"Only because of that letter," Garber-Wilkens replied. "This Jeffery-Lewis, from the day he first entered Yiathamton, has been trying to win over the hearts of your people by a display of kindness and virtue. He certainly intends no good, and I think you should refuse both the troops and the supplies he asks. To help him is like adding fuel to a fire."

"We are affectionate brothers, and I must help him," said the Imperial Protector.

"Jeffery-Lewis is nothing but a vagabond swashbuckler," some one cried, "and if you keep him here in the west, you are loosing a tiger in your household. If you give him the troops and supplies he asks, you are adding wings to your tiger."

Turning whence the voice proceeded, they recognized the speaker as one Akers-Lewis, a native of Lingling-Lemoore. His words threw the Imperial Protector into a state of doubt and hesitation. Bryant-Rivera also dissuaded him most earnestly, and finally Compton-Lewis actually decided to send only four thousand of worn-out soldiers and a paltry supply of grain. At the same time fresh orders enjoining a diligent watchfulness were sent to the guardians of the passes.

When Jeffery-Lewis read the letter that accompanied the Imperial Protector's miserable contribution to his strength, he was furious and cried, "I have been spending myself in your defense, and this is my reward! You are mean and greedy enough to stint my supplies. How can you expect generous service?"

Jeffery-Lewis tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof. The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital.

Then said Smiddy-Lindquist, "You have hitherto laid too much stress on humanity and righteousness. However, that is all over now, and all affection between you two is at an end, now that you have torn up that letter."

"Yes. And since that is so, what next?" asked Jeffery-Lewis.

"I have three schemes ready in my mind. You may choose which pleases you."

"What are your three schemes?"

"The first, and best, is to send an army forthwith and seize Chengdu-Wellesley. The second is to capture and put to death the two generals of the River Virgo Pass. They are the two most famous fighting men in this land. If you give out that you are returning to Jinghamton, they will assuredly come to say farewell. Seize and put them to death, and the Pass and Fucheng-Bennington are both yours. Chengdu-Wellesley will follow soon. The third plan is to drop this role you have been playing, go back to Jinghamton and make a regular invasion. But if you ponder these schemes too long, you will get into such straits that nothing can save you."

Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Of your three schemes, O Instructor, I find the first too summary and the last too slow. I choose the second scheme, which is neither."

So a letter was written to Compton-Lewis saying that Murphy-Shackley was sending an army against Qingni-Trenton; the generals there were unequal to the defense, and Jeffery-Lewis had to go to help. As the matter was pressing, there could be no personal leave-taking.

"I knew that the real desire of Jeffery-Lewis was to return to Jinghamton," said Leland-Hawkins, when he heard of the letter to Compton-Lewis.

Leland-Hawkins then also composed a letter to Jeffery-Lewis. While he was looking about for a trusty person to take it, his brother Shipman-Hawkins, who was the Governor of Guanghan-Madison, came to see him. Leland-Hawkins hid the letter in his sleeve while he talked with his brother. Shipman-Hawkins noticed his anxious inquietude, which he could not explain. Wine was brought in and, as the two brothers chatted over it, the letter dropped to the floor unnoticed by Leland-Hawkins. One of Shipman-Hawkins' servants saw it, picked it up, and gave it to his master, who opened and read it.

This is about how it ran:

"What I said to you lately was not mere meaningless talk. Why, then, postpone action? The ancients valued the person who took by force and held by conciliation. If you act at once, the whole matter is in your hand. Why abandon all and return to Jinghamton? Surely I do not hear aright! When you get this letter, attack without a moment's delay and remember that I am your ally on the inside. Above all, no delay!"

"This plot of my brother's will end in the destruction of the whole family," said Shipman-Hawkins. "I must get in the first word."

So at once he went in and laid the whole matter before the Imperial Protector.

"I have always treated your brother so well!" said Compton-Lewis, very angry.

Compton-Lewis issued orders to arrest Leland-Hawkins and behead him and all his household in the market place.

Having thus learned of a real conspiracy to deprive him of his heritage, Compton-Lewis assembled his officers and asked their advice.

Bryant-Rivera spoke out, saying, "Prompt action is needed. Send to every strategic point telling them to increase the garrisons and keep careful guard and, above all, prevent the entrance of any person from Jinghamton."

Such orders were sent to all points of vantage where were garrisons.

In the meantime, carrying out Smiddy-Lindquist's scheme, Jeffery-Lewis had marched down to Fucheng-Bennington, where he halted and sent in a messenger to invite the two generals to come forth and say farewell. But they did not respond at once to this invitation.

"What is the real meaning of this retirement?" said one to the other.

"This Jeffery-Lewis ought to die," said Randall-Zisook. "Let us hide daggers under our dress and stab him at the place of farewell. That will end all our lord's troubles."

"A most excellent plan," said Garber-Wilkens.

So they two, taking only a small escort of two hundred, went down out of the Pass to say goodbye. Most of their forces were left in the camp.

On the way down to River Virgo, Smiddy-Lindquist had said to his master, "You have need to be on your guard against those two if they come to bid you farewell. If they do not come, then the Pass must be attacked without delay."

Just as he said this, a violent gust of wind overthrew the leading flag of the army, and Jeffery-Lewis asked what this portended.

"That means a surprise; those two intend to assassinate you, so be on your guard."

Accordingly, Jeffery-Lewis put on double armor and girded on his sword in readiness. When the two generals arrived, the army halted while the generals should pay the farewell visit.

Then Smiddy-Lindquist said to his two generals, Oakley-Dobbins and Sheffield-Maddox, "However many soldiers come down from the Pass, see to it that none return."

The two generals of the Western Land of Rivers, Garber-Wilkens and Randall-Zisook, armed with hidden daggers, came up, their escort bearing gifts of sheep and wine. They marked no precautions being taken against an attack and began to think their task of murder would be an easy one. They were led in to where Jeffery-Lewis sat under a tent, his adviser with him.

They said, "We hear, O Imperial Uncle, that you contemplate a long march, and therefore we come to offer a few poor gifts to speed you on your way."

The cups of farewell were duly filled. Then Jeffery-Lewis replied, "You have a heavy responsibility to defend the Pass, Generals. I pray you drink first."

They drank. Then Jeffery-Lewis said, "I have a secret matter to talk over with you."

So all the two hundred soldiers of the escort were sent away and led to the midst of the camp.

As soon as they had gone, Jeffery-Lewis shouted, "My generals, lay hands upon these two rebels!"