doubtless clustered about the opium floor and will, if necessary,
testify to whatever is required."

"The argument is a timely one," admitted the Mandarin. "As the result
cannot fail to be the same in either case, perhaps the accommodating
prisoner will assist the ends of justice by making a full confession
of his crimes?"

"High Excellence," replied the story-teller, speaking for the first
time, "it is truly said that that which would appear as a mountain in
the evening may stand revealed as a mud-hut by the light of day. Hear
my unpainted word. I am of the abject House of Kai and my inoffensive
rice is earned as a narrator of imagined tales. Unrolling my
threadbare mat at the middle hour of yesterday, I had raised my
distressing voice and announced an intention to relate the Story of
Wong Ts'in, that which is known as 'The Legend of the Willow Plate
Embellishment,' when a company of armed warriors, converging upon
me--"

"Restrain the melodious flow of your admitted eloquence," interrupted
the Mandarin, veiling his arising interest. "Is the story, to which
you have made reference, that of the scene widely depicted on plates
and earthenware?"

"Undoubtedly. It is the true and authentic legend as related by the
eminent Tso-yi."

"In that case," declared Shan Tien dispassionately, "it will be
necessary for you to relate it now, in order to uphold your claim.
Proceed."