They rode first through Kao-liang and then through orchards to the Ming tombs. Each rider rode in a little dream of donkey bells and of affectionate conversation between the donkeys and the running drivers. The drivers said “Trrk trrk” and “K’erh-to” and “Tsou-pa” and “Yueh,” and the donkeys danced along, crossing their delicate little hoofs as if on a tight rope, and signalling with their soft dusty ears. Very close to a road of rust, Very close to the red ground, Till he dies he dwells In the dust Of his donkey’s feet, in the sound Of his donkey’s bells.... The travellers reached the Ming tombs at Sunset. The precarious last light of the sun was spilled over the shining golden roofs. There was a master tomb crouching among its many courtyards, and the disciple tombs on the wooded slopes imitated it respectfully. The marble steps and the carved and knotted marble balustrades seemed to hold light. In the main hall of the main tomb great plain trunks of trees were the pillars bridging the dusky air between the candle-lit pavement and the ceiling. A little marble empty coffin in the innermost place was the only reminder of the fact that the brittle and ridiculous bones of a dead man were the treasure in this sombre splendid casket. This was man’s defence against his smallness. “Never dust to dust now,” said the dust of the dead Emperor. But his defence was crumbling. The marble and gold pavilion and the years were playing him false. Edward could not sleep on his camp bed between the great pillars of the entrance. He leaned his chin upon the marble balustrade and watched the darkness. The writhing outlines of cedars and pavilions in the starlight were gold no more. The dragons and the branches of the cedars wrestled together in the dark and were entangled. Edward was desperately patient with Stone Ponting. He was comforted in this period of doubt by the constant mention of Emily, but he knew Stone well enough now never to suggest that they should go together in search of her. It was impossible for Edward to be charming and Stone did not care for him at all. But they both tried to disguise foolishly delighted smiles when Emily’s name was mentioned, and both were conscious of the impossibility of boring each other on a topic which both took pains to introduce. They rode together in Peking. Edward was a bad horseman but he always felt rather heroic on a horse. They rode outside the walls of the Forbidden City. “I’d like to see a eunuch,” said Stone. “Doc’s bin talking no end about eunuchs. Say, listen, did you know they can whatch women in their tubs ’n’ everything and nobody give a whoop? When I was a kid I useter think eunuchs was a Turkish tribe. These Orientals is all queer. Say listen, Edward, d’you reckon we could tell a eunuch if we seedum?” “I guess so,” said Edward. “Let’s keep our eyes open.”