The Wallet of Kai Lung | Page 5

borne by your distinguished family?
Doubtless, at this moment many Mandarins of the highest degree are
anxiously awaiting your arrival at Knei Yang, perhaps passing the time
by outdoing one another in protesting the number of taels each would
give rather than permit you to be tormented by fire-brands, or even to
lose a single ear."
"Alas!" replied Kai Lung, "never was there a truer proverb than that
which says, 'It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one's time in
looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea-shops.' Do

Mandarins or the friends of Mandarins travel in mean garments and
unattended? Indeed, the person who is now before you is none other
than the outcast Kai Lung, the story-teller, one of degraded habits and
no very distinguished or reputable ancestors. His friends are few, and
mostly of the criminal class; his wealth is nor more than some six or
eight cash, concealed in his left sandal; and his entire stock-in-trade
consists of a few unendurable and badly told stories, to which, however,
it is his presumptuous intention shortly to add a dignified narrative of
the high-born Lin Yi, setting out his domestic virtues and the honour
which he has reflected upon his house, his valour in war, the
destruction of his enemies, and, above all, his great benevolence and
the protection which he extends to the poor and those engaged in the
distinguished arts."
"The absence of friends is unfortunate," said Lin Yi thoughtfully, after
he had possessed himself of the coins indicated by Kai Lung, and also
of a much larger amount concealed elsewhere among the story-teller's
clothing. "My followers are mostly outlawed Miaotze, who have been
driven from their own tribes in Yun Nan for man-eating and
disregarding the sacred laws of hospitality. They are somewhat
rapacious, and in this way it has become a custom that they should have
as their own, for the purpose of exchanging for money, persons such as
yourself, whose insatiable curiosity has led them to this place."
"The wise and all-knowing Emperor Fohy instituted three degrees of
attainment: Being poor, to obtain justice; being rich, to escape flattery;
and being human, to avoid the passions," replied Kai Lung. "To these
the practical and enlightened Kang added yet another, the greatest:
Being lean, to yield fatness."
"In such cases," observed the brigand, "the Miaotze keep an honoured
and very venerable rite, which chiefly consists in suspending the
offender by a pigtail from a low tree, and placing burning twigs of
hemp-palm between his toes. To this person it seems a foolish and
meaningless habit; but it would not be well to interfere with their
religious observances, however trivial they may appear."
"Such a course must inevitably end in great loss," suggested Kai Lung;

"for undoubtedly there are many poor yet honourable persons who
would leave with them a bond for a large number of taels and save the
money with which to redeem it, rather than take part in a ceremony
which is not according to one's own Book of Rites."
"They have already suffered in that way on one or two occasions,"
replied Lin Yi; "so that such a proposal, no matter how nobly intended,
would not gladden their faces. Yet they are simple and docile persons,
and would, without doubt, be moved to any feeling you should desire
by the recital of one of your illustrious stories."
"An intelligent and discriminating assemblage is more to a story-teller
than much reward of cash from hands that conceal open mouths,"
replied Kai Lung with great feeling. "Nothing would confer more
pleasurable agitation upon this unworthy person than an opportunity of
narrating his entire stock to them. If also the accomplished Lin Yi
would bestow renown upon the occasion by his presence, no omen of
good would be wanting."
"The pleasures of the city lie far behind me," said Lin Yi, after some
thought, "and I would cheerfully submit myself to an intellectual
accomplishment such as you are undoubtedly capable of. But as we
have necessity to leave this spot before the hour when the oak-leaves
change into night-moths, one of your amiable stories will be the utmost
we can strengthen our intellects with. Select which you will. In the
meantime, food will be brought to refresh you after your benevolent
exertions in conversing with a person of my vapid understanding.
When you have partaken, or thrown it away as utterly unendurable, the
time will have arrived, and this person, together with all his
accomplices, will put themselves in a position to be subjected to all the
most dignified emotions."
II
"THE story which I have selected for this gratifying occasion," said Kai
Lung, when, an hour or so later, still pinioned, but released from the
halter, he sat surrounded by the