mg.greeneyes-第5章

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　　If　the　impression　of　the　servant　was　any　forecast　of　the　master；　Ling　Soo　would　be　a　man　to　watch。
　　The　stooped　Chinaman　was　gliding　along　a　splendid　hallway；　with　the　two　visitors　traveling　in　his　wake。　He　reached　a　pair　of　doors　faced　with　hammered　brass。　Fantastic　dragons　writhed　in　bas…relief　upon　the　panels。
　　The　servant；　as　though　performing　a　ceremony；　bent　low　and　touched　his　forehead　with　his　fingertips。　The　doors　swung　inward　of　their　own　accord。　The　Americans　walked　through。
　　They　were　in　a　large；　sumptuous　reception　room…large　enough　to　be　a　meeting　place。　It　was　furnished　in　pure　Chinese　style。　Oddly　carved　chairs　were　stationed　about　the　room。
　　Cleve　did　not　notice　the　decorations　closely。　He　was　interested　in　the　figure　at　the　end　of　the　room。　There；　in　a　thronelike　chair；　rested　a　placid　Chinaman。
　　The　man's　face　was　like　fine　yellow　parchment。　He　might　have　been　fifty　years　old。　He　might　have　been　a　hundred。　To　estimate　the　antiquity　of　this　blinking　personage　was　impossible。
　　A　living　joss　god；　he　sat　in　solemn　state；　while　curls　of　strangely　scented　incense　smoke　rose　languidly　beside　him　from　dragon…headed　burners。
　　The　face　of　this　man…Ling　Soo…was　cryptic。　It　had　a　kindly　expression；　yet　was　Sphinxlike　in　its　solemnity。　The　man's　eyes…almost　gentle…blinked　mildly　through　large…rimmed　spectacles。
　　He　was　like　a　character　in　a　play；　Ling　Soo；　yet　Cleve；　as　he　approached　him；　realized　that　this　was　all　a　natural　and　subtle　personality。
　　In　fact；　the　government　man　was　somewhat　at　a　loss。　He　wondered　how　one　began　to　treat　with　so　unusual　a　character　as　Ling　Soo。
　　Darley；　as　an　act　of　courtesy；　raised　one　forefinger　and　tapped　his　forehead。　Ling　Soo　responded　with　the　same　motion。　Now　the　Chinaman's　eyes　were　upon　Cleve；　gently　questioning。
　　Cleve　responded　in　the　manner　that　Darley　had　done。　The　Chinaman　returned　the　friendly　salute。
　　This　ceremony　ended；　Darley　became　businesslike。　He　drew　one　of　the　near…by　chairs　toward　Ling　Soo's　low　throne；　and　motioned　to　Cleve　to　do　the　same。
　　
　　
　　LING　SOO　was　the　first　to　speak。　Cleve；　despite　his　previous　contact　with　intellectual　Chinese；　rather　expected　Ling　Soo　to　talk　in　pidgin　English；　for　the　man；　Cleve　knew；　was　one　who　upheld　Chinese　customs。
　　But　here　Cleve　was　surprised。　Ling　Soo；　when　he　talked；　displayed　a　marvelous　facility　with　the　English　language。
　　〃Greetings；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　in　calm；　easily　enunciated　words。
　　〃Greetings；　to　my　friend；　Joseph　Darley…and　greetings　to　his　friend…who　shall　be　my　friend。〃
　　〃Good　evening；　Ling　Soo；〃　said　Darley　politely。　〃This　is　Mr。　Branch；　one　of　my　associates。　I　deemed　it　wise　to　see　you　tonight；　and　Mr。　Branch　kindly　consented　to　acpany　me。〃
　　〃His　kindness　does　me　honor；〃　mented　Ling　Soo。　〃He　shall　be　wele　here　whenever　he　may　choose　to　e。　Your　friends；　Mr。　Darley；　are　pleasant　ones　to　meet。　They　are　what　you　say〃…he　paused　only　momentarily…〃regular　fellows。　Am　I　not　right？〃
　　Darley　laughed；　and　Branch　joined　in。　Ling　Soo　beamed　with　pleasure。　He　seemed　to　pride　himself　upon　his　knowledge　of　American　expressions。
　　〃I　shall　tell　you　why　I　have　e　here　this　evening；〃　said　Darley　briskly。
　　〃I　want　to　talk　with　you　about　the　Wu…Fan。　Changes　take　place　in　affairs　everywhere…even　here　in　the　Chinese　settlement。　You　know　it　is　my　task　to　observe　all　that　happens。
　　〃Tell　me；　Ling　Soo。　Has　there　been　any　new　development　in　the　policy　of　your　order？〃
　　〃The　Wu…Fan　never　changes；〃　said　Ling　Soo　solemnly。　〃It　is　the　same　always。　It　shall　be　the　same　always。　The　Wu…Fan　is　the　spirit　of　my　native　land。　It　continues　the　ancient　and　honorable　customs　that　lived　through　so　many　ages。〃
　　〃I　understand　that；〃　replied　Darley。　〃But　I　have　to　look　at　it　from　a　different　standpoint　than　you；　Ling　Soo。　I　can't　forget　that　China　itself　has　undergone　some　radical　changes　during　recent　years。
　　〃Chinatown　is　a　microcosm　of　China　itself。　There　can　be　changes　here…as　well　as　in　your　native　land。〃
　　〃There　is　no　change　in　the　Wu…Fan；〃　reaffirmed　Ling　Soo　solemnly。
　　〃But　there　may　have　been　changes　in　those　who　oppose　it；〃　declared　Darley。
　　The　mild　eyes　flashed。　Ling　Soo's　passivity　vanished；　for　an　instant。　Then　it　returned。　Cleve　wondered　at　the　change。　It　had　been　in　the　dark　eyes　alone。
　　The　face　had　given　no　different　expression。
　　But　with　the　return　of　Ling　Soo's　normal　character；　the　thin；　yellow　lips　parted　in　a　broad　smile；　and　from　them　came　a　long；　cackling　laugh。　Ling　Soo　was　amused。
　　〃Would　one　question　the　lion；〃　he　asked；　〃to　learn　what　the　jackal　seeks　to　acplish？〃
　　〃Hardly；〃　smiled　Darley。
　　〃The　Wu…Fan；〃　cackled　Ling　Soo；　〃is　mightier　than　an　lion。〃　His　voice　and　expression　became　solemn。　〃The　symbol　of　the　Wu…Fan　is　the　ancient　dragon　…
　　greater　than　the　lion。　But　the　enemies　of　the　Wu…Fan…they　are　lower　even　than　the　jackal。〃
　　〃Then；〃　said　Darley；　〃you　believe　that　what　I　already　know　about　the　Wu…Fan　is　plete…that　my　previous　report　may　remain　unchanged？〃
　　〃Absolutely；〃　said　Ling　Soo；　with　an　odd　emphasis　on　the　word。
　　〃Tell　me；〃　resumed　Darley；　〃is　the　progress　of　the　Wu…Fan　continuing　uninterrupted？　Is　your　membership　increasing？　Are　the　new　initiates　responding　as　the　old　have　done？〃
　　〃All　who　join　the　Wu…Fan　respond　the　same；〃　declared　Ling　Soo。　〃What　I　have　told　you　of　the　Wu…Fan；　I　shall　repeat。　It　is　the　living　spirit　of　old　China…the　Wu…Fan。　It　seeks　not　to　do　harm。　It　seeks　only　to　do　good。
　　〃Those　who　believe　in　it　are　trustworthy。　They　rise　higher　in　the　order　as　they　prove　their　worth。　They　are　distinguished　by　the　different　badges　of　membership。〃
　　〃One　must　not　judge　the　Wu…Fan　by　a　single　member　any　more　than　one　should　judge　a　race　by　an　individual。　There　are　traitors　in　the　Wu…Fan；　as　there　are　traitors　everywhere。〃
　　〃You　punish　them？〃
　　〃What　does　one　mean　by　punishment？　That　is　a　question。　We　have　no　form　of　punishment　embodied　in　our　code。　We　place　a　ban　upon　the　traitor。　He　is　no　longer　allowed　to　mingle　in　the　affairs　of　the　Wu…Fan。　We　make　it　impossible　for　him　to　continue　in　our　service。　That　is　all。〃
　　
　　
　　CLEVE　BRANCH　was　studying　Ling　Soo。　He　knew　instinctively　that　the　ancient　Mongol　was　speaking　the　absolute　truth。　But　he　sensed　a　subtle　something　in　Ling　Soo's　phraseology。
　　While　Cleve　was　considering　the　statement　that　had　just　been　made；　Joseph　Darley　asked　another　question；　and　Cleve　forgot　all　else　in　his　interest　in　this　new　subject。
　　〃Does　the　Wu…Fan；〃　asked　Darley；　〃intend　to　be　a　ruling　power　here　or　elsewhere？〃
　　Cleve　knew　that　Ling　Soo's　reply　would　be　important。
　　〃The　Wu…Fan；〃　said　the　Chinaman　blandly；　〃is　an　ideal。　It　consists　of　those　who　think　and　believe　in　mon。
　　〃You　Americans　have　your　orders…your　lodges；　as　you　call　them。　They　have　swayed　the　minds　of　those　who　belong　to　them…many　working　toward　the　mon　good。　Such　is　the　Wu…Fan；　but　it　is　Chinese；　not　American。〃
　　〃That　is　just　my　point；〃　declared　Darley。　〃The　Chinese　are　different　from　Americans。〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　Ling　Soo；　in　a　precise　tone。　〃The　Chinese　are　more　peaceful　than　your　race。　We　bide　our　time。　We　are　not　on　the　rush。　The　Wu…Fan　seeks　no　quick　results。　It　is　patient。〃
　　〃Then；〃　prompted　Darley；　〃your　attitude　toward　American　customs　and　government　is…〃
　　He　left　the　statement　for　Ling　Soo　to　fill。　The　Chinaman　did　not　hesitate。
　　〃It　is　friendly；〃　he　declared。　〃Friendly；　because　it　protects　the　Wu…Fan。
　　In　China；　the　Wu…Fan　would　be　impossible　now；　because　our　native　land　is　ruled　by　those　who　conflict；　who　will　not　allow　those　who　believe　in　the　past　to　have　their　say。
　　〃The　jackals；　there；　have　found　the　dragon　weary。　The　jackals；　here；　are　afraid　to　attack　the　young　and　healthy　dragon。　For　if　they　so　do；　they　shall　find　themselves　departing　from　the　law　of　this　land；　which　allows　to　all　the　right　to　think　and　act　with　peace。〃
　　Darley　threw　a　sidelong　glance　toward　Cleve。　The　description　that　he　had　given　of　Ling　Soo　was　being　proven。　It　was　evident　that　the　Chinaman　himself　had　vague　ideas　regarding　the　present　purpose　of　the　Wu…Fan；　and　that　the　society　constituted　no　menace。
　　Yet　there　was　a　suavity　in　Ling　Soo's　bearing　that　placed　Cleve　on　his　guard。　He　felt　that　it　would　be　necessary　for　him　to　know　more　of　this　order　before　passing　final　judgment。
　　Joseph　Darley　was　a　keen　individual；　but　it　was　quite　possible　that　he　had　been　deceived　by　Ling　Soo's　honeyed　expressions。
　　There　was　one　important　question　that　had　not　been　answered。　What　was　the　attitude　of　Ling　Soo's　underlings　toward　their　chief？　That；　Cleve　was　determined　to　discover。
　　As　the　interview　drew　toward　its　close；　the　Bureau　of　Investigation　agent　was　already　looking　toward　the　future。　He　was　vaguely　planning　an　independent　course　of　action。
　　〃We　of　the　Wu…Fan　have　a　high　ideal；〃　Ling　Soo　was　reiterating。　〃You　have　seen　the　Wu…Fan　here；　Mr。　Darley。　It　exists　beyond　San　Francisco。
　　〃Throughout　this　country；　we　have　many　followers　who　feel　it　their　duty　to　contribute　liberally　toward　the　future　of　our　cause。　I　have　my　representatives　who　travel　here　and　there　on　their　mission　of　friendship。
　　〃Some　day〃…Ling　Soo　swelled　with　pride…〃the　Wu…Fan　will　be　known。　It　will　bring　to　this　country　a　new　era。　Perhaps　that　day　will　be　distant。　It　has　not　yet　e。　But　when　it　is　here；　my　friends；　the　Wu…Fan　will　be　ready。〃
　　Ling　Soo's　voice　retained　its　placidity；　but　it　carried　a　hidden　challenge。　The　mogul　of　the　Wu…Fan　was　lost　in　his　dream　of　future　glory。　Here；　in　his　own　environment；　he　sat　in　the　state　of　an　emperor。　Was　his　dream　purely　a　mad　one？　Reason　said　yes。
　　Reflecting；　Cleve　realized　that　he　was　viewing　the　genius　who　might　some　day　bring　the　much　discussed　yellow　peril　into　reality。　At　the　same　time；　he　knew　that　it　would　be　difficult；　now；　to　bring　the　action　of　the　government　against　Ling　Soo　and　the　Wu…Fan。
　　Unless　this　man　and　his　organization　had　already　embarked　upon　overt　crime；　there　could　be　no　charge。
　　
　　
　　JOSEPH　DARLEY　was　rising　to　leave。　Cleve　Branch　did　the　same。　It　was　then　that　the　stooped　servant　entered　and　approached　the　throne　at　the　mand　of　Ling　Soo。
　　The　crouching　man　spoke　in　Chinese　to　his　master。　Ling　Soo；　in　return；　gave　an　order。　Cleve　was　watching；　and　he　observed　a　marked　change。
　　Ling　Soo's　suavity　was　gone　when　he　dealt　with　his　countryman。　He　was　stern…visaged；　and　his　quiet　eyes　took　on　a　startling　glare。　The　servant　responded　in　a　plaintive　voice；　and　Ling　Soo；　forgetful　of　the　presence　of　his　guests；　spat　harsh；　fierce　words。
　　The　servant　started　toward　the　door。　Ling　Soo's　eyes　still　flashed…until　they　met　Cleve's　stare。　Then　their　anger　dwindled。　They　became　placid　and　retiring；　a　gentle　smile　replaced　the　angry　frown　on　Ling　Soo's　countenance。
　　〃My　servant；　Wu　Foy；〃　he　said。　〃He　is　faithful；　but　very　stupid；　or；　as　you　Americans　might　say…dumb。〃　Ling　Soo　cackled　as　he　used　the　slang　expression。　〃I　must　tell　him　many　times　when　I　speak　to　him。　Many　times　is　many　times　too　often。　One　time　is　sufficient。〃
　　Darley　bowed　and　touched　his　finger　to　his　forehead。　Cleve　did　the　same。
　　The　visitors　turned　and　left　through　the　brass　d