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of her friend。 But she had been so long accustomed to yield to the present
circumstances； and was so confident that Fortune； which； with some slight
irregularities； had always stood her friend； would not desert her on the
present occasion； that she gave way。
〃By all means；〃 she said。 〃I will go back to my inn； and bring my
things at once。 This writing…case I will leave here。 I brought it because it
contains my father's petition。〃
So saying； she took her leave； and Tu retired to his easy…chair under
the cotton…tree。 But the demon of curiosity was abroad； and alighting on
the arm of Tu's chair； whispered in his ear that it might be well if he ran
his eye over Colonel Wen's petition to see if there was any argument in it
which he had omitted in his statement to the Board of War。 At first； Tu；
whose nature was the reverse of inquisitive； declined to listen to these
promptings； but so persistent did they become that he at last put down his
book〃The Spring and Autumn Annals〃and； seating himself； at the
sitting…room table； opened the writing…case so innocently left by Jasmine。
On the top were a number of red visiting…cards bearing the inscription； in
black； of Wen Tsunk'ing； and beneath these was the petition。 Carefully Tu
read it through； and passed mental eulogies on it as he proceeded。 The
colonel had put his case skilfully； but Tu had no difficulty in recognising
Jasmine's hand； both in the composition of the document and in the
penmanship。 〃If my attempt；〃 he thought； 〃does not succeed； we will try
what this will do。〃 He was on the point of returning it to its resting…place；
when he saw another document in Jasmine's handwriting lying by it。 This
was evidently a formal document； probably connected； as he thought； with
the colonel's case； and he therefore unfolded it and read as follows：
〃The faithful maiden； Miss Wen of Mienchu Hien； with burning
incense reverently prays the God of War to release her father from his
present difficulties； and speedily to restore peace to her own soul by
nullifying； in accordance with her desire； the engagement of the bamboo
arrow and the contract of the box of precious ointment。 A respectful
petition。〃
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As Tu read on； surprise and astonishment took possession of his
countenance。 A second time he read it through； and then； throwing himself
back in his chair； broke out into a fit of laughter。
〃So；〃 he said to himself； 〃I have allowed myself to be deceived by a
young girl all these years。 And yet not altogether deceived；〃 he added；
trying to find an excuse for himself； 〃for I have often fancied that there
was the savour of a woman about the 'young noble。' I hope she is not one
of those heaven…born genii who appear on earth to plague men； and who；
just when they have aroused the affections they wished to excite； ascend
through the air and leave their lovers mourning。〃
Just at this moment the door opened； and Jasmine entered； looking
more lovely than ever； with the flush begotten by exercise on her
beautifully moulded cheeks。 At sight of her Tu again burst out laughing； to
Jasmine's not unnatural surprise； who； thinking that there must be
something wrong with her dress； looked herself up and down； to the
increasing amusement of Tu。
〃So；〃 said he at last； 〃you deceitful little hussy； you have been
deceiving me all these years by passing yourself off as a man； when in
reality you are a girl。〃
Overcome with confusion； Jasmine hung her head； and murmured：
〃Who has betrayed me？〃
〃You have betrayed yourself；〃 said Tu； holding up the incriminating
document； 〃and here we have the story of the arrow with which you shot
the hawk； but what the box of precious ointment means I don't know。〃
Confronted with this overwhelming evidence； poor Jasmine remained
speechless； and dared not even lift her eyes to glance at Tu。 That young
man； seeing her distress； and being in no wise possessed by the scorn
which he had put into his tone； crossed over to her and gently led her to a
seat by him。
〃Do you remember；〃 he said； in so altered a voice that Jasmine's heart
ceased to throb as if it wished to force an opening through the finely
formed bosom which enclosed it； 〃on one occasion in our study at home I
wished that you were a woman that you might become my wife？ Little did
I think that my wish might be gratified。 Now it is； and I beseech you to let
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us join our lives in one； and seek the happiness of the gods in each other's
perpetual presence。〃
But； as if suddenly recollecting herself； Jasmine withdrew her hand
from his； and； standing up before him with quivering lip and eyes full of
tears； said：
〃No。 It can never be。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Tu； in alarmed surprise。
〃Because I am bound to Wei。〃
〃What！ Does Wei know your secret？〃
〃No。 But do you remember when I shot that arrow in front of your
study？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 said Tu。 〃But what has that to do with it？〃
〃Why； Wei discovered my name on the shaft； and I； to keep my secret；
told him that it was my sister's name。 He then wanted to marry my sister；
and I undertook； fool that I was； to arrange it for him。 Now I shall be
obliged to confess the truth； and he will have a right to claim me instead of
my supposed sister。〃
〃But；〃 said Tu； 〃I have a prior right to that of Wei； for it was I who
found the arrow。 And in this matter I shall be ready to outface him at all
hazards。 But；〃 he added； 〃Wei； I am sure； is not the man to take an unfair
advantage of you。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 asked Jasmine。
〃Certainly I do；〃 said Tu。
〃ThenthenI shall bevery glad；〃 said poor Jasmine； hesitatingly；
overcome with bashfulness； but full of joy。
At which gracious consent Tu recovered the hand which had been
withdrawn from his； and Jasmine sank again into the chair at his side。
〃But； Tu； dear；〃 she said； after a pause； 〃there is something else that I
must tell you before I can feel that my confessions are over。〃
〃What！ You have no