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Air； was well and happy； though undeniably pained at the action of Cousin
William in the matter of the freehold houses； and more than sceptical how
his marriage would turn out。 Another was advised that although the
interest on Consols was admittedly lower than that anticipated by those
controlling the destines of a new venture entitled； The Great Rosy Dawn
Gold Mine Development Syndicate； and the name certainly less poetically
inspiring； the advising spirits were of the opinion that the former
enterprise would prove the more stable of the two； and； in any case； they
recommended the person in question to begin by placing not more than
half of her life's savings into the mine。 The family of the House of Pash
was assured that beneficent spirits surrounded them at every turn； and that
their good deeds were not suffered to fall unfruitfully to the ground； while
many bearing the name of Glidder； on the other hand； were reproved by
one who had known them in infancy for the offences of jealousy；
ostentation； vain thoughts； shallowness of character； and the like。
At length； revered； as there seemed to be no reasonable indication of
any barbarian phantom of weight or authority appearingnothing； indeed；
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beyond what a person in our country； of no admitted skill； would
accomplish in the penetrating light of day with two others holding his
hands； and a third reposing upon his head； I formed the perhaps immature
judgment that the one to whom I was indebted for the entertainment would
be suffering a grievous frustration of his hopes and a diminution of his
outward authority。 Therefore； without sufficient consideration of the
restricted surroundings； as it afterwards appeared； I threw myself into a
retrospective vision； and floating unencumbered through space； I sought
for Kwan Kiang…ti； the Demon of the Waters； upon whom I might fittingly
call； as I was given into his keeping by the ceremony of spirit…adoption at
an early age。 Meeting an influence which I recognised to be an indication
of his presence； in the vicinity of the Eighth Region； I obsequiously
entreated that he would reveal himself without delay； and then； convinced
of his sympathetic intervention； I suffered my spirit to recall itself； and
revived into the condition of an ordinary existence。
〃We have among us this evening； my friends；〃 the one Pash was
saying； 〃a very remarkable ladyif I may use so democratic a term in the
connectionto whom the limits of Time and Space are empty words； and
before whose supreme Will the most portentous Forces of Occult Nature
mutely confess themselves her attending slaves〃 But at that moment the
rolling drums of Kiang…ti's thunder drowned his words； although he
subsequently raised his voice above it to entreat that any knives or other
articles of a bright and attractive kind should at once be removed to a
place of safety。
Heralded by these continuous sounds； and accompanied by
innumerable flashes of lightning； the genius presently manifested himself；
leisurely developing out of the air around。 He appeared in his favourite
guise of an upright dragon； his scales being arranged in rows of nine each
way； a pearl showing within his throat； and upon his head the wooden bar。
The lights were extinguished incapably by the rain which fell continually
in his presence； but from his body there proceeded a luminous breath
which sufficiently revealed the various incidents。
〃Kong Ho；〃 said this opportune vision； speaking with a voice like the
beating of a brass gong； 〃the course you have adopted is an unusual one；
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but the weight and regularity of your offerings have merit in my eyes。
Nevertheless； if your invocation is only the outcome of a shallow vanity or
a profane love of display； nothing can save you from a painful death。
Speak now； fully and without evasion； and fear nothing。〃
〃Amiable Being；〃 said this person； kow…towing profoundly； 〃the
matter was designed to the end only that your incomparable versatility
might be fittingly displayed。 These barbarians sought vainly to raise
phantoms capable of any useful purpose； whereupon I； jealous of your
superior omnipotence； judged it would be an unseemly neglect not to
inform you of the opportunity。〃
〃It is well；〃 said the demon affably。 〃All doubt in the matter shall now
be set at rest。 Could any more convincing act be found than that I should
breath upon these barbarians and reduce them instantly to a scattering of
thin white ashes？〃
〃Assuredly it would be a conclusive testimony；〃 I replied； 〃yet in that
case consider how inadequate a witness could be borne to your
enlightened condescension； when none would be left but one to whom the
spoken language of this Island is more in the nature of a trap than a
comfortable vehicle。〃
〃Your reasoning is profound； Kong Ho；〃 he replied； 〃yet abundant
proof shall not be wanting。〃 With these words he raised his hand； and
immediately the air became filled with an overwhelming shower of those
productions with which Kwan Kiang…ti's name is chiefly associatedshells
and pebbles of all kinds； lotus and other roots from the river banks； weeds
from seas of greater depths； fish of interminable variety from both fresh
and bitter waters； all falling in really embarrassing abundance； and
mingled with an incessant rain of sand and water。 In the midst of this the
demon suddenly passed away； striking the table as he went； so that it was
scarred with the brand of a five…clawed hand； shattering all the objects
upon it （excepting the stone and the books； which he doubtless regarded as
sacred to some extent）； and leaving the room involved in a profound
darkness。
〃For the love av the saintsfor the love av the saints； save us from the
yellow devils！〃 exclaimed a voice from the spot where last the barbarian
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princess had reclined； and upon this person going to her assistance with
lights it was presently revealed that she alone had remained seated； the
others having all assembled themselves beneath the table in spite of the
incapability of the space at their disposal。 Most of the weightier evidences
of Kwan Kiang…ti's majestic presence had faded away； though the table
retained the print of his impressive hand； many objects remained
irretrievably torn apart； and in a distant corner of the room an insignificant
heap of shells and seaweed still lingered。 From the floor covering a
sprinkling of the purest Fuh…chow sand rose at every step； the salt dew of
the Tung…Hai still dropped from the surroundings； and； at a later period； a
shore crab was found endeavouring to make its escape undetected。
Convinced that the success of the manifestation would have enlarged
the one Glidder's esteem towards me to an inexpressible degree； I now
approached him with words of self…deprecation ready on my tongue； but
before he spoke I became aware； from the nature of his glance； that the
provision had been unnecessary； for already his face had begun to assume；
to a most distended amount； the expression which I had long recognised as
a synonym that some detail had been regarded at a different angle from
that anticipated。
〃May I ask；〃 he began in a somewhat heavily…laden voice； after he had
assured himself that the person who was speaking was himself； and his
external attributes unchanged； 〃May I ask； sir〃 （and at this title； which is
untranslatable in its many…sided significance when technically employed； I
recognised that all complimentary int