Bu　running　and　crying　out　that　you　wanted　to　kill　him；　and　I　was　ing　in　as　fast　as　I　could　to　intercede　for　him　when　I　accidentally　collided　with　you。　I　am　very　sorry。　I　deserve　death。〃

〃The　wretch！　How　could　I　bear　to　see　him　toying　with　my　fair　one？　I　will　be　the　death　of　his　yet。〃

〃Your　Graciousness　is　making　a　mistake。　It　is　the　'plucked　tassel'　story　over　again。　But　if　you　remember　the　banquet　of　old　time　where　all　guests　were　to　tear　the　tassels　of　their　hats。　In　that　banquet；　King　Zhuang　of　Chu　made　no　fuss　about　the　liberties　taken　with　his　queen；　although　the　hat…tassel　in　her　hand　betrayed　the　culprit　Jiang　Xiong。　His　restraint　stood　him　good　stead；　for　the　same　Jiang　Xiong　saved　his　life　when　he　was　hemmed　in　by　the　soldiers　of　Qin。　After　all　Diao　Chan　is　only　a　handmaid；　but　Lu　Bu　is　your　trustiest　friend　and　most　dreaded　mander。　If　you　took　this　chance　of　making　the　girl　over　to　him；　your　kindness　would　win　his　undying　gratitude。　I　beg　you；　Sir；　to　think　over　it　well。〃

Dong　Zhuo　hesitated　a　long　time。　He　sat　murmuring　to　himself。　Presently　he　said；　〃What　you　say　is　right。　I　must　think　over　it。〃

Li　Ru　felt　satisfied。　He　took　leave　of　his　master　and　went　away。　Dong　Zhuo　went　to　his　private　rooms　and　called　Diao　Chan。

〃What　were　you　doing　there　with　Lu　Bu？〃　said　he。

She　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃Thy　handmaid　was　in　the　garden　among　the　flowers；　when　he　rushed　in　on　me。　I　was　frightened　and　ran　away。　He　asked　why　I　ran　away　from　a　son　of　the　family　and　pursued　me　right　to　the　pavilion；　where　you　saw　us。　He　had　that　halberd　in　his　hand　all　the　time。　I　felt　he　was　a　vicious　man　and　would　force　me　to　his　will；　so　I　tried　to　throw　myself　into　the　lily　pond；　but　he　caught　me　in　his　arms　and　held　me　so　that　I　was　helpless。　Luc