第19部分(第2/7 页)

sh　beneath　a　myriad　swords！〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you！〃　said　Wang　Yun。

Then　Wang　Yun　took　from　the　family　treasury　many　pearls　and　bade　a　cunning　jeweler　make　therewith　a　fine　golden　headdress；　which　was　sent　as　a　present　to　Lu　Bu。　He　was　delighted　and　came　to　thank　the　donor。　When　Lu　Bu　arrived；　he　was　met　at　the　gate　by　Wang　Yun　himself　and　within　found　a　table　full　of　dainties　for　his　delectation。　He　was　conducted　into　the　private　apartments　and　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor。

Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　am　but　a　simple　officer　in　the　palace　of　a　minister。　You　are　an　exalted　officer　of　state。　Why　am　I　treated　thus？〃

〃Because　in　the　whole　land　there　is　no　hero　your　equal。　Poor　Wang　Yun　bows　not　to　an　officer's　rank；　poor　Wang　Yun　bows　to　his　ability　〃

This　gratified　Lu　Bu　mightily；　and　his　host　continued　to　praise　and　flatter　and　ply　him　with　wine　and　to　talk　of　the　virtues　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　his　henchman。

Lu　Bu　laughed　and　drank　huge　goblets。

Presently　most　of　the　attendants　were　sent　away；　only　a　few　kept　to　press　the　guest　to　drink。

When　the　guest　was　very　mellow；　Wang　Yun　suddenly　said；　〃Let　her　e　in！〃

Soon　appeared　two　attendants；　dressed　in　white；　leading　between　them　the　exquisite　and　fascinating　Diao　Chan。

〃Who　is　this？〃　said　Lu　Bu　startled　into　sobriety。

〃This　is　my　little　girl；　Diao　Chan。　You　will　not　be　annoyed　at　my　familiarity；　will　you？　But　you　have　been　so　very　friendly；　I　thought　you　would　like　to　see　her。〃

Wang　Yun　bade　Diao　Chan　present　a　goblet　of　wine；　and　her　eyes　met　those　of　the　warrior。

Wang　Yun　feigning　intoxication　said；　〃My　little　child　begs　you；　General；　to　take　a　cup　or　two。　We　all　depend　upon　you；　all　our　house。〃

Lu　Bu　begged　Diao　Chan　to　sit　down。　She　p