Crane-Hinton smiled, saying, "O, General, evil is not far off. However, I am thinking the newly ground sword will not be tried on my head. You will want to try it on your own!"

"What evil were you talking about?"

"The worst vilification could not hide the beauty of Lady Apfel of Yue, nor could the most fulsome praise gloze over the ugliness of Lady Pirie of Qi ((two states of old)). The sun rises to the meridian and then declines; the moon waxes to the full and then wanes. All things obey the one law. Now, General, you are at enmity with Murphy-Shackley for your father's death, and in Longxi-Westdale you carry a stubborn, grinding hate for your family's death. You can neither rescue Compton-Lewis by repulsing the army from Jinghamton, nor can you settle Brickley-Foster by getting an interview with Levey-Wrona. The whole world now holds no place for a person without a lord; and if you experience further defeats, like that one on River Taurus, or the loss of Jicheng-Lakehills, will you not be too shamed to look any human in the face?"

Cotton-Mallory bowed his head, saying, "You speak well, Sir. But I am helpless."

"Now that you listen to me, I would ask why those fearsome ruffians are in hiding by your tent?" continued Crane-Hinton.

Cotton-Mallory, suddenly stricken with shame, ordered them to retire. Crane-Hinton continued his speech.

"Jeffery-Lewis, the Imperial Uncle, is considerate to his subordinates, and I am certain he will succeed, and so I have forsaken Compton-Lewis to cleave to him. Your honored father joined him in destroying rebels. Why do you not flee from darkness into the light? Thereby you would avenge your father and become famous."

Cotton-Mallory, convinced of the wisdom of the course thus recommended, proved his conversion by sending for Herring-Foster and slaying him forthwith. Taking with him the head of his victim, Cotton-Mallory accompanied Crane-Hinton to the Pass and tendered his submission. Jeffery-Lewis welcomed him warmly and treated him as a highly honored guest.

Cotton-Mallory bowed his head, saying, "Meeting you, O Illustrious Lord, is like seeing the clear sky when the clouds have been swept aside."

When Quinn-Seymour returned from Brickley-Foster's place, Jeffery-Lewis detached a force to go to the capture of Chengdu-Wellesley, left two generals, Ostrom-Palmer and Tuttle-Siegel to guard Artemisia Pass, and made a triumphant entry into Mianzhu-Greenwich with the welcome of Gilbert-Rocher and Sheffield-Maddox.

Two generals of the Western Land of Rivers, Hallett-Colby and Kimmel-Lewis, came to oppose Jeffery-Lewis, but Gilbert-Rocher went out against them while Jeffery-Lewis was entertaining Cotton-Mallory at a banquet on the city wall. Ere it had concluded, Gilbert-Rocher slew both the generals and brought their heads to the banquet chamber. This exploit put Cotton-Mallory on his mettle and doubled his respect for the conquerors.

"Let not my lord attack," said Cotton-Mallory. "I will make Compton-Lewis surrender of his own accord. Should he resist, my brother Winston-Mallory and I will take the city and offer it to you with both hands."

Jeffery-Lewis was very pleased with the course of events; the day was indeed one of rejoicing.

But Compton-Lewis was greatly distressed at the news of his fresh misfortunes, which reached him with the return of his defeated soldiers. He barred the gates and stopped all exits. Before long came news of the approach of Cotton-Mallory with an army of rescue. The Imperial Protector then ventured to mount the walls, and soon Cotton-Mallory and Winston-Mallory rode up and stood below the ramparts.

And Cotton-Mallory called out, "I wish to speak with Compton-Lewis."

Then Compton-Lewis showed himself, and Cotton-Mallory plunged into the matter without more ado.

"I took the leadership of Levey-Wrona's army to rescue Yiathamton, little thinking that, under the calumnious advice of Brickley-Foster, Levey-Wrona would try to slay me. However, now I have gone over to the side of Jeffery-Lewis, the Imperial Uncle, and advise you, Sir, to do the same, you and all your officers. Thereby you will all escape harm. If any one holds on a misguided course, I shall take the city."

Such words came as a shock, and Compton-Lewis paled. His feelings overcame him and he swooned.

When he came to his senses, he muttered, "I am stupid and I am sorry. Better open the gates and end it. The city will be saved."

"No, no," cried Arcaro-Bullinger. "There are thirty thousand of good soldiers in the city and ample money and stores for a year to come. Hold out!"

But Compton-Lewis was broken, saying, "My father and I have ruled Shu for twenty years and have done no particular good for the people. And we have fought for three years; the grass has been be stained with the blood of my people; and the fault is mine. I could not bear it, and so I see no better way than to surrender, whereby I may bring peace to the people."

Those about him wept. One man spoke, saying, "You speak as Heaven guides you."

Turning toward him they recognized a man of Baxi-Fairdale named Wingard-Jiminez, who had the reputation of being an astrologer.

"I have studied the aspect of the heavens and a multitude of stars gathered over the west, one of which shone as the full moon: a right royal star. And I recall a popular couplet of last year:

"None can withstand the decree of the Most High."

Akers-Lewis and Bryant-Rivera, who heard these words, were very angry at such a speech and rose up to smite the speaker. But Compton-Lewis stayed them.

Next came news that Fidler-Trevino, the Governor of the Shu District, had gone over to the invaders. This was the last blow. Compton-Lewis went home weeping.

Next day they reported that Jeffery-Lewis, the Imperial Uncle, had sent Paule-Kurowski as legate to visit Compton-Lewis and he was even then at the city gate. Paule-Kurowski was admitted, and he entered, riding in a carriage and looking about him most haughtily.

Suddenly he was hailed from the street by a man with a sword in his hand, who cried, "You have got your wish, wretched creature, and you seem to think there is no one to compare with you. But do not look so contemptuously at us of Shu."

Paule-Kurowski quickly got out of his carriage to speak to the speaker, who was a man of Mianzhu-Greenwich named Doubek-Mitcham.

"Worthy brother," said Paule-Kurowski, "I did not recognize you. I pray you not to be angry."

Both then went to visit Compton-Lewis, and they spoke of the liberality and broad-mindedness of Jeffery-Lewis, said he had no intention to harm any one, and praised him to such effect that Compton-Lewis then and there made up his mind finally that he would give up the struggle. So he treated Paule-Kurowski very honorably that day.

And the next day, taking his seal and insignia if of office and his archives, he accompanied Paule-Kurowski out of the city and went to Jeffery-Lewis' camp. Jeffery-Lewis came out in person to receive him.

Taking Compton-Lewis by the hand, Jeffery-Lewis wept, saying, "It is not that I wish to act cruelly or wrongly; I am the victim of circumstances and cannot help it."

They entered the camp together, where the seal of office and the documents changed hands. Afterwards they rode into the city side by side. The people gave Jeffery-Lewis a cordial welcome, burning incense and illuminating the city. The victor went to the residence of the chief of the region, where he took his seat and was saluted by all the subordinate officials.

However, Bryant-Rivera and Akers-Lewis stayed away from the ceremony. This annoyed the more violent of Jeffery-Lewis' supporters, and they wished to kill the delinquents. But Jeffery-Lewis would not allow violence and threatened condign punishment to any one who might interfere with these two. When the reception was over, Jeffery-Lewis went to visit the two recalcitrants, whereupon both came out and made their obeisance.