Page:Ernest Bramah - Kai Lungs Golden Hours.djvu/134

 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."