Naturally, when little Victorious-Immortal had heard the foul Chou's violent words, her despair had made her lose all sign of life. It was for this reason that she had been put in her coffin while still alive. Aroused now by the cold, her first thought was to remember her father's anger. Her only refuge then was the house of her betrothed, and she said: "If you will take me to The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, you may have a heavy reward." "That is easy," answered Feng, seeking in vain for how he should escape. Ought he to kill her? He hardly had the courage after such a shock. He decided to give her back a few clothes. He put the jewels and his implements in the sack, together with the extinguished lantern, and quickly covered the grave with earth again. Then, because the girl was too weak to walk, he took her on his back and went away from that place. But instead of going to Fan's house, he went to his own. His mother opened the door to him, and cried in terror: "Have you stolen the corpse also?" "Do not speak so loud," he answered, setting down his burdens. He went to his bed, and there put little Victorious-Immortal. He drew a knife from his girdle and showed it to the girl: "Little one, I have some business to settle with you. If we come to an agreement, I will take you to Fan's house. If not, you very well behold this knife, and I shall cut you in two pieces." "What do you want with me?" she asked. "You are going to stay here without making a noise and without trying to escape, until I take you to Fan. As for the rest, we will speak of it another time." "I will do so! I will indeed do so!" Then the nasty youth led his mother into the next room to calm her a little. "But what are you going to do?" she asked. "Do you think we can be safe when she has gone to Fan?" "I am not going to take her to Fan." "What are you going to do, then?" He gave a country laugh, full of suggestion. * * * * * Matters so continued until the fifteenth day of the first Moon, the evening of the Feast of Lanterns. Feng went out to see the illuminations, and also to profit by the opportunities for theft which are always afforded in a crowd. The evening wore on, and he had not yet returned, when a shout arose among the neighbors. Feng's mother opened the door to see what was the matter. A fire had broken out near there. In terror, the old woman made haste to carry her furniture into the yard. Profiting by this confusion, the girl slipped through the door; but in the street she did not know which way to turn. At last she found the road to the Ts'ao Gate, and was running in that direction when she lost herself again. However, when at length she asked where The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge might be, she was shown a near way to it. The attendant was before the door, and she asked him very politely: "Ten thousand happinesses! Is not this the house of Fan and Erh-lang?" "Certainly it is, small lady."