〃He　is　very　mad；　really；〃　said　his　two　hosts。

Guan　Lu　went　home。　When　he　saw　his　uncle；　Guan　Lu　gave　him　an　account　of　the　interview。

His　uncle　was　alarmed　at　the　probable　consequences；　and　said；　〃Why　did　you　anger　them？　They　are　too　powerful　for　you　to　offend。〃

〃What　is　there　to　fear？　I　have　been　talking　to　two　dead　men。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Deng　Yang's　gait　is　that　of　one　whose　sinews　are　loosed　from　his　bones；　and　his　pulse　is　unsteady。　When　he　would　stand；　he　totters　as　a　man　without　limbs。　This　is　the　aspect　of　a　disembodied　soul。　He　Yan　looks　as　if　his　soul　was　about　to　quit　its　habitation。　He　is　bloodless；　and　what　should　be　solid　in　him　is　mere　vapor。　He　looks　like　rotten　wood。　This　is　the　aspect　of　a　soul　even　now　in　the　dark　valley。　Both　these　men　will　certainly　soon　die　a　violent　death；　and　none　need　fear　them。〃

His　uncle　left；　cursing　him　for　a　madman。

Cao　Shuang　and　his　five　friends　were　devoted　to　hunting　and　were　often　out　of　the　city。　Cao　Xi；　a　brother　of　Cao　Shuang；　remonstrated　with　him　about　this　and　pointed　out　the　dangers　of　such　frequent　absence　on　these　excursions。

〃You　are　in　an　exalted　position　and　yet　you　are　constantly　being　out　hunting。　If　anyone　took　advantage　of　this　to　work　you　evil；　you　might　have　to　be　exceedingly　regretful。〃

Cao　Shuang　only　showed　anger　and　replied；　〃The　whole　military　authority　is　in　my　hands；　and　what　is　there　to　fear？〃

Huan　Fan；　Minister　of　Agriculture；　also　reasoned　with　him；　but　Cao　Shuang　would　not　listen。

About　this　time　the　style　of　the　reign　was　changed　from　Right　Beginning；　the　tenth　year；　to　Domestic　Calm；　the　first　year　（AD　249）。

Now　ever　since　Cao　Shuang　had　enjoyed　the　monopoly　of　military　authority；　he　had　never　heard　the