he would have long ago lit the lantern, sought out the filial maid and brought her to you. Fortunately you have already bought a cake of soap for her. All you have to do now is to buy another cake and . . . "
"Nonsense! that's what the ruffian said."
"I am not sure of that. All you have to do is buy another cake and k-chee, k-chee, give her a good scrubbing, and set her up on an altar and peace will reign in the world again."
"What are you talking about? What has that got to do with it? It was only because I happened to remember that you did not have any soap . . . "
"That has everything to do with it. You have specially bought that for the filial maid. You go and give her, k-chee, k-chee, a good scrubbing yourself. I am not worthy of it, I I don't want it, I don't want anything that was intended for the filial maid."
"Now what are you talking about? You women . . . ," Ssu-ming parried, his face covered with a greasy sweat, just like Hsueh-cheng's after he had finished his pa-kua-ch'iian exercises, although it might have been due to the heat of the rice.
"What's wrong with us women? We women are much better than you men. You men are either cursing eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girl students or praising eighteen- or nineteen-year-old beggar girls. You haven't a decent thought in your heads. K-chee, k-chee! Shameless wretches!"
"Did I not say that it was a ruffian who said that? Have I . . . "
"Brother Ssu!" a loud voice sounded in the darkness outside.
"Is that you. Brother Tao? I'll be with you directly." Ssuming recognized the voice of Ho Tao-tung, known for his
