“None other than the master of the house will I see，”
said he fiercely to the frightened servants. “I travel uponthe King’s business.”
Straightway was he led to an inner room， where themaster of the house was roused from his sleep and broughtblinking before him.
“You are Pak Chung Chang， head man of this city，” saidYi Chin Ho in tones that were all-accusing. “I am uponthe King’s business.”
Pak Chung Chang trembled. Well he knew the King’sbusiness was ever a terrible business. His knees smotetogether， and he near fell to the floor.
“The hour is late，” he quavered. “Were it not well to—”
“The King’s business never waits！” thundered Yi ChinHo. “Come apart with me， and swiftly. I have an affair ofmoment to discuss with you.”
“It is the King’s affair！” he added with even greaterfierceness， so that Pak Chung Chang’s silver pipe droppedfrom his nerveless fingers and clattered on the floor.
“Know then，” said Yi Chin Ho， when they had goneapart， “that the King is troubled with an affliction， a veryterrible affliction. In that he failed to cure， the Courtphysician has had nothing else than his head chopped off.
From all the Eight Provinces have the physicians cometo wait upon the King. Wise consultation have they held，and they have decided that for a remedy for the King’saffliction nothing else is required than a nose， a certainkind of nose， a very peculiar certain kind of nose.
“Then by none other was I summoned than His
Excellency the Prime Minister himself. He put a paperinto my hand. Upon this paper was the very peculiar kindof nose drawn by the physicians of the Eight Provinces，with the seal of State upon it.
“‘Go，’ said His Excellency the Prime Minister. ‘Seek outthis nose， for the King’s affliction is sore. And wheresoeveryou find this nose upon the face of a man， strike it offforthright and bring it in all haste to the Court， for theKing must be cured. Go， and come not back until yoursearch is rewarded.’
“And so I departed upon my quest，” said Yi Chin Ho.
“I have sought out the remotest corners of the kingdom；I have travelled the Eight Highways， searched the EightProvinces， and sailed the seas of the Eight Coasts. Andhere I am.”
With a great flourish he drew a paper from his girdle，unrolled it with many snappings and cracklings， and thrustit before the face of Pak Chung Chang. Upon the paperwas the picture of the nose.
Pak Chung Chang stared upon it with bulging eyes.
“Never have I beheld such a nose，” he began.
“There is a wart upon it，” said Yi Chin Ho.
“Never have I beheld—” Pak Chung Chang began again.
“Bring your father before me，” Yi Chin Ho interruptedsternly.
“My ancient and very-much-to-be-respected ancestorsleeps，” said Pak Chung Chang.
“Why dissemble？” demanded Yi Chin Ho. “You know itis your father’s nose. Bring him before me that I may strikeit off and be gone. Hurry， lest I make bad report of you.”
“Mercy！” cried Pak Chung Chang， falling on his knees.
“It is impossible！ It is impossible！ You cannot strike off myfather’s nose. He cannot go down without his nose to thegrave. He will become a laughter and a byword， and all mydays and nights will be filled with woe. O reflect！ Reportthat you have seen no such nose in your travels. You， too，have a father.”
Pak Chung Chang clasped Yi Chin Ho’s knees and fellto weeping on his sandals.
“My heart softens strangely at your tears，” said YiChin Ho. “I， too， know filial piety and regard. But—” Hehesitated， then added， as though thinking aloud， “It is asmuch as my head is worth.”
“How much is your head worth？” asked Pak ChungChang in a thin， small voice.
“A not remarkable head，” said Yi Chin Ho. “An absurdlyunremarkable head； but， such is my great foolishness， Ivalue it at nothing less than one hundred thousand stringsof cash.”
“So be it，” said Pak Chung Chang， rising to his feet.
“I shall need horses to carry the treasure，” said Yi ChinHo， “and men to guard it well as I journey through themountains. There are robbers abroad in the land.”
“There are robbers abroad in the land，” said Pak ChungChang， sadly. “But it shall be as you wish， so long as myancient and very-much-to-be-respected ancestor’s noseabide in its appointed place.”
“Say nothing to any man of this occurrence，” said YiChin Ho， “else will other and more loyal servants than Ibe sent to strike off your father’s nose.”
And so Yi Chin Ho departed on his way through themountains， blithe of heart and gay of song as he listenedto the jingling bells of his treasure-laden ponies.
There is little more to tell. Yi Chin Ho prosperedthrough the years. By his efforts the jailer attained atlength to the directorship of all the prisons of Cho-sen；the Governor ultimately betook himself to the SacredCity to be Prime Minister to the King， while Yi ChinHo became the King’s boon companion and sat at tablewith him to the end of a round， fat life. But Pak ChungChang fell into a melancholy， and ever after he shook hishead sadly， with tears in his eyes， whenever he regardedthe expensive nose of his ancient and very-much-to-berespectedancestor.
