The other day I sketched a portrait of the two of us for Wandering Cloud, and was delighted with the way it turned out. But who would have guessed, when we sent it to be mounted, that the idiot of a scroll-maker would return it to someone else by mistake and leave us with a painting of the Bodhisattva. It's a genuine Wu Daozi, in fact. Well, my painting skills may be no match for a Wu Daozi, but I hold that Wandering Cloud's looks are not too different from the Bodhisattva herself, the Moon-on-Water Guanyin of the Southern Seas! — An absurd affair, but where to start looking for my painting? Let it go. — It's still some time before the examinations begin and I'm at a loose end away from home, best thing is a quiet stroll here on the Serpentine embankment.

I have been thinking how that painting of Wandering Cloud is such an exact likeness that no matter whoever it was delivered to by mistake, they couldn't possibly have such a beauty about and so they couldn't have any use for it; it would be pointless for them to keep it. Still, what luck that the painting that was wrongly returned to me was nothing less than a portrait of the Guanyin. She is hanging in my chamber at this moment and I take pleasure in burning incense and making offerings before her.

No, not feathers, it's a note, no bigger than an autumn leaf and covered with tiny characters the size of flies' heads, let me see what it says.

— Flying Cloud of Weiqu, author." Ha, if I read this carefully, it must surely have been composed by the person to whom my portrait was delivered. But how is it that the diction, the calligraphy are so refined in every detail? Evidently the work of a young lady!

To think, I was just doubting whether another such beauty as Wandering Cloud could exist on this earth, and here is such a one, right here! (Points to the note) This last phrase, "double of his partner fair" — written evidence! Oh Huo Duliang, Huo Duliang, you'll find it hard to distract yourself now!

This note came fluttering down. Read the poem it contains and you will see that it is obviously by the person who by mistake took delivery of your portrait. Don't worry, we will make enquiries at our leisure and get it back. And she is another "Cloud", a Miss Flying Cloud!

This is no casual matter, dear husband. Put the note safely away, and then when the examinations are over you can enquire at your leisure into the whereabouts of our portrait.

SERVANT (enters): "Prepared for breaking of cassia bough, summon the prize-winning picker of flowers." Master Huo, a message from Master Xianyu just now: today the Board of Rites announced that the examinations open tomorrow at daybreak, and he requests that you start out at the fifth watch.