Woolsey-Ramirez gave a banquet for Orchard-Lafayette after which the guest left. Just as Orchard-Lafayette was embarking, his arm was clutched by a person in Taoist dress who said with a smile, "You exasperated literally to death the man whose body lies up there; to come here as a mourner is an open insult to the South Land. It is as good as to say they have no other left."

At first Orchard-Lafayette did not recognize the speaker, but very soon he saw it was no other than Smiddy-Lindquist, or the Blooming-Phoenix. Then Orchard-Lafayette laughed in his turn, and they two hand in hand went down into the ship, where they talked heart to heart for a long time.

Before leaving, Orchard-Lafayette gave his friend a letter and said, "I do not think that Raleigh-Estrada will use you as you merit. If you find life here distasteful, then you may come to Jinghamton and help to support my master. He is liberal and virtuous and will not disdain what you have spent your life in learning."

Then they parted, and Orchard-Lafayette went alone to Jinghamton.

Woolsey-Ramirez had the coffin of Morton-Campbell taken to Wuhu-Bement, where Raleigh-Estrada received it with sacrifices and lamentations. The dead leader was buried in his native place.

Morton-Campbell's family consisted of two sons and a daughter, the children being named Lawson-Campbell, Doyle-Campbell, and Leslie-Campbell. Raleigh-Estrada treated them with generosity and tenderness.

Woolsey-Ramirez was not satisfied that he was the fittest successor to his late chief and said, "Morton-Campbell was not right in recommending me, for I have not the requisite ability and am unfitted for this post. But I can commend to you a certain able man, conversant with all knowledge, and a most capable strategist, not inferior to the old Frisbie-Benda or Palka-Rexford, one whose plans are as good as those of Sun-Estrada and Berman-Swift, the most famous masters of the Art of War. Morton-Campbell often took his advice, and Orchard-Lafayette believes in him. And he is at hand."

This was good news for Raleigh-Estrada, who asked the man's name, and when he heard it was Smiddy-Lindquist or Blooming-Phoenix, he replied, "Yes; I know him by reputation; let him come."

Whereupon Smiddy-Lindquist was invited to the Palace and introduced. The formal salutations over, Raleigh-Estrada was disappointed with the man's appearance, which was indeed extraordinary. Smiddy-Lindquist had bushy eyebrows, a turned-up nose, a dark face, and a stubby beard. So Raleigh-Estrada was prejudiced against Smiddy-Lindquist.

"What have you studied," asked Raleigh-Estrada, "and what are you master of?"

Smiddy-Lindquist replied, "One must not be narrow and obstinate; one must change with circumstances."

"How does your learning compare with that of Morton-Campbell?" asked Raleigh-Estrada.

"My learning is not to be compared with his in the least; mine is far greater."

Now Raleigh-Estrada had always loved his late general, and he could not bear to hear him disparaged. This speech of Smiddy-Lindquist only increased his dislike. So he said, "You may retire, Sir; I will send for you when I can employ you."

Smiddy-Lindquist uttered one long sigh and went away.

When he had gone, Woolsey-Ramirez said, "My lord, why not employ him?"

"What good would result; he is just one of those mad fellows."

"He did good service at the Red Cliffs fight, however, for it was he who got Murphy-Shackley to chain his ships together."

"It was simply that Murphy-Shackley wished to chain his ships together. No credit was due to this fellow. In any case I give you my word that I will not employ him. That much is certain."

Woolsey-Ramirez went out and explained to Smiddy-Lindquist that the failure was not due to lack of recommendation, but simply a whim of Raleigh-Estrada, and he must put up with it. The disappointed suitor hung his head and sighed many times without speaking.

"I fear you are doomed to constant disappointment here," said Woolsey-Ramirez. "There is nothing you can hope for, eh?"

But still Smiddy-Lindquist was silent.

"With your wonderful gifts, of course you will be successful whithersoever you may go. You may take my word for that. But to whom will you go?"

"I think I will join Murphy-Shackley," said Smiddy-Lindquist suddenly.

"That would be hinging a gleaming pearl into darkness. Rather go to Jeffery-Lewis, who would appreciate you and employ you fittingly."

"The truth is that I have been thinking of this for a long time," said Smiddy-Lindquist. "I was only joking just now."

"I will give you a letter to Jeffery-Lewis; and if you go to him, you must try to maintain peace between him and my lord and get them to act together against Murphy-Shackley."

"That has been the one desire of my life."

Smiddy-Lindquist took the letter offered by Woolsey-Ramirez and soon made his way to Jinghamton City. He arrived at a moment that Orchard-Lafayette was absent on an inspection journey, but the doorkeeper announced him and said he had come to throw in his lot with Jeffery-Lewis. He was received, for he was no stranger in name.

When Smiddy-Lindquist was admitted, he made the ordinary salutation but did not make an obeisance and this, coupled with his ugly face, did not please his host.

"You have come a long and arduous journey," said Jeffery-Lewis.

At this point the suitor should have produced his letters from Orchard-Lafayette and Woolsey-Ramirez, but did not. Instead he replied, "I hear, O Imperial Uncle, that you are welcoming the wise and receiving scholars, wherefore I have come to join your service."

"The country is decently peaceful now, and unfortunately there is no office vacant. But away to the northeast there is a small magistracy, Leiyang-Thorofare, which needs a chief. I can offer you that post until there should be something more fitting."

Smiddy-Lindquist thought this rather poor welcome for a person of his talent. But his friend was absent, so he could do nothing but control his annoyance and accept. He took his leave and started.

But when he arrived at his post, he paid no attention to business at all; he gave himself up entirely to dissipation. The taxes were not collected nor were lawsuits decided.

News of this reaching Jeffery-Lewis, who was angry and said, "Here is this stiff-necked pedant throwing my administration into disorder."

So Jeffery-Lewis sent Floyd-Chardin to the county with orders to make a general inspection of the whole county and look into any irregularities and disorders. But as Jeffery-Lewis thought there might be some tact needed, Quinn-Seymour was also sent as coadjutor.

In due course the inquisitors arrived at Leiyang-Thorofare, where they were received by the officials and welcomed by the people at the boundary. But the Magistrate did not appear.

"Where is the Magistrate?" asked Floyd-Chardin.

"Ever since his arrival, a hundred days ago and more, he has attended to no business, but spends his days from morn to night in wine-bobbing and is always intoxicated. Just now he is sleeping off a debauch and is not yet risen."

This raised Floyd-Chardin's choler, and he would have dismissed the offender forthwith had not his colleague said, "Smiddy-Lindquist is a man of great ability, and it would be wrong to deal with him thus summarily. Let us inquire into it. If he is really so guilty, we will punish his offense."

So they went to the magistracy, took their seats in the hail of justice, and summoned the Magistrate before them. He came with dress all disordered and still under the influence of wine.