any arrive, will entail some conflict."

"I bow before the practical many-sidedness of your mind, enchanting
one," murmured Kai Lung, in deep-felt admiration.

"To-morrow, being the first of the Month of Gathering-in, will be one
of Shan Tien's lucky days," continued the maiden, her look
acknowledging the fitness of the compliment, but at the same time
indicating that the moment was not a suitable one to pursue the detail
further. "After holding court the Mandarin will accordingly proceed to
hazard his accustomed stake upon the chances of certain of the
competitors in the approaching examinations. His mind will thus be
alertly watchful for a guiding omen. The rest should lie within your
persuasive tongue."

"The story of Lao Ting--" began Kai Lung.

"Enough," replied Hwa-mei, listening to a distant sound. "Already has
this one strayed beyond her appointed limit. May your virtuous cause
prevail!"

With this auspicious message the maiden fled, leaving Kai Lung more
than ever resolved to conduct the enterprise in a manner worthy of her
high regard.

On the following day, at the appointed hour, Kai Lung was again led
before the Mandarin Shan Tien. To the alert yet downcast gaze of the
former person it seemed as if the usually inscrutable expression of
that high official was not wholly stern as it moved in his direction.
Ming-shu, on the contrary, disclosed all his voracious teeth without
restraint.

"Calling himself Kai Lung," began the detestable accuser, in a voice
even more repulsive than its wont, "and claiming--"

"The name has a somewhat familiar echo," interrupted the Fountain of
Justice, with a genial interest in what was going on, rare in one of
his exalted rank. "Have we not seen the ill-conditioned thing before?"

"He has tasted of your unutterable clemency in the past," replied
Ming-shu, "this being by no means his first appearance thus. Claiming
to be a story-teller--"

"What," demanded the enlightened law-giver with leisurely precision,
"is a story-teller, and how is he defined?"

"A story-teller, Excellence," replied the inscriber of his spoken
word, with the concise manner of one who is not entirely grateful to
another, "is one who tells stories. Having on--"

"The profession must be widely spread," remarked the gracious
administrator thoughtfully. "All those who supplicate in this very
average court practise it to a more or less degree."

"The prisoner," continued the insufferable Ming-shu