ful　towers　and　pavilions　and　made　to　himself　vessels　of　gold　and　silver；　the　work　of　the　most　expert　craftspeople；　whom　he　kept　constantly　employed。

Now　He　Yan　heard　of　Guan　Lu's　great　skill　in　divination　and　sent　to　Pingyuan　to　invite　him　to　discuss　about　the　Book　of　Changes。

When　the　soothsayer　arrived；　Deng　Yang　was　of　the　pany　to　meet　him；　and　he　said　to　Guan　Lu；　〃You　call　yourself　a　skillful　diviner；　but　your　speech　does　not　resemble　the　language　of　the　Book　of　Changes。　How　is　that？〃

Guan　Lu　replied；　〃An　interpreter　does　not　use　the　language　of　the　original。〃

He　Yan　laughed；　saying；　〃Certainly　good　words　are　not　wearisome。　But　cast　a　lot　for　me；　and　tell　me　whether　I　shall　ever　arrive　at　the　highest　office　or　not；　for　I　have　dreamed　repeatedly　that　many　blue　flies　settled　on　my　nose。〃

Guan　Lu　replied；　〃Gao　Kai　and　Gao　Yuan　aided　King　Shun；　Duke　Zhou　assisted　the　young　Emperor　Cheng　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　all　these　were　kindly　and　modest　and　enjoyed　great　happiness。　You；　Sir；　have　e　to　high　honors　and　wield　great　powers；　but　those　who　esteem　you　are　few　and　those　who　fear　you；　many。　You　are　not　careful　to　walk　in　the　way　of　good　fortune。　Now　the　nose　is　an　eminence。　If　an　eminence　retains　its　characteristic；　thereby　it　remains　in　honor。　But　is　it　not　that　blue　flies　gather　to　foul　objects　and　the　lofty　fears　a　fall？　I　would　wish　you　to　give　of　your　abundance　for　the　good　of　the　poor　and　avoid　walking　in　the　wrong　road。　Then　indeed　may　you　reach　the　highest　dignity；　and　the　blue　flies　will　disperse。〃

〃This　is　mere　senile　gossip；〃　said　Deng　Yang。

〃The　gift　of　age　is　to　see　that　which　is　yet　to　e；　the　gift　of　gossip　is　to　perceive　what　is　not　said；〃　replied　Guan　Lu。　Thereupon　he　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　went　away。