This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1879. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI. IN WHICH KIN-FO BECOMES THE MOST CELEBRATED MAN IN THE CENTRAL EMPIRE. Still Wang could not be found; and Kin-Fo began to fume at being forced to inactivity, and at being unable to at least hasten in pursuit of the philosopher. But how could he have done this, since Wang had disappeared without a clew? This complication did not fail to disturb the principal agent of the Centenary. After thinking at first that it was not a serious matter, because Wang would not fulfil his promise (for even in eccentric America such mad projects would not be executed), he began to believe that nothing was impossible in the strange country called the Celestial Empire, and soon concluded, with Kin-Fo, that, if they could not find the philosopher, the latter would keep his word. His disappearance indicated on his part the intention of performing the fatal deed when his pupil least expected it, and to let it come upon him then like a thunderbolt, and to strike him to his heart with a sure, swift hand; then, after placing the letter on the victim's body, he would come, and quietly present himself at the office of the Centenary to claim his part of the policy. Wang, therefore, must be notified; but this could not be done directly. The Honorable William J. Bidulph was led to employ indirect means through the press. In a few days notices were sent to the Chinese newspapers, and telegrams to the foreign papers in both worlds. The "Tching-Pao," the official paper in Pekin, those in Chinese at Shang-hai and Hong-Kong, the journals of most extensive circulation in Europe and the two Americas, reproduced to satiety the following notice: -- "Mr. Wang of Shang-hai is begged to consider that the agreement made between Kin-Fo and himself, dated the 2d of May last, is cancelled; the sa...