They did so. “See here, the king is very sick, and they have called all the physicians from all the eight provinces for a consultation. They have declared that the only means to obtain healing is to find the nose of a man just like this, and to concoct a remedy from it. This is why we have been commanded by the Court, where they have said to us, putting in our hand this sketch of the nose: ‘Without distinction of place or person if you meet a nose similar to this, strike it off and produce it before us in this place.’ Obeying this severe order we have been out many times without being able to find a nose conforming to the sketch, and thus far have made useless journeys, but now, without peradventure, your honorable father’s nose exactly resembles this. We demand to see him, and wherever he may be we shall not depart till we have cut it off.” The son cried out: “Perhaps they do say such things!” “Who dare oppose the government business? Hurry, hurry, strike it off and we’ll go.” The son fell into a study and reflected. “It is an affair of state. This is a matter which we cannot prevent. Cut it off, they say, but to cut off the nose of my old father, that is altogether impossible. The entire family, men, women, young and old, every one will be plunged into woe. You can bear away the half of our fortune at least, if you will go away without taking my father’s nose.” The officer replied, “We had proposed to ourselves to depart only after having cut off the nose. However, as this is a matter of a son devoted to his father, and that they may not repress filial piety in others, we shall not cut off the nose. If you will give us a certain sum we will go elsewhere to procure a nose which we shall present to the king.” He accepted with thanks a sum equal to many times ten thousand strings of cash, for which he gave a receipt, told the sender of the money such a day, such a place, and on leaving offered this recommendation: “Upon the whole, say nothing of this affair. If it should leak out, and the government comes to know that having found a proper nose we have been bribed not to cut it off, we shall be arrested and put to death, they will certainly cut off your father’s nose and take your money also. Pray then be careful not to divulge this secret.” Upon this they took their leave. Overjoyed at not having his parent’s nose amputated, but believing that the king on being informed would send again on this business, the son dared let no one know until the day of his father’s death. Then breaking the silence he said, “I have bought my father’s nose for —— thousand strings of cash.” The story here told explains itself. Cheng-chong was the Haroun al Raschid of Corea. AN INSTANCE OF ROYAL SOLICITUDE.