Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

So saying, Te

Whereupon he invited Te

"When you move, remember the whole force of my army is ready to help," said Te

Watson-Donohue introduced him to the other conspirators, and then the pledge was produced, and Te

Pointing to the five he said, "We require ten for this business, and we can accomplish our design."

"We ca

Te

"Whom?" cried they altogether.

Te

If the readers turns to the next chapter, they will see whom Te

CHAPTER 21

"Who is it?" was the question on the lips of the conspirators.

Te

"Though he is an uncle of the Emperor, he is at present a partisan of our enemy, and he will not join," said Watson-Donohue.

"But I saw something at the hunt," said Te

Here Shea-Whalen urged caution, saying, "Do not go too fast. Let us consider the thing most carefully."

They dispersed. Next day after dark Watson-Donohue went to Jeffery-Lewis' lodging taking with him the decree. As soon as Watson-Donohue was a

"It must be something unusually important that has brought Uncle Watson-Donohue here tonight," said Jeffery-Lewis.

"If I had ridden forth by daylight, Murphy-Shackley might have suspected something, so I came by night."

Wine was brought in, and while they were drinking Watson-Donohue said, "Why did you check your brother the other day at the hunt, when he was going to attack Murphy-Shackley?"

Jeffery-Lewis was startled and said, "How did you know?"

"Nobody noticed but I saw."

Jeffery-Lewis could not prevaricate and said, "It was the presumption of the man that made my brother so angry; Yale-Perez could not help it."

The visitor covered his face and wept.

"Ah," said he, "if all the court ministers were like Yale-Perez, there would be no sighs for lack of tranquillity."

Now Jeffery-Lewis felt that possibly Murphy-Shackley had sent his visitor to try him, so he cautiously replied, "Where are the sighs for lack of tranquillity while Murphy-Shackley is at the head of affairs?"

Watson-Donohue changed color and rose from his seat.

"You, Sir, are a relative of His Majesty, and so I showed you my inmost feelings. Why did you mislead me?"

But Jeffery-Lewis said, "Because I feared you might be misleading me, and I wanted to find out."

At this Watson-Donohue drew out the decree he had received and showed it. His host was deeply moved. Then Watson-Donohue produced the pledge. There were only six names to it, and these were Watson-Donohue, McClain-Wiggle, Elsdon-Jessup, Shea-Whalen, Neal-Winship, and Te

"Since you have a decree like this, I ca

"Now let us but get three more, which will make ten, and we shall be ready to act."

"But you must move with great caution and not let this get abroad," said Jeffery-Lewis.

The two remained talking till an early hour in the morning when the visitor left.

Now in order to put Murphy-Shackley quite off the scent that any plot against him was in progress, Jeffery-Lewis began to devote himself to gardening, planting vegetables, and watering them with his own hands. Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin ventured to remonstrate with him for taking to such an occupation when great matters needed attention.

"The reason for this you may not know," replied he.

And they said no more.

One day when the two brothers were absent, and Jeffery-Lewis was busy in his garden, two generals of Murphy-Shackley, Dietrich-Munoz and Lamkin-Gonzalez, with an escort came from Murphy-Shackley, saying, "The command of the Prime Minister is that you come at once."

"What important affair is afoot?" asked Jeffery-Lewis nervously.

"We know nothing; we were ordered to come and request your presence."

All he could do was to follow. When he arrived, Murphy-Shackley met him and laughingly said, "That is a big business you have in hand at home."

This remark made Jeffery-Lewis turn the color of clay. Murphy-Shackley took him by the hand and led him straight to the private garden, saying, "The growth of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult."

Jeffery-Lewis breathed again. He said, "That is hardly a business; it is only a solace."

Murphy-Shackley said, "I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today, and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing Sandoval-Pulgram. We were marching through a parched county, and every one was suffering from thirst. Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at something in the distance I said, 'Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead.' The soldiers heard it, and it made their mouths water. Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation. I owe something to the plums, and we will repay it today. I ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it."

Jeffery-Lewis was quite composed by this time and no longer suspected any sinister design. He went with his host to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden, where the wine cups were already laid out and green plums filled the dishes. They sat down to a confidential talk and free enjoyment of their wine.

As they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening rain. The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky. Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.

"Do you understand the evolution of dragons?" asked Murphy-Shackley of the guest.

"Not in detail."

"A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing own desires and overru