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I should be!" Hsueeh P'an shouted, and saying this, he took up the wine and poured it down his throat with one gulp. Feng Tzu-ying, Chiang Yue-han and their companions thereupon asked him to explain the allusion. Yuen Erh readily told them, and Chiang Yue-han hastily got up and pleaded guilty. "Ignorance," the party said with one consent, "does not amount to guilt."

Chiang Yue-han then rose before his vision and told him all about his capture by men from the Chung Shun mansion. Presently, Chin Ch'uan-erh too appeared in his room bathed in tears, and explained to him the circumstances which drove her to leap into the well. But Pao-yue, who was half dreaming and half awake, was not able to give his mind to anything that was told him.

"If you have nothing to do," he urged, "do let us go over to our place. I've got something more to ask you. It's this, there's in your worthy company some one called Ch'i Kuan, with a reputation extending at present throughout the world; but, unfortunately, I alone have not had the good luck of seeing him even once." "This is really," rejoined Chiang Yue-han with a smile, "my own infant • name."

"It's awful, awful!" he bawled out boisterously; "he should be fined, he should be made to pay a forfeit; there's no precious article whatever on this table; how is it then that you introduce precious things?" "There was nothing about precious things!" Chiang Yue-han vehemently explained. "What I are you still prevaricating?" Hsueeh P'an cried, "Well, repeat it again!"

He reached Feng Tzu-ying's doorway by a short cut. A servant announced his arrival, and Feng Tzu-ying came out and ushered him in. Here he discovered Hsueeh P'an, who had already been waiting a long time, and several singing-boys besides; as well as Chiang Yue-han, who played female roles, and Yuen Erh, a courtesan in the Chin Hsiang court. The whole company exchanged salutations.

"Do you want to hear it or not?" asked Hsueeh P'an, "this is a new kind of song, called the 'Heng, heng air, but if you people are not disposed to listen, let me off also from saying what I have to say over the heel-taps and I won't then sing." "We'll let you off! We'll let you off," answered one and all, "so don't be hindering others." "A maiden is sad," Chiang Yue-han at once began,

Chiang Yue-han had no other course but to recite the line a second time. "Now is not Hsi Jen a precious thing?" Hsueeh P'an asked. "If she isn't, what is she? And if you don't believe me, you ask him about it," pointing, at the conclusion of this remark, at Pao-yue. Pao-yue felt very uncomfortable. Rising to his feet, "Cousin," he observed, "you should be fined heavily." "I should be!

But presently Pao-yue quitted the banquet to go and satisfy a natural want and Chiang Yue-han followed him out. The two young fellows halted under the eaves of the verandah, and Chiang Yue-han then recommenced to make ample apologies. Pao-yue, however, was so attracted by his handsome and genial appearance, that he took quite a violent fancy to him; and squeezing his hand in a firm grip.

After listening to these effusions, Pao-yue unconsciously threw himself down in a wandering frame of mind. But, reader, do you feel any interest in him? If you do, the subsequent chapter contains further details about him. Chiang Yue-han lovingly presents a rubia-scented silk sash. Hsueeh Pao-ch'ai blushingly covers her musk-perfumed string of red beads.