Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/85

RV 80 (PORTRAIT OF AN EMPEROR) of All Men. Masterful indeed must his fear have been, his fear of Duke Bonimet's power. And there were large copper mirrors set with gems in which the Duke could contemplate his own superb reflection; lutes with notes as eerie as the moon-breeze in the treetops; lacquer boxes and screens inlaid with gold and silver; leather ornaments; precious metal buckles; a heavy solid gold bowl decorated on the inside with a lion and on the outside with four crouching lions on guard. But the chief gift was a five-colored dragon, each color a jewel. Duke Bonimet was exceedingly pleased, for the dragon was the emblem of the Emperor. It augured a brilliant future for him. Five had always been a magical number. At night five planets appear in China skies. Five tints are to be found in nature. And there are five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, water. So on endlessly. Even in direction, five points are recognized; East, West, North, South and Center, and Chang Shou-kuei by his action recognized the Center as Duke Bonimet. It was a graceful gesture, a gracious compliment, totally disarming. So pleased with it the Duke was, he unbuckled his sword and cast it from him. That was his method of acknowledging the homage of Governor Chang.

Choice foods had also been brought by the caravan. That evening great rugs were spread in the streets of the city and all the populace feasted on a repast of fifty courses prepared by the five hundred cooks of Chang RV 80 (80)