So far prudence had ruled his actions, for there is a keen edge to the saying:  “He who sleeps over his workshop brings four eyes into the business,” but in one detail Wong T’sin’s head and feet went on different journeys, for with incredible oversight he omitted to secure the experience of competent astrologers and omen-casters in fixing the exact site of his mansion.

The result was what might have been expected.  In excavating for the foundations, Wong T’sin’s slaves disturbed the repose of a small but rapacious earth-demon that had already been sleeping there for nine hundred and ninety-nine years.  With the insatiable cunning of its kind, this vindictive creature waited until the house was completed and then proceeded to transfer its unseen but formidable presence to the quarters that were designed for Wong Ts’in himself.  Thenceforth, from time to time, it continued to revenge itself for the trouble to which it had been put by an insidious persecution.  This frequently took the form of fastening its claws upon the merchant’s digestive organs, especially after he had partaken of an unusually rich repast (for in some way the display of certain viands excited its unreasoning animosity), pressing heavily upon his chest, invading his repose with dragon-dreams while he slept, and the like.  Only by the exercise of an ingenuity greater than its own could Wong Ts’in succeed in baffling its ill-conditioned spite.

On this occasion, recognizing from the nature of his pangs what was taking place, Wong Ts’in resorted to a stratagem that rarely failed him.  Announcing in a loud voice that it was his intention to refresh the surface of his body by the purifying action of heated vapour, and then to proceed to his mixing-floor, the merchant withdrew.  The demon, being an earth-dweller with the ineradicable objection of this class of creatures towards all the elements of moisture, at once relinquished its hold, and going direct to the part of the works indicated, it there awaited its victim with the design of resuming its discreditable persecution.

Wong Ts’in had spoken with a double tongue.  On leaving the inner chamber he quickly traversed certain obscure passages of his house until he reached an inferior portal.  Even if the demon had suspected his purpose it would not have occurred to a creature of its narrow outlook that anyone of Wong Ts’in’s importance would make use of so menial an outway.  The merchant therefore reached his garden unperceived and thenceforward maintained an undeviating face in the direction of the Outer Expanses.  Before he had covered many li he was assured that he had indeed succeeded for the time in shaking off his unscrupulous tormentor.  His internal organs again resumed their habitual calm and his mind was lightened as from an overhanging cloud.