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〃In a position of speakingthis one being as a matter of fact a
discreditable follower of the sublime Confuciusit may be so regarded；〃 I
answered； 〃inasmuch as it is the milk…name of childhood。〃
〃But you always put it last；〃 she urged。
〃Assuredly；〃 I replied。 〃Being irrevocably born with the family name
of Kong； it is thought more reasonable that that should stand first。 After
that； others are attached as the various contingencies demand it； as Ho
upon participating in the month…age feast； the book…name of Tsin at a later
period； Paik upon taking a degree； and so forth。〃
〃I am very sorry； Mr。 Kong；〃 said the maiden； adding； with what at the
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time certainly struck this person as shallow…witted prejudice。 〃Of course it
is really quite your own fault for being so tospy…turvily arranged in every
way。 But； to return to the subject； why should not one speak of one's
heart？〃
〃Because；〃 replied this person； colouring deeply； and scarcely able to
control his unbearable offence that so irreproachably…moulded a creature
should openly refer to the detail； 〃because it is a gross and unrefined
particular； much more internal and much less pleasantly…outlined than
those extremities whose spoken equivalent shall henceforth be an
abandoned word from my lips。〃
〃But； in any case； it is not the actual organ that one infers；〃 protested
the maiden。 〃As the seat of the affections； passions； virtues； and will； it is
the conventional emblem of every thought and emotion。〃
〃By no means；〃 I cried； forgetting in the face of so heterodox an
assertion that it would be well to walk warily at every point。 〃That is the
stomach。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the maiden； burying her face in a gracefully…
perfumed remnant of lace； to so overwhelming a degree that for the
moment I feared she might become involved in the dizzy falling。 〃Never；
by any mischance； use that word again the society of the presentable； Mr。
Kong。〃
〃The ceremonial usage of my own land of the Heavenly Dynasty is
proverbially elaborate；〃 I said； with a gesture of self…abasement； 〃but in
comparison with yours it may be regarded as an undeviating walk when
opposed to a stately and many…figured dance。 Among the company of the
really excessively select （in which must ever be included the one whom I
am now addressing）； it becomes difficult for an outcast of my illimitable
obtuseness to move to one side or the other without putting his foot into
that。〃
〃Oh no；〃 exclaimed the maiden； in fragrant encouragement； 〃I think
you are getting on very nicely； Mr。 Kong； and one does not look for
absolute conformance from a foreignerespecially one who is so
extremely foreign。 If I can help you with anythingof course I could not
even speak as I have done to an ordinary stranger； but with one of a distant
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race it seems differentif I can tell you anything that will save you〃
〃You are all…exalted；〃 I replied； with seemly humility； 〃and virtue and
wisdom press out your temples on either side。 Certainly； since I have
learned that the heart is so poetically regarded； I have been assailed by a
fear lest other organs which I have hitherto despised might be used in a
similar way。 Now； as regards liver〃
〃It is only used with bacon；〃 replied the maiden； rising abruptly。
〃Kidneys？〃 suggested this person diffidently； really anxious to detain
her footsteps； although from her expression it did not rest assured that the
incident was taking an actually auspicious movement。
〃I don't think you need speak of those except at breakfast；〃 she said；
〃but I hear the others returning； and I must really go to dress for dinner。〃
Among the barbarians many keep books wherein to inscribe their deep
and beautiful thoughts。 This person had therefore provided himself with
one also； and； drawing it forth； he now added to a page of many other
interesting compositions： 〃Maidens of immaculate refinement do not
hesitate to admit before a person of a different sex that they are on the
point of changing their robes。 The liver is in some intricate way an
emblem representing bacon； or together with it the two stand for a widely
differing analogy。 Among those of the highest exclusiveness kidneys are
never alluded to after the tenth gong…stroke of the morning。〃
With a sincerely ingrained trust that the scenes of dignity； opulence；
and wisdom； set forth in these superficial letters； are not unsettling your
intellect and causing you to yearn for a fuller existence。
KONG HO。
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LETTER VI
Concerning this person's well…sustained efforts to discover further
demons。 The behaviour of those invoked on two occasions。
VENERATED SIRE；In an early letter I made some reference to a
variety of demon invoked by certain of the barbarians。 As this matter
aroused your congenial interest； I have since privately bent my mind
incessantly to the discovery of others； but this has been by no means easy；
for； touching the more intimate details of the subject； the barbarians
frequently maintain a narrow…minded suspicion。 Many whom I have
approached feign to become amused or have evaded a deliberate answer
under the subterfuge of a jest； yet； whenever I would have lurked by night
in their temples or among the enclosed spaces of their tombs to learn more；
at a given signal one in authority has approached me with anxiety and
mistrust engraved upon his features； and； disregarding my unassuming
protest that I would remain alone in a contemplative reverie； has signified
that so devout an exercise is contrary to their written law。
On one occasion only did this person seem to hold himself poised on
the very edge of a fuller enlightenment。 This was when； in the venerable
company of several benevolent persons； he was being taken from place to
place to see the m