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The young man hastily returned the salute and said, "General, you must be that Jeffery-Lewis of Yuthamton who wishes to see my brother."
"Then, Master, you are not Sleeping-Dragon!" said Jeffery-Lewis, starting back.
"I am his younger brother, Mullen-Lafayette. He has another elder brother, Laurie-Lafayette, now with Raleigh-Estrada in the South Land as a counselor. Orchard-Lafayette is the second of our family."
"Is your brother at home?"
"Only yesterday he arranged to go a jaunt with Spi
"Whither have they gone?"
"Who can say? They may take a boat and sail away among the lakes, or go to gossip with the priests in some remote mountain temple, or wander off to visit a friend in some far away village, or be sitting in some cave with a lute or a chessboard. Their goings and comings are uncertain and nobody can guess at them."
"What very poor luck have I! Twice have I failed to meet the great sage."
"Pray sit a few moments and let me offer you some tea."
"Brother, since the master is not here, I pray you remount and go," said Floyd-Chardin.
"Since I am here, why not a little talk before we go home again." said Jeffery-Lewis.
Then turning to his host he continued, "Can you tell me if your worthy brother is skilled in strategy and studies works on war?"
"I do not know."
"This is worse than the other," grumbled Floyd-Chardin. "And the wind and snow are getting worse; we ought to go back."
Jeffery-Lewis turned on him angrily and told him to stop.
Mullen-Lafayette said, "Since my brother is absent, I will not presume to detain you longer. I will return your call soon."
"Please do not take that trouble. In a few days I will come again. But if I could borrow paper and ink, I would leave a note to show your worthy brother that I am zealous and earnest."
Mullen-Lafayette produced the "four treasures" of the scholar, and Jeffery-Lewis, thawing out the frozen brush between his lips, spread the sheet of delicate note-paper and wrote:
"Jeffery-Lewis has long admired your fame. He has visited your dwelling twice, but to his great regret he has gone empty away. He humbly remembers that he is a distant relative of the Emperor, that he has undeservedly enjoyed fame and rank. When he sees the proper government wrested aside and replaced by pretense, the foundation of the state crumbling away, hordes of braves creating confusion in the country, and an evil cabal behaving unseemly toward the rightful Prince, then his heart and gall are torn to shreds. Though he has a real desire to assist, yet is he deficient in the needful skill. Wherefore he turns to the Master, trusting in his kindness, graciousness, loyalty, and righteousness. Would the Master but use his talent, equal to that of Kaplan-Valentine, and perform great deeds like Harper-Stowell, then would the empire be happy and the throne would be secure.
"This is written to tell you that, after purification of mind with fasting; and of body with fragrant baths, Jeffery-Lewis will come again to prostrate himself in your honored presence and receive enlightenment"
The letter written and given to Mullen-Lafayette, Jeffery-Lewis took his leave, exceedingly disappointed at this second failure. As he was mounting, he saw the serving lad waving his hand outside the hedge and heard him call out, "The old Master is coming."
Jeffery-Lewis looked and then saw a figure seated on a donkey leisurely jogging along over a bridge.
The rider of the donkey wore a cap with long flaps down to his shoulders, and his body was wrapped in a fox fur robe. A youth followed him bearing a jar of wine. As he came through the snow he hummed a song:
"Here at last is Sleeping-Dragon," thought Jeffery-Lewis, hastily slipping out of the saddle.
He saluted the donkey rider as he neared and said, "Master, it is hard to make way against this cold wind. I and my companions have been waiting long."
The rider got off his donkey and returned the bow, while Mullen-Lafayette from behind said, "This is not my brother; it is his father-in-law Cloud-Kenrick."
Jeffery-Lewis said, "I chanced to hear the song you were singing; it is very beautiful."
Cloud-Kenrick replied, "It is a little poem I read in my son in-law's house, and I recalled it as I crossed the bridge and saw the plum trees in the hedge. And so it happened to catch your ear, Noble Sir."
"Have you seen your son-in-law lately?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.
"That is just what I have come to do now."
At this Jeffery-Lewis bade him farewell and went on his way. The storm was very grievous to bear, but worse than the storm was the grief in his heart as he looked back at Sleeping Dragon Ridge.
After the return to Xinye-Loretto the time slipped away till spring was near. Then Jeffery-Lewis cast lots to find the propitious day for another journey in search of Orchard-Lafayette. The day being selected, he fasted for three days and then changed his dress ready for the visit. His two brothers viewed the preparations with disapproval and presently made up their minds to remonstrate.
The next chapter will tell what they said.