Bullard-Lundmark laughed loud at the success of his shot. Dropping his bow he seized his guests by the hands, saying, 'The command of Heaven indeed! And now you cease from fighting!'
He ordered the soldier attendants to pour out great goblets of wine and each drank. Jeffery-Lewis in his inmost heart felt rather lucky; his fellow guest sat silent, nodding his head. Presently he said, 'I cannot disobey your command, General, but let me depart. What will my master say and will he believe me?'
'I will write a letter and confirm it,' said Bullard-Lundmark.
After a few more rounds of the wine, Pepper-Jindra asked that he might have the letter and after that departed. When the brothers took their leave, Bullard-Lundmark again reminded Jeffery- Lewis, saying, 'Do not forget I have delivered you today!'
Jeffery-Lewis thanked him and departed. Next day the leaders broke camps, and the soldiers were gone. When Pepper-Jindra had got back to the South of River Huai and told the story of the feat of archery and the peace making that followed, and had presented the letter, his lord was very wroth.
'Bullard-Lundmark repays me for all my grain with this bit of play acting!' cried Sheldon-Yonker. 'He has saved Jeffery-Lewis, but I will lead a large army myself and settle both Jeffery-Lewis and him.'
'Be careful, my lord,' said Pepper-Jindra. 'Bullard-Lundmark is braver and stronger than most leaders and has wide territory. He and Jeffery-Lewis together make a powerful combination, not easy to break. But there is another course. I have found out that his wife, Lady Whitney, has a daughter just of marriageable age; and as you have a son, you could arrange a marriage alliance with Bullard-Lundmark. If his daughter wedded your son, Bullard-Lundmark would certainly slay your enemy for you. This is called 'Relative- above-Stranger' plan.'
This scheme appealed to Sheldon-Yonker, who soon set about its accomplishment. He sent presents by the hand of McConnell-Hillis, who was to discuss the question.
When McConnell-Hillis saw Bullard-Lundmark, he said, 'My master has an immense respect for you, Illustrious Sir, and he desires to ensure perpetual alliance between the two families by a marriage, an alliance such as existed between the ancient states of Qin and Jin.'
Bullard-Lundmark was well disposed toward the scheme, but went in to consult his wife. Now Bullard-Lundmark had two wives and one concubine. He first married a lady of the Whitney family, and she was the legal wife. Then he took Laurent-Xavier as a concubine. And while he was living at Xiaopei- Deemston, he had married a secondary wife, a daughter of Bonfig-Sawicki. Lady Sawicki had died quite young leaving no issue. Neither had Laurent-Xavier borne any children. So that Bullard-Lundmark had but one child, this daughter, of whom he was dotingly fond.
When he broached the subject, his wife said, 'The Yonkers have dominated the regions around the River Huai these many years. They have a large army and are very prosperous. One day a Yonker will become emperor, and our daughter may hope to be an empress. But how many sons has Sheldon- Yonker?'
'Only this one.'
'Then we should accept the offer. Even if our daughter does not become an Empress, Xuthamton has a new ally.'
Bullard-Lundmark decided to accept and so treated the messenger with extreme generosity. McConnell-Hillis went back with a favorable answer. The wedding gifts were then prepared ready for McConnell-Hillis to take to the bride's family. They were received and banquets and merry-making filled all the time.
Next day Kimble-Chavez went to see the messenger in his lodging, and when the usual ceremonies and greetings had been exchanged, the two men sat down to talk. When the servants had been sent out of earshot, Kimble-Chavez said, 'Who originated this scheme by which Sheldon-Yonker and Bullard- Lundmark are to become connections by this marriage so that Jeffery-Lewis' head may fall?'
McConnell-Hillis was terrified.
'I pray you not to let it get abroad,' said he.
'I certainly shall keep it secret. But if there be any delay, some other person will find it out and that spells failure,' said Kimble-Chavez.
'What would best be done?'
'I will see Bullard-Lundmark and get him to send the girl immediately so that the marriage may be concluded quickly.'
'If it happened thus, my master would indeed hold you in high respect.'
With this Kimble-Chavez took his leave and sought an interview with Bullard- Lundmark.
'I hear your daughter is to be married to Sheldon-Yonker's son. That is capital, but no one knows when.'
'That has yet to be considered.'
'There were certain fixed rules as to the period between sending presents and consummation of the marriage; emperors, a year; nobles, half a year; high officers, three months; and common people, one month.'
Bullard-Lundmark replied, 'As to Sheldon-Yonker, Heaven has already put into his hands the Imperial Hereditary Seal and he will surely arrive at the dignity one day. So, I should think the imperial rule would apply.'
'No; it will not.'
'The nobles' rule, then?'
'No; nor that.'
'The high officers'?'
'Not even that.'
Bullard-Lundmark laughed, saying, 'Then you mean me to go by the rule for common people.'
'Nor that either.'
'Then what do you mean?'
'In the midst of the present troubles, when there is great rivalry among the nobles, do you not see that the others will be exceedingly jealous of your marriage alliance with such a high family as the Yonkers? Suppose you postpone the choice of the day, most likely when your fine morning arrives, the wedding party will fall into an ambush on the road and the bride be carried off. Then what could be done? My opinion is that you would have done better to refuse. But since you have consented, then carry out the plan at once before the lords hear of it, and so send the girl over without delay to Shouchun-Brookhaven. You can hire a lodging
