"'How pleasant and fascinating a device is this!' exclaimed Lila at
length. 'By what means is so diverting and gravity-removing a result
obtained?'
"'Further than that it is the concentration of much labour of
continually trying with glasses and reflecting surfaces, this person
is totally unable to explain it,' replied Lee. 'The chief thing,
however, is that at whatever moving object it is directed--no matter
whether a person so observed is being carried in a chair, riding upon
an animal, or merely walking--at a certain point he has every
appearance of being unexpectedly hurled to the ground in a most
violent and mirth-provoking manner. Would not the stout and round-
faced one, who would cheerfully have contributed a certain number of
taels to see this person manifest a similar exhibition, unhesitatingly
lay out that sum to secure the means of so gratifying his emotions
whenever he felt the desire, even with the revered persons of the most
dignified ones in the Empire? Is there, indeed, a single person
between the Wall and the Bitter Waters on the South who is so devoid
of ambition that he would miss the opportunity of subjecting, as it
were, perhaps even the sacred Emperor himself to the exceptional
feat?'
"'The temptation to possess one would inevitably prove overwhelming to
any person of ordinary intelligence,' admitted Lila.
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