Page:The Specimen Case.djvu/44

Rh merit, so that he would have retired again, when one somewhat younger than himself went by, propelling along his path an empty can.

"Ae ya, image-face!" he exclaimed, seeing Ming there and stopping to regard him acrimoniously. "So thou art still among us despite the pursuing demon, art thou? Where is the kite in the form of a vampire with outstretched wings for which I bargained with thee?"

"There is no kite such as you describe, nor have I ever bargained with you for it," retorted Ming, who might require the kite for his own future use. "Further, it is not permitted that I should hold converse with another."

"There is the kite, for these deficient hands have held the cord that stayed it, and touching the bargain we together ate the bag of dragon's-eyes that were the price of its surrender. Haply you think, O crafty son of the ever two-faced house of Kwok, because you are fated shortly to Pass Hence, thus to avoid your just engagements?"

A breath of mistrust stirred certain doubts that lingered in Ming's mind. He looked east and west along the Way and saw that none approached; from the house behind no disturbing sound arose.

"What air have you lately breathed," he ventured amicably, "in that for some time past you have been absent from the city?"

"What pungent fish is this that you thus trail?" demanded the other scornfully. "Never was I beyond Nangkau since the day my mother had me. Doubtless you hope to lead my mind away from the matter of the vampire kite—may the dragon's-eyes lie cankerous on thy ill-nurtured stomach!"

"Nay, but my heart is clear of any guile," protested Ming resourcefully, "in token whereof here is a cake of