第19部分(第3/7 页)

retended　to　wish　to　retire。　Her　master　pressed　her　to　remain；　saying　that　she　might　do　so　since　the　guest　was　a　dear　friend。　So　she　took　a　seat　modestly　near　her　master。

Lu　Bu　kept　his　gaze　fixed　upon　the　maid；　while　he　swallowed　cup　after　cup　of　wine。

〃I　should　like　to　present　her　to　you　as　a　handmaid：　Would　you　accept？〃　said　Wang　Yun。

The　guest　started　up。

〃If　that　is　so；　you　may　rely　upon　my　abject　gratitude；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃We　will　choose　a　propitious　day　ere　long　and　send　her　to　the　palace。〃

Lu　Bu　was　overjoyed。　He　could　not　keep　his　eyes　off　Diao　Chan；　and　loving　glances　flashed　from　her　liquid　eyes。

However　the　time　came　for　the　guest　to　leave；　and　Wang　Yun　said；　〃I　would　ask　you　to　remain　the　night；　but　the　Prime　Minister　might　suspect　something。〃

Lu　Bu　thanked　him　again　and　again　and　departed。

Some　few　days　later　when　Wang　Yun　was　at　court　and　Lu　Bu　was　absent；　Wang　Yun　bowed　low　before　Dong　Zhuo　and　said；　〃I　wish　that　you　would　deign　to　e　to　dine　at　my　lowly　cottage：　Could　your　noble　thought　bend　that　way？〃

〃Should　you　invite　me；　I　would　certainly　hasten；〃　was　the　reply。

Wang　Yun　thanked　him。　Then　Wang　Yun　went　home　and　prepared　in　the　reception　hall　a　feast　in　which　figured　every　delicacy　from　land　and　sea。　Beautiful　embroideries　surrounded　the　chief　seat　in　the　center；　and　elegant　curtains　were　hung　within　and　without。　At　noon　next　day；　when　the　Prime　Minister　arrived；　Wang　Yun　met　him　at　the　gate　in　full　court　costume。　Wang　Yun　stood　by　while　Dong　Zhuo　stepped　out　of　his　chariot；　and　Dong　Zhuo　and　a　host　of　one　hundred　armed　guards　crowded　into　the　hall。　Dong　Zhuo　took　his　seat　at　the　top；　his　suite　fell　into　two　lines　right　and　left；　while　Wang　Yun　stood　humbly　at　the　lower　end。　Don