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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
and…water courseclear soup； boiled fish； plain joint； no sweets； a crumb
of cheese； and a bare three glasses of Hermitage。〃
During this amiable remark （of which； as it is somewhat of a technical
nature； I was unable to grasp the contained significance until the agreeable
Quang…Tsun had subsequently repeated it several times for my retention）； I
maintained a consistent expression of harmonious agreement and gratified
esteem （suitable； I find； for all like occasions）； and then； judging from the
sympathetic animation of Jones Bob…Jones's countenance； that it had not
improbably been connected with food； I discreetly introduced the subject
of sea…snails； preserved in the essence of crushed peaches； by courteously
inquiring whether he had ever partaken of such a delicacy。
〃No；〃 replied the liberal…minded person； whenencouraged by the
protruding eagerness of his eyes at the mention of the viandI had further
spoken of the refined flavour of the dish； and explained the manner of its
preparation。 〃I can't say that I have； but it sounds uncommonly good
something like turtle； I should imagine。 I'll see if they can get it for me at
Pimm's。〃
This filial tribute goes by a trusty hand； in the person of one Ki Nihy；
who is shortly committing himself to the protection of his ancestors and
the voracity of the unbounded Bitter Waters； and with brightness and gold
it will doubtless reach you in the course of twelve or eighteen moons。 The
superstitious here； this person may describe； when they wish to send
messages from one to another； inscribe upon the outer cover a written
representation of the one whose habitation they require； and after affixing
a small paper talisman； drop it into a hole in the nearest wall； in the hope
that it may be ultimately conveyed to the appointed spot； either by the
services of the charitably…disposed passer…by； or by the intervention of the
beneficent deities。
With a multiplicity of greetings and many abject expressions of a
conscious inferiority； and attested by an unvarying thumb…mark。
KONG HO。 （Effete branch of a pure and magnanimous trunk。）
To Kong Ah…Paik； reclining beneath the sign of the Lead Tortoise； in a
northerly direction beyond the Lotus Beds outside the city of Yuen…ping。
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
The Middle Flowery Kingdom。
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
LETTER II
Concerning the ill…destined manner of existence of the hound
Hercules。 The thoughtlessly…expressed desire of the entrancing maiden and
its effect upon a person of susceptible refinement。 The opportune （as it
may yet be described） visit of one Herbert。 The behaviour of those around。
Reflections。
VENERATED SIRE （whose large right hand is continuously floating
in spirit over the image of this person's dutiful submission）；
Doubtless to your all…consuming prescience； it will at once become
plain that I have abandoned the place of residence from which I directed
my former badly…written and offensively…constructed letter； the house of
the sympathetic and resourceful Maidens Blank； where in return for an
utterly inadequate sum of money； produced at stated intervals； this very
much inferior person was allowed to partake of a delicately…balanced and
somewhat unvarying fare in the company of the engaging of both sexes；
and afterwards to associate on terms of honourable equality with them in
the chief apartment。 The reason and manner of this one's departure are in
no degree formidable to his refined manner of conducting any enterprise；
but arose partly from an insufficient grasp of the more elaborate outlines
of a confessedly involved language； and still more from a too excessive
impetuousness in carrying out what at the time he believed to be the
ambition of one who had come to exercise a melodious influence over his
most internal emotions。 Well remarked the Sage； 〃A piece of gold may be
tried between the teeth； a written promise to pay may be disposed of at a
sacrifice to one more credulous； but what shall be said of the wind； the
Hoang Ho； and the way of a woman？〃
To contrive a pitfall for this short…sighted person's immature feet；
certain malicious spirits had so willed it that the chief and more autumnal
of the Maidens Blank （who； nevertheless； wore an excessively flower…like
name）； had long lavished herself upon the possession of an obtuse and
self…assertive hound； which was in the habit of gratifying this
inconsiderable person and those who sat around by continually depositing
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
upon their unworthy garments details of its outer surface； and when the
weather was more than usually cold； by stretching its graceful and refined
body before the fire in such a way as to ensure that no one should suffer
from a too acute exposure to the heat。 From these causes； and because it
was by nature a hound which even on the darkest night could be detected
at a more than reasonable distance away； while at all times it did not
hesitate to shake itself freely into the various prepared viands； this person
（and doubtless others also） regarded it with an emotion very unfavourable
towards its prolonged existence； but observing from the first that those
who permitted themselves to be deposited upon； and their hands and even
their faces to be hound…tongue…defiled with the most externally cheerful
spirit of word suppression； invariably received the most desirable of the
allotted portions of food； he judged it prudent and conducive to a settled
digestion to greet it with favourable terms and actions； and to refer
frequently to its well…displayed proportions； and to the agile dexterity
which it certainly maintained in breathing into the contents of every dish。
Thus the matter may be regarded as being positioned for a space of time。
One evening I returned at the appointed gong…stroke of dinner； and
was