"
"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.
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