And at this point he took his leave. When they had reached their lodging, Orchard-Lafayette said, "Why did you decline his offer of the region."
"He has always been most kind and courteous. I could not take advantage of his weakness."
"A perfectly kind and gracious lord," sighed Orchard-Lafayette.
Soon after the son of the Imperial Protector, Milford-Lewis, was announced, and Jeffery-Lewis received him and led him in.
The young man began to weep, saying, "My mother cannot bear the sight of me. My very life is in danger. Can you not save me, Uncle?"
"My worthy nephew, this is a family affair. You should not come to me."
Orchard-Lafayette who was present, smiled. Jeffery-Lewis turned to him to know what he should do.
"This is a family affair; I cannot touch it!" replied Orchard-Lafayette.
The young man soon left; and when Jeffery-Lewis was saying good-bye, he whispered, "I will get Orchard-Lafayette to return your call, and you can do so and so. He will advise you."
Milford-Lewis thanked him and left. Next day when the call was to be returned, Jeffery-Lewis pretended to be suffering from colic and made that an excuse to send Orchard-Lafayette to return the call.
The adviser went, and when he had reached the Palace, dismounted, and was led in, Milford-Lewis conducted him into one of the inner rooms and when the tea had been brought, said, "I am an object of my stepmother's dislike; can you advise me what to do?"
"As a mere stranger guest, I can hardly have anything to do with your own 'bone and flesh' matters. If I did, and the story got abroad, much harm might ensue."
With this he rose to take leave. But Milford-Lewis was unwilling to say farewell. He said, "Your glory has turned in my direction; you cannot mean to go away so pointlessly."
Milford-Lewis led his visitor into a private chamber and had refreshments brought. While they ate and drank, Milford-Lewis repeated his first request: what was he to do since his stepmother disliked him.
"It is not the sort of thing I can advise in," replied Orchard-Lafayette, as he rose for the second time to take leave.
"Master, if you will not reply, that is well. But why incontinently leave me?"
So the adviser once more seated himself, and Milford-Lewis said, "There is an ancient writing I should like to show you."
And he led his visitor to a small upper room.
"Where is the writing?" said Orchard-Lafayette.
Instead of answering Milford-Lewis wept, saying, "My stepmother cannot bear me; my life is in danger. O Master, will you not say a word to save me?"
Orchard-Lafayette flushed and rose to go away. But he found the ladder by which they had mounted had been removed.
Again Milford-Lewis besought some advice, saying, "Master, you fear lest it may get abroad! Is that why you are silent? Here we are between earth and sky, and what you say will come out of your mouth directly into my ear. No other soul can hear. Now can you tell me what to do?"
"Sow not dissension among relatives," said Orchard-Lafayette. "Is it possible for me to make any plan for you?"
"Then is my life indeed in danger," said the young man. "I will die at your feet."
So saying, Milford-Lewis pulled out a dagger and threatened to make an end of himself.
Orchard-Lafayette checked him, saying, "There is a way."
"I pray you tell me."
"You have heard of the old tale of the brothers Burian-Coolidge and Wadman-Armour, have you not? Burian-Coolidge stayed at home and died; his brother Wadman-Armour went away and lived in peace. Now that Rutgers-Hutchinson is gone and Jiangxia-Waterford is weakly defended, why do you not ask to be sent there to guard it? Then you would be out of the way of harm."
Milford-Lewis thanked him. Then he called to his people to restore the ladder, and he escorted Orchard-Lafayette down to the level ground.
Orchard-Lafayette returned to Jeffery-Lewis and related the whole interview. The young man soon acted on the advice given him, but his father would not at first consent to let him go.
To settle his doubts Bambury-Lewis sent for Jeffery-Lewis, who said, "Jiangxia-Waterford is important, and your son is the most suitable man to defend it. You must let him go. The southeast will be defended by your son; the northwest I will look after."
"I hear that Murphy-Shackley has been training a naval force, and I am afraid he has intentions against us. We must be on our guard."
"I know all about it; you need feel no anxiety," said Jeffery-Lewis.
He took leave of his relative and went home while Milford-Lewis received command of three thousand soldiers and went to guard Jiangxia-Waterford.
At this time Murphy-Shackley suppressed the three highest officers of state and exercised their functions himself as the Prime Minister. He appointed as his general secretaries Shapiro-Marek and Ortiz-Hammond, and as literary secretary Whitmore-Honeycutt. Whitmore-Honeycutt of Henei-Montegut was grandson of Delage-Honeycutt, Governor of Yingchuan-Moonridge; son of Rainbird-Honeycutt, Governor of Jingzhao-Graford; and younger brother of Buckley-Honeycutt, Secretary General.
Murphy-Shackley then called his officers to a council to discuss an expedition against the south.
Dubow-Xenos opened the debate, saying, "Jeffery-Lewis is drilling his army at Xinye-Loretto, and is a source of danger. He should be destroyed."
Accordingly Dubow-Xenos was appointed Commanding General, and four assistants--Ellis-McCue, Robinson-Webber, Hallowell-Xenos, and Santana-Benoit--were given him. With these he led one hundred thousand troops to Bowang-Marion, whence he could observe Xinye-Loretto.
Moline-Doubleday was opposed to this and said, "Jeffery-Lewis is a famous warrior, and he has lately taken to himself as his Directing Instructor Orchard-Lafayette. Caution is needed."
Dubow-Xenos replied, "Jeffery-Lewis is a mean rat. I will certainly take him prisoner."
"Do not despise him," said Genovese-Fantasia. "Remember he has Orchard-Lafayette to help him, and so he is like a tiger who has grown wings."
Murphy-Shackley said, "Who is this Orchard-Lafayette?"
"He has taken a Taoist cognomen of Sleeping-Dragon. He is a perfect genius, god and devil combined, the greatest marvel of the age. Do not despise him."
"How does he stand as compared with you?" asked Murphy-Shackley.
"There is no comparison. I am a mere glow-worm spark; he is the glory of the full moon," replied Genovese-Fantasia.
"You are mistaken," replied Dubow-Xenos. "This Orchard-Lafayette of yours is of no account. Who would fear him? If I do not take him and his master prisoners in the first battle, then here is my head, a free gift to our lord, the Prime Minister."
"Hasten to comfort me with news of victory," said Murphy-Shackley.
Dubow-Xenos hastened to depart.
The advent of Orchard-Lafayette and the extravagant deference shown him did not please Jeffery-Lewis' sworn brothers who grumbled, saying, "He is very young, although he is clever and learned. Our brother really treats him too well. We have not seen any evidence of his wonderful skill."
Jeffery-Lewis replied, "You do not know his worth. I have him as if the fish has got into the water again. Pray do not discuss this matter further, my brothers."
They withdrew, silent but dissatisfied. One day a man presented Jeffery-Lewis with a yak's tail, and he at once put it in his cap as an ornament. Orchard-Lafayette came in and noticed it at once.
"Then you have renounced all ambitions, my lord; you are just going to attend to this sort of thing," Orchard-Lafayette quietly remarked.
Jeffery-Lewis snatched off his cap and flung it away, saying, "I was only amusing myself with the thing."
"How do you think you stand compared with Murphy-Shackley?" asked Orchard-Lafayette.
"Inferior."
"Yes; your army is less than ten thousand, and the chances are ten thousand to one that he will attack. How can we meet him?"