the mirror of kong ho-第25章
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was only bright while the sun was hid； and that I had lately been
dazzled with the sight of so much brilliance and virtuous
condescension that there were occasions when I questioned inwardly how
much I had really witnessed； and how much had been conveyed to me in
the nature of an introspective vision。
It will already have been made plain to you； O my courtly…mannered
father； that these barbarians are totally deficient in the polite art
whereby two persons may carry on a flattering and highly…attuned
conversation； mutually advantageous to the esteem of each； without it
being necessary in any way that their statements should have more than
an ornamental actuality。 So wanting in this； the most concentrated
form of truly well…bred entertainment； are even their high officials；
that after a few more remarks； to which I made answer in a spirit of
skilfully…sustained elusiveness； the utterly obtuse Sir Philip said at
length； 〃Excuse my asking； Mr。 Kong； but have you really been to the
Alexandra Palace at all？〃
Admittedly there are few occasions in life on which it is not possible
to fail to see the inopportune or low…class by a dignified
impassiveness of features； an adroitly…directed jest； or a remark of
baffling inconsequence； but in the face of so distressingly
straightforward a demand what can be advanced by a person of
susceptible refinement when opposed to one of incomparably larger
dimensions； imprisoned by his side in the recess of a fire…chariot
which is leaping forward with uncurbed velocity； and surrounded by
demons with whose habits and partialities he is unfamiliar？
〃In a manner of expressing the circumstance；〃 I replied； 〃it is not to
be denied that this person's actual footsteps may have imperceptibly
been drawn somewhat aside from the path of his former design。 Yet
inasmuch as it is truly said that the body is in all things
subservient to the mind； and is led withersoever it is willed； and as
your engaging directions were scrupulously observed with undeviating
fidelity； it would be impertinently self…opinionated on this person's
part to imply that they failed to guide him to his destination。 Thus；
for all ceremonial purposes； it is permissible conscientiously to
assume that he HAS been there。〃
〃I am afraid that I must not have been sufficiently clear；〃 said Sir
Philip。 〃Did you miss the train at King's Cross？〃
〃By no means；〃 I replied firmly； pained inwardly that he should cast
the shadow of such narrow incompetence upon me。 〃Seeing this machine
on the point of setting forth on a journey； even as your overwhelming
sagacity had enabled you to predict would be the case； I embarked with
self…reliant confidence。〃
〃Good lord！〃 murmured the person opposite； beginning to manifest an
excess of emotion for which I was quite unable to account。 〃Then you
have been in this trainyour actual footsteps I mean； Mr。 Kong； not
your ceremonial abstract subliminal egoever since？〃
To this I replied that his words shone like the moon at midnight with
scintillating points of truth； adding； however； as the courtesies of
the occasion required； that I had been so impressed with the
many…sided brilliance of his conversation earlier in the day as to
render the flight of time practically unnoticed by me。
〃But did it never occur to you to ask at one of the stations？〃 he
demanded； still continuing to wave his hands incapably from side to
side。 〃Any of the porters would have told you。〃
〃Kong Li Heng； the founder of our line； who was really great； has been
dead eleven centuries； and no single fact or incident connected with
his life has been preserved to influence mankind；〃 I replied。 〃How
much less will it matter； then； even in so limited a space of time as
a hundred years； in what fashion so insignificant a person as the one
before you acted on any occasion； and why； therefore； should he
distress himself unnecessarily to any precise end？〃 In this manner I
sought to place before him the dignified example of an
imperturbability which can be maintained in every emergency； and at
the same time to administer a plain yet scrupulously…sheathed rebuke；
for the inauspicious manner in which he had first drawn me on to speak
confidently of the ceremonies of the Royal Palace and then held up my
inadequacy to undeserved contempt had not rejoiced my imagination； and
I was still uncertain how much to claim； and whether； perchance； even
yet a more subtle craft lay under all。
〃Well； in any case； when you go back you can claim the distinction of
having been taken seven times round London； although you can't really
have seen much of it；〃 said Sir Philip。 〃This is a Circle train。〃
At this assertion I looked up。 Though admittedly curved a little about
the roof the chariot was in every essential degree what we should
pronounce to be a square one； whereupon； feeling at length that the
involvement had definitely passed to a point beyond my contemptible
discernment； I spread out my hands acquiescently and affably remarked
that the days were lengthening out pleasantly。
In such a manner I became acquainted with the one Sir Philip； and
thereby； in a somewhat circuitous line； the original purpose which
possessed my brush when I began this inept and commonplace letter is
reached； for the person in question not only lay upon himself the
obligation of leading me 〃by the strings of his apron…garment〃in the
characteristic and fanciful turn of the barbarian languageto that
same Palace on the following day； but thenceforth gracefully affecting
to discern certain agreeable virtues in my conversation and custom of
habit he frequently sought me out。 More recently； on the double plea
that they of his household had a desire to meet me； and that if I
spent all my time within the Capital my impressions of the Island
would necessarily be ill…balanced and deformed； he advanced a project
that I should accompany him to a spot where； as far as I was competent
to grasp the idiom； he was in the habit of sitting （doubtless in an
abstruse reverie）； in the country； and having assured myself by means
of discreet innuendo that the seat referred to would be adequate for
this person also； and that the occasion did not in any way involve a
payment of money； I at once expressed my willingness towards the
adventure。
With numerous expressions of unfeigned regret （from a filial point of
view） that the voice of one of the maidens of the household； lifted in
the nature of a defiance against this one to engage with her in a
two…handed conflict of hong pong； obliges him to bring this immature
composition to a hasty close。
KONG HO。
LETTER X
Concerning the authority of this high official； Sir Philip。
The side…slipperyness of barbarian etiquette。 The hurl…
headlong sportiveness and that achieving its end by means of
curved mallets。
VENERATED SIRE；If this person's memory is accurately poised on the
detail； he was compelled to abandon his former letter （when on the
point of describing the customs of these outer places）； in order to
take part in a philosophical discussion with some of the venerable
sages of the neighbourhood。
Resuming the narration where it had reached this remote province of
the Empire； it is a suitable opportunity to explain that this same Sir
Philip is here greeted on every side with marks of deferential
submission； a
