第60部分(第4/7 页)

　Wang　Zifu　said；　〃Well；　what　have　you　seen　and　where？〃

Quin　Quington　replied；　〃You　five　very　carefully　chose　retired　places　to　talk　in；　and　you　secretly　signed　a　white　roll。　You　cannot　deny　that。〃

Wang　Zifu　replied；　〃This　miserable　creature　was　punished　for　misbehavior　with　one　of　Uncle　Dong　Cheng's　maids；　and　now　because　of　that　he　slanders　his　master。　You　must　not　listen　to　him。〃

〃Ji　Ping　tried　to　pour　poison　down　my　throat。　Who　told　him　to　do　that　if　it　was　not　Dong　Cheng？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

They　all　said　they　knew　nothing　about　who　it　was。

〃So　far；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　〃matters　are　only　beginning；　and　there　is　a　chance　of　forgiveness。　But　if　the　thing　grows；　it　will　be　difficult　not　to　take　notice　of　it。〃

The　whole　four　vigorously　denied　that　any　plot　existed。　However　Cao　Cao　called　up　his　henchmen；　and　the　four　men　were　put　into　confinement。

Next　day　Cao　Cao　with　a　large　following　went　to　the　State　Uncle's　palace　to　ask　after　his　health。

Dong　Cheng　came　out　to　receive　his　visitor；　who　at　once　said；　〃Why　did　you　not　e　last　night？〃

〃I　am　not　quite　well　yet　and　have　to　be　very　careful　about　going　out；〃　replied　Dong　Cheng。

〃One　might　say　you　were　suffering　from　national　sorrow；　eh？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Dong　Cheng　started。　Cao　Cao　continued；　〃Have　you　heard　of　the　Ji　Ping　affair？〃

〃No；　what　is　it？〃

Cao　Cao　smiled　coldly；　saying；　〃How　can　it　be　you　do　not　know？〃

He　turned　to　his　attendants　and　told　them　to　bring　in　the　prisoner；　while　he　went　on　talking　to　his　host　about　national　illness。

Dong　Cheng　was　much　put　about　and　knew　not　what　to　do。　Soon　the　gaolers　led　in　the　physician　to　the　steps　of　the　hall。　At　once　the　bound　man　began　to　rail　at　Cao　Cao　as　rebel　and　traitor。

〃Th