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pass when Jesus had ended these sayings； the people were astonished at
his doctrine。'
〃I shall now tell you of the life and death of the Lord Jesus。 。 。〃
He told them of the birth in Bethlehem； and of the teaching on the hills；
and the poets nodded their heads； and he told them of the cleansing of the
lepers and of the casting out of devils and the raising of Lazarus from the
dead； and the magicians wondered； and he told them of the betrayal by
Judas with a kiss； and the captains…at…arms shuffled in their seats； and he
told them of the scourging； and of the crowning with thorns； and the great
Khan snicked his dagger in and out of the sheath。 And a mist of tears
came into the eyes of Golden Bells。
And he told them of the crucifixion between two thieves； and a great
oath ripped from the beard of Kubla Khan； and the silver tears ran from
the eyes of Golden Bells。
〃'And on the third day He arose from the dead。 。 。'〃
And a great shout came from the throat of Kubla Khan； and he stood
up。 〃He arose from among the dead men； I'll warrant； He showed
himself to the Roman Pilate in all His power and majesty 〃
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Messer Marco Polo
〃No；〃 said Marco Palo。
〃Then He showed himself to the thousands who had seen him die upon
the gallows tree！〃
〃No；〃 said Marco Polo。
〃Who saw Him； then？〃
〃His twelve Apostles and they in a little room！〃
And Kubla Khan sat down suddenly and said no more。 There was a
moment's murmur of wonder among the assembly； and then silence。 And
Marco's heart fell。 And he was aware of two things； of the great
politeness of the Chinese people and of Golden Bell's pitying eyes。 。 。
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Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XV
When Kubla Khan dismissed the assembly； and he took Marco Polo
into a sitting…room； and Golden Bells came with them。
〃And what did you think； sir； of what I said？ And can you not see； sir；
the truth that's in me？〃
〃Well； now； laddie；〃 said the great Khan； 〃when we come to examine
this sermon you quoted to us； what is there in it but the rule of the
righteous man？ We've had a great thinker and pious man of our own；
Confucius。 I'm not a reading man；〃 says he； 〃but I've got an idea；〃 says
he； 〃that there isn't a thing you said but is embraced in the Analects。 And
if it isn't it'll be in the teachings of the Lord Buddha。〃
〃Ah； but； sir；〃 Marco Polo said； 〃You'll have to admit that He of
Whom I speak was the true God made man。〃
〃Now； laddie； remember I'm an old man； set in my head and my ways；
and I've been used to one belief so long it would be hard changing。 So
don't press me now； don't press me； I ask you。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 pleaded Marco Polo； 〃it's terrible to think of； as great a
prince as you to be in the black spaces outside of heaven because you
wouldn't accept the truth。〃
〃Well； maybe they won't be so hard on one； my dear lad。 When my
time comes and I rap on the gate of your heaven； maybe they'll say： 'It's
only old Kubla； the soldier； is in it。 He knows devil and all about religion；
but his fights were fair fights； and he never hit a man when he was down。
He had a soft heart for wee children and he was easy on horses。 Sure；
what's the difference？ Let him in！' And if they say no； I'll tuck the old
nicked claymore under my arm； and be off to where the other old fighters
are。〃
〃I see； sir； that there was little success to my message。〃
〃I wouldn't say that；〃 said Kubla Khan。 〃Wait a little until you
perform miracles before the people to prove your truth。 You'll know
better then。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 said Marco Polo； 〃I can perform no miracles。 'Tis only a
saint can perform miracles； and I couldn't lace a saint's shoes。 I have no
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miracles。〃
〃Oh； well； now； my dear boy；〃 said Kubla Khan； 〃I hate to tell you； but
there's no use going further。 Sure you'd be up against the sorcerers of the
world。 They'd ask you for a sign； and you'd have no sign； and they'd
have signs in abundance。 I wouldn't think of letting you go against them。
Fair play's a jewel； and you wouldn't have a chance。 There's the Red
Pope from Tibet and there's the Black Magician from Korea and a hundred
minor ones； and the Warlock of the North； from the Islands of Ice； who
governs the hail and the snow。 Child； I wouldn't let you get into the same
ring with them。 They'd ruin you。〃
〃But； sir； wasn't it a great miracle of the Lord's； my rescue in the Gobi
Desert？〃
〃A miracle of the Lord's！ A miracle of Golden Bells here。 It was
her magician saw you； and she had the message put on the drums； and the
desert patrols went to seek you。 It was herself here； wee Golden Bells。〃
And Golden Bells' mouth gave a smile of shame that his thought should be
broken in his mind。
〃A long way I'm after coming；〃 said Marco Polo； 〃and when I set out
my heart was high。〃
〃Now； don't be taking it too hard；〃 says the khan； kindly。 〃Sure；
there's a power of good you can be doing here。 Maybe you can do
something with Li Po；〃 says he。 〃I'd like fine for you to try。 The man is
worrying the life out of me with his drinking。 I never know when he
goes out whether he'll come back all right or feet foremost on a door。 For
he's got the bitter tongue when the drink's in him； and China could ill
afford to lose him。 And there are some of my captains； and the tune
they're always piping is 'War！ War！ War！ And let's show up this
Alexander who said he conquered the world。' And I'm past the age when
you make war for devilment。 So let you be helping me out with them；
Marco Polo。〃
But Marco Polo knew this was only meant in kindness； and his heart
was broken。
〃Ah； wee lady；〃 he turned to Golden Bells； 〃wee lady； wee lady；
why didn't you let me die in th