e　end　of　the　Hans；〃　said　his　host；　with　tears。

〃I　was　joking；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。　〃My　forefathers　also　served　the　Hans　and　ate　of　their　bounty。　Am　I　devoid　of　loyalty？　I　would　help　you；　brother；　as　far　as　lies　in　my　power。〃

〃It　is　well　for　the　country　that　you　think　like　this；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。

〃But　we　ought　to　have　a　more　private　place　than　this　to　talk　over　such　plans　and　pledge　ourselves　to　sacrifice　all　in　the　cause　of　Han。〃

Dong　Cheng　began　to　feel　very　satisfied。　He　produced　a　roll　of　white　silk　and　wrote　his　own　name　at　the　top　and　signed　it；　and　Wang　Zifu　followed　suit。

Then　the　visitor　said；　〃General　Wu　Zilan　is　one　of　my　best　friends。　He　ought　to　be　allowed　to　e　in。〃

Dong　Cheng　replied；　〃Of　all　the　officials　of　the　court；　mander　Chong　Ji　and　Court　Counselor　Wu　Shi　are　my　best　friends。　Certainly　they　would　back　me　up。〃

So　the　discussion　proceeded。　Presently　a　servant　announced　no　other　than　these　very　two　men　Dong　Cheng　just　mentioned。

〃This　is　providential；〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　and　he　told　Wang　Zifu　to　hide　behind　a　screen。

The　two　guests　were　led　into　the　library；　and　after　the　exchange　of　the　ordinary　civilities　and　a　cup　of　tea；　Chong　Ji　referred　to　the　incident　at　the　hunt　and　the　shooting　of　the　stag。

〃Were　you　not　angry　at　that？〃　said　Chong　Ji。

Dong　Cheng　answered；　〃Though　we　be　angry；　what　can　we　do？〃

Wu　Shi　struck　in；　saying；　〃I　would　slay　this　fellow；　I　swear；　but　I　cannot　get　anyone　to　back　me　up。〃

〃One　should　perish　for　one's　country；　one　should　not　mind；〃　said　Chong　Ji。

At　this　moment　Wang　Zifu　appeared　from　behind　the　screen；　saying；　〃You　two　want　to　kill　Cao　Cao！　I　shall　have　to　let　him　know　this。　And　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　is　my　witness。〃

〃A　loyal　minist