er　does　not　mind　death。　If　we　are　killed；　we　will　be　Han　ghosts；　which　is　better　than　being　sycophants　of　a　traitor；〃　said　Chong　Ji；　angrily。

Dong　Cheng　said；　〃We　were　just　saying　we　wanted　to　see　you　two　on　this　matter。　Wang　Zifu　is　only　joking。〃

Then　he　drew　forth　the　decree　and　showed　it　to　the　two　newers；　who　also　wept　as　they　read　it。　They　were　asked　to　add　their　names　to　the　silk　roll。

Wang　Zifu　said；　〃Wait　here　a　few　moments　till　I　get　Wu　Zilan　to　e。〃

He　left　the　room　and　very　soon　returned　with　his　friend；　who　also　wrote　his　name　in　the　presence　of　all　the　others。

After　this　they　went　into　one　of　the　inner　chambers　to　drink　success　to　the　new　plot。　While　there；　a　new　visitor；　Ma　Teng；　Governor　of　Xiliang；　was　announced。

〃Say　I　am　indisposed；〃　said　the　host；　〃and　cannot　receive　visitors。〃

The　doorkeeper　took　the　message；　whereat　Ma　Teng　angrily　said；　〃Last　night　at　the　Donghua　Gate；　I　saw　him　e　out　in　robe　and　girdle。　How　can　he　pretend　illness　today？　I　am　not　e　from　mere　idleness；　why　does　he　refuse　to　see　me？〃

The　doorkeeper　went　in　again　and　told　his　master　what　the　visitor　had　said　and　that　he　was　very　angry。　Then　Dong　Cheng　rose；　excused　himself　saying　he　would　soon　return；　and　went　to　receive　Ma　Teng。

After　the　visitor　had　saluted　and　they　were　both　seated；　Ma　Teng　said；　〃I　have　just　e　from　a　farewell　audience　and　wished　to　bid　you　good　bye。　Why　did　you　want　to　put　me　off？〃

〃My　poor　body　was　taken　suddenly　ill。　That　is　why　I　was　not　waiting　to　wele　you；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。

〃You　do　not　look　as　if　you　were　ill。　Your　face　wears　the　very　bloom　of　health；〃　said　Ma　Teng　bluntly。

His　host　could　say　no　more　and　was　silent。　The　visitor　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　rose　to　depart。

H