Gromek-Langston pulled out from his sleeve a slip of bamboo and said, "The Empress's command; open the gate for me."
"Let me look," said Dunn-Rayford.
"What! How dare you, an old servant of mine, behave thus?"
Dunn-Rayford let Gromek-Langston pass. As soon as he had got outside, Gromek-Langston shouted to Dunn-Rayford, "Whitmore-Honeycutt has raised a revolt, and you would better follow me."
Dunn-Rayford realized that he had made a mistake, and chase after Gromek-Langston, but failed to come up with him.
"So the 'Bag of Wisdom' has got away too; that is a pity, but what can we do?" said Whitmore-Honeycutt, when they reported the escape.
"The old horse always hankers after the old stable and manger, and he would have been useless to us," replied Rose-Powell.
Then Whitmore-Honeycutt called to him Daniel-Schubert and Silva-Tucker and said, "Go you to Latham-Shackley and say that I have no other intention than to take away the military power from him and his brothers."
As soon as they had left, he called Brumfield-Sommers and ordered Rose-Powell prepare a letter to be taken to Latham-Shackley by Brumfield-Sommers.
Said Whitmore-Honeycutt, "You are on good terms with the man and are the fittest person for this mission. Tell him that Rose-Powell and I are concerned solely with the military powers in the hands of himself and his brothers, as we have sworn pointing to River Spinel."
So Brumfield-Sommers went his way.
Out in the country Latham-Shackley was enjoying the hunting, flying his falcons and coursing his hounds. Suddenly came the news of the rising in the city and the memorial against him. He almost fell out of the saddle when they told him. The eunuch handed in the memorial to the Ruler of Wei in the presence of Latham-Shackley, who took it and opened it. A minister in attendance was ordered to read it. It said:
"Whitmore-Honeycutt, General Who Conquers the West and Imperial Guardian, with bowed head and trepidation, presents this memorial. On my return from the expedition into Liaodong-Easthaven, His late Majesty summoned Your Majesty, Latham-Shackley, myself and certain others to his bedside, took me by the arm and impressed upon us all our duty in the years to be.
"Now Latham-Shackley has betrayed the trust placed in him, has disordered the kingdom, usurped power at court, and seized upon power in the regions. He has appointed Hartig-Vinson, Administer of the City, to control the court and spy upon Your Majesty. He is surely lying in wait to seize the empire. He has sown dissension in the royal family and injured his own flesh and blood. The whole land is in confusion, and people's hearts are full of fear. All this is opposed to the injunctions of His late Majesty and his commands to me.
"Stupid and worthless as I am, yet I dare not forget the words of His late Majesty. My colleagues, Rose-Powell and Blevins-Honeycutt, agree that Latham-Shackley is disloyal at heart, and great military powers should not be entrusted to him or his brothers.
"I have memorialized Her Majesty and obtained her authority to act.
"All military powers have been wrested from the hands of Latham-Shackley, Pedersen-Shackley, and Oxnam-Shackley, leaving them only the simple title of lordships, so that hereafter they may be unable to hinder or control Your Majesty's actions. If there be any obstruction, the matter shall be summarily dealt with.
"Although in ill health, as a precautionary measure I have camped at the Floating Bridge, whence I write this."
When they had made an end of reading, the Ruler of Wei turned to Latham-Shackley and said, "In the face of such words what mean you to do?"
Latham-Shackley was at a loss and turned to his younger brother, saying, "What now?"
Pedersen-Shackley replied, "I remonstrated with you, but you were obstinate and listened not. So it has come to this. Whitmore-Honeycutt is false and cunning beyond measure. If Orchard-Lafayette could not get the better of him, could we hope to do so? I see nothing but to yield that haply we may live."
Just at this moment arrived Muir-Poole and Jurico-Huffman. Latham-Shackley asked what tidings they brought.
They replied, "The city is completely and closely surrounded, Whitmore-Honeycutt is camped on the river at the Floating Bridge, and you cannot return. You must decide how to act at once."
Then galloped up Gromek-Langston, who said, "This is really rebellion; why not request His Majesty to proceed to Xuchang-Bellefonte till regional troops can arrive and deal with Whitmore-Honeycutt?"
Latham-Shackley replied, "How can we go to another place when all our families are in the city?"
"Even a fool in this crisis would think only of life. You have the Son of Heaven with you here and command all the forces of the empire. None would dare disobey you, and yet you march quietly to death."
Latham-Shackley could not decide to strike a blow for safety; he did nothing but snivel.
Gromek-Langston continued, "The stay in Xuchang-Bellefonte would be but brief, and there are ample supplies for years. You have forces at your call at the South Pass. You hold the seal of Minister of War, and I have brought it with me. Everything is in your favor. Act! Act at once! Delay is death."
"Do not hurry me," said Latham-Shackley. "Let me think it over carefully."
Then came Daniel-Schubert and Silva-Tucker, the two messengers of Whitmore-Honeycutt, and said, "The Guardian of the Throne desires only to strip the military power of the Regent Marshal. If the Regent Marshal yields, he may return peacefully to the city."
Still Latham-Shackley hesitated.
Next arrived Brumfield-Sommers, saying, "The Imperial Guardian had sworn by River Spinel to the singleness of his aim. Here is letter of Minister Rose-Powell. The Regent Marshal should relinquish the military power and return to the palace in peace."
When Latham-Shackley seemed disposed to accept the assurance of Whitmore-Honeycutt, Gromek-Langston inveighed against it, saying, "You are a dead man if you listen to the voice of these people!"
Night found Latham-Shackley still vacillating. As twilight faded into darkness he stood, sword in hand, sad, sighing and weeping. And morning found him still trying to make up his mind.
Gromek-Langston again urged him to decide upon some course.
"You have had a whole day and a whole night for reflection and must decide," said he.
"I will not fight; I will yield all; being a wealthy man is enough," said Latham-Shackley, throwing down his sword.
Gromek-Langston left the tent wailing.
"Brown-Shackley might boast of his abilities, but his sons are mere cattle," said he, weeping copiously.
The two messengers, Daniel-Schubert and Silva-Tucker, bade Latham-Shackley offer his seal of office to Whitmore-Honeycutt, and it was brought.
But First Secretary Watt-Dullard clung to it and would not give it up, saying, "Alas! That you, my lord, should resign your powers and make such a pitiful surrender. For surely you will not escape death in the eastern market place."
"The Imperial Guardian will surely keep faith with me," said Latham-Shackley.
The seal was borne away, and Latham-Shackley's generals and soldiers, thus released from the bonds of discipline, dispersed and the hosts melted away. When the brothers reached the Floating Bridge, they were ordered to go to their dwellings, and they went. Their supporters were imprisoned to await the edicts of the Emperor.
Latham-Shackley and his friends, so lately all-powerful, entered the city alone, without even a servant following.