times, he begged me to go to Hupeh, but I was unwilling. Who would be willing to do work in a little place like that?"
"Um . . . that . . . ," broke in Ah Q, who had waited for the brief pause, using one hundred twenty per cent courage to open his mouth; and for some reason unknown, he did not call him "Mr. Foreigner."
The four listeners turned about in amazement and stared at him. "Mr. Foreigner" had just caught sight of him.
"What do you want?"
"I —"
"Clear out!"
"I want to join —"
"Out, out!" insisted "Mr. Foreigner," brandishing the lachrymal cane.
Along with the others Chao Pai-yen shouted, "When our host tells you to clear out, why don't you listen!"
Ah Q covered his head with his hands and without so much as knowing what he did, bolted out the door. "Mr. Foreigner" did not pursue him. Ah Q, having sped some sixty paces, slackened his speed. And forthwith there welled up in his heart a gloomy sorrow, for "Mr. Foreigner" would not allow him to join the Revolutionists. There was no other way open to him; from then on, there was no hope of the white-helmeted and
