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particular be offensively reported； I unhesitatingly replied； 〃Beneath the
Sign of the Lead Tortoise； on the northern course from the Lotus Pools
outside the walls of Yuen…ping。〃
This answer the one with the book did not immediately record。 〃I don't
say it isn't all right when you know the parts；〃 he remarked broad…
mindedly； 〃but it does sound a trifle irregular。 Can't you give it a number
and a street？〃
〃I fancy it must be a pub； sir；〃 observed another。 〃He said that it had a
signthe Red Tortoise。〃
〃Well； haven't you got a London address？〃 said the high one； and this
person being able to supply a street and a number as desired； this part of
the undertaking was disposed of； to his cordial satisfaction。
〃Now let me see the articles which these men left with you；〃
commanded the chieftain of the band； and without any misleading
discrepancies I at once drew forth from an inner sleeve the two scrips； of
which adequate mention has already been made； another hitherto
undescribed； two instruments for measuring the passing hours of the day；
together with a chain of fine gold ingeniously wrought into the semblance
of a cable； an ornament for the breast； set about with a jewel； two neck…
cloths of a kind usually carried in the pocket； a book for recording
happenings of any moment； pieces of money to the value of about eleven
taels； a silver flagon； a sheathed weapon and a few lesser objects of
insignificant value。 These various details I laid obsequiously before the
one who had commanded it； while the others stood around either in
explicit silence or speaking softly beneath their breath。
〃Do I understand that the two persons left all these things with you；
while they took your purse in exchange？〃 said the high official； after
examining certain obscure signs upon the metals； the contents of the third
scrip； and the like。
〃It cannot reasonably be denied；〃 I replied； 〃inasmuch as they departed
without them。〃
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〃Spontaneously？〃 he demanded； and in spite of the unevadible severity
of his voice the expression of his nearer eye deviated somewhat。
〃The spoken and conclusive word of the first was that it was his
intention to commit to this one's keeping everything which he had； the
assertion of the second being that with this scrip I received all that he
possessed。〃
〃While of yours； what did they get； Mr。 Quack？〃 and the tone of the
one who spoke had a much more gratifying modulation than before； while
the attitudes of those who stood around had favourably changed； until they
now conveyed a message of deliberate esteem。
〃A serpent…skin case of two enclosures；〃 I replied。 〃On the one side
was a handcount of the small copper…pieces of this Island； which I had
caused to be burnished and gilt for the purpose of taking back to amuse
those of Yuen…ping。 On the other side were two or three pages from a
gravity…removing printed leaf entitled 'Bits of Tits；' with which this person
weekly instructs himself in the simpler rudiments of the language。 For the
rest the case was controlled by a hidden spring； and inscribed about with a
charm against loss； consumption by fire； or being secretly acquired by the
unworthy。〃
〃I don't think you stand in much need of that charm； Mr。 Quack；〃
remarked another of more than ordinary rank； who was also present。
〃Then they really got practically no money from you？〃
〃By no means；〃 I admitted。 〃It was never literally stipulated； and
whatever of wealth he possesses this person carries in a concealed spot
beneath his waistbelt。〃 （For even to these； virtuous sire； I did not deem it
expedient to reveal the fact that in reality it is hidden within the sole of my
left sandal。）
〃I congratulate you；〃 he said with lavish refinement。 〃Ben and the
Butterman can be very bland and persuasive。 Could you tell me； as a
matter of professional curiosity； what first put you on your guard？〃
〃In this person's country；〃 I replied； 〃there is an apt saying； 'The
sagacious bird does not build his nest twice in the empty soup…toureen；'
and by observing closely what has gone before one may accurately
conjecture much that will follow after。〃 It may be； that out of my
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insufferable shortcomings of style and expression； this answer did not
convey to his mind the logical sequence of the warning； yet it would have
been more difficult to show him how everything arose from the
faultlessly…balanced system of the heroic Wei Chung； or the exact parallel
lying between the ill…clad outcast who demanded a portion of tobacco and
the cheerfully unassuming stranger who had in his possession a larger
accumulation of money than he could conveniently disperse。
In such a manner I took leave of the station and those connected with
it； after directing that the share of the spoil which fell by the law of this
Island to my lot should be sold and the money of exchange faithfully
divided among the virtuous and necessitous of both sexes。 The higher
officials each waved me pleasantly by the hand； according to the striking
and picturesque custom of the land； while the lesser ones stood around and
spoke flattering words as I departed； as 〃honourable；〃 〃a small piece of all…
right；〃 〃astute ancient male fowl；〃 〃ah！〃 and the like。
With repeated assurances that however ineptly the adventure may at
the time appear to be tending； as regards the essentials of true dignity and
an undeviating grasp upon articles of negotiable value； nothing of a
regrettable incident need be feared。
KONG HO。
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LETTER IX
Concerning the proverb of the highly…accomplished horse。 The
various perils to be encountered in the Beneath Parts。 The inexplicable
journey performed by this one； and concerning the obscurity of the
witchcraft employed。
VENERATED SIRE；Among these islanders there is a proverb； 〃Do
not place the carte〃 （or card； the two words having an identical purport；
and both signifying the inscribed tablet of viands prepared for a banquet；）
before the horse。〃 Doubtless the saying first arose as a timely rebuke to a
certain barbarian emperor who announced his contempt for the
intelligence of his subjects by conferring high mandarin rank upon a
favourite steed and ceremoniously appointing it to be his chancellor； but
from the narrower moral that an unreasoning animal is out of place； and
even unseemly； in the entertaining hall or council chamber； the expression
has in the course of time taken a wider application and is now freely used
as an insidious thrust at one who may be suspected of contrariness of
character； of confusing issues； or of acting in a vain or illogical manner。 I
had already preserved the saying among other instances of foreign thought
and expression which I am collecting for your dignified amusement； as it
is very characteristic of the wisdom and humour of these Outer Lands。 The
imagination is essentially barbaric。 A horsedoubtless well…groomed；
richly…caparisoned； and as intellectual as the circumstances will permit；
but inevitably an animal of degraded attributes and untraceable ancestrya
horse reclining before a lavishly set…out table and considering well of what
dish it shall next partake！ Could anything； it appears； be more diverting！
Truly to our more refined outlook the analogy is lacking both in delicacy
of wit and in exactitude of balance； but to the grosser barbarian conception
of what is gravity…removing