Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

wine.

As they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening rain. The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky. Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.

'Do you understand the evolution of dragons?' asked Murphy-Shackley of the guest.

'Not in detail.'

'A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing own desires and overrunning the world. The dragon among animals compares with the hero among humans. You, General, have traveled all lakes and rivers; you must know who are the heroes of the present day, and I wish you would say who they are.'

'I am just a common dullard; how can I know such things?'

'Do not be so modest.'

'Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do not know who they are.'

'You may not have looked upon their faces, but you have heard their names.'

'Sheldon-Yonker of the South of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources; is he one?'

His host laughed, 'A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I shall put him out of the way shortly.'

'Well, Shannon-Yonker then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly posted in Jithamton, and he commands the services of many able people. Surely he is one.'

'A bully, but a coward; he is fond of grandiose schemes, but is devoid of decision; he makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage. He is not one.'

'There is Bambury-Lewis of Jinghamton. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero.'

'He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he.'

'Cornell-Estrada is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?'

'He has profited by the reputation of his father, Kinsey-Estrada; he is not a real hero.'

'What of Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton?'

'Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?'

'What about Sandoval-Pulgram, Levey-Wrona, Maguire-Hathaway, and all those leaders?'

Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, 'Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning.'

'With these exceptions I really know none.'

'Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them; they have all-embracing schemes, and the whole world is at their mercy.'

'Who is such a person?' said Jeffery-Lewis.

Murphy-Shackley pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, 'The only heroes in the world are you and I.'

Jeffery-Lewis gasped, and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor. Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain. Jeffery-Lewis stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, 'What a shock! And it was quite close.'

'What! Are you afraid of thunder?' said Murphy-Shackley.

Jeffery-Lewis replied, 'The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?'

Thus he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him.

Constrained to lodge in a tiger's lair,
He played a waiting part,
But when Murphy-Shackley talked of breaking humans,
Then terror gripped his heart.
But he cleverly used the thunder peal
As excuse for turning pale;
O quick to seize occasions thus!
He surely must prevail.

The shower had passed, and there appeared two men rushing through the garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants, they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.

The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Murphy- Shackley's invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Jeffery-Lewis to the Prime Minister. They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds, and they feared something had happened. So they rushed in.

Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Murphy-Shackley and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting.

'Why did you come?' said Murphy-Shackley.

'We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party, and we came to amuse you with a little sword play,' said they.

'This is not a Hongmen Banquet,' replied Murphy-Shackley. 'What use have we for Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins of old? [13]'

Jeffery-Lewis smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two 'Stapleton- Bambricks' to allay their anxiety and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned homeward.

'We were nearly frightened to death,' said Yale-Perez.

The story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother intended by his actions.

'My learning gardening was to convince Murphy-Shackley of my perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition. But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes, I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted.'

'Really you are very clever,' said they.

Next day Murphy-Shackley again invited Jeffery-Lewis and while the two were drinking, Chilton-Mendoza, who had been dispatched to find out what Shannon-Yonker was doing, came to present