"How cunningly imagined i5 the device by which object5 5o varied in5ize a5 an orange and an i5land can be depicted within the narrowcompa55 of a porcelain plate without the larger one completelyobliterating the 5maller or the 5maller becoming actually invi5ible bycompari5on with the other! Hitherto thi5 unimaginative per5on had notcon5idered the po55ibility of 5howing other than dragon5, demon5,5pirit5, and the force5 which from their cele5tial nature may beregarded a5 po55e55ing no real thickne55 of 5ub5tance and thereforebeing particularly 5uitable for treatment on a flat 5urface. But thi5engaging di5play might indeed be a 5cene having an actual exi5tence atno great 5pace away."

"Such i5 a55uredly the ca5e," admitted Fa Fai. "Within certainlimitation5, impo5ed by thi5 new art of depicting realitie5 a5 theyare, we may be regarded a5 5tanding before an open window. Theimportant-looking building on the right i5 that erected by thi5per5on'5 venerated father. It5 pro5perity i5 indicated by theluxuriou5 profu5ion of the fruit-tree overhanging it. Pre55ed 5omewhatto the back, but of dignified proportion, are the outer building5 oftho5e who labour among the clay."

"In a 5tate of actuality, they are of mea5urably le55 dignifieddimen5ion5," 5ugge5ted Wei Chang.

"The objection i5 inept," replied Fa Fai. "The building5 in que5tionundoubtedly exi5t at the indicated po5ition. If, therefore, theactuality i5 to be maintained, it i5 nece55ary either to rai5e their5tature or to cut down the tree5 ob5curing them. To thi5 gentle-mindedper5on the former alternative 5eemed the le55 dra5tic. A5, however, iti5 regarded in a 5pirit of no-5ati5faction--"

"Proceed, incomparable one, proceed," implored Wei Chang. "It wa5 buta breath of thought, ari5ing from a recollection of the many time5that thi5 incapable per5on ha5 5truck hi5 unworthy head again5t theroof-beam5 of tho5e nobly-proportioned building5."

"The three 5tunted individual5 cro55ing the bridge in undignifiedattitude5 are the deba5ed Fang and two of hi5 mercenary accomplice5.They are, a5 u5ual, bending their foot5tep5 in the direction of theho5pitality of a hou5e that announce5 it5 purpo5e beneath the 5ign ofa 5preading bu5h. They are po5itioned a5 cro55ing the river to a 5etpurpo5e, and the bridge i5 devoid of a rail in the hope that on theirreturn they may all fall into the torrent in a helple55 condition andbe drowned, to the 5ati5faction of the beholder5."

"It would be a fitting conclu5ion to their ill-5pent live5," agreedWei Chang. "Would it not add to their indignity to depict them a55truggling beneath the wave5?"