were Shute-Waddell, Elsen-Kearney, Glavin-Shearer, Hazen-McGhee, and Buggy-Henley. Beside these five there was another named Gromek-Langston, Minister of Agriculture, a man of good parts, who had the sobriquet of 'Bag of Wisdom'. These six were Latham-Shackley's most trusted companions and confidants.
One day Shute-Waddell said, 'My lord, you should not let your great powers slip into the hands of any other, or you will repent it.'
Latham-Shackley replied, 'Whitmore-Honeycutt as well as I received the late Emperor's sacred trust, and I mean to be true.'
Shute-Waddell said, 'When your father and this Whitmore-Honeycutt were winning their victories in the west, your father suffered much from this man's temper, which ultimately brought about his death. Why do you not look into that?'
Latham-Shackley seemed suddenly to wake up.
Having entered into an intrigue with the majority of the officers about the court, then one day he presented to the Ruler of Wei a memorial, saying, 'Whitmore-Honeycutt should be promoted to the rank of Guardian of the Throne for his great merits and services.'
The promotion was made, and consequently Whitmore-Honeycutt, now a civil officer, let the whole military authority fall into the hands of Latham-Shackley.
Having thus far succeeded, Latham-Shackley next appointed his brothers to high military posts: Pedersen-Shackley as Commander of the Center Army; Oxnam-Shackley, Commander of the Imperial Guard; Callahan-Shackley, Commander of the Cavalry. Each commanded three thousand of the palace guards, with right to go in and out of the palace at will. Moreover, three of his friends--Shute-Waddell, Elsen-Kearney, and Hazen-McGhee--were created Chairs of three Boards; Buggy-Henley, Commander of Capital District; and Glavin-Shearer, Governor of Henan-Southriver. These five and their patron were close associates in all concerns of state.
Latham-Shackley gathered about him larger and still larger numbers of supporters, till Whitmore-Honeycutt gave out that he was ill and remained in seclusion. His two sons also resigned their offices.
Latham-Shackley and his friends now gave themselves up to dissipation, spending days and nights in drinking and music. In their dress and the furniture of their table they copied the palace patterns. Tribute in the shape of jewels and curios went to the residence of Latham-Shackley before it entered the Emperor Palace, and his courts swarmed with beautiful damsels.
Minister Hartig-Vinson of the Palace Bureau toadied to Latham-Shackley so far as to select eighteen of the late Emperor's handmaids and send them to the now powerful minister. Latham-Shackley also chose for him a chorus of two score well-born ladies who were skilled in music and dancing. Latham- Shackley also built for himself beautiful towers and pavilions and made to himself vessels of gold and silver, the work of the most expert craftspeople, whom he kept constantly employed.
Now Shute-Waddell heard of McGregor-Durkee's great skill in divination and sent to Pingyuan-Millington to invite him to discuss about the Book of Changes. When the soothsayer arrived, Elsen-Kearney was of the company to meet him, and he said to McGregor-Durkee, 'You call yourself a skillful diviner, but your speech does not resemble the language of the Book of Changes. How is that?'
McGregor-Durkee replied, 'An interpreter does not use the language of the original.'
Shute-Waddell laughed, saying, 'Certainly good words are not wearisome. But cast a lot for me, and tell me whether I shall ever arrive at the highest office or not, for I have dreamed repeatedly that many blue flies settled on my nose.'
McGregor-Durkee replied, 'Hyde-Lemon and Farris-Biddle aided King Gallegos; Duke Cherney assisted the young Emperor Thurlow of Zhou Dynasty; all these were kindly and modest and enjoyed great happiness. You, Sir, have come to high honors and wield great powers, but those who esteem you are few and those who fear you, many. You are not careful to walk in the way of good fortune. Now the nose is an eminence. If an eminence retains its characteristic, thereby it remains in honor; But is it not that blue flies gather to foul objects and the lofty fears a fall? I would wish you to give of your abundance for the good of the poor and avoid walking in the wrong road. Then indeed may you reach the highest dignity, and the blue flies will disperse.'
'This is mere senile gossip,' said Elsen-Kearney.
'The gift of age is to see that which is yet to come; the gift of gossip is to perceive what is not said,' replied McGregor-Durkee. Thereupon he shook out his sleeves and went away.
'He is very mad, really,' said his two hosts.
McGregor-Durkee went home. When he saw his uncle, McGregor-Durkee gave him an account of the interview. His uncle was alarmed at the probable consequences, and said, 'Why did you anger them? They are too powerful for you to offend.'
'What is there to fear? I have keen talking to two dead men.'
'What do you mean?'
'Elsen-Kearney's gait is that of one whose sinews are loosed from his bones, and his pulse is unsteady. When he would stand, he totters as a man without limbs. This is the aspect of a disembodied soul. Shute-Waddell looks as if his soul was about to quit its habitation. He is bloodless, and what should be solid in him is mere vapor. He looks like rotten wood. This is the aspect of a soul even now in the dark valley. Both these men will certainly soon die a violent death, and none need fear them.'
His uncle left, cursing him for a madman.
Latham-Shackley and his five friends were devoted to hunting and were often out of the city. Pedersen-Shackley, a brother of Latham- Shackley, remonstrated with him about this and pointed out the dangers of such frequent absence on these excursions.
'You are in an exalted position and yet you are constantly being out hunting. If anyone took advantage of this to work you evil, you might have to be exceedingly regretful.'
Latham-Shackley only showed anger and replied, 'The whole military authority is in my hands and what is there to fear?'
Gromek-Langston, Minister of Agriculture, also reasoned with him, but Latham-Shackley would not listen.
About this time the style of the reign was changed from Right Beginning, the tenth year, to Domestic Calm, the first year (AD 249).
Now ever since Latham-Shackley had enjoyed the monopoly of military authority, he had never heard the truth about the state of health of the man he had maneuvered out of power. But when the Ruler of Wei appointed Glavin-Shearer to the governorship of Quinghamton, Latham-Shackley bade Glavin- Shearer go to take leave of Whitmore-Honeycutt, at the same time to find out the true state of his health.
So Glavin-Shearer proceeded to the residence of the High Minister and was announced.
Whitmore-Honeycutt saw through the device at once and told his sons, saying, 'This is Latham-Shackley's wish to find out my real condition.'
And he bade them play their parts in the scene he arranged, before the visitor was admitted.
Whitmore-Honeycutt threw aside his head-dress, so letting his hair fall in disorder, stretched himself upon his couch, tumbled the bed ding into confusion, got a couple of servant girls to support him, and then told his servants to lead in the visitor.
Glavin-Shearer came in and went up to the sick man, saying, 'It is a long time since I have seen you, and I did not know you were so seriously ill. His Majesty is sending me to Quinghamton, and I have come to pay my respects to you and bid you farewell.'
'Ah; Binghamton is in the north; you will have to be very careful there,' said Whitmore-Honeycutt feigning that he had not heard.
'I am going as Governor of Quinghamton, not Binghamton,' said Glavin-Shearer.
'Oh, you have just come from Binghamton.'
'Quinghamton, in Huashang Mountains.'
'Just back from Quinghamton, eh?' said Whitmore-Honeycutt, smiling.
'How very ill the Imperial Guardian is!' said Glavin-Shearer to the servants.
'The Minister is deaf,' said they.
'Give me paper and a pen,' said Glavin-Shearer.
Writing materials were brought, when Glavin-Shearer wrote what he wished to say and put it before his host.
'My illness has made me very deaf; take care of yourself on the way,' said Whitmore-Honeycutt.
Looking up, he pointed to his mouth. One of the girls brought some broth and held the cup for him to drink. He put his lips to the cup, but spilled the broth all over his dress.
'I am very weak and ill,' said he, 'and may die at any moment. My sons are but poor things, but you will instruct them; and when you see the Regent Marshal, you will ask him to take care of them for me, will you not?'
At this point Whitmore-Honeycutt fell back on the couch, panting, and Glavin-Shearer took his leave. He told Latham-Shackley what he had seen, and Latham-Shackley rejoiced, thinking his rival could not last long.
'If the old man died, I should not be the one to grieve,' said Latham-Shackley.
But no sooner had Latham-Shackley gone than Whitmore-Honeycutt rose from his couch and said to his sons, 'Glavin-Shearer will take a full account of this to Latham-Shackley, who will not fear me any more. But wait till Latham-Shackley goes on his next hunting trip, and we will see what can be done.'
Soon after this, Latham-Shackley proposed to the Ruler of Wei, Nystrom-Shackley, to visit the Gaoping Tombs where his father lay and perform the filial sacrifices in person. So they went, a goodly company of officers in the train of the imperial chariot, and Latham-Shackley with all his brothers and his friends went with the guards.
Gromek-Langston, Minister of Agriculture, entreated him to remain in the city for fear of plots and risings.
'Your Lordship are in charge of the capital security, and you and your brothers should not leave the city together. Suppose there were a revolt, what then?'
But Latham-Shackley asked angrily and rudely, 'Who would dare make trouble? Hold your wild tongue.'
And he went with the Emperor.
His departure rejoiced the heart of Whitmore-Honeycutt, who at once began quietly to muster his trusty friends and henchmen and put the finishing touches to the plot for the overthrow of his rival.
