University of Virginia Library

CHAP. III.[19]

SHuey-guwin had so intirely persuaded
himself he should now catch his
niece tripping; and that he should not
need above two words to silence her;
that he was quite confounded to hear
her justify herself so handsomely. At
his return home he found a servant
from Kwo-khé-tzu, who told him his
master desired to speak with him. He
went to him, and the first thing he said
was, "The stranger Tieh is certainly at
my niece's house; and his coming there
was requested by herself, in order to
make him returns for the assistance he
afforded her." He replied in a rage,
"How can she who is a maiden, dare

to take a man into her house? Sir and
father-in-law, you are her uncle and
nearest in blood: you must chastise
and take her under your care. It is
your indispensable duty." "Alas! said
the other, I have talked to her, and
not spared to chide her. But she
hath a tongue, and knows how to
use it. She hath a mouth, whose words
are keener than the edge of a pen-knife
or razor. I had scarce uttered one
word, when she immediately answered
with arguments fetched from ancient
and modern authors, and backed with
a multitude of reasons; insomuch that
I could not open my mouth." Kwo-khé-tzu
was curious to know the particulars
of her defence. The other related
what he could remember. At
which he stamped and raved like a
madman. "This, said he, is all a pretence.
This comes only from her mouth
and not from her heart. Can you believe
what she says?" "I believe her
not, said her uncle: but what remedy can
we have? There is nothing blameable of
which we can accuse her; nothing wrong
or clandestine to lay to her charge."
"Yesterday, said Kwo-khé-tzu, I talked
over the affair with my friend Chun-kéé.
He tells me this young man is remarkable
for the beauty of his person; and
is of opinion, that he seeing your cousin,
who is likewise very handsome, made
that disturbance at the Che-hien's only
to be taken notice of by her. Do you
think all this which followed was merely
to thank him for his civility, or to
reward his virtue? This is only a pretence
to deceive the world. She hath a
more secret motive for her conduct.
For how is it possible! A young man
and woman, both very handsome, to be
alone together in the same house! If
they were saints they could not be innocent."
"To talk here, said Shuey-guwin,
will answer no purpose. Let
me go home: I will send a servant girl
to her house; who shall conceal herself,
and observe what conversation passes
between them. If we can but discover
any thing wrong in her conduct,
we shall then have reason to take her in
hand."

Kwo-khé-tzu approving of his design,
he hasted home to put it in execution.

He waited 'till it was night;
then opening the door that led to his
niece, and calling to him a girl of
quick apprehension, he bade her steal
away softly, and conceal herself in a
place where they laid wood: thence
to keep a sharp look-out, and if possible
to observe every thing said or done.
She obeyed, and placed herself as directed.
When it was past midnight, and
Shuey-ping-sin was retired to her chamber,
the girl returned home. Her master
inquired what news she had brought.
She told him the young gentleman was
somewhat better, but still kept his bed:
where every thing he eat or drank
was brought him. He asked how
his niece disposed of herself: and was
answered she remained in the hall without,
and was taken up in giving orders
to the servants; whom she employed
in boiling tea, in making broths, and
other offices of that nature. He inquired
if she went into the young man's
chamber. She answered; "No: I observed[20]
that all passed by means of a servant,
who came in and out of his apartment."
When she had related all this,
and more to the same purpose; Shuey-guwin
said, "Is she then so circumspect
and blameless[21] ? Is there no more
room for suspicion than this? I can never
believe it. You have certainly bee bribed,
and what you tell me is not the
truth." She assured him it was, and offered
to confirm it by her solemn oath.
He then dismissed her, but every night
sent people to procure intelligence;
who always brought him the same account.
At length he went to his son-in-law;
who eagerly inquired what news
he brought him. "Four nights together,
said Shuey-guwin, I have planted
people to hear and see all that passed:
but I can discover nothing in the least
amiss, nor catch up a syllable that will
bear an ill construction. My niece is
certainly very just and perfect." "Ah!
Sir, said Kwo-khé-tzu, this can only pass
upon weak and silly people. Neither
in ancient times nor modern could
I ever hear of but one person, Leeuhiau-whoey,
who was perfectly upright.
But if all be true that you say
of your cousin, then there will be two.
But I have not so much faith. On the
contrary, let me go to the Che-hien, and
get him to send for one of her maids.
By putting her fingers to the torture[22] ,
he will quickly make her confess the
truth; and then you will be convinced.
Nay, added he, wait but patiently at
home, observe her well, and you will
soon have an opportunity of being undeceived."

As soon as he was gone, Kwo-khé-tzu
went to the Che-hien, and told him all
that had passed in the house of the young
lady. "Yet I cannot, said he, believe
these fair appearances. I beg, Sir, you
will be pleased to order one of her
women to be brought before you. From

her you may extort a confession of the
truth." "Disposed as I am to serve
you, replied the magistrate, I cannot
do what is irregular and contrary to
justice. If you would have any one
brought before my tribunal, there must
first be lodged a petition, setting forth
upon what account an examination is
required. This business relates to a
young lady of quality, and therefore is
to be managed with decorum. What
you have hitherto related of the stranger
and her, affords no proof of misbehaviour;
and therefore what pretence
have I to apprehend them?" "What,
Sir! said the other, will you let this
affair sleep then? You that are the father
of this city, and superintend the
manners of the inhabitants! Will you
then permit a young man and woman
to live together under one roof in lewdness?
To overlook this, is to consent to
the violation of the law." "Certainly,
answered the Che-hien, whoever is guilty
of the crimes you mention, violates the
law. But if what you tell me of these
two young people be true, they have been
guilty of nothing immodest or blameable.
Far from breaking the law, they have
rather strengthened it. You cannot
forget how discreetly Shuey-ping-sin acted
before; and how far she exceeded
our opinions of her. Doubt not therefore
but she will keep clear of indecorum,
although she may have taken this
stranger into her house, to nurse him in
his illness." "Alas! said Kwo-khé-tzu,
have I then disturbed my rest, and been at
all this trouble and pains to obtain her;
and must lose her so easily? Pray, Sir,
let me prevail on you not to give her
up yet; but contrive some way to know
the bottom of this business." "Be
not so uneasy, said the Che-hien. I
have a servant of my audience, named
Shan-yeo; a fellow of such dexterity
and slight, that he can run up a wall,
open a lock, or creep through the most
impervious cranny. It is but now that
I have found it out. I have just apprehended
and sent him to prison, in
order to chastise him. This man will
I send for, and granting him a pardon,
will dispatch him privately to the house
of the young lady. He shall be a spy
upon them; and if he can discover any
thing that is wrong or criminal, you
may then lodge a petition, and he can
back it with his evidence. But if nothing
wrong can be discovered, whereof
to accuse them, you must be content to
drop all farther pursuit." Kwo-khé-tzu
was exceedingly pleased, and said, "Sir,
if you are in earnest I shall be vastly
obliged to you, and consider you at
once as my father and mother."

When he was gone, the Mandarine
sent his people to fetch Shan-yeo to him
out of prison. As soon as he was
brought, he bade him come near, and
whispered in his ear to the following
effect. "You have been guilty of
great misdemeanours: by which you
have forfeited your office in this court
of audience. Yet having an occasion

to employ you at present, if you are
faithful in it, I will grant you a pardon.
Go then to the house of the young lady
Shuey-ping-sin. Contrive to get in, and
conceal yourself somewhere, whence you
may see and hear all that passes. She
hath received a young man into her
house, and I would gladly know upon
what footing they are together. Go
therefore and bring me an exact account.
But take notice, if I find you
have in the least imposed on me, you
must not expect to live any longer."
"Sir, said Shan-yeo, I dare not offer
to deceive you. Expect a faithful account
of every thing I can either see
or hear." This said he withdrew.