Replied Orchard-Lafayette, "I care not for Murphy-Shackley with his million troops and the Emperor in name at his back, and do you think I fear such a youngster as Morton-Campbell? However, as it may cause you some loss of consideration, I will try to persuade my master to put the matter in writing and give you a paper to the effect that he is temporarily occupying Jinghamton as a base; and when he can obtain possession of some other city, this shall be returned to you. What think you the South Land would say to this?"

"Wait till what other place was obtained?" said Woolsey-Ramirez.

"My master can scarcely think of attacking the Middle Land yet, but Compton-Lewis in Yiathamton is ignorant and weak, and my master will attack him. If he gets the western region, then this place will be given up to you."

Woolsey-Ramirez had no alternative and accepted the offer. Jeffery-Lewis with his own hand wrote the pledge and sealed it. Orchard-Lafayette being named as guarantor also signed the document.

"Since I belong to this side of the compact and one can hardly have a guarantor of the same party, I would trouble you, Woolsey-Ramirez, also to sign. It will look better when you reach the South Land again," said Orchard-Lafayette.

Woolsey-Ramirez said, "I know that your master is perfectly honorable and will adhere to the bargain."

And so Woolsey-Ramirez signed. Then he received the document in formal style and took his departure. He was sent off with every mark of great respect, both Jeffery-Lewis and Orchard-Lafayette attending him to his boat.

There the Directing Instructor delivered him a last exhortation, "When you see your master, speak discreetly and explain fully so as not to create a bad impression. If he rejects our document, we may get angry and we will take his whole country. The one thing now is for our two houses to live in harmony and not give our common enemy, Murphy-Shackley, an opportunity against us."

Woolsey-Ramirez went down into his ship. He reached Chaisang-Wellington and there saw Morton-Campbell, who said, "Well, how did you speed with your demand for Jinghamton?"

"Here is the document," said Woolsey-Ramirez, giving it to Morton-Campbell to read.

"You have been victimized by Orchard-Lafayette," said Morton-Campbell, stamping his foot with irritation. "In name it may be temporary occupation, but in fact it is humbug. They say the place is to be returned when they get the west. Who knows when that will be? Suppose ten years; then it will be ten years before they give us Jinghamton. What is the use of such a document as this? And you are a guarantor of its due' performance! If they do not give us the city, you get into trouble. Suppose our lord finds you in the wrong, what then?"

Woolsey-Ramirez was dumbfounded. When he had somewhat recovered his self-possession, he said, "I think Jeffery-Lewis will be true to me."

"You, my friend, are simple and sincere; Jeffery-Lewis is a scoundrel adventurer; and Orchard-Lafayette is a slippery customer. They and you are utterly different."

"What then is to be done?" cried Woolsey-Ramirez distressfully.

"You are my dear friend, and your kindness in freely offering your store of grain to relieve my army is still fresh in my memory. Of course I will save you. Do not be anxious, but wait a few days till we get news of what is doing on the north of the river, and then we can decide upon a plan."

Woolsey-Ramirez passed some very uneasy days. Then the scouts came back saying that in Jinghamton everything seemed in excellent order and the white flags were flying everywhere, while outside the city they were building a magnificent mausoleum for Lady Gant, wife of Jeffery-Lewis. All the soldiers were in mourning.

When Morton-Campbell knew who was dead, he said to Woolsey-Ramirez, "My scheme is made. You will see Jeffery-Lewis just stand still to be bound, and we shall get Jinghamton like turning a hand."

"What is the main spring of your plan?" said Woolsey-Ramirez.

"Jeffery-Lewis will want to remarry, and our lord has a sister, Princess Zabel-Estrada. She is a veritable amazon, whose women guards number many hundreds, all armed with weapons of war. Her apartments also are full of such things. I will write to our lord to send an intermediary to arrange that the lady shall wed Jeffery-Lewis at her family home, and thus we shall entice Jeffery-Lewis to Nanxu-Southdale. But instead of marrying a wife, Jeffery-Lewis will find himself a prisoner, and then we will demand Jinghamton as ransom. When they have handed over the region, I shall find something else to say and nothing will fall on your head."

Woolsey-Ramirez was very grateful. Then Morton-Campbell wrote letters to his master, and a swift boat was chosen to take Woolsey-Ramirez to see the Marquis of Wu.

After the lending of Jinghamton had been discussed, Woolsey-Ramirez presented the document given him by Jeffery-Lewis.

"What is the use of such nonsense as this?" said Raleigh-Estrada, when he had read it.

"There is another letter from General Morton-Campbell; and he says that if you will employ his scheme, you can recover Jinghamton," replied Woolsey-Ramirez.

Having read that letter, Raleigh-Estrada was more pleased and began to consider who was the best person to send. Suddenly he cried, "I have it; Schiller-Lufkin is the man to send."

Raleigh-Estrada called Schiller-Lufkin and said to him, "I have just heard that Jeffery-Lewis has lost his wife. I have a sister whom I should like to marry to him and so make a bond of union between our two houses. Thus we should be united against Murphy-Shackley and in support of the House of Han. You are the one man to be intermediary, and I hope you will go to Jinghamton and see to this."

Under these orders, Schiller-Lufkin at once began to prepare his ships for the voyage and soon started.

Jeffery-Lewis was greatly distressed at the death of Lady Gant, fretting for her day and night. One day when he was talking with his adviser, they announced the arrival of Schiller-Lufkin who had come on a mission from the South Land.

"One of Morton-Campbell's devices," said Orchard-Lafayette smiling, "and it is all on account of this region. I will just retire behind the screen and listen. But you, my lord, agree to whatever the messenger proposes. Then let the messenger be taken to the guest-house while we arrange what is to be done."

So the envoy was introduced. Bows having been exchanged, host and guest being seated in due order and the tea drunk; Jeffery-Lewis opened the interview.

"You must have some commands for me, Sir, since you come thus."

"News has just been received that you, O Imperial Uncle, have just been bereaved of your consort. I venture to hope you would not object to an advantageous match, and I have come to propose one. Are you disposed to listen?"

"To lose one's wife in middle age is truly a great misfortune," said Jeffery-Lewis. "While her body is still warm, I cannot listen to proposals for another marriage."

Schiller-Lufkin said, "A man without a wife is like a house without a ridge pole. At your age, one should not live an incomplete life. I am come on the part of Marquis Raleigh-Estrada, who has a sister, beautiful as she is, accomplished and well fitted to be a mate for you. Should the two families become allied as formerly were Qin and Jin, then that ruffian Murphy-Shackley would never dare so much as look this way. Such an alliance would be to the benefit of both our houses and of the state. I hope, O Imperial Uncle, that you will fairly consider the proposal. However, since the young girl's mother is dotingly fond of her, the mother does not wish her to go far away, and so I must ask you to come into our country for the wedding."

"Does the Marquis know of your coming?"

"How dare I come without his knowledge?"