"Between the four seas all men are brothers."

Then Sun ordered his servant to come with him, sheltering Li Chia
under a large parasol. The two men saluted each other again, landed on
the bank and, after walking a little distance, found a wine pavilion.

Having entered, they chose seats by the window and sat down. The
attendant brought them hot wine, Sun raised his cup to give the
signal, and soon the two were conversing freely and had become
friends. At length Sun leaned forward and said in a low voice:

"Last night a song arose from your honorable ship. Whose was that
voice?"

Wishing to pose as a man of leisure making a journey, Li Chia at once
told the truth:

"It was Tu Shih-niang, the famous singing girl of Peking."

"How comes a singing girl to belong to my brother?"

Li Chia then ingeniously told his story, and the other said:

"To marry such a beauty is exceptional good fortune. But will your
honorable father be satisfied?"

Li sighed and answered:

"There is no lack of anxiety in my humble house. My father is of a