1937-12-31 — Page 51

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEME.

SWORD OF

RIDICULE

Mendoza

to death. Peh Ming, famous scholar and ex-mandarin, waited in his cell with little hope of the Viceroy's reprieve.

CONDEMNED

He was found by the police beside his murdered wife, a dag- ger at the feet, his hands and sleeves smeared with blood.

But the executioner's sword- could have got rusty while Can- ton waited for the old man's decision. Rumour bad it that he could not bring himself to execute one who had once served under him, and who besides had married his niece.

Then one morning a notics appeared at the Viceregal gates. Not only the Prefect of Police but eighty odd serving manda- rins had been summoned to hear the unfortunate man's fate.

In dark-blue full ceremonial Tobes, peacock's feathers trail ing from upturned satin hats, the dignified figures trooped in- to the long reception hall, and all degrees of rank were pre- sent, as could be seen from the nine different animals embroid- ered in their natural colours on the front and back of tunics and the nine kinds of buttons crown-

DRINK

RICKSHA BRAND TEA

J

ing the hats, from ruby through sapphire and plain gold to work- ed silver.

It was

blended a severely scene, for from the four lofty walls hung only six silk tapes- tries, and around them stood only six monochrome

vases of Sung porcelain.

At one end the Viceroy sat alone, a calm, wrinkled man of 75 with thin moustaches, his wispy beard just touching the head of an embroidered Man- churian crane, while the button on his hat gleamed-fiery. It was of ruby, and rubies shone too from the jade clasp of his silk girdle.

To right and left of his marble-faced chair mandarins

of the second rank seated them- selves, eight on each side, with red coral button, embroidered golden pheasant and girdle clasp of gold studded with small rubies...

Behind them stood the Juniors, the emblems on their chests moving up and down with their breathing, from peacock through silver pheasant to long- tailed jay.

At the other end, with red coral button, sat the Prefect of Police, who had personally con- ducted the prosecution and wrung the death sentence from the chief magistrate. His fix- ed arrogant stare and heavy iowl contrasted with the refined features of his chief.

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"I have sent for so many of you," the old man began in his silvery voice. "for two reasons. -to encourage the righteous and as a warning to the TEA- righteous." He threw a glance at the Prefect of Police, who rose as if amused.

"Your Excellency, before you give your decision which I can guess-I too would like to teach these juniors something. Just to remind them that though a Viceroy has power of life and death in his own province, there is a power higher even than his -the Throne's. That is all" He sat down with studied ease.

a

"So much is this the case," agreed the Viceroy, "that I am forwarding to the Throne memorial the honourable Prefect of Police has submitted." He held up a document. "Here it is. It charges me with protec- ting a convicted murderer. I am going further in this breach of duty. I am setting the pri- soner free."

The Prefect of Police laugh- ed.

Deftly the Metropolitan of- ficial made room for them, in the tin tube, slid the cover over, and soldered together the join. Then spreading out the soft metal in two places he put the Imperial seal on one and took the tabe to the Viceroy who put his seal on the other.

"Your Excellency, I take my departure so that the Imperial. Ear shall ever remain open.”

"Your Excellency, fair winds and good roads!""

Giving three deep bows, the Imperial Messenger left the hall. There was now no recalling These Memorials to a Throne that did not tolerate mistakes.

The Prefect of the Police rose. "I have not finished." said the old man "Pray resume your seat while I tell a tale."

"Your Excellency, I have my duties awaiting me”

→

No, you have no more official duties to perform. When you leave this room you will go as a prisoner. Sit and hear why you will yourself be standing Four trial to-morrow.”

"My trial?"

"At which I shall be the chief witness-for murder"

"For murder" The Prefect: of Police laughed very loud.

"It is all down in my Memo- rial

"What!"

"Perhaps now you may care to listen to my tale."

The old man sat back, and the eighty mandarins craned for-

I will

ward. go still further. 1 give you back your memorial. and ask you to bring it up to date, to include your censure of my decision."

There was a rustle of silk as neighbours. exchanged in- credulous glances. A servant took the document to the Pre- fect of Police while another brought him a small writing table.

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Twenty years ago when I was Chief Magistrate of this city, 1 had under me two subordinates who belonged to the two poles. of human character. One was vain. ambitious and ruthless; the other, seven years younger, scholarly and charming.

"Then both received promo- tion into the Revenue Depart- ment. At once note, one thing. The brilliant younger man was senior in office. That rankled with the brutal man. Besides that the scholar could never re- sist the pleasure of thrusting with his witty tongue at his col- thin-skinned, bull-headed league. I never saw, two men hate each other more.

"Five years later a serious misappropriation of funds was discovered. The senior's books- showed he had stolen the money. A Chief Magistrate I tried him. My instinct was against the evi- dence, not because he had mar- ried my niece, but because I knew this humorous deep scho-

"An Imperial messenger is at this moment waiting to return to

take the capital. He will your completed memorial as well carefully mine. But note what is in my memorial. It gives not only a report of this case up to the prisoner's re- lease, but what will happen, in

the next 20. (his hall in minutes. The writer stayed his quick brush. "Yes, what will happen in this hall in the next 20 minutes. I do not wish to hurry you, but the Imperial ten leave in messenger must minutes' time to catch the tide. I know you will not need ten mfhutes to complete your indiet-lar to be a true Confucian. And ment against me.”

The writer answered with a sneer. In the dramatic silence` the Imperial messenger came forward, with a large tin tube.in his hand, and a servant bowed" him into a chair set before a table. As he laid on it a bar of soft solder, a soldering iron and wick lamp, the Viceroy's secretary brought him the usual bundle of officiaal documents, which he at once slipped into the túbe...

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NOW

the

The Prefect of Police "handed his refreshed Memorial back to the waiting servant. His chief carefully read addition before putting his ver- million seal below the Prefect's. Then he passed it over to the Imperial Messenger with his own.

much though, I disliked the tac- tics of the then Prefect of Police who happened to be the junior's uncle, I had to administer the law.

"The prisoner received 10 years' prison. Four years later, when I became Viceroy. I set him free. Not one cent had.

to him. You all been traced know who they are.”

"There is only one thing miss- ing from your tale, your Excel- lency," said the man opposite. "Why don't you openly accuse

of me having stolen - that money?”

“I have no need to, for I shall be having your head of within. this week."

A great contemntuous laugh again filled the hall.

(Continued on Page 8)

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