Page:Strange stories from a Chinese studio.djvu/326

Rh as to how he would find his way home again. Six months afterwards Ch'en himself appeared, dressed in fine clothes, and riding on a splendid horse, with plenty of money, and valuable jewels in his pocket — evidently a man of wealth. From that time forth he kept up a magnificent establish- ment ; and in seven or eight years had become the father of five children. Every day he kept open house, and if any one asked him about his adventures, he would readily tell them without reservation. Now a friend of his, named Liang, whom he had known since they were boys together, and who, after holding an appointment for some years in Nan-fu, was crossing the Tung-t'ing lake, on his way home, suddenly beheld an ornamental barge, with carved woodwork and red windows, passing over the foamy waves to the sound of music and singing from within. Just then a beautiful young lady leant out of one of the windows, which she had pushed open, and by her side Liang saw a young man sitting, in a négligé attitude, while two nice-looking girls stood by and shampooed ® him. Liang, at first, thought it must be the party of some high official, and wondered at the scarcity 01 attend- ants ; ® but, on looking more closely at the young man, he saw it was no other than his old friend Ch'en. There- upon he began almost involuntarily to shout out to him ; and when Ch'en heard his own name, he stopped the rowers, and walked out towards the figurehead,^® beckoning Liang to cross over into his boat, where the remains of their feast were quickly cleared away, and fresh suppHes of wine, and tea, and all kinds of costly foods spread out by handsome slave-girls. "It's ten years since we met," said Liang, "and what a rich man you have become in the meantime." "Well," replied Ch'en, "do you think that so very extraordinary for a poor fellow like me?" Liang then asked him who was the lady with whom he

operated upon all over the back with the soft part of the closed fists. Compare Lane, Arabian Nights^ Vol. I., p. 551 : — " She then pressed me to her bosom, and laid me on the bed, and continued gently kneading my limbs until slumber overcame me."
 * This favourite process consists in gently thumping the person

• See No. LVI., note 5. A considerable number of the attendants there mentioned would accompany any high ofl&cial, some in the same, the rest in another barge.

" Generally known as the ** cut-wave God."