XI
For many hours Ling remained in his room, examining in his mind allpassages, either in his own life or in the lives of others, which mightby any chance have influence on the event before him. In this thoroughway he became assured that the competition and its results, his journeyto Si-chow with the encounter in the cypress wood, the flight of theincapable and treacherous Mandarin, and the battle of Ki, were all,down to the matter of the smallest detail, parts of a symmetrical andcomplete scheme, tending to his present condition. Cheered and upheldby this proof of the fact that very able deities were at work onhis behalf, he turned his intellect from the entrancing subject to acontemplation of the manner in which his condition would enable him tofrustrate the uninventive villainies of the obstinate person Li Keen,and to provide a suitable house and mode of living to which he would bejustified in introducing Mian, after adequate marriage ceremonies hadbeen observed between them. In this endeavour he was less successfulthan he had imagined would be the case, for when he had first fullyunderstood that his body was of such a substance that nothing waswanting to transmute it into fine gold but the absence of the livingspirit, he had naturally, and without deeply examining the detail,assumed that so much gold might be considered to be in his possession.Now, however, a very definite thought arose within him that his ownwishes and interests would have been better secured had the benevolentspirits who undertook the matter placed the secret within his knowledgein such a way as to enable him to administer the fluid to some veryheavy and inexpensive animal, so that the issue which seemed inevitablebefore the enjoyment of the riches could be entered upon should nothave touched his own comfort so closely. To a person of Ling's refinedimagination it could not fail to be a subject of internal reproach thatwhile he would become the most precious dead body in the world, hisvalue in life might not be very honourably placed even by the mostcomplimentary one who should require his services. Then came thethought, which, however degraded, he found himself unable to put quitebeyond him, that if in the meantime he were able to gain a sufficiencyfor Mian and himself, even her pure and delicate love might not be ableto bear so offensive a test as that of seeing him grow old and remainintolerably healthy--perhaps with advancing years actually becominglighter day by day, and thereby lessening in value before her eyes--whenthe natural infirmities of age and the presence of an ever-increasingposterity would make even a moderate amount of taels of inestimablevalue.
No doubt remained in Ling's mind that the process of frequently makingsmooth his surfaces would yield an amount of gold enough to suffice forhis own needs, but a brief consideration of the matter convinced himthat this source would be inadequate to maintain an entire householdeven if he continually denuded himself to an almost ignominious extent.As he fully weighed these varying chances the certainty became moreclear to him with every thought that for the virtuous enjoyment ofMian's society one great sacrifice was required of him. This act, itseemed to be intimated, would without delay provide for an affluentand lengthy future, and at the same time would influence all thespirits--even those who had been hitherto evilly-disposed towardshim--in such a manner that his enemies would be removed from his pathby a process which would expose them to public ridicule, and he would beassured in founding an illustrious and enduring line. To accomplish thissuccessfully necessitated the loss of at least the greater part of oneentire member, and for some time the disadvantages of going through anexistence with only a single leg or arm seemed more than a sufficientprice to pay even for the definite advantages which would be madeover to him in return. This unworthy thought, however, could not longwithstand the memory of Mian's steadfast and high-minded affection,and the certainty of her enlightened gladness at his return even in theimperfect condition which he anticipated. Nor was there absent from hismind a dimly-understood hope that the matter did not finally rest withhim, but that everything which he might be inspired to do was in realityonly a portion of the complete and arranged system into which he hadbeen drawn, and in which his part had been assigned to him from thebeginning without power for him to deviate, no matter how much to thecontrary the thing should appear.
As no advantage would be gained by making any delay, Ling at once soughtthe most favourable means of putting his resolution into practice, andafter many skilful and insidious inquiries he learnt of an accomplishedperson who made a consistent habit of cutting off limbs which had becometroublesome to their possessors either through accident or disease.Furthermore, he was said to be of a sincere and charitable disposition,and many persons declared that on no occasion had he been known tomake use of the helpless condition of those who visited him in order toextort money from them.
Coming to the ill-considered conclusion that he would be able to concealwithin his own breast the true reason for the operation, Ling placedhimself before the person in question, and exhibited the matter tohim so that it would appear as though his desires were promoted by thepresence of a small but persistent sprite which had taken its abodewithin his left thigh, and there resisted every effort of the mostexperienced wise persons to induce it to come forth again. Satisfiedwith this explanation of the necessity of the deed, the one whoundertook the matter proceeded, with Ling's assistance, to sharpen hiscutting instruments and to heat the hardening irons; but no sooner hadhe made a shallow mark to indicate the lines which his knife shouldtake, than his subtle observation at once showed him that the facts hadbeen represented to him in a wrong sense, and that his visitor, indeed,was composed of no common substance. Being of a gentle and forbearingdisposition, he did not manifest any indication of rage at thediscovery, but amiably and unassumingly pointed out that such a coursewas not respectful towards himself, and that, moreover, Ling might incurcertain well-defined and highly undesirable maladies as a punishment forthe deception.
Overcome with remorse at deceiving so courteous and noble-mindeda person, Ling fully explained the circumstances to him, not evenconcealing from him certain facts which related to the actions of remoteancestors, but which, nevertheless, appeared to have influenced thesuccession of events. When he had made an end of the narrative, theother said:
"Behold now, it is truly remarked that every Mandarin has three handsand every soldier a like number of feet, yet it is a saying which israther to be regarded as manifesting the deep wisdom and discriminationof the speaker than as an actual fact which can be taken advantage ofwhen one is so minded--least of all by so valiant a Commander as the onebefore me, who has clearly proved that in time of battle he has exactlyreversed the position."
"The loss would undoubtedly be of considerable inconvenienceoccasionally," admitted Ling, "yet none the less the sage remark of HuaiMei-shan, 'When actually in the embrace of a voracious and powerfulwild animal, the desirability of leaving a limb is not a matter to besubjected to lengthy consideration,' is undoubtedly a valuable guide forgeneral conduct. This person has endured many misfortunes and sufferedmany injustices; he has known the wolf-gnawings of great hopes, whichhave withered and daily grown less when the difficulties of maintainingan honourable and illustrious career have unfolded themselves within hissight. Before him still lie the attractions of a moderate competency tobe shared with the one whose absence would make even the Upper Regionunendurable, and after having this entrancing future once shatteredby the tiger-like cupidity of a depraved and incapable Mandarin, he isdetermined to welcome even the sacrifice which you condemn rather thanlet the opportunity vanish through indecision."
"It is not an unworthy or abandoned decision," said the one whose aidLing had invoked, "nor a matter in which this person would refrain fromtaking part, were there no other and more agreeable means by which thesame results may be attained. A circumstance has occurred withinthis superficial person's mind, however: A brother of the one whois addressing you is by profession one of those who purchase largeundertakings for which they have not the money to pay, and who thereuponby various expedients gain the ear of the thrifty, enticing them by fairoffers of return to entrust their savings for the purpose of payi
ng offthe debt. These persons are ever on the watch for transactions by whichthey inevitably prosper without incurring any obligation, and doubtlessmy brother will be able to gather a just share of the value of yourhighly-remunerative body without submitting you to the insufferableannoyance of losing a great part of it prematurely."
Without clearly understanding how so inviting an arrangement could beeffected, the manner of speaking was exceedingly alluring to Ling'smind, perplexed as he had become through weighing and consideringthe various attitudes of the entire matter. To receive a certain andsufficient sum of money without his person being in any way mutilatedwould be a satisfactory, but as far as he had been able to observe anunapproachable, solution to the difficulty. In the mind of the amiableperson with whom he was conversing, however, the accomplishment did notappear to be surrounded by unnatural obstacles, so that Ling was contentto leave the entire design in his hands, after stating that he wouldagain present himself on a certain occasion when it was asserted thatthe brother in question would be present.
So internally lightened did Ling feel after this inspiring conversation,and so confident of a speedy success had the obliging person's wordsmade him become, that for the first time since his return to Canton hewas able to take an intellectual interest in the pleasures of the city.Becoming aware that the celebrated play entitled "The Precious Lampof Spotted Butterfly Temple" was in process of being shown at the TeaGarden of Rainbow Lights and Voices, he purchased an entrance, and afterpassing several hours in this conscientious enjoyment, returned tohis chamber, and passed a night untroubled by any manifestations of anunpleasant nature.