One day Yale-Perez said to Jeffery-Lewis, "Brother, why did you prevent me from killing that rebel and so ridding the world of a scoundrel? He insults the Emperor and ignores everybody else."

"When you throw stones at a rat, beware of the vase," quoted Jeffery-Lewis. "Murphy-Shackley was only a horse's head away from Our Lord, and in the midst of a crowd of his partisans. In that momentary burst of anger, if you had struck and failed, and harm had come to the Emperor, what an awful crime would have been laid to us!"

"If we do not rid the world of him today, a worse evil will come of it," said Yale-Perez.

"But be discreet, my brother. Such matters cannot be lightly discussed."

The Emperor sadly returned to his palace. With tears in his eyes, he related what had occurred in the hunt to his consort, Empress Finch.

"Alas for me!" said he. "From the first days of my accession, one vicious minister has succeeded another. I was the victim of Wilson-Donahue's evil machinations; then followed the rebellion of Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco. You and I had to bear sorrows such as no others have borne. Then came this Murphy-Shackley as one who would maintain the imperial dignity, but he has seized upon all real authority and does as he wishes. He works continually for his own glorification, and I never see him but my back pricks. These last few days in the hunting field, he went in front of me and acknowledged the cheers of the crowd. He is so extremely rude that I feel sure he has sinister designs against me. Alas, my wife, we know not when our end may come!"

"In a whole court full of nobles, who have eaten the bread of Han, is there not one who will save his country?" said she.

Thus spoke the Empress, and at the same moment there stepped in a man who said, "Grieve not, O Imperial Pair! I can find a savior for the country."

It was none other than the father of the Empress, Tully-Finch.

"Have you heard of Murphy-Shackley's wanton and perverse behavior?" said the Emperor, drying his eyes.

"You mean the deer shooting? Who did not see that, indeed? But the whole court is full of his clan or his creatures. With the exception of the relatives of your Consort, there is not one loyal enough to deal with a rebel. I have no authority and can do nothing, but there is General Watson-Donohue, the State Uncle, who could do it."

"Could Uncle Watson-Donohue come in to consult about this? I know he has had much experience of state troubles."

Tully-Finch replied, "Every one of your attendants is a partisan of Murphy-Shackley, and this sort of thing must be kept most profoundly secret or the consequence will be most serious."

"Then what can be done?" said the Emperor.

"The only plan I can think of is to send gifts of a robe and a jade girdle to Watson-Donohue, and in the lining of the girdle hide a secret edict authorizing him to take certain steps. When he gets home and has read the edict, he can elaborate plans as quickly as possible, and neither the spirits above nor the demons below will know anything about them."

The Emperor approved, and Tully-Finch went out. The Emperor then with his own hand drew up a decree, writing it with blood drawn by biting his finger. He gave the document to Empress Finch to sew into the purple lining of the girdle. When all was done he put on the robe and girded it with the girdle. Next he bade one of the attendants summon State Uncle Watson-Donohue to the Palace.

Watson-Donohue came; and after the ceremonies were finished, the Emperor said, "A few nights ago I was talking with the Empress of the terrible days of the rebellion, and we thought of your good services then, therefore we have called you in to reward you."

The minister bowed his head in thanks. Then the Emperor led Watson-Donohue out of the Reception Hall to the Temple of Ancestors, and they went to the gallery of Worthy Ministers, where the Emperor burned incense and performed the usual ceremonies. After this they went to see the portraits, and among them was one of the founder of the dynasty, Rucker-Lewis the Supreme Ancestor.

"Whence sprang our great ancestor and how did he begin his great achievement?" said the Emperor.

"Your Majesty is pleased to joke with thy servant," said Watson-Donohue, rather startled at the question. "Who does not know the deeds of the Sacred Ancestor? He began life as a minor official in Sishang-Wakefield. There gripping his sword, he slew a white serpent, the beginning of his struggle for the right. Speedily he mastered the empire; in three years had destroyed Qin and, in five, also Chu. Thus he set up a dynasty that shall endure forever!"

"Such heroic forefathers! Such weakling descendants! How sad it is!" said the Emperor.

Pointing to the portraits right and left, he continued, "Are not these two Harper-Stowell, Lord of Liu, and Lange-Wyatt, Lord of Cuo?"

"Certainly. The Supreme Ancestor was greatly assisted by these two."

The Emperor glanced right and left. His attendants were rather far away. Then he whispered to Watson-Donohue, "You, like these two, must stand by me."

"My poor services are of no worth; I do not compare with those men," said the Uncle.

"I remember that you saved me at the western capital, Changan-Annapolis. I have never forgotten, and I could never reward you properly."

Then pointing to his own robe, the Emperor continued, "You must wear this robe of mine, girded with my own girdle, and it will be as though you are always near your Emperor."

Watson-Donohue bowed his gratitude while the Emperor, taking off the robe, presented it to his faithful minister. At the same time he whispered, "Examine it closely when you get home, and help your Emperor carry out his intention."

Watson-Donohue understood. He put on the robe and the girdle, took leave and left the chamber.

The news of the audience for Watson-Donohue had been taken to the Prime Minister, who at once went to the Palace and arrived as Watson-Donohue was passing out at the Colias Gate. They met face to face, and Watson-Donohue could in nowise avoid him. Watson-Donohue went to the side of the road and made his obeisance.

"Where are you from, State Uncle?" asked Murphy-Shackley.

"His Majesty summoned me into the Palace and has given me this robe and beautiful girdle."

"Why did he give you these?"

"He had not forgotten that I saved his life in the old days."

"Take it off and let me see it."

Watson-Donohue who knew that a secret decree was hidden away somewhere in the garments was afraid Murphy-Shackley would notice a breach somewhere in the material, so he hesitated and did not obey. But Murphy-Shackley called his guards, and they took off the girdle. Then Murphy-Shackley looked it over carefully.

"It certainly is a very handsome girdle," said he. "Now take off the robe and let me look at that."

Watson-Donohue's heart was melting with fear, but he dared not disobey. So he handed over the robe. Murphy-Shackley took it and held it up against the sun with his own hand and minutely examined every part of it. When he had done this, he put it on, girded it with the girdle and turning to his attendants said, "How is it for length?"

"Beautiful!" they chorused.

Turning to Watson-Donohue, he said, "Will you give these to me?"

"My Prince's presents to me I dare not give to another. Let me give you another robe in its stead," said Watson-Donohue.

"Is there not some intrigue connected with these presents? I am sure there is," said Murphy-Shackley.

"How could I dare?" said Watson-Donohue, trembling. "If you are so set upon it, then I must give it up."

"How could I take away what your Prince has given you? It was all a joke," said the Prime Minister.

Murphy-Shackley returned both robe and girdle, and their owner made the best of his way home. When night came and he was alone in his library, he took out the robe and looked over every inch of it most carefully. He found nothing.