“Never have I beheld——­” Pak Chung Chang began again.

“Bring your father before me,” Yi Chin Ho interrupted sternly.

“My ancient and very-much-to-be-respected ancestor sleeps,” said Pak Chung Chang.

“Why dissemble?” demanded Yi Chin Ho.  “You know it is your father’s nose.  Bring him before me that I may strike it off and be gone.  Hurry, lest I make bad report of you.”

“Mercy!” cried Pak Chung Chang, falling on his knees.  “It is impossible!  It is impossible!  You cannot strike off my father’s nose.  He cannot go down without his nose to the grave.  He will become a laughter and a byword, and all my days and nights will be filled with woe.  O reflect!  Report that you have seen no such nose in your travels.  You, too, have a father.”

Pak Chung Chang clasped Yi Chin Ho’s knees and fell to weeping on his sandals.

“My heart softens strangely at your tears,” said Yi Chin Ho.  “I, too, know filial piety and regard.  But—­” He hesitated, then added, as though thinking aloud, “It is as much as my head is worth.”

“How much is your head worth?” asked Pak Chung Chang in a thin, small voice.

“A not remarkable head,” said Yi Chin Ho.  “An absurdly unremarkable head! but, such is my great foolishness, I value it at nothing less than one hundred thousand strings of cash.”

“So be it,” said Pak Chung Chang, rising to his feet.

“I shall need horses to carry the treasure,” said Yi Chin Ho, “and men to guard it well as I journey through the mountains.  There are robbers abroad in the land.”

“There are robbers abroad in the land,” said Pak Chung Chang, sadly.  “But it shall be as you wish, so long as my ancient and very-much-to-be-respected ancestor’s nose abide in its appointed place.”

“Say nothing to any man of this occurrence,” said Yi Chin Ho, “else will other and more loyal servants than I be sent to strike off your father’s nose.”

And so Yi Chin Ho departed on his way through the mountains, blithe of heart and gay of song as he listened to the jingling bells of his treasure-laden ponies.

There is little more to tell.  Yi Chin Ho prospered through the years.  By his efforts the jailer attained at length to the directorship of all the prisons of Cho-sen; the Governor ultimately betook himself to the Sacred City to be prime minister to the King, while Yi Chin Ho became the King’s boon companion and sat at table with him to the end of a round, fat life.  But Pak Chung Chang fell into a melancholy, and ever after he shook his head sadly, with tears in his eyes, whenever he regarded the expensive nose of his ancient and very-much-to-be-respected ancestor.