"I myself can't explain，" replied Ming Yen； "but just a few minutes ago an old man belonging to his family came over with the express purpose of giving me the tidings."

Upon hearing this news， Pao-yue there and then turned round and told dowager lady Chia； and the old lady issued directions to depute some trustworthy persons to accompany him. "Let him go，" （she said）， "and satisfy his feelings towards his fellow-scholar； but as soon as he has done， he must come back； and don't let him tarry too long."

Pao-yue with hurried step left the room and came and changed his clothes. But as on his arrival outside， the carriage had not as yet been got ready， he fell into such a state of excitement， that he went round and round all over the hall in quite an erratic manner. In a short while， after pressure had been brought to bear， the carriage arrived， and speedily mounting the vehicle， he drove up to the door of Ch'in Chung's house， followed by Li Kuei， Ming Yen and the other servants. Everything was quiet. Not a soul was about. Like a hive of bees they flocked into the house， to the astonishment of two distant aunts， and of several male cousins of Ch'in Chung， all of whom had no time to effect their retreat.

Ch'in Chung had， by this time， had two or three fainting fits， and had already long ago been changed his mat. As soon as Pao-yue realised the situation， he felt unable to repress himself from bursting forth aloud. Li Kuei promptly reasoned with him. "You shouldn't go on in this way，" he urged， "you shouldn't. It's because Mr. Ch'in is so weak that lying flat on the stove-couch naturally made his bones feel uncomfortable； and that's why he has temporarily been removed down here to ease him a little. But if you， sir， go on in this way， will you not， instead of doing him any good， aggravate his illness？"

At these words， Pao-yue accordingly restrained himself， and held his tongue； and drawing near， he gazed at Ch'in Chung's face， which was as white as wax， while with closed eyes， he gasped for breath， rolling about on his pillow.

"Brother Ching，" speedily exclaimed Pao-yue， "Pao-yue is here！" But though he shouted out two or three consecutive times， Ch'in Chung did not heed him.

"Pao-yue has come！" Pao-yue went on again to cry. But Ch'in Chung's spirit had already departed from his body， leaving behind only a faint breath of superfluous air in his lungs.

He had just caught sight of a number of recording devils， holding a warrant and carrying chains， coming to seize him， but Ch'in Chung's soul would on no account go along with them； and remembering how that there was in his home no one to assume the direction of domestic affairs， and feeling concerned that Chih Neng had as yet no home， he consequently used hundreds of arguments in his entreaties to the recording devils； but alas！ these devils would， none of them， show him any favour. On the contrary， they heaped invectives upon Ch'in Chung.

"You're fortunate enough to be a man of letters，" they insinuated， "and don't you know the common saying that： 'if the Prince of Hell call upon you to die at the third watch， who can presume to retain you， a human being， up to the fifth watch？' In our abode， in the unseen， high as well as low， have all alike a face made of iron， and heed not selfish motives； unlike the mortal world， where favouritism and partiality prevail. There exist therefore many difficulties in the way （to our yielding to your wishes）。"

While this fuss was going on， Ch'in Chung's spirit suddenly grasped the four words， "Pao-yue has come，" and without loss of time， it went on again to make further urgent appeals. "Gentlemen， spiritual deputies，" it exclaimed； "show me a little mercy and allow me to return to make just one remark to an intimate friend of mine， and I'll be back again."

"What intimate friend is this again？" the devils observed with one voice.

"I'm not deceiving you， gentlemen，" rejoined Ch'in Chung； "it's the grandson of the duke of Jung Kuo， whose infant name is Pao-yue."

the Decider of life was， at first， upon hearing these words， so seized with dismay that he vehemently abused the devils sent on the errand.

"I told you，" he shouted， "to let him go back for a turn； but you would by no means comply with my words！ and now do you wait until he has summoned a man of glorious fortune and prosperous standing to at last desist？"

When the company of devils perceived the manner of the Decider of life， they were all likewise so seized with consternation that they bustled with hand and feet； while with hearts also full of resentment： "You， sir，" they replied， "were at one time such a terror， formidable as lightning； and are you not forsooth able to listen with equanimity to the two sounds of 'Pao-yue？' our humble idea is that mortal as he is， and immortal as we are， it wouldn't be to our credit if we feared him！"

But whether Ch'in Chung， after all， died or survived， the next chapter will explain.