CHAPTER XIV
SURPRISES
EVERY obstacle to Kin-Fo's marriage with Le-ou was now removed. It was true that the time allowed for Wang to fulfill his pledge had not yet expired; but the unfortunate philosopher had fallen a victim as the result of his mys- terious flight, and further danger was not to be feared from him. The 25th of June, the very day on which at one time Kin-Fo had wished to end his existence, was fixed for the wedding.
Le-ou had of course been informed of the various vicis- situdes which her lover had experienced since he had sent her his refusal either to make her the participator of his poverty or to run the risk of leaving her a widow, and she was well aware of the altered circumstances that had led him once more to come and claim her as his bride. She could not restrain her tears when she heard of Wang's death. She had known the philosopher and esteemed him, and he had moreover been her first confidant of her sentiments toward Kin-Fo. "Poor Wang," she said, we shall miss him at our wedding."
"Yes, poor Wang," repeated Kin-Fo; "but you must remember," he added, "that he had sworn to kill me."
Le-ou shook her pretty little head. No, no," she said, "he would never have done that. I believe he drowned himself in the Pei-Ho, for the very purpose of evading his promise."
Kin-Fo could not but own that her hypothesis was prob- able. He, too, regretted the faithful companion of his youth; his memory would be long in fading from either of their hearts.
It is almost needless to say that after the catastrophe on the bridge of Palikao, Bidulph's sensational paragraphs in the newspapers were discontinued, and the name of Kin-Fo sank into oblivion almost as speedily as it had risen into notoriety. The services of Craig and Fry were no longer in such urgent requisition. It is true that they were bound to defend the interests of the Centenarian until the 30th, the date of the expiration of the policy, but there was now no demand for the same measure of unremitted vigilance.198
