nd so there was also to this lovers' colloquy. For just as Jasmine was
explaining, for the twentieth time, the origin and basis of her love for
Tu, a waiter entered to announce the arrival of her luggage.

"I don't know quite," said Tu, "where we are to put your two men. But,
by-the-bye," he added, as the thought struck him, "did you really travel
all the way in the company of these two men only?"

"O Tu," said Jasmine, laughing, "I have something else to confess to
you."

"What! another lover?" said Tu, affecting horror and surprise.

"No; not another lover, but another woman. The short, stout one is a
woman, and came as my maid. She is the wife of 'The Dragon.'"

"Well, now have you told me all? For I am getting so confused about the
people you have transformed from women to men, that I shall have doubts
about my own sex next."

"Yes, Tu, dear; now you know all," said Jasmine, laughing. But not all
the good news which was in store for him, for scarcely had Jasmine done
speaking when a letter arrived from his friend in the Board of War, who
wrote to say that he had succeeded in getting the military intendant of
Mienchu transferred to a post in the province of Kwangsi, and that
the departure of this noxious official would mean the release of the
colonel, as he alone was the colonel's accuser. This news added one more
chord of joy which had been making harmony in Jasmine's heart for some
hours, and readily she agreed with Tu that they should set off homeward
on the following morning.

With no such adventure as that which had attended Jasmine's journey to
the capital, they reached Mienchu, and, to their delight, were received
by the colonel in his own yamun. After congratulating him on his
release, which Jasmine took care he should understand was due
entirely to Tu's exertions, she gave him a full account of her various
experiences on the road and at the capital.

"It is like a story out of a book of marvels," said her father, "and
even now you have not exhausted all the necessary explanations. For,
since my release, your friend Wei has been here to ask for my daughter
in marriage. From some questions I put to him, he is evidently unaware
that you are my only daughter, and I therefore put him off and told him
to wait until you returned. He is in a very impatient state, and, no
doubt, will be over shortly."

Nor was the colonel wrong, for almost immediately Wei was announced,
who, after expressing the genuine ple