end by conducting
themselves in a most incapable and undiscriminating manner. And during
the entire period that this state of things existed in Fow Hou the
really contemptible Ming-hi continually followed Chan Hung about from
place to place, spreading out his feet towards him, and allowing himself
to become openly amused to a most unseemly extent.

"Chief among those who sought to have the original manner of rewarding
persons again established was the picture-maker, Pe-tsing, who now found
himself in a condition of most abject poverty, so unbearable, indeed,
that he frequently went by night, carrying a lantern, in the hope that
he might discover some of the small pieces of money which he had been
accustomed to throw into the air on meeting Lee Sing. To his pangs of
hunger was added the fear that he would certainly lose Lila, so that
from day to day he redoubled his efforts, and in the end, by using false
statements and other artifices of a questionable nature, the party which
he led was successful in obtaining the degradation of Chan Hung and his
dismissal from office, together with an entire reversal of all his plans
and enactments.

"On the last day of the year which Chan Hung had appointed as the period
of test for his daughter's suitors, the person in question was seated
in a chamber of his new abode--a residence of unassuming appearance but
undoubted comfort--surrounded by Lila and Lee, when the hanging curtains
were suddenly flung aside, and Pe-tsing, followed by two persons of low
rank bearing sacks of money, appeared among them.

"'Chan Hung,' he said at length, 'in the past events arose which
compelled this person to place himself against you in your official
position. Nevertheless, he has always maintained towards you personally
an unchanging affection, and understanding full well that you are one of
those who maintain their spoken word in spite of all happenings, he has
now come to exhibit the taels which he has collected together, and to
claim the fulfilment of your deliberate promise.'

"With these words the commonplace picture-maker poured forth the
contents of the sacks, and stood looking at Lila in a most confident and
unprepossessing manner.

"'Pe-tsing,' replied Chan Hung, rising from his couch and speaking in so
severe and impressive a voice that the two servants of Pe-tsing at once
fled in great apprehension, 'this person has also found it necessary, in
his official position, to oppose you; but