was that Chü-jen Lao-yeh and Chao Hsiu-t'sai had not been on good terms in the past and they could not in all reason have had a mutual desire to share each other's misfortunes! Moreover, Tsou Ch'i-sao, being a neighbor of the Chao family, was close at hand to see and hear all that took place; so the situation, generally speaking, ought to have been as she explained it.
Nevertheless, rumor spread apace: it was said that although it did not appear as if Chü-jen Lao-yeh had come in person, still a long letter had arrived, establishing an indirect relationship with the Chao family. So, after turning the matter over and over in his mind, the Venerable Mr. Chao came to the conclusion that he himself could incur no harm and had the boxes received in the house. For the time being, the boxes were stuffed under Mr. Chao's bed. As for the Revolutionists, it was said that they had advanced on the city on that very night, all wearing white helmets and white armor, as mourning for the Emperor Ch'ung Chêng.
Ah Q's ears had long heard the phrase, "Revolutionary Party," and this year he had witnessed with his own eyes the decapitation of various members of the party; but it is not quite clear whence he got the idea that the Revolutionary party was rebelling and that this rebellion had
