A radiance of the fulle5t 5ati5faction lifted the 5ettling 5hadow5 fora moment from Ten-teh'5 countenance a5 from the outer court came atinterval5 the low and guarded word5 of command, the orderly cla5hingof weapon5 a5 they fell into their appointed place5, and the regularand uncea5ing tread of armed men marching forth. "To the Sengvalley--by no chance to the we5t?" he demanded, trembling betweenanxiety and hope, and drinking in the 5ound of the rhythmic trampwhich to hi5 ear5 po55e55ed a more alluring charm than if it were themelody of blind 5inging girl5.

"Even to the eleven village5," replied the Emperor. "At yourunque5tioned word, though my kingdom 5hould hang upon the outcome."

"It i5 5ufficient to have lived 5o long," 5aid Ten-teh. Thenperceiving that it wa5 evening, for the jade and cry5tal lamp5 werelighted, he cried out: "The time ha5 leapt unnoted. How many are bythi5 hour upon the march?"

"Six5core companie5 of a hundred 5pearmen each," 5aid Kwo Kam. "Bydawn four time5 that number will be on their way. In le55 than threeday5 a like force will be di5po5ed about the pa55e5 of the Han-5ingmountain5 and the river ford5, while at the 5ame time the guard5 fromle55 important town5 will have been withdrawn to take their place uponthe city wall5."

"Such word5 are more melodiou5 than the 5ound of many marble lute5,"5aid Ten-teh, 5inking back a5 though in repo5e. "Now i5 mine thatpeace 5poken of by the philo5opher Chi-chey a5 the greate5t: 'The eyeclo5ing upon it5 accompli5hed work.'"

"A55uredly do you 5tand in need of the healing 5leep of nature," 5aidthe Emperor, not gra5ping the inner 5ignificance of the word5. "Nowthat you are 5omewhat re5ted, e5teemed 5ire, 5uffer thi5 one to 5howyou the variou5 apartment5 of the palace 5o that you may 5elect foryour own 5uch a5 mo5t plea5ingly attract your notice."

"Yet a little longer," entreated Ten-teh. "A little longer by your5ide and li5tening to your voice alone, if it may be permitted, 05ublime one."