Chinese Literature

ree ae

reply; Féng invited him into the inner hall and entertained him with wine. While they were drinking, Feng questioned him about his origin and his native place; and Ho hesitated and looked embarrassed. |

“Aren’t you nicknamed the Eel?” asked Feng. “T know all about you: you can speak freely.”

Ho asked him to dismiss the attendants; after which, kneeling, he begged him to be merciful. “You need not be afraid,” said Feng, help-

’ ing him to rise.

Then only did Ho dare speak freely. “I come from Chienchow,” he said, “and my real name is Fan. In the fourth year of Chien Yen, my clansman Fan Ju-wei incited the hungry mob to rebellion in Chienchow and I was kept in the rebel army against my will. When the imperial army attacked and took the city by storm, all my clansmen were put to death; but because I had helped those in distress, someone rescued me; and, changing my name to Ho Cheng-hsin, I surrendered to the imperial forces. In the fifth year of Shao Hsing I was serving under Commander Yueh Fei when I was sent to fight Yang Yao, leader of the brigands at Tungting Lake. Commander Yueh’s troops all came from the northwest and were not used to fighting on water; but I, as a southerner, was a good swimmer, for when I was young I could stay in the water for three days and three nights: that is why I was nicknamed the Eel. Then Commander Yueh made me lead the vanguard. I fought in the front of the battle, and after the rebellion was suppressed Commander Yueh recommended me. I have been promoted several times and am now lieutenant in Kuangchow.- During the last ten years I have kept this secret, but since you, sir, have questioned me, I dare not hide the truth.”

“What is your wife’s name? Did you have only one wife or have you taken a second?”

“When I was with the rebels I secured a girl from an official family who became my wife. A year later, when the city was taken, we were separated during our flight; but we had sworn that if our lives were spared we would not marry again; so I went later to Hsingchow where I found my old mother with whom I have been living ever since. We have one maid-servant who cooks for us; but I have never married again.”

“When you took this oath with your wife, what did you use as a pledge?”

“We had an unusual duck-and-drake mirror, which could be divided into two; and we kept one side each.”

“To you still have the mirror?”

‘T carry it on me day and night, and have never let it out of my sight.”

“May I see it?”

Ho raised the flap of his jacket and produced an embroidered bag from the belt of his silk vest; and in this bag was the mirror. Feng took it, then produced the other half from his sleeve; and when he put the

105