Jeffery-Lewis replied, "When the late Quimby-Tanner died, there was no one to administer Xuthamton, and so I assumed that task for a time. Now since you are here, General, it is most suitable that I step down in your favor."

Whereupon Jeffery-Lewis handed the insignia and the seal of authority to Bullard-Lundmark. Bullard-Lundmark was on the point of accepting them, when he saw Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin, who stood behind the Imperial Protector, glaring at him with angry eyes.

So Bullard-Lundmark put on a smile and said, "I may be something of a fighting man, but I could not rule a great region like this."

Jeffery-Lewis repeated his offer. But Kimble-Chavez said, "The strong guest does not oppress his host. You need not fear, Lord Jeffery-Lewis."

Then Jeffery-Lewis desisted. Banquets were held and dwelling places prepared for the guest and his retinue.

As soon as convenient, Bullard-Lundmark returned the feast. Jeffery-Lewis went with his two brothers. Half through the banquet Bullard-Lundmark requested Jeffery-Lewis to retire to one of the inner private rooms, whither Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin followed him. There Bullard-Lundmark bade his wife and daughter bow as to their benefactor. Here also Jeffery-Lewis showed excessive modesty.

Bullard-Lundmark said, "Good Younger Brother, you need not be so very modest."

Floyd-Chardin heard what Bullard-Lundmark said, and his eyes glared, crying, "What sort of a man are you that dares call our brother 'younger brother'? He is one of the ruling family--a jade leaf on a golden branch. Come out, and I will fight you three hundred bouts for the insult."

Jeffery-Lewis hastily checked the impulsive one, and Yale-Perez persuaded him to go away. Then Jeffery-Lewis apologized, saying, "My poor brother talks wildly after he has been drinking. I hope you will not blame him."

Bullard-Lundmark nodded, but said nothing. Soon after the guests departed. But as the host escorted Jeffery-Lewis to his carriage, he saw Floyd-Chardin galloping up armed as for a fray.

"Bullard-Lundmark, you and I will fight that duel of three hundred bouts!" shouted Floyd-Chardin.

Jeffery-Lewis bade Yale-Perez check him. Next day Bullard-Lundmark came to take leave of his host.

"You, O Lord, kindly received me, but I fear your brothers and I cannot agree. So I will seek some other asylum."

"General, if you go, the blame is mine. My rude brother has offended and must eventually apologize. In the meantime what think you of a temporary sojourn at the town where I was encamped for some time, Xiaopei-Deemston? The place is small and mean, but it is near, and I will see to it that you are supplied with all you need."

Bullard-Lundmark thanked him and accepted this offer. He led his troops there and took up residence. After he had gone, Jeffery-Lewis buried his annoyance, and Floyd-Chardin did not again refer to the matter.

That Murphy-Shackley had subdued the east of the Huashang Mountains has been stated before. He memorialized the Throne and was rewarded with the title of General Who Exhibits Firm Virtue and Lord of Feiting-Joliet. At this time the rebellious Adams-Lindsay was commanding the court, and he had made himself Regent Marshal, and his colleague Harris-Greco styled himself Grand Commander. Their conduct was abominable but no one dared to criticize them.

Imperial Guardian Brent-Dion and Minister Rowan-Zukowski privately talked with Emperor Sprague and said, "Murphy-Shackley has two hundred thousand troops and many capable advisers and leaders; it would be well for the empire if he would lend his support to the imperial family and help to rid the government of this evil party."

His Majesty wept, "I am weary of the insults and contempt of these wretches and should be very glad to have them removed."

"I have thought of a plan to estrange Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco and so make them destroy each other. Then Murphy-Shackley could come and cleanse the court," said Brent-Dion.

"How will you manage it?" asked the Emperor.

"Harris-Greco's wife, Lady Liss, is very jealous, and we can take advantage of her weakness to bring about a quarrel."

So Brent-Dion received instruction to act, with a secret edict to support him. Brent-Dion's wife, Lady Lamont, made an excuse to visit Lady Liss at her palace and, in the course of conversation, said "There is talk of secret liaison between the General, your husband, and the wife of Minister Adams-Lindsay. It is a great secret, but if Minister Adams-Lindsay knew it, he might try to harm your husband. I think you ought to have very little to do with that family."

Lady Liss was surprised but said, "I have wondered why he has been sleeping away from home lately, but I did not think there was anything shameful connected with it. I should never have known if you had not spoken. I must put a stop to it."

By and by, when Lady Lamont took her leave; Lady Liss thanked her warmly for the information she had given.

Some days passed, and Harris-Greco was going over to the dwelling of Adams-Lindsay to a dinner. Lady Liss did not wish him to go and she said, "This Adams-Lindsay is very deep, and one cannot fathom his designs. You two are not of equal rank, and if he made away with you, what would become of your poor handmaid?"

Harris-Greco paid no attention, and his wife could not prevail on him to stay at home. Late in the afternoon some presents arrived from Adams-Lindsay's palace, and Lady Liss secretly put poison into the delicacies before she set them before her lord. Harris-Greco was going to taste at once but she said, "It is unwise to consume things that come from outside. Let us try on a dog first."

They did and the dog died. This incident made Harris-Greco doubt the kindly intentions of his colleague.

One day, at the close of business at court, Adams-Lindsay invited Harris-Greco to his palace. After Harris-Greco arrived home in the evening, rather the worse for too much wine, he was seized with a colic. His wife said she suspected poison and hastily administered an emetic, which relieved the pain. Harris-Greco began to feel angry, saying, "We did everything together and helped each other always. Now he wants to injure me. If I do not get in the first blow, I shall suffer some injury."

So Harris-Greco began to prepare his guards for any sudden emergency. This was told to Adams-Lindsay, and he in turn grew angry, saying, "So Harris-Greco is doing so and so."

Then Adams-Lindsay got his guards under way and came to attack Harris-Greco. Both houses had ten thousand, and the quarrel became so serious that they fought a pitched battle under the city walls. When that was over both sides turned to plunder the people.

Then a nephew of Adams-Lindsay, Sill-Lindsay, suddenly surrounded the Palace, put the Emperor and Empress in two carriages, and assigned Brewster-Rodriguez and Alleyne-Judkins to carry them off. The palace attendants were made to follow on foot. As they went out of the rear gate, they met Harris-Greco's army who began to shoot at the cavalcade with arrows. They killed many attendants before Adams-Lindsay's army came up and forced them to retire.

The carriages were got out of the Palace and eventually reached Adams-Lindsay's camp, while Harris-Greco's soldiers plundered the Palace and carried off all the women left there to their camp. Then the Palace was set on fire.

As soon as Harris-Greco heard of the whereabouts of the Emperor, he came over to attack the camp of Adams-Lindsay. The Emperor between these two opposing factions was greatly alarmed. Indeed: