Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/223

Rh And so Mr. Sin's superiors requested him to resign, and this he did, but not before he also had become quite wealthy.

Chance led these two worthies to the same town, and as their fates had been so much alike, they decided to set up house together. They were both rich, and so able to make themselves very comfortable indeed.

One day Mr. Sin fell sick of a fever, and though this annoyed Mr. Le, who was expecting some rich friends to dinner, he sent for the doctor, and gave directions that Mr. Sin was to be properly looked after.

When the doctor arrived, his patient was in a high fever, so he at once prescribed a mixture of powdered deer horns and dragon's blood, and pills made from hare's liver, these medicines to be taken at intervals. Before leaving the house he took Ting, Sin's valet, aside, and ordered him on no account to leave his master alone, as he might become delirious at any moment.

Ting promised not to leave his master for an instant, but a little later on he heard sounds of merriment in the servants' quarters, and as Mr. Sin had fallen asleep, he