148 THE MARRIAGE MAKER 



event of a marriage taking place, the astrologer declared that 

 the Three Stars of Fu, Lu and Shou, or Happiness, Emolu- 

 ments, and Longevity, would twinkle with unwonted bright- 

 ness on the pair, and that the beneficent effect of their 

 propitious light would descend on the posterity of the couple 

 for many many generations. The union, he went on to say, 

 was highly desirable, and he ventured to pledge his pro- 

 fessional reputation that should a marriage be consummated, 

 all the dragons and phoenixes in the universe would sing in 

 sweetest concord. 



Flattered by this complete and unqualified confirmation 

 of his own convictions, and elated to think that at one single 

 stroke he had accomplished for these two young people what 

 so many matchmakers had repeatedly failed to do, the 

 Prefect naturally felt very proud of his own astuteness. He 

 lost no time to send the glad tidings to Wei Ku by letter 

 written on red paper, wherein he expatiated at length on 

 the many lucky omens he himself had foreseen, all of which 

 were confirmed by the astrologer, and all of which, he 

 contended, only went to prove that a union with his worth- 

 less and despicable Ch'un Lai would be extremely felicitous. 

 He concluded by hoping that under these very favourable 

 conditions, Wei Ku would not disdain to take his child, 

 mean as she was, and allow the glory of his exalted name to 

 shed its lustre upon his insignificant house forever. 



Wei Ku was astounded at this unexpected announce- 

 ment. It seemed to him too good to be true. Remembering 

 how often he had met with disappointment on this very 

 question, he could not readily believe that there was not 

 some mistake, or that some evil sprite was not making 

 sport of both the Prefect and himself. He read the letter 

 over and over again, and became more and more puzzled. 

 "Surely," he thought, "the Prefect is under a spell, or he 

 must be out of his senses ! " At last he questioned the 

 messenger. The faithful old servant who brought the letter 

 swore by the souls of all his departed forefathers that his 

 master, the Prefect, was quite sane and in excellent spirits. 

 "Miss Ch'un Lai," he added naively, "is also quite well." 

 The mention of the young lady's name pleased Wei Ku so 

 much that without further ado he handed the messenger a 

 present of two taels in silver, which the latter, after a feeble 

 refusal as a matter of form, and a little pressing on the part 

 of the donor, finally accepted with profuse thanks and abroad 

 grin. W 7 ei Ku would have answered the letter there and then ; 

 but not wishing to appear as though acting with unseemly 

 haste, he told the messenger to inform the Prefect that a 

 formal reply would be forthcoming the next day. 



