So they composed themselves about the bank of the river, while Lin questioned her more closely as to those things of which she had spoken.  Finally, he laid certain injunctions upon her for her immediate guidance.  Then, it being now the hour of middle light, they returned, Mean accompanying her voice to the melody of stringed wood, as she related songs of those who have passed through great endurances to a state of assured contentment.  To Lin it seemed as though the city leapt forward to meet them, so narrow was the space of time involved in reaching it.

A few days later Wang Ho was engaged in the congenial occupation of marking a few pieces of brass cash before secreting them where Cheng Lin must inevitably displace them, when the person in question quietly stood before him.  Thereupon Wang Ho returned the money to his inner sleeve, ineptly remarking that when the sun rose it was futile to raise a lantern to the sky to guide the stars.

“Rather is it said, ’From three things cross the road to avoid:  a falling tree, your chief and second wives whispering in agreement, and a goat wearing a leopard’s tail,’” replied Lin, thus rebuking Wang Ho, not only for his crafty intention, but also as to the obtuseness of the proverb he had quoted.  “Nevertheless, O Wang Ho, I approach you on a matter of weighty consequence.”

“To-morrow approaches,” replied the merchant evasively.  “If it concerns the detail of the reduction of your monthly adequacy, my word has become unbending iron.”

“It is written:  ’Cho Sing collected feathers to make a garment for his canary when it began to moult,’” replied Lin acquiescently.  “The care of so insignificant a person as myself may safely be left to the Protecting Forces, esteemed.  This matter touches your own condition.”

“In that case you cannot be too specific.”  Wang Ho lowered himself into a reclining couch, thereby indicating that the subject was not one for hasty dismissal, at the same time motioning to Lin that he should sit upon the floor.  “Doubtless you have some remunerative form of enterprise to suggest to me?”

“Can a palsied finger grasp a proffered coin?  The matter strikes more deeply at your very existence, honoured chief.”

“Alas!” exclaimed Wang Ho, unable to retain the usual colour of his appearance, “the attention of a devoted servant is somewhat like Tohen-hi Yang’s spiked throne—­it torments those whom it supports.  However, the word has been spoken—­let the sentence be filled in.”

“The full roundness of your illustrious outline is as a display of coloured lights to gladden my commonplace vision,” replied Lin submissively.  “Admittedly of late, however, an element of dampness has interfered with the brilliance of the display.”

“Speak clearly and regardless of polite evasion,” commanded Wang Ho.  “My internal organs have for some time suspected that hostile influences were at work.  For how long have you noticed this, as it may be expressed, falling off?”