This person has endured many
misfortunes and suffered many injustices; he has known the wolf-
gnawings of great hopes, which have withered and daily grown less when
the difficulties of maintaining an honourable and illustrious career
have unfolded themselves within his sight. Before him still lie the
attractions of a moderate competency to be shared with the one whose
absence would make even the Upper Region unendurable, and after having
this entrancing future once shattered by the tiger-like cupidity of a
depraved and incapable Mandarin, he is determined to welcome even the
sacrifice which you condemn rather than let the opportunity vanish
through indecision."
"It is not an unworthy or abandoned decision," said the one whose aid
Ling had invoked, "nor a matter in which this person would refrain
from taking part, were there no other and more agreeable means by
which the same results may be attained. A circumstance has occurred
within this superficial person's mind, however: A brother of the one
who is addressing you is by profession one of those who purchase large
undertakings for which they have not the money to pay, and who
thereupon by various expedients gain the ear of the thrifty, enticing
them by fair offers of return to entrust their savings for the purpose
of paying off the debt.
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