Page:Ernest Bramah - Kai Lungs Golden Hours.djvu/133

 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 venerable 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 ready to your tongue. 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