind. + +“The Great Middle Kingdom in which we live is not only inhabited by +the most enlightened, humane and courteous-minded race, but is itself +fittingly the central and most desirable point of the Universe, +surrounded by other less favoured countries peopled by races of +pig-tailless men and large-footed women, all destitute of refined +intelligence,” replied Fa Fei modestly. “The sublime Emperor is of all +persons the wisest, purest and--” + +“Undoubtedly,” interrupted Thang-li. “These truths are of gem-like +brilliance, and the ears of a patriotic subject can never be closed to +the beauty and music of their ceaseless repetition. Yet between father +and daughter in the security of an inner chamber there not unnaturally +arise topics of more engrossing interest. For example, now that you +are of a marriageable age, have your eyes turned in the direction of +any particular suitor?” + +“Oh, thrice-venerated sire!” exclaimed Fa Fei, looking vainly round +for some attainable object behind which to conceal her honourable +confusion, “should the thoughts of a maiden dwell definitely on a +matter of such delicate consequence?” + +“They should not,” replied her father; “but as they invariably do, the +speculation is one outside our immediate concern. Nor, as it is your +wonted custom to ascend upon the outside roof at a certain hour of the +morning, is it reasonable to assume that you are ignorant of the +movements of the two young men who daily contrive to linger before +this in no way attractive residence without any justifiable pretext.” + +“My father is all-seeing,” replied Fa Fei in a commendable spirit of +dutiful acquiescence, and also because it seemed useless to deny the +circumstance. + +“It is unnecessary,” said Thang-li. “Surrounded, as he is, by a +retinue of eleven female attendants, it is enough to be all-hearing. +But which of the two has impressed you in the more favourable light?” + +“How can the inclinations of an obedient daughter affect the matter?” + said Fa Fei evasively. “Unless, O most indulgent, it is your amiable +intention to permit me to follow the inspiration of my own unfettered +choice?” + +“Assuredly,” replied the benevolent Thang-li. “Provided, of course, +that the choice referred to should by no evil mischance run in a +contrary direction to my own maturer judgment.” + +“Yet if such an eventuality did haply arise?” persisted Fa Fei. + +“None but the irredeemably foolish spend their time in discussing the +probable sensation of being struck by a thunderbolt,” said Thang-li +more coldly. “From this day forth, also, be doubly guarded in the +undeviating balance of your attitude. Restrain the swallow-like +flights of your admittedly brilliant eyes, and control the movements +of your expressive fan within the narrowest bounds of necessity. This +person’s position between the two is one of exceptional delicacy and +he has by no means yet decided which to favour.” + +“In such a case,” inquired Fa Fei, caressing his pig-tail +persuasively, “how does a wise man act, and by what manner of omens is +he influenced in his decision?” + +“In such a case,” replied Thang-li, “a very wise man does not act; but +maintaining an impassive countenance, he awaits the unrolling of +events until he sees what must inevitably take place. It is thus that +his reputation for wisdom is built up.” + +“Furthermore,” said Fa Fei hopefully, “the ultimate pronouncement +rests with the guarding deities?” + +“Unquestionably,” agreed Thang-li. “Yet, by a venerable custom, the +esteem of the maiden’s parents is the detail to which the suitors +usually apply themselves with the greatest diligence.” + * + +Of the two persons thus referred to by Thang-li, one, Tsin Lung, lived +beneath the sign of the Righteous Ink Brush. By hereditary right Tsin +Lung followed the profession of copying out the more difficult +Classics in minute characters upon parchments so small that an entire +library could be concealed among the folds of a garment, in this +painstaking way enabling many persons who might otherwise have failed +at the public examination, and been driven to spend an idle and +perhaps even dissolute life, to pass with honourable distinction to +themselves and widespread credit to his resourceful system. One +gratified candidate, indeed, had compared his triumphal passage +through the many grades of the competition to the luxurious ease of +being carried in a sedan-chair, and from that time Tsin Lung was +jestingly referred to as a “sedan-chair.” + +It might reasonably be thought that a person enjoying this enviable +position would maintain a loyal pride in the venerable traditions of +his house and suffer the requirements of his craft to become the four +walls of his ambition. Alas! Tsin Lung must certainly have been born +under the influence of a very evil planet, for the literary quality of +his profession did not entice his imagination at all, and his sole and +frequently-expressed desire was to become a pirate. Nothing but the +necessity of obtaining a large sum of money with which to purchase a +formidable junk and to procure the services of a band of capable and +bloodthirsty outlaws bound him to Ho Chow, unless, perchance, it might +be the presence there of Fa Fei after he had once cast his piratical +eye upon her overwhelming beauty. + +The other of the two persons was Hien, a youth of studious desires and +unassuming manner. His father had been the chief tax-collector of the +Chunling mountains, beyond the town, and although the exact nature of +the tax and the reason for its extortion had become forgotten in the +process of interminable ages, he himself never admitted any doubt of +his duty to collect it from all who passed over the mountains, even +though the disturbed state of the country made it impossible for him +to transmit the proceeds to the capital. To those who uncharitably +extended the envenomed tongue of suspicion towards the very existence +of any Imperial tax, the father of Hien replied with unshaken loyalty +that in such a case the sublime Emperor had been very treacherously +served by his advisers, as the difficulty of the paths and the +intricate nature of the passes rendered the spot peculiarly suitable +for the purpose, and as he was accompanied by a well-armed and +somewhat impetuous band of followers, his arguments were inevitably +successful. When he Passed Beyond, Hien accepted the leadership, but +solely out of a conscientious respect for his father’s memory, for his +heart was never really in the occupation. His time was almost wholly +taken up in reading the higher Classics, and even before he had seen +Fa Fei his determination had been taken that when once he had +succeeded in passing the examination for the second degree and thereby +become entitled to an inferior mandarinship he would abandon his +former life forever. From this resolution the entreaties of his +devoted followers could not shake him, and presently they ceased to +argue, being reassured by the fact that although Hien presented +himself unfailingly for every examination his name appeared at the +foot of each successive list with unvarying frequency. It was at this +period that he first came under the ennobling spell of Fa Fei’s +influence and from that time forth he redoubled his virtuous efforts. + +After conversing with her father, as already related, Fa Fei spent the +day in an unusually thoughtful spirit. As soon as it was dark she +stepped out from the house and veiling her purpose under the pretext +of gathering some herbs to complete a charm she presently entered a +grove of overhanging cedars where Hien had long been awaiting her +footsteps. + +“Rainbow of my prosaic existence!” he exclaimed, shaking hands with +himself courteously, “have you yet carried out your bold suggestion?” + and so acute was his anxiety for her reply that he continued to hold +his hand unconsciously until Fa Fei turned away her face in very +becoming confusion. + +“Alas, O my dragon-hearted one,” she replied at length, “I have indeed +dared to read the scroll, but how shall this person’s inelegant lips +utter so detestable a truth?” + +“It is already revealed,” said Hien, striving to conceal from her his +bitterness. “When the list of competitors at the late examination is +publicly proclaimed to-morrow at the four gates of the city, the last +name to be announced will again, and for the eleventh time, be that of +the degraded Hien.” + +“Beloved,” exclaimed Fa Fei, resolved that as she could not honourably +deny that her Hien’s name was again indeed the last one to appear she +would endeavour to lead his mind subtly away to the contemplation of +more pleasurable thoughts, “it is as you have said, but although your +name is the last, it is by far the most dignified and +romantic-sounding of all, nor is there another throughout the list +which can be compared to it for the ornamental grace of its flowing +curves.” + +“Nevertheless,” replied Hien, in a violent access of self-contempt, +“it is a name of abandoned omen and is destined only to reach the ears +of posterity to embellish the proverb of scorn, ‘The lame duck should +avoid the ploughed field.’ Can there--can there by no chance have been +some hope-inspiring error?” + +“Thus were the names inscribed on the parchment which after the public +announcement will be affixed to the Hall of Ten Thousand Lustres,” + replied Fa Fei. “With her own unworthy eyes this incapable person +beheld it.” + +“The name ‘Hien’ is in no way striking or profound,” continued the one +in question, endeavouring to speak as though the subject referred to +some person standing at a considerable distance away. “Furthermore, so +commonplace and devoid of character are its written outlines that it +has very much the same appearance whichever way up it is looked +at. . . . The possibility that in your graceful confusion you held the +list in such a position that what appeared to be the end was in +reality the beginning is remote in the extreme, yet--” + +In spite of an absorbing affection Fa Fei could not disguise from +herself that her feelings would have been more pleasantly arranged if +her lover had been inspired to accept his position unquestioningly. +“There is a detail, hitherto unrevealed, which disposes of all such +amiable suggestions,” she replied. “After the name referred to, +someone in authority had inscribed the undeniable comment ‘As usual.’” + +“The omen is a most encouraging one,” exclaimed Hien, throwing aside +all his dejection. “Hitherto this person’s untiring efforts had met +with no official recognition whatever. It is now obvious that far from +being lost in the crowd he is becoming an object of honourable +interest to the examiners.” + +“One frequently hears it said, ‘After being struck on the head with an +axe it is a positive pleasure to be beaten about the body with a +wooden club,’” said Fa Fei, “and the meaning of the formerly elusive +proverb is now explained. Would it not be prudent to avail yourself at +length of the admittedly outrageous Tsin Lung’s services, so that this +period of unworthy trial may be brought to a distinguished close?” + +“It is said, ‘Do not eat the fruit of the stricken branch,’” replied +Hien, “and this person will never owe his success to one who is so +detestable in his life and morals that with every facility for a +scholarly and contemplative existence he freely announces his +barbarous intention of becoming a pirate. Truly the Dragon of Justice +does but sleep for a little time, and when he awakens all that will be +left of the mercenary Tsin Lung and those who associate with him will +scarcely be enough to fill an orange skin.” + +“Doubtless it will be so,” agreed Fa Fei, regretting, however, that +Hien had not been content to prophesy a more limited act of vengeance, +until, at least, her father had come to a definite decision regarding +her own future. “Alas, though, the Book of Dynasties expressly says, +‘The one-legged never stumble,’ and Tsin Lung is so morally +ill-balanced that the proverb may even apply to him.” + +“Do not fear,” said Hien. “It is elsewhere written, ‘Love and leprosy +few escape,’ and the spirit of Tsin Lung’s destiny is perhaps even at +this moment lurking unsuspected behind some secret place.” + +“If,” exclaimed a familiar voice, “the secret place alluded to should +chance to be a hollow cedar-tree of inadequate girth, the unfortunate +spirit in question will have my concentrated sympathy.” + +“Just and magnanimous father!” exclaimed Fa Fei, thinking it more +prudent not to recognize that he had learned of their meeting-place +and concealing himself there had awaited their coming, “when your +absence was discovered a heaven-sent inspiration led me to this spot. +Have I indeed been permitted here to find you?” + +“Assuredly you have,” replied Thang-li, who was equally desirous of +concealing the real circumstances, although the difficulty of the +position into which he had hastily and incautiously thrust his body on +their approach compelled him to reveal himself. “The same inspiration +led me to lose myself in this secluded spot, as being the one which +you would inevitably search.” + +“Yet by what incredible perversity does it arise, venerable Thang-li, +that a leisurely and philosophical stroll should result in a person of +your dignified proportions occupying so unattractive a position?” said +Hien, who appeared to be too ingenuous to suspect Thang-li’s craft, in +spite of a warning glance from Fa Fei’s expressive eyes. + +“The remark is a natural one, O estimable youth,” replied Thang-li, +doubtless smiling benevolently, although nothing of his person could +be actually seen by Hien or Fa Fei, “but the recital is not devoid of +humiliation. While peacefully studying the position of the heavens +this person happened to glance into the upper branches of a tree and +among them he beheld a bird’s nest of unusual size and richness--one +that would promise to yield a dish of the rarest flavour. Lured on by +the anticipation of so sumptuous a course, he rashly trusted his body +to an unworthy branch, and the next moment, notwithstanding his +unceasing protests to the protecting Powers, he was impetuously +deposited within this hollow trunk.” + +“Not unreasonably is it said, ‘A bird in the soup is better than an +eagle’s nest in the desert,’” exclaimed Hien. “The pursuit of a fair +and lofty object is set about with hidden pitfalls to others beyond +you, O noble Chief Examiner! By what nimble-witted act of adroitness +is it now your enlightened purpose to extricate yourself?” + +At this admittedly polite but in no way inspiring question a silence +of a very acute intensity seemed to fall on that part of the forest. +The mild and inscrutable expression of Hien’s face did not vary, but +into Fa Fei’s eyes there came an unexpected but not altogether +disapproving radiance, while, without actually altering, the +appearance of the tree encircling Thang-li’s form undoubtedly conveyed +the impression that the benevolent smile which might hitherto have +been reasonably assumed to exist within had been abruptly withdrawn. + +“Your meaning is perhaps well-intentioned, gracious Hien,” said +Thang-li at length, “but as an offer of disinterested assistance your +words lack the gong-like clash of spontaneous enthusiasm. +Nevertheless, if you will inconvenience yourself to the extent of +climbing this not really difficult tree for a short distance you will +be able to grasp some outlying portion of this one’s body without any +excessive fatigue.” + +“Mandarin,” replied Hien, “to touch even the extremity of your +incomparable pig-tail would be an honour repaying all earthly +fatigue--” + +“Do not hesitate to seize it, then,” said Thang-li, as Hien paused. +“Yet, if this person may without ostentation continue the analogy, to +grasp him firmly by the shoulders must confer a higher distinction and +would be even more agreeable to his own feelings.” + +“The proposal is a flattering one,” continued Hien, “but my hands are +bound down by the decree of the High Powers, for among the most +inviolable of the edicts is it not written: ‘Do the lame offer to +carry the footsore; the blind to protect the one-eyed? Distrust the +threadbare person who from an upper back room invites you to join him +in an infallible process of enrichment; turn aside from the one devoid +of pig-tail who says, “Behold, a few drops daily at the hour of the +morning sacrifice and your virtuous head shall be again like a +well-sown rice-field at the time of harvest”; and towards the passing +stranger who offers you that mark of confidence which your friends +withhold close and yet again open a different eye. So shall you grow +obese in wisdom’?” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Thang-li, “the inconveniences of living in an Empire +where a person has to regulate the affairs of his everyday life by the +sacred but antiquated proverbial wisdom of his remote ancestors are by +no means trivial. Cannot this possibly mythical obstacle be +flattened-out by the amiable acceptance of a jar of sea snails or some +other seasonable delicacy, honourable Hien?” + +“Nothing but a really well-grounded encouragement as regards Fa Fei +can persuade this person to regard himself as anything but a solitary +outcast,” replied Hien, “and one paralysed in every useful impulse. +Rather than abandon the opportunity of coming to such an arrangement +he would almost be prepared to give up all idea of ever passing the +examination for the second degree.” + +“By no means,” exclaimed Thang-li hastily. “The sacrifice would be too +excessive. Do not relinquish your sleuth-hound-like persistence, and +success will inevitably reward your ultimate end.” + +“Can it really be,” said Hien incredulously, “that my contemptible +efforts are a matter of sympathetic interest to one so high up in +every way as the renowned Chief Examiner?” + +“They are indeed,” replied Thang-li, with that ingratiating candour +that marked his whole existence. “Doubtless so prosaic a detail as the +system of remuneration has never occupied your refined thoughts, but +when it is understood that those in the position of this person are +rewarded according to the success of the candidates you will begin to +grasp the attitude.” + +“In that case,” remarked Hien, with conscious humiliation, “nothing +but a really sublime tolerance can have restrained you from upbraiding +this obscure competitor as a thoroughly corrupt egg.” + +“On the contrary,” replied Thang-li reassuringly, “I have long +regarded you as the auriferous fowl itself. It is necessary to +explain, perhaps, that the payment by result alluded to is not based +on the number of successful candidates, but--much more reasonably as +all those have to be provided with lucrative appointments by the +authorities--on the economy effected to the State by those whom I can +conscientiously reject. Owing to the malignant Tsin Lung’s sinister +dexterity these form an ever-decreasing band, so that you may now be +fittingly deemed the chief prop of a virtuous but poverty-afflicted +line. When you reflect that for the past eleven years you have thus +really had the honour of providing the engaging Fa Fei with all the +necessities of her very ornamental existence you will see that you +already possess practically all the advantages of matrimony. +Nevertheless, if you will now bring our agreeable conversation to an +end by releasing this inauspicious person he will consider the matter +with the most indulgent sympathies.” + +“Withhold!” exclaimed a harsh voice before Hien could reply, and from +behind a tree where he had heard Thang-li’s impolite reference to +himself Tsin Lung stood forth. “How does it chance, O two-complexioned +Chief Examiner, that after weighing this one’s definite +proposals--even to the extent of demanding a certain proportion in +advance--you are now engaged in holding out the same alluring hope to +another? Assuredly, if your existence is so critically imperilled this +person and none other will release you and claim the reward.” + +“Turn your face backwards, imperious Tsin Lung,” cried Hien. “These +incapable hands alone shall have the overwhelming distinction of +drawing forth the illustrious Thang-li.” + +“Do not get entangled among my advancing footsteps, immature one,” + contemptuously replied Tsin Lung, shaking the massive armour in which +he was encased from head to foot. “It is inept for pigmies to stand +before one who has every intention of becoming a rapacious pirate +shortly.” + +“The sedan-chair is certainly in need of new shafts,” retorted Hien, +and drawing his sword with an expression of ferocity he caused it to +whistle around his head so loudly that a flock of migratory doves +began to arrive, under the impression that others of their tribe were +calling them to assemble. + +“Alas!” exclaimed Thang-li, in an accent of despair, “doubtless the +wise Nung-yu was surrounded by disciples all eager that no other +should succour him when he remarked: ‘A humble friend in the same +village is better than sixteen influential brothers in the Royal +Palace.’ In all this illimitable Empire is there not room for one +whose aspirations are bounded by the submerged walls of a predatory +junk and another whose occupation is limited to the upper passes of the +Chunling mountains? Consider the poignant nature of this person’s vain +regrets if by a couple of evilly directed blows you succeeded at this +inopportune moment in exterminating one another!” + +“Do not fear, exalted Thang-li,” cried Hien, who, being necessarily +somewhat occupied in preparing himself against Tsin Lung’s attack, +failed to interpret these words as anything but a direct encouragement +to his own cause. “Before the polluting hands of one who disdains the +Classics shall be laid upon your sacred extremities this tenacious +person will fix upon his antagonist with a serpent-like embrace and, +if necessary, suffer the spirits of both to Pass Upward in one +breath.” And to impress Tsin Lung with his resolution he threw away +his scabbard and picked it up again several times. + +“Grow large in hope, worthy Chief Examiner,” cried Tsin Lung, who from +a like cause was involved in a similar misapprehension. “Rather shall +your imperishable bones adorn the interior of a hollow cedar-tree +throughout all futurity than you shall suffer the indignity of being +extricated by an earth-nurtured sleeve-snatcher.” And to intimidate +Hien by the display he continued to clash his open hand against his +leg armour until the pain became intolerable. + +“Honourable warriors!” implored Thang-li in so agonized a voice--and +also because they were weary of the exercise--that Hien and Tsin Lung +paused, “curb your bloodthirsty ambitions for a breathing-space and +listen to what will probably be a Last Expression. Believe the +passionate sincerity of this one’s throat when he proclaims that there +would be nothing repugnant to his very keenest susceptibilities if an +escaping parricide, who was also guilty of rebellion, temple-robbing, +book-burning, murder and indiscriminate violence, and the pollution of +tombs, took him familiarly by the hand at this moment. What, +therefore, would be his gratified feelings if two such nobly-born +subjects joined forces and drew him up dexterously by the body-cloth? +Accept his definite assurance that without delay a specific +pronouncement would be made respecting the bestowal of the one around +whose jade-like personality this encounter has arisen.” + +“The proposal casts a reasonable shadow, gracious Hien,” remarked +Tsin Lung, turning towards the other with courteous deference. “Shall +we bring a scene of irrational carnage to an end and agree to regard +the incomparable Thang-li’s benevolent tongue as an outstretched olive +branch?” + +“It is admittedly said, ‘Every road leads in two directions,’ and the +alternative you suggest, O virtue-loving Tsin Lung, is both reputable +and just,” replied Hien pleasantly. In this amiable spirit they +extricated Thang-li and bore him to the ground. At an appointed hour +he received them with becoming ceremony and after a many-coursed +repast rose to fulfil the specific terms of his pledge. + +“The Line of Thang,” he remarked with inoffensive pride, “has for +seven generations been identified with a high standard of literary +achievement. Undeniably it is a very creditable thing to control the +movements of an ofttime erratic vessel and to emerge triumphantly from +a combat with every junk you encounter, and it is no less worthy of +esteem to gather round about one, on the sterile slopes of the +Chunlings, a devoted band of followers. Despite these virtues, +however, neither occupation is marked by any appreciable literary +flavour, and my word is, therefore, that both persons shall present +themselves for the next examination, and when in due course the result +is declared the more successful shall be hailed as the chosen suitor. +Lo, I have spoken into a sealed bottle, and my voice cannot vary.” + +Then replied Tsin Lung: “Truly, it is as it is said, astute Thang-li, +though the encircling wall of a hollow cedar-tree, for example, might +impart to the voice in question a less uncompromising ring of finality +than it possesses when raised in a silk-lined chamber and surrounded +by a band of armed retainers. Nevertheless the pronouncement is one +which appeals to this person’s sense of justice, and the only +improvement he can suggest is that the superfluous Hien should hasten +that ceremony at which he will be an honoured guest by now signifying +his intention of retiring from so certain a defeat. For by what +expedient,” he continued, with arrogant persistence, “can you avert +that end, O ill-destined Hien? Have you not burned joss-sticks to the +deities, both good and bad, for eleven years unceasingly? Can you, as +this person admittedly can, inscribe the Classics with such inimitable +delicacy that an entire volume of the Book of Decorum, copied in his +most painstaking style, may be safely carried about within a hollow +tooth, a lengthy ode, traced on a shred of silk, wrapped undetectably +around a single eyelash?” + +“It is true that the one before you cannot bend his brush to such +deceptive ends,” replied Hien modestly. “A detail, however, has +escaped your reckoning. Hitherto Hien has been opposed by a thousand, +and against so many it is true that the spirits of his ancestors have +been able to afford him very little help. On this occasion he need +regard one adversary alone. Giving those Forces which he invokes +clearly to understand that they need not concern themselves with any +other, he will plainly intimate that after so many sacrifices on his +part something of a really tangible affliction is required to +overwhelm Tsin Lung. Whether this shall take the form of mental +stagnation, bodily paralysis, demoniacal possession, derangement of +the internal faculties, or being changed into one of the lower +animals, it might be presumptuous on this person’s part to stipulate, +but by invoking every accessible power and confining himself to this +sole petition a very definite tragedy may be expected. Beware, O +contumacious Lung, ‘However high the tree the shortest axe can reach +its trunk.’” + * + +As the time for the examination drew near the streets of Ho Chow began +to wear a fuller and more animated appearance both by day and night. +Tsin Lung’s outer hall was never clear of anxious suppliants all +entreating him to supply them with minute and reliable copies of the +passages which they found most difficult in the selected works, but +although his low and avaricious nature was incapable of rejecting this +means of gain he devoted his closest energies and his most inspired +moments to his own personal copies, a set of books so ethereal that +they floated in the air without support and so cunningly devised in +the blending of their colour as to be, in fact, quite invisible to any +but his microscopic eyes. Hien, on the other hand, devoted himself +solely to interesting the Powers against his rival’s success by every +variety of incentive, omen, sacrifice, imprecation, firework, +inscribed curse, promise, threat or combination of inducements. +Through the crowded streets and by-ways of Ho Chow moved the +imperturbable Thang-li, smiling benevolently on those whom he +encountered and encouraging each competitor, and especially Hien and +Tsin Lung, with a cheerful proverb suited to the moment. + +An outside cause had further contributed to make this period one of +the most animated in the annals of Ho Chow, for not only was the city, +together with the rest of the imperishable Empire, celebrating a great +and popular victory, but, as a direct consequence of that event, the +sublime Emperor himself was holding his court at no great distance +away. An armed and turbulent rabble of illiterate barbarians had +suddenly appeared in the north and, not giving a really sufficient +indication of their purpose, had traitorously assaulted the capital. +Had he followed the prompting of his own excessive magnanimity, the +charitable Monarch would have refused to take any notice whatever of +so puny and contemptible a foe, but so unmistakable became the wishes +of the Ever-victorious Army that, yielding to their importunity, he +placed himself at their head and resolutely led them backward. Had the +opposing army been more intelligent, this crafty move would certainly +have enticed them on into the plains, where they would have fallen an +easy victim to the Imperial troops and all perished miserably. Owing +to their low standard of reasoning, however, the mule-like invaders +utterly failed to grasp the advantage which, as far as the appearance +tended, they might reasonably be supposed to reap by an immediate +pursuit. They remained incapably within the capital slavishly +increasing its defences, while the Ever-victorious lurked +resourcefully in the neighbourhood of Ho Chow, satisfied that with so +dull-witted an adversary they could, if the necessity arose, go still +further. + +Upon a certain day of the period thus indicated there arrived at the +gate of the royal pavilion one having the appearance of an aged seer, +who craved to be led into the Imperial Presence. + +“Lo, Mightiest,” said a slave, bearing in this message, “there stands +at the outer gate one resembling an ancient philosopher, desiring to +gladden his failing eyesight before he Passes Up with a brief vision +of your illuminated countenance.” + +“The petition is natural but inopportune,” replied the agreeable +Monarch. “Let the worthy soothsayer be informed that after an +exceptionally fatiguing day we are now snatching a few short hours of +necessary repose, from which it would be unseemly to recall us.” + +“He received your gracious words with distended ears and then observed +that it was for your All-wisdom to decide whether an inspired message +which he had read among the stars was not of more consequence than +even a refreshing sleep,” reported the slave, returning. + +“In that case,” replied the Sublimest, “tell the persevering wizard +that we have changed our minds and are religiously engaged in +worshipping our ancestors, so that it would be really sacrilegious to +interrupt us.” + +“He kowtowed profoundly at the mere mention of your charitable +occupation and proceeded to depart, remarking that it would indeed be +corrupt to disturb so meritorious an exercise with a scheme simply for +your earthly enrichment,” again reported the message-bearer. + +“Restrain him!” hastily exclaimed the broadminded Sovereign. “Give the +venerable necromancer clearly to understand that we have worshipped +them enough for one day. Doubtless the accommodating soothsayer has +discovered some rare jewel which he is loyally bringing to embellish +our crown.” + +“There are rarer jewels than those which can be pasted in a crown, +Supreme Head,” said the stranger, entering unperceived behind the +attending slave. He bore the external signs of an infirm magician, +while his face was hidden in a cloth to mark the imposition of a +solemn vow. “With what apter simile,” he continued, “can this person +describe an imperishable set of verses which he heard this morning +falling from the lips of a wandering musician like a seven-roped cable +of pearls pouring into a silver bucket? The striking and original +title was ‘Concerning Spring,’ and although the snow lay deep at the +time several bystanders agreed that an azalea bush within hearing came +into blossom at the eighty-seventh verse.” + +“We have heard of the poem to which you refer with so just a sense of +balance,” said the impartial Monarch encouragingly. (Though not to +create a two-sided impression it may be freely stated that he himself +was the author of the inspired composition.) “Which part, in your +mature judgment, reflected the highest genius and maintained the most +perfectly-matched analogy?” + +“It is aptly said: ‘When it is dark the sun no longer shines, but who +shall forget the colours of the rainbow?’” replied the astrologer +evasively. “How is it possible to suspend topaz in one cup of the +balance and weigh it against amethyst in the other; or who in a single +language can compare the tranquillizing grace of a maiden with the +invigorating pleasure of witnessing a well-contested rat-fight?” + +“Your insight is clear and unbiased,” said the gracious Sovereign. +“But however entrancing it is to wander unchecked through a garden of +bright images, are we not enticing your mind from another subject of +almost equal importance?” + +“There is yet another detail, it is true,” admitted the sage, “but +regarding its comparative importance a thoroughly loyal subject may be +permitted to amend the remark of a certain wise Emperor of a former +dynasty: ‘Any person in the City can discover a score of gold mines if +necessary, but One only could possibly have written “Concerning +Spring.”’” + +“The arts may indeed be regarded as lost,” acquiesced the magnanimous +Head, “with the exception of a solitary meteor here and there. Yet in +the trivial matter of mere earthly enrichment--” + +“Truly,” agreed the other. “There is, then, a whisper in the province +that the floor of the Imperial treasury is almost visible.” + +“The rumour, as usual, exaggerates the facts grossly,” replied the +Greatest. “The floor of the Imperial treasury is quite visible.” + +“Yet on the first day of the next moon the not inconsiderable revenue +contributed by those who present themselves for the examination will +flow in.” + +“And by an effete and unworthy custom almost immediately flow out +again to reward the efforts of the successful,” replied the Wearer of +the Yellow in an accent of refined bitterness. “On other occasions it +is possible to assist the overworked treasurer with a large and +glutinous hand, but from time immemorial the claims of the competitors +have been inviolable.” + +“Yet if by a heaven-sent chance none, or very few, reached the +necessary standard of excellence--?” + +“Such a chance, whether proceeding from the Upper Air or the Other +Parts would be equally welcome to a very hard-lined Ruler,” replied +the one who thus described himself. + +“Then listen, O K’ong-hi, of the imperishable dynasty of Chung,” said +the stranger. “Thus was it laid upon me in the form of a spontaneous +dream. For seven centuries the Book of the Observances has been the +unvarying Classic of the examinations because during that period it +has never been surpassed. Yet as the Empire has admittedly existed +from all time, and as it would be impious not to agree that the +immortal System is equally antique, it is reasonable to suppose that +the Book of the Observances displaced an earlier and inferior work, +and is destined in the cycle of time to be itself laid aside for a +still greater.” + +“The inference is self-evident,” acknowledged the Emperor uneasily, +“but the logical development is one which this diffident Monarch +hesitates to commit to spoken words.” + +“It is not a matter for words but for a stroke of the Vermilion +Pencil,” replied the other in a tone of inspired authority. “Across +the faint and puny effusions of the past this person sees written in +very large and obliterating strokes the words ‘Concerning Spring.’ +Where else can be found so novel a conception combined with so unique +a way of carrying it out? What other poem contains so many thoughts +that one instinctively remembers as having heard before, so many +involved allusions that baffle the imagination of the keenest, and so +much sound in so many words? With the possible exception of Meng-hu’s +masterpiece, ‘The Empty Coffin,’ what other work so skilfully conveys +the impression of being taken down farther than one can ever again +come up and then suddenly upraised beyond the possible descent? Where +else can be found so complete a defiance of all that has hitherto been +deemed essential, and, to insert a final wedge, what other poem is +half so long?” + +“Your criticism is severe but just,” replied the Sovereign, “except +that part having reference to Meng-hu. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of +the proposal, though reasonable, looms a degree stormily into a +troubled future. Can it be permissible even for--” + +“Omnipotence!” exclaimed the seer. + +“The title is well recalled,” confessed the Emperor. “Yet although +unquestionably omnipotent there must surely be some limits to our +powers in dealing with so old established a system as that of the +examinations.” + +“Who can doubt a universal admission that the composer of ‘Concerning +Spring’ is capable of doing anything?” was the profound reply. “Let +the mandate be sent out--but, to an obvious end, let it be withheld +until the eve of the competitions.” + +“The moment of hesitancy has faded; go forth in the certainty, +esteemed,” said the Emperor reassuringly. “You have carried your +message with a discreet hand. Yet before you go, if there is any +particular mark of Imperial favour that we can show--something of a +special but necessarily honorary nature--do not set an iron screen +between your ambition and the light of our favourable countenance.” + +“There is indeed such a signal reward,” assented the aged person, with +an air of prepossessing diffidence. “A priceless copy of the immortal +work--” + +“By all means,” exclaimed the liberal-minded Sovereign, with an +expression of great relief. “Take three or four in case any of your +fascinating relations have large literary appetites. Or, still more +conveniently arranged, here is an unopened package from the stall of +those who send forth the printed leaves--‘thirteen in the semblance of +twelve,’ as the quaint and harmonious phrase of their craft has it. +Walk slowly, revered, and a thousand rainbows guide your retiring +footsteps.” + +Concerning the episode of this discreetly-veiled personage the +historians who have handed down the story of the imperishable +affection of Hien and Fa Fei have maintained an illogical silence. Yet +it is related that about the same time, as Hien was walking by the +side of a bamboo forest of stunted growth, he was astonished by the +maiden suddenly appearing before him from the direction of the royal +camp. She was incomparably radiant and had the appearance of being +exceptionally well satisfied with herself. Commanding him that he +should stand motionless with closed eyes, in order to ascertain what +the presiding deities would allot him, she bound a somewhat weighty +object to the end of his pig-tail, at the same time asking him in how +short a period he could commit about nineteen thousand lines of +atrociously ill-arranged verse to the tablets of his mind. + +“Then do not suffer the rice to grow above your ankles,” she +continued, when Hien had modestly replied that six days with good +omens should be sufficient, “but retiring to your innermost chamber +bar the door and digest this scroll as though it contained the last +expression of an eccentric and vastly rich relation,” and with a laugh +more musical than the vibrating of a lute of the purest Yun-nan jade +in the Grotto of Ten Thousand Echoes she vanished. + +It has been sympathetically remarked that no matter how painstakingly +a person may strive to lead Destiny along a carefully-prepared path +and towards a fit and thoroughly virtuous end there is never lacking +some inopportune creature to thrust his superfluous influence into an +opposing balance. This naturally suggests the intolerable Tsin Lung, +whose ghoulish tastes led him to seek the depths of that same glade on +the following day. Walking with downcast eyes, after his degraded +custom, he presently became aware of an object lying some distance +from his way. To those who have already fathomed the real character of +this repulsive person it will occasion no surprise to know that, urged +on by the insatiable curiosity that was deeply grafted on to his +avaricious nature, he turned aside to probe into a matter with which +he had no possible concern, and at length succeeded in drawing a +package from the thick bush in which it had been hastily concealed. +Finding that it contained twelve lengthy poems entitled “Concerning +Spring”, he greedily thrust one in his sleeve, and upon his return, +with no other object than the prompting of an ill-regulated mind, he +spent all the time that remained before the contest in learning it +from end to end. + +There have been many remarkable scenes enacted in the great +Examination Halls and in the narrow cells around, but it can at once +be definitely stated that nothing either before or since has +approached the unanimous burst of frenzy that shook the dynasty of +Chung when in the third year of his reign the well-meaning but +too-easily-led-aside Emperor K’ong inopportunely sought to replace the +sublime Classic then in use with a work that has since been recognized +to be not only shallow but inept. At Ho Chow nine hundred and +ninety-eight voices blended into one soul-benumbing cry of rage, +having all the force and precision of a carefully drilled chorus, when +the papers were opened, and had not the candidates been securely +barred within their solitary pens a popular rising must certainly have +taken place. There they remained for three days and nights, until the +clamour had subsided into a low but continuous hum, and they were too +weak to carry out a combined effort. + +Throughout this turmoil Hien and Tsin Lung each plied an unfaltering +brush. It may here be advantageously stated that the former person was +not really slow or obtuse and his previous failures were occasioned +solely by the inequality he strove under in relying upon his memory +alone when every other competitor without exception had provided +himself with a concealed scrip. Tsin Lung also had a very retentive +mind. The inevitable consequence was, therefore, that when the papers +were collected Hien and Tsin Lung had accomplished an identical number +of correct lines and no other person had made even an attempt. + +In explaining Thang-li’s subsequent behaviour it has been claimed by +many that the strain of being compelled, in the exercise of his duty, +to remain for three days and three nights in the middle of the Hall +surrounded by that ferocious horde, all clamouring to reach him, and +the contemplation of the immense sum which he would gain by so +unparalleled a batch of rejections, contorted his faculties of +discrimination and sapped the resources of his usually active mind. +Whatever cause is accepted, it is agreed that as soon as he returned +to his house he summoned Hien and Tsin Lung together and leaving them +for a moment presently returned, leading Fa Fei by the hand. It is +further agreed by all that these three persons noticed upon his face a +somewhat preoccupied expression, and on the one side much has been +made of the admitted fact that as he spoke he wandered round the room +catching flies, an occupation eminently suited to his age and +leisurely tastes but, it may be confessed, not altogether well chosen +at so ceremonious a moment. + +“It has been said,” he began at length, withdrawing his eyes +reluctantly from an unusually large insect upon the ceiling and +addressing himself to the maiden, “that there are few situations in +life that cannot be honourably settled, and without loss of time, +either by suicide, a bag of gold, or by thrusting a despised +antagonist over the edge of a precipice upon a dark night. This +inoffensive person, however, has striven to arrive at the conclusion +of a slight domestic arrangement both by passively waiting for the +event to unroll itself and, at a later period, by the offer of a +definite omen. Both of the male persons concerned have applied +themselves so tenaciously to the ordeal that the result, to this +simple one’s antique mind, savours overmuch of the questionable arts. +The genial and light-witted Emperor appears to have put his foot into +the embarrassment ineffectually; and Destiny herself has every +indication of being disinclined to settle so doubtful a point. As a +last resort it now remains for you yourself to decide which of these +strenuous and evenly-balanced suitors I may acclaim with ten thousand +felicitations.” + +“In that case, venerated and commanding sire,” replied Fa Fei simply, +yet concealing her real regard behind the retiring mask of a modest +indifference, “it shall be Hien, because his complexion goes the more +prettily with my favourite heliotrope silk.” + +When the results of the examination were announced it was at once +assumed by those with whom he had trafficked that Tsin Lung had been +guilty of the most degraded treachery. Understanding the dangers of +his position, that person decided upon an immediate flight. Disguised +as a wild-beast tamer, and leading several apparently ferocious +creatures by a cord, he succeeded in making his way undetected through +the crowds of competitors watching his house, and hastily collecting +his wealth together he set out towards the coast. But the evil spirits +which had hitherto protected him now withdrew their aid. In the +wildest passes of the Chunlings Hien’s band was celebrating his +unexpected success by a costly display of fireworks, varied with music +and dancing. . . . So heavily did they tax him that when he reached +his destination he was only able to purchase a small and dilapidated +junk and to enlist the services of three thoroughly incompetent +mercenaries. The vessels which he endeavoured to pursue stealthily in +the hope of restoring his fortunes frequently sailed towards him under +the impression that he was sinking and trying to attract their +benevolent assistance. When his real intention was at length +understood both he and his crew were invariably beaten about the head +with clubs, so that although he persevered until the three hired +assassins rebelled, he never succeeded in committing a single act of +piracy. Afterwards he gained a precarious livelihood by entering into +conversation with strangers, and still later he stood upon a board and +dived for small coins which the charitable threw into the water. In +this pursuit he was one day overtaken by a voracious sea-monster and +perished miserably. + +The large-meaning but never fully-accomplishing Emperor K’ong reigned +for yet another year, when he was deposed by the powerful League of +the Three Brothers. To the end of his life he steadfastly persisted +that the rebellion was insidiously fanned, if not actually carried +out, by a secret confederacy of all the verse-makers of the Empire, +who were distrustful of his superior powers. He spent the years of his +exile in composing a poetical epitaph to be carved upon his tomb, but +his successor, the practical-minded Liu-yen, declined to sanction the +expense of procuring so fabulous a supply of marble. + * + +When Kai Lung had repeated the story of the well-intentioned youth +Hien and of the Chief Examiner Thang-li and had ceased to speak, a +pause of questionable import filled the room, broken only by the +undignified sleep-noises of the gross Ming-shu. Glances of implied +perplexity were freely passed among the guests, but it remained for +Shan Tien to voice their doubt. + +“Yet wherein is the essence of the test maintained,” he asked, “seeing +that the one whom you call Hien obtained all that which he desired and +he who chiefly opposed his aims was himself involved in ridicule and +delivered to a sudden end?” + +“Beneficence,” replied Kai Lung, with courteous ease, despite the +pinions that restrained him, “herein it is one thing to demand and +another to comply, for among the Platitudes is the admission made: ‘No +needle has two sharp points.’ The conditions which the subtlety of +Ming-shu imposed ceased to bind, for their corollary was inexact. In +no romance composed by poet or sage are the unassuming hopes of +virtuous love brought to a barren end or the one who holds them +delivered to an ignominious doom. That which was called for does not +therefore exist, but the story of Hien may be taken as indicating the +actual course of events should the case arise in an ordinary state of +life.” + +This reply was not deemed inept by most of those who heard, and they +even pressed upon the one who spoke slight gifts of snuff and wine. +The Mandarin Shan Tien, however, held himself apart. + +“It is doubtful if your lips will be able thus to frame so confident a +boast when to-morrow fades,” was his dark forecast. + +“Doubtless their tenor will be changed, revered, in accordance with +your far-seeing word,” replied Kai Lung submissively as he was led +away. + + + + CHAPTER XI + + Of Which it is Written: “In Shallow Water Dragons + become the Laughing-stock of Shrimps” + +At an early gong-stroke of the following day Kai Lung was finally +brought up for judgment in accordance with the venomous scheme of the +reptilian Ming-shu. In order to obscure their guilty plans all +justice-loving persons were excluded from the court, so that when the +story-teller was led in by a single guard he saw before him only the +two whose enmity he faced, and one who stood at a distance prepared to +serve their purpose. + +“Committer of every infamy and inceptor of nameless crimes,” began +Ming-shu, moistening his brush, “in the past, by the variety of +discreditable subterfuges, you have parried the stroke of a just +retribution. On this occasion, however, your admitted powers of +evasion will avail you nothing. By a special form of administration, +designed to meet such cases, your guilt will be taken as proved. The +technicalities of passing sentence and seeing it carried out will +follow automatically.” + +“In spite of the urgency of the case,” remarked the Mandarin, with an +assumption of the evenly-balanced expression that at one time +threatened to obtain for him the title of “The Just”, “there is one +detail which must not be ignored--especially as our ruling will +doubtless become a lantern to the feet of later ones. You appear, +malefactor, to have committed crimes--and of all these you have been +proved guilty by the ingenious arrangement invoked by the learned +recorder of my spoken word--which render you liable to hanging, +slicing, pressing, boiling, roasting, grilling, freezing, vatting, +racking, twisting, drawing, compressing, inflating, rending, spiking, +gouging, limb-tying, piecemeal-pruning and a variety of less tersely +describable discomforts with which the time of this court need not be +taken up. The important consideration is, in what order are we to +proceed and when, if ever, are we to stop?” + +“Under your benumbing eye, Excellence,” suggested Ming-shu +resourcefully, “the precedent of taking first that for which the +written sign is the longest might be established. Failing that, the +names of all the various punishments might be inscribed on separate +shreds of parchment and these deposited within your state umbrella. +The first withdrawn by an unbiased--” + +“High Excellence,” Kai Lung ventured to interrupt, “a further plan +suggests itself which--” + +“If,” exclaimed Ming-shu in irrational haste, “if the criminal +proposes to narrate a story of one who in like circumstances--” + +“Peace!” interposed Shan Tien tactfully. “The felon will only be +allowed the usual ten short measures of time for his suggestion, nor +must he, under that guise, endeavour to insert an imagined tale.” + +“Your ruling shall keep straight my bending feet, munificence,” + replied Kai Lung. “Hear now my simplifying way. In place of cited +wrongs--which, after all, are comparatively trivial matters, as being +merely offences against another or in defiance of a local +usage--substitute one really overwhelming crime for which the penalty +is sharp and explicit.” + +“To that end you would suggest--?” Uncertainty sat upon the brow of +both Shan Tien and Ming-shu. + +“To straighten out the entangled thread this person would plead guilty +to the act--in a lesser capacity and against his untrammelled will--of +rejoicing musically on a day set apart for universal woe: a crime +aimed directly at the sacred person of the Sublime Head and all those +of his Line.” + +At this significant admission the Mandarin’s expression faded; he +stroked the lower part of his face several times and unostentatiously +indicated to the two attendants that they should retire to a more +distant obscurity. Then he spoke. + +“When did this--this alleged indiscretion occur, Kai Lung?” he asked +in a considerate voice. + +“It is useless to raise a cloud of evasion before the sun of your +penetrating intellect,” replied the story-teller. “The eleventh day of +the existing moon was its inauspicious date.” + +“That being yesterday? Ming-shu, you upon whom the duty of regulating +my admittedly vagarious mind devolves, what happened officially on the +eleventh day of the Month of Gathering-in?” demanded the Mandarin in +an ominous tone. + +“On such and such a day, benevolence, threescore and fifteen years +ago, the imperishable founder of the existing dynasty ascended on a +fiery dragon to be a guest on high,” confessed the conscience-stricken +scribe, after consulting his printed tablets. “Owing to the stress of +a sudden journey significance of the date had previously escaped my +weed-grown memory, tolerance.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Shan Tien bitterly, “among the innumerable drawbacks +of an exacting position the enforced reliance upon an unusually inept +and more than ordinarily self-opinionated inscriber of the spoken word +is perhaps the most illimitable. Owing to your profuse incompetence +that which began as an agreeable prelude to a busy day has turned into +a really serious matter.” + +“Yet, lenience,” pleaded the hapless Ming-shu, lowering his voice for +the Mandarin’s private ear, “so far the danger resides in this one +throat alone. That disposed of--” + +“Perchance,” replied Shan Tien; then turning to Kai Lung: “Doubtless, +O story-teller, you were so overcome by the burden of your guilt that +until this moment you have hidden the knowledge of it deep within your +heart?” + +“Magnificence, the commanding quality of your enduring voice would +draw the inner matter from a marrow-bone,” frankly replied Kai Lung. +“Fearful lest this crime might go unconfessed and my weak and +trembling ghost therefrom be held to bear its weight unto the end of +time, I set out the full happening in a written scroll and sent it at +daybreak by a sure and secret hand to a scrupulous official to deal +with as he sees fit.” + +“Your worthy confidant would assuredly be a person of incorruptible +integrity?” + +“The repute of the upright Censor K’o-yih had reached even these +stunted ears.” + +“Inevitably: the Censor K’o-yih!” Shan Tien’s hasty glance took in the +angle of the sun and for a moment rested on the door leading to the +part where his swiftest horses lay. “By this time the message will +have reached him?” + +“Omnipotence,” replied Kai Lung, spreading out his hands to indicate +the full extent of his submission, “not even a piece of the finest +Ping-hi silk could be inserted between the deepest secret of this +person’s heart and your all-extracting gaze. Should you, in your +meritorious sense of justice, impose upon me a punishment that would +seem to be adequate, it would be superfluous to trouble the obliging +Censor in the matter. To this end the one who bears the message lurks +in a hidden corner of Tai until a certain hour. If I am in a position +to intercept him there he will return the message to my hand; if not, +he will straightway bear it to the integritous K’o-yih.” + +“May the President of Hades reward you--I am no longer in a position +to do so!” murmured Shan Tien with concentrated feeling. “Draw near, +Kai Lung,” he continued sympathetically, “and indicate--with as little +delay as possible--what in your opinion would constitute a sufficient +punishment.” + +Thus invited and with his cords unbound, Kai Lung advanced and took +his station near the table, Ming-shu noticeably making room for him. + +“To be driven from your lofty presence and never again permitted to +listen to the wisdom of your inspired lips would undoubtedly be the +first essential of my penance, High Excellence.” + +“It is gran--inflicted,” agreed Shan Tien, with swift decision. + +“The necessary edict may conveniently be drafted in the form of a +safe-conduct for this person and all others of his band to a point +beyond the confines of your jurisdiction--when the usually +agile-witted Ming-shu can sufficiently shake off the benumbing torpor +now assailing him so as to use his brush.” + +“It is already begun, O virtuous harbinger of joy,” protested the +dazed Ming-shu, overturning all the four precious implements in his +passion to comply. “A mere breath of time--” + +“Let it be signed, sealed and thumb-pressed at every available point +of ambiguity,” enjoined Shan Tien. + +“Having thus oppressed the vainglory of my self-willed mind, the +presumption of this unworthy body must be subdued likewise. The burden +of five hundred taels of silver should suffice. If not--” + +“In the form of paper obligations, estimable Kai Lung, the same amount +would go more conveniently within your scrip,” suggested the Mandarin +hopefully. + +“Not convenience, O Mandarin, but bodily exhaustion is the essence of +my task,” reproved the story-teller. + +“Yet consider the anguish of my internal pang, if thus encumbered, you +sank spent by the wayside, and being thereby unable to withhold the +message, you were called upon to endure a further ill.” + +“That, indeed, is worthy of our thought,” confessed Kai Lung. “To this +end I will further mortify myself by adventuring upon the uncertain +apex of a trustworthy steed (a mode of progress new to my experience) +until I enter Tai.” + +“The swiftest and most reputable awaits your guiding hand,” replied +Shan Tien. + +“Let it be enticed forth into a quiet and discreet spot. In the +interval, while the obliging Ming-shu plies an unfaltering brush, the +task of weighing out my humiliating burden shall be ours.” + +In an incredibly short space of time, being continually urged on by +the flattering anxiety of Shan Tien (whose precipitancy at one point +became so acute that he mistook fourscore taels for five), all things +were prepared. With the inscribed parchment well within his sleeve and +the bags of silver ranged about his body, Kai Lung approached the +platform that had been raised to enable him to subdue the expectant +animal. + +“Once in the desired position, weighted down as you are, there is +little danger of your becoming displaced,” remarked the Mandarin +auspiciously. + +“Your words are, as usual, many-sided in their wise application, +benignity,” replied Kai Lung. “One thing only yet remains. It is apart +from the expression of this one’s will, but as an act of justice to +yourself and in order to complete the analogy--” And he indicated the +direction of Ming-shu. + +“Nevertheless you are agreeably understood,” declared Shan Tien, +moving apart. “Farewell.” + +As those who controlled the front part of the horse at this moment +relaxed their tenacity, Kai Lung did not deem it prudent to reply, nor +was he specifically observant of the things about. But a little later, +while in the act of permitting the creature whose power he ruled to +turn round for a last look at its former home, he saw that the +unworthy no longer flourished. Ming-shu, with his own discarded cang +around his vindictive neck, was being led off in the direction of the +prison-house. + + + + CHAPTER XII + + The Out-passing into a State of Assured Felicity of the + Much-enduring Two With Whom These Printed Leaves + Have Chiefly Been Concerned + +Although it was towards sunset, the heat of the day still hung above +the dusty earth-road, and two who tarried within the shadow of an +ancient arch were loath to resume their way. They had walked far, for +the uncertain steed, having revealed a too contentious nature, had +been disposed of in distant Tai to an honest stranger who freely +explained the imperfection of its ignoble outline. + +“Let us remain another space of time,” pleaded Hwa-mei reposefully, +“and as without your all-embracing art the course of events would +undoubtedly have terminated very differently from what it has, will +you not, out of an emotion of gratitude, relate a story for my ear +alone, weaving into it the substance of this ancient arch whose shade +proves our rest?” + +“Your wish is the crown of my attainment, unearthly one,” replied Kai +Lung, preparing to obey. “This concerns the story of Ten-teh, whose +name adorns the keystone of the fabric.” + + + The Story of the Loyalty of Ten-teh, the Fisherman + + “Devotion to the Emperor--” + + _The Five Great Principles_ + +The reign of the enlightened Emperor Tung Kwei had closed amid scenes +of treachery and lust, and in his perfidiously-spilled blood was +extinguished the last pale hope of those faithful to his line. His +only son was a nameless fugitive--by ceaseless report already Passed +Beyond--his party scattered and crushed out like the sparks from his +blackened Capital, while nothing that men thought dare pass their +lips. The usurper Fuh-chi sat upon the dragon throne and spake with +the voice of brass cymbals and echoing drums, his right hand shedding +blood and his left hand spreading fire. To raise an eye before him was +to ape with death, and a whisper in the outer ways foreran swift +torture. With harrows he uprooted the land until no household could +gather round its ancestral tablets, and with marble rollers he +flattened it until none dare lift his head. For the body of each one +who had opposed his ambition there was offered an equal weight of fine +silver, and upon the head of the child-prince was set the reward of +ten times his weight in pure gold. Yet in noisome swamps and forests, +hidden in caves, lying on desolate islands, and concealing themselves +in every kind of solitary place were those who daily prostrated +themselves to the memory of Tung Kwei and by a sign acknowledged the +authority of his infant son Kwo Kam. In the Crystal City there was a +great roar of violence and drunken song, and men and women lapped from +deep lakes filled up with wine; but the ricesacks of the poor had long +been turned out and shaken for a little dust; their eyes were closing +and in their hearts they were as powder between the mill-stones. On +the north and the west the barbarians had begun to press forward in +resistless waves, and from The Island to The Beak pirates laid waste +the coast. + + + i. UNDER THE DRAGON’S WING + +Among the lagoons of the Upper Seng river a cormorant fisher, Ten-teh +by name, daily followed his occupation. In seasons of good harvest, +when they of the villages had grain in abundance and money with which +to procure a more varied diet, Ten-teh was able to regard the +ever-changeful success of his venture without anxiety, and even to add +perchance somewhat to his store; but when affliction lay upon the land +the carefully gathered hoard melted away and he did not cease to +upbraid himself for adopting so uncertain a means of livelihood. At +these times the earth-tillers, having neither money to spend nor crops +to harvest, caught such fish as they could for themselves. Others in +their extremity did not scruple to drown themselves and their +dependents in Ten-teh’s waters, so that while none contributed to his +prosperity the latter ones even greatly added to the embarrassment of +his craft. When, therefore, his own harvest failed him in addition, or +tempests drove him back to a dwelling which was destitute of food +either for himself, his household, or his cormorants, his +self-reproach did not appear to be ill-reasoned. Yet in spite of all +Ten-teh was of a genial disposition, benevolent, respectful and +incapable of guile. He sacrificed adequately at all festivals, and his +only regret was that he had no son of his own and very scanty chances +of ever becoming rich enough to procure one by adoption. + +The sun was setting one day when Ten-teh reluctantly took up his +propelling staff and began to urge his raft towards the shore. It was +a season of parched crops and destitution in the villages, when +disease could fondle the bones of even the most rotund and leprosy was +the insidious condiment in every dish; yet never had the Imperial dues +been higher, and each succeeding official had larger hands and a more +inexorable face than the one before him. Ten-teh’s hoarded resources +had already followed the snows of the previous winter, his shelf was +like the heart of a despot to whom the oppressed cry for pity, and the +contents of the creel at his feet were too insignificant to tempt the +curiosity even of his hungry cormorants. But the mists of the evening +were by this time lapping the surface of the waters and he had no +alternative but to abandon his fishing for the day. + +“Truly they who go forth to fish, even in shallow waters, experience +strange things when none are by to credit them,” suddenly exclaimed +his assistant--a mentally deficient youth of the villages whom Ten-teh +charitably employed because all others rejected him. “Behold, master, +a spectre bird approaches.” + +“Peace, witless,” replied Ten-teh, not turning from his occupation, +for it was no uncommon incident for the deficient youth to mistake +widely-differing objects for one another or to claim a demoniacal +insight into the most trivial happenings. “Visions do not materialize +for such as thou and I.” + +“Nevertheless,” continued the weakling, “if you will but slacken your +agile proficiency with the pole, chieftain, our supper to-night may +yet consist of something more substantial than the fish which it is +our intention to catch to-morrow.” + +When the defective youth had continued for some time in this +meaningless strain Ten-teh turned to rebuke him, when to his +astonishment he perceived that a strange cormorant was endeavouring to +reach them, its progress being impeded by an object which it carried +in its mouth. Satisfying himself that his own birds were still on the +raft, Ten-teh looked round in expectation for the boat of another +fisherman, although none but he had ever within his memory sought +those waters, but as far as he could see the wide-stretching lagoon +was deserted by all but themselves. He accordingly waited, drawing in +his pole, and inciting the bird on by cries of encouragement. + +“A nobly-born cormorant without doubt,” exclaimed the youth +approvingly. “He is lacking the throat-strap, yet he holds his prey +dexterously and makes no movement to consume it. But the fish itself +is outlined strangely.” + +As the bird drew near Ten-teh also saw that it was devoid of the usual +strap which in the exercise of his craft was necessary as a barrier +against the gluttonous instincts of the race. It was unnaturally +large, and even at a distance Ten-teh could see that its plumage was +smoothed to a polished lustre, its eye alert, and the movement of its +flight untamed. But, as the youth had said, the fish it carried loomed +mysteriously. + +“The Wise One and the Crafty Image--behold they prostrate themselves!” + cried the youth in a tone of awe-inspired surprise, and without a +pause he stepped off the raft and submerged himself beneath the +waters. + +It was even as he asserted; Ten-teh turned his eyes and lo, his two +cormorants, instead of rising in anger, as their contentious nature +prompted, had sunk to the ground and were doing obeisance. Much +perturbed as to his own most prudent action, for the bird was nearing +the craft, Ten-teh judged it safest to accept this token and falling +down he thrice knocked his forehead submissively. When he looked up +again the majestic bird had vanished as utterly as the flame that is +quenched, and lying at his feet was a naked man-child. + +“O master,” said the voice of the assistant, as he cautiously +protruded his head above the surface of the raft, “has the vision +faded, or do creatures of the air before whom even their own kind +kowtow still haunt the spot?” + +“The manifestation has withdrawn,” replied Ten-teh reassuringly, “but +like the touch of the omnipotent Buddha it has left behind it that +which proves its reality,” and he pointed to the man-child. + +“Beware, alas!” exclaimed the youth, preparing to immerse himself a +second time if the least cause arose; “and on no account permit +yourself to be drawn into the snare. Inevitably the affair tends to +evil from the beginning and presently that which now appears as a +man-child will assume the form of a devouring vampire and consume us +all. Such occurrences are by no means uncommon when the great +sky-lantern is at its full distension.” + +“To maintain otherwise would be impious,” admitted his master, “but at +the same time there is nothing to indicate that the beneficial deities +are not the ones responsible for this apparition.” With these humane +words the kindly-disposed Ten-teh wrapped his outer robe about the +man-child and turned to lay him in the empty creel, when to his +profound astonishment he saw that it was now filled with fish of the +rarest and most unapproachable kinds. + +“Footsteps of the dragon!” exclaimed the youth, scrambling back on to +the raft hastily; “undoubtedly your acuter angle of looking at the +visitation was the inspired one. Let us abandon the man-child in an +unfrequented spot and then proceed to divide the result of the +adventure equally among us.” + +“An agreed portion shall be allotted,” replied Ten-teh, “but to +abandon so miraculously-endowed a being would cover even an outcast +with shame.” + +“‘Shame fades in the morning; debts remain from day to day,’” replied +the youth, the allusion of the proverb being to the difficulty of +sustaining life in times so exacting, when men pledged their household +goods, their wives, even their ancestral records for a little flour or +a jar of oil. “To the starving the taste of a grain of corn is more +satisfying than the thought of a roasted ox, but as many years must +pass as this creel now holds fish before the little one can disengage +a catch or handle the pole.” + +“It is as the Many-Eyed One sees,” replied Ten-teh, with unmoved +determination. “This person has long desired a son, and those who walk +into an earthquake while imploring heaven for a sign are unworthy of +consideration. Take this fish and depart until the morrow. Also, +unless you would have the villagers regard you as not only deficient +but profane, reveal nothing of this happening to those whom you +encounter.” With these words Ten-teh dismissed him, not greatly +disturbed at the thought of whatever he might do; for in no case would +any believe a word he spoke, while the greater likelihood tended +towards his forgetting everything before he had reached his home. + +As Ten-teh approached his own door his wife came forth to meet him. +“Much gladness!” she cried aloud before she saw his burden; “tempered +only by a regret that you did not abandon your chase at an earlier +hour. Fear not for the present that the wolf-tusk of famine shall gnaw +our repose or that the dreaded wings of the white and scaly one shall +hover about our house-top. Your wealthy cousin, journeying back to the +Capital from the land of the spice forests, has been here in your +absence, leaving you gifts of fur, silk, carved ivory, oil, wine, nuts +and rice and rich foods of many kinds. He would have stayed to embrace +you were it not that his company of bearers awaited him at an arranged +spot and he had already been long delayed.” + +Then said Ten-teh, well knowing that he had no such desirable +relative, but drawn to secrecy by the unnatural course of events: “The +years pass unperceived and all changes but the heart of man; how +appeared my cousin, and has he greatly altered under the enervating +sun of a barbarian land?” + +“He is now a little man, with a loose skin the colour of a +finely-lacquered apricot,” replied the woman. “His teeth are large and +jagged, his expression open and sincere, and the sound of his +breathing is like the continuous beating of waves upon a stony beach. +Furthermore, he has ten fingers upon his left hand and a girdle of +rubies about his waist.” + +“The description is unmistakable,” said Ten-teh evasively. “Did he +chance to leave a parting message of any moment?” + +“He twice remarked: ‘When the sun sets the moon rises, but to-morrow +the drawn will break again,’” replied his wife. “Also, upon leaving he +asked for ink, brushes and a fan, and upon it he inscribed certain +words.” She thereupon handed the fan to Ten-teh, who read, written in +characters of surpassing beauty and exactness, the proverb: +“Well-guarded lips, patient alertness and a heart conscientiously +discharging its accepted duty: these three things have a sure reward.” + +At that moment Ten-teh’s wife saw that he carried something beyond his +creel and discovering the man-child she cried out with delight, +pouring forth a torrent of inquiries and striving to possess it. “A +tale half told is the father of many lies,” exclaimed Ten-teh at +length, “and of the greater part of what you ask this person knows +neither the beginning nor the end. Let what is written on the fan +suffice.” With this he explained to her the meaning of the characters +and made their significance clear. Then without another word he placed +the man-child in her arms and led her back into the house. + +From that time Hoang, as he was thenceforward called, was received +into the household of Ten-teh, and from that time Ten-teh prospered. +Without ever approaching a condition of affluence or dignified ease, +he was never exposed to the penury and vicissitudes which he had been +wont to experience; so that none had need to go hungry or ill-clad. If +famine ravaged the villages Ten-teh’s store of grain was miraculously +maintained; his success on the lagoons was unvaried, fish even leaping +on to the structure of the raft. Frequently in dark and undisturbed +parts of the house he found sums of money and other valuable articles +of which he had no remembrance, while it was no uncommon thing for +passing merchants to leave bales of goods at his door in mistake and +to meet with some accident which prevented them from ever again +visiting that part of the country. In the meanwhile Hoang grew from +infancy into childhood, taking part with Ten-teh in all his pursuits, +yet even in the most menial occupation never wholly shaking off the +air of command and nobility of bearing which lay upon him. In strength +and endurance he outpaced all the youths around, while in the +manipulation of the raft and the dexterous handling of the cormorants +he covered Ten-teh with gratified shame. So excessive was the devotion +which he aroused in those who knew him that the deficient youth wept +openly if Hoang chanced to cough or sneeze; and it is even asserted +that on more than one occasion high officials, struck by the authority +of his presence, though he might be in the act of carrying fish along +the road, hastily descended from their chairs and prostrated +themselves before him. + +In the fourteenth year of the reign of the usurper Fuh-chi a little +breeze rising in the Province of Sz-chuen began to spread through all +the land and men’s minds were again agitated by the memory of a hope +which had long seemed dead. At that period the tyrannical Fuh-chi +finally abandoned the last remaining vestige of restraint and by his +crimes and excesses alienated even the protection of the evil spirits +and the fidelity of his chosen guard; so that he conspired with +himself to bring about his own destruction. One discriminating adviser +alone had stood at the foot of the throne, and being no less resolute +than far-seeing, he did not hesitate to warn Fuh-chi and to hold the +prophetic threat of rebellion before his eyes. Such sincerity met with +the reward not difficult to conjecture. + +“Who are our enemies?” exclaimed Fuh-chi, turning to a notorious +flatterer at his side, “and where are they who are displeased with our +too lenient rule?” + +“Your enemies, O Brother of the Sun and Prototype of the Red-legged +Crane, are dead and unmourned. The living do naught but speak of your +clemency and bask in the radiance of your eye-light,” protested the +flatterer. + +“It is well said,” replied Fuh-chi. “How is it, then, that any can eat +of our rice and receive our bounty and yet repay us with ingratitude +and taunts, holding their joints stiffly in our presence? Lo, even +lambs have the grace to suck kneeling.” + +“Omnipotence,” replied the just minister, “if this person is deficient +in the more supple graces of your illustrious Court it is because the +greater part of his life has been spent in waging your wars in +uncivilized regions. Nevertheless, the alarm can be as competently +sounded upon a brass drum as by a silver trumpet, and his words came +forth from a sincere throat.” + +“Then the opportunity is by no means to be lost,” exclaimed Fuh-chi, +who was by this time standing some distance from himself in the +effects of distilled pear juice; “for we have long desired to see the +difference which must undoubtedly exist between a sincere throat and +one bent to the continual use of evasive flattery.” + +Without further consideration he ordered that both persons should be +beheaded and that their bodies should be brought for his inspection. +From that time there was none to stay his hand or to guide his policy, +so that he mixed blood and wine in foolishness and lust until the land +was sick and heaved. + +The whisper starting from Sz-chuen passed from house to house and from +town to town until it had cast a network over every province, yet no +man could say whence it came or by whom the word was passed. It might +be in the manner of a greeting or the pledging of a cup of tea, by the +offer of a coin to a blind beggar at the gate, in the fold of a +carelessly-worn garment, or even by the passing of a leper through a +town. Oppression still lay heavily upon the people; but it was without +aim and carried no restraint; famine and pestilence still went hand in +hand, but the message rode on their backs and was hospitably received. +Soon, growing bolder, men stood face to face and spoke of settled +plans, gave signs, and openly declared themselves. On all sides +proclamations began to be affixed; next weapons were distributed, +hands were made proficient in their uses, until nothing remained but +definite instruction and a swift summons for the appointed day. At +intervals omens had appeared in the sky and prophecies had been put +into the mouths of sooth-sayers, so that of the success of the +undertaking and of its justice none doubted. On the north and the west +entire districts had reverted to barbarism, and on the coasts the +pirates anchored by the water-gates of walled cities and tossed jests +to the watchmen on the towers. + +Throughout this period Ten-teh had surrounded Hoang with an added +care, never permitting him to wander beyond his sight, and distrusting +all men in spite of his confiding nature. One night, when a fierce +storm beyond the memory of man was raging, there came at the middle +hour a knocking upon the outer wall, loud and insistent; nevertheless +Ten-teh did not at once throw open the door in courteous invitation, +but drawing aside a shutter he looked forth. Before the house stood one +of commanding stature, clad from head to foot in robes composed of +plaited grasses, dyed in many colours. Around him ran a stream of +water, while the lightning issuing in never-ceasing flashes from his +eyes revealed that his features were rugged and his ears pierced with +many holes from which the wind whistled until the sound resembled the +shrieks of ten thousand tortured ones under the branding-iron. From +him the tempest proceeded in every direction, but he stood unmoved +among it, without so much as a petal of the flowers he wore +disarranged. + +In spite of these indications, and of the undoubted fact that the +Being could destroy the house with a single glance, Ten-teh still +hesitated. + +“The night is dark and stormy, and robbers and evil spirits are +certainly about in large numbers, striving to enter unperceived by any +open door,” he protested, but with becoming deference. “With what does +your welcome and opportune visit concern itself, honourable stranger?” + +“The one before you is not accustomed to be questioned in his doings, +or even to be spoken to by ordinary persons,” replied the Being. +“Nevertheless, Ten-teh, there is that in your history for the past +fourteen years which saves you from the usual fatal consequences of so +gross an indiscretion. Let it suffice that it is concerned with the +flight of the cormorant.” + +Upon this assurance Ten-teh no longer sought evasion. He hastened to +throw open the outer door and the stranger entered, whereupon the +tempest ceased, although the thunder and lightning still lingered +among the higher mountains. In passing through the doorway the robe of +plaited grasses caught for a moment on the staple and pulling aside +revealed that the Being wore upon his left foot a golden sandal and +upon his right foot one of iron, while embedded in his throat was a +great pearl. Convinced by this that he was indeed one of the Immortal +Eight, Ten-teh prostrated himself fittingly, and explained that the +apparent disrespect of his reception arose from a conscientious +interest in the safety of the one committed to his care. + +“It is well,” replied the Being affably; “and your unvarying fidelity +shall not go unrewarded when the proper time arrives. Now bring +forward the one whom hitherto you have wisely called Hoang.” + +In secret during the past years Ten-teh had prepared for such an +emergency a yellow silk robe bearing embroidered on it the Imperial +Dragon with Five Claws. He had also provided suitable ornaments, fur +coverings for the hands and face, and a sword and shield. Waking +Hoang, he quickly dressed him, sprinkled a costly perfume about his +head and face, and taking him for the last time by the hand he led him +into the presence of the stranger. + +“Kwo Kam, chosen representative of the sacred line of Tang,” began the +Being, when he and Hoang had exchanged signs and greetings of equality +in an obscure tongue, “the grafted peach-tree on the Crystal Wall is +stricken and the fruit is ripe and rotten to the touch. The flies that +have fed upon its juice are drunk with it and lie helpless on the +ground; the skin is empty and blown out with air, the leaves withered, +and about the root is coiled a great worm which has secretly worked to +this end. From the Five Points of the kingdom and beyond the Outer +Willow Circle the Sheaf-binders have made a full report and it has +been judged that the time is come for the tree to be roughly shaken. +To this destiny the Old Ones of your race now call you; but beware of +setting out unless your face should be unchangingly fixed and your +heart pure from all earthly desires and base considerations.” + +“The decision is too ever-present in my mind to need reflection,” + replied Hoang resolutely. “To grind to powder that presumptuous tyrant +utterly, to restore the integrity of the violated boundaries of the +land, and to set up again the venerable Tablets of the true Tang +line--these desires have long since worn away the softer portion of +this person’s heart by constant thought.” + +“The choice has been made and the words have been duly set down,” said +the Being. “If you maintain your high purpose to a prosperous end +nothing can exceed your honour in the Upper Air; if you fail culpably, +or even through incapacity, the lot of Fuh-chi himself will be +enviable compared with yours.” + +Understanding that the time had now come for his departure, Hoang +approached Ten-teh as though he would have embraced him, but the Being +made a gesture of restraint. + +“Yet, O instructor, for the space of fourteen years--” protested +Hoang. + +“It has been well and discreetly accomplished,” replied the Being in a +firm but not unsympathetic voice, “and Ten-teh’s reward, which shall +be neither slight nor grudging, is awaiting him in the Upper Air, +where already his immediate ancestors are very honourably regarded in +consequence. For many years, O Ten-teh, there has dwelt beneath your +roof one who from this moment must be regarded as having passed away +without leaving even a breath of memory behind. Before you stands your +sovereign, to whom it is seemly that you should prostrate yourself in +unquestioning obeisance. Do not look for any recompense or distinction +here below in return for that which you have done towards a nameless +one; for in the State there are many things which for high reasons +cannot be openly proclaimed for the ill-disposed to use as feathers in +their darts. Yet take this ring; the ears of the Illimitable Emperor +are never closed to the supplicating petition of his children and +should such a contingency arise you may freely lay your cause before +him with the full assurance of an unswerving justice.” + +A moment later the storm broke out again with redoubled vigour, and +raising his face from the ground Ten-teh perceived that he was again +alone. + + + ii. THE MESSAGE FROM THE OUTER LAND + +After the departure of Hoang the affairs of Ten-teh ceased to prosper. +The fish which for so many years had leaped to meet his hand now +maintained an unparalleled dexterity in avoiding it; continual storms +drove him day after day back to the shore, and the fostering +beneficence of the deities seemed to be withdrawn, so that he no +longer found forgotten stores of wealth nor did merchants ever again +mistake his door for that of another to whom they were indebted. + +In the year that followed there passed from time to time through the +secluded villages lying in the Upper Seng valley persons who spoke of +the tumultuous events progressing everywhere. In such a manner those +who had remained behind learned that the great rising had been +honourably received by the justice-loving in every province, but that +many of official rank, inspired by no friendship towards Fuh-chi, but +terror-stricken at the alternatives before them, had closed certain +strong cities against the Army of the Avenging Pure. It was at this +crisis, when the balance of the nation’s destiny hung poised, that Kwo +Kam, the only son of the Emperor Tung Kwei, and rightful heir of the +dynasty of the glorious Tang, miraculously appeared at the head of the +Avenging Pure and being acclaimed their leader with a unanimous shout +led them on through a series of overwhelming and irresistible +victories. At a later period it was told how Kwo Kam had been crowned +and installed upon his father’s throne, after receiving a mark of +celestial approbation in the Temple of Heaven, how Fuh-chi had escaped +and fled and how his misleading records had been publicly burned and +his detestable name utterly blotted out. + +At this period an even greater misfortune than his consistent ill +success met Ten-teh. A neighbouring mandarin, on a false pretext, +caused him to be brought before him, and speaking very sternly of +certain matters in the past, which, he said, out of a well-intentioned +regard for the memory of Ten-teh’s father he would not cast abroad, he +fined him a much larger sum than all he possessed, and then at once +caused the raft and the cormorants to be seized in satisfaction of the +claim. This he did because his heart was bad, and the sight of Ten-teh +bearing a cheerful countenance under continual privation had become +offensive to him. + +The story of this act of rapine Ten-teh at once carried to the +appointed head of the village communities, assuring him that he was +ignorant of the cause, but that no crime or wrong-doing had been +committed to call for so overwhelming an affliction in return, and +entreating him to compel a just restitution and liberty to pursue his +inoffensive calling peaceably in the future. + +“Listen well, O unassuming Ten-teh, for you are a person of +discernment and one with a mature knowledge of the habits of all +swimming creatures,” said the headman after attending patiently to +Ten-teh’s words. “If two lean and insignificant carp encountered a +voracious pike and one at length fell into his jaws, by what means +would the other compel the assailant to release his prey?” + +“So courageous an emotion would serve no useful purpose,” replied +Ten-teh. “Being ill-equipped for such a conflict, it would inevitably +result in the second fish also falling a prey to the voracious pike, +and recognizing this, the more fortunate of the two would endeavour to +escape by lying unperceived among the reeds about.” + +“The answer is inspired and at the same time sufficiently concise to +lie within the hollow bowl of an opium pipe,” replied the headman, and +turning to his bench he continued in his occupation of beating flax +with a wooden mallet. + +“Yet,” protested Ten-teh, when at length the other paused, “surely the +matter could be placed before those in authority in so convincing a +light by one possessing your admitted eloquence that Justice would +stumble over herself in her haste to liberate the oppressed and to +degrade the guilty.” + +“The phenomenon has occasionally been witnessed, but latterly it would +appear that the conscientious deity in question must have lost all +power of movement, or perhaps even fatally injured herself, as the +result of some such act of rash impulsiveness in the past,” replied +the headman sympathetically. + +“Alas, then,” exclaimed Ten-teh, “is there, under the most enlightened +form of government in the world, no prescribed method of obtaining +redress?” + +“Assuredly,” replied the headman; “the prescribed method is the part +of the system that has received the most attention. As the one of whom +you complain is a mandarin of the fifth degree, you may fittingly +address yourself to his superiors of the fourth, third, second and +first degrees. Then there are the city governors, the district +prefects, the provincial rulers, the Imperial Assessors, the Board of +Censors, the Guider of the Vermilion Pencil, and, finally, the supreme +Emperor himself. To each of these, if you are wealthy enough to reach +his actual presence, you may prostrate yourself in turn, and each one, +with many courteous expressions of intolerable regret that the matter +does not come within his office, will refer you to another. The more +prudent course, therefore, would seem to be that of beginning with the +Emperor rather than reaching him as the last resort, and as you are +now without means of livelihood if you remain here there is no reason +why you should not journey to the Capital and make the attempt.” + +“The Highest!” exclaimed Ten-teh, with a pang of unfathomable emotion. +“Is there, then, no middle way? Who is Ten-teh, the obscure and +illiterate fisherman, that he should thrust himself into the presence +of the Son of Heaven? If the mother of the dutiful Chou Yii could +destroy herself and her family at one blow to the end that her son +might serve his sovereign with a single heart, how degraded an outcast +must he be who would obtrude his own trivial misfortunes at so +critical a time.” + +“‘A thorn in one’s own little finger is more difficult to endure than +a sword piercing the sublime Emperor’s arm,’” replied the headman, +resuming his occupation. “But if your angle of regarding the various +obligations is as you have stated it, then there is obviously nothing +more to be said. In any case it is more than doubtful whether the +Fountain of Justice would raise an eyelash if you, by every +combination of fortunate circumstance, succeeded in reaching his +presence.” + +“The headman has spoken, and his word is ten times more weighty than +that of an ill-educated fisherman,” replied Ten-teh submissively, and +he departed. + +From that time Ten-teh sought to sustain life upon roots and wild +herbs which he collected laboriously and not always in sufficient +quantities from the woods and rank wastes around. Soon even this +resource failed him in a great measure, for a famine of unprecedented +harshness swept over that part of the province. All supplies of +adequate food ceased, and those who survived were driven by the pangs +of hunger to consume weeds and the bark of trees, fallen leaves, +insects of the lowest orders and the bones of wild animals which had +died in the forest. To carry a little rice openly was a rash challenge +to those who still valued life, and a loaf of chaff and black mould +was guarded as a precious jewel. No wife or daughter could weigh in +the balance against a measure of corn, and men sold themselves into +captivity to secure the coarse nourishment which the rich allotted to +their slaves. Those who remained in the villages followed in Ten-teh’s +footsteps, so that the meagre harvest that hitherto had failed to +supply one household now constituted the whole provision for many. At +length these persons, seeing a lingering but inevitable death before +them all, came together and spoke of how this might perchance be +avoided. + +“Let us consider well,” said one of their number, “for it may be that +succour would not be withheld did we but know the precise manner in +which to invoke it.” + +“Your words are light, O Tan-yung, and your eyes too bright in looking +at things which present no encouragement whatever,” replied another. +“We who remain are old, infirm, or in some way deficient, or we would +ere this have sold ourselves into slavery or left this accursed desert +in search of a more prolific land. Therefore our existence is of no +value to the State, so that they will not take any pains to preserve +it. Furthermore, now being beyond the grasp of the most covetous +extortion, the district officials have no reason for maintaining an +interest in our lives. Assuredly there is no escape except by the +White Door of which each one himself holds the key.” + +“Yet,” objected a third, “the aged Ning has often recounted how in the +latter years of the reign of the charitable Emperor Kwong, when a +similar infliction lay upon the land, a bullock-load of rice was sent +daily into the villages of the valley and freely distributed by the +headman. Now that same munificent Kwong was a direct ancestor to the +third degree of our own Kwo Kam.” + +“Alas!” remarked a person who had lost many of his features during a +raid of brigands, “since the days of the commendable Kwong, while the +feet of our lesser ones have been growing smaller the hands of our +greater ones have been growing larger. Yet even nowadays, by the +protection of the deities, the bullock might reach us.” + +“The wheel-grease of the cart would alone make the day memorable,” + murmured another. + +“O brothers,” interposed one who had not yet spoken, “do not cause our +throats to twitch convulsively; nor is it in any way useful to leave +the date of solid reflection in pursuit of the stone of light and +versatile fancy. Is it thought to be expedient that we should send an +emissary to those in authority, pleading our straits?” + +“Have not two already journeyed to Kuing-yi in our cause, and to what +end?” replied the second one who had raised his voice. + +“They did but seek the city mandarin and failed to reach his ear, +being empty-handed,” urged Tan-yung. “The distance to the Capital is +admittedly great, yet it is no more than a persevering and +resolute-minded man could certainly achieve. There prostrating himself +before the Sublime One and invoking the memory of the imperishable +Kwong he could so outline our necessity and despair that the one +wagon-load referred to would be increased by nine and the unwieldy +oxen give place to relays of swift horses.” + +“The Emperor!” exclaimed the one who had last spoken, in tones of +undisguised contempt towards Tan-yung. “Is the eye of the +Unapproachable Sovereign less than that of a city mandarin, that +having failed to come near the one we should now strive to reach the +other; or are we, peradventure, to fill the sleeves of our messenger +with gold and his inner scrip with sapphires!” Nevertheless the +greater part of those who stood around zealously supported Tan-yung, +crying aloud: “The Emperor! The suggestion is inspired! Undoubtedly +the beneficent Kwo Kam will uphold our cause and our troubles may now +be considered as almost at an end.” + +“Yet,” interposed a faltering voice, “who among us is to go?” + +At the mention of this necessary detail of the plan the cries which +were the loudest raised in exultation suddenly leapt back upon +themselves as each person looked in turn at all the others and then at +himself. The one who had urged the opportune but disconcerting point +was lacking in the power of movement in his lower limbs and progressed +at a pace little advanced to that of a shell-cow upon two slabs of +wood. Tan-yung was subject to a disorder which without any warning +cast him to the ground almost daily in a condition of writhing frenzy; +the one who had opposed him was paralysed in all but his head and +feet, while those who stood about were either blind, lame, +camel-backed, leprous, armless, misshapen, or in some way mentally or +bodily deficient in an insuperable degree. “Alas!” exclaimed one, as +the true understanding of their deformities possessed him, “not only +would they of the Court receive it as a most detestable insult if we +sent such as ourselves, but the probability of anyone so harassed +overcoming the difficulties of river, desert and mountain barrier is +so remote that this person is more than willing to stake his entire +share of the anticipated bounty against a span-length of succulent +lotus root or an embossed coffin handle.” + +“Let unworthy despair fade!” suddenly exclaimed Tan-yung, who +nevertheless had been more downcast than any other a moment before; +“for among us has been retained one who has probably been especially +destined for this very service. There is yet Ten-teh. Let us seek him +out.” + +With this design they sought for Ten-teh and finding him in his hut +they confidently invoked his assistance, pointing out how he would +save all their lives and receive great honour. To their dismay Ten-teh +received them with solemn curses and drove them from his door with +blows, calling them traitors, ungrateful ones, and rebellious subjects +whose minds were so far removed from submissive loyalty that rather +than perish harmlessly they would inopportunely thrust themselves in +upon the attention of the divine Emperor when his mind was full of +great matters and his thoughts tenaciously fixed upon the scheme for +reclaiming the abandoned outer lands of his forefathers. “Behold,” he +cried, “when a hand is raised to sweep into oblivion a thousand +earthworms they lift no voice in protest, and in this matter ye are +less than earthworms. The dogs are content to starve dumbly while +their masters feast, and ye are less than dogs. The dutiful son +cheerfully submits himself to torture on the chance that his father’s +sufferings may be lessened, and the Emperor, as the supreme head, is +more to be venerated than any father; but your hearts are sheathed in +avarice and greed.” Thus he drove them away, and their last hope being +gone they wandered back to the forest, wailing and filling the air +with their despairing moans; for the brief light that had inspired +them was extinguished and the thought that by a patient endurance they +might spare the Emperor an unnecessary pang was not a sufficient +recompense in their eyes. + +The time of warmth and green life passed. With winter came floods and +snow-storms, great tempests from the north and bitter winds that cut +men down as though they had been smitten by the sword. The rivers and +lagoons were frozen over; the meagre sustenance of the earth lay +hidden beneath an impenetrable crust of snow and ice, until those who +had hitherto found it a desperate chance to live from day to day now +abandoned the unequal struggle for the more attractive certainty of a +swift and painless death. One by one the fires went out in the houses +of the dead; the ever-increasing snow broke down the walls. Wild +beasts from the mountains walked openly about the deserted streets, +thrust themselves through such doors as were closed against them and +lurked by night in the most sacred recesses of the ruined temples. The +strong and the wealthy had long since fled, and presently out of all +the eleven villages of the valley but one man remained alive and +Ten-teh lay upon the floor of his inner chamber, dying. + +“There was a sign--there was a sign in the past that more was yet to +be accomplished,” ran the one thought of his mind as he lay there +helpless, his last grain consumed and the ashes on his hearthstone +black. “Can it be that so solemn an omen has fallen unfulfilled to the +ground; or has this person long walked hand in hand with shadows in +the Middle Air?” + +“Dwellers of Yin; dwellers of Chung-yo; of Wei, Shan-ta, Feng, the +Rock of the Bleak Pagoda and all the eleven villages of the valley!” + cried a voice from without. “Ho, inhospitable sleeping ones, I have +reached the last dwelling of the plain and no one has as yet bidden me +enter, no voice invited me to unlace my sandals and partake of tea. Do +they fear that this person is a robber in disguise, or is this the +courtesy of the Upper Seng valley?” + +“They sleep more deeply,” said Ten-teh, speaking back to the full +extent of his failing power; “perchance your voice was not raised high +enough, O estimable wayfarer. Nevertheless, whether you come in peace +or armed with violence, enter here, for the one who lies within is +past help and beyond injury.” + +Upon this invitation the stranger entered and stood before Ten-teh. He +was of a fierce and martial aspect, carrying a sword at his belt and a +bow and arrows slung across his back, but privation had set a deep +mark upon his features and his body bore unmistakable traces of a long +and arduous march. His garments were ragged, his limbs torn by rocks +and thorny undergrowth, while his ears had fallen away before the +rigour of the ice-laden blasts. In his right hand he carried a staff +upon which he leaned at every step, and glancing to the ground Ten-teh +perceived that the lower part of his sandals were worn away so that he +trod painfully upon his bruised and naked feet. + +“Greeting,” said Ten-teh, when they had regarded each other for a +moment; “yet, alas, no more substantial than of the lips, for the +hospitality of the eleven villages is shrunk to what you see before +you,” and he waved his arm feebly towards the empty bowl and the +blackened hearth. “Whence come you?” + +“From the outer land of Im-kau,” replied the other. “Over the +Kang-ling mountains.” + +“It is a moon-to-moon journey,” said Ten-teh. “Few travellers have +ever reached the valley by that inaccessible track.” + +“More may come before the snow has melted,” replied the stranger, with +a stress of significance. “Less than seven days ago this person stood +upon the northern plains.” + +Ten-teh raised himself upon his arm. “There existed, many cycles ago, +a path--of a single foot’s width, it is said--along the edge of the +Pass called the Ram’s Horn, but it has been lost beyond the memory of +man.” + +“It has been found again,” said the stranger, “and Kha-hia and his +horde of Kins, joined by the vengeance-breathing Fuh-chi, lie encamped +less than a short march beyond the Pass.” + +“It can matter little,” said Ten-teh, trembling but speaking to +reassure himself. “The people are at peace among themselves, the +Capital adequately defended, and an army sufficiently large to meet +any invasion can march out and engage the enemy at a spot most +convenient to ourselves.” + +“A few days hence, when all preparation is made,” continued the +stranger, “a cloud of armed men will suddenly appear openly, menacing +the western boundaries. The Capital and the fortified places will be +denuded, and all who are available will march out to meet them. They +will be but as an empty shell designed to serve a crafty purpose, for +in the meanwhile Kha-hia will creep unsuspected through the Kang-lings +by the Ram’s Horn and before the army can be recalled he will swiftly +fall upon the defenceless Capital and possess it.” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Ten-teh, “why has the end tarried thus long if it be +but for this person’s ears to carry to the grave so tormenting a +message! Yet how comes it, O stranger, that having been admitted to +Kha-hia’s innermost council you now betray his trust, or how can +reliance be placed upon the word of one so treacherous?” + +“Touching the reason,” replied the stranger, with no appearance of +resentment, “that is a matter which must one day lie between Kha-hia, +this person, and one long since Passed Beyond, and to this end have I +uncomplainingly striven for the greater part of a lifetime. For the +rest, men do not cross the King-langs in midwinter, wearing away their +lives upon those stormy heights, to make a jest of empty words. +Already sinking into the Under World, even as I am now powerless to +raise myself above the ground, I, Nau-Kaou, swear and attest what I +have spoken.” + +“Yet, alas!” exclaimed Ten-teh, striking his breast bitterly in his +dejection, “to what end is it that you have journeyed? Know that out +of all the eleven villages by famine and pestilence not another man +remains. Beyond the valley stretch the uninhabited sand plains, so +that between here and the Capital not a solitary dweller could be +found to bear the message.” + +“The Silent One laughs!” replied Nau-Kaou dispassionately; and drawing +his cloak more closely about him he would have composed himself into a +reverent attitude to Pass Beyond. + +“Not so!” cried Ten-teh, rising in his inspired purpose and standing +upright despite the fever that possessed him; “the jewel is precious +beyond comparison and the casket mean and falling to pieces, but there +is none other. This person will bear the warning.” + +The stranger looked up from the ground in an increasing wonder. “You +do but dream, old man,” he said in a compassionate voice. “Before me +stands one of trembling limbs and infirm appearance. His face is the +colour of potter’s clay; his eyes sunken and yellow. His bones +protrude everywhere like the points of armour, while his garment is +scarcely fitted to afford protection against a summer breeze.” + +“Such dreams do not fade with the light,” replied Ten-teh resolutely. +“His feet are whole and untired; his mind clear. His heart is as +inflexibly fixed as the decrees of destiny, and, above all, his +purpose is one which may reasonably demand divine encouragement.” + +“Yet there are the Han-sing mountains, flung as an insurmountable +barrier across the way,” said Nau-Kaou. + +“The wind passes over them,” replied Ten-teh, binding on his sandals. + +“The Girdle,” continued the other, thereby indicating the formidable +obstacle presented by the tempestuous river, swollen by the mountain +snows. + +“The fish, moved by no great purpose, swim from bank to bank,” again +replied Ten-teh. “Tell me rather, for the time presses when such +issues hang on the lips of dying men, to what extent Kha-hia’s legions +stretch?” + +“In number,” replied Nau-Kaou, closing his eyes, “they are as the +stars on a very clear night, when the thousands in front do but serve +to conceal the innumerable throng behind. Yet even a small and +resolute army taking up its stand secretly in this valley and falling +upon them unexpectedly when half were crossed could throw them into +disorder and rout, and utterly destroy the power of Kha-hia for all +time.” + +“So shall it be,” said Ten-Teh from the door. “Pass Upward with a +tranquil mind, O stranger from the outer land. The torch which you +have borne so far will not fail until his pyre is lit.” + +“Stay but a moment,” cried Nau-Kaou. “This person, full of vigour and +resource, needed the spur of a most poignant hate to urge his trailing +footsteps. Have you, O decrepit one, any such incentive to your +failing powers?” + +“A mightier one,” came back the voice of Ten-teh, across the snow from +afar. “Fear not.” + +“It is well; they are the great twin brothers,” exclaimed Nau-Kaou. +“Kha-hia is doomed!” Then twice beating the ground with his open hand +he loosened his spirit and passed contentedly into the Upper Air. + + + iii. THE LAST SERVICE + +The wise and accomplished Emperor Kwo Kam (to whom later historians +have justly given the title “Profound”) sat upon his agate throne in +the Hall of Audience. Around him were gathered the most illustrious +from every province of the Empire, while emissaries from the courts of +other rulers throughout the world passed in procession before him, +prostrating themselves in token of the dependence which their +sovereigns confessed, and imploring his tolerant acceptance of the +priceless gifts they brought. Along the walls stood musicians and +singers who filled the air with melodious visions, while fan-bearing +slaves dexterously wafted perfumed breezes into every group. So +unparalleled was the splendour of the scene that rare embroidered +silks were trodden under foot and a great fountain was composed of +diamonds dropping into a jade basin full of pearls, but Kwo Kam +outshone all else by the dignity of his air and the magnificence of +his apparel. + +Suddenly, and without any of the heralding strains of drums and +cymbals by which persons of distinction had been announced, the arras +before the chief door was plucked aside and a figure, blinded by so +much jewelled brilliance, stumbled into the chamber, still holding +thrust out before him the engraved ring bearing the Imperial emblem +which alone had enabled him to pass the keepers of the outer gates +alive. He had the appearance of being a very aged man, for his hair +was white and scanty, his face deep with shadows and lined like a +river bank when the waters have receded, and as he advanced, bent down +with infirmity, he mumbled certain words in ceaseless repetition. From +his feet and garment there fell a sprinkling of sand as he moved, and +blood dropped to the floor from many an unhealed wound, but his eyes +were very bright, and though sword-handles were grasped on all sides +at the sight of so presumptuous an intrusion, yet none opposed him. +Rather, they fell back, leaving an open passage to the foot of the +throne; so that when the Emperor lifted his eyes he saw the aged man +moving slowly forward to do obeisance. + +“Ten-teh, revered father!” exclaimed Kwo Kam, and without pausing a +moment he leapt down from off his throne, thrust aside those who stood +about him and casting his own outer robe of state about Ten-teh’s +shoulders embraced him affectionately. + +“Supreme ruler,” murmured Ten-teh, speaking for the Emperor’s ear +alone, and in such a tone of voice as of one who has taught himself a +lesson which remains after all other consciousness has passed away, +“an army swiftly to the north! Let them dispose themselves about the +eleven villages and, overlooking the invaders as they assemble, strike +when they are sufficiently numerous for the victory to be lasting and +decisive. The passage of the Ram’s Horn has been found and the +malignant Fuh-chi, banded in an unnatural alliance with the barbarian +Kins, lies with itching feet beyond the Kang-lings. The invasion +threatening on the west is but a snare; let a single camp, feigning to +be a multitudinous legion, be thrown against it. Suffer delay from no +cause. Weigh no alternative. He who speaks is Ten-teh, at whose +assuring word the youth Hoang was wont to cast himself into the +deepest waters fearlessly. His eyes are no less clear to-day, but his +heart is made small with overwhelming deference or in unshrinking +loyalty he would cry: ‘Hear and obey! All, all--Flags, Ironcaps, +Tigers, Braves--all to the Seng valley, leaving behind them the +swallow in their march and moving with the guile and secrecy of the +ringed tree-snake.’” With these words Ten-teh’s endurance passed its +drawn-out limit and again repeating in a clear and decisive voice, +“All, all to the north!” he released his joints and would have fallen +to the ground had it not been for the Emperor’s restraining arms. + +When Ten-teh again returned to a knowledge of the lower world he was +seated upon the throne to which the Emperor had borne him. His rest +had been made easy by the luxurious cloaks of the courtiers and +emissaries which had been lavishly heaped about him, while during his +trance the truly high-minded Kwo Kam had not disdained to wash his +feet in a golden basin of perfumed water, to shave his limbs, and to +anoint his head. The greater part of the assembly had been dismissed, +but some of the most trusted among the ministers and officials still +waited in attendance about the door. + +“Great and enlightened one,” said Ten-teh, as soon as his stupor was +lifted, “has this person delivered his message competently, for his +mind was still a seared vision of snow and sand and perchance his +tongue has stumbled?” + +“Bend your ears to the wall, O my father,” replied the Emperor, “and +be assured.” + +A radiance of the fullest satisfaction lifted the settling shadows for +a moment from Ten-teh’s countenance as from the outer court came at +intervals the low and guarded words of command, the orderly clashing +of weapons as they fell into their appointed places, and the regular +and unceasing tread of armed men marching forth. “To the Seng +valley--by no chance to the west?” he demanded, trembling between +anxiety and hope, and drinking in the sound of the rhythmic tramp +which to his ears possessed a more alluring charm than if it were the +melody of blind singing girls. + +“Even to the eleven villages,” replied the Emperor. “At your +unquestioned word, though my kingdom should hang upon the outcome.” + +“It is sufficient to have lived so long,” said Ten-teh. Then +perceiving that it was evening, for the jade and crystal lamps were +lighted, he cried out: “The time has leapt unnoted. How many are by +this hour upon the march?” + +“Sixscore companies of a hundred spearmen each,” said Kwo Kam. “By +dawn four times that number will be on their way. In less than three +days a like force will be disposed about the passes of the Han-sing +mountains and the river fords, while at the same time the guards from +less important towns will have been withdrawn to take their place upon +the city walls.” + +“Such words are more melodious than the sound of many marble lutes,” + said Ten-teh, sinking back as though in repose. “Now is mine that +peace spoken of by the philosopher Chi-chey as the greatest: ‘The eye +closing upon its accomplished work.’” + +“Assuredly do you stand in need of the healing sleep of nature,” said +the Emperor, not grasping the inner significance of the words. “Now +that you are somewhat rested, esteemed sire, suffer this one to show +you the various apartments of the palace so that you may select for +your own such as most pleasingly attract your notice.” + +“Yet a little longer,” entreated Ten-teh. “A little longer by your +side and listening to your voice alone, if it may be permitted, O +sublime one.” + +“It is for my father to command,” replied Kwo Kam. “Perchance they of +the eleven villages sent some special message of gratifying loyalty +which you would relate without delay?” + +“They slept, omnipotence, or without doubt it would be so,” replied +Ten-teh. + +“Truly,” agreed the Emperor. “It was night when you set forth, my +father?” + +“The shadows had fallen deeply upon the Upper Seng Valley,” said +Ten-teh evasively. + +“The Keeper of the Imperial Stores has frequently conveyed to us their +expressions of unfeigned gratitude for the bounty by which we have +sought to keep alive the memory of their hospitality and our own +indebtedness,” said the Emperor. + +“The sympathetic person cannot have overstated their words,” replied +Ten-teh falteringly. “Never, as their own utterances bear testimony, +never was food more welcome, fuel more eagerly sought for, and +clothing more necessary than in the years of the most recent past.” + +“The assurance is as dew upon the drooping lotus,” said Kwo Kam, with +a lightening countenance. “To maintain the people in an unshaken +prosperity, to frown heavily upon extortion and to establish justice +throughout the land--these have been the achievements of the years of +peace. Yet often, O my father, this one’s mind has turned yearningly +to the happier absence of strife and the simple abundance which you +and they of the valley know.” + +“The deities ordain and the balance weighs; your reward will be the +greater,” replied Ten-teh. Already he spoke with difficulty, and his +eyes were fast closing, but he held himself rigidly, well knowing that +his spirit must still obey his will. + +“Do you not crave now to partake of food and wine?” inquired the +Emperor, with tender solicitude. “A feast has long been prepared of +the choicest dishes in your honour. Consider well the fatigue through +which you have passed.” + +“It has faded,” replied Ten-teh, in a voice scarcely above a whisper, +“the earthly body has ceased to sway the mind. A little longer, +restored one; a very brief span of time.” + +“Your words are my breath, my father,” said the Emperor, +deferentially. “Yet there is one matter which we had reserved for +affectionate censure. It would have spared the feet of one who is +foremost in our concern if you had been content to send the warning by +one of the slaves whose acceptance we craved last year, while you +followed more leisurely by the chariot and the eight white horses +which we deemed suited to your use.” + +Ten-teh was no longer able to express himself in words, but at this +indication of the Emperor’s unceasing thought a great happiness shone +on his face. “What remains?” must reasonably have been his reflection; +“or who shall leave the shade of the fruitful palm-tree to search for +raisins?” Therefore having reached so supreme an eminence that there +was nothing human above, he relaxed the effort by which he had so long +sustained himself, and suffering his spirit to pass unchecked, he at +once fell back lifeless among the cushions of the throne. + +That all who should come after might learn by his example, the history +of Ten-teh was inscribed upon eighteen tablets of jade, carved +patiently and with graceful skill by the most expert stone-cutters of +the age. A triumphal arch of seven heights was also erected outside +the city and called by his name, but the efforts of story-tellers and +poets will keep alive the memory of Ten-teh even when these +imperishable monuments shall have long fallen from their destined use. + * + +When Kai Lung had completed the story of the loyalty of Ten-teh and +had pointed out the forgotten splendour of the crumbling arch, the +coolness of the evening tempted them to resume their way. Moving +without discomfort to themselves before nightfall they reached a small +but seemly cottage conveniently placed upon the mountain-side. At the +gate stood an aged person whose dignified appearance was greatly added +to by his long white moustaches. These possessions he pointed out to +Hwa-mei with inoffensive pride as he welcomed the two who stood before +him. + +“Venerated father,” explained Kai Lung dutifully, “this is she who has +been destined from the beginning of time to raise up a hundred sons to +keep your line extant.” + +“In that case,” remarked the patriarch, “your troubles are only just +beginning. As for me, since all that is now arranged, I can see about +my own departure--‘Whatever height the tree, its leaves return to the +earth at last.’” + +“It is thus at evening-time--to-morrow the light will again shine +forth,” whispered Kai Lung. “Alas, radiance, that you who have dwelt +about a palace should be brought to so mean a hut!” + +“If it is small, your presence will pervade it; in a palace there are +many empty rooms,” replied Hwa-mei, with a reassuring glance. “I enter +to prepare our evening rice.” + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1267 *** |