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"Good," said Walton-Martinez. "Let us see what Bullard-Lundmark thinks of it."
When Bullard-Lundmark was consulted, he told them that this Gly
"If Gly
So they sent for Gly
"I also wish to slay him," was the reply. "But I could not find anyone to assist me. How can I hesitate? Your intervention is directly from Heaven."
And Gly
"If this succeeds, what glorious rank will be yours!" said Walton-Martinez.
Next day Gly
"His Majesty has recovered and wishes his ministers to meet him in the Palace to consider the question of his abdication in your favor. That is what this summons means."
"What does Walton-Martinez think of the scheme?"
"Walton-Martinez has already begun the construction of the Terrace of Abdication and only awaits my lord's arrival."
"Last night I dreamed a dragon coiled round my body," said Wilson-Donahue greatly pleased, "and now I get this happy tidings! I must not neglect the opportunity."
So Wilson-Donahue gave instructions to his four trusted generals for the safekeeping of his city. Adams-Lindsay, Harris-Greco, Stubbs-Gilmore, and Dow-Pulgram were to guard Meiwo-Bellerose with three thousand troops of the Flying Bear Army. Then Wilson-Donahue a
"When I am Emperor, you shall be Commander of the Capital District," said he.
"Your minister thanks you," said Gly
Wilson-Donahue went to bid farewell to his ninety-year-old mother.
"Whither are you going, my son?" asked she.
"I go to receive the abdication of Han; and soon you will be the Empress."
"I have been feeling nervous and creepy these few days. It is a bad sign."
"Any one about to become the Mother of the State must have premonitions," said her son.
He left her with these words.
Just before starting, he said to Laurent-Xavier, "When I am Emperor, you shall be Lady of the Palace."
She bowed low thanking him, but she knew and inwardly rejoiced.
Wilson-Donahue went out, mounted his carriage, and began his journey to Capital Changan-A
Wilson-Donahue turned to Gly
"It means that you are going to receive the abdication of the Hans, which is to renew all things, to mount the jeweled chariot and sit in the golden saddle."
And Wilson-Donahue was pleased and convinced with this answer. During the second day's journey a violent gale sprang up, and the sky became covered with a thick mist.
"What does this mean?" said Wilson-Donahue.
The wily Gly
Wilson-Donahue had no more doubts. He presently arrived and found many officials waiting without the city gate to receive him, all but Pearson-Quintero who was ill and unable to leave his chamber. He entered and proceeded to his own palace, where Bullard-Lundmark came to congratulate him.
"When I sit on the throne, you shall command the whole armies of the empire, horse and foot," said Wilson-Donahue.
That night Wilson-Donahue slept in the midst of his escort. In the suburbs that evening some children at play were singing a little ditty, and the words drifted into the bedchamber on the wind.
The song sounded ominous but Gly
Next morning at the first streak of dawn, Wilson-Donahue prepared for his appearance at court. On the way he saw a Taoist, dressed in a black robe and wearing a white turban, who carried in his hand a tall staff with a long strip of white cloth attached. At each end of the cloth was drawn a mouth. ((Forming Chinese characters, implied the name of Bullard-Lundmark.)).
"What is the meaning of this?" said Wilson-Donahue.
"He is a madman," said Gly
Wilson-Donahue went in and found all the officials in court dress lining the road. Gly
When Wilson-Donahue arrived near the Reception Hall, he saw that Walton-Martinez and all the other officials standing at the door were armed.
"Why are they all armed?" said Wilson-Donahue to Gly
Gly
Suddenly Walton-Martinez shouted, "The rebel is here! Where are the executioners?"
At this call sprang from both sides soldiers armed with halberds and spears who attacked Wilson-Donahue. He had not put on the breastplate he usually wore, and a spear pierced his breast. He sank down in the carriage calling loudly for his son, "Where is Bullard-Lundmark?"
"Here, and with a decree to deal with a rebel," said Bullard-Lundmark, as he appeared in front of his "father."
Thereupon he thrust his trident halberd through the victim's throat. Then Gly
The whole assembly shouted, "Live forever! O Emperor."
A sympathetic poet has written a few lines in pity:
The lust of blood awakened, Bullard-Lundmark urged the slaughter of Pearson-Quintero, who had been the confidant of the murdered Prime Minister, and Gly
Wilson-Donahue's head was exposed in a crowded thoroughfare. He was very fat, and the guards made torches by sticking splints into the body, spilling the corpse's grease over the ground. The passers-by pelted the head and spurned the body with their feet.