ed。 Now that the brightness has descended upon me； I hope this dereliction of duty may be pardoned。〃
〃I hear Xu Shu is here。 I have e expressly to see him；〃 replied Water Mirror bluntly。
〃He has lately left for Xuchang。 A messenger came with a letter telling of the imprisonment of his mother。〃
〃Then he has just fallen into Cao Cao's trap； for that letter was a forgery。 I have known his mother to be a very noble woman。 Even if she were imprisoned by Cao Cao； she would not summon her son like that。 Certainly the letter was a forgery。 If the son did not go； the mother would be safe； if he went； she would be a dead woman。〃
〃But how？〃 asked Liu Bei dismayed。
〃She is a woman of the highest principles； who would be greatly mortified at the sight of her son under such conditions。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Just as your friend was leaving； he mentioned the name of a certain Zhuge Liang。 What think you of him？〃
Water Mirror laughed； saying； 〃If Xu Shu wanted to go； he was free to go。 But why did he want to provoke Zhuge Liang into ing out and showing passion for someone else？〃
〃Why do you speak like that？〃 asked Liu Bei
He replied； 〃Five persons； Zhuge Liang of Nanyang； Cui Zhouping of Boling； Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan； Meng Gongwei of Runan； and Xu Shu of Yingchuan were the closest of friends。 They formed a little coterie devoted to meditation on essential refinement。 Only Zhuge Liang arrived at a perception of its meaning。 He used to sit among them with his arms about his knees muttering and then； pointing to his panions； he would say； 'You； gentlemen； would bee governors and protectors if you were in official life。'
〃When they asked him what was his ambition； he would only smile and always pared himself with the g