第87部分(第3/7 页)

d　of　a　lute　most　skillfully　played　and　the　air　was　extremely　beautiful。　He　stopped　his　guide　and　would　not　allow　him　to　announce　a　visitor；　but　stood　there　rapt　by　the　melody。

Suddenly　the　music　ceased。

He　heard　a　deep　laugh　and　a　man　appeared；　saying；　〃Amidst　the　clear　and　subtle　sounds　of　the　lute；　there　suddenly　rang　out　a　high　note　as　though　some　noble　man　was　near。〃

〃That　is　my　master；〃　said　the　lad　pointing。

Liu　Bei　saw　before　him　a　figure　slender　and　straight　as　a　pine　tree；　a　very　〃chosen　vessel〃。　Hastening　forward　he　saluted。　The　skirt　of　his　robe　was　still　wet　from　the　river。

〃You　have　escaped　from　a　grave　danger　today；　Sir；〃　said　Water　Mirror。

Liu　Bei　was　startled　into　silence；　and　the　cowherd　said　to　his　master；　〃This　is　Liu　Bei。〃

Water　Mirror　asked　him　to　enter；　and　when　they　were　seated　in　their　relative　positions　as　host　and　guest；　Liu　Bei　glanced　round　the　room。　Upon　the　bookshelves　were　piled　books　and　manuscripts。　The　window　opened　upon　an　exquisite　picture　of　pines　and　bamboos　and　a　lute　lay　upon　a　stone　couch。　The　room　showed　refinement　in　its　last　degree。

〃Whence　e　you；　Illustrious　Sir？〃　asked　the　host。

〃By　chance　I　was　passing　this　way　and　the　lad　pointed　you　out　to　me。　So　I　came　to　bow　in　your　honored　presence。　I　cannot　tell　what　pleasure　it　gives　me。〃

Water　Mirror　laughed；　saying；　〃Why　this　mystery？　Why　must　you　conceal　the　truth？　You　have　certainly　just　escaped　from　a　grave　danger。〃

Then　Liu　Bei　told　the　story　of　the　banquet　and　the　flight。

〃I　knew　it　all　from　your　appearance；〃　said　his　host。　〃Your　name　has　long　been　familiar；　but　whence　es　it　that；　up　to　the　present；　you　are　only　a　homeless　devil？〃

〃I　have　suffered　many　a　check　during　my　life；〃　said　Liu　B