the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第25节
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a variety of other emotions； not all propitious to the scheme； so that in
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order to retire imperceptibly within myself I smiled broad…mindedly；
remarking that it was well said that the moon was only bright while the
sun was hid； and that I had lately been dazzled with the sight of so much
brilliance and virtuous condescension that there were occasions when I
questioned inwardly how much I had really witnessed； and how much had
been conveyed to me in the nature of an introspective vision。
It will already have been made plain to you； O my courtly…mannered
father； that these barbarians are totally deficient in the polite art whereby
two persons may carry on a flattering and highly…attuned conversation；
mutually advantageous to the esteem of each； without it being necessary in
any way that their statements should have more than an ornamental
actuality。 So wanting in this； the most concentrated form of truly well…bred
entertainment； are even their high officials； that after a few more remarks；
to which I made answer in a spirit of skilfully…sustained elusiveness； the
utterly obtuse Sir Philip said at length； 〃Excuse my asking； Mr。 Kong； but
have you really been to the Alexandra Palace at all？〃
Admittedly there are few occasions in life on which it is not possible
to fail to see the inopportune or low…class by a dignified impassiveness of
features； an adroitly…directed jest； or a remark of baffling inconsequence；
but in the face of so distressingly straightforward a demand what can be
advanced by a person of susceptible refinement when opposed to one of
incomparably larger dimensions； imprisoned by his side in the recess of a
fire…chariot which is leaping forward with uncurbed velocity； and
surrounded by demons with whose habits and partialities he is unfamiliar？
〃In a manner of expressing the circumstance；〃 I replied； 〃it is not to be
denied that this person's actual footsteps may have imperceptibly been
drawn somewhat aside from the path of his former design。 Yet inasmuch
as it is truly said that the body is in all things subservient to the mind； and
is led withersoever it is willed； and as your engaging directions were
scrupulously observed with undeviating fidelity； it would be impertinently
self…opinionated on this person's part to imply that they failed to guide him
to his destination。 Thus； for all ceremonial purposes； it is permissible
conscientiously to assume that he HAS been there。〃
〃I am afraid that I must not have been sufficiently clear；〃 said Sir
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Philip。 〃Did you miss the train at King's Cross？〃
〃By no means；〃 I replied firmly； pained inwardly that he should cast
the shadow of such narrow incompetence upon me。 〃Seeing this machine
on the point of setting forth on a journey； even as your overwhelming
sagacity had enabled you to predict would be the case； I embarked with
self…reliant confidence。〃
〃Good lord！〃 murmured the person opposite； beginning to manifest an
excess of emotion for which I was quite unable to account。 〃Then you
have been in this trainyour actual footsteps I mean； Mr。 Kong； not your
ceremonial abstract subliminal egoever since？〃
To this I replied that his words shone like the moon at midnight with
scintillating points of truth； adding； however； as the courtesies of the
occasion required； that I had been so impressed with the many…sided
brilliance of his conversation earlier in the day as to render the flight of
time practically unnoticed by me。
〃But did it never occur to you to ask at one of the stations？〃 he
demanded； still continuing to wave his hands incapably from side to side。
〃Any of the porters would have told you。〃
〃Kong Li Heng； the founder of our line； who was really great； has been
dead eleven centuries； and no single fact or incident connected with his
life has been preserved to influence mankind；〃 I replied。 〃How much less
will it matter； then； even in so limited a space of time as a hundred years；
in what fashion so insignificant a person as the one before you acted on
any occasion； and why； therefore； should he distress himself unnecessarily
to any precise end？〃 In this manner I sought to place before him the
dignified example of an imperturbability which can be maintained in every
emergency； and at the same time to administer a plain yet scrupulously…
sheathed rebuke； for the inauspicious manner in which he had first drawn
me on to speak confidently of the ceremonies of the Royal Palace and then
held up my inadequacy to undeserved contempt had not rejoiced my
imagination； and I was still uncertain how much to claim； and whether；
perchance； even yet a more subtle craft lay under all。
〃Well； in any case； when you go back you can claim the distinction of
having been taken seven times round London； although you can't really
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have seen much of it；〃 said Sir Philip。 〃This is a Circle train。〃
At this assertion I looked up。 Though admittedly curved a little about
the roof the chariot was in every essential degree what we should
pronounce to be a square one； whereupon； feeling at length that the
involvement had definitely passed to a point beyond my contemptible
discernment； I spread out my hands acquiescently and affably remarked
that the days were lengthening out pleasantly。
In such a manner I became acquainted with the one Sir Philip； and
thereby； in a somewhat circuitous line； the original purpose which
possessed my brush when I began this inept and commonplace letter is
reached； for the person in question not only lay upon himself the
obligation of leading me 〃by the strings of his apron…garment〃in the
characteristic and fanciful turn of the barbarian languageto that same
Palace on the following day； but thenceforth gracefully affecting to discern
certain agreeable virtues in my conversation and custom of habit he
frequently sought me out。 More recently； on the double plea that they of
his household had a desire to meet me； and that if I spent all my time
within the Capital my impressions of the Island would necessarily be ill…
balanced and deformed； he advanced a project that I should accompany
him to a spot where； as far as I was competent to grasp the idiom； he was
in the habit of sitting （doubtless in an abstruse reverie）； in the country； and
having assured myself by means of discreet innuendo that the seat referred
to would be adequate for this person also； and that the occasion did not in
any way involve a payment of money； I at once expressed my willingness
towards the adventure。
With numerous expressions of unfeigned regret （from a filial point of
view） that the voice of one of the maidens of the household； lifted in the
nature of a defiance against this one to engage with her in a two…handed
conflict of hong pong； obliges him to bring this immature composition to a
hasty close。
KONG HO。
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LETTER X
Concerning the authority of this high official； Sir Philip。 The side…
slipperyness of barbarian etiquette。 The hurl… headlong sportiveness and
that achieving its end by means of curved mallets。
VENERATED SIRE；If this person's memory is accurately poised on
the detail； he was compelled to abandon his former letter （when on the
point of describing the customs of these outer places）； in order to take part
in a philosophical discussion with some of the venerable sages of the
neighbourhood。
Resuming the narration where it had reached this remote province of
