Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/231

RV 226 (LI PO) blot out the miserable life of this wretched magician who has presumed to issue orders in Your Imperial pres-ence.

Ming Huang smiled inwardly but his face was bland.

"Your plea for a fellow man is noteworthy/' he said. "Proceed with your reply to the verbal challenge of the brave Ch'i-ch'i."

Li Po bowed low. From his sleeve, he extracted a small slip of paper. It was perfectly blank but no one knew that.

"I have here a purple clay document," he said:

He folded the paper up and handed it to Ch'i-ch'i. "I submit this," he said, "as a poem that cannot be destroyed."

Ch'i-ch'i closed one eye and looked at him shrewdly. Li Po was bluffing, of that there could be no doubt.

To a eunuch, he said, "Bring me a lighted taper."

When one had been brought, he touched the paper to the flame. It lighted readily. In a few seconds it was burned to ashes.

Ch'i-ch'i turned to Li Po. "So much for your fireproof poem."

"I did not say it was fire-proof, only indestructible."

"I have burned it. Is it not destroyed?" RV 226 (226)