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〃He speaks our language；〃 quoth the Emperor at the last； and I swear
there was such a relinquishment of held breaths that the whole room
was one vast sigh。
〃I was born with this language；〃 I replied； my cuny wits running
rashly to the first madness that prompted。 〃I spoke it at my
mother's breast。 I was the marvel of my land。 Wise men journeyed
far to see me and to hear。 But no man knew the words I spoke。 In
the many years since I have forgotten much； but now； in Cho…Sen； the
words come back like long…lost friends。〃
An impression I certainly made。 The Emperor swallowed and his lips
twitched ere he asked：
〃How explain you this？〃
〃I am an accident；〃 I answered； following the wayward lead my wit
had opened。 〃The gods of birth were careless； and I was mislaid in
a far land and nursed by an alien people。 I am Korean； and now； at
last； I have come to my home。〃
What an excited whispering and conferring took place。 The Emperor
himself interrogated Kim。
〃He was always thus； our speech in his mouth； from the time he came
out of the sea；〃 Kim lied like the good fellow he was。
〃Bring me yang…ban's garments as befits me；〃 I interrupted； 〃and you
shall see。〃 As I was led away in compliance； I turned on the ki…
sang。 〃And leave my slaves alone。 They have journeyed far and are
weary。 They are my faithful slaves。〃
In another room Kim helped me change； sending the lackeys away； and
quick and to the point was the dress…rehearsal he gave me。 He knew
no more toward what I drove than did I； but he was a good fellow。
The funny thing； once back in the crowd and spouting Korean which I
claimed was rusty from long disuse； was that Hendrik Hamel and the
rest； too stubborn…tongued to learn new speech； did not know a word
I uttered。
〃I am of the blood of the house of Koryu；〃 I told the Emperor； 〃that
ruled at Songdo many a long year agone when my house arose on the
ruins of Silla。〃
Ancient history； all； told me by Kim on the long ride； and he
struggled with his face to hear me parrot his teaching。
〃These；〃 I said； when the Emperor had asked me about my company；
〃these are my slaves； all except that old churl there〃I indicated
Johannes Maartens〃who is the son of a freed man。〃 I told Hendrik
Hamel to approach。 〃This one；〃 I wantoned on； 〃was born in my
father's house of a seed slave who was born there before him。 He is
very close to me。 We are of an age； born on the same day； and on
that day my father gave him me。〃
Afterwards； when Hendrik Hamel was eager to know all that I had
said； and when I told him； he reproached me and was in a pretty
rage。
〃The fat's in the fire； Hendrik；〃 quoth I。 〃What I have done has
been out of witlessness and the need to be saying something。 But
done it is。 Nor you nor I can pluck forth the fat。 We must act our
parts and make the best of it。〃
Taiwun； the Emperor's brother； was a sot of sots； and as the night
wore on he challenged me to a drinking。 The Emperor was delighted；
and commanded a dozen of the noblest sots to join in the bout。 The
women were dismissed； and we went to it； drink for drink； measure
for measure。 Kim I kept by me； and midway along； despite Hendrik
Hamel's warning scowls； dismissed him and the company； first
requesting； and obtaining； palace lodgment instead of the inn。
Next day the palace was a…buzz with my feast； for I had put Taiwun
and all his champions snoring on the mats and walked unaided to my
bed。 Never； in the days of vicissitude that came later； did Taiwun
doubt my claim of Korean birth。 Only a Korean； he averred； could
possess so strong a head。
The palace was a city in itself； and we were lodged in a sort of
summer…house that stood apart。 The princely quarters were mine； of
course； and Hamel and Maartens； with the rest of the grumbling
cunies； had to content themselves with what remained。
I was summoned before Yunsan； the Buddhist priest I have mentioned。
It was his first glimpse of me and my first of him。 Even Kim he
dismissed from me； and we sat alone on deep mats in a twilight room。
Lord； Lord； what a man and a mind was Yunsan！ He made to probe my
soul。 He knew things of other lands and places that no one in Cho…
Sen dreamed to know。 Did he believe my fabled birth？ I could not
guess； for his face was less changeful than a bowl of bronze。
What Yunsan's thoughts were only Yunsan knew。 But in him； this
poor…clad； lean…bellied priest； I sensed the power behind power in
all the palace and in all Cho…Sen。 I sensed also； through the drift
of speech； that he had use of me。 Now was this use suggested by the
Lady Om？a nut I gave Hendrik Hamel to crack。 I little knew； and
less I cared； for I lived always in the moment and let others
forecast； forfend； and travail their anxiety。
I answered； too； the summons of the Lady Om； following a sleek…
faced； cat…footed eunuch through quiet palace byways to her
apartments。 She lodged as a princess of the blood should lodge。
She； too； had a palace to herself； among lotus ponds where grow
forests of trees centuries old but so dwarfed that they reached no
higher than my middle。 Bronze bridges； so delicate and rare that
they looked as if fashioned by jewel…smiths； spanned her lily ponds；
and a bamboo grove screened her palace apart from all the palace。
My head was awhirl。 Sea…cuny that I was； I was no dolt with women；
and I sensed more than idle curiosity in her sending for me。 I had
heard love…tales of common men and queens； and was a…wondering if
now it was my fortune to prove such tales true。
The Lady Om wasted little time。 There were women about her； but she
regarded their presence no more than a carter his horses。 I sat
beside her on deep mats that made the room half a couch； and wine
was given me and sweets to nibble； served on tiny； foot…high tables
inlaid with pearl。
Lord； Lord； I had but to look into her eyesBut wait。 Make no
mistake。 The Lady Om was no fool。 I have said she was of my own
age。 All of thirty she was； with the poise of her years。 She knew
what she wanted。 She knew what she did not want。 It was because of
this she had never married； although all pressure that an Asiatic
court could put upon a woman had been vainly put upon her to compel
her to marry Chong Mong…ju。 He was a lesser cousin of the great Min
family； himself no fool； and grasping so greedily for power as to
perturb Yunsan； who strove to retain all power himself and keep the
palace and Cho…Sen in ordered balance。 Thus Yunsan it was who in
secret allied himself with the Lady Om； saved her from her cousin；
used her to trim her cousin's wings。 But enough of intrigue。 It
was long before I guessed a tithe of it； and then largely through
the Lady Om's confidences and Hendrik Hamel's conclusions。
The Lady Om was a very flower of woman。 Women such as she are born
rarely； scarce twice a century the whole world over。