ief."

"Alas!" exclaimed Wang Ho, unable to retain the usual colour of his
appearance, "the attention of a devoted servant is somewhat like
Tohen-hi Yang's spiked throne--it torments those whom it supports.
However, the word has been spoken--let the sentence be filled in."

"The full roundness of your illustrious outline is as a display of
coloured lights to gladden my commonplace vision," replied Lin
submissively. "Admittedly of late, however, an element of dampness has
interfered with the brilliance of the display."

"Speak clearly and regardless of polite evasion," commanded Wang Ho.
"My internal organs have for some time suspected that hostile
influences were at work. For how long have you noticed this, as it may
be expressed, falling off?"

"My mind is as refined crystal before your compelling glance,"
admitted Lin. "Ever since it has been your custom to wear the funeral
robe fashioned by Shen Heng has your noble shadow suffered erosion."

This answer, converging as it did upon the doubts that had already
assailed the merchant's satisfaction, convinced him of Cheng Lin's
discrimination, while it increased his own suspicion. He had for some
little time found that after wearing the robe he invariably suffered
pangs that could only be attributed to the influence of malign and
obscure Beings. It is true that the occasions of his wearing the robe
were elaborate and many-coursed feasts, when he and his guests had
partaken lavishly of birds' nests, sharks' fins, sea snails and other
viands of a rich and glutinous nature. But if he could not both wear
the funeral robe and partake unstintingly of well-spiced food, the
harmonious relation of things was imperilled; and, as it was since the
introduction of the funeral robe into his habit that matters had
assumed a more poignant phase, it was clear that the influence of the
funeral robe was at the root of the trouble.

"Yet," protested Wang Ho, "the Mandarin Ling-ni boasts that he has
already lengthened the span of his natural life several years by such
an expedient, and my friend the high official T'cheng asserts that,
while wearing a much less expensive robe than mine, he feels the
essence of an increased vitality passing continuously into his being.
Why, then, am I marked out for this infliction, Cheng Lin?"

"Revered," replied Lin, with engaging candour, "the inconveniences of
living in a country so densely populated with demons, vampires,
spirits, ghouls, dragons,