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untranslatable in its many…sided significance when technically employed； I
recognised that all complimentary intercourse might be regarded as having
closed）； 〃whether you accept the responsibility of these proceedings？〃
〃Touching the appearance which has so essentially contributed to the
success of the occasion； it is undeniably due to this one's foresight；〃 I
replied modestly。
〃Then let me tell you； sir； that I consider it an outragea dastardly
outrage。〃
〃Yet；〃 protested this person with retiring assertiveness； 〃the expressed
object of the ceremony； as it stood before my intelligence； was for the set
purpose of invoking spirits and raising certain visions。〃
〃Spirits！〃 exclaimed the one before me with an accent of concentrated
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aversion； 〃yes； spirits； impalpable； civilised； genuine spirits； who manifest
themselves through recognised media； and are conformable to the usages
of the best drawing…room societyyes。 But not demons； sir； not Chinese
devils in the Camden Roadno。 Truth and Light at any cost； not paganism。
It's perfectly scandalous。 Look at the mahogany tableruined； look at the
wall…paperconventional mackerels with a fishing…net background； new
this springsoused； look at the Brussels carpet； seventeen six by twenty…
fivesaturated！〃
〃I quite agree with you； Mr。 Glidder；〃 here interposed the individual
Pash。 〃I was watching you； sir； closely the whole time； and I have my
suspicions about how it was done。 I don't know whether Mr。 Glidder has
any legal redress； but I should certainly advise him to see his solicitors to…
morrow； and in the meantime〃
〃He is my guest；〃 exclaimed the one whose hospitality I was enjoying；
〃and while he is beneath my roof he is sacred。〃
〃But I do not think that it would be kind to detain him any longer in
his wet things；〃 said another of the household； with pointed malignity； and
accepting this as an omen of departure； I withdrew myself； bowing
repeatedly； but offering no closer cordiality。
〃Through a torn sleeve one drops a purse of gold；〃 it is well said； and
as if to prove to a deeper end that misfortune is ever double…handed； this
incapable being； involved in thoughts of funereal density； bent his
footsteps to an inaccurate turning； and after much wandering was
compelled to pass the night upon a desolate heathbut that would be the
matter of another narrative。
With an insidious doubt whether； after all； the far…seeing Kwan Kiang…
ti's first impulse would not have been the most satisfactory conclusion to
the enterprise。
KONG HO。
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LETTER VII
Concerning warfare； both as waged by ourselves and by a nation
devoid of true civilisation。 The aged man and the meeting and the parting
of our ways。 The instance of the one who expressed emotion by leaping。
VENERATED SIRE；You are omniscient； but I cannot regard the fear
which you express in your beautifully…written letter； bearing the sign of
the eleventh day of the seventh moon； as anything more than the
imaginings prompted by a too…lavish supper of your favourite shark's fin
and peanut oil。 Unless the dexterously…elusive attributes of the genial…
spoken persons high in office at Pekin have deteriorated contemptibly
since this one's departure； it is quite impossible for our great and
enlightened Empire to be drawn into a conflict with the northern
barbarians whom you indicate； against our will。 When the matter becomes
urgent； doubtless a prince of the Imperial line will loyally suffer himself to
Pass Above； and during the period of ceremonial mourning for so pure and
exalted an official it would indeed be an unseemly desecration to engage
in any public business。 If this failed； and an ultimatum were pressed with
truly savage contempt for all that is sacred and refined； it might be well
next to consider the health even of the sublime Emperor himself （or；
perhaps better； that of the select and ever…present Dowager Empress）； but
should the barbarians still advance； and； setting the usages of civilised
warfare at defiance； threaten an engagement in the midst of this
unparalleled calamity； there will be no alternative but to have a formidable
rebellion in the Capital。 All the barbarian powers will then assemble as
usual； and in the general involvement none dare move alone； and
everything will have to be regarded as being put back to where it was
before。 It is well said； 〃The broken vessel can never be made whole； but it
may be delicately arranged so that another shall displace it。〃
These barbarians； less resourceful in device； have only recently
emerged from a conflict into which they do not hesitate to admit they were
drawn despite their protests。 Such incompetence is characteristic of their
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methods throughout。 Not in any way disguising their purpose； they at once
sent out an army of those whom could be the readiest seized； certainly
furnishing them with weapons； charms to use in case of emergency； and
three…coloured standards （their adversaries adopting a white banner to
symbolise the conciliation of their attitude； and displaying both freely in
every extremity）； but utterly neglecting to teach them the arts of painting
their bodies with awe…inspiring forms； of imitating the cries of wild
animals as they attacked； of clashing their weapons together with
menacing vigour； or any of the recognised artifices by which terror may be
struck into the ranks of an awaiting foeman。 The result was that which the
prudent must have foreseen。 The more accomplished enemy； without
exposing themselves to any unnecessary inconvenience； gained many
advantages by their intrepid power of dissimulationarranging their
garments and positions in such a way that they had the appearance of
attacking when in reality they were effecting a prudent retreat； rapidly
concealing themselves among the earth on the approach of an
overwhelming force； becoming openly possessed with the prophetic vision
of an assured final victory whenever it could be no longer concealed that
matters were becoming very desperate indeed； and gaining an effective
respite when all other ways of extrication were barred against them by the
stratagem of feigning that they were other than those whom they had at
first appeared to be。
In the meantime the adventure was not progressing pleasantly for
those chiefly concerned at home。 With the earliest tidings of repulse it was
discovered that in the haste of embarkation the wrong persons had been
sent； all those who were really the fittest to command remaining behind；
and many of these did not hesitate to write to the printed papers； resolutely
admitting that they themselves were in every way better qualified to bring
the expedition to a successful end； at the same time skilfully pointing out
how the disasters which those in the field had incurred could easily have
been avoided by acting in a precisely contrary manner。
In the emergency the most far…seeing recommended a more unbending
policy of extermination。 Among these； one in particular； a statesman
bearing an illustrious name of two…edged import； distinguished himself by
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the liberal broad…mindedness of his opinions； and for the time he even did
not flinch from making himself excessively unpopular by the wide and
sweeping variety of his censure。 〃We are confessedly a barbarian nation；〃
fearlessly declared this unprejudiced person （who； although entitled by
hereditary right to carry a bann