the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第12章
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considerable set…off。 Since his daughter was presented to the duchess at
the opening of a bazaar； there has been no holding Pash； why he was ever
elected Reader of the Books； I don't know。 Erwe have had scoffers
sometimes； but I trust I may rely upon you not to laugh at anything you
may not happen to agree with？〃
With conscientious dignity I replied that I had only really laughed
seven times in my life； and therefore the entertainment was one which I
was not likely to embark upon hastily or with inadequate cause。 He
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immediately expressed a seemly regret that the detail had been spoken；
and again assuring him that at the stated hour I would present myself at the
house bearing the symbol engraved upon the card； we definitely parted。
That； as a matter of fact； I did not so present myself at the exact hour；
chiefly concerns the uncouth and arbitrary…minded charioteer who
controlled the movements of the vehicle to which the one whom I was
seeking had explicitly referred； for at an angle in the road he suffered the
horses to draw us aside into a path which did not correspond to the
engraved signs upon the card； nor by any word of persuasion could he be
prevailed upon to return。
Thus； without any possible reproach upon the manner in which I was
conducting the enterprise； it came about that by the time I reached the spot
indicated； all those persons who had been spoken of as constituting a
chosen band were assembled； and with them the barbarian princess。
Nevertheless； this person was irreproachably greeted； and the maiden
indicated even spoke a few words to him in an outside tongue。 Being
necessarily unacquainted with the import of the remark I spread out my
hands with a sign of harmonious sympathy and smiled agreeably； whereat
she appeared to receive an added esteem from the faces of those around
（excluding those directly of the House of Glidder）； and was thereby
encouraged to speak similarly at intervals； this person each time replying
in a like fashion。
〃Is he then a Guide of the Way； also； princess？〃 said the one Pash； who
had noted the occurrence； to which the maiden replied； 〃To a degree； yet
lacking the Innermost Mysteries。〃
Presently it was announced that all things were fittingly prepared in
another chamber。 Here； upon a table of polished wood； stood on the one
side a round stone with certain markings； a group of inscribed books； and
various other emblems； and on the other side a bowl of water； a sphere of
crystal； pieces of unwritten parchment； and behind all； and at a distance
away； a sheet of transparent glass； greater in height than an ordinary
person and as wide。 When all were seatedthe one who had enticed me
among them placing himself before the stone； the person Pash guarding
the books； the barbarian princess being surrounded by her symbols and
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alone in a self…imposed solitude； and the others at various pointsthe
lights were subdued and the appearances awaited。
It would scarcely be respectful； O my enlightened father； to take up
your well…spent leisure by a too prolific account of the matters which
followed； they being in no way dissimilar from the manifestations by
which the uninitiated little ones of Yuen…ping are wont to amuse
themselves and pass the winter evenings。 From time to time harmonious
sounds could be plainly detected； flowers and branches of wood were
scattered sparsely here and there； persons claimed that passing objects had
touched their faces； and misshapen forms of smoke…like density （which
some confidently recognised as the outlines of departed ones whom they
had known）； revealed themselves against the glass。 When this had been
accomplished； the lights were recalled； and the barbarian maiden； sinking
into a condition of languor； announced and foretold events and happenings
upon which she was consulted； sometimes replying by spoken words； at
others suffering her hand to trace them lightly upon the parchment sheets。
Thus； to an inquirer it was announced that one； Aunt Mary； in the Upper
Air； was well and happy； though undeniably pained at the action of Cousin
William in the matter of the freehold houses； and more than sceptical how
his marriage would turn out。 Another was advised that although the
interest on Consols was admittedly lower than that anticipated by those
controlling the destines of a new venture entitled； The Great Rosy Dawn
Gold Mine Development Syndicate； and the name certainly less poetically
inspiring； the advising spirits were of the opinion that the former
enterprise would prove the more stable of the two； and； in any case； they
recommended the person in question to begin by placing not more than
half of her life's savings into the mine。 The family of the House of Pash
was assured that beneficent spirits surrounded them at every turn； and that
their good deeds were not suffered to fall unfruitfully to the ground； while
many bearing the name of Glidder； on the other hand； were reproved by
one who had known them in infancy for the offences of jealousy；
ostentation； vain thoughts； shallowness of character； and the like。
At length； revered； as there seemed to be no reasonable indication of
any barbarian phantom of weight or authority appearingnothing； indeed；
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beyond what a person in our country； of no admitted skill； would
accomplish in the penetrating light of day with two others holding his
hands； and a third reposing upon his head； I formed the perhaps immature
judgment that the one to whom I was indebted for the entertainment would
be suffering a grievous frustration of his hopes and a diminution of his
outward authority。 Therefore； without sufficient consideration of the
restricted surroundings； as it afterwards appeared； I threw myself into a
retrospective vision； and floating unencumbered through space； I sought
for Kwan Kiang…ti； the Demon of the Waters； upon whom I might fittingly
call； as I was given into his keeping by the ceremony of spirit…adoption at
an early age。 Meeting an influence which I recognised to be an indication
of his presence； in the vicinity of the Eighth Region； I obsequiously
entreated that he would reveal himself without delay； and then； convinced
of his sympathetic intervention； I suffered my spirit to recall itself； and
revived into the condition of an ordinary existence。
〃We have among us this evening； my friends；〃 the one Pash was
saying； 〃a very remarkable ladyif I may use so democratic a term in the
connectionto whom the limits of Time and Space are empty words； and
before whose supreme Will the most portentous Forces of Occult Nature
mutely confess themselves her attending slaves〃 But at that moment the
rolling drums of Kiang…ti's thunder drowned his words； although he
subsequently raised his voice above it to entreat that any knives or other
articles of a bright and attractive kind should at once be removed to a
place of safety。
Heralded by these continuous sounds； and accompanied by
innumerable flashes of lightning； the genius presently manifested himself；
leisurely developing out of the air around。 He appeared in his favourite
guise of an upright dragon； his scales being arranged in rows of nine each
way； a pearl showing within his throat； and upon his head the wooden bar。
The lights were extinguished incapably by the rain which fell continually
in his presence； but from his body there proceeded a luminous breath
which sufficiently revealed the various incidents。
〃Kong Ho；〃 said this opportune vision； speaking with a voice like the
beating of a brass gong； 〃the course you have adopted is an unusual one；
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but the weight and regularity of your offerings have merit in my eyes。
Nevertheless； if your invocation is only the outcome of a shallow vanity or
a profane love of display； nothing can save you from a painful death。
Speak now； fully and without evasion； and fear nothing。〃
〃Amiable Being；〃 said this person； kow…towing profoundly； 〃the
matter was designed to the end only that your incomparable versatility
might be fittingly displayed。 These barbarians sought vainly to raise
phantoms capable of any useful purpose； whereupon I； jealous of your
superior omnipotence； judged it would be an unseemly neglect not to
inform you of the opportunity。〃
〃It is well；〃 said the demon affably。 〃All doubt in the matter shall now
be set at rest。 Could any more convincing act be found than that I should
breath upon these barbarians and reduce them instantly to a scattering of
thin white ashes？〃
〃Assuredly it would be a conclusive testimony；〃 I replied； 〃yet in that
case consider how inadequate a witness could be borne to your
enlightened condescension； when none would be left but one to whom the
spoken language of this Island is more in the nature of a trap than a
comfortable vehicle。〃
〃Your reasoning is profound； Kong Ho；〃 he replied； 〃yet abundant
proof shall not be wanting。〃 With these words he raised his hand； and
immediately the air became fil
