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Page 30
As Ling walked through the streets to his chamber after leaving the
house and company of Chang-Ch'un, holding firmly among his garments
the thin printed papers to the amount of fifty thousand taels which he
had received, and repeatedly speaking to himself in terms of general
and specific encouragement at the fortunate events of the past few
days, he became aware that a person of mean and rapacious appearance,
whom he had some memory of having observed within the residence he had
but just left, was continually by his side. Not at first doubting that
the circumstance resulted from a benevolent desire on the part of
Chang-ch'un that he should be protected on his passage through the
city, Ling affected not to observe the incident; but upon reaching his
own door the person in question persistently endeavoured to pass in
also. Forming a fresh judgment about the matter, Ling, who was very
powerfully constructed, and whose natural instincts were enhanced in
every degree by the potent fluid of which he had lately partaken,
repeatedly threw him across the street until he became weary of the
diversion. At length, however, the thought arose that one who
patiently submitted to continually striking the opposite houses with
his head must have something of importance to communicate, whereupon
he courteously invited him to enter the apartment and unweigh his
mind.
"The facts of the case appear to have been somewhat inadequately
represented," said the stranger, bowing obsequiously, "for this
unornamental person was assured by the benignant Chang-ch'un that the
one whose shadow he was to become was of a mild and forbearing
nature."
"Such words are as the conversation of birds to me," replied Ling, not
conjecturing how the matter had fallen about. "This person has just
left the presence of the elegant and successful Chang-ch'un, and no
word that he spoke gave indication of such a follower or such a
service."
"Then it is indeed certain that the various transactions have not been
fully understood," exclaimed the other, "for the exact communication
to this unseemly one was, 'The valuable and enlightened Ling has heard
and agreed to the different things to be done and not to be done, one
phrase of which arranges for your continual presence, so that he will
anticipate your attentions.'"
At these words the truth became as daylight before Ling's eyes, and he
perceived that the written paper to which he had affixed his sign
contained the detail of such an office as that of the person before
him. When too late, more than ever did he regret that he had not
formed some pretext for causing the document to be read a second time,
as in view of his immediate intentions such an arrangement as the one
to which he had agreed had every appearance of becoming of an irksome
and perplexing nature. Desiring to know the length of the attendant's
commands, Ling asked him for a clear statement of his duties, feigning
that he had missed that portion of the reading through a momentary
attack of the giddy sickness. To this request the stranger, who
explained that his name was Wang, instantly replied that his written
and spoken orders were: never to permit more than an arm's length of
space to separate them; to prevent, by whatever force was necessary
for the purpose, all attempts at evading the things to be done and not
to be done, and to ignore as of no interest all other circumstances.
It seemed to Ling, in consequence, that little seclusion would be
enjoyed unless an arrangement could be effected between Wang and
himself; so to this end, after noticing the evident poverty and
covetousness of the person in question, he made him an honourable
offer of frequent rewards, provided a greater distance was allowed to
come between them as soon as Si-chow was reached. On his side, Ling
undertook not to break through the wording of the things to be done
and not to be done, and to notify to Wang any movements upon which he
meditated. In this reputable manner the obstacle was ingeniously
removed, and the intelligent nature of the device was clearly proved
by the fact that not only Ling but Wang also had in the future a much
greater liberty of action than would have been possible if it had been
necessary to observe the short-sighted and evidently hastily-thought-
of condition which Chang-ch'un had endeavoured to impose.
XIII
In spite of his natural desire to return to Mian as quickly as
possible, Ling judged it expedient to give several days to the
occupation of purchasing apparel of the richest kinds, weapons and
armour in large quantities, jewels and ornaments of worked metals and
other objects to indicate his changed position. Nor did he neglect
actions of a pious and charitable nature, for almost his first care
was to arrange with the chief ones at the Temple of Benevolent
Intentions that each year, on the day corresponding to that on which
he drank the gold fluid, a sumptuous and well-constructed coffin
should be presented to the most deserving poor and aged person within
that quarter of the city in which he had resided. When these
preparations were completed, Ling set out with an extensive train of
attendants; but riding on before, accompanied only by Wang, he quickly
reached Si-chow without adventure.
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