the mirror of kong ho-第3节
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with myself； and exclaimed affectionately in our own language；
〃Illimitable felicities！ How is your stomach？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Jones Bob…Jones； after Quang…Tsun had interpreted this
polite salutation to his understanding； 〃since you mention it； that's
just the trouble； but I'm going on pretty well； thanks。 I've tried
most of the advertised things； and now my doctor has put me
practically on a bread…and…water courseclear soup； boiled fish；
plain joint； no sweets； a crumb of cheese； and a bare three glasses of
Hermitage。〃
During this amiable remark （of which； as it is somewhat of a technical
nature； I was unable to grasp the contained significance until the
agreeable Quang…Tsun had subsequently repeated it several times for
my retention）； I maintained a consistent expression of harmonious
agreement and gratified esteem （suitable； I find； for all like
occasions）； and then； judging from the sympathetic animation of Jones
Bob…Jones's countenance； that it had not improbably been connected
with food； I discreetly introduced the subject of sea…snails；
preserved in the essence of crushed peaches； by courteously inquiring
whether he had ever partaken of such a delicacy。
〃No；〃 replied the liberal…minded person； whenencouraged by the
protruding eagerness of his eyes at the mention of the viandI had
further spoken of the refined flavour of the dish； and explained the
manner of its preparation。 〃I can't say that I have； but it sounds
uncommonly goodsomething like turtle； I should imagine。 I'll see if
they can get it for me at Pimm's。〃
This filial tribute goes by a trusty hand； in the person of one Ki
Nihy； who is shortly committing himself to the protection of his
ancestors and the voracity of the unbounded Bitter Waters； and with
brightness and gold it will doubtless reach you in the course of
twelve or eighteen moons。 The superstitious here； this person may
describe； when they wish to send messages from one to another；
inscribe upon the outer cover a written representation of the one
whose habitation they require； and after affixing a small paper
talisman； drop it into a hole in the nearest wall； in the hope that it
may be ultimately conveyed to the appointed spot； either by the
services of the charitably…disposed passer…by； or by the intervention
of the beneficent deities。
With a multiplicity of greetings and many abject expressions of a
conscious inferiority； and attested by an unvarying thumb…mark。
KONG HO。
（Effete branch of a pure and magnanimous trunk。）
To Kong Ah…Paik； reclining beneath the sign of the Lead Tortoise； in a
northerly direction beyond the Lotus Beds outside the city of
Yuen…ping。 The Middle Flowery Kingdom。
LETTER II
Concerning the ill…destined manner of existence of the hound
Hercules。 The thoughtlessly…expressed desire of the entrancing
maiden and its effect upon a person of susceptible refinement。
The opportune （as it may yet be described） visit of one
Herbert。 The behaviour of those around。 Reflections。
VENERATED SIRE （whose large right hand is continuously floating in
spirit over the image of this person's dutiful submission）；
Doubtless to your all…consuming prescience； it will at once become
plain that I have abandoned the place of residence from which I
directed my former badly…written and offensively…constructed letter；
the house of the sympathetic and resourceful Maidens Blank； where in
return for an utterly inadequate sum of money； produced at stated
intervals； this very much inferior person was allowed to partake of a
delicately…balanced and somewhat unvarying fare in the company of the
engaging of both sexes； and afterwards to associate on terms of
honourable equality with them in the chief apartment。 The reason and
manner of this one's departure are in no degree formidable to his
refined manner of conducting any enterprise； but arose partly from an
insufficient grasp of the more elaborate outlines of a confessedly
involved language； and still more from a too excessive impetuousness
in carrying out what at the time he believed to be the ambition of one
who had come to exercise a melodious influence over his most internal
emotions。 Well remarked the Sage； 〃A piece of gold may be tried
between the teeth； a written promise to pay may be disposed of at a
sacrifice to one more credulous； but what shall be said of the wind；
the Hoang Ho； and the way of a woman？〃
To contrive a pitfall for this short…sighted person's immature feet；
certain malicious spirits had so willed it that the chief and more
autumnal of the Maidens Blank （who； nevertheless； wore an excessively
flower…like name）； had long lavished herself upon the possession of an
obtuse and self…assertive hound； which was in the habit of gratifying
this inconsiderable person and those who sat around by continually
depositing upon their unworthy garments details of its outer surface；
and when the weather was more than usually cold； by stretching its
graceful and refined body before the fire in such a way as to ensure
that no one should suffer from a too acute exposure to the heat。 From
these causes； and because it was by nature a hound which even on the
darkest night could be detected at a more than reasonable distance
away； while at all times it did not hesitate to shake itself freely
into the various prepared viands； this person （and doubtless others
also） regarded it with an emotion very unfavourable towards its
prolonged existence； but observing from the first that those who
permitted themselves to be deposited upon； and their hands and even
their faces to be hound…tongue…defiled with the most externally
cheerful spirit of word suppression； invariably received the most
desirable of the allotted portions of food； he judged it prudent and
conducive to a settled digestion to greet it with favourable terms and
actions； and to refer frequently to its well…displayed proportions；
and to the agile dexterity which it certainly maintained in breathing
into the contents of every dish。 Thus the matter may be regarded as
being positioned for a space of time。
One evening I returned at the appointed gong…stroke of dinner； and was
beginning； according to my custom； to greet the hound with
ingratiating politeness； when the one of chief authority held up a
reproving hand； at the same time exclaiming：
〃No； Mr。 Kong； you must not encourage Hercules with your amiable
condescension； for just now he is in very bad odour with us all。〃
〃Undoubtedly；〃 replied this person； somewhat puzzled； nevertheless；
that the imperfection should thus be referred to openly by one who
hitherto had not hesitated to caress the hound with most intimate
details； 〃undoubtedly the surrounding has a highly concentrated
acuteness to…night； but the ever…present characteristic of the hound
Hercules is by no means new； for whenever he is in the room〃
At this point it is necessary to explain that the ceremonial etiquette
of these barbarian outcasts is both conflicting and involved。 Upon
most of the ordinary occasions of life to obtrude oneself within the
conversation of another is a thing not to be done； yet repeatedly when
this unpretentious person has been relating his experience or
inquiring into the nature and meaning of certain matters which he has
witnessed； he has become aware that his words have been obliterated；
as it were； and his remarks diverted from their original intention by
the sudden and unanticipated desire of those present to express
themselves loudly on some topic of not really engrossing interest。 Not
infrequently on such occasions every one present has spoken at once
with concentrated anxiety upon the condition of the weather； the
atmosphere of the room； the hour of the day； or some like detail of
contemptible inferiority。 At other times maidens of unquestionable
politeness have sounded instruments of brass or stringed woods with
unceasing vigour； have cast down ornaments of china； or even stood
upon each other'sor this person'sfeet with assumed inelegance。
When； therefore； in the midst of my agreeable remark on the asserted
no fragrance of the hound Hercules； a gentleman of habitual refinement
struck me somewhat heavily on the back of the head with a reclining
seat which he was conveying across the room for the acceptance of a
