that my father has made use of government taxes, has taken bribes
for recommending men for promotion, has appropriated the soldiers'
ration-money, and has been in league with highwaymen."

"Is it possible?" said Tu, who was rather staggered by this long
catalogue of crimes. "I should not have believed that any one could have
ventured to have charged your honoured father with such things, least of
all the intendant, who is notoriously possessed of an itching palm. But
I tell you what we can do at once. Wei and I, being M.A.'s, have a right
to call on the prefect, and it will be a real pleasure to us to exercise
our new privilege for the first time in your service. We will urge him
to inquire into the matter, and I cannot doubt that he will at once
quash the proceedings."

Unhappily, Tu's hopes were not realised. The prefect was very civil,
but pointed out that, since a higher court had ordered the arrest of
the colonel, he was powerless to interfere in the matter. Many were
the consultations held by the three friends, and much personal relief
Jasmine got from the support and sympathy of the young men. One hope
yet remained to her: Tu and Wei were about to go to Peking for their
doctor's degrees, and if they passed they might be able to bring such
influence to bear as would secure the release of her father.

"Let not the 'young noble' distress himself overmuch," said Wei to her,
with some importance. "This affair will be engraven on our hearts and
minds, and if we take our degrees we will use our utmost exertions to
wipe away the injustice which has been done your father."

"Unhappily," said the more practical Tu, "it is too plain that the
examining magistrates are all in league to ruin him. But let our elder