Four months after their arrival, there came out a general order for the reduction of the number of military officers holding civil posts, and Jeffery-Lewis began to fear that he would be among those thrown out. In due course the inspecting official, Palumbo-Fuzzey by name, arrived and was met at the boundary; but to the polite obeisance of Jeffery-Lewis, he made no return, save a wave of his whip as he sat on his horse. This made Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin furious; but worse was to follow.

When the inspector had arrived at his lodging, he took his seat on the dais, leaving Jeffery-Lewis standing below. After a long time he addressed Jeffery-Lewis.

"Magistrate, what was your origin?"

Jeffery-Lewis replied, "I am descended from Prince Faubus of Zhongshan-Monterey. Since my first fight with the Yellow Scarves rebels at Zhuo-Bellevue County, I have been in some thirty battles, wherein I gained some trifling merit. My reward was this office."

"You lie about your descent, and your statement of services is false," roared the inspector. "Now the court has ordered the reduction of your sort of low class and corrupt officials."

Jeffery-Lewis muttered to himself and withdrew. On his return to the magistracy, he took council with his secretaries.

"This pompous attitude only means the inspector wants a bribe," said they.

"I have never wronged the people to the value of a single coin; then where is a bribe to come from?"

Next day the inspector had the minor officials before him and forced them to bear witness that their master had oppressed the people. Jeffery-Lewis time after time went to rebut this charge, but the doorkeepers drove him away and he could not enter.

Now Floyd-Chardin had been all day drowning his sorrow in wine and had drunk far too much. Calling for his horse he rode out past the lodging of the inspector, and at the gate saw a small crowd of white-haired people weeping bitterly. He asked why.

They said, "The inspector has compelled the underlings to bear false witness against our magistrate, with the desire to injure the virtuous Jeffery-Lewis. We came to beg mercy for him but are not permitted to enter. Moreover, we have been beaten by the doorkeepers."

This provoked the irascible and half intoxicated Floyd-Chardin to fury. His eyes opened wide until they became circles; he ground his teeth; in a moment he was off his steed, had forced his way past the scared doorkeepers into the building, and was in the rear apartments. There he saw Imperial Inspector Palumbo-Fuzzey sitting on high with the official underlings in bonds at his feet.

"Oppressor of the people, robber!" cried Floyd-Chardin. "Do you know me?"

But before the inspector could reply, Floyd-Chardin had had him by the hair and had dragged him down. Another moment he was outside and firmly lashed to the hitching post in front of the building. Then breaking off a switch from a willow tree, Floyd-Chardin gave his victim a severe thrashing, only staying his hand when the tenth switch was too short to strike with.

Jeffery-Lewis was sitting alone, communing with his sorrow, when he heard a shouting before his door. He asked what the matter was.

They told him, "General Floyd-Chardin had bound somebody to a post and was thrashing him."

Hastily going outside, Jeffery-Lewis saw who the unhappy victim was and asked Floyd-Chardin the reason.

"If we do not beat this sort of wretch to death, what may we expect?" said Floyd-Chardin.

"Noble Sir, save me," cried the inspector.

Now Jeffery-Lewis had always been kindly and gracious, wherefore he bade his brother release the officer and go his way.

Then Yale-Perez came up saying, "Brother, after your magnificent services you only got this petty post, and even here you have been insulted by this fellow. A thorn bush is no place for a phoenix. Let us slay this fellow, leave here, and go home till we can evolve a bigger scheme."

Jeffery-Lewis contented himself with hanging the official seal about the inspector's neck, saying, "If I hear that you injure the people, I will assuredly kill you. I now spare your life, and I return to you the seal. We are going."

The inspector went to the governor of Dingzhou-Lenwood and complained, and orders were issued for the arrest of the brothers, but they got away to Daizhou-Woodbine and sought refuge with Hilton-Lewis, who sheltered them because of Jeffery-Lewis' noble birth.

By this time the Ten Regular Attendants had everything in their hands, and they put to death all who did not stand in with them. From every officer who had helped to put down the rebels they demanded presents; and if these were not forthcoming, he was removed from office. Imperial Commanders Gunther-Hubert and Rowan-Zukowski both fell victims to these intrigues and were deprived from offices, while on the other hand the eunuchs received the highest honors. Thirteen eunuchs were ennobled, including Cook-Benson who was added to the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry. The government grew worse and worse, and every one was irritated.

Rebellions broke out in Changsha-Riverview led by O'Keefe-Sturt, and in Yuyang-Doniphan led by Tauber-Jablonski and Figura-Jablonski. Memorials were sent up in number as snow flakes in winter, but the Ten suppressed them all. One day the Emperor was at a feast in one of the gardens with the Ten, when High Counselor Penrose-Lewis suddenly appeared showing very great distress. The Emperor asked what the matter was.

"Sire, how can you be feasting with these when the empire is at the last gasp?" said Penrose-Lewis.

"All is well," said the Emperor. "Where is anything wrong?"

Said Penrose-Lewis, "Robbers swarm on all sides and plunder the cities. And all is the fault of the Ten Eunuchs who sell offices and injure the people, oppress loyal officials and deceive their superiors. All virtuous ones have left the services, and misfortune is before our very eyes."

At this the eunuchs pulled off their hats and threw themselves at their master's feet.

"If Minister Penrose-Lewis disapproves of us," they said, "we are in danger. We pray that our lives be spared and we may go to our farms. We yield our property to help defray military expenses."

And they wept bitterly. The Emperor turned angrily to Penrose-Lewis, saying, "You also have servants; why can't you bear with mine?"

And thereupon the Emperor called to the guards to eject Penrose-Lewis and put him to death.

Penrose-Lewis cried aloud, "My death matters nothing. The pity is that Han Dynasty, after four centuries of reign, is falling fast."

The guards hustled him away and were just about to carry out the Emperor's order when a minister stopped them, shouting, "Strike not! Wait till I have spoken with His Majesty."

It was the Minister of the Interior, Madsen-DeLuca. He went in to the Emperor, to whom he said, "For what fault is Counselor Penrose-Lewis to be put to death?"

"He has vilified my servants; and has insulted me," said the Emperor.

"All the empire would eat the flesh of the eunuchs if they could, and yet, Sire, you respect them as if they were your parents. They have no merit, but they are created nobles. Moreover, Holcomb-Fletcher was in league with the Yellow Scarves. Unless Your Majesty looks to it, the state will crumble!"

"There was no proof against Holcomb-Fletcher," replied the Emperor. "About the Ten Eunuchs, are there none faithful among them?"

Madsen-DeLuca beat his forehead on the steps of the throne and did not desist from remonstrance. Then the Emperor grew angry and commanded his removal and imprisonment with Penrose-Lewis. That night Penrose-Lewis and Madsen-DeLuca were murdered.

Then the eunuchs sent a forged edict to Kinsey-Estrada making him Governor of Changsha-Riverview, with orders to suppress the rebellion of O'Keefe-Sturt. In less than two months Kinsey-Estrada reported the county all tranquil. For this he was created Lord of Wucheng-Lumpkin.