"You are making a mistake! I have but just come, and the saviour of my comforts is as yet unknown to you." "But, I am tired...." "In that case, take one of these pills...." And he handed her a packet. But she was afraid that it might be poison and placed it on the bed, contriving in the same movement to dip her fingers in the vermilion and to stroke the newcomer's head. He was even more terrible than the former, and did not cease before cock-crow. As the old song says: In an old stone mortar Where so many pestles have been worn away, There is need of a heavy copper hammer, Or the work is lost. At dawn, another bonze appeared and said to them in a low voice: "Perhaps you have had your fill. Is not my turn coming?" The first bonze gave a chuckle, but rose and went out. The other then got upon the bed, and very gently caressed Mei-chieh. She pretended to repulse him, but he kissed her upon the lips, and said in her ear: "If he has fatigued you, I have here some pills which will restore the Springtime of your thoughts." And he thrust a pill into her mouth, which she could not avoid swallowing. A perfume rose from her mouth into her nostrils, and caused her bones to melt, imbuing her body with delicious warmth. But, even while thinking of herself, Mei-chieh did not forget the Governor's orders. She marked the head of this new assailant also, saying: "What a nice sleek old pate!" The bonze burst out laughing: "I am full of tender and reliable emotions. I am not like the unmannerly people of our town. Come and see me often." And he retired. Meanwhile the Governor had left his yamen by the fifth watch, before the day had yet broken, accompanied by an escort of about a hundred resolute men, carrying chains and manacles. Arriving at the still closed gate of the monastery, he made the greater part of his train hide to the right and left, keeping only some ten men about him. The secretary knocked at the gate, crying that the Governor was there and wished to enter. The first bonzes who heard his shout made haste to arrange their garments and receive the visitor. But the Lord Wang, paying no attention to their salutations, went straight to the apartment of the Superior, who was already up and prepared to begin the ritual of his greeting. But the Governor dryly ordered him to summon all the bonzes, and to show him the Convent register. Somewhat alarmed, the Superior ordered bells and drums to be sounded, and the bonzes, snatched from their sleep, ran up in groups. When the names written on the register had been called, the Governor commanded the astonished monks to remove their skullcaps. In the full light of the morning sun three heads were seen to be marked with vermilion, but, Oh, prodigy, no less than eleven heads were covered with black ink! "It no longer surprises me that these prayers should be so successful," murmured the secretary. "Indeed these bonzes are very conscientious!"