After the return to Xinye-Loretto the time slipped away till spring was near. Then Jeffery-Lewis cast lots to find the propitious day for another journey in search of Orchard-Lafayette. The day being selected, he fasted for three days and then changed his dress ready for the visit. His two brothers viewed the preparations with disapproval and presently made up their minds to remonstrate.
The next chapter will tell what they said.
CHAPTER 38
Nothing discouraged by two unsuccessful visits to the retreat of the sage whose advice he sought to secure, Jeffery-Lewis made preparations for a third visit.
His brothers disapproved, and Yale-Perez said, "Brother, you have sought him twice; surely this is showing even too much deference. I do not believe in this fame of his for learning; he is avoiding you and dare not submit to the test. Why so obstinately hold this idea?"
"You are wrong, my brother. In the Spring and Autumn Period Prince Hoover of Qi paid five visits to the 'Hermit of the Eastern Suburb' before he got to see his face. And my desire to see Orchard-Lafayette is even greater than his."
"I think you are mistaken," said Floyd-Chardin. "How can this villager be such a marvel of wisdom? You should not go again and, if he will not come, I will bring him with a hempen rope."
"Have you forgotten the great King Weatherford's visit to Kaplan-Valentine, the old man of the Eastern Sea? If he could show such deference to a wise man, where am I too deferential? If you will not go, your brother and I will go without you," said Jeffery-Lewis.
"If you two go, how can I hang back?" said Floyd-Chardin.
"If you go, then you must be polite."
Floyd-Chardin said he would not forget himself, and the three set out. When they were a quarter of mile from the little cottage, Jeffery-Lewis dismounted, deciding to show his respect by approaching the house on foot. Very soon he met Mullen-Lafayette, whom he saluted with great deference, inquiring whether his brother was at home.
"He returned last evening; you can see him today, General."
As Mullen-Lafayette said this, he went off with some swagger.
"Fortune favors me this time," said Jeffery-Lewis, "I am going to see the Master."
"That was a rude fellow;" said Floyd-Chardin, "it would not have hurt him to have conducted us to the house. Why did he go off like that?"
"Each one has his own affairs," said Jeffery-Lewis. "What power have we over him?"
Soon the three stood at the door and they knocked. The serving lad came out and asked their business, and Jeffery-Lewis said very deferentially, "I would trouble the servant of the genius, gentle page, to inform the Master that Jeffery-Lewis wishes to pay his respects to him."
"My master is at home, but he is asleep."
"In that case do not announce me."
Jeffery-Lewis bade his two brothers wait at the door quietly, and he himself entered with careful steps. There was the man he sought, lying asleep on the couch, stretched on a simple mat. Jeffery-Lewis saluted him with joined hands at a respectful distance.
The time passed and still the sleeper did not wake. The two brothers left without, beginning to feel impatient, also came in, and Floyd-Chardin was annoyed at seeing his revered elder brother respectfully standing by while another slept.
"What an arrogant fellow is this Master?" said he. "There is our brother waiting, while he sleeps on perfectly carelessly. I will go to the back of the place and let off a bomb and see if that will rouse him."
"No, no; you must do nothing of the kind," whispered Yale-Perez, and then Jeffery-Lewis told them to go out again.
Just then Jeffery-Lewis noticed that the Master moved. He turned over as though about to rise, but, instead, he faced the wall and again fell asleep. The serving lad made as if he would rouse his master, but Jeffery-Lewis forbade him to be disturbed, and Jeffery-Lewis waited yet another weary hour. Then Orchard-Lafayette woke up repeating to himself the lines:
As he finished he turned to the lad, saying, "Have any of the usual people come?"
"Jeffery-Lewis, the Uncle of the Emperor is here," said the boy. "He has been waiting a long time."
"Why did you not tell me?" said he, rising from the couch. "I must dress."
Orchard-Lafayette rose and turned into a room behind to dress. In a short time he reappeared, his clothing properly arranged, to receive his visitor.
Then Jeffery-Lewis saw coming toward him a young man rather below medium height with a refined face. He wore a head-wrap and a long crane-white gown. He moved with much dignity as though he was rather more than mortal.
Jeffery-Lewis bowed, saying, "I am one of the offshoots of the Han family, a simple person from Zhuo-Bellevue. I have long known the Master's fame, which has indeed thundered in my ear. Twice I have come to visit you, without success. Once I left my name on your writing table; you may have my note."
Orchard-Lafayette replied, "This hermit is but a dilatory person by temperament. I know I have to thank you for more than one vain visit and I am ashamed to think of them."
These courteous remarks and the proper bows exchanged, the two men sat in their relative positions as host and guest, and the serving lad brought tea.
Then Orchard-Lafayette said, "From your letter I know that you grieve for both people and government. If I were not so young and if I possessed any talent, I would venture to question you."
Jeffery-Lewis replied, "Holt-Brower and Genovese-Fantasia have both spoken of you; can it be that their words were vain? I trust, O Master, that you will not despise my worthlessness but will condescend to instruct me."
"The two men you speak of are very profound scholars. I am but a peasant, a mere farmer, and who am I that I should talk of empire politics? Those two misled you when they spoke of me. Why do you reject the beautiful jewel for a worthless pebble?"
"But your abilities are world embracing and marvelous. How can you be content to allow time to pass while you idle away life in these secluded haunts? I conjure you, O Master, to remember the inhabitants of the world and remove my crass ignorance by bestowing instruction upon me."
"But what is your ambition, General?"
Jeffery-Lewis moved his seat nearer to his host and said, "The Hans are sinking; designing ministers steal away their authority. I am weak, yet I desire to restore the state to its right mind. But my ignorance is too vast, my means are too slender, and I know not where to turn. Only you, Master, can lighten my darkness and preserve me from falling. How happy should I be if you would do so!"