{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_19944/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_19944","id":"gutenberg_19944","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19944","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Novels","Folklore","Tales -- Japan"],"text":"Produced by Clare Boothby and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n  +------------------------------------------------------------+\n  | TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES                                        |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Accents and diacritical marks have generally been          |\n  | standardised. Where there is a single instance of a word   |\n  | with an accent, and one without, no change has been made   |\n  | to the original. (e.g. momme/momme; murashite/murashite;   |\n  | Kuramae/Kuramae).                                          |\n  |                                                            |\n  | The letter o with a macron is represented as o[u].         |\n  | The letter u with a macron is represented as u[u].         |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Kanji characters in the original book are shown            |\n  | enclosed in square brackets: for example, [kami].          |\n  |                                                            |\n  | The italicisation of Japanese words has been standardised. |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been         |\n  | corrected.                                                 |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Hyphenation and capitalisation has been standardised.      |\n  |                                                            |\n  | The symbol referred to in footnote 44, an X with a bar     |\n  | across the top, has been represented as [=X].              |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Superscript numbers in square brackets are represented     |\n  | as ^{[4]}.                                                 |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been         |\n  | corrected. For a complete list, please see the bottom      |\n  | of this document.                                          |\n  |                                                            |\n  +------------------------------------------------------------+\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nLEGEND.\n\n\nThe outline of the map is that found in Volume I. of the Edo Sunago,\npublished Keio 2nd year (1866). The detail of district maps found in the\nbook is worked in, together with that from the sectional map of Edo\npublished Ansei 4th year (1857), and from the Go Edo Zusetsu Shu[u]ran\npublished Kaei 6th year (1853). The map therefore shows in rough outline\nthe state of the city just before the removal of the capital from\nKyo[u]to; the distribution of the castes.\n\nThe Pre-Tokugawa villages (Eiroku: 1558-1569) indicated on the map found\nin the \"Shu[u]ran\" are:--\n\nNorth and South Shinagawa: Meguro-Motomura: Gin-Mitamura: Mitamura:\nO[u]nemura: Upper and Lower Shibuya: Harajuku-mura: Kokubunji: Azabu:\nKawaza Ichi: O[u]zawa-mura: Imai-mura: Sendagaya: Yamanaka-mura:\nIchigaya: Ushigome: Kobiko-mura: Upper and Lower Hirakawa-mura: Ochiya:\nSekihon: Ikebukuroya: Tomizaka-mura: Ishibukero-mura: Tanibaragaike:\nNeruma-mura: Okurikyo[u]: Nakarai-mura: Koishikawa: Zoshigayatsu:\nO[u]ji: Shimura: Takinogawa: Kinsoboku-mura: Harajuku-mura (II.):\nKomegome-mura: Taninaka-mura: Shimbori-mura: Mikawajima-mura:\nAshigahara-mura: Haratsuka: Ishihama-mura: Senju[u]-mura: Suda-mura:\nSumidagawa: Yanagijima: Jujo[u]-mura; Itabashi: Sugamo-mura: Arakawa\n(river): Kandagawa pool (_ike_); Kanda-mura: Shibasaki-mura:\nShin-Horima-mura: Yushima-mura: Shitaya-mura: Torigoe-mura:\nShirosawa-mura: Asakusa-mura: Harai-mura: Some-Ushigome: Ishiwara:\nKinoshitagawa: Ubagaike (pool): Negishi-mura: Kinsoki-mura: Kameido-mura\n(near Ueno): Shinobazu-ike (pool).\n\nFrom South to North circling by the West.\n\nShinagawa: Mita-mura: Takanawa: Near Imai-mura is a Myo[u]jin shrine,\nclose by the mouth of the present Akabane river.\n\nIkura: Hibiya: Tsukiji: Tsukuda: Tame-ike (pool): Tsukuda Myo[u]jin:\nOta's castle: Sanke-in: Hirakawa-mura: Sakurada-mura: Honju[u]-mura:\nO[u]tamage-ike: Kametaka-mura. To the East.\n\n77 villages, total.\n\nPronounce as in Italian, giving vowels full value: ch- as in \"church.\"\n\nTHE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN\n\nOR\n\nO'IWA INARI\n\n_BY THIS AUTHOR_\n\n  SAKURAMBO[U]\n  (THE FRUIT OF THE TREE)\n\n  Travel notes on thoughts and things Japanese, experienced\n  during a four years' sojourn in the country\n\n  Octavo. 339 pages.\n\n\n  MORE JAPONICO\n\n  A critique of the effect of an idea--communityism--on\n  the life and history of a people\n\n  Octavo. VI, 594 pages.\n\n\n  SAITO[U] MUSASHI-BO[U] BENKEI\n  (TALES OF THE WARS OF THE GEMPEI)\n\n  Being the story of the lives and adventures of\n  Iyo-no-Kami Minamoto Kuro[u] Yoshitsune and Saito[u]\n  Musashi-Bo[u] Benkei the Warrior Monk\n\n  Octavo. 2 Vols., XXI, 841 pages, with 69 full page\n  illustrations (frontispieces in color) and\n  three maps.\n\n\n  OGURI HANGWAN ICHIDAIKI\n  (TALES OF THE SAMURAI)\n\n  Being the story of the lives, the adventures, and the\n  mis-adventures of the Hangwan-dai Kojiro[u] Sukeshige\n  and Ternte-hime, his wife\n\n  Octavo. XV, 485 pages, with 45 full page illustrations\n  (frontispiece in color) and three maps.\n\n[Illustration: THE O'IWA OF THE TAMIYA INARI JINJA OF ECHIZENBORI,\nTOKYO]\n\n_TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA_\n\nTHE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN\n\nOR\n\nO'IWA INARI\n\nRETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS BY JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE\n\n  \"The mainspring of human existence\n  is love (_nasake_), for others or--oneself.\"\n                      --SEISHIN\n\nPRESS OF J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A. 1917\n\nCOPYRIGHT, 1917, BY JAMES SEGUIN DE BENNEVILLE\n\nPRINTED AND COPYRIGHTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE\n\n\nTales of the Tokugawa can well be introduced by two \"wonder-stories\" of\nNippon. One of these, the Yotsuya Kwaidan,[1] is presented in the\npresent volume, not so much because of the incidents involved and the\npeculiar relation to a phase of Nipponese mentality, as from the fact\nthat it contains all the machinery of the Nipponese ghost story. From\nthis point of view the reading of one of these tales disposes of a whole\nclass of the native literature. Difference of detail is found. But\nunless the tale carries some particular interest, as of curious\nillustration of customs or history--the excuse for a second\npresentation--a long course of such reading becomes more than\nmonotonous. It is unprofitable. Curiously enough, it can be said that\nmost Nipponese ghost stories are true. When a sword is found enshrined,\nitself the malevolent influence--as is the Muramasa blade of the\nHamamatsu Suwa Jinja, the subject of the Komatsu Onryu[u] of\nMatsubayashi Hakuchi--and with such tradition attached to it, it is\ndifficult to deny a basis of fact attaching to the tradition. The ghost\nstory becomes merely an elaboration of an event that powerfully\nimpressed the men of the day and place. Moreover this naturalistic\nelement can be detected in the stories themselves. Nipponese writers of\nto-day explain most of them by the word _shinkei_--\"nerves\"; the working\nof a guilty conscience moulding succeeding events, and interpreting the\nresults to the subsequent disaster involved. The explanation is somewhat\nat variance with the native Shinto[u] doctrine of the moral perfection\nof the Nipponese, and its maxim--follow the dictates of one's heart; but\nthat is not our present concern.\n\nTheir theory, however, finds powerful support in the nature of the\nNipponese ghost. The Buddhist ghost does not remain on earth. It has its\ntravels and penalties to go through in the nether world, or its\nresidence in Paradise, before it begins a new life--somewhere. The\nShinto[u] ghost, in the vagueness of Shinto[u] theology, does remain on\nearth. If of enough importance it is enshrined, and rarely goes abroad,\nexcept when carried in procession at the time of the temple festival.\nOtherwise it finds its home in the miniature shrine of the _kami-dana_\nor god-shelf. There is a curious confusion of Nipponese thought on this\nsubject; at least among the mass of laity. At the Bon-Matsuri the dead\nrevisit the scene of their earthly sojourn for the space of three days;\nand yet the worship of the _ihai_, or mortuary tablets, the food\nofferings with ringing of the bell to call the attention of the resident\nSpirit is a daily rite at the household Buddhist shrine (Butsudan).\nWhen, therefore, the ghost does not conform to these well-regulated\nhabits, it is because it is an unhappy ghost. It is then the _O'Bake_ or\n_Bakemono_, the haunting ghost. Either it has become an unworshipped\nspirit, or, owing to some atrocious injury in life, it stays to wander\nthe earth, and to secure vengeance on the living perpetrator. In most\ncases this is effected by the grudge felt or spoken at the last moment\nof life. The mind, concentrated in its hate and malice at this final\ncrisis, secures to the Spirit a continued and unhappy sojourn among the\nliving, until the vengeance be secured, the grudge satisfied, and the\nSpirit pacified. There are other unhappy conditions of this revisiting\nof life's scenes; as when the dead mother returns to nurse her infant,\nor the dead mistress to console a lover. In the latter case, at least,\nthe expressed affection has a malignant effect, perhaps purpose--as in\nthe Bo[u]tan Do[u]ro[u] of Sanyu[u]tei Encho[u], a writer most careful\nin observing all the niceties called for by the subject.\n\nIn the Nipponese ghost story the vengeful power of the ghost acts\nthrough entirely natural means. The characters involved suffer through\ntheir own delusions aroused by conscience. In the old days, and among\nthe common people in Nippon to-day, the supernatural was and is believed\nin, with but few exceptions. Such stories still are held to be fact,\nalbeit the explanation is modern. Hence it can be said that the \"Yotsuya\nKwaidan\" is a true story. O'Iwa, the Lady of Tamiya, really did exist in\nthe Genroku and Ho[u]rei periods (1688-1710); just ante-dating the\nreforming rule of the eighth Tokugawa Sho[u]gun, Yoshimune Ko[u]. Victim\nof an atrocious plot of her husband and others, she committed suicide\nwith the vow to visit her rage upon all engaged in the conspiracy. The\nshrine of the O'Iwa Inari (Fox-witched O'Iwa) in Yotsuya was early\nerected (1717) to propitiate her wrathful ghost; and the shrines of\nNippon, to the shabbiest and meanest, have their definite record. On the\nregister the name of the husband appears as Ibei; \"probably correct,\" as\nMr. Momogawa tells us. With him the name of Iemon is retained in the\npresent story. Iemon is the classic example of the wicked and brutal\nhusband, on the stage and in the _gidayu_ recitation of Nippon. There\nwas but little reason to revert to the record. The shrine always\nprospered. It appears on the maps of the district as late as Ansei\nfourth year (1857); and the writer has had described to him by a friend\na visit to this shrine some twenty years ago. The lady in question\nreferred to it rather vaguely as beyond Samegafuchi: _i.e._, at Yotsuya\nSamoncho[u]. It was particularly favoured by the hair dressers, and to\nthe eyes of a young girl was a gorgeous structure in its continually\nrenewed decoration. Inquiry of late in the district elicited the\ninformation that the shrine had been removed. Many changes have been\nmade on the southern side of Yotsuya by the passage of the railway from\nIidamachi to Shinjuku. The Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, with other temples there\nlocated, has been swept away. In fact the Meiji period handled all those\ninstitutions established by deceased piety with great roughness.\nTeramachi--Temple Street--is now but a name. The temples of eastern\nYotsuya have nearly all disappeared. Have public institutions occupied\nthis \"public land\"? Of course: the sites were sold for the secular\npurpose of profit, and poverty spread wide and fast over them. Yotsuya\ngot the shell of this oyster.\n\nAbout the middle of Meiji therefore (say 1893) the shrine disappeared\nfrom Yotsuya Samoncho[u]; to be re-erected in Echizenbori near the\nSumidagawa. Local inquiry could or would give but little information. A\nfortunate encounter at the Denzu-In with an University student, likewise\nbent on hunting out the old sites of Edo's history, set matters right.\nSubsequent visits to the newer shrine were not uninteresting, though the\npresence of the mirror of O'Iwa and of the bamboo tube inclosing her\nSpirit (Mr. Momogawa) was strenuously denied by the incumbent. In the\npresence of the very genuine worship at the lady's shrine much stress\nneed not be laid on the absence.\n\nThe present story practically is based on the \"Yotsuya Kwaidan\" of\nShunkintei Ryuo[u], a famous story-teller of the Yoshiwara, and an old\nman when the \"Restoration\" of the Meiji period occurred. The sketch\ngiven in the \"O'Iwa Inari Yu[u]rei\" of Momogawa Jakuen filled in gaps,\nand gave much suggestion in moulding the story into a consistent whole.\nParts merely sketched by the older story-teller found completeness. This\ncollection of ghost stories--the \"Kwaidan Hyaku Monogatari\" published by\nthe Kokkwado[u]--is in the main written by Mr. Momogawa, and can be\nrecommended as one of the best of these collections, covering in shorter\nform the more important stories of this class of the native literature.\nThe \"Yotsuya Kwaidan\" of Shinsai To[u]yo[u], one of the older and\nlivelier of the _ko[u]dan_ lecturers, gives the scene at the house of\nCho[u]bei, and his quarrel with Toemon. It is found in the\n\"Kwaidan-Shu[u]\" published by the Hakubun-kwan. The _gidayu_ (heroic\nrecitation) and the drama handle all these stories for their own\npeculiar purposes. The incidents of a tale are so distorted, for stage\nuse and dramatic effect, as to make these literary forms of small avail.\nThe letter of O'Hana, however, is practically that of the play of\nTsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]). It has been thought well to append\nto the story the _gidayu_ of this writer, covering the scene in Iemon's\nhouse. Also the strange experience of the famous actor Kikugoro[u],\nthird of that name, is put into English for the curious reader.\nKikugoro[u] was the pioneer in the representation of the Namboku drama.\n\nThis life history of the O'Iwa Inari--the moving cause of the\nestablishment of her shrine--is no mere ghost story. It is a very\ncurious exposition of life in Edo among a class of officials entirely\ndifferent from the fighting _samurai_ who haunted the fencing schools of\nEdo; from the men higher up in social status, who risked heads, or\nrather bellies, in the politics of the day and the struggle to obtain\nposition, which meant power, in the palace clique. These latter were men\nwho sought to have a share in the government of the Sho[u]gun's person,\nand hence of the nation. They strove to seat themselves in the high\nposts of the palace. Here was a rapidly revolving wheel to which a man\nmust cling, or be dashed to pieces. To prevent being shoved off into\ndestruction they used every means of slander and intrigue, and fought\nagainst such, that the life of a rich and luxurious court afforded. The\nresult, too often, was the present of a dagger from the suzerain they\nsought to please. Trapped into some breach of the harsh discipline, or\neven of mere form of etiquette, the gift was \"respectfully received\"\nwith the mocking face of gratitude, even from the hand of the successful\nrival in office. At his home the defeated politician cut his belly open.\nHis obedience to the suzerain's will was duly reported. His family was\nruined or reprieved according to a capricious estimation of its power of\nresentment--and it became a question of \"who next?\" to try for a place\non the wheel. On the contrary those lower officials,[2] engaged in the\ndull routine of bureaucratic office, had a much less dangerous service\nand etiquette to deal with. In insignificant ease they lived and\nintrigued in their petty way, under no obligation to take sides in the\npolitics of the truly great. If they fell, it was largely their own\nfault. Such was the position of those in immediate contact with the\nworking wheels of the Sho[u]gun's Government. The great _bugyo[u]_\n(magistrates) were continually shifting. Their court staff was the solid\nfoundation of unyielding precedent in form. The one was a court officer;\nthe others court officers.\n\nHence the Kwaidan possesses value for the social lesson it conveys. The\nadmittance of a stranger to the ward, his evil bond with the Lady of\nTamiya, the previous passion for O'Hana and thereby the entanglement of\nKwaiba in the plot; all form a network in which the horror of the story\nis balanced by the useful lessons to be drawn by the mind of Nippon from\nits wickedness. Perhaps this belief in the effect of the curse of the\nsuicide acts both in deterring or bringing back the erring husband, and\nin saving the wife from the extremities of her despair in abandonment.\nThe story of O'Iwa, the belief in her power, to-day has a strong\ninfluence on a certain class of the Nipponese mind; especially among the\nwomen. If the present writer might have felt momentarily an amused\nfeeling at sight of her worshippers, it was quickly lost at sight of the\npositive unhappiness expressed in these faces of the abandoned. A visit\nto the Tamiya Inari is not necessarily either one of idle curiosity or\nwithout results. Some exceedingly painful impressions can be brought\naway in the mind.\n\nIt is not entirely in jest therefore that apology is made for the\nreproduction of the story. It is well in such matters to follow one's\npredecessors. Moreover, public sentiment is not to be derided nor\ndisregarded. It has a certain title to respect, even when superstition\nis involved. Hence the statement can be made, that in telling this story\nof the \"Yotsuya Kwaidan\" no derogatory motive is involved--to people,\nclass, or person; least of all in reference to the dread Lady of Tamiya.\n\nOMARUDANI--4th July, 1916.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n\n  CHAPTER.                                                             PAGE\n\n         PROEM                                                           15\n      I. O'MINO AND DENSUKE                                              17\n     II. KAWAI SAN OF KANDA KU                                           28\n    III. TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO[U]                                         35\n     IV. THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN                                     43\n      V. THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDO[U]SHI                            49\n     VI. NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A NAKO[U]DO OR MARRIAGE BROKER    63\n    VII. IEMON APPEARS                                                   74\n   VIII. IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT                                   86\n     IX. LOVE KNOTS                                                      93\n      X. THE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA                                          99\n     XI. THE PLOT DEVELOPS                                              106\n    XII. KWAIBA'S REVENGE                                               114\n   XIII. THE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U]                        123\n    XIV. THE PUNISHMENT                                                 131\n     XV. CHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS                                        141\n    XVI. NEWS REACHES KWAIBA                                            155\n   XVII. NEWS OF KWAIBA                                                 162\n  XVIII. IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO INKYO[U]                               173\n    XIX. TAMIYA YOEMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND\n         MYO[U]ZEN THE PRIEST                                           180\n     XX. KIBEI DONO                                                     195\n    XXI. MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL                                         212\n   XXII. THE RITES FOR O'IWA                                            222\n  XXIII. THE SANZUGAWA, BRIDGELESS; THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED\n         BY THE DEAD                                                    233\n         APPENDICES                                                     251\n\n[The pronunciation of the Japanese vowels and consonants follows closely\nthe Italian; in diphthongs and triphthongs each vowel is given full\nvalue.\n\na = a as in father, e = a as in mate, i = e as in meet, o = o as in\nsoap, u = oo as in fool.\n\ng is always hard. In the To[u]kyo[u] district it has the sound ng.\n\nch has full value, as in church. It is _not_ k; c is only found as ch;\n_i.e._ cha, chi, cho, chu.\n\nThe vowels also have long (continued) sounds, marked by the accent -.\n\nAt times a vowel is elided; or rather but faintly touched by the voice.\nThus Sukeshige is pronounced Skeshige; Sukenaga = Skenaga; Kuranosuke =\nKuranoske. _Bu_ and _mu_ at the end of word lose the vowel\nsound--Shikibu = Shikib.\n\nKami used in connection with a man means \"lord,\" Wakasa no Kami = Lord\nof Wakasa province.\n\nReprinted from the \"Oguri Hangwan.\"]\n\n(Kami also means \"God\" or divinized person; including the spirits of\nthe dead. Even a living man can be regarded as a _kami_, in cases of\nsome very unusual service rendered to the public welfare. Professor Imai\nrecently--at Karuizawa--called attention to the fact that originally\n_kami_ was written [kami], _i.e._ \"superior.\" The divine attribute\n[kami] was introduced with Buddhism.)\n\n\n\n\nPROEM\n\n\nReader, pray take not the story of the O'Iwa Inari, the Yotsuya\nKwaidan, as a mere fairy tale or novel of the day. The shrine of the\nTamiya Inari stands now to attest the truth of the tradition. Let the\ndoubter but witness the faith of the believer in the powers of the\nfearful lady; and, if doubt still continues to exist, the salutary fear\nof others at least will inspire respect.\n\nTHE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN OR O'IWA INARI\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I\n\nO'MINO AND DENSUKE\n\n\nYotsuya is a suburb--at the extreme west of Edo-To[u]kyo[u]. Its\nstreets are narrow and winding, though hilly withal; especially on the\nsouthern edge toward the Aoyama district, still devoted to cemeteries\nand palaces, sepulchres whited without and within. Echizenbori would be\nat the other extremity of the great city. It fronts eastward on the bank\nof the Sumidagawa. The populous and now poverty stricken districts of\nHonjo[u] and Fukagawa beyond the wide stream, with other qualities,\ndeprive it of any claim of going to extremes. In fact Echizenbori is a\nvery staid and solid section of Edo-To[u]kyo[u]. Its streets are narrow;\nand many are the small shops to purvey for the daily needs of its\ninhabitants. But these rows of shops are sandwiched in between great\nclumps of stores, partly warehouses and partly residences of the owners\nthereof. These stores line the canals of Echizenbori, water courses\ncrowded with junks carrying their ten tons, or their hundreds of tons,\nof freight--precious cargoes of rice to go into these stores in bulk, of\n_shoyu_ (soy) by the hundred kegs, of sakarazumi (charcoal from Shimosa)\nby the thousand _tawara_ (bale), of fish dried and fresh, of _takuan_ or\n_daikon_ (the huge white radish) pickled in salt and rice bran, of all\nthe odds and ends of material in the gross which go to make up the\nnecessities of living in a great city. If Echizenbori then can make its\nshow of poverty, and very little _display_ of wealth, it is not one of\nthe poor quarters of this capital city of Nippon.\n\nCrossing the Takabashi from Hacho[u]bori and plunging down the narrow\nstreet opposite; a short turn to the right, a plunge down another narrow\nstreet and a turn to the right; one comes to the high cement wall, in\nits modernness of type a most unusual attachment to shrine or temple.\nThe gate is narrow and formal; almost like the entrance to a garden or\nsmaller burying ground. Within all is changed from the busy outside\nworld. The area inclosed is small--perhaps a square of a hundred and\nfifty feet--but marked in lines by a maze of lanterns of the cheap iron\nvariety, set on cheap wooden posts. On the right is seen a minor shrine\nor two dedicated to the Inari goddess. On the left is a small building\ndevoted to votive offerings, the crude and the more elaborate. The most\nstriking is the offering of a little _geisha_ lady, and portrays an\nheroic scene of early days. There are other portraitures, in which\nperhaps a wandering lover is seen as a hero, to the lady's eyes, of\nthese later times. On the outside of the structure are posted up by the\nhundred pictures of once woebegone ladies, now rejoicing in the potent\ninfluence of the Tamiya shrine to restore to them the strayed affections\nof husband or lover. Next in line is an open, shed-like structure. It is\na poor chance if here the casual visitor does not encounter one or two\nof the petitioners, patiently trotting round in a circle from front to\nback, and reciting their prayers in this accomplishment of \"the hundred\nturns.\" Just opposite, and close by, is the shrine itself. This is in\npart a massive store-house set back in the domestic structure, with the\nshrine of the Inari facing the visitor. The floor space at the sides and\nbefore it often is piled high with tubs of _shoyu_ and _sake_, with\nbundles of charcoal, such negotiable articles as the wealthier\nshopkeeper can offer to the mighty lady; and long tresses of hair of\nwomen too poor to offer anything else, or wise enough to know that a\nwoman could make no greater sacrifice. And is not the object of their\nworship a woman? Numerous are these severed strands. Entering the shrine\nand passing the pleasant spoken warden at its entrance, peddling his\ncharms and giving advice where often it is sadly needed--perhaps the\nmore valuable of his two public duties--to the left within is the\nOku-no-In, the inner shrine containing the _ihai_ or memorial tablet of\nO'Iwa. That the shrine is popular and wealthy; that the lady is feared,\nvenerated, and her dreadful powers much sought after; this is plain to\nthe eye in the crowded elaborateness of this inner holy place of the\nlarger sacred structure.\n\nNow Echizenbori is not a particularly old quarter of the city. Long\nafter Edo was established, the city, step by step, fought its way down\nto the river; filling in lagoons and swamps, and driving their waters\ninto the canals which were to furnish very largely the means of\ncommunication for its traffic. Yotsuya on the contrary is old. Its\npoverty is of later date. In the Edo days it was a favourite site for\nthe homes of _do[u]shin_, _yakunin_, and a whole herd of the minor\nofficials who had the actual working of the great Tokugawa machine of\ngovernment in their hands. In the maps of Ansei 4th year (1857) the\nshrine of the O'Iwa Inari figures in Samoncho[u], in its Teramachi; a\nsmall part of the great mass of red, indicating temples and shrines and\ntheir lands, which then covered a large part of Yotsuya. How then did it\ncome to pass that the shrine was removed to this far off site in\nEchizenbori, with such incongruous surroundings? The explanation must be\nfound in our story.\n\nWhen the Tenwa year period (1681-83) opened, long resident at Yotsuya\nSamoncho[u] had been Tamiya Matazaemon. By status he was a minor\nofficial or _do[u]shin_ under the Tokugawa administration. These\n_do[u]shin_ held highest rank of the permanent staff under the\nbureaucratic establishment; and on these men lay the main dependence for\nsmoothness of working of the machinery of the Government. Matazaemon was\nthe perfect type of the under-official of the day; smooth, civilly\nimpertinent to his equals, harsh to his inferiors, and all unction and\nabjectness to his superiors. Indeed, he laid more stress on those\nimmediately above him than on the more removed. To serve the greater\nlord he served his immediate officer, being careful to allow to the\nlatter all the credit. No small part of his function was to see that\nceremonial form and precedent were carried out to the letter. It was the\naccurate and ready knowledge of these which was of greatest import to\nhis chief, indeed might save the latter from disaster. Matazaemon's\nreadiness and conduct rendered him deservedly valued. Hence he enjoyed\nthe double salary of thirty _tawara_ of rice, largely supplemented by\ngifts coming to him as teacher in _hanaike_ (the art of flower\narrangement) and of the _cha-no-yu_ (tea ceremony). He had a more than\ngood house, for one of his class, facing on the wide Samoncho[u] road,\nand with a garden on the famous Teramachi or long street lined with\ntemples and which runs eastward from that thoroughfare. The garden of\nTamiya almost faced the entrance to the Gwansho[u]ji, which is one of\nthe few relics of the time still extant. It was large enough to contain\nsome fifteen or twenty fruit trees, mainly the _kaki_ or persimmon, for\nMatazaemon was of practical mind. Several cherry trees, however,\nperiodically displayed their bloom against the rich dark green foliage\nof the fruit trees; and in one corner, to set forth the mystic qualities\nof a small Inari shrine relic of a former owner, were five or six\nextremely ancient, gnarled, and propped up plum trees, sufficient in\nnumber to cast their delicate perfume through garden and house in the\nsecond month (March).\n\nSuch was the home of Matazaemon; later that of O'Iwa San. It was\npretentious enough to make display with a large household. But the\nmaster of Tamiya was as close-fisted and hard and bitter as an unripe\n_biwa_ (medlar). His wealth was the large and unprofitable stone which\nlay within; the acid pulp, a shallow layer, all he had to give to\nsociety in his narrow minded adherence to official routine; the smooth,\neasily peeled skin the outward sign of his pretentions to social status\nand easily aroused acidity of temper. With most of his neighbours, and\nall his relatives, he had a standing quarrel. Secure in his lord's\nfavour as an earnest officer, so little did he care for the dislike of\nthe ward residents that he was ever at drawn swords with the head of his\nward-association, Ito[u] Kwaiba. As for the relatives, they were only\ntoo ready to come to closer intimacy; and Matazaemon knew it.\n\nHis household consisted of his wife O'Naka, his daughter O'Mino, and the\nman servant Densuke. The garden Matazaemon would allow no one to attend\nto but himself. The two women did all the work of the household which\nordinarily would fall to woman-kind, with something more. Densuke\nperformed the heavier tasks, accompanied his master on his outings, and\nrepresented his contribution to the service of the ward barrier, the\nO[u]kido[u], on the great Ko[u]shu[u]-Kaido[u] and just beyond the\nO[u]bangumi. The barrier cut off Yotsuya from the Naito[u]-Shinjuku\ndistrict, and, as an entrance into Edo, was of considerable importance.\nWhen the time of service came Densuke appeared in full uniform and with\nhis pike. A handsome young fellow of nineteen years, the women,\nespecially O'Mino, saw to it that his appearance should be a credit to\nthe House. His progress up the wide Samoncho[u], up to his disappearance\ninto the great highway, was watched by O'Mino--and by the neighbours,\nwho had much sharper eyes and tongues than Matazaemon and his wife. They\nmarvelled.\n\nWith ground for marvel. In the eyes of her parents O'Mino was the most\nbeautiful creature ever created. Occasionally Matazaemon would venture\non criticism. \"Naka, something is to be said to Mino. Too much powder is\nused on the face. Unless the colour of the skin be very dark, the use of\ntoo much powder is not good. Mino is to be warned against excess.\" Thus\nspoke the official in his most official tone and manner. Wife and\ndaughter heard and disobeyed; the wife because she was ruled by her\ndaughter, and the daughter because she would emulate the fair skin of\nDensuke and be fairer in his eyes. O'Mino had suffered both from fate\nand fortune. She had been born ugly; with broad, flat face like unto the\nmoon at full, or a dish. Her back was a little humped, her arms\ndisproportionately long, losing in plumpness what they gained in\nextension. She seemed to have no breasts at all, the chest forming a\nconcavity in correspondence to the convexity of the back, with a\nsmoothness much like the inner surface of a bowl. This perhaps was no\ndisadvantage--under the conditions. So much for fate. But fortune had\nbeen no kinder. \"Blooming\" into girlhood, she had been attacked by\nsmallpox. Matazaemon was busy, and knew nothing of sick nursing. O'Naka\nwas equally ignorant, though she was well intentioned. Of course the\nthen serving wench knew no more than her mistress. O'Mino was allowed to\nclaw her countenance and body, as the itching of the sores drove her\nnearly frantic. In fact, O'Naka in her charity aided her. The result was\nthat she was most hideously pock-marked. Furthermore, the disease cost\nher an eye, leaving a cavity, a gaping and unsightly wound, comparable\nto the dumplings called _kuzumanju_, white puffy masses of rice dough\nwith a depression in the centre marked by a dab of the dark-brown bean\npaste. The neighbours used to say that O'Mino was _nin san bake\nshichi_--that is, three parts human and seven parts apparition. The more\ncritical reduced her humanity to the factor one. The children had no\nname for her but \"Oni\" (fiend). They had reason for this. They would not\nplay with her, and treated her most cruelly. O'Mino, who was of no mild\ntemperament, soon learned to retaliate by use of an unusually robust\nframe, to which was united by nature and circumstances her father's\nacidity of character. When the odds were not too great all the tears\nwere not on O'Mino's side; but she suffered greatly, and learned with\nyears that the Tamiya garden was her safest playground.\n\nO'Mino grew into a woman. Affection had to find some outlet. Not on the\npractical and very prosaic mother; not on the absorbed and crabbed\nfather; but on Densuke, on the _samurai's_ attendant or _chu[u]gen_, it\nfell. All manner of little services were rendered to him; even such as\nwould appropriately fall within his own performance. At first O'Mino\nsought out little missions for him to perform, out of the line of his\nusual duties, and well rewarded in coin. This was at his first\nappearance in the house. Then she grew bolder. Densuke found his\nclothing undergoing mysterious repairs and replacement. His washing,\neven down to the loin cloths, was undertaken by the Ojo[u]san. Densuke\ndid not dare to question or thwart her. Any trifling fault O'Mino took\non herself, as due to her meddling. She became bolder and bolder, and\nsought his assistance in her own duties, until finally they were as man\nand maid employed in the same house. Matazaemon noted little increases\nin the house expenses. O'Mino took these as due to her own extravagance.\nThe father grunted a little at these unusual expenditures. \"What goes\nout at one end must be cut off at the other end. Densuke, oil is very\nexpensive. At night a light is not needed. Be sure, therefore, on going\nto bed to extinguish the light.\" Densuke at once obeyed his master's\norder; and that very night, for the first time, O'Mino boldly sought his\ncouch. Confused, frightened, overpowered by a passionate woman, Densuke\nsinned against his lord, with his master's daughter as accomplice.\n\nHenceforth Densuke had what O'Mino was willing to give him. On\nMatazaemon's going forth to his duties, O'Mino, and O'Naka under her\norders, did all his household work. The only return required was\nsubmission to the exigencies of the Ojo[u]san. This was no slight\nobligation. Densuke at times thought of escape, to his home at To[u]gane\nvillage in Kazusa, to his uncle Kyu[u]bei in the Kanda quarter of Edo.\nO'Mino seemed to divine his thoughts. She would overload him with\nfavors; or openly express her purpose of following wherever he went in\nlife. Kanda? Kyu[u]bei was a well-known hanger-on at the Tamiya.\nMatazaemon entered him up in his expense book at so much a year.\nTo[u]gane? He could not get there except through Kyu[u]bei. Matazaemon\nhad farms there, and the _nanushi_ or village bailiff was his servant.\nBesides, he would be a runaway. Matazaemon surely would come down on\nKyu[u]bei as the security. So the months passed, and matters were\nallowed to drift. Perhaps it was some gossip of the quarter which\nreached the deaf ears of Matazaemon. As he was about to go forth one day\nhe followed the figure of O'Mino sharply with his little eyes all\nscrewed up. \"Naka, there seems change in the figure of Mino. Surely the\ngossip of the neighbours as to Densuke is not true? Mino is said to\nharbour a child by him. In such case it would be necessary to kill them\nboth. Warn Mino in time; a _chu[u]gen_ is not one to become the adopted\nson (_muko_) of the Tamiya. He is an excellent lad, and costs but\nlittle. His habits are not riotous. To dismiss him thus causelessly\nwould not only be unjust, but to no profit. Mino giving heed to the\nwarning, all will be well.\" With this the lord of the household stalked\nforth to the house entrance. Receiving his clogs from O'Mino, he stalked\nforth to his official attendance. The two women, prostrate in salutation\nat his exit, raised their heads to watch him stalk.\n\nIt was a frightened face that O'Naka turned to her daughter. In\nwhispering voice--\"The honoured father's words have been heard? If not,\nit is to be said that gossip of the neighbourhood has come to his ears\nas to relations with Densuke. He notices that an _obi_ is not often\nworn; and when worn is soon discarded. However, a man's eye is not so\napt in such matters. Even in this Naka cannot speak positively.\nDoubtless the report is not true.\" O'Mino, if ugly, was anything but\nobtuse. Her mother must know; and yet not know. \"My honoured father does\nnot consider the difference of age and status in Densuke. Densuke is but\na boy. This Mino has passed her twenty-third year. Moreover, surely she\ndeserves a better husband than a _chu[u]gen_. Least of all would she\ngive her father cause for regret or painful thoughts. Can a woman be\npregnant otherwise than by a man?\" O'Mino, respectfully prostrate, with\nthis raised her head. The two women looked each other in the face.\nFinally O'Naka said--\"With joy is the answer heard. But Matazaemon San\nis of hasty temper. In his suspicions even he is to be avoided. However,\nthe business of the house is to be performed. This will take the time\nuntil late in the day. Tradesmen may come for payments of the month. In\nthe closet ten _ryo[u]_ in silver will be found. Here are the keys to\nthe chests. It would be well to take an inventory of the effects. The\nwinter is at hand. It is time to make warmer provision for it. Be sure\nto observe circumspection.\" With these words, and a sad look at her\nerring daughter, O'Naka donned street garb, threw a _haori_ (cloak) over\nher shoulders, climbed down into her clogs, and their patter soon\ndisappeared down the street.\n\nHer departure was almost coincident with the reappearance of Densuke.\nHis attendance on the master to the offices of the palace stables\naccomplished, for the time being he had returned. Thus did Matazaemon\neffect an outward state and an household economy. None too willing was\nthe presence of Densuke. He was faithful in his way to O'Mino, and much\nafraid of her. Even in the most private intercourse to him she was the\nOjo[u]san, the daughter of the House; but he had no other recourse than\nthe Tamiya. Once assured of him, O'Mino had cut off all the previous\nflow of coin, and with it the means of his rare indiscretions at the\nShinjuku pleasure quarter. Besides, their interviews took place in the\ndarkness of night. In the daytime O'Naka usually was present, who,\nlacking other company, sought that of her daughter, and moreover was\nunwilling to be too complacent in the intrigue she saw going on. As soon\nas the sound of Densuke's steps was heard, O'Mino called him. There was\na sharpness in her tone, a note of alarmed decision, that frightened and\nchilled him. Humbly he sought her presence. A glance showed the absence\nof O'Naka, yet as usual he prostrated himself in salutation. In that\nposition he did not see her face. She said impatiently--\"For salutation\nthere is no time nor occasion. It is no longer the Ojo[u]san who speaks;\nit is the wife. My father knows all concerning this Mino and Densuke. On\nhis return he is sure to take the occasion of the presence of both to\nkill us. It is his right and our duty to submit to his punishment. But\nto do so consigns the infant in the womb from darkness to darkness. This\nis too dreadful to contemplate. Unfilial though it be, we must run away.\nMake up your mind to do so.\" Densuke looked up. She was bent in\nmeditation over this flight. The corners of the mouth widened out, the\neyelid drooping more conspicuously than ever and forming a heavy fold\nover the empty socket, the bald brow, the scanty hair at the sides in\ndisordered whisps and strands, all these made her a hideous mask. He\ncould not endure the sight. Timidly he said--\"Terrible news indeed! How\nhas it happened? Surely, honoured lady, you have been very rash; nay,\nsomewhat clumsy withal. Cannot women take their pleasure with whom they\nplease without such dire results? Ah! Such luxury, such pleasant\nsurroundings! All must be abandoned. This Densuke will seek his native\nvillage in Kazusa. And the Ojo[u]san whither will she go; what will she\ndo?\"\n\nWas the question asked in innocence, or in deepest guile? O'Mino could\nnot have answered, well as she thought she knew Densuke. He felt a hand\non his shoulder. He sprang up in fright, hardly knowing whether it was a\ndemon, or O'Mino turned demon, who confronted him. Her mouth half open,\nher large, white, shining, even teeth all displayed, her single eye\ndarting malignant gleams, and the empty socket and its fold quivering\nand shaking, she was a frightful object. \"To speak of pleasure without\nthe consequences, such talk is that of a fool. Densuke was taken for the\nrelationship of the two worlds. Now you would abandon me. Very well--do\nso. But this Mino does not perish by her father's sword. The well is at\nhand. Within three days I shall reappear and hunt you out. Torn to\npieces the wretched man shall die a miserable death. Better would it be\nnow to die with Mino. A last salutation....\" Two vigorous arms seized\nhis neck. Densuke gave a cry of anguish as the sharp teeth marked the\near. Letting him go, she sprang to the _ro[u]ka_ (verandah). Frightened\nas he was, Densuke was too quick for her. He grasped her robe. \"Nay! The\nOjo[u]san must not act so desperately. Densuke spoke as one clumsy, and\nat a loss what to do ... yes ... we must run away ... there is the\nuncle, Kawai, in Kanda. To him Densuke will go, and there learn the will\nof Tamiya Dono.\" O'Mino's tragic attitude lapsed. At once she was the\npractical woman of the house. She gave thanks for her mother's\nforesight. \"The escape is not as of those unprovided. Here are ten\n_ryo[u]_ in silver. A bundle is to be made of the clothing and other\neffects. This is to be carried by Densuke. And the uncle: Mino\npresenting herself for the first time as wife, a present is to be\nbrought. What should it be?\" She talked away, already busy with piling\nclothes, quilts (_futon_), toilet articles onto a large _furoshiki_ or\nsquare piece of cloth. Then she arrayed her person with greatest care,\nand in the soberest and richest fashion as the newly-wed wife. With time\nDensuke managed to get his breath amid this vortex of unexpected\nconfusion into which he had been launched. \"The uncle's teeth are bad.\nSoft _takuan_[3] is just the thing. For long he has eaten little else.\nFour or five stalks are sufficient.\" He went to the kitchen to secure\nthis valued gift. Then he collected his own possessions. With the huge\nbundle of the _furoshiki_ on his shoulders; with straw raincoat, sun\nhat, clogs for wet and dry weather, piled on the top, and the stalks of\nthe _takuan_ dangling down; \"it was just as if they were running away\nfrom a fire.\" As Densuke departed O'Mino closely observed him. He was\ntoo subdued, too scared to give her anxiety. Later she left the house to\njoin him at the Hanzo[u]-bashi, far enough removed from Yotsuya. It was\nthen Tenwa, 2nd year, 11th month (December, 1682).\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II\n\nKAWAI SAN OF KANDU KU\n\n\nThis uncle of Densuke, Kawai Kyu[u]bei by name, was a rice dealer, with\na shop in Matsudacho[u] of the Kanda district. The distance to go was\nfar. As with all ladies, O'Mino kept Densuke waiting long at the\nHanzo[u]-bashi. Indeed, there was much romance about this ugly,\nneglected, hard girl. She waited until the sound of O'Naka's clogs was\nheard. Then she halted at the corner of Teramachi until she could see\nher mother's figure in the dusk; see it disappear into the house. When\nshe went down the street toward the Samegabashi she was crying. It was\nlate therefore--after the hour of the pig (9 P.M.)--when the pair\nreached Kanda. The business of the day was long over in this business\nsection of Edo. The houses were tightly closed. On reaching the entrance\nof Kyu[u]bei's house said Densuke--\"Ojo[u]san, condescend to wait here\nfor a moment. The uncle is to be informed. Deign to have an eye to the\n_furoshiki_. Please don't let the dogs bite into or insult the\n_takuan_.\" He pounded on the door. Said a voice within--\"Obasan\n(Auntie)! Obasan! Someone knocks. Please go and open for them.\" The more\nquavering and softer tones of an old woman made answer--\"No, it is not\nmy turn and time to go to the door. Get up; and first make inquiry\nbefore entrance is allowed. With little to lose, loss is much felt. Ah!\nTamiya Dono in the Yotsuya has been sadly neglected.\" The scolding tones\nhummed on. Grumbling, the old man was lighting a rush. \"'Tis agreed;\n'tis agreed. To-morrow without fail this Kyu[u]bei visits Tamiya. Ah! It\nis no jest to go to that house. Not only is the distance great, but....\"\nHe had the door open, and his mouth too. \"Densuke! Graceless fellow! But\nwhat are you doing here, and at this hour? No; the luck is good. There\nis a big bundle with you, a huge bundle.\" He spied the _takuan_ and his\nface broadened into a smile. \"Ah! If dismissed, it has been with honour.\nDoubtless the _takuan_ is for this Kyu[u]bei. Thanks are felt. But is\nall this stuff Densuke's? He has not stolen it? Doubtless a woman is at\nthe bottom of the affair. Never mind; an opportunity presents itself to\noffer you as _muko_--at the Tatsuya in Yokomachi. Of late a boy has been\nhoped for, but another girl presented herself. A _muko_ now will be\nwelcome. The wife is getting past child-bearing, and there is little\nhope of a son. The Tatsuya girl is just the thing. In a few months she\nwill be fit to be a wife. She....\"\n\nDensuke edged a word into this stream. \"The honoured uncle is right.\nThe cause of Densuke's appearance is a woman.\" The old man made a face.\nSaid he--\"Well, in such a case it is good to be out of it. This\nKyu[u]bei has heard talk of Densuke--and of all things with the\nOjo[u]san! That would be terrible indeed. But how is the Oni (demon)?\nWhat a sight she is! Bald, one-eyed, hairless, with a face like a dish\nand no nose--Kyu[u]bei came suddenly on her at dusk in the Yotsuya. Iya!\nIt was cold feet and chills for him for the space of seven days. It is\nthat which keeps Kyu[u]bei from Yotsuya, although a little aid would go\nfar. The last dealings in rice notes were not favourable. Besides,\naccount is soon to be rendered to Tamiya Dono. But though wicked of\ntemper and ugly, O'Mino San is rich. Even for the demon in time a good\nmatch will be found. She will be the wife of an honoured _kenin_\n(vassal), and the husband will buy _geisha_ and _joro[u]_ with the\nmoney. Such is the expectation of Tamiya Dono. Don't allow any trifling\nthere. Remember that she is the daughter of a _go-kenin_. They talk of\nDensuke in the Yotsuya. Of course it is all talk. Don't allow it to\nhappen.\" Densuke found an opening. The words meant one thing; the\nexpression another. \"It is not _going_ to happen.\" Kyu[u]bei looked at\nhim aghast as he took in the meaning. \"What! With the demon? Densuke has\ncommitted the carnal sin with the demon? Oh, you filthy scoundrel! Rash,\ninconsiderate boy! Obasan! Obasan!... What did she pay you for the\ndeed?... This low fellow Densuke, this foolish rascal of a nephew, has\nbeen caught in fornication with the demon.... What a fool! How is it\nthat death has been escaped? And you have run away. Doubtless a\npregnancy has followed. After putting his daughter to death Tamiya Dono\nwill surely hunt out Densuke. Or perhaps keep O'Mino San until he\ncatches the interloper. Sinning together, both will die together. Ah! To\ncross the Sanzu no Kawa, to climb the Shide no Yama, with the demon as\ncompany: terrific! It is terrific! And what has become of her? Why fall\ninto such a trap, with a woman old and ugly? Her riches are not for you.\nCaught here, the _tatami_ of Kyu[u]bei will be spoiled.\"[4]\n\nDensuke countered. He spoke in the old man's ear. \"Refusing consent,\nshe threatened to kill herself and haunt this Densuke as O'Bake\n(apparition). The Ojisan (uncle) has seen the Ojo[u]san. Would he be\nhaunted by her, be seized and killed with torture?... And then--here she\nstands, just at the door.\" The old man spluttered, and gasped, and went\non his nose in abject salutation--\"Oh, the fool!... the Ojo[u]san is\nhere in person ... he would trifle with the devil!... the low rascal\nwould seduce the honoured daughter of Tamiya ... put ten hags in a row\nand pick out the worst ... will the Ojo[u]san condescend to honour\nKyu[u]bei's place.... Oh! She's a very O'Bake already. Pregnancy with a\nbeautiful woman is bad enough. With this demon it makes her an\napparition ... condescend to enter; deign to enter.\" O'Mino slowly came\nforward. That what had been said by the rash and unconscious Kyu[u]bei\nhad escaped her ear was unlikely. The humility of demeanor hardly veiled\nthe offended dignity of her approach. \"Densuke has spoken truth. We come\nas husband and wife. Condescend to give shelter for the time being, and\nbecome the intercessor with Tamiya Dono. Such is the prayer of this\nMino.\" As she spoke she bowed low on the _tatami_ (mats). Kyu[u]bei\ncaught the hint; for if she had heard the talk of Densuke, she had\nassuredly heard his still louder ejaculations and ill-timed wit. The\nObasan was in a rage at him. Taking the conduct of affairs in her own\nhand--\"Condescend to make this poor dwelling a home for as long as\ndesired. Plainly the visitors have not come empty handed. Ma! Ma! 'Tis\nlike an escape from a fire. Densuke is a strong lad to shoulder such a\nburden. But he always has been something of an ass. As for Matazaemon\nDono, to-morrow the Ojisan shall attend to the affair, and see what is\nto be expected. Meanwhile, deign to be as in Samoncho[u] itself.\" The\nkindly old woman pushed Kyu[u]bei and his clumsy apologies out of the\nway. She busied herself about O'Mino. The two women understood each\nother. The varied contents of the _furoshiki_ were quickly stowed away.\nA little supper was prepared for the hungry fugitives. Kyu[u]bei sat by,\nhis eyes dazzled by the wealth of goods displayed, and his nostrils\nshifting under the acrid perfume of the _takuan_ and remembrance of his\nstupidity.\n\nThe next morning Kyu[u]bei was up betimes. Matazaemon was no dawdler.\nIt was best to catch him satisfied with the morning meal, and perhaps\nbeset by the night's regret over the loss of his daughter. In no way was\nit a pleasant mission. Kyu[u]bei's pace became a crawl as he approached\nthe garden gate on Teramachi. He put in an appearance at the kitchen\nside. O'Naka was here established, engaged in her duties and surely\nawaiting him. At sight of him she burst into what was half laugh and\nhalf tears. \"Ah! It is Kyu[u]bei San. Doubtless he comes on the part of\nMino and Densuke. It is kind of Kyu[u]bei to befriend them. The Danna\n(master) is very angry indeed. An only daughter, and one on whom he\ndepended for a _muko_, he is much upset. Please go in and talk with him.\nShow anger at the runaways. To agree with him may somewhat soothe his\npassion. Condescend so to act.\" Kyu[u]bei winked. And turn some of\nthis anger on himself? Well, agreement might rouse the spirit of\ncontradiction in Tamiya Dono. It was a characteristic of this hide-bound\nofficial. Matazaemon was drinking the last sips of tea from his rice\nbowl when the _sho[u]ji_ were gently pushed apart, and the head of\nKyu[u]bei inserted in the opening. At first he paid no attention. Then\nas one in haste--\"Ah! Is it Kyu[u]bei? He comes early to-day--and hardly\nto apply for anything. The rice notes are not yet due for some weeks.\"\nHis tone was grim; the usual indifferent benevolence of demeanor toward\na townsman was conspicuously absent. Kyu[u]bei felt chilled. Densuke\nmust not sacrifice his good uncle to his own folly.\n\nSaid Kyu[u]bei--\"Yet it is to seek the honoured benevolence of Tamiya\nDono that Kyu[u]bei comes.\" Matazaemon turned sharp around toward him.\nFrightened, the townsman continued--\"Densuke has acted very wickedly.\nThe low, lascivious rascal has dared to seduce the honoured daughter of\nthe House. Both are now harboured at the house of this Kyu[u]bei, who\nnow makes report. Their lives are in the hand of Tamiya Dono. But\nKyu[u]bei would make earnest plea for delay. O'Mino San being pregnant,\nthe child would be sent from darkness to darkness--a terrible fate. May\nit be condescended to show the honoured mercy and benevolence. Evil and\nunfilial though the action of the two has been, yet 'benevolence weighs\nthe offence; justice possesses two qualities.' Such are the words of\nKo[u]shi (Confucius).\" The eyes of Matazaemon twinkled. He had heard\nthat Kyu[u]bei was on the verge of shaving his head (turning priest).\nTruly the townsman was profitting by the exhortations of his teacher.\nAfter a time he said--\"The memory of Kyu[u]bei is excellent. Don't let\nit fail him on the present occasion. For such a deed as has been\ncommitted the punishment is death, meted out by the hand of this\nMatazaemon. The fact ascertained, it was intended to kill them both. The\nflight of Mino and Densuke has altered the complexion of the affair. It\nis no longer necessary to inflict the extreme penalty. O'Mino is\ndisowned for seven births. Neither she nor Densuke is to appear before\nthis Matazaemon. If the talk of the ward be true, in exchange for a\nloyal service Densuke has secured a beautiful bride. There can be no\nregrets.\" Then, taking a sprightly and jeering air, \"But this Kyu[u]bei\nhas been the one to exercise benevolence. Matazaemon now learns that the\ntwo runaways have been received by him. Entertain them well; entertain\nthem well. Thanks are due to Kyu[u]bei San--from them. Doubtless he is\nmuch occupied with his guests. Less will be seen of him in Yotsuya....\nBut official duties press. This Matazaemon must leave. Don't be in\nhaste. Stay and take some tea.... Naka! Naka! Tea for Kyu[u]bei San; the\n_haori_ (cloak) of Matazaemon.... _Sayonara_.... Ah! The rice notes this\nMatazaemon took up for Kyu[u]bei San, they fall due with the passage of\nthe weeks. But Kyu[u]bei is one who always meets his obligations. As to\nthat there is no anxiety.\" With this last fling the prostrate Kyu[u]bei\nheard the sound of the clogs of Matazaemon on the flagged walk outside.\nA departing warning to O'Naka as to the tea, and steps were heard\nnear-by. He raised his head, to confront the mistress of the house.\n\nO'Naka spoke with tears in her eyes--a salve to the alarmed and\nwounded feelings of Kyu[u]bei. \"Don't be frightened. After all\nMatazaemon is a _samurai_. To press Kyu[u]bei, or any tradesman, is\nbeyond him. But this Naka cannot see her daughter! To add to his anger\nwould bring disaster on her and the unborn child. Alas! Anyhow, give\nMino this money; and these articles of value, properly her own. Her\nmirror has been forgotten in the hasty flight.\" O'Naka brought forth one\nof those elaborate polished silver surfaces, used by the ladies of\nNippon in these later luxurious days of the Sho[u]gunate. It was only\nnow that it became the property of O'Mino. It was part of the wedding\noutfit of O'Naka herself. With this little fiction the mother\ncontinued--\"When the child is born allow the grandmother at least a\ndistant sight of it. Perhaps it will resemble Tamiya; be like its\nmother, and soften a father's heart.\" Now she wept bitterly; and\nKyu[u]bei wept with her--bitterly. \"Like the mother! The Buddhas of\nDaienji[5] would indeed weep at the appearance of such a monster.\" This\nwas his thought; not expressed with the humble gratitude, prostration,\nand promises which he fully intended to keep. Kyu[u]bei reverentially\naccepted the mirror, the goods, the money. Taking his leave of\nYotsuya--a long one he feared--with sighs he set out for Kanda. Here he\nmade his report. Said the old townsman with severity--\"The will of the\nparent is not to be disobeyed. It is the duty of this Kyu[u]bei to see\nto its performance.\" He had O'Naka more in mind than the master of\nTamiya. O'Mino might yet be the goose to lay golden eggs. A goose of\nsuch plumage! Kyu[u]bei made a wry face in the darkness of the corridor.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III\n\nTAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO[U]\n\n\nSome means of support had to be found. Employed in a _kenin's_ house,\nand leaving it under such conditions, kindred occupation was out of the\nquestion. There was a sort of black list among these officials to cover\nall grades of their service. Time and the host of servants of some great\nHouse would get the lad back into the only occupation he understood.\nTrusting to some such accident of fortune, Kyu[u]bei made Densuke his\nagent on commission. Densuke was no idler. Kyu[u]bei managed to meet the\nTamiya security for his loans, largely through the efforts of the\nyounger man. The married couple at this time set up their establishment\nin Goro[u]beicho[u] of Kyo[u]bashi Ku. Coming and going, often with no\ndefinite task in hand, Densuke to all appearance was an out-and-out\nidler. For the first time released from the trammels of her class,\nO'Mino could attend the theatres and farce shows of the capital. She\ndelighted in acting this part of a tradesman's wife. Moreover she was\nvery sure of not meeting with Matazaemon, of whom she was in great fear.\nBound to the _formulae_ of his class, her father might feel bound to cut\nher down on sight.\n\nOne day Densuke was idling and hanging over the parapet of the\nNihonbashi. Some fishermen were violently quarrelling in the fish market\non the bank just below the bridge. As he looked on with interest a hand\nwas laid on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a man, partly in the dress of\na _chu[u]gen_, partly in that of a menial attendant of one of the larger\n_yashiki_ (nobleman's mansion). Scars of burns on his hands and arms,\npatches of rice flour and bran, showed that he was a cook. His eye was\nsevere and his manner abrupt as he rebuked Densuke. \"An idle fellow!\nThis Taro[u]bei never fails to come across Densuke as an idler, or on\nthe way to Asakusa with the worthy wife. Is he fit for nothing?\" Densuke\nwas a mild man. To this man with a grievance his answer was soft.\nBesides he had no liking for the cook's knife stuck in the girdle, and\nhandy to carve fish or flesh. He said--\"Perchance the idleness is more\nin appearance than fact. Buying and selling on commission the task is an\nirregular one. It is true, however, that this Densuke has no settled\nlabour. Alas! Former days in the service of a _samurai_ are much to be\nregretted.\"--\"Can you cook rice?\" was the abrupt interruption. \"This\nDensuke knows the 'Sanryaku' fairly well. Is more needed?\" The man\nlooked at him dumbfounded. \"The 'Sanryaku'--what's that?\"--\"Knowledge of\nthe 'Sanryaku' enables one to meet all the requirements of a _bushi_\n(knight).[6] At the school in Kazusa To[u]gane the priest who taught\nthis Densuke, at one time a _samurai_, was far more taken with the\n'Sanryaku' than with the _Sutra_ (Scripture); the lessons taught applied\nmore to Bushido[u] (the knight's way) than to Butsudo[u] (the way of the\nBuddha).... But to the point; this Densuke for three years cooked the\nrice at Tamiya in Yotsuya. First there is the _toro-toro_ of bubbling\nwater; then the _biri-biri_, as what little remains passes as steam\nthrough the rice grains. Then the sharp whistling cry of a baby from the\npot on the slow fire (_murashite_). The task is done, and the vessel is\nremoved from the stove.\" The man looked with respect on this learned\ncook. Said he--\"Densuke is the man. Taro[u]bei must leave the kitchen of\nGeishu[u] Sama at once. The mother is ill in Aki province. A substitute\nis to be found. The salary--is next to nothing; but the perquisites are\nnumerous, and the food ample to feed several Densuke and their wives.\nDeign to accept.\" Densuke did not hesitate--\"The obligation lies with\nDensuke. But how secure the position? There is Tamiya....\" The man\nlaughed. \"There are many Densuke in Edo; and no connection between the\n_yashiki_ of Matsudaira Aki no Kami and the house of a _do[u]shin_ in\nYotsuya. There is small likelihood of meeting old acquaintances. Be sure\nto remember that it is Densuke of Kyo[u]bashi; not Densuke of Yotsuya.\nThis pass will answer to the gate-man. Substitutes are common. Whether\nit be Densuke or Taro[u]bei who cooks the rice makes no difference;\nprovided the rice be well cooked. Taro[u]bei's service lies elsewhere;\nto Densuke San deep his obligation.\" He held out the pass, and Densuke\ntook it.\n\nWith mutual salutation and joy in heart they parted. Densuke betook\nhimself to the _yashiki_ of Matsudaira Aki no Kami at Kasumigaseki. No\ndifficulties were encountered. Taro[u]bei was not so superlative as a\ncook that the substitute could not be better than the original. At this\nplace Densuke acted the part of the _komatsukibatta_. This is a narrow\nbrown weevil, some three parts of an inch in length, and which stands on\nits head making the repeated movements of _o'jigi_, much as at a\nceremonial encounter in Nippon. Densuke was not long in becoming well\nliked. He was ready to run errands for all, outside of the hours of his\nduties. From those higher up in the _yashiki_ these errands brought him\ncoin. Every month he could bring O'Mino twenty to thirty _mon_ in\n\"cash\"; apart from the ample rations of rice and _daikon_ bestowed on\nthe kitchen staff. Nay: as cook at times fish could not be allowed to\nspoil, and fell to the perquisites of Densuke. Thus time passed; and\nwith it the delivery of O'Mino, and the crisis in the affairs of Densuke\napproached. Now Geishu[u] Sama[7] was a fourth month _daimyo[u]_. Hence\nwith the iris blossoms he took his departure from Edo to the government\nof his fief in Aki province. The Sakuji Machibugyo[u], one Takahashi\nDaihachiro[u], plead illness on this occasion of the exodus. As unable\nto accompany his lord he remained in Edo. On plea of convenience he\nestablished himself in the abandoned quarters of the _ashigaru_ or\ncommon soldiers, situated right over Densuke's cooking stoves. Entirely\nremoved from the bustle of the household, except during Densuke's now\nrare attendance, he secured complete isolation and quiet. Densuke went\non cooking for Takahashi Sama, just as if it had been for the whole\nmilitary household. Daihachiro[u] was a forbidding kind of man; and it\nwas with no amiable look that he greeted Densuke when the latter\nappeared very late to prepare the meal. It being the 5th month 5th day\n(the _sekku_) of Tenwa 3rd year (30th May, 1683), perhaps he suspected\nDensuke of preparation for, and participation in, the great festival\nwhich was in progress. \"Densuke is very late. This Daihachiro[u] has\nmade the trial; to find out that he is no cook. Indeed the right hand\nhas been severely burnt. A cook should be on time--for the meal, not the\n_matsuri_.\" Densuke was all apology--\"Nay, Danna Sama; it is not the\nfestival which has detained Densuke. An infant was expected to-day by\nthe wife. Hence Densuke's neglect. Deign to pardon him.\"--\"A baby being\nborn is no reason why Daihachiro[u] should starve. Prepare the meal in\nhaste. The rice is to be soft; and please see that the fish also is\nsoft. Make the sauce not too sharp. It would give great trouble to make\nthe bath in the quarters. In Owarimachi, or Kubomachi, good bath-houses\nare to be found.\" Densuke took the hint. At once he recommended one he\nthought befitting the great man's greatness. \"Well: _Sayonara_. See that\nthe meal is ready by the return.\" Off stalked Takahashi Daihachiro[u],\ntowel dangling from his hand, and toothbrush and bran bag in his bosom.\n\nDensuke gave a sigh of relief as he left the court. Daihachiro[u] often\nemployed him on missions, and was never particularly generous even when\nthe transaction was decidedly shady. Densuke was dreadfully afraid of\nhim. Somehow he felt as if Daihachiro[u] was Fate--his fate. Turning to\nhis stoves, the pots and the pans, the meal soon was in successful\npreparation. As Densuke lifted the cover to inspect the rice--splash! A\ngreat red spot spread in widening circle over the white mass. In fright\nDensuke clapped on the lid of the pot. He looked upward, to locate this\nunusual condiment to his provision. On his forehead he received in\nperson a second consignment. Applying his finger to his head, and then\nto his nose--\"Blood! Ah! O'Take's fierce cat has caught a rat and is\nchewing it in the room above. How vexatious! If the Danna should find\nout....\" Hastily he tried to shove his equipment to one side. This would\nnot do. The massive stone blocks forming the furnace were too heavy for\nDensuke to move unaided. Somewhat helpless he looked around. The rice\nwas almost done; ready for the process of _murashite_, or simmering over\nthe slow fire. The fish, carefully prepared, as yet was to be cooked.\nAll was to be ready against the return of Daihachiro[u] Sama. Ah! Again\nthe dropping began. As finding some channel in the rough boarding of the\nceiling it came fast. His kitchen began to look like the place where the\nEta (outcasts) slaughter beasts. Densuke shuddered.\n\nCircumstances, the results involved, make the timid brave. Grasping a\npole Densuke started up the ladder leading to the loft and the quarters\nof the _ashigaru_. Arrived at the top his eyes took in the poor\napartment. The rafters and beams of a low-cast roof; six wretched\n(Loo-choo) mats on the floor, for the men to sit, and sleep, and live\nupon; such its bare equipment. In the middle of the mats was a great red\nstain. Densuke was at once attracted to it. \"A cat would eat a rat; but\nit would not wipe up the blood.\" His eyes were caught by the straw\nbasket used to store away the raincoats. This was all stained red at the\nbottom. Going close up he found it was wet. Perhaps the cat was at work\ninside. Densuke raised the cover and looked in. In alarm he sprang back.\nOn the trunk and limbs of a body was placed a freshly severed head.\nWithout replacing the cover, with pole uplifted over his head in\ndefence, Densuke backed toward the ladder. His one idea was to flee this\n_yashiki_. As he reached the top of the steps the voice of Daihachiro[u]\nwas heard below--\"A pest on such filthy bath-houses; and filthier\npatrons.... What! No rice yet, Densuke? Ah! Where is the fellow?\"\nDensuke looked down, to meet the altered countenance of Daihachiro[u]\nlooking up. He retreated as the latter sprang up the ladder.\nDaihachiro[u] gave a rapid glance. He saw the raised cover of the\nbasket. The next moment the bosom of Densuke's dress was harshly\ngrasped, and he himself was forced down on the floor. Gloomily\nDaihachiro[u] regarded him--\"Rash and curious fellow! Why not keep to\nyour pots and pans? Densuke loses his life; and Daihachiro[u] a fool for\na cook.\" He had drawn his sword to strike. Densuke clung to his knees in\npetition--\"Pardon, master! Pardon! This Densuke is no idle gossip. The\ndripping blood threatened to spoil the meal. Thinking the cat was eating\na rat, fearing the anger of the Danna Sama if the meal had to be\nre-cooked, Densuke came up here to chase the animal away. Thus the crime\nwas discovered....\"--\"Crime!\" thundered Daihachiro[u]. \"Ah! This\nintermeddler must certainly die. By the word of a _samurai_....\" In his\nterror Densuke almost put his hand over the irrevocable sentence. He\nspoke with life at stake. \"Deign, master, to pardon Densuke. He has\ncommitted no offence; knows of no offence in others. Densuke has seen\nnothing. Life is a jewel, to be kept at any cost. Densuke is far too\ninsignificant to deserve the anger of Takahashi Sama.\" He grovelled in\nthe abject terror of his petition.\n\nTakahashi Daihachiro[u] hesitated. An idea seemed to occur to him, at\nsight of the man's fear-struck state. He smiled grimly. \"Densuke saw the\nhead?\"--\"'Tis so,\" admitted Densuke. \"But to see a head means nothing.\"\nDaihachiro[u] dragged him over to the raincoat basket. Holding him down,\nhe grasped the head by the cue and lifted it out. \"Look!\" Densuke gave a\ncry of surprise at sight of the features of a once neighbour. \"It is the\nhead of Iseya Jusuke, the money lender of Hacho[u]bori; a hard man.\nSurely the Danna....\"--\"Just so,\" replied Daihachiro[u], carelessly\nthrowing the mortuary relic back into the basket. \"Borrowing five\n_ryo[u]_, in six months with the interest the sum now due is twenty-five\n_ryo[u]_. Pleading illness Daihachiro[u] remained in Edo, to try and\nsoften the usurer. He threatened a report to my lord; grew insolent\nbeyond measure. The sword drawn, he was killed forthwith.... Here\nDensuke finds his use and saves his life. This body is an awkward\nimpediment. Densuke must take and cast it away. Otherwise, a second head\nis added to this first. With one already to dispose of a second gives no\ndifficulty. Decide: is it agreed? Moreover there will be payment.\" He\ntook out a money belt (_do[u]maki_), that of Jusuke. Densuke recognized\nit. Daihachiro[u] had robbed Jusuke, after killing him. Lovingly he ran\nthe golden _ryo[u]_ through his fingers. Seventy of them Densuke\ncounted. Daihachiro[u] picked out three _ryo[u]_. \"Here is payment. Life\nis spared, and it is agreed to cast away the body.\" Stammered\nDensuke--\"On the rubbish heap?\" Daihachiro[u] looked at him--\"You fool!\nWhy not proclaim that Densuke murdered Jusuke? Once the gate is\npassed--and this Daihachiro[u] goes in company so far--it is Densuke who\nis the murderer of Jusuke. Remain in this place until night. Then off\nwith the body; pitch it into the ditch of Kuroda Ke, or that of Saio[u]\nDono. Daihachiro[u] now takes his meal. There is nothing wrong with it?\"\nHe looked meaningly at Densuke. The latter, with eyes on the shining\nsword, at once denied all defilement. He now plumed himself on the care\ntaken of the Danna's interests. Daihachiro[u] descended; to feed at ease\nand keep watch over the unwilling Densuke.\n\nIn the 5th month (June) the days are long. Densuke was a coward; and\nfor company had the corpse of the murdered Jusuke. To the poor cook the\ntime passed was torture. He was continually going to the stair and\ncalling down--\"Danna Sama, has the time come?... Ah! The sky is light.\nThe streets at night will be full of people with lanterns. Plainly\nO'Tento[u] Sama (the Sun) has forgotten to decline in the West. Alas!\nThis Densuke is most unlucky.\" At last the hour of the dog was passing\n(7-9 P.M.). Daihachiro[u] appeared. \"Now for the corpse! Wrap it up in\nthis matting.... Coward! Is Densuke afraid of a dead man?\" He took the\nbody and cut the tendons of arms and legs. Then he placed the head on\nthe belly. Doubling the limbs over the body so as to hold the head he\nwrapped the matting around the whole. The outside he covered with some\nred raincoats--\"in case of accidental stains.\" Then he strongly roped\nthe whole together. He stood back to inspect a truly admirable job.\nDensuke wondered how many usurers Daihachiro[u] had thus disposed of.\nHis speculations were interrupted. Everything was ready. \"Now! the loan\nof Densuke's back.\" Groaned Densuke--\"Danna Sama, a request.\"--\"What?\"\nasked Daihachiro[u]. \"Condescend to put a board between the body of\nDensuke and that of Jusuke. The head might seize and bite me with its\nteeth.\" Daihachiro[u] snorted with laughter, contempt, and anger mixed.\n\"What a cowardly rascal you are! Off with it as it is.\" Said Densuke\nrespectfully and firmly--\"The task is that of Densuke. Condescend so far\nto favour him.\" His obvious terror threatened collapse even of the\ninfluence of Daihachiro[u]. An old remnant of the back of a corselet was\nat hand. Said Daihachiro[u]--\"This is still better. It is metal. In it\ngoes. Now off with you.\" Stalking along in the rear of the unfortunate\ncook, Daihachiro[u] kept within easy distance of a sword blow. At the\ngate he said--\"Pray grant passage. Densuke takes washing of this\nDaihachiro[u]--bed quilts and _futon_ to be renovated.\"--\"Respectfully\nheard and understood.\" The gate-man let fall the bar and stood aside.\nDensuke passed into the street. A little way off he looked around.\nTakahashi Daihachiro[u] had disappeared. Now indeed it was an affair\nbetween Densuke and Jusuke.[8]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV\n\nTHE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN\n\n\nShouldering his pack Densuke made off down the broad space lined by the\nwhite walls of the _yashiki_. In this quarter of the _bushi_ the highway\nwas not crowded with citizens and their lanterns. Densuke had high hopes\nof an early disposition of the incubus. He approached the ditch which\nprotected the wall of the _yashiki_ of Prince Kuroda. When about to put\ndown the bundle a hail reached him from the _samurai_ on guard at the\nKuroda gate. \"Heigh there, rascal! Wait!\" But Densuke did not wait. In\nterror he gave the load a shift on his shoulder and started off almost\nat a run. On doing so there was a movement within. The cold sweat stood\nout on the unhappy man's forehead. A moment, and would the teeth of\nJusuke be fastened in his shoulder? \"Ah! Jusuke San! Good neighbour!\nThis Densuke is but the wretched agent. 'Tis Daihachiro[u] Sama who\nkilled Jusuke. Deign to pursue and haunt Takahashi Sama. Jusuke San!\nJusuke San!\" Fright gave him strength and boldness. The Tora no Mon\n(Tiger gate) of the castle should be the place of disposal. Here the\nditch was deep and dark. But to its very edge swarmed the people with\ntheir lanterns on this night of festival in early summer. The moor of\nKubomachi was his next goal. At this period it really was open ground.\nWith a sigh of relief Densuke let the bundle slip from his now weary\nshoulders. Alive he would have laughed at the idea of carrying the\nportly Jusuke. Yet here the usurer bestrode him, far heavier weight than\non other unfortunate clients. \"Let's have a look at him; address him\nface to face.\" His hand was on the knot, when a woman's voice spoke in\nhis ear. Densuke did not wait to ascertain the nature of her\nsolicitation. He sped away into the darkness, toward the distant city.\nWithout goal, he found himself at Shiodome.[9] Crossing the Shimbashi he\nentered on the crowded and lighted Owaricho[u]. It was only the hour of\nthe pig (9 P.M.), and the house lanterns as yet burned brightly. He\nhesitated, with the idea of turning toward Shiba, of trying his luck in\nthis still rustic district; or on the seashore, not far off.\n\nA man close by greeted him. \"Iya! Densuke San at last is found. The\nhonoured wife suffers great anxiety. Thinking that the festival might be\nthe attraction this Goemon set out to find you. Deign to hasten at once\nto Goro[u]beicho[u].\" Densuke shifted his burden away from the man. Did\nit not already somewhat taint the air? His nostrils were wide open in\nalarmed inquiry. He made excuses. With his heavy pack he would follow\nafter slowly. He was overwhelmed by his neighbour's kindness. Goemon\noffered to share the work. Densuke did more than refuse. Unable to shake\noff his companion in stolid desperation he took his way to his home in\nthe tenement (_nagaya_). \"Tadaima\" (just now--present), he called from\nthe doorway. Entering the shabby room he put down the _furoshiki_ in a\ndistant corner. Going to the Butsudan, or house altar, at once he lit\nthe lamps. O'Mino eyed him with astonishment. \"What's that?\" she asked,\npointing to the bundle--\"Washing of Daihachiro[u] Sama\"--\"But Mino is\nill. So situated she cannot do washing. How negligent!\"--\"It makes no\nmatter,\" replied Densuke recklessly. O'Mino did not like the tone of his\nvoice. She eyed him sharply. Then more pressing matters urged. \"Weary as\nyou are it is to be regretted; but money must be in hand, for the\nmidwife and other expenses. A few hours, and this Mino will be unable to\nleave her bed--for three turns (weeks). There is cooking and washing to\nbe done. Please go to Kyu[u]bei San and ask the loan of a _ryo[u]_.\nPerhaps he will give half.\"--\"He will give nothing,\" was the surly reply\nof Densuke. \"Of loans he has grown tired of late. As the uncle is the\nonly stay in dire necessity care must be taken not to offend. Moreover,\nthe loan is unnecessary. Here are three _ryo[u]_.\" He brought out the\nshining oblong pieces. O'Mino's eyes were bright with terror. \"Ah! Has\nDensuke turned thief? How was this money secured? What has happened? Why\nso late in returning?\" But Densuke was made confident and ready of\ntongue by the physical helplessness of O'Mino. \"Don't be alarmed.\nDensuke is neither thief nor murderer. He is no Shirai Gompachi. Perhaps\nthere is a corpse within, not washing. Would the Ojo[u]san see a head,\narms, legs, freshly severed?\" He laughed harshly as she turned her head\nfrom him to the bundle, then back again. \"This money was given to\nDensuke by Takahashi Sama; in return for faithful service in an\nimportant matter. Don't be frightened. It has been honestly earned.\"\nSaid O'Mino, almost to herself--\"But Daihachiro[u] Sama is not one to\ngive such a sum as three _ryo[u]_. He is always in debt. The wife of\nJusuke San complains of his delays with her husband. However....\"\nConfidence restored, she bade Densuke put the money in the drawer of the\ntoilet stand. Then he was to prepare some food; for themselves, and for\nthe neighbours ready to assist at the expected birth.\n\nDensuke did so, his eyes shifting from O'Mino to the stove, from the\nstove to the deadly bundle. Finally he removed the _furoshiki_ to their\nouter room, mumbling some excuse as to the foulness of a buck-basket. He\nreturned to his cooking. Barely tasting some food O'Mino soon was sound\nasleep. Densuke observed her. \"Ugly, rich, a very _O'Bake_ in appearance\nis the Ojo[u]san; and yet she takes as husband a spiritless creature,\nsuch as is this Densuke. Is it good or bad fortune? How grateful would\nbe her advice.\" He went to bed himself in the outer room; to spend a\nhideous night of nightmare in company with the dead Jusuke, who now did\ntaint the air with that indefinable pollution of even the freshest\ncorpse. Wild visions floated through the brain of Densuke. The\nneighbours would assemble. The food was ready. Ah! Here comes the wife\nof Jusuke San. She demands her husband. A moment, and Densuke was\nstealing from the house entrance into the darkness. The river? Ah! That\nwas it. The canal of Hacho[u]bori was close at hand to Jusuke's own\nhome. It would float him to his very door. Densuke soon saw himself at\nthe river bank. No one was at hand. Splash! In went the foul burden.\nThere it was again. But now it was Jusuke in person. \"Jusuke San! Jusuke\nSan! Pardon! 'Twas not this Densuke who killed you. Seek vengeance of\nDaihachiro[u] Sama. He is the murderer.\" In his terror he lost all fear\nof being heard. He shouted at the top of his lungs. But Jusuke laid a\nheavy hand on him. With one long drawn out groan Densuke--awoke.\n\nO'Mino was leaning close over him, her face spectre-like with pain.\nSeeing that he was awake she took away her hand. \"What is the matter\nwith you? All night you have been shouting and mumbling in sleep. Just\nnow it was 'Jusuke San! Jusuke San! Daihachiro[u] Sama!' It is indeed a\nmatter of Jusuke San. The time of Mino is at hand; the pains begin. Go\nat once to the house of Jusuke, and ask his wife O'Yoshi to condescend\nher aid.\" Densuke sprang up. An idea flashed into his mind. He would go\nto Hacho[u]bori and make full confession. Which was the most important?\nO'Yoshi as confessor or as midwife? With his brain thus puzzled over an\nanswer he started off. His last injunction to O'Mino was--\"by no means\nmeddle with the bundle of Daihachiro[u] Sama.\" There could have been no\nmore direct invitation to her to do so. For a short time O'Mino did\nnothing but eye the strange bundle. Then she was on her knees before it,\nexamining it. \"Rain coats as wrapping! And tied with rope: a queer kind\nof washing. What a strange odour! Pickled _daikon_ (_nukamisozuke_)?\"\nShe shook it. Something inside went _gotsu-gotsu_. This was too much for\nher curiosity. Her old suspicion came back, that Densuke had turned\nrobber. She poked a little hole in the straw wrapping. Some kind of\ncloth covering was within; a _kimono_ without doubt. Through its tissue\nsomething shone white. The kitchen knife was close at hand on the\nbrazier (_hibachi_). She reached out, and in a moment the rope was\nsevered. \"Oya! Oya!\" Out rolled a head. An arm, two helpless flexible\nlegs were extended before her. With a scream of horror O'Mino fell flat\non her back. Lying stretched out she uttered one sharp cry after\nanother. The neighbouring wives came hurrying in, a stream of humanity.\n\"What is wrong? A young wife screams not without cause. Oya! Oya! O'Mino\nSan has given birth to a baby and a head. Iya! Head, limbs, body--a\nmonstrous parturition!\" With the woman groaning in the pain of her\ndelivery, the wives in confusion, children flying to summon the men\nfolk, the whole district was in an uproar. In the midst of the confusion\narrived Densuke and the wife of Jusuke. As yet he had not found courage\nto confess. He was still \"deciding.\" A neighbour greeted him--\"Densuke\nSan! Strange things have happened to O'Mino San. She has given birth to\na head and a baby at the same time. Hasten, Densuke San! Hasten!\"\nDensuke did hasten; but it was to disappear down the nearest byway in\nheadlong flight. Amazed and confounded the wife of Jusuke proceeded\nalone to the house; as the first thing to set eyes on the head of her\nhusband, eyes still open and glaring in death. With a cry she\nprecipitated herself upon it; took it in her arms. The midwife, summoned\nin haste, parted infant from mother. Thus did O'Iwa San come forth into\nthe world.\n\nThe affair was grave. The _kenshi_ (coroner) was soon on the scene.\nO'Mino with feeble voice told what she knew. \"Deign to examine into the\naffair beyond the surface. My husband Densuke is not the man to commit\nthis crime. Ask the neighbours, who know him. Last night he brought\nthree _ryo[u]_, given him by Takahashi Daihachiro[u] Sama, the Sakuji\nMachibugyo[u] of Geishu[u] Ko[u]. He said that it was for important\nservice rendered. There is no doubt that Takahashi San is the murderer.\nDeign to examine well; show benevolence.... Ah! This Mino shall have\nvengeance. For seven lives Daihachiro[u] shall be pursued....\" Her eyes\nbecame injected with blood. Her breast heaved painfully in the attempt\nto get air. The women around her gave cries of alarm. O'Mino sank back\nin a pool of blood. She had died in the midst of her curse. Said one\npresent--\"This To[u]kichi would not be the honoured Sakuji Sama; nay,\nnot for the full seven existences in human form.\" The others felt as he\ndid. Even the _kenshi_ drew up his shoulders a little at the frightful\nmask of the dead woman's face. He could learn but little. Kyu[u]bei,\nsoon at hand, petitioned for the dead body of O'Mino and the custody of\nthe infant. The neighbours corroborated the story of O'Mino; but Densuke\nhad disappeared. Daihachiro[u] never had confidence in his agent. His\npreparations for flight had been made before Densuke's discovery, and\nalmost together with Densuke he had passed out the gate of Geishu[u]\nSama, with the seventy _ryo[u]_ provided by Jusuke. Report being made to\nthe Machibugyo[u] a \"grass dividing\" search was made, without result. No\ntrace of either man was found. As for the child born under these\nauspicious conditions, Kyu[u]bei went at once to Tamiya Matazaemon and\nmade report. With bowed head the old man awaited the decision. Said\nMatazaemon--\"The name giving is to take place on the seventh night.\nKyu[u]bei will not fail to be present.\" He did not speak further. Thus\nthe offence of the parents was pardoned in O'Iwa the infant; the\ngrandchild of a man and woman passing the period of middle age.[10]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V\n\nTHE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDO[U]SHI[11]\n\n\nIt was Genroku 8th year (1695). O'Iwa, a girl of twelve years, could\nunderstand what came to her ears. In dealing with each other the\nNipponese are very exact and exacting. The New Year must start with a\nclean balance sheet for the tradesman--all bills paid and collected. The\nlast night of the dying year, and its last few hours; this time is the\nbusiest and most anxious. Zensuke, the _banto[u]_ (clerk) of the Shimaya\ndry goods shop, accompanied by one Jugoro[u], was passing the Shiba\nKirido[u]shi. It was the hour of the tiger (3 A.M.). Of the two,\nJugoro[u] was the fighting man. Juro[u]zaemon of the Shimaya had\nprovided him with a short sword and sent him as guard to Zensuke, who\nwould have more than three hundred _ryo[u]_ in gold. Said\nJugoro[u]--\"Banto[u] San, whither now? The hour is late.\"--\"It is never\nlate on the _o[u]misoka_ (31st of the 12th month),\" replied Zensuke\ntersely. \"However, there remains but one account to collect; at\nNishikubo. We will hasten.\"--\"Go on ahead,\" said Jugoro[u]. \"A moment\nhere for a necessity.\" Thus the two men became separated by nearly a\n_cho[u]_ (100 yards). The district was one of _yashiki_ and temples. The\nwhite walls of the former blended with the white carpet of snow on the\nground. At any hour it was no busy place; now it was desolate. The high\nbanks of the cutting crowned by woods and approached through the trees,\nmade it an ideal place for a hold-up. Zensuke hesitated. He slowed his\npace to allow his companion to join him. He thought he saw something\nmove in the darkness close by. From behind a tree just before him came a\n_samurai_. Two others followed this man from the shadows. The heads of\nall three men were covered by _zukin_ (hoods). They wore vizors. \"Wait!\"\nZensuke stopped in fright. \"What suspicious rascal is this, travelling\nthe quarter at this hour? Probably some clerk making off with his\nmaster's funds. Come now! Give them into better keeping. Low fellow! You\nare fairly trapped.\" Zensuke began to retreat, but two of the men were\nnow behind him. He began to shout for Jugoro[u]. The latter came up at a\nrun--\"Honoured Sirs! This is the Banto[u] San of the Shimaya of Honjo[u]\nItcho[u]me. He is collecting the house bills. Deign not to disturb\nhim.\"--\"Shut up!\" was the reply of the leader. \"Another fellow of the\nsame kidney. Look to him.\" Roughly he thrust his hand into Zensuke's\nbosom and began to hustle and fumble the clerk. When Jugoro[u] would\ninterfere the two other men prevented him. With fright he saw the money\nbelt of the _banto[u]_ dangling from the man's hand. The nature of the\naffair was plain. \"Heigh! Jokes don't go, honoured sirs. We are not\nsuspicious fellows. Condescend to pardon us.\" As he spoke he took\nadvantage of the negligence of his opponents, their interest in the\nstruggle of Zensuke and their leader, to wrench himself free. At once\nhis sword was out. Jugoro[u] was of no mean skill. None of his wardsmen\ncould face him. One man received severe wounds in scalp and face. The\nother lost part of his hand. But Jugoro[u] was no match for the odds of\ntwo trained soldiers. He was soon cut down. Meanwhile Zensuke was\nshouting lustily for aid. At this period there was a guard called the\n_tsujiban_ (cross-roads watch). It was mostly composed of oldish men not\nfit for active service. Such regulations as there were they observed.\nThese were very severe; but, as with the present day police, kept them\nto their post. They rarely troubled themselves to patrol their district.\nFrom these men there could be little hope of aid. Just then, however,\nthe train of some lord came in sight. With one hand the leader held\nZensuke by the bosom of his robe. The hand holding the money belt was\nalready thrust in his own bosom. In a moment it would be free. Then\nZensuke would go in company with Jugoro[u] to the Yellow Fountain (in\nHell). His captor gave a startled cry. \"The train of Geishu[u] Sama!\nLose no time!\" As he wrenched himself away Zensuke sank his teeth deep\ninto the man's hand. With a howl of pain the fellow made off, exchanging\na little finger for the three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_ in\nZensuke's _do[u]maki_.\n\nThe _banto[u]_ crouched in conventional attitude by the roadside. His\ndistress was plain; the prostrate body of a man evidence of some unusual\ncondition. A _samurai_ left the passing train and came up to\ninvestigate. \"Ah! Robbery and murder: follow behind to the _tsujiban_.\nIt is their affair.\" With moans and groans Zensuke made his report. He\nwas indignant at the luxury of these watchmen, toasting at their fire.\nThey noted it; looked at each other and out into the snowy night, and\nlaughed with contempt. For a tradesman's money belt were they to disturb\nthemselves? They questioned him harshly, in such way as to excuse any\nfurther effort on their part. Surely the thieves by this time were at\nthe other end of Edo. Two of them, however, did accompany Zensuke to the\nscene of the hold-up. Casting an eye over Jugoro[u]'s mangled corpse,\nsaid one--\"A good fight: the occasion has been missed. As perhaps the\ncriminal this man is to be bound. Probably his intent was to run away\nwith the master's funds.\" Roughly they seized him, hustled him back to\nthe guardhouse. Trussed up Zensuke had to spend the hours in alarm and\nfear. Luckily the _kenshi_ soon appeared. It was the _o[u]misoka_. No\nofficial business would be performed during the three days following.\nJugoro[u] could hardly exercise patience and remain as he was for that\nspace of time. So the examination was duly held. The Shimaya soon\nsecured the body of Jugoro[u] and the release of Zensuke. The latter's\nevidence was put on record; none too satisfactory, as the concealing\n_zukin_ prevented any recognition or description of the features of the\nassailants. He only knew of the cries of impatience at wounds received,\nand knew that he had left his mark on his own opponent. How then were\nthey to be run down? The _kenshi_ showed some impatience. Said he to the\ncaptain of the _tsujiban_--\"Why truss up this man, even though a\ntradesman? He has all his own fingers, and the corpse lacks none.\" He\ntouched the severed finger with his baton. With this all were dismissed,\nand to all seeming the affair was forgotten.\n\nThe Tokugawa had their plain-clothes police. One of the most noted was\nMagome Yaemon of Hacho[u]bori. His great grandfather had captured\nMarubashi Chuya, of note in the rebellion of Yui Shosetsu at the time of\nthe fourth Shogun Iyetsuna Ko[u]. One day this Magome Dono, in company\nwith a _yakunin_ (constable) named Kuma, was rummaging the poorer\ndistricts of Shitaya Hiroko[u]ji. The two men were disguised as charcoal\nburners, and attracted little attention. All the legitimate profession\nin the way of medicine and pharmacy had been ransacked by the magistrate\n(_machibugyo[u]_) of the south district. Yaemon felt sure that there\nwere still some by-ways. \"Who's that fellow?\" he asked Kuma. The\nconstable laughed. \"He's a _sunekiri_ (shin-cutter). The rascals can be\ntold by their tough dark blue cotton socks, the coarse straw sandals,\nand the banded leggings. Deign to note the long staff he carries. They\npeddle plasters--shin plasters, guaranteed to cure any wound, to stop\nany flow of blood. A man's arm hangs but by a strip of skin; the blood\nflows in torrents. Apply the plaster and the flow ceases at once, the\narm heals. They drive a roaring trade, even among the _bushi_\n(_samurai_); selling a shell here, two there. As for their real\nusefulness....\" He laughed.[12] They followed after the man and soon\ncame to a guard house. Said Magome San--\"Detain that man yonder. He is\nto be examined.\" The ward officer was a little surprised--\"Respectfully\nheard and understood. It is old Yamabayashi Yo[u]gen.\" Soon the man\nentered the guard house. Said the official drily--\"Magome Dono is here\nto talk with Yo[u]gen. What has he been up to?\" But the old fellow was\nconfident. \"Thanks are felt.\" With the ease of the righteous and\nprosperous he passed into the presence of Yaemon. The latter greeted him\nwith a non-official genial smile. \"Ah! This is Yamabayashi Yo[u]gen, the\nhead of the _Sunekiri_. And business?\"--\"Truly this Yo[u]gen is\ngrateful. Man was born with teeth. Men and women still seek each other's\ncompany. So long as such endures Yo[u]gen finds profit.\"--\"And\nplasters?\"--\"They are the affair of To[u]kichi. Would his worship deign\nto examine him ... condescend dismissal. At once he presents himself.\"\n\nThus in short order the straight haired, unshaven, low browed\nTo[u]kichi stuck his head into the Sanbashi guard house. \"Deign to\npardon this To[u]kichi. The honoured benevolence....\" The ward officer\neyed him knowingly and quizzically. \"Shut up! Magome Dono has questions\nto ask about clients. Wait until the questions deal with the doings of\nTo[u]kichi. That will be well. Then it will be time enough to lie.\nMeanwhile, be sure and tell the truth.\" With this disinterested advice\nTo[u]kichi was passed to the presence. Once more conscience spoke louder\nthan caution. \"The honoured benevolence, the honoured pity; condescend\nthe honoured examination into the innocence of To[u]kichi.\" Yaemon\nlaughed. \"Fortunately it is not a matter of To[u]kichi, but of his\nplasters. Who bought these at this year's Sho[u]gwatsu (New Year)? Be\ncareful in answer. The case is a bad one.\" To[u]kichi considered. \"The\nfirst day of the New Year a man came. His purchase of salve was large.\nIn the course of the past three months he has been many times to buy.\nHis visits now are wider spaced, and he praises the goods--as he ought.\nNo hand ever had a worse poisoned wound. He....\"--\"Age and appearance?\"\ninterrupted Yaemon, now all attention. He had struck a trail. \"Perhaps\nfifty years; fair of complexion, tall, and stout. By his lordly manner\nhe must at least be a _go-kenin_, or a charlatan.\" Who was this man?\nYaemon felt sure that he was about to learn something of interest. Kuma\nwas given his instructions. \"Go daily to the shop of this man and\nreceive his report. As to the _samurai_ in question be circumspect.\nEvidently he is no ordinary person. A _samurai_ is to be summoned, not\ndisgraced by arrest--if he is a _samurai_.\" So Kuma with several aides\nestablished himself in the rear of To[u]kichi's shop. The man not having\nput in an appearance for several weeks, the wait, if uncertain, was soon\nrewarded. On the 25th day of the 3rd month (May) he presented himself.\nKuma recognized him at once by the description; sooner than To[u]kichi,\nwho was engaged in filling his little shells with the marvellous salve.\nThe officer's decision was prompt. At a call To[u]kichi turned from his\ndrugs. \"Ah! the honoured Sir. And the arm, does it honourably\nprogress?\"--\"Progress could not be better. This is probably the last\nvisit.\" In replying the man eyed To[u]kichi with some astonishment. The\nlatter made his bows, first to the newcomer, then to the indefinite rear\nof the establishment. \"Indeed the drug is all that is claimed for it.\nThe wound being poisoned, at one time it looked as if the hand, nay arm,\nmust go. These House doctors are notoriously good for nothing. Just as\nnothing can surpass your product, good leech. Here is money for two\nshells of its virtues.\" He held out a silver _bu_.[13] Busied with his\npreparations To[u]kichi looked in vain toward the rear apartment. After\nas long delay as he could contrive he passed the shells and a heap of\ncopper change over to the customer. As soon as the latter had left the\nshop To[u]kichi bolted for the rear. Kuma was gone. His aides were\ncalmly smoking their pipes and drinking the poor tea (_bancha_) of\nTo[u]kichi.\n\nKuma had little trouble in following his man to Okachimachi in Shitaya.\nHe found near by a shop for the sale of everything, from tobacco to\n_daikon_ (radish), both odoriferous, yet lacking perfume. Said Kuma--\"A\nquestion or so: this tall _samurai_, an oldish man, who lives close by;\nwho is he?\" The woman in charge hesitated. Then dislike overcame\ndiscretion. \"Ah! With the hand wrapped in a bandage; his name is Sakurai\nKichiro[u] Tayu. Truly he is a bad man. That he should quarrel with his\nown class is no great matter. Maimed as he is, thrice report has been\nmade to the guard house, but in each case he has escaped further\nprocess. He is a dreadful fellow; one who never pays a debt, yet to whom\nit is dangerous to refuse credit. Already nearly a _ryo[u]_ is due to\nthis Echigoya. It has been the bad luck to support him and his family\nduring the past six months.\" Said Kuma--\"Thus maimed, to hold his own in\nquarrels he must be a notable fencer as well as brawler. Was the wound\nso received?\"--\"Iya! That is not known. Some quarrel at the New Year's\nfestivities probably was the cause. Before that time he was sound\nenough.\" She laughed. \"He has two friends; Kahei San and Miemon San.\nThey are birds of a feather; and all partly plucked. Perhaps they\nquarrelled in company, but if so have made it up. Sakurai San is a match\nfor the two others.\" She looked at Kuma, to see if he had more to say.\nIndifferent he picked out a strand of tobacco. \"He shouldered this\nGo[u]bei into the ditch close by here. Fortunate is it to have escaped\nworse injury.\" Satisfied with his inquiries he took his way in haste to\nhis master. The eyes of Yaemon and his aid shone with enjoyment. Surely\nthey had the men of the Shiba Kirido[u]shi.\n\nMagome Yaemon at once sought out the _machibugyo[u]'s_ office. His\nlordship heard the report. \"Different disorders require different\ntreatment. Of two of these men this Gemba knows something. The other man\nis hard to place, and evidently not so easy to deal with.\" Two\n_do[u]shin_ and _yakunin_ were sent at once to the addresses indicated.\nTo capture Nakagawa Miemon and Imai Kahei was an easy task. The\n_do[u]shin_ and _yakunin_ sent to the house of Sakurai formed a band of\ntwenty men. The house surrounded, without ceremony the officer and an\naid entered. \"On the lord's mission: Sakurai San is wanted at the office\nof Matsuda Dono. If resistance be made it will be necessary to use the\nrope. Pray accompany me.\" Sakurai Kichiro[u] divined the object of the\narrest. \"The affair at the Kirido[u]shi has been scented out. The manner\nof that rascally drug seller was strange to-day.\" The officer had\nplanted himself right before the sword rack. Sakurai could neither kill\nanybody, nor cut belly. He turned to his wife. \"There is a matter on\nhand to be explained. Absence will probably be prolonged. Already the\nday is far advanced.... Ah! Is it Kichitaro[u]?\" A boy of seven years\nhad rushed into the room. \"Pretty fellow!... Honoured Sir, be patient.\nThe separation is no short one. No resistance is made. We go the same\nroad.... Taro[u]; rude fellow! Salute the gentleman.\" The boy obeyed,\nwith grave ceremony and a hostility which divined an unpleasant mission.\n\"Your father leaves you. It is now the time to obey the mother in all\nshe says. Remember well, or the end will be a bad one.\" Wife and child\nclung to him, frightened and now weeping. It was an arrest; their\nmainstay was being taken from them. In the last caresses he had time to\nbend down and whisper to O'Ren--\"In the toilet box is a scroll sealed\nup. All is there explained. Read and destroy it. In later days at\ndiscretion let our son know.\" Roughly he pushed woman and boy aside.\nWith rapid stride he reached the entrance. The _yakunin_ confronted him.\nHe laughed and waved a hand. \"There is no resistance. We go the same\nroad.\" The _do[u]shin_ permitted the laxity of discipline. He had his\norders.\n\nMeanwhile the examination of the other two men was in progress at the\noffice of the _machibugyo[u]_. As the biggest fool of the two, Nakagawa\nMiemon was the first summoned to the presence of Matsuda Dono. Said the\nJudge[14]--\"Nakagawa Uji, there is a slight inquiry to make. How were\nthose scars on the face come by? These are marks of wounds not long\nsince received. Consider well and remember.\" The tone of menace\nstaggered Miemon. He had anticipated some rebuke for slight infraction\nof the peace, not unusual with these men. \"Naruhodo! Has the Shiba\nKirido[u]shi matter cropped up?\" He hesitated--\"The story is a long one,\nand a foolish one. To weary the honoured ears....\" Matsuda Gemba caught\nhim up with impatient gesture. \"Answer the question, and truly. Nakagawa\nMiemon is noted neither for judgment nor sobriety.\" The man caught up\nthe last phrase as a cue. Eagerly he spoke, the doors of the jail\nopening wide for exit--\"So it is indeed. Wine never benefited man; much\nless a _samurai_. Hence, with Kahei and Sakurai Uji, it was decided to\nforswear wine forever. It was determined to make a pilgrimage to Kompira\nSan. There the vow of abstinence was to be taken; on its holy ground.\nAll went well. We met at Nihonbashi. Alas! At the Kyo[u]bashi the\nperfume of a grog shop reached our noses. The vow had not yet been\ntaken. The ground was not holy. Just one last drink before setting out.\nBut the Buddha was unfavourable. Once begun, the drinking was adjourned\nto a cook shop. There the bout continued all day. Wine lent us the wings\nof _tengu_. We travelled the road to Kompira San in a dream. In the\nprogress Kahei and this Miemon quarrelled. Swords were drawn, and we cut\neach other. These wounds on head and face were the portion of this\nMiemon. Kahei had his hand nearly severed. Sakurai San, who was asleep,\naroused by the noise, sprang up to part us. He is a man to be feared;\nbut in my rage I sank my teeth in his hand. The bite of man or beast is\npoison. His wound was worse than that of either of us.\"\n\nGemba Dono was in conversation with his chamberlain. He let Miemon talk\naway. He was not one to say too little. As barely having listened he\nasked--\"When was this fight? The day of the vow and journey to Kompira?\nTruly the result has been the vengeance of offended deity.\"--\"The\ntwelfth month tenth day,\" naturally replied Miemon. Gemba forced him to\nrepeat the answer. Several times he put the query in different forms.\nMiemon, fool that he was, stuck to the date. Then said the\nmagistrate--\"Miemon, you are a liar. Moreover, you are a murderer. On\nthe 13th day, on going up to the castle, this Gemba had converse with\nyour lord. At that time Nakagawa Miemon was summoned to carry out a\nmission. As a man of whom report had been made you were noted well. At\nthat time you had no wound.... Tie him up, and take him away.\" The\n_yakunin_ fell on him from all sides. In a trice he was trussed up and\nremoved.\n\nThen appeared Imai Kahei. Kahei was cunning, but also a coward. To the\nquestions of the _machibugyo[u]_ he procrastinated in his answers,\nconfused them all he could. What had Miemon said? \"He spoke of the\neloquence of Imai San; of Kahei Uji as the clever man, the one to tell\nthe tale properly. Now let us have the true statement of the case.\" Such\nwas Gemba's reply. It was flattering. Unable to help himself Kahei set\nsail on his sea of lies. \"We all like wine....\"--\"Ah! After all you are\nagreed.\" Gemba smiled pleasantly. Kahei took courage--\"But wine costs\nmoney. Together we went to Kuraya Jibei, a money-lender living at\nKuramae no Saka, as is well known.\" Gemba nodded assent. \"Of him two\n_ryo[u]_ were borrowed, on agreement to repay ten _ryo[u]_ as interest\nwithin a month. The nearest grog shop was sought, and it was the hour of\nthe rat (11 P.M.) before the return was started. At the Teobashi a band\nof drunkards was encountered. Without cause these men forced a quarrel\non us. Thus was the hand of Kahei nearly severed. This is the\ntruth.\"--\"And what was the date of this money bond?\" Imai hesitated. He\nhad caught a glimpse of the drug seller To[u]kichi on being brought into\nthe place. Without doubt the Kirido[u]shi affair was in question. He\nmust antedate his wound. \"Kahei does not remember with certainty.\nPerhaps it was the seventeenth day; before the Kwannon festival of the\neighteenth day.\" He mumbled, and was frightened. Said Gemba\nsharply--\"Speak distinctly; the seventeenth day?\"--\"Hei! Hei! Some time\nin the last decade of the month; the nineteenth or twentieth day--not\nlater; not later.\" Matsuda Gemba almost leaped at him. \"Oh, you liar! On\nthe last day of the year you came, in person, to this Gemba to\nanticipate the New Year's gift (_sebo_). At that time you had no wound.\nYet the drug seller sees you next day with maimed hand. It was not at\nTeobashi, but at Shiba Kirido[u]shi, that the wound was received.... Tie\nhim up, and away with him.\" The _yakunin_ came forward. Imai made a\nspasmodic attempt to rise. They threw him down, and in a moment he was\nkeeping company with Nakagawa Miemon.\n\nGemba Dono braced himself for the more serious task. So did his\n_yakunin_. A glance showed the magistrate that he had mistaken his man.\nSakurai Kichiro[u] came forward with calm and dignity. Making his\nceremonial salutation to the judge he came at once to the point. \"What\nlies Miemon and Kahei have told, this Kichiro[u] knows not. The fact is\nthat we three plotted together to rob the fatly supplied purses of the\n_banto[u]_ making their rounds in settlement of accounts at the close of\nthe year. Hence the _banto[u]_ of the Shimaya, Zensuke, lost his money\nbelt, and a man of the same stamp, one Jugoro[u], was killed. All three\nof us are guilty of the murder....\" As he would proceed Gemba held up\nhis hand. \"Bring in the other two men. Continue, Kichiro[u].\" Said\nSakurai--\"Miemon was badly cut about the head and face. Kahei nearly\nlost his hand. This Kichiro[u] would have killed the clerk, but the\nprocession of Geishu[u] Sama came in sight, and recognition was feared.\nOf the three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_ secured....\" The eyes of\nNakagawa and Imai stood out. Aghast they had followed the confession of\nSakurai Kichiro[u], with full intention to deny its truth. Now they were\nin a fury. \"What! Three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_! And we had but\nten _ryo[u]_ apiece. You jest, Sakurai Uji.... Oh! The low fellow! The\nvillain! A very beast! A swine!\"\n\nGemba Dono could ask for nothing more. With smiling face and courtesy\nhe turned to Sakurai Kichiro[u]. \"Why did Kichiro[u] take the three\nhundred _ryo[u]_, giving to these fellows such a paltry sum?\" Answered\nKichiro[u]--\"As deserving no more. They are paltry fellows; little\nbetter than common soldiers (_ashigaru_). But there is more to tell, now\nthe end is reached. The true name of Sakurai Kichiro[u] is Takahashi\nDaihachiro[u], at one time a retainer of Matsudaira Aki no Kami. Pressed\nby the money lender Jusuke, I killed him and had the body disposed of by\none Densuke, the cook at the soldiers' quarters of the _yashiki_. This\nwas in Tenwa 3rd year 5th month (June 1683). Fleeing to avoid arrest the\noccupation of writing teacher was taken up at Yu[u]ki in Shimosa.\nDensuke, too, had fled, and hither he came as a wandering beggar.\nFearing his tongue I killed him; and mutilating the corpse, threw it\ninto the castle moat close by. A beggar found dead, no inquiry was\nmade.\"--\"When did this take place?\" asked Gemba. \"Just one year\nlater--Jo[u]kyo[u] 1st year 5th month.\" He made a little movement.\nNakagawa and Imai broke out into protest at the completeness of this\nconfession, but Sakurai turned fiercely on them. \"Shut up! To undergo\npublic trial would bring shame on all _kerai_ throughout the land; would\ncause people to fear our caste. We three planned the deed and secured\nthe money.\" He put his arms behind his back. The _yakunin_, stepping\nsoftly, roped him up almost with respect. A wave of Gemba's hand and the\nguilty men were removed. Unable to help themselves, Nakagawa and Imai\nmade confession to avoid the torture in what was now a hopeless case.\nLater the sentences of condemnation were issued. Degraded from their\nstatus the three men were taken to the execution ground of Shinagawa,\nand there decapitated.\n\nThe wife of Takahashi Daihachiro[u] did not wait these proceedings.\nThe confession of her husband was in her hands before he himself told\neverything to Matsuda Gemba. Before night she had decamped with her son.\nAt eight years of age Kichitaro[u] was placed as disciple (_deshi_) at\nthe Jo[u]shinji of Fukagawa. Receiving the name of Myo[u]shin he became\nthe favourite of the rector (_ju[u]shoku_) of the temple. The mother now\nbecame reduced to the greatest penury. For a time she was bawd in the\nHonjo[u] Warigesui district. Subsequently she was promoted to the\nposition of favourite sultana (wife) of her master Toemon, local head of\nhis profession. Her name now was O'Matsu. When Myo[u]shin was thirteen\nyears old in some way he was told that she was dead. Henceforth he had\nno stay in the world but the worthy priest, who became a second and\nbetter father to him. This treatment found its usual and virtuous\nreward. At eighteen years, now a priest and learned in priestly ways, he\ntook to himself the contents of the temple strong box. Fifty _ryo[u]_\nsoon disappeared in the company of the harlots of Fukagawa Yagura-Shita.\nA prolonged absence of Myo[u]shin aroused the inquiries of the other\nmonks, and the eyes of the rector were soon opened as to his unworthy\nproselyte, the blighted issue of a miserable stock.[15]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI\n\nNEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER (NAKO[U]DO)\n\n\nThe presence of O'Iwa created an upheaval in the Samoncho[u] household.\nThe wet nurse required brought with her a train of servants. With the\nchild's growth this was maintained, even increased. The young lady\n(Ojo[u]san) found herself graduated into one with a _status_ to\nmaintain. All the niggardly habits of Matazaemon were thrown to the\nwinds with the advent of this grandchild. The affection never shown\noutwardly to the mother, was lavished on her daughter. At seven years of\nage O'Iwa underwent the common enough infliction of smallpox. It showed\nitself on the anniversary day of O'Mino's death, and the child's\nsickness afforded but mutilated rites for the memorial service of the\nmother. Matazaemon would have abandoned all his duties, himself to nurse\nthe child. O'Naka loved O'Iwa for self and daughter. She had sense\nenough to drive the old man into a corner of the room, then out of it;\nand further expostulations sent him to his duties. Who, in those iron\ndays, would accept such excuse for absence? The child worried through,\nnot unscathed. Her grandmother's qualifications as nurse have been\nmentioned. O'Iwa was a plain girl. She had the flat plate-like face of\nher mother. The eyes were small, disappearing behind the swollen\neyelids, the hair was scanty, the disease added its black pock marks\nwhich stood thick and conspicuous on a fair skin. Otherwise she was\nspared by its ravages, except--\n\nWhatever her looks O'Iwa compensated for all by her disposition. She\nhad one of those balanced even temperaments, with clear judgment, added\nto a rare amiability. Moreover she possessed all the accomplishments and\ndiscipline of a lady. At eleven years Matazaemon unwillingly had sought\nand found a place for her in attendance on her ladyship of the great\nHosokawa House. O'Iwa's absence made no difference in his household. The\ntrain of servants was maintained, to be disciplined for her return, to\nbe ready on this return. Perhaps it was a pleasing fiction to the fond\nmind of the aging man that she would return, soon, to-morrow. O'Naka\nacquiesced in the useless expense and change in her habits. She always\nacquiesced; yet her own idea would have been to make a good housekeeper\nof O'Iwa--like herself, to sew, cook, wash, clean--a second O'Mino. She\ncould not understand the new turn of Matazaemon's mind. As for O'Iwa,\nshe grew to girlhood in the Hosokawa House, learned all the\naccomplishments of her own house and what the larger scale of her new\nposition could teach her; everything in the way of etiquette and the\npolite arts, as well as the plainer tasks of housekeeping, she was\nlikely ever to be called on to perform. The plain child grew into the\nplain woman; perhaps fortunately for her. The _okugata_ (her ladyship)\nwas a jealous woman. Her spouse was mad on women. Every nubile maid\n(_koshimoto_) in the _yashiki_ was a candidate for concubinage. His wife\ncountered by as hideous a collection of females as her own House and her\nlord's retainers could furnish. O'Iwa attracted from the first by her\nlack of all physical attraction. His lordship tried to get used to her\nwith the passage of years--and failed. He could not stomach the\nnecessary advances. But the girl's admirable temper and even judgment\nsecured the esteem of all. These latter qualities captivated the whole\nhousehold. It was O'Iwa who performed all duties for her ladyship, took\nthem in charge as her substitute. For the first time in his life Oki no\nKami found something in a woman apart from her sex. When the time came\nfor O'Iwa to depart, the regret of lord and lady was substantially\nexpressed in their gifts. But his lordship had to admit failure. Not a\nretainer could be found willing to take the daughter of Tamiya as wife.\nSo far O'Iwa's mission at the _yashiki_ had failed. O'Naka knew this.\nMatazaemon never gave it thought; so glad he was to get her back. He\nreceived the honoured words and presents with humble and delighted\nthanks. O'Iwa reentered her home, a recovered jewel. She was the\nOjo[u]san, the lady daughter. A first step of hers was gradually to get\nrid of a good part of the superfluous train. O'Iwa was a very practical\ngirl.\n\nMatazaemon was now old and ill. He was nearing his seventieth year. The\none idea in his head was the _muko_, the son to be adopted as husband of\nthe heir of the House; the mate to be secured for O'Iwa, and the\nposterity to be secured for his House. As a little girl O'Iwa had been\nmuch courted--in fun. Watanabe Juzo[u], Natsume Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi\nJinzaemon, many others the growing \"sparks\" of Samoncho[u] and\nroundabout, could not forbear this amusement with the little\n\"_Bakemono_\" (apparition). Of their ill intent O'Iwa knew nothing.\nIndeed a short experience with O'Iwa disarmed derision. Most of the\nunseemly lovers came genuinely to like the girl, unless inherent malice\nand ugliness of disposition, as with Natsume and Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon,\nmade their sport more than mere pastime. But as grown men they could not\nface the results of the final step, and no parent was harsh enough to\ngraft his unwilling stock on O'Iwa's persimmon trees. The girl was\nclever enough to know this. It was Ho[u]ei 6th year (1709) and she was\nnow twenty-six years old. It was indirectly at her suggestion that\nMatazaemon sought the aid of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. This man lived just\nbehind the large inclosure of the Sainenji, on the hill slope which dips\nsteeply down to the Samegabashi. The relationship was very distant at\nbest; but with nearer relatives in general, and with Yoemon his brother\nin particular, the master of Tamiya had deadly feud. To them he would\nnot turn to find a husband for O'Iwa.\n\nThus it happened that one day in the seventh month (August)\nRokuro[u]bei was awaiting the appearance of Yamada Cho[u]bei. He really\nknew little about the man, but Cho[u]bei at one time had been resident\nin the ward. He had undergone vicissitudes, and now was a dealer in\nmetals and a kind of broker in everything under the sign of Musashiya.\nHe had a wide acquaintance over Edo in his different businesses, and was\nthe easy and slip-shod means by which Rokuro[u]bei would avoid the more\narduous part of the task laid on him by Matazaemon. Cho[u]bei was not\nlong in putting in an appearance. All affairs were gifts of the gods to\na man who lived on wind. Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--Windmill Cho[u]bei--he\nwas called. His flittings were so noiseless and erratic, just like the\nlittle paper windmills made for children, that the nickname applied\nexactly fitted him. The maid in announcing him showed no particular\npoliteness. \"Wait here a moment.... Danna Sama (master), Cho[u]bei San,\nthe metal dealer, requests an interview.\"--\"Ah! Pass him here at\nonce.... Is it Cho[u]bei? Please sit down.\" Cho[u]bei had followed\nalmost on the girl's footsteps. She drew aside to make room for him,\nthen flirted out in haste. Poverty and dislike had no influence in\nYotsuya in those days. She seemed to scent the man.\n\nCho[u]bei looked with envy at the comfortable Rokuro[u]bei. The day was\nhot. The thin _kimono_ fallen about his loins, the latter's garb was a\npair of drawers and a thin shirt. He sat looking out on the garden, with\nits shade of large trees, its shrubbery and rock work. Everything was\ndripping with the water industriously splashed to this side and to that\nby the serving man. The tea was brought and Kondo[u] at last remembered\nthat he had a guest. As he turned--\"It is a long time since a visit has\nbeen paid. Deign to pardon the intrusion.\" Cho[u]bei sighed in making\nthis remark. The irony was lost on his fat host. As Rokuro[u]bei seemed\nunwilling, or hardly to know how to impart the subject concerning which\nhe had summoned him, Cho[u]bei continued--\"And the honoured health, is\nit good? The honoured business, is it on some matter of moment that\nCho[u]bei is summoned?\" Rokuro[u]bei woke up under the direct question.\nHe, too, sighed. Cho[u]bei was noted for a greed which inspired fear.\nFor money he would do anything. \"Blindman Cho[u]bei\" had been his\nnickname of old days in the ward. Kondo[u] remembered this. He liked\nmoney, too. It brought in so much comfort. He hated to part with\ncomfort. It was to be a question between himself and Cho[u]bei how much\nof his hard-earned commission was to be parted with. This last thought\ncompletely aroused him. \"It is a matter of securing a _muko_. This\nRokuro[u]bei is the one charged with the task. As a son-in-law outside\nthe ward is desired, no one has wider circulation and better\nopportunities than Cho[u]bei San. Hence the desire for a consultation.\"\nCho[u]bei whistled inwardly. Outside the ward! What was wrong with the\ncase. Here was coin to be turned up by the circumspect. \"Surely there\nare young fellows enough in Samoncho[u], fit to be _muko_. Of course\nwith impediments....\"--\"It is the daughter of Tamiya; O'Iwa San.\nMatazaemon Dono has commissioned this Rokuro[u]bei to secure a _muko_.\"\nCho[u]bei whistled outwardly. \"For O'Iwa San!...\"--\"She is no beauty, as\nCho[u]bei evidently knows. Wealth compensates for other deficiencies. At\nall events his aid is desired.\"--\"For how much?\" Cho[u]bei spoke\nbluntly. If Rokuro[u]bei had forgotten Cho[u]bei, Cho[u]bei had not\nforgotten Rokuro[u]bei. He went on--\"To get a price for damaged goods is\nno sinecure. Fortunately she is only out of repair on the surface....\nSay ten _ryo[u]_?\" Kondo[u] laughed scornfully--\"And they call Cho[u]bei\n'the Blind-man'! Rather is it vision magnified. The entertainment should\nbe the reward; with what Cho[u]bei collects from the happy bridegroom.\"\nCho[u]bei replied gravely--\"With such a wealthy connection the future of\nKondo[u] Dono is to be envied. Cho[u]bei has to realize his future at\nonce. Not a _ryo[u]_ less can he afford.\" Plainly he was in earnest, as\nwas the long conversation which followed. Finally Cho[u]bei emerged with\npartial success, and half the sum named as stipend for his labours.\n\nHe began them at once. The next day he was at the metal market in\nKanda. In course of chaffering over wares he never bought--\"You fellows\nalways have some _ro[u]nin_ in train; a fine, handsome fellow for whom a\nwife is needed. Application is made. Jinzaemon, you have a\ncandidate.\"--\"Not for the kind of wife Cho[u]bei San provides.\" Those\npresent laughed loudly at the sally. Cho[u]bei did not wink. He\nexplained. \"No bad provision is this one. Rich, with an income of thirty\n_tawara_, a fine property in reversion, and but twenty-five years old.\nThe man therefore must be fit to pose as a _samurai_; able to read and\nwrite, to perform official duty, he must be neither a boy nor a man so\nold as to be incapable. Come now! Does no one come forward? _Ro[u]nin_\nare to be had. A _ryo[u]_ for aid to this Cho[u]bei.\"--\"Too cheap as an\noffer,\" was Jinzaemon's retort. \"A _ro[u]nin_ is one to be handled with\ncare. Those favoured with acquaintance of the honoured _bushi_ often\npart with life and company at the same date. Those without lords are\nequally testy as those in quarters.\" He spoke with the bluntness of the\ntrue Edokko, the peculiar product of the capital; men who were neither\nfarmers nor provincials, but true descendants of the men of the guild of\nBandzuin Cho[u]bei. He jested, but the subject interested the crowd.\nSaid one--\"Does Cho[u]bei San get the _ryo[u]_ out of groom or bride?\nShe is a bold wench, unmarried at that age; and none too chaste eh,\nCho[u]bei San? She will provide the husband with wife and child to hand,\nor in the making. Or, are matters the other way? Has she been tried and\nfound wanting? Is she impotent, or deformed; or is Cho[u]bei making\nfools of us?\" Answered Cho[u]bei slowly--\"No; she is a little ugly. The\nface round and flat, shining, with black pock marks, making it look like\nspeckled pumice, rouses suspicion of leprosy. This, however, is not the\ncase. At all events she is a woman.\" All were now roaring with\nlaughter--\"A very beauty indeed! Just the one for Cho[u]bei's trade! Too\nhonied was his speech. He would market anything. But in this market it\nis a matter of hard cash; without credit. This is a bit of goods too\nwilted. Even Cho[u]bei cannot sell it.\"--\"You lie!\" said Cho[u]bei in a\ntowering passion. \"At the first hint of ill-fortune threatening wine\nsupply or pleasure, there is not one of you who would not turn to\nCho[u]bei to find the money needed. Sisters, daughters, wives, aunts ...\nmothers are for sale.\" He was choking with rage. \"Sell her? Cho[u]bei\ncan and will.\" Angered by the final item on his family list, a man\nnearby gave him a sharp poke in the back. Others voiced resentment,\nperhaps would have given it material form. The canal was spoken of.\nCho[u]bei took the hint. He did not wait for a ducking. At a sharp pace\nhe trotted off toward his tenement at Asakusa Hanagawado[u]. For a while\nhe would avoid the metal market. He regretted his display of temper. It\nwas in the necessities of other trades that he found the material of his\nown, and flourished.\n\nIn plain terms Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was a pimp for the Yoshiwara and\nkindred quarters. His other occupations were mere channels accessory to\nthis main business. Hence his seasons of increase and decline. Just now\nhe was in a period of decline. His eagerness in this Tamiya affair was\nsharpened. Pushing his way through the Kuramae of Asakusa suddenly a\nhopeful light came into his eye. Abruptly he made his way to the side of\nthe roadway. Here boarding covered the ditch, removing the occupant of a\nbooth erected thereon, and would-be clients, from the passing stream of\nhumanity. There was a table in the booth, and on it were several books,\na vessel containing water, brushes (_fude_), scrolls for writing, and a\nbox containing divining sticks. It was the stand of a strolling\nfortune-teller. At the time the occupant was engaged in gathering\ntogether his professional apparatus, with the evident purpose to decamp.\nCho[u]bei did not delay in accosting him. \"Ah! The Sensei;[16] Kazuma\nUji finds the day too hot to pry into the future. Does the Sensei leave\nhis clients to their fate, or have the clients abandoned the Sensei?\nDeign to come along with Cho[u]bei. Perhaps he, too, can tell fortunes.\nAt all events the wife has been forewarned; the bath is ready. It will\nput life into both of us.\" The young man laughed and hastened his\noperations, nodding assent--\"Thanks are felt, Cho[u]bei San. Indeed this\nKazuma has but to continue the art of prophecy if he would foretell his\nown fate. No one will buy the future when money is so needed for the\npresent. Besides this is a pleasure ground. Men have no hankering to\nlearn of possible worse luck than being here. All the fools have\ndied--except their prophet.\" He shouldered his scanty apparatus, and\nwith rapid stride the two men pushed their way up the crowded street\ntoward the great gate of the temple. In his haste Cho[u]bei yet had time\nto eye, from time to time, his companion, always gaining encouragement\nfrom the palpable seediness made more plain by a handsome person. The\ntwo were neighbours in a house-row (_nagaya_) of the Hanagawado[u], that\npoverty-stricken district along the river close to the great amusement\nground, and furnishing those who perform its baser tasks. On arrival\nCho[u]bei called out--\"O'Taki! O'Taki! The bath, is it ready? The\nSensei, Kazuma San, honours us with his company. Make all ready for his\nreception.... Sensei, condescend to enter; please come up.\"\n\nYanagibara Kazuma dropped his clogs in the vestibule. As he entered the\nroom--\"Pray pardon the intrusion. This Kazuma feels much in the way. He\nis continually putting his neighbours of the _nagaya_ to inconvenience;\ntoo great the kindness of Cho[u]bei San and wife.\" O'Taki laughed\ndeprecatingly. Truly this was a handsome young man. In this 6th year of\nHo[u]ei (1709) Yanagibara Kazuma was twenty-one years of age. O'Taki was\nthirty odd. She appreciated masculine beauty all the more. Cho[u]bei\ngrunted from heat and the merest trace of discomfiture. He had his\nlimit, even in his business. Quickly he shook off his _kimono_, and fan\nin hand squatted in his loin cloth. \"Ah! 'Tis hot beyond endurance.\nBusiness is bad--from Yoshiwara to Yotsuya.\" O'Taki looked up at the\nlast word. He continued--\"The Sensei takes precedence. Kazuma Uji, deign\nto enter the bath. All is ready?\" His wife nodded assent. Kazuma\nfollowed the example of Cho[u]bei. In a trice he was naked as his mother\nbore him. Cho[u]bei burst out into phrases of admiration--\"What a\nsplendid fellow! Ah! Waste of material! If a woman Kazuma San would be a\nfortune to himself and to Cho[u]bei.... Taki, note the skin of the\nSensei. It has the texture of the finest paper. How regrettable!\" He\ndrew back for the better inspection of the sum total of his subject's\ncharms. O'Taki drew closer for the same purpose. Cho[u]bei sighed--\"It\nis plain enough that Kazuma San is not a woman. An error of Nature!\nSomehow the age at which a woman becomes of use, is that at which a boy\nbecomes a mere burden. He is fit for nothing but to be a\nstory-teller.... And you, Taki, what are you about?\" The lady of his\naffections was far advanced in the process of disrobing. She protested.\n\"Does not the Sensei need aid in the bath? How cleanse the back, the\nshoulders. This Taki would aid him.\"--\"Immodest wench!\" bellowed\nCho[u]bei. \"The Sensei needs no such aid. Why! You ... Taki ... one\nwould take you for a charcoal ball (_tadon_), so dark your skin. Nay!\nFor two of them, for a cluster piled in a box, so round the buttocks and\nbelly. The Sensei wants no aid from such an ugly jade. This Cho[u]bei\ncan do what is needed; with as much skill and better purpose than a\nwoman.\" Kazuma modestly interposed in this incipient quarrel between\nhusband and wife. \"Nay, the matter is of no importance. Kazuma is\ngrateful for such kindness, but aid is not needed. His arm is long.\" He\nheld it out, almost simian in proportion and slenderness, the one\nproportional defect of this handsome body. The quarrel of Cho[u]bei and\nO'Taki lapsed before his pleasant smile.\n\nSeated over tea said Cho[u]bei--\"This Cho[u]bei, too, has claimed to be\na diviner. Don't deny it. The Sensei at one time has been a priest.\"\nKazuma looked at him with surprise, even misgiving. Explained\nCho[u]bei--\"The manner in which the Sensei takes up the cup betrays him;\nin both hands, with a little waving of the vessel and shake of the head.\nThe rust of the priest's garb clings close.\" Said Kazuma--\"Cho[u]bei San\nis a clever fellow. It is true. At one time I was priest.\"--\"Whereabouts?\"\nasked Cho[u]bei. \"At the Reigan of Fukagawa,\" replied the prophet--\"Ah!\nReiganji; and later would return to the life of a _samurai_. Such pose and\nmanner possessed by the Sensei are only gained in good company. He would\nreassume the status. This Cho[u]bei was not always as he is. Wine, women,\ngambling, have brought him to pimping. The buying of _geisha_ and\n_joro[u]_ cost the more as they imply the other two vices. Wife, status,\nfortune; all are gone. Such has been Cho[u]bei's fate.\"--\"Not the only\ncase of the kind,\" grumbled his partner in concubinage. \"And the wife,\nwhat has become of her?\"--\"None of Taki's affair, as she is no longer an\nissue. Would the jade be jealous?\" He glowered at her. \"But Kazuma San,\nthis Cho[u]bei is not only diviner, to tell fortunes. He can make them.\"\nKazuma laughed. \"Don't joke. Cho[u]bei San's line of business has already\ncost this Kazuma fortune and position.\"--\"To secure a better one. Kazuma\nSan is a _ro[u]nin_ (without lord), a man of education, and of fine\nappearance. He is just the one to become a _muko_.\"--\"In some tradesman's\nfamily?\" The _samurai_ spoke with disdain. Said Cho[u]bei eagerly--\"No:\nCho[u]bei prophesied the return of Kazuma Uji to his own caste.\"--\"At what\ncost?\" said Kazuma coolly. \"The honour of a _samurai_ cannot stand open\ntaint. Kazuma has no desire to cut belly at too early a date, to save the\nsituation for others. Has the woman erred, and is the father's sword\ndulled?\"--\"It is no such case,\" answered Cho[u]bei. \"The parents, rather\ngrandparents, are fools in pride. The girl is twenty-five years old, rich,\nand, one must admit, not too good looking. It is by a mere chance, a\nformer connection, that the affair comes into Cho[u]bei's hands. As Kazuma\nUji knows, it is not much in his line. Let us share the good luck\ntogether.\"--\"Is she a monster; one of those long-necked, pop-eyed\n_rokurokubi_?\"--\"That can be determined at the meeting,\" said the cautious\nCho[u]bei. \"She is somewhat pock-marked, as with others. It is a matter of\nluck. Cho[u]bei's position forces him to fall back on Kazuma San as the\nonly likely man to recommend. Deign not to refuse to come to his\naid.\"--\"Rich, and granddaughter of people old in years.\" He eyed Cho[u]bei\nquizzically. The latter nodded agreement. \"No matter what her looks, this\nKazuma accepts with thanks--unless this be a jest of Cho[u]bei San.\"\nCho[u]bei slightly coughed--\"There is a commission....\"--\"Ah! Then the\nfoundation is rock. As to commission, assuredly; Kazuma is not rich, nor\nin funds.\"--\"But will be. At ten _ryo[u]_ it is a cheap\naffair.\"--\"Agreed,\" replied the diviner carelessly. \"The money will be\npaid.\"--\"With the delivery of the goods.\" Cho[u]bei now was all\ngaiety--\"Of the Rokurokubi, the monster with sextuple lengthed neck,\"\nlaughed Kazuma Sensei as he took his leave. He was engaged to meet\nCho[u]bei the next day at the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei in Yotsuya.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII\n\nIEMON APPEARS\n\n\nIn his difficult mission Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei had hopes of\nCho[u]bei; but not much more. It was with no small pleasure that he\nheard the announcement of his visit the next morning. The maid was a\nshade more civil--\"Please wait.\" Kondo[u] was decidedly so. He greeted\nCho[u]bei with an effusion which Cho[u]bei noted. The tea brought, the\ntwo men faced each other over the cups. To Kondo[u]'s inquiring\nlook--\"Honoured master the task is a difficult one.\" He retailed his\nexperience at the Kanda market. Kondo[u] was somewhat discomfited. He\nhad put a different interpretation on the early visit of Cho[u]bei.\nContinued the latter--\"A difficult task, but not hopeless. Surely five\n_ryo[u]_ is very small remuneration.\" Kondo[u]'s eye lit up. Cho[u]bei\nhad his man. \"It is all this Kondo[u] is qualified to give. Cho[u]bei\nknows Tamiya Dono. After all it is he who pays, and Cho[u]bei can\nclaim but his share. However, the matter is not urgent. A bad turn\nwith Matazaemon, and O'Naka will be much easier to deal with ...\nunless it be Yoemon who interposes.\" He made a wry face; joined in by\nCho[u]bei. Kondo[u] went on--\"It is matter of regret to have troubled\nyou. The parents of Natsume Kyuzo[u] show signs of breaking off\npresent negotiations and coming round to us. This is a matter of\nyesterday, and on hearing that the affair of O'Iwa San was definitely\nin the hands of Rokuro[u]bei.\" Cho[u]bei was frightened. Was this the\ncause of Kondo[u]'s joy? Had he misinterpreted on his entrance? He put\nout a hand, as if to stop the talk of his host. \"Deign to allow the\nmoney question to stand as agreed. Such step would put this Cho[u]bei\nin an awkward position. The man is found, and soon will be here.\nProbably even Kondo[u] Dono will be satisfied.\"--\"Who is he?\" asked\nKondo[u].--\"One Yanagibara Kazuma. He has practised divination at\nAsakusa....\"--\"A charlatan! A quack doctor! Cho[u]bei, are you mad?\"\nRokuro[u]bei pushed back his cushion and his cue in horror. Not a word\ndid he say of Natsume Kyuzo[u]. Cho[u]bei smiled. He had been trapped;\nbut he had detected Kondo[u]. \"Don't be alarmed. The man is a\n_ro[u]nin_, his divination of small account and due to temporary\nstress. Kondo[u] Dono will soon judge of the man by his appearance.\nLet the subject of Kazuma San be dropped--with that of Natsume San.\nOur bargain has been made firm.\" Kondo[u] looked down. He felt a\nlittle injured. Continued Cho[u]bei--\"For his man Cho[u]bei cannot\nanswer if all be known. Pray follow my plan, and precede us to the\nhouse of Matazaemon. He must not see O'Iwa at this juncture. Tamiya\nDono is ill and not visible. The Obasan is wise enough to do as she is\ntold. Years have drilled that into her. O'Iwa has taken cold. Her hair\nis loose and she cannot think of appearing. Make this known when the\ntime comes to serve the wine. Meanwhile send her off on some mission;\nto the house of Akiyama, or that of the newly-wed Imaizumi.\"--\"But the\nman must see the girl,\" protested Kondo[u]. Answered Cho[u]bei--\"He\nmust see the property. It is with that Cho[u]bei intends he shall\nbecome enamoured. He is not to see the girl until she is his wife. To\nkeep the estate he will cleave to the woman. Trust Cho[u]bei for a\nknowledge of men's hearts ... at least that of Yanagibara Kazuma.\"\nPerhaps he spoke a little too plainly. Rokuro[u]bei had a last touch\nof conscience--\"Cho[u]bei, what manner of man is this one you bring?\nWhat is his real nature? Tamiya is upright as the walls of the Honmaru\n(castle). And Yanagibara Kazuma....\" Cho[u]bei's brow wrinkled. He was\nspared an answer. Said the maid--\"Yanagibara Sama would see the\nmaster.\"--\"Show him in at once,\" said Rokuro[u]bei.\n\nHe rose, as much in amazement as in courtesy. Kazuma was a striking\nfigure as he entered the room. His dress of white Satsuma was of finest\nquality, and perfectly aligned. The _haori_ (cloak) was of the\ncorrugated Akashi crape. In his girdle he wore the narrow swords then\ncoming into fashion, with finely lacquered scabbards. In person he was\ntall, fair, with high forehead and big nose. Slender and sinewy every\nmovement was lithe as that of a cat. Kondo[u] gasped as he made the\naccustomed salutations. \"This man for O'Iwa! Bah! A fox has stolen a\njewel.\" All his compunction and discretion vanished before this unusual\npresence. Kazuma gracefully apologized for his intrusion, thus\nuninvited. Kondo[u] stammered protests and his delight at the\nopportunity of meeting Yanagibara Dono. Cho[u]bei smiled inward and\noutward delight at thus summarily removing any too pointed objections of\nKondo[u]. For absolute self-possession in this awkward situation the\nyounger man easily carried the palm. Kazuma acted as would a man double\nhis years. Cho[u]bei was not only delighted, but astonished. \"Whence had\nthe Sensei produced all this wondrous get-up? Was he in real fact a\nmagician?\" Kazuma knew, but he was not one to enlighten Cho[u]bei or\nanyone else. After talk on general matters the affair of the meeting was\nbroached. Said Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--\"Thus to trouble Yanagibara Dono\nrequires apology, but the affair is not without advantage. The lady is\nthe daughter of Tamiya, a _do[u]shin_ and favoured by the Hosokawa\nHouse. This Kondo[u] is honoured in presenting Kazuma Dono in\nYotsuya.\"--\"Nay, fear enters.[17] The honour of this meeting with\nKondo[u] Dono is as great as the intrusion has been unseemly. Deign to\npardon the precipitancy of this Kazuma.\" Kondo[u] protested in his turn.\nSaid Cho[u]bei--\"The presentation made, doubtless the matter is as good\nas concluded. But Tamiya Dono is ill; this visit is unexpected. If\nKondo[u] Dono would deign to precede, and ascertain how matters are at\nTamiya, it would be well.\" To this Kondo[u] assented. Making his excuses\nhe set out for Samoncho[u], bubbling over with excitement, and praying\nthat the matter would have certain issue; and thus establish him for\nlife on the shoulders of the wealthy Tamiya. Prayers? Indeed he did stop\non the road, one lined with the ecclesiastical structures. Kondo[u] had\ntoo much at stake, not to invoke all likely aid.\n\nWith his departure Cho[u]bei began to go into the externals of the\nHouse of Tamiya. As they walked along--\"Congenial surroundings.\" This\nwas with a grin and a wave of the hand toward the long line of temple\nbuildings and graveyards they were passing. \"Not much savour of present\nlodging in Hanagawado[u]. Eh! Kazuma Uji, even Cho[u]bei notes the\ndifference.\" He stopped opposite the Gwansho[u]ji and looked across the\nway. The fruit was already formed on the trees of Matazaemon's garden.\n\"Persimmons of a hundred momme (375 grammes) each; twenty cartloads for\nthe profit of the house at the fall of the year.\" As they passed in the\nentrance on Samoncho[u] he pointed to a store-house. \"Stuffed with rice,\nfrom the farms of Tamiya in Kazusa. No husks to be found in it.\"--\"Who\nsaid there were?\" said Kazuma testily. His eyes were taking in the wide\nproportions of the garden, the spreading roof and eaves of a stately\nmansion. As they passed along the _ro[u]ka_ to a sitting room Cho[u]bei\ncalled his attention to the fret work (_rama-sho[u]ji_) between the\nrooms, the panelled ceilings, the polished and rare woodwork of\n_tokonoma_ (alcoves). A _kakemono_ of the severe Kano school was hung in\nthe sitting room alcove, a beautifully arranged vase of flowers stood\nbeneath it. Matazaemon could not use his legs, but his hands were yet\nactive. Of his visitors he knew nothing; least of all of Cho[u]bei.\nKondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. With him was an old lady. O'Naka bowed\nto the ground before the proposed son-in-law. She was in a flutter over\nthe beautiful man destined for O'Iwa. The admirable courtesy of his\nmanners, the tender softness of voice, robbed her of what little\njudgment she had. Her only fear was that the candidate for honours and\nthe Tamiya would escape.\n\nSaid Cho[u]bei--\"Asakusa is a long distance; the occasion exceptional.\nCannot the Ojo[u]san favour us by pouring the wine?\" The old woman\nhummed and hawed. Kondo[u], too, seemed put out. \"As a matter of fact\nO'Iwa is not presentable. She has taken cold, and just now is in bed.\nPerhaps the Obasan will urge her further, now that Yanagibara Uji is\npresent.\" O'Naka at once rose, like to an automaton, the spring of which\nhas been pressed. She disappeared, to return and repeat her lesson.\n\"Wilful as a child! One would suppose her such. Illness she would\ndisregard, but her hair is not made up. She cannot think of appearing\nbefore company. Truly she is vexing.\"--\"Not so,\" defended Cho[u]bei.\n\"She could not show higher regard than by refusing to appear before a\nfuture husband in careless attire. It is a guarantee of conduct when\nmarried. She is much to be commended for such respect. All women like to\nappear well. A man in the neighbourhood, and rice powder and rouge are\nat once applied. How neglect such an elaborate structure as the hair?\nTrust Cho[u]bei's judgment as to women.\"\n\nO'Naka thought that he spoke well, but like most men with great\nconceit. Kazuma looked out towards the beautiful garden. He took the\nchance to smile, for he had soon ascertained that Kondo[u] knew little\nabout his agent; was in fact a precipitate, testy man. However, he was a\nlittle put out at not seeing the would-be bride. At an opportunity he\nstepped out, to see more of the house and its surroundings. Cho[u]bei\ncame up to him as he stood on the _ro[u]ka_. His voice was coaxing and\npleading. \"Is it not a fine prospect--for Kazuma Dono?\" His voice hung\non the 'Dono.' \"Nay, don't let escape this splendid piece of luck. Long\nhas Cho[u]bei interested himself in his neighbour. Such a beautiful\nexterior should have a proper setting. Marry O'Iwa San and Kazuma Dono\nis master of Tamiya. Is it agreed?\" Kazuma looked down in thought. At\nhis age there are ideals of the other sex, hard to put aside. Said\nhe--\"Not to see the lady.... Is she so horrible?\" Cho[u]bei protested.\n\"Not so! The lady is a mere item, well fitted to go with this fine\nhouse, this beautiful garden, these store-houses filled with goods.\nLook: Tamiya Dono is a man of double rations. The property has _nagaya_\nfor attendants. For long this has not been used. Tamiya will not rent it\nout. It will be so much revenue added to the stipend of the House, and\nwill replace the old man's uncertain income from his accomplishments as\nmaster of _hanaike_ and _cha-no-yu_.\" Kazuma looked around, following\nthe pointing finger of Cho[u]bei. He was in sad straits. His only future\nwas this position of a _muko_. No matter what the woman might be, there\nwas compensation. To Cho[u]bei's direct question he made answer--\"Yes.\"\n\nThe affair of the marriage suffered no delays. Cho[u]bei had struck\nhome. Kazuma was so impressed with the surroundings, especially after a\nreturn to his own miserable quarters, that the matter of the interview\ntook a minor place to the inspection of his future property. Within the\nweek he had removed to the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. The latter\nintroduced him to his future associates in the ward by a succession of\nfish and wine dinners dear to the heart of the men of Nippon. These\nneighbours were astonished at the future son-in-law of the Tamiya. This\nman was to be the husband of the O'Bake? Was he mad, or drunk? Perhaps\nthe latter, for neither themselves nor Kazuma had the opportunity to be\nparticularly sober during this period of festivity. Of course there was\nan introduction to Matazaemon, the other principal involved. As Kondo[u]\ncarefully explained, no set date could be made for this interview.\nTamiya Dono was ill, and to be seen at a favourable time. As ill luck\nwould have it, on the very day the interview was permitted O'Iwa San\nreceived an urgent summons from the Okugata of the Hosokawa House. This\ncould not be disregarded, and her absence on the second occasion was\neasily explained and condoned. Kondo[u] certainly made no effort, and\nKazuma no suggestion, for a meeting in the three days intervening before\nthe formal marriage.\n\nAt evening the guests met in the reception rooms of Tamiya. In a private\napartment were Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei and his wife, O'Iwa, and Iemon. The\nlatter name had been assumed by Kazuma on his formal registration in the\nTamiya House. It was Cho[u]bei who had purchased the _wataboshi_, or\nwadded hood, of floss silk worn by the bride on this great occasion of\nher life. Iemon could see but little within its depths, except the\nshining light of her countenance. Joy perhaps? At least this curiosity\nwas soon to be satisfied. Nine times--three times three--were the _sake_\ncups drained. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei joined the hands of the train,\nexhorting them to mutual forbearance, O'Iwa to unquestioning obedience\nto the husband. He pattered over the maxims of the Do[u]jikun of Kaibara\nYekken in this strange case, as he had done twenty times before with\nfavourable results. Yekken's book was comparatively recent, only a few\ndecades old, and the woman's guide. Truly the position of the\n_nako[u]do_ was no easy one, if it was to bring him at odds with either\nHouse involved. He felt complacent. This pair at least presented less\ncomplications in that line than usual. What there was of doubtful issue\ncame now to the test. At this crisis he cast an eye to the _ro[u]ka_\n(verandah) to see that Cho[u]bei really was at hand as promised. Then\nthe strings of the _wataboshi_ were loosed. The hood concealing the face\nof O'Iwa was removed.\n\nIemon rose to his feet as if impelled by springs; then hurriedly he sat\nagain with some mumbled excuse and trembling hands. He could not take\nhis eyes from the shining white of the face before him, the glazed\nsmooth surface left in many places between the black of the pock marks.\nThe removal of the hood had somewhat disarrayed the hair, leaving the\nbroad expanse of forehead more prominent, the puffed heavy eyelids in\nthe face more conspicuous. In the depths shone two tiny points, the\neyes. Indeed, as Cho[u]bei afterwards described it, eyelids and eyes had\nthe appearance of _kuzumanju_, the dumplings of white rice paste with\nthe black dots of dark brown bean paste sunk deep in the centre. Never\nhad O'Iwa appeared to such disadvantage. She was now engaged in removing\nthe white garment, to appear in her proper array as bride and wife.\nIemon took advantage of this absence to step to the _ro[u]ka_. In\nleaving the room Kondo[u] had given a wink to Cho[u]bei. Iemon almost\nran into him. He seized him by the arm. The young man's voice was\nexcited. He spoke in a whisper, as one who could barely find speech.\nWith satisfaction Cho[u]bei noted that he was frightened, not angered.\n\"What is that? Who is that creature?\" were the first words of Iemon.\nReplied Cho[u]bei coldly--\"That is the wife of Tamiya Iemon; O'Iwa San,\ndaughter of Matazaemon Dono; your wife to eight thousand generations.\"\nThen roughly--\"Deign, Iemon San, not to be a fool. In the purchase of\ncow or horse, what does the buyer know of the animal? Its real qualities\nremain to be ascertained. O'Iwa San is ugly. That much Cho[u]bei will\nadmit. She is pock-marked, perhaps stoops a little. But if the daughter\nof the rich Tamiya, a man with this splendid property, had been a great\nbeauty, this Iemon would not have become the _muko_ of Tamiya, the\nfuture master of its wealth. What qualification had he for such a\nposition--a diviner, a man whose pedigree perhaps would not stand too\nmuch search.\" He looked keenly at Iemon, and noted with satisfaction how\nthe last thrust had gone home. Cho[u]bei must know more of Iemon,\nex-Kazuma. He determined on that for the future.\n\nHe continued--\"Withdrawal at this juncture would merely create scandal.\nMatazaemon is not so bereft of friends that such a step would not cause\nserious displeasure in high quarters. The insult would find an avenger.\nThen consider please: the old man is kept alive by the anxiety to see\nhis granddaughter established in life, the line of the Tamiya assured.\nHe will die within the month. If the old woman hangs on too long\"--he\nhalted speech for a moment, then coldly--\"give her lizard to eat. A\ndiviner, doubtless Iemon San knows Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei by this time.\nHe will never prejudice the man who holds in his hands the purse of the\nTamiya. Iemon San and O'Iwa San are left alone. Good luck to you,\nhonoured Sir, in the encounter. In this Cho[u]bei a counsellor and\nfriend always is to be found; and one by no means lacking experience of\nthe world. As for the woman, she is your wife; one to take charge of the\nhouse and affairs of Iemon Dono is to hand. No other _rusu_[18] could be\nfound so earnest in duty and so cheap, as O'Iwa San. Take a concubine.\nThis Cho[u]bei will purchase one for you; such a one as will be the\nobject of envy and desire to the whole of young Edo. His opportunities\nin that line are exceptional. Come! To turn on the lights. On our part\nat least there is nothing to conceal.\" Iemon did not pay attention to\nthe hint. The one thought harassing him must out--\"lop-sided and--a\nleper!\" He spoke with despair and conviction, eyes fastened on\nCho[u]bei, and such a frightened look that even Cho[u]bei had pity. One\nfoot in the room he turned back. \"That is not so--absolutely.\" Iemon\ncould not disbelieve the earnest testimony. Said Cho[u]bei--\"The wounds\nof smallpox were no trivial ones. In healing the scars were such in\nplaces as form over burns. Hence the shining surface. Positively there\nis no leprous taint in Tamiya.\" He was gratified by the sigh which came\nfrom Iemon, sign of the immense weight lifted off the young man's mind.\n\"Bah! leave things to the future, and--enjoy the present. O'Iwa cannot\ngrow ugly with age. So much is gained. What difference will her looks\nmake to Iemon thirty years hence? She is a woman. Make a child on her.\nThen you are free to turn elsewhere.\"\n\nAt once he began to place lights everywhere, as a sign to Kondo[u] that\nall was well. This worthy came forward with other guests, to\ncongratulate the Tamiya House on being once more in young and vigorous\nhands. It was Iemon himself who gave the signal to retire. How matters\nwent alone with his bride has reference to one of those occasions over\nwhich the world draws the veil of decency. In the morning O'Iwa arose\nearly to attend to the matutinal needs of her spouse. The ablutions\nperformed, Iemon sat down to tea, as exquisite and exquisitely served as\nin any dream in literature of how such ceremony of the opening day\nshould be performed. Then the morning meal was brought, under the same\nsupervision of this woman, as expert in all the technique of her craft\nas she was ugly in feature; and that was saying much. Iemon watched her\nmovements in the room with curiosity, mixed with a little pain and\nadmiration. He was quick to note the skill with which she concealed the\nslight limp, due to the shrinking of the sinews of one leg and causing\nan unevenness of gait. It was a blemish in the little quick movements of\na woman of surpassing grace; who by art had conquered disease and an\nungainly figure.\n\nO'Iwa had left the room for a moment to get flowers to place in the\nvases, offering to the _hotoke_ (Spirits of the departed) in the\nButsudan. On his return Iemon held the _ihai_ (memorial tablets) in his\nhands. A priest, these had at once attracted his notice. \"Kangetsu\nShinshi; Kangetsu Shimmyo[u]; O'Iwa San, these people have died on the\nsame day of the month--and the year?\"--\"Is on the back of the _ihai_,\"\nreplied O'Iwa. \"No; it is not a case of suicide together.\" Then seeing\nhis evident curiosity she motioned him to sit as she poured tea, ready\nfor a long story. With its progress voice and manner grew more strained\nand earnest. She never took her eyes from the _tatami_ (mats). \"The\ntablets are those of the father and mother of this Iwa. My mother's name\nwas Mino. Daughter of Tamiya she acted badly with my father Densuke, a\nmere servant in the house. This Densuke was a good man, but his status\nof _chu[u]gen_ made my grandfather very angry. He drove the twain from\nthe house. Thus deprived of means to live, my father took a position as\ncook in the _yashiki_ of a great noble. Here he was frightened into\nbecoming the tool of a very wicked man. Having killed an usurer this man\nforced my father to dispose of the body under penalty of death if he\nrefused. The body being placed in a cloth, my father had carried it to\nhis house. During his short absence my mother's curiosity led her into\nuntying the bundle. Her screams aroused the neighbourhood. As they\nentered she was seized with convulsions, and gave birth to this Iwa,\nthus brought into the world together with the exposure of the crime. My\nfather, doubtless warned by the crowd, fled from Edo. My mother had but\ntime to tell her story to the _kenshi_. Then she died. A year later to\nthe day my father's dead body was found floating in the castle moat,\nnear the town of Yu[u]ki in Shimosa. A beggar man, but little inquiry\nwas made into the crime. For long the cause and the criminal were\nunknown. Then a _banto[u]_ was robbed in the Shiba Kirido[u]shi; his\ncompanion was killed. The criminals were traced, and on confession were\nput to death. The leader and most wicked of them also confessed to the\nmurder of the usurer Jusuke and to that of my father Densuke. My father\nhad met him again in Yu[u]ki town, and had aroused in him fear of\ndenunciation of past crimes. He spoke of 'this Densuke' as a\nsuperstitious, haunted fool; thus in his wickedness regarding my\nfather's remorse and desire to clear up the strange affair. The\nexecution of this man removed all chance of my avenging the deaths of\nfather and mother on himself. But he has left behind a son. The one wish\nof this Iwa is to meet with Kichitaro[u]; to avenge on him the\nwickedness of his father Takahashi Daihachiro[u].\" Iemon at first had\nfollowed in idle mood her story. With the development of the details he\nshowed an attention which grew in intensity at every stage. With the\nmention of the name of Takahashi Daihachiro[u] he gave a violent start.\nYanagibara Kazuma, Iemon Tamiya--what were these but names to cover this\nKichitaro[u], the one-time priest Myo[u]shin of the Jo[u]shinji at\nReigan Fukagawa, and son of Daihachiro[u].\n\nStrange was this retributory fate which had brought these two into the\nmost intimate relations of husband and wife. When Iemon could control\nhis voice he said--\"That O'Iwa San should have this feeling in reference\nto the wicked Daihachiro[u] can be understood. But why such hatred\ntoward this Kichitaro[u]? Surely the boy is not to be held guilty of the\nfather's offence!\"--\"That is a man's way of reasoning,\" answered O'Iwa.\n\"A woman, ignorant and foolish, has but her feelings to consult. To\nseven births this Iwa will clutch and chew the wicked son of a wicked\nfather. Against Kichitaro[u] is the vow made.\" She raised her head.\nIemon turned away shuddering. She had aged into a hag. The shining face,\nthe marks like black spots in pumice standing out, the mere dots of eyes\nin their puffy bed, the spreading mouth with its large shining\nteeth--all turned the plain gentle girl into a very demon. The\ncertainty, the intensity, of a malignant hate was driven into Iemon. He\nwas so frightened that he even nodded assent to her last words. The\ngentle voice of O'Iwa added--\"Iwa is ugly; perhaps annoys by the tale.\nLeave the affair to her and to the enemy. To Iemon she is bound for two\nexistences. Deign to drop all formality; call her Iwa, and condescend to\nregard her with affection.\" And Iemon covenanted with himself so to do.\nThe present should compensate for the past. But in the days which\nfollowed O'Iwa sat on him as a nightmare. He felt the impress of her\nteeth at his throat, and would wake up gasping. Time made the situation\nfamiliar. He carefully lulled her into a blind admiration and belief in\nher husband Iemon. There seemed no likelihood of O'Iwa learning the\ntruth; or believing it, if she did.[19]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII\n\nIF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT\n\n\nMatazaemon's illness justified all the predictions of Cho[u]bei. In the\ncourse of the month it was plain that his last hold on life was rapidly\nweakening. In that time Iemon had won golden opinions from household and\nneighbours. His face was beautiful, and this they saw. His heart was\nrotten to the core, and this he kept carefully concealed. The incentive\nof his fear of O'Iwa kept up the outward signs of good-will. He found\nthis easier with the passage of the days. Plain as she was in face and\nfigure, no one could help being attracted by the goodness of O'Iwa's\ndisposition. Iemon, in his peculiar situation, placed great hopes on\nthis, even if discovery did take place. Day following day he began to\ndiscount this latter contingency. To a feeling of half liking, half\nrepugnance, was added a tinge of contempt for one so wrapped in her\nimmediate surroundings, whose attention was so wholly taken up with the\nmatter in hand. She easily could be kept in ignorance, easily be\nbeguiled.\n\nOne day Iemon was summoned to the old man's bedside. He was shocked at\nthe change which had taken place in a few hours. Propped upon pillows\nMatazaemon would speak a few last words. With a shade of his old\nimpertinent official smile and manner--\"The Tamiya is to be\ncongratulated on its great good fortune in the entrance of one so well\nqualified by appearance and manners to uphold its reputation. Deign,\nhonoured Muko San, to accept the thanks of this Matazaemon. All else has\nbeen placed in the hands of Iemon--goods, reputation, granddaughter.\"\nIemon bowed flat in acknowledgment and protest at the good-will\nexpressed. Continued Matazaemon--\"There is one matter close to the old\nman's heart. Concerning that he would make his last request to the\nadmirable heart of Iemon. Iwa is a plain girl. The end of time for man,\nand the carping comment of neighbours come to his ears, have opened the\neyes of Matazaemon to the truth. Great has been the favour in\ndisregarding this plainness and taking her to wife. Everything is in the\nhands of Iemon San. Consider her happiness and deign to use her well.\nAbstain if possible from taking a concubine. At all events conceal the\nfact from Iwa, if it be deigned to keep such company. Plainness and\njealousy go together. Faithful and upright, such a disposition as hers\nis not to be strained on that point. She would be very unhappy. Better\nthe light women of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], than one who takes the place of\nthe wife. Condescend to remember this last request of Tamiya\nMatazaemon.\" He clasped the hand of Iemon, and tears were in his eyes as\nhe spoke. Iemon, too, was affected. It almost frightened him to be left\nalone with O'Iwa. \"Deign not to consider such unlikely contingency. The\namiability of O'Iwa is compensation for the greatest beauty. Who could\nthink of injuring her in any way? Perhaps a child soon will be the\nissue. With this in mind condescend to put aside all gloomy thoughts.\nConcentrate the honoured will on life, and complete recovery to health\nwill follow. Such, indeed, is the daily prayer of this Iemon at the\nMyo[u]gyo[u]ji.\"\n\nMatazaemon smiled faintly--with gratification or grimness? Perhaps\ndeath unseals the vision. Often indeed did Iemon present himself at the\nfamily temple; he the substitute for the Master of Tamiya. But as often\ndid his feet return by the diametrically opposite direction, running the\ngauntlet of the charms of the frail beauties of Nakacho[u]. Iemon held\non to the hand of Matazaemon, swearing and forswearing himself with the\ngreatest earnestness and the best of intentions. Suddenly he raised his\nhead. The emotion aroused by the interview had been too much for the old\nman's fluttering heart. His head had slipped down sideways on the\npillow. A little stream of dark bitter refuse flowed from the mouth and\nchoked him. He was dead.\n\nGreat was the grief of wife and grandchild; great was the importance of\nIemon, now in very fact Master of Tamiya. Whether or not he followed the\nadvice of Cho[u]bei, and gave the old woman _tokage_ (lizard); whether\nher constant small journeys to the houses of neighbours, reciting a\nlitany of praise of this wondrous son-in-law; whether the loss of the\ncompanion of so many years wore out the feeble frame; it is fact that\nO'Naka followed her lord before the maple leaf turned red. Again the\nTamiya was the scene of the funereal chanting of the priest. The corpse\nremoved with the provision for the guests and watchers at the wake, the\nseventh night of the death observed, with this removal of the deceased\nspirit from the scenes of its former activities Iemon could turn himself\nwithout impediment to the life of the future. Outward change there was\nnone. He was the same kind and affectionate husband as of former days.\nNeighbours, anticipating some change of manner, were still louder in\ntheir praises. One day there appeared at Tamiya two intimates, Natsume\nKyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. \"Iemon Uji, a matter of importance\npresses. We are on our way to the ward head, Ito[u] Kwaiba Dono. Deign\nto go in company. You are known to be an expert at _go_,[20] a game at\nwhich the old man prides himself for skill. He chafes at the presence of\nthis unknown rival, heard of but not yet tested. A dinner and wine are\nat stake. Without Iemon Uji we do not dare to present ourselves.\nCondescend to go in company. To know the great man of the ward, the\nwealthy Ito[u] Kwaiba, is of advantage even to Tamiya.\" Iemon laughed\nand assented. He was soon dressed for the greater ceremony of a first\nvisit. All three climbed down into their clogs, and set out for the\nhouse of the Kumi-gashira near Samegabashi.\n\nIf Iemon had been impressed by the wealth of Tamiya, he felt\ninsignificant before that of the head of Yotsuya. Ito[u] Kwaiba was a\nman of sixty-four years, retaining much of the vigour of his youth. For\nthe past ten years he had added _go_ to his twin passions for wine and\nwomen, neither of which seemed to have made any impression on a keenness\nof sight which could read the finest print by the scanty light of an\n_andon_, teeth which could chew the hard and tough dried _mochi_ (rice\npaste) as if bean confection, and an activity of movement never to be\nsuspected from his somewhat heavy frame. At the name of Tamiya he looked\nup with much curiosity, and Iemon thought his greeting rather brusque.\nHe saluted with great respect--\"Truly fear is inspired. For long no\nvisit has been paid to the honoured head. Coming thus without invitation\nis very rude. Intrusion is feared.\"--\"Nay! Nay!\" replied Kwaiba,\napparently attracted by the splendid externals of Iemon. \"The failure to\nvisit is reciprocal. In fact, Tamiya and this Kwaiba have been at odds\nthese many years. Visits had altogether ceased. This, however, is no\nmatter for the younger generation. But Iemon San is indeed a fine\nfellow. So Kwaiba had heard from all he met. Ah! A fellow to put all the\ngirls in a flutter. He is the very image of this Kwaiba in younger\nyears. The husbands were little troubled when he was around. The fair\nones were attracted. Well, well: they all had their turn at Kwaiba; and\nKwaiba has stood the pace. He is as good to-day as ever; in some\nways.... And it is a man like Iemon San who has married the--lady of\nTamiya.\" Iemon knew the term \"O'Bake\" had nearly slipped out. Knowing\nO'Iwa's attractiveness of temperament, feeling touched in his own\nconceit, this astonished and satirical reception he met with on every\nside nettled him more than a little. Perhaps Kwaiba noted it. With\ngreatest unction he urged a cushion and at once changed the subject.\n\"Iemon San is noted as a _go_ player. This Kwaiba is a mere amateur. It\nis for him to ask odds in making request for a game.... Ho! Heigh! The\n_go_ board and stones!\"\n\nKwaiba and Iemon were the antagonists. Natsume and Imaizumi sat at the\nsides of the board. Kwaiba, confident in his powers, readily accepted\nthe deprecatory answer of Iemon at its face value. The game was to be on\neven terms. Iemon really was an expert of the sixth grade; certainly of\nseveral grades superiority to Kwaiba.[21] The latter's brows knit as his\nposition rapidly became imperilled. Natsume was in a ferment. Fish or\nwine? If Iemon sought Kwaiba's favour by a preliminary sound thrashing\nat his favourite game, the prospects of either were small. He dropped\nhis tobacco pipe. In picking it up he gave the buttocks of Iemon a\ndirect and severe pinch. Iemon was too astonished to cry out. His ready\nmind sought a motive for this unexpected assault and pain. The face of\nNatsume was unmoved, that of Imaizumi anxious. A glance at Kwaiba's\nattitude enlightened him. Politeness and a dinner were at stake. Even\nNatsume and Imaizumi wondered and admired at what followed. The blunder\nof Iemon was a stroke of genius, the inspiration of an expert player. It\nwas a slight blunder, not obvious to the crudeness of Kwaiba; but it\nopened up the whole of Iemon's position and put the game in his\nantagonist's hands. Kwaiba promptly seized the advantage. His triumphant\nglance shifted continually from Iemon to the onlookers, as the former\nstruggled bravely with a desperate position. Kwaiba won this first game\nsomewhat easily. A second he lost by a bare margin. In the third he\nscored success in a manner to make evident his superiority over a really\nexpert player. Confident in his championship of the ward, he was all\ngeniality as at the end he sorted and swept back the _go_ stones into\ntheir polished boxes. \"_Go-ishi_ of Shingu; soft as a woman's hands. But\nnever mind the sex. Now for fish and wine.... However, Hana can serve\nthe liquor for us.\" To the servant--\"Heigh! Some refreshments for the\nhonoured guests; and convey the request of Kwaiba to O'Hana San, to be\npresent.\"\n\nWith the wine appeared O'Hana San. She was a beautiful girl. Of not\nmore than twenty years, on the graceful sloping shoulders was daintily\nset a head which attracted attention and admiration. The face was a pure\noval--of the _uri_ or melon, as the Nipponese class it--with high brow,\nand was framed in long hair gathered below the waist and reaching nearly\nto her ankles with its heavy luxuriant mass. She was dressed for the hot\nseason of the year in a light coloured Akashi crape, set off by an _obi_\nor broad sash of peach colour in which were woven indistinct and\ndelicate wavy designs. The sleeves, drawn a little back, showed the arms\nwell up to the shoulder. Glimpses of a beautifully moulded neck and\nbosom appeared from time to time as she moved here and there in her\npreparation of the service of the wine utensils. The delicate tissue of\nthe dress seemed to caress the somewhat narrow hips of a girlish figure.\nEvery movement was studied and graceful. This O'Hana had belonged to the\nFukadaya at Yagura no Shita of Fukagawa. She had been what is known as\nan _obitsuke_ harlot, wearing the _obi_ in the usual form, without the\nloose overrobe or _shikake_ of the common women. \"In the period of\nTempo[u] (1830-1843) all Fukagawa harlots were dressed in this manner.\"\nAttracted by her beauty old Kwaiba had ransomed her and made her his\nconcubine. For nearly two years she had held this position in his house.\nIn serving the wine she came to the front and knelt before Iemon as\nfirst to receive it. In handing him the tray with the cup she looked\ninto his face. The start on the part of both was obvious. Some of the\nwine was spilled.\n\nSaid Kwaiba--\"Then Iemon Uji, you know this woman?\" His tone was hard\nand truculent. It conveyed the suspicion of the jealous old male.\nIemon's former profession stood him in good stead. He had a glib tongue,\nand no intention to deny what had been made perfectly obvious--\"It is\nfact, and nothing to be ashamed of on the part of Iemon; except as to\nattendant conditions beyond control. I was a diviner on the public\nhighway.\"--\"So 'twas heard,\" grumbled Kwaiba. \"Without customers, and\nwith no use for the diviner's lens but to charr the rafters of the\ngarret in which you lived.\" Iemon did not care to notice the attack. He\nmerely said--\"Deign not to find amusement in what really is a serious\nmatter to one who has to suffer poverty. While seated at the diviner's\nstand attention was drawn by a girl coming down the Kuramae. Slouching\nalong close by her was a drunken _samurai_. From time to time he lurched\nentirely too close to her. Turning unexpectedly her sunshade caught in\nhis _haori_ (cloak), which thereby was slightly torn. At once he flew\ninto a great rage. Laying hands on her he showed no disposition to\naccept her excuses. 'Careless wench! You have torn my dress. How very\nimpudent of you. Unless you at once accompany me to the tea house close\nby, to serve the wine and please me, pardon, there is none; be sure of\nthat.' The people had gathered like a black mountain. Nothing was to be\nseen but heads. O'Hana San was in the greatest embarrassment, unable to\nfree herself from the insults and importunities of the drunken fellow.\nThe _samurai_ was hid under the diviner's garb. Stepping from the stand\nI interposed in the girl's behalf, making apology, and pointing out the\nrudeness of his behaviour to the drunkard. Instead of becoming calm he\nraised his fist and struck me in the face. His condition gave the\nadvantage without use of arms. Locking a leg in his tottering supports I\nthrew him down into the ditch. Then with a word to O'Hana San to flee at\nonce, we disappeared in different directions. The _samurai_ Iemon again\nbecame the diviner. That part of his role this Iemon regrets; but a\nweapon he could not draw in the quarrel. Later on meeting O'Hana San at\nthe Kwannon temple of Asakusa thanks were received, for what was a very\ntrivial service.\"--\"And again renewed,\" said the beauty, raising her\ndowncast face to look direct into that of Iemon. Said Kwaiba--\"Ah!\nThat's the tale, is it? A fortunate encounter, and a strange reunion;\nbut the world is full of such. O'Hana, it comes in most befitting that\nopportunity is afforded to favour the rescuer with something of greater\nvalue than thanks. Pray serve him with wine.\" Then did Kwaiba take the\nmatter as a man of the world. But he was no fool, \"this old _tanuki_\n(badger) of a thousand autumns' experience on hill and in dale.\" He\nunderstood very well that between Iemon and O'Hana there had been a\ncloser connection than that of mere accident.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX\n\nLOVE KNOTS\n\n\nMany were the visits paid by Iemon to contest at _go_ with Ito[u]\nKwaiba. Rapid was the progress of the love affair between a young man\nand a young woman, both inspired with a consuming passion for each\nother. In former days--something more than two years before--when Iemon\nwas priest in the Jo[u]shinji of the Reigan district of Fukagawa, and\nwas spending the money of the _osho[u]_ so freely, he had met O'Hana at\nthe Fukagawa of Yagura no Shita. Just entering on her career, she at\nonce captivated him with a permanent passion. It was in her company that\nthe funds of the temple had been cast to the four winds of heaven. His\nlove had been fully reciprocated by O'Hana. The one purpose was to\nransom the lady, and then to live together as husband and wife. Such was\nthe engagement plighted between them. However, the ransom figure was\nlarge. Iemon--or Kazuma at that time, he dropped his priestly name when\nout of bounds--had already planned a larger raid than usual on the\necclesiastical treasury. Warned by O'Hana that his operations had been\ndiscovered, he had sought safety in flight; not without a last tearful\nparting with his mistress, and assurance that fate somehow would bring\nthem again together. The engagement thus entered on was to flourish\nunder the new conditions.\n\nAs to this pursuit of O'Hana, in which the maiden was coy and willing,\nthe lover circumspect and eager, or at least thought he was, those\naround the pair were soon well informed; that is, with the exception of\nthe most interested--O'Iwa and Kwaiba. The marked neglect which now\nensued O'Iwa took in wifely fashion; and attributing it to some passing\nattraction of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], she did not take it to heart as she\nwould have done if a concubine had been at issue. As for Kwaiba, the\nusually astute and prying old man was so immersed in his _go_ as to be\nstruck blind, deaf, and dumb. The matter coming to the ears of Kondo[u]\nRokuro[u]bei, the worthy gentleman was seriously alarmed. If true, the\nold man had indeed reached a parting of the ways, at which he had to\nsatisfy Iemon, Master of Tamiya, O'Iwa, his ward, and Ito[u] Kwaiba, the\npowerful influence in the daily life of all of them. That night there\nwas a meeting at the house of Kwaiba, a competition in _gidayu_\nrecitation, dancing, and poetry (_uta_) making. He presented himself in\nseason at the door of the Tamiya. \"Ah! O'Iwa San; and to-night does\nIemon join the company at the house of the _Kumi-gashira_? Rokuro[u]bei\ncomes from Kawagoe, and perhaps is not too late to find company on the\nroad.\"--\"Oya! Is it Kondo[u] Sama? Iya! the Danna has but begun his\npreparations.... Iemon! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come; for company\non the way to Ito[u] Sama's house.... Deign to enter. In a short time\nIemon will be ready.\" Kondo[u] looked at her quizzically. There was no\nsign of distress or misgivings in this quarter. He felt encouraged.\nProbably the rumour was false or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due\nto the malice of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, from whom that day he had heard\nit.\n\nHe turned to greet Iemon, who emerged ready for the street. At the\nentrance they halted. Said Iemon--\"It will be a long drawn-out affair.\nDeign to retire, and not await the return.\" Replied O'Iwa--\"A small\nmatter. The sound of the Danna's footstep will arouse Iwa to receive\nhim.\" Iemon laughed. \"How so? How distinguish my steps from those of\nAkiyama San or other constant callers?\" Said O'Iwa gravely--\"When the\nwife can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection\nhas departed. O'Iwa will be ready to receive Iemon, no matter what the\nhour.\"--\"And, indeed, a late one,\" put in Kondo[u]. \"The party consists\nmainly of young men. After it they will adjourn to Nakacho[u]. Is it\nallowed to Iemon Dono to accompany them?\" O'Iwa winced a little. \"The\nMaster is always master, within and without the house. He will do as he\npleases.\"--\"Gently said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are\nrarely to be encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of\nMorokoshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokuro[u]bei feels proud of his\nguardianship.\" As he and Iemon took their way along the Teramachi, he\nsaid--\"Iemon is indeed a wonderful man. He is handsome and pursued by\nthe women. O'Iwa undeniably is ugly; yet never is there failure to show\nher respect and consideration, in private as well as public. One's life\nhere in Yotsuya is open to all the neighbours, and these speak well of\nIemon.\" Said the younger man, in matter of fact tone--\"Who could fail\ntoward Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is\nthe compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than\nbeauty.\"--\"Well spoken! Deign to keep it in heart, for the neighbours'\ntongues wag as to Iemon and O'Hana. Malice can cause as much unhappiness\nas downright wickedness. Besides, Kwaiba is no man to trifle with.\"\nIemon was a little put out and alarmed at the directness of Kondo[u]'s\nreference. \"Be sure there is nothing in such talk. A slight service,\nrendered in earlier days, makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise\na stranger. The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But Ito[u]\nDono is good company and has good wine; and besides really is a good\n_go_ player. It would be loss to shun his house.\"\n\nKondo[u] noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke sharply to\nthe maid--\"Middle age in company with youth plainly finds a poor\nreception. Is that the master's order? The clogs of Tamiya are not the\nonly ones. Is Rokuro[u]bei to shift for himself?\" The girl, all\nconfusion, made profuse apology as she hastened to repair the neglect.\nKondo[u] was easily mollified. \"Bah! No wonder. Bring Tamiya near a\nwoman, and all is confusion.... But Ito[u] Dono?\"--\"This way, honoured\nSirs: the Danna awaits the guests.\" They entered the sitting room, to\nfind Kwaiba in a high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error\nin transmission or date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had\nappeared. \"The supper prepared is next to useless. We four can do but\nlittle in its dispatch. Not so with the wine; let every man do double\nduty here.\" He hustled around and gave his orders with some excitement;\nmore than cordial with the guests who had not failed him. There was\npresent one Kibei. Iemon had noted with curiosity his first appearance\non this ground. What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's\nposition in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point.\nKibei was exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a woman to\nmake much of physical beauty, as well as strength and ruggedness. He was\na younger son of Inagaki Sho[u]gen, a _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in\nHonjo[u] and an income of three thousand _koku_.[22] It was almost\ncertain that Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. The negotiations had been long\ncontinued, and there was some hitch in the matter that Iemon could not\nmake out. What he did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted\nfencer, making some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the\nlast man with whom Iemon had any desire for a quarrel. Iemon was a\ncoward, and the cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. Himself,\nhe was always excessively polite in their intercourse.\n\nLimited as to number the party tried to make up for the missing guests\nby liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as substitutes of\nthe absent, and competition in _uta_ (poetry). Handing in his own\neffort--no mean one--Iemon left the room for a moment. As he came out on\nthe corridor, and was about to return to the guest room, he found the\nmaid O'Moto awaiting him with water and towel. A slight puckering frown\ncame over Iemon's face at this imprudence. Said the girl\npleadingly--\"Danna Sama, deign to exercise patience. That of the\nmistress is sorely tried. The absence of the other guests, the pursuit\nof Kibei Dono, who only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion\nfrom the house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven her\nwell nigh mad. A moment--in this room.\" Iemon drew back.--\"A room\napart, and in darkness! The age of seven years once passed, and boy and\ngirl are never to be allowed alone together.\" He would have refused, but\na sudden push and he was within. The _sho[u]ji_ closed at once.\n\nKwaiba's voice called loudly--\"Hana! Hana! What has become of the\ngirl? There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugliness of Kibei drives\nher to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her out. Hana! Hana!\" O'Hana\nslipped hastily from the arms of Iemon. Passing through the garden she\nentered the kitchen and snatched up a _sake_ bottle from the stove. She\ndid not notice that the fire had gone entirely out. She and Iemon\nentered the sitting room together, from different sides. Rokuro[u]bei\nlooked sharply at Iemon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with Kwaiba. Said\nKondo[u]--\"Where have you been? Pressed by necessity? For such a lapse\nof time! nonsense! Is rice powder found in such a place? 'Plaster'? It\ndoes not leave the mark of a cheek on the sleeve.\" He laid a warning\nhand on Iemon, skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. \"What\nhas happened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got into\na dispute over the merits of Heinai and Sho[u]setsu as fencing masters;\nboth of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa\nHouses. Heinai was loyal, and Sho[u]setsu a traitor; but Kibei tries the\nold man and officer by supporting the prowess of the latter. Besides the\n_sake_ is cold and Kwaiba at start was in a very bad temper. He has\nthought for naught but his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by\nagreeing with him, but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert\nwith the sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would willingly\nengage in one. He don't like you....\" He stopped. Kwaiba was speaking\nsharply. He had just taken the fresh bottle. \"Cold as a stone! How\ncareless you are.\"--\"Not so,\" said O'Hana in some surprise. \"It has just\ncome off the stove.\" Kwaiba put the bottle in her hand, to her\nconfusion. \"O'Hana must have been asleep; or much engaged, not to note\nthe difference.\" For the first time he looked sharply at her, then at\nIemon. O'Hana often executed great freedom with him--\"Asleep! Just so;\nand no wonder. Without guests the evening has been stupid enough. If\nTamiya Sama had brought his wife with him it would have been complete.\"\nKwaiba, Kibei, Kondo[u] smiled at the sally. Iemon took the cue, and\nchose to resent the words. He said coldly--\"O'Iwa certainly brings spice\ninto everything she engages in. Her intelligence is unusual.\" O'Hana\nlooked at him; then smiled a little, reassured. Passing behind him she\nstumbled. \"Forgotten\"--Iemon felt a letter thrust into his hand, which\nhe passed quickly to his sleeve. Then he and Kondo[u] rose to take their\nleave. The usual salutations followed. As if to compensate for the\nfailure of the entertainment all joined in seeing them depart. Kwaiba\nwas still grumbling and half quarrelling with O'Hana. O'Moto was engaged\nwith Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. Kibei insisted on aiding Iemon; and Iemon\ndid not dare to refuse his services in donning the _haori_. As he\nadjusted the awkward efforts of Kibei on one side, this amateur valet\nmade a mess of it on the other. Besides, neither of them was any too\nsteady on his feet. Then Kondo[u] and Iemon set out in the rain.\n\"_Sayonara! Sayonara!_\"\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X\n\nTHE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA\n\n\nThe following morning Iemon sat brooding, mind and tongue clouded by\nthe drinking bout of the previous night. O'Iwa silently busied herself\nwith his renovation. Rokuro[u]bei had delivered him over to her,\ndecidedly the worse for wine and wear. He was somewhat astonished at the\nyoung man's easy discomfiture. Middle age with the Nipponese usually\nmeans the seasoned and steady toper. Regarding the matter as partly due\nto her own fault, and reassured by Kondo[u] as to the events of the\nevening, O'Iwa heated the _sake_ with all the greater care, serving it\nherself, chatting on the indifferent gossip of the neighbourhood. She\nspoke of the talk current as to Ito[u] Kwaiba's adoption of an heir.\n\"This man Kibei, his disposition appears to be as ugly as his face.\"\nWith a little smile she added, \"for the latter compensation is to be\nfound in the first-named quality; a truth which he seems to disregard.\nWhat will become of O'Hana San?\" For the first time since the night\nbefore the thought of the letter flashed into Iemon's mind. He put down\nthe renovating morning draft, and on some excuse arose. His _kimono_ lay\nneatly folded in the _hirabuta_ (flat tray). Hastily he searched the\nsleeves. There was not a sign of the missive. With clouded brow he\nreturned to the sitting room. A glance at O'Iwa made him feel ashamed.\nIt had never come into her hands. He knew her well enough to be assured\nthat he would have found it, scrupulously laid together with the tobacco\npouch, nose wipe (_hanagami_), and divers other minor articles of daily\nuse carried on the person. The whole affair perhaps was a dream. The\nmore he considered, the more he became so convinced. His transports with\nO'Hana, their surprise, Kondo[u]'s rebuke--so far the evening was\ntolerably clear. It was only as to the final cups, the rising to depart,\nthe standing in the cold night air, that the exact course of events\nbecame clouded. \"Ah! It was all a vision. O'Hana never would have been\nso imprudent.\" There was a trace of doubt in his mind. He would clear it\nup at the fountain source--at Kwaiba's house and by the lips of O'Hana.\n\nKwaiba greeted him with almost boisterous cheerfulness. \"Ah! Tamiya\ncomes early; a flattering acknowledgment of last night's reception.\" To\nIemon's deprecatory speech and apology--\"Don't talk folly, after the\nmanner of a country boor. Iemon San is a man of the world; and will give\nthis Kwaiba credit for being the same. What does it amount to? A matter\nof a little too much wine.... Hana! Hana! The Master of Tamiya is\npresent. Cut some bean paste, and bring tea. Heat the wine. Matazaemon\nwas so sober an old dog that it is doubtful whether O'Iwa knows aught\nabout the best remedy for past drinking.\" As Kibei entered--\"There is\nthe inventory of the Shimosa farms. Condescend to take a glance at the\nreport of the _nanushi_ (bailiff). Hana will aid.\" Thus dismissed, the\ntwo left the room. Kwaiba turned to Iemon--\"A draught: no? Then Kwaiba\nwill drink for both. For him it is a day of rejoicing. The coming of\nTamiya is opportune. It was intended to send for him. Deign to aid this\nKwaiba with counsel. The adoption of Kibei has finally been settled.\"\nThe old man's exultation influenced even the indifference of Iemon's\naching head. With well-simulated interest he said--\"Naruhodo! Kibei Dono\nis indeed to be congratulated. As to our chief, since everything is to\nhis satisfaction, Iemon is but too glad to speak his pleasure, to offer\nhis congratulations.\"--\"Nay! A little more than that, Iemon Uji. This\nKwaiba would seek his aid in another matter of importance. Kwaiba is\nold. A woman no longer is an object to him. He cannot make a child. If\nO'Hana should give birth to a child great would be the discomfiture,\nknowing the truth. What is to be done in such a case?\" He now was\nlooking with direct inquiry into the face of Iemon. The latter was much\nconfused. He stammered--\"Just so: so indeed. O'Hana San is truly an\nembarrassment. Doubtless she is also an obstacle to Kibei Dono. She....\"\nSneered Kwaiba--\"Tamiya, though young, is wise. He grasps the situation\nat once. Deign, Iemon San, to take O'Hana yourself.\" Kwaiba raised his\nvoice a little. Kibei brought O'Hana with him from the next room. She\nseemed alarmed and embarrassed. Said Kwaiba--\"What have you there; the\ninventory? Ah! A letter: and there is no one to read a letter like Iemon\nSan. Deign, Sir, to favour us. Iemon San alone can give the contents the\nproper inflection.\" He handed it to Iemon. A glance showed the latter\nthat it was a letter from O'Hana, probably that of the previous night.\nHis pocket had been neatly picked by Kibei. It was plain. He had been\ntrapped. The pretended entertainment had been a plot in which the\npassion of O'Hana had been given full chance to range. Even the\ndisinterested witness, the old fool Kondo[u], had been provided. He\ncaught a curious, mocking smile on the face of the girl O'Moto, just\nthen passing along the _ro[u]ka_.\n\nKwaiba allowed the silence to become oppressive. He seemed to await an\nincriminating outburst on the part of O'Hana, plainly on the verge of\ntears. However, the girl caught herself up. Instead she turned a calm,\ninquiring look toward the three men. Iemon alone looked down, his gaze\non the letter the characters of which danced and waved before his eyes.\nSharp as he ordinarily was, before this vigorous and astute old man,\nbacked by the ruffianly prospective son with impertinent smile, the\ncowardice of Iemon deprived him of all spirit. His faculties were\nnumbed. Kwaiba leaned over and removed the letter from his hands. \"Since\nIemon San will not read the letter, Kwaiba will try to do so; a poor\nsubstitute for the accomplished cleric.\" The old fellow seemed to know\neverything, as the tone of contempt indicated. He ran the scroll out in\nhis hands--\"Naruhodo! Ma! Ma! What's this? From some woman: a lascivious\njade indeed!... Eh! Kibei Dono, apology is due your ears. This Kwaiba\nlaughed at your suspicions.\" He threw down the scroll, as in a fury.\nKibei picked it up. He began to read:\n\n     \"Night is the source of pleasure, but greater that pleasure\n     at sight of Iemon. The day comes when Iemon and Hana will be\n     husband and wife, in fact if not in form. 'Ah! Day and night\n     to be at the service of Iemon.' Thus does Hana pray gods and\n     Buddhas. When distant from his side, even though the time be\n     short, painful is its passage. Place this letter next to\n     your very person. May that night come quickly, when the\n     coming of Iemon is awaited. The connection with O'Iwa San is\n     the punishment for sin committed in a previous existence.\n     Condescend to dismiss her from your mind. View the matter\n     wholly in this light. The spiteful brush (pen) refuses\n     further service. Hard, hard, is the lot of this Hana. The\n     honoured Master comes; the heartfelt wish is accomplished.\n\n     With compliments,\n\n     To Iemon Sama.\" HANA.\n\nKwaiba's rage grew and grew with the reading. At Iemon's name he sprang\nup and made a movement toward the stand on which reposed his swords.\nLaying a hand on the larger weapon he turned with a scowl--\"Ah! This\nKwaiba is old, but in vigour he is young. It is for Kwaiba to sport with\nthe women. They are not to make a fool of him.\" Kibei sharply\ninterposed. \"Does Kwaiba Dono gain satisfaction by such a vengeance? To\nKibei it seems a poor one. A matter so easily to be settled is not to be\nmade a scandal in the ward. Deign, honoured Sir, so to regard it. To\npunish both at once with death is proper. But is it expedient?\nCondescend to hear the words of Kibei.\"\n\nKwaiba pulled himself up. It was as if some one had dragged him back.\nHis rage departed. A cold malice took its place. He smiled blandly--\"One\ndoes not quarrel over a harlot. Kwaiba spares their lives. Iemon shall\ntake Hana home--as wife.\"--\"As wife!\" Iemon broke through his fear.\n\"Surely the honoured _Kashira_ is unreasonable. This Iemon is but the\n_muko_ of Tamiya. To demand that O'Iwa San be discarded is going too\nfar. Positively in this matter, though there have been love passages,\nthe most intimate relation has never followed--now or in previous\nrelations.\"--\"You lie!\" said Kwaiba coldly. \"Furthermore 'tis a matter\nnot passing the period of last night. But that is not to the point.\nAgainst Matazaemon this Kwaiba has a grudge--as yet unsatisfied. Through\nO'Iwa San this shall be paid. With Iemon no harsh measures are adopted.\nNay; Kwaiba comes to his aid. You, too, Kibei, shall assist.... Ah! For\nthe ready consent, thanks. Ma! A delicious revenge is that gathered by\nKwaiba. O'Hana the harlot takes the place of the Ojo[u]san. And she\nloves Iemon! In our feasts Natsume and Imaizumi get the skin of the\nomelet; Iemon the centre. Then O'Iwa is to be driven out. To that Tamiya\ncannot object. He substitutes honey for garlic;[23] O'Hana the flower\nfor the ugly toad O'Iwa. Splendid! Splendid! But how? Ah! Here's\nKondo[u], just in the nick of time. Rokuro[u]bei, aid us with your\nexperience and influence. Aid us with Iemon, who would cleave to the\nO'Bake.\"\n\nPut in possession of the facts Kondo[u] was aghast. He had come to the\nparting of the ways; and under conditions which assured his\nparticipation in the plot. At first he turned on Iemon with bitter\nrecrimination. \"Oh! A virtuous fellow, who would drink a man's wine, lie\nwith his woman, and then preach morality to a household! But the\nmischief is done. If not the paramour of O'Hana San, everybody believes\nit to be so....\" Kwaiba held up his hands in well-simulated anger. Kibei\nand Rokuro[u]bei interfered. Iemon's last resistance was broken down. To\ntalk? That is the business of a priest. Soon he was as eagerly engaged\nin the plot as if he had left the house in Samoncho[u] for that purpose.\nSaid Rokuro[u]bei--\"What difficulty does the matter present? Set on\nWatanabe Goro[u] to tempt and make love to O'Iwa. He is badly in debt.\nThe handsome man of the ward everyone would suspect her fall. Surprised\nby Iemon, O'Iwa is driven out as unchaste. This Kondo[u] stipulates that\nmatters go no further. After all O'Iwa is innocent of offence. The\nhusband's full rights are not to be excused. Neither she, nor Watanabe\nis to suffer injury.\"\n\nKibei laughed outright at the idea of a drawn sword in Iemon's hand.\nIemon turned the contempt on to Kondo[u]. Sneering, he replied--\"The\nplan is worthless. O'Iwa is chastity itself. In the absence of this\nIemon no man is allowed entrance to the house.\" Kwaiba knitted his\nbrows--\"Kakusuke! Kakusuke!\" As the _chu[u]gen_ appeared--\"Go yonder to\nthe house of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon San. Say that the Kumi-gashira would\nspeak with Akiyama San.\" As the man departed--\"Cho[u]zaemon is the man.\nFor gossip and malice he is a very woman. Rejoice and he weeps; weep and\nhe rejoices. If Akiyama cannot concoct some plan to get rid of O'Iwa,\nthen no one can.... Alas! O'Hana and Iemon must die by the hand of this\nKwaiba. Kibei will give his aid.\" The old man and Kibei got much\nenjoyment out of the cowardice of Iemon and the fright of O'Hana. But\nnot for long. Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, the one-time boy lover of O'Iwa; a\nlong, lean, hungry-looking man, with long, cadaverous face and a\ndecidedly bad eye, appeared with the _chu[u]gen_ Kakusuke close behind.\nThe latter seemed a sort of policeman attending the none-too-willing\nCho[u]zaemon. The latter's brow lightened at sight of the company. He\nowed Kwaiba money. Sending away the servant, Kwaiba unfolded the\nsituation. Said Cho[u]zaemon--\"Heigh! Tamiya takes the cast off leman of\nIto[u] Dono. Fair exchange is no robbery; Kibei Uji against O'Hana San.\nIemon San goes into the matter with eyes wide open. The lady is an old\nintimate, it is said.\" This manner of approaching the subject was\nCho[u]zaemon's way. He cared nothing for the scowls of Kibei nor the\nwrath of Kwaiba. He was needed, or they would not have called him to\ncounsel. As for Iemon, he was grateful to Cho[u]zaemon; as neighbour,\nand for the insult to Kibei and Kwaiba.\n\nContinued the mediator--\"The obstacle of course is the O'Bake. O'Iwa\nis to be driven out. And Watanabe won't answer? Maa! Chastity in an\nO'Bake! It is a thing unheard of. 'Tis such, once of womankind, who\nseduce living men. Tamiya is now head of the House. O'Iwa once driven\nout, the property remains in his hands as its representative. She must\nbe forced to leave of her own will. Good; very good. What is it worth to\nKwaiba Dono?\"--\"Look to Iemon for commission,\" said Kwaiba roughly.\n\"Nay! Nay!\" mouthed Cho[u]zaemon. \"Kwaiba is Kwaiba; Iemon is Iemon. The\ntwo are to be settled with separately. If Kwaiba Dono had gone to\nextremes at the start no question would have been raised. To do so now,\nwith all present and after discussion, is out of the question. Kwaiba\nDono wishes to adopt Kibei Uji; to get rid of O'Hana San. Iemon San has\nbeen neatly trapped. He must consent. O'Hana is a woman. She has no\nvoice in the matter. All this is clear. But as to Cho[u]zaemon's labour\nin the affair; that it is which interests this Akiyama.\" He gave a sour\nreprimanding look at Kibei. Then he looked impertinently from Kwaiba to\nIemon, and from Iemon to Kwaiba. Iemon in delight nodded assent.\nCho[u]zaemon promptly turned his back on him and faced Kwaiba. At first\nthe old man was very angry at the acuteness of Cho[u]zaemon. The sharp,\nfree exposure did not please him. Then the idea of countering on this\nacuteness made him good tempered. He grumbled--\"The ten _ryo[u]_ owing\nto Kwaiba at the New Year--principal and interest; such is the fee for a\nsuccessful issue.\" Cho[u]zaemon held up his hands in pretended\nhorror--\"Pay back borrowed money! Is that expected by the\nKumi-gashira?\"--\"Not 'expected,'\" put in Kwaiba promptly. \"With the seal\nof Akiyama San the return is assured.\" Cho[u]zaemon became\nthoughtful--\"It is true. The last loan was under seal.... Too bad....\nWell! Well! The conditions are hard. Submission is necessary. The debt\nwill be forgiven?\"--\"Kibei and Iemon stand as witnesses,\" replied\nKwaiba--\"Then how is this?\" said Cho[u]zaemon. All put their heads\ntogether. Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon went into details. Kwaiba pushed back his\ncushion; slapped his thighs. \"Cho[u]zaemon, you are cheap at double the\nmoney. Just the thing! Eh, Iemon, Uji? Eh, Muko San?\" All grinned a\nraptured assent.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI\n\nTHE PLOT DEVELOPS\n\n\nFor two days Iemon was maturing the preliminaries. He seemed unwell and\nout of sorts. The third day he did not get up at all. O'Iwa was properly\nanxious. Said she--\"The change in the year is a sickly season.\nCondescend to take some drug. Allow Suian Sensei to be summoned.\" Iemon\ngrumbled a dissent. She went on in her enthusiasm--\"He is the very\nprince of doctors. See: here is a salve he recommends; for skin and\nnerves. O'Hana San, the beautiful concubine of Ito[u] Sama, uses nothing\nelse. He guarantees it on her praise, as means to remove blemishes of\nany kind or source.\" Iemon looked up quickly. The connection puzzled and\ndid not please him. Perhaps he noted a puffiness about O'Iwa's face,\nremembered a repulsion toward marital usages. The women should leave the\nmen to play their own game. He said gruffly--\"Suian! A dealer in\ncosmetics and charms. Have naught to do with his plasters and potions;\nas cheats or something worse. As for O'Iwa, she is black as a farm hand\nfrom Ryu[u]kyu[u] (Loo-choo). O'Hana is fair as the white _kiku_. Can\nthe pastes of Suian Sensei change black to white?\" Startled, O'Iwa\nlooked round from the glass into which she was peering. She was taken by\nsurprise. In their personal relations Iemon had always been more than\nconsiderate. For some weeks in secret she had been using this drug of\nSuian Sensei. In childhood O'Iwa had shown something of an epileptic\ntendency. This had worn off with time. Of late the recurrence had\nalarmed her. The drug of Suian, at the time anyhow, made her less\nconscious of the alarmed critical feeling which heralded the inception\nof the attacks.\n\nIemon gave her but time to catch the meaning of his insult. He went\non--\"Probably it is but a cold. Some eggs, with plenty of hot wine, will\nobviate ill effects. Deign to see that they are prepared.\" The channel\nof O'Iwa's thoughts changed. At once she was the housekeeper and nurse,\nand all solicitude to make him at ease. In the course of the meal of\neggs with _sake_ in came Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. \"Ah!\nIemon, pardon the intrusion. Probably the engagement of yesterday with\nKwaiba Sama was forgotten.... In bed! A cold? But such is no treatment\nfor the complaint. There should be a cheerful, lively atmosphere.... Ah!\nHere is the dice box. One can shake dice as well lying down as sitting.\nDeign to refresh the spirits with play as well as wine.\" Iemon saw to it\nthat both were available. With surprise at first, misgiving afterwards,\nO'Iwa heated bottle after bottle of _sake_. The men did not pay the\nslightest attention to her presence. Absorbed in their game, there was\nbut a rough call from time to time for wine, addressed to the air, a\nservant, anybody. At the end of the play Natsume rose to leave in high\nspirits. Imaizumi and Tamiya were correspondingly depressed. This was\nbut a first day's procedure. Day after day, for the space of half the\nmonth, the play was repeated. Iemon had long since recovered. One day he\nstood with his hands shoved into the folds of his sash. He was very\nsober and sour. \"Iwa, is there money in the house?\" She looked at him in\nsurprise. \"Matters have not turned out at all well with Kyuzo[u] and\nJinzaemon. This Iemon is a hundred _ryo[u]_ to the bad. With spare cash\nat hand an attempt can be made to repair the loss.\"\n\nO'Iwa prostrated herself before him. \"May the Danna deign to consider.\nTo Iwa this pastime of gambling seems a very ill one, particularly in a\nman of official rank. It is fraught with peril; and the offence once\nknown rarely is pardoned. Condescend to hear and forgive the warning of\nthis Iwa.\" She stopped a little frightened. Iemon was looking at her in\ngreatest wrath and astonishment. \"What! Is there argument from wife to\nhusband? This insolence of behaviour crowns the insult of refusal. The\nvery sight of your face is enough to make one sick at the stomach. Boors\nand _bakemono_ are shut out at the Hakone barrier. But you--the guards\nhave been put to sleep, and you have slipped through. Shut up! Get the\nmoney, or....\" O'Iwa crouched at the _sho[u]ji_, in terror and surprise.\nThe insulting words heaped on her pained and tortured. Now she felt the\nsharp sting of a hand forcibly applied to her cheek. Without a word she\nleft the room. Returning she brought thirty _ryo[u]_ in gold on a\nsalver. Timidly prostrate she presented it to Iemon. \"Condescend to\npardon Iwa. That she is ugly and incompetent she knows. Did not Iemon\naccept her?\" The man stuffed the gold in his girdle. In reply--\"No:\nIemon was cheated by Kondo[u] and Cho[u]bei. A plain woman--perhaps; but\na monster, a worse than _rokurokubi_, was never thought of even in a\ndream. Compensation is to be found. Iemon likes gambling. He will\ngamble. Have a care to supply the needed funds; and don't interfere.\"\nRoughly he shoved her out of the way, and left the house.\n\nFor long O'Iwa saw nothing of Iemon; but she heard from him. In fact he\nwas living in semi-secrecy at the house of Rokuro[u]bei. Now this\nmessenger, then that, would come to O'Iwa. \"If there is no money--sell\nsomething. The bearer will indicate. A supply must be found.\" Thus one\nthing after another left the house--to be stored in the godown of\nKondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, to whose clever suggestion was due this way of\nstripping O'Iwa of all she possessed. With goods and clothes went the\nservants. In the course of a few weeks O'Iwa was living in one room,\nfurnished with three _tatami_ in lieu of the usual twelve in number.\nHibachi, _andon_ (night lamp), the single garment she wore, this was all\nshe possessed in the house. Then at last she saw him. The light dawned\non a cold snowy morning of early March. O'Iwa rose, opened the _amado_,\nand started her day. About the fourth hour (9 A.M.) the _sho[u]ji_ were\npushed aside and Iemon entered. He looked as if fresh from a night's\ndebauch. His garments were dirty and disordered. His face was sallow,\nthe eyes deep set and weary, his manner listless. O'Iwa gave him the\nonly cushion in the room. Seated before the _hibachi_ (brazier) after\nsome time he said--\"A million pardons: the luck has been very bad....\nAh! The place here seems in disorder. It is not fit for a man to live\nin.\" He looked around as one waking from a dream. \"No wonder: yet all\ncan be restored. Iemon has surprised you?\" Said O'Iwa timidly--\"Matters\nare a little at odds and ends. O'Iwa needs but little; a stalk of\n_daikon_ (radish) and a handful of wheat (_mugi_). Does the Danna remain\nhere? If so....\" There was a painful hitch in her voice, a puzzled look\non her face. She had one _bu_ in cash. In fact she was hoping for the\nmonthly visit of Yosuke the farmer; if there was a farm any longer. She\ndid not know.\n\n\"For the night,\" replied Iemon. \"Sleep and food are the essentials of\ngood play. All has been lost in the gambling houses of Shinjuku and\nShinagawa, at the Nakanocho[u]. Is there no money in the house?...\nEvidently not. Deign to secure some, no matter how.\" He took the silver\n_bu_ she presented to him. \"At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See\nto it that a meal is ready at even; not much, _sashimi_ (sliced raw\nfish) and wine. Iemon would play, not eat.\" With this he rose. O'Iwa\nheard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her face buried\nin her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she to do? She looked\naround. There was not a thing to sell; not even herself. Who would buy\nthe ugly O'Iwa? An idea came into her head. In a moment she was in the\nstreet. Soon she stood at the door of her uncle, Yoemon. With this uncle\nand aunt she had but little to do. Matazaemon had been at daggers drawn\nwith his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched miser, one\nacquiring wealth by very questionable means for a _samurai_. In old days\nCho[u]bei had been a hired agent of Yoemon. The principal had escaped;\nthe second had to leave Yotsuya and its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt)\ncame out at O'Iwa's call. She greeted her niece with surprise. \"Oya!\nOya! Iwa is a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid\n_muko_ was received at Tamiya.\" The old woman looked at O'Iwa shrewdly,\nand not without kindness. O'Iwa took heart. She made answer--\"It is\ntrue; of late matters have not gone well. Just now Iwa would ask the\nloan of a _sho[u]_ (1/5 peck) of rice, together with a _bu_ to buy eels\nor _sashimi_.[24] It is very rude indeed....\"--\"Very rude indeed!\" said\na harsh voice close by. O'Iwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway.\nThe aunt fled to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoemon--\"And\nwhat is Iwa doing at the house of Yoemon? That there is relationship\nbetween them this Yoemon does not recognize. Yoemon never exchanged look\nor word with his brother Matazaemon, nor does he desire to do so with\nthe issue. Let the Tamiya of Samoncho[u] look out for itself. A _muko_\nwas taken without aid or advice of Yoemon. A stranger, one practising\nwayside divination, this fine fellow turns out a gambler and a debauched\nman, to the ruin of the House. Iwa can look to him; ignorant and foolish\nwoman that she is. This Yoemon would contribute to the needs of a beggar\nbefore granting even a single _mon_ to Iwa.\"\n\nThe grating rattled sharply as the angry old man pushed it to and let\nfall the bar. O'Iwa looked into the dark recess with pained and startled\neyes. So much of a recluse she was learning that Iemon had long been the\ntalk of the ward. She turned, and slowly took her way back to\nSamoncho[u]. Here the reaction came. Strong was the inclination to laugh\nand weep; too strong for self-control. In alarm she ran to take from the\ncloset the potion of Suian. Its effect was the opposite of what she\nexpected--or perhaps it was taken too late. For an hour O'Iwa writhed,\nscreamed, laughed in her agony. Then she sank into slumber. On awakening\nthe sun was already well past the zenith. She sprang up in alarm. This\nmeal to prepare--the duty of the wife--and not a step taken. It could\nnot be helped. Just as she was, twisting a towel around her disordered\nhair, she started out to the place of one Kuraya Jibei of the Asakusa\nKuramae no Saka. This man was a lender on the notes from the rice\npensions of the _samurai_--a _fudasashi_ dealer, as these men were\ncalled.\n\nThe distance was great. O'Iwa was tired out on her arrival. At the\nentrance the _kozo[u]_ or \"boy\" hailed her sharply. He waved her off.\n\"No! No! Old girl, it won't do. Nothing is to be had here. Please come\nback the day before yesterday.\" He barred the way. Said O'Iwa, shrinking\nback--\"Nothing is wanted of the honoured house. An interview with Jibei\nSan, an inquiry to make. Such the request.\" Something about tone or\nmanner, certainly not pity, made the fellow hesitate--\"Jibei San! A\nbeggar woman wants an interview with Jibei San! How about it?\"--\"Nothing\nto be had,\" answered the _banto[u]'s_ voice. \"Tell her to read the white\ntablet hung before the entrance. It is all the house has to give.\" In\nspeaking he edged around a little. O'Iwa raised the towel from her face.\nAt once he was on his feet. \"Ah! For long the honoured lady of Tamiya\nhas not been seen. Many and profitable the dealings with Matazaemon\nDono. Condescend to pardon this senseless fellow. He outrivals his\ncompanions in lack of brains. Deign to enter.\" The _kozo[u]_ was all\napology--\"Condescend wholly to pardon. Deign to have pity on the\nignorance shown. With fear and respect....\" Looking into O'Iwa's face he\nwas overcome by his feelings. Bursting with laughter he fled to the\nfront of the shop to stuff the dust rag into his mouth in mistake for a\ntowel. This slight error restored his equanimity. The _banto[u]_ looked\nafter him with some fellow feeling and much anger. \"He is half idiot.\nCondescend to disregard his rude speech and manner. After all he is but\na _kozo[u]_.... What can this Jibei do for the lady of Tamiya?\"\n\n\"Knowing that the House has dealings with Jibei San, and there being\nnecessity for three _sho[u]_ of rice, it is ventured to ask the loan.\"\nThus spoke O'Iwa. Money, actual coin, was on the end of her tongue, but\nsomehow she could not get the words out. Jibei was not particularly\nastonished. Since Iemon had taken charge of the affairs of Tamiya, its\nincome was usually discounted well beforehand. Moreover, the rumour of\nIemon's gambling was spreading among his connections. Neither Kwaiba nor\nAkiyama, nor the others engaged, were men to lose sight of the\nlikelihood of fine pickings from the Tamiya. Jibei made prompt answer.\n\"Respectfully heard and understood. It shall be sent.... Ah! It is\nrequired now? Matsu! Matsu! Put up three _sho[u]_ of rice for the lady\nof Tamiya. Its conveyance is to be provided. Place a _bu_ in the parcel.\nThe distance to Yotsuya is great. The _kago_ (litter) men are exacting.\"\nO'Iwa's heart leaped with gratitude at the perspicacity of Jibei. He\nwatched her departing figure as far as he could see it. Then he took out\na ledger; and against the name of Tamiya he placed a question mark.\n\nIt was dusk when O'Iwa entered the house at Samoncho[u]. She gave a\nstart on finding Iemon glumly seated before the fireless brazier. \"A\nfine hour for a woman to be gadding the street. And the meal!\nUnprepared: excellent habits in a wife!----\" \"To the Danna apology is\ndue. This Iwa is much in the wrong. But for the meal money had first to\nbe secured....\"--\"Then there is money, or means to procure it? Where is\nit? How much?\"--\"Nay, the rice is here. This _bu_ is enough to secure\neels, _sashimi_, some delicacy....\" She hesitated before Iemon's\ndoubting glare. He was eyeing rice and money. The mark on the bag caught\nhis eye. \"Whence was this rice had? And this money? From Jibei, the\n_fudasashi_ dealer? A visit paid in such garb? Truly the House is\ndisgraced, not only by your ugliness, but by ill conduct. Who could\nremain in such a den?\" O'Iwa threw herself in his way as he rose to\nleave the room. Clinging to his sleeve she pleaded for pardon, as only a\nwoman can do who has done no wrong. There was an ugly look on Iemon's\nface as he turned on her. Frightened, she would have fled. Instead she\ncould only crouch like a dog under the blows he showered on her. Then\nwith a violent kick in the groin he rolled her over, and departed.\n\nO'Iwa heard footsteps. Had Iemon returned? Despite the pain, she half\nsat up in her dread. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. The portly man held\nup his hands in horror and benevolence at what he saw. \"But O'Iwa--what\nhas occurred? Ah! Kondo[u] has heard rumours of what is going on. The\n_tatami_ (mats), screens, drawers (_tansu_), clothes-baskets--the house\nis completely stripped to satisfy the thirst for the money of others.\nNow he has descended to blows! Truly he is a miserable fellow.\"\nKondo[u]'s voice grew loud in his wrath. \"This must not go on.\nRokuro[u]bei is responsible to Tamiya, to the ancestors. To be subject\nto a fellow like this will never do. A divorce is to be secured. Let him\ndepart with his plunder. Let him have everything; only to get rid of\nhim. He is husband, and head of Tamiya. But Kondo[u] will be too much\nfor him. A divorce shall be secured. Ito[u] Dono, the ward chief, is to\nbe interested in the affair. Pressure shall be put on Iemon to grant the\nletter of divorce.\" Indignation choked the worthy man. O'Iwa spoke\nslowly, with pain and effort. \"Be in no such haste, Kondo[u] Sama. Iemon\nhas not been a good man. Much is known to this Iwa. He buys women at\nNakacho[u]. He buys _geisha_. He gambles. These are a man's vices. As to\nthese Iwa has nothing to say. She is the wife, for two lives to maintain\nthe house in good and ill fortune. A good wife does not look to divorce\nto rectify mistakes. With such remedy Iwa has nothing to do. But is not\nKondo[u] Sama the _nako[u]do_? Was he not the mediator in the marriage\nbetween Iemon and Iwa? Deign to speak as _nako[u]do_. Rebuke Iemon.\nCause this gambling to be brought to an end.\" Rokuro[u]bei could hardly\nhear her to the end. His testy impatience was in evidence. He broke into\nprotest--\"This is complete madness; utter folly. You allow this fellow\nto ruin the House. He will dispose of the pension.\"--\"The goods, the\nHouse, Iwa, all belong to Iemon; to do with as he pleases. Iwa is the\nwife. She must submit.... Ah! You refuse. Kondo[u] Sama is no longer the\nfriend of Iwa, to act as _nako[u]do_.\" What had come into the soul of\nthis gentle woman? Kondo[u] in fright shrank back from the look she gave\nhim--\"A very demon! The mother, O'Mino, has returned to life. Oni! Oni!\nYou are not human. Kondo[u] assuredly will have nothing to do with\nO'Iwa, or O'Iwa's affairs.\" He left her helpless in the middle of her\nfit. Forgetting in his fright even his clogs, barefooted, he fled from\nthe house in Samoncho[u].\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII\n\nKWAIBA'S REVENGE\n\n\nKondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei went direct to the council of the conspirators. He\nfound them assembled in the house of Ito[u]. Kwaiba, Iemon, O'Hana,\nCho[u]zaemon, Kibei, were drinking _sake_. Kwaiba as usual was bragging\nover his prowess in youth extended into age. O'Hana was laughing at him\nbehind his back. Kibei was surly; yet his share of income was assured.\nKwaiba roundly berated Iemon for lack of energy. \"O'Iwa has been allowed\nto get the upper hand. Iemon is far too soft to deal with a woman who\nhas been spoiled all her life.\" Iemon listened in silence, with a rather\ndoubtful smile of acquiescence or contempt. In fact, knowing O'Iwa as he\ndid, he had little confidence in Kwaiba or Cho[u]zaemon, or the methods\nthey proposed. His own plan was maturing. Meanwhile in part it ran\nparallel. On this assembly burst the discomfited Rokuro[u]bei--\"Ah! What\nan experience! The woman is a very fiend. A new pair of _geta_, bought\nbut yesterday, and left at your house, Iemon Uji.\" Iemon looked at\nKondo[u]'s frightened face and bare feet. Then he burst into a roar of\nlaughter. Kwaiba was indignant. \"Is the fright of Kondo[u] San any\nlicense to bring his dirty feet on the _tatami_. Deign, good sir, to\naccept water for the cleansing. O'Hana San now is inmate of the house of\nKondo[u]; yet condescend for the moment to act the mistress here.\" This\nwas part of the arrangement. With the goods of O'Iwa the person of\nO'Hana had been transferred to the charge of the honest Rokuro[u]bei.\nThere Iemon had easy and decent access to the use of both.\n\nSaid Iemon--\"What happened after this Iemon left Samoncho[u]? Kondo[u]\nDono has been frightened.\" Kondo[u] puffed and fumed as he cleansed his\nfeet at the mounting step. He groaned--\"Iemon Dono, you are certainly\ndone for. Was it 'three years,' she said? Her face was frightful. This\nRokuro[u]bei has no more to do with the affair. He goes no more to\nSamoncho[u]. Alas! He will never sleep again. Oh! Oh! To be haunted in\nthe next existence by such a rotten O'Bake.\" Said Kwaiba--\"Did Iemon\nreally beat her? He says he did.\" Answered Kondo[u]--\"She could barely\nmove a limb. Of love for Iemon not a spark is left; but she clings to\nthe honour of Tamiya, to the wife's duty to the House. There is no\nmoving her. Rokuro[u]bei is suspect, as not doing his duty as\n_nako[u]do_. Look to yourselves. If she ever gets suspicious of the real\nfacts, has an inkling of the truth--look out for yourselves.\"\n\nKwaiba was thoughtful; Iemon was indifferent. None of them could think\nof aught but the venture already engaged in. A week, ten days, passed.\nIn that time every effort was made to move O'Iwa to consent to a\ndivorce. As _Kumi-gashira_, Kwaiba summoned her to his house. Before his\nkindly sympathy O'Iwa melted into tears. The scandalous treatment of\nIemon had reached his ears. Why had he not heard of it before it reached\nsuch extremes? He looked indignation at his messenger, the one who had\nbrought O'Iwa to his presence, Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon the neighbour of\nTamiya, living not far off near the Ten-o[u]. Said the ward\nhead--\"Kwaiba always took this Iemon, or Kazuma, for a scoundrel. A\nstranger, why bring him into the ward? But now he is master of Tamiya.\nIn the place of the excellent, if obstinate, Matazaemon. Alas! The\npension of the House is said to be hypothecated for five years. And the\nhousehold goods; and separate properties of Tamiya--all gone?\" O'Iwa\nnodded assent, and Kwaiba threw up his hands at such wickedness. At all\nevents he counselled her to consider matters, to accept his aid. He\nwould place her somewhere; in the country and far off from the ward in\nwhich Iemon as master of Tamiya in its degradation would always be an\nunpleasant sight and influence in her life; at least until Iemon could\nbe expelled. With the fellow's past career doubtless this would happen\nbefore long. Meanwhile O'Iwa was to pass into one of the wretched,\noverworked, exhausted drudges on one of Kwaiba's Shimosa farms. From his\nchief's expressed views Cho[u]zaemon dissented. This was the one man\nO'Iwa distrusted. He had always shown dislike to her. In defense of her\nconduct Cho[u]zaemon was too clever to show any warmth. He was the\nsubordinate making exact report to his chief. O'Iwa was completely taken\nin. This friendly neutrality aroused her every grateful feeling. Said\nCho[u]zaemon--\"Iemon is a coward. A _samurai_ beats neither woman nor\ndog. If either are unfaithful to him, he kills the offender. Iemon's\nconduct has been thoroughly bad. Before the reproaches of O'Iwa San,\nbeaten in argument he has retaliated by beating her to a jelly. Her face\nbears the marks of his violence. As to her body, my wife answers for it\nthat it is a mass of bruises.\"--\"Is that so?\" said Kwaiba in deep\nsympathy. O'Iwa burst into tears. Kwaiba fumed with rage--\"Truly Iemon\nis not a human being. He has the horns of a demon.\"\n\nThen the priest Myo[u]zen, of the family temple, the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji of\nSamegabashi,[25] appeared at the Samoncho[u] house. To him O'Iwa looked\nfor ghostly consolation against the ills of this world. Instead he\nmerely chanted the old refrain, harped on the scandal brought on\nSamoncho[u] by the continued bickering of the married pair. Husband and\nwife had mutual duty toward each other; but also there was a duty toward\ntheir neighbours. Iemon was irreclaimable.... This stranger! O'Iwa San\nshould deign to take the active part herself; not afford this ill\nspectacle and example to the ward. Like most parsons he was convinced by\nthe noise of his own voice, and spoke with the intense conviction of\nlong rehearsal. O'Iwa heard him out with a curious chill at heart. The\ngraves of her beloved _hotoke_ (departed ones) were in the cemetery of\nMyo[u]gyo[u]ji. The temple had been one of the few generous features,\nalmost extravagances, of Matazaemon. It had profited greatly by his\ndonations. It was the honour of the House against the argument of the\npriest and the convenience of the neighbours; and all because a bad man\nhad been brought into it. \"What the revered _osho[u]_ (prebend) has said\nreaches to the heart of this Iwa. Submission is to be an inspiration\nfrom the revered _hotoke_. Iwa will seek their counsel.\" Baffled, the\npriest left the house; veiled censure was on his lips; open disobedience\nand contempt on the part of O'Iwa.\n\nSaid Kwaiba--\"Cho[u]zaemon has failed. At least this Kwaiba has saved\nhis ten _ryo[u]_--and gained one object. Kondo[u] Dono, thanks for your\nkind hospitality to O'Hana San. Do you propose to adopt her?\" Kondo[u]\nmade an emphatic gesture of protest and dissent. He said--\"At least\nKondo[u] has the security of goods and money for his generous\nexpenditures.\"--\"Both of them belonging to O'Iwa San; just as Kwaiba\nholds the acknowledgment of Akiyama San.\" Cho[u]zaemon made a wry face.\nThe prospect of pressure put on him, with all the added accumulation of\nthe months of interest, was not a cheerful one. Said Kwaiba\nangrily--\"Ah! Whoever would have suspected such obstinacy in the O'Bake;\nshe who always was so yielding within her home and outside of it. She\nseemed to be such an easy mark. It was merely a matter of ordering her\nout. And now she baffles this Kwaiba of his revenge!\" Iemon laughed\noutright. Kwaiba looked at him with surprise. Was this charlatan playing\na double game? Said Iemon--\"Fear enters at the words of the honoured\nchief. Pray condescend to be easy in mind. As yet Cho[u]zaemon has not\nfailed. At least the question can be argued with the _Kumi-gashira_. It\nis left to these principals. Iemon is of better counsel.\" Then after a\nsilence during which Kwaiba intently eyed him--\"To-morrow O'Iwa San\nleaves Yotsuya. Kwaiba Dono gets his revenge on the late master of\nTamiya. Pray remember it, in favour of the present incumbent of the\nHouse.\" Said Kwaiba fervently--\"Iemon would be a son to Kwaiba! Is it\nreally true--that the O'Bake will be expelled the ward, in disgrace?\"\nIemon nodded assent.\n\nOn the following day O'Iwa had completed her ablutions. She arrayed\nherself in freshly washed robes. Then she took her place before the\nButsudan. It was memorial day of the decease of the _hotoke_. Earnestly\nshe prayed--\"Deign, honoured _hotoke_, to have regard to this Iwa. The\nyear has not lapsed since the hand of Iwa was placed in that of Iemon.\nNow the House is brought to ruin. No heir appears to console this Iwa\nand to continue its worship, to inherit its revenues. 'Take these in\nhand. Life lies before Iemon for their enjoyment. His revenue will be\nample. Deign but to have the honour of the House in mind, the\ncontinuance of its line as object.' Such were the words of the honoured\nMatazaemon when in life. Unworthy has been the conduct of this trust by\nIemon. But divorce is a scandal, always to be avoided by a woman. Return\nthe love of Iemon to this Iwa. Deign, honoured _hotoke_, to influence\nhis wandering passions toward this child of the House. Cause the husband\nto return to Tamiya, once more to uphold its rights and influence. Such\nis the prayer of this Iwa.\" She rose, placed the offerings, and struck\nthe little bell with the hammer. As she did so a noise was heard at the\nentrance. Iemon, carrying fishing rod and basket, and followed by\nNatsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon, burst into the room. All three\nwere more or less drunk. Dumfounded O'Iwa looked from one to the other.\nImaizumi carried a tub. Kyuzo[u] knocked it from his shoulders. Then\ntumbled clumsily down on the cask. None of them had removed the dirty\n_waraji_ (straw sandals) they wore. \"Why do so in such a barn?\"\nhiccoughed Kyuzo[u]. \"And this _sake_; Kyuzo[u] found it without, at the\nkitchen door. Jinzaemon shouldered it. Whence does it come, Iemon San?\nFaugh! It smells as if the cask had been placed for the convenience of\npassers-by on the wayside. It stinks. That's what it does.\" He gave the\ncask a kick, knocking out the bung. The filthy liquid poured out on the\nfloor.\n\nIemon appropriated the tub. He seated himself on it. \"'Tis the fine\nliquor of Tamiya. All the house possesses. Iemon is hungry.\" Opening his\nbasket he took out an eel. He began to skin it. A cry from O'Iwa\narrested him. His wife sank down before him in attitude of prayer.\n\"Importunate jade! What would you now? Further advice to a husband who\nwants but to get rid of the sight of an ugly face? Bah! This lump of a\nwench is neither good for child-bearing nor for house-keeping; she is\nnot even a good _rusu_ (care-taker).\" His knife made a rip in the skin\nof the squirming animal. O'Iwa laid a hand on his sleeve. With a voice\nin which sobs mingled with the petition--\"To-day is a memorial day of\nthe honoured _Hotoke Sama_. Deign to refrain from taking life in the\nhouse; nay, before the very _ihai_ in the Butsudan. Such deed will cause\npain to the _Hotoke Sama_; bring disaster on the House, perhaps on this\nIwa and Iemon San.\" Iemon fairly roared as he sprang up from the\ntub--\"What! You noisy slut! Is this Iemon to go without food because the\n_hotoke_ dislikes the smell of eels?... Jinzaemon, can you cook eels?\"\nImaizumi had sought the _ro[u]ka_. His round featureless face showed his\nfright and indecision before this critical quarrel of husband and wife.\nOf all involved in the plot he was the most unwilling in performance of\nhis role. But he answered according to rote--\"Iya! Iemon Uji, the office\nof cook is a special one. Jinzaemon is no cook. He leaves that office to\nhis wife. Moreover the cooking of eels is an art in itself.\"--\"And the\nartist is here,\" chimed in the malignancy of Kyuzo[u]. \"O'Iwa San is\nnoted for her skill.\"--\"Right!\" said Iemon. \"Kyuzo[u] and Jinzaemon have\nheard the refusal of O'Iwa. Cook this eel--or else Iemon pronounces the\nformula of divorce against the disobedient wife.\"\n\nIn silence O'Iwa rose. She went to the portable stove. With the bellows\nshe stirred up the fire therein. She did not dare even for a moment to\npray at the Butsudan. The skillet was on the fire. The eels were\nsizzling in the hot liquor. Suddenly Iemon made an exclamation. Taking a\ntowel he grasped the handle of the vessel. The next moment he had forced\ndown the hot pan and its contents on the head of O'Iwa. \"Kiya!\" With the\nsingle cry she fell over backwards, writhing in pain under the\ninfliction of the scalding mess streaming over face, neck, and bosom.\nImaizumi fled in dismay. Even Natsume Kyuzo[u] protested. Seizing the\narm of Iemon--\"Iemon Uji, you go too far. Don't kill her.\" \"Kill the\nO'Bake? It's impossible.\" Iemon spoke coldly. He was the one person of\ncollected wits in the room.\n\nGroaning with agony O'Iwa came to her senses. A man was leaning over\nher. Half blind as she was, she could recognize Cho[u]bei. His look was\ngrave. His voice was reticent and confused. \"What has been going on\nhere, O'Iwa Dono? Ah! Cho[u]bei comes at a bad season. Ma! Ma! The\nhouse, too; stripped bare to the very boards, and the season still\nwintry. Truly this Iemon is a beast--a very brute (_chikusho[u]_). What\nis Cho[u]bei to do? There is this matter of the honour of Tamiya.\" He\nwrung his hands as in great perplexity, glancing sideways toward O'Iwa.\nThe first part of his speech she disregarded. Such talk and consolation\nwere growing stale. That all should pity her caused no surprise. Her\nsituation was not unusual. It was the last words which caught her ear.\n\"The honour of Tamiya: Cho[u]bei San?\" Cho[u]bei turned away; to put\nsome peppermint in his eyes. Tears stood in them as he turned again to\nher. O'Iwa was alarmed. \"What has happened?\" She caught his sleeve, drew\nclose to him. He answered--\"Cho[u]bei cannot speak. To find O'Iwa San in\nsuch dreadful state renders it impossible to explain. Iemon San has gone\ntoo far.\" So he had, from Cho[u]bei's point of view and for his\npurposes. These young fellows never can keep within bounds; even in\nabuse of a woman. His resentment was extreme. O'Iwa insisted. Finally\nthe resistance of Cho[u]bei was overcome. Iemon's name was posted at the\nKuramae of Asakusa. He was in debt on every side. As the final blow, he\nhad stolen the seal of Ito[u] Kwaiba and forged an acknowledgment for\ntwenty _ryo[u]_. Kwaiba's enmity to Matazaemon was well known. He liked\nIemon no better, and would pursue him to the end, force him to cut\nbelly, and accomplish the official degradation and extinction of the\nTamiya House (_kaieki_). \"What is to be done?\" He turned squarely to\nO'Iwa. She said--\"Ito[u] Dono has been kind to O'Iwa. Perhaps if request\nbe made....\" Cho[u]bei laughed. \"Ito[u] Kwaiba is always kind to a\nwoman. It is not O'Iwa San whom he hates. But this is an affair between\nmen. He secures vengeance on Matazaemon through Iemon and this official\nextinction of Tamiya. It is too tempting. He is not to be trusted. No\nhint of the deed must reach him. Is there no money at the command of\nO'Iwa San? The sum is but twenty _ryo[u]_. Iemon brought this news to\nCho[u]bei last night. He leaves Edo, to go in hiding, after ... after\n... punishing the ... Well! Well! He is a wicked man. Cho[u]bei never\nsuspected such wickedness. But Iemon is not the issue. He represents and\ncan disgrace the Tamiya. There lies the issue. Has O'Iwa San no means,\nnothing in coin?\"--\"Less than a _bu_, sixty _mon_.\" She held out the\ncoppers to Cho[u]bei.\n\nSaid Cho[u]bei with decision--\"There is one resource left. There is\nthe person of O'Iwa San. Deign to go into service at the pleasure\nquarter. Cho[u]bei is skilful. In seven days these wounds can be healed.\nTwenty _ryo[u]_ secured, the paper is taken up, the robbery of the seal\nis never discovered. We can laugh at Kwaiba's anger. All is for the\nTamiya.\" He noted that O'Iwa was hesitating--\"It is but as a pledge. The\nmoney is advanced on the person of O'Iwa San. A week, ten days, and\nother sources of loan will be discovered. This is the only measure\nCho[u]bei can suggest. He has no means of his own to meet this debt.\" He\nsmiled as at a thought--\"Perhaps Kwaiba himself will pay his own debt!\"\nHe chuckled at the idea. \"Why not make appeal at once?\" repeated O'Iwa,\ngrasping at any straw of safety from this resource, so horrible to the\n_samurai_ woman. Said Cho[u]bei promptly--\"Ito[u] Sama knows perfectly\nwell the state of Samoncho[u]. Asakusa, Honjo[u], are far removed. An\nappeal for twenty _ryo[u]_ as surety money in applying for a situation\nwould appeal to him; the other would not. Besides, thus far away he\ncould not investigate closely, if he would. He could but say 'yes' or\n'no.'\" O'Iwa remembered what Kwaiba had said--the necessity of removing\nto a distance. The words and actions of these rascals dove-tailed\nadmirably. A long silence followed. With exultation at heart Cho[u]bei\nsaw her rise. She put out the fire, gathered together the few personal\narticles she still possessed. On seeing her struggle with the heavy rain\ndoors he came to her aid. \"For the time being accept the hospitality of\nCho[u]bei's poor quarters. These wounds are to be healed.\" With full\nheart O'Iwa gratefully accepted. She took his hand as if to kiss it.\nCho[u]bei hastily snatched it away. In his sleeve, the ink not\ntwenty-four hours old, was the paper of the sale of O'Iwa to Cho[u]bei;\nher passing over to his guardianship, to dispose of as a street harlot,\na night-hawk. The consideration? Five _ryo[u]_: payment duly\nacknowledged, and of course nominal. The paper of transfer was in\nthoroughly correct form. Cho[u]bei had drawn it himself.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII\n\nTHE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U]\n\n\nO'Iwa's stay of nearly seven days at Cho[u]bei's house was one of the\ngolden periods of her life. O'Taki received the Ojo[u]san with humble\njoy. Iemon could not drop Cho[u]bei out of his life of prosperity. O'Iwa\nwas soon brought in contact with the humble pair in adversity. Hers was\na generous heart, and O'Taki could not look around her house without\nsome indication of this kindness. Her sympathy with the wronged wife was\ngreat. A husband--thriftless, a gambler, inconsiderate--of such a one\nshe had some experience. By the same means this lady was brought to her\npresent pass. It roused her indignation. As to brutality; that was\nanother matter. She squared her stout shoulders and looked derisively at\nthe loose angularity of Cho[u]bei, his rickety physique. But the storm\nwould pass. Ito[u] Sama, Kondo[u] Sama, Myo[u]zen Osho[u], all these\nwere agreed. The Ojo[u]san now out of his reach, without a home to go\nto, and only hostile faces met with in the ward, Iemon Sama would soon\ncome to terms. Would the Ojo[u]san deign to honour their humble home as\nlong as she liked. She at once suppressed O'Iwa's rather futile attempts\nto aid in her rough household work. It had been the lady's part to\ndirect her maids in their more repugnant tasks, and now brought right\nunder her hand in this plebeian household. O'Iwa never had undergone the\nharsher lot of her mother O'Mino.\n\nCho[u]bei in his way was as kind as his wife. At once he devoted\nhimself to the repair of his property. When O'Iwa produced the paste and\nlotion of Suian Sensei, as sovereign for the complexion, Cho[u]bei took\nthem, smelled and carefully tasted, and finally put some of the paste on\nthe end of the _hashi_ or sticks to arrange the charcoal in the\n_hibachi_. A smell of garlic pervaded the room. He noted the puffy face\nof O'Iwa, the unnatural, almost ghastly, white of the skin where the\nwide pockmarks permitted it to be seen. Within the circles of these\nscars there was a curious striated effect, only seen at times in the\nefforts of artists to depict the supernatural, or of savages to frighten\ntheir foes. It gave a drawn cadaverous look to the lower part of the\nface. \"There is more in it than _that_,\" mused Cho[u]bei. During her\nstay O'Iwa had one of her attacks--of nerves--in fact a true epileptic\nseizure. Cho[u]bei put an embargo at once on all remedies but his own.\nCynically, he added--\"But elsewhere there will be no Cho[u]bei. If the\nOkusama deigns to apply the drugs of Suian Sensei where she now goes,\ndoubtless she will find early relief. At present they spoil Cho[u]bei's\nefforts.\" The clever rascal at once recognized his fellow in Suian,\nbribed to render O'Iwa more hideous than Nature had made her, to take\naway her womanhood and hope of an heir to the Tamiya. To poison her?\nThat he doubted; although the ignorance of leech and victim might\nreadily lead to such result.\n\nWithin the seven days O'Iwa San once more could show herself in public.\nIt was now Cho[u]bei's part to carry the plot to completion. Iemon, at\nthe proposition, had said--\"Sell her as a night-hawk! An ugly woman like\nthat no one will approach.\"--\"'Tis Cho[u]bei's trade,\" said the pimp\ncoolly. \"In Yoshidamachi they have noses--over night. Between dark and\ndawn the member melts, becomes distorted, and has to be made. It has\nserved its purpose. This is Cho[u]bei's affair. Provided that O'Iwa\nnever again troubles the presence of Iemon Sama the object is\nattained.\"--\"That is true. Do what you please. Kill her, if desired.\nO'Iwa in the Yotsuya; and Cho[u]bei feels the wrath of Ito[u] Dono, of\nthis Iemon.\" Unwillingly he signed the contract required by Cho[u]bei.\nHe gave the latter a fee of ten _ryo[u]_ for the excision of this\nexcrescence, and with a sigh of joy learned of the disappearance in\ncompany of the pimp and O'Iwa. Within three days carpenters and other\nworkmen swarmed over the Tamiya in Samoncho[u]. The master made ready\nfor his return.\n\nO'Taki had gone forth on a mission for Cho[u]bei. This would insure her\nabsence for the greater part of the day. Said Cho[u]bei--\"Deign,\nOkusama, to allow Cho[u]bei to prove his art. All his accomplishments\nhave not been displayed.\" To pass off the ugly woman at night could be\ndone. He was compelled to act by daylight; though relying somewhat on\nthe dusky interior of Toemon's entrance and reception room. This Toemon\nwas the chief of the guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate\nstreet-walkers, lowest of their class. Cho[u]bei sat down before O'Iwa.\nAs if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of brushes and\nspatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh colour,\npinks--even reds. Under his skilful hands O'Iwa was transformed. To make\nher beautiful was impossible. He made her passable. The weather was\ncold, though spring was now close at hand. Cho[u]bei hesitated. The walk\nwas a long one. His handiwork might fade or melt under the sweating\ninduced by effort. Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were\nto be as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house he\nhad left the two women to themselves, and saw O'Iwa only when O'Taki was\npresent. So he called a _kago_ and gave the necessary directions. As the\ncoolies moved off with their fair burden he trotted along in the rear,\nhis project occupying his busy mind.\n\nThe place of Toemon was at Yoshidacho[u] Nicho[u]me, in the centre of\nthe Warigesui district. To the north was the canal of that name. To the\nsouth a second canal ditto; the second stream was the larger, fairer,\nand more pretentious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was\nthe Ho[u]onji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just across the\nbounding river or canal of the district. As the _kago_ bearers ambled\ndown the bank of the North Warigesui, O'Iwa thought she had never seen a\nmore filthy stream than this back-water with its stale current. The\nbearers put them down at the canal. Cho[u]bei had some directions to\ngive during the short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their\ndestination. Said he--\"For a _samurai_ woman to engage in this business\nis a serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to\nsecure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. The wife\nperforms her highest duty in saving the honour of the House. Is not that\ntrue?\" There was a little sob in O'Iwa's voice as she gave assent. She\nfelt different now that she was close at hand to the scene and crisis of\nher trial. Continued Cho[u]bei--\"The agreement has been made out as with\nO'Iwa, daughter of Kanemon, the younger brother of this Cho[u]bei and\ngreen-grocer of Abegawacho[u] of Asakusa. Deign to remember that the\ntwenty _ryo[u]_ is needed to save a father in peril of default and\nimprisonment.\"--\"The cases are not so different,\" whispered O'Iwa. \"Just\nso,\" said Cho[u]bei. \"Here is the place. Condescend to wait a moment,\nhere at the entrance.\" Briskly he entered the house. \"A request to\nmake!\"--\"Ah! Is it Cho[u]bei San? The Danna Sama is absent for the day,\nat the office of the ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he\nhas been robbed. The girl he accused was punished--perhaps unjustly. All\nthe women of this house are honest.\"--\"Beyond repair,\" laughed\nCho[u]bei. \"However, the other matter has been agreed on. The girl is\nhere. An uncontrollable jade! The master has deigned to aid Cho[u]bei.\nThanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, it is as well for\nKanemon to get the profit of the business. If she breaks out--put a ring\nin her nose, and treat her as the farmers treat their cattle. Don't let\nher again bother home or Cho[u]bei. She will lie--of course. At Toemon's\nthey are used to lies?\" The woman Matsu laughed--\"No fear as to that.\"\nShe looked over the contract with care. \"Ah! She is sold for life\nservice; otherwise the twenty _ryo[u]_ would be a scandalous price. Is\nthat her?... Um! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light.... This\nMatsu would never have closed the bargain without a view. But Toemon San\nhas left no choice. In the scarcity of women, and his good-will to\nCho[u]bei San, he would pay any sum. At twenty _ryo[u]_ she is a gem!\nYou can come up here. Take! Haru! A new girl. Take her in charge and\nshow her the house and its ways.... Cho[u]bei San, some tea.\" Cho[u]bei\nput a word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls were\nleading off the hesitating O'Iwa he said loudly and roughly--\"Remember\nto obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. Whatever she commands is\nright and must be done: no nonsense. Ah! Something forgotten: a moment\nplease.\" He drew O'Iwa aside, seeing that she was on the verge of tears.\nSpeaking gently--\"Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything.\nThe house of Toemon in Honjo[u] is not the drawing room of Tamiya in\nYotsuya. Deign to remember that Cho[u]bei must play his part. Life is\nlike an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to pass,\nsome danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condescend to have House and\nhusband in mind. It is but for a week--or so.\"--\"And Iemon San, the\nHouse; they will be secure?\"--\"That Cho[u]bei is assured of. See: he has\nthe twenty _ryo[u]_ in hand. It is mere matter of securing the\ncompromising paper and the return of Iemon. Some negotiations are\nnecessary for that. In the future his behaviour will be much improved.\"\nHe clinked the coin before her. As O'Iwa passed up the stairs he\nreturned to the _hibachi_ of the wife. The tea was a short course.\nCho[u]bei was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from\nabove in the course of O'Iwa's initiation into a vileness the depth of\nwhich she never even could suspect. \"Yes: trade is good. Women are\ndifficult to secure. The men prefer to have them in their homes, rather\nthan to gain by their service elsewhere.\" In such professional talk of a\nfew moments he quickly dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his\nclogs, and departed. O'Iwa had disappeared far into the depths.\n\nToemon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman--\"Are you mad, to\npay twenty _ryo[u]_ for such an ugly wench? No choice was given. This\nMatsu was to receive her. Cho[u]bei is a cheat.\" Toemon and the\n_banto[u]_ drew O'Iwa under the light, much as if she were a bag of\nrice--\"The clever rascal! From crown of the head to neck she is all made\nup. And perhaps elsewhere.\"--\"At all events she is a woman.\" The\n_banto[u]_ spoke as in doubt. \"Never mind: we are great artists, too, if\nnot so good at cheating as this Cho[u]bei. Twenty-six years! She's forty\nat least.... What may be your honoured age?\"--\"Twenty-six years,\"\nreplied the distressed O'Iwa. The wife threw up her hands--\"And she does\nnot lie!... Haru! Ko[u]ta! It is time to go out. The bell already\nstrikes the hour of the dog (7 P.M.). Take Iwa to the reception room\n(_yoseba_). She is to learn the ways of the place; where to entertain\nher guests.... Come! Along with all of you!\" Some ten or fifteen women\nhad gathered in their array for their night's campaign. Paint, powder,\nplaster, disguised the ravages of disease among the hardened set of this\nlow class house. O'Iwa accompanied O'Haru to what had been called the\n_yoseba_. The girl explained to her. Here was the place to bring and\nentertain any guest picked up on the street. They were not the degraded\nwretches who made the darkness of an alleyway the reception room for\ntheir lovers. It was to be remembered that the wine drunk not only\nprofited the house, but paid in commissions for their own cosmetics and\nother little gratifications. On entering the place O'Iwa shrank back to\nthe wall in horror; to shrink away in turn from the filth and obscenity\nto be seen on that support. She would have fled, but the entering crowd\npressed her further in. It was a long room. The entrance formed a sort\nof parlour or place to sit. The rest of the apartment was divided\nlongitudinally into little cubicula, rooms of the space of the one dirty\nmat with which each was furnished. A shelf contained its cynically\nfilthy and suggestive furniture.\n\nO'Iwa's disgust and terror was too obvious. O'Haru held on to her arm\nto prevent flight. The attention of the others was drawn to them. \"Does\nthe beauty want an apartment to herself? That is the privilege of the\nOiran, the Go Tayu, the Kashiku.[26] Ah! Sister dear; it is to be\nlearned that this place is Hell--First Block. There is no 'second block'\n(nicho[u]me). One gets used to anything here; even to use a demon's\nhorns for toothpicks.\" Thus spoke a hard-faced woman of some thirty odd,\nby her looks. Said the frightened O'Iwa in low tones--\"Iwa has not come\nfor this service. She is but a pledge. This redeemed, within the week\nshe returns to her home. This place upsets one's stomach.\" Those present\nlaughed loudly. \"We all say that. The real reason for our coming is not\nto be told. Be assured that you must perform the service, or suffer.\nCondescend not to fall into the hands of the Okamisan. In anger she is\nterrible.\" There was a general movement of the women. Said O'Haru,\ndrawing along O'Iwa by the hand--\"Come! Make no trouble. A newcomer, you\nare sure to be successful and please Matsu Dono.\" O'Iwa resolutely held\nback. No matter what the suffering she would undergo it. Ah! A week in\nthis place indeed was to be life in Hell. She called up the sight of the\ndismantled house, the figure of her grandfather, anything to strengthen\nher will to resist. O'Haru left the room. \"Okamisan, the new girl\nrefuses to serve. Haru makes report.\" The wife of Toemon leaped up from\nher cushion. Dressed in night clothes, a long pipe in hand, she rushed\ninto the room. \"What nonsense is this? Which slut is it that refuses the\nservice of the house?... You! The ink on the receipt for twenty _ryo[u]_\npaid for your ugly face and body is hardly dry.... Pledge? A week's\nservice? You lie: as your uncle said you would lie. You are here for\nlife service as a street harlot. Out with you!... No? No?\" She was about\nto throw herself on O'Iwa, to cast her into the street. Then her\npassion, to outward appearance, cooled. She was the woman of her\nbusiness, malevolent and without pity. \"O'Kin! O'Kin!\" The others now\ngathered around O'Iwa. O'Haru and the girl O'Take plead with her to\nobey. They tried to hustle her off by force. Said O'Haru--\"Report had to\nbe made. This Haru acted for the best. Truly such obstinacy deserves\npunishment. But Haru is filled with pity. Deign to obey. Go forth to the\nservice. The result of refusal is terrible.\" O'Iwa shook her\nhead--\"O'Haru San is free from blame. Iwa is grateful for the kind\nwords. To go out to this service is impossible.\" The woman O'Kin strode\ninto the room; a big, strapping wench, and the understudy of O'Matsu in\nher husband's affections. \"A new recruit?\" She spoke in inquiry--\"Yes:\nand obstinate. It is a matter of punishment in the _semeba_.... Now! Out\nwith you all! No dawdling!\" The irate woman turned on her flock. They\nfled like sheep into the open.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV\n\nTHE PUNISHMENT\n\n\nO'Iwa did not move. The two women approached and laid hands on her. Her\nyielding made no difference in the roughness of their treatment.\nDragged, hustled, shoved, with amplitude of blows, she was already much\nbruised on reaching the place of punishment--the _semeba_, to use the\ntechnical term of these establishments \"for the good of the community.\"\nDuring a temporary absence of the mistress, a ray of kindliness seemed\nto touch the woman O'Kin. She pointed to the square of some six feet, to\nthe rings fastened in the rafters. \"Don't carry self-will to extremes.\nHere you are to be stripped, hauled up to those rings, and beaten until\nthe bow breaks. Look at it and take warning. Kin is no weakling.\" She\nshoved back her sleeve, showing an arm as hard and brawny as that of a\nstevedore. With disapproval she observed O'Iwa. The latter stood\nunresisting, eyes on the ground. Only the lips twitched from time to\ntime. As the only person in the house, male or female, not to fear the\nOkamisan, O'Kin could only put down the courage to ignorance. She\nshrugged her shoulders with contempt. \"A man would cause you no pain.\nThe same cannot be said of Kin. You shall have the proof.\" Perhaps\nseverity would be more merciful, by quickly breaking down this\nobstinacy.\n\nThe wife returned with the instrument of torture, a bow of bamboo wound\nwith rattan to strengthen it. O'Kin took it, ostentatiously bent and\ndisplayed its stinging flexibility before the eyes of O'Iwa. The latter\nclosed them. She would cut off all temptation to weakness. At a sign O'Kin\nroughly tore off the _obi_. A twist, and the torn and disordered _kimono_\nof O'Iwa fell to her feet with the skirt. She had no shirt. Thus she was\nleft completely naked. In modesty she sank crouching on the ground. The\ncold wind of the March night made her shiver as O'Kin roped her wrists.\nAgain the woman whispered her counsel in her ear--\"When you get enough,\nsay 'Un! Un!'\" Detecting no sign of consent she took a ladder, climbed up,\nand passed the ropes through the rings above. She descended, and the two\nwomen began to haul away. Gradually O'Iwa was raised from the sitting\nposture to her full height of extended arms, until by effort her toes\ncould just reach the ground. In this painful position the slightest twist\nto relieve the strain on the wrists caused agonizing pains through the\nwhole body. \"Still obstinate--strike!\" shouted the wife. O'Kin raised the\nbow and delivered the blow with full force across the buttocks. A red\nstreak appeared. O'Iwa by a natural contortion raised her legs. The blows\ndescended fast, followed at once by the raised welt of flesh, or the blood\nfrom the lacerated tissue. Across the shoulder blades, the small of the\nback, the buttocks, the belly, they descended with the full force of the\nrobust arms and weight of O'Kin. Every time the legs were raised at the\nshock the suspended body spun round. Every time the toes rested on the\nground the bow descended with merciless ferocity. The sight of the torture\nroused the fierce spirit in the tormentors. O'Kin redoubled the violence\nof her blows, seeking out the hams and the withers, the shoulders, the\ntenderest points to cause pain. The wife ran from side to side, gazing\ninto the face and closed eyes of O'Iwa, trying to detect weakening under\nthe torture, or result from some more agonizing blow. O'Iwa's body was\nstriped and splashed with red. O'Kin's hands slipped on the wet surface of\nthe rod. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation. Blood was now gushing from\nthe nose, the eyes, the mouth of O'Iwa. \"Okamisan! Okamisan! It won't do\nto kill her. Deign to give the order to cease. She must be lowered.\" The\nwife coolly examined the victim. \"She has fainted. Lower her, and throw\nsalt water over her. The sting will bring her to.\" O'Kin followed the\ninstructions in the most literal sense. She dashed the bucket of water\nwith great impetus right into O'Iwa's face. \"Un!\" was the latter's\nexclamation as she came to consciousness. \"She consents! She consents!\"\ncried O'Kin with delight. The wife was decidedly sceptical, but her aid\nplainly would go no further at this time. Said she--\"Leave her as she is.\nThere are other matters to attend to than the whims of an idle vicious\njade. She would cheat this Matsu out of twenty _ryo[u]_? Well: time will\nshow the victor.\" She departed--\"to drink her wine, pare her nails, and\nsing obscene songs to the accompaniment of the _samisen_.\"\n\nTied hand and foot O'Iwa lay semi-conscious in the cold shed of\npunishment. At midnight the girls returned to this \"home.\" They gathered\naround the prostate O'Iwa. From O'Kin they had an inkling of the courage\ndisplayed. They admired her, but none dared to touch her bonds. At last\nO'Haru San, unusually successful in her night's raid, ventured to\napproach the half drunk mistress of the house. \"Haru makes report.\" She\nspread her returns before the gratified Okamisan. Timidly the girl\nadded--\"O'Iwa San repents. Deign to remit her punishment. She looks very\nill and weak.\"--\"Shut up!\" was the fierce retort. Then as afterthought\nof sickness and possible loss came to mind. \"She can be untied and sent\nto bed.\"--\"And food?\"--\"She can earn it.\" The woman turned on O'Haru,\nwho bowed humbly and slipped away. That night the girls contributed from\ntheir store to feed O'Iwa; as they did on the succeeding days and\nnights. The wife would have stopped the practice, but Toemon interfered.\nHe meant to keep his dilapidated stock in as good repair as possible. He\nfed them pretty well. \"The woman is not to be starved--at least too\nopenly. The last case gave this Toemon trouble enough, and on the very\nday this epileptic came into the house, to bring confusion with her.\nBeat her if you will; but not enough to kill her.\" O'Matsu followed his\nwords to the letter. One beating was followed by another; with interval\nenough between the torture to insure recuperation and avoid danger to\nlife. These scenes came to be regarded as a recreation of the house. The\nother inmates were allowed to attend, to witness the example and\nfascinate their attention. But at last the Okamisan despaired. Amusement\nwas one thing; but her hatred of O'Iwa was tempered by the desire to\nfind some use for her, to get a return for the twenty _ryo[u]_ of which\nshe had been swindled. Finally the advice of the _banto[u]_ was\nfollowed. \"The men of the house cannot be tempted to approach such an\napparition. The other girls have not time to devote to making up O'Iwa\nas for the stage. They have not twenty _ryo[u]_ at stake, as had\nCho[u]bei. Let her wash the dishes.\" Thus was O'Iwa \"degraded\" from her\nhigh estate as street-walker. Turned into a kitchen drudge she shed\ntears of joy. She almost forgot the matter of the pledge in this new and\npleasant life. The time and the place, perhaps the drug she took, had\ndone their work on the mind of O'Iwa. Iemon, the house of Samoncho[u],\nthe _ihai_ in the Butsudan, the pleasant garden--all were of the tissue\nof a dream amid a toil which deposited her on the straw wrappings of the\ncharcoal and in a shed, thoroughly worn out at the end of her long day.\nThe O'Iwa of Samoncho[u] at this end of the lapsing year of service was\ndormant. But accidents will happen.\n\nThere was excitement in the house. Mobei, the dealer in toilet\narticles--combs, brushes, jewel strings--was at the grating. The women\nwere clustered before the wares he exposed in his trays. This Mobei, as\ndealer in toilet articles (_koma-mono_) wandered all the wards of Edo,\nhis little trays fitting neatly into each other, and wrapped in a\n_furoshiki_ or bundle-handkerchief. His wares formed a marvellous\ncollection of the precious and common place, ranging from true coral and\ntortoise shell, antique jewelry and curious _netsuke_ of great value, to\ntheir counterfeits in painted wood, horn, and coloured glass. \"Mobei\nSan, long has been the wait for you. Is there a bent comb in\nstock?\"--\"Truly this Mobei is vexing. He humbly makes apology, lady.\nHere is just the thing.... How much? Only a _bu_.... Too high? Nay! With\nwomen in the ordinary walks of life it is the wage of a month. To the\nhonoured Oiran it is but a night's trifling.\" The other women tittered.\nO'Haru was a little nettled at the high sounding title of Oiran. She\nwould not show her irritation. Mobei continued his attentions. He laid\nbefore her and the others several strings of jewels, their \"coral\" made\nof cleverly tinted paste. \"Deign to look; at but one _bu_ two _shu[u]_.\nIf real they would cost twenty _ryo[u]_.\"--\"And Mobei has the real?\" The\ndealer laughed. As in pity, and to give them a glimpse of the far off\nupper world, he raised the cover of a box in the lower tier. They gasped\nin admiration before the pink of the true coral. Hands were stretched\nthrough the grating to touch it. Mobei quickly replaced the cover. \"For\nsome great lady,\" sighed O'Haru--\"Just so,\" replied Mobei, adjusting his\nboxes. He had sold two wooden painted combs and a string of horn beads\nin imitation of tortoise shell. He pocketed the hundred \"cash,\" those\ncopper coins with a hole in the centre for stringing. Then briefly--\"The\nnecklace is for no other than the Kashiku of the Yamadaya, the loved one\nof Kibei Dono of Yotsuya. The comb (_kanzashi_) in tortoise shell and\ngold is for the honoured lady wife of Iemon Dono, the _go kenin_. But\nMobei supplies not only the secular world. This--for one who has left\nthe world; for Myo[u]zen Osho[u] of Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, the gift of Ito[u]\nDono. For the custom of Mobei the Yotsuya stands first in order.\" He\ntook a box from his sleeve and showed them the rosary of pure crystal\nbeads. Even in the dull light of a lowering day the stones flashed and\nsparkled. The women showed little interest. A priest to them was not a\nman--ordinarily.\n\nHe shouldered his pack. \"Mobei San--a comb with black spots, in\nimitation of tortoise shell. Please don't fail me on the next visit.\"\nMobei nodded agreement. Then he halted and turned. One of the women had\ncalled out in derision--\"Here is O'Iwa San. Surely she wants to\npurchase. Mobei San! Mobei San! A customer with many customers and a\nfull pocketbook.\" These women looked on O'Iwa's assignment to the\nkitchen as the fall to the lowest possible state. At sight of the\nnewcomer Mobei gasped. O'Iwa on leaving the door of Toemon's house,\n_miso_ (soup) strainers for repair in one hand, fifteen _mon_ for bean\npaste (_to[u]fu_) tightly clasped in the other, came face to face with\nthe toilet dealer, \"The lady of Tamiya--here!\"--\"The lady of Tamiya!\"\nechoed the astonished and curious women. Said O'Iwa quickly--\"Mobei San\nis mistaken. This is Iwa; but lady of Tamiya....\" Hastily she pulled her\nhead towel over her face. In doing so the \"cash\" slipped from her hand.\nA _mon_ missing meant no _to[u]fu_; result, a visit to the _semeba_. In\nrecovering the lost coin Mobei was left in no doubt. \"'Tis indeed the\nlady of Tamiya. It cannot be denied.\" O'Iwa no longer attempted the\nimpossible. She said--\"It is Iwa of Tamiya. Mobei San, a word with you.\"\nThe women were whispering to each other. \"He called her '_shinzo[u]_.'\"\nSaid O'Haru--\"There always was something about her to arouse suspicion;\nso ugly, and with such grand airs. And how she endured the punishment!\nTruly she must be a _samurai_ woman.\" The minds of all reverted to their\nmaster Toemon, and how he would take this news.\n\nO'Iwa had drawn Mobei somewhat apart from the grating. With downcast\nface she spoke--\"Deign, Mobei San, to say nothing in the ward of this\nmeeting with Iwa.\" To Mobei's earnest gesture of comprehension--\"Affairs\nhad gone badly with Tamiya. Iemon San was misled into gambling by\nNatsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. He was carried away by the\npassion. It was no longer possible to stay in Samoncho[u]. Worse conduct\nfollowed. In the kindness and advice of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama and\nKondo[u] Sama, this Iwa found support. But she disobeyed. She would not\nfollow the advice given. However, gratitude is felt by Iwa. One cannot\nleave this place, or long since she would have paid the visit of\nacknowledgment. A matter of importance arose. Cho[u]bei San came to\nIwa's aid, and saved the situation. This place is terrible, but the\nconsequences of not coming would have been more so. To Cho[u]bei\ngratitude is felt. It was the opportunity offered the wife to show her\nfaith and courage.\" Now she looked bravely in Mobei's face. It was the\ntoilet dealer's turn to show confusion--\"Honoured lady, is nothing\nknown?\"--\"Known?\" answered O'Iwa in some surprise. \"What is there to\nknow? When this Iwa left Samoncho[u] to be sure the house was cracking\napart everywhere. The light poured in as through a bamboo door.... Ah!\nHave matters gone badly with the Danna in Iwa's absence?\" Mobei shook\nhis head in dissent. \"Alas! Ito[u] Sama, Akiyama or Kondo[u] San, has\nmisfortune come to them, without a word of condolence from Iwa? Perhaps\nCho[u]bei San, in his precarious life....\" The poor isolated world of\nthe thoughts of this homely creature was limited to these friends in\nneed.\n\nMobei had sunk on his knees before her. He raised eyes in which stood\ntears of pity and indignation. \"The Ojo[u]san knows nothing of what has\noccurred in Yotsuya? This Mobei will not keep silent. With the affairs\nof Iemon Sama, of Ito[u] Dono and Akiyama San nothing has gone wrong.\nThe absence of the lady O'Iwa is otherwise related. She has abandoned\nhouse and husband to run away with a plebeian, the _banto[u]_ at the\ngreen-grocer's on Shinjuku road. Such is the story circulated.\" O'Iwa\ndrew away from him as from a snake--then: \"Mobei, you lie! Why tell such\na tale to this Iwa? Are not the words of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama Sama,\nof Cho[u]bei San still in Iwa's ears? What else has she had to console\nher during these bitter months but the thought of their kindness? This\ndress (a scantily wadded single garment), these bare feet in this snow,\nthis degraded life--are not they evidences of Iwa's struggle for the\nhonour of husband and House? Mobei, slander of honourable men brings one\nto evil. Mobei lies; lies!\"\n\nHe seized her dress. The man now was weeping. \"The lady of Tamiya is a\nsaint. Alas! Nothing does she know of the wicked hearts of men. Too\ngreat has been the kindness of the Ojo[u]san to this Mobei for him to\nattempt deceit. Deign to listen. This day a week; was it not the day to\na year of the Ojo[u]san's leaving the house in Yotsuya?\" O'Iwa turned to\nhim with a startled face. He continued--\"A week ago Mobei visited\nYotsuya. He has many customers there, not too curious about prices.\nHence he brings the best of his wares. Coming to the house in\nSamoncho[u] a feast was in progress. There were present Ito[u] Dono,\nAkiyama Sama, Natsume and Imaizumi Sama, Kondo[u] Dono; O'Hana San, of\ncourse. All were exceedingly merry, Iemon Dono poured out a cup of wine.\n'Mobei! Mobei! Come here! Drain this cup in honour of the occasion. We\ncelebrate the anniversary of the expulsion of the _bakemono_. The demon\nis driven forth from the Paradise of Yotsuya. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge\nKyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!' This Mobei was amazed--'The\nO'Bake.... What O'Bake?'--'Why: O'Iwa San. A year since, with the aid of\nthese good friends, and one not present here, Iemon freed himself from\nthe clutches of the vengeful apparition. Our _Kumi-gashira_ granted\ndivorce in due form. The son of Takahashi Daihachiro[u]--Yanagibara\nKazuma--Tamiya Iemon no longer catches at sleep to wake in fear. Chief,\ndeep is the gratitude of Iemon for the favour done by Ito[u] Dono.' The\nOjo[u]san a _bakemono_! At these outrageous words Mobei felt faint.\nReceiving the cup, as in modesty returned to the _ro[u]ka_ to drink, the\ncontents were spilled on the ground. Ah! Honoured lady, it is not only\nthat the Ojo[u]san has been driven out. Her goods have been cleverly\nstolen by false messages of gambling losses. Stored with Kondo[u] Sama\nthey were brought back on the success of the wicked plot. The whole is a\nconspiracy of Iemon Dono with Ito[u] Dono, with Akiyama, Cho[u]bei,\nKondo[u], and others. They bragged of it, and told the tale in full\nbefore this Mobei, laughing the while. Why, lady! On the word of\nCho[u]bei San the order of divorce was issued by Ito[u] Dono. Within the\nmonth O'Hana San left the shelter of the house of Kondo[u] Sama to enter\nthe Tamiya as bride. Deign to look. Here is a jewelled comb reserved by\nIemon Sama as present for O'Hana San his wife. Here is gift of Ito[u]\nDono to Myo[u]zen Osho[u] for his efforts 'in the cause.'\"\n\nO'Iwa stood as one frozen. With Mobei's words the light was flooding\ninto mind and soul. Step by step she now followed clearly the stages of\nthis infamous conspiracy against her peace and honour. She had been\nfooled, cheated, degraded--and by Ito[u] Kwaiba, the enemy of\nMatazaemon; by Iemon, son of the hereditary foe Takahashi Daihachiro[u].\nMobei remained huddled at her feet, watching with fright the sudden and\nawful change in her face. The words came in a whisper. At first she\nbrought out her speech with difficulty, then to rise to torrent\nforce--\"Cheated, gulled by the hereditary foe! And this Iwa lies bound\nand helpless! 'Tis understood! The end is at hand--Ah! The poison! The\npoison! Now it, too, rises; flowing upward to heart and head of Iwa.\nAccursed man! Accursed woman; who would play the rival and destroy the\nwife! The time is short; the crisis is at hand. Cho[u]bei's dark words\nbecome light. Hana would poison Iwa through this treacherous leech.\nIemon would kill her by the foul life of this brothel--Gods of Nippon!\nBuddhas of the Universe! All powerful Amida, the Protector! Kwannon, the\nLady Merciful! Deign to hearken to the prayer of this Iwa. Emma\nDai-o[u], king of Hell, summon not the daughter of Tamiya before the\ndreaded throne for judgment--through the course of seven\nexistences--until the vengeance of Iwa be sated with the miserable end\nof these her persecutors. May the sacred characters of the Daimoku,\nwritten on the heart of Iwa for her future salvation, be seared out as\nwith hot iron. On Ito[u] Kwaiba, Iemon, Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, Cho[u]bei,\nall and every one engaged in this vile plot, rests the death curse of\nIwa. Against these; against Natsume, Imaizumi, Yoemon of Tamiya, lies\nthe grudge of Iwa of Tamiya. Gods and Buddhas--grant this prayer!\"\n\nA violent hand was laid on the bosom of Mobei's robe. He screamed in\nterror at the fearful face bent over him. A broad round dead white\nswollen face, too sharp gleaming malignant dots darting flashes as from\na sword between the puffed and swollen lids, froze him into a passive\nobject. One of these lids drooped horribly down upon the cheek of the\napparition. In the physical effort exerted, the slit of the mouth showed\nthe broad black even teeth, which seemed about to clutch at his throat;\nas did the vigorous hand, the nails of which sank into his gullet.\nFramed in the mass of wild disordered hair Mobei was isolated as in a\nuniverse of space; left alone with this fearful vision. \"Lady! Lady\nO'Iwa! Lady of Tamiya! This Mobei has done naught. Others have wronged\nO'Iwa San. Mobei is guiltless.... Ah! Ah!\" With fright and pain he\nrolled over on the ground in a dead faint. Screaming and shouting the\nwomen Take and Ko[u]ta rushed around and out to his rescue. O'Iwa San\nwas now under the full control of her disorder. Takezo staggered back,\nher hands to her face to hide the horrible sight, to wipe from eyes and\ncheeks the blood streaming from the deep tears made by O'Iwa's nails.\nKo[u]ta from behind seized O'Iwa around the waist and shoulders. Sharply\nup came the elbow shot, catching this interloper under the chin. Neck\nand jaw fairly cracked under the well-delivered blow. Ko[u]ta went down\nin a heap as one dead. A _chu[u]gen_ coming along the North Warigesui\nhad reached the crossing. He thought it better to stand aside, rather\nthan attempt to stop this maddened fiend tearing through space. At the\ncanal bank there was a moment's pause. Then came a dull splash; as of\nsome heavy body plunged in the water. With a cry the man hastened\nforward. Not a sign of anything could be seen. In this rural place no\nhelp was to be had, and he was little inclined to plunge at random into\nthe foul stream. In haste he turned back to where a crowd was gathering\naround the prostrate Mobei, the groaning harlots to whom punishment had\nbeen meted out.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV\n\nCHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS\n\n\nThe _chu[u]gen_ stood over the toilet dealer now coming out of his\nhalf-trance condition. The eyes of the two men met and showed mutual\nastonishment. \"Naruhodo! Mobei San! In a quarrel over his wares with the\nvile women of this district?\"--\"Kakusuke San! Ah! There is much to tell.\nO'Iwa San....\" The _chu[u]gen_ of Ito[u] Kwaiba was amazed attention.\n\"This Mobei to his ill fortune, met with the lady of Tamiya. Her\ncondition, her ignorance, was too pitiful. Learning all the truth from\nMobei she inflicted on him this punishment. May it cease there! Namu\nAmida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Heavy the grudge against your master\nIto[u] Dono; against Iemon Sama, his wife O'Hana San, all in the plot\nagainst the Lady O'Iwa. 'To seven existences grant this Iwa opportunity\nto vent her anger. Every one of the perpetrators of this deed shall be\nseized and put to death.' She invoked all the gods and Buddhas; Nay, the\nking of Hell--Emma Dai-o[u] himself. Look to yourself, Kakusuke San.\nDeign to seek employment elsewhere.\" Kakusuke completed his task of\nraising the battered and scratched toilet dealer to his feet. \"Mobei\nSan, you have acted the fool; without doubt. Relate what has happened.\"\nMobei did so in full detail. Kakusuke was thoughtful. \"Much of this\nKakusuke hears for the first time. A servant gets but snatches of the\ninside of such matters. Just now the mission has been from his master,\nIto[u] Dono, to the Inagaki _yashiki_ near Ho[u]onji; matter of transfer\ninvolved in the late adoption of Kibei Dono into the House of the Danna\nSama.... So that scoundrel Cho[u]bei sold the lady of Tamiya to Toemon\nfor a harlot. Alas! She deserved a better fate. One way or another they\nwould kill her; and Cho[u]bei, his money in hand, abetted the crime.\nWhere is this brothel?\"\n\nSurrounded by his women Toemon was listening to their excited\nstatements. Takezo was crying with rage and pain, as she examined her\nfissured countenance before a toilet stand (_kyo[u]dai_). Ko[u]ta,\nbrought back to consciousness, lay groaning in a corner. They were\napplying cold compresses to her broken jaw. Toemon looked up\nsuspiciously as Kakusuke entered, supporting the lamed and maimed Mobei.\n\"Look to this man's wares, scattered in the roadway; and to the man\nhimself.\" He spoke roughly, and with authority. Toemon did not dare to\nresent his manner. With well feigned solicitude he addressed Mobei--\"Ma!\nMa! A terrible punishment. Your face has the blush of the plum blossom\nmarked upon it.... O'Haru, run to the house of Wakiyama Sensei. Ko[u]ta\nis badly hurt; his skill is needed. Stop at the drug store. Here is the\n'cash' to bring salve for this good man's wounds. Alas! That a woman of\nToemon's house should so maltreat others. When caught her\npunishment....\"--\"Shut up!\" said Kakusuke. He had already taken his line\nof conduct in his master's interest. \"How comes it that the Lady O'Iwa\nis found at the house of Toemon?\"--\"The Lady O'Iwa!\" replied the brothel\nkeeper in well-feigned surprise. Turning to Mobei--\"It is true, then,\nwhat the women report; that Mobei San called the O'Iwa of this house\n'Shinzo[u].' Who is this O'Iwa?\" Said Kakusuke coldly--\"The Lady O'Iwa\nis the granddaughter and heir of Tamiya Matazaemon, a higher\n_do[u]shin_. She is the wife of the _go-kenin_, Tamiya Iemon.\"\n\nToemon now was truly aghast. \"Heir and wife of _go-kenin_! This Toemon\nhad not the slightest inkling of her _status_. Cho[u]bei has juggled\nthis Toemon most outrageously.\" He turned savagely on O'Matsu. \"So much\nfor stupid brutality. One must give you head, or have no peace. Why not\ntreat the woman kindly, learn her story? Lies or truth that of all the\nwomen in the house is known. But O'Iwa San was a mark for malice.\nCho[u]bei has lied. Between you the house is ruined. Since when were\n_samurai_ women sold to life service? Fool! It means imprisonment,\nexile, to those implicated. This Toemon ends his days among the savage\nfishermen of Sado.\" He would have struck her. Kakusuke and the\n_banto[u]_ interposed. The woman did not budge. Defiant, she stood with\nfolded arms--\"It was Toemon's arrangement to buy her in blind belief of\nCho[u]bei. Why blame this Matsu? Since when were women exempt from\nservice or punishment? The rule of the house is one or the other. How\nlong has it been since O'Seki left the house--in a box; and Toemon had\nto make answer at the office.\" Then catching herself up in the presence\nof strangers--\"Danna Sama, this is no time for a quarrel. Those of the\nhouse will say nothing; in their own interest. As for this worthy\ngentleman, the Lady O'Iwa was wife and heir neither of himself nor his\nmaster. Toemon San is grossly neglectful of courtesy due to guests.\nLeave Mobei San to this Matsu.\" She whispered in his ear.\n\nToemon had now recovered his balance. Kakusuke was a _chu[u]gen_. He\nhad an object in coming to Toemon's house, instead of making report at\nonce to his master, to the outraged Iemon Dono. Of course Toemon\nmisinterepreted this motive; and Kakusuke was quite ready to profit by\nhis mistake. To the now courteous brothel keeper he was equally cordial.\nO'Matsu and her women carried off Mobei, to salve his wounds, regale him\nwith fish and wine and good treatment, carefully to make inventory of\nhis goods, and repack them with substantial diminution of purchases.\nWhat more could Mobei ask. His valued rosary, the necklace, the\n_kanzashi_, all the treasures were uninjured. His exchequer was palpably\nswollen, and more pleasingly than his phiz. His beating had turned out a\ngood day's venture; and without misgiving he can be left in the careful\nhands of O'Matsu and her women. Meanwhile Kakusuke and Toemon sat over\ntheir wine. From the _chu[u]gen_ and toilet dealer the latter secured a\ncomplete view of his situation. It was bad, but not irreparable. As\nKakusuke with due tardiness prepared to depart, the hospitable innkeeper\nhad ample time to prostrate himself in salutation, meanwhile pushing\nover a golden _ryo[u]_ wrapped up in decently thin paper which permitted\nthe filtering through of its yellow gleam. \"Great has been the trouble\nand delay of Kakusuke San. Mark not this day in memory, good Sir.\"\nKakusuke was equally polite in salutation--\"Fear enters: thanks for the\nkind entertainment of Toemon San. This alone is to be kept in mind, mark\nof a day otherwise of but little import.\" These last words were a\nhealing balm; and Toemon rejoiced.\n\nWith the departure of Kakusuke, the chief of the \"night-hawks\" turned at\nonce to his aides. \"Take! Haru!... Ah! Ko[u]ta is completely done up.\nYou, Take, bear the marks of the day's encounter. Go to Asakusa\nHanagawado[u]. Cho[u]bei is to be brought here at once. The house must\nclear its skirts of this affair. If he refuses to come, put a rope about\nhis neck and drag him here.\" The women bowed. At once they prepared for\nthe street, a mission welcome enough under other conditions. O'Take was\nsmarting from her wounds and not very willing to be an object lesson.\nO'Haru had in mind the fearful curse of O'Iwa, plainly heard by the\nwomen. Very willingly she would have had nothing to do with the affair.\n\nCho[u]bei was engaged at _go_ with the metal dealer of his\nneighbourhood. The fish and wine were in course of preparation in the\nkitchen close by and under the skilled hands of O'Taki. The perfume,\nvinous and of viands, came to the noses of the competitors, to the\ndisturbance of their game. Cho[u]bei had just made a profitable stroke.\nHe had five _ryo[u]_ in hand, commission from the worthy _doguya_ for\nthe successful sale of a daughter to the Yamadaya of Nakanocho[u]. This\nenterprising plebeian, having a son to succeed him in the business, had\nsecured the necessary furnishing and adoption of a second son into the\nrival house of the ward, by means of the fifty _ryo[u]_ secured for the\ngirl through the experience and clever tactics of Cho[u]bei. Many the\ncompliments and congratulations exchanged by these excellent men and\nworthy representatives of their class as they tussled over their game of\n_go_. Profuse were the thanks of the metal dealer for past services and\nfuture feasting. It was with some displeasure therefore that O'Taki had\nher offices interrupted to respond to a loud and harsh--\"Request to\nmake!\" sounded at the house entrance. Said she crossly--\"Who is it?...\nAh! O'Take and O'Haru San of Toemon Sama.\" Then in wonder--\"Oya! Oya!\nO'Take San.... Your honoured face.... Has O'Take San gone to bed in the\ndark with the cat?\" Answered O'Take, in no amiable mood--\"It could well\nhave been. Your man Cho[u]bei deals in such articles. There are the\nmarks of O'Iwa's nails. As for Cho[u]bei, is the precious rascal at\nhome?\"\n\nO'Taki heard her with rising rage--\"O'Iwa? What has Cho[u]bei San to do\nwith any O'Iwa and the house of Toemon San? Why call the man of Taki a\nscoundrel?\"--\"Because he is such. Nay, Okamisan, don't get\nangry.\"--O'Haru was speaking--\"has your husband a brother in\nAbegawacho[u], a brother in need of twenty _ryo[u]_ and with a daughter\nwho would do nothing but run after the men?\" O'Taki was puzzled.\n\"Cho[u]bei San has no brother, in Abegawacho[u] or any other _cho[u]_.\nHence such brother has no daughter O'Iwa; nor are there children of his\nown, except the one born to him by this Taki, and a girl already\nsold....\" A light was breaking in on O'Taki. Months before she had come\nhome to find that the Ojo[u]san had taken her departure. Explained\nCho[u]bei--\"At Yotsuya everything has been adjusted. Iemon Dono is\nestablished again with his wife. The Okusama will not come back to us.\nDeign to rejoice at the auspicious settlement of her affairs.\" Which\nO'Taki did; all the more as Cho[u]bei often was in funds in the\nsuccessive days through Tamiya. Now she looked from one woman to the\nother, her fists clenched and working. Said the harsh voice of\nO'Take--\"Cho[u]bei lied then; just as the Danna Sama thought. Nearly a\nyear ago he brought to the house the daughter of his brother Kanemon. He\nsold her into life service as a night-hawk. For this she turned out to\nbe worthless. O'Taki San knows our Okamisan. No matter how severely\nbeaten, even until the blood came, O'Iwa would not consent to serve.\nOther means were tried, but the men of the house would have nothing to\ndo with her. She was too ugly. Finally she was degraded into being the\nkitchen wench, to fetch and carry, and do the hardest and most\nnauseating tasks. At this downfall in her prospects like a very fool she\nrejoiced. To-day she met the toilet dealer Mobei. He recognized her as\nthe Lady O'Iwa of Tamiya in the Yotsuya. Drawn apart they spoke\ntogether. Suddenly she was transformed into a demon. Leaping on Mobei\nshe tore and clutched at him. Ko[u]ta and this Take ran to aid him.\nKo[u]ta lies helpless and with a broken jaw. Truly it might have been\nthe kick of a horse she received. This Take is--as can be seen. The Lady\nO'Iwa disappeared toward Warigesui. A _chu[u]gen_ saw her leap in.\nProbably she has killed herself.... And now, O'Taki San, is not your man\nCho[u]bei a scoundrel?\"\n\nSaid O'Taki--\"Rightly spoken; more than right. Wait here.\" Abruptly she\nentered the inner room. To Cho[u]bei--\"You ... my fine fellow ... is\nthis a time for _go_? Up and off with you; to accompany O'Take and\nO'Haru from Toemon's in Honjo[u]. A pretty business is in preparation\nthere.\" Said the embarrassed and enraged Cho[u]bei--\"Wh-what does this\nrude entrance of Taki mean? Is not the master of the metal shop present?\nIs such language, such abruptness, to be used in his presence?\"--\"The\nDanna of the _doguya_ is certainly present,\" coolly replied the woman.\n\"It would be better if he was at home.... Honoured Sir, pray betake\nyourself there. This Cho[u]bei has business with Toemon Sama of\nHonjo[u], the brothel keeper and chief of the night-hawks, to whom he\nhas sold for life service as a street harlot the Lady O'Iwa, wife of the\n_go-kenin_ Iemon Dono and heir of Tamiya Matazaemon the _do[u]shin_. A\nman can be too clever--as this Cho[u]bei, who cheats his wife and all\nothers. Do you be clever enough to take the hint and depart.... Off with\nyou!\" The _doguya_ had sat in silence. His eyes were popping out of his\nhead in frightened amaze. Cho[u]bei bounded up in a rage--\"You\nhuzzy--shut up! Would you publish the affairs of this Cho[u]bei to the\nworld? Many a bridge is to be passed in the course through this world;\nand none too sure the footing. Money must be had to live and enjoy life.\nThe result, not the means, is the important factor in its acquisition.\nSuch rudeness to a guest! Vile jade, Cho[u]bei will....\" O'Take and\nO'Haru had to interfere--\"Fight it out later, Cho[u]bei San. This\nquarrel is no concern of ours. The sooner the master is seen, the better\nfor Cho[u]bei San. His rage is great, and mounting. You have the\ncontract? With that face the master; if you can.\"--\"Just so! Just so! As\nfor this wench--she shall have something to remember this Cho[u]bei\nby....\" The worthy and trembling metal dealer took this remark as threat\nof renewed violence. \"For the kind reception and entertainment: thanks.\nJubei calls later.\" Nimbly he was on his feet. Diving under the _haori_\ninto which Cho[u]bei was struggling he bounced out the front, leaving\nCho[u]bei on the ground and floundering in the folds of his garments,\nfrom which issued most violent language. For the first time that day\nO'Take and O'Haru had something to amuse them. O'Taki refusing, they\nassisted Cho[u]bei to his feet and adjusted his robe. Then one on each\nside of him they set out for Honjo[u] Yoshidacho[u]. As parting salute\nto O'Taki, Cho[u]bei finished his sentence.... \"Something to remember on\nCho[u]bei's return.\" Her laugh in reply was so savage that the women\nturned to look at her. In fright they hastened off with their prize.\n\nAt Honjo[u] the reception of Cho[u]bei called forth the whole house.\nThe pimp entered the presence of Toemon with confident and jaunty air.\n\"He has the contract?\" said Toemon to the woman. O'Haru indicated a\nsleeve. The _banto[u]_ and one of the _wakashu[u]_ (young men employes)\ngrasped the arms of Cho[u]bei. The incriminating document was deftly\nremoved by O'Haru and passed over to Toemon. \"Now the fellow can neither\nproduce it, nor play his tricks with it.\" He looked it over carefully;\nthen placed it with his own copy. Cho[u]bei was too outraged and\nfrightened to do more than squat and gasp as he looked around the circle\nof hostile faces. Without cushion he sat on the bare _tatami_, much as\ndoes a criminal at the white sand. Said Toemon severely--\"For once\nCho[u]bei has drunk hot water with this Toemon. Does he think to act\nthus with impunity. The younger sister of his brother Kanemon, 'a noted\nwench for the streets,' was brought here for life service; sold to\nToemon for twenty _ryo[u]_. Toemon does not intend that the price shall\nbe too high for him. Cho[u]bei cannot lie out of his own contract.\nToemon has it in his hands. Cho[u]bei has the twenty _ryo[u]_. Toemon\nloses his money. Well and good: Toemon clears himself from the affair.\nThe responsibility lies wholly with Cho[u]bei. Let him look to it.\"\nCho[u]bei seized the moment when lack of breath in his anger halted the\nspeech of Toemon. He would have lied, but Toemon again broke in.\n\"Cho[u]bei has no brother. Cho[u]bei has no woman to dispose of on his\nown signature. The one he did have, the one he possesses, Toemon knows\nwhere to find. Toemon had a woman O'Iwa in his house. You sold the wife\nof a _go-kenin_, Iemon Dono of Yotsuya; a woman who was the heir of\nTamiya Matazaemon the _do[u]shin_. The Lady O'Iwa is traced to the hands\nof Cho[u]bei. Settle the matter with those in office--_machibugyo[u]_,\n_do[u]shin_, _yakunin_--when the affair comes to light....\"--\"Easily,\"\nburst in Cho[u]bei, once more himself. \"Honoured chief, matters do not\ncall for such earnestness. All this is mere froth and fury. It is true\nthat Cho[u]bei has deceived the chief; but it was at the orders of those\nmuch higher. The lady of Tamiya was an obstacle. The sale was ordered by\nIemon Dono himself; backed by Ito[u] Kwaiba the head of the Yotsuya\nward.\"--\"Cho[u]bei, you lie,\" said Toemon. The words and advice of\nKakusuke still rang in his ears. \"Iemon Dono? Ito[u] Dono? Who else will\nCho[u]bei bring in as his bails? Such a man is not to be trusted. With\nthis Toemon there is no more dealing. The guild is to be warned by a\ncircular letter.\"\n\nAt this fearful threat all Cho[u]bei's jauntiness left him. His\nlivelihood, his existence, were at stake. He prostrated himself before\nToemon, dragging his body over the _tatami_ to the _zen_ (low table) at\nwhich was seated this autocrat of the night-hawks, this receiver of the\nrefuse and worn-out goods of his greater brothers in the trade. Toemon\nharshly repulsed him with his foot. Cho[u]bei in despair turned to\nO'Matsu--\"Honoured lady the chief is unreasonably angry. There shall be\nno loss of money, no harm suffered by the affair. Deign to say a word\nfor Cho[u]bei.\"--\"Since when has Matsu had aught to do with the affairs\nof the house? The women are her concern. She goes not outside her\nprovince.\" The pimp sought the feet of O'Take--\"Condescend to plead for\nCho[u]bei. His fault is venial. When no injury results, pardon follows.\nThis is to cut off the breath of Cho[u]bei, of wife and child. Deign to\nintercede.\" The street harlot laughed. Her cracked voice was rough--\"The\ncommission of Cho[u]bei San has no attractions. This Take has had enough\nto do with the matter. Truly Cho[u]bei is a wicked fellow. Take would\nfare badly in such intercourse. Besides his company is too high flown.\nOfficials! Samurai! Cho[u]bei San seeks and will find promotion in the\nworld. Lodgings are preparing for Cho[u]bei Sama in public office--on\nthe Ryo[u]gokubashi; of such he is assured.\" She drew away from him,\nharshly cackling. Thus he crawled from one to the other. It was\n\"Cho[u]bei Sama,\" \"Cho[u]bei Dono,\" in derision they would call him\nprince--\"Cho[u]bei Ko[u].\" All stuck out their tongues at him. The young\nfellows of the house, several of them, stood round the entrance,\nostensibly occupied, but with one eye on the scene. As Cho[u]bei sought\nthe _banto[u]'s_ aid, the man raised a long lean leg and gave him a\nviolent kick in the breast. Strong hands seized him as he rolled over\nand over to the edge of the platform, to land in the arms of the\nenthusiastic _wakashu[u]_. The next moment, and Cho[u]bei was picking\nhimself up out of the mud and snow of the street. The lattice of the\nhouse entrance closed noisily.\n\nIn his confusion of mind by force of habit Cho[u]bei turned round and\nbowed with ceremony toward the place of his unceremonious exit--\"The\ntime is inopportune. Cho[u]bei intrudes. He will call again.\" The\nopening of the wicket gate, the peering, scowling face of the _banto[u]_\nrecalled the past scene to mind. With all the haste his tottering gait\nallowed Cho[u]bei sprang off northward to the Adzumabashi and home. As\nhe sped, swaying along, his active mind was making calculations.\n\"Ryo[u]gokubashi, the last home of the outcast beggar--other than the\nriver which flows beneath it!\" He shuddered at the prophecy. \"Bah! One\nrascal loses; another gains. Toemon loses twenty _ryo[u]_. From Iemon\nSan ten _ryo[u]_ was the commission. Ito[u] Dono gave five _ryo[u]_ and\nasked no questions. The total to Cho[u]bei sums up thirty-five _ryo[u]_.\nFor a year the affair of O'Iwa has fattened Cho[u]bei; with something\nstill left.\" His foot struck a stone in the roadway. He looked up and\naround to find himself before the Genkwo[u]ji. About to enter on the\nmaze of temple grounds and _yashiki_ separating him from the bridge his\ngaze fell on the stagnant squalid waters of the canal. It was in the\ndirty foulness of this North Warigesui that O'Iwa had disappeared.\nCho[u]bei pulled up short. A dead cur, copper hued, with swollen\ngerminating sides and grinning teeth, bobbed at him from the green\nslime. Cho[u]bei slewed round--\"A vile ending; but after all an ending.\nIemon profits; Cho[u]bei gets the scoldings. Ah! If it was not that\nIto[u] Kwaiba is engaged in this affair; Tamiya should pay dearly. There\nis a double ration to share with Cho[u]bei--and not to be touched!\nIto[u] Dono is no man to trifle with. There was that affair with Isuke;\nand now, as he says, Iemon is a very son to him.\" A memory seemed to\ntouch Cho[u]bei. His pace became a crawl. \"Why hasten? Cho[u]bei rushes\nto the fiend--that demon Taki. Cho[u]bei would rather face O'Iwa than\nTaki in a rage.\" He laughed--\"The attenuated hands of a ghost and the\nthick fist of Taki, the choice is not uncertain. From the lady mild and\nmerciful there is nothing to fear. Evidently she has settled matters\nonce and for all in the Warigesui. But at the tenement--there it is\nanother affair. This Cho[u]bei will fortify himself against the shock. A\ndrink; then another, and still more. The scoldings will fall on a\nblunted mind wandering in some dreamland. Time will soothe her rage.\nTo-morrow Cho[u]bei wakes, to find the storm has passed and Taki his\nobedient serving wench.\" Near the Adzumabashi, following his\nprescription against domestic enlivenment, he entered a grog shop; to\nturn his good coin into wine.\n\nThe quarter at Hanagawado[u] in Asakusa was in an uproar. What had\noccurred was this--There was an old woman--\"Baba\" in the native parlance\nfor Dame Gossip--a seller of the dried seaweed called _nori_ (sloke or\nlaver), still called Asakusa _nori_, though even at that time gathered\nat Shinagawa, Omori, and more distant places. This old trot had\nreturned, to make her last sales to the excellent metal dealer who lived\nopposite her own home in the _nagaya_, in which she lived next door to\nthe Cho[u]bei, husband and wife. The tongue of the _doguya_ was still in\nfull swing of the recital, not only of his own experiences, but of the\nrevelations of O'Taki. He was only too willing for this twenty-first\ntime to repeat the tale to the _nori_ seller, his good neighbour. The\ngood wife and wives listened again with open mouths. The Baba was the\nmost interested of them all. This choice morsel of gossip was to be\ngathered at the primal source, from the lips of O'Taki herself. She was\nall sympathy in her curiosity--ranging in the two cases of Cho[u]bei and\nwife on the one part, and the metal dealer and his insulted household on\nthe other part. Away she stepped quickly from the assembly of ward\ngossips. At the door of Cho[u]bei's quarters she stopped--\"Okamisan!\nOkamisan!... Strange: is she not at home? Is she so angered that no\nanswer is given? However, this Baba fears no one.... Nesan! Nesan!\" She\npassed the room entrance and went into the area. Glancing into the\nkitchen--\"Oya! Oya! The meal is burnt to a crisp. It has become a soppy,\ndisgusting mass. Nesan! Nesan! The rain falls, the roof window\n(_hikimado_) is open.\" She put down her empty tubs in order to play the\ngood neighbour. The first thing was to close the window against the\ndescending rain. Quickly and deftly she proceeded to wipe the moisture\noff the shining vessels, to put everything in order in O'Taki's usually\nimmaculate kitchen. Women of this class are finicky housekeepers in\ntheir own homes. As the old wife became less engaged she began to hear\nstrange sounds above. Some one was in conversation--and yet it was a\none-sided queer kind of talk. The voice was threatening and wheedling.\nThen she heard a child cry. Surely O'Taki was in the upper room; and\nthus neglectful of her lord and household.\n\nThe old Baba went to the foot of the ladder and listened. \"Nesan!\nNesan!\" No answer came, beyond the curious droning monotone above,\nvaried by an occasional wailing cry of the child. It seemed to be in\npain. Resolute, the sturdy old Baba began to climb the steps. At the top\nshe halted, to get breath and look into the room. The sight she\nwitnessed froze the old woman in horror to where she stood. A woman was\nin the room. She knelt over the body of the child, which now and again\nwrithed in the hard and cruel grasp. The queer monotonous voice went\non--\"Ah! To think you might grow up like your father. The wicked,\nunprincipled man! To sell the Ojo[u]san for a street whore, for her to\nspend her life in such vile servitude; she by whose kindness this\nhousehold has lived. Many the visits in the past two years paid these\nhumble rooms by the lady of Tamiya. To all her neighbours O'Taki has\npointed out and bragged of the favour of the Ojo[u]san. The very\nclothing now on your wretched puny body came from her hands. While\nCho[u]bei spent his gains in drink and paid women, Taki was nourished by\nthe rice from Tamiya. When Taki lay in of this tiny body it was the\nOjo[u]san who furnished aid, and saw that child and mother could live.\nAlas! That you should grow up to be like this villainous man is not to\nbe endured.... Ah! An idea! To crunch your throat, to secure revenge and\npeace, security against the future.\" She bent down low over the child.\nSuddenly it gave a fearful scream, as does a child fallen into the fire.\nThe Baba, helpless, could only feebly murmur--\"Nesan! Nesan! O'Taki San!\nWhat are you about? Control yourself.\" She gave a frightened yowl as the\ncreature began to spread far apart the child's limbs, and with quick\nrips of the sharp kitchen knife beside her dissevered and tore the\nlittle limbs from the quivering body. At the cry the woman turned half\naround and looked toward her. Jaws dripping red with blood, a broad\nwhite flat face with bulging brow, two tiny piercing dots flashing from\namid the thick swollen eyelids, it was the face of O'Iwa glowering at\nher. \"Kiya!\" The scream resounded far and wide. Incontinently the old\nwoman tumbled backward down the steep steps, to land below on head and\nbuttocks.\n\nSome neighbours, people passing, came rushing in. A crowd began to\ngather. \"Baba! Baba San! What is wrong?\" She could not speak; only point\nupward and shudder as does one with heavy chills. As they moved toward\nthe stair a roar went up from the crowd in the street. O'Taki had\nappeared at the window, her face smeared with blood and almost\nunrecognizable. She waved a limb of the dismembered infant. The crowd\nwere frozen with horror. As some shouted to those within to hasten the\nwoman brandished the bloody knife. Thrusting it deep into her throat she\nripped and tore at the handle, spattering the incautious below with the\nblood spurting from the wound. Then she fell backward into the room.\nWhen the foremost to interfere rushed in they drew back in fear at what\nthey saw. The child's head was half knawed from the body; its limbs lay\nscattered to this place and that. The body of O'Taki lay where she had\nfallen. It was as if the head had been gnawed from the trunk, but the\nhead itself was missing. Search as they would, it was not to be found.\nMeanwhile the news of these happenings spread rapidly. In the next block\nit was shouted that the wife of the pimp Cho[u]bei had gone mad and\nkilled and eaten five children. A block further the number had risen to\ntwenty-five. At the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi she had killed and\ngnawed a hundred adults.\n\nThese rumours were mingled with the strange tale of the old woman as to\nO'Iwa San. In time there were many who had witnessed the suicide of\nO'Taki, who were ready to swear they had seen the fearful lady of\nTamiya. Cho[u]bei first learned of the affair by being dragged from the\ngrog shop to the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi. Here he was put under\narrest. Distressed and discomforted he stood before the ruin in his\nhome, under the eyes of his neighbours. These stood loyally by him. As\nhappens in ward affairs in Nippon the aspect of the affair not\nimmediately on the surface was slow to reach official ears. Thus it was\nas to the Tamiya phase involved. Cho[u]bei had suffered much, and was in\nto suffer more. His fellow wardsmen were silent as to all but the actual\nfacts needed for interpretation. The marvellous only filters out slowly.\nBut they had their own way of dealing with him. The _kenshi_ (coroner)\nmade his report. Examinations, fines, bribes, the funeral costs, reduced\nCho[u]bei to his worst garment. With this after some weeks he was\npermitted to go free. The house owner had turned him out. The wardsmen\nhad expelled him. Enough of Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--for the present.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI\n\nNEWS REACHES KWAIBA\n\n\nKwaiba was hard at it, practising his favourite arts. His _sake_ cup\nstood before him, and from time to time he raised the bottle from the\nhot water, testing its temperature with skilled hand. He accompanied the\naction with a continual drone of a _gidayu_. Kwaiba by no means confined\nthe art of _gidayu_ recitation to the heroic tales usually therewith\nassociated. His present effort was one of the suggestive and obscene\n_ukarebushi_, quite as frequent and as well received in the _gidayu_\ntheme containing them. Kibei listened and applauded, with cynical\namusement at the depravity of the impotent old man. Kwaiba had found an\nexcellent bottle companion, and renewed his own former days in the\n\"Quarter,\" with the fresher experiences retailed by Kibei. Said\nKwaiba--\"All has gone well. For half the year Kibei has been the son of\nKwaiba. He has brought luck into the house.\" Kibei bowed respectfully.\nContinued the old man--\"Iemon with his whore is fast destroying Tamiya\nby riot and drinking. Cho[u]zaemon is a fish in the net. The debt of ten\n_ryo[u]_ has doubled into twenty _ryo[u]_, which at any cost he must\nrepay. Kwaiba will make him cut belly if he don't. And Tamiya! Old\nTamiya; Matazaemon! O'Iwa is paying his debt to Kwaiba by becoming an\noutcast, perhaps a beggar somewhere on the highway. If she shows her\nface in the ward, seeking 'cash' to keep life in a wretched carcass,\nthis Kwaiba will send her to the jail, to rot as vagrant. But what did\nbecome of her? Iemon has never spoken.\" Kibei shrugged his shoulders. \"A\nclose mouthed fellow; too wise to talk of himself. He would but say that\nCho[u]bei took the affair in hand.\" Kwaiba threw up his hands in horror\nand merriment. Said he--\"'Tis rumoured the fellow is a pimp. But surely\nhe could not dispose of O'Iwa in his line. The very demons of the Hell\nof lust would refuse all intercourse with her.\"\n\nJust then Kakusuke presented himself. \"Report to make to the Go Inkyo[u]\nSama. Inagaki Dono sends his compliments to Ito[u] Sama. The papers of\ntransfer are these; by the hand of Kakusuke.\" As he took the documents,\nsaid Kwaiba in answer to Kibei's inquiring look--\"Your honoured parent\nhas favoured this Kwaiba. The transfer is of farms in Kazusa for others\nin Shimosa. Thus all can be brought under one hand. A single _nanushi_\n(bailiff) can manage the whole property in the two villages.\"--\"But the\noffice...,\" objected Kibei. He had the _samurai_ instinct against the\nslightest taint of failure in obligation. \"Let Kibei San deign to follow\nin the footsteps of Kwaiba. The successor to the _nanushi_ recently\ndeceased is a child. Kwaiba is in no haste to provide a substitute\npending majority. The right will lapse, and at majority the boy can be\nfound occupation elsewhere, to no small gain in the revenue. Out of\nsight, out of mind. Kwaiba's present manager is unsurpassed; so is the\nincome he manages to gather.\" He looked around in some surprise, seeing\nthat Kakusuke still maintained his position, although dismissed. Then\nnoting him closely--\"What has happened, Kakusuke? Your colour is bad.\nToo cordial entertainment by the _chu[u]gen_ of Inagaki Dono? Or has\nKakusuke seen a ghost?\"\n\n\"Kakusuke has seen O'Iwa San; of Tamiya. Rather would he have seen a\nghost; if indeed it was not a demon he saw.\" Kwaiba started--\"O'Iwa!\nWhere?\"--\"It was at the brothel of Toemon, chief of the night-hawks, at\nYoshidacho[u] in Honjo[u]. Mobei the toilet dealer had suffered\ndirefully at her hands. Meeting her unexpectedly, the fool let out all\nhe knew of the happenings in the ward. In a rage she flew on him. 'To\nseven lives a curse on Iemon Dono, on Akiyama Sama, on Kondo[u]\nSama.'\"--He hesitated; then added--\"on the Go Inkyo[u] Sama. Then in a\nstraight line she flew off toward the canal. Did she drown herself? This\nKakusuke could not ascertain. Going to the aid of Mobei, mauled and\nprostrate on the ground, the whole story was learned. Cho[u]bei had sold\nher for life to Toemon, to serve as a night-hawk.\"\n\nIto[u] Kwaiba sat straight up. His idle braggart words of a few moments\nbefore came home to him. In Kibei he found no encouragement. After all\nKibei was a _samurai_; harsh, but with the courage of his caste and\nprofession. He spoke openly--\"It was an outrageous deed. To sell a\n_samurai_ woman to such a life! It stinks. This comes of bringing in a\nlow dog (_yaro[u]_) such as this Cho[u]bei. Did Iemon know of his\nintention?\" He looked Kwaiba in the eye, but the latter met him\nsquarely--\"What Iemon knew or did not know, this Kwaiba knows not. But\nof this event he must know--and at once. Kakusuke, go in all haste to\nthe house of Tamiya Sama. Kwaiba would consult with him.\" Kibei\nfidgetted and fumed. He walked up and down the room. Then\nabruptly--\"Condescend to pardon the presence of Kibei. The honoured\nfather having matters to discuss with the diviner--he finds no amusement\nin the counsellor.\" As he was withdrawing Iemon entered. Their greeting\nwas cold to the extreme. Iemon knew that Kibei hated and despised him;\nas much as he, Iemon, hated and feared Kibei. Kwaiba called sharply to\nhis genial son--\"Pray be within call, if needed.\" He was glad to see the\nsurly fellow's exit. In some things Kwaiba felt fear. The stiff courage\nof Kibei made him ashamed openly to air his weakness. He broke the news\nat once to Iemon. \"Kakusuke has seen O'Iwa.\" Iemon looked at him\ncuriously. Was Kwaiba frightened? Said the one-time priest--\"What of\nthat? She lives in Edo. A meeting with her is quite likely; at least for\na man of the grade of Kakusuke.\" He smiled grimly--\"But...,\" said\nKwaiba. He plunged into the story of the _chu[u]gen_ in its full\ndetails. Iemon listened carefully. \"Ah! She is likely to come\nhere.\"--\"Come here!\" bellowed Kwaiba. \"Just so,\" answered Iemon. \"If she\nseeks vengeance on this Iemon, on Kwaiba, or the others, where else\nwould she come than Yotsuya. We cannot run away.\" Kwaiba gasped at his\ncoolness--\"And Iemon Dono, does he open Tamiya to the presence of its\nex-lady and mistress?\"--\"A beggar, an outcast, importuning Tamiya; the\nsevered body will lie in the ditch, for the gatherers of offal to cast\nas food to the dogs on the moor. Fear enters, but--honoured chief,\ncondescend to follow the example of Iemon.\"\n\nThe round eyes in the round face of Kwaiba stood out. He leaned over\nand touched Iemon's sleeve. In astonishment Iemon noted the fright\ndepicted in his face. The blustering old man at bottom was an arrant\ncoward. Two knaves should understand each other--as did he and\nCho[u]bei. He felt that he had been gulled during the whole of his\nintercourse with this old fool. He should have bluffed; and not been\nbluffed. Said Kwaiba in lowered voice--\"Kakusuke could see nothing of\nher. She disappeared into the waters of Warigesui. Suppose O'Iwa appears\nas a ghost, to take vengeance on Kwaiba....\" He straightened up in\nastonishment and some anger at the derisive smile playing over the face\nof Iemon. Indeed Iemon was more than amused. Not at the circumstances,\nbut at finding at last this weak spot in the man who had dominated him.\nConditions, however, controlled him. It was fact that the physical O'Iwa\nmight appear--to the distress and discomfiture of all concerned. They\nmust stand together. He spoke with severity--\"Rich and afraid of ghosts!\nHas not Ito[u] Dono two spearmen when he goes abroad? When he has an\ninterview with his lord does he tremble with fear? When the enemy in\nlife, with all physical powers, is not feared; why fear a disembodied\nspirit deprived of all means of venting its wrath and spite? It is but\nthe imagination which works havoc. None are more helpless than the dead.\nWith them time and occasion has reached an end. If O'Iwa returns to\nYotsuya, it will be in her own person. With O'Iwa, the beggar and\nnight-hawk, our _Kumi-gashira_ knows how to deal.\"--\"Then Iemon knew the\nlot dealt out to O'Iwa.\"--\"At first hand; from Cho[u]bei himself. The\nlean knave has prospered by the affair. Iemon had no such desire to see\nhim, as to secure his costly presence at the dinner so unfortunately\nwitnessed by Mobei.... But deign to call for wine; drive out these\nvapours with wine. Honoured chief, condescend to play the host to\nIemon.\" Iemon's manner was not wholly natural, as Kwaiba could have\ndetected if more himself. He felt immensely relieved. A priest--surely\nhe was one to know all about the nature of ghosts; was one to speak with\nauthority. Iemon was hardly to be regarded as in ecclesiastical good\nodour. But Kwaiba was easily satisfied. He, too, roared--\"Wine! Wine!\nBring wine!\" As by magic Kibei appeared at the welcome sound. He\ndisliked Iemon, but he liked wine. The servants bustled around. The wine\nwas heated--again and again. A feast of fish--with more wine--followed.\nIt was late when Iemon left the house, the only sober member of the\nparty. Of his hosts, one was maudlin, the other asleep. The ample\nresources of Tamiya, if not of benefit to his person, in these past two\nyears had given him the chance to harden his head; and he had grasped\nit.\n\nIemon by no means had all the confidence he displayed before Kwaiba. He\nwas a priest, but environment influences everybody. There was a\npossibility--discountenanced by experience, but existing. As he walked\nslowly along Teramachi his thoughts strayed back into the past. \"It was\nan ill bond between this Iemon and O'Iwa San. Without question she has\ndrowned herself in the Warigesui. The body must be found and buried.\nMemorial services are to be recited, for one dying without relatives or\nfriends (_segaki_).\" The virtuous resolution was the outcome of his\nmeditation and glances into the many graveyards passed in his progress\nthrough the temple-lined street. It was a beautiful street, with its\noverhanging trees, its open spaces populated by the many dead, its\ntemples gorgeous in red and gilding amid the dark green of pine and\ncedar. Iemon on this night had to hasten his steps. Rain threatened.\nGusts of wind came sharply from this side and that, driving the first\ndrops of the coming storm. He reached home just as it broke with all its\nfury.\n\nTo O'Hana he would say nothing of Kwaiba's mission. On her remarking on\nthe lateness of the hour, he made answer that the old man was out of\nsorts. Kibei was too robust a bottle companion for a man reaching toward\nhis seventieth year. No matter how vigorous, Kwaiba's wine was showing\non him. The two prepared for bed. O'Hana listened as the rain dashed in\nstreams against the _amado_, as if trying to break its way in. She gave\na little chuckle--\"Who would have thought it!\"--\"What?\" asked Iemon,\nperhaps a little tartly. He was nervous. O'Hana laughed--\"That Iemon and\nthis Hana should be where they now are. Their parting was on a night\nlike this. Ah! At seeing a man weep Hana could have retired into a\ncave--forever. Only the fortunate accident of a drunken _yakunin_\n(constable) as guest enabled her to give warning.... And now! Once more\nunited Iemon and this Hana live in luxury. Every wish is gratified.\nThanks for the past which contained this meeting in its womb; thanks for\nthe present in which happiness is secured:\n\n    'Losing one's way, again roads meet!\n     The hill of flowers.'\"[27]\n\nA terrific gust struck the rain-doors. They bent and cracked before\nthe force of the gale. The vivid white of lightning showed that one door\nhad been forced from its groove. Iemon rose and replaced it. As he\nturned away suddenly the room was plunged in darkness. Said the voice of\nO'Hana--\"The light of the _andon_ has gone out. Oya! Oya! The lights in\nthe Butsudan (altar) are lit. And yet this Hana extinguished them.\"\nGrumbled Iemon--\"The wind has blown out the light in the _andon_.\nDoubtless a spark was left in the wick of the altar light. Fire is to be\ndreaded; great care should be taken in extinguishing the light.\" As he\nrelit the light in the night lamp, O'Hana went up to the Butsudan to\nextinguish the lights there. She put her hand out to take one. A sharp\nscream, and she fell back in confusion and fright. \"An _aodaisho[u]_ in\nthe Butsudan! Help! Aid this Hana!\" As she fled the snake with a thud\nfell on the _tatami_. Unrolling its six feet of length, it started in\npursuit. Iemon stepped behind it and caught it by the tail. A sharp rap\nbehind the head stunned it. It hung limp in his hand. \"Hana, please open\nthe _amado_.\"--\"No, no: this Hana cannot; move she will not.\"--\"Coward!\"\nsaid Iemon. \"Time comes when Hana, for generations in the future\nexistence, will wander hill and dale in such form.\"--\"Ara!\" The woman\nwas properly shocked at this speech, wicked and brutal as an\nimprecation. \"Has the life of Hana been so foul as to deserve such\npunishment in a future life? Surely 'tis not the priest of Reigan who\nspeaks; nor Iemon.\" She could only see his lips move as he stood at the\n_amado_. \"Evil was the connection between O'Iwa and this Iemon. Wander\nnot as one unburied, but becoming a Buddha at once enter Nirvana. Namu\nMyo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Wonderful the\nLaw, wondrous the Scripture of the Lotus!\" With the invocation he cast\nthe stunned reptile far out into the garden. Returning, he said--\"The\n_aodaisho[u]_ is the most harmless of snakes. The farmers keep it to\ndestroy the rats which infest house and store rooms. How can Hana be\nafraid of snakes, living in this _yashiki_ overgrown by weeds and grass,\nfrom roof to garden?\" O'Hana did not reply in direct terms--\"It is evil\nfortune to take a snake in the hand.\"--\"Never mind such talk. It is the\npriest who speaks. This Iemon knows all about snakes. Go to sleep.\" She\nobeyed, knowing nothing about O'Iwa and the events of the day; yet her\nslumber was broken and restless. By morning she was in a high fever.[28]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII\n\nNEWS FROM KWAIBA\n\n\nKwaiba was reported as ill; very ill. His friends and dependents who had\nto pay visits of condolence, spoke of this illness with awe and terror.\nTo understand what follows something must be said of the past of this\nman. The actor, drawing on the presumed knowledge of his audience as to\nthe story in the gross, can pass this over with a speech or two; a\nhorror-struck gesture and allusion. Not so the _ko[u]dan_ writer, who\nperforce must lay before his reader all the _minutiae_ of the case.\n\nIto[u] Kwaiba did not brag when he spoke of his beauty as a boy, his\nhandsome figure as a young man. These had brought him wealth and\nposition; gained, it was whispered, in vilest service to his lord. In\nthese days he had in his employ a _chu[u]gen_ named Isuke, or as some\nsay Kohei. Engaged before the mirror Kwaiba was applying the paint and\npowder which of late had become necessary adjuncts to fit him to appear\nbefore his lord. A gesture of pain and discomfiture, and then Kwaiba\nturned irritably toward his satellite. \"Isuke, you are a clever fellow.\nKwaiba has needed no aids to his looks--up to recent days. Now paint and\npowder, all the armoury of a woman, or paraphernalia of an actor, hardly\navail to conceal the blotches which disfigure Kwaiba's face and body.\nThe voice broken and husky, the lightning pains in limbs and joints,\nthese violet patches--in such state it soon will be impossible to act as\nattendant on his lordship's household service, as _kami-yakunin_. What\ndisorder eats into the life and happiness of Kwaiba?\"\n\nFor a time Isuke made no answer, beyond a bow at his master's\nacknowledgment of his cleverness, and in which he heartily concurred. He\nseemed engaged in a close contemplation of the end of his nose. \"Hei!\nHei!\" It was all that Kwaiba could get out of him for the moment. Then\nnoting the growing anger Isuke began with--\"Condescend beforehand to\npardon this Isuke. Though the anger of the Wakadono (young lord) is hard\nto bear, yet a faithful servitor should speak. Deign to step this way.\"\nHe conducted Kwaiba to one of those small retired rooms, opening on an\ninner garden and common to every properly built house of any size in\nNippon. He closed the few rain-doors, shutting out the light. Then\nfetching a piece of camphor, he set fire to it. When the thick yellow\nlight flared strongly he took up a hand-mirror and passed it to Kwaiba.\nKwaiba was frightened at what he saw. His face was dark as that of a\npeasant of Satsuma. Said Isuke--\"The darkness is shown up by the light\nof the burning camphor. The colour is due to the poison circulating\nbetween the body and the outer skin. The white sunlight does not show up\nthis symptom. But there is another test.\" Lighting a candle, he took a\nlong steel _kanzashi_ needle and heated it to redness. Holding the cold\nend by his head towel he grasped the arm of Kwaiba. The latter drew\nback, afraid. \"Nay, it will give no pain,\" said Isuke. He thrust the hot\nlength of the needle several inches under the skin. As far as Kwaiba was\nconcerned he might as well have thrust it into the straw matting\n(_tatami_) at his feet. Isuke withdrew the needle and carefully pressed\nthe arm. A brownish liquor oozed out; not blood. \"The Danna has a\nnose--as yet.\" Kwaiba hastily applied his arm to that member. He turned\nhis face to one side in disgust and horror--\"Is this Kwaiba already dead\nand rotten? In such condition all is lost. Duty no longer can be\nperformed. Service and income cease together. Isuke, there remains\nnaught but to get out the mats. Kwaiba will cut belly.\"\n\nIsuke examined him carefully and quizzically. Satisfied with his\ninspection, he said--\"Deign to have confidence in Isuke. In former days\nhe was not Isuke the _chu[u]gen_. Son of a doctor of the Dutch practice\nat Nagasaki; gambling, wine, women have reduced Isuke to the state of a\nservant. Family and friends long since have discarded and cast him out.\nThe severance of relations between parent and child was formal. Isuke\nowes naught of service or duty to any but his master Kwaiba. Here is his\nrefuge. Deign to give Isuke three silver _ryo[u]_. The disease is\ncurable. Trust the matter to Isuke. _Soppin_ (mercury) duly applied will\nremove the poison, and with it all the disastrous symptoms. The two\nhundred and thirty _tawara_ of income are enjoyed by the Wakadono.\nService can be performed; and Isuke preserves such a good master.\"\nFlattered and frightened Kwaiba at once handed over the money. Isuke\ndisappeared to secure the drug necessary to the \"Dutch practice.\" Baths\nand potions, potions and baths, followed in due course. The promises of\nIsuke were fulfilled. The fearful symptoms gradually were alleviated. In\nthe course of six months Kwaiba was himself again; his position was\nassured to him. He heaved double sighs--of relief from the nightmare\nwhich had pursued him; of anxiety at the nightmare substituted for it.\n\nKwaiba was a rake and a gambler. So was Isuke. The two hundred and\nthirty _tawara_ of income was saved to Kwaiba--and Isuke. Not long after\nthe cure was thus assured Isuke disappeared. Kwaiba sighed gently, with\nrelief at the departure of one who knew too much of his affairs, and\nwith a scared feeling on losing the only \"doctor\" in whom he had\nconfidence. \"These fellows come and go, like leaves on a tree. Isuke has\ngrown tired, and deserted. Some day he may return. This Kwaiba is a good\nmaster.\" Isuke did return--in the form of a note from the Yoshiwara.\nTwenty _ryo[u]_ were needed to pay his debts to pleasure and gambling.\nSeverely reprimanded, Isuke opened his eyes in astonishment.\n\"Respectfully heard and understood: has the income been reduced? But\nthat does not affect the share of Isuke. He keeps well within his\nlimit.\" This was the first intimation Kwaiba had of Isuke's views as to\nhis role of physician. In those days the doctor usually had the pleasure\nof performance, not of payment. Moreover with the great--like\nKwaiba--performance was carried out at a distance; the pulse felt by the\nvibration of a string attached to the wrist, or at best by passing the\nhand under the coverlet. For a time Kwaiba's strange medical attendant\ndevoted himself to his more prosaic duties of _chu[u]gen_. Within ten\ndays his master ransomed him from a resort in Shinagawa; price, ten\n_ryo[u]_. A few weeks later he was heard from at a gambler's resort in\nShinjuku. The note was peremptory--and for fifty _ryo[u]_. Kwaiba lost\nall patience. Moreover, just then he held office very favourable for\nbringing this matter to an issue. But he must have Isuke; and have him\nin Yotsuya. As usual payment secured the presence of a repentant Isuke,\nfull of promises of amendment. Kwaiba smiled, used soft words; and\nshortly after Isuke was confined to the jail on a trumped up charge of\ntheft from another _chu[u]gen_. Kwaiba, then acting as magistrate for\nthe district, had full power. On notification he assured Isuke of a\nspeedy release. This the unhappy man secured through a poisoned meal,\nfollowing a long fast. He died raving, and cursing his master. No one\nheard him but his two jailers, who considered him crazy--this man of bad\nrecord.\n\nYears had passed, but Isuke merely lay dormant in the mind of Kwaiba.\nThen came up the affair of Tamiya--the threatening curse of O'Iwa San.\nIemon's counsel lasted but over night. With soberness and morning Kwaiba\nstraightway showed the results of wrecked nerves and distorted\nimagination. Sleepless nights he now visited on his friends by an\nincreasing irritability. The first few days of this state of Kwaiba were\nlaughable. He spoke of O'Iwa San; not freely, rather with reticence. He\nmade his references as of jesting expectation of her advent. Then he\npassed to boisterous tricks; springing out on the maids from dark\ncorners or the turns in the corridors. Alarmed by these manifestations\nof the old man--not entirely strange, for he was a terror to the female\nelement in his household--they soon noted that there was an unnatural\nwildness in his amusement at their discomfiture. Now he would talk of\nnothing but O'Iwa. From this hysterical mirth he passed to an hysterical\nfear. Afraid of visions of the Lady of Tamiya he stayed awake at night.\nTo be alone appalled him. He would have others keep awake with him. He\nwas now at the gibbering stage. \"Night in the house of Kwaiba is to be\nturned into day. The day shall be the time for sleep. Lights! Lights!\nMore lights!\" He sat surrounded by his household, until the white light\nof dawn filtered through the spaces above the rain-doors. One of his\nwomen, her hair down for washing, met him unexpectedly in the corridor.\nWith a howl of terror he started to flee. Then recognizing her, he flew\non her and beat her almost to a jelly in his insane rage. People began\nto talk of the eccentricities of Ito[u] Kwaiba--the honoured ward head.\n\nBarely three weeks after Iemon's visit a violent scene occurred in the\nmansion of the _Kumi-gashira_. Shouts and screams, the smashing of\nscreens and sounds of a terrific struggle were heard in Kwaiba's room.\nKibei, who with the men preferred night for sleep, rushed in. He found\nthe old man standing, stark naked and alone. His attendants had fled--to\na woman. His pillow sword drawn, Kwaiba was dancing to this side and\nthat. \"Isuke! O'Iwa! Pardon! This Kwaiba is a wicked fellow! Isuke was\npoisoned by Kwaiba. O'Iwa San? Kwaiba sold her for a street whore. For\nseven lives they pursue him. Ah! A merry chase! But Kwaiba deals not\nwith night-hawks. His game is higher. Away with the huzzy!\" He had\ngrasped in both hands the flower vase standing in the alcove\n(_tokonoma_). Kibei dodged, and catching him by a wrestler's hold, threw\nhim to the ground. Kakusuke, just entering, was knocked flat by the\nheavy missile. Groaning, he rose, and with other servants came to the\naid of the Wakadono. Kwaiba was overpowered and guarded during the\nremainder of the night.\n\nWith daylight he knew nothing of what had occurred; at least he made\nno reference to it, no response to the talk of others. His fear was now\nfull on him. He babbled of nothing but Isuke and O'Iwa San. Now he was\nincapacitated, downright ill. There was no more turning of day into\nnight, and _vice versa_. He was in the hands of his nurses. But to\nhumour him Kibei marshalled the women. Their beds were made encircling\nthat of Kwaiba in the midst. Kibei and Kakusuke were present. Thus they\nlay in this room brilliant with its scores of lanterns, its wax lights\nblazing on the lamp-stands. At the sides and in each corner were placed\nthe scrolls of the holy _sutra_. Kwaiba in despair sought a sleep which\nwould not favour him. \"Some one walks in the corridor.... Namu Amida\nButsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Kibei! Kibei!\" The appeal to the man would\nbring quicker response than that to the Buddha. Indeed there was a\nsound, as of hair rubbing across the paper screens, of some one or\nsomething trying to peer through the opaque material. There was a rattle\nand dash of rain. A gust swept through the corridor, the _sho[u]ji_\nslightly parted. Kwaiba gave a shriek--\"O'Iwa! O'Iwa San! Ah! The\nbloated face, the drooping eyelid, the corpse taint in the air. It\ncatches Kwaiba's throat. O'Iwa the O'Bake would force away Kwaiba the\nliving. Ha! Ha!\" A stronger gust, and the _sho[u]ji_ dislodged from its\ngroove whirled round and fell noisily into the room. Terror gave\nstrength to the sick man. Kwaiba sprang madly forward. It was horrible\nto see the ghastly renovation of this tottering, flabby, emaciated man,\nwho yet inspired the fear of a maniac's reckless strength. The\nfrightened women huddled and crouched in the now darkened room, lit but\nby a single _andon_ near the alcove. Was Kwaiba mad? As the men fought\nover the ruins of the _sho[u]ji_, in the darkness of the corridor, at\nfirst faint as a mist, then distinctly seen, the women were assured of\nthe presence of O'Iwa. In long black robe, face wide and bloated, of a\nlivid greenish tint, hair in wild disorder, bulging forehead, swollen\neyeless lids, she stood over the struggling men. Suddenly she thrust the\nsevered head she carried into the face of Kwaiba, leering horribly at\nhim the while. With a yell he fell flat on his back. The braver entered\nwith lights. All gathered round the unconscious Kwaiba.\n\nThis scene was the crisis of his disorder. The disease, once dormant,\nnow fell on him suddenly and with full force. Perhaps these mental\nsymptoms were its first indication. More annoying to his comfort, ulcers\nbroke out all over his body. The itching drove the man nearly frantic.\nHis mad scratching spread the sores. The boils developed. They ran with\npus. So terrible was the stench that few would stay by him. The women\nfled the room in terror, driven away by the running stream of physical\ncorruption, the continual babble of lewdness from the corrupt mind. He\nsoon noted their absence. Kibei, attended by the sturdy and faithful\nKakusuke, remained to nurse him. Suddenly said Kwaiba--\"O'Hana, the\nharlot of Reigan; this Kwaiba would have talk and dalliance with her.\nSummon her hither. Let wine and the _samisen_ be brought, a feast\nprepared. O'Hana! O'Hana!\" He raved so for the woman that Kibei thought\nher presence would quiet him. A request was sent to the house of Iemon.\nWishing her to know nothing of the affair of O'Iwa, Iemon had kept\nsilence. He would have refused the mission--on the pretext of a quarrel\nwith Kwaiba and Kibei. O'Hana showed herself unexpectedly obstinate--\"It\nis to the favour of Kwaiba Sama that Iemon owes this Hana. She has a\nduty to the past, as well as to the present.\" With a snarl she turned on\nhim, glowering. Iemon shrank back. He passed his hand across the eyes\ninto which O'Iwa had just looked. He no longer opposed her going.\n\nO'Hana was still weak from repeated attacks of the fever which had\nvisited her ever since the night Iemon had cast forth the _aodaisho[u]_.\nShe said that the snake had bitten her. It was the poison, not fever,\nworking in her. Iemon had laughed at her proposal to try the exorcisms\nof the priest. Behind the irritation aroused by his scepticism was that\npeculiar clinging of a woman to an old lover, to a man with whom she had\nbeen intimate. In the heart of O'Hana there still remained a strong\nleaning to the man who had removed her from the rapid and nauseating\nlife of the Fukagawa brothel, which cast her into the arms of anyone who\npaid the price and raised his finger. With time and the old conditions\nprobably she would have been as unfaithful to Iemon as she had been to\nKwaiba. The latter showing his desire, she would have answered his call.\nEven before this disease-eaten swollen mass of dropsy, she showed but\ntemporary repugnance. Leaning over him, almost overcome by the stench,\nwith endearing terms she strove to rouse him to consciousness and\nrecognition of her. It seemed fearful to have him die without the word\nof parting. Kibei aided her by raising the old man. The result was a\nhorrible frightened stare in eyes made large by fever and delirium. Long\nhe gazed at her. Said the woman--\"'Tis Hana; Hana once the intimate of\nKwaiba. Deign to take courage. This is but a passing affliction. With\nHana as nurse recovery to health is assured.\" She laid her hands on his\nshoulders. In so doing her hair, come loose, fell down around her wan\nface. Kwaiba was as galvanized. With a howl the old man pushed her\nviolently away. \"Scrawny wench! What impudence to show your face here!\nAh! To the last moment, waking and in dreams, she pursues this Kwaiba. I\nsold you. 'Tis true--I sold you for a night-hawk--to Toemon of Honjo[u].\nDoes Kwaiba consort with wenches of such ilk?\" Raising his fist he dealt\nher blow after blow, all the time shouting--\"O'Iwa! O'Iwa! The O'Bake\nsolicits Kwaiba. Broken loose from Hell and the waters of Warigesui she\nwould force away Kwaiba. Help! Help! Aid for Kwaiba! Away with the\nO'Bake!\" The old man again had broken into his mad fit. The shouts of\nKibei brought Kakusuke. Kwaiba's hands were detached from the masses of\nO'Hana's hair. The wounds on her face were not so deep as those\ninflicted on her mind. At last the secret was out. In bare feet she fled\nalong the muddy street toward the Samoncho[u] house.\n\nIt was true that the vileness of the disease, the vileness of Kwaiba's\ntongue, had driven the women from attendance in the sick room to the\nremotest quarters of the house. But there was a deterrent even to their\nnow limited service. All said the place where Kwaiba lay was haunted.\nUnder press of necessity a maid had brought needed medicaments to the\nsick man's room. Putting down the light she carried on the _ro[u]ka_,\nshe pushed open the _sho[u]ji_ to enter the outer chamber. Her robe\ncaught as she did so.\n\nTurning to release it she gave a fearful shriek. Standing in the\ncorridor, at the open screen behind her, were two tall figures robed in\nblack. With dishevelled hair, broad white flat faces, bulging brows,\neyelids swollen and sightless, yet they gazed through and through the\nonlooker and into the farther room. One creature, even more hideous with\ndrooping lid and baldness extending far back, half moved, half fell\ntoward the frightened maid. The woman's screams now were mingled with\nwild laughter. Kibei came rushing out, sword drawn, to find her in a fit\nof mad hysterics. Catching the drift of her broken phrases he went out\non the _ro[u]ka_. There was no one there. _Haori_ and _kimono_, hung up\nthere to dry, rustled and moved a little in the draft. Had these\nfrightened the woman? Kakusuke carried her back to her companions.\nHenceforth no one would enter that part of the building occupied by the\nsick man. Kibei as son, Kakusuke the old and faithful attendant, were\nisolated in their nursing.\n\nKibei noted the sick man's face. \"Father, why the forehead so wrinkled?\nIs pain condescended?\" Said Kwaiba--\"'Tis the rats; they gnaw and worry\nat Kwaiba.\"--\"Rats?\" replied Kibei in some astonishment. He looked\naround. The _sho[u]ji_ were tight closed. Kwaiba noted the inspection.\nHe shook his head, and pointed to the _rama-sho[u]ji_, the ornamental\nopen work near the ceiling. This could not be obviated. \"Auntie (Obasan)\nis old and deaf. She sleeps; while rats, attracted by the foul sores of\nthe scrofulous child, enter and attack the infant in its cradle. The\nchild gets thinner and weaker every day; then dies. A terrible creature\nis the rat.\" So much for the opinion of Nippon. Kibei had brought a\nmosquito net. Its edges were weighted down with heavy stones. Thus the\nwatchers could not be taken by surprise. Under its protection the sick\nman was saved from annoyance.\n\nSaid Kibei--\"This illness is most tedious. Could not Kibei go to the\nYoshiwara for a space? The letters of the Kashiku (_oiran_) accumulate.\nKibei has nothing to give, and has given no explanation for not giving.\nWhat thinks Kakusuke?\" Kakusuke was brave. Moreover he knew the Wakadono\nwas brave. The prospect, however, of facing his old master in a crazy\nfit--and perhaps O'Iwa--had no attraction. He gave his advice--\"The Go\nInkyo[u] Sama is in a very precarious state. He is now very weak. The\nworst may happen at any moment. For the Wakadono to be taking his\npleasure at the Yoshiwara would arouse criticism in the ward; nay, even\nmore than criticism. It would be held unfilial. Deign to reconsider the\npurpose.\" Kibei looked sourly at the swollen corruption which\nrepresented Kwaiba--\"How does he hold on! His strength must be great.\"\nKakusuke shrugged his shoulders--\"The Go Inkyo[u] Sama will not die\neasily. He has much to go through yet.\"--\"In the name of all the _kami_\nand Buddhas, how has he come to such an end? He is a sight to inspire\nfear--in those who can feel such.\" Replied Kakusuke with sly look--\"The\nGo Inkyo[u] Sama has lived high, and loved beyond measure. The Wakadono\ndoes well to reconsider his purpose.\"\n\nThe night was passing. The two men, worn out by the continued watching\nand nursing, after vain struggle to keep awake had gone to sleep.\nKakusuke was in the room with Kwaiba. In his slumber Kibei was back in\nthe fencing room. The clash of the wooden swords (_bokken_), the cries\nof the contestants, rang clear in his ears. He woke to find rain and\nstorm shaking and tearing at the _amado_. But it was the shouts of\nKakusuke, standing at the _sho[u]ji_, which had aroused him--\"Danna\nSama! Danna Sama! Wakadono! At once! At once! Deign to hasten!\" Kibei\nrushed into the next room. In fright Kakusuke pointed to the mosquito\nnet. A figure stood upright within it, swaying, gesticulating,\nstruggling. It was a figure all black and horrible. \"Un! Un!\" grunted\nKwaiba. He was answered by a mincing, gnawing sound. \"Father! Have\ncourage! Kibei is here.\" He rushed at the heavy stones, to toss them to\none side and enter the net. The swaying figure within suddenly toppled\nover in a heap. With his sword Kibei tore and severed the cording of the\nnet. The black mass of rats scattered to the eight directions of space.\nOn approaching Kwaiba a terrible sight met the eye. Eyes, ears, nose,\nchin, toes and fingers had been torn and eaten off. The lips were gnawed\naway and exposed to view the grinning teeth. A feeble groan--and Kwaiba\nhad met his end. Neither Kibei nor Kakusuke dared to touch the foul\nbody. In their panic the two men looked in each other's faces. \"Namu\nAmida Butsu! Holy the Lord Buddha, Amida!\" prayed Kibei, on his knees\nbefore the corpse. \"Namu Amida Butsu!\" answered Kakusuke.[29]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII\n\nIN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO[U]\n\n\nSaid a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip--\"Ah! Is it\nGoemon San? It is said the Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated.\" Kamimura\nGoemon sniffed. He was a long man; with long face, long nose, long thin\narms, long thin legs; a malicious man, who longed to give advice to his\nfellows which they much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe\nunder the infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in\ngood faith or temper--\"The Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated? Escaping\nthe troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse troubles in\nthe next.\" At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi Hambei showed surprise.\nContinued Goemon--\"The Go Inkyo[u] died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such\nan end hardly calls for congratulations.\" Mizoguchi gasped, with round\neyes and round face. \"Extraordinary!\"--\"Not at all,\" replied Kamimura,\ncomplacently tapping the palm of one hand with the elongated fingers of\nthe other. \"The Go Inkyo[u] drove out O'Iwa San from Tamiya. He gave\nO'Hana in her stead to Iemon as wife. Hana the harlot! Cursed by O'Iwa\nin dying, he has met this frightful end. Akiyama, Natsume, Imaizumi will\nsurely follow. As will all those involved in the affair.\"--\"But is O'Iwa\nSan really the cause of the death? The Go Inkyo[u] in life was not the\nmost careful of men in conserving health.\" This was timidly interjected\nby a third party. Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl--\"Of course it is\nO'Iwa San. Has she not been seen? The women of the house answer for it.\nOnly Kibei the sceptic, and Kakusuke who would face the devil in person,\nattempt to deny it.\" He threw up a hand. With unction--\"Ah! It inspires\nfear. Small is the profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who\nindulges in either.... How cold it is for the time of year!\"\n\nSaid the interloper--\"But the congratulations have to be rendered all\nthe same. It will be necessary to attend the all-night watch. How\nvexatious! Perhaps O'Iwa San will not appear. There is no getting out of\nit?\"--\"Certainly not,\" answered Kamimura. \"The Go Inkyo[u] was the head\nof the ward association. Twelve neighbours have been invited to the\nwatch. At dawn the body is to be prepared. A pleasant undertaking, if\nall that is said be true! The viands will be of the best, the wine no\nworse and plentiful. None must fail to attend.\" He smacked his lips. The\nothers likewise, but much less heartily.\n\nIt was an unwilling band which crawled in laggard procession through\nrain and mud and the length of the Teramachi to Kwaiba's house. A\n_do[u]shin_, the ward chief, a rich man, the mansion displayed all its\nsplendour. The atmosphere, however, was oppressive. Kibei greeted the\nguests with heartiness, and accepted their condolence and gifts with\nlavish thanks and the cheerful face of him that profiteth by the\nfuneral. Kakusuke was his main aid in connection with the Go Inkyo[u]'s\nlast appearance. Occasionally a timid white-faced woman was seen, but\nshe would flit away from the scene of these festivities, to seek the\ncompanionship of her panic-stricken fellows. Entering the funereal\nchamber the body was found, laid out and decently swathed so as to\ncover, as far as possible, the horrible nature of the death. On a white\nwood stand was the _ihai_ in white wood, a virtuous lie as to the\nqualities of the deceased. It ran--Tentoku Gishin Jisho[u] Daishi. Which\ncan be interpreted--\"A man of brilliant virtues, virtuous heart, and\nbenevolent temperament.\" Screens, upside down, were placed at the head:\n\n\"Alas! The screen: the carp descends the fall.\"[30] Akiyama, Natsume,\nImaizumi, were the last to appear. The former had been composing a\nviolent quarrel between his two friends--the long and the fat. Much\nrecrimination had passed, and the usually peaceful Imaizumi was in a\nmost violent and truculent humour. He glared with hate on Natsume, who\nnow aided Akiyama in efforts to soothe his anger. On entering the\nassembly the looks of all were composed. \"A retribution for deeds in the\npast world. Old; but so vigorous! The offering is a mere trifle. This\nKyuzo[u] would burn a stick of incense.\" Kibei extended his thanks and\nsuppressed his smile as much as possible. He was breathing with full\nlungs for the first time in weeks. The storm was over; happiness was\nahead; the clouded sky was all serene. \"Thanks are felt. This Kibei is\nmost fortunate: nay, grateful. Such kindness is not to be forgotten\nduring life.\"--\"The Inkyo[u] an _hotoke_; Iemon Dono and O'Hana are the\nhusband and wife not present?\" The question came from some one in the\nroom. \"O'Hana San is very ill. Her state is serious. Iemon does not\nleave her.\" Akiyama answered for the truant pair. Kibei's joy was\ncomplete.\n\nAkiyama, Natsume, Imaizumi were standing by Kwaiba's body. Kamimura\nslowly approached. The long man's face was longer than ever; longer,\nmuch longer than that of Natsume; and Kibei was not in the running.\nGoemon meditatively fondled his nose; on the pretence of concentrating\nthought, and for the purpose of relieving that member from the savour\narising from Kwaiba's bier. This was no bed of roses--\"Yes, the Inkyo[u]\nis indeed dead.\" He sniffed. \"Soon it will be the turn of all of you--to\nbe like this;\" another sniff--\"of Iemon and O'Hana, of Natsume and\nImaizumi, of this Akiyama San.\" The latter gave a violent start. With\nhand to his nose also, he turned on the intruder. Continued Goemon--\"A\nplot was concocted against O'Iwa San. Beggared and driven from the ward,\ndeceived and sold as a street harlot, this death of the Inkyo[u] is but\nthe first in the roll of her vengeance. Kamimura speaks with pure heart\nand without malice. You men are not long for this world. Is Akiyama San\nreconciled? And....\" He pointed a skinny finger at Kyuzo[u], then at\nJinzaemon. \"You show it. Your eyes are hollow; your nostrils are fallen\nin. The colour of the face is livid. You seem already to be _hotoke_,\nprepared to lie with the Go Inkyo[u].\" Akiyama found his tongue. He\nburst out in a rage--\"The jest is unseemly. Kamimura San goes too far.\nIt is true this Cho[u]zaemon gave counsel to Ito[u] Kwaiba. Kyuzo[u] and\nJinzaemon took some part in what followed. But we acted on the orders of\nIto[u] Dono, of Iemon San. On the first will be visited any grudge.\"\nGoemon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. \"Here he lies. How did\nhe die? Goemon does not jest, and the argument of Akiyama San is rotten.\nThe master bids the servants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow\nfalls on them; not on him. How now Akiyama San?\" Cho[u]zaemon turned\naway discomfited. All three felt very bad--in mind and body.\n\nThe bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (1 A.M.). Just opposite, its\nclangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly sound. In the depths of\nnight this inert mass of metal seemed a thing of life, casting its\ninfluence into the lives of those present, rousing them to face grave\nissues. Noting the absence of Natsume, the round-faced, round-eyed,\nround-bodied Imaizumi followed after. Kibei came forth from the supper\nroom, to find his guests all flown. \"Where have they gone to, Kakusuke?\"\nHe looked around in amazement--\"They were taken with pains in the belly.\nWith this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with a flux.\" The\n_chu[u]gen_ answered in the dry and certain tone of one unconvinced.\nKibei shrugged his shoulders. \"There is naught wrong with wine or\nviands?\"--\"Nor with the guests,\" replied Kakusuke. \"They are cowards,\nwho have caught some inkling as to the not over-nice death of the Go\nInkyo[u].\"--\"The latter day _bushi_ are not what the _bushi_ were of\nold; at least this brand of them. Ah! These wretched little bureaucrats;\n_bushi_ of the pen. Two men to eat a supper prepared for twelve sturdy\ntrenchers. Well: two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a hand\nKakusuke.\"--\"Respectfully heard and obeyed,\" replied the _chu[u]gen_.\n\nThe white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. Secured\nby Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy Ko[u]yasan, the\nsacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kakusuke dragged a large\ntub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was unswathed and placed in it.\nKakusuke eyed his late master with critical and unfavourable eye.\n\"Naruhodo! The Go Inkyo[u] is a strange object. No eyes: nose, ears,\nlips gone; his expression is not a pleasant one.... Nay! The Wakadono is\nawkward. Throw the water from head to feet.... Take care! Don't throw it\nover Kakusuke. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono is wasteful. More\nis needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kakusuke draws it from the well.\" He\nopened the side door and went outside. Kibei drew a little apart from\nthe body. It stank. A noise at the sliding window (_hikimado_) in the\nroof made him look up. Oya! Oya! The face of O'Iwa filled the\naperture--round, white, flat; with puffed eyelids and a sightless glare.\nWith a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did so\nslender attenuated hands groped downward. \"Kakusuke! Kakusuke!\"--\"What\nis it, Wakadono?\"--\"O'Iwa: she looks down through the _hikimado_! She\nseeks the Inkyo[u]!\" Kakusuke gave a look upward--\"Bah! It's the cat. Is\nthe Wakadono, too, getting nerves? They are a poor investment.\"--\"The\ncat!\" Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his\nsword.\n\nHe turned round--to give a shout of surprise--\"Kakusuke! Kakusuke! The\nbody of the Go Inkyo[u] is no longer here.\" As the astonished\n_chu[u]gen_ came running to look into the empty tub, both men nearly\nfell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyo[u] was whirling around\nthe neighbouring room in execution of a mad dance. Followed by Kakusuke,\nhis worthy son and heir sprang in pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba\nand the pursuers into the darkness of the garden, into the rain and\nstorm. Kibei heard the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly\nafter them. \"To lose his parent's body--this was against all rules of\nBushido[u].\" Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all\nthe moral and physical atrocities except--failure in filial conduct to\nparent and lord; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of Bushido[u].\nKakusuke soon lost his master in the darkness. Disconcerted and anxious\nhe returned to secure a lantern. The wind promptly blew it out; then\nanother, and a third. He stood on the _ro[u]ka_ in the darkness to wait\nthe return of the Wakadono. For the first time Kakusuke had noted\nfailing purpose in his young master. He was more solicitous over this\nthan over the strange disappearance of the Inkyo[u]'s body. Was the\nWakadono losing his nerve; as had the O'Dono?\n\nIn time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuke's inquiring glance--\"Kibei\npursued to Myo[u]gyo[u]ji; then up the hill. Here sight was lost of the\nInkyo[u]. The darkness prevented further search. A lantern is next to\nworthless in this gale. Kakusuke, go to the houses of Natsume and\nImaizumi close by. They are young and will aid Kibei in the search.\"\nKakusuke did not demur. Pulling his cape over his head, off he posted.\nHe asked but to come across the Inkyo[u]'s body, in O'Iwa's company or\nnot made no difference to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission was\nfruitless. The two men had expressed the intention of spending the night\nat the Kwaiba wake. Neither had as yet returned. Grumbled Kibei--\"The\nfilthy fellows! With this excuse to their wives they seek new pastures\nat Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), to spend the night in dissipation. 'Tis\nNatsume who is the lecher. Gladly would he wean Imaizumi from his barely\nwed wife.\"--\"Or wean the wife from Imaizumi Sama! Wakadono, nothing can\nbe done now. The dawn should be awaited.\" With these sage comments the\n_chu[u]gen_ squatted at respectful distance from his master. From time\nto time one or other arose, to look sceptically into the empty tub in\nwhich once had reposed the Inkyo[u]'s body. Finally both nodded off into\nsleep. At dawn--don, don, don, don, came a loud knocking on the outer\ngate. Kakusuke went out, to return with astonished face and portentous\nnews. The dead bodies of Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon had\nbeen found at the foot of the _bake-icho[u]_, a huge tree close by the\nguardhouse. Finger tip to finger tip three men could not girdle this\ntree. With the bodies of the men lay that of a woman. Two corpses, man\nand woman, were stark naked. Kibei's presence, as the successor to\nKwaiba's office, was required.\n\nHe prepared at once to start for the Okido[u]. The tale was in time\nlearned from the prolix Kamimura Goemon, who had witnessed part at least\nof the scene. As he was knocking at his door on the Shinjuku road,\nhaving just returned late from the watch at Kwaiba's house, rapid steps\nwere heard in the street. A man, recognized as Kyuzo[u], passed, running\nat top speed. He dragged along by the hand a woman, the wife of\nImaizumi. The two were nearly naked. Close in the rear pursued Imaizumi\nJinzaemon, his drawn sword in his hand. They sped up the wide road.\nGoemon stepped out, to follow at a distance this flight and pursuit. At\nthe _icho[u]_ tree the fugitives were overtaken. The woman was the first\nto be cut down. Kyuzo[u] turned to grapple with the assailant. Unarmed\nhis fate soon overtook him. He fell severed from shoulder to pap. Having\nfinished his victims Imaizumi seated himself at the foot of the tree,\nand cut open his belly. \"Long had such outcome been expected,\" intoned\nthe long-nosed man. The case needed no explanation. Others echoed the\nopinion of Goemon, who was merely many fathoms deeper in the scandal of\nthe neighbourhood than most of them. It was agreed to hush the matter\nup. Reporting his own experience, to the astonishment of his hearers,\nKibei, accompanied by Kakusuke, started down Teramachi toward\nSamegabashi. As they passed the Gwansho[u]ji attention was drawn by a\npack of dogs, fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white\nobject lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up a\ngrave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. There\nlay the body of Ito[u] Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands of O'Iwa to\nbe torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. Thus was it that the\nfunerals of Ito[u] Kwaiba, Natsume Kyuzo[u], and Imaizumi Jinzaemon took\nplace in one cortege on the same day and at the same time. The\npostponement in the first instance--was it providential?\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX\n\nTAMIYA YOEMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND MYO[U]ZEN THE\nPRIEST\n\n\nTamiya Yoemon was stumbling home in all haste from the funeral of Ito[u]\nKwaiba. He was full of news for the wife, O'Kame. The neighbours could\ntalk of nothing but the strange happenings in the ward, and details lost\nnothing in the telling; perhaps gained somewhat by the process. Most\nedifying was the reported conduct of the wife of the late Natsume\nKyuzo[u], the observed of all observers at the funeral, the object of\nthat solicitous congratulation which embodies the secret sigh of relief\nof friends, neighbours, and relatives at the removal of a prospective\nburden. Natsume had left behind him a wife, an old mother, an infant\nchild, and huge liabilities. To administer this legacy--and perhaps to\nget rid of her mother-in-law--the wife had promptly and tearfully\nsacrificed her status, and sold herself for a term of years to the\nmaster of the Sagamiya, a pleasure house at Shinagawa post town. The sum\npaid--one hundred _ryo[u]_--relieved the immediate future. The\nneighbours derided the ignorance of the Sagamiya in accepting the\nuncertain bail of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon. If the lady behaved badly, small\nsatisfaction was to be obtained of her security. \"Ignorance is bliss.\"\nLet the Sagamiya bask in both and the beauty of the prize. Meanwhile\ntheir concern and admiration were for the lady destined to this post\ntown of the crowded To[u]kaido[u], the stopping place of high and low,\nnoble and riff-raff, entering Edo town. Of the inmates of the pleasure\nquarters, the harlots of Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Itabashi, were held in\nlowest esteem.\n\nArrived at his door Yoemon stopped short in surprise and alarm. To his\nloud call of \"Wife! Wife!\" answer there was none. Looking within he\ncould barely distinguish objects through the thick smoke which filled\nthe house. The last thing the Nipponese would do under such conditions,\nwould be to throw open doors and panels. This would convert the place at\nonce to a blazing conflagration. Where was the fire getting its start?\nChoking and spluttering Yoemon groped his way through the rooms into the\nrear. Wherever the fire was, it was not in the living rooms. The smoke\nwas accentuated on reaching the kitchen. Here was a smell of burning\nrice, of Yoemon's dinner gradually carbonizing under the influence of an\nelement other than the juices of his round stomach. Looking into the\nroom, through the thickened haze he saw the flame of the fire\nbrightening. O'Kame the wife could be made out, on her knees before the\nportable furnace. She was blowing a mass of slivers and brushwood into\nflame by the aid of a bamboo pipe. It was this stuff, green and partly\nwet, which gave out the choking acrid smoke. Yoemon was angered beyond\nmeasure at the sight of his ruined meal and expectations. \"Kame! Kame!\nWhat are you doing? Have you gone mad? Ma! Ma! The dinner is being\nruined. You are ill. Kame's head whirls with head-ache. Yoemon will act\nas cook. Go to bed--at once.\" At his peremptory speech the wife looked\nup into the face of the husband standing over her. She scowled at him in\na way to cause fear. \"Not a _sho[u]_ of rice; not a _mon_. Yoemon would\ngive freely to a beggar, rather than confer a 'cash' on Iwa. Yoemon\nsells me as a street harlot.\" He started back in fright before the\nsnarling distorted visage. The wife sprang to her feet. Pash! On his\ndevoted head descended the hot iron pan with its content of stew. \"Ah!\nKame is mad--clean daft.\" With a wild laugh she seized the pot full of\nboiling rice and began to pour it into the drain. When he tried to stop\nher, he received the mess full in his bosom--\"Mad? Not at all. This Kame\nnever felt in better spirits. When grass grows in Samoncho[u] we enter\nNirvana. Ha! Ha! Ha! To hasten the happy time!\" With a kick she knocked\nover the furnace. In an instant the _tatami_ was in a blaze. Yelling\nlike mad, shouting for help, Yoemon leaped from the house. O'Kame seized\nthe burning brands in her bare hands, hurling them into this room and\ninto that. Outstripping the old Yoemon, the younger men of the\nneighbours rushed in. The mad woman was soon overcome and carried from\nthe burning building. Nothing else was saved. They took her to the house\nof Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon. Here she was tied hand and foot, and put in a\ncloset. The old man Yoemon stood by in despair, watching the progress of\nevents. Before the conflagration was extinguished his own and four other\nhouses were destroyed. He was a ruined man; responsible for all.\n\nMyo[u]zen the priest had just set foot on the slope leading up from\nSamegabashi to Yotsuya. A somewhat long retreat at Myo[u]honji,\nattendance at the ceremonies held on the Saint's (Nichiren) birthday,\nhad kept him in ignorance of recent events in Yotsuya. In the dawn of\nthe beautiful day of earliest 3rd month (our April 13th) he had set out\nfrom Kamakura. Sturdy as were the priest's limbs, yet he was a little\ntired. He rested at the foot of the hill. Then his eyes grew big with\nastonishment. In the waning afternoon a funeral came wending its way\ndownwards. But such a funeral! Two spearmen led the way. Then came a\nlong train of attendants. Three catafalques followed, the first a most\nimposing bier. Then came the relatives. Kibei on horseback headed these.\nThe women rode in _kago_. That it was a ward funeral Myo[u]zen had no\ndoubt, both from its source and make up. He noted a parishioner in the\ncortege. \"Kamimura Uji!\" The long-limbed, long-faced, long-tongued man\nleft the ranks and obsequiously greeted his spiritual father. At\nMyo[u]zen's question he expressed gratified surprise, and unlimbered his\nlingual member at once--\"Whose honoured funeral this? Nay! It is a\ntriple funeral; that of Natsume Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi Jinzaemon, the Go\nInkyo[u], our ward-head. It is owing to this latter that there is such\nan outpouring of the ward, with attendance of barrier guards and\nfiremen. Although the ending of Natsume and Jinzaemon was not edifying,\nthat of our honoured once head gratified still more the public\ncuriosity. Gnawed and eaten by the rats he died most horribly.\" He told\nof the eventful night. \"Hence delay in the burial. The deaths of Natsume\nand Imaizumi were almost coincident. The body of the adulterous woman,\nrejected by both families, was cast out on the moor.\" He noted with\nsatisfaction the great impression his tale made on the priest, as also\nthe clerical garb and rosary held in hand. \"Pray join the band. A little\nre-adjustment....\" He bent down. With the baton he held in hand as\nleader of his section he carefully dusted the robes. Adjusting the folds\nhe pronounced the results as most presentable. \"The honoured Osho[u] is\nready to bury or be buried.\" Myo[u]zen took this remark in very ill\nform. He prepared to answer tartly, but curiosity overcame his weariness\nand ill temper. The procession was moving fast. He fell at once into\nline, with hardly an acknowledgment of Kamimura's courtesy, as this\nlatter hastened forward to his place.\n\nHis neighbour in the procession explained. The nature of the deaths of\nthe three men had aroused the feeling in the ward. Their connection with\na conspiracy against O'Iwa San was now generally known. Without doubt it\nwas owing to her vengeance that they had died as they did. Let them lie\noutside the quarter. The protest to Kibei was respectful but emphatic. A\nnewcomer, he had made no great resistance. It was determined to bury\nthem at the Denzu-In, close by the mound of the nameless dead of Edo's\ngreat fire of more than half a century before. Hence the direction of\nthe cortege. As the cemetery of the great temple was approached the\ncuriosity of Myo[u]zen, morbidly growing the while, became overpowering.\nThe priest slipped from rank to rank. At the grave he stood in the very\nfront. As long-time friend he besought a last glance at the dead. Those\ngiven to Natsume and Imaizumi called forth a careless prayer for each.\nThe men hesitated before raising the cover concealing the body of\nKwaiba. At Myo[u]zen's peremptory gesture they complied. He bent over\nand looked in. Frozen with horror, he was fascinated by those great\nholes for eyes, large as teacups, which seemed to fix him. Dead of\nleprosy, gnawed and torn by beasts, the face presented a sight\nunforgettable. The holes torn in the flesh twisted the features into a\nlifelike, though ghastly, sardonic grin, full of the pains of the hell\nin which Kwaiba had suffered and now suffered. A stench arose from the\nbox which made the hardened bearers hold their noses and draw away. Yet\nthe priest bent down all the closer. In his corruption the lips of the\nold man seemed to move. Did Kwaiba speak? Closer and closer: Myo[u]zen\nseemed never satisfied with this inspection. The poise and brain gave\nway. Priest and corpse met in the horrible salutation. With exclamation\nthe attendants sprang forward. Myo[u]zen in a dead faint was carried\napart and laid on the ground. Some priests of the hall busied themselves\nover him. Somewhat revived he was taken off to the residence quarters of\nthe temple, and soon was able to return to his home. \"Curious fool.\"\nKibei was greatly angered. He was easily irritated in these days. The\ndelay in the rites almost maddened him. Would old Kwaiba--his father\nIto[u] Inkyo[u]--never be got out of men's sight? Out of Kibei's sight?\n\nThat night Myo[u]zen sat alone in his quarters. Somewhat shaken, he was\nashamed and regretful at thought of his unseemly curiosity of the\nafternoon. The priests of Denzuin had regarded him with covert amusement\nand repulsion. He had noted one passing the sleeve of his robe over his\nlips. Myo[u]zen explained the incident by more than usual weariness.\nThey condoled with him, and made horrified gestures of ill-disguised\nglee when they thought his attention was elsewhere. In his present\nprivacy the scene at the grave came back to mind again and again. \"Ah!\nAh! If this Myo[u]zen had not looked. The Inkyo[u]'s face was terrible.\nMyo[u]zen cannot put it from mind.\" He glanced at the pages of the sutra\nlying before him. He turned them over. He knew they spoke of the\nhorribleness of death; but what was the cold script to the actuality? It\nwas no use, the attempt to read. Kwaiba's face interposed. \"Oh! That\nsalute! The very idea of that terrible salute, the contact with\ncorruption!\" He was as if plunged in an icy bath. He started nervously.\nIt was but rain dashing against the _amado_, rattling and twisting in\nthe gale. He could not sleep. That night he would watch. The fire was\nhot in the _hibachi_ (brazier). He went to the closet to get some tea.\nOn opening it he sprang back with a shout of alarm, to lean trembling\nand quivering in every limb huddled against the wall. \"Namu Myo[u]ho[u]\nRenge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!\" One character of the\nwondrous formula secured pardon and safety to the believer in that\nparadise of Amida which Myo[u]zen was in no great haste to visit.\nShivering as with a chill intently he watched the animal as it glided\nalong the edge of the room, to disappear into the shadows. He shrugged\nhis shoulders wearily. A rat had frightened him almost out of his wits!\nHis heart beat tumultuously, almost to suffocation; then it seemed to\ncease altogether; to resume its wild career.\n\nHardly was he again seated, his hand on the kettle--don--don, don--don,\ndon, don, don. Some one was violently knocking on the door. Myo[u]zen\nsprang up. Approaching the _amado_ with silent step he eyed the bolts:\n\"All secure.\" Snatching up a stake close by he jammed it in between\nfloor and crosspiece. Leaning heavily on the panel he listened.\n\"Myo[u]zen Sama! Osho[u] Sama! Condescend to open; deign to give\nentrance! The storm nearly throws one to the ground. News! News for the\nOsho[u]! A request to make!\" Myo[u]zen held his ground against this\nouter temptation. \"Who are you, out at this hour of the night and in\nsuch weather? To-night Myo[u]zen does not open. Go away; return in\ndaylight.\"--\"But the honoured Osho[u] Sama is needed. His presence is\nrequested. Deign to open; at least to hear the message. The priest aids\nthe afflicted.\" There was something in the voice he recognized, despite\nits terror. Regaining some courage he parleyed. The priest was for the\nconsolation of the unfortunate. O'Iwa had been, was unfortunate. He\ncould not open. \"Who are you? Unless the name be given this Myo[u]zen\nholds no further talk. To-night he is unwell, positively ill. Come at\ndawn and Myo[u]zen will receive you.\"--\"Who? Does not the voice answer\nfor the person? This is Tomobei, from the house of Kondo[u]\nRokuro[u]bei. Deign to open. The master needs and calls for the aid of\nthe Osho[u] Sama.\"\n\nVoice and speech, the importance of Kondo[u] in the life of Myo[u]zen,\nbroke down his hesitation. Slowly he removed the bars. Tomobei entered,\ndripping with wet. He cast down his straw coat at the entrance. The\nman's eyes and manner were wild. He kept casting frightened looks into\nthe wild welter of storm outside. When the priest would withdraw into\nthe room he held him by the skirt. \"What has happened?\" commanded\nMyo[u]zen briefly. Replied Tomobei--\"A terrible thing! To-day the master\nwas ready to attend the funeral of Ito[u] Inkyo[u]. The wife was engaged\nin putting the house _kimono_ in the closet. O'Tama was playing on the\nupper _ro[u]ka_. She is but seven years old. Leaning far over to see her\nfather leave, she lost her balance. Down she fell, to be impaled on the\nknife-like points of the _shinobi-gaeshi_. The sharp-pointed bamboo,\nprotection against thieves, have robbed the Danna of his greatest\ntreasure (_tama_). Deep into throat and chest ran the cruel spikes, to\nappear through the back. The sight inspired fear, so horrible was it. He\ncould but call out--'Tomobei! Tomobei!' All effort to detach the child,\nto saw off the points, did but make matters worse. It was necessary to\nfetch a ladder. When taken down she was dead. Alas! Alas! The Okusama is\nnearly crazed. The Danna Sama in his cruel distress does but rage\nthrough the house. 'Myo[u]zen Osho[u], he loved the child. Let Myo[u]zen\nOsho[u] be summoned to say a prayer of direction, while yet the child\nspirit hovers hereabouts.' Such is the cry of the Okusama. Hence the\npresence of this Tomobei. Otherwise he would rather be scourged at the\nwhite sand than face the darkness in which O'Iwa San wanders abroad.\"\nMan and priest were weeping. The former in his fright and over the\nconfusion and distress fallen on the household; the priest over the\nsudden and dreadful end of this child to whom the homeless one, the man\ndevoted to the solitary life, had taken an unbounded affection as of a\nfather. Great as was his terror, he forgot his own ills in the greater\nmisfortune of the life-long friend. He remained bowed in prayer. \"Namu\nMyo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Oh! The\nwondrous law, the _sutra_ of the Lotus!\" He rose--\"Myo[u]zen comes.\"\n\nAs they struggled through the storm, Tomobei kept up a nonsensical,\nrunning talk, full of the superstitious fear of the man of the lower\nclasses. \"Iya! The affair has been terrible, but misfortune is in the\nair.... What's that! Ah! Something passes by ... above. O'Iwa! O'Iwa!\"\nHe seized the priest's arm and clung to him in terror. Myo[u]zen's fears\nhad all returned. He would have run away, but was too tightly held.\n\"Where! Where!\" He shrieked and whirled around toward Samegabashi.\nTomobei held on tenaciously to his skirts. An object was bearing down on\nthem in the dark. Close upon priest and man they jumped to one side. A\ncold hand was laid on the neck of the cleric, who squawked with fear. A\nhowl answered the howls and mad cries and blows of the two men, who now\nthrew themselves flat on the ground to shut out sight of the apparition.\nThe beast sped down the hill. Discomfited, Myo[u]zen disentangled\nhimself from the embraces of a broken water spout, which descending from\nthe roof under which he had taken shelter, was sending its cold stream\ndown his neck. Tomobei rose from the mud puddle in which he lay face\ndownward. They gazed at each other. \"A dog! A wandering cur!\" Myo[u]zen\neyed his once immaculate garments with disgust. How present himself in\nsuch a state! Tomobei read his thoughts and determined to keep a\ncompanion so hardly won. \"There are present but the master and the\nOkusama, Tomobei, and Kiku; other company there is none.... Yes; the\nOjo[u]san.\"--\"The corpse needs no company,\" said Myo[u]zen testily. In\nhis disgrace and unkempt condition Myo[u]zen was unduly irritated at his\nchild friend. The business was to be gone through. They were opposite\nthe cemetery of Sainenji, on its western side. Said Tomobei--\"A paling\nis loose. There is no need to descend the hill. This is no cheerful spot\nat this hour. Deign to sprint it, Osho[u] Sama. In the time one can\ncount ten the entrance at the rear is reached. Deign a spurt, honoured\npriest; deign to sprint.\" Myo[u]zen felt he was in for everything this\nnight. With Tomobei he tucked up his robes to his hams, as if entering a\nrace. Crawling through the bamboo palings into the haunt of the dead, at\nit they went--a mad spurt across to Ko[u]ndo's house. Tomobei was the\nmore active. He turned to watch the priest tripping over hillocks in the\ngrass, knocking into gravestones hidden by the darkness. So near home,\ncourage was returning. He burst into laughter at sight of Myo[u]zen\nmadly hammering a battered old stone lantern of the _yukimido[u]ro_\nstyle. The broad-brimmed hat-like object he belaboured as something\nnaturally or unnaturally possessed of life, all the while giving\nutterance to anything but priestly language. Tomobei ventured back to\nhis rescue. Myo[u]zen was quite battered and bleeding as the two rushed\ninto Kondo[u]'s house.\n\nThe master was expecting them; but he threw up his hands as they\nappeared in the room. \"Osho[u] Sama! Tomobei! What are you about! Why\nrush into the room, clogs still on the feet? Deign to withdraw. The\n_tatami_ are stained and streaked with mud.... Water for the feet of the\nOsho[u] Sama! Tomobei, are you mad? Out with you: bring water to clean\nup this mess.\" In confusion the priest withdrew. His apologies were\nprofuse as he reappeared--\"Alas! Terrible the loss, and in such dreadful\nmanner. Kondo[u] Dono, Okusama, part at least of this grief Myo[u]zen\nwould take on himself. Great is the sorrow at this end of one just\nbeginning life.\" The wife received the condolence of the priest with a\nburst of weeping. Then she turned fiercely on the husband--\"It is all\nthe fault of Rokuro[u]bei. He was _nako[u]do_ for O'Iwa San in the\nmarriage with Iemon. Turning against her, he took O'Hana into the house.\nDid she not spend her time in idling, and teaching the child the ways of\nher questionable life--'how to please men,' forsooth?... Ah! Tama did\nhave pretty ways. Though but of seven years, she danced, and sang, and\npostured as would a girl double her age. Now thus cruelly she has\nperished.\" Her mind, reverted to the child, again took a turn. \"The plot\nagainst O'Iwa--with Ito[u] Kwaiba, Iemon, Cho[u]zaemon--here is found\nthe source of this calamity. O'Iwa in dying has cursed all involved. Now\n'tis the turn of Kondo[u] and his unfortunate wife.\" She ended in\nanother outburst of tears, her head on the mats at the feet of the\npriest. Rokuro[u]bei was tearing up and down the room, gesticulating and\nalmost shouting--\"Yes! 'Tis she! 'Tis she! The hateful O'Iwa strikes the\nfather through the child. Ah! It was a cowardly act to visit such a\nfrightful ending on one budding into life. O'Iwa seeks revenge. O'Iwa is\nabroad; and yet this Kondo[u] cannot meet with her.\" Myo[u]zen was\nalmost deafened with his cries and noisy earnestness. Truly to bring\npeace into this household, with division reigning between husband and\nwife smitten with fear of the supernatural, would be no easy matter. His\npriestly experience taught him the safest way to bring about his object.\n\n\"'Tis true; 'tis true. But loud cries avail nothing. The aid of the\nBuddha for the deceased is to be sought.\" Apologetically he showed\nsomething of his condition to the wife. At once she rose. Outergarments\nwere removed. Muddied undergarments were renewed. Myo[u]zen went into\nthe mortuary chamber. The little \"Jewel\" was laid out as in sleep. The\nwounded chest, the torn throat, were concealed by garments and a\nscarf-like bandage adjusted by a mother's sad and tender care. The\nincense sticks lay in clay saucers near the couch. \"Oh, the wonderful\nLaw! The _sutra_ of the Lotus! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu\nMyo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!\" He looked long at the little silent figure.\nHis eyes were full of tears as he turned and took the hands of the\nweeping mother who had followed him into the room. Then for long he\nspoke in consoling tones. She was somewhat quieted when they returned.\n\nKondo[u] Rokuo[u]bei was still moving restlessly about the room. Now he\nwas here, now there; from the death room he returned to the company;\nfrom them he passed to the kitchen. The wife thought of the friend and\npriest. \"Tomobei, go to the store-room and bring wine.\" Myo[u]zen was a\ncurious mixture. His weak spot was touched--\"Deign it, honoured lady,\nfor all. Let the occasion be made seemly, but more cheerful. Cause not\nsorrow to the dead by an unmeasured grief. This does but pain the Spirit\nin its forced communion with the living. Death perchance is not the\nmisfortune of subsequent existence in this world, but a passage to the\nparadise of Amida.\" He spoke unctuously; as one full informed and\nlonging for its trial. His homily had no effect in moving Tomobei, who\nwas flatly unwilling to perform the service ordered. \"The wine...,\"\nbroke in Kondo[u] harshly.--\"The go-down is at the end of the lot. The\nhour is very late, and the storm ... and other things ... it rages\nfiercely. This Tomobei....\"--\"Shut up!\" roared his master, with easily\nroused anger. The maid O'Kiku timidly interposed--\"There is a supply in\nthe kitchen. This Kiku early brought it there, anticipating the need.\nIndeed the storm is terrible. One gets wet to the bone in traversing the\nyard.\" The wife caught the last words--\"Aye! Wet and chilled the lost\nchild spirit wanders, ringing its bell and vainly seeking aid and\nshelter; no aid at hand but that of the heartless hag in the River of\nSouls.\"[31] At the thought of the little O'Tama in cold and storm she\nbroke down. Crying bitterly, she crept from the room and laid down\nbeside the bier.\n\nThe wine was served. Myo[u]zen drank. Then he drank again. His\npotations gave him confidence--for more drink--and recalled him to his\nfunctions. \"Let us all pray. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu\nMyo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Wonderful the Law! Wonderful the _sutra_ of\nthe Lotus, explanatory of the Law by which mankind are saved, to enter\nthe paradise of Amida. Be sure the wanderings of O'Tama will be short.\nScanty is the power of the Shozuka no Baba. Soon shall the child sit\nupon a lotus. Early shall be her entrance into Nirvana. Namu Myo[u]ho[u]\nRenge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!... Honoured master, let all\njoin in. Command the servants to join in the recital of the Daimoku.\"\nKondo[u] waved a hand at Tomobei and O'Kiku, in assent and command.\nVigorous were the tones of all in the responses. Myo[u]zen drank again.\nHe pressed the wine on the others; drinking in turn as they agreed. The\nnight was passing. It was the eighth hour (1-3 A.M.). Said he--\"Don't\nget drowsy. By every means avoid it. Now! A vigorous prayer.\" He raised\nhis hand--\"Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge\nKyo[u]!\" But the responses were flagging. Said Myo[u]zen--\"This will\nnever do; at this hour of the night.\" He drank again--to find that the\nsupply had come to an end. Kondo[u] was nodding. Tomobei, if awake, was\ndeaf to words. Myo[u]zen rose himself to fetch a new supply.\n\nKondo[u] pricked up his ears. The temple bells were booming the hour\nwatch in solemn unison. The rain splashed and pattered on the _amado_. A\nrustling, swishing sound was heard, close by, in the next room. Now it\nwas as if a hand was passing along the screen. He sprang up, drawn sword\nin hand. His eyes were riveted on the _sho[u]ji_, anticipating an\nappearance. Then he laid a violent hand on the interposing obstacle and\nthrew it back. A tall figure robed in black, with broad flat face and\nbulging brow, puffed eyelids in which were sunken little dots in place\nof eyes, hair in wild disorder framing the dead white face, stood before\nhim. \"O'Iwa! O'Iwa!\" The lamp was knocked over, but not before he dealt\nthe one fierce upward blow. Madly he sprang on the apparition and\nslashed away in the dark. \"Kiya!\" The cry rang loud. Kondo[u] danced\nwith joy, calling loudly for lights. \"O'Iwa! O'Iwa! Kondo[u] has slain\nthe O'Bake, the enemy of his child! Rejoice with Kondo[u]! The vendetta\nis accomplished!\" In the darkness and confusion a groan was heard; then\nanother, still fainter; then there was silence. Tomobei appeared with a\nlight. He leaned over the long black robed body; to raise an alarmed\nface to his joyful master. \"At what does the Danna Sama rejoice? What\nhas he done? 'Tis Myo[u]zen Sama, the Osho[u] Sama, who lies cut down.\nDreadful has been the mistake of the Danna Sama. This is like to cost\nthe House dear.\"--\"Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge\nKyo[u]!\" The sword had slipped from Kondo[u]'s hand, and in genuine\ngrief he knelt beside the body of the unfortunate priest, seeking for\nsome sign of life. Alas! Myo[u]zen had almost been cut in two by the\nupward sweep of the sword. From liver to pap was one gaping wound. He\nlay in the pool of almost all the blood in his body. Gathered around the\ncorpse the four people eyed each other with terror.\n\nDon--don--don, don, don, don. They sprang up in a huddled mass. The\nsound was at their very shoulders. \"Some one knocks at the back door,\"\nsaid Tomobei. \"Go open it,\" commanded Kondo[u]. Tomobei flatly refused,\nand without respect, nay with insolence. Kondo[u] picked up and weighed\nin his hand the bloody sword. Why mingle vile blood with good? Instead\nof cutting the man down he went himself and opened the half door at the\ntop. A woman, dripping with water, her hair in wild disorder, her face\nwhite as chalk, stood outside in the storm. Kondo[u] gave an exclamation\nof surprise--\"O'Kame of Tamiya! How comes O'Kame here? It was said that\nYoemon San had shut her up, as one gone mad.\" The woman smirked with\nsatisfied air--\"Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei is seer as well as murderer. This\nKame was bound and imprisoned; nay, almost divorced. Myo[u]zen, just\ndead at Kondo[u]'s hands, to-morrow was to pronounce the divorce. For so\nmuch, thanks to Kondo[u] Dono. But O'Tama has died. Kame would condole\nwith Kondo[u] San; burn a stick of incense for O'Tama. Condescend to\ngrant entrance.\" Said Rokuro[u]bei abruptly--\"How knows O'Kame of the\ndeath of Myo[u]zen; who told her of the fate of O'Tama?\" She laughed\nwildly--\"Who? O'Iwa; O'Iwa is the friend of Kame. It was she who loosed\nthe bonds. 'O'Tama of Kondo[u]'s house is dead. O'Kame should condole\nwith the wife, the friend of this Iwa. Get you hence, for Kondo[u] has\nmurdered the priest.' ... So here we are; O'Iwa accompanies Kame. Here\nshe is.\" She waved a hand into the storm and darkness. \"Deign to give\npassage to the chamber where lies O'Tama. O'Iwa and Kame would burn\nincense to the darling's memory, to the little Jewel.\" With a roar\nKondo[u] seized the breast of her robe--\"Vile old trot, off with you!\"\nHe gave her a violent push which sent her on her buttocks. The woman\nremained seated in the mud, laughing noisily. She held out two skinny\narms to him. With a slam he shut the door.\n\nHe knelt by the priest's body, truly grieved--\"Ah! O'Iwa is abroad. How\nhas this mad woman knowledge of this deed? What was the offence of\nMyo[u]zen thus to deserve the hatred of Tamiya O'Iwa?\" O'Kame had seen\nthe priest enter, had stood in the wet listening to the wild talk of\nKondo[u], had seen the bloody sword in his hand. Her mad brain had put\nriot and death together. The talk as to O'Tama she had overheard from\nher closet. Kondo[u] thought of neither explanation. He was at odds with\nAkiyama, and had sent no message to his house. As he speculated and\nthought how best to compound matters with the temple, now grieved at the\nrash blow fallen on a friend, now aghast at the certain and heavy\nindemnification which would be exacted by the enraged clerics, an uproar\narose outside. There were wild cries and a scream of pain. Then came a\nloud triumphant shout--\"Heads out! Heads out! O'Iwa is slain! This\nAkiyama has killed the O'Bake. The incubus of the ward is lifted. Help!\"\nKondo[u] sprang up and out of the house. Were the words true? Had\nanother succeeded where he had failed? His lantern, the lanterns of many\nothers, threw light on the place where Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon bravely\nstood ward over the prostrate body of the apparition. Returning late\nfrom Shitamachi he had entered the ward with shrinking terror. As he\nskulked along, with eyes on every dark corner, the figure of a woman was\nseen close by the eaves of the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. As he\napproached she came forward laughing wildly the while. The light of his\nlantern fell on the ghastly white face, the disordered hair. In a spasm\nof fright he dropped the lantern and delivered his blow in drawing the\nsword. The cut was almost identical with the one delivered to Myo[u]zen\nthe priest. The men there gathered looked into each other's faces, then\nat the body of O'Kame lying in their midst. The crowd parted, and Tamiya\nYoemon appeared. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei and Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon stood by\nwith bloody swords, their own skins without a scratch. They were\nself-accused.\n\nThe upshot of the affair was ruin for all. Matters in Yotsuya were\ncoming to the official ears. Yoemon was forced to make charges against\nAkiyama; the more willingly as therein lay a chance to recoup his own\nlosses through the wife he intended to divorce on the morrow. Kondo[u]\neasily cleared his skirts of this offence, but was involved with the\nirate temple priests. All were entangled in the heavy costs of the law\nof those days. Of these three men something is to be said later.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX\n\nKIBEI DONO\n\n\nKibei was in great straits, financial and domestic. The death of Kwaiba\nhad brought him anything but freedom. In Nippon the headship of a House\nis much more than the simple heirship of our western law. Relieved of\nhis obligation in office the old man's hands were wide open to shower\nbenefice or caprice on the most worthless. Endorsement for cash and\ngoods to Natsume, Imaizumi, and Kamimura; donations to the temples of\nTeramachi and the Yotsuyazaka; favours in every direction except that of\nAkiyama Cho[u]zaemon, in the pursuit of whom Kwaiba found much\namusement; all these items added to the very free living in his\nhousehold had pledged deeply the ample revenue of two hundred and thirty\n_tawara_, and would have upheld the _samurai_ trait of not knowing the\nvalue of money--if Kwaiba had been of that kind. Between Kwaiba and\nKibei, the wild debauchery of the last year had brought the House to the\nverge of ruin. Kibei was aghast. Long since he had become deeply\ninvolved with the Kashiku Tamagiku of the Yamadaya in Edomachi\nItcho[u]me of the Yoshiwara. The ugly fellow was madly in love with the\nbeauty. On her he had poured out the treasures of the Ito[u] House\nduring the six months which preceded the illness of Kwaiba. During his\nprolonged absence from her the letters of the Kashiku had inundated the\nwriting table of Kibei. Had he deserted her? Was all affection gone?\nWhere now were the promises of ransom, the blood-sealed vow to become\nhusband and wife, to assume the relation which endures for two worlds?\nKibei sullenly read these lines; cursing Kwaiba and cursing himself.\nRansom! With strict living for the next five years _he_ might set\nmatters straight and free the Tayu; and any day _she_ might be bought by\nsome rich country _samurai_ or _go[u]shi_ (gentleman farmer), or be\ncarried off to ornament the _besso[u]_ of some _hatamoto_. Kibei wiped\nthe bitter saliva from his lips.[32]\n\nThe domestic difficulties were accompaniment to these more important\nmatters. In the large mansion Kibei was now alone. The tenth day had\nwitnessed the flight of the last of the servants. The women had departed\nwith the funeral, through fear, sacrificing wages and even such clothing\nas could not surreptitiously be removed. What woman--or man--could\nremain in a house which was the nightly scene of such fearful sounds of\ncombat. Shrieks, wails, groans, came from the quarters once occupied by\nthe dead Kwaiba. As to this there was no difference of opinion. The more\nventuresome had been favoured with actual sight of the scenes enacted.\nThey had seen the old man as he was in death, pursued from room to room\nby two frightful hags, as gaunt, blear, sightless as himself. Dreadful\nwere the cries of the dead man as the harpies fastened upon him,\ndescending from above like two huge bats. These scenes took place\nusually at the eighth hour (1 A.M.), not to cease until dawn. As for the\nmen servants, they took their leave in the days following, asking formal\ndismissal (_itoma_) with recommendation to another House. They scented\nthe approaching ruin of their present employer.\n\nOne day Kakusuke presented himself. Kibei looked up. He understood at\nonce that the man had come in his turn to take leave. Kakusuke alone had\nremained with him. He was _chu[u]gen_, stable boy, cook, maid; and did\nthe work of all four without complaint. The change in his master was too\nmarked. Kibei, in his turn, had become irritable, timorous as a girl,\nsubject to outbreaks of almost insane rage. To Kakusuke the young man\nseemed to have lost all nerve. Kakusuke wanted to serve a man. As long\nas the Wakadono gave promise of redemption, of rising above his\ndifficulties and emerging into a splendid career in which Kakusuke could\ntake pride, the _chu[u]gen_ was ready to take the bitter with the sweet.\nTo be maid servant and keeper of a man half mad had no attraction for\nthis blunt-nerved fellow. He spoke plainly--\"The Wakadono should deign\nto throw up the whole connection. Under the present conditions the ruin\nof the House is unavoidable. Condescend to return to the original House\nin Honjo[u] Yokogawa. This course will be best. At least the Wakadono\nsecures his own salvation. This is the advice of Kakusuke, grown old in\nexperience of service in a _samurai_ household. In naught else is there\nhope. As to himself, would the Wakadono condescend to grant dismissal.\"\nLong had been the intimacy between Ito[u] Kwaiba and Inagaki Sho[u]gen.\nKakusuke, the messenger between the two Houses, had watched this\nFukutaro[u] (Kibei) grow to manhood, had noted his prowess. It was with\ndelight he had carried the documents which were to bring this new and\nvigorous blood into the home of his decadent master. This was the\nresult. \"A pest on these witches--and their craft!\"\n\nKibei heard him out with growing anger. As the man's words gathered\nvigour and plain spokenness his hand wandered to his sword. He had a mind\nto cut him down then and there for his freedom of speech. More than half\ninduced to recognize the truth of the indictment his better feeling halted\nhim. With harsh and sardonic tone he gave unbelieving thanks for the\nimplied reproof of the _chu[u]gen_. The service of Kakusuke had been\nfaithful beyond measure. It should have its proper reward. If others had\nchosen to depart as do those who run away, they had shown ignorance of\nthis Kibei. From a drawer of the desk he took out a letter already\nprepared, a roll containing wages. He pushed the _zen_ toward Kakusuke.\nThis readiness, as if foreseen, hit the man hard. Respectfully he pressed\nthe letter to his forehead, bowing with extended hands on the _tatami_;\nthe money he did not touch. Finally he raised a timid questioning glance\nto his one-time master. Said Kibei jeeringly--\"Kakusuke has given his\nadvice. Is it part of his long experience that a servant should question\nthe wages placed under his nose? Off with you! This Kibei would be alone;\nmost willingly so.\" At the peremptory threatening gesture Kakusuke no\nlonger hesitated. He had no inclination to be a victim of one of the mad\noutbreaks of the young man. Taking the roll humbly he backed out of the\nroom. His steps were heard a few minutes later passing the entrance. Then\nthe outer gate shut to with a clang.\n\nFor a long watch Kibei sat in meditation. He was as one who sleeps.\nThen he rose with decision. \"'Tis the last chance. Kakusuke is right.\nThe matter is to be brought to an end.\" Dressing for the street he left\nthe house. He opened the big gate; then went to the stable, and saddled\nand bridled his horse. He led it outside, closed the gate, and mounting\nhe rode forth, to go to Honjo[u] Yokogawa and the _yashiki_ of his\nfather, Inagaki Sho[u]gen. Coming unaccompanied he was received with\nsurprise and some discomfiture, as he was quick to note. He was very\nquick to note things in these days. Prostrating himself before his\nmother--\"Kibei presents himself. Honoured mother, deign to pardon the\nintrusion. Fukutaro[u] would solicit her pity and influence.\" The lady\nlooked at him with amazement. \"Fukutaro[u]! What then of Kibei? Is some\njest deigned at the mother's expense? It is in very bad taste.... But\nthe face of Kibei implies no jest. Pray put the matter plainly. Why does\nher son come in petition to the mother?\" Began Kibei--\"The matter is\nmost serious....\" He went into the full details; from the time of his\nentrance into the Ito[u] House, through the course of dissipation and\nillness of Kwaiba, down to the present ruined state of affairs. \"All\nthis is due to the curse of O'Iwa San, to this plot in which Kibei\nfoolishly engaged.\" Of this he now fully felt the force. The events of\nthe past weeks had wrecked him in mind and body. One disaster after\nanother, in house and ward, had been visited on Kibei. The bitterness\nand dislike of the people toward Kwaiba was visited on his\nrepresentative, who was held responsible. In his great mansion he lived\nalone. No servant would enter it to attend to his wants. Was he to cook\nand be valet for himself--and pose as the Kumi-gashira, the great chief\nof the ward! The position was an impossible one. Deign to use a mother's\ninfluence with Inagaki Dono. \"Condescend to secure permission for the\nreturn of this Kibei to his original House, for the cancellation of the\nadoption.\"\n\nThe wife of Sho[u]gen sat frightened; at the tale, and at this radical\nway of finding an exit from the situation. The mother's heart was full of\npity for the distracted son, whose haggard looks showed the strain of the\npast weeks. Besides she was a woman, and as such fully believed in and\nfeared the curse of this dead O'Iwa, one who had died without funeral\nrites or prayer. \"Fortunately the honoured father now is on the night\nwatch at the castle. He is at home, drinking his wine. His humour is\nexcellent. Wait but a moment.\" Leaving Kibei she went to the room of\nSho[u]gen's light indulgence. The severe and conscientious nobleman was\nbending under the genial influence of the _sake_. \"Kibei? He comes in good\nseason. The heir of Kwaiba Inkyo[u] has not favoured his real father of\nlate. Ah! The boy was well placed. Kwaiba soon made way for him; and none\ntoo willingly, one can believe.\" He chuckled. Then noting his wife's\ntroubled looks. \"But there is something to tell.\"--\"So indeed; none too\npleasant.\" She went into the story Kibei had told her. \"His fear of O'Iwa\nSan is deadly. The House is ruined, with no profit in the connection.\nDeign to permit the cancellation of the adoption, his return to the House\nof his true parent.\" She stopped before the stern astonished look of the\nhusband. Said he harshly--\"Let him come up. Sho[u]gen answers Kibei Dono\nin person.... Heigh! Up here with you! For Ito[u] Dono there is wine....\"\nKibei entered joyfully at his father's call. Success was in his hands.\nOnce more he was to marshal his father's retainers and accompany him to\nthe castle; once more be the habitue of the fencing rooms. \"Honoured\nfather, fear enters: for long this Kibei has not ventured into your\npresence.\"--\"And need not for long again,\" thundered the old man. \"What\nstuff is this for the ears of Sho[u]gen? Kibei would sever his connection\nwith the Ito[u] House. Kibei is afraid of a ghost! He fears a girl! A\n_samurai_ wearing two swords shrinks from an encounter with a woman! Has\nSho[u]gen no obligation toward his old friend Kwaiba? In more serious\nmatters and in life Sho[u]gen would share Kwaiba's lot. Back with you to\nthe house in Yotsuya! If this matter become known, both Kibei and\nSho[u]gen will be the laughing stocks of Edo. At least keep such fears to\nyourself. Off with you! Sho[u]gen had wine for Ito[u] Dono. For the fellow\nwho would call himself--Fukutaro[u], he has none.\" With a kick he sent\nrolling the _zen_ (table) with its burden of bottles and heating\napparatus. In a rage he left the room.\n\nKibei's face was white as he raised it from the _tatami_. \"Father has no\nexperience of ghosts; he speaks at random and in anger. Terrible is the\nactuality.\" Said the mother, slowly and painfully--\"He is the father; he\nis to be obeyed.\" Kibei was sitting upright. He nodded grave assent.\nThen suddenly he prostrated himself ceremoniously before the _sho[u]ji_\nthrough which Sho[u]gen had disappeared. He repeated the salutation\nbefore his mother. Then he rose--\"Ito[u] Kibei takes leave. May good\nhealth and fortune visit those of this House.\" At his exit the mother\nrejoiced. Severe had been the father's words, but they had brought the\nboy to reason. She wept and trembled at the reproof. Men had best\nknowledge of such affairs. She would pray at Reiganji, and have memorial\nservice held for the peace of this O'Iwa in the next world. Then the\ncurse would not rest upon her son.\n\nOn his appearance at the house entrance an _ashigaru_ (foot soldier)\nled up the horse. Kibei waved him away--\"For the present keep the animal\nin charge. With matters to attend to close at hand Kibei will use other\nconveyance.\" The man took the animal away. Leaving the gate of the\n_yashiki_ Kibei walked the short distance to the Ho[u]onji bridge. Here\nwas a _kago_ (litter) stand. \"To Yamadaya in Yoshiwara.\" As the _kago_\nmen went off at a trot--\"Kibei has played and lost. How does the account\nyonder stand? Seventy _ryo[u]_ owed at the Matsuminatoya. For the rest,\nthis Kibei can claim a night's attendance from the _kashiku_. If\naffection would not grant it, the huge sums bestowed in the past have a\nclaim upon her. Then to end matters and die like a _samurai_. To-morrow\nKibei cuts belly.\" It was the debt which sent him direct to the\nYamadaya, and not first to the tea house. Sitting over the wine all\neffort of the Kashiku to enliven him failed. Noting her discomfiture he\nsmiled gloomily. Then in explanation--\"The thoughts of Kibei go astray.\nThe House is ruined. Ransom is impossible. This is the last meeting.\nTo-morrow Kibei cuts belly, and dies like a _samurai_.\" At first the\ngirl thought he was joking. Then noting the wild look of despair in his\neyes, she was frightened. Partly in disbelief; partly seeking to\npostpone this desperate resolve, to turn his thoughts and gain time for\nreflection; partly in that sentimental mood which at times affects this\nclass of women--\"Is Kibei truly ruined? Lamentable the fate of Tamagiku.\nWhy not join him in death? But the idea is too new. Deign to postpone\nthe execution for a space. To-night shall be a night of pleasure with\nthe Kashiku Tamagiku. With the morrow's darkness she dies with Kibei.\nHand in hand they will wander the paths of Amida's paradise.\" She came\nclose to him in service of the wine; put her arms about him, and drew\nhim to her bosom; in every way cajoled and sought to comfort him, and\ncorrupt his purpose. Consent was easy. The night was passed in love and\nwine. In the morning he left her.\n\nKibei was making his final preparations; writing directions which\nwould benefit as far as possible the House in Honjo[u] at the expense of\nthat in Yotsuya. In the Yoshiwara a very different scene was taking\nplace. With his departure the Kashiku sprang up. Hastily throwing a robe\naround her person she sought the room of the _yarite_--the bawd of the\nhouse. \"The Kashiku! At this hour--what has happened?\"--\"Something of\nimportance. This night Tama dies with Kibei Dono. The compact is closed,\nhard and firm.\" The astonished bawd had been rubbing the sleep out of\nher eyes. The last words brought her full awake--\"Is the Kashiku drunk\nwith wine? Is she mad? Truly it would seem so. And the bail? What is to\nbecome of the unfortunate? True it is Toemon of Honjo[u]; and he has\ntrouble enough already. He will never leave his prison.\" Tamagiku made a\ngesture of impatience--\"This Tama has acted but to gain time. Can she\nhave affection for such an ugly fellow? Was she to be the victim of some\ncrazy outburst? Perhaps the day will bring better counsel; but the\nnight's conversation does not augur it. His plans are most complete. The\nmaster must be seen. Deign to mediate; prevent the admittance of Kibei\nDono as guest.\" O'Kayo the bawd nodded intelligence and assent. At once\nshe sought the master of the house. \"A dangerous guest,\" was his\ncomment. \"Send to the Matsuminatoya. They must be warned. We can look\nafter ourselves.\" As an attendant of the tea house presented\nhimself--\"And the master, Teisuke San!\"--\"Is absent; this To[u]suke\nrepresents him. He has gone to Edo. Perhaps the house will deign to look\nat a new inmate. A true Tayu! The daughter of Akiyama San of Yotsuya\nsacrifices her caste. But sixteen years, she is a jewel. Less than a\nhundred _ryo[u]_ will buy her. He is in great difficulties.\" To[u]suke\nspoke with enthusiasm. The master of the Yamadaya answered promptly and\nwith emphasis--\"Accepted: let her be on hand in the course of the day.\nBut To[u]suke, there is another matter. Kibei Dono no longer can be\naccepted as a guest.\" He went into details. To[u]suke drew a long\nbreath. \"A dangerous fellow! The Danna Sama never liked his presence.\nBut he owes the house much money; seventy _ryo[u]_.\"--\"That is your\naffair,\" coldly replied the master of the Yamadaya. \"This house answers\nnot for the accounts of the tea-house. Previous notice has been given.\nKibei Dono cannot be received as guest.\"--\"That is not to be denied. He\nis most undesirable. But the seventy _ryo[u]_! And the week's settlement\nto make with this house?\" The Yamadaya had an idea--\"It rarely passes a\nhundred _ryo[u]_.... Five years is accepted? Then take thirty _ryo[u]_\nand deliver this girl to the Yamadaya.... A true Tayu? If so the debt of\nKibei finds payment.\" To[u]suke agreed with joy.\n\nAt night the _kago_ man set Kibei down before the Matsuminatoya.\nTeisuke, the _teishu[u]_ (host), regarded his arrival with mixed\nfeelings. His coming meant something. Giving up his two swords, and once\nseated, Kibei's first act was to give thanks for past services. Calling\nfor his account he produced the seventy _ryo[u]_ in its settlement.\nPrompt and profound were the humble thanks of the house for this\nunexpected liquidation. Kibei had secured the money by the transfer of\nobligations of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon to the usurer Suzuki Sanjuro[u].\nThree hundred and fifty _ryo[u]_ immediately due against seventy\n_ryo[u]_ in cash satisfied even this shark. Teisuke was impressed. How\ndeny such a guest? He would get rid of him, and profit both ways.\nYamadaya now would promptly pay the additional seventy _ryo[u]_ due on\nthe girl with whom they were so delighted. He had paid fifty _ryo[u]_\nfor her. At Kibei's call his order was prompt. \"To[u]suke, accompany\nKibei Dono to the Yamadaya.\" Kibei's calm and collected manner reassured\nhim. This man did not contemplate suicide.\n\nWith the appearance of To[u]suke and Kibei at the Yamadaya there was a\nflutter. The Banto[u] Matsuzo respectfully came forward. As Kibei came\nup to the _ro[u]ka_ and shook off his _geta_ he interposed. \"Deign to\nwait, Kibei Dono. Matters have changed since morning. The Kashiku is\nvery ill. She can see no one. Condescend to come another time. For one\nill in body pleasure is no pastime. Pray consider; grant excuse for this\none occasion.\" Kibei was surprised. He had left her perfectly well in\nthe morning. Something in the _banto[u]'s_ face, in the massed position\nof the men standing by, apprised him of the truth. He was enraged at the\nlie and the insult. \"Ill? That is very strange, when so well at morning.\nBut it is immaterial. Kibei goes to the room.\"--\"Impossible,\" was the\nfirm reply of the _banto[u]_. \"The Kashiku lies isolated from all. It is\nthe order of the physician. Even those in the rooms around her have been\nordered out. Pray forbear.\" But Kibei was obstinate--\"Then a glass of\nwine at her bedside; Kibei has matters to impart.\" The _banto[u]_ stuck\nto his post--\"Wine! Amid the smell of drugs, the unseemly vessels of the\nsick room! Such could not be permitted.\" Kibei stretched out an arm. The\n_banto[u]_ went flying a dozen feet. Kibei made a leap toward the\nstairway. But the bawd O'Kayo interposed her vinegary presence. She was\nbrave; having the support of great numbers, of the whole household.\n\"What rudeness! How inconsiderate your way of acting! You behave in very\nbad taste; with the roughness of an _ashigaru_ (foot soldier). The\nYamadaya does not entertain such miserable scamps. The Tayu is ill. This\nKayo says it. Get you hence--to some coolie house. Return the day before\nyesterday.\"[33] Kibei gave a yell--\"Yai! You old bitch! The whole affair\nis plain to Kibei. Out of money, his presence is no longer desired. Ah!\nKibei will have vengeance.\" Without arms, before the sullen\ndetermination of these plebeians, he felt his helplessness. An unseemly\nbrawl, in which he would be worsted, must not be entered on. He must\nleave. In a towering rage he strode back to the tea-house. To[u]suke\ntried to keep pace with him.\n\nSaid Teisuke in feigned astonishment--\"Kibei Dono! What has happened?\"\nKibei did but stutter and fume. The _teishu[u]_ turned to To[u]suke.\nThis latter made answer for his charge--\"At the Yamadaya they were very\nrude. Admittance was refused to Kibei Dono. The bawd O'Kayo told him to\ncome back day before yesterday!\"--\"Very rude indeed! Were such things\nsaid? It is unpardonable. An explanation must be had with the house.\nDanna Sama, for to-night deign to leave this matter to Teisuke. Ample\nsatisfaction shall be had for the outrage.\" Teisuke threw up his hands\nas with uncontrollable anger. Kibei paid no attention, but demanded his\nswords. Outwardly he had regained his self-control. The maid O'Moto\nlooked with diffidence at her mistress. The woman was accustomed to such\nscenes. At her sign the girl brought the weapons, carefully wrapped up.\nShe placed them before Kibei. Unrolling the cover he put them on. With\nscanty salutation he strode off. Teisuke watched him--\"It would be wise\nfor the Yamadaya to close early to-night, to take in their lanterns;\nnay, even to board up the front and take refuge in the store-house.\"\nTo[u]suke was in no hurry to face Matsuzo, the _banto[u]_ of Yamadaya.\nContinued the easy old fellow--\"Well, 'tis their affair. They are as\ngood judges as Teisuke; and they could have been more civil in refusal.\nAt all events the house has seventy _ryo[u]_, and Kibei Dono is sober.\nHe will cut belly before dawn; and perhaps nothing will happen\nhereabouts.\" The old pimp went off to his inner room; to sit down before\nhis wine about the same time that Kibei did the same in a cook shop\nopposite the great gate of Yoshiwara. Here he idled, barely touched his\ndrink, and passed the time in bantering the maid servant. He was in a\nriotous humour. He would take her to wife--and sell her the next\nmorning. \"As they do yonder.\" But O'Kiyo was not of that kind. \"There is\na lover?\"--\"Of course!\" In admitting it she blushed, somewhat offended\nat hint of suspicion that such was lacking. Jibed Kibei--\"He will do the\nsame. Better to be the wife of a _samurai_; even for an hour.\" In the\nend he frightened the girl a good deal, so boisterous was he. She had\ngone out to buy him a deep hat. With relief she saw him put it on and\nset forth into the darkness and the rain.\n\nThe eighth hour (1 A.M.) was nearly ready to strike. The pleasure quarter\nwas silent. Passersby were few. The occasional shuffling sound of\n_zo[u]ri_ (sandals) could be heard behind the closed _amado_. Kibei smiled\ncynically as he recognized this mark of revolting passage from one room to\nanother. In doubt he stood before the gate of the Yamadaya. How break in\nand kill them all? If Kibei had his way the Kashiku would keep her word.\nJust then a noise of voices was heard within, the falling of the bar.\nSeveral belated guests came forth. They were in the charge of O'Moto, the\nmaid of the Matsuminatoya. Affectionate were the leave-takings with the\nquondam wives. \"Condescend an early visit. This Haya lives but in the\nthought of Mosuke.\"--\"Bunzaemon San, be faithful to this Hana. In his\nabsence she is always ill. She receives no one.\" At this there was a roar\nof laughter from the others of the company. Bunzaemon answered with\nreproaches. Kibei followed behind. This fellow was somewhat lamed. He\nlagged behind. Kibei pulled his sleeve. Bunzaemon, the cit, turned in\nsurprise and fear at sight of the _samurai_ in his deep hat. Said\nKibei--\"Don't be afraid. Bunzaemon San has forgotten pipe, or purse, or\nsomething. He must go back to the Yamadaya.\" At the fellow's groping in\nhis garments and failure to understand he grew impatient. \"A friend lies\nat the Yamadaya. It is late, and they will not open at an unknown voice.\nEntrance somehow must be had. Deign to lend your aid.\" At last the fellow\ncomprehended--\"O'Moto San! A moment: my pipe....\"--\"Oya! The Danna Sama\nhas forgotten his pipe?\" The girl went back the short distance to the\ngate. She knocked and called. With sleepy tones the voice of Matsuzo the\n_banto[u]_ was heard. The bar fell. The girl turned to look down the\nstreet toward her guests. She looked right into the face of Kibei.\nDropping her lantern, with a smothered scream she fled.\n\nMatsu, the _banto[u]_, looked with horror at the man before him. As\nKibei threw off his hat he turned to flee. Tripping, he fell. Kibei drew\nhim back by the leg. A blow cut him through the shoulder. As he rose\nstaggering a second vicious side swing sent the severed head to the\nground. The gate-man took the chance. Fleeing to the recesses of the\nkitchen, he swarmed up a post and hid himself among the rafters of the\nroof, amid the darkness of their shadows. Kibei turned back and\ncarefully barred the gate. With the key at the girdle of Matsuzo he\nlocked the bar chain. All was now ready for his visitation and search.\n\nOn the floor above they had a drunken guest in hand, trying to get him\nto depart. A _banto[u]_ and several women formed the committee of\nexpulsion. \"Ah! Money gone, one's welcome is quickly worn out in this\nhell. But Jusuke does not budge. He fears not the whole pack of\nfoxes.... Thanks: deep the obligation of this Jusuke, extending to the\nnext life.\" A woman had picked up and restored his purse. \"The bill is\npaid? An early start To[u]kaido[u] way? Ah, true! Jusuke had forgotten.\"\nHe was now all compliments and thanks. Then in a rage--\"Oh! The huzzy!\nWhat is Jusuke's purse worth with nothing in it? Who has robbed the\npurse of Jusuke?\" He was madly fumbling his tobacco pouch. A woman put\nhis hand on the missing object in the folds of his girdle. He was\nmollified. As they moved to the head of the stairs--\"Take care! Jusuke\nSan, don't fall! Banto[u] San, deign to aid the guest.\" Refusing all\nhelp the man lurched half way down the flight. Then he stopped, staring\nand looking before him. At the foot stood Kibei, bloody sword in hand.\n\"Down with this Jusuke? But Jusuke cannot down. A fool blocks the\nway.... Fool, you block the way of Jusuke.\"--\"Out of the road,\ndrunkard!\" The words of Kibei came between his teeth, half growl, half\nsnarl. The man obstinately held his own. When Kibei would push past\nhim--\"Beast!\" He struck the _samurai_. Kibei whirled the sword. The head\nrolled to the bottom of the steps. The blood bathed Kibei from head to\nfoot.\n\nHis appearance was horrible. The women fled in all directions. The\n_banto[u]_ covered their retreat. \"Kibei Dono! Pray be reasonable.\nControl yourself!\" Kibei made a step toward the women's rooms. The\n_banto[u]_ was dreadfully frightened, yet bravely he interposed to save\nthem. He shouted for aid; below and to the neighbours. Kibei reached\nhim. A blow and he fell severed. Kibei gave a howl of joy. O'Kayo the\nbawd came out to ascertain the cause of the brawl. She turned livid with\nfear on recognizing Kibei. They were standing together in the sort of\nentresol or room at the head of the stairway. Only a large brazier\nseparated Kibei from his vengeance. Its massiveness of three or four\nfeet breadth baffled him. The woman was fleeing for life. As he strove\nto get within striking distance fear gave her wings. From one side to\nanother she leaped and dodged. Kibei was hampered. He had to cut her off\nfrom stair and _ro[u]ka_. As he hesitated she discharged the iron kettle\nat his head. One implement followed another. In hurling the iron tripod\nashes entered her eyes. At once Kibei leaped to close quarters. The\nfirst sword blow she dodged. As Kibei recovered she sprang by him and\nover the _hibachi_, seeking the safety of the stairs now open to her.\nHer night-dress caught on the handle of the brazier and brought her to\nthe ground. Next moment she was severed from shoulder to midriff.\n\nMethodically Kibei began his examination of the rooms. To most of the\ninmates this uproar was a mere quarrel in the house, the cause of which\nthey neither knew nor cared to know. The first search was at the room of\nthe Kashiku, close to that of O'Kayo the bawd. Her reception room was\ndark. Here the Kashiku's bed usually was prepared. The inner room, her\ndressing room, showed the dim light of an _andon_. Noting her absence\nfrom the usual place a hasty stride brought him to the _sho[u]ji_. As he\nviolently shoved them apart a man rose from the bed in the room. A mere\nglance showed that this was no lover. As Kibei with drawn sword stood\nover him, he squatted on his hams, crouching and begging for life. To\nKibei's astonishment he called him by name--\"Deign, honoured Sir, to\nspare this Cho[u]bei. Be assured the Kashiku is not in this place. She\nlies to-night with the Danna of the house. Deign to seek her in his\ncompany.\" He pointed vaguely as he spoke, to give direction. Kibei\nlaughed ferociously. From this source these directions were atrocious.\nHe lowered the weapon--\"Cho[u]bei! At this place and time! Well met,\ngood Sir. Kibei is doubly grateful for what he has learned. Cho[u]bei\nand Kibei are fellows in fortune. Willingly Kibei leaves him to O'Iwa\nSan and her mercies.\" His attentive gaze never wandered from the face of\nthe one-time pimp. With a gesture of horror he rushed from the room. In\nfright Cho[u]bei rolled his head up in the coverlet, to keep out the\nvision evoked.\n\nHe continued his search--\"Is it my little black fellow?\" Such the\ngreeting of one woman aroused from sleep. Trembling she rose at sight of\nKibei. Harshly told to lie down, she gladly obeyed. Her quivering limbs\nalready were nearly yielding as he spoke. In but one place did he\nencounter opposition. Pushing open the _sho[u]ji_ of the merest closet\nof a room he came upon a girl whose face somehow was familiar. She was a\nmere slip of a creature to be called a woman. The undeveloped hips, the\nyet immature bosom, aroused his astonishment at finding her in such a\nplace as inmate; that is, until the pure oval and beauty of the face\ncaught his glance. As he entered she sprang up in alarm. Just roused\nfrom sleep she hardly knew where she was--\"Father! Father! A man! A man\nis in the room! Help!\" Kibei pushed her back on the bed. With his bloody\nsword he rolled over the bed-clothes. Then he made a move to get at the\ncloset behind. Perhaps mistaking his action the girl sprang upon him.\nKibei was startled at her mad energy. When he thrust her down she seized\nhis hand in her teeth, sinking them deep into it. Pain and\nimpatience--after all he was pressed for time--overcame him. Unable\notherwise to shake her off he thrust the point of the sword into her\nthroat and gave a vigorous downward push. Coughing up great clouts of\nblood, the girl sank back, dying on the _futon_. As he left the room\nremembrance came to Kibei's mind. He had seen her in Yotsuya. More than\nonce O'Tsuru had served him tea in the house of her father,\nCho[u]zaemon. How came she in this vile den? He took a step back to aid\nher if he could. She was stone dead.\n\nThe Tayu Nishikiyama[34] now knew the cause of the disturbance. To the\nfrightened page (_kamuro_) who came running to her--\"Be quiet child.\nThis is no time to lose self-control. Aid me in preparation.\" She\ndressed herself with the greatest care; \"all in white, as befitted a\nlady in attendance on a nobleman.\" Then she took down her _koto_ and\nstruck the opening bars of an old and famous song--the \"Jinmujo[u]\"\n(Inexhaustible Happiness)--said to have been sung by the famous Shizuka\nGo[u]zen when she danced the Ho[u]raku, or sacred dance, before the\nSho[u]gun Yoritomo at Kamakura Hachimangu[u]. As Kibei turned into the\ncorridor the voice of the Oiran caught his ear as she sang in\naccompaniment to the instrument. She was bending over the _koto_ as the\n_sho[u]ji_ were flung apart. Kibei, his hair hanging in disorder and\nframing a face ghastly white in contrast to the red streaks splashed\nover it and his garments, stood transfixed at the entrance. The Tayu\nlooked up. With calm pose and courteous salute--\"Kibei Dono, what manner\nof acting is this! Is not Kibei Dono the _bushi_? Truly madness has\nseized you, honoured Sir. This is Nishikiyama.... Deign to be seated.\n'Tis Nishikiyama who serves Kibei Dono. What has been done cannot be\nundone. The last cup of wine in life is to be drained. Deign to accept\nit from these humble hands.\"\n\nKibei continued gazing on her. The unhappy man, his mind was opened to\na flood of light. The hurricane of passion was passing. Slowly he\nadvanced into the room. \"Truly the Go Tayu is right. Kibei has gone mad;\nmad indeed!\" He sank down on the cushion before her. At a sign the page\nplaced the stand containing the bottle of cold _sake_ before the lady.\nSkilfully the slender hands held it, gracefully poured it for the man\ndoomed to death, taking this final cup served by her. Kibei raised it,\ndrained it to the last drop. \"The Kashiku: she is on this lower floor.\nWhere lies she?\" Nashikiyama noted the wild light returning to his eyes.\nShe bowed her head before him--\"The life of Nishikiyama is at the\ncommand of Kibei Dono. Her lips are sealed. Honoured Sir, how answer\nKibei Dono's question?\" For the moment he looked down. Then he\nrose--\"Whose daughter can the Oiran be! Truly no lady in the land could\nshow a higher courage, a finer courtesy. The final salute of this Kibei\nin life is to the Go Tayu.\" In grave ceremony it was performed. As he\nleft the room the woman buried her face in her hands, weeping bitterly.\nIn wonder and gratitude the frightened page extended her hands, her face\nhidden in the white robes of the Go Tayu.\n\nKibei trod this lower corridor with sombre tread. He would cut belly at\nthe garden pond. With some surprise he noted an _amado_ open at the end\nof the _ro[u]ka_. Voices were heard. Standing at the opening he saw\nlanterns. Some frenzied women had raised a ladder to the garden wall.\nThey would thus escape, but the knife-like bamboo stakes prevented. Said\na voice outside, and close to him--\"The key to the gate: here it is.\"\nThe Kashiku at a run passed by him. Kibei gave a shout. The frightened\nwoman turned, recognized him, then sped on. In a few steps he was on\nher. The raised sword descended as she fell on her knees before him, in\nattempt to swerve its course. Through wrist and collar-bone, from neck\nto navel, the keen blade passed. Kibei threw the weapon aside. He leaned\nover her, his dagger drawn. Then he rose, holding by its tresses the\nhead. For a moment he gazed on it. Slowly he walked to the pond in the\ncentre of the garden. Carefully he washed the bloody trophy and placed\nit on the curbing. Confronting it he made reverential salutation. \"Kibei\nkeeps his promise to the Kashiku. With Tamagiku he treads the gloomy\npaths of Shideyama. Honoured lady--a moment and Kibei follows.\" Seated\nbefore the head reposing on the curb he opened his clothes. Thrusting\nthe bloody dagger deep into his left side he slowly drew it across the\nbelly; then made the upward cut. The body fell forward. Kibei indeed had\nkept his word.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI\n\nMATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL\n\n\nInagaki Sho[u]gen received the news at dawn, just as he was leaving the\ncastle on completion of his night watch. The old knight smiled gravely,\nthanked the bearer of the message, and rewarded him with lavish hand.\nThe _kago_ bearers jolted on. The news had reached the train, and\n_chu[u]gen_ and spearman exchanged whispers. On arrival at the Inagaki\n_yashiki_ his lordship made no motion to descend. The chamberlain\nraising the curtain gave a cry of horror. The old man lay stretched at\nthe bottom of the little chamber. The dagger and the pool of blood told\nthe tale. Sho[u]gen had followed the example of his son. He, too, now\ntrod the paths of Shideyama.\n\nWith laggard tottering step Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon entered his house.\nRegardless of wife and the cushion she offered, of the hardly repressed\ntear in her salutation, he cast himself full length on the mats. He\nburied his face in his arms. The groans which issued from the prostrate\nbody frightened the woman. \"The honoured return; has other misfortune\nfallen on the House?\" A shrug of the shoulders, a shiver; then the man\nhalf rose and faced her. She was startled at his expression. He was\nfacing the most dreadful, not mere thought of ruin to him and\nhis--\"Suzuki San is liar and thief. Fifty _ryo[u]_ in hand the promise\nwas for abstention. Now he demands twenty _ryo[u]_ more--the interest on\nthe debt in full.\" His voice rose to a harsh scream. He laughed\ndespairingly. \"Seventy-five _ryo[u]_ interest, for the loan of a month;\nand that loan forced on this Cho[u]zaemon by Ito[u] Kwaiba! Kibei has\nsquandered everything. The loan comes back on the bail. If Suzuki holds\nthe interest in hand, he allows the principal, three hundred and fifty\n_ryo[u]_, to stand for the month. Unless he has the lacking twenty-five\n_ryo[u]_ by the fourth hour (9 A.M.) to-morrow, complaint is laid at the\noffice. As usual the interest is written into the face of the bond. The\nend is certain. This Cho[u]zaemon must cut belly or suffer degradation\n(_kaieki_).\" He looked her over critically. The light of hope died out\nof his eyes--\"Ah! If this Tsuyu could but be sold, the money would be in\nhand. But she is old and ugly. Pfaugh!...\" How he hated her at this\nmoment. Some half a dozen years older than Cho[u]zaemon the marriage had\nbeen arranged by the parents on truly financial principles. Mizoguchi\nHampei was rich, and reputed stingy and saving. Just recently he had\nfallen into the Edogawa as he returned home late one night. Drunk and\nsurfeited with the foul waters of the stream they had fished him out\nstone dead. Then it was learned that the old fellow of sixty odd years\nhad several concubines, of the kind to eat into house and fortune. The\nreversion of the pension, of course, went to the House. In all these\nyears Cho[u]zaemon had never received the dower of O'Tsuyu; nor dared to\npress the rich man for it, too generous to his daughter to quarrel with.\nThe funds eagerly looked for by Cho[u]zaemon were found to be _non est\ninventus_. Probably, if alive, Mizoguchi would have argued that the\ndower had been paid in instalments. In his grave difficulties Akiyama\ncould find no aid in his wife. She mourned her uselessness--\"Willingly\nwould Tsuyu come to the aid of House and husband, join her daughter in\nthe bitter service. But past forty years.... 'Tis useless to think of\nit. Perhaps some expedient will come to mind.\" She brought out the arm\nrest and placed it near his side. Then she sat apart watching him. From\ntime to time was heard the tap of her pipe as she knocked out the ashes.\nAt last, overcome by sleep and seeing no sign of movement on the\nhusband's part, she went off to bed, expecting that he would soon\nfollow.\n\nShe woke with a start--\"Father! Father!\" The voice of O'Tsuru rang\nsharply in her ears. Dazed she half rose and looked around her. The\ndaylight streamed through the closed _amado_. She had been dreaming.\nWith surprise she noted her husband's absence. Had he gone forth? The\ncries of a bean curd seller were heard without--\"_To[u]fu!_ _To[u]fu!_\nThe best of _to[u]fu_!\" The palatable, cheap, and nutritious food was a\nstandard meal in this house as in many others of Nippon. Akiyama was\nmost generous in indulgence of his passions for gambling, wine, and the\nwomen of Shinjuku; and his household with equal generosity were indulged\nin an economical regimen of _to[u]fu_. The wife rose to answer the call\nof the street huckster. Her surprise increased as she found every means\nof exit bolted and barred, as during the night. The open sliding window\nin the kitchen roof caught her eye. Surely he had not departed that way!\nAs she opened the back door a murmur of voices, as in the roadway or\nclose by, struck her ear. The _to[u]fu_ seller had his head turned away\nlooking upward. At her call he turned quickly with apology--\"Good day,\nhonoured lady. A strange event! Ah! The honoured household still sleeps.\nAll is silent.... Strange indeed! A man has hung himself on the big oak\ntree in the temple ground. Deign to look.\" He pointed to the big tree\nclose by in the grounds of the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji.[35] Sure enough: forty\nfeet from the ground dangled the body of a man. It swayed gently to and\nfro in harmony with the movement of the branches. A hand seemed to grasp\nthe heart of Tsuyu. The branches of the tree reached far over their\nroof. The open _hikimado_! With feeble voice she said--\"My husband; he\nis strangely absent. Deign, somebody, to climb up and find out whether\nthis man is--of the ward.\" The startled _to[u]fu_ seller hastened to get\naid. Several men entered the garden, quickly mounted to the roof, and\nthus reached the tree. Said the topmost fellow--\"Ma! Ma! It is no pretty\nsight. He makes a hideous spectacle. The face is black as a rice boiler.\nThe eyes stand out as if ready to burst. The tongue hangs out like a\ntrue guard (_hyo[u]tan_). The grin on the distended mouth is not nice to\nsee. Ah! The rascal has used the merest cord to cut himself off. And he\nhas nearly done so. The head is almost severed.\" He gave a\nshout--\"Naruhodo! Why, its....\" One close by silenced him. The men above\nlooked down. They made signs to those below. The women gathered around\nO'Tsuyu as if to keep her from the sight. She broke away from them as\nthe body was gently lowered to the ground. Her shrieks rang loud. They\nstrove to detach her from the dead body of Cho[u]zaemon. The House\nruined, daughter and husband taken out of her life in a single day; the\nblow was too crushing for a brain harassed by a life with this debauched\nworthless man. Her warders struggled with one gone clean daft. Years\nafter men grown up from childhood in the ward looked with pity at the\nfeeble ragged old mad beggar woman who crouched by the beautiful bronze\ndragon which ornaments the water basin of the Ten-o[u] Jinja. They would\ndrop in her hand a copper \"cash,\" and drive off with rebuke the children\nwho taunted and annoyed her--as they had done years before. Thus were\nmother and daughter--the innocent--involved in the father's crime\nagainst the dread Lady of Tamiya.\n\nAll these events created a tremendous stir in Yotsuya. Men disliked to\ngo abroad at night. Women, to their great inconvenience were confined to\nthe house. Two figures approaching each other in the darkness would be\nseen to hesitate and stop. \"What's that--standing, slinking yonder by\nthe wall? Alas! This Kinsaburo[u], this Genzaemon has evil fortune led\nhim into the clutches of the O'Bake? O'Iwa! O'Iwa!\" With that and mad\ncries they would fall on each other; at times only to exercise restraint\nafter some injury had been done. Hence quarrels arose; feuds, started in\nall innocence, came into being. Women, as suspects, were chief\nsufferers. The local atmosphere was overcharged, nerve racked. And so\nfrom Honjo[u] to Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), from Nakanocho[u] (Yoshiwara) to\nShinagawa, even in the nearer post towns of Kawasaki, Tsurumi, and\nKanagawa the talk was spreading of the strange happenings in Yotsuya of\nEdo town. Katada Tatewaki, descendant of that Katada Samon who, as\nvassal of Gongen Samon (Iyeyasu) had had this Aoyama-Yotsuya district in\nfief, now first began his inquiries into the affair. The Katada had wide\npossessions elsewhere at the time of the grant. Samon had gifted much of\nhis new fief as temple land, and on the old maps of the day this part of\nEdo is a blood red splash, indication of these many establishments. But\nthe Katada influence still prevailed through the ward, indeed through\nthe more than good will of the beneficiaries. Tatewaki's _yashiki_ was\nat the top of Ushigomezaka. His modest pension of a thousand _koku_ by\nno means represented the extent of his power. Iemon became frightened at\nthe storm gathering against him. He was open to all suggestions of\nremedy for the cataleptic state into which O'Hana had fallen. The\nneighbour gossips suggested calling in the Daiho[u]-in of Shiomachi. A\nservice kept part at least of the money in the ward. They had their\nshare in provision and consumption; the fifty _ryo[u]_ necessary were\nmuch to them--and to Iemon in his present circumstances.\n\nThe neighbours were assembled at Tamiya. Iemon went forth to greet the\nDaiho[u]-in. With his attendant _kannushi_ and train he presented\nhimself at the entrance. Iemon was prostrate in salutation before the\ngreat man.--\"Reverential thanks for the condescension. Deign to enter\nthis unfortunate house.\" The Shinto[u] priest was brusque, as is the way\nof the kind. Himself he was the _samurai_, with all the tone of official\nmanner. \"Ha! Ha! Salutation to all.\" He gave a comprehensive glance\nthrough the assembly and lost none of them in the process. He approached\nthe couch of O'Hana. He opened the closed eyes, which stared fixedly\ninto space as of one dead. He raised an arm upright from the body.\nStepping aside, he squatted. Some moments passed. The arm remained\nrigidly upright. Satisfied, the Daiho[u]-in signed to his attendants.\nRaising O'Hana they placed her in a sitting posture on a mat. Her hair\nwas arranged in _icho[u]mage_.[36] A _gohei_ was placed between her\nhands. Then the Daiho[u]-in began the recitation of the prayers and\ncharms. The other priests gave voice at times in response. All present\nwere awe-struck. The women hardly breathed, leaning eagerly forward.\nTheir eyes took on a vacant stare, as if themselves mesmerized. The\n_gohei_ began to tremble; then to shake violently. The woman's hair fell\ndown in disorder around her face. All turned away their faces. Some\nwomen gave smothered cries. It was O'Iwa San who glared at them out of\nthose eyes. The Daiho[u]-in eagerly leaned close over O'Hana--\"O'Iwa:\nwhere are you? What has become of your body? Be sure to speak the truth.\nDon't attempt to lie to the priest.... You don't know? Ah! you would be\nobstinate in your grudge. The charm shakes and quivers; it possesses\nO'Iwa.... You would rest in Samoncho[u] ground? That is much to ask;\nparticularly when the body is not in hand.... A substitute will do? Ah!\nPrayers?... For a year, at morn and night of each day? That is terrific.\nConsider the cost.... You care not for the cost! Only then will you\ncease to afflict the ward?... Very well: humbly this Daiho[u]-in\ntransmits the will of the dead.\"\n\nThus did the priestly mediator interpret to his gaping auditors the\nmumbling and cries given forth by O'Hana. The wild look faded from her\neyes. She rolled over as in a faint. The priests raised her up. The\nDaiho[u]-in turned to Iemon and the assembly--\"The words of O'Iwa have\nbeen heard through this woman. O'Hana has been possessed by O'Iwa. Hence\nher trance.... Heigh! Water!\" He began making passes over his\npatient--\"The stage has passed. O'Hana no longer is possessed by O'Iwa.\nThe wronged lady leaves O'Hana to peace. O'Hana is completely herself\nagain. O'Iwa is all delusion. O'Hana believes this. She believes firmly.\nThe Daiho[u]-in tells her to believe. O'Iwa does not haunt O'Hana. O'Iwa\nhas no ill will against O'Hana.\" He looked fixedly and with command into\nthe eyes of O'Hana. His voice rang clear and authoritative. Then he\nbegan gently to stroke the back of her head, her neck and spine. \"All is\nwell?\" \"Hai! Hai! This Hana is completely restored. All is well.\" With a\nlittle sigh she sank back, to be laid on the cushions in a sleep which\nall wondered to see was most natural. Those present were in transports\nof delight. They buzzed approval as the Daiho[u]-in addressed Iemon.\n\"The Daiho[u]-in has done his part. All have heard the words of O'Iwa\nSan. The rest lies with the temple. Deign to receive these words. The\nDaiho[u]-in returns.\" With his pack voicing loudly at his tail he left\nthe entrance gate. The assembly streamed after. Iemon was left alone,\nbiting his thumbs in helpless rage. He was aghast. \"The old fox! What is\nto be done, pressed as Iemon is for funds? How is this Iemon to act?\nRefusal means the open hostility of the whole ward. It will turn against\nhim. Ah! What a miserable old scamp. He did it all himself; he and his\nconfederates. The gods descend from above; the Daiho[u]-in shakes the\n_gohei_ from below--and those fools believe, to the ruin of Iemon!\"\n\nHence he would have postponed the costly appeal to the temple. Within\nthe week a committee of the ward waited upon him. As if expecting them,\nIemon gave ready compliance. With four or five other gentlemen he waited\nupon Shu[u]den Osho[u], the famous priest of the temple of the Gyo[u]ran\nKwannon. The Lady Merciful, Kwannon Sama, seemed the fitting deity to\nwhom appeal should be made. A word is to be said as to this famous\nmanifestation of the goddess. Told by Ryuo[u] at length, of necessity\nhere the account is much abridged. Gyo[u]ran Kwannon--Kwannon of the\nfish-basket--has several other names. She is called the Namagusai\nKwannon, from the odour of fresh blood attached to the pursuit; the\nByaku Kwannon, or the white robed; the Baryufu Kwannon, as wife of Baryu\nthe fisherman. The image of the Byaku Kwannon exists.[37] It is carved\nin white wood, stained black, with a scroll in the right hand, and\nholding a fish basket (_gyo[u]ran_) in the left hand. The story of\nBaryu, and of his connection with Kwannon, is of more moment.\n\nIn Morokoshi (China) there is a place called Kinshaden. Across the bay\nfrom Edo-To[u]kyo[u] is Kazusa with its ninety-nine villages, one of\nwhich has the same name--Kinshaden. The fishing population of Nippon is\na rough lot. From babyhood there is little but quarrelling and fighting\nbetween the bands which control the different wards of the villages. The\nrelations between the people are very primitive. One of the important\noccupations is the _iwashi_, or pilchard, fishing. To pull in the nets\nloaded with the fish requires the united effort of the whole village\npopulation, men, women, even children. Among their toilers the people of\nKinshaden noted a young girl of some sixteen or seventeen years; easily\nnoted by the great beauty and attraction of face and figure, the willing\nreadiness and wonderful strength she showed in her struggles with the\nweighted net. As she appeared several times at last some men went up to\nher--\"Girl, you are a stranger here. For your aid thanks are offered.\nWho may you be; and whence from? Strangers, even in kindness, in Nippon\nmust not conceal their names.\" The girl smiled.--\"I come from\nFudarakusan in the South Ocean.... Where is Fudarakusan? It is in\nIndia.... And India? It is in the South Ocean, the Nankai.\" To the\nwonder expressed at her coming such a distance of thousands of _ri_--\"I\ncome, I serve, for my husband.\"--\"Your husband? Pray who may he be, in\nthese parts?\"--\"Not yet is he chosen,\" answered the girl. \"Come! The\nnets are drawn, the fishing ended for the day. I will ascend that rock;\nread the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. He who can first memorize it shall\nbe my husband.\" Ready was the assent to such an attractive proposal--a\nbeautiful helpmate in prospect, one endowed with surprising strength for\nher frail form, and who seemed to bring luck to the efforts of the\nvillage in the struggle for a livelihood. Even the Nipponese prejudice\nagainst strangers paled before such practical qualification.\n\nThe maid ascended to the rostrum. For three days she read and expounded\nthe holy sutra of the Lady Kwannon. On the fourth day the fisherman\nBaryu--young, handsome, strong--felt sure that he could answer to the\ntest. \"Woman, descend! To-day this Baryu will repeat the sutra, expound\nits meaning.\" With seeming surprise and merriment the girl obeyed. Baryu\ntook her place. Without slip or fault he repeated the sutra, expounded\nthe intricacies of its meaning. The girl bowed low in submission.\n\"Condescend to admit my humble person to the hut of Baryu the fisherman.\nTo-night she pollutes with her presence a corner of his bed-chamber.\"\nRejoicing Baryu at once took her to his home, where he would act the\nhusband. At first gently she rebuked him. \"These rough people of\nKinshaden have regard to nothing! There is such a rite as marriage. Nine\ntimes are the _sake_ cups to be drained between husband and wife. Thus\nis established this important relation. In the connection between man\nand woman there is such a thing as etiquette. This observed, the woman\npasses to the possession of the man. For the woman, second marriage\nthere is none.\"\n\nThus were the decencies of the marriage bed taught to the rough\nfisherman. Near dawn Baryu awoke with surprise. His bed-fellow was in the\nlast extremities. Dripping with sweat, she seemed to be melting away.\nAlready she was unconscious. Then vomiting forth water she died. Baryu was\ntremendously put out. To lose a wife, who barely had been a wife; one so\nbeautiful, so strong; this was extremely vexatious. \"This won't do at all!\nWhy has such a misfortune befallen this Baryu? O'Kabe (Miss Plaster) and\nO'Nabe (Miss Stewpan) endured without mishap the passage of their marriage\nnight.... Hai! Hai!\" in reply to a friend knocking at the door. \"Baryu\ncannot go to the fishing to-day.... The woman? She has died. Baryu's wife\nis dead.\" Opening the door he retailed his experience to the wondering\nfriend. As they talked, along came a priest most strangely dressed for\nthis land. Approaching them he said--\"Is this the house of Baryu?\" At the\nfisherman's acknowledgement--\"Has a girl come here?... Dead! Deign to let\nthis foolish cleric hang eyes upon her.\" Baryu thought he would take his\nturn at questions. \"And you; whence from?\" \"From Fudarakusan in the\nNankai.\" \"Get you hence, frantic interloper,\" broke in Baryu with grief\nand anger. \"Enough has this Baryu heard of Fudarakusan. Baryu must needs\nobserve his state as widower. The month must pass before he seeks a wife.\nAnd more than half its days remain! But look.\" Mollified by the humble\nattitude of the priest he went and raised the coverlet from the woman's\nbody. He uttered a cry of surprise. \"Oya! Oya! She has disappeared. There\nis naught here but a wooden image. Ma! Ma! what a curious figure--with\nscroll and fish basket, just as the wife appeared at the beach. This is\nwhat one reads of in books.\" He turned to the priest in wonder and as\nseeking explanation. Said the latter with earnest and noble\nemphasis--\"Favoured has been this Baryu. The Kwannon of Fudarakusan of\nNankai has shown herself before his very eyes. For the reform of this\nwicked people, to teach them the holy writing, she has condescended to\nsubmit to the embraces of the fisherman. Let not Baryu think of other\nmarriage. For him has come the call to leave this world. Fail not to\nobey.\" Baryu rushed to the door, to catch but a glimpse of the departing\nform. All sign of the priest quickly faded. Baryu returned to the wooden\nfigure lying where once had reposed the body of the beautiful girl. It was\na most unsatisfactory substitute for the flesh and blood original. But\nBaryu made the most of it. He took his vow. He shaved his head, becoming a\npriest to recite and preach the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. Hence this\nKwannon is known as the Baryufu Kwannon--wife of Baryu the fisherman.\nHence she is called the Kwannon of the fish basket, in honour of the aid\nshe brought the people of this village and land.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII\n\nTHE RITES FOR O'IWA SAN\n\n\nIemo[u]n fared as badly at the hands of the Buddha as at those of the\nKami. Shu[u]den Osho[u], as guardian of the sacred image of the\nGyo[u]ran Kwannon, was a very great man indeed. After some delay the\ndeputation from Samoncho[u] was ushered into his presence, Iemon made\nprofound obeisance and explained the cause of their presence. The\nvisitations of O'Iwa to the district were causing the greatest public\ncommotion. Not as a matter of private interest, but of public utility\nhis interference was sought. If Iemon thought to abstract a copper\n\"cash\" from the priestly treasury he made a gross mistake. Besides, the\nindividual who disturbs the public peace suffers severely from official\nmediation, no matter what form this takes. Shu[u]den inquired minutely\nas to the visit of the Daiho[u]-in, of which he seemed to have heard.\nWhat information Iemon might have withheld, or minimised, or given a\ndifferent complexion, was cheerfully volunteered by others, who also\ncorrected and amplified any undue curtailing or ambiguity of their\nspokesman. Shu[u]den listened to Iemon with a gravity and an expression\nhovering between calculation and jeering comment. He turned from him to\nthe committee, giving great attention to those scholiasts on the text of\nthe orator. He gravely wagged his head in agreement with the rival\nprelate, whose acumen he highly extolled. Memorial services were to be\nprovided for a year. It was, after all, merely a form of restitution to\nthe wronged lady. But also the wandering spirit of O'Iwa was to be\nsuitably confined. Here lay the difficulty. Recitation of the sutra for\nseven continuous days; proper inhumation of the substitute beyond\npossibility of disturbance, would surely lay a spell on the enraged\nlady, and put an end to the curse of one dying an unworshipped spirit.\nFor the burial a bamboo was to be provided--of length one _shaku_ eight\n_bu_ (one foot nine inches) between the joints.\n\nWith this notice Iemon and his companions withdrew. He was resigned to\nthe payment of the fifty _ryo[u]_ necessary for the memorial services\nextending over the year. The inclusion in the bamboo was another affair.\nThe finding of such was about as easy as the fishing for black pearls.\nHe soon found that securing the substitute and securing the body of\nO'Iwa San for proper inhumation were kindred problems. After looking\nover all the bamboo which had drifted to Edo and was in the hands of the\nworld secular--and most of it at surprisingly cheap rates--the committee\nwas driven back on the religious world. They soon found that the article\nin question was kept in stock only at the Gyo[u]ran Kwannondo[u].\nResorting to the priestly offices, Iemon felt convinced that the grave\nsalutation of the incumbent official--they directed him to the\ntreasury--concealed a derisive grin at his expense. He was sure of it\nwhen he learned that this rare object could be had--for another fifty\n_ryo[u]_. The temple gave no credit; but Suzuki, the usurer who was one\nof the party, after some demur agreed to hand over the amount, which he\nhad just received from Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, the service bounty of the\ndaughter O'Tsuru. With some reluctance the long nosed, long faced, long\nlimbed Kamimura went security for the repayment on their return to the\nward. With cheerful recklessness Iemon pledged the last chance of any\nincome from the pension and resources of Tamiya for the next three\nyears; so heavily was he in debt. Shu[u]den on his part lost no time.\nWith at least one member of the committee in attendance, to see that he\nplayed fair, for seven days vigorously was the sutra intoned by the\nloudest and most brazen of his subordinates, backed by the whole body of\npriests. Day and night a priest would slip to the side altar, to invoke\nthe pity of the Buddha on the wandering spirit of the deceased lady in\nfew pithy but hasty words, and to spend the rest of his vigil in a\ndecent slumberous immobility.\n\nThe seven days accomplished, the procession formed. Six men in new\nuniforms--provided by Iemon--made pretence of great difficulty in\ncarrying the long box (_nagamochi_). Four men carried the _sambo_, or\nsacred tray of white wood, on which rested the section of bamboo wrapped\nby the hands of Shu[u]den himself in the sacred roll of the sutra of\nKwannon. Officialdom of the ward was present. The citizens turned out\n_en masse_. For long Yotsuya had not witnessed such a scene. Within its\nprecincts the _yashiki_ of the great nobles were conspicuously absent;\ntheir long processions of spearman, _chu[u]gen_, _samurai_ and officials\nwere only to be witnessed at times on the highway which leaves Shinjuku\nfor the Ko[u]shu[u]kaido[u] and the alternate and then little used\nAshigarato[u]ge road. Arrived at Samoncho[u] the ground selected was\ninspected by Shu[u]den. The bishop's eyebrows puckered in questioning\nmien. \"Here there are too many people. Is there no other place?\" They\nled him to another site. The wrinkle deepened to a frown--\"Here there\nare too many children. Their frolics and necessities are unseemly. These\nwould outrage the tender spirit. Is there no other place?\" The committee\nwas nonplussed. Iemon was in terrible fear lest all his effort and\nexpenditure would go for naught but to swell Shu[u]den's cash roll. A\nthought came into his mind. \"There is no other open land, but the garden\nof Tamiya is wide and secluded. The wall prevents public access.\" People\nlooked at him aghast. He was either mad with courage, or obstinate in\ndisbelief in the power of O'Iwa San so plainly manifested. Shu[u]den\npaid no attention to that surprised whispering. \"Deign to show the way\nthither.\" Thus the procession took its course back to Teramachi and\nthrough the gate of Tamiya. A spot was selected, just before the garden\ngate. It was open to the salutation and vows of passers-by, yet could be\nshut off from direct access toward house and public. At Shu[u]den's\norder a hole was dug, just four _shaku_ (feet) in depth. The Osho[u]\nbegan the recitation of the sutra. The priests stood by in vigilant\nattention. As the last word reverberated on the bishop's lips they\nseized the sutra wrapped bamboo, slipped it in the long box--bum! the\nlock snapped. The congregation was tremendously impressed. For a decent\ntime Shu[u]den remained in prayer and meditation. \"The charm is\ncomplete. O'Iwa no longer wanders, to her own penance and the disaster\nof men. Henceforth he who says she does so lies. Hearken to the words of\nShu[u]den. Admit none such to your company. Let not children make this\nplace a playground. Shu[u]den has given warning. Pollution surely\nfollows. Their habits are unseemly, an insult to the dead. Even as to\nparents, those with infants on their backs are specifically to be\nexcluded.\" He tied a paper covered with Sanscrit characters to a bamboo\nstick. This was placed on a white wood stake. On the stake he wrote\nkindred words, converting it into the counterfeit of a _sotoba_. Neither\nhe nor any present knew what the words meant, or had care as to their\nignorance of this essential of religion. Then he and his train gathered\nup their gowns and galloped out the gate, after practice and receipt of\ngrave courtesy, so much did temple differ from shrine in its contact\nwith secular life. The assembled multitude departed; much edified by the\nday's proceedings, and with low comment to each other on the\ndilapidation of Tamiya, its fall from the one time spruce and\nflourishing state. \"Introduce a spendthrift in the door, and the wealth\nleaks from every crevice. The spirit of Tamiya Matazaemon must grieve at\nthis sight. But why did he bring in as _muko_ a stranger?\"\n\nIemon could flatter himself on the efficacy of the divine\ninterposition. The public mind was quieted. Nothing more was heard of\nO'Iwa San. Only the daily summons, on one pretext or another, to the\nward office troubled him. The _yakunin_ also made a practice of taking\nin Tamiya en route to performance of their various missions. This he\nknew was a practice as to men under observation. He went over his career\nas known to Yotsuya. There was nothing in it to call for question.\nOfficial censure does not rest its case on a ghost story. The famous\ninvestigation of Echizen no Kami (O[u]oka) into the Yaeume case of\nYamada was matter of later days. Moreover, all his troubles were\nlightened by the state of O'Hana, the devoted object of unwavering\naffection. Ever since the Daiho[u]-in had mesmerized her, impressed his\nwill on her, the daily improvement could be marked. Now again she was\nher normal self; sadly thin and worn in spirit, a woman tired out, but\nyet the figure of O'Hana and in her right mind. To him she was the\nbeautiful tradition of the past and just as beautiful as ever in\nactuality. Two weeks had passed since Shu[u]den's experiment. One night,\nas the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) was striking, there came a knocking at\nthe door. O'Hana rose from her sewing. \"Danna, Kamimura San would say a\nword.\" Iemon made a gesture of annoyance. The long man had shadowed him,\never since entering on the engagement of bail. He went to the door and\nlooked at his caller with amazement. Kamimura, his hair in confusion,\nwas stark naked except for his wife's under cloth--and she was almost a\ndwarf. He stretched out a hand to Iemon, half in threat, half in\nbegging. \"Iemon Uji, a word: condescend to grant this Goemon ten\n_ryo[u]_ in silver, not in words. Suzuki the usurer has come on Goemon\nas bail of Iemon, in the matter of the exorcism. To-day he stripped the\nhouse of everything. Wife and children, hungry and almost naked, lie on\nbare boards. When Goemon begged mercy, that he go to Tamiya, the\nwretched fellow jeered. 'Tamiya? Tamiya has but _hibachi_ and three\nmats; the clothes worn by himself and wife. The house and land of Tamiya\nis but a reversion. Suzuki gets nothing at Tamiya but a lawsuit which\nwould not pay the office fees. Kamimura is rich; his house is well\nsupplied. One petition; and not only expenses, but the debt finds\npayment. Hence Suzuki troubles not Tamiya.' With this off he went\nderiding me. Deign the loan, Iemon San. Condescend at least the shelter\nof clothes and food.\"\n\nTo the wretched fellow Iemon could make no reply. Ten _ryo[u]_!\nKamimura might as well have asked for ten thousand _ryo[u]_. In house\nand land Iemon was secure. These belonged to the heirship of Tamiya as\nlong as the House maintained its status. The pension was long mortgaged.\nThe farms had disappeared. The trouble of Goemon pained him. He could\nonly refuse; palliating the refusal with vague promises as to the near\nfuture. He would effect a loan. The debt of Suzuki repaid, all his goods\nwould be restored to Kamimura San. Goemon took this talk at its real\nvalue. Shaking his fist he berated Iemon with violent words. \"Ah! Shame\nis brought to the House of Kamimura, wretchedness to his family--and by\nthis vile stranger. It is Iemon with his heartless wicked treatment of\nO'Iwa San, who has wrought distress and ruin to the ward. For Goemon\nthere is neither food nor clothing? Wait! Time shall bring his vengeance\non Iemon and his House.\" Iemon would have detained him; sought in some\nway to mollify him, at least get a hint as to how he purposed injury.\nGoemon shook him off as one would a reptile. With a wild laugh he went\nout naked as he was into the darkness.\n\nHe had no definite purpose in mind. However, as he passed the garden\ngate of Tamiya his eye caught the factitious _sotoba_ standing white in\nthe fitful moonlight. He stood stock still; then clapped his hands in\nmad joy and decision. Hastening to his home he sought out an old\nbattered mattock and a rusty spade. Soon he was back at the garden gate.\nA blow and the bar fell. Goemon passed within. \"She lies but four\n_shaku_ deep. The task is quickly performed. None pass here at this\nhour.\" The dirt flew under his nervous arms. Soon he had the box out on\nthe ground beside him. A peal of thunder; he must hasten, or stand a\nducking from the coming storm. He laughed. What had a naked man to fear\nfrom getting wet? The clothes he wore would not spoil. Why did not man\ndress in a towel, as after the bath; its use, to wipe the moisture from\nthe body. Now his eyes were fixed in curiosity on the bamboo staff\nbefore him. The first few drops of the rainstorm fell on his bare\nshoulders, but he disregarded them. \"Naruhodo! How heavy it is! O'Iwa in\nlife hardly weighed more. Lady of Tamiya--show pity on this Goemon.\nIemon and O'Hana--those wicked voluptuaries--prosper and flourish, while\nGoemon is brought to beggary and starvation. Deign to visit the wrath of\nO'Iwa San on these vile wretches. Seize and kill them. Goemon sets O'Iwa\nfree.\" He seized the mattock. Raising it overhead he brought the edge\nsharply down on the bamboo stake. At the moment there was a violent peal\nof thunder rolling off into a crash and rattle. The landscape was lit up\nby the vivid lightning. People uneasily turned over on their beds.\n\nShortly after dawn Iemon woke with a start. Don-don-don, don-don-don.\nThere was a tremendous rapping at his door. O'Hana could hear but a\nwhispered consultation going on without the _amado_. Iemon returned to\nthe room. His face was white; his step tottered. Hastily he donned an\nouter robe. To her question he made scant reply, so agitated was he. His\none idea was to keep from her what he had just heard. In the garden he\nfound his wardsmen assembled. All were dumbfounded and aghast. They\nlooked at each other and then at the broken bamboo tube. Close by lay\nthe body of the man who had done the deed. Brains and blood had oozed\nfrom the hole in the skull in which yet stuck the pointed end of the\nmattock sunk deep within. Evidently the instrument had rebounded from\nthe resilient surface of the bamboo. A by-stander pointed to the tiny\nfracture near the hard knot of the staff. It was a small thing, but\nenough to destroy all the past labours. Iemon went up to look at the\nbody. \"Why! 'Tis Goemon.\" To their questioning he told how Kamimura had\ncalled on the previous night, his rage at the inability of Iemon to aid\nhim in distress. With hanging heads, eyes on the ground, and wagging\ntongues, all departed to their homes. Later the body of Goemon was borne\nto his house by neighbours. Iemon picked up the bamboo staff. Carrying\nit within he placed it in a closet. It was as costly an object as the\nhouse had ever held. He was in despair.\n\nIt was on that very day, at the seventh hour (3 P.M.), that O'Hana\nheard a call at the door. \"A request to make! A request to make!\" She\nrecoiled from the sight presented. A beggar stood at the entrance of\nTamiya. A dirty mat wrapped around his body, feet and arms emerging from\nbandages, making him like to some hideous insect with its carapace, his\nface wrapped in a towel, the effects of leprosy were hideously\npatent.--\"What do you here? There is naught to be had. Pray depart at\nonce.\" The answer was in tones the very harshness of which seemed to\ncause pain to the utterer--\"The request is to Iemon Dono. Condescend to\nnotify him.\" With fearful glance O'Hana shrank within, Iemon noted her\nnervous quivering. Promptly he was on his feet--\"A beggar has frightened\nHana? Such are to be severely dealt with.\" He went to the entrance. \"A\nbeggar, and such a fellow? How comes it entrance has been had to the\nward? There is nothing for you here. If you would escape the dogs and\nbastinado, get you hence at once.\" The man did not stir from the spot on\nwhich he stood. Slowly he opened the mat held round his body\n(_komokaburi_), one of the coarse kind used to wrap round _sake_\nbarrels. He was clothed in rags glued together by the foul discharges of\nhis sores. He removed the towel from his face. The ghastly white and red\nblotches, the livid scars of the leper, the head with patches of scurfy\nhair ready to fall at a touch, startled even Iemon the priest. He would\nnot have touched this man, expelled him by force, for all the past\nwealth of Tamiya. The intruder noted the effect produced.\n\n\"To such has the wrath of O'Iwa San brought this Cho[u]bei. Does not\nIemon, the one-time neighbour Kazuma, recognize Cho[u]bei? And yet all\ncomes through Iemon. Child, wife, means of life, all these have failed\nCho[u]bei. In the jail robbed of everything, degenerate in mind and\nbody, Cho[u]bei has found refuge at nights in the booths of street\nvendors; on cold wet nights, even in the mouths of the filthy drains.\nFortunate is he when fine weather sends him to rest on the river banks.\nTo seek rest; not to find it. O'Iwa stands beside him. When eyelids\ndrowse Cho[u]bei is aroused, to find her face close glaring into his.\nBeg and implore, yet pardon there is none. 'Cho[u]bei has a debt to pay\nto Iwa. In life Cho[u]bei must repay by suffering; yet not what Iwa\nsuffered. Think not to rest.' Some support was found in a daughter, sold\nin times past to the Yamadaya of Yoshiwara. There the child grew up to\nbecome the great profit of the house. The influence of the Kashiku was\nall powerful to secure entrance. For a night Cho[u]bei was to find food\nand a bed. But that night came Kibei San. He killed the Kashiku--crushed\nher out, as one would crush an insect. This Cho[u]bei nearly died; but\nKibei left him to the mercy of O'Iwa. Her mercy!\" He would have thrown\nout his arms in weary gesture of despair. The pain and effort were too\ngreat. He moaned. \"Last night Cho[u]bei sought relief. Of late years the\nriver has been spanned, for passers-by and solace of the human refuse.\nStanding on Ryo[u]gokubashi the dark waters of the river called to\nCho[u]bei as they swept strongly by to the sea. A moment, and all would\nbe ended. About to leap hands were laid on Cho[u]bei's shoulders. He was\ndragged back. Turning--lo! 'twas O'Iwa San. Another creature, still\nfouler than she, with sloping eyelid, bald head, and savage look, stood\nby. Said O'Iwa San--'And Cho[u]bei would end all--with luxury before his\neyes! Cho[u]bei dies not but with the consent of Iwa. Get you to\nYotsuya; to Iemon and Hana, living in luxury and Tamiya. Aid will not be\nrefused you.' And so she brought me here. Deign to hear the prayer of\nCho[u]bei. Allow him to die in Yotsuya, upon the _tatami_; not on the\nbare earth, to be thrown on the moor for dogs to gnaw. Grant him burial\nin temple ground.\"\n\nHe changed his theme; the feeble quivering hands clasped his belly.\n\"Ah! This pinching hunger. Double Cho[u]bei's suffering; of mind and\nbody. Apply for alms or food, and the leper is repulsed. See! Two\nfingers remain on this hand. Count of the rest fills out the tale for\nbut one member. O'Hana San, condescend a rice ball for this Cho[u]bei.\nYou, at least, know not the pinch of hunger.... Ah! She still possesses\nsome of that beauty and charm for which Iemon has brought ruin upon\nall.\" Before the horrible lascivious leer of this object O'Hana fled.\nLeft alone Iemon spoke. He had been thinking--\"Cho[u]bei has spoken\nwell. From Iemon he is entitled to relief. Cho[u]bei shall die on his\nmat. But in such shape nothing can be done. Get you hence. Buy clothing\nfit to appear before men's eyes. In the bath wash that pus-laden body.\nThen come to Iemon. Relief shall be granted Cho[u]bei.\" Wrapping a\n_ryo[u]_ in paper he passed it to the leper. It was the last coin he\npossessed. O'Hana now returned with five or six rice balls savoured with\nsalt. Fascinated, the two watched the horrible diseased stumps awkwardly\nshoving the food into the toothless mouth, cramming it in, and breaking\nit up so as not to lose the savour of a grain. \"Until to-morrow,\" said\nCho[u]bei. He picked up his stick. In silence the man and woman watched\nhim. \"Leaning on his bamboo staff he crawled away like some insect.\"\nO'Hana looked inquiringly at Iemon. He turned away his head.\n\nThrough the dusk Cho[u]bei crawled across the Ryo[u]gokubashi. The\nwords of the woman O'Take had come true. He had a sense of being\nfollowed. He turned at the sound of footsteps. At sight of a _samurai_\nin deep hat, mechanically he stretched out hands and self in the\nroadway, begging an alms. The man drew apart, passing him in disgust and\nhaste. Cho[u]bei went on. He had no aim. It was with surprise that he\nfound himself, as often of late, on the embankment of the North\nWarigesui. He looked down on the foul place of O'Iwa's disappearance. \"A\nfoul ending; but after all an end. One night! One night's sleep! Deign,\nlady of Tamiya, to grant pardon and respite to Cho[u]bei. Just one hour\nof sleep.\" Carefully he adjusted his mat. Painfully he stretched himself\nout on it. \"To die on the mat. Such was the word of Iemon.\" He felt his\nrags. \"It was well he agreed. Cho[u]bei had other means to force\ncompliance. Well, 'tis for later use.\" A continued rustling aroused him.\nSome one was cautiously picking a way through the dry grass of the past\nwinter, was creeping toward him. He half rose. Seeing that concealment\nwas no longer possible, the man rushed on him. Cho[u]bei struggled to\nhis feet, as one to fight for life. \"Life is dear. Why kill Cho[u]bei\nthe leper? Is he a test for some new sword? Deign to pardon. The flesh\nof the leper is too rotten. It defiles the weapon. Cho[u]bei has been\nthe _samurai_; he knows.... Ah! Respite there is none. 'Tis Iemon! Iemon\nof Tamiya would kill Cho[u]bei!\" He shouted and coupled the names in his\ndespair. Fearful of discovery, of being overheard, Iemon did not delay.\nThe gleaming weapon descended. Standing over the body Iemon showed\nuncertainty. He had some thought of search; even bent down over it. But\nhe could not touch those foul rags. His nicety of feeling, almost\nwomanlike--recoiled. Besides, what more had Iemon to do with the leper\nCho[u]bei. Their account was closed. Should he leave the body where it\nwas? Recognition might convey some danger, at least inconvenience. He\nlooked around for means to sink it in these waters, and yet not handle\nits repulsiveness. A _sho[u]yu_ tub, old but fairly intact, lay upon the\nbank. It caught his eye. He rolled it up to the corpse. Gingerly he\ngirdled the body of the dead man with his _tasuki_ (shoulder cord). Now\ntight fast it clasped the roundness of the barrel. This he filled with\nstones, drove in the head, and with a shove sent it and its burden into\nthe Warigesui. \"That will hold him down. The rotten punk! Three days,\nand none could recognize him.\" Then he set off at rapid pace for\nYotsuya.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII\n\nSANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS: THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED BY THE DEAD\n\n\nIt was the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) before Iemon reached the house in\nYotsuya. To his surprise he found the _amado_ still open on the garden.\nSome one was lying face downward on the _ro[u]ka_. It was O'Hana. To his\nalarmed inquiry as to what was wrong she answered in the voice of one\ntrying to suppress great pain. \"This Hana knows not. Opening a closet to\nget the spices used in preparing the meal, a rat sprang out. It\nscratched the face of Hana. Truly the pain is very great.\" She groaned,\nIemon gently raised her. At the look on his face O'Hana said--\"There is\na mirror in the toilet set (_kyo[u]dai_). Deign to get it for Hana.\" He\ndid not get it--this dower gift once of O'Iwa--but tried to soothe\nher--\"Let be: the wounds soon will heal. The pain will pass away.\" She\nshoved him aside and ran to the toilet stand. She took the hand-mirror\nto the solitary lamp lighting the room. Aghast she contemplated her\nfeatures. One side of the face was completely discoloured. It was a dark\nred, almost black, with the mark of five fingers plainly visible, as if\na hand had struck her. No rat had made this wound. O'Hana leaned over,\nher head resting almost on her knees. Iemon touched her shoulder--\"Don't\nmind it. Truly the pain will pass with dawn. Hana....\" He drew back from\nthe scowling madness in the face raised to him--\"Sa! Sa! Iemon! Iemon!\nEasily did you get hold of all my property, to waste it on O'Hana. 'Twas\nlike grasping wet millet. Then, barbarous as you were, you sold me to\nthe vile life of a street harlot. Ah! Vengeance!\" In fright Iemon\nretreated. O'Hana, taking herself to be O'Iwa, all her madness had\nreturned. She sprang up. Screens were beaten and torn to pieces. With\nthe heavy mirror she turned on him, seeking vengeance for her imagined\nwrongs. Iemon narrowly escaped injury as he dashed in to grapple with\nher. He succeeded in dragging her away from the lamp. Thus did this wild\nbattle rage in the half dark room. The fictitious strength of the ill\nwoman gave out. He held her on the floor, as one subdued. As she\nrelapsed into a sleep, almost of unconsciousness, he ventured to release\nher. Going to a closet he placed the mirror beside the bamboo stick;\nboth hidden away.\n\nAll night he watched over her. Wearied out, with day he sought an aid\nreadily given. The nurse, however, in alarm soon roused him. O'Hana was\nraving madly in a high fever. The woman could not restrain her. Her\ncries were terrible, but not more so than the speech from her\nlips--\"O'Iwa, pardon! With the drugs of Suian this Hana would palsy\nO'Iwa's mind and body; poison the very springs of life, cut off all hope\nof issue. Ah! Vain the love of a man. All is granted him; body and\ngoods. Iemon sells Hana for a street harlot. Out with him! Help!... Ah!\nKwaiba aids--in all his rottenness. How horrible he is--huge vacant eye\nholes, the purple whitish flesh gnawed and eaten.... Ugh! He stinks!...\nNay! 'Tis not Kwaiba. 'Tis Cho[u]bei: Cho[u]bei the leper, who would\nembrace this Hana. Iemon comes. There is murder in his eye--for Hana to\nsee, not Cho[u]bei. Away! Away!... Again, there she comes!\" She grasped\nthe nurse's arm, and pointed to the just lighted _andon_ which barely\nrelieved the shadows of the darkening night; was it the woman's\nimagination? By the light, dimly outlined; sat O'Iwa San. Her hair hung\ndown around face and body half turned aside. The bulging forehead, the\npuffed eyelids, were not to be mistaken. The woman shook off the sick\ngirl's hand and fled the house. Iemon did not try to prevent her. He was\nas one paralyzed. He, too, had seen, and was convinced.\n\nTo watch through the night was the task of the anxious and wearied man.\nIn the day a _yakunin_ had come, with formal notice to attend next day\nthe office of Katada Tatewaki Dono. His lordship had an inquiry to make.\nThe summons was not to be disregarded, no matter what his own\nexigencies. O'Hana had dropped into a cataleptic state. As the eighth\nhour (1 A.M.) approached he thought to clear brain and body by the rest\nof a few moments. His head had barely touched the pillow when sleep\nfollowed. The bell of Gwansho[u]ji struck the hour. It roared and\nreverberated through Tamiya. Iemon awoke; an oppression like suffocation\npervaded his whole body. Opening his eyes they stared into the wide\nwhite flat face of O'Iwa. Her eyes were now alive, darting gleams of\nfire deep from within the puffed and swollen lids. He felt her wild\ndisordered hair sweeping his face as she swayed a little, still\nretaining her post and clutch on his bosom--\"Iemon knows Iwa now! Hana\nknows Iwa now! Sworn to seize and kill both for seven births--come! Now\nit is that Iwa completes her vengeance.\" As she shook and pressed on him\nhe came gradually out of his sleep. With a shout he cast her backwards.\nSpringing up he grasped the sword at his pillow. Madly he dealt blow\nafter blow on the body before him. To the groans he replied by fresh\nblows.\n\nAn uproar without called him to himself. Don--don--don, don, don, don.\nThere was knocking at the gate. Iemon hastily trimmed up the wick of the\nlamp. He leaned over the body. O'Hana! The young man stooped over her,\nleaning on the gory sword. Great drops of cold sweat stood out on his\nforehead. A shout came from without. \"In his lordship's name! Open, or\nforce will be used.\" Why had the summons for the day been anticipated?\nThe unhappy ravings of O'Hana flashed to his mind. Iemon no longer\nreasoned. A cunning insane light was in his eyes. Softly he made his way\nto the _amado_ fronting on the garden. No one was without. In the rain\nand storm he might escape. Traversing the darkness he noted, however,\nthe man posted at the gate in the rear. Springing on the roof of the\nshed he looked over into Teramachi. It was deserted. With the bloody\nsword he hacked off the sharp points of the bamboo stakes. They now\naided his flight over the wall. He cast the weapon aside. In a few\nminutes he disappeared in rapid flight down the street. When Katada\nTatewaki, accompanied by his men, at last broke down the stout\nresistance offered by the outer door of Tamiya he found the house empty,\nexcept for the dead body of O'Hana, lying in its pool of blood. She was\nstill warm. He took it for mere murder, giving more urgent directions\nfor immediate pursuit. Methodically he searched the house, down to the\nvery rubbish pile. The seal of Tamiya was secured. This meant much. With\nsceptical smile he handled the broken bamboo stick found in a closet. He\ndid not show the discovery to his men.\n\nWhere did Iemon go? The unhappy man himself could not have told what\nhappened in the intervening days. He came to consciousness in the\ndarkness of a spring night, just before the dawn. The stars were\nbeginning to pale in the East. The landscape had the livid eerie light\nin which it is uncertain whether day or night is to be the issue. With\nsurprise Iemon looked around him; then shuddered. The stagnant waters of\nWarigesui's filthy stream lay beneath him. He had found rest on the\nbank, at the very place where Cho[u]bei had died under his hand.\n\n    \"The Sanzugawa--without hills or bridges;\n     On highway traversed by the dead, flowers there are none.\"[38]\n\nThe _yama_ ([yama]) refers to Yamada Cho[u]bei; the _hashi_ ([hashi]) to\nTakahashi Iemon; the _hana_ ([hana]) to O'Hana, the wife of Iemon. Such\nwas the then interpretation of the old poem.\n\nIemon could go no further. His course was run. He knew it; but how end\nlife? At heart he was an arrant coward. Determined to cut belly he drew\nthe dagger he had kept with him. A shudder went through him at sight of\nthe steel. Ah! Better the green slime of the waters below. He thrust the\nblade back into its scabbard. Moodily standing and gazing down, he gave\nan idle kick to a stone near by. Dislodged, it swayed, then rolled\nheavily down the bank, to plunge noisily into the stream, disturb its\nnoisome depths. The effect was surprising. Following its course with his\neye Iemon suddenly gave a yell of horror. Eyes starting from his head,\narms raised high, he bent toward the stream. Hair standing on end he\nwatched the hideous object rise to the surface. The face of Cho[u]bei,\npurple and bloated, the lips half gnawed and open in a fiendish grin,\nlooked up at him. Down came the arms, and Iemon put hands over eyes to\nshut out the fearful vision. A horrid curiosity drove him again to view\nit. Was he mad? This time the barrel in its slow revolution brought to\nview the wide flat face, the bulging brow and heavy lids, the tangled,\ndisordered hair of the drowned O'Iwa. Scream after scream of the now\nfrantic wretch rang in the air. These waters! Seek death there! No! No!\nA thousand times--No! He turned to flee the place, but his legs refused\nthe service. With fell purpose he ripped the blade from its scabbard,\ntore open his clothes to give the deadly thrust. As he raised the dagger\ninvisible hands seized his arm. When he would release it, the other arm\nwas seized. Everywhere these hands held him fast. He raged, tore,\nstruggled madly to elude their grasp. Then, overcome, he fainted.\n\nKatada Tatewaki from the top of the bank had been watching the\nstruggle of his men. He came forward and looked down at the bound and\nhelpless creature. \"'Tis he: in very fact.\" On order a bamboo pole was\nfetched, and run between the bound hands and feet. Thus like some beast\nwas Iemon conveyed to the nearest ward office. The formalities were few\nand soon over. To avoid chance of repetition of the scene they conveyed\nhim as he was. Thus began the brutal progress across Edo in full\ndaylight. People turned and stared after this escort of the man-beast.\nAt a distance they took the burden as some savage bear, or perhaps one\nof those reputed \"_tanuki_\" so noxious in their pranks on humankind.\nCome closer it was seen to be a man. Any mad struggle to get free was\ntreated to spear pricks applied with no great nicety beyond the\navoidance of serious injury. Violent as were his struggles at times, it\nis doubtful if they could have walked him the long distance. For the\ndays of his flight he had never rested; nor had these men in his\npursuit. Yet he was unexpected game. The Yotsuya affair was taking a\nwidening sweep. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei were under\nexamination. The death of a girl O'Haru at the brothel of Toemon of\nHonjo[u] had unexpected effects. In the investigation which followed one\nof the women, O'Take, had made full confession. The pedlar Mobei had\nnever left the house of Toemon; never escaped from the hospitality of\nO'Matsu. His goods had aroused her cupidity. The man died by poison, and\nwas buried in the garden of Toemon's house. O'Haru knew of the deed.\nThis knowledge was the girl's destruction. The wife and her substitute\nO'Kin hated O'Haru. Some remains of a first good looks, her youth, gave\nher power with the master of the house. The two women worked on his\nfears to gain consent for her destruction. A charge easily was trumped\nup, and she was dragged off to the cell of punishment. Under the hands\nof the wife and O'Kin she suffered so that she died in three days, not\nwithout letting her mate O'Take into the secret. Promptly the Honjo[u]\npolice were at work; not more prompt than was the woman O'Kin to\ndisappear from Edo, almost a confession in itself. The rosary, found in\nthe hands of the rector of the Reiganji, was easily traced through\ndifferent mediators straight to O'Matsu herself. The man Toemon held\nout, and died under the torture. The woman confessed; and in her\nconfession was comprehended the full story of O'Iwa's connection with\nToemon's house. Of her no more need be said. She rotted and died in the\njail. The girls were scattered to kindred houses. Two of the women,\nhunting their pray on Warigesui toward the _yashiki_ quarter, had\nwitnessed the murder of Cho[u]bei three nights before. The police had\ngone to secure the body. Tatewaki Dono was notified and had accompanied\nthem. To the surprise of all Iemon, then the object of earnest search,\nwas found on the spot.\n\nThe affair kept on spreading--to the very source of all these troubles.\nKatada Tatewaki in the course of procedure had transmitted the Tamiya\ncase to the jurisdiction of the _machibugyo[u]_ of the North district of\nEdo town, Homma Iga no Kami. With greatest interest the two men in\ncompany poured over the innumerable documents now piling up in the case.\nOld Tamiya Yoemon proved easy game. He readily confessed all he knew.\nThis brought in many witnesses from the wardsmen. It was not exactly\nwhat was wanted. The evidence was mostly mere hearsay and conjecture. In\nthose days such testimony had a value not far below that of direct\nstatement. All pointed the way to the real criminal, who after all was\nthe star witness. Against Yoemon at first there was but little. However,\nin his rage against Iemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--Akiyama was out of\nhis reach--his tongue was too long. The faces of the magistrates grew\nserious as his connection with the money lender Suzuki was made plain. A\n_samurai_ loaning money on interest! and pressing men to ruin for\npayment!! The stingy avaricious Yoemon appeared behind the usurer--until\nin time his own heavy losses had made him a borrower, and placed him in\nthe hands of his once partner. Yoemon, together with the conspirators,\nwas not allowed to participate in the forced restitution made by Suzuki.\nNevertheless, at the time no great severity was shown the old man. He\nwas remanded to the custody of his bail, to be kept confined to one room\nin the house.\n\nThe same leniency was shown toward Rokuro[u]bei. When he showed a\ndisposition to be recalcitrant, to equivocate, Homma gave sign to the\n_do[u]shin_. Quickly the scourgers came forward with their fearful\ninstrument, the _madake_. Made of bamboo split into long narrow strips,\nthese tightly wrapped in twisted hempen cord to the thickness of a _sun_\n(inch), with the convenient leverage of a couple of _shaku_ (feet), the\nmere sight brought Kondo[u] to terms. As he entered he had seen them\nlead away a _heimin_ (commoner) who had undergone the punishment. The\nman's back, a mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, was vivid to mind. At\nonce he prostrated himself; made full confession. At last they were at\nthe source. Kondo[u] was a witness of the fact. He could and did tell of\nthe inception and progress of the whole plot against O'Iwa San, the\nsource of untold woe to Yotsuya. His story covered the period from the\nentrance of Iemon into the ward up to the discovery of the body of\nKamimura Goemon. The role played by Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was in part\ndark to him. Of the disposition of O'Iwa to the Honjo[u] master of the\n_Yo[u]taka_ he pleaded ignorance. Tatewaki Dono smiled as he counselled\nindulgence on this point. He knew.\n\nKondo[u], however, was sent back to the jail. He was unquestionably a\nprincipal. At last it was the turn of Iemon. The weeks had passed. The\nbody had been carefully nursed back to vigour. The mind was in\nlamentable state. The ill-meant efforts of the jail authorities, the\nstrengthening of the criminal in order better to endure the torture to\nthe confession point, were somewhat baffled by the nightly visions of\nthe wretched man. The two hags, O'Iwa and O'Mino; Cho[u]bei in his final\nstage of purple bloatedness; these were his nightly companions, to\ntorment and harass him. Sleep! If he could but close his eyes to shut\nout these horrors! Instead they became more vivid. The jailors put him\nat the farthest corner of their ample premises. His fellow prisoners,\nsuch as were allowed daily exit to the yard, visited him with blows and\nfoul insults for the disturbance he created in the night. But he was\ncunning withal. Trapped as he was, in his lucid moments he realized that\nthere could be but little against him. O'Iwa? Not even in Tokugawa times\nwas the supernatural cause of prosecution except at the hands of the\nvulgar. Nor in those days, any more than in these of Taisho[u] _nengo_,\nwas a wife legally protected against abuse of husband or parents-in-law.\nAs for Cho[u]bei--he was dead. His own presence on the scene was no\nevidence against him as murderer. His only misgivings on that point lay\nin the confusion of mind as to the few days then covered. But who would\nblame a _samurai_ for testing his blade on a beggar? What were beggars\nfor? He knew nothing of the evidence given by Yoemon and Kondo[u]; of\nthe vile proof in the hands of Katada Dono. He had wholly forgotten the\nnurse who had listened to the wild ravings of O'Hana in her illness,\nbroken sentences bearing so heavily and dove-tailing so nicely into the\ncompleted case. Owing to this woman Tatewaki Dono had not waited the\nappearance of Iemon at morning. Iemon also left out of account the\ncharacters of the two men before whom he appeared. Iga no Kami sat as\njudge in the case. Close beside him, a little in the rear, sat Katada\nTatewaki, in whose jurisdiction the case had originated, and who was\nfamiliar with every stage. The four _do[u]shin_ sat to one side and the\nother of these two men.\n\nHomma and Katada were typical of their caste. Cold, callous, cruel,\ndevoted rigidly to the formulae; of the _samurai_ code, with strange\nexceptions granted to the virtues required of the common people--filial\nconduct and unswerving obedience to a superior--they were not men likely\nto regard with favour this intruder into their class. The name of\n_samurai_ had been brought into contempt. Hence the serious character of\nthe offence, the necessity of severest scrutiny. To the valued\nsuggestion of Tatewaki, Iga no Kami nodded assent. Iemon thought of\nnothing but the murder of Cho[u]bei, the abuse of his wife O'Iwa, the\nconspiracy against her life and honour. The first question paralyzed his\ndefence. Was he not the son of Takahashi Daihachiro[u]? The whole\nterrible vista of the consequences of avowal appeared before him, once\nhimself a _do[u]shin_ and familiar with legal procedure. The family had\nsuffered _kaieki_ (deprivation of rights). It had been degraded from the\ncaste. Properly speaking Iemon was an intruder into the _samurai_ class.\nHe was an impostor. His offence was against the suzerain lord, the\nSho[u]gun. All the terrible penalties of treason hung over him. Tatewaki\nhad been quick to note the opportunity to take this case out of the\ncategory of offence by a _samurai_. Iemon was a plebeian and a\ncharlatan. He had insulted Government. At the stumbling denial quick\norder was given. A _yakunin_ seized the rope and dragged down the head\nof Iemon. Others held him at the sides, to maintain the body rigid.\nStout fellows, the pick of the jailors, came forward. With ferocious\nregularity the blows fell. Welts at once appeared. Soon the blood was\ntrickling from the torn skin. There was no sign to mitigate the severity\nof the infliction. When at the seventieth blow the body collapsed in a\nfaint the wretched man was a terrible sight. The attendants of the jail,\nwitnesses of the full punishment of double the number of stripes, had\nrarely seen such severity exercised. The jailors hated this smooth\nfellow, this disturber of their peace. They kept a jail, not a madhouse.\nTheir superiors showed no sign of the mercy of renewed questioning.\nHence they would change the mad nightly ravings to the subdued groans of\nthe punished.\n\nThe days passed and his body had healed, though movement caused pain\nand distress. Brought again before the judges at the very sight of the\nscourges he screamed out confession. Questioned as to the conspiracy\nagainst the caste, his fraudulent attempt to consummate marriage with a\n_samurai_ woman--the actual fact or legality of it was ignored--his\nill-treatment and sale of her; all these in terror he denied. Once he\nhad looked upon banishment from Edo as the limit of his punishment. Now\ndecapitation would be a merciful end. He strove to secure the favour of\na quick and painless death. Again he was beaten almost to a jelly. He\nclung to his denial, so important was the issue. At the next appearance\nhe was seized and dragged to a post fixed in the ground not far from the\njudge's seat. His knees were pressed down on the edges of the triangular\nbars. These formed a sort of grid, the edges of the bars being just\nenough blunted to avoid cutting the skin. None of the pain was spared,\nyet the prisoner remained fit for early future torture. The granite\nslabs were then piled on his knees. Each one weighed thirteen _kwan_\n(107 lbs.). As the fifth slab was placed on the body of Iemon, the flesh\nassumed a reddish tint from the impeded circulation. Froth stained his\nmouth, mucus ran from his nose. A sixth, a seventh stone, were placed.\n\"How now! How now!\" The men pressed heavily on the stones. A _do[u]shin_\nbent over him, listening and waiting for sign of the important\nconfession. The criminal was the one important witness of Tokugawa penal\nlaw. Without confession he was innocent beyond all other proof. As the\neighth stone was placed Iemon began to vomit blood. The doctor raised\nhis hand. The feet were showing signs of blackness, which rapidly spread\nupward. The man was in a dead faint. No confession had been secured.\n\nPerhaps the examination was thus conducted out of some severity. Days\npassed. Whether or not the report of the physician was unfavourable,\ninfluenced by some means Homma had fear the man might die before a\npublic retribution was secured. When Iemon again was dragged before his\njudges he had a terrible object lesson before him. A man was undergoing\nthe torture of the lobster. Hands drawn up behind to the shoulders, the\nfeet tightly bound across the chest, he was propped up on a mat.\nProperly conducted this \"effort to persuade\" took place in the jail.\nHomma wished to try the effect of anticipation on Iemon. The prisoner\nlooked quickly at the man under torture, then hung down his head. His\nlips were twitching with uncertainty. Homma struck hard--\"Why deny the\nplain fact? Is justice so ignorant of the doings and whereabouts of a\nscamp. Kichitaro[u], or Kazuma the diviner, as he called himself,\nmurders Cho[u]bei the pimp; a deed carried out before witnesses.\" A\n_do[u]shin_ placed the document of the confession of the whores so that\nIemon had no difficulty in ascertaining its title. \"And why? Because of\nthe agreement with Cho[u]bei to sell the woman he dared to call his\nwife. The proof? The seal of Tamiya, the document itself.\" At last Iemon\nlooked up. The _do[u]shin_ placed under his eyes the fatal contract with\nCho[u]bei--agreement of exchange of the body of the woman in return for\nfive _ryo[u]_ duly received. It had been recovered from the dead pimp's\ncorpse. Carefully wrapped in oiled paper, Cho[u]bei had carried it--sewn\nin what he called his dress. Iemon unwilling to recognize past services,\nCho[u]bei was sure to find it useful. Truly Iemon was young and\nimpatient, and Cho[u]bei was double his age. With bitterness the\nsurvivor recognized this primal fact.\n\nIemon's eyes wandered from the paper to the thief under torture. The\ndark green of the body was rapidly changing. The doctor present gave a\nquick frightened sign. Skilful hands at once cast loose the bonds. Over\ntoppled the body. Iemon noted the white, almost livid, colour of death.\nRestoratives were applied. All were busied with bringing the man back to\nlife. Then he was carried off, expression so unlike that of a human\nbeing that the less hardened shuddered. Said Homma--\"No confession yet?\"\nHe raised his hand to make a sign. Iemon knew the quickness of response.\nHe almost screamed his appeal for further respite. The Law had\ntriumphed. As Iemon put his thumb seal to the confession of guilt to\ninsolence (_futodoki_) the magistrates rose and disappeared.\n\"Futodoki\"--they and he knew that it meant the death sentence.[39]\n\nJudgment was not delayed. The next day Homma, with Katada and an officer\nof the Sho[u]gun's household present, gave sentence. Yoemon and\nRokuro[u]bei glared hate at Iemon who squatted with head bent to the\nground. The sword--that now was his only hope. The first words of Homma\nshowed that no mercy was to be dealt out in this case. Suzuki the\nplebeian merely suffered stripes and banishment from Edo. He had to make\nrestitution to the amount of his property--such as was left after paying\nthe huge fine to Government. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei\nunderwent degradation from the caste. There was no disposition to\noverlook the offence of usury. Beggary was to be the portion of Yoemon,\nthe destitution of the outcast. For some years the senile old man, the\nvirago of a woman once the wife of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, were stationed\nat the Nio[u]mon, to attract and amuse the worshippers passing up to the\ngreat temple of the Asakusa Kwannon. Not for long could the woman hold\nher tongue. Abuse passed with the sun's height to blows, and the\nby-standers had to interfere and rescue the old man from the severe\nbeating. It was to the profit, rather than disadvantage, of the temple.\nThe pair were an added attraction. The priests left interference to\nthose at hand. Then the old man disappeared; to ornament the highway\nwith his corpse, or be cast on the moor, food for dogs and crows. Such\nprobably was the end of Tamiya Yoemon. The woman had not been seen for\nsome months. Her abilities as scold had attracted those qualified to\njudge; her transfer to the position of bawd in a low-class house of the\nneighbouring Yoshiwara soon followed.\n\nKondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei fared tolerably well, considering his deserts.\nHis confession had been a great aid in unravelling the case. He was not\nsentenced to cut belly. Degraded he heard with dismay the sentence of\ndeportation and exile to the far distant island of Sado. At this savage\nplace, subject to the hell of a Siberian winter and the intense heats of\nthe summer, the once pampered man lived out his last days, few and evil.\nHe who had passed the time idling with tea-cup, or _go_, or flower\narrangement, and taking enjoyment in the freshness and coolness of his\ngarden at the Yotsuyazaka, at fifty years now tried to lead the hard and\ndangerous life of the wild fishing population among whom he was\nunceremoniously cast. Such life was soon forbidden him. He was but in\nthe road. Then he did such clerical duties as the village at times\nneeded. A wife even was provided for him. The final blow was a palsy,\ncutting off all effort at making a livelihood. Beatings now took the\nplace of food. The villagers laughed when they heard of the old man's\nfall from a cliff. They, too, would have acted as had the brothers of\nO'Nabe (stew pan). They took the word for the deed; and at the cliff\nfoot near Negai they erected a wooden shrine to propitiate the spirit of\n\"Jiya Rokuro[u].\"\n\nThe day of execution had come. When sentenced, bound as he was Iemon\nstruggled forward to plead for mercy, respite from the barbarous\npunishment to be inflicted on the traitor. His reward was the cangue and\nbamboo saw--_nokogirihiki_; failing death by this, he was to be\ncrucified. The attendants fell on him. Kicks and blows had little effect\non the man frantic with terror. He almost reached the _ro[u]ka_ at which\nsat Homma. Then madly struggling he was carried off to the jail. Said a\n_do[u]shin_--\"His antics in the cangue will find small scope.\" The last\nclause of the sentence was due to the notorious unwillingness of any\npasser-by to give a cut. The punishment had lapsed since the days of the\nthird Sho[u]gun, and was no more successful in Iemon's case. Placed in\nthe cangue at the execution ground of Shinagawa a cut was made in each\nside of his neck. Smeared with blood the bamboo saw was placed on the\ncangue in inviting proximity to the head. For five hours people passed,\nwith curious glances, but no movement to release the criminal. An Eta\n(outcast) butcher sidled up. The guards watched him with curiosity.\nPicking up the saw he made one pass. At the yell given by Iemon he\ndropped the implement and fled in terror, amid the laughter of guards\nand by-standers. Toward the hour of the sheep (1 P.M.) a _yoriki_ with\nhis _do[u]shin_ appeared. On signal the cangue was removed. Inert limbs\nfeebly twitching Iemon was bound tight to the double cross, his legs and\narms stretched wide apart. This was raised, and again the hours passed\nin miserable waiting for a death which seemed to recede. If\nunconsciousness threatened he was given vinegar to drink as restorative.\nHis fevered lips eagerly sought the fluid and prolonged his torture. In\nthe spring light the days were long. As the sun was about to set the\nofficer gave command. A _do[u]shin_ came forward to the cross and made a\nsign. A guard thrust his spear upward into the belly of Iemon. The limbs\nmade a movement, as in attempt to be drawn up. A guard on the other side\nin turn made a thrust. Others followed. For some moments they continued\ntheir sport, the reward of long waiting. The man was not yet dead.\nImpatient the _do[u]shin_ gave the shaft of a spear a violent upward\nthrust. Its point appeared through the left shoulder. The head fell\nforward on the breast and hung limp. Iemon was dead.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThese events could not be let pass without notice from either the pious\nor the timorous. Kyo[u]ho[u] 2nd year 2nd month 22nd day (3rd April,\n1717) the Inari shrine built to propitiate the fearful Lady of Tamiya\nwas opened to worship with due ceremonies. It had been erected on the\nground of the house once occupied by Matazaemon, facing on Teramachi and\non the narrow street paralleling Samoncho[u] to the East. It was almost\nopposite the entrance to the Sho[u]gwanji. At the family temple, the\nMyo[u]gyo[u]ji, on the Samegabashi side, a grave and stela was set up.\nWith time, however, the opposition made itself felt. It was asserted\nthat the Lady O'Iwa still walked the ward, inflicting pains and\npenalties on the inhabitants thereof. Triumphant reference was made to\nrecent public disasters--of plague, pestilence, famine, and tax levies.\nThe shrine was invitation for her presence. People had grown indifferent\nas the new paint grew old, then shabby on the once famous _miya_.\nSuccess lay with the opposition, and abolition of shrine and grave was\neasily enforced. It was but for a time. The ward was either equally, or\nmore, unfortunate without the protection of its tutelary Inari shrine.\nJust when it was re-established cannot be stated, but in the late\neighteenth century it was most flourishing. It was a favourite resort of\n_samurai_ women, seeking consolation for unfaithful or brutal conduct of\ntheir husbands, and strength in the reputation for chastity of the\nfamous Lady of Tamiya. In 1825 the third Kikugoro[u] made Yotsuya famous\nby his presentation of the \"Yotsuya Kwaidan\" as written for the stage by\nTsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]). In the first years of the Meiji\nrestoration period Shunkintei Ryuo[u], the famous story-teller, heralded\nits renown in the Shin Yoshiwara. O'Iwa San became a feature of the\nKonharuko[u] fete of that quarter. A grave was again erected to her at\nthe Myo[u]gyo[u]ji. As she had no _kaimyo[u]_, or posthumous name, the\nrector of the temple gave her that of \"Tokusho[u]-In Myo[u]nen Hisho[u]\nDaishi,\" which can be interpreted--\"She, pleasing of disposition and\nearnest in prayer; a woman of greatest brilliance.\" Let the reader not\njudge this composition harshly; or its truth.\n\nThe editor to the reproduction[40] of Ryuo[u]'s story speaks of his\ndifficulties. Placed in his hand for judgment he saw at once the power\nof the tale. But--how avoid incurring the divine anger of the Yotsuya\nInari; how avoid being charged with the divine punishment? This question\nwas solved by the publisher assuming the burden of both inflictions;\nunder the spur of what _he_ regarded as publication in inferior and\nuntrue form. He answered these questions with a laugh--\"Afraid? Not so:\nI, too, am human. Though the unusual is an object, yet I would not\nrejoice at incurring the divine anger by publishing what should not be\npublished. Though the divine anger be incurred by publishing the Yotsuya\nKwaidan, and the divine punishment be inflicted, yet who would not\ngladden the eyes and ears of the land? Hence in haste the true record is\nto be printed; owing to emission of unfounded stories. The true record\nbeing put forth, the people profit by it. How then is the divine wrath\nincurred by publication? Certainly not: the protection of the divine one\nis secured.\" The editor trusted in his argument; as does the present\nscribe.\n\nMore than once the remark has been heard as to these shrines of\nNippon--\"Their temples? Those dirty, shabby places, without architecture\nor interest, the haunts of snotty, ragged children?\" The sun-helmeted\ngentleman and lady, or collection of their kind, rush them by in haughty\ncontempt, and with some ridicule and ridiculous comment. Good Sir and\nMadame, you are passing history on the road. At this Kwo[u]gwanji, in\nits rather shabby guest hall, Kusonoki Masashige and his devoted\nfollowers spoke their last defiance and then cut belly. Kobe? It is\nnoted as a place to take ship, and not be too long in doing so. This\nother, barely a mile from the To[u]kyo[u]-Yokohama railway, is\ncontemporary record of Nitta Yoshioka, who carved his bloody protest on\nthe Ashikaga before he killed himself in the trap set by their treachery\nat this spot. Here behind the Ko[u]raiji near Oiso is a very shabby and\ntiny shrine nestled at the foot of the cliff. This had better be\navoided. It is dedicated to the smallpox god. But more than history is\nneglected in the indifference and contempt shown these minor _miya_. A\nvein of thought inwoven into the minds of this strange people is\ninstanced by this modest shrine of the Tamiya Inari. Wandering along the\namusement quarter of some great city, a theatre is seen with a _torii_\ngorgeous in its red paint standing before the entrance. Within this\nentrance is a small shrine and a box for the practical offerings of cash\nor commodities. The theatre is decorated inside and outside with flags\nas for a festival (_matsuri_). Such is actually in progress. The\nrepresentation is that of the Yotsuya Kwaidan. From manager and actor\n(even in the presentation of the figured screen of the moving picture)\nthe malevolence of the O'Iwa Inari--the Fox-witched O'Iwa--is to be\naverted. Hence all the signs of worship as at her very shrine; hence the\nunwillingness of author or publisher to handle the story, at least in\nits full form. This is but a remnant of the fear of \"black magic\" still\nfound and practised in Nippon. On the beach at Kamakura at times can be\nfound straw chaplets with gaudy cloth attached to the centre; a copper\ncoin, and rice offering are accompaniments. Or such will be found at the\ncrossroads of town or village, or on the Yokohama Bluff. Or in times of\nepidemic in numbers they are laid on the wayside shrine of the god of\nmeasles or other disease. The latter disposition conveys its own\nwarning; the others are _majinai_ or charms by which it is hoped to\ntransfer the disease to some other child, thus insuring the cure of the\nfirst sufferer. The coin has been rubbed on the body of the little\npatient. Dogs usually dispose of the food offering; and passing children\nare only too likely to pick up the nefarious coin. The road cleaner\ncomes along at his rare intervals and sweeps the chaplet into the hole\nfor refuse. It is to be regretted that the ignorance and malevolence\nindicated by these charms cannot as easily be gathered in and disposed\nof. With these remarks the Yotsuya Kwaidan and its tale of ill-fortune\nis brought to an end.\n\n      YOKOHAMA,\n  5th June-4th July,\n        1916.\n\nFINIS\n\n\n\n\nAPPENDICES\n\nA\n\n\n[In printed copies of the _gidayu_ the characters are to be\ndistinguished by their theme, only the term _kotoba_ is used to mark a\nspeaker. The shading into descriptive writing is at times vague. In the\npresent translation the characters are indicated. The original figures\nin most _gidayu_ collections. Cf., \"Gidayu Hyakuban,\" p. 271.]\n\nThe Gidayu:\n\nTsuruya Namboku was a writer of drama. Many are the persons called\nNamboku. The three preceding generations were actors who played in\nbuffoon parts. In the fourth generation for the first time was taken up\nthe literary work of play-writing. The Namboku in the fourth generation,\nYo[u]myo[u] Genzo[u], later known as Inosuke, was born at\nMotohamacho[u]. The father carried on the business of _katatsuki_ dyer,\n(handling the cloth to be more or less gaily patterned). Anei 4th year\n(1775), entering at the Kanai Sansho[u] no Mon he (_Yo[u]myo[u]_) took\nthe name of Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]. Later he received the name of Nan Tsuruya\nBoku. When he became a playwright he was about fifty years old. His\nplays are most ingenious, and are very numerous. Among them are the\n\"Osome Hisomatsu,\" \"Iro-yomi-uri,\" \"Sumidagawa Hana Gosho[u],\" \"Yotsuya\nKwaidan.\" In the playhouse they are known (collectively) as the \"Namboku\nMono.\"\n\n\nIEMON SUMIKA NO DAN\n\n(Scene in the house of Iemon)\n\nNow to present it:--Already on that day--ko[u], ko[u]--the bell of\nsunset had issued its call. In the hedges were heard sounds of the\nswarms of insects. Still more lonely was the deserted mansion. O'Iwa,\ndisturbed, anxious, when was her countenance to be open, her breast\ncleared of its darkness? She brought forth the _andon_; took out the\nsulphured slivers of wood from the box holding steel, flint, and tinder.\nIn the depths of her husband's mind no flowers bloomed. She thought it\nwas her woman's temperament that made her brood. In her anxiety she gave\nexpression to her gloom:\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Truly as 'tis said, it is a fleeting world; the flowing of\nwater the future of men. Before this I performed the service of the\ninner apartments of the Hosokawa House. The marriage! Connected in\nthought with Iemon Dono the honoured dismissal was requested, that I\nshould become a bride. Without fortune is that Inosuke, heir of the\nmaster, such object of delight to bring him to maturity. In the end all\naffection is absent. Nerve-racked from birth, with the pains of\nchild-birth, the blood clot, such sickness has seized upon me. Then\nsuddenly--one without a home, shorn of all ornament. Overcome completely\nby the struggle, effort and end have culminated. Parent and child,\nhusband and wife, these (relations) master this self. Detested is the\nfleeting world, gloomy one's existence.\"\n\nAs she pondered, unbidden the tears mingled with her depression. Without\nrestraint, gradually rising-rising-rising, mounted the flow of blood:\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Ah! Ah! Again the ever-present disease shows itself. Deign--a\nremedy! Oh! Oh! That! That! That same remedy of aforetime, stirred and\nmingled with pure water. Two sips, three sips; if one drinks poison--one\nbecomes divine; life comes to an end, but pity is aroused.\"\n\nThe curtain before the dressing room was gently raised. Without speaking\nGombei seated himself close to O'Iwa.\n\n\"Eh! Who is that? Iya! No one is announced. Hana, I say! Hana, I say!\nOh! 'Tis he--of all men! Gombei San, has he come again? Vengeance is\nsatisfied, no longer exists.\"\n\nAs she would depart he held her sleeve to stop her.\n\n_Gombei_--\"Ah! Ah! I say--please wait. A little while ago, at Iemon's\ncoughing and clearing his throat, I was frightened away. Trembling, at\nthat time I went round to the rear. Thinking him really absent, with\nstealth I have entered. The motive of a man lies at the bottom of the\nheart. Just think to grant me a little affection. Alas! Ma! Submitting\nit is deigned to hear what I have to say. Heigh! A woman like this, her\nwhole mind on Iemon, she would be the chaste wife. But the affections of\nIemon are elsewhere, far distant. Ya! Hoi! Hoi! Hoi! To fly! Ho! Ho! Ho!\nHo! Ho! Oh! Moreover the disposition of Gombei is not wicked. He seeks\nto be the husband. Other purpose there is none. Condescend to be easy in\nmind.\"\n\nBut his words carry no weight. The face of O'Iwa in the light has a\nglare.\n\n_Gombei_--\"As usual: Ma! One deeply distrustful. Iya! These matters,\nthough in thought, are not to be put in words. The state of affairs is\ntoo urgent to be put into words. Sa! But I hear you say--'Iemon probably\ngoes to Hachiman. Groundless all these censures.' Do you really believe\nthis? The intrigue is with the only daughter of Okumura Kinai, by name\nKoume. She is indeed a beauty; whether one regard the shape of her face,\nher manners, or the carriage of her loins as if the willow of spring.\nThe intimacy with Iemon could go no further. The proof spoken of is\nhere. This letter--the sealed envelope: it fell from the sleeve of\nIemon. Stealthily I picked it up, by accident. Now then! Whereabouts is\nit? A lengthy thing--Sa! Let's see what's in it. The coquettishness of\nthe sentences! But let's see what she does say. Eh! What's that? 'The\nnight is source of pleasure. Great the pleasure at sight of you. With\ncompliments.' Assuredly there can be no mistake, when she talks this\nway--'The day comes. Soon we will be husband and wife; morning and night\nto be at your service. With compliments.'[41]--'Thus are the gods\ninvoked. With compliments.' Eh! What's this? 'When distant from your\nside but for a moment, painful Time's course. Place this signature next\nyour very person (_hadaka_).'--'To-night--come quickly; your advent is\nawaited. With compliments.' What a miserable creature is this! Is she\nnot? But there's still more. 'O'Iwa Sama and matters with her, this is a\npunishment due to offence in a previous existence. Condescend to be\nrelieved in mind. Be sure thus to view it. The spiteful brush (pen)\nstops. With compliments.'--'It is hard (my lot); very hard. With\ncompliments.'--'The honoured master comes; the ever-present desire.' How\nnow, O'Iwa Sama? Sa! Is there no outbreak as to this? The occasion is no\npleasing one. Is there no harsh remark forthcoming as to one who holds\nillicit intercourse with the husband of another? Eh! You are a woman of\nmarvellous patience! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! At all events say what you think.\n'As yet in this matter, as yet in this affair, you are certain of\nnothing.' Is that it? That Koume and her mother plot together. Eh; but\nshe has a beautiful face! And you--you are bloated, eyes wide distended,\none side of the face caved in, the hair of the head all fallen out.\nThat--and that--how describe the ugliness of your face! The affection of\nIemon has worn out. Ah! What is the name of that poisonous drug, begged\nof Suian until secured? That, too, has been learned. Oh! Fearful,\nfearful, fearful! This is to act as one without care. Life is not\nsomething which lasts forever. Send from this house dismissal to Iemon,\nthe act of separation. This the finality! Surely the intrigue is proved.\nMere thought, easily exhausted, is to no purpose. Make up your mind;\nexpress your feelings. At all events your reputation is preserved. Act\nand decide as one indifferent. More and more have in mind the _susuki_\nof Masuo. Deign to yield. Do this--just this--O'Iwa Dono!\"\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"No! and always, No! Firm the stand taken. In no way is this\nto be endured--to be endured. To hate a person is unreasonable; 'tis\nunjust. But--the embracing arms, the closely clinging, this is to act\nthe lover.\"\n\nWith fingertips she thrust him off. Angry the tears; her voice trembled.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Ya! 'A woman, and the object of contempt; one treated by her\nlord with rudeness beyond measure. The husband has become wearied.\nHere's the proof. Are you a woman lacking sense?' One so unmeasurably\nrude--out with you! One's whole frame vibrates with passion. At one's\nvery feet, the fact is made plain. Quick--away with you! Delay--and this\nshall be the guerdon.\"\n\nWith violence she drew the dagger of Kosuke. Gombei, wicked as he was,\nweakened forthwith.\n\n_Gombei_--\"Eh! Treated thus one's purpose is brought to naught. Listen\nnow to reason, self-willed as you are. A little while, and it will not\nbe the time for a snarling face. Very well: notice is given that soon\nyour spirit will be broken. The petition is lodged at the Daikwan's\noffice. There will be difficulty in gathering principal and interest.\nJust wait.\" He said these words on leaving, ready to make a bolt of it.\nWith _zo[u]ri_ (sandal) on one foot and a wooden clog (_geta_) on the\nother rapidly he ran away. Left alone O'Iwa rose in haste. To the\nconflagration burning in her bosom, was added the fuel of a woman's\ntemperament. If it were true! How learn? Pondering over the details\nfilled her with anxiety.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Ah! Ah! Ill feeling seeks to destroy--already it turns to\nwickedness. Gombei's face betrayed him. His talk was specious. At sight\nof the letter he read the doubting heart learns the truth. Burdensome\nthe knowledge for one's heart. The mind tastes the bitterness of\nadversity. The hair of the head, behind the temples, is affected by the\nfeelings. To draw out the dressing stand to hand: the little combs of\nwillow, where are they? Sorrow effects change; as does entanglements of\nthe heart. The fine-toothed comb which holds the thousand strands of\nhair--how now! It has been forgotten.\"\n\nAgain she took up the hair. To get it out of the way she took the front\nhair in both hands, making space to see.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Alas! I fail to understand. To-day the vertigo is more\npronounced than usual; especially with the hair like this. Did sickness\ncause the loss?\"\n\nAs she spoke, she drew the cover from the mirror. Reflected in it was a\nface to inspire fear. Ha! Frightened, she rose and drew back. Though she\nlooked around her--there was no one. Alas! How strange! Thus she stood.\nThen leaning forward carefully she scanned the mirror. \"Ya! Ya! Since\nwhen has my face been like this? It is completely altered.\" As if she\ncould repair the ravages to self and features squint-eyed she stood and\ngazed. To sight she seemed a woman of evil. \"Hai! Ha!\" She fell\nprostrate. \"How now! How pitiful!\" Like one crazed she arose. Her body\nwrithed in pain, at the pit of the stomach. These stomach pains, of\nfrequent occurrence, now seized her. Thus long she lay writhing where\nshe was.\n\nWhile she twisted in agony; knowing nothing of what has happened, and\nhearing the wheedling voice of a crying child, Kosuke had returned and\nwas at the entrance.\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Honoured lady, long have you been kept waiting. The honoured\npriest had matter to relate. In Yotsuya I went from this place to that,\nin effort to coax supply. But just now.... Is she suckling the child?\"\nWhile speaking he drew close--\"In the meantime the honoured illness has\ndeveloped beyond measure. After retiring for the night you walk in your\nsleep. Eh! Deign to be a little prudent.\"\n\nSoftly the child came to her side. On seeing in what agony she was:\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Ya! Alas! Alas! Have you again one of those hysterical\nattacks, now so frequent? Okusama! I say!\"\n\nTo restore her from the fit to consciousness he raised her in his arms.\nRegarding with attention her frightful appearance:\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! This face of the Okusama: Ma! What can be the\nmatter?\"\n\nHe staggered in bewilderment.\n\n_Kosuke_--\"How changed! The Danna is absent. Heigh-ho! Ma! How has this\noccurred? What can be done? The cold water in the kettle here....\"\n\nOpening her mouth he made her swallow a mouthful. He placed his mouth to\nher ear.\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Okusama! Your ladyship!\"\n\nGently he stroked her back. Thus nursed, the breath of the heartbroken\nO'Iwa faintly returned.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Hei! Has Kosuke returned? Why do you stroke me thus? I had but\ngone to sleep, just now.\"\n\n\"Oh! Oh!\" said he--\"Ma! Ma! How joyful. Ah! Iya! I say, Okusama; how\nlong have you been in that state? Your face inspires fear.\"\n\nAt his question again she was the woman. The tears in her breast rose\nhigh and overflowed. For a time she did not answer. When a little calm:\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Deign then to listen. As usual Iemon Dono went forth to\nworship at Hachimangu[u]. Subsequently my vertigo was too pronounced.\nTwo or three drinks were taken of the medicine prescribed by Suian Dono.\nSecretly at the rear entered Naosuke no Gombei, to make illicit\ncourtship. Various were his pleas. Thus--Iemon Dono was deeply in love\nwith the daughter of Okumura. The worship (_kami-mairi_) was all a lie.\nHe was contracted to Koume. Hence his affection for me was at an end.\nThis change was due to the drug. Hear what is to be done. Love\nunrequited is to be satisfied by revenge. Thus did Gombei put the\nmatter. But it is not likely that my husband is so cruel. Heart again\nwill turn to heart. The attack of vertigo was strong. The hair was\npulled out. Moreover, suddenly the face became altered.... My\nappearance: Ma! Gombei then did not lie. By the plotting of the Okumura,\nparent and child, I have drunk poison. They have an understanding with\nSuian. Eh! At the thought--at the thought--anger rises. My husband, a\nman of note, with him she commits adultery. Hence the hatred of these\npeople. Since the poison has been quaffed; as serpent, as demon, none\nshall be my equal. The Okumura, parent and child, are you the kind thus\nto act!\"\n\nSuddenly she sprang up, and would have dashed out at the front. At her\nact the frightened Kosuke put his arms around and stopped her.\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Heigh! Heigh! I say, Okusama! The expression of your face has\nchanged. Heigh-ho! Whither away? Alas! It is plain that she would go to\nthe _yashiki_ of Okumura. Evil her purpose. She would confute the malice\nspoken by Koume, by parent and child. She would fetch away with her\nIemon Dono. Iya! Ho, there! Your honoured judgment strays. She believes\nin what Gombei has said; that he is with the Okumura. Does she not\nremember times past, the reproof of the Danna? Sa! As before! As before!\nAs before! Put on outward seeming. Deign to be calm. No! No! No! Though\nthere be shame; display a smile. Do but this. The prudence of the lady\ncarries the day. The colour, the perfume, of the flower has no effect.\nSa! She won't stop! She will go! Thither she will take her way! The\nconflagration of her wrath is in her glare. She goes, and Kosuke remains\nbehind!\" At a sound she looked around. The little boy was weeping\nbitterly at his mother's state. The tie of blood, her affection,\nprevailed.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Oh! Bonka! Bonka! Bonka! The pretty fellow grieves.\"\n\nShe drew near to embrace him. Earnestly he looked in his mother's face.\n\n_Child_--\"Iya! Iya! My lady mother is not like this. I'm afraid! I'm\nafraid!\"\n\nWeeping, the little boy dropped from her knee.\n\n\"Bei-yo! Please call my real lady mother.\"\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Are! Are! Are! Deign to hear that! In heart children are\nwithout discernment. My appearance changed, he fears the presence of his\nmother. To her side he will not approach. How, how comes this face!\nMeeting with Iemon Dono one would think--one would think--my very self\nmeets with retribution for some deed done in a past existence. Husband\nand beloved child--alas! they avoid my sight.\"\n\nWith lamentable cries she wept. Kosuke, too, was moved, and joined in\nher tears. O'Iwa again inspected the appearance of her face.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"To continue living thus in the world would be one unending\nshame. Dying the grudge will be repaid. Holding thus the skirt prevents\nmy leaving. This must not be. To that place I go.\"\n\nAs the two struggled the girdle (_obi_) came loose. The contest was\nbrought to an end. At this juncture returned Hamiya Iemon. He had little\ndisposition to enter his home. Thus unexpectedly, without premeditation,\nthe two came face to face. Mutually they gazed at each other. \"Ho! The\nDanna: good day.\" Kosuke remained where he was, uneasily twisting. O'Iwa\nclasped tight the breast of her husband's coat. \"Heigh! Iemon Dono.\"\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Complete has been the silence toward me. Every night, every\nnight, polluted. With Koume have pillows been exchanged.\" Speech and\nvoice vibrated with jealousy. She glared at him. Without showing alarm:\n\n_Iemon_--\"Ma! I don't understand. This way of acting is unusual. Why\nlook like that? In that manner painful the change in appearance.\"--\"Why?\nWhy? Eh! You pretend ignorance. You pretend ignorance of the joyful\nresult. By the artifice of Koume, of parent and child, in unison with\nSuian, a poisonous drug has been given me to drink. By this means I am\nmade unrecognizable. Would that never I had been born, to live so\ndeformed ... all due to the feeling aroused in these people. Sa! Sa! Sa!\nRestore my former appearance! Bewitched, seized by anxious care, it\nremains but to withdraw.\"\n\n_Iemon_--\"Ya! What mad talk! In my absence, loosening the cord of the\n_obi_, secretly you indulge your lewdness. Detected by the master's eye,\ndisloyal as you are, death is the weighty punishment. Make ready!\" At\nhearing the unjust proposal the upright Kosuke with tears held tight his\nknees.\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Heigh! Danna Sama. Iya! I say, Iemon Dono! This Kosuke an\nadulterous fellow? Heigh-ho! It is unreasonable! Unreasonable!\nUnreasonable! You speak for your own purpose. I, the mere servant, have\nbeen to call the honoured priest to the Yotsuya. Returning home I found\nthe Okusama unconscious. When she learned the true state of affairs the\nOkusama would have rushed forth. To stop her I seized the end of the\n_obi_. And that is to be unchaste! Iya! A paramour--heigh-ho! That is\ntoo much! Too much! Too much! It is to go to excess. Truly, truly, for\nthese years and months you have gone forth in the world. Such has been\nyour conduct. You have allowed a sight of you--at the Bon Matsuri, at\nthe New Year, in accidental meetings on the street when on some mission.\nWhy! The very dogs bark--the honoured constables of the night watch--eh!\nthey administer reproof.\"\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Lamentable the distress. How many times! Sleepless the\nnights--the time when one should slumber. But this does not move him.\nHence the unkindness of his speech.\"\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Eh! He don't listen. Danna Dono, beating the _tatami_ one\nweeps with regret.\"\n\nO'Iwa forthwith sprang up in haste--sprang up--sprang up.\n\n\"Superior is the concubine to the lady wife. Below the basely mean is\none placed. In the relation of husband and wife, the thought is to treat\nthe husband with respect. Such is the duty of woman. To you the poverty\nand distress are not displayed. Obtaining her means to live by washing\nand occasional tasks, yet the wife is discarded. The sum total of the\nsunshine transforms the flowers; invisible their change. Regardless of\nself-distrust of the past is put aside. But you act with cruel motive; a\ngrudge as lasting as a night without moonlight. From the clouds the\ndrizzle falls on bamboo and on village. And between the intervals of\nrain there is naught but weeping.\"\n\nIemon refused to listen:\n\n_Iemon_--\"Ya! Mere excuses these; mere excuses these. In the master's\nabsence the cord of the _obi_ is loosed. Madly you go your rounds. The\nlewdness is evident. Sa! Make honest confession.\" At the outrageous\nwords of the husband the voice of O'Iwa trembled still more:\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Eh! 'Tis your own sin you would conceal. Regardless of self\nyou would impute evil reputation to me. Having driven me out, you would\nmake Koume your wife. But by that you shall gain nothing. Miserable one!\nUnblushingly do you join in the hate of the Okumura, parent and child?\"\n\nWith a rapid motion she snatched his dagger. She half turned:\n\n_Iemon_--\"Ya! Whither? Whither? Here one must pick one's words. This is\nnot the time to inquire into the facts. Iya! Iya! Iya! Where do you go?\"\n\nAt their quarrel Kosuke was perplexed. Said the child in troubled voice:\n\n_Child_--\"Honoured mother--where go ye? Honoured father--forbearance,\npatience.\"\n\nHe clung to their garments in kindness and affection. The eyes of the\ntwo in Shurado[u] (Hell of fighting) were blinded. On this side and that\nthey pulled at the scabbard of the sword. In the wrestling, the\nspringing in and recoil, the sword slipped from the scabbard. Without\nintention to five or six inches it pierced the shoulder. Atto! The wife\nfell--\"Namu Sambo[u]!\"[42] Plucking out the sword O'Iwa cast it aside.\nBy the action of retributive fate the point of the weapon pierced the\nchest of Kosuke. The wound was fatal. Seven revolutions and a fall:\nalas! he was dying. Close under his feet the blow of Iemon had reached\nthe child. With but a single cry forthwith he died. At the accident the\nhusband was at a loss what to do. He stood stupified. With difficulty\nO'Iwa rose from the ground.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! You would kill me! Oh! Since you\nwould kill, put into deed the ardent wish. Wretch! An idea--Koume, the\nparent and child: these are to be seized and put to death. Be it so!\"\n\nWith eyes of hate, her hair fallen down, jealously glaring, in\nappearance she was just like a female devil. Blood curdling, she\ninspired fear. The husband gave vent to his inner thought:\n\n_Iemon_--\"Though one kill without intent, yet the brandishing of the\nsword is one's own deed, one's very act. It is the punishment of Heaven\nfor unchastity and jealousy. Bear it in mind.\"\n\nAt the cruel words Kosuke, drawing painful breath:\n\n_Kosuke_--\"Eh! To us, to us, to us, such speech applies not. Unkind,\nunrighteous, is this death punishment. There is naught to compare to it.\nVery wicked and unprincipled, surely you are possessed of a devil!\nSeldom is the life of a serving man grudged him; unconsidered as he is.\nForgetful, the evil reputation of lechery is attached, and death the\nportion. Eh! How regrettable! The sight is unseemly. 'Twas you who\ninflicted the wound! To the Okusama also, evil the name. Thus, without\nintention, the end of your life is not witnessed by your child.\"\n\n_Iemon_--\"By the hand of another your wound, by one your parent! On my\npart--on my part--had I aught to do with this? Heigh! Am I not grieved?\nEh! Cold? Unfeeling? A wound to myself could not pain more.\"\n\nVainly writhing he raised and embraced the body of the child. As sadly\nhe lamented, O'Iwa crawled up close. Tightly her arms clasped the dead\nbody of her child.\n\n_O'Iwa_--\"Alas! Alas! Inosuke! Inosuke! The selfishness of your father;\nthe temperament of the mother; foolish their thoughts. Thus have you\nended life.... How great is the grudge. Heigh! Exercise forbearance!\nExercise forbearance! Deign to show forbearance. Parent and child are\nrelated for but one life, 'tis said. Now separated, again in what world\nwill there be meeting? Men are born into the wide world. There is such a\nthing as sympathy, 'tis said. Before your eyes lie _kerai_ (retainer),\nwife, and child. Now, on the very brink of time, not once do you recite\nthe Buddha's name. Abandon your inordinate desires. Is your heart that\nof a demon? Eh! A snake? Cruel and cold to your wife, you reckon up your\nvarious hates. With Kosuke I am the one to lament. Tears overflow.\nSteady the fall of rain of Yo[u]suji, of _sumidare_ (the rainy season).\nWhen dying the chief of birds vomits forth blood with his song: so I.\"\n\n_Iemon_--\"Ya! The song she sings inspires no regret. A prayer said and\nthe child enters Nirvana. Namu Amida Butsu! As for these two--I would\nkill them by inches; as they twisted, and staggered, and fell grasping\nat the air, and in every way showed their agony. In the next world may\nthey meet with a mountain set with sharp-edged swords, so cruel as to\ninspire pity.\"\n\nJust then came running to the front entrance Suian. He gasped for\nbreath:\n\n\"Heigh! Heigh! Iemon Dono!\"\n\n_Suian_--\"O'Iwa Dono's appearance has changed. It was the drug, our own\nsecret nostrum, administered at request of the honoured mother of\nOkumura. Though sorrow was felt, unexpected the good luck in killing the\nhonoured wife. Henceforth come out openly. Who would not drain the\n_sake_ cups with Koume Dono! The three lands (China, India, Japan) are\nthe inheritance of one who was but an adopted son. All in good order!\nAll in good order! All in good order! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sa! To set\nabout it at once.\"\n\nThe husband concealed tears of regret for past conduct.\n\n_Iemon_--\"Plain it is that wife, child, and _kerai_, though deserving\ncompassion, have found death. 'Twas determined by fate in a previous\nexistence. But to obviate fear of future disaster, though not the\noriginal purpose, the dead bodies of these two are to be nailed to a\ndoor panel, with the inscription--'unchaste and jealous.' Let them float\naway on the current of the Nenashigawa. The entrance of the house is\nclose to the inner room. Make ready: it will be best to leave by the\nrear. Quick! Quick! But....\"\n\n_Suian_--\"It happens that the neighbor Dansuke comes.\" He bent and\npeeped through the entrance. \"Dansuke! Dansuke!\" Dansuke Mizuo in\npresence, mouth to ear he was informed. \"Namu! Namu! Namu! Namu!\" He\nnodded consent. The two men talked in whispers. The dead bodies of the\ntwo (O'Iwa and Kosuke) were carried into the inner room. For some time\nNaosuke Gombei had been watching what went on, peeping out and\nlistening. He appeared from the shadow.\n\n_Gombei_--\"Yai! Unjustly have the blameless wife and _kerai_ been\npunished by Hamiya Iemon. Complaint is to be made at the Daikwan's\ncourt.\"\n\nWhen he would rush forth he was pulled back by the girdle (_obi_). \"Ya!\nYa! Whither would you go? There is matter of importance to hear.\"--\"The\nintent is plain. You would kill me.\" One had the long sword of the\nsoldier. Two or three passes and he was nearly cut down by the skill of\nHamiya. When he tried to flee, from behind he received a cut through the\nshoulder. It finished him. Then he (Iemon) would hide the dead body of\nhis child from the eyes and reproach of men. Close at hand was a heavy\nstone trough. For funeral rites--\"Namu Amida Butsu!\" Into the well crib\nhe threw it. Are! Marvellous! Suddenly the house creaked and trembled.\nFrom somewhere came swarms of rats. Heigh! Incomprehensible! Iemon\nwavered. Singling him out they flew and seized him. Sha! Confused he\nslashed in attempt to drive them off. Lightning blazed around the sword;\nmany phosphorescent lights--in wreaths, double, triple. To the end of\nthe worlds his retribution.\n\nThus the causes, origins, are made known of what remains as the Yotsuya\nKwaidan.\n\nEND OF THE GIDAYU\n\n[It can be noted that Japanese thought and expression are not very\ndifferent from that of the West. An idea perhaps can be obtained from\nthis _gidayu_ as to why the native waxes enthusiastic over the pose and\nvivid gestures of the _geisha_, who is the one to interpret these\ndramatic recitations. To her falls the \"_kotoba_.\" The descriptive lines\nare recited by a chorus to the harsh and effective twang of the\n_samisen_. The _samisen_ may not afford music, but it can give\nexpression to the emotional in feeling. The _gidayu_ recitation is a\nfavourite art with the Go Inkyo[u] Sama. Symposia are held, before which\nthe old gentleman recites, often enough without chorus; for he, and the\n_geisha_, at times have to fill the role both of \"_kotoba_\" and chorus,\nmodulating the voice according to the theme. Symposia is not an\nunbefitting term. Meetings are held for public competition in _gidayu_\nrecitation; but in the privacy of one's circle and hobby the banquet is\nan important feature--at least to the guests. In his history of\n\"Japanese Literature\" (Dai Nihon Bungaku Shi, pp. 591-596) Suzuki\nCho[u]ko[u] gives a long extract from the play, as sample of Tsuruya's\npowers as a dramatist. Adopted into the House of the actor Tsuruya\nNamboku, and marrying his daughter, Katsu Byo[u]zo[u] in turn assumed\nthe name Tsuruya Namboku.]\n\n\nB\n\n[In the original the story by Momogawa Jakuen is found in the Kwaidan\nHyaku Monogatari, vol. ii, p. 83 (Kokkwado[u]-To[u]kyo[u]). This\ncollection has already been referred to, as sketching a number of the\nbest known Japanese _kwaidan_. The present example furnishes a specimen\nof _ko[u]dan_ style, and has application to the present subject. It also\ninstances how the Japanese stage boldly faces situations, the exigencies\nof which call for the greatest adaptation and facility on the part of\nactor and stage manager. The \"Yotsuya Kwaidan\" in the stage\nrepresentation presents a number of critical scenes in which both\nqualities are severely strained. Rapid metamorphosis is a _sine qua\nnon_. And it is effected--somehow.]\n\nThe _ko[u]dan_:\n\n\nONOE KIKUGORO[U] NO YU[U]REI\n\nFrom former times and generations the Otowa[43] House held a monopoly\nin the representation of ghosts. Its representative in the fifth\ngeneration was the most skilful of all at spectres. This man of the\nthird generation lived at Muko[u]jima no Terajima. He was commonly\ncalled Terajima no Kikugoro[u]; his stage name was Baiko[u]. This man's\ndaughter was the mother of the fifth generation. Thus it can be seen\nthat he was the maternal grandfather of this fifth representative. This\nthird Kikugoro[u] was the first to act the Yotsuya Kwaidan, in Bunsei\n8th year 7th month (14th August-13th September, 1825) at the Nakamura-za\n(theatre). The author was the noted Tsuruya Namboku, who constructed the\nvery famous \"To[u]kaido[u] Yotsuya Kwaidan.\" O'Iwa San, the attendant\n(_wakato[u]_) Kohei, and Enya no Ro[u]nin Sato[u] Yo[u]mo Shichi, these\nparts fell to Kikugoro[u]. Matsumoto Koshiro[u], he who strutted it at\nthe Ko[u]raiya, did the Naosuke Gombei. Iemon was the part of the\nseventh Danjuro[u]; later Ebizo, who was the real father of the ninth of\nthe name. The staging of O'Iwa Sama includes--1st scene, the combing of\nthe hair; 2nd scene, the Sunamura Ombo[u]bori; 3rd scene, Iemon ill in\nthe dark room at Hebiyama; 4th scene, the _yashiki_ of Naosuke Gombei at\nFukagawa Sankaku. O'Iwa appears at the scene of the combing of the hair\nas mentioned, in the incident where the guests are received, and in the\n3rd scene at Hebiyama. Iemon is ill. Splitting apart the lantern set out\nduring the Festival of the Dead (Bon Matsuri) the ghost of O'Iwa appears\nwith the child in her embrace. Iemon receives them as would a stone\nJizo[u]. O'Iwa, at sight of the fright of Iemon, laughs--ki, ki, ki. At\nonce they fade away; and at once the ghost of Kohei the _wakato[u]_\ntakes her place, he who was charged with unchaste conduct with O'Iwa. It\nwas the part of the performer to please the uninitiated by some\nstrenuous effort. The first performance at this theatre was for three\nmonths--from the seventh to the ninth month. On consideration the drama\nis of interest. O'Iwa is killed at Yotsuya. With the dead body of the\n_wakato[u]_ Kohei she is fastened to a door, and from the rear the\nscoundrel sets them adrift. Fishing at Ombo[u]bori, Iemon sees them\nfloat by. From Yotsuya to Sunamura is a very great distance. It would\noccupy a woman's legs for the space of a day; or faint-hearted fellows,\nwater drinkers, such of the kind as would try it. Winding along what\nrivers, by what intersecting canals had they floated here? In no way\ndoes one conceive. All the more the reasons influencing the author's\ndesign are not known. Very interesting is the story, to the cheerful\ncharacter, and those not to be chilled by apparitions. At all events\nthey get to Ombo[u]bori? The third Kikugoro[u], the first to take the\npart of O'Iwa, was a superlative actor, skilled in capturing the people.\nIn the third scene, the dark room at Hebiyama, the ghost comes forth\nfrom the _Bon_ lantern. Every day the _kozo[u]_ (man or boy as\napprentice) of the utility shop in Asakusa Umacho[u] slowly took down\nthe lantern covered with white paper. In a straight line, before the\neyes of all, he passed along Kuramaedo[u]ri, crossing Asakusa. From\nYokoyamacho[u] he crossed to Daimaru no Mae. Passing through\nNorigyo[u]cho[u] he reached the Nakamura-za in Sakaicho[u]. As he passed\nalong these streets crowded with people, the eyes of men were attracted:\n\n_No. 1_--\"Every day, every day, the _kozo[u]_ goes by carrying that\n_Bon_ lantern. Where does he go?\"\n\n_No. 2_--\"He? Kikugoro[u] now is playing O'Iwa Sama at the Nakamura-za.\nThe ghost issues from that _Bon_ lantern. The lantern used is brought\nevery day by the _kozo[u]_.\"\n\n_No. 1_--\"Ha! A practical application. We must be sure and go see.\"\nThrough this advertisement the guests came readily. As fact, every day\nbut the one _Bon_ lantern was used. Split apart, it was repaired. From\nthe first day, up to the performances of a thousand autumns, one lantern\nanswered all purposes. Truly Kikugoro[u] was more than a clever actor.\nHe was wonderful in securing the good will of people. No actor was equal\nto him. Tradesmen, Government officials, learned men, refined people--he\nwas skilful at gaining their support. Hence he did not lack money. His\n_status_ did not affect him. When as usual the _Bon_ lantern one day was\nto be carried out, Kikugoro[u] made his pupil Onozo[u] the bearer. Said\nKikugoro[u]:\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Onozo[u], don't I frighten you somewhat in this shape?\"\n\n_Onozo[u]_--\"I'm not in the least frightened. Every day acting as your\nassistant I'm not afraid.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"What? Not afraid? Say that you're afraid.\"\n\n_Onozo[u]_--\"Patron, that is unreasonable. One not afraid--is not\nafraid. Hence it cannot be helped.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Anyhow, say you are afraid.\"\n\n_Onozo[u]_--\"I'm not at all afraid.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"An obstinate rascal, this.\"\n\nWhile speaking--_pokari_, he gave _Onozo[u]_ a whack on the head. As it\nwas he went through the performance. Coming to the green room, at once\nhe called Onozo[u].\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Fool and low fellow.\"\n\n_Onozo[u]_--\"Why is it then you would strike a fool and low fellow with\na stick?\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"You are just like a fool. A little while ago when told\nto be afraid of me, you would not say you were afraid.\"\n\n_Onozo[u]_--\"Patron, that is to be unreasonable. I attend you. Every day\nI see you.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"I know you are not afraid. But you are the very one who\nacts as my attendant. In public you are to look at me as one frightened\nbeyond measure. If this be not widely published, will not the theatre be\ndeserted? An actor who is good only at acting, he is not to be called a\nclever man. He must draw people. Fool and low fellow!\"\n\n_Onozo[u]_--\"Naruhodo! Since you say it--I'm afraid.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Your answer now is to the purpose.\"\n\nHence on considering the matter, was not Kikugoro[u] in every way a\ntalented man? For the space of eighty days this theatre turned away\nguests. Later, in Tempo[u] 7th year 7th month (12th August to 11th\nSeptember, 1836) again this drama was produced. The actor was the same\nas at the previous production. On this occasion Kikugoro[u] took\nthought. As it was the second time, it must be changed in presentation\nto an audience. _Do[u]mo!_ There was the coming on of the ghost. It is\nclad in a grey robe. If O'Iwa wears a grey robe, and the _wakato[u]_\nKohei wears a grey robe, both being the same to view this would fail to\ninterest. He continually worried. Nevertheless it would not do to wear\narmour; and a ghost in _kami-shimo_[44] raises no chill. Some\ncontrivance must be hit upon. Day and night the matter worried him.\nHabitue of the gallery of this Morita-za was a man named Tsutaya no\nYoshi, commonly known as Tsutayoshi. An extraordinarily dissolute fellow\nhe borrowed to the four sides and eight directions. At this time in the\nYoshiwara Sumicho[u] was a tenement placed in the rear of the prostitute\nhouses. He removed thither, and soothed his troubles by living alone.\nHis face washed in the morning, at once he ran forth. He ate his meals\nat a cheap eating house. A varied meal consumed he made his way to the\nMorita-za. Lunch was eaten in the theatre. On the return he took a drink\nand then went home. In truth he was a lively fellow. The Yotsuya Kwaidan\nhad just been determined on for the close of the sixth month (July). At\nsundown he returned to his home in the Yoshiwara. On the way he\ndrank--the strongest of liquors. At once he hung up the mosquito net and\nwent inside. Not knowing front from rear he went to sleep. Pressed by a\nnecessity the sound of the wooden clappers (_hyoshigi_) made him open\nhis eyes. It was the harlot quarter, the 9th hour and more (after 3\nA.M.), and the liveliness of the night was over. The quiet of the place\ninspired fear. From evening he had not stirred from the mosquito net,\nbut had slept. The light had gone out, and it was pitch dark. Soundly\nhad he slept. In the jar was fresh water for drinking. Greedily he\ndrank.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"I have slept--in a way to cause fear. It is now past the 9th\nhour. I still can sleep without stint.\"\n\nAgain he entered the net. He drew the tobacco box close to his pillow\nhead. He would smoke. Looking toward the _andon_, beneath it, faintly\noutlined, he saw somebody.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Who is there? This place used to be a brothel. Now it is a\ntenement. I rent it. It don't do to have it taken for a brothel. Oi!\nYou--whence do you come?\"\n\nAt the words--he! It disappeared.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"I say now! A marvellous thing--that over there. A kind of\ndream--extraordinary: I don't remember having a grudge with anyone. Yai!\nIf the spirit which just came entertains a grudge I have never even\ndreamed of such. I am a dissolute fellow, but remember no grudge with\nanyone.\"\n\nThus loud and wrathfully he shouted out. As one without fear he went to\nsleep. Waking up, the next day he left the house to go to the hot bath\nin Umacho[u]. On the way he breakfasted. Then he went to the Morita-za.\nAlthough the performance had not begun, as it was a first representation\nthe theatre was crowded with people. Said a friend:\n\n_Friend_--\"Yoshi San, the colour of your face is bad. Are you affected\nby the heat?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Liking strong spirits, I feel badly. Moreover, last night a\nstrange thing was witnessed. I feel out of sorts.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"What was it?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"In the middle of last night I opened my eyes. Dimly outlined\nbeside the lantern (_andon_) sat a rascal; some fellow who had been\namusing himself at a neighbouring brothel. I thought that being drunk\nwith wine he had come there by mistake. 'Who are you?' Thus I shouted.\nIt disappeared. _Do[u]mo!_ It was a strange occurrence. Was it a ghost,\nthought I? I could remember no grudge with another person. Anyhow, in\nall likelihood it is no ghost, thought I. However I look at it, I don't\nunderstand.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"Hei! Yoshi San, it was your own imagination.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Though I considered it a vision of my own, as strange I\nmention it.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"If you feel bad it will be well to stay away for to-night.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"I don't think I feel badly in any other way. To-night--for the\nwhole night--I'll make the test.\"\n\nThat day he returned to the Yoshiwara house. That night no one was seen.\nBut when he did see it, was the thing a matter of his own imagination?\nThe next day he came to the theatre. The friend was waiting for him.\n\n_Friend_--\"Yoshi San, did it appear at night?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Iya! At night it did not appear. In the middle of the night\nopening my eyes I looked with especial care to the eight sides. Nothing\nthat could be considered suspicious was to be seen.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"Then it was as I said. It being at one time a brothel, would\nnot something appear in this house? Having this wholly in mind, the\nthing presented itself to your eyes.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Doubtless it is but that; a freak of the imagination.\"\n\nThat night returning to the Yoshiwara, nothing happened. A space of\nfive nights passed. His habit was to return early; and as his thin dress\nwas wet with sweat he would change it. Going upstairs he took out the\nthin garment from the clothes-basket (_tsuzura_). With this in hand he\nwas about to descend. Now as at one time the place had been a brothel\nthe steps were broad and wide. Seated on the lower step, lying face\ndownward, was somebody.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Ah! Has it come?\"\n\nBeing a courageous fellow, while speaking he raised his leg.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"You're in the way.\"\n\nPon: he gave a kick. There was not the slightest resistance.\nForthwith--ha! it was gone.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"_Do[u]mo!_ Remarkable: it is a strange occurrence.\"\n\nWhile speaking he changed his robe and lit the fire. Making the water\nboil, with Echizen peat he heated some wine he had bought on the road\nand brought home with him. With _tsukudani_,[45] or something of that\nkind to eat, he drank and thought.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"To-day it is no product of my imagination. Who can that rascal\nbe?\"\n\nTalking to himself, he drank the _sake_. Attending to preliminaries he\nwould go to bed. He went to the necessary and opened the door. Some one\nstood there, with his back to him.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Here again?\"\n\nAt the words it disappeared. No matter how brave he was, that night he\nfelt badly and did not sleep. Awaiting dawn he was quick to go forth. On\ncoming to the theatre--\n\n_Friend_--\"Good day: how goes it with Yoshi San? Are you not very much\nout of tone?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"At night it came. Moreover it appeared twice.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"Did it appear?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"At first it was seated on the stair. The second time it was\ninside the necessary.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"Hei! That is marvellous. Probably it is the work of fox or\nbadger (_tanuki_).\"\n\nThis talk abruptly terminated. Tsutayoshi was a bold fine fellow.\nUnmoved, he retired to his own home in the Yoshiwara. After that nothing\nwas seen for several days. Just as he was forcing a way into the\ntheatre--\n\n_Man_--\"Yoshi San! At the Bairin (Plum Tree) over the way is the master\nof Otowaya. He is urgent to see you; so he says. It will be well to go\nat once.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Was he told I was here?\"\n\n_Man_--\"Ah!\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"How annoying! The Otawaya San has lent me money. _Do[u]mo!_ A\nmeeting, 'tis bad news.\"\n\n_Man_--\"As nothing was said about it--go. Surely the return of the loan\nis not involved.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"It's not to be avoided. I'll go and see.\"\n\nOpposite to the theatre was the tea house called the \"Bairin.\" He went\nin.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Good-day.\"\n\n_Maid_--\"Oya! Yoshi San. As the master of Otowaya is waiting upstairs\nfor you, just condescend to go up.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Ah! Is that so? Condescend to pardon.\"\n\nDon, don, he climbed the stairs. At the end of a six-mat room was a man\nfanning himself. He was alone. It was Kikugoro[u], the third of the\nname. He had been noted as a handsome man. However, at this time he was\nan old man. The white summer garb of that very fine quality of\ncloth-grass known as _jo[u]fu_ was girded in by a _chakenjo[u] obi_.[46]\nOf his profession there was not a hint.\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Sa! Yoshi San, come here, please.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"The patron: _do[u]mo_! truly it has been rude not to come and\nsee you. I have not crossed the threshold.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Iya! Why speak so? You now live in the Yoshiwara.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"That is so; for a long time I lived in Fukiyacho[u]. The\nneighbourhood was a bad one. I had borrowed money. It was like running\naway in the night. A one-time brothel now the rent is ridiculously\ncheap. _Mikoshi_ (carriages) are kept in it now.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"The Yoshiwara is a gay place. For people who would amuse\nthemselves there is none superior. It is an excellent locality.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"One can find whatever is desired.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"So Yoshi San, now you live alone.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Hai! I'm alone.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"I've just heard the talk of people. A ghost appears at\nyour place.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Who said such a thing?\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Iya! It was heard, by accident. Is it true?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Hai! First it was seen beside the _andon_; then on the\nstairway, and in the necessary.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"A strange matter! Is it man or woman?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"_Do[u]mo!_ That I don't know. It was seen as in a mist.\nWhether man or woman, I don't know.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Are there male and female ghosts?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Male or female--I know nothing about it.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"What its nature? When it appears this time, condescend\nto take a good look at it.\" He continued (then)--\"The present drama of\nthe Yotsuya Kwaidan--as to my part, as you well know, O'Iwa and Kohei\nbefore the very eyes must change places in an instant. For both to wear\nthe grey _kimono_ lacks interest. Which of them is to change? It is on\nmy mind. _Do[u]mo!_ Thought fails to solve the question. Hence the\nrequest to you. What kind of dress does that ghost wear? That is what I\nwant to learn.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Hei!\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"But Yoshi San: It is no mere request. I loaned you ten\n_ryo[u]_.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Patron, do you condescend still to remember it?\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Deign not to jest. Who would forget such a rascal? I'll\nwipe out that ten _ryo[u]_--and give you five _ryo[u]_ in addition. How\nnow? Condescend to observe.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Thanks are felt. When it appears I'll take a good look at it.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"With the month's change the first representation takes\nplace. It must be ascertained in the intervening time. Probably in four\nor five days it will be seen.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"That is so. _Do[u]mo!_ The opponent being a ghost, will it\nappear to-night? Or has is ended by going away? That I don't know.\nHaving found out its dwelling place, I'll send a postal-card.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Don't jest. As just said, I'll give you five _ryo[u]_.\nBe careful; and please take a good look.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Respectfully heard and understood. This time I'll get a good\nlook at it.\"\n\nThus agreed Tsutayoshi returned that night to the Yoshiwara.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"A pleasing thing! Ten _ryo[u]_ wiped off, and five _ryo[u]_\nreceived in addition. Thanks: a fine bit of work. It will be well if the\nrascal of a ghost comes to-night. Anyhow, just before the _Bon_ it\nsuffers distress beyond measure. For several days nothing has been seen\nof it. Its purpose may have changed: Yai! If the ghost is to appear,\nplease show up at once. Don't it yet appear? Oi! Ghost!\"\n\nThe ghost was not to be drawn out by this display of energy. Several\ndays passed without the slightest sign of it. Every day Kikugoro[u] came\nto the Bairin and sent for Tsutayoshi.\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Yoshi San, has it not yet appeared?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"_Do[u]mo!_ The patron is vexed. Every day, every day, it is\nawaited; and not a sign of it. Feeling out of sorts, has it not died?\nThat's my idea.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Being dead, is it not a ghost? Once\ndead, does the rascal die again?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"_Do[u]mo!_ Patron, nothing is known of one's spirit. For it\nnot to appear is annoying. Spirits (_ki_) suffer pain; and suffering\npain they don't show themselves. It seems that you want it to appear\nbefore the first representation. If I see it, I get five _ryo[u]_. I\nwould like to have it show itself before the _Bon_. My purpose is to get\nthrough this year's _Bon_[47] by means of the ghost.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Anyhow--have a care.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Agreed.\"\n\nThat night he went home and drank wine.\n\n_Man_--\"Yoshi San, is he at home?\"\n\nThereupon without ceremony entered an intimate friend, from Sakaicho[u]\nnear Fukiyacho[u]. He had loaned money to Tsutayoshi, and now sought the\nrepayment.\n\n_Man_--\"Yoshi San, you say you will bring it, you will bring it; and you\nmake no sign of bringing it. That was my money, and the failure to\nreturn it is vexing. Will matters change before the _Bon_?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Wait but a little. If to-night something materializes I get\nfive _ryo[u]_. The money in hand, at once I will pay you back.\"\n\n_Man_--\"What is going to materialize? The five _ryo[u]_ you spoke of?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"In fact at my house a ghost appears. The Otowaya San heard of\nit. As of immediate use to the theatre I am carefully to observe what\nthe ghost wears. He says he will give me five _ryo[u]_. The money\nobtained, at once the two _ryo[u]_ will be repaid. Wait until that\nhappens.\"\n\n_Man_--\"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Does a ghost really appear?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"It really does.\"\n\n_Man_--\"What kind of a ghost?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"As to that--right before one; a most blood-curdling thing.\nAnyhow, I shiver all over at sight of it. Just like this--\"\n\n_Man_--\"Where does it show itself?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Just where you are seated.\"\n\n_Man_--\"Yoshi San, jokes don't go.\"\n\nWithout waiting for an answer he fled. Seeing this said Tsutayoshi:\n\n_Yoshi_--\"A ghost is a very profitable object. Do but speak of it, and\nhe who would collect borrowed money takes to flight. If it appears,\nmoney is obtained. Hence a ghost is a remarkable thing. After this when\nthe dry goods man comes for repayment, I'll chase him out again with the\nghost. Anyhow this house brings good luck. The rent is cheap, and there\nis a ghost which enables one to dodge paying loans. Thanks: henceforth\nin renting a house I'll confine myself to haunted houses. So much for\nthat. Will it show itself to-night?\"\n\nTsutayoshi hung up the mosquito net. He drank a glass. Thus reinforced,\ntranquil and pleased he laid down on the pillow. After sleeping awhile\nhe opened his eyes. All around was quiet. The bustle of the night had\nceased. There was not a sound. Outside the mosquito net the wick of the\n_andon_ had burned low and gave a faint light. Suddenly the bell of the\neighth watch (1 A.M.) was heard on Bentenyama. Thereupon--de!... the\nsound was heard and the light of the _andon_ went out. Then as a mist an\nobject like to a human being (_hito_) was visible. Ha! Tsutayoshi was\nfrightened. Was this the ghost? He rolled up the mosquito net, the\npupils of the eyes intent. Thus he had it in plain view. The hair of the\nhead was in wild disorder. To sight it was certain it was a man. He wore\na grey cotton garment.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"That's it!\"\n\nAt the sudden exclamation--Ha! It disappeared. The _andon_ having\npreviously gone out truly it was the very blackness of night. Coming out\nfrom under the mosquito net he (Yoshi) lit the wick. Smoking his tobacco\nhe staid awake until dawn. In time the East became white. At once he\nleft the house. He entered the bath at Agecho[u], breakfasted as usual\nat the cheap eating house in Komegata, and then went to the Morita-za in\nKibikicho[u].\n\n_Friend_--\"Good-day.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Iya! It's hot to-day.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"How now, Yoshi San? The O'Bake?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"As usual--it came in the night.\"\n\n_Friend_--\"Is that so? When Otowaya San hears that, he will rejoice.\"\n\nWhile in talk a message came from Kikugoro[u]. At once Tsutayoshi went\nto the Bairin. Otowaya was waiting for him.\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Yoshi San, how now--the ghost?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Patron, condescend to rejoice. It appeared in the night.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"Did it appear? The rascal is brave. Is it man or woman?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"A man in all likelihood.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"The dress?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Was seen to be grey cotton--positively so.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"That's interesting. A _kimono_ of grey colour just suits\nthe ghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei. Sa! Yoshi San, in accordance with\nthe bargain I give you five _ryo[u]_.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"_Do[u]mo!_ Thanks are felt.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"There they are. Yoshi San, you are a brave fellow. Life\nin a haunted house is unpleasant. It will be well to remove elsewhere.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Iya! A haunted house is splendid. A friend just now came for\nthe return of borrowed money. When told of a ghost appearing, he fled.\nAgain, merely for noting what the ghost wears, you tell me I will get\nfive _ryo[u]_. All this is due to the honoured shadow of the ghost. Thus\nregarding (my) Yurei Dai Myo[u]jin Sama,[48] to abandon such a splendid\nghost and remove to some other place would change my luck. My purpose is\nto go on living with this ghost.\"\n\n_Kikugoro[u]_--\"In that case, Yoshi San, it would be well to have the\nhouse cleaned. _Do[u]mo!_ Don't you think it is the work of fox or\n_tanuki_?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Naruhodo! At all events I'll have the house cleaned.\" So\nreceiving the money from Kikugoro[u], rejoicing Yoshi returned to the\nYoshiwara. On the way he took a glass or so. Somewhat drunk, he entered\nthe Tanaka no Mikawaya, a _tabi_ (sock) shop. The house was the owner of\nthe place where Tsutayoshi lived.\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Good-day.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"Oya! Yoshi San. Are you on your return? Ma! Condescend to\nenter. _Do[u]mo!_ The theatre now pleases the people. The audiences are\nlarge.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Thanks are felt.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"What your business, Yoshi San?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Danna, I would like to have the house cleaned.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"Cleaned?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"_Do[u]mo!_ At present a supernatural object appears. It is\nvexing. As I will furnish the wages of the workman, I thought it would\nbe well to have it cleaned.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"Hei! What appears?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"At times a ghost shows itself.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"A ghost?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Once it showed itself beside the _andon_. The second time it\nwas seen in the necessary. At evening it was seated at the entrance to\nthe stairs. There is nothing to fear, unless it be the work of fox or\nbadger. It would be bad for outsiders to get wind of it; so I would like\nto have the place cleaned.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"Is it man or woman?\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"There is no doubt of its being a man, of small stature. His\ndress plainly is of grey cotton.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"A dress of grey cotton--the man of small stature. Un!\nJo[u]! It is that low fellow.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Oi! Oi! Danna, did you know him? Was he a wicked fellow?\nSetting up in the ghost way--pray excuse me.\"\n\n_Landlord_--\"Ma! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. The house\nthat I rent to you originally was a brothel called the Yamashiroya. The\nlandlord was an unrighteous fellow. One night an _oiran_ lacked any\nguest.[49] He took her with him to the _semeba_--(punishment room) and\ntreated her most cruelly. No one called the place 'the Yamashiroya.' It\nwas known as the Onimise (devil-shop) of Fushimicho[u]. It was just this\ntime last year that a _wakashu[u]_ (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love\nwith a woman named Kotsu no Wakatake. Pressed for money, to get it he\nhad an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low brothel mentioned\nperhaps he would get a _bu_--a couple of _shu[u]_. A restitution\nprivately effected would have been well. He was roped up and carried off\nto the town hall. In every way a low scoundrel he was sent to\nTemmacho[u]. Soon after he died in the jail. Subsequently there were\nnothing but unpleasant happenings at the Yamashiroya. It was completely\nruined. Later I bought it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it\ninto two houses and rented them out.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Hei!\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"That Tokuzo, as the _wakashu[u]_ was called, when sent to\nthe town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as present\nto him by an _oiran_. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and good natured; an\ninteresting fellow. Of low stature, he was a good worker. Probably he\nfailed to carry out his purpose.\"\n\n_Yoshi_--\"Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow condescend\nto make everything clean.\"\n\n_Mikawaya_--\"Agreed.\"\n\nAfter this workmen came from the Mikawaya, and the cleaning up was\nperformed. Tsutayoshi at a subsequent meeting with Kikugoro[u] told him\nthe story of Tokuzo. It would be well to have a funeral service held. So\nthe memorial service for Tokuzo was conducted at the family temple of\nTsutayoshi. The figure was never again seen. Kikugoro[u] in the role of\nghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei came out dressed in a grey robe marked\nwith _kokumochi_ (the badge of the white disk figured on coloured\nground). Before one's very eyes he changed to O'Iwa. As ghost and\narrayed in the family crest it was restricted to the Kohei of the\n\"Yotsuya Kwaidan.\" The theatre was packed. Such was the crowd that the\nupper gallery of the theatre collapsed. Even though an actor, everywhere\nhe (Kikugoro[u]) was spoken of as a great man. To favoured guests of\nKikugoro[u] the matter was so related. Thus the tale is a true one.\n\n\nTAKUAN\n\nThree great priests of influence figure in the rule of the first three\nTokugawa Sho[u]gun. Tenhai Osho[u] of the Nankwo[u]bo[u], bishop of the\ntemple foundation at Ueno, was all powerful under Iyeyasu. His\nsuccessors, Nikkei So[u]zu of the San-en-Zo[u]jo[u]ji at Shiba, and\nTakuan Zaisho[u] of the Daikokudo[u], the To[u]kaiji of Shinagawa, were\nthe priestly influences under the 2nd and 3rd Sho[u]gun. It is the\nlast-named cleric who is responsible for the hard and palatable yellow\npreparation of the _daikon_ (radish) known under his name of _takuan_.\nThe _daikon_ is soused in brine and rice bran, kept weighted down under\nheavy stones, and allowed \"to ripen\" for some weeks. A way station in\nits preparation and edibility, and to be experienced in every Japanese\nhousehold, is the unspeakable and unbreathable soft _nukamisozuke_. Its\npresence always arouses suspicion of the pressing defect in the house\ndrainage.\n\nTakuan deserves esteem and appreciation for other than culinary\nreasons. On a visit to the castle one day the old friar noted the\ndepression of his valued and intimate friend Yagyu Tajima no Kami. The\naging _o[u]metsuke_ (suzerain's eye) and fencing teacher to the third\nSho[u]gun opened out his woes. His second son was dead. His third son\nwas worthless. At least the father thought so at this time. His eldest\nson, Jubei, as great at arms as himself and his legitimate successor,\nwas a madman--gone mad over his own excellence. Takuan heard the\nparticulars. At once he volunteered to act as physician. \"Be of good\nheart. This Takuan will prescribe.\" The grateful Munenori, in the course\nof the next few days sent to the prelate's quarters to know when the\njourney to the far-off Yamato fief would be made. He would make\nprovision for the prior's comfort and conveyance. Said a sleek scribe\nand substitute--\"The lord abbot has long since departed. It is useless\nto attempt to overtake him. He travels fast.\" Such was the message to\nthe pleased but discomfited Munenori. Meanwhile at Yagyu Masakizaka in\nYamato there turned up a shabby travel-stained old fellow. The\ngatekeepers were inclined flatly to refuse admission. However, the\n_karo[u]_, or chief officer of the fief, had to be notified. He was\nunwilling to let slip any chance of relief to the condition of Jubei\nDono. With some misgivings the old fellow was ordered around to the\ngarden. The _samurai_ code made little account of cutting down a\nretainer, a beggar, or an outcast. In the first case compensation was\nallowed; the last two were honoured by the experiment. Priests and women\nwere not covered by the code; matter of omission, rather than of\nimportance. The wanderer had taken his seat by the little pond in the\ngarden. Here to all appearance he remained in a meditation which was\nroughly interrupted by the irruption of the lord of the mansion into a\nroom close by. Jubei kicked the _sho[u]ji_ out of the frames, and strode\nto the edge of the verandah. His hair was in wild disorder. He wore\narmour on his shoulders, and was stark naked below the waist. Face\ntwitching and eyes flashing he hailed his visitor, to demand on what\nmission he had dared to intrude on the time and patience of the great\nman. Let the excuse be a good one. Otherwise--But at abuse the cleric\nwas a good hand himself. He, too, had heard of Jubei Dono; he who posed\nas the great man of Nippon. This was poaching on his own ground, for he\nset himself up to be the match of any number in the land. At this Jubei\nbroke into angry jeers and invectives. The priest made answer with equal\nroughness. \"How face two opponents--to right and left?\" Jubei snorted\nwith contempt. He was active enough to neglect the one and cut down the\nother before aid could be brought. The Yagyu-ryu[u], or style of\nfencing, made provision for such occasion. Aye! And for four--and\nagainst eight.... \"And against sixteen, and thirty-two, and sixty-four,\nand a hundred and twenty-eight opponents ... against all the many\nfighting men of Nippon? How would Jubei face all those?\" To this Jubei\ncould but answer that he would die fighting. The priest in his turn\nsnorted with contempt. \"Die fighting: by such words Jubei admits\ndefeat.\" But he did not allow Jubei to turn questioner in his turn.\nSwiftly he shifted the argument. He, the cleric, considered Jubei of\nsmall account. He would prove to him what a fool he was by the\ninterpretation of a mere thirty-one syllables of poetry. This should be\nthe test of intelligence. The Knight's Way (Budo[u]) had its inner and\ncryptic meaning expressed in verse. So had the Way of the Buddha\n(Butsudo[u]). Of this latter Jubei knew nothing; and he doubted if he\nknew anything of the former. At least let him display some sample of his\nwit. Jubei leaped at the test to prove his greatness. Now he scorned to\ndeal with a priest in arms. How was this:\n\n    \"By night storm of Narutaki broken,\n     The scattered jewels, e'en the moon, it harbours.\"[50]\n\n\"Is there but that to prove wit?\"--\"How then with this one?\"\n\n    \"Tree leaves on Yamakawa's flood:\n     The self, abandoned, does but drift--lo!\"[51]\n\nThe priest threw up his hands. \"Such stuff will never do! And this\nfellow considers himself educated!\"\n\n    \"Rain seen, impeded not to flow away;\n     The snow breaks not the stem of willow green.\"[52]\n\n    \"Various and many though the ways of teaching be,\n     There is but one true stroke of sword.\"[53]\n\nJubei gleamed most homicidally at his questioner. The priest only\nsaid--\"A child has such by heart.\" And Jubei knew 'twas so, and was\nrebuked. Now he was in less haste:\n\n    \"The heart, how judge it?\n     An ink sketch of the breeze amid the pines.\"[54]\n\nA shrug of the shoulders was the reward of this effort.\n\n    \"Though barrier mount, the leafy mount, the inner mount, be dense\n                    with leafage;\n     What e'er one wills, naught hinders.\"[55]\n\nThe priest shook his head as with grave indulgence to childhood's\nthoughts. Jubei burst into a rage. He turned to his sword-bearer, and\nlaid hand on the weapon. The lad knelt with bowed head, uncertain\nwhether the sword was to fall on himself or the visitor. Without paying\nthe slightest attention to the hostile attitude the priest cut matters\nshort. \"Jubei Dono would question the priest's right to judge. Come now!\nThe cleric's foolish head against the wits of Nippon's great man. O\nwarrior, interpret!\" A sign; and ink stone and poem paper (_tanzaku_)\nwere put before him. Jubei in turn took the scroll in hand. He read:\n\n    \"_Tatazumuna, yukuna, modoruna, isuwaruna;\n     Neruna, okiruna, shiru mo shiranu mo._\"\n\n    \"It neither stands still, nor goes forward, nor goes backward,\n                    nor remains as it is;\n     It sleeps not, rises not: known or unknown.\"\n\nJubei started with a bellow; and ended in a whisper. The retainers\nlooked in each other's faces. Who was the maddest--their lord or the\nshabby _bo[u]zu_? A long silence followed. Jubei no longer stood in\ngrandiloquent pose. He squatted down before the ideographs. At last he\nsaid--\"The poem contains much matter. Deign to allow time for the\nsolution.\" His voice was gentle and courteous to this future victim of\nhis intelligence. The priest nodded a genial assent. Before he withdrew\nJubei gave emphatic orders as to ward and entertainment. The pleasures\nof anticipation, of solution of the poem and slicing of the cleric, must\nhave compensation. His tread was slow and stately as he left the room;\nhis looks were contained and thoughtful. The man of black robe was\ncarried off to a better reception than so far experienced. With scorn he\nsent away the scanty meal of vegetable food; and ordered matters to his\ntaste with a manner that none cared to obey, or dared to disobey.\n\nMeanwhile Jubei started in on the poem. With the progress of his\nefforts ideas of his greatness disappeared. No matter what might be his\nskill with the sword--and the priest already had shown its\nlimitations--his inexperience in literature was patent. Ah! If he could\nbut win the head of this scurvy cleric. His mind now was totally removed\nfrom thoughts of himself. For two days and two nights he never closed\nhis eyes, which were fastened on the infernal ideographs--palpably so\nfull of a meaning he could not grasp. Then he was worn out. He went to\nsleep, and slept for a full twenty-four hours. On awaking he was a\ndifferent being. The cobwebs of the mind were clean swept. Its vague\nshiftings had been brought to concentration--to thought. Now it was the\nhousehold which was mad with joy. It was Jubei, lord of the manor, who\nsought interview with his saviour. Prostrate he gave thanks, apology for\nthe poor entertainment; and expressed his hope and wish to keep always\nby him the holy man. Who was he--this man who had given him back mind\nand power of thought? Just then a messenger from his father, Tajima no\nKami, was announced. Those assembled leaned forward at sight of the man\nin amazed prostration, first before his lord, then before the shabby old\npriest. \"Takuan Osho[u] Sama at Yagyu! And yet this Kyu[u]taro[u] has\nmade all speed to Yamato to make report of his lordship's coming.\" All\nfell on their faces, including Jubei. Takuan smiled, a little grimly.\n\"The garb makes not the cleric. Jubei Dono will forgive the presence of\nthe humble priest who now must leave him, pressed by affairs, none of\nwhich have been more important than the mission here.\" And leave he\ndid--but ample gifts to the temple followed after. Jubei never could\ntake his father's place close to the Sho[u]gun's side. His one-time\nmadness forbade assumption of such office. Indeed on rare occasions the\nmad fit again would threaten; but the infallible remedy was at hand. To\nJubei's question Takuan had answered--\"The meaning? The poem has none.\nIf there had been verily Takuan would have lost his head. But find one,\nif you can.\" The joy of Tajima no Kami was completed by the return of\nhis third son Matajuro[u], restored to normal health. Later this\nMatajuro[u] became the famous Hida no Kami and successor to his father\nas the Sho[u]gun's fencing master. Of these three men--more anon.[56]\n\nFOOTNOTES:\n\n[1] _Kwaidan_ means \"Wonder Tale.\" The word is of general meaning,\nrequiring limitation for the specific case.\n\n[2] The _go-kenin_, for the most part; although some _hatamoto_, whose\nincomes ran as low as 300 _koku_ could be classed with them. In\nEnglish--cf. T.H. Gubbins--Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, xv.\n\n[3] The hard palatable pickled yellow _daikon_ (radish). _Nukamisozuke_\nis a way station in its production by pickling in salt and bran.\n_Nukamisozuke_ is better described than smelt.\n\n[4] Sanzu no Kawa--the river crossed by the dead; the Buddhist \"Styx.\"\nShide no Yama--the mountain to be crossed on the way to Hell, or to the\njudgment hall of its great king--Emma Dai-o[u] (Yama). All deserve, and\nget, some punishment in this nether world.\n\n[5] Near Meguro: scores of quaint figures, seated in tiers and\nmeditation.\n\n[6] A famous Chinese book on military tactics. Prince Yoshitsune, hero\nof the Gempei wars, served arduously for a glimpse of it. Cf.: Life of\nBenkei, vol. i, pp. 311 reg. Densuke refers to the three (_san_) stages\nof rice cooking.\n\n[7] Geishu[u]-Aki province. For six months the _daimyo[u]_ left Edo to\ngovern their fief in person. Their wives and families remained in Edo.\nThe penalties at the barriers (Hakone, for instance) were severe if the\nwife tried to get away (escape) from Edo.\n\n[8] The Japanese personal pronoun is used--in the first person only to\nobviate ambiguity in the sentence. Women use it more frequently than\nmen. In the second person it is used to express emphasis, great\nfamiliarity, impertinence, or rebuke. The last two uses are frequent.\nOrdinarily the honorifics and the construction of the sentence take the\nplace of these pronouns. Such at least seems to be the usage of the\n_ko[u]dan_ writers, and in the present book the example has been\nfollowed, as far as possible. In a few instances the use of a pronoun\nwill relieve the strain of a lengthy sentence or involved circumlocution\nin the western tongue. At times the closer style can be abandoned--as in\nthe direct narration of the Tale of the Baryufu Kwannon. So also with\nthe translations of the _gidayu_ and the _ko[u]dan_ attached. These are\nfor recitation. In the original the pronoun is rarely written in. But\nthe literal translation of the honorifics would appear stilted. To\nwesterners these are appellations; to the native they are indications.\n\n[9] The old Shimbashi station and its yards cover this site. \"Tide\nlimit\"--a suggestive name.\n\n[10] A _sakuji bugyo[u]_ was the official who had charge of the\nmaintenance and construction of public works within the _daimyo[u]'s_\nfief.\n\n[11] A deep cutting through the hill. They are common features in\nNippon. Many valleys are only accessible by a climb, unless mitigated by\na _kirido[u]shi_, or obviated by a tunnel. Kamakura, for instance, is\naccessible by land in no other way. Asahina _kirido[u]shi_: there are\nseveral others.\n\n[12] The description is curious. Writing fifty years ago Ryuo[u] tells\nus these men no longer practised. His book is not readily met with and\nthe passage in the original is worth preserving--\"_Kono sunegiri yatsu\nto iu wa tadaima de wa arimasen ga; makurajima no tabi ni asaura wo\nhaki, sankeigyo[u] no kyahan de, nagai no wo ippon sashi. Eh! To[u] de o\nisogi de nai. Okata wa watakushi no mosu koyaku no ko[u]no[u] wo kiite o\nmotome nasai. Nukeba tamachiru nagai no yaiba da nure kami de mo kayo ni\nkireru, tadaima yatsu ga wo kiri chi wo tomete goran ni ireru; to maru\nde kiru yo[u] desu ga ha (yaiba) no aru tokoro wa madzu no kata bakari\nde, moto no kata wa yaiba ga hiite aru yue, sono ha hiku no tokoro wo\nude he ataru to suji ga tsuku bakari de kire washimasen ga, tanka ga\nkireru kara, chiwa taki-tsu se no gotoku nagareru. Chi ni wa sakarawazu\nikusa naka ko wo mochiireba, sokuza ni todomaru nani mae kara todotteru\nno desu ga, hagyu[u] da kara maru de chi ga tomaru yo[u] ni micru kara,\nkono ho he hitotsu gai, kono ho he futatsu gai, to uremasu._\"--\"Yotsuya\nKwaidan,\" pp. 31-32.\n\n[13] One-fourth of a _ryo[u]_ = 15 silver momme = 872 grains Troy. Money\nhad much greater purchasing value at that time as compared with the\npresent days; perhaps 20 times, but adulteration of the coinage caused\ngreat variations.\n\n[14] The Machibugyo[u] was judge and prosecutor (procurator or district\nattorney); the two offices being held by the same man. A court trial\nincluded both functions. _Tengu_, used below, is the long-nosed wood\nbogey. There is a note in Benkei, i, 260.\n\n[15] The _tawara_ equals two-fifths of a _koku_. At present-day figures\nthe stipend of Tamiya can be put at about 2000 yen; that of Ito[u]\nKwaiba, mentioned later, at 13,000 yen. The great _daimyo[u]_ with\nincomes running into the hundreds of thousands of _koku_ were princes\nadministering part of the public domain, with armies and an elaborate\ncivil service to support. Even a _hatamoto_ (minor _daimyo[u]_,\nimmediate vassals of the sho[u]gun) of 10,000 _koku_, such as Yagyu[u]\nTajima no Kami had a large train at his Edo _yashiki_ and at his fief.\nThe Date House of Sendai, or the Maeda of Kaga, Etchu[u], and Echizen,\nare examples of the greater To[u]zama, or lords independent in the\nadministration of their fiefs. Labour, it is to be added, was cheap\ncompared to food values. Taxes were heavy--ranging from 30 to 70 per\ncent. The middleman took his high fee. Yet sumptuary laws were necessary\nto prevent extravagance among the farming class. Some of them were rich\nmen, especially in the better administered Tokugawa fiefs. The public\nworks required of the _daimyo[u]_--especially the To[u]zama--prevented a\ndangerous accumulation of resources, and sometimes almost ruined his\nsubjects. Accurate measurements of income are not available. The _koku_\nof _daimyo[u]_ income has been placed as high as ten bushels. The\npresent-day _koku_ equals 5.13 bushels. The price of rice ranges between\n15-20 yen per _koku_.\n\n[16] The title for all men of learning and professional attainments. The\ngreat medical doctor is \"Sensei,\" the doctor of literature is\n\"Sensei\"--and the charlatan who peddles charms by the highway is\n\"Sensei\"--teacher.\n\n[17] A technical social expression--\"I trouble you\" or \"with highest\nrespect and consideration.\" Satuma = Satsuma-Jo[u]fu, the grass cloth of\nfine quality woven and dyed in Loo-choo; narrow swords; all this\n(Momogawa) is an example of the earnest study the _ko[u]dan_ lecturers\nmake of their subject. These delightful little expositions of dress and\nmanner are frequent.\n\n[18] _Rusu_ or _rusuban_ = caretaker in the owner's absence. As often as\nnot the wife is so regarded by the Japanese husband.\n\n[19] Reiganji, the great temple giving the name to the Reigan district\nof Fukagawa, is one of the many temples there found. The Jo[u]shinji is\nclose by.\n\n[20] A complicated checkers-chess like game.\n\n[21] There are nine of these stages of skill.\n\n[22] 5.13 bushel. Income of the _samurai_ classes were so measured.\n\n[23] _Kyara_ = nut gall, in Momogawa's _ko[u]dan_. From the marriage to\nthe expulsion of O'Iwa his treatment of the story is mainly followed.\nRyuo[u] slurs the marriage, but describes the persecution with great\neffect. The lines of treatment only diverge subsequently. Ryuo[u] is to\nbe preferred.\n\n[24] The monetary _bu_ was one-fourth the _ryo[u]_; the _shu[u]_ was\none-fourth the value of the _bu_. A hundred _mon_ = one _sen_. To-day\nthere are blind shampooers (and for massage) at 500 _mon_ = 5 _sen_.\n\n[25] Of the Nichiren sect. The characters of the \"Yotsuya Kwaidan\" move\nwithin the circle of this Presbyterian cult: _i.e._, Presbyterian in its\nstiff attitude of hostility and superiority to all other sects. There is\nanother Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, neighbour to the Ten-o[u] shrine.\n\n[26] High sounding titles given to the _great hetairae_. The difference\nfrom the Greek world lay in their not being independent. They were\nconfined to the houses of their owners. But these noted women were\nransomed at times--even by great nobles. Thus Date Tsunamune the 3rd\n_daimyo[u]_ of Sendai bought the famous Oiran Takao, weighing in the\nscales the woman against gold. In a fit of passion he killed her soon\nafter, and had her body cast into the Edogawa.\n\n[27] \"_Hagurete mo mata afu michi ya hana no yama._\"\n\n[28] The _aodaisho[u]_ is something of the nature of a black snake. Says\nBrinkley's Dict. \"_elaphis virgatus_.\"\n\n[29] The term \"Inkyo[u],\" already several times used, applies to a man\nwho has retired from active life, leaving the management of the affairs\nof the House to the duly appointed heir and successor. A specified\nportion of the income is usually assigned for his maintenance, and forms\na first lien, so to speak, on such return. The modernized law of Nippon\ndoes not permit assumption of this state before the age of fifty years,\nunless there be incapacitation such as necessitates retirement. In\nancient days (pre-Meiji) there was no such limitation. Men often retired\nvery early in life--from caprice, family intrigue, or for the freer\nmanagement of their affairs. In the latter case they had more power and\nless responsibility; the latter falling on the heir and successor,\nperhaps still a mere child. _Go_ is merely honorific.\n\n[30] \"Awarase ya: Byo[u]bu wa koi no taki sagari.\" The living carp\nstrives to ascend the fall.\n\n[31] The old hag who lurks in the River of Souls, waylaying little\nchildren, robbing them of their clothes, and compelling them to\nconstruct huge piles of stones. Her counterfeit presentment (by Unkei)\ncan be well seen at the Enno[u]ji of Kamakura.\n\n[32] An ordinary disposition of these women; who often preferred their\nEdo lover to such lot.\n\n[33] _Ototoi oide_: It is the salutation of the good Buddhist to the\ncaptured insect, thrown without and requested to return \"the day before\nyesterday\" = the Greek Kalends. As used above it is a gross insult to\nthe person addressed.\n\n[34] Damask hill: the names taken by these great _hetairai_ were most\nfanciful.\n\n[35] Next to the Ten-o[u] Jinja; not that of Samegabashi. To-day\nretired, neat and clean; without the dirty publicity of larger temples.\nIt is a bit of country in crowded Yotsuya.\n\n[36] A young girl's method of fixing the hair; but Ryuo[u] uses the\nterm. Gohei are the paper strips used as offering. Usually attached to a\nshort stick.\n\n[37] At the Gyo[u]ranji of Matsuzakacho[u] in the Mita district of\nTo[u]kyo[u].\n\n[38] _Sanzugawa_: _Yama_ mo nakereba, _hashi mo nashi_; _shinde no\ntabiji hana wa nao nashi_. Sanzugawa, the river crossed by the dead.\n\n[39] A fourth form of torture was suspension--an exaggerated infliction\nof \"the lobster.\" These official forms are described by J. Carey Hall in\nthe transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. XLI., Part V. The\nnative references are the \"Tokugawa Seikei Shiryo[u],\" \"Keizai Dai\nHiroku,\" \"Ko[u]jiki Ruihi Horitsu-bu.\" Cf. article on Go[u]mon in the\n\"Kokushi Dai Jiten.\" There were other forms. In the examination into the\nfamous conspiracy of Yui Sho[u]setsu (1651 A.D.) no confession could be\nsecured from Yoshida Hatsuemon. He was brought out, to find his\nthirteen-year-old son Hachitaro[u] undergoing the torture of dropping\nwater. At the last extremities the boy pleaded for mercy. His father\ndrily told him to act the _samurai_, and not to imperil the lives of\nothers. It was different with Matsubayashi Chuya (really the last heir\nof the famous Cho[u]sokabe House of Tosa). At sight of his old, white\nhaired, white faced, jail wearied mother threatened with the fire\ntorture, he did for her what he would not do for himself. The old woman\nwillingly would have undergone the torture. Chuya's confession cost the\nlives of seventy-five men.\n\n[40] Hifumikwan (To[u]kyo[u]), Meiji 29th year 2nd month 15th day (28th\nMarch, 1896).\n\n[41] _Mairase So[u]ro[u]_: \"I take the liberty of....\" Brinkley's Dict.\nA purely formal expression used in the letters of women writers.\n\n[42] The three holy things--Buddha, his Law, the priesthood.\n\n[43] Another reading of the characters for Kikugoro[u]--to the\ninitiated.\n\n[44] \"Top-bottom\": the beautiful lozenge shaped [=X] dress of the\n_samurai_ when on court service, or for other ceremony: full dress.\n\n[45] \"Small fish boiled in soy in order to preserve it (named after\nTsukudajima-To[u]kyo[u]--famous for its preparation).\"--Brinkley's Dict.\n\n[46] Brown, with stripes--a favourite pattern with men and women.\n\n[47] Feast of the Dead. This festival is held in July--in the country in\nAugust, the old calendar seventh month.\n\n[48] Apparitional divine lord.\n\n[49] The expression is technical--\"_hitoban de mo o cha wo hikeba_.\" All\nnight a mere tea-server.\n\n[50]\n\n    [Narutaki no yoru no arashi ni kudakarete;\n     Chiru tama goto ni tsuki zo yadoreru.]\n\n[51]\n\n    [Yamakawa no nagare ni ko no ha shizumu tomo;\n     Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are.]\n\n[52]\n\n    [Furu to miba tsumoranu saki ni haraekashi;\n     Yuki ni wa orenu aoyagi no ito.]^{[3]}\n\n[53]\n\n    [Sama Sama to oshie no michi mo o[u]keredo\n     Uchikomu tokoro shin no itto[u].]^{[4]}\n\n[54]\n\n    [Kokoro to wa ikanaru mono wo iu yaran;\n     Sumie ni kakitsu matsu kaze no oto.]^{[5]}\n\n[55]\n\n    [Tsukubayama, Hayama, Nakayama, Shigeredomo;\n     Omoiru ni wa mono mo sawarazu.]^{[6]}\n\n[56] Cf.--\"Araki Mataemon--Ueno Adauchi,\" by Masui Nanzan. There is\nlittle reason to believe that Jubei's madness was assumed, a rather\nextravagant explanation of the more than probable fact that his\nwell-known travels were inspired by the Sho[u]gun's government. Actual\nknowledge and inspection of the conditions and feelings in far-off\nSatsuma, made by an expert, was much desired. Okubo Hikozaemon also\ntravelled as the Sho[u]gun's private eye. Jubei undoubtedly found his\nreputation for one-time madness very useful, and played upon it.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n  +------------------------------------------------------------+\n  | Typographical errors corrected in text:                    |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Page 27: nukamisosuke amended to nukamisozuke              |\n  | Page 54: aids amended to aides                             |\n  | Page 55, pages 58-61 inclusive: Sakarai amended to Sakurai |\n  | Page 61: T[=o]eman amended to Toemon                       |\n  | Page 104: Nakusuke amended to Kakusuke                     |\n  | Page 143: misintrepeted amended to misinterpreted          |\n  | Page 144: aids amended to aides                            |\n  | Page 172: honorofic amended to honorific                   |\n  | Page 173: Kamikura amended to Kamimura                     |\n  | Page 175: trucculent amended to truculent                  |\n  | Page 187: Samegebashi amended to Samegabashi               |\n  | Page 193: Akiyima amended to Akiyama                       |\n  | Page 194: Teremachi amended to Teramachi                   |\n  | Page 198: Fukotar[=o] amended to Fukutar[=o]               |\n  | Page 223: Sh[=o]zaemon amended to Ch[=o]zaemon             |\n  | Page 227: peel amended to peal                             |\n  | Page 240: Kamikura amended to Kamimura                     |\n  | Page 262: Okusuma amended to Okusama                       |\n  | Page 269: gray amended to grey (twice)                     |\n  | Page 273: threshhold amended to threshold                  |\n  | Page 277: Iye amended to Iya                               |\n  | Page 279: Mikowaya amended to Mikawaya                     |\n  |                                                            |\n  | Where there is an equal number of instances of a word      |\n  | occurring as hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens      |\n  | have been retained: Blind-man/Blindman;                    |\n  | care-taker/caretaker; cross-roads/crossroads;              |\n  | go-down/godown; house-keeping/housekeeping;                |\n  | Mita-mura/Mitamura; near-by/nearby; woman-kind/womankind.  |\n  |                                                            |\n  +------------------------------------------------------------+\n\n       *       *       *       *       *","title":"The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari: Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 1 (of 2)","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":97488}