第10部分(第5/7 页)

n　precious　signs　and　very　keen………a　fine　sword　in　very　truth。　Dong　Zhuo　handed　the　weapon　to　Lu　Bu　while　Cao　Cao　took　off　the　sheath　which　he　also　gave　to　Lu　Bu。

Then　they　went　out　to　look　at　the　horse。　Cao　Cao　was　profuse　in　his　thanks　and　said　he　would　like　to　try　the　horse。　So　Dong　Zhuo　bade　the　guards　bring　saddle　and　bridle。　Cao　Cao　led　the　creature　outside；　leapt　into　the　saddle；　laid　on　his　whip　vigorously；　and　galloped　away　eastward。

Lu　Bu　said；　〃Just　as　I　was　ing　up；　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　that　fellow　was　going　to　stab　you；　only　a　sudden　panic　seized　him　and　he　presented　the　weapon　instead。〃

〃I　suspected　him　too！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

Just　then　Li　Ru　came　in　and　they　told　him。

〃Cao　Cao　has　no　family　here　in　the　capital　but　lodges　quite　alone　and　not　far　away；〃　said　Li　Ru。　〃Send　for　him。　If　he　es　forthwith；　the　sword　was　meant　as　a　gift。　But　if　he　makes　any　excuses；　he　had　bad　intentions。　And　you　can　arrest　him。〃

They　sent　four　prison　warders　to　call　Cao　Cao。

They　were　absent　a　long　time　and　then　came　back；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　had　not　returned　to　his　lodging　but　rode　in　hot　haste　out　of　the　eastern　gate。　To　the　gate　mander's　questions　he　replied　that　he　was　on　a　special　message　for　the　Prime　Minister。　He　went　off　at　full　speed。〃

〃His　conscience　pricked　him　and　so　he　fled。　There　is　no　doubt　that　he　meant　assassination！〃　said　Li　Ru。

〃And　I　trusted　him　so　well！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　in　a　rage。

〃There　must　be　a　conspiracy　afoot。　When　we　catch　him；　we　shall　know　all　about　it；〃　said　Li　Ru。

Letters　and　pictures　of　the　fugitive　Cao　Cao　were　sent　everywhere　with　orders　to　catch　him。　A　large　reward　in　money　was　offered　and　a　patent　of　nobility；　while　those　who　sheltered　him　would　be　held　to　share　his　guilt。