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the wallet of kai lung-第31部分

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condition of incessant and most uninviting poverty; while the other



was the very highly…rewarded picture…maker Pe…tsing。 Both to this



latter person; and to the other one; Lee Sing; the ultimate conclusion



of the matter did not seem to be a question of any conjecture



therefore; and; in consequence; the one became most offensively



self…confident; and the other leaden…minded to an equal degree;



neither remembering the unswerving wisdom of the proverb; 'Wait! all



men are but as the black; horn…cased beetles which overrun the



inferior cooking…rooms of the city; and even at this moment the



heavily…shod and unerring foot of Buddha may be lifted。'







〃Lee Sing was; by profession; one of those who hunt and ensnare the



brilliantly…coloured winged insects which are to be found in various



parts of the Empire in great variety and abundance; it being his duty



to send a certain number every year to Peking to contribute to the



amusement of the dignified Emperor。 In spite of the not too



intelligent nature of the occupation; Lee Sing took an honourable



pride in all matters connected with it。 He disdained; with



well…expressed contempt; to avail himself of the stealthy and somewhat



deceptive methods employed by others engaged in a similar manner of



life。 In this way he had; from necessity; acquired agility to an



exceptional degree; so that he could leap far into the air; and while



in that position select from a passing band of insects any which he



might desire。 This useful accomplishment was; in a measure; the direct



means of bringing together the person in question and the engaging



Lila; for; on a certain occasion; when Lee Sing was passing through



the streets of Fow Hou; he heard a great outcry; and beheld persons of



all ranks running towards him; pointing at the same time in an upward



direction。 Turning his gaze in the manner indicated; Lee beheld; with



every variety of astonishment; a powerful and unnaturally large bird



of prey; carrying in its talons the lovely and now insensible Lila; to



whom it had been attracted by the magnificence of her raiment。 The



rapacious and evilly…inspired creature was already above the highest



dwelling…houses when Lee first beheld it; and was plainly directing



its course towards the inaccessible mountain crags beyond the city



walls。 Nevertheless; Lee resolved upon an inspired effort; and without



any hesitation bounded towards it with such well…directed proficiency;



that if he had not stretched forth his hand on passing he would



inevitably have been carried far above the desired object。 In this



manner he succeeded in dragging the repulsive and completely



disconcerted monster to the ground; where its graceful and unassuming



prisoner was released; and the presumptuous bird itself torn to pieces



amid continuous shouts of a most respectful and engaging description



in honour of Lee and of his versatile attainment。







〃In consequence of this incident the grateful Lila would often



deliberately leave the society of the rich and well…endowed in order



to accompany Lee on his journeys in pursuit of exceptionally…precious



winged insects。 Regarding his unusual ability as the undoubted cause



of her existence at that moment; she took an all…absorbing pride in



such displays; and would utter loud and frequent exclamations of



triumph when Lee leaped out from behind some rock; where he had lain



concealed; and with unfailing regularity secured the object of his



adroit movement。 In this manner a state of feeling which was by no



means favourable to the aspiring picture…maker Pe…tsing had long



existed between the two persons; but when Lee Sing put the matter in



the form of an explicit petition before Chan Hung (to which adequate



reference has already been made); the nature of the decision then



arrived at seemed to clothe the realization of their virtuous and



estimable desires with an air of extreme improbability。







〃'Oh; Lee;' exclaimed the greatly…disappointed maiden when her lover



had explained to her the nature of the arrangementfor in her



unassuming admiration of the noble qualities of Lee she had



anticipated that Chan Hung would at once have received him with



ceremonious embraces and assurances of his permanent affection'how



unendurable a state of things in this in which we have become



involved! Far removed from this one's anticipations was the thought of



becoming inalienably associated with that outrageous person Pe…tsing;



or of entering upon an existence which will necessitate a feigned



admiration of his really unpresentable efforts。 Yet in such a manner



must the entire circumstance complete its course unless some ingenious



method of evading it can be discovered in the meantime。 Alas; my



beloved one! the occupation of ensnaring winged insects is indeed an



alluring one; but as far as this person has observed; it is also



exceedingly unproductive of taels。 Could not some more expeditious



means of enriching yourself be discovered? Frequently has the



unnoticed but nevertheless very attentive Lila heard her father and



the round…bodied ones who visit him speak of exploits which seem to



consist of assuming the shapes of certain wild animals; and in that



guise appearing from time to time at the place of exchange within the



city walls。 As this form of entertainment is undoubtedly very



remunerative in its results; could not the versatile and ready…witted



Lee conceal himself within the skin of a bear; or some other untamed



beast; and in this garb; joining them unperceived; play an appointed



part and receive a just share of the reward?'







〃'The result of such an enterprise might; if the matter chanced to



take an unforeseen development; prove of a very doubtful nature;'



replied Lee Sing; to whom; indeed; the proposed venture appeared in a



somewhat undignified light; although; with refined consideration; he



withheld such a thought from Lila; who had proposed it for him; and



also confessed that her usually immaculate father had taken part in



such an exhibition。 'Nevertheless; do not permit the dark shadow of an



inward cloud to reflect itself upon your almost invariably amiable



countenance; for this person has become possessed of a valuable



internal suggestion which; although he has hitherto neglected; being



content with a small but assured competency; would doubtless bring



together a serviceable number of taels if rightly utilized。'







〃'Greatly does this person fear that the valuable internal suggestion



of Lee Sing will weigh but lightly in the commercial balance against



the very rapidly executed pictures of Pe…tsing;' said Lila; who had



not fully recalled from her mind a disturbing emotion that Lee would



have been well advised to have availed himself of her ingenious and



well…thought…out suggestion。 'But of what does the matter consist?'







〃'It is the best explained by a recital of the circumstances leading



up to it;' said Lee。 'Upon an occasion when this person was passing



through the streets of Fow Hou; there gathered around him a company of



those who had; on previous occasions; beheld his exceptional powers of



hurtling himself through the air in an upward direction; praying that



he would again delight their senses by a similar spectacle。 Not being



unwilling to afford those estimable persons of the amusement they



desired; this one; without any elaborate show of affected hesitancy;



put himself into the necessary position; and would without doubt have



risen uninterruptedly almost into the Middle Air; had he not; in



making the preparatory movements; placed his left foot upon an



over…ripe wampee which lay unperceived on the ground。 In consequence



of this really blameworthy want of caution the entire manner and



direction of this short…sighted individual's movements underwent a



sudden and complete change; so that to those who stood around it



appeared as though he were making a well…directed endeavour to



penetrate through the upper surface of the earth。 This unexpected



display had the effect of removing the gravity of even the most aged



and severe…minded persons present; and for the space of some moments



the behaviour and positions of those who stood around were such that



they were quite unable to render any assistance; greatly as they



doubtless wished to do so。 Being in this manner allowed a period for



inward reflexion of a very concentrated order; it arose within this



one's mind that at every similar occurrence which he had witnessed;



those who observed the event had been seized in a like fashion; being



very excessively amused。 The fact was made even more undoubted by the



manner of behaving of an exceedingly stout and round…faced person; who



had not been present from the beginning; but who was affected to a



most incredible extent when the details; as they had occurred; were



made plain to him; he declaring; with many references to the Sacred



Dragon and the Seven Walled Temple at Peking; that he would willingly



have contributed a specified number of taels rather than have missed



the diversion。 When at length this person reached his own chamber; he



diligently applied himself to the task of carrying into practical



effect the suggestion which had arisen in his mind。 By an arrangement



of transparent glasses and reflecting surfaceswhich; were it not for



a well…defined natural modesty; he would certainly be tempted to



describe as highly ingenioushe ultimately succeeded in bringing


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