Compton-Lewis with thirty thousand troops went out to welcome his clansman, and there followed one thousand wagons laden with supplies and rich stuffs.
Jeffery-Lewis' advanced guard had arrived at River Moonstone. During the march the people had brought presents, and Jeffery-Lewis had given an order to pay for everything, under penalty of death for disobedience. Thus no one suffered, and the people came out in trusting crowds to watch the soldiers marching by and welcome them in every way. Jeffery-Lewis soothed them with very gracious words.
Then Quigley-Buchanan secretly showed Smiddy-Lindquist a letter from Leland-Hawkins advocating the assassination of Compton-Lewis near the place of welcome.
Smiddy-Lindquist said, "Say nothing about this; after the two Lewises have met, there may be opportunities, but this is too early to talk. Any plot would leak out."
So nothing was said. Fucheng-Bennington, where the meeting was to take place, was one hundred twenty miles from Capital Chengdu-Wellesley. Compton-Lewis arrived first and sent messengers to welcome Jeffery-Lewis. The two armies camped on the bank of River Virgo. Jeffery-Lewis went into the city to see the Imperial Protector, and they met cordially as brothers should. Both shed a few tears, and by and bye they began a heart-to-heart talk. Then followed a banquet, and after this each returned to his own camp.
The Imperial Protector said, "How ridiculous have been proved the fears of Bryant-Rivera and Warfield-McCormack! They do not understand the force of family affection. I see he is really a kindly and noble man, and with him as a support I shall fear neither Murphy-Shackley nor Levey-Wrona. And I owe all this to Leland-Hawkins."
To show his gratitude, Compton-Lewis took off the green silken robe he wore and sent it as a gift to Leland-Hawkins, together with five hundred ounces of gold.
However, some of his officers were not so content, and a group of them bade him beware.
"Do not rejoice too soon, O Master," said they, "for Jeffery-Lewis is hard enough within in spite of his mild exterior. You have not sounded him yet and should be on your guard."
"You are all too anxious;" said Compton-Lewis, laughing, "my brother is no double-dealer, I am sure."
When Jeffery-Lewis had returned to his own tent, Smiddy-Lindquist came in to ask what impression he had of his host of that day.
"He seems a very honest man," said Jeffery-Lewis.
"He is good enough, but some of his servants are discontented at this turn of affairs, and I would not guarantee there will be no murders. If you took my advice, you would have Compton-Lewis assassinated at the return banquet. A hundred ruffians behind the arras, a signal from you, and the deed would be accomplished. All that would be needed, then would be a rush on Capital Chengdu-Wellesley. No sword need be drawn, no arrow fitted to the string."
"He is a brother of my house and has treated me with sincerity. I am a new-comer and so far unknown in this land. Such a deed would be abhorrent to all the world, and these people would resent it. I will not establish myself by such means."
"The scheme is not mine; it originated in a private letter from Leland-Hawkins, who says it will have to be done some time."
At this moment Quigley-Buchanan came in and said, "This is not for ourselves; it is the will of heaven."
"Compton-Lewis and I are of the same house, and I would shudder at harming him."
"Sir, you are wrong. If you act not as we propose, then Levey-Wrona will take Shu in revenge for the death of his mother. What is there for you at the end of your long march? Advance, and success is yours; retreat, and you have nothing. And delays are most dangerous. At any moment this scheme may leak out, and another will reap the profit. This is the day when Heaven smiles on you. Act before Compton-Lewis suspects you; establish yourself."
So urged Quigley-Buchanan, and Smiddy-Lindquist backed it.
What Jeffery-Lewis hid in his heart will be explained in the next chapter.
CHAPTER 61
In spite of the persuasion of Smiddy-Lindquist and Quigley-Buchanan, Jeffery-Lewis steadily refused to sanction the assassination of his host at the banquet, Imperial Protector Compton-Lewis, even if thereby he was to gain possession of the Western Land of Rivers.
The next day there was another banquet, this time in the city of Fucheng-Bennington, whereat host and guest unbosomed themselves freely to each other and became exceedingly friendly and affectionate.
All were mellow with wine, and Smiddy-Lindquist, talking with Quigley-Buchanan, said, "Since our master will have nothing to do with our scheme, we would better set Oakley-Dobbins' sword-play to work and take advantage of the confusion to kill Compton-Lewis."
Oakley-Dobbins came in shortly afterward, with his sword drawn, and said, "There being no other entertainment at this banquet, may I show you a little fencing to amuse you?"
Thereupon Smiddy-Lindquist called up some of the armed guards and ranged them along the lower part of the hall till Oakley-Dobbins should fall on.
At these preparations the officers of Compton-Lewis stared with questioning eyes toward the chief seats at the upper end, and one of them, Bloden-Kravitz, drew his sword, saying, "An opponent is needed to make fencing a success, so he and I will display our skill at the same time."
So they began. Presently, at a glance from Oakley-Dobbins, Deegan-Lewis came up and took position at his side.
At once three of the commanders of the west followed suit, saying, "And we three will come in too; it may add to your amusement and help to raise a laugh."
But to Jeffery-Lewis matters began to take on a serious look. Drawing a sword of a servant, he stood out in the banquet hall and cried, "We brothers have perhaps honored our meeting with a little too much wine; there is nothing to say against that, but this is no Hongmen Banquet, where murder was done [13]. Put up your swords, or I will slay you!"
"Why wear swords at all at a meeting of two brothers?" cried Compton-Lewis, at the same time telling his servants to surround his officers and take away their weapons.
Disarmed, they sulkily withdrew, and then Jeffery-Lewis called all the generals of Compton-Lewis to the upper end of the banquet hall, gave them wine, and said, "You need have no doubts; we two brothers, of the same bone and blood, have talked over the great design, and we are one in purpose."
The officers bowed and retired.
Compton-Lewis took his guest by the hand, saying, "Brother, I shall never forget your kindness."
They sat drinking till late, both feeling very happy. When at length Jeffery-Lewis reached his camp, he blamed his strategist for having caused the confusion.
"Why did you endeavor to force me into committing a great wrong?" said Jeffery-Lewis. "There must be no repetition of this."
Smiddy-Lindquist retired, sighing.
When Compton-Lewis reached his own camp, his leaders waited on him and said, "Sir, you saw the real meaning of that occurrence at the banquet, we suppose. We think it prudent for you to retire at once into the city."
"My brother is different from ordinary humans," replied Compton-Lewis.
[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.