Emperor's countenance.

When the indicated time arrived, only two persons could have been
observed within the circumference of the Western Hill of the city--a
blind mendicant who had lost his way and an extremely round-bodied
mandarin who had been abandoned there by his carriers when they heard
the terms of the edict. But about the Eastern Hill the throng was so
great that for some time after it was unusual to meet a person whose
outline had not been permanently altered by the occasion. Even Kiau
Sun was present.

On a protected eminence stood N'ang Wei. Near him was Wong Pao,
confidently awaiting the moment when the Emperor should declare
himself. When, therefore, the all-wisest graciously made a gesture of
command, Wong Pao hastened to his side, an unbecoming elation gilding
the fullness of his countenance.

"Wong Pao," said the Illimitable, "the people are here in gratifying
profusion. The moment has thus arrived for you to consummate your
triumph over Kiau Sun."

"Omnipotence?" queried Wong Pao.

"The silver that you were to distribute freely to all who came.
Doubtless you have a retinue of slaves in attendance with weighty
sacks of money for the purpose?"

"But that was only in the nature of an imagined condition, Sublime
Being, designed to test the trend of their preference," said Wong Pao,
with an incapable feeling of no-confidence in the innermost seat of
his self-esteem. "This abject person did not for a single
breathing-space contemplate or provide for so formidable an outlay."

A shadow of inquiry appeared above the eyebrows of the Sublimest,
although his refined imperturbability did not permit him to display
any acute emotion.

"It is not entirely a matter of what you contemplated, merchant, but
what this multitudinous and, as we now perceive, generally well-armed
concourse imagined. Greatly do we fear that when the position has been
explained to them, the breathing-space remaining, O Wong Pao, will not
be in your body. What," continued the liberal-minded sovereign,
turning to one of his attending nobles, "what was it that happened to
Ning-lo who failed to satisfy the lottery ticket holders in somewhat
similar circumstances?"

"The scorpion vat, Serenest," replied the vassal.

"Ah," commented the Enlightened One, "for the moment we thought it was
the burning sulphur plaster."

"That was Ching Yan, who lost approval in the inlaid coffin raffle,
Benign Head," prompted the noble.

"True--there