the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第18节
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deserve it。〃
〃Furthermore；〃 I continued； gratified at having found one who so
intelligently appreciated the deficiencies of his own country and the
unblemished perfection of ours； 〃his parents and immediate descendants；
if any should exist； would be submitted to a fate as inevitable but slightly
less contemptuousslow compression； perchance； his parents once
removed （thus enclosing your venerable personality）； and remoter
offsprings would be merely put to the sword without further ignominy； and
those of less kinship to about the fourth degree would doubtless escape
with branding and a reprimand。〃
〃Lordelpus！〃 exclaimed the patriarchal one； hastily leaping to the
extreme limit of the wooden couch； and grasping his staff into a
significant attitude of defence； 〃what's that for？〃
〃Our system of justice is all…embracing；〃 I explained。 〃It is reasonably
held that in such a case either that there is an inherent strain of criminality
which must be eradicated at all hazard； or else that those who are
responsible for the virtuous instruction of the young have been grossly
neglectful of their duty。 Whichever is the true cause； by this unfailing
method we reach the desired end； for； as our proverb aptly says； 'Do the
wise pluck the weed and leave the roots to spread？'〃
〃It's butchery； nothing short of Smithfield；〃 said the ancient person
definitely； rising and moving to a more remote distance as he spoke the
words； yet never for a moment relaxing the aggressive angle at which he
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thrust out his staff before him。 〃You're a bloodthirsty race in my opinion；
and when they get this door open in China that there's so much talk about；
out you go through it； my lad； or old England will know why。〃 With this
narrow…minded imprecation on his lips he left me； not even permitting me
to continue expounding what would be the most likely sentences meted
out to the witnesses in the case； the dwellers of the same street； and the
members of the household with whom the youth in question had
contemplated forming an alliance。
Among the many contradictions which really almost seem purposely
arranged to entrap the unwary in this strangely under…side…up country； is
the fact that while the ennobled and those of high official rank are
courteous in their attitude and urbanefrequently even to the extent of
refusing money from those whom they have obliged； no matter how
privately pressed upon themthe low…caste and slavish are not only
deficient in obsequiousness； but are permitted to retort openly to those
who address them with fitting dignity。 Here such a state of things is too
general to excite remark； but as instances are well called the flowers of the
tree of assertion； this person will set forth the manner in which he was
contumaciously opposed by an oblique…eyed outcast who attended within
the stall of one selling wrought gold； jewels； and merchandise of the finer
sort。
Being desirous of procuring a gift wherewith to propitiate a certain
maiden's esteem； and seeing above a shop of varied attraction a suspended
sign emblematic of three times repeated gild abundance I drew near； not
doubting to find beneath so auspicious a token the fulfilment of an
honourable accommodation。 Inside the window was displayed one of the
implements by which the various details of a garment are joined together
upon turning a wheel； hung about with an inscription setting forth that it
was esteemed at the price of two units of gold； nineteen pieces of silver；
and eleven and three…quarters of the brass cash of the land； and judging
that no more suitable object could be procured for the purpose； I entered
the shop； and desired the attending slave to submit it to my closer scrutiny。
〃Behold；〃 I exclaimed； when I had made a feint of setting the device
into motion （for it need not be concealed from you； O discreet one； that I
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was really inadequate to the attempt； and； indeed； narrowly escaped
impaling myself upon its sudden and unexpected protrusions）； 〃the highly…
burnished surface of your dexterously arranged window gave to this
engine a rich attractiveness which is altogether lacking at a closer
examination。 Nevertheless； this person will not recede from a perhaps too
impulsive offer of one unit of gold； three pieces of silver； and four and a
half brass cash；〃 my object； of course； being that after the mutual
recrimination of disparagement and over…praise we should in the length of
an hour or two reach a becoming compromise in the middle distance。
〃Well；〃 responded the menial one； regarding me with an expression in
which he did not even attempt to subdue the baser emotions； 〃you HAVE
come a long way for nothing〃； and he made a pretence of wishing to
replace the object。
〃Yet；〃 I continued； 〃observe with calm impartiality how insidiously the
rust has assailed the outer polish of the lacquer； perceive here upon the
beneath part of wood the ineffaceable depression of a deeply…pointed blow；
note well the〃
〃It was good enough for you to want me to muck up out of the window；
wasn't it？〃 demanded the obstinate barbarian； becoming passionate in his
bearing rather than reluctantly； but with courteous grace； lessening the
price to a trifling degree； as we regard the proper way of carrying on the
enterprise。
〃It is well said；〃 I admitted； hoping that he might yet learn wisdom
from my attitude of unruffled urbanity； though I feared that his angle of
negotiating was unconquerably opposed to mine； 〃but now its many
imperfections are revealed。 The inelegance of its outline； the grossness of
the applied colours； the unlucky combination of numbers engraved upon
this plate； the〃
〃Damme！〃 cried the utterly perverse rebel standing opposite； 〃why
don't you keep on your Compound； you Yellow Peril？ Who asked you to
come into my shop to blackguard the things？ Come now； who did？〃
〃Assuredly it is your place of commerce；〃 I replied cheerfully；
preparing to bring forward an argument； which in our country never fails
to shake the most stubborn； 〃yet bend your eyes to the fact that at no great
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distance away there stands another and a more alluring stall of
merchandise where〃
〃Go to it then！〃 screamed the abandoned outcast； leaping over his
counter and shouting aloud in a frenzy of uncontrollable rage。 〃Clear out；
or I'll bend my feet〃 but concluding at this point that some private
calumny from which he was doubtless suffering was disturbing his mind
to so great an extent that there was little likelihood of our bringing the
transaction to a profitable end； I left the shop immediately but with
befitting dignity。
With a fell…founded assurance that you will now be acquiring a really
precise and bird's…eye…like insight into practically all phases of this
country。
KONG HO。
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LETTER VIII
Concerning the wisdom of the sublime Wei Chung and its application
to the ordinary problems of existence。 The meeting of three； hitherto
unknown to each other； about a wayside inn； and their various manners of
conducting the enterprise。
VENERATED SIRE；You will doubtless remember the behaviour of
the aged philosopher Wei Chung； when commanded by the broad…minded
emperor of his time to reveal the hidden sources of his illimitable
knowledge； so that all might freely acq
