Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/107

 Suddenly a voice said, “Why do you not accompany the Minister, Marquis, instead of standing here and sighing?”

It was Wan Yün. “I have been confined to the house by illness these few days,” continued he, “so I have not seen you. But I had to struggle out to-day to see the Minister set off. This meeting is most fortunate. But why were you sighing?”

“Just on account of that damsel of yours,” said Lü Pu.

Feigning great astonishment he said, “So long a time and yet not given to you!”

“The old ruffian has fallen in love with her himself.”

“Surely this cannot be true.”

Lü Pu related the whole story while Wang Yün listened, silent, but stamping on the ground as with irritation and perplexity. After a long time he said, “I did not think he was such a beast.”

Taking Lü Pu by the hand he said, “Come to my house and we will talk it over.”

So they went away togther to the house and retired to a secret room. After some refreshments, Lü Pu told the whole story of the episode in the garden just as it happened.

“He seems to have corrupted my little girl and has stolen your wife. He will be an object of shame and ridicule to the whole world. And those who do not laugh at him will laugh at you and me. Alas! I am old and powerless and can do nothing. More’s the pity! But you, Commander, you are a warrior, the greatest hero in the world. Yet you have been put to this shame and exposed to this contempt.”

A wave of fierce wrath rolled up in Lü Pu. Banging the table he shouted and roared. His host ostentatiously tried to calm him saying, “I forgot myself. I should not have spoken like that. Do not be so angry, I pray.”

“I will kill the wretch, I swear it. In no other way can I wash away my shame.”

“No, no! Do not say such a thing,” said Wang, putting his hand over the other’s mouth. “You will bring trouble on poor me.”

“When a man is born great he cannot be patient for long under another man’s domination,” said Lü Pu.

“It needs some one greater than the Minister to limit the scope of such talents as yours.”

Lü Pu said, “I would not mind killing the old wretch were it not for the relation in which we stand. I fear to provoke the hostile criticism of posterity.”

His host smiled. “Your name is Lü; his is Tung. Where was the paternal feeling when he threw the halberd at you?”

“I had been misled if you had not said that,” said Lü hotly.

Wang Yün saw the effect of his words and continued, “It would be a loyal deed to restore the House of Han, and history would hand down your name to posterity perpetually fragrant.