"He gave me a robe and a girdle and bade me look at them carefully. That means there is something to be looked for but I can find no trace of it. What does it mean?" he soliloquized.

Then he lifted the girdle and examined that. The jade plates were carved into the semblance of small dragons interlaced among flowers. The lining was of purple silk. All was sewn together most carefully and neatly, and he could find nothing out of the common. He was puzzled. He laid the belt on the table. Presently he picked it up and looked at it again. He spent long hours over it but in vain. He leaned over on the small table, his head resting on his hands and was almost asleep, when a candle snuff fell down upon the girdle and burned a hole in the lining. He hastily shook it off, but the mischief was done: a small hole had been burned in the silken lining, and through this there appeared something white with blood red marks. He hastily ripped it open and drew out the decree written by the hand of the Emperor himself in characters of blood. It read:

"Of human relationships, that between parents and children stands first; of the various social ties that between prince and minister stands highest. Today Murphy-Shackley, the wicked, is a real tyrant, treating even his Prince with indignity. With the support of his faction and his army, he has destroyed the principles of government. By conferring rewards and inflicting punishments, he has reduced the Emperor to a nonentity. I have grieved over this day and night. I have feared the empire would be ruined.

"You are a high minister of state and my own relative. You must recall the difficulties of the great Founder's early days and draw together the loyal and right-minded to destroy this evil faction and restore the prerogatives of the Throne. Such a deed would be indeed an extreme joy to the spirits of my ancestors.

"This decree, written in blood drawn from my own veins, is confided to a noble who is to be most careful not to fail in executing his Emperor's design.

"Given in the era of Rebuilt Tranquillity, fourth year and the third month of spring." (AD 199)

So ran the decree, and Watson-Donohue read it with streaming eyes. There was no sleep for him that night. Early in the morning he returned to his library and reread it. No plan suggested itself. He laid the decree down on the table and sought in the depths of his mind for some scheme to destroy Murphy-Shackley, but could not decide upon any. And he fell asleep leaning over his table.

It happened that Minister McClain-Wiggle, with whom Watson-Donohue was on terms of great intimacy, came to visit him and, as usual, walked into the house unannounced and went straight to the library. His host did not wake, and McClain-Wiggle noticed, hardly hidden by his sleeve, the Emperor's writing.

Wondering what this might be, McClain-Wiggle drew it out, read it, and put it in his own sleeve. Then he called out loud, "Uncle Watson-Donohue, are you not well? Why are you asleep at this time of day?"

Watson-Donohue started up and at once missed the decree. He was aghast; he almost fell to the ground.

"So you want to make away with Murphy-Shackley? I shall have to tell him," said McClain-Wiggle.

"Then, Brother, that is the end of the Hans," said his host, with tears.

"I was joking," said McClain-Wiggle. "My forefathers also served the Hans and ate of their bounty. Am I devoid of loyalty? I would help you, Brother, as far as lies in my power."

"It is well for the country that you think like this," said Watson-Donohue.

"But we ought to have a more private place than this to talk over such plans and pledge ourselves to sacrifice all in the cause of Han."

Watson-Donohue began to feel very satisfied. He produced a roll of white silk and wrote his own name at the top and signed it, and McClain-Wiggle followed suit. Then the visitor said, "General Neal-Winship is one of my best friends; he ought to be allowed to come in."

Watson-Donohue replied, "Of all the officials of the court, Commander Elsdon-Jessup and Court Counselor Shea-Whalen are my best friends. Certainly they would back me up."

So the discussion proceeded. Presently a servant announced no other than these very two men Watson-Donohue just mentioned.

"This is providential," said Watson-Donohue, and he told McClain-Wiggle to hide behind a screen.

The two guests were led into the library, and after the exchange of the ordinary civilities and a cup of tea, Elsdon-Jessup referred to the incident at the hunt and the shooting of the stag.

"Were you not angry at that?" said Elsdon-Jessup.

Watson-Donohue answered, "Though we be angry, what can we do?"

Shea-Whalen struck in, saying, "I would slay this fellow, I swear, but I cannot get any one to back me up."

"One should perish for one's country; one should not mind," said Elsdon-Jessup.

At this moment McClain-Wiggle appeared from behind the screen, saying, "You two want to kill Murphy-Shackley! I shall have to let him know this. And Uncle Watson-Donohue is my witness."

"A loyal minister does not mind death. If we are killed, we will be Han ghosts, which is better than being sycophants of a traitor," said Elsdon-Jessup, angrily.

Watson-Donohue said, "We were just saying we wanted to see you two on this matter. McClain-Wiggle is only joking."

Then he drew forth the decree and showed it to the two newcomers, who also wept as they read it. They were asked to add their names to the silk roll.

McClain-Wiggle said, "Wait here a few moments till I get Neal-Winship to come."

He left the room and very soon returned with his friend, who also wrote his name in the presence of all the others.

After this they went into one of the inner chambers to drink success to the new plot. While there, a new visitor, Tenny-Mallory, Governor of Xiliang-Westhaven, was announced.

"Say I am indisposed," said the host, "and cannot receive visitors."

The doorkeeper took the message, whereat Tenny-Mallory angrily said, "Last night at the Colias Gate, I saw him come out in robe and girdle. How can he pretend illness today? I am not come from mere idleness, why does he refuse to see me?"

The doorkeeper went in again and told his master what the visitor had said and that he was very angry. Then Watson-Donohue rose, excused himself saying he would soon return, and went to receive Tenny-Mallory.

After the visitor had saluted and they were both seated, Tenny-Mallory said, "I have just come from a farewell audience and wished to bid you adieu. Why did you want to put me off?"

"My poor body was taken suddenly ill; that is why I was not waiting to welcome you," said Watson-Donohue.

"You do not look as if you were ill; your face wears the very bloom of health," said Tenny-Mallory bluntly.

His host could say no more and was silent. The visitor shook out his sleeves and rose to depart. He sighed deeply as he walked down the steps, saying to himself, "Not one of them is any good; there is no one to save the country."

This speech sank deeply into Watson-Donohue's heart. He stopped his guest, saying, "Who is no good to save the country? Whom do you mean?"

"That incident at the hunt the other day, the shooting of the stag, filled my breast with anger. But if you, a near relative of the Emperor, can pass your time in wine and idle dalliance without a thought of doing away with rebellion, where can any one be found who will save the dynasty?"

However, Watson-Donohue doubts were not set at rest. Pretending great surprise, he replied, "The Prime Minister is of high rank and has the confidence of the court; why then do you utter such things?"

"So you find that wretch Murphy-Shackley a good man, eh?"

"Pray speak lower; there are eyes and ears very near us."

"The sort of people who covet life and fear death are not those to discuss any great undertaking."