was　a　temple。〃

The　gate　wardens　were　questioned。　They　said；　〃There　are　scores　of　us　at　the　gate；　which　is　never　unwatched。　We　have　not　seen　a　man　enter。〃

Zhuge　Ke　raged　and　had　the　mourner　and　the　gate　wardens　put　to　death。　But　that　night　he　was　restless　and　sleepless。　By　and　by　he　heard　a　rending　sound　that　seemed　to　e　from　the　reception　hall；　so　he　arose　and　went　to　see　what　it　was。　The　great　main　beam　had　broken　in　two。

Zhuge　Ke；　much　disturbed；　returned　to　his　chamber　to　try　once　more　to　sleep。　But　a　cold　wind　blew；　and；　shivering　in　the　chilly　air；　he　saw　the　figures　of　the　mourner　and　the　gate　wardens　he　had　put　to　death。　They　advanced　toward　him　holding　their　heads　in　their　hands　and　seemed　to　threaten　him。　He　was　frightened；　and　fell　in　a　swoon。

Next　morning；　when　washing　his　face；　the　water　seemed　tainted　with　the　smell　of　blood。　He　bade　the　maid　throw　it　away　and　bring　more；　it　made　no　difference；　the　odor　was　still　there。　He　was　perplexed　and　distressed。　Then　came　a　messenger　with　an　invitation　to　a　royal　banquet。　He　had　his　carriage　prepared。　As　he　was　passing　through　the　gate；　a　yellow　dog　jumped　up　and　caught　hold　of　his　garment　and　then　howled　lugubriously。

〃The　dog　even　mocks　me！〃　said　he；　annoyed；　and　he　bade　his　attendants　take　it　away。

Then　he　set　out　for　the　Palace。　Before　he　had　gone　far；　he　saw　a　white　rainbow　rise　out　of　the　earth　and　reach　up　to　the　sky。　While　he　was　wondering　what　this　might　portend；　his　friend　Zhang　Yue　came　up　and　spoke　a　word　of　warning。

〃I　feel　doubtful　about　the　real　purpose　of　this　banquet；〃　said　Zhang　Yue；　〃and　advise　you　not　to　go。〃

Zhuge　Ke　gave　orders　to　drive　home　again。　But　before　he　had　reached　his　own　gate；　the　two　conspirators………Sun　Jun　and　Teng　Yin………rode　up