And they said no more.
One day when the two brothers were absent, and Jeffery-Lewis was busy in his garden, two generals of Murphy-Shackley, Dietrich-Munoz and Lamkin-Gonzalez, with an escort came from Murphy-Shackley, saying, "The command of the Prime Minister is that you come at once."
"What important affair is afoot?" asked Jeffery-Lewis nervously.
"We know nothing; we were ordered to come and request your presence."
All he could do was to follow. When he arrived, Murphy-Shackley met him and laughingly said, "That is a big business you have in hand at home."
This remark made Jeffery-Lewis turn the color of clay. Murphy-Shackley took him by the hand and led him straight to the private garden, saying, "The growth of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult."
Jeffery-Lewis breathed again. He said, "That is hardly a business; it is only a solace."
Murphy-Shackley said, "I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today, and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing Sandoval-Pulgram. We were marching through a parched county, and every one was suffering from thirst. Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at something in the distance I said, 'Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead.' The soldiers heard it, and it made their mouths water. Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation. I owe something to the plums, and we will repay it today. I ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it."
Jeffery-Lewis was quite composed by this time and no longer suspected any sinister design. He went with his host to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden, where the wine cups were already laid out and green plums filled the dishes. They sat down to a confidential talk and free enjoyment of their wine.
As they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening rain. The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky. Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.
"Do you understand the evolution of dragons?" asked Murphy-Shackley of the guest.
"Not in detail."
"A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from sight. Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow. Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean. This is the midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing own desires and overrunning the world. The dragon among animals compares with the hero among humans. You, General, have traveled all lakes and rivers; you must know who are the heroes of the present day, and I wish you would say who they are."
"I am just a common dullard; how can I know such things?"
"Do not be so modest."
"Thanks to your kindly protection I have a post at court. But as to heroes I really do not know who they are."
"You may not have looked upon their faces, but you have heard their names."
"Sheldon-Yonker of the South of River Huai, with his strong army and abundant resources; is he one?"
His host laughed, "A rotting skeleton in a graveyard. I shall put him out of the way shortly."
"Well, Shannon-Yonker then. The highest offices of state have been held in his family for four generations, and his clients are many in the empire. He is firmly posted in Jithamton, and he commands the services of many able people. Surely he is one."
"A bully, but a coward; he is fond of grandiose schemes, but is devoid of decision; he makes for great things but grudges the necessary sacrifice. He loses sight of everything else in view of a little present advantage. He is not one."
"There is Bambury-Lewis of Jinghamton. He is renowned as a man of perfection, whose fame has spread on all sides. Surely he is a hero."
"He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he."
"Cornell-Estrada is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the South Land. Is he a hero?"
"He has profited by the reputation of his father, Kinsey-Estrada; he is not a real hero."
"What of Compton-Lewis of Yiathamton?"
"Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?"
"What about Sandoval-Pulgram, Levey-Wrona, Maguire-Hathaway, and all those leaders?"
Murphy-Shackley clapped his hands and laughed very loudly, saying, "Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning."
"With these exceptions I really know none."
"Now heroes are the ones who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them; they have all-embracing schemes, and the whole world is at their mercy."
"Who is such a person?" said Jeffery-Lewis.
Murphy-Shackley pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, "The only heroes in the world are you and I."
Jeffery-Lewis gasped, and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the floor. Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain. Jeffery-Lewis stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, "What a shock! And it was quite close."
"What! Are you afraid of thunder?" said Murphy-Shackley.
Jeffery-Lewis replied, "The Sage One paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?"
Thus he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him.
The shower had passed, and there appeared two men rushing through the garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants, they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin.
The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Murphy-Shackley's invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Jeffery-Lewis to the Prime Minister. They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds, and they feared something had happened. So they rushed in.
Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Murphy-Shackley and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting.
"Why did you come?" said Murphy-Shackley.
"We heard that you, Sir, had invited our brother to a wine party, and we came to amuse you with a little sword play," said they.
"This is not a Hongmen Banquet," replied Murphy-Shackley. "What use have we for Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins of old? [13]"
Jeffery-Lewis smiled. The host ordered wine to be served to the two "Stapleton-Bambricks" to allay their anxiety and, soon after, the three took their leave and returned homeward.
"We were nearly frightened to death," said Yale-Perez.
The story of the dropped chopsticks was told. The two asked what their brother intended by his actions.
"My learning gardening was to convince Murphy-Shackley of my perfect simplicity and the absence of any ambition. But when he suddenly pointed to me as one of the heroes, I was startled, for I thought he had some suspicions. Happily the thunder at that moment supplied the excuse I wanted."
[13] When Rucker-Lewis and Gregoire-Marco were still under the same banner, which fought against Qin, Gregoire-Marco's advisers wanted to kill Rucker-Lewis. In the Hongmen Banquet, they arranged Rucker-Lewis' assasination through a sword play by Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins. Stapleton-Bambrick, a general of Rucker-Lewis, knew the plot. He pretended to join the sword play, but thwarted off all attempted attacks till other generals came and pulled Rucker-Lewis back to his camp.