Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/240

 “Say I am indisposed,” said the host, “and cannot receive visitors.”

The doorkeeper took the message, whereat Ma angrily said, “Last night at the Tunghua Gate I saw him come out in robe and girdle. How can he pretend illness to-day? I am not come from mere idleness, why does he refuse to see me?”

The doorkeeper went in again and told his master what the visitor had said and that he was very angry. Then Ch‘êng rose, excused himself saying he would soon return, and went to receive Ma T‘êng. After the visitor had saluted and they were both seated, he said, “I have just come from a farewell audience and wished to bid you adieu. Why did you want to put me off?”

“My poor body was taken suddenly ill; that is why I was not waiting to welcome you,” said Ch‘êng.

“You do not look as if you were ill; your face wears the very bloom of health,” said Têng bluntly.

His host could say no more and was silent. The visitor shook out his sleeves and rose to depart. He sighed deeply as he walked down the steps, saying to himself, “Not one of them is any good: there is no one to save the country.”

This speech sank deeply into Tung Ch‘êng’s heart. He stopped his guest, saying, “Who is no good to save the country? Whom do you mean?”

“That incident at the hunt the other day, the shooting of the stag, filled my breast with anger. But if you, a near relative of the Emperor, can pass your time in wine and idle dalliance without a thought of doing away with rebellion, where can any one be found who will save the dynasty?”

However, Tung Ch‘êng’s doubts were not set at rest. Pretending great surprise he replied, “The Minister is of high rank and has the confidence of the Court: why then does he utter such things?”

“So you find that wretch Ts‘ao a good man, eh?”

“Pray speak lower: there are eyes and ears very near us.”

“The sort of people who covet life and fear death are not those to discuss any great undertaking.”

So saying he rose to go away. By this time his host’s doubts were set at rest: he felt that Ma T‘êng was loyal and patriotic. So he said, “Do not be angry any more. I will show you something.”

Whereupon he invited Ma T‘êng to go into the room where the others were seated and then showed him the decree. As Ma read it his hair stood on end, he ground his teeth and bit his lips till the blood came.

“When you move, remember the whole force of my army is ready to help,” said he.

Tung Ch‘êng introduced him to the other conspirators and then the pledge was produced and Ma T‘êng was told to sign