"It is too late to-day. But I will go to him to-morrow morning. Give me a pledge of re-assurance for him."
"Assuredly! Take the other slipper. He will give it back to me to-morrow."
The old woman hid it in her sleeve, for the mother came in by this time with the tea. Soon after, she took up her basket and went away, accompanied to the door by the two women.
She went straight to the house of Chang, but he was out. She offered her flowers to the women of the house, waiting for some part of the day in vain.
Next morning she went again to find the young man, but he had not returned. She went away thoughtful.
The truth is that Chang had remained three days in the house of a Flower-in-the-Mist. When he returned and heard of the old woman's two visits, he hastened to find her. She said to him:
"The pledge of love which you entrusted to me is in her hand. She bade me tell you that her father is dangerous, but that he is to be away for a long time shortly. She will inform us." On his return journey the young man passed by P'an's house. Eternal Life was at her window, and they smiled tenderly at one another.
Three months had passed. Chang was sitting one morning in his library, when his servants told him that four police officers had come with a summons. He asked himself fearfully whether he had been mixed up in any scandal at a pleasure house; but he had to obey. He questioned the officers.
"It is a matter of taxes and duties," they answered.