The Wallet of Kai Lung

by Ernest Bramah

  CHAPTER VII. THE CAREER OF THE CHARITABLE QUEN-KI-TONG

  FIRST PERIOD: THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL

  "The motives which inspired the actions of the devout Quen-Ki-Tong havelong been ill-reported," said Kai Lung the story-teller, upon a certainoccasion at Wu-whei, "and, as a consequence, his illustrious memory hassuffered somewhat. Even as the insignificant earth-worm may bringthe precious and many coloured jewel to the surface, so has it beenpermitted to this obscure and superficially educated one to discoverthe truth of the entire matter among the badly-arranged and frequentlyreally illegible documents preserved at the Hall of Public Reference atPeking. Without fear of contradiction, therefore, he now sets forth thecredible version.

  "Quen-Ki-Tong was one who throughout his life had been compelled bythe opposing force of circumstances to be content with what was offeredrather than attain to that which he desired. Having been allowed towander over the edge of an exceedingly steep crag, while still a child,by the aged and untrustworthy person who had the care of him, and yetsuffering little hurt, he was carried back to the city in triumph,by the one in question, who, to cover her neglect, declared amidmany chants of exultation that as he slept a majestic winged form hadsnatched him from her arms and traced magical figures with his body onthe ground in token of the distinguished sacred existence for which hewas undoubtedly set apart. In such a manner he became famed at a veryearly age for an unassuming mildness of character and an almost inspiredpiety of life, so that on every side frequent opportunity was given himfor the display of these amiable qualities. Should it chance that aninsufficient quantity of puppy-pie had been prepared for the familyrepast, the undesirable but necessary portion of cold dried rat wouldinevitably be allotted to the uncomplaining Quen, doubtless accompaniedby the engaging but unnecessary remark that he alone had a Heaven-sentintellect which was fixed upon more sublime images than even thebest constructed puppy-pie. Should the number of sedan-chairs not besufficient to bear to the Exhibition of Kites all who were desirous ofbecoming entertained in such a fashion, inevitably would Quen be the oneleft behind, in order that he might have adequate leisure for dignifiedand pure-minded internal reflexion.

  "In this manner it came about that when a very wealthy but unnaturallyavaricious and evil-tempered person who was connected with Quen's fatherin matters of commerce expressed his fixed determination that the mostdeserving and enlightened of his friend's sons should enter into amarriage agreement with his daughter, there was no manner of hesitationamong those concerned, who admitted without any questioning betweenthemselves that Quen was undeniably the one referred to.

  "Though naturally not possessing an insignificant intellect, acontinuous habit, together with a most irreproachable sense of filialduty, subdued within Quen's internal organs whatever reluctance he mighthave otherwise displayed in the matter, so that as courteously as wasnecessary he presented to the undoubtedly very ordinary and slow-wittedmaiden in question the gifts of irretrievable intention, and honourablycarried out his spoken and written words towards her.

  "For a period of years the circumstances of the various persons did notin any degree change, Quen in the meantime becoming more pure-souledand inward-seeing with each moon-change, after the manner of the sublimeLien-ti, who studied to maintain an unmoved endurance in all varietiesof events by placing his body to a greater extent each day in a vesselof boiling liquid. Nevertheless, the good and charitable deities towhom Quen unceasingly sacrificed were not altogether unmindful of hisvirtues; for a son was born, and an evil disease which arose from a mostundignified display of uncontrollable emotion on her part ended in hiswife being deposited with becoming ceremony in the Family Temple.

  "Upon a certain evening, when Quen sat in his inner chamber deliberatingupon the really beneficent yet somewhat inexplicable arrangement of theall-seeing ones to whom he was very amiably disposed in consequence ofthe unwonted tranquillity which he now enjoyed, yet who, it appeared tohim, could have set out the entire matter in a much more satisfactoryway from the beginning, he was made aware by the unexpected beating ofmany gongs, and by other signs of refined and deferential welcome, thata person of exalted rank was approaching his residence. While he wasstill hesitating in his uncertainty regarding the most courteous anddelicate form of self-abasement with which to honour so important avisitor--whether to rush forth and allow the chair-carriers to pass overhis prostrate form, to make a pretence of being a low-caste slave, andin that guise doing menial service, or to conceal himself beneatha massive and overhanging table until his guest should have availedhimself of the opportunity to examine at his leisure whatever the roomcontained--the person in question stood before him. In every detail ofdress and appointment he had the undoubted appearance of being one towhom no door might be safely closed.

  "'Alas!' exclaimed Quen, 'how inferior and ill-contrived is the mindof a person of my feeble intellectual attainments. Even at this moment,when the near approach of one who obviously commands every engagingaccomplishment might reasonably be expected to call up within it anadequate amount of commonplace resource, its ill-destined possessorfinds himself entirely incapable of conducting himself with the fittingoutward marks of his great internal respect. This residence is certainlyunprepossessing in the extreme, yet it contains many objects of somevalue and of great rarity; illiterate as this person is, he would notbe so presumptuous as to offer any for your acceptance, but if you willconfer upon him the favour of selecting that which appears to be themost priceless and unreplaceable, he will immediately, and with everymanifestation of extreme delight, break it irredeemably in your honour,to prove the unaffected depth of his gratified emotions.'

  "'Quen-Ki-Tong,' replied the person before him, speaking with an evidentsincerity of purpose, 'pleasant to this one's ears are your words,breathing as they do an obvious hospitality and a due regard for theforms of etiquette. But if, indeed, you are desirous of gaining thisperson's explicit regard, break no articles of fine porcelain or rareinlaid wood in proof of it, but immediately dismiss to a very distantspot the three-score gong-beaters who have enclosed him within two solidrings, and who are now carrying out their duties in so diligent a mannerthat he greatly doubts if the unimpaired faculties of hearing will everbe fully restored. Furthermore, if your exceedingly amiable intentionsdesire fuller expression, cause an unstinted number of vessels of someuninflammable liquid to be conveyed into your chrysanthemum garden andthere poured over the numerous fireworks and coloured lights which stillappear to be in progress. Doubtless they are well-intentioned marks ofrespect, but they caused this person considerable apprehension as hepassed among them, and, indeed, give to this unusually pleasant andunassuming spot the by no means inviting atmosphere of a low-classtea-house garden during the festivities attending the birthday of thesacred Emperor.'

  "'This person is overwhelmed with a most unendurable confusion that thematters referred to should have been regarded in such a light,' repliedQuen humbly. 'Although he himself had no knowledge of them until thismoment, he is confident that they in no wise differ from the usualhonourable manifestations with which it is customary in this Province towelcome strangers of exceptional rank and titles.'

  "'The welcome was of a most dignified and impressive nature,' repliedthe stranger, with every appearance of not desiring to cause Quen anyuneasy internal doubts; 'yet the fact is none the less true that at themoment this person's head seems to contain an exceedingly powerful andwell-equipped band; and also, that as he passed through the courtyardan ingeniously constructed but somewhat unmanageable figure of giganticsize, composed entirely of jets of many-coloured flame, leaped outsuddenly from behind a dark wall and made an almost successful attemptto embrace him in its ever-revolving arms. Lo Yuen greatly fears thatthe time when he would have rejoiced in the necessary display of agilityto which the incident gave rise has for ever passed away.'

  "'Lo Yuen!' exclaimed Quen, with an unaffected mingling of the emotionsof reverential awe and pleasureable anticipation. 'Can it indeed bean uncontro
versial fact that so learned and ornamental a person as therenowned Controller of Unsolicited Degrees stands beneath this inelegantperson's utterly unpresentable roof! Now, indeed, he plainly understandswhy this ill-conditioned chamber has the appearance of being filled witha Heaven-sent brilliance, and why at the first spoken words of the onebefore him a melodious sound, like the rushing waters of the sacredTien-Kiang, seemed to fill his ears.'

  "'Undoubtedly the chamber is pervaded by a very exceptional splendour,'replied Lo Yuen, who, in spite of his high position, regarded gracefultalk and well-imagined compliments in a spirit of no-satisfaction; 'yetthis commonplace-minded one has a fixed conviction that it is causedby the crimson-eyed and pink-fire-breathing dragon which, despite yourslave's most assiduous efforts, is now endeavouring to climb throughthe aperture behind you. The noise which still fills his ears, also,resembles rather the despairing cries of the Ten Thousand Lost Ones atthe first sight of the Pit of Liquid and Red-hot Malachite, yetwithout question both proceed from the same cause. Laying aside furtherceremony, therefore, permit this greatly over-estimated person todisclose the object of his inopportune visit. Long have your amiablevirtues been observed and appreciated by the high ones at Peking, OQuen-Ki-Tong. Too long have they been unrewarded and passed over insilence. Nevertheless, the moment of acknowledgement and advancement hasat length arrived; for, as the Book of Verses clearly says, "Even thethree-legged mule may contrive to reach the agreed spot in advance ofthe others, provided a circular running space has been selected andthe number of rounds be sufficiently ample." It is this otherwiseuninteresting and obtrusive person's graceful duty to convey to you theagreeable intelligence that the honourable and not ill-rewarded officeof Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms has been conferred upon you, andto require you to proceed without delay to Peking, so that fittingceremonies of admittance may be performed before the fifteenth day ofthe month of Feathered Insects.'

  "Alas! how frequently does the purchaser of seemingly vigorous andexceptionally low-priced flower-seeds discover, when too late, that theyare, in reality, fashioned from the root of the prolific and valuelesstzu-ka, skilfully covered with a disguising varnish! Instead ofpresenting himself at the place of commerce frequented by those whoentrust money to others on the promise of an increased repayment whencertain very probable events have come to pass (so that if allelse failed he would still possess a serviceable number of taels),Quen-Ki-Tong entirely neglected the demands of a most ordinary prudence,nor could he be induced to set out on his journey until he had passedseven days in public feasting to mark his good fortune, and then devotedfourteen more days to fasting and various acts of penance, in order tomake known the regret with which he acknowledged his entire unworthinessfor the honour before him. Owing to this very conscientious, butnevertheless somewhat short-sighted manner of behaving, Quen foundhimself unable to reach Peking before the day preceding that to which LoYuen had made special reference. From this cause it came about that onlysufficient time remained to perform the various ceremonies of admission,without in any degree counselling Quen as to his duties and procedure inthe fulfilment of his really important office.

  "Among the many necessary and venerable ceremonies observed during thechanging periods of the year, none occupy a more important place thanthose for which the fifteenth day of the month of Feathered Insects isreserved, conveying as they do a respectful and delicately-fashionedpetition that the various affairs upon which persons in everycondition of life are engaged may arrive at a pleasant and remunerativeconclusion. At the earliest stroke of the gong the versatile Emperor,accompanied by many persons of irreproachable ancestry and certainothers, very elaborately attired, proceeds to an open space set apartfor the occasion. With unassuming dexterity the benevolent Emperor fora brief span of time engages in the menial occupation of a person oflow class, and with his own hands ploughs an assigned portion of land inorder that the enlightened spirits under whose direct guardianship theearth is placed may not become lax in their disinterested efforts topromote its fruitfulness. In this charitable exertion he is followedby various other persons of recognized position, the first being, bycustom, the Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms, while at the same timethe amiably-disposed Empress plants an allotted number of mulberrytrees, and deposits upon their leaves the carefully reared insectswhich she receives from the hands of their Guarder. In the case of theaccomplished Emperor an ingenious contrivance is resorted to by whichthe soil is drawn aside by means of hidden strings as the plough passesby, the implement in question being itself constructed from paper of thehighest quality, while the oxen which draw it are, in reality,ordinary persons cunningly concealed within masks of cardboard. In thisthoughtful manner the actual labours of the sublime Emperor are greatlylessened, while no chance is afforded for an inauspicious omen to becreated by the rebellious behaviour of a maliciously-inclined ox, or byany other event of an unforeseen nature. All the other persons, however,are required to make themselves proficient in the art of ploughing,before the ceremony, so that the chances of the attendant spiritsdiscovering the deception which has been practised upon them in the caseof the Emperor may not be increased by its needless repetition. It waschiefly for this reason that Lo Yuen had urged Quen to journey to Pekingas speedily as possible, but owing to the very short time which remainedbetween his arrival and the ceremony of ploughing, not only had theperson in question neglected to profit by instruction, but he was noteven aware of the obligation which awaited him. When, therefore, inspite of every respectful protest on his part, he was led up to amassively-constructed implement drawn by two powerful and undeniablyevilly-intentioned-looking animals, it was with every sign of greatinternal misgivings, and an entire absence of enthusiasm in theentertainment, that he commenced his not too well understood task. Inthis matter he was by no means mistaken, for it soon became plain to allobservers--of whom an immense concourse was assembled--that the usuallyself-possessed Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms was conductinghimself in a most undignified manner; for though he still clung to theplough-handles with an inspired tenacity, his body assumed every varietyof base and uninviting attitude. Encouraged by this inelegant stateof affairs, the evil spirits which are ever on the watch to turn intoderision the charitable intentions of the pure-minded entered intothe bodies of the oxen and provoked within their minds a sudden andmalignant confidence that the time had arrived when they might withsafety break into revolt and throw off the outward signs of theirdependent condition. From these various causes it came about that Quenwas, without warning, borne with irresistible certainty against themajestic person of the sacred Emperor, the inlaid box of Imperialsilkworms, which up to that time had remained safely among the foldsof his silk garment, alone serving to avert an even more violent andill-destined blow.

  "Well said the wise and deep-thinking Ye-te, in his book entitled_Proverbs of Everyday Happenings_, 'Should a person on returning fromthe city discover his house to be in flames, let him examine well thechange which he has received from the chair-carrier before it is toolate; for evil never travels alone.' Scarcely had the unfortunate Quenrecovered his natural attributes from the effect of the disgracefuloccurrence which has been recorded (which, indeed, furnished the matterof a song and many unpresentable jests among the low-class personsof the city), than the magnanimous Empress reached that detail of thetree-planting ceremony when it was requisite that she should deposit theliving emblems of the desired increase and prosperity upon the leaves.Stretching forth her delicately-proportioned hand to Quen for thispurpose, she received from the still greatly confused person in questionthe Imperial silkworms in so unseemly a condition that her eyes hadscarcely rested upon them before she was seized with the rigidsickness, and in that state fell to the ground. At this new and entirelyunforeseen calamity a very disagreeable certainty of approaching evilbegan to take possession of all those who stood around, many cryingaloud that every omen of good was wanting, and declaring that unlesssomething of a markedly propitiatory nature was quickly accomplished,the agriculture of t
he entire Empire would cease to flourish, and thevarious departments of the commerce in silk would undoubtedly be throwninto a state of most inextricable confusion. Indeed, in spite of allthings designed to have a contrary effect, the matter came about in theway predicted, for the Hoang-Ho seven times overcame its restrainingbarriers, and poured its waters over the surrounding country, therebygaining for the first time its well-deserved title of 'The Sorrow ofChina,' by which dishonourable but exceedingly appropriate designationit is known to this day.

  "The manner of greeting which would have been accorded to Quen hadhe returned to the official quarter of the city, or the nature of histreatment by the baser class of the ordinary people if they succeededin enticing him to come among them, formed a topic of such uninvitingconjecture that the humane-minded Lo Yuen, who had observed theentire course of events from an elevated spot, determined to makea well-directed effort towards his safety. To this end he quicklypurchased the esteem of several of those who make a profession of theirstrength, holding out the hope of still further reward if they conductedthe venture to a successful termination. Uttering loud cries of animpending vengeance, as Lo Yuen had instructed them in the matter,and displaying their exceptional proportions to the astonishment andmisgivings of all beholders, these persons tore open the opium-tent inwhich Quen had concealed himself, and, thrusting aside all opposition,quickly dragged him forth. Holding him high upon their shoulders, inspite of his frequent and ill-advised endeavours to cast himself tothe ground, some surrounded those who bore him--after the manner ofdisposing his troops affected by a skilful leader when the enemy beginto waver--and crying aloud that it was their unchanging purpose tosubmit him to the test of burning splinters and afterwards to torturehim, they succeeded by this stratagem in bringing him through thecrowd; and hurling back or outstripping those who endeavoured to follow,conveyed him secretly and unperceived to a deserted and appointedspot. Here Quen was obliged to remain until other events caused therecollection of the many to become clouded and unconcerned towards him,suffering frequent inconveniences in spite of the powerful protectionof Lo Yuen, and not at all times being able to regard the most necessaryrepast as an appointment of undoubted certainty. At length, in the guiseof a wandering conjurer who was unable to display his accomplishmentsowing to an entire loss of the power of movement in his arms, Quenpassed undetected from the city, and safely reaching the distant andunimportant town of Lu-Kwo, gave himself up to a protracted period oflamentation and self-reproach at the unprepossessing manner in which hehad conducted his otherwise very inviting affairs.

  SECOND PERIOD: THE TEMPLE BUILDER

  Two hand-counts of years passed away and Quen still remained at Lu-kwo,all desire of returning either to Peking or to the place of his birthhaving by this time faded into nothingness. Accepting the inevitablefact that he was not destined ever to become a person with whom taelswere plentiful, and yet being unwilling to forego the charitable mannerof life which he had always been accustomed to observe, it came aboutthat he spent the greater part of his time in collecting together suchsums of money as he could procure from the amiable and well-disposed,and with them building temples and engaging in other benevolent works.From this cause it arose the Quen obtained around Lu-kwo a reputationfor high-minded piety, in no degree less than that which had beenconferred upon him in earlier times, so that pilgrims from far distantplaces would purposely contrive their journey so as to pass through thetown containing so unassuming and virtuous a person.

  "During this entire period Quen had been accompanied by his only son, ayouth of respectful personality, in whose entertaining society he tookan intelligent interest. Even when deeply engaged in what he justlyregarded as the crowning work of his existence--the planning anderecting of an exceptionally well-endowed marble temple, which was tobe entirely covered on the outside with silver paper, and on the insidewith gold-leaf--he did not fail to observe the various conditions ofLiao's existence, and the changing emotions which from time totime possessed him. Therefore, when the person in question, withoutdisplaying any signs of internal sickness, and likewise persistentlydenying that he had lost any considerable sum of money, disclosed acontinuous habit of turning aside with an unaffected expression ofdistaste from all manner of food, and passed the entire night inobserving the course of the great sky-lantern rather than in sleep, thesage and discriminating Quen took him one day aside, and asked him, asone who might aid him in the matter, who the maiden was, and what classand position her father occupied.

  "'Alas!' exclaimed Liao, with many unfeigned manifestations of anunbearable fate, 'to what degree do the class and position of herentirely unnecessary parents affect the question? or how little hopecan this sacrilegious one reasonably have of ever progressing as far asearthly details of a pecuniary character in the case of so adorable andfar-removed a Being? The uttermost extent of this wildly-hoping person'sambition is that when the incomparably symmetrical Ts'ain learns ofthe steadfast light of his devotion, she may be inspired to deposit anemblematic chrysanthemum upon his tomb in the Family Temple. For such areward he will cheerfully devote the unswerving fidelity of a lifetimeto her service, not distressing her gentle and retiring nature by theexpression of what must inevitably be a hopeless passion, but patientlyand uncomplainingly guarding her footsteps as from a distance.'

  "Being in this manner made aware of the reason of Liao's frequent andunrestrained exclamations of intolerable despair, and of his fixeddetermination with regard to the maiden Ts'ain (which seemed, aboveall else, to indicate a resolution to shun her presence) Quen could notregard the immediately-following actions of his son with anything but anemotion of confusion. For when his eyes next rested upon the exceedinglycontradictory Liao, he was seated in the open space before the house inwhich Ts'ain dwelt, playing upon an instrument of stringed woods, andchanting verses into which the names of the two persons in questionhad been skilfully introduced without restraint, his whole manner ofbehaving being with the evident purpose of attracting the maiden'sfavourable attention. After an absence of many days, spent in thisgraceful and complimentary manner, Liao returned suddenly to the houseof his father, and, prostrating his body before him, made a specificrequest for his assistance.

  "'As regards Ts'ain and myself,' he continued, 'all things are arranged,and but for the unfortunate coincidence of this person's poverty andof her father's cupidity, the details of the wedding ceremony wouldundoubtedly now be in a very advanced condition. Upon these entrancingand well-discussed plans, however, the shadow of the grasping andcommonplace Ah-Ping has fallen like the inopportune opium-pipe from themouth of a person examining substances of an explosive nature; for theone referred to demands a large and utterly unobtainable amount of taelsbefore he will suffer his greatly-sought-after daughter to accept thegifts of irretrievable intention.'

  "'Grievous indeed is your plight,' replied Quen, when he thus understoodthe manner of obstacle which impeded his son's hopes; 'for in the natureof taels the most diverse men are to be measured through the same mesh.As the proverb says, "'All money is evil,' exclaimed the philosopherwith extreme weariness, as he gathered up the gold pieces in exchange,but presently discovering that one among them was such indeed has he haddescribed, he rushed forth without tarrying to take up a street garment;and with an entire absence of dignity traversed all the ways of the cityin the hope of finding the one who had defrauded him." Well does thisperson know the mercenary Ah-Ping, and the unyielding nature of hisclosed hand; for often, but always fruitlessly, he has entered hispresence on affairs connected with the erecting of certain temples.Nevertheless, the matter is one which does not admit of any incapablefaltering, to which end this one will seek out the obdurate Ah-Pingwithout delay, and endeavour to entrap him by some means in the courseof argument.'

  "From the time of his earliest youth Ah-Ping had unceasingly devotedhimself to the object of getting together an overwhelming number oftaels, using for this purpose various means which, without being reallydegrading or contrary to the writt
en law, were not such as might havebeen cheerfully engaged in by a person of high-minded honourableness. Inconsequence of this, as he grew more feeble in body, and more venerablein appearance, he began to express frequent and bitter doubts as towhether his manner of life had been really well arranged; for, in spiteof his great wealth, he had grown to adopt a most inexpensive habiton all occasions, having no desire to spend; and an ever-increasingapprehension began to possess him that after he had passed beyond, hissons would be very disinclined to sacrifice and burn money sufficient tokeep him in an affluent condition in the Upper Air. In such a state ofmind was Ah-Ping when Quen-Ki-Tong appeared before him, for it had justbeen revealed to him that his eldest and favourite son had, by flatteryand by openly praising the dexterity with which he used his brushand ink, entrapped him into inscribing his entire name upon certainunwritten sheets of parchment, which the one in question immediatelysold to such as were heavily indebted to Ah-Ping.

  "'If a person can be guilty of this really unfilial behaviour during thelifetime of his father,' exclaimed Ah-Ping, in a tone of unrestrainedvexation, 'can it be prudently relied upon that he will carry out hiswishes after death, when they involve the remitting to him of severalthousand taels each year? O estimable Quen-Ki-Tong, how immeasurablysuperior is the celestial outlook upon which you may safely rely as yourportion! When you are enjoying every variety of sumptuous profusion,as the reward of your untiring charitable exertions here on earth, thespirit of this short-sighted person will be engaged in doing menialservitude for the inferior deities, and perhaps scarcely able, even bythose means, to clothe himself according to the changing nature of theseasons.'

  "'Yet,' replied Quen, 'the necessity for so laborious and unremunerativean existence may even now be averted by taking efficient precautionsbefore you pass to the Upper Air.'

  "'In what way?' demanded Ah-Ping, with an awakening hope that the mattermight not be entirely destitute of cheerfulness, yet at the same timepreparing to examine with even unbecoming intrusiveness any expedientwhich Quen might lay before him. 'Is it not explicitly stated thatsacrifices and acts of a like nature, when performed at the end of one'sexistence by a person who to that time has professed no sort of interestin such matters, shall in no degree be entered as to his good, butrather regarded as examples of deliberate presumptuousness, and made theexcuse for subjecting him to more severe tortures and acts of penancethan would be his portion if he neglected the custom altogether?'

  "'Undoubtedly such is the case,' replied Quen; 'and on that account itwould indicate a most regrettable want of foresight for you to conductyour affairs in the manner indicated. The only undeniably safe courseis for you to entrust the amount you will require to a person ofexceptional piety, receiving in return his written word to repay thefull sum whenever you shall claim it from him in the Upper Air. By thiscrafty method the amount will be placed at the disposal of the personin question as soon as he has passed beyond, and he will be held by hiswritten word to return it to you whenever you shall demand it.'

  "So amiably impressed with this ingenious scheme was Ah-Ping that hewould at once have entered more fully into the detail had the thoughtnot arisen in his mind that the person before him was the father ofLiao, who urgently required a certain large sum, and that for thisreason he might with prudence inquire more fully into the matterelsewhere, in case Quen himself should have been imperceptibly ledaside, even though he possessed intentions of a most unswervinghonourableness. To this end, therefore, he desired to converse againwith Quen on the matter, pleading that at that moment a gatheringof those who direct enterprises of a commercial nature required hispresence. Nevertheless, he would not permit the person referred todepart until he had complimented him, in both general and specificterms, on the high character of his life and actions, and theintelligent nature of his understanding, which had enabled him with solittle mental exertion to discover an efficient plan.

  "Without delay Ah-Ping sought out those most skilled in all varietiesof law-forms, in extorting money by devices capable of very differentmeanings, and in expedients for evading just debts; but all agreed thatsuch an arrangement as the one he put before them would be unavoidablybinding, provided the person who received the money alluded to spent itin the exercise of his charitable desires, and provided also that thewritten agreement bore the duty seal of the high ones at Peking, and wasdeposited in the coffin of the lender. Fully satisfied, and rejoicinggreatly that he could in this way adequately provide for his future andentrap the avaricious ones of his house, Ah-Ping collected together thegreater part of his possessions, and converting it into pieces of gold,entrusted them to Quen on the exact understanding that has already beendescribed, he receiving in turn Quen's written and thumb-signed paperof repayment, and his assurance that the whole amount should be expendedupon the silver-paper and gold-leaf Temple with which he was stillengaged.

  "It is owing to this circumstance that Quen-Ki-Tong's irreproachablename has come to be lightly regarded by many who may be fitly likened tothe latter person in the subtle and experienced proverb, 'The wise man'seyes fell before the gaze of the fool, fearing that if he looked hemust cry aloud, "Thou hopeless one!" "There," said the fool to himself,"behold this person's power!"' These badly educated and undiscriminatingpersons, being entirely unable to explain the ensuing train of events,unhesitatingly declare that Quen-Ki-Tong applied a portion of the moneywhich he had received from Ah-Ping in the manner described to the objectof acquiring Ts'ain for his son Liao. In this feeble and incapablefashion they endeavour to stigmatize the pure-minded Quen as one whoacted directly contrary to his deliberately spoken word, whereas thedesired result was brought about in a much more artful manner; theydescribe the commercially successful Ah-Ping as a person of veryinferior prudence, and one easily imposed upon; while they entirely passover, as a detail outside the true facts, the written paper preservedamong the sacred relics in the Temple, which announces, among othergifts of a small and uninviting character, 'Thirty thousand taels froman elderly ginseng merchant of Lu-kwo, who desires to remain nameless,through the hand of Quen-Ki-Tong.' The full happening in its real andharmless face is now set forth for the first time.

  "Some weeks after the recorded arrangement had been arrived at byAh-Ping and Quen, when the taels in question had been expended upon theTemple and were, therefore, infallibly beyond recall, the former personchanced to be passing through the public garden in Lu-kwo when he hearda voice lifted up in the expression of every unendurable feeling ofdejection to which one can give utterance. Stepping aside to learn thecause of so unprepossessing a display of unrestrained agitation, andin the hope that perhaps he might be able to use the incident in aremunerative manner, Ah-Ping quickly discovered the unhappy being who,entirely regardless of the embroidered silk robe which he wore, reclinedupon a raised bank of uninviting earth, and waved his hands from side toside as his internal emotions urged him.

  "'Quen-Ki-Tong!' exclaimed Ah-Ping, not fully convinced that the factwas as he stated it in spite of the image clearly impressed upon hisimagination; 'to what unpropitious occurrence is so unlooked-for anexhibition due? Are those who traffic in gold-leaf demanding a high andprohibitive price for that commodity, or has some evil and vindicativespirit taken up its abode within the completed portion of the Temple,and by its offensive but nevertheless diverting remarks and actionsremoved all semblance of gravity from the countenances of those whodaily come to admire the construction?'

  "'O thrice unfortunate Ah-Ping,' replied Quen when he observed thedistinguishing marks of the person before him, 'scarcely can thisgreatly overwhelmed one raise his eyes to your open and intelligentcountenance; for through him you are on the point of experiencing a verysevere financial blow, and it is, indeed, on your account more than onhis own that he is now indulging in these outward signs of a grief toofar down to be expressed in spoken words.' And at the memory of hisformer occupation, Quen again waved his arms from side to side withuntiring assiduousness.

  "'Strange indeed to this person's ears are
your words,' said Ah-Ping,outwardly unmoved, but with an apprehensive internal pain that he wouldhave regarded Quen's display of emotion with an easier stomach if hisown taels were safely concealed under the floor of his inner chamber.'The sum which this one entrusted to you has, without any pretencebeen expended upon the Temple, while the written paper concerning therepayment bears the duty seal of the high ones at Peking. How, then, canAh-Ping suffer a loss at the hands of Quen-Ki-Tong?'

  "'Ah-Ping,' said Quen, with every appearance of desiring that bothpersons should regard the matter in a conciliatory spirit, 'do notpermit the awaiting demons, which are ever on the alert to enter intoa person's mind when he becomes distressed out of the common order ofevents, to take possession of your usually discriminating facultiesuntil you have fully understood how this affair has come about. It is nounknown thing for a person of even exceptional intelligence to reversehis entire manner of living towards the end of a long and consistentexistence; the far-seeing and not lightly-moved Ah-Ping himself hasalready done so. In a similar, but entirely contrary manner, the personwho is now before you finds himself impelled towards that which willcertainly bear a very unpresentable face when the circumstancesbecome known; yet by no other means is he capable of attaining hisgreatly-desired object.'

  "'And to what end does that trend?' demanded Ah-Ping, in no degreeunderstanding how the matter affected him.

  "'While occupied with enterprises which those of an engaging andcomplimentary nature are accustomed to refer to as charitable,this person has almost entirely neglected a duty of scarcely lessimportance--that of establishing an unending line, through which hisname and actions shall be kept alive to all time,' replied Quen. 'Havingnow inquired into the matter, he finds that his only son, through whomalone the desired result can be obtained, has become unbearably attachedto a maiden for whom a very large sum is demanded in exchange. Thethought of obtaining no advantage from an entire life of self-denialis certainly unprepossessing in the extreme, but so, even to a moreadvanced degree, is the certainty that otherwise the family monumentswill be untended, and the temple of domestic virtues become an earlyruin. This person has submitted the dilemma to the test of omens, andafter considering well the reply, he has decided to obtain the price ofthe maiden in a not very honourable manner, which now presents itself,so that Liao may send out his silk-bound gifts without delay.'

  "'It is an unalluring alternative,' said Ah-Ping, whose only insidethought was one of gratification that the exchange money for Ts'ainwould so soon be in his possession, 'yet this person fails to perceivehow you could act otherwise after the decision of the omens. He nowunderstands, moreover, that the loss you referred to on his part was inthe nature of a figure of speech, as one makes use of thunderboltsand delicately-scented flowers to convey ideas of harsh and amiablepassions, and alluded in reality to the forthcoming departure of hisdaughter, who is, as you so versatilely suggested, the comfort andriches of his old age.'

  "'O venerable, but at this moment somewhat obtuse, Ah-Ping,' criedQuen, with a recurrence to his former method of expressing his unfeignedagitation, 'is your evenly-balanced mind unable to grasp the essentialfact of how this person's contemplated action will affect your owncelestial condition? It is a distressing but entirely unavoidable fact,that if this person acts in the manner which he has determined upon, hewill be condemned to the lowest place of torment reserved for thosewho fail at the end of an otherwise pure existence, and in this hewill never have an opportunity of meeting the very much higher placedAh-Ping, and of restoring to him the thirty-thousand taels as agreedupon.'

  "At these ill-destined words, all power of rigidness departed fromAh-Ping's limbs, and he sank down upon the forbidding earth by Quen'sside.

  "'O most unfortunate one who is now speaking,' he exclaimed, when atlength his guarding spirit deemed it prudent to restore his power ofexpressing himself in words, 'happy indeed would have been your lot hadyou been content to traffic in ginseng and other commodities of whichyou have actual knowledge. O amiable Quen, this matter must be in someway arranged without causing you to deviate from the entrancing paths ofyour habitual virtue. Could not the very reasonable Liao be induced tolook favourably upon the attractions of some low-priced maiden, in whichcase this not really hard-stomached person would be willing to advancethe necessary amount, until such time as it could be restored, at a verylow and unremunerative rate of interest?'

  "'This person has observed every variety of practical humility in thecourse of his life,' replied Quen with commendable dignity, 'yet he nowfinds himself totally unable to overcome an inward repugnance to thethought of perpetuating his honoured name and race through the medium ofany low-priced maiden. To this end has he decided.'

  "Those who were well acquainted with Ah-Ping in matters of commerce didnot hesitate to declare that his great wealth had been acquired by hisconsistent habit of forming an opinion quickly while others hesitated.On the occasion in question he only engaged his mind with the opposingcircumstances for a few moments before he definitely fixed upon thecourse which he should pursue.

  "'Quen-Ki-Tong,' he said, with an evident intermingling of many veryconflicting emotions, 'retain to the end this well-merited reputationfor unaffected honourableness which you have so fittingly earned. Fewin the entire Empire, with powers so versatilely pointing to an eminentposition in any chosen direction, would have been content to pass theirlives in an unremunerative existence devoted to actions of charity. Hadyou selected an entirely different manner of living, this person hasevery confidence that he, and many others in Lu-kwo, would by this timebe experiencing a very ignoble poverty. For this reason he will makeit his most prominent ambition to hasten the realization of the amiablehopes expressed both by Liao and by Ts'ain, concerning theirfuture relationship. In this, indeed, he himself will be more thanexceptionally fortunate should the former one prove to possess even aportion of the clear-sighted sagaciousness exhibited by his engagingfather.'

  "VERSES COMPOSED BY A MUSICIAN OF LU-KWO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE WEDDING CEREMONY OF LIAO AND TS'AIN

  "Bright hued is the morning, the dark clouds have fallen; At the mere waving of Quen's virtuous hands they melted away. Happy is Liao in the possession of so accomplished a parent, Happy also is Quen to have so discriminating a son.

  "The two persons in question sit, side by side, upon an embroidered couch, Listening to the well-expressed compliments of those who pass to and fro. From time to time their eyes meet, and glances of a very significant amusement pass between them; Can it be that on so ceremonious an occasion they are recalling events of a gravity-removing nature?

  "The gentle and rainbow-like Ts'ain has already arrived, With the graceful motion of a silver carp gliding through a screen of rushes, she moves among those who are assembled. On the brow of her somewhat contentious father there rests the shadow of an ill-repressed sorrow; Doubtless the frequently-misjudged Ah-Ping is thinking of his lonely hearth, now that he is for ever parted from that which he holds most precious.

  "In the most commodious chamber of the house the elegant wedding-gifts are conspicuously displayed; let us stand beside the one which we have contributed, and point out its excellence to those who pass by. Surely the time cannot be far distant when the sound of many gongs will announce that the very desirable repast is at length to be partaken of."