"I know that it is a settled thing" I said with resignation, "and that you will not allow the barbarians to come among you. But at any rate you will allow that it would be very important for me, who have come so far for the purpose of seeing your cities and observing your manners, to visit a large city inhabited by the tsun-tun (viceroy), the fou-yuen (lieutenant-governor), the tséan-keun (Tartar general), the keo-yuen (literary chancellor), the pouchin-tze (receiver-general), and, lastly, all the officials of a viceroyalty of twenty-seven million of inhabitants; and which, in addition to all this, possesses a population of rich citizens, literary men, students, and soldiers, and the monumental streets of which are intersected with canals on which thousands of vessels are riding."
At this enumeration. Pan was seized with a fresh fit of gaiety. He then replied, very tranquilly:
"If it is absolutely necessary for your happiness to visit the walled city, we will introduce you; but remember my prediction: when you return safe and sound, you will regret having incurred real danger for so little. In the first place, you cannot in any manner get in with your European clothes; even those of your nation who pretend to have passed in their usual dress the threshold of Chin-se-Moun, or of Tai-pin-Moun, are guilty of an impudent lie; the guard that keeps watch at the entrance is vigilant,
