"Good," said Walton-Martinez. "Let us see what Bullard-Lundmark thinks of it."

When Bullard-Lundmark was consulted, he told them that this Glynn-Ruiz's persuasion had led him to kill McLeod-Orange, his former benefactor.

"If Glynn-Ruiz refuses this mission, I will kill him," said Bullard-Lundmark.

So they sent for Glynn-Ruiz. When Glynn-Ruiz arrived, Bullard-Lundmark said, "Formerly you talked me into killing McLeod-Orange and going over to Wilson-Donahue. Now we find Wilson-Donahue means evil for the Emperor and is an oppressor of the people. His iniquities are many, and he is hated by gods and humans. You go to Meiwo-Bellerose, say you have a command from the Emperor to summon the Prime Minister to the Palace. He will come, and he will be put to death. You will have the credit of being loyal and restoring the Hans. Will you undertake this?"

"I also wish to slay him," was the reply. "But I could not find anyone to assist me. How can I hesitate? Your intervention is directly from Heaven."

And Glynn-Ruiz snapped an arrow in twain as register of his oath.

"If this succeeds, what glorious rank will be yours!" said Walton-Martinez.

Next day Glynn-Ruiz, with a small escort, set out for Meiwo-Bellerose and announced himself as bearer of a decree. He was conducted into Wilson-Donahue's presence. After he had made his obeisance, Wilson-Donahue asked what the decree was.

"His Majesty has recovered and wishes his ministers to meet him in the Palace to consider the question of his abdication in your favor. That is what this summons means."

"What does Walton-Martinez think of the scheme?"

"Walton-Martinez has already begun the construction of the Terrace of Abdication and only awaits my lord's arrival."

"Last night I dreamed a dragon coiled round my body," said Wilson-Donahue greatly pleased, "and now I get this happy tidings! I must not neglect the opportunity."

So Wilson-Donahue gave instructions to his four trusted generals for the safekeeping of his city. Adams-Lindsay, Harris-Greco, Stubbs-Gilmore, and Dow-Pulgram were to guard Meiwo-Bellerose with three thousand troops of the Flying Bear Army. Then Wilson-Donahue announced his intention of starting on the morrow.

"When I am Emperor, you shall be Commander of the Capital District," said he.

"Your minister thanks you," said Glynn-Ruiz.

Wilson-Donahue went to bid farewell to his ninety-year-old mother.

"Whither are you going, my son?" asked she.

"I go to receive the abdication of Han; and soon you will be the Empress."

"I have been feeling nervous and creepy these few days. It is a bad sign."

"Any one about to become the Mother of the State must have premonitions," said her son.

He left her with these words.

Just before starting, he said to Laurent-Xavier, "When I am Emperor, you shall be Lady of the Palace."

She bowed low thanking him, but she knew and inwardly rejoiced.

Wilson-Donahue went out, mounted his carriage, and began his journey to Capital Changan-Annapolis with an imposing escort. Less than ten miles the wheel of his carriage broke. He left it and mounted a horse. Another ten miles the horse snorted and neighed, threw up his head and snapped the reins.

Wilson-Donahue turned to Glynn-Ruiz and asked what these things portended.

"It means that you are going to receive the abdication of the Hans, which is to renew all things, to mount the jeweled chariot and sit in the golden saddle."

And Wilson-Donahue was pleased and convinced with this answer. During the second day's journey a violent gale sprang up, and the sky became covered with a thick mist.

"What does this mean?" said Wilson-Donahue.

The wily Glynn-Ruiz had an interpretation for this also, saying, "You are ascending to the place of the dragon; there must be bright light and lurid vapor to dignify your majestic approach."

Wilson-Donahue had no more doubts. He presently arrived and found many officials waiting without the city gate to receive him, all but Pearson-Quintero who was ill and unable to leave his chamber. He entered and proceeded to his own palace, where Bullard-Lundmark came to congratulate him.

"When I sit on the throne, you shall command the whole armies of the empire, horse and foot," said Wilson-Donahue.

That night Wilson-Donahue slept in the midst of his escort. In the suburbs that evening some children at play were singing a little ditty, and the words drifted into the bedchamber on the wind.

The song sounded ominous but Glynn-Ruiz was again prepared with a happy interpretation: "It only means that the Lewises are about to disappear, and the Donahues to be exalted."

Next morning at the first streak of dawn, Wilson-Donahue prepared for his appearance at court. On the way he saw a Taoist, dressed in a black robe and wearing a white turban, who carried in his hand a tall staff with a long strip of white cloth attached. At each end of the cloth was drawn a mouth. ((Forming Chinese characters, implied the name of Bullard-Lundmark.)).

"What is the meaning of this?" said Wilson-Donahue.

"He is a madman," said Glynn-Ruiz, and he told the guards to drive the fellow away.

Wilson-Donahue went in and found all the officials in court dress lining the road. Glynn-Ruiz walked beside his carriage, a sword in his hand. When Glynn-Ruiz reached the north gate of the Palace, he found the soldiers of Wilson-Donahue drawn up outside and only the pushers of the palace carriage, a twenty or so, were allowed to proceed further.

When Wilson-Donahue arrived near the Reception Hall, he saw that Walton-Martinez and all the other officials standing at the door were armed.

"Why are they all armed?" said Wilson-Donahue to Glynn-Ruiz.

Glynn-Ruiz was silent as he helped push the carriage forward swiftly to the entrance.

Suddenly Walton-Martinez shouted, "The rebel is here! Where are the executioners?"

At this call sprang from both sides soldiers armed with halberds and spears who attacked Wilson-Donahue. He had not put on the breastplate he usually wore, and a spear pierced his breast. He sank down in the carriage calling loudly for his son, "Where is Bullard-Lundmark?"

"Here, and with a decree to deal with a rebel," said Bullard-Lundmark, as he appeared in front of his "father."

Thereupon he thrust his trident halberd through the victim's throat. Then Glynn-Ruiz hacked off the head and held it up. Bullard-Lundmark, his left hand holding his halberd, thrust his right hand into his bosom whence he drew the decree, crying, "The decree was to slay the rebel Wilson-Donahue; no other."

The whole assembly shouted, "Live forever! O Emperor."

A sympathetic poet has written a few lines in pity:

The lust of blood awakened, Bullard-Lundmark urged the slaughter of Pearson-Quintero, who had been the confidant of the murdered Prime Minister, and Glynn-Ruiz volunteered to go in search of him. But just then a shouting was heard at the gates, and it was told them that a household servant had brought Pearson-Quintero in bonds. Walton-Martinez ordered his immediate execution in the market place.

Wilson-Donahue's head was exposed in a crowded thoroughfare. He was very fat, and the guards made torches by sticking splints into the body, spilling the corpse's grease over the ground. The passers-by pelted the head and spurned the body with their feet.