So ran the decree, and Watson-Donohue read it with streaming eyes. There was no sleep for him that night. Early in the morning he returned to his library and reread it. No plan suggested itself. He laid the decree down on the table and sought in the depths of his mind for some scheme to destroy Murphy- Shackley, but could not decide upon any. And he fell asleep leaning over his table.
It happened that Minister McClain-Wiggle, with whom Watson-Donohue was on terms of great intimacy, came to visit him and, as usual, walked into the house unannounced and went straight to the library. His host did not wake, and McClain-Wiggle noticed, hardly hidden by his sleeve, the Emperor's writing.
Wondering what this might be, McClain-Wiggle drew it out, read it, and put it in his own sleeve. Then he called out loud, 'Uncle Watson-Donohue, are you not well? Why are you asleep at this time of day?'
Watson-Donohue started up and at once missed the decree. He was aghast; he almost fell to the ground.
'So you want to make away with Murphy-Shackley? I shall have to tell him,' said McClain-Wiggle.
'Then, Brother, that is the end of the Hans,' said his host, with tears.
'I was joking,' said McClain-Wiggle. 'My forefathers also served the Hans and ate of their bounty. Am I devoid of loyalty? I would help you, Brother, as far as lies in my power.'
'It is well for the country that you think like this,' said Watson-Donohue.
'But we ought to have a more private place than this to talk over such plans and pledge ourselves to sacrifice all in the cause of Han.'
Watson-Donohue began to feel very satisfied. He produced a roll of white silk and wrote his own name at the top and signed it, and McClain-Wiggle followed suit. Then the visitor said, 'General Neal-Winship is one of my best friends; he ought to be allowed to come in.'
Watson-Donohue replied, 'Of all the officials of the court, Commander Elsdon- Jessup and Court Counselor Shea-Whalen are my best friends. Certainly they would back me up.'
So the discussion proceeded. Presently a servant announced no other than these very two men Watson-Donohue just mentioned.
'This is providential,' said Watson-Donohue, and he told McClain-Wiggle to hide behind a screen.
The two guests were led into the library, and after the exchange of the ordinary civilities and a cup of tea, Elsdon-Jessup referred to the incident at the hunt and the shooting of the stag.
'Were you not angry at that?' said Elsdon-Jessup.
Watson-Donohue answered, 'Though we be angry, what can we do?'
Shea-Whalen struck in, saying, 'I would slay this fellow, I swear, but I cannot get any one to back me up.'
'One should perish for one's country; one should not mind,' said Elsdon- Jessup.
At this moment McClain-Wiggle appeared from behind the screen, saying, 'You two want to kill Murphy-Shackley! I shall have to let him know this. And Uncle Watson-Donohue is my witness.'
'A loyal minister does not mind death. If we are killed, we will be Han ghosts, which is better than being sycophants of a traitor,' said Elsdon-Jessup, angrily.
Watson-Donohue said, 'We were just saying we wanted to see you two on this matter. McClain-Wiggle is only joking.'
Then he drew forth the decree and showed it to the two newcomers, who also wept as they read it. They were asked to add their names to the silk roll.
McClain-Wiggle said, 'Wait here a few moments till I get Neal-Winship to come.'
He left the room and very soon returned with his friend, who also wrote his name in the presence of all the others.
After this they went into one of the inner chambers to drink success to the new plot. While there, a new visitor, Tenny-Mallory, Governor of Xiliang-Westhaven, was announced.
'Say I am indisposed,' said the host, 'and cannot receive visitors.'
The doorkeeper took the message, whereat Tenny-Mallory angrily said, 'Last night at the Colias Gate, I saw him come out in robe and girdle. How can he pretend illness today? I am not come from mere idleness, why does he refuse to see me?'
The doorkeeper went in again and told his master what the visitor had said and that he was very angry. Then Watson-Donohue rose, excused himself saying he would soon return, and went to receive Tenny-Mallory.
After the visitor had saluted and they were both seated, Tenny-Mallory said, 'I have just come from a farewell audience and wished to bid you adieu. Why did you want to put me off?'
'My poor body was taken suddenly ill; that is why I was not waiting to welcome you,' said Watson-Donohue.
'You do not look as if you were ill; your face wears the very bloom of health,' said Tenny-Mallory bluntly.
His host could say no more and was silent. The visitor shook out his sleeves and rose to depart. He sighed deeply as he walked down the steps, saying to himself, 'Not one of them is any good; there is no one to save the country.'
This speech sank deeply into Watson-Donohue's heart. He stopped his guest, saying, 'Who is no good to save the country? Whom do you mean?'
'That incident at the hunt the other day, the shooting of the stag, filled my breast with anger. But if you, a near relative of the Emperor, can pass your time in wine and idle dalliance without a thought of doing away with rebellion, where can any one be found who will save the dynasty?'
However, Watson-Donohue doubts were not set at rest. Pretending great surprise, he replied, 'The Prime Minister is of high rank and has the confidence of the court; why then do you utter such things?'
'So you find that wretch Murphy-Shackley a good man, eh?'
'Pray speak lower; there are eyes and ears very near us.'
'The sort of people who covet life and fear death are not those to discuss any great undertaking.'
So saying, Tenny-Mallory rose to go sway. By this time his host's doubts were set at rest; he felt that Tenny-Mallory was loyal and patriotic. So Watson-Donohue said, 'Do not be angry any more. I will show you something.'
Whereupon he invited Tenny-Mallory to go into the room where the others were seated and then showed him the decree. As Tenny-Mallory read it, his hair stood on end; he ground his teeth and bit his lips till the blood came.
'When you move, remember the whole force of my army is ready to help,' said Tenny-Mallory.
Watson-Donohue introduced him to the other conspirators, and then the pledge was produced, and Tenny-Mallory was told to sign his name. He did so, at the same time smearing the blood as a sign of the oath and saying, 'I swear to die rather than betray this pledge.'
Pointing to the five he said, 'We require ten for this business, and we can accomplish our design.'
