And when, by your eminent talents, you shall have soared high to a lofty
position, and we meet again next winter, will not the occasion be
extremely felicitous?"

Yue-ts'un accepted the money and clothes with but scanty expression of
gratitude. In fact, he paid no thought whatever to the gifts, but went
on, again drinking his wine, as he chattered and laughed.

It was only when the third watch of that day had already struck that the
two friends parted company; and Shih-yin, after seeing Yue-ts'un off,
retired to his room and slept, with one sleep all through, never waking
until the sun was well up in the skies.

Remembering the occurrence of the previous night, he meant to write a
couple of letters of recommendation for Yue-ts'un to take along with him
to the capital, to enable him, after handing them over at the mansions
of certain officials, to find some place as a temporary home. He
accordingly despatched a servant to ask him to come round, but the man
returned and reported that from what the bonze said, "Mr. Chia had
started on his journey to the capital, at the fifth watch of that very
morning, that he had also left a message with the bonze to deliver to
you, Sir, to the effect that men of letters paid no heed to lucky or
unlucky days, that the sole consideration with them was the nature of
the matter in hand, and that he could find no time to come round in
person and bid good-bye."

Shih-yin after hearing this message had no alternative but to banish the
subject from his thoughts.

In comfortable circumstances, time indeed goes by with easy stride. Soon