第60部分(第1/7 頁)

i　Ping　bit　off　one　of　his　fingers　as　a　pledge　of　fidelity。　I　saw　that。〃

Quin　Quington　was　kept　in　a　secret　part　of　the　palace；　while　his　late　master；　Dong　Cheng；　only　knowing　that　he　had　run　away；　took　no　special　means　to　find　him。

Soon　after　this　Cao　Cao　feigned　a　headache　and　sent　for　Ji　Ping　as　usual。

〃The　rebel　is　done　for；〃　thought　Ji　Ping；　and　he　made　a　secret　package　of　poison　which　he　took　with　him　to　the　palace　of　the　Prime　Minister。　He　found　Cao　Cao　in　bed。　The　patient　bade　the　doctor　prepare　a　potion　for　him。

〃One　draught　will　cure　this　disease；〃　said　Ji　Ping。

He　bade　them　bring　him　a　pot；　and　he　prepared　the　potion　in　the　room。　When　it　had　simmered　for　some　time　and　was　half　finished；　the　poison　was　added；　and　soon　after　the　physician　presented　the　draught。　Cao　Cao；　knowing　it　was　poisoned；　made　excuses　and　would　not　swallow　it。

〃You　should　take　it　hot；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Then　there　will　be　a　gentle　perspiration；　and　you　will　be　better。〃

〃You　are　a　scholar；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　sitting　up；　〃and　know　what　is　the　correct　thing　to　do。　When　the　master　is　ill　and　takes　drugs；　the　attendant　first　tastes　them；　when　a　man　is　ill；　his　son　first　tastes　the　medicine。　You　are　my　confidant　and　should　drink　first。　Then　I　will　swallow　the　remainder。〃

〃Medicine　is　to　treat　disease。　What　is　the　use　of　anyone's　tasting　it？〃　said　Ji　Ping。

But　he　guessed　now　the　conspiracy　had　been　discovered；　so　he　dashed　forward；　seized　Cao　Cao　by　the　ear；　and　tried　to　pour　the　potion　down　his　throat。　Cao　Cao　pushed　it　away；　and　it　spilt。　The　bricks　upon　which　it　fell　were　split　asunder。　Before　Cao　Cao　could　speak；　his　servants　had　already　seized　the　assailant。

Said　Cao　Cao；　〃I　am　not　ill。　I　only　wanted　to　test　you。　So　you　re