command many rare and expensive wines were then brought in, and
partaken of without restraint by all persons, the repast being
lightened by numerous well-considered and gravity-removing jests
having reference to Ling and the unusual composition of his person. So
amiably were the hours occupied that it was past the time of no light
when Chang rose and read at full length the statement of things to be
done and things not to be done, which was to be sealed by Ling for his
part and the other persons who were present for theirs. It so
happened, however, that at that period Ling's mind was filled with
brilliant and versatile thoughts and images of Mian, and many-hued
visions of the manner in which they would spend the entrancing future
which was now before them, and in this way it chanced that he did not
give any portion of his intellect to the reading, mistaking it,
indeed, for a delicate and very ably-composed set of verses which
Chang-ch'un was reciting as a formal blessing on parting. Nor was it
until he was desired to affix his sign that Ling discovered his
mistake, and being of too respectful and unobtrusive a disposition to
require the matter to be repeated then, he carried out the obligation
without in any particular understanding the written words to which he
was agreeing.

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