"Except on the part of the prisoners, doubtless," remarked the
Mandarin, thereby imperilling the gravity of all who stood around.

"The first of those to prostrate themselves before your enlightened
clemency, Excellence, is a notorious assassin who, under another name,
has committed many crimes," began the execrable Ming-shu. "He
confesses that, now calling himself Kai Lung, he has recently
journeyed from Loo-chow, where treason ever wears a smiling face."

"Perchance he is saddened by our city's loyalty," interposed the
benign Shan Tien, "for if he is smiling now it is on the side of his
face removed from this one's gaze."

"The other side of his face is assuredly where he will be made to
smile ere long," acquiesced Ming-shu, not altogether to his chief's
approval, as the analogy was already his. "Furthermore, he has been
detected lurking in secret meeting-places by the wayside, and on
reaching Yu-ping he raised his rebellious voice inviting all to gather
round and join his unlawful band. The usual remedy in such cases
during periods of stress, Excellence, is strangulation."

"The times are indeed pressing," remarked the agile-minded Mandarin,
"and the penalty would appear to be adequate." As no one suffered
inconvenience at his attitude, however, Shan Tien's expression assumed
a more unbending cast.

"Let the witnesses appear," he commanded sharply.

"In so clear a case it has not been thought necessary to incur the
expense of hiring the usual witnesses," urged Ming-shu; "but they are