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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19944-8.txt b/19944-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..946d0cf --- /dev/null +++ b/19944-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9653 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari, by +James S. De Benneville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari + Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 1 (of 2) + +Author: James S. De Benneville + +Release Date: November 28, 2006 [EBook #19944] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN OR O'IWA INARI *** + + + + +Produced by Clare Boothby and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + | TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES | + | | + | Accents and diacritical marks have generally been | + | standardised. Where there is a single instance of a word | + | with an accent, and one without, no change has been made | + | to the original. (e.g. momme/mommé; murashite/murashité; | + | Kuramae/Kuramaé). | + | | + | The letter o with a macron is represented as o[u]. | + | The letter u with a macron is represented as u[u]. | + | | + | Kanji characters in the original book are shown | + | enclosed in square brackets: for example, [kami]. | + | | + | The italicisation of Japanese words has been standardised. | + | | + | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been | + | corrected. | + | | + | Hyphenation and capitalisation has been standardised. | + | | + | The symbol referred to in footnote 44, an X with a bar | + | across the top, has been represented as [=X]. | + | | + | Superscript numbers in square brackets are represented | + | as ^{[4]}. | + | | + | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been | + | corrected. For a complete list, please see the bottom | + | of this document. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + + + + +LEGEND. + + +The outline of the map is that found in Volume I. of the Edo Sunago, +published Keio 2nd year (1866). The detail of district maps found in the +book is worked in, together with that from the sectional map of Edo +published Ansei 4th year (1857), and from the Go Edo Zusetsu Shu[u]ran +published Kaei 6th year (1853). The map therefore shows in rough outline +the state of the city just before the removal of the capital from +Kyo[u]to; the distribution of the castes. + +The Pre-Tokugawa villages (Eiroku: 1558-1569) indicated on the map found +in the "Shu[u]ran" are:-- + +North and South Shinagawa: Meguro-Motomura: Gin-Mitamura: Mitamura: +O[u]nemura: Upper and Lower Shibuya: Harajuku-mura: Kokubunji: Azabu: +Kawaza Ichi: O[u]zawa-mura: Imai-mura: Sendagaya: Yamanaka-mura: +Ichigaya: Ushigome: Kobiko-mura: Upper and Lower Hirakawa-mura: Ochiya: +Sekihon: Ikebukuroya: Tomizaka-mura: Ishibukero-mura: Tanibaragaike: +Neruma-mura: Okurikyo[u]: Nakarai-mura: Koishikawa: Zoshigayatsu: +O[u]ji: Shimura: Takinogawa: Kinsoboku-mura: Harajuku-mura (II.): +Komegome-mura: Taninaka-mura: Shimbori-mura: Mikawajima-mura: +Ashigahara-mura: Haratsuka: Ishihama-mura: Senju[u]-mura: Suda-mura: +Sumidagawa: Yanagijima: Jujo[u]-mura; Itabashi: Sugamo-mura: Arakawa +(river): Kandagawa pool (_ike_); Kanda-mura: Shibasaki-mura: +Shin-Horima-mura: Yushima-mura: Shitaya-mura: Torigoe-mura: +Shirosawa-mura: Asakusa-mura: Harai-mura: Some-Ushigome: Ishiwara: +Kinoshitagawa: Ubagaike (pool): Negishi-mura: Kinsoki-mura: Kameido-mura +(near Ueno): Shinobazu-ike (pool). + +From South to North circling by the West. + +Shinagawa: Mita-mura: Takanawa: Near Imai-mura is a Myo[u]jin shrine, +close by the mouth of the present Akabane river. + +Ikura: Hibiya: Tsukiji: Tsukuda: Tame-ike (pool): Tsukuda Myo[u]jin: +Ota's castle: Sanke-in: Hirakawa-mura: Sakurada-mura: Honju[u]-mura: +O[u]tamage-ike: Kametaka-mura. To the East. + +77 villages, total. + +Pronounce as in Italian, giving vowels full value: ch- as in "church." + +THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN + +OR + +O'IWA INARI + +_BY THIS AUTHOR_ + + SAKURAMBO[U] + (THE FRUIT OF THE TREE) + + Travel notes on thoughts and things Japanese, experienced + during a four years' sojourn in the country + + Octavo. 339 pages. + + + MORE JAPONICO + + A critique of the effect of an idea--communityism--on + the life and history of a people + + Octavo. VI, 594 pages. + + + SAITO[U] MUSASHI-BO[U] BENKEI + (TALES OF THE WARS OF THE GEMPEI) + + Being the story of the lives and adventures of + Iyo-no-Kami Minamoto Kuro[u] Yoshitsune and Saito[u] + Musashi-Bo[u] Benkei the Warrior Monk + + Octavo. 2 Vols., XXI, 841 pages, with 69 full page + illustrations (frontispieces in color) and + three maps. + + + OGURI HANGWAN ICHIDAIKI + (TALES OF THE SAMURAI) + + Being the story of the lives, the adventures, and the + mis-adventures of the Hangwan-dai Kojiro[u] Sukéshigé + and Ternte-hime, his wife + + Octavo. XV, 485 pages, with 45 full page illustrations + (frontispiece in color) and three maps. + +[Illustration: THE O'IWA OF THE TAMIYA INARI JINJA OF ECHIZENBORI, +TOKYO] + +_TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA_ + +THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN + +OR + +O'IWA INARI + +RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS BY JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE + + "The mainspring of human existence + is love (_nasaké_), for others or--oneself." + --SEISHIN + +PRESS OF J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A. 1917 + +COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY JAMES SEGUIN DE BENNEVILLE + +PRINTED AND COPYRIGHTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + +PREFACE + + +Tales of the Tokugawa can well be introduced by two "wonder-stories" of +Nippon. One of these, the Yotsuya Kwaidan,[1] is presented in the +present volume, not so much because of the incidents involved and the +peculiar relation to a phase of Nipponese mentality, as from the fact +that it contains all the machinery of the Nipponese ghost story. From +this point of view the reading of one of these tales disposes of a whole +class of the native literature. Difference of detail is found. But +unless the tale carries some particular interest, as of curious +illustration of customs or history--the excuse for a second +presentation--a long course of such reading becomes more than +monotonous. It is unprofitable. Curiously enough, it can be said that +most Nipponese ghost stories are true. When a sword is found enshrined, +itself the malevolent influence--as is the Muramasa blade of the +Hamamatsu Suwa Jinja, the subject of the Komatsu Onryu[u] of +Matsubayashi Hakuchi--and with such tradition attached to it, it is +difficult to deny a basis of fact attaching to the tradition. The ghost +story becomes merely an elaboration of an event that powerfully +impressed the men of the day and place. Moreover this naturalistic +element can be detected in the stories themselves. Nipponese writers of +to-day explain most of them by the word _shinkei_--"nerves"; the working +of a guilty conscience moulding succeeding events, and interpreting the +results to the subsequent disaster involved. The explanation is somewhat +at variance with the native Shinto[u] doctrine of the moral perfection +of the Nipponese, and its maxim--follow the dictates of one's heart; but +that is not our present concern. + +Their theory, however, finds powerful support in the nature of the +Nipponese ghost. The Buddhist ghost does not remain on earth. It has its +travels and penalties to go through in the nether world, or its +residence in Paradise, before it begins a new life--somewhere. The +Shinto[u] ghost, in the vagueness of Shinto[u] theology, does remain on +earth. If of enough importance it is enshrined, and rarely goes abroad, +except when carried in procession at the time of the temple festival. +Otherwise it finds its home in the miniature shrine of the _kami-dana_ +or god-shelf. There is a curious confusion of Nipponese thought on this +subject; at least among the mass of laity. At the Bon-Matsuri the dead +revisit the scene of their earthly sojourn for the space of three days; +and yet the worship of the _ihai_, or mortuary tablets, the food +offerings with ringing of the bell to call the attention of the resident +Spirit is a daily rite at the household Buddhist shrine (Butsudan). +When, therefore, the ghost does not conform to these well-regulated +habits, it is because it is an unhappy ghost. It is then the _O'Baké_ or +_Bakémono_, the haunting ghost. Either it has become an unworshipped +spirit, or, owing to some atrocious injury in life, it stays to wander +the earth, and to secure vengeance on the living perpetrator. In most +cases this is effected by the grudge felt or spoken at the last moment +of life. The mind, concentrated in its hate and malice at this final +crisis, secures to the Spirit a continued and unhappy sojourn among the +living, until the vengeance be secured, the grudge satisfied, and the +Spirit pacified. There are other unhappy conditions of this revisiting +of life's scenes; as when the dead mother returns to nurse her infant, +or the dead mistress to console a lover. In the latter case, at least, +the expressed affection has a malignant effect, perhaps purpose--as in +the Bo[u]tan Do[u]ro[u] of Sanyu[u]tei Encho[u], a writer most careful +in observing all the niceties called for by the subject. + +In the Nipponese ghost story the vengeful power of the ghost acts +through entirely natural means. The characters involved suffer through +their own delusions aroused by conscience. In the old days, and among +the common people in Nippon to-day, the supernatural was and is believed +in, with but few exceptions. Such stories still are held to be fact, +albeit the explanation is modern. Hence it can be said that the "Yotsuya +Kwaidan" is a true story. O'Iwa, the Lady of Tamiya, really did exist in +the Genroku and Ho[u]rei periods (1688-1710); just ante-dating the +reforming rule of the eighth Tokugawa Sho[u]gun, Yoshimune Ko[u]. Victim +of an atrocious plot of her husband and others, she committed suicide +with the vow to visit her rage upon all engaged in the conspiracy. The +shrine of the O'Iwa Inari (Fox-witched O'Iwa) in Yotsuya was early +erected (1717) to propitiate her wrathful ghost; and the shrines of +Nippon, to the shabbiest and meanest, have their definite record. On the +register the name of the husband appears as Ibei; "probably correct," as +Mr. Momogawa tells us. With him the name of Iémon is retained in the +present story. Iémon is the classic example of the wicked and brutal +husband, on the stage and in the _gidayu_ recitation of Nippon. There +was but little reason to revert to the record. The shrine always +prospered. It appears on the maps of the district as late as Ansei +fourth year (1857); and the writer has had described to him by a friend +a visit to this shrine some twenty years ago. The lady in question +referred to it rather vaguely as beyond Samegafuchi: _i.e._, at Yotsuya +Samoncho[u]. It was particularly favoured by the hair dressers, and to +the eyes of a young girl was a gorgeous structure in its continually +renewed decoration. Inquiry of late in the district elicited the +information that the shrine had been removed. Many changes have been +made on the southern side of Yotsuya by the passage of the railway from +Iidamachi to Shinjuku. The Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, with other temples there +located, has been swept away. In fact the Meiji period handled all those +institutions established by deceased piety with great roughness. +Teramachi--Temple Street--is now but a name. The temples of eastern +Yotsuya have nearly all disappeared. Have public institutions occupied +this "public land"? Of course: the sites were sold for the secular +purpose of profit, and poverty spread wide and fast over them. Yotsuya +got the shell of this oyster. + +About the middle of Meiji therefore (say 1893) the shrine disappeared +from Yotsuya Samoncho[u]; to be re-erected in Echizenbori near the +Sumidagawa. Local inquiry could or would give but little information. A +fortunate encounter at the Denzu-In with an University student, likewise +bent on hunting out the old sites of Edo's history, set matters right. +Subsequent visits to the newer shrine were not uninteresting, though the +presence of the mirror of O'Iwa and of the bamboo tube inclosing her +Spirit (Mr. Momogawa) was strenuously denied by the incumbent. In the +presence of the very genuine worship at the lady's shrine much stress +need not be laid on the absence. + +The present story practically is based on the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" of +Shunkintei Ryuo[u], a famous story-teller of the Yoshiwara, and an old +man when the "Restoration" of the Meiji period occurred. The sketch +given in the "O'Iwa Inari Yu[u]rei" of Momogawa Jakuen filled in gaps, +and gave much suggestion in moulding the story into a consistent whole. +Parts merely sketched by the older story-teller found completeness. This +collection of ghost stories--the "Kwaidan Hyaku Monogatari" published by +the Kokkwado[u]--is in the main written by Mr. Momogawa, and can be +recommended as one of the best of these collections, covering in shorter +form the more important stories of this class of the native literature. +The "Yotsuya Kwaidan" of Shinsai To[u]yo[u], one of the older and +livelier of the _ko[u]dan_ lecturers, gives the scene at the house of +Cho[u]bei, and his quarrel with Toémon. It is found in the +"Kwaidan-Shu[u]" published by the Hakubun-kwan. The _gidayu_ (heroic +recitation) and the drama handle all these stories for their own +peculiar purposes. The incidents of a tale are so distorted, for stage +use and dramatic effect, as to make these literary forms of small avail. +The letter of O'Hana, however, is practically that of the play of +Tsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]). It has been thought well to append +to the story the _gidayu_ of this writer, covering the scene in Iémon's +house. Also the strange experience of the famous actor Kikugoro[u], +third of that name, is put into English for the curious reader. +Kikugoro[u] was the pioneer in the representation of the Namboku drama. + +This life history of the O'Iwa Inari--the moving cause of the +establishment of her shrine--is no mere ghost story. It is a very +curious exposition of life in Edo among a class of officials entirely +different from the fighting _samurai_ who haunted the fencing schools of +Edo; from the men higher up in social status, who risked heads, or +rather bellies, in the politics of the day and the struggle to obtain +position, which meant power, in the palace clique. These latter were men +who sought to have a share in the government of the Sho[u]gun's person, +and hence of the nation. They strove to seat themselves in the high +posts of the palace. Here was a rapidly revolving wheel to which a man +must cling, or be dashed to pieces. To prevent being shoved off into +destruction they used every means of slander and intrigue, and fought +against such, that the life of a rich and luxurious court afforded. The +result, too often, was the present of a dagger from the suzerain they +sought to please. Trapped into some breach of the harsh discipline, or +even of mere form of etiquette, the gift was "respectfully received" +with the mocking face of gratitude, even from the hand of the successful +rival in office. At his home the defeated politician cut his belly open. +His obedience to the suzerain's will was duly reported. His family was +ruined or reprieved according to a capricious estimation of its power of +resentment--and it became a question of "who next?" to try for a place +on the wheel. On the contrary those lower officials,[2] engaged in the +dull routine of bureaucratic office, had a much less dangerous service +and etiquette to deal with. In insignificant ease they lived and +intrigued in their petty way, under no obligation to take sides in the +politics of the truly great. If they fell, it was largely their own +fault. Such was the position of those in immediate contact with the +working wheels of the Sho[u]gun's Government. The great _bugyo[u]_ +(magistrates) were continually shifting. Their court staff was the solid +foundation of unyielding precedent in form. The one was a court officer; +the others court officers. + +Hence the Kwaidan possesses value for the social lesson it conveys. The +admittance of a stranger to the ward, his evil bond with the Lady of +Tamiya, the previous passion for O'Hana and thereby the entanglement of +Kwaiba in the plot; all form a network in which the horror of the story +is balanced by the useful lessons to be drawn by the mind of Nippon from +its wickedness. Perhaps this belief in the effect of the curse of the +suicide acts both in deterring or bringing back the erring husband, and +in saving the wife from the extremities of her despair in abandonment. +The story of O'Iwa, the belief in her power, to-day has a strong +influence on a certain class of the Nipponese mind; especially among the +women. If the present writer might have felt momentarily an amused +feeling at sight of her worshippers, it was quickly lost at sight of the +positive unhappiness expressed in these faces of the abandoned. A visit +to the Tamiya Inari is not necessarily either one of idle curiosity or +without results. Some exceedingly painful impressions can be brought +away in the mind. + +It is not entirely in jest therefore that apology is made for the +reproduction of the story. It is well in such matters to follow one's +predecessors. Moreover, public sentiment is not to be derided nor +disregarded. It has a certain title to respect, even when superstition +is involved. Hence the statement can be made, that in telling this story +of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" no derogatory motive is involved--to people, +class, or person; least of all in reference to the dread Lady of Tamiya. + +OMARUDANI--4th July, 1916. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER. PAGE + + PROEM 15 + I. O'MINO AND DENSUKÉ 17 + II. KAWAI SAN OF KANDA KU 28 + III. TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO[U] 35 + IV. THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN 43 + V. THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDO[U]SHI 49 + VI. NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A NAKO[U]DO OR MARRIAGE BROKER 63 + VII. IÉMON APPEARS 74 + VIII. IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT 86 + IX. LOVE KNOTS 93 + X. THE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA 99 + XI. THE PLOT DEVELOPS 106 + XII. KWAIBA'S REVENGE 114 + XIII. THE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U] 123 + XIV. THE PUNISHMENT 131 + XV. CHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS 141 + XVI. NEWS REACHES KWAIBA 155 + XVII. NEWS OF KWAIBA 162 + XVIII. IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO INKYO[U] 173 + XIX. TAMIYA YOÉMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND + MYO[U]ZEN THE PRIEST 180 + XX. KIBEI DONO 195 + XXI. MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 212 + XXII. THE RITES FOR O'IWA 222 + XXIII. THE SANZUGAWA, BRIDGELESS; THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED + BY THE DEAD 233 + APPENDICES 251 + +[The pronunciation of the Japanese vowels and consonants follows closely +the Italian; in diphthongs and triphthongs each vowel is given full +value. + +a = a as in father, e = a as in mate, i = e as in meet, o = o as in +soap, u = oo as in fool. + +g is always hard. In the To[u]kyo[u] district it has the sound ng. + +ch has full value, as in church. It is _not_ k; c is only found as ch; +_i.e._ cha, chi, cho, chu. + +The vowels also have long (continued) sounds, marked by the accent -. + +At times a vowel is elided; or rather but faintly touched by the voice. +Thus Sukéshigé is pronounced Skéshigé; Sukénaga = Skénaga; Kuranosuké = +Kuranoské. _Bu_ and _mu_ at the end of word lose the vowel +sound--Shikibu = Shikib. + +Kami used in connection with a man means "lord," Wakasa no Kami = Lord +of Wakasa province. + +Reprinted from the "Oguri Hangwan."] + +(Kami also means "God" or divinized person; including the spirits of +the dead. Even a living man can be regarded as a _kami_, in cases of +some very unusual service rendered to the public welfare. Professor Imai +recently--at Karuizawa--called attention to the fact that originally +_kami_ was written [kami], _i.e._ "superior." The divine attribute +[kami] was introduced with Buddhism.) + + + + +PROEM + + +Reader, pray take not the story of the O'Iwa Inari, the Yotsuya +Kwaidan, as a mere fairy tale or novel of the day. The shrine of the +Tamiya Inari stands now to attest the truth of the tradition. Let the +doubter but witness the faith of the believer in the powers of the +fearful lady; and, if doubt still continues to exist, the salutary fear +of others at least will inspire respect. + +THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN OR O'IWA INARI + + + + +CHAPTER I + +O'MINO AND DENSUKÉ + + +Yotsuya is a suburb--at the extreme west of Edo-To[u]kyo[u]. Its +streets are narrow and winding, though hilly withal; especially on the +southern edge toward the Aoyama district, still devoted to cemeteries +and palaces, sepulchres whited without and within. Echizenbori would be +at the other extremity of the great city. It fronts eastward on the bank +of the Sumidagawa. The populous and now poverty stricken districts of +Honjo[u] and Fukagawa beyond the wide stream, with other qualities, +deprive it of any claim of going to extremes. In fact Echizenbori is a +very staid and solid section of Edo-To[u]kyo[u]. Its streets are narrow; +and many are the small shops to purvey for the daily needs of its +inhabitants. But these rows of shops are sandwiched in between great +clumps of stores, partly warehouses and partly residences of the owners +thereof. These stores line the canals of Echizenbori, water courses +crowded with junks carrying their ten tons, or their hundreds of tons, +of freight--precious cargoes of rice to go into these stores in bulk, of +_shoyu_ (soy) by the hundred kegs, of sakarazumi (charcoal from Shimosa) +by the thousand _tawara_ (bale), of fish dried and fresh, of _takuan_ or +_daikon_ (the huge white radish) pickled in salt and rice bran, of all +the odds and ends of material in the gross which go to make up the +necessities of living in a great city. If Echizenbori then can make its +show of poverty, and very little _display_ of wealth, it is not one of +the poor quarters of this capital city of Nippon. + +Crossing the Takabashi from Hacho[u]bori and plunging down the narrow +street opposite; a short turn to the right, a plunge down another narrow +street and a turn to the right; one comes to the high cement wall, in +its modernness of type a most unusual attachment to shrine or temple. +The gate is narrow and formal; almost like the entrance to a garden or +smaller burying ground. Within all is changed from the busy outside +world. The area inclosed is small--perhaps a square of a hundred and +fifty feet--but marked in lines by a maze of lanterns of the cheap iron +variety, set on cheap wooden posts. On the right is seen a minor shrine +or two dedicated to the Inari goddess. On the left is a small building +devoted to votive offerings, the crude and the more elaborate. The most +striking is the offering of a little _geisha_ lady, and portrays an +heroic scene of early days. There are other portraitures, in which +perhaps a wandering lover is seen as a hero, to the lady's eyes, of +these later times. On the outside of the structure are posted up by the +hundred pictures of once woebegone ladies, now rejoicing in the potent +influence of the Tamiya shrine to restore to them the strayed affections +of husband or lover. Next in line is an open, shed-like structure. It is +a poor chance if here the casual visitor does not encounter one or two +of the petitioners, patiently trotting round in a circle from front to +back, and reciting their prayers in this accomplishment of "the hundred +turns." Just opposite, and close by, is the shrine itself. This is in +part a massive store-house set back in the domestic structure, with the +shrine of the Inari facing the visitor. The floor space at the sides and +before it often is piled high with tubs of _shoyu_ and _saké_, with +bundles of charcoal, such negotiable articles as the wealthier +shopkeeper can offer to the mighty lady; and long tresses of hair of +women too poor to offer anything else, or wise enough to know that a +woman could make no greater sacrifice. And is not the object of their +worship a woman? Numerous are these severed strands. Entering the shrine +and passing the pleasant spoken warden at its entrance, peddling his +charms and giving advice where often it is sadly needed--perhaps the +more valuable of his two public duties--to the left within is the +Oku-no-In, the inner shrine containing the _ihai_ or memorial tablet of +O'Iwa. That the shrine is popular and wealthy; that the lady is feared, +venerated, and her dreadful powers much sought after; this is plain to +the eye in the crowded elaborateness of this inner holy place of the +larger sacred structure. + +Now Echizenbori is not a particularly old quarter of the city. Long +after Edo was established, the city, step by step, fought its way down +to the river; filling in lagoons and swamps, and driving their waters +into the canals which were to furnish very largely the means of +communication for its traffic. Yotsuya on the contrary is old. Its +poverty is of later date. In the Edo days it was a favourite site for +the homes of _do[u]shin_, _yakunin_, and a whole herd of the minor +officials who had the actual working of the great Tokugawa machine of +government in their hands. In the maps of Ansei 4th year (1857) the +shrine of the O'Iwa Inari figures in Samoncho[u], in its Teramachi; a +small part of the great mass of red, indicating temples and shrines and +their lands, which then covered a large part of Yotsuya. How then did it +come to pass that the shrine was removed to this far off site in +Echizenbori, with such incongruous surroundings? The explanation must be +found in our story. + +When the Tenwa year period (1681-83) opened, long resident at Yotsuya +Samoncho[u] had been Tamiya Matazaémon. By status he was a minor +official or _do[u]shin_ under the Tokugawa administration. These +_do[u]shin_ held highest rank of the permanent staff under the +bureaucratic establishment; and on these men lay the main dependence for +smoothness of working of the machinery of the Government. Matazaémon was +the perfect type of the under-official of the day; smooth, civilly +impertinent to his equals, harsh to his inferiors, and all unction and +abjectness to his superiors. Indeed, he laid more stress on those +immediately above him than on the more removed. To serve the greater +lord he served his immediate officer, being careful to allow to the +latter all the credit. No small part of his function was to see that +ceremonial form and precedent were carried out to the letter. It was the +accurate and ready knowledge of these which was of greatest import to +his chief, indeed might save the latter from disaster. Matazaémon's +readiness and conduct rendered him deservedly valued. Hence he enjoyed +the double salary of thirty _tawara_ of rice, largely supplemented by +gifts coming to him as teacher in _hanaiké_ (the art of flower +arrangement) and of the _cha-no-yu_ (tea ceremony). He had a more than +good house, for one of his class, facing on the wide Samoncho[u] road, +and with a garden on the famous Teramachi or long street lined with +temples and which runs eastward from that thoroughfare. The garden of +Tamiya almost faced the entrance to the Gwansho[u]ji, which is one of +the few relics of the time still extant. It was large enough to contain +some fifteen or twenty fruit trees, mainly the _kaki_ or persimmon, for +Matazaémon was of practical mind. Several cherry trees, however, +periodically displayed their bloom against the rich dark green foliage +of the fruit trees; and in one corner, to set forth the mystic qualities +of a small Inari shrine relic of a former owner, were five or six +extremely ancient, gnarled, and propped up plum trees, sufficient in +number to cast their delicate perfume through garden and house in the +second month (March). + +Such was the home of Matazaémon; later that of O'Iwa San. It was +pretentious enough to make display with a large household. But the +master of Tamiya was as close-fisted and hard and bitter as an unripe +_biwa_ (medlar). His wealth was the large and unprofitable stone which +lay within; the acid pulp, a shallow layer, all he had to give to +society in his narrow minded adherence to official routine; the smooth, +easily peeled skin the outward sign of his pretentions to social status +and easily aroused acidity of temper. With most of his neighbours, and +all his relatives, he had a standing quarrel. Secure in his lord's +favour as an earnest officer, so little did he care for the dislike of +the ward residents that he was ever at drawn swords with the head of his +ward-association, Ito[u] Kwaiba. As for the relatives, they were only +too ready to come to closer intimacy; and Matazaémon knew it. + +His household consisted of his wife O'Naka, his daughter O'Mino, and the +man servant Densuké. The garden Matazaémon would allow no one to attend +to but himself. The two women did all the work of the household which +ordinarily would fall to woman-kind, with something more. Densuké +performed the heavier tasks, accompanied his master on his outings, and +represented his contribution to the service of the ward barrier, the +O[u]kido[u], on the great Ko[u]shu[u]-Kaido[u] and just beyond the +O[u]bangumi. The barrier cut off Yotsuya from the Naito[u]-Shinjuku +district, and, as an entrance into Edo, was of considerable importance. +When the time of service came Densuké appeared in full uniform and with +his pike. A handsome young fellow of nineteen years, the women, +especially O'Mino, saw to it that his appearance should be a credit to +the House. His progress up the wide Samoncho[u], up to his disappearance +into the great highway, was watched by O'Mino--and by the neighbours, +who had much sharper eyes and tongues than Matazaémon and his wife. They +marvelled. + +With ground for marvel. In the eyes of her parents O'Mino was the most +beautiful creature ever created. Occasionally Matazaémon would venture +on criticism. "Naka, something is to be said to Mino. Too much powder is +used on the face. Unless the colour of the skin be very dark, the use of +too much powder is not good. Mino is to be warned against excess." Thus +spoke the official in his most official tone and manner. Wife and +daughter heard and disobeyed; the wife because she was ruled by her +daughter, and the daughter because she would emulate the fair skin of +Densuké and be fairer in his eyes. O'Mino had suffered both from fate +and fortune. She had been born ugly; with broad, flat face like unto the +moon at full, or a dish. Her back was a little humped, her arms +disproportionately long, losing in plumpness what they gained in +extension. She seemed to have no breasts at all, the chest forming a +concavity in correspondence to the convexity of the back, with a +smoothness much like the inner surface of a bowl. This perhaps was no +disadvantage--under the conditions. So much for fate. But fortune had +been no kinder. "Blooming" into girlhood, she had been attacked by +smallpox. Matazaémon was busy, and knew nothing of sick nursing. O'Naka +was equally ignorant, though she was well intentioned. Of course the +then serving wench knew no more than her mistress. O'Mino was allowed to +claw her countenance and body, as the itching of the sores drove her +nearly frantic. In fact, O'Naka in her charity aided her. The result was +that she was most hideously pock-marked. Furthermore, the disease cost +her an eye, leaving a cavity, a gaping and unsightly wound, comparable +to the dumplings called _kuzumanju_, white puffy masses of rice dough +with a depression in the centre marked by a dab of the dark-brown bean +paste. The neighbours used to say that O'Mino was _nin san baké +shichi_--that is, three parts human and seven parts apparition. The more +critical reduced her humanity to the factor one. The children had no +name for her but "Oni" (fiend). They had reason for this. They would not +play with her, and treated her most cruelly. O'Mino, who was of no mild +temperament, soon learned to retaliate by use of an unusually robust +frame, to which was united by nature and circumstances her father's +acidity of character. When the odds were not too great all the tears +were not on O'Mino's side; but she suffered greatly, and learned with +years that the Tamiya garden was her safest playground. + +O'Mino grew into a woman. Affection had to find some outlet. Not on the +practical and very prosaic mother; not on the absorbed and crabbed +father; but on Densuké, on the _samurai's_ attendant or _chu[u]gen_, it +fell. All manner of little services were rendered to him; even such as +would appropriately fall within his own performance. At first O'Mino +sought out little missions for him to perform, out of the line of his +usual duties, and well rewarded in coin. This was at his first +appearance in the house. Then she grew bolder. Densuké found his +clothing undergoing mysterious repairs and replacement. His washing, +even down to the loin cloths, was undertaken by the Ojo[u]san. Densuké +did not dare to question or thwart her. Any trifling fault O'Mino took +on herself, as due to her meddling. She became bolder and bolder, and +sought his assistance in her own duties, until finally they were as man +and maid employed in the same house. Matazaémon noted little increases +in the house expenses. O'Mino took these as due to her own extravagance. +The father grunted a little at these unusual expenditures. "What goes +out at one end must be cut off at the other end. Densuké, oil is very +expensive. At night a light is not needed. Be sure, therefore, on going +to bed to extinguish the light." Densuké at once obeyed his master's +order; and that very night, for the first time, O'Mino boldly sought his +couch. Confused, frightened, overpowered by a passionate woman, Densuké +sinned against his lord, with his master's daughter as accomplice. + +Henceforth Densuké had what O'Mino was willing to give him. On +Matazaémon's going forth to his duties, O'Mino, and O'Naka under her +orders, did all his household work. The only return required was +submission to the exigencies of the Ojo[u]san. This was no slight +obligation. Densuké at times thought of escape, to his home at To[u]gané +village in Kazusa, to his uncle Kyu[u]bei in the Kanda quarter of Edo. +O'Mino seemed to divine his thoughts. She would overload him with +favors; or openly express her purpose of following wherever he went in +life. Kanda? Kyu[u]bei was a well-known hanger-on at the Tamiya. +Matazaémon entered him up in his expense book at so much a year. +To[u]gané? He could not get there except through Kyu[u]bei. Matazaémon +had farms there, and the _nanushi_ or village bailiff was his servant. +Besides, he would be a runaway. Matazaémon surely would come down on +Kyu[u]bei as the security. So the months passed, and matters were +allowed to drift. Perhaps it was some gossip of the quarter which +reached the deaf ears of Matazaémon. As he was about to go forth one day +he followed the figure of O'Mino sharply with his little eyes all +screwed up. "Naka, there seems change in the figure of Mino. Surely the +gossip of the neighbours as to Densuké is not true? Mino is said to +harbour a child by him. In such case it would be necessary to kill them +both. Warn Mino in time; a _chu[u]gen_ is not one to become the adopted +son (_muko_) of the Tamiya. He is an excellent lad, and costs but +little. His habits are not riotous. To dismiss him thus causelessly +would not only be unjust, but to no profit. Mino giving heed to the +warning, all will be well." With this the lord of the household stalked +forth to the house entrance. Receiving his clogs from O'Mino, he stalked +forth to his official attendance. The two women, prostrate in salutation +at his exit, raised their heads to watch him stalk. + +It was a frightened face that O'Naka turned to her daughter. In +whispering voice--"The honoured father's words have been heard? If not, +it is to be said that gossip of the neighbourhood has come to his ears +as to relations with Densuké. He notices that an _obi_ is not often +worn; and when worn is soon discarded. However, a man's eye is not so +apt in such matters. Even in this Naka cannot speak positively. +Doubtless the report is not true." O'Mino, if ugly, was anything but +obtuse. Her mother must know; and yet not know. "My honoured father does +not consider the difference of age and status in Densuké. Densuké is but +a boy. This Mino has passed her twenty-third year. Moreover, surely she +deserves a better husband than a _chu[u]gen_. Least of all would she +give her father cause for regret or painful thoughts. Can a woman be +pregnant otherwise than by a man?" O'Mino, respectfully prostrate, with +this raised her head. The two women looked each other in the face. +Finally O'Naka said--"With joy is the answer heard. But Matazaémon San +is of hasty temper. In his suspicions even he is to be avoided. However, +the business of the house is to be performed. This will take the time +until late in the day. Tradesmen may come for payments of the month. In +the closet ten _ryo[u]_ in silver will be found. Here are the keys to +the chests. It would be well to take an inventory of the effects. The +winter is at hand. It is time to make warmer provision for it. Be sure +to observe circumspection." With these words, and a sad look at her +erring daughter, O'Naka donned street garb, threw a _haori_ (cloak) over +her shoulders, climbed down into her clogs, and their patter soon +disappeared down the street. + +Her departure was almost coincident with the reappearance of Densuké. +His attendance on the master to the offices of the palace stables +accomplished, for the time being he had returned. Thus did Matazaémon +effect an outward state and an household economy. None too willing was +the presence of Densuké. He was faithful in his way to O'Mino, and much +afraid of her. Even in the most private intercourse to him she was the +Ojo[u]san, the daughter of the House; but he had no other recourse than +the Tamiya. Once assured of him, O'Mino had cut off all the previous +flow of coin, and with it the means of his rare indiscretions at the +Shinjuku pleasure quarter. Besides, their interviews took place in the +darkness of night. In the daytime O'Naka usually was present, who, +lacking other company, sought that of her daughter, and moreover was +unwilling to be too complacent in the intrigue she saw going on. As soon +as the sound of Densuké's steps was heard, O'Mino called him. There was +a sharpness in her tone, a note of alarmed decision, that frightened and +chilled him. Humbly he sought her presence. A glance showed the absence +of O'Naka, yet as usual he prostrated himself in salutation. In that +position he did not see her face. She said impatiently--"For salutation +there is no time nor occasion. It is no longer the Ojo[u]san who speaks; +it is the wife. My father knows all concerning this Mino and Densuké. On +his return he is sure to take the occasion of the presence of both to +kill us. It is his right and our duty to submit to his punishment. But +to do so consigns the infant in the womb from darkness to darkness. This +is too dreadful to contemplate. Unfilial though it be, we must run away. +Make up your mind to do so." Densuké looked up. She was bent in +meditation over this flight. The corners of the mouth widened out, the +eyelid drooping more conspicuously than ever and forming a heavy fold +over the empty socket, the bald brow, the scanty hair at the sides in +disordered whisps and strands, all these made her a hideous mask. He +could not endure the sight. Timidly he said--"Terrible news indeed! How +has it happened? Surely, honoured lady, you have been very rash; nay, +somewhat clumsy withal. Cannot women take their pleasure with whom they +please without such dire results? Ah! Such luxury, such pleasant +surroundings! All must be abandoned. This Densuké will seek his native +village in Kazusa. And the Ojo[u]san whither will she go; what will she +do?" + +Was the question asked in innocence, or in deepest guile? O'Mino could +not have answered, well as she thought she knew Densuké. He felt a hand +on his shoulder. He sprang up in fright, hardly knowing whether it was a +demon, or O'Mino turned demon, who confronted him. Her mouth half open, +her large, white, shining, even teeth all displayed, her single eye +darting malignant gleams, and the empty socket and its fold quivering +and shaking, she was a frightful object. "To speak of pleasure without +the consequences, such talk is that of a fool. Densuké was taken for the +relationship of the two worlds. Now you would abandon me. Very well--do +so. But this Mino does not perish by her father's sword. The well is at +hand. Within three days I shall reappear and hunt you out. Torn to +pieces the wretched man shall die a miserable death. Better would it be +now to die with Mino. A last salutation...." Two vigorous arms seized +his neck. Densuké gave a cry of anguish as the sharp teeth marked the +ear. Letting him go, she sprang to the _ro[u]ka_ (verandah). Frightened +as he was, Densuké was too quick for her. He grasped her robe. "Nay! The +Ojo[u]san must not act so desperately. Densuké spoke as one clumsy, and +at a loss what to do ... yes ... we must run away ... there is the +uncle, Kawai, in Kanda. To him Densuké will go, and there learn the will +of Tamiya Dono." O'Mino's tragic attitude lapsed. At once she was the +practical woman of the house. She gave thanks for her mother's +foresight. "The escape is not as of those unprovided. Here are ten +_ryo[u]_ in silver. A bundle is to be made of the clothing and other +effects. This is to be carried by Densuké. And the uncle: Mino +presenting herself for the first time as wife, a present is to be +brought. What should it be?" She talked away, already busy with piling +clothes, quilts (_futon_), toilet articles onto a large _furoshiki_ or +square piece of cloth. Then she arrayed her person with greatest care, +and in the soberest and richest fashion as the newly-wed wife. With time +Densuké managed to get his breath amid this vortex of unexpected +confusion into which he had been launched. "The uncle's teeth are bad. +Soft _takuan_[3] is just the thing. For long he has eaten little else. +Four or five stalks are sufficient." He went to the kitchen to secure +this valued gift. Then he collected his own possessions. With the huge +bundle of the _furoshiki_ on his shoulders; with straw raincoat, sun +hat, clogs for wet and dry weather, piled on the top, and the stalks of +the _takuan_ dangling down; "it was just as if they were running away +from a fire." As Densuké departed O'Mino closely observed him. He was +too subdued, too scared to give her anxiety. Later she left the house to +join him at the Hanzo[u]-bashi, far enough removed from Yotsuya. It was +then Tenwa, 2nd year, 11th month (December, 1682). + + + + +CHAPTER II + +KAWAI SAN OF KANDU KU + + +This uncle of Densuké, Kawai Kyu[u]bei by name, was a rice dealer, with +a shop in Matsudacho[u] of the Kanda district. The distance to go was +far. As with all ladies, O'Mino kept Densuké waiting long at the +Hanzo[u]-bashi. Indeed, there was much romance about this ugly, +neglected, hard girl. She waited until the sound of O'Naka's clogs was +heard. Then she halted at the corner of Teramachi until she could see +her mother's figure in the dusk; see it disappear into the house. When +she went down the street toward the Samégabashi she was crying. It was +late therefore--after the hour of the pig (9 P.M.)--when the pair +reached Kanda. The business of the day was long over in this business +section of Edo. The houses were tightly closed. On reaching the entrance +of Kyu[u]bei's house said Densuké--"Ojo[u]san, condescend to wait here +for a moment. The uncle is to be informed. Deign to have an eye to the +_furoshiki_. Please don't let the dogs bite into or insult the +_takuan_." He pounded on the door. Said a voice within--"Obasan +(Auntie)! Obasan! Someone knocks. Please go and open for them." The more +quavering and softer tones of an old woman made answer--"No, it is not +my turn and time to go to the door. Get up; and first make inquiry +before entrance is allowed. With little to lose, loss is much felt. Ah! +Tamiya Dono in the Yotsuya has been sadly neglected." The scolding tones +hummed on. Grumbling, the old man was lighting a rush. "'Tis agreed; +'tis agreed. To-morrow without fail this Kyu[u]bei visits Tamiya. Ah! It +is no jest to go to that house. Not only is the distance great, but...." +He had the door open, and his mouth too. "Densuké! Graceless fellow! But +what are you doing here, and at this hour? No; the luck is good. There +is a big bundle with you, a huge bundle." He spied the _takuan_ and his +face broadened into a smile. "Ah! If dismissed, it has been with honour. +Doubtless the _takuan_ is for this Kyu[u]bei. Thanks are felt. But is +all this stuff Densuké's? He has not stolen it? Doubtless a woman is at +the bottom of the affair. Never mind; an opportunity presents itself to +offer you as _muko_--at the Tatsuya in Yokomachi. Of late a boy has been +hoped for, but another girl presented herself. A _muko_ now will be +welcome. The wife is getting past child-bearing, and there is little +hope of a son. The Tatsuya girl is just the thing. In a few months she +will be fit to be a wife. She...." + +Densuké edged a word into this stream. "The honoured uncle is right. +The cause of Densuké's appearance is a woman." The old man made a face. +Said he--"Well, in such a case it is good to be out of it. This +Kyu[u]bei has heard talk of Densuké--and of all things with the +Ojo[u]san! That would be terrible indeed. But how is the Oni (demon)? +What a sight she is! Bald, one-eyed, hairless, with a face like a dish +and no nose--Kyu[u]bei came suddenly on her at dusk in the Yotsuya. Iya! +It was cold feet and chills for him for the space of seven days. It is +that which keeps Kyu[u]bei from Yotsuya, although a little aid would go +far. The last dealings in rice notes were not favourable. Besides, +account is soon to be rendered to Tamiya Dono. But though wicked of +temper and ugly, O'Mino San is rich. Even for the demon in time a good +match will be found. She will be the wife of an honoured _kenin_ +(vassal), and the husband will buy _geisha_ and _joro[u]_ with the +money. Such is the expectation of Tamiya Dono. Don't allow any trifling +there. Remember that she is the daughter of a _go-kenin_. They talk of +Densuké in the Yotsuya. Of course it is all talk. Don't allow it to +happen." Densuké found an opening. The words meant one thing; the +expression another. "It is not _going_ to happen." Kyu[u]bei looked at +him aghast as he took in the meaning. "What! With the demon? Densuké has +committed the carnal sin with the demon? Oh, you filthy scoundrel! Rash, +inconsiderate boy! Obasan! Obasan!... What did she pay you for the +deed?... This low fellow Densuké, this foolish rascal of a nephew, has +been caught in fornication with the demon.... What a fool! How is it +that death has been escaped? And you have run away. Doubtless a +pregnancy has followed. After putting his daughter to death Tamiya Dono +will surely hunt out Densuké. Or perhaps keep O'Mino San until he +catches the interloper. Sinning together, both will die together. Ah! To +cross the Sanzu no Kawa, to climb the Shide no Yama, with the demon as +company: terrific! It is terrific! And what has become of her? Why fall +into such a trap, with a woman old and ugly? Her riches are not for you. +Caught here, the _tatami_ of Kyu[u]bei will be spoiled."[4] + +Densuké countered. He spoke in the old man's ear. "Refusing consent, +she threatened to kill herself and haunt this Densuké as O'Baké +(apparition). The Ojisan (uncle) has seen the Ojo[u]san. Would he be +haunted by her, be seized and killed with torture?... And then--here she +stands, just at the door." The old man spluttered, and gasped, and went +on his nose in abject salutation--"Oh, the fool!... the Ojo[u]san is +here in person ... he would trifle with the devil!... the low rascal +would seduce the honoured daughter of Tamiya ... put ten hags in a row +and pick out the worst ... will the Ojo[u]san condescend to honour +Kyu[u]bei's place.... Oh! She's a very O'Baké already. Pregnancy with a +beautiful woman is bad enough. With this demon it makes her an +apparition ... condescend to enter; deign to enter." O'Mino slowly came +forward. That what had been said by the rash and unconscious Kyu[u]bei +had escaped her ear was unlikely. The humility of demeanor hardly veiled +the offended dignity of her approach. "Densuké has spoken truth. We come +as husband and wife. Condescend to give shelter for the time being, and +become the intercessor with Tamiya Dono. Such is the prayer of this +Mino." As she spoke she bowed low on the _tatami_ (mats). Kyu[u]bei +caught the hint; for if she had heard the talk of Densuké, she had +assuredly heard his still louder ejaculations and ill-timed wit. The +Obasan was in a rage at him. Taking the conduct of affairs in her own +hand--"Condescend to make this poor dwelling a home for as long as +desired. Plainly the visitors have not come empty handed. Ma! Ma! 'Tis +like an escape from a fire. Densuké is a strong lad to shoulder such a +burden. But he always has been something of an ass. As for Matazaémon +Dono, to-morrow the Ojisan shall attend to the affair, and see what is +to be expected. Meanwhile, deign to be as in Samoncho[u] itself." The +kindly old woman pushed Kyu[u]bei and his clumsy apologies out of the +way. She busied herself about O'Mino. The two women understood each +other. The varied contents of the _furoshiki_ were quickly stowed away. +A little supper was prepared for the hungry fugitives. Kyu[u]bei sat by, +his eyes dazzled by the wealth of goods displayed, and his nostrils +shifting under the acrid perfume of the _takuan_ and remembrance of his +stupidity. + +The next morning Kyu[u]bei was up betimes. Matazaémon was no dawdler. +It was best to catch him satisfied with the morning meal, and perhaps +beset by the night's regret over the loss of his daughter. In no way was +it a pleasant mission. Kyu[u]bei's pace became a crawl as he approached +the garden gate on Teramachi. He put in an appearance at the kitchen +side. O'Naka was here established, engaged in her duties and surely +awaiting him. At sight of him she burst into what was half laugh and +half tears. "Ah! It is Kyu[u]bei San. Doubtless he comes on the part of +Mino and Densuké. It is kind of Kyu[u]bei to befriend them. The Danna +(master) is very angry indeed. An only daughter, and one on whom he +depended for a _muko_, he is much upset. Please go in and talk with him. +Show anger at the runaways. To agree with him may somewhat soothe his +passion. Condescend so to act." Kyu[u]bei winked. And turn some of +this anger on himself? Well, agreement might rouse the spirit of +contradiction in Tamiya Dono. It was a characteristic of this hide-bound +official. Matazaémon was drinking the last sips of tea from his rice +bowl when the _sho[u]ji_ were gently pushed apart, and the head of +Kyu[u]bei inserted in the opening. At first he paid no attention. Then +as one in haste--"Ah! Is it Kyu[u]bei? He comes early to-day--and hardly +to apply for anything. The rice notes are not yet due for some weeks." +His tone was grim; the usual indifferent benevolence of demeanor toward +a townsman was conspicuously absent. Kyu[u]bei felt chilled. Densuké +must not sacrifice his good uncle to his own folly. + +Said Kyu[u]bei--"Yet it is to seek the honoured benevolence of Tamiya +Dono that Kyu[u]bei comes." Matazaémon turned sharp around toward him. +Frightened, the townsman continued--"Densuké has acted very wickedly. +The low, lascivious rascal has dared to seduce the honoured daughter of +the House. Both are now harboured at the house of this Kyu[u]bei, who +now makes report. Their lives are in the hand of Tamiya Dono. But +Kyu[u]bei would make earnest plea for delay. O'Mino San being pregnant, +the child would be sent from darkness to darkness--a terrible fate. May +it be condescended to show the honoured mercy and benevolence. Evil and +unfilial though the action of the two has been, yet 'benevolence weighs +the offence; justice possesses two qualities.' Such are the words of +Ko[u]shi (Confucius)." The eyes of Matazaémon twinkled. He had heard +that Kyu[u]bei was on the verge of shaving his head (turning priest). +Truly the townsman was profitting by the exhortations of his teacher. +After a time he said--"The memory of Kyu[u]bei is excellent. Don't let +it fail him on the present occasion. For such a deed as has been +committed the punishment is death, meted out by the hand of this +Matazaémon. The fact ascertained, it was intended to kill them both. The +flight of Mino and Densuké has altered the complexion of the affair. It +is no longer necessary to inflict the extreme penalty. O'Mino is +disowned for seven births. Neither she nor Densuké is to appear before +this Matazaémon. If the talk of the ward be true, in exchange for a +loyal service Densuké has secured a beautiful bride. There can be no +regrets." Then, taking a sprightly and jeering air, "But this Kyu[u]bei +has been the one to exercise benevolence. Matazaémon now learns that the +two runaways have been received by him. Entertain them well; entertain +them well. Thanks are due to Kyu[u]bei San--from them. Doubtless he is +much occupied with his guests. Less will be seen of him in Yotsuya.... +But official duties press. This Matazaémon must leave. Don't be in +haste. Stay and take some tea.... Naka! Naka! Tea for Kyu[u]bei San; the +_haori_ (cloak) of Matazaémon.... _Sayonara_.... Ah! The rice notes this +Matazaémon took up for Kyu[u]bei San, they fall due with the passage of +the weeks. But Kyu[u]bei is one who always meets his obligations. As to +that there is no anxiety." With this last fling the prostrate Kyu[u]bei +heard the sound of the clogs of Matazaémon on the flagged walk outside. +A departing warning to O'Naka as to the tea, and steps were heard +near-by. He raised his head, to confront the mistress of the house. + +O'Naka spoke with tears in her eyes--a salve to the alarmed and +wounded feelings of Kyu[u]bei. "Don't be frightened. After all +Matazaémon is a _samurai_. To press Kyu[u]bei, or any tradesman, is +beyond him. But this Naka cannot see her daughter! To add to his anger +would bring disaster on her and the unborn child. Alas! Anyhow, give +Mino this money; and these articles of value, properly her own. Her +mirror has been forgotten in the hasty flight." O'Naka brought forth one +of those elaborate polished silver surfaces, used by the ladies of +Nippon in these later luxurious days of the Sho[u]gunate. It was only +now that it became the property of O'Mino. It was part of the wedding +outfit of O'Naka herself. With this little fiction the mother +continued--"When the child is born allow the grandmother at least a +distant sight of it. Perhaps it will resemble Tamiya; be like its +mother, and soften a father's heart." Now she wept bitterly; and +Kyu[u]bei wept with her--bitterly. "Like the mother! The Buddhas of +Daienji[5] would indeed weep at the appearance of such a monster." This +was his thought; not expressed with the humble gratitude, prostration, +and promises which he fully intended to keep. Kyu[u]bei reverentially +accepted the mirror, the goods, the money. Taking his leave of +Yotsuya--a long one he feared--with sighs he set out for Kanda. Here he +made his report. Said the old townsman with severity--"The will of the +parent is not to be disobeyed. It is the duty of this Kyu[u]bei to see +to its performance." He had O'Naka more in mind than the master of +Tamiya. O'Mino might yet be the goose to lay golden eggs. A goose of +such plumage! Kyu[u]bei made a wry face in the darkness of the corridor. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO[U] + + +Some means of support had to be found. Employed in a _kenin's_ house, +and leaving it under such conditions, kindred occupation was out of the +question. There was a sort of black list among these officials to cover +all grades of their service. Time and the host of servants of some great +House would get the lad back into the only occupation he understood. +Trusting to some such accident of fortune, Kyu[u]bei made Densuké his +agent on commission. Densuké was no idler. Kyu[u]bei managed to meet the +Tamiya security for his loans, largely through the efforts of the +younger man. The married couple at this time set up their establishment +in Goro[u]beicho[u] of Kyo[u]bashi Ku. Coming and going, often with no +definite task in hand, Densuké to all appearance was an out-and-out +idler. For the first time released from the trammels of her class, +O'Mino could attend the theatres and farce shows of the capital. She +delighted in acting this part of a tradesman's wife. Moreover she was +very sure of not meeting with Matazaémon, of whom she was in great fear. +Bound to the _formulć_ of his class, her father might feel bound to cut +her down on sight. + +One day Densuké was idling and hanging over the parapet of the +Nihonbashi. Some fishermen were violently quarrelling in the fish market +on the bank just below the bridge. As he looked on with interest a hand +was laid on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a man, partly in the dress of +a _chu[u]gen_, partly in that of a menial attendant of one of the larger +_yashiki_ (nobleman's mansion). Scars of burns on his hands and arms, +patches of rice flour and bran, showed that he was a cook. His eye was +severe and his manner abrupt as he rebuked Densuké. "An idle fellow! +This Taro[u]bei never fails to come across Densuké as an idler, or on +the way to Asakusa with the worthy wife. Is he fit for nothing?" Densuké +was a mild man. To this man with a grievance his answer was soft. +Besides he had no liking for the cook's knife stuck in the girdle, and +handy to carve fish or flesh. He said--"Perchance the idleness is more +in appearance than fact. Buying and selling on commission the task is an +irregular one. It is true, however, that this Densuké has no settled +labour. Alas! Former days in the service of a _samurai_ are much to be +regretted."--"Can you cook rice?" was the abrupt interruption. "This +Densuké knows the 'Sanryaku' fairly well. Is more needed?" The man +looked at him dumbfounded. "The 'Sanryaku'--what's that?"--"Knowledge of +the 'Sanryaku' enables one to meet all the requirements of a _bushi_ +(knight).[6] At the school in Kazusa To[u]gané the priest who taught +this Densuké, at one time a _samurai_, was far more taken with the +'Sanryaku' than with the _Sutra_ (Scripture); the lessons taught applied +more to Bushido[u] (the knight's way) than to Butsudo[u] (the way of the +Buddha).... But to the point; this Densuké for three years cooked the +rice at Tamiya in Yotsuya. First there is the _toro-toro_ of bubbling +water; then the _biri-biri_, as what little remains passes as steam +through the rice grains. Then the sharp whistling cry of a baby from the +pot on the slow fire (_murashite_). The task is done, and the vessel is +removed from the stove." The man looked with respect on this learned +cook. Said he--"Densuké is the man. Taro[u]bei must leave the kitchen of +Geishu[u] Sama at once. The mother is ill in Aki province. A substitute +is to be found. The salary--is next to nothing; but the perquisites are +numerous, and the food ample to feed several Densuké and their wives. +Deign to accept." Densuké did not hesitate--"The obligation lies with +Densuké. But how secure the position? There is Tamiya...." The man +laughed. "There are many Densuké in Edo; and no connection between the +_yashiki_ of Matsudaira Aki no Kami and the house of a _do[u]shin_ in +Yotsuya. There is small likelihood of meeting old acquaintances. Be sure +to remember that it is Densuké of Kyo[u]bashi; not Densuké of Yotsuya. +This pass will answer to the gate-man. Substitutes are common. Whether +it be Densuké or Taro[u]bei who cooks the rice makes no difference; +provided the rice be well cooked. Taro[u]bei's service lies elsewhere; +to Densuké San deep his obligation." He held out the pass, and Densuké +took it. + +With mutual salutation and joy in heart they parted. Densuké betook +himself to the _yashiki_ of Matsudaira Aki no Kami at Kasumigaseki. No +difficulties were encountered. Taro[u]bei was not so superlative as a +cook that the substitute could not be better than the original. At this +place Densuké acted the part of the _komatsukibatta_. This is a narrow +brown weevil, some three parts of an inch in length, and which stands on +its head making the repeated movements of _o'jigi_, much as at a +ceremonial encounter in Nippon. Densuké was not long in becoming well +liked. He was ready to run errands for all, outside of the hours of his +duties. From those higher up in the _yashiki_ these errands brought him +coin. Every month he could bring O'Mino twenty to thirty _mon_ in +"cash"; apart from the ample rations of rice and _daikon_ bestowed on +the kitchen staff. Nay: as cook at times fish could not be allowed to +spoil, and fell to the perquisites of Densuké. Thus time passed; and +with it the delivery of O'Mino, and the crisis in the affairs of Densuké +approached. Now Geishu[u] Sama[7] was a fourth month _daimyo[u]_. Hence +with the iris blossoms he took his departure from Edo to the government +of his fief in Aki province. The Sakuji Machibugyo[u], one Takahashi +Daihachiro[u], plead illness on this occasion of the exodus. As unable +to accompany his lord he remained in Edo. On plea of convenience he +established himself in the abandoned quarters of the _ashigaru_ or +common soldiers, situated right over Densuké's cooking stoves. Entirely +removed from the bustle of the household, except during Densuké's now +rare attendance, he secured complete isolation and quiet. Densuké went +on cooking for Takahashi Sama, just as if it had been for the whole +military household. Daihachiro[u] was a forbidding kind of man; and it +was with no amiable look that he greeted Densuké when the latter +appeared very late to prepare the meal. It being the 5th month 5th day +(the _sekku_) of Tenwa 3rd year (30th May, 1683), perhaps he suspected +Densuké of preparation for, and participation in, the great festival +which was in progress. "Densuké is very late. This Daihachiro[u] has +made the trial; to find out that he is no cook. Indeed the right hand +has been severely burnt. A cook should be on time--for the meal, not the +_matsuri_." Densuké was all apology--"Nay, Danna Sama; it is not the +festival which has detained Densuké. An infant was expected to-day by +the wife. Hence Densuké's neglect. Deign to pardon him."--"A baby being +born is no reason why Daihachiro[u] should starve. Prepare the meal in +haste. The rice is to be soft; and please see that the fish also is +soft. Make the sauce not too sharp. It would give great trouble to make +the bath in the quarters. In Owarimachi, or Kubomachi, good bath-houses +are to be found." Densuké took the hint. At once he recommended one he +thought befitting the great man's greatness. "Well: _Sayonara_. See that +the meal is ready by the return." Off stalked Takahashi Daihachiro[u], +towel dangling from his hand, and toothbrush and bran bag in his bosom. + +Densuké gave a sigh of relief as he left the court. Daihachiro[u] often +employed him on missions, and was never particularly generous even when +the transaction was decidedly shady. Densuké was dreadfully afraid of +him. Somehow he felt as if Daihachiro[u] was Fate--his fate. Turning to +his stoves, the pots and the pans, the meal soon was in successful +preparation. As Densuké lifted the cover to inspect the rice--splash! A +great red spot spread in widening circle over the white mass. In fright +Densuké clapped on the lid of the pot. He looked upward, to locate this +unusual condiment to his provision. On his forehead he received in +person a second consignment. Applying his finger to his head, and then +to his nose--"Blood! Ah! O'Také's fierce cat has caught a rat and is +chewing it in the room above. How vexatious! If the Danna should find +out...." Hastily he tried to shove his equipment to one side. This would +not do. The massive stone blocks forming the furnace were too heavy for +Densuké to move unaided. Somewhat helpless he looked around. The rice +was almost done; ready for the process of _murashité_, or simmering over +the slow fire. The fish, carefully prepared, as yet was to be cooked. +All was to be ready against the return of Daihachiro[u] Sama. Ah! Again +the dropping began. As finding some channel in the rough boarding of the +ceiling it came fast. His kitchen began to look like the place where the +Eta (outcasts) slaughter beasts. Densuké shuddered. + +Circumstances, the results involved, make the timid brave. Grasping a +pole Densuké started up the ladder leading to the loft and the quarters +of the _ashigaru_. Arrived at the top his eyes took in the poor +apartment. The rafters and beams of a low-cast roof; six wretched +(Loo-choo) mats on the floor, for the men to sit, and sleep, and live +upon; such its bare equipment. In the middle of the mats was a great red +stain. Densuké was at once attracted to it. "A cat would eat a rat; but +it would not wipe up the blood." His eyes were caught by the straw +basket used to store away the raincoats. This was all stained red at the +bottom. Going close up he found it was wet. Perhaps the cat was at work +inside. Densuké raised the cover and looked in. In alarm he sprang back. +On the trunk and limbs of a body was placed a freshly severed head. +Without replacing the cover, with pole uplifted over his head in +defence, Densuké backed toward the ladder. His one idea was to flee this +_yashiki_. As he reached the top of the steps the voice of Daihachiro[u] +was heard below--"A pest on such filthy bath-houses; and filthier +patrons.... What! No rice yet, Densuké? Ah! Where is the fellow?" +Densuké looked down, to meet the altered countenance of Daihachiro[u] +looking up. He retreated as the latter sprang up the ladder. +Daihachiro[u] gave a rapid glance. He saw the raised cover of the +basket. The next moment the bosom of Densuké's dress was harshly +grasped, and he himself was forced down on the floor. Gloomily +Daihachiro[u] regarded him--"Rash and curious fellow! Why not keep to +your pots and pans? Densuké loses his life; and Daihachiro[u] a fool for +a cook." He had drawn his sword to strike. Densuké clung to his knees in +petition--"Pardon, master! Pardon! This Densuké is no idle gossip. The +dripping blood threatened to spoil the meal. Thinking the cat was eating +a rat, fearing the anger of the Danna Sama if the meal had to be +re-cooked, Densuké came up here to chase the animal away. Thus the crime +was discovered...."--"Crime!" thundered Daihachiro[u]. "Ah! This +intermeddler must certainly die. By the word of a _samurai_...." In his +terror Densuké almost put his hand over the irrevocable sentence. He +spoke with life at stake. "Deign, master, to pardon Densuké. He has +committed no offence; knows of no offence in others. Densuké has seen +nothing. Life is a jewel, to be kept at any cost. Densuké is far too +insignificant to deserve the anger of Takahashi Sama." He grovelled in +the abject terror of his petition. + +Takahashi Daihachiro[u] hesitated. An idea seemed to occur to him, at +sight of the man's fear-struck state. He smiled grimly. "Densuké saw the +head?"--"'Tis so," admitted Densuké. "But to see a head means nothing." +Daihachiro[u] dragged him over to the raincoat basket. Holding him down, +he grasped the head by the cue and lifted it out. "Look!" Densuké gave a +cry of surprise at sight of the features of a once neighbour. "It is the +head of Iséya Jusuké, the money lender of Hacho[u]bori; a hard man. +Surely the Danna...."--"Just so," replied Daihachiro[u], carelessly +throwing the mortuary relic back into the basket. "Borrowing five +_ryo[u]_, in six months with the interest the sum now due is twenty-five +_ryo[u]_. Pleading illness Daihachiro[u] remained in Edo, to try and +soften the usurer. He threatened a report to my lord; grew insolent +beyond measure. The sword drawn, he was killed forthwith.... Here +Densuké finds his use and saves his life. This body is an awkward +impediment. Densuké must take and cast it away. Otherwise, a second head +is added to this first. With one already to dispose of a second gives no +difficulty. Decide: is it agreed? Moreover there will be payment." He +took out a money belt (_do[u]maki_), that of Jusuké. Densuké recognized +it. Daihachiro[u] had robbed Jusuké, after killing him. Lovingly he ran +the golden _ryo[u]_ through his fingers. Seventy of them Densuké +counted. Daihachiro[u] picked out three _ryo[u]_. "Here is payment. Life +is spared, and it is agreed to cast away the body." Stammered +Densuké--"On the rubbish heap?" Daihachiro[u] looked at him--"You fool! +Why not proclaim that Densuké murdered Jusuké? Once the gate is +passed--and this Daihachiro[u] goes in company so far--it is Densuké who +is the murderer of Jusuké. Remain in this place until night. Then off +with the body; pitch it into the ditch of Kuroda Ke, or that of Saio[u] +Dono. Daihachiro[u] now takes his meal. There is nothing wrong with it?" +He looked meaningly at Densuké. The latter, with eyes on the shining +sword, at once denied all defilement. He now plumed himself on the care +taken of the Danna's interests. Daihachiro[u] descended; to feed at ease +and keep watch over the unwilling Densuké. + +In the 5th month (June) the days are long. Densuké was a coward; and +for company had the corpse of the murdered Jusuké. To the poor cook the +time passed was torture. He was continually going to the stair and +calling down--"Danna Sama, has the time come?... Ah! The sky is light. +The streets at night will be full of people with lanterns. Plainly +O'Tento[u] Sama (the Sun) has forgotten to decline in the West. Alas! +This Densuké is most unlucky." At last the hour of the dog was passing +(7-9 P.M.). Daihachiro[u] appeared. "Now for the corpse! Wrap it up in +this matting.... Coward! Is Densuké afraid of a dead man?" He took the +body and cut the tendons of arms and legs. Then he placed the head on +the belly. Doubling the limbs over the body so as to hold the head he +wrapped the matting around the whole. The outside he covered with some +red raincoats--"in case of accidental stains." Then he strongly roped +the whole together. He stood back to inspect a truly admirable job. +Densuké wondered how many usurers Daihachiro[u] had thus disposed of. +His speculations were interrupted. Everything was ready. "Now! the loan +of Densuké's back." Groaned Densuké--"Danna Sama, a request."--"What?" +asked Daihachiro[u]. "Condescend to put a board between the body of +Densuké and that of Jusuké. The head might seize and bite me with its +teeth." Daihachiro[u] snorted with laughter, contempt, and anger mixed. +"What a cowardly rascal you are! Off with it as it is." Said Densuké +respectfully and firmly--"The task is that of Densuké. Condescend so far +to favour him." His obvious terror threatened collapse even of the +influence of Daihachiro[u]. An old remnant of the back of a corselet was +at hand. Said Daihachiro[u]--"This is still better. It is metal. In it +goes. Now off with you." Stalking along in the rear of the unfortunate +cook, Daihachiro[u] kept within easy distance of a sword blow. At the +gate he said--"Pray grant passage. Densuké takes washing of this +Daihachiro[u]--bed quilts and _futon_ to be renovated."--"Respectfully +heard and understood." The gate-man let fall the bar and stood aside. +Densuké passed into the street. A little way off he looked around. +Takahashi Daihachiro[u] had disappeared. Now indeed it was an affair +between Densuké and Jusuké.[8] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN + + +Shouldering his pack Densuké made off down the broad space lined by the +white walls of the _yashiki_. In this quarter of the _bushi_ the highway +was not crowded with citizens and their lanterns. Densuké had high hopes +of an early disposition of the incubus. He approached the ditch which +protected the wall of the _yashiki_ of Prince Kuroda. When about to put +down the bundle a hail reached him from the _samurai_ on guard at the +Kuroda gate. "Heigh there, rascal! Wait!" But Densuké did not wait. In +terror he gave the load a shift on his shoulder and started off almost +at a run. On doing so there was a movement within. The cold sweat stood +out on the unhappy man's forehead. A moment, and would the teeth of +Jusuké be fastened in his shoulder? "Ah! Jusuké San! Good neighbour! +This Densuké is but the wretched agent. 'Tis Daihachiro[u] Sama who +killed Jusuké. Deign to pursue and haunt Takahashi Sama. Jusuké San! +Jusuké San!" Fright gave him strength and boldness. The Tora no Mon +(Tiger gate) of the castle should be the place of disposal. Here the +ditch was deep and dark. But to its very edge swarmed the people with +their lanterns on this night of festival in early summer. The moor of +Kubomachi was his next goal. At this period it really was open ground. +With a sigh of relief Densuké let the bundle slip from his now weary +shoulders. Alive he would have laughed at the idea of carrying the +portly Jusuké. Yet here the usurer bestrode him, far heavier weight than +on other unfortunate clients. "Let's have a look at him; address him +face to face." His hand was on the knot, when a woman's voice spoke in +his ear. Densuké did not wait to ascertain the nature of her +solicitation. He sped away into the darkness, toward the distant city. +Without goal, he found himself at Shiodomé.[9] Crossing the Shimbashi he +entered on the crowded and lighted Owaricho[u]. It was only the hour of +the pig (9 P.M.), and the house lanterns as yet burned brightly. He +hesitated, with the idea of turning toward Shiba, of trying his luck in +this still rustic district; or on the seashore, not far off. + +A man close by greeted him. "Iya! Densuké San at last is found. The +honoured wife suffers great anxiety. Thinking that the festival might be +the attraction this Goémon set out to find you. Deign to hasten at once +to Goro[u]beicho[u]." Densuké shifted his burden away from the man. Did +it not already somewhat taint the air? His nostrils were wide open in +alarmed inquiry. He made excuses. With his heavy pack he would follow +after slowly. He was overwhelmed by his neighbour's kindness. Goémon +offered to share the work. Densuké did more than refuse. Unable to shake +off his companion in stolid desperation he took his way to his home in +the tenement (_nagaya_). "Tadaima" (just now--present), he called from +the doorway. Entering the shabby room he put down the _furoshiki_ in a +distant corner. Going to the Butsudan, or house altar, at once he lit +the lamps. O'Mino eyed him with astonishment. "What's that?" she asked, +pointing to the bundle--"Washing of Daihachiro[u] Sama"--"But Mino is +ill. So situated she cannot do washing. How negligent!"--"It makes no +matter," replied Densuké recklessly. O'Mino did not like the tone of his +voice. She eyed him sharply. Then more pressing matters urged. "Weary as +you are it is to be regretted; but money must be in hand, for the +midwife and other expenses. A few hours, and this Mino will be unable to +leave her bed--for three turns (weeks). There is cooking and washing to +be done. Please go to Kyu[u]bei San and ask the loan of a _ryo[u]_. +Perhaps he will give half."--"He will give nothing," was the surly reply +of Densuké. "Of loans he has grown tired of late. As the uncle is the +only stay in dire necessity care must be taken not to offend. Moreover, +the loan is unnecessary. Here are three _ryo[u]_." He brought out the +shining oblong pieces. O'Mino's eyes were bright with terror. "Ah! Has +Densuké turned thief? How was this money secured? What has happened? Why +so late in returning?" But Densuké was made confident and ready of +tongue by the physical helplessness of O'Mino. "Don't be alarmed. +Densuké is neither thief nor murderer. He is no Shirai Gompachi. Perhaps +there is a corpse within, not washing. Would the Ojo[u]san see a head, +arms, legs, freshly severed?" He laughed harshly as she turned her head +from him to the bundle, then back again. "This money was given to +Densuké by Takahashi Sama; in return for faithful service in an +important matter. Don't be frightened. It has been honestly earned." +Said O'Mino, almost to herself--"But Daihachiro[u] Sama is not one to +give such a sum as three _ryo[u]_. He is always in debt. The wife of +Jusuké San complains of his delays with her husband. However...." +Confidence restored, she bade Densuké put the money in the drawer of the +toilet stand. Then he was to prepare some food; for themselves, and for +the neighbours ready to assist at the expected birth. + +Densuké did so, his eyes shifting from O'Mino to the stove, from the +stove to the deadly bundle. Finally he removed the _furoshiki_ to their +outer room, mumbling some excuse as to the foulness of a buck-basket. He +returned to his cooking. Barely tasting some food O'Mino soon was sound +asleep. Densuké observed her. "Ugly, rich, a very _O'Baké_ in appearance +is the Ojo[u]san; and yet she takes as husband a spiritless creature, +such as is this Densuké. Is it good or bad fortune? How grateful would +be her advice." He went to bed himself in the outer room; to spend a +hideous night of nightmare in company with the dead Jusuké, who now did +taint the air with that indefinable pollution of even the freshest +corpse. Wild visions floated through the brain of Densuké. The +neighbours would assemble. The food was ready. Ah! Here comes the wife +of Jusuké San. She demands her husband. A moment, and Densuké was +stealing from the house entrance into the darkness. The river? Ah! That +was it. The canal of Hacho[u]bori was close at hand to Jusuké's own +home. It would float him to his very door. Densuké soon saw himself at +the river bank. No one was at hand. Splash! In went the foul burden. +There it was again. But now it was Jusuké in person. "Jusuké San! Jusuké +San! Pardon! 'Twas not this Densuké who killed you. Seek vengeance of +Daihachiro[u] Sama. He is the murderer." In his terror he lost all fear +of being heard. He shouted at the top of his lungs. But Jusuké laid a +heavy hand on him. With one long drawn out groan Densuké--awoke. + +O'Mino was leaning close over him, her face spectre-like with pain. +Seeing that he was awake she took away her hand. "What is the matter +with you? All night you have been shouting and mumbling in sleep. Just +now it was 'Jusuké San! Jusuké San! Daihachiro[u] Sama!' It is indeed a +matter of Jusuké San. The time of Mino is at hand; the pains begin. Go +at once to the house of Jusuké, and ask his wife O'Yoshi to condescend +her aid." Densuké sprang up. An idea flashed into his mind. He would go +to Hacho[u]bori and make full confession. Which was the most important? +O'Yoshi as confessor or as midwife? With his brain thus puzzled over an +answer he started off. His last injunction to O'Mino was--"by no means +meddle with the bundle of Daihachiro[u] Sama." There could have been no +more direct invitation to her to do so. For a short time O'Mino did +nothing but eye the strange bundle. Then she was on her knees before it, +examining it. "Rain coats as wrapping! And tied with rope: a queer kind +of washing. What a strange odour! Pickled _daikon_ (_nukamisozuké_)?" +She shook it. Something inside went _gotsu-gotsu_. This was too much for +her curiosity. Her old suspicion came back, that Densuké had turned +robber. She poked a little hole in the straw wrapping. Some kind of +cloth covering was within; a _kimono_ without doubt. Through its tissue +something shone white. The kitchen knife was close at hand on the +brazier (_hibachi_). She reached out, and in a moment the rope was +severed. "Oya! Oya!" Out rolled a head. An arm, two helpless flexible +legs were extended before her. With a scream of horror O'Mino fell flat +on her back. Lying stretched out she uttered one sharp cry after +another. The neighbouring wives came hurrying in, a stream of humanity. +"What is wrong? A young wife screams not without cause. Oya! Oya! O'Mino +San has given birth to a baby and a head. Iya! Head, limbs, body--a +monstrous parturition!" With the woman groaning in the pain of her +delivery, the wives in confusion, children flying to summon the men +folk, the whole district was in an uproar. In the midst of the confusion +arrived Densuké and the wife of Jusuké. As yet he had not found courage +to confess. He was still "deciding." A neighbour greeted him--"Densuké +San! Strange things have happened to O'Mino San. She has given birth to +a head and a baby at the same time. Hasten, Densuké San! Hasten!" +Densuké did hasten; but it was to disappear down the nearest byway in +headlong flight. Amazed and confounded the wife of Jusuké proceeded +alone to the house; as the first thing to set eyes on the head of her +husband, eyes still open and glaring in death. With a cry she +precipitated herself upon it; took it in her arms. The midwife, summoned +in haste, parted infant from mother. Thus did O'Iwa San come forth into +the world. + +The affair was grave. The _kenshi_ (coroner) was soon on the scene. +O'Mino with feeble voice told what she knew. "Deign to examine into the +affair beyond the surface. My husband Densuké is not the man to commit +this crime. Ask the neighbours, who know him. Last night he brought +three _ryo[u]_, given him by Takahashi Daihachiro[u] Sama, the Sakuji +Machibugyo[u] of Geishu[u] Ko[u]. He said that it was for important +service rendered. There is no doubt that Takahashi San is the murderer. +Deign to examine well; show benevolence.... Ah! This Mino shall have +vengeance. For seven lives Daihachiro[u] shall be pursued...." Her eyes +became injected with blood. Her breast heaved painfully in the attempt +to get air. The women around her gave cries of alarm. O'Mino sank back +in a pool of blood. She had died in the midst of her curse. Said one +present--"This To[u]kichi would not be the honoured Sakuji Sama; nay, +not for the full seven existences in human form." The others felt as he +did. Even the _kenshi_ drew up his shoulders a little at the frightful +mask of the dead woman's face. He could learn but little. Kyu[u]bei, +soon at hand, petitioned for the dead body of O'Mino and the custody of +the infant. The neighbours corroborated the story of O'Mino; but Densuké +had disappeared. Daihachiro[u] never had confidence in his agent. His +preparations for flight had been made before Densuké's discovery, and +almost together with Densuké he had passed out the gate of Geishu[u] +Sama, with the seventy _ryo[u]_ provided by Jusuké. Report being made to +the Machibugyo[u] a "grass dividing" search was made, without result. No +trace of either man was found. As for the child born under these +auspicious conditions, Kyu[u]bei went at once to Tamiya Matazaémon and +made report. With bowed head the old man awaited the decision. Said +Matazaémon--"The name giving is to take place on the seventh night. +Kyu[u]bei will not fail to be present." He did not speak further. Thus +the offence of the parents was pardoned in O'Iwa the infant; the +grandchild of a man and woman passing the period of middle age.[10] + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDO[U]SHI[11] + + +It was Genroku 8th year (1695). O'Iwa, a girl of twelve years, could +understand what came to her ears. In dealing with each other the +Nipponese are very exact and exacting. The New Year must start with a +clean balance sheet for the tradesman--all bills paid and collected. The +last night of the dying year, and its last few hours; this time is the +busiest and most anxious. Zensuké, the _banto[u]_ (clerk) of the Shimaya +dry goods shop, accompanied by one Jugoro[u], was passing the Shiba +Kirido[u]shi. It was the hour of the tiger (3 A.M.). Of the two, +Jugoro[u] was the fighting man. Juro[u]zaémon of the Shimaya had +provided him with a short sword and sent him as guard to Zensuké, who +would have more than three hundred _ryo[u]_ in gold. Said +Jugoro[u]--"Banto[u] San, whither now? The hour is late."--"It is never +late on the _o[u]misoka_ (31st of the 12th month)," replied Zensuké +tersely. "However, there remains but one account to collect; at +Nishikubo. We will hasten."--"Go on ahead," said Jugoro[u]. "A moment +here for a necessity." Thus the two men became separated by nearly a +_cho[u]_ (100 yards). The district was one of _yashiki_ and temples. The +white walls of the former blended with the white carpet of snow on the +ground. At any hour it was no busy place; now it was desolate. The high +banks of the cutting crowned by woods and approached through the trees, +made it an ideal place for a hold-up. Zensuké hesitated. He slowed his +pace to allow his companion to join him. He thought he saw something +move in the darkness close by. From behind a tree just before him came a +_samurai_. Two others followed this man from the shadows. The heads of +all three men were covered by _zukin_ (hoods). They wore vizors. "Wait!" +Zensuké stopped in fright. "What suspicious rascal is this, travelling +the quarter at this hour? Probably some clerk making off with his +master's funds. Come now! Give them into better keeping. Low fellow! You +are fairly trapped." Zensuké began to retreat, but two of the men were +now behind him. He began to shout for Jugoro[u]. The latter came up at a +run--"Honoured Sirs! This is the Banto[u] San of the Shimaya of Honjo[u] +Itcho[u]me. He is collecting the house bills. Deign not to disturb +him."--"Shut up!" was the reply of the leader. "Another fellow of the +same kidney. Look to him." Roughly he thrust his hand into Zensuké's +bosom and began to hustle and fumble the clerk. When Jugoro[u] would +interfere the two other men prevented him. With fright he saw the money +belt of the _banto[u]_ dangling from the man's hand. The nature of the +affair was plain. "Heigh! Jokes don't go, honoured sirs. We are not +suspicious fellows. Condescend to pardon us." As he spoke he took +advantage of the negligence of his opponents, their interest in the +struggle of Zensuké and their leader, to wrench himself free. At once +his sword was out. Jugoro[u] was of no mean skill. None of his wardsmen +could face him. One man received severe wounds in scalp and face. The +other lost part of his hand. But Jugoro[u] was no match for the odds of +two trained soldiers. He was soon cut down. Meanwhile Zensuké was +shouting lustily for aid. At this period there was a guard called the +_tsujiban_ (cross-roads watch). It was mostly composed of oldish men not +fit for active service. Such regulations as there were they observed. +These were very severe; but, as with the present day police, kept them +to their post. They rarely troubled themselves to patrol their district. +From these men there could be little hope of aid. Just then, however, +the train of some lord came in sight. With one hand the leader held +Zensuké by the bosom of his robe. The hand holding the money belt was +already thrust in his own bosom. In a moment it would be free. Then +Zensuké would go in company with Jugoro[u] to the Yellow Fountain (in +Hell). His captor gave a startled cry. "The train of Geishu[u] Sama! +Lose no time!" As he wrenched himself away Zensuké sank his teeth deep +into the man's hand. With a howl of pain the fellow made off, exchanging +a little finger for the three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_ in +Zensuké's _do[u]maki_. + +The _banto[u]_ crouched in conventional attitude by the roadside. His +distress was plain; the prostrate body of a man evidence of some unusual +condition. A _samurai_ left the passing train and came up to +investigate. "Ah! Robbery and murder: follow behind to the _tsujiban_. +It is their affair." With moans and groans Zensuké made his report. He +was indignant at the luxury of these watchmen, toasting at their fire. +They noted it; looked at each other and out into the snowy night, and +laughed with contempt. For a tradesman's money belt were they to disturb +themselves? They questioned him harshly, in such way as to excuse any +further effort on their part. Surely the thieves by this time were at +the other end of Edo. Two of them, however, did accompany Zensuké to the +scene of the hold-up. Casting an eye over Jugoro[u]'s mangled corpse, +said one--"A good fight: the occasion has been missed. As perhaps the +criminal this man is to be bound. Probably his intent was to run away +with the master's funds." Roughly they seized him, hustled him back to +the guardhouse. Trussed up Zensuké had to spend the hours in alarm and +fear. Luckily the _kenshi_ soon appeared. It was the _o[u]misoka_. No +official business would be performed during the three days following. +Jugoro[u] could hardly exercise patience and remain as he was for that +space of time. So the examination was duly held. The Shimaya soon +secured the body of Jugoro[u] and the release of Zensuké. The latter's +evidence was put on record; none too satisfactory, as the concealing +_zukin_ prevented any recognition or description of the features of the +assailants. He only knew of the cries of impatience at wounds received, +and knew that he had left his mark on his own opponent. How then were +they to be run down? The _kenshi_ showed some impatience. Said he to the +captain of the _tsujiban_--"Why truss up this man, even though a +tradesman? He has all his own fingers, and the corpse lacks none." He +touched the severed finger with his baton. With this all were dismissed, +and to all seeming the affair was forgotten. + +The Tokugawa had their plain-clothes police. One of the most noted was +Magomé Yaémon of Hacho[u]bori. His great grandfather had captured +Marubashi Chuya, of note in the rebellion of Yui Shosetsu at the time of +the fourth Shogun Iyetsuna Ko[u]. One day this Magomé Dono, in company +with a _yakunin_ (constable) named Kuma, was rummaging the poorer +districts of Shitaya Hiroko[u]ji. The two men were disguised as charcoal +burners, and attracted little attention. All the legitimate profession +in the way of medicine and pharmacy had been ransacked by the magistrate +(_machibugyo[u]_) of the south district. Yaémon felt sure that there +were still some by-ways. "Who's that fellow?" he asked Kuma. The +constable laughed. "He's a _sunékiri_ (shin-cutter). The rascals can be +told by their tough dark blue cotton socks, the coarse straw sandals, +and the banded leggings. Deign to note the long staff he carries. They +peddle plasters--shin plasters, guaranteed to cure any wound, to stop +any flow of blood. A man's arm hangs but by a strip of skin; the blood +flows in torrents. Apply the plaster and the flow ceases at once, the +arm heals. They drive a roaring trade, even among the _bushi_ +(_samurai_); selling a shell here, two there. As for their real +usefulness...." He laughed.[12] They followed after the man and soon +came to a guard house. Said Magomé San--"Detain that man yonder. He is +to be examined." The ward officer was a little surprised--"Respectfully +heard and understood. It is old Yamabayashi Yo[u]gen." Soon the man +entered the guard house. Said the official drily--"Magomé Dono is here +to talk with Yo[u]gen. What has he been up to?" But the old fellow was +confident. "Thanks are felt." With the ease of the righteous and +prosperous he passed into the presence of Yaémon. The latter greeted him +with a non-official genial smile. "Ah! This is Yamabayashi Yo[u]gen, the +head of the _Sunékiri_. And business?"--"Truly this Yo[u]gen is +grateful. Man was born with teeth. Men and women still seek each other's +company. So long as such endures Yo[u]gen finds profit."--"And +plasters?"--"They are the affair of To[u]kichi. Would his worship deign +to examine him ... condescend dismissal. At once he presents himself." + +Thus in short order the straight haired, unshaven, low browed +To[u]kichi stuck his head into the Sanbashi guard house. "Deign to +pardon this To[u]kichi. The honoured benevolence...." The ward officer +eyed him knowingly and quizzically. "Shut up! Magomé Dono has questions +to ask about clients. Wait until the questions deal with the doings of +To[u]kichi. That will be well. Then it will be time enough to lie. +Meanwhile, be sure and tell the truth." With this disinterested advice +To[u]kichi was passed to the presence. Once more conscience spoke louder +than caution. "The honoured benevolence, the honoured pity; condescend +the honoured examination into the innocence of To[u]kichi." Yaémon +laughed. "Fortunately it is not a matter of To[u]kichi, but of his +plasters. Who bought these at this year's Sho[u]gwatsu (New Year)? Be +careful in answer. The case is a bad one." To[u]kichi considered. "The +first day of the New Year a man came. His purchase of salve was large. +In the course of the past three months he has been many times to buy. +His visits now are wider spaced, and he praises the goods--as he ought. +No hand ever had a worse poisoned wound. He...."--"Age and appearance?" +interrupted Yaémon, now all attention. He had struck a trail. "Perhaps +fifty years; fair of complexion, tall, and stout. By his lordly manner +he must at least be a _go-kenin_, or a charlatan." Who was this man? +Yaémon felt sure that he was about to learn something of interest. Kuma +was given his instructions. "Go daily to the shop of this man and +receive his report. As to the _samurai_ in question be circumspect. +Evidently he is no ordinary person. A _samurai_ is to be summoned, not +disgraced by arrest--if he is a _samurai_." So Kuma with several aides +established himself in the rear of To[u]kichi's shop. The man not having +put in an appearance for several weeks, the wait, if uncertain, was soon +rewarded. On the 25th day of the 3rd month (May) he presented himself. +Kuma recognized him at once by the description; sooner than To[u]kichi, +who was engaged in filling his little shells with the marvellous salve. +The officer's decision was prompt. At a call To[u]kichi turned from his +drugs. "Ah! the honoured Sir. And the arm, does it honourably +progress?"--"Progress could not be better. This is probably the last +visit." In replying the man eyed To[u]kichi with some astonishment. The +latter made his bows, first to the newcomer, then to the indefinite rear +of the establishment. "Indeed the drug is all that is claimed for it. +The wound being poisoned, at one time it looked as if the hand, nay arm, +must go. These House doctors are notoriously good for nothing. Just as +nothing can surpass your product, good leech. Here is money for two +shells of its virtues." He held out a silver _bu_.[13] Busied with his +preparations To[u]kichi looked in vain toward the rear apartment. After +as long delay as he could contrive he passed the shells and a heap of +copper change over to the customer. As soon as the latter had left the +shop To[u]kichi bolted for the rear. Kuma was gone. His aides were +calmly smoking their pipes and drinking the poor tea (_bancha_) of +To[u]kichi. + +Kuma had little trouble in following his man to Okachimachi in Shitaya. +He found near by a shop for the sale of everything, from tobacco to +_daikon_ (radish), both odoriferous, yet lacking perfume. Said Kuma--"A +question or so: this tall _samurai_, an oldish man, who lives close by; +who is he?" The woman in charge hesitated. Then dislike overcame +discretion. "Ah! With the hand wrapped in a bandage; his name is Sakurai +Kichiro[u] Tayu. Truly he is a bad man. That he should quarrel with his +own class is no great matter. Maimed as he is, thrice report has been +made to the guard house, but in each case he has escaped further +process. He is a dreadful fellow; one who never pays a debt, yet to whom +it is dangerous to refuse credit. Already nearly a _ryo[u]_ is due to +this Echigoya. It has been the bad luck to support him and his family +during the past six months." Said Kuma--"Thus maimed, to hold his own in +quarrels he must be a notable fencer as well as brawler. Was the wound +so received?"--"Iya! That is not known. Some quarrel at the New Year's +festivities probably was the cause. Before that time he was sound +enough." She laughed. "He has two friends; Kahei San and Miemon San. +They are birds of a feather; and all partly plucked. Perhaps they +quarrelled in company, but if so have made it up. Sakurai San is a match +for the two others." She looked at Kuma, to see if he had more to say. +Indifferent he picked out a strand of tobacco. "He shouldered this +Go[u]bei into the ditch close by here. Fortunate is it to have escaped +worse injury." Satisfied with his inquiries he took his way in haste to +his master. The eyes of Yaémon and his aid shone with enjoyment. Surely +they had the men of the Shiba Kirido[u]shi. + +Magomé Yaémon at once sought out the _machibugyo[u]'s_ office. His +lordship heard the report. "Different disorders require different +treatment. Of two of these men this Gemba knows something. The other man +is hard to place, and evidently not so easy to deal with." Two +_do[u]shin_ and _yakunin_ were sent at once to the addresses indicated. +To capture Nakagawa Miemon and Imai Kahei was an easy task. The +_do[u]shin_ and _yakunin_ sent to the house of Sakurai formed a band of +twenty men. The house surrounded, without ceremony the officer and an +aid entered. "On the lord's mission: Sakurai San is wanted at the office +of Matsuda Dono. If resistance be made it will be necessary to use the +rope. Pray accompany me." Sakurai Kichiro[u] divined the object of the +arrest. "The affair at the Kirido[u]shi has been scented out. The manner +of that rascally drug seller was strange to-day." The officer had +planted himself right before the sword rack. Sakurai could neither kill +anybody, nor cut belly. He turned to his wife. "There is a matter on +hand to be explained. Absence will probably be prolonged. Already the +day is far advanced.... Ah! Is it Kichitaro[u]?" A boy of seven years +had rushed into the room. "Pretty fellow!... Honoured Sir, be patient. +The separation is no short one. No resistance is made. We go the same +road.... Taro[u]; rude fellow! Salute the gentleman." The boy obeyed, +with grave ceremony and a hostility which divined an unpleasant mission. +"Your father leaves you. It is now the time to obey the mother in all +she says. Remember well, or the end will be a bad one." Wife and child +clung to him, frightened and now weeping. It was an arrest; their +mainstay was being taken from them. In the last caresses he had time to +bend down and whisper to O'Ren--"In the toilet box is a scroll sealed +up. All is there explained. Read and destroy it. In later days at +discretion let our son know." Roughly he pushed woman and boy aside. +With rapid stride he reached the entrance. The _yakunin_ confronted him. +He laughed and waved a hand. "There is no resistance. We go the same +road." The _do[u]shin_ permitted the laxity of discipline. He had his +orders. + +Meanwhile the examination of the other two men was in progress at the +office of the _machibugyo[u]_. As the biggest fool of the two, Nakagawa +Miemon was the first summoned to the presence of Matsuda Dono. Said the +Judge[14]--"Nakagawa Uji, there is a slight inquiry to make. How were +those scars on the face come by? These are marks of wounds not long +since received. Consider well and remember." The tone of menace +staggered Miemon. He had anticipated some rebuke for slight infraction +of the peace, not unusual with these men. "Naruhodo! Has the Shiba +Kirido[u]shi matter cropped up?" He hesitated--"The story is a long one, +and a foolish one. To weary the honoured ears...." Matsuda Gemba caught +him up with impatient gesture. "Answer the question, and truly. Nakagawa +Miemon is noted neither for judgment nor sobriety." The man caught up +the last phrase as a cue. Eagerly he spoke, the doors of the jail +opening wide for exit--"So it is indeed. Wine never benefited man; much +less a _samurai_. Hence, with Kahei and Sakurai Uji, it was decided to +forswear wine forever. It was determined to make a pilgrimage to Kompira +San. There the vow of abstinence was to be taken; on its holy ground. +All went well. We met at Nihonbashi. Alas! At the Kyo[u]bashi the +perfume of a grog shop reached our noses. The vow had not yet been +taken. The ground was not holy. Just one last drink before setting out. +But the Buddha was unfavourable. Once begun, the drinking was adjourned +to a cook shop. There the bout continued all day. Wine lent us the wings +of _tengu_. We travelled the road to Kompira San in a dream. In the +progress Kahei and this Miemon quarrelled. Swords were drawn, and we cut +each other. These wounds on head and face were the portion of this +Miemon. Kahei had his hand nearly severed. Sakurai San, who was asleep, +aroused by the noise, sprang up to part us. He is a man to be feared; +but in my rage I sank my teeth in his hand. The bite of man or beast is +poison. His wound was worse than that of either of us." + +Gemba Dono was in conversation with his chamberlain. He let Miemon talk +away. He was not one to say too little. As barely having listened he +asked--"When was this fight? The day of the vow and journey to Kompira? +Truly the result has been the vengeance of offended deity."--"The +twelfth month tenth day," naturally replied Miemon. Gemba forced him to +repeat the answer. Several times he put the query in different forms. +Miemon, fool that he was, stuck to the date. Then said the +magistrate--"Miemon, you are a liar. Moreover, you are a murderer. On +the 13th day, on going up to the castle, this Gemba had converse with +your lord. At that time Nakagawa Miemon was summoned to carry out a +mission. As a man of whom report had been made you were noted well. At +that time you had no wound.... Tie him up, and take him away." The +_yakunin_ fell on him from all sides. In a trice he was trussed up and +removed. + +Then appeared Imai Kahei. Kahei was cunning, but also a coward. To the +questions of the _machibugyo[u]_ he procrastinated in his answers, +confused them all he could. What had Miemon said? "He spoke of the +eloquence of Imai San; of Kahei Uji as the clever man, the one to tell +the tale properly. Now let us have the true statement of the case." Such +was Gemba's reply. It was flattering. Unable to help himself Kahei set +sail on his sea of lies. "We all like wine...."--"Ah! After all you are +agreed." Gemba smiled pleasantly. Kahei took courage--"But wine costs +money. Together we went to Kuraya Jibei, a money-lender living at +Kuramae no Saka, as is well known." Gemba nodded assent. "Of him two +_ryo[u]_ were borrowed, on agreement to repay ten _ryo[u]_ as interest +within a month. The nearest grog shop was sought, and it was the hour of +the rat (11 P.M.) before the return was started. At the Teobashi a band +of drunkards was encountered. Without cause these men forced a quarrel +on us. Thus was the hand of Kahei nearly severed. This is the +truth."--"And what was the date of this money bond?" Imai hesitated. He +had caught a glimpse of the drug seller To[u]kichi on being brought into +the place. Without doubt the Kirido[u]shi affair was in question. He +must antedate his wound. "Kahei does not remember with certainty. +Perhaps it was the seventeenth day; before the Kwannon festival of the +eighteenth day." He mumbled, and was frightened. Said Gemba +sharply--"Speak distinctly; the seventeenth day?"--"Hei! Hei! Some time +in the last decade of the month; the nineteenth or twentieth day--not +later; not later." Matsuda Gemba almost leaped at him. "Oh, you liar! On +the last day of the year you came, in person, to this Gemba to +anticipate the New Year's gift (_sebo_). At that time you had no wound. +Yet the drug seller sees you next day with maimed hand. It was not at +Teobashi, but at Shiba Kirido[u]shi, that the wound was received.... Tie +him up, and away with him." The _yakunin_ came forward. Imai made a +spasmodic attempt to rise. They threw him down, and in a moment he was +keeping company with Nakagawa Miemon. + +Gemba Dono braced himself for the more serious task. So did his +_yakunin_. A glance showed the magistrate that he had mistaken his man. +Sakurai Kichiro[u] came forward with calm and dignity. Making his +ceremonial salutation to the judge he came at once to the point. "What +lies Miemon and Kahei have told, this Kichiro[u] knows not. The fact is +that we three plotted together to rob the fatly supplied purses of the +_banto[u]_ making their rounds in settlement of accounts at the close of +the year. Hence the _banto[u]_ of the Shimaya, Zensuké, lost his money +belt, and a man of the same stamp, one Jugoro[u], was killed. All three +of us are guilty of the murder...." As he would proceed Gemba held up +his hand. "Bring in the other two men. Continue, Kichiro[u]." Said +Sakurai--"Miemon was badly cut about the head and face. Kahei nearly +lost his hand. This Kichiro[u] would have killed the clerk, but the +procession of Geishu[u] Sama came in sight, and recognition was feared. +Of the three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_ secured...." The eyes of +Nakagawa and Imai stood out. Aghast they had followed the confession of +Sakurai Kichiro[u], with full intention to deny its truth. Now they were +in a fury. "What! Three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_! And we had but +ten _ryo[u]_ apiece. You jest, Sakurai Uji.... Oh! The low fellow! The +villain! A very beast! A swine!" + +Gemba Dono could ask for nothing more. With smiling face and courtesy +he turned to Sakurai Kichiro[u]. "Why did Kichiro[u] take the three +hundred _ryo[u]_, giving to these fellows such a paltry sum?" Answered +Kichiro[u]--"As deserving no more. They are paltry fellows; little +better than common soldiers (_ashigaru_). But there is more to tell, now +the end is reached. The true name of Sakurai Kichiro[u] is Takahashi +Daihachiro[u], at one time a retainer of Matsudaira Aki no Kami. Pressed +by the money lender Jusuké, I killed him and had the body disposed of by +one Densuké, the cook at the soldiers' quarters of the _yashiki_. This +was in Tenwa 3rd year 5th month (June 1683). Fleeing to avoid arrest the +occupation of writing teacher was taken up at Yu[u]ki in Shimosa. +Densuké, too, had fled, and hither he came as a wandering beggar. +Fearing his tongue I killed him; and mutilating the corpse, threw it +into the castle moat close by. A beggar found dead, no inquiry was +made."--"When did this take place?" asked Gemba. "Just one year +later--Jo[u]kyo[u] 1st year 5th month." He made a little movement. +Nakagawa and Imai broke out into protest at the completeness of this +confession, but Sakurai turned fiercely on them. "Shut up! To undergo +public trial would bring shame on all _kerai_ throughout the land; would +cause people to fear our caste. We three planned the deed and secured +the money." He put his arms behind his back. The _yakunin_, stepping +softly, roped him up almost with respect. A wave of Gemba's hand and the +guilty men were removed. Unable to help themselves, Nakagawa and Imai +made confession to avoid the torture in what was now a hopeless case. +Later the sentences of condemnation were issued. Degraded from their +status the three men were taken to the execution ground of Shinagawa, +and there decapitated. + +The wife of Takahashi Daihachiro[u] did not wait these proceedings. +The confession of her husband was in her hands before he himself told +everything to Matsuda Gemba. Before night she had decamped with her son. +At eight years of age Kichitaro[u] was placed as disciple (_deshi_) at +the Jo[u]shinji of Fukagawa. Receiving the name of Myo[u]shin he became +the favourite of the rector (_ju[u]shoku_) of the temple. The mother now +became reduced to the greatest penury. For a time she was bawd in the +Honjo[u] Warigesui district. Subsequently she was promoted to the +position of favourite sultana (wife) of her master Toémon, local head of +his profession. Her name now was O'Matsu. When Myo[u]shin was thirteen +years old in some way he was told that she was dead. Henceforth he had +no stay in the world but the worthy priest, who became a second and +better father to him. This treatment found its usual and virtuous +reward. At eighteen years, now a priest and learned in priestly ways, he +took to himself the contents of the temple strong box. Fifty _ryo[u]_ +soon disappeared in the company of the harlots of Fukagawa Yagura-Shita. +A prolonged absence of Myo[u]shin aroused the inquiries of the other +monks, and the eyes of the rector were soon opened as to his unworthy +proselyte, the blighted issue of a miserable stock.[15] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER (NAKO[U]DO) + + +The presence of O'Iwa created an upheaval in the Samoncho[u] household. +The wet nurse required brought with her a train of servants. With the +child's growth this was maintained, even increased. The young lady +(Ojo[u]san) found herself graduated into one with a _status_ to +maintain. All the niggardly habits of Matazaémon were thrown to the +winds with the advent of this grandchild. The affection never shown +outwardly to the mother, was lavished on her daughter. At seven years of +age O'Iwa underwent the common enough infliction of smallpox. It showed +itself on the anniversary day of O'Mino's death, and the child's +sickness afforded but mutilated rites for the memorial service of the +mother. Matazaémon would have abandoned all his duties, himself to nurse +the child. O'Naka loved O'Iwa for self and daughter. She had sense +enough to drive the old man into a corner of the room, then out of it; +and further expostulations sent him to his duties. Who, in those iron +days, would accept such excuse for absence? The child worried through, +not unscathed. Her grandmother's qualifications as nurse have been +mentioned. O'Iwa was a plain girl. She had the flat plate-like face of +her mother. The eyes were small, disappearing behind the swollen +eyelids, the hair was scanty, the disease added its black pock marks +which stood thick and conspicuous on a fair skin. Otherwise she was +spared by its ravages, except-- + +Whatever her looks O'Iwa compensated for all by her disposition. She +had one of those balanced even temperaments, with clear judgment, added +to a rare amiability. Moreover she possessed all the accomplishments and +discipline of a lady. At eleven years Matazaémon unwillingly had sought +and found a place for her in attendance on her ladyship of the great +Hosokawa House. O'Iwa's absence made no difference in his household. The +train of servants was maintained, to be disciplined for her return, to +be ready on this return. Perhaps it was a pleasing fiction to the fond +mind of the aging man that she would return, soon, to-morrow. O'Naka +acquiesced in the useless expense and change in her habits. She always +acquiesced; yet her own idea would have been to make a good housekeeper +of O'Iwa--like herself, to sew, cook, wash, clean--a second O'Mino. She +could not understand the new turn of Matazaémon's mind. As for O'Iwa, +she grew to girlhood in the Hosokawa House, learned all the +accomplishments of her own house and what the larger scale of her new +position could teach her; everything in the way of etiquette and the +polite arts, as well as the plainer tasks of housekeeping, she was +likely ever to be called on to perform. The plain child grew into the +plain woman; perhaps fortunately for her. The _okugata_ (her ladyship) +was a jealous woman. Her spouse was mad on women. Every nubile maid +(_koshimoto_) in the _yashiki_ was a candidate for concubinage. His wife +countered by as hideous a collection of females as her own House and her +lord's retainers could furnish. O'Iwa attracted from the first by her +lack of all physical attraction. His lordship tried to get used to her +with the passage of years--and failed. He could not stomach the +necessary advances. But the girl's admirable temper and even judgment +secured the esteem of all. These latter qualities captivated the whole +household. It was O'Iwa who performed all duties for her ladyship, took +them in charge as her substitute. For the first time in his life Oki no +Kami found something in a woman apart from her sex. When the time came +for O'Iwa to depart, the regret of lord and lady was substantially +expressed in their gifts. But his lordship had to admit failure. Not a +retainer could be found willing to take the daughter of Tamiya as wife. +So far O'Iwa's mission at the _yashiki_ had failed. O'Naka knew this. +Matazaémon never gave it thought; so glad he was to get her back. He +received the honoured words and presents with humble and delighted +thanks. O'Iwa reentered her home, a recovered jewel. She was the +Ojo[u]san, the lady daughter. A first step of hers was gradually to get +rid of a good part of the superfluous train. O'Iwa was a very practical +girl. + +Matazaémon was now old and ill. He was nearing his seventieth year. The +one idea in his head was the _muko_, the son to be adopted as husband of +the heir of the House; the mate to be secured for O'Iwa, and the +posterity to be secured for his House. As a little girl O'Iwa had been +much courted--in fun. Watanabé Juzo[u], Natsumé Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi +Jinzaémon, many others the growing "sparks" of Samoncho[u] and +roundabout, could not forbear this amusement with the little +"_Bakémono_" (apparition). Of their ill intent O'Iwa knew nothing. +Indeed a short experience with O'Iwa disarmed derision. Most of the +unseemly lovers came genuinely to like the girl, unless inherent malice +and ugliness of disposition, as with Natsumé and Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, +made their sport more than mere pastime. But as grown men they could not +face the results of the final step, and no parent was harsh enough to +graft his unwilling stock on O'Iwa's persimmon trees. The girl was +clever enough to know this. It was Ho[u]ei 6th year (1709) and she was +now twenty-six years old. It was indirectly at her suggestion that +Matazaémon sought the aid of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. This man lived just +behind the large inclosure of the Sainenji, on the hill slope which dips +steeply down to the Samégabashi. The relationship was very distant at +best; but with nearer relatives in general, and with Yoémon his brother +in particular, the master of Tamiya had deadly feud. To them he would +not turn to find a husband for O'Iwa. + +Thus it happened that one day in the seventh month (August) +Rokuro[u]bei was awaiting the appearance of Yamada Cho[u]bei. He really +knew little about the man, but Cho[u]bei at one time had been resident +in the ward. He had undergone vicissitudes, and now was a dealer in +metals and a kind of broker in everything under the sign of Musashiya. +He had a wide acquaintance over Edo in his different businesses, and was +the easy and slip-shod means by which Rokuro[u]bei would avoid the more +arduous part of the task laid on him by Matazaémon. Cho[u]bei was not +long in putting in an appearance. All affairs were gifts of the gods to +a man who lived on wind. Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--Windmill Cho[u]bei--he +was called. His flittings were so noiseless and erratic, just like the +little paper windmills made for children, that the nickname applied +exactly fitted him. The maid in announcing him showed no particular +politeness. "Wait here a moment.... Danna Sama (master), Cho[u]bei San, +the metal dealer, requests an interview."--"Ah! Pass him here at +once.... Is it Cho[u]bei? Please sit down." Cho[u]bei had followed +almost on the girl's footsteps. She drew aside to make room for him, +then flirted out in haste. Poverty and dislike had no influence in +Yotsuya in those days. She seemed to scent the man. + +Cho[u]bei looked with envy at the comfortable Rokuro[u]bei. The day was +hot. The thin _kimono_ fallen about his loins, the latter's garb was a +pair of drawers and a thin shirt. He sat looking out on the garden, with +its shade of large trees, its shrubbery and rock work. Everything was +dripping with the water industriously splashed to this side and to that +by the serving man. The tea was brought and Kondo[u] at last remembered +that he had a guest. As he turned--"It is a long time since a visit has +been paid. Deign to pardon the intrusion." Cho[u]bei sighed in making +this remark. The irony was lost on his fat host. As Rokuro[u]bei seemed +unwilling, or hardly to know how to impart the subject concerning which +he had summoned him, Cho[u]bei continued--"And the honoured health, is +it good? The honoured business, is it on some matter of moment that +Cho[u]bei is summoned?" Rokuro[u]bei woke up under the direct question. +He, too, sighed. Cho[u]bei was noted for a greed which inspired fear. +For money he would do anything. "Blindman Cho[u]bei" had been his +nickname of old days in the ward. Kondo[u] remembered this. He liked +money, too. It brought in so much comfort. He hated to part with +comfort. It was to be a question between himself and Cho[u]bei how much +of his hard-earned commission was to be parted with. This last thought +completely aroused him. "It is a matter of securing a _muko_. This +Rokuro[u]bei is the one charged with the task. As a son-in-law outside +the ward is desired, no one has wider circulation and better +opportunities than Cho[u]bei San. Hence the desire for a consultation." +Cho[u]bei whistled inwardly. Outside the ward! What was wrong with the +case. Here was coin to be turned up by the circumspect. "Surely there +are young fellows enough in Samoncho[u], fit to be _muko_. Of course +with impediments...."--"It is the daughter of Tamiya; O'Iwa San. +Matazaémon Dono has commissioned this Rokuro[u]bei to secure a _muko_." +Cho[u]bei whistled outwardly. "For O'Iwa San!..."--"She is no beauty, as +Cho[u]bei evidently knows. Wealth compensates for other deficiencies. At +all events his aid is desired."--"For how much?" Cho[u]bei spoke +bluntly. If Rokuro[u]bei had forgotten Cho[u]bei, Cho[u]bei had not +forgotten Rokuro[u]bei. He went on--"To get a price for damaged goods is +no sinecure. Fortunately she is only out of repair on the surface.... +Say ten _ryo[u]_?" Kondo[u] laughed scornfully--"And they call Cho[u]bei +'the Blind-man'! Rather is it vision magnified. The entertainment should +be the reward; with what Cho[u]bei collects from the happy bridegroom." +Cho[u]bei replied gravely--"With such a wealthy connection the future of +Kondo[u] Dono is to be envied. Cho[u]bei has to realize his future at +once. Not a _ryo[u]_ less can he afford." Plainly he was in earnest, as +was the long conversation which followed. Finally Cho[u]bei emerged with +partial success, and half the sum named as stipend for his labours. + +He began them at once. The next day he was at the metal market in +Kanda. In course of chaffering over wares he never bought--"You fellows +always have some _ro[u]nin_ in train; a fine, handsome fellow for whom a +wife is needed. Application is made. Jinzaémon, you have a +candidate."--"Not for the kind of wife Cho[u]bei San provides." Those +present laughed loudly at the sally. Cho[u]bei did not wink. He +explained. "No bad provision is this one. Rich, with an income of thirty +_tawara_, a fine property in reversion, and but twenty-five years old. +The man therefore must be fit to pose as a _samurai_; able to read and +write, to perform official duty, he must be neither a boy nor a man so +old as to be incapable. Come now! Does no one come forward? _Ro[u]nin_ +are to be had. A _ryo[u]_ for aid to this Cho[u]bei."--"Too cheap as an +offer," was Jinzaémon's retort. "A _ro[u]nin_ is one to be handled with +care. Those favoured with acquaintance of the honoured _bushi_ often +part with life and company at the same date. Those without lords are +equally testy as those in quarters." He spoke with the bluntness of the +true Edokko, the peculiar product of the capital; men who were neither +farmers nor provincials, but true descendants of the men of the guild of +Bandzuin Cho[u]bei. He jested, but the subject interested the crowd. +Said one--"Does Cho[u]bei San get the _ryo[u]_ out of groom or bride? +She is a bold wench, unmarried at that age; and none too chaste eh, +Cho[u]bei San? She will provide the husband with wife and child to hand, +or in the making. Or, are matters the other way? Has she been tried and +found wanting? Is she impotent, or deformed; or is Cho[u]bei making +fools of us?" Answered Cho[u]bei slowly--"No; she is a little ugly. The +face round and flat, shining, with black pock marks, making it look like +speckled pumice, rouses suspicion of leprosy. This, however, is not the +case. At all events she is a woman." All were now roaring with +laughter--"A very beauty indeed! Just the one for Cho[u]bei's trade! Too +honied was his speech. He would market anything. But in this market it +is a matter of hard cash; without credit. This is a bit of goods too +wilted. Even Cho[u]bei cannot sell it."--"You lie!" said Cho[u]bei in a +towering passion. "At the first hint of ill-fortune threatening wine +supply or pleasure, there is not one of you who would not turn to +Cho[u]bei to find the money needed. Sisters, daughters, wives, aunts ... +mothers are for sale." He was choking with rage. "Sell her? Cho[u]bei +can and will." Angered by the final item on his family list, a man +nearby gave him a sharp poke in the back. Others voiced resentment, +perhaps would have given it material form. The canal was spoken of. +Cho[u]bei took the hint. He did not wait for a ducking. At a sharp pace +he trotted off toward his tenement at Asakusa Hanagawado[u]. For a while +he would avoid the metal market. He regretted his display of temper. It +was in the necessities of other trades that he found the material of his +own, and flourished. + +In plain terms Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was a pimp for the Yoshiwara and +kindred quarters. His other occupations were mere channels accessory to +this main business. Hence his seasons of increase and decline. Just now +he was in a period of decline. His eagerness in this Tamiya affair was +sharpened. Pushing his way through the Kuramae of Asakusa suddenly a +hopeful light came into his eye. Abruptly he made his way to the side of +the roadway. Here boarding covered the ditch, removing the occupant of a +booth erected thereon, and would-be clients, from the passing stream of +humanity. There was a table in the booth, and on it were several books, +a vessel containing water, brushes (_fudé_), scrolls for writing, and a +box containing divining sticks. It was the stand of a strolling +fortune-teller. At the time the occupant was engaged in gathering +together his professional apparatus, with the evident purpose to decamp. +Cho[u]bei did not delay in accosting him. "Ah! The Sensei;[16] Kazuma +Uji finds the day too hot to pry into the future. Does the Sensei leave +his clients to their fate, or have the clients abandoned the Sensei? +Deign to come along with Cho[u]bei. Perhaps he, too, can tell fortunes. +At all events the wife has been forewarned; the bath is ready. It will +put life into both of us." The young man laughed and hastened his +operations, nodding assent--"Thanks are felt, Cho[u]bei San. Indeed this +Kazuma has but to continue the art of prophecy if he would foretell his +own fate. No one will buy the future when money is so needed for the +present. Besides this is a pleasure ground. Men have no hankering to +learn of possible worse luck than being here. All the fools have +died--except their prophet." He shouldered his scanty apparatus, and +with rapid stride the two men pushed their way up the crowded street +toward the great gate of the temple. In his haste Cho[u]bei yet had time +to eye, from time to time, his companion, always gaining encouragement +from the palpable seediness made more plain by a handsome person. The +two were neighbours in a house-row (_nagaya_) of the Hanagawado[u], that +poverty-stricken district along the river close to the great amusement +ground, and furnishing those who perform its baser tasks. On arrival +Cho[u]bei called out--"O'Taki! O'Taki! The bath, is it ready? The +Sensei, Kazuma San, honours us with his company. Make all ready for his +reception.... Sensei, condescend to enter; please come up." + +Yanagibara Kazuma dropped his clogs in the vestibule. As he entered the +room--"Pray pardon the intrusion. This Kazuma feels much in the way. He +is continually putting his neighbours of the _nagaya_ to inconvenience; +too great the kindness of Cho[u]bei San and wife." O'Taki laughed +deprecatingly. Truly this was a handsome young man. In this 6th year of +Ho[u]ei (1709) Yanagibara Kazuma was twenty-one years of age. O'Taki was +thirty odd. She appreciated masculine beauty all the more. Cho[u]bei +grunted from heat and the merest trace of discomfiture. He had his +limit, even in his business. Quickly he shook off his _kimono_, and fan +in hand squatted in his loin cloth. "Ah! 'Tis hot beyond endurance. +Business is bad--from Yoshiwara to Yotsuya." O'Taki looked up at the +last word. He continued--"The Sensei takes precedence. Kazuma Uji, deign +to enter the bath. All is ready?" His wife nodded assent. Kazuma +followed the example of Cho[u]bei. In a trice he was naked as his mother +bore him. Cho[u]bei burst out into phrases of admiration--"What a +splendid fellow! Ah! Waste of material! If a woman Kazuma San would be a +fortune to himself and to Cho[u]bei.... Taki, note the skin of the +Sensei. It has the texture of the finest paper. How regrettable!" He +drew back for the better inspection of the sum total of his subject's +charms. O'Taki drew closer for the same purpose. Cho[u]bei sighed--"It +is plain enough that Kazuma San is not a woman. An error of Nature! +Somehow the age at which a woman becomes of use, is that at which a boy +becomes a mere burden. He is fit for nothing but to be a +story-teller.... And you, Taki, what are you about?" The lady of his +affections was far advanced in the process of disrobing. She protested. +"Does not the Sensei need aid in the bath? How cleanse the back, the +shoulders. This Taki would aid him."--"Immodest wench!" bellowed +Cho[u]bei. "The Sensei needs no such aid. Why! You ... Taki ... one +would take you for a charcoal ball (_tadon_), so dark your skin. Nay! +For two of them, for a cluster piled in a box, so round the buttocks and +belly. The Sensei wants no aid from such an ugly jade. This Cho[u]bei +can do what is needed; with as much skill and better purpose than a +woman." Kazuma modestly interposed in this incipient quarrel between +husband and wife. "Nay, the matter is of no importance. Kazuma is +grateful for such kindness, but aid is not needed. His arm is long." He +held it out, almost simian in proportion and slenderness, the one +proportional defect of this handsome body. The quarrel of Cho[u]bei and +O'Taki lapsed before his pleasant smile. + +Seated over tea said Cho[u]bei--"This Cho[u]bei, too, has claimed to be +a diviner. Don't deny it. The Sensei at one time has been a priest." +Kazuma looked at him with surprise, even misgiving. Explained +Cho[u]bei--"The manner in which the Sensei takes up the cup betrays him; +in both hands, with a little waving of the vessel and shake of the head. +The rust of the priest's garb clings close." Said Kazuma--"Cho[u]bei San +is a clever fellow. It is true. At one time I was priest."--"Whereabouts?" +asked Cho[u]bei. "At the Reigan of Fukagawa," replied the prophet--"Ah! +Reiganji; and later would return to the life of a _samurai_. Such pose and +manner possessed by the Sensei are only gained in good company. He would +reassume the status. This Cho[u]bei was not always as he is. Wine, women, +gambling, have brought him to pimping. The buying of _geisha_ and +_joro[u]_ cost the more as they imply the other two vices. Wife, status, +fortune; all are gone. Such has been Cho[u]bei's fate."--"Not the only +case of the kind," grumbled his partner in concubinage. "And the wife, +what has become of her?"--"None of Taki's affair, as she is no longer an +issue. Would the jade be jealous?" He glowered at her. "But Kazuma San, +this Cho[u]bei is not only diviner, to tell fortunes. He can make them." +Kazuma laughed. "Don't joke. Cho[u]bei San's line of business has already +cost this Kazuma fortune and position."--"To secure a better one. Kazuma +San is a _ro[u]nin_ (without lord), a man of education, and of fine +appearance. He is just the one to become a _muko_."--"In some tradesman's +family?" The _samurai_ spoke with disdain. Said Cho[u]bei eagerly--"No: +Cho[u]bei prophesied the return of Kazuma Uji to his own caste."--"At what +cost?" said Kazuma coolly. "The honour of a _samurai_ cannot stand open +taint. Kazuma has no desire to cut belly at too early a date, to save the +situation for others. Has the woman erred, and is the father's sword +dulled?"--"It is no such case," answered Cho[u]bei. "The parents, rather +grandparents, are fools in pride. The girl is twenty-five years old, rich, +and, one must admit, not too good looking. It is by a mere chance, a +former connection, that the affair comes into Cho[u]bei's hands. As Kazuma +Uji knows, it is not much in his line. Let us share the good luck +together."--"Is she a monster; one of those long-necked, pop-eyed +_rokurokubi_?"--"That can be determined at the meeting," said the cautious +Cho[u]bei. "She is somewhat pock-marked, as with others. It is a matter of +luck. Cho[u]bei's position forces him to fall back on Kazuma San as the +only likely man to recommend. Deign not to refuse to come to his +aid."--"Rich, and granddaughter of people old in years." He eyed Cho[u]bei +quizzically. The latter nodded agreement. "No matter what her looks, this +Kazuma accepts with thanks--unless this be a jest of Cho[u]bei San." +Cho[u]bei slightly coughed--"There is a commission...."--"Ah! Then the +foundation is rock. As to commission, assuredly; Kazuma is not rich, nor +in funds."--"But will be. At ten _ryo[u]_ it is a cheap +affair."--"Agreed," replied the diviner carelessly. "The money will be +paid."--"With the delivery of the goods." Cho[u]bei now was all +gaiety--"Of the Rokurokubi, the monster with sextuple lengthed neck," +laughed Kazuma Sensei as he took his leave. He was engaged to meet +Cho[u]bei the next day at the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei in Yotsuya. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +IÉMON APPEARS + + +In his difficult mission Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei had hopes of +Cho[u]bei; but not much more. It was with no small pleasure that he +heard the announcement of his visit the next morning. The maid was a +shade more civil--"Please wait." Kondo[u] was decidedly so. He greeted +Cho[u]bei with an effusion which Cho[u]bei noted. The tea brought, the +two men faced each other over the cups. To Kondo[u]'s inquiring +look--"Honoured master the task is a difficult one." He retailed his +experience at the Kanda market. Kondo[u] was somewhat discomfited. He +had put a different interpretation on the early visit of Cho[u]bei. +Continued the latter--"A difficult task, but not hopeless. Surely five +_ryo[u]_ is very small remuneration." Kondo[u]'s eye lit up. Cho[u]bei +had his man. "It is all this Kondo[u] is qualified to give. Cho[u]bei +knows Tamiya Dono. After all it is he who pays, and Cho[u]bei can +claim but his share. However, the matter is not urgent. A bad turn +with Matazaémon, and O'Naka will be much easier to deal with ... +unless it be Yoémon who interposes." He made a wry face; joined in by +Cho[u]bei. Kondo[u] went on--"It is matter of regret to have troubled +you. The parents of Natsumé Kyuzo[u] show signs of breaking off +present negotiations and coming round to us. This is a matter of +yesterday, and on hearing that the affair of O'Iwa San was definitely +in the hands of Rokuro[u]bei." Cho[u]bei was frightened. Was this the +cause of Kondo[u]'s joy? Had he misinterpreted on his entrance? He put +out a hand, as if to stop the talk of his host. "Deign to allow the +money question to stand as agreed. Such step would put this Cho[u]bei +in an awkward position. The man is found, and soon will be here. +Probably even Kondo[u] Dono will be satisfied."--"Who is he?" asked +Kondo[u].--"One Yanagibara Kazuma. He has practised divination at +Asakusa...."--"A charlatan! A quack doctor! Cho[u]bei, are you mad?" +Rokuro[u]bei pushed back his cushion and his cue in horror. Not a word +did he say of Natsumé Kyuzo[u]. Cho[u]bei smiled. He had been trapped; +but he had detected Kondo[u]. "Don't be alarmed. The man is a +_ro[u]nin_, his divination of small account and due to temporary +stress. Kondo[u] Dono will soon judge of the man by his appearance. +Let the subject of Kazuma San be dropped--with that of Natsumé San. +Our bargain has been made firm." Kondo[u] looked down. He felt a +little injured. Continued Cho[u]bei--"For his man Cho[u]bei cannot +answer if all be known. Pray follow my plan, and precede us to the +house of Matazaémon. He must not see O'Iwa at this juncture. Tamiya +Dono is ill and not visible. The Obasan is wise enough to do as she is +told. Years have drilled that into her. O'Iwa has taken cold. Her hair +is loose and she cannot think of appearing. Make this known when the +time comes to serve the wine. Meanwhile send her off on some mission; +to the house of Akiyama, or that of the newly-wed Imaizumi."--"But the +man must see the girl," protested Kondo[u]. Answered Cho[u]bei--"He +must see the property. It is with that Cho[u]bei intends he shall +become enamoured. He is not to see the girl until she is his wife. To +keep the estate he will cleave to the woman. Trust Cho[u]bei for a +knowledge of men's hearts ... at least that of Yanagibara Kazuma." +Perhaps he spoke a little too plainly. Rokuro[u]bei had a last touch +of conscience--"Cho[u]bei, what manner of man is this one you bring? +What is his real nature? Tamiya is upright as the walls of the Honmaru +(castle). And Yanagibara Kazuma...." Cho[u]bei's brow wrinkled. He was +spared an answer. Said the maid--"Yanagibara Sama would see the +master."--"Show him in at once," said Rokuro[u]bei. + +He rose, as much in amazement as in courtesy. Kazuma was a striking +figure as he entered the room. His dress of white Satsuma was of finest +quality, and perfectly aligned. The _haori_ (cloak) was of the +corrugated Akashi crape. In his girdle he wore the narrow swords then +coming into fashion, with finely lacquered scabbards. In person he was +tall, fair, with high forehead and big nose. Slender and sinewy every +movement was lithe as that of a cat. Kondo[u] gasped as he made the +accustomed salutations. "This man for O'Iwa! Bah! A fox has stolen a +jewel." All his compunction and discretion vanished before this unusual +presence. Kazuma gracefully apologized for his intrusion, thus +uninvited. Kondo[u] stammered protests and his delight at the +opportunity of meeting Yanagibara Dono. Cho[u]bei smiled inward and +outward delight at thus summarily removing any too pointed objections of +Kondo[u]. For absolute self-possession in this awkward situation the +younger man easily carried the palm. Kazuma acted as would a man double +his years. Cho[u]bei was not only delighted, but astonished. "Whence had +the Sensei produced all this wondrous get-up? Was he in real fact a +magician?" Kazuma knew, but he was not one to enlighten Cho[u]bei or +anyone else. After talk on general matters the affair of the meeting was +broached. Said Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--"Thus to trouble Yanagibara Dono +requires apology, but the affair is not without advantage. The lady is +the daughter of Tamiya, a _do[u]shin_ and favoured by the Hosokawa +House. This Kondo[u] is honoured in presenting Kazuma Dono in +Yotsuya."--"Nay, fear enters.[17] The honour of this meeting with +Kondo[u] Dono is as great as the intrusion has been unseemly. Deign to +pardon the precipitancy of this Kazuma." Kondo[u] protested in his turn. +Said Cho[u]bei--"The presentation made, doubtless the matter is as good +as concluded. But Tamiya Dono is ill; this visit is unexpected. If +Kondo[u] Dono would deign to precede, and ascertain how matters are at +Tamiya, it would be well." To this Kondo[u] assented. Making his excuses +he set out for Samoncho[u], bubbling over with excitement, and praying +that the matter would have certain issue; and thus establish him for +life on the shoulders of the wealthy Tamiya. Prayers? Indeed he did stop +on the road, one lined with the ecclesiastical structures. Kondo[u] had +too much at stake, not to invoke all likely aid. + +With his departure Cho[u]bei began to go into the externals of the +House of Tamiya. As they walked along--"Congenial surroundings." This +was with a grin and a wave of the hand toward the long line of temple +buildings and graveyards they were passing. "Not much savour of present +lodging in Hanagawado[u]. Eh! Kazuma Uji, even Cho[u]bei notes the +difference." He stopped opposite the Gwansho[u]ji and looked across the +way. The fruit was already formed on the trees of Matazaémon's garden. +"Persimmons of a hundred momme (375 grammes) each; twenty cartloads for +the profit of the house at the fall of the year." As they passed in the +entrance on Samoncho[u] he pointed to a store-house. "Stuffed with rice, +from the farms of Tamiya in Kazusa. No husks to be found in it."--"Who +said there were?" said Kazuma testily. His eyes were taking in the wide +proportions of the garden, the spreading roof and eaves of a stately +mansion. As they passed along the _ro[u]ka_ to a sitting room Cho[u]bei +called his attention to the fret work (_rama-sho[u]ji_) between the +rooms, the panelled ceilings, the polished and rare woodwork of +_tokonoma_ (alcoves). A _kakémono_ of the severe Kano school was hung in +the sitting room alcove, a beautifully arranged vase of flowers stood +beneath it. Matazaémon could not use his legs, but his hands were yet +active. Of his visitors he knew nothing; least of all of Cho[u]bei. +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. With him was an old lady. O'Naka bowed +to the ground before the proposed son-in-law. She was in a flutter over +the beautiful man destined for O'Iwa. The admirable courtesy of his +manners, the tender softness of voice, robbed her of what little +judgment she had. Her only fear was that the candidate for honours and +the Tamiya would escape. + +Said Cho[u]bei--"Asakusa is a long distance; the occasion exceptional. +Cannot the Ojo[u]san favour us by pouring the wine?" The old woman +hummed and hawed. Kondo[u], too, seemed put out. "As a matter of fact +O'Iwa is not presentable. She has taken cold, and just now is in bed. +Perhaps the Obasan will urge her further, now that Yanagibara Uji is +present." O'Naka at once rose, like to an automaton, the spring of which +has been pressed. She disappeared, to return and repeat her lesson. +"Wilful as a child! One would suppose her such. Illness she would +disregard, but her hair is not made up. She cannot think of appearing +before company. Truly she is vexing."--"Not so," defended Cho[u]bei. +"She could not show higher regard than by refusing to appear before a +future husband in careless attire. It is a guarantee of conduct when +married. She is much to be commended for such respect. All women like to +appear well. A man in the neighbourhood, and rice powder and rouge are +at once applied. How neglect such an elaborate structure as the hair? +Trust Cho[u]bei's judgment as to women." + +O'Naka thought that he spoke well, but like most men with great +conceit. Kazuma looked out towards the beautiful garden. He took the +chance to smile, for he had soon ascertained that Kondo[u] knew little +about his agent; was in fact a precipitate, testy man. However, he was a +little put out at not seeing the would-be bride. At an opportunity he +stepped out, to see more of the house and its surroundings. Cho[u]bei +came up to him as he stood on the _ro[u]ka_. His voice was coaxing and +pleading. "Is it not a fine prospect--for Kazuma Dono?" His voice hung +on the 'Dono.' "Nay, don't let escape this splendid piece of luck. Long +has Cho[u]bei interested himself in his neighbour. Such a beautiful +exterior should have a proper setting. Marry O'Iwa San and Kazuma Dono +is master of Tamiya. Is it agreed?" Kazuma looked down in thought. At +his age there are ideals of the other sex, hard to put aside. Said +he--"Not to see the lady.... Is she so horrible?" Cho[u]bei protested. +"Not so! The lady is a mere item, well fitted to go with this fine +house, this beautiful garden, these store-houses filled with goods. +Look: Tamiya Dono is a man of double rations. The property has _nagaya_ +for attendants. For long this has not been used. Tamiya will not rent it +out. It will be so much revenue added to the stipend of the House, and +will replace the old man's uncertain income from his accomplishments as +master of _hanaiké_ and _cha-no-yu_." Kazuma looked around, following +the pointing finger of Cho[u]bei. He was in sad straits. His only future +was this position of a _muko_. No matter what the woman might be, there +was compensation. To Cho[u]bei's direct question he made answer--"Yes." + +The affair of the marriage suffered no delays. Cho[u]bei had struck +home. Kazuma was so impressed with the surroundings, especially after a +return to his own miserable quarters, that the matter of the interview +took a minor place to the inspection of his future property. Within the +week he had removed to the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. The latter +introduced him to his future associates in the ward by a succession of +fish and wine dinners dear to the heart of the men of Nippon. These +neighbours were astonished at the future son-in-law of the Tamiya. This +man was to be the husband of the O'Baké? Was he mad, or drunk? Perhaps +the latter, for neither themselves nor Kazuma had the opportunity to be +particularly sober during this period of festivity. Of course there was +an introduction to Matazaémon, the other principal involved. As Kondo[u] +carefully explained, no set date could be made for this interview. +Tamiya Dono was ill, and to be seen at a favourable time. As ill luck +would have it, on the very day the interview was permitted O'Iwa San +received an urgent summons from the Okugata of the Hosokawa House. This +could not be disregarded, and her absence on the second occasion was +easily explained and condoned. Kondo[u] certainly made no effort, and +Kazuma no suggestion, for a meeting in the three days intervening before +the formal marriage. + +At evening the guests met in the reception rooms of Tamiya. In a private +apartment were Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei and his wife, O'Iwa, and Iémon. The +latter name had been assumed by Kazuma on his formal registration in the +Tamiya House. It was Cho[u]bei who had purchased the _wataboshi_, or +wadded hood, of floss silk worn by the bride on this great occasion of +her life. Iémon could see but little within its depths, except the +shining light of her countenance. Joy perhaps? At least this curiosity +was soon to be satisfied. Nine times--three times three--were the _saké_ +cups drained. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei joined the hands of the train, +exhorting them to mutual forbearance, O'Iwa to unquestioning obedience +to the husband. He pattered over the maxims of the Do[u]jikun of Kaibara +Yekken in this strange case, as he had done twenty times before with +favourable results. Yekken's book was comparatively recent, only a few +decades old, and the woman's guide. Truly the position of the +_nako[u]do_ was no easy one, if it was to bring him at odds with either +House involved. He felt complacent. This pair at least presented less +complications in that line than usual. What there was of doubtful issue +came now to the test. At this crisis he cast an eye to the _ro[u]ka_ +(verandah) to see that Cho[u]bei really was at hand as promised. Then +the strings of the _wataboshi_ were loosed. The hood concealing the face +of O'Iwa was removed. + +Iémon rose to his feet as if impelled by springs; then hurriedly he sat +again with some mumbled excuse and trembling hands. He could not take +his eyes from the shining white of the face before him, the glazed +smooth surface left in many places between the black of the pock marks. +The removal of the hood had somewhat disarrayed the hair, leaving the +broad expanse of forehead more prominent, the puffed heavy eyelids in +the face more conspicuous. In the depths shone two tiny points, the +eyes. Indeed, as Cho[u]bei afterwards described it, eyelids and eyes had +the appearance of _kuzumanju_, the dumplings of white rice paste with +the black dots of dark brown bean paste sunk deep in the centre. Never +had O'Iwa appeared to such disadvantage. She was now engaged in removing +the white garment, to appear in her proper array as bride and wife. +Iémon took advantage of this absence to step to the _ro[u]ka_. In +leaving the room Kondo[u] had given a wink to Cho[u]bei. Iémon almost +ran into him. He seized him by the arm. The young man's voice was +excited. He spoke in a whisper, as one who could barely find speech. +With satisfaction Cho[u]bei noted that he was frightened, not angered. +"What is that? Who is that creature?" were the first words of Iémon. +Replied Cho[u]bei coldly--"That is the wife of Tamiya Iémon; O'Iwa San, +daughter of Matazaémon Dono; your wife to eight thousand generations." +Then roughly--"Deign, Iémon San, not to be a fool. In the purchase of +cow or horse, what does the buyer know of the animal? Its real qualities +remain to be ascertained. O'Iwa San is ugly. That much Cho[u]bei will +admit. She is pock-marked, perhaps stoops a little. But if the daughter +of the rich Tamiya, a man with this splendid property, had been a great +beauty, this Iémon would not have become the _muko_ of Tamiya, the +future master of its wealth. What qualification had he for such a +position--a diviner, a man whose pedigree perhaps would not stand too +much search." He looked keenly at Iémon, and noted with satisfaction how +the last thrust had gone home. Cho[u]bei must know more of Iémon, +ex-Kazuma. He determined on that for the future. + +He continued--"Withdrawal at this juncture would merely create scandal. +Matazaémon is not so bereft of friends that such a step would not cause +serious displeasure in high quarters. The insult would find an avenger. +Then consider please: the old man is kept alive by the anxiety to see +his granddaughter established in life, the line of the Tamiya assured. +He will die within the month. If the old woman hangs on too long"--he +halted speech for a moment, then coldly--"give her lizard to eat. A +diviner, doubtless Iémon San knows Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei by this time. +He will never prejudice the man who holds in his hands the purse of the +Tamiya. Iémon San and O'Iwa San are left alone. Good luck to you, +honoured Sir, in the encounter. In this Cho[u]bei a counsellor and +friend always is to be found; and one by no means lacking experience of +the world. As for the woman, she is your wife; one to take charge of the +house and affairs of Iémon Dono is to hand. No other _rusu_[18] could be +found so earnest in duty and so cheap, as O'Iwa San. Take a concubine. +This Cho[u]bei will purchase one for you; such a one as will be the +object of envy and desire to the whole of young Edo. His opportunities +in that line are exceptional. Come! To turn on the lights. On our part +at least there is nothing to conceal." Iémon did not pay attention to +the hint. The one thought harassing him must out--"lop-sided and--a +leper!" He spoke with despair and conviction, eyes fastened on +Cho[u]bei, and such a frightened look that even Cho[u]bei had pity. One +foot in the room he turned back. "That is not so--absolutely." Iémon +could not disbelieve the earnest testimony. Said Cho[u]bei--"The wounds +of smallpox were no trivial ones. In healing the scars were such in +places as form over burns. Hence the shining surface. Positively there +is no leprous taint in Tamiya." He was gratified by the sigh which came +from Iémon, sign of the immense weight lifted off the young man's mind. +"Bah! leave things to the future, and--enjoy the present. O'Iwa cannot +grow ugly with age. So much is gained. What difference will her looks +make to Iémon thirty years hence? She is a woman. Make a child on her. +Then you are free to turn elsewhere." + +At once he began to place lights everywhere, as a sign to Kondo[u] that +all was well. This worthy came forward with other guests, to +congratulate the Tamiya House on being once more in young and vigorous +hands. It was Iémon himself who gave the signal to retire. How matters +went alone with his bride has reference to one of those occasions over +which the world draws the veil of decency. In the morning O'Iwa arose +early to attend to the matutinal needs of her spouse. The ablutions +performed, Iémon sat down to tea, as exquisite and exquisitely served as +in any dream in literature of how such ceremony of the opening day +should be performed. Then the morning meal was brought, under the same +supervision of this woman, as expert in all the technique of her craft +as she was ugly in feature; and that was saying much. Iémon watched her +movements in the room with curiosity, mixed with a little pain and +admiration. He was quick to note the skill with which she concealed the +slight limp, due to the shrinking of the sinews of one leg and causing +an unevenness of gait. It was a blemish in the little quick movements of +a woman of surpassing grace; who by art had conquered disease and an +ungainly figure. + +O'Iwa had left the room for a moment to get flowers to place in the +vases, offering to the _hotoké_ (Spirits of the departed) in the +Butsudan. On his return Iémon held the _ihai_ (memorial tablets) in his +hands. A priest, these had at once attracted his notice. "Kangetsu +Shinshi; Kangetsu Shimmyo[u]; O'Iwa San, these people have died on the +same day of the month--and the year?"--"Is on the back of the _ihai_," +replied O'Iwa. "No; it is not a case of suicide together." Then seeing +his evident curiosity she motioned him to sit as she poured tea, ready +for a long story. With its progress voice and manner grew more strained +and earnest. She never took her eyes from the _tatami_ (mats). "The +tablets are those of the father and mother of this Iwa. My mother's name +was Mino. Daughter of Tamiya she acted badly with my father Densuké, a +mere servant in the house. This Densuké was a good man, but his status +of _chu[u]gen_ made my grandfather very angry. He drove the twain from +the house. Thus deprived of means to live, my father took a position as +cook in the _yashiki_ of a great noble. Here he was frightened into +becoming the tool of a very wicked man. Having killed an usurer this man +forced my father to dispose of the body under penalty of death if he +refused. The body being placed in a cloth, my father had carried it to +his house. During his short absence my mother's curiosity led her into +untying the bundle. Her screams aroused the neighbourhood. As they +entered she was seized with convulsions, and gave birth to this Iwa, +thus brought into the world together with the exposure of the crime. My +father, doubtless warned by the crowd, fled from Edo. My mother had but +time to tell her story to the _kenshi_. Then she died. A year later to +the day my father's dead body was found floating in the castle moat, +near the town of Yu[u]ki in Shimosa. A beggar man, but little inquiry +was made into the crime. For long the cause and the criminal were +unknown. Then a _banto[u]_ was robbed in the Shiba Kirido[u]shi; his +companion was killed. The criminals were traced, and on confession were +put to death. The leader and most wicked of them also confessed to the +murder of the usurer Jusuké and to that of my father Densuké. My father +had met him again in Yu[u]ki town, and had aroused in him fear of +denunciation of past crimes. He spoke of 'this Densuké' as a +superstitious, haunted fool; thus in his wickedness regarding my +father's remorse and desire to clear up the strange affair. The +execution of this man removed all chance of my avenging the deaths of +father and mother on himself. But he has left behind a son. The one wish +of this Iwa is to meet with Kichitaro[u]; to avenge on him the +wickedness of his father Takahashi Daihachiro[u]." Iémon at first had +followed in idle mood her story. With the development of the details he +showed an attention which grew in intensity at every stage. With the +mention of the name of Takahashi Daihachiro[u] he gave a violent start. +Yanagibara Kazuma, Iémon Tamiya--what were these but names to cover this +Kichitaro[u], the one-time priest Myo[u]shin of the Jo[u]shinji at +Reigan Fukagawa, and son of Daihachiro[u]. + +Strange was this retributory fate which had brought these two into the +most intimate relations of husband and wife. When Iémon could control +his voice he said--"That O'Iwa San should have this feeling in reference +to the wicked Daihachiro[u] can be understood. But why such hatred +toward this Kichitaro[u]? Surely the boy is not to be held guilty of the +father's offence!"--"That is a man's way of reasoning," answered O'Iwa. +"A woman, ignorant and foolish, has but her feelings to consult. To +seven births this Iwa will clutch and chew the wicked son of a wicked +father. Against Kichitaro[u] is the vow made." She raised her head. +Iémon turned away shuddering. She had aged into a hag. The shining face, +the marks like black spots in pumice standing out, the mere dots of eyes +in their puffy bed, the spreading mouth with its large shining +teeth--all turned the plain gentle girl into a very demon. The +certainty, the intensity, of a malignant hate was driven into Iémon. He +was so frightened that he even nodded assent to her last words. The +gentle voice of O'Iwa added--"Iwa is ugly; perhaps annoys by the tale. +Leave the affair to her and to the enemy. To Iémon she is bound for two +existences. Deign to drop all formality; call her Iwa, and condescend to +regard her with affection." And Iémon covenanted with himself so to do. +The present should compensate for the past. But in the days which +followed O'Iwa sat on him as a nightmare. He felt the impress of her +teeth at his throat, and would wake up gasping. Time made the situation +familiar. He carefully lulled her into a blind admiration and belief in +her husband Iémon. There seemed no likelihood of O'Iwa learning the +truth; or believing it, if she did.[19] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT + + +Matazaémon's illness justified all the predictions of Cho[u]bei. In the +course of the month it was plain that his last hold on life was rapidly +weakening. In that time Iémon had won golden opinions from household and +neighbours. His face was beautiful, and this they saw. His heart was +rotten to the core, and this he kept carefully concealed. The incentive +of his fear of O'Iwa kept up the outward signs of good-will. He found +this easier with the passage of the days. Plain as she was in face and +figure, no one could help being attracted by the goodness of O'Iwa's +disposition. Iémon, in his peculiar situation, placed great hopes on +this, even if discovery did take place. Day following day he began to +discount this latter contingency. To a feeling of half liking, half +repugnance, was added a tinge of contempt for one so wrapped in her +immediate surroundings, whose attention was so wholly taken up with the +matter in hand. She easily could be kept in ignorance, easily be +beguiled. + +One day Iémon was summoned to the old man's bedside. He was shocked at +the change which had taken place in a few hours. Propped upon pillows +Matazaémon would speak a few last words. With a shade of his old +impertinent official smile and manner--"The Tamiya is to be +congratulated on its great good fortune in the entrance of one so well +qualified by appearance and manners to uphold its reputation. Deign, +honoured Muko San, to accept the thanks of this Matazaémon. All else has +been placed in the hands of Iémon--goods, reputation, granddaughter." +Iémon bowed flat in acknowledgment and protest at the good-will +expressed. Continued Matazaémon--"There is one matter close to the old +man's heart. Concerning that he would make his last request to the +admirable heart of Iémon. Iwa is a plain girl. The end of time for man, +and the carping comment of neighbours come to his ears, have opened the +eyes of Matazaémon to the truth. Great has been the favour in +disregarding this plainness and taking her to wife. Everything is in the +hands of Iémon San. Consider her happiness and deign to use her well. +Abstain if possible from taking a concubine. At all events conceal the +fact from Iwa, if it be deigned to keep such company. Plainness and +jealousy go together. Faithful and upright, such a disposition as hers +is not to be strained on that point. She would be very unhappy. Better +the light women of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], than one who takes the place of +the wife. Condescend to remember this last request of Tamiya +Matazaémon." He clasped the hand of Iémon, and tears were in his eyes as +he spoke. Iémon, too, was affected. It almost frightened him to be left +alone with O'Iwa. "Deign not to consider such unlikely contingency. The +amiability of O'Iwa is compensation for the greatest beauty. Who could +think of injuring her in any way? Perhaps a child soon will be the +issue. With this in mind condescend to put aside all gloomy thoughts. +Concentrate the honoured will on life, and complete recovery to health +will follow. Such, indeed, is the daily prayer of this Iémon at the +Myo[u]gyo[u]ji." + +Matazaémon smiled faintly--with gratification or grimness? Perhaps +death unseals the vision. Often indeed did Iémon present himself at the +family temple; he the substitute for the Master of Tamiya. But as often +did his feet return by the diametrically opposite direction, running the +gauntlet of the charms of the frail beauties of Nakacho[u]. Iémon held +on to the hand of Matazaémon, swearing and forswearing himself with the +greatest earnestness and the best of intentions. Suddenly he raised his +head. The emotion aroused by the interview had been too much for the old +man's fluttering heart. His head had slipped down sideways on the +pillow. A little stream of dark bitter refuse flowed from the mouth and +choked him. He was dead. + +Great was the grief of wife and grandchild; great was the importance of +Iémon, now in very fact Master of Tamiya. Whether or not he followed the +advice of Cho[u]bei, and gave the old woman _tokagé_ (lizard); whether +her constant small journeys to the houses of neighbours, reciting a +litany of praise of this wondrous son-in-law; whether the loss of the +companion of so many years wore out the feeble frame; it is fact that +O'Naka followed her lord before the maple leaf turned red. Again the +Tamiya was the scene of the funereal chanting of the priest. The corpse +removed with the provision for the guests and watchers at the wake, the +seventh night of the death observed, with this removal of the deceased +spirit from the scenes of its former activities Iémon could turn himself +without impediment to the life of the future. Outward change there was +none. He was the same kind and affectionate husband as of former days. +Neighbours, anticipating some change of manner, were still louder in +their praises. One day there appeared at Tamiya two intimates, Natsumé +Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. "Iémon Uji, a matter of importance +presses. We are on our way to the ward head, Ito[u] Kwaiba Dono. Deign +to go in company. You are known to be an expert at _go_,[20] a game at +which the old man prides himself for skill. He chafes at the presence of +this unknown rival, heard of but not yet tested. A dinner and wine are +at stake. Without Iémon Uji we do not dare to present ourselves. +Condescend to go in company. To know the great man of the ward, the +wealthy Ito[u] Kwaiba, is of advantage even to Tamiya." Iémon laughed +and assented. He was soon dressed for the greater ceremony of a first +visit. All three climbed down into their clogs, and set out for the +house of the Kumi-gashira near Samégabashi. + +If Iémon had been impressed by the wealth of Tamiya, he felt +insignificant before that of the head of Yotsuya. Ito[u] Kwaiba was a +man of sixty-four years, retaining much of the vigour of his youth. For +the past ten years he had added _go_ to his twin passions for wine and +women, neither of which seemed to have made any impression on a keenness +of sight which could read the finest print by the scanty light of an +_andon_, teeth which could chew the hard and tough dried _mochi_ (rice +paste) as if bean confection, and an activity of movement never to be +suspected from his somewhat heavy frame. At the name of Tamiya he looked +up with much curiosity, and Iémon thought his greeting rather brusque. +He saluted with great respect--"Truly fear is inspired. For long no +visit has been paid to the honoured head. Coming thus without invitation +is very rude. Intrusion is feared."--"Nay! Nay!" replied Kwaiba, +apparently attracted by the splendid externals of Iémon. "The failure to +visit is reciprocal. In fact, Tamiya and this Kwaiba have been at odds +these many years. Visits had altogether ceased. This, however, is no +matter for the younger generation. But Iémon San is indeed a fine +fellow. So Kwaiba had heard from all he met. Ah! A fellow to put all the +girls in a flutter. He is the very image of this Kwaiba in younger +years. The husbands were little troubled when he was around. The fair +ones were attracted. Well, well: they all had their turn at Kwaiba; and +Kwaiba has stood the pace. He is as good to-day as ever; in some +ways.... And it is a man like Iémon San who has married the--lady of +Tamiya." Iémon knew the term "O'Baké" had nearly slipped out. Knowing +O'Iwa's attractiveness of temperament, feeling touched in his own +conceit, this astonished and satirical reception he met with on every +side nettled him more than a little. Perhaps Kwaiba noted it. With +greatest unction he urged a cushion and at once changed the subject. +"Iémon San is noted as a _go_ player. This Kwaiba is a mere amateur. It +is for him to ask odds in making request for a game.... Ho! Heigh! The +_go_ board and stones!" + +Kwaiba and Iémon were the antagonists. Natsumé and Imaizumi sat at the +sides of the board. Kwaiba, confident in his powers, readily accepted +the deprecatory answer of Iémon at its face value. The game was to be on +even terms. Iémon really was an expert of the sixth grade; certainly of +several grades superiority to Kwaiba.[21] The latter's brows knit as his +position rapidly became imperilled. Natsumé was in a ferment. Fish or +wine? If Iémon sought Kwaiba's favour by a preliminary sound thrashing +at his favourite game, the prospects of either were small. He dropped +his tobacco pipe. In picking it up he gave the buttocks of Iémon a +direct and severe pinch. Iémon was too astonished to cry out. His ready +mind sought a motive for this unexpected assault and pain. The face of +Natsumé was unmoved, that of Imaizumi anxious. A glance at Kwaiba's +attitude enlightened him. Politeness and a dinner were at stake. Even +Natsumé and Imaizumi wondered and admired at what followed. The blunder +of Iémon was a stroke of genius, the inspiration of an expert player. It +was a slight blunder, not obvious to the crudeness of Kwaiba; but it +opened up the whole of Iémon's position and put the game in his +antagonist's hands. Kwaiba promptly seized the advantage. His triumphant +glance shifted continually from Iémon to the onlookers, as the former +struggled bravely with a desperate position. Kwaiba won this first game +somewhat easily. A second he lost by a bare margin. In the third he +scored success in a manner to make evident his superiority over a really +expert player. Confident in his championship of the ward, he was all +geniality as at the end he sorted and swept back the _go_ stones into +their polished boxes. "_Go-ishi_ of Shingu; soft as a woman's hands. But +never mind the sex. Now for fish and wine.... However, Hana can serve +the liquor for us." To the servant--"Heigh! Some refreshments for the +honoured guests; and convey the request of Kwaiba to O'Hana San, to be +present." + +With the wine appeared O'Hana San. She was a beautiful girl. Of not +more than twenty years, on the graceful sloping shoulders was daintily +set a head which attracted attention and admiration. The face was a pure +oval--of the _uri_ or melon, as the Nipponese class it--with high brow, +and was framed in long hair gathered below the waist and reaching nearly +to her ankles with its heavy luxuriant mass. She was dressed for the hot +season of the year in a light coloured Akashi crape, set off by an _obi_ +or broad sash of peach colour in which were woven indistinct and +delicate wavy designs. The sleeves, drawn a little back, showed the arms +well up to the shoulder. Glimpses of a beautifully moulded neck and +bosom appeared from time to time as she moved here and there in her +preparation of the service of the wine utensils. The delicate tissue of +the dress seemed to caress the somewhat narrow hips of a girlish figure. +Every movement was studied and graceful. This O'Hana had belonged to the +Fukadaya at Yagura no Shita of Fukagawa. She had been what is known as +an _obitsuké_ harlot, wearing the _obi_ in the usual form, without the +loose overrobe or _shikaké_ of the common women. "In the period of +Tempo[u] (1830-1843) all Fukagawa harlots were dressed in this manner." +Attracted by her beauty old Kwaiba had ransomed her and made her his +concubine. For nearly two years she had held this position in his house. +In serving the wine she came to the front and knelt before Iémon as +first to receive it. In handing him the tray with the cup she looked +into his face. The start on the part of both was obvious. Some of the +wine was spilled. + +Said Kwaiba--"Then Iémon Uji, you know this woman?" His tone was hard +and truculent. It conveyed the suspicion of the jealous old male. +Iémon's former profession stood him in good stead. He had a glib tongue, +and no intention to deny what had been made perfectly obvious--"It is +fact, and nothing to be ashamed of on the part of Iémon; except as to +attendant conditions beyond control. I was a diviner on the public +highway."--"So 'twas heard," grumbled Kwaiba. "Without customers, and +with no use for the diviner's lens but to charr the rafters of the +garret in which you lived." Iémon did not care to notice the attack. He +merely said--"Deign not to find amusement in what really is a serious +matter to one who has to suffer poverty. While seated at the diviner's +stand attention was drawn by a girl coming down the Kuramaé. Slouching +along close by her was a drunken _samurai_. From time to time he lurched +entirely too close to her. Turning unexpectedly her sunshade caught in +his _haori_ (cloak), which thereby was slightly torn. At once he flew +into a great rage. Laying hands on her he showed no disposition to +accept her excuses. 'Careless wench! You have torn my dress. How very +impudent of you. Unless you at once accompany me to the tea house close +by, to serve the wine and please me, pardon, there is none; be sure of +that.' The people had gathered like a black mountain. Nothing was to be +seen but heads. O'Hana San was in the greatest embarrassment, unable to +free herself from the insults and importunities of the drunken fellow. +The _samurai_ was hid under the diviner's garb. Stepping from the stand +I interposed in the girl's behalf, making apology, and pointing out the +rudeness of his behaviour to the drunkard. Instead of becoming calm he +raised his fist and struck me in the face. His condition gave the +advantage without use of arms. Locking a leg in his tottering supports I +threw him down into the ditch. Then with a word to O'Hana San to flee at +once, we disappeared in different directions. The _samurai_ Iémon again +became the diviner. That part of his rôle this Iémon regrets; but a +weapon he could not draw in the quarrel. Later on meeting O'Hana San at +the Kwannon temple of Asakusa thanks were received, for what was a very +trivial service."--"And again renewed," said the beauty, raising her +downcast face to look direct into that of Iémon. Said Kwaiba--"Ah! +That's the tale, is it? A fortunate encounter, and a strange reunion; +but the world is full of such. O'Hana, it comes in most befitting that +opportunity is afforded to favour the rescuer with something of greater +value than thanks. Pray serve him with wine." Then did Kwaiba take the +matter as a man of the world. But he was no fool, "this old _tanuki_ +(badger) of a thousand autumns' experience on hill and in dale." He +understood very well that between Iémon and O'Hana there had been a +closer connection than that of mere accident. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LOVE KNOTS + + +Many were the visits paid by Iémon to contest at _go_ with Ito[u] +Kwaiba. Rapid was the progress of the love affair between a young man +and a young woman, both inspired with a consuming passion for each +other. In former days--something more than two years before--when Iémon +was priest in the Jo[u]shinji of the Reigan district of Fukagawa, and +was spending the money of the _osho[u]_ so freely, he had met O'Hana at +the Fukagawa of Yagura no Shita. Just entering on her career, she at +once captivated him with a permanent passion. It was in her company that +the funds of the temple had been cast to the four winds of heaven. His +love had been fully reciprocated by O'Hana. The one purpose was to +ransom the lady, and then to live together as husband and wife. Such was +the engagement plighted between them. However, the ransom figure was +large. Iémon--or Kazuma at that time, he dropped his priestly name when +out of bounds--had already planned a larger raid than usual on the +ecclesiastical treasury. Warned by O'Hana that his operations had been +discovered, he had sought safety in flight; not without a last tearful +parting with his mistress, and assurance that fate somehow would bring +them again together. The engagement thus entered on was to flourish +under the new conditions. + +As to this pursuit of O'Hana, in which the maiden was coy and willing, +the lover circumspect and eager, or at least thought he was, those +around the pair were soon well informed; that is, with the exception of +the most interested--O'Iwa and Kwaiba. The marked neglect which now +ensued O'Iwa took in wifely fashion; and attributing it to some passing +attraction of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], she did not take it to heart as she +would have done if a concubine had been at issue. As for Kwaiba, the +usually astute and prying old man was so immersed in his _go_ as to be +struck blind, deaf, and dumb. The matter coming to the ears of Kondo[u] +Rokuro[u]bei, the worthy gentleman was seriously alarmed. If true, the +old man had indeed reached a parting of the ways, at which he had to +satisfy Iémon, Master of Tamiya, O'Iwa, his ward, and Ito[u] Kwaiba, the +powerful influence in the daily life of all of them. That night there +was a meeting at the house of Kwaiba, a competition in _gidayu_ +recitation, dancing, and poetry (_uta_) making. He presented himself in +season at the door of the Tamiya. "Ah! O'Iwa San; and to-night does +Iémon join the company at the house of the _Kumi-gashira_? Rokuro[u]bei +comes from Kawagoé, and perhaps is not too late to find company on the +road."--"Oya! Is it Kondo[u] Sama? Iya! the Danna has but begun his +preparations.... Iémon! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come; for company +on the way to Ito[u] Sama's house.... Deign to enter. In a short time +Iémon will be ready." Kondo[u] looked at her quizzically. There was no +sign of distress or misgivings in this quarter. He felt encouraged. +Probably the rumour was false or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due +to the malice of Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, from whom that day he had heard +it. + +He turned to greet Iémon, who emerged ready for the street. At the +entrance they halted. Said Iémon--"It will be a long drawn-out affair. +Deign to retire, and not await the return." Replied O'Iwa--"A small +matter. The sound of the Danna's footstep will arouse Iwa to receive +him." Iémon laughed. "How so? How distinguish my steps from those of +Akiyama San or other constant callers?" Said O'Iwa gravely--"When the +wife can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection +has departed. O'Iwa will be ready to receive Iémon, no matter what the +hour."--"And, indeed, a late one," put in Kondo[u]. "The party consists +mainly of young men. After it they will adjourn to Nakacho[u]. Is it +allowed to Iémon Dono to accompany them?" O'Iwa winced a little. "The +Master is always master, within and without the house. He will do as he +pleases."--"Gently said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are +rarely to be encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of +Morokoshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokuro[u]bei feels proud of his +guardianship." As he and Iémon took their way along the Teramachi, he +said--"Iémon is indeed a wonderful man. He is handsome and pursued by +the women. O'Iwa undeniably is ugly; yet never is there failure to show +her respect and consideration, in private as well as public. One's life +here in Yotsuya is open to all the neighbours, and these speak well of +Iémon." Said the younger man, in matter of fact tone--"Who could fail +toward Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is +the compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than +beauty."--"Well spoken! Deign to keep it in heart, for the neighbours' +tongues wag as to Iémon and O'Hana. Malice can cause as much unhappiness +as downright wickedness. Besides, Kwaiba is no man to trifle with." +Iémon was a little put out and alarmed at the directness of Kondo[u]'s +reference. "Be sure there is nothing in such talk. A slight service, +rendered in earlier days, makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise +a stranger. The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But Ito[u] +Dono is good company and has good wine; and besides really is a good +_go_ player. It would be loss to shun his house." + +Kondo[u] noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke sharply to +the maid--"Middle age in company with youth plainly finds a poor +reception. Is that the master's order? The clogs of Tamiya are not the +only ones. Is Rokuro[u]bei to shift for himself?" The girl, all +confusion, made profuse apology as she hastened to repair the neglect. +Kondo[u] was easily mollified. "Bah! No wonder. Bring Tamiya near a +woman, and all is confusion.... But Ito[u] Dono?"--"This way, honoured +Sirs: the Danna awaits the guests." They entered the sitting room, to +find Kwaiba in a high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error +in transmission or date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had +appeared. "The supper prepared is next to useless. We four can do but +little in its dispatch. Not so with the wine; let every man do double +duty here." He hustled around and gave his orders with some excitement; +more than cordial with the guests who had not failed him. There was +present one Kibei. Iémon had noted with curiosity his first appearance +on this ground. What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's +position in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point. +Kibei was exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a woman to +make much of physical beauty, as well as strength and ruggedness. He was +a younger son of Inagaki Sho[u]gen, a _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in +Honjo[u] and an income of three thousand _koku_.[22] It was almost +certain that Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. The negotiations had been long +continued, and there was some hitch in the matter that Iémon could not +make out. What he did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted +fencer, making some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the +last man with whom Iémon had any desire for a quarrel. Iémon was a +coward, and the cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. Himself, +he was always excessively polite in their intercourse. + +Limited as to number the party tried to make up for the missing guests +by liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as substitutes of +the absent, and competition in _uta_ (poetry). Handing in his own +effort--no mean one--Iémon left the room for a moment. As he came out on +the corridor, and was about to return to the guest room, he found the +maid O'Moto awaiting him with water and towel. A slight puckering frown +came over Iémon's face at this imprudence. Said the girl +pleadingly--"Danna Sama, deign to exercise patience. That of the +mistress is sorely tried. The absence of the other guests, the pursuit +of Kibei Dono, who only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion +from the house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven her +well nigh mad. A moment--in this room." Iémon drew back.--"A room +apart, and in darkness! The age of seven years once passed, and boy and +girl are never to be allowed alone together." He would have refused, but +a sudden push and he was within. The _sho[u]ji_ closed at once. + +Kwaiba's voice called loudly--"Hana! Hana! What has become of the +girl? There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugliness of Kibei drives +her to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her out. Hana! Hana!" O'Hana +slipped hastily from the arms of Iémon. Passing through the garden she +entered the kitchen and snatched up a _saké_ bottle from the stove. She +did not notice that the fire had gone entirely out. She and Iémon +entered the sitting room together, from different sides. Rokuro[u]bei +looked sharply at Iémon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with Kwaiba. Said +Kondo[u]--"Where have you been? Pressed by necessity? For such a lapse +of time! nonsense! Is rice powder found in such a place? 'Plaster'? It +does not leave the mark of a cheek on the sleeve." He laid a warning +hand on Iémon, skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. "What +has happened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got into +a dispute over the merits of Heinai and Sho[u]setsu as fencing masters; +both of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa +Houses. Heinai was loyal, and Sho[u]setsu a traitor; but Kibei tries the +old man and officer by supporting the prowess of the latter. Besides the +_saké_ is cold and Kwaiba at start was in a very bad temper. He has +thought for naught but his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by +agreeing with him, but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert +with the sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would willingly +engage in one. He don't like you...." He stopped. Kwaiba was speaking +sharply. He had just taken the fresh bottle. "Cold as a stone! How +careless you are."--"Not so," said O'Hana in some surprise. "It has just +come off the stove." Kwaiba put the bottle in her hand, to her +confusion. "O'Hana must have been asleep; or much engaged, not to note +the difference." For the first time he looked sharply at her, then at +Iémon. O'Hana often executed great freedom with him--"Asleep! Just so; +and no wonder. Without guests the evening has been stupid enough. If +Tamiya Sama had brought his wife with him it would have been complete." +Kwaiba, Kibei, Kondo[u] smiled at the sally. Iémon took the cue, and +chose to resent the words. He said coldly--"O'Iwa certainly brings spice +into everything she engages in. Her intelligence is unusual." O'Hana +looked at him; then smiled a little, reassured. Passing behind him she +stumbled. "Forgotten"--Iémon felt a letter thrust into his hand, which +he passed quickly to his sleeve. Then he and Kondo[u] rose to take their +leave. The usual salutations followed. As if to compensate for the +failure of the entertainment all joined in seeing them depart. Kwaiba +was still grumbling and half quarrelling with O'Hana. O'Moto was engaged +with Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. Kibei insisted on aiding Iémon; and Iémon +did not dare to refuse his services in donning the _haori_. As he +adjusted the awkward efforts of Kibei on one side, this amateur valet +made a mess of it on the other. Besides, neither of them was any too +steady on his feet. Then Kondo[u] and Iémon set out in the rain. +"_Sayonara! Sayonara!_" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA + + +The following morning Iémon sat brooding, mind and tongue clouded by +the drinking bout of the previous night. O'Iwa silently busied herself +with his renovation. Rokuro[u]bei had delivered him over to her, +decidedly the worse for wine and wear. He was somewhat astonished at the +young man's easy discomfiture. Middle age with the Nipponese usually +means the seasoned and steady toper. Regarding the matter as partly due +to her own fault, and reassured by Kondo[u] as to the events of the +evening, O'Iwa heated the _saké_ with all the greater care, serving it +herself, chatting on the indifferent gossip of the neighbourhood. She +spoke of the talk current as to Ito[u] Kwaiba's adoption of an heir. +"This man Kibei, his disposition appears to be as ugly as his face." +With a little smile she added, "for the latter compensation is to be +found in the first-named quality; a truth which he seems to disregard. +What will become of O'Hana San?" For the first time since the night +before the thought of the letter flashed into Iémon's mind. He put down +the renovating morning draft, and on some excuse arose. His _kimono_ lay +neatly folded in the _hirabuta_ (flat tray). Hastily he searched the +sleeves. There was not a sign of the missive. With clouded brow he +returned to the sitting room. A glance at O'Iwa made him feel ashamed. +It had never come into her hands. He knew her well enough to be assured +that he would have found it, scrupulously laid together with the tobacco +pouch, nose wipe (_hanagami_), and divers other minor articles of daily +use carried on the person. The whole affair perhaps was a dream. The +more he considered, the more he became so convinced. His transports with +O'Hana, their surprise, Kondo[u]'s rebuke--so far the evening was +tolerably clear. It was only as to the final cups, the rising to depart, +the standing in the cold night air, that the exact course of events +became clouded. "Ah! It was all a vision. O'Hana never would have been +so imprudent." There was a trace of doubt in his mind. He would clear it +up at the fountain source--at Kwaiba's house and by the lips of O'Hana. + +Kwaiba greeted him with almost boisterous cheerfulness. "Ah! Tamiya +comes early; a flattering acknowledgment of last night's reception." To +Iémon's deprecatory speech and apology--"Don't talk folly, after the +manner of a country boor. Iémon San is a man of the world; and will give +this Kwaiba credit for being the same. What does it amount to? A matter +of a little too much wine.... Hana! Hana! The Master of Tamiya is +present. Cut some bean paste, and bring tea. Heat the wine. Matazaémon +was so sober an old dog that it is doubtful whether O'Iwa knows aught +about the best remedy for past drinking." As Kibei entered--"There is +the inventory of the Shimosa farms. Condescend to take a glance at the +report of the _nanushi_ (bailiff). Hana will aid." Thus dismissed, the +two left the room. Kwaiba turned to Iémon--"A draught: no? Then Kwaiba +will drink for both. For him it is a day of rejoicing. The coming of +Tamiya is opportune. It was intended to send for him. Deign to aid this +Kwaiba with counsel. The adoption of Kibei has finally been settled." +The old man's exultation influenced even the indifference of Iémon's +aching head. With well-simulated interest he said--"Naruhodo! Kibei Dono +is indeed to be congratulated. As to our chief, since everything is to +his satisfaction, Iémon is but too glad to speak his pleasure, to offer +his congratulations."--"Nay! A little more than that, Iémon Uji. This +Kwaiba would seek his aid in another matter of importance. Kwaiba is +old. A woman no longer is an object to him. He cannot make a child. If +O'Hana should give birth to a child great would be the discomfiture, +knowing the truth. What is to be done in such a case?" He now was +looking with direct inquiry into the face of Iémon. The latter was much +confused. He stammered--"Just so: so indeed. O'Hana San is truly an +embarrassment. Doubtless she is also an obstacle to Kibei Dono. She...." +Sneered Kwaiba--"Tamiya, though young, is wise. He grasps the situation +at once. Deign, Iémon San, to take O'Hana yourself." Kwaiba raised his +voice a little. Kibei brought O'Hana with him from the next room. She +seemed alarmed and embarrassed. Said Kwaiba--"What have you there; the +inventory? Ah! A letter: and there is no one to read a letter like Iémon +San. Deign, Sir, to favour us. Iémon San alone can give the contents the +proper inflection." He handed it to Iémon. A glance showed the latter +that it was a letter from O'Hana, probably that of the previous night. +His pocket had been neatly picked by Kibei. It was plain. He had been +trapped. The pretended entertainment had been a plot in which the +passion of O'Hana had been given full chance to range. Even the +disinterested witness, the old fool Kondo[u], had been provided. He +caught a curious, mocking smile on the face of the girl O'Moto, just +then passing along the _ro[u]ka_. + +Kwaiba allowed the silence to become oppressive. He seemed to await an +incriminating outburst on the part of O'Hana, plainly on the verge of +tears. However, the girl caught herself up. Instead she turned a calm, +inquiring look toward the three men. Iémon alone looked down, his gaze +on the letter the characters of which danced and waved before his eyes. +Sharp as he ordinarily was, before this vigorous and astute old man, +backed by the ruffianly prospective son with impertinent smile, the +cowardice of Iémon deprived him of all spirit. His faculties were +numbed. Kwaiba leaned over and removed the letter from his hands. "Since +Iémon San will not read the letter, Kwaiba will try to do so; a poor +substitute for the accomplished cleric." The old fellow seemed to know +everything, as the tone of contempt indicated. He ran the scroll out in +his hands--"Naruhodo! Ma! Ma! What's this? From some woman: a lascivious +jade indeed!... Eh! Kibei Dono, apology is due your ears. This Kwaiba +laughed at your suspicions." He threw down the scroll, as in a fury. +Kibei picked it up. He began to read: + + "Night is the source of pleasure, but greater that pleasure + at sight of Iémon. The day comes when Iémon and Hana will be + husband and wife, in fact if not in form. 'Ah! Day and night + to be at the service of Iémon.' Thus does Hana pray gods and + Buddhas. When distant from his side, even though the time be + short, painful is its passage. Place this letter next to + your very person. May that night come quickly, when the + coming of Iémon is awaited. The connection with O'Iwa San is + the punishment for sin committed in a previous existence. + Condescend to dismiss her from your mind. View the matter + wholly in this light. The spiteful brush (pen) refuses + further service. Hard, hard, is the lot of this Hana. The + honoured Master comes; the heartfelt wish is accomplished. + + With compliments, + + To Iémon Sama." HANA. + +Kwaiba's rage grew and grew with the reading. At Iémon's name he sprang +up and made a movement toward the stand on which reposed his swords. +Laying a hand on the larger weapon he turned with a scowl--"Ah! This +Kwaiba is old, but in vigour he is young. It is for Kwaiba to sport with +the women. They are not to make a fool of him." Kibei sharply +interposed. "Does Kwaiba Dono gain satisfaction by such a vengeance? To +Kibei it seems a poor one. A matter so easily to be settled is not to be +made a scandal in the ward. Deign, honoured Sir, so to regard it. To +punish both at once with death is proper. But is it expedient? +Condescend to hear the words of Kibei." + +Kwaiba pulled himself up. It was as if some one had dragged him back. +His rage departed. A cold malice took its place. He smiled blandly--"One +does not quarrel over a harlot. Kwaiba spares their lives. Iémon shall +take Hana home--as wife."--"As wife!" Iémon broke through his fear. +"Surely the honoured _Kashira_ is unreasonable. This Iémon is but the +_muko_ of Tamiya. To demand that O'Iwa San be discarded is going too +far. Positively in this matter, though there have been love passages, +the most intimate relation has never followed--now or in previous +relations."--"You lie!" said Kwaiba coldly. "Furthermore 'tis a matter +not passing the period of last night. But that is not to the point. +Against Matazaémon this Kwaiba has a grudge--as yet unsatisfied. Through +O'Iwa San this shall be paid. With Iémon no harsh measures are adopted. +Nay; Kwaiba comes to his aid. You, too, Kibei, shall assist.... Ah! For +the ready consent, thanks. Ma! A delicious revenge is that gathered by +Kwaiba. O'Hana the harlot takes the place of the Ojo[u]san. And she +loves Iémon! In our feasts Natsumé and Imaizumi get the skin of the +omelet; Iémon the centre. Then O'Iwa is to be driven out. To that Tamiya +cannot object. He substitutes honey for garlic;[23] O'Hana the flower +for the ugly toad O'Iwa. Splendid! Splendid! But how? Ah! Here's +Kondo[u], just in the nick of time. Rokuro[u]bei, aid us with your +experience and influence. Aid us with Iémon, who would cleave to the +O'Baké." + +Put in possession of the facts Kondo[u] was aghast. He had come to the +parting of the ways; and under conditions which assured his +participation in the plot. At first he turned on Iémon with bitter +recrimination. "Oh! A virtuous fellow, who would drink a man's wine, lie +with his woman, and then preach morality to a household! But the +mischief is done. If not the paramour of O'Hana San, everybody believes +it to be so...." Kwaiba held up his hands in well-simulated anger. Kibei +and Rokuro[u]bei interfered. Iémon's last resistance was broken down. To +talk? That is the business of a priest. Soon he was as eagerly engaged +in the plot as if he had left the house in Samoncho[u] for that purpose. +Said Rokuro[u]bei--"What difficulty does the matter present? Set on +Watanabé Goro[u] to tempt and make love to O'Iwa. He is badly in debt. +The handsome man of the ward everyone would suspect her fall. Surprised +by Iémon, O'Iwa is driven out as unchaste. This Kondo[u] stipulates that +matters go no further. After all O'Iwa is innocent of offence. The +husband's full rights are not to be excused. Neither she, nor Watanabé +is to suffer injury." + +Kibei laughed outright at the idea of a drawn sword in Iémon's hand. +Iémon turned the contempt on to Kondo[u]. Sneering, he replied--"The +plan is worthless. O'Iwa is chastity itself. In the absence of this +Iémon no man is allowed entrance to the house." Kwaiba knitted his +brows--"Kakusuké! Kakusuké!" As the _chu[u]gen_ appeared--"Go yonder to +the house of Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon San. Say that the Kumi-gashira would +speak with Akiyama San." As the man departed--"Cho[u]zaémon is the man. +For gossip and malice he is a very woman. Rejoice and he weeps; weep and +he rejoices. If Akiyama cannot concoct some plan to get rid of O'Iwa, +then no one can.... Alas! O'Hana and Iémon must die by the hand of this +Kwaiba. Kibei will give his aid." The old man and Kibei got much +enjoyment out of the cowardice of Iémon and the fright of O'Hana. But +not for long. Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, the one-time boy lover of O'Iwa; a +long, lean, hungry-looking man, with long, cadaverous face and a +decidedly bad eye, appeared with the _chu[u]gen_ Kakusuké close behind. +The latter seemed a sort of policeman attending the none-too-willing +Cho[u]zaémon. The latter's brow lightened at sight of the company. He +owed Kwaiba money. Sending away the servant, Kwaiba unfolded the +situation. Said Cho[u]zaémon--"Heigh! Tamiya takes the cast off leman of +Ito[u] Dono. Fair exchange is no robbery; Kibei Uji against O'Hana San. +Iémon San goes into the matter with eyes wide open. The lady is an old +intimate, it is said." This manner of approaching the subject was +Cho[u]zaémon's way. He cared nothing for the scowls of Kibei nor the +wrath of Kwaiba. He was needed, or they would not have called him to +counsel. As for Iémon, he was grateful to Cho[u]zaémon; as neighbour, +and for the insult to Kibei and Kwaiba. + +Continued the mediator--"The obstacle of course is the O'Baké. O'Iwa +is to be driven out. And Watanabé won't answer? Maa! Chastity in an +O'Baké! It is a thing unheard of. 'Tis such, once of womankind, who +seduce living men. Tamiya is now head of the House. O'Iwa once driven +out, the property remains in his hands as its representative. She must +be forced to leave of her own will. Good; very good. What is it worth to +Kwaiba Dono?"--"Look to Iémon for commission," said Kwaiba roughly. +"Nay! Nay!" mouthed Cho[u]zaémon. "Kwaiba is Kwaiba; Iémon is Iémon. The +two are to be settled with separately. If Kwaiba Dono had gone to +extremes at the start no question would have been raised. To do so now, +with all present and after discussion, is out of the question. Kwaiba +Dono wishes to adopt Kibei Uji; to get rid of O'Hana San. Iémon San has +been neatly trapped. He must consent. O'Hana is a woman. She has no +voice in the matter. All this is clear. But as to Cho[u]zaémon's labour +in the affair; that it is which interests this Akiyama." He gave a sour +reprimanding look at Kibei. Then he looked impertinently from Kwaiba to +Iémon, and from Iémon to Kwaiba. Iémon in delight nodded assent. +Cho[u]zaémon promptly turned his back on him and faced Kwaiba. At first +the old man was very angry at the acuteness of Cho[u]zaémon. The sharp, +free exposure did not please him. Then the idea of countering on this +acuteness made him good tempered. He grumbled--"The ten _ryo[u]_ owing +to Kwaiba at the New Year--principal and interest; such is the fee for a +successful issue." Cho[u]zaémon held up his hands in pretended +horror--"Pay back borrowed money! Is that expected by the +Kumi-gashira?"--"Not 'expected,'" put in Kwaiba promptly. "With the seal +of Akiyama San the return is assured." Cho[u]zaémon became +thoughtful--"It is true. The last loan was under seal.... Too bad.... +Well! Well! The conditions are hard. Submission is necessary. The debt +will be forgiven?"--"Kibei and Iémon stand as witnesses," replied +Kwaiba--"Then how is this?" said Cho[u]zaémon. All put their heads +together. Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon went into details. Kwaiba pushed back his +cushion; slapped his thighs. "Cho[u]zaémon, you are cheap at double the +money. Just the thing! Eh, Iémon, Uji? Eh, Muko San?" All grinned a +raptured assent. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE PLOT DEVELOPS + + +For two days Iémon was maturing the preliminaries. He seemed unwell and +out of sorts. The third day he did not get up at all. O'Iwa was properly +anxious. Said she--"The change in the year is a sickly season. +Condescend to take some drug. Allow Suian Sensei to be summoned." Iémon +grumbled a dissent. She went on in her enthusiasm--"He is the very +prince of doctors. See: here is a salve he recommends; for skin and +nerves. O'Hana San, the beautiful concubine of Ito[u] Sama, uses nothing +else. He guarantees it on her praise, as means to remove blemishes of +any kind or source." Iémon looked up quickly. The connection puzzled and +did not please him. Perhaps he noted a puffiness about O'Iwa's face, +remembered a repulsion toward marital usages. The women should leave the +men to play their own game. He said gruffly--"Suian! A dealer in +cosmetics and charms. Have naught to do with his plasters and potions; +as cheats or something worse. As for O'Iwa, she is black as a farm hand +from Ryu[u]kyu[u] (Loo-choo). O'Hana is fair as the white _kiku_. Can +the pastes of Suian Sensei change black to white?" Startled, O'Iwa +looked round from the glass into which she was peering. She was taken by +surprise. In their personal relations Iémon had always been more than +considerate. For some weeks in secret she had been using this drug of +Suian Sensei. In childhood O'Iwa had shown something of an epileptic +tendency. This had worn off with time. Of late the recurrence had +alarmed her. The drug of Suian, at the time anyhow, made her less +conscious of the alarmed critical feeling which heralded the inception +of the attacks. + +Iémon gave her but time to catch the meaning of his insult. He went +on--"Probably it is but a cold. Some eggs, with plenty of hot wine, will +obviate ill effects. Deign to see that they are prepared." The channel +of O'Iwa's thoughts changed. At once she was the housekeeper and nurse, +and all solicitude to make him at ease. In the course of the meal of +eggs with _saké_ in came Natsumé Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. "Ah! +Iémon, pardon the intrusion. Probably the engagement of yesterday with +Kwaiba Sama was forgotten.... In bed! A cold? But such is no treatment +for the complaint. There should be a cheerful, lively atmosphere.... Ah! +Here is the dice box. One can shake dice as well lying down as sitting. +Deign to refresh the spirits with play as well as wine." Iémon saw to it +that both were available. With surprise at first, misgiving afterwards, +O'Iwa heated bottle after bottle of _saké_. The men did not pay the +slightest attention to her presence. Absorbed in their game, there was +but a rough call from time to time for wine, addressed to the air, a +servant, anybody. At the end of the play Natsumé rose to leave in high +spirits. Imaizumi and Tamiya were correspondingly depressed. This was +but a first day's procedure. Day after day, for the space of half the +month, the play was repeated. Iémon had long since recovered. One day he +stood with his hands shoved into the folds of his sash. He was very +sober and sour. "Iwa, is there money in the house?" She looked at him in +surprise. "Matters have not turned out at all well with Kyuzo[u] and +Jinzaémon. This Iémon is a hundred _ryo[u]_ to the bad. With spare cash +at hand an attempt can be made to repair the loss." + +O'Iwa prostrated herself before him. "May the Danna deign to consider. +To Iwa this pastime of gambling seems a very ill one, particularly in a +man of official rank. It is fraught with peril; and the offence once +known rarely is pardoned. Condescend to hear and forgive the warning of +this Iwa." She stopped a little frightened. Iémon was looking at her in +greatest wrath and astonishment. "What! Is there argument from wife to +husband? This insolence of behaviour crowns the insult of refusal. The +very sight of your face is enough to make one sick at the stomach. Boors +and _bakémono_ are shut out at the Hakoné barrier. But you--the guards +have been put to sleep, and you have slipped through. Shut up! Get the +money, or...." O'Iwa crouched at the _sho[u]ji_, in terror and surprise. +The insulting words heaped on her pained and tortured. Now she felt the +sharp sting of a hand forcibly applied to her cheek. Without a word she +left the room. Returning she brought thirty _ryo[u]_ in gold on a +salver. Timidly prostrate she presented it to Iémon. "Condescend to +pardon Iwa. That she is ugly and incompetent she knows. Did not Iémon +accept her?" The man stuffed the gold in his girdle. In reply--"No: +Iémon was cheated by Kondo[u] and Cho[u]bei. A plain woman--perhaps; but +a monster, a worse than _rokurokubi_, was never thought of even in a +dream. Compensation is to be found. Iémon likes gambling. He will +gamble. Have a care to supply the needed funds; and don't interfere." +Roughly he shoved her out of the way, and left the house. + +For long O'Iwa saw nothing of Iémon; but she heard from him. In fact he +was living in semi-secrecy at the house of Rokuro[u]bei. Now this +messenger, then that, would come to O'Iwa. "If there is no money--sell +something. The bearer will indicate. A supply must be found." Thus one +thing after another left the house--to be stored in the godown of +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, to whose clever suggestion was due this way of +stripping O'Iwa of all she possessed. With goods and clothes went the +servants. In the course of a few weeks O'Iwa was living in one room, +furnished with three _tatami_ in lieu of the usual twelve in number. +Hibachi, _andon_ (night lamp), the single garment she wore, this was all +she possessed in the house. Then at last she saw him. The light dawned +on a cold snowy morning of early March. O'Iwa rose, opened the _amado_, +and started her day. About the fourth hour (9 A.M.) the _sho[u]ji_ were +pushed aside and Iémon entered. He looked as if fresh from a night's +debauch. His garments were dirty and disordered. His face was sallow, +the eyes deep set and weary, his manner listless. O'Iwa gave him the +only cushion in the room. Seated before the _hibachi_ (brazier) after +some time he said--"A million pardons: the luck has been very bad.... +Ah! The place here seems in disorder. It is not fit for a man to live +in." He looked around as one waking from a dream. "No wonder: yet all +can be restored. Iémon has surprised you?" Said O'Iwa timidly--"Matters +are a little at odds and ends. O'Iwa needs but little; a stalk of +_daikon_ (radish) and a handful of wheat (_mugi_). Does the Danna remain +here? If so...." There was a painful hitch in her voice, a puzzled look +on her face. She had one _bu_ in cash. In fact she was hoping for the +monthly visit of Yosuké the farmer; if there was a farm any longer. She +did not know. + +"For the night," replied Iémon. "Sleep and food are the essentials of +good play. All has been lost in the gambling houses of Shinjuku and +Shinagawa, at the Nakanocho[u]. Is there no money in the house?... +Evidently not. Deign to secure some, no matter how." He took the silver +_bu_ she presented to him. "At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See +to it that a meal is ready at even; not much, _sashimi_ (sliced raw +fish) and wine. Iémon would play, not eat." With this he rose. O'Iwa +heard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her face buried +in her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she to do? She looked +around. There was not a thing to sell; not even herself. Who would buy +the ugly O'Iwa? An idea came into her head. In a moment she was in the +street. Soon she stood at the door of her uncle, Yoémon. With this uncle +and aunt she had but little to do. Matazaémon had been at daggers drawn +with his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched miser, one +acquiring wealth by very questionable means for a _samurai_. In old days +Cho[u]bei had been a hired agent of Yoémon. The principal had escaped; +the second had to leave Yotsuya and its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt) +came out at O'Iwa's call. She greeted her niece with surprise. "Oya! +Oya! Iwa is a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid +_muko_ was received at Tamiya." The old woman looked at O'Iwa shrewdly, +and not without kindness. O'Iwa took heart. She made answer--"It is +true; of late matters have not gone well. Just now Iwa would ask the +loan of a _sho[u]_ (1/5 peck) of rice, together with a _bu_ to buy eels +or _sashimi_.[24] It is very rude indeed...."--"Very rude indeed!" said +a harsh voice close by. O'Iwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway. +The aunt fled to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoémon--"And +what is Iwa doing at the house of Yoémon? That there is relationship +between them this Yoémon does not recognize. Yoémon never exchanged look +or word with his brother Matazaémon, nor does he desire to do so with +the issue. Let the Tamiya of Samoncho[u] look out for itself. A _muko_ +was taken without aid or advice of Yoémon. A stranger, one practising +wayside divination, this fine fellow turns out a gambler and a debauched +man, to the ruin of the House. Iwa can look to him; ignorant and foolish +woman that she is. This Yoémon would contribute to the needs of a beggar +before granting even a single _mon_ to Iwa." + +The grating rattled sharply as the angry old man pushed it to and let +fall the bar. O'Iwa looked into the dark recess with pained and startled +eyes. So much of a recluse she was learning that Iémon had long been the +talk of the ward. She turned, and slowly took her way back to +Samoncho[u]. Here the reaction came. Strong was the inclination to laugh +and weep; too strong for self-control. In alarm she ran to take from the +closet the potion of Suian. Its effect was the opposite of what she +expected--or perhaps it was taken too late. For an hour O'Iwa writhed, +screamed, laughed in her agony. Then she sank into slumber. On awakening +the sun was already well past the zenith. She sprang up in alarm. This +meal to prepare--the duty of the wife--and not a step taken. It could +not be helped. Just as she was, twisting a towel around her disordered +hair, she started out to the place of one Kuraya Jibei of the Asakusa +Kuramaé no Saka. This man was a lender on the notes from the rice +pensions of the _samurai_--a _fudasashi_ dealer, as these men were +called. + +The distance was great. O'Iwa was tired out on her arrival. At the +entrance the _kozo[u]_ or "boy" hailed her sharply. He waved her off. +"No! No! Old girl, it won't do. Nothing is to be had here. Please come +back the day before yesterday." He barred the way. Said O'Iwa, shrinking +back--"Nothing is wanted of the honoured house. An interview with Jibei +San, an inquiry to make. Such the request." Something about tone or +manner, certainly not pity, made the fellow hesitate--"Jibei San! A +beggar woman wants an interview with Jibei San! How about it?"--"Nothing +to be had," answered the _banto[u]'s_ voice. "Tell her to read the white +tablet hung before the entrance. It is all the house has to give." In +speaking he edged around a little. O'Iwa raised the towel from her face. +At once he was on his feet. "Ah! For long the honoured lady of Tamiya +has not been seen. Many and profitable the dealings with Matazaémon +Dono. Condescend to pardon this senseless fellow. He outrivals his +companions in lack of brains. Deign to enter." The _kozo[u]_ was all +apology--"Condescend wholly to pardon. Deign to have pity on the +ignorance shown. With fear and respect...." Looking into O'Iwa's face he +was overcome by his feelings. Bursting with laughter he fled to the +front of the shop to stuff the dust rag into his mouth in mistake for a +towel. This slight error restored his equanimity. The _banto[u]_ looked +after him with some fellow feeling and much anger. "He is half idiot. +Condescend to disregard his rude speech and manner. After all he is but +a _kozo[u]_.... What can this Jibei do for the lady of Tamiya?" + +"Knowing that the House has dealings with Jibei San, and there being +necessity for three _sho[u]_ of rice, it is ventured to ask the loan." +Thus spoke O'Iwa. Money, actual coin, was on the end of her tongue, but +somehow she could not get the words out. Jibei was not particularly +astonished. Since Iémon had taken charge of the affairs of Tamiya, its +income was usually discounted well beforehand. Moreover, the rumour of +Iémon's gambling was spreading among his connections. Neither Kwaiba nor +Akiyama, nor the others engaged, were men to lose sight of the +likelihood of fine pickings from the Tamiya. Jibei made prompt answer. +"Respectfully heard and understood. It shall be sent.... Ah! It is +required now? Matsu! Matsu! Put up three _sho[u]_ of rice for the lady +of Tamiya. Its conveyance is to be provided. Place a _bu_ in the parcel. +The distance to Yotsuya is great. The _kago_ (litter) men are exacting." +O'Iwa's heart leaped with gratitude at the perspicacity of Jibei. He +watched her departing figure as far as he could see it. Then he took out +a ledger; and against the name of Tamiya he placed a question mark. + +It was dusk when O'Iwa entered the house at Samoncho[u]. She gave a +start on finding Iémon glumly seated before the fireless brazier. "A +fine hour for a woman to be gadding the street. And the meal! +Unprepared: excellent habits in a wife!----" "To the Danna apology is +due. This Iwa is much in the wrong. But for the meal money had first to +be secured...."--"Then there is money, or means to procure it? Where is +it? How much?"--"Nay, the rice is here. This _bu_ is enough to secure +eels, _sashimi_, some delicacy...." She hesitated before Iémon's +doubting glare. He was eyeing rice and money. The mark on the bag caught +his eye. "Whence was this rice had? And this money? From Jibei, the +_fudasashi_ dealer? A visit paid in such garb? Truly the House is +disgraced, not only by your ugliness, but by ill conduct. Who could +remain in such a den?" O'Iwa threw herself in his way as he rose to +leave the room. Clinging to his sleeve she pleaded for pardon, as only a +woman can do who has done no wrong. There was an ugly look on Iémon's +face as he turned on her. Frightened, she would have fled. Instead she +could only crouch like a dog under the blows he showered on her. Then +with a violent kick in the groin he rolled her over, and departed. + +O'Iwa heard footsteps. Had Iémon returned? Despite the pain, she half +sat up in her dread. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. The portly man held +up his hands in horror and benevolence at what he saw. "But O'Iwa--what +has occurred? Ah! Kondo[u] has heard rumours of what is going on. The +_tatami_ (mats), screens, drawers (_tansu_), clothes-baskets--the house +is completely stripped to satisfy the thirst for the money of others. +Now he has descended to blows! Truly he is a miserable fellow." +Kondo[u]'s voice grew loud in his wrath. "This must not go on. +Rokuro[u]bei is responsible to Tamiya, to the ancestors. To be subject +to a fellow like this will never do. A divorce is to be secured. Let him +depart with his plunder. Let him have everything; only to get rid of +him. He is husband, and head of Tamiya. But Kondo[u] will be too much +for him. A divorce shall be secured. Ito[u] Dono, the ward chief, is to +be interested in the affair. Pressure shall be put on Iémon to grant the +letter of divorce." Indignation choked the worthy man. O'Iwa spoke +slowly, with pain and effort. "Be in no such haste, Kondo[u] Sama. Iémon +has not been a good man. Much is known to this Iwa. He buys women at +Nakacho[u]. He buys _geisha_. He gambles. These are a man's vices. As to +these Iwa has nothing to say. She is the wife, for two lives to maintain +the house in good and ill fortune. A good wife does not look to divorce +to rectify mistakes. With such remedy Iwa has nothing to do. But is not +Kondo[u] Sama the _nako[u]do_? Was he not the mediator in the marriage +between Iémon and Iwa? Deign to speak as _nako[u]do_. Rebuke Iémon. +Cause this gambling to be brought to an end." Rokuro[u]bei could hardly +hear her to the end. His testy impatience was in evidence. He broke into +protest--"This is complete madness; utter folly. You allow this fellow +to ruin the House. He will dispose of the pension."--"The goods, the +House, Iwa, all belong to Iémon; to do with as he pleases. Iwa is the +wife. She must submit.... Ah! You refuse. Kondo[u] Sama is no longer the +friend of Iwa, to act as _nako[u]do_." What had come into the soul of +this gentle woman? Kondo[u] in fright shrank back from the look she gave +him--"A very demon! The mother, O'Mino, has returned to life. Oni! Oni! +You are not human. Kondo[u] assuredly will have nothing to do with +O'Iwa, or O'Iwa's affairs." He left her helpless in the middle of her +fit. Forgetting in his fright even his clogs, barefooted, he fled from +the house in Samoncho[u]. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +KWAIBA'S REVENGE + + +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei went direct to the council of the conspirators. He +found them assembled in the house of Ito[u]. Kwaiba, Iémon, O'Hana, +Cho[u]zaémon, Kibei, were drinking _saké_. Kwaiba as usual was bragging +over his prowess in youth extended into age. O'Hana was laughing at him +behind his back. Kibei was surly; yet his share of income was assured. +Kwaiba roundly berated Iémon for lack of energy. "O'Iwa has been allowed +to get the upper hand. Iémon is far too soft to deal with a woman who +has been spoiled all her life." Iémon listened in silence, with a rather +doubtful smile of acquiescence or contempt. In fact, knowing O'Iwa as he +did, he had little confidence in Kwaiba or Cho[u]zaémon, or the methods +they proposed. His own plan was maturing. Meanwhile in part it ran +parallel. On this assembly burst the discomfited Rokuro[u]bei--"Ah! What +an experience! The woman is a very fiend. A new pair of _geta_, bought +but yesterday, and left at your house, Iémon Uji." Iémon looked at +Kondo[u]'s frightened face and bare feet. Then he burst into a roar of +laughter. Kwaiba was indignant. "Is the fright of Kondo[u] San any +license to bring his dirty feet on the _tatami_. Deign, good sir, to +accept water for the cleansing. O'Hana San now is inmate of the house of +Kondo[u]; yet condescend for the moment to act the mistress here." This +was part of the arrangement. With the goods of O'Iwa the person of +O'Hana had been transferred to the charge of the honest Rokuro[u]bei. +There Iémon had easy and decent access to the use of both. + +Said Iémon--"What happened after this Iémon left Samoncho[u]? Kondo[u] +Dono has been frightened." Kondo[u] puffed and fumed as he cleansed his +feet at the mounting step. He groaned--"Iémon Dono, you are certainly +done for. Was it 'three years,' she said? Her face was frightful. This +Rokuro[u]bei has no more to do with the affair. He goes no more to +Samoncho[u]. Alas! He will never sleep again. Oh! Oh! To be haunted in +the next existence by such a rotten O'Baké." Said Kwaiba--"Did Iémon +really beat her? He says he did." Answered Kondo[u]--"She could barely +move a limb. Of love for Iémon not a spark is left; but she clings to +the honour of Tamiya, to the wife's duty to the House. There is no +moving her. Rokuro[u]bei is suspect, as not doing his duty as +_nako[u]do_. Look to yourselves. If she ever gets suspicious of the real +facts, has an inkling of the truth--look out for yourselves." + +Kwaiba was thoughtful; Iémon was indifferent. None of them could think +of aught but the venture already engaged in. A week, ten days, passed. +In that time every effort was made to move O'Iwa to consent to a +divorce. As _Kumi-gashira_, Kwaiba summoned her to his house. Before his +kindly sympathy O'Iwa melted into tears. The scandalous treatment of +Iémon had reached his ears. Why had he not heard of it before it reached +such extremes? He looked indignation at his messenger, the one who had +brought O'Iwa to his presence, Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon the neighbour of +Tamiya, living not far off near the Ten-o[u]. Said the ward +head--"Kwaiba always took this Iémon, or Kazuma, for a scoundrel. A +stranger, why bring him into the ward? But now he is master of Tamiya. +In the place of the excellent, if obstinate, Matazaémon. Alas! The +pension of the House is said to be hypothecated for five years. And the +household goods; and separate properties of Tamiya--all gone?" O'Iwa +nodded assent, and Kwaiba threw up his hands at such wickedness. At all +events he counselled her to consider matters, to accept his aid. He +would place her somewhere; in the country and far off from the ward in +which Iémon as master of Tamiya in its degradation would always be an +unpleasant sight and influence in her life; at least until Iémon could +be expelled. With the fellow's past career doubtless this would happen +before long. Meanwhile O'Iwa was to pass into one of the wretched, +overworked, exhausted drudges on one of Kwaiba's Shimosa farms. From his +chief's expressed views Cho[u]zaémon dissented. This was the one man +O'Iwa distrusted. He had always shown dislike to her. In defense of her +conduct Cho[u]zaémon was too clever to show any warmth. He was the +subordinate making exact report to his chief. O'Iwa was completely taken +in. This friendly neutrality aroused her every grateful feeling. Said +Cho[u]zaémon--"Iémon is a coward. A _samurai_ beats neither woman nor +dog. If either are unfaithful to him, he kills the offender. Iémon's +conduct has been thoroughly bad. Before the reproaches of O'Iwa San, +beaten in argument he has retaliated by beating her to a jelly. Her face +bears the marks of his violence. As to her body, my wife answers for it +that it is a mass of bruises."--"Is that so?" said Kwaiba in deep +sympathy. O'Iwa burst into tears. Kwaiba fumed with rage--"Truly Iémon +is not a human being. He has the horns of a demon." + +Then the priest Myo[u]zen, of the family temple, the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji of +Samégabashi,[25] appeared at the Samoncho[u] house. To him O'Iwa looked +for ghostly consolation against the ills of this world. Instead he +merely chanted the old refrain, harped on the scandal brought on +Samoncho[u] by the continued bickering of the married pair. Husband and +wife had mutual duty toward each other; but also there was a duty toward +their neighbours. Iémon was irreclaimable.... This stranger! O'Iwa San +should deign to take the active part herself; not afford this ill +spectacle and example to the ward. Like most parsons he was convinced by +the noise of his own voice, and spoke with the intense conviction of +long rehearsal. O'Iwa heard him out with a curious chill at heart. The +graves of her beloved _hotoké_ (departed ones) were in the cemetery of +Myo[u]gyo[u]ji. The temple had been one of the few generous features, +almost extravagances, of Matazaémon. It had profited greatly by his +donations. It was the honour of the House against the argument of the +priest and the convenience of the neighbours; and all because a bad man +had been brought into it. "What the revered _osho[u]_ (prebend) has said +reaches to the heart of this Iwa. Submission is to be an inspiration +from the revered _hotoké_. Iwa will seek their counsel." Baffled, the +priest left the house; veiled censure was on his lips; open disobedience +and contempt on the part of O'Iwa. + +Said Kwaiba--"Cho[u]zaémon has failed. At least this Kwaiba has saved +his ten _ryo[u]_--and gained one object. Kondo[u] Dono, thanks for your +kind hospitality to O'Hana San. Do you propose to adopt her?" Kondo[u] +made an emphatic gesture of protest and dissent. He said--"At least +Kondo[u] has the security of goods and money for his generous +expenditures."--"Both of them belonging to O'Iwa San; just as Kwaiba +holds the acknowledgment of Akiyama San." Cho[u]zaémon made a wry face. +The prospect of pressure put on him, with all the added accumulation of +the months of interest, was not a cheerful one. Said Kwaiba +angrily--"Ah! Whoever would have suspected such obstinacy in the O'Baké; +she who always was so yielding within her home and outside of it. She +seemed to be such an easy mark. It was merely a matter of ordering her +out. And now she baffles this Kwaiba of his revenge!" Iémon laughed +outright. Kwaiba looked at him with surprise. Was this charlatan playing +a double game? Said Iémon--"Fear enters at the words of the honoured +chief. Pray condescend to be easy in mind. As yet Cho[u]zaémon has not +failed. At least the question can be argued with the _Kumi-gashira_. It +is left to these principals. Iémon is of better counsel." Then after a +silence during which Kwaiba intently eyed him--"To-morrow O'Iwa San +leaves Yotsuya. Kwaiba Dono gets his revenge on the late master of +Tamiya. Pray remember it, in favour of the present incumbent of the +House." Said Kwaiba fervently--"Iémon would be a son to Kwaiba! Is it +really true--that the O'Baké will be expelled the ward, in disgrace?" +Iémon nodded assent. + +On the following day O'Iwa had completed her ablutions. She arrayed +herself in freshly washed robes. Then she took her place before the +Butsudan. It was memorial day of the decease of the _hotoké_. Earnestly +she prayed--"Deign, honoured _hotoké_, to have regard to this Iwa. The +year has not lapsed since the hand of Iwa was placed in that of Iémon. +Now the House is brought to ruin. No heir appears to console this Iwa +and to continue its worship, to inherit its revenues. 'Take these in +hand. Life lies before Iémon for their enjoyment. His revenue will be +ample. Deign but to have the honour of the House in mind, the +continuance of its line as object.' Such were the words of the honoured +Matazaémon when in life. Unworthy has been the conduct of this trust by +Iémon. But divorce is a scandal, always to be avoided by a woman. Return +the love of Iémon to this Iwa. Deign, honoured _hotoké_, to influence +his wandering passions toward this child of the House. Cause the husband +to return to Tamiya, once more to uphold its rights and influence. Such +is the prayer of this Iwa." She rose, placed the offerings, and struck +the little bell with the hammer. As she did so a noise was heard at the +entrance. Iémon, carrying fishing rod and basket, and followed by +Natsumé Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon, burst into the room. All three +were more or less drunk. Dumfounded O'Iwa looked from one to the other. +Imaizumi carried a tub. Kyuzo[u] knocked it from his shoulders. Then +tumbled clumsily down on the cask. None of them had removed the dirty +_waraji_ (straw sandals) they wore. "Why do so in such a barn?" +hiccoughed Kyuzo[u]. "And this _saké_; Kyuzo[u] found it without, at the +kitchen door. Jinzaémon shouldered it. Whence does it come, Iémon San? +Faugh! It smells as if the cask had been placed for the convenience of +passers-by on the wayside. It stinks. That's what it does." He gave the +cask a kick, knocking out the bung. The filthy liquid poured out on the +floor. + +Iémon appropriated the tub. He seated himself on it. "'Tis the fine +liquor of Tamiya. All the house possesses. Iémon is hungry." Opening his +basket he took out an eel. He began to skin it. A cry from O'Iwa +arrested him. His wife sank down before him in attitude of prayer. +"Importunate jade! What would you now? Further advice to a husband who +wants but to get rid of the sight of an ugly face? Bah! This lump of a +wench is neither good for child-bearing nor for house-keeping; she is +not even a good _rusu_ (care-taker)." His knife made a rip in the skin +of the squirming animal. O'Iwa laid a hand on his sleeve. With a voice +in which sobs mingled with the petition--"To-day is a memorial day of +the honoured _Hotoké Sama_. Deign to refrain from taking life in the +house; nay, before the very _ihai_ in the Butsudan. Such deed will cause +pain to the _Hotoké Sama_; bring disaster on the House, perhaps on this +Iwa and Iémon San." Iémon fairly roared as he sprang up from the +tub--"What! You noisy slut! Is this Iémon to go without food because the +_hotoké_ dislikes the smell of eels?... Jinzaémon, can you cook eels?" +Imaizumi had sought the _ro[u]ka_. His round featureless face showed his +fright and indecision before this critical quarrel of husband and wife. +Of all involved in the plot he was the most unwilling in performance of +his rôle. But he answered according to rote--"Iya! Iémon Uji, the office +of cook is a special one. Jinzaémon is no cook. He leaves that office to +his wife. Moreover the cooking of eels is an art in itself."--"And the +artist is here," chimed in the malignancy of Kyuzo[u]. "O'Iwa San is +noted for her skill."--"Right!" said Iémon. "Kyuzo[u] and Jinzaémon have +heard the refusal of O'Iwa. Cook this eel--or else Iémon pronounces the +formula of divorce against the disobedient wife." + +In silence O'Iwa rose. She went to the portable stove. With the bellows +she stirred up the fire therein. She did not dare even for a moment to +pray at the Butsudan. The skillet was on the fire. The eels were +sizzling in the hot liquor. Suddenly Iémon made an exclamation. Taking a +towel he grasped the handle of the vessel. The next moment he had forced +down the hot pan and its contents on the head of O'Iwa. "Kiya!" With the +single cry she fell over backwards, writhing in pain under the +infliction of the scalding mess streaming over face, neck, and bosom. +Imaizumi fled in dismay. Even Natsumé Kyuzo[u] protested. Seizing the +arm of Iémon--"Iémon Uji, you go too far. Don't kill her." "Kill the +O'Baké? It's impossible." Iémon spoke coldly. He was the one person of +collected wits in the room. + +Groaning with agony O'Iwa came to her senses. A man was leaning over +her. Half blind as she was, she could recognize Cho[u]bei. His look was +grave. His voice was reticent and confused. "What has been going on +here, O'Iwa Dono? Ah! Cho[u]bei comes at a bad season. Ma! Ma! The +house, too; stripped bare to the very boards, and the season still +wintry. Truly this Iémon is a beast--a very brute (_chikusho[u]_). What +is Cho[u]bei to do? There is this matter of the honour of Tamiya." He +wrung his hands as in great perplexity, glancing sideways toward O'Iwa. +The first part of his speech she disregarded. Such talk and consolation +were growing stale. That all should pity her caused no surprise. Her +situation was not unusual. It was the last words which caught her ear. +"The honour of Tamiya: Cho[u]bei San?" Cho[u]bei turned away; to put +some peppermint in his eyes. Tears stood in them as he turned again to +her. O'Iwa was alarmed. "What has happened?" She caught his sleeve, drew +close to him. He answered--"Cho[u]bei cannot speak. To find O'Iwa San in +such dreadful state renders it impossible to explain. Iémon San has gone +too far." So he had, from Cho[u]bei's point of view and for his +purposes. These young fellows never can keep within bounds; even in +abuse of a woman. His resentment was extreme. O'Iwa insisted. Finally +the resistance of Cho[u]bei was overcome. Iémon's name was posted at the +Kuramaé of Asakusa. He was in debt on every side. As the final blow, he +had stolen the seal of Ito[u] Kwaiba and forged an acknowledgment for +twenty _ryo[u]_. Kwaiba's enmity to Matazaémon was well known. He liked +Iémon no better, and would pursue him to the end, force him to cut +belly, and accomplish the official degradation and extinction of the +Tamiya House (_kaieki_). "What is to be done?" He turned squarely to +O'Iwa. She said--"Ito[u] Dono has been kind to O'Iwa. Perhaps if request +be made...." Cho[u]bei laughed. "Ito[u] Kwaiba is always kind to a +woman. It is not O'Iwa San whom he hates. But this is an affair between +men. He secures vengeance on Matazaémon through Iémon and this official +extinction of Tamiya. It is too tempting. He is not to be trusted. No +hint of the deed must reach him. Is there no money at the command of +O'Iwa San? The sum is but twenty _ryo[u]_. Iémon brought this news to +Cho[u]bei last night. He leaves Edo, to go in hiding, after ... after +... punishing the ... Well! Well! He is a wicked man. Cho[u]bei never +suspected such wickedness. But Iémon is not the issue. He represents and +can disgrace the Tamiya. There lies the issue. Has O'Iwa San no means, +nothing in coin?"--"Less than a _bu_, sixty _mon_." She held out the +coppers to Cho[u]bei. + +Said Cho[u]bei with decision--"There is one resource left. There is +the person of O'Iwa San. Deign to go into service at the pleasure +quarter. Cho[u]bei is skilful. In seven days these wounds can be healed. +Twenty _ryo[u]_ secured, the paper is taken up, the robbery of the seal +is never discovered. We can laugh at Kwaiba's anger. All is for the +Tamiya." He noted that O'Iwa was hesitating--"It is but as a pledge. The +money is advanced on the person of O'Iwa San. A week, ten days, and +other sources of loan will be discovered. This is the only measure +Cho[u]bei can suggest. He has no means of his own to meet this debt." He +smiled as at a thought--"Perhaps Kwaiba himself will pay his own debt!" +He chuckled at the idea. "Why not make appeal at once?" repeated O'Iwa, +grasping at any straw of safety from this resource, so horrible to the +_samurai_ woman. Said Cho[u]bei promptly--"Ito[u] Sama knows perfectly +well the state of Samoncho[u]. Asakusa, Honjo[u], are far removed. An +appeal for twenty _ryo[u]_ as surety money in applying for a situation +would appeal to him; the other would not. Besides, thus far away he +could not investigate closely, if he would. He could but say 'yes' or +'no.'" O'Iwa remembered what Kwaiba had said--the necessity of removing +to a distance. The words and actions of these rascals dove-tailed +admirably. A long silence followed. With exultation at heart Cho[u]bei +saw her rise. She put out the fire, gathered together the few personal +articles she still possessed. On seeing her struggle with the heavy rain +doors he came to her aid. "For the time being accept the hospitality of +Cho[u]bei's poor quarters. These wounds are to be healed." With full +heart O'Iwa gratefully accepted. She took his hand as if to kiss it. +Cho[u]bei hastily snatched it away. In his sleeve, the ink not +twenty-four hours old, was the paper of the sale of O'Iwa to Cho[u]bei; +her passing over to his guardianship, to dispose of as a street harlot, +a night-hawk. The consideration? Five _ryo[u]_: payment duly +acknowledged, and of course nominal. The paper of transfer was in +thoroughly correct form. Cho[u]bei had drawn it himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U] + + +O'Iwa's stay of nearly seven days at Cho[u]bei's house was one of the +golden periods of her life. O'Taki received the Ojo[u]san with humble +joy. Iémon could not drop Cho[u]bei out of his life of prosperity. O'Iwa +was soon brought in contact with the humble pair in adversity. Hers was +a generous heart, and O'Taki could not look around her house without +some indication of this kindness. Her sympathy with the wronged wife was +great. A husband--thriftless, a gambler, inconsiderate--of such a one +she had some experience. By the same means this lady was brought to her +present pass. It roused her indignation. As to brutality; that was +another matter. She squared her stout shoulders and looked derisively at +the loose angularity of Cho[u]bei, his rickety physique. But the storm +would pass. Ito[u] Sama, Kondo[u] Sama, Myo[u]zen Osho[u], all these +were agreed. The Ojo[u]san now out of his reach, without a home to go +to, and only hostile faces met with in the ward, Iémon Sama would soon +come to terms. Would the Ojo[u]san deign to honour their humble home as +long as she liked. She at once suppressed O'Iwa's rather futile attempts +to aid in her rough household work. It had been the lady's part to +direct her maids in their more repugnant tasks, and now brought right +under her hand in this plebeian household. O'Iwa never had undergone the +harsher lot of her mother O'Mino. + +Cho[u]bei in his way was as kind as his wife. At once he devoted +himself to the repair of his property. When O'Iwa produced the paste and +lotion of Suian Sensei, as sovereign for the complexion, Cho[u]bei took +them, smelled and carefully tasted, and finally put some of the paste on +the end of the _hashi_ or sticks to arrange the charcoal in the +_hibachi_. A smell of garlic pervaded the room. He noted the puffy face +of O'Iwa, the unnatural, almost ghastly, white of the skin where the +wide pockmarks permitted it to be seen. Within the circles of these +scars there was a curious striated effect, only seen at times in the +efforts of artists to depict the supernatural, or of savages to frighten +their foes. It gave a drawn cadaverous look to the lower part of the +face. "There is more in it than _that_," mused Cho[u]bei. During her +stay O'Iwa had one of her attacks--of nerves--in fact a true epileptic +seizure. Cho[u]bei put an embargo at once on all remedies but his own. +Cynically, he added--"But elsewhere there will be no Cho[u]bei. If the +Okusama deigns to apply the drugs of Suian Sensei where she now goes, +doubtless she will find early relief. At present they spoil Cho[u]bei's +efforts." The clever rascal at once recognized his fellow in Suian, +bribed to render O'Iwa more hideous than Nature had made her, to take +away her womanhood and hope of an heir to the Tamiya. To poison her? +That he doubted; although the ignorance of leech and victim might +readily lead to such result. + +Within the seven days O'Iwa San once more could show herself in public. +It was now Cho[u]bei's part to carry the plot to completion. Iémon, at +the proposition, had said--"Sell her as a night-hawk! An ugly woman like +that no one will approach."--"'Tis Cho[u]bei's trade," said the pimp +coolly. "In Yoshidamachi they have noses--over night. Between dark and +dawn the member melts, becomes distorted, and has to be made. It has +served its purpose. This is Cho[u]bei's affair. Provided that O'Iwa +never again troubles the presence of Iémon Sama the object is +attained."--"That is true. Do what you please. Kill her, if desired. +O'Iwa in the Yotsuya; and Cho[u]bei feels the wrath of Ito[u] Dono, of +this Iémon." Unwillingly he signed the contract required by Cho[u]bei. +He gave the latter a fee of ten _ryo[u]_ for the excision of this +excrescence, and with a sigh of joy learned of the disappearance in +company of the pimp and O'Iwa. Within three days carpenters and other +workmen swarmed over the Tamiya in Samoncho[u]. The master made ready +for his return. + +O'Taki had gone forth on a mission for Cho[u]bei. This would insure her +absence for the greater part of the day. Said Cho[u]bei--"Deign, +Okusama, to allow Cho[u]bei to prove his art. All his accomplishments +have not been displayed." To pass off the ugly woman at night could be +done. He was compelled to act by daylight; though relying somewhat on +the dusky interior of Toémon's entrance and reception room. This Toémon +was the chief of the guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate +street-walkers, lowest of their class. Cho[u]bei sat down before O'Iwa. +As if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of brushes and +spatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh colour, +pinks--even reds. Under his skilful hands O'Iwa was transformed. To make +her beautiful was impossible. He made her passable. The weather was +cold, though spring was now close at hand. Cho[u]bei hesitated. The walk +was a long one. His handiwork might fade or melt under the sweating +induced by effort. Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were +to be as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house he +had left the two women to themselves, and saw O'Iwa only when O'Taki was +present. So he called a _kago_ and gave the necessary directions. As the +coolies moved off with their fair burden he trotted along in the rear, +his project occupying his busy mind. + +The place of Toémon was at Yoshidacho[u] Nicho[u]me, in the centre of +the Warigesui district. To the north was the canal of that name. To the +south a second canal ditto; the second stream was the larger, fairer, +and more pretentious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was +the Ho[u]onji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just across the +bounding river or canal of the district. As the _kago_ bearers ambled +down the bank of the North Warigesui, O'Iwa thought she had never seen a +more filthy stream than this back-water with its stale current. The +bearers put them down at the canal. Cho[u]bei had some directions to +give during the short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their +destination. Said he--"For a _samurai_ woman to engage in this business +is a serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to +secure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. The wife +performs her highest duty in saving the honour of the House. Is not that +true?" There was a little sob in O'Iwa's voice as she gave assent. She +felt different now that she was close at hand to the scene and crisis of +her trial. Continued Cho[u]bei--"The agreement has been made out as with +O'Iwa, daughter of Kanémon, the younger brother of this Cho[u]bei and +green-grocer of Abegawacho[u] of Asakusa. Deign to remember that the +twenty _ryo[u]_ is needed to save a father in peril of default and +imprisonment."--"The cases are not so different," whispered O'Iwa. "Just +so," said Cho[u]bei. "Here is the place. Condescend to wait a moment, +here at the entrance." Briskly he entered the house. "A request to +make!"--"Ah! Is it Cho[u]bei San? The Danna Sama is absent for the day, +at the office of the ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he +has been robbed. The girl he accused was punished--perhaps unjustly. All +the women of this house are honest."--"Beyond repair," laughed +Cho[u]bei. "However, the other matter has been agreed on. The girl is +here. An uncontrollable jade! The master has deigned to aid Cho[u]bei. +Thanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, it is as well for +Kanémon to get the profit of the business. If she breaks out--put a ring +in her nose, and treat her as the farmers treat their cattle. Don't let +her again bother home or Cho[u]bei. She will lie--of course. At Toémon's +they are used to lies?" The woman Matsu laughed--"No fear as to that." +She looked over the contract with care. "Ah! She is sold for life +service; otherwise the twenty _ryo[u]_ would be a scandalous price. Is +that her?... Um! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light.... This +Matsu would never have closed the bargain without a view. But Toémon San +has left no choice. In the scarcity of women, and his good-will to +Cho[u]bei San, he would pay any sum. At twenty _ryo[u]_ she is a gem! +You can come up here. Také! Haru! A new girl. Take her in charge and +show her the house and its ways.... Cho[u]bei San, some tea." Cho[u]bei +put a word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls were +leading off the hesitating O'Iwa he said loudly and roughly--"Remember +to obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. Whatever she commands is +right and must be done: no nonsense. Ah! Something forgotten: a moment +please." He drew O'Iwa aside, seeing that she was on the verge of tears. +Speaking gently--"Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything. +The house of Toémon in Honjo[u] is not the drawing room of Tamiya in +Yotsuya. Deign to remember that Cho[u]bei must play his part. Life is +like an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to pass, +some danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condescend to have House and +husband in mind. It is but for a week--or so."--"And Iémon San, the +House; they will be secure?"--"That Cho[u]bei is assured of. See: he has +the twenty _ryo[u]_ in hand. It is mere matter of securing the +compromising paper and the return of Iémon. Some negotiations are +necessary for that. In the future his behaviour will be much improved." +He clinked the coin before her. As O'Iwa passed up the stairs he +returned to the _hibachi_ of the wife. The tea was a short course. +Cho[u]bei was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from +above in the course of O'Iwa's initiation into a vileness the depth of +which she never even could suspect. "Yes: trade is good. Women are +difficult to secure. The men prefer to have them in their homes, rather +than to gain by their service elsewhere." In such professional talk of a +few moments he quickly dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his +clogs, and departed. O'Iwa had disappeared far into the depths. + +Toémon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman--"Are you mad, to +pay twenty _ryo[u]_ for such an ugly wench? No choice was given. This +Matsu was to receive her. Cho[u]bei is a cheat." Toémon and the +_banto[u]_ drew O'Iwa under the light, much as if she were a bag of +rice--"The clever rascal! From crown of the head to neck she is all made +up. And perhaps elsewhere."--"At all events she is a woman." The +_banto[u]_ spoke as in doubt. "Never mind: we are great artists, too, if +not so good at cheating as this Cho[u]bei. Twenty-six years! She's forty +at least.... What may be your honoured age?"--"Twenty-six years," +replied the distressed O'Iwa. The wife threw up her hands--"And she does +not lie!... Haru! Ko[u]ta! It is time to go out. The bell already +strikes the hour of the dog (7 P.M.). Take Iwa to the reception room +(_yoséba_). She is to learn the ways of the place; where to entertain +her guests.... Come! Along with all of you!" Some ten or fifteen women +had gathered in their array for their night's campaign. Paint, powder, +plaster, disguised the ravages of disease among the hardened set of this +low class house. O'Iwa accompanied O'Haru to what had been called the +_yoséba_. The girl explained to her. Here was the place to bring and +entertain any guest picked up on the street. They were not the degraded +wretches who made the darkness of an alleyway the reception room for +their lovers. It was to be remembered that the wine drunk not only +profited the house, but paid in commissions for their own cosmetics and +other little gratifications. On entering the place O'Iwa shrank back to +the wall in horror; to shrink away in turn from the filth and obscenity +to be seen on that support. She would have fled, but the entering crowd +pressed her further in. It was a long room. The entrance formed a sort +of parlour or place to sit. The rest of the apartment was divided +longitudinally into little cubicula, rooms of the space of the one dirty +mat with which each was furnished. A shelf contained its cynically +filthy and suggestive furniture. + +O'Iwa's disgust and terror was too obvious. O'Haru held on to her arm +to prevent flight. The attention of the others was drawn to them. "Does +the beauty want an apartment to herself? That is the privilege of the +Oiran, the Go Tayu, the Kashiku.[26] Ah! Sister dear; it is to be +learned that this place is Hell--First Block. There is no 'second block' +(nicho[u]mé). One gets used to anything here; even to use a demon's +horns for toothpicks." Thus spoke a hard-faced woman of some thirty odd, +by her looks. Said the frightened O'Iwa in low tones--"Iwa has not come +for this service. She is but a pledge. This redeemed, within the week +she returns to her home. This place upsets one's stomach." Those present +laughed loudly. "We all say that. The real reason for our coming is not +to be told. Be assured that you must perform the service, or suffer. +Condescend not to fall into the hands of the Okamisan. In anger she is +terrible." There was a general movement of the women. Said O'Haru, +drawing along O'Iwa by the hand--"Come! Make no trouble. A newcomer, you +are sure to be successful and please Matsu Dono." O'Iwa resolutely held +back. No matter what the suffering she would undergo it. Ah! A week in +this place indeed was to be life in Hell. She called up the sight of the +dismantled house, the figure of her grandfather, anything to strengthen +her will to resist. O'Haru left the room. "Okamisan, the new girl +refuses to serve. Haru makes report." The wife of Toémon leaped up from +her cushion. Dressed in night clothes, a long pipe in hand, she rushed +into the room. "What nonsense is this? Which slut is it that refuses the +service of the house?... You! The ink on the receipt for twenty _ryo[u]_ +paid for your ugly face and body is hardly dry.... Pledge? A week's +service? You lie: as your uncle said you would lie. You are here for +life service as a street harlot. Out with you!... No? No?" She was about +to throw herself on O'Iwa, to cast her into the street. Then her +passion, to outward appearance, cooled. She was the woman of her +business, malevolent and without pity. "O'Kin! O'Kin!" The others now +gathered around O'Iwa. O'Haru and the girl O'Také plead with her to +obey. They tried to hustle her off by force. Said O'Haru--"Report had to +be made. This Haru acted for the best. Truly such obstinacy deserves +punishment. But Haru is filled with pity. Deign to obey. Go forth to the +service. The result of refusal is terrible." O'Iwa shook her +head--"O'Haru San is free from blame. Iwa is grateful for the kind +words. To go out to this service is impossible." The woman O'Kin strode +into the room; a big, strapping wench, and the understudy of O'Matsu in +her husband's affections. "A new recruit?" She spoke in inquiry--"Yes: +and obstinate. It is a matter of punishment in the _seméba_.... Now! Out +with you all! No dawdling!" The irate woman turned on her flock. They +fled like sheep into the open. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE PUNISHMENT + + +O'Iwa did not move. The two women approached and laid hands on her. Her +yielding made no difference in the roughness of their treatment. +Dragged, hustled, shoved, with amplitude of blows, she was already much +bruised on reaching the place of punishment--the _seméba_, to use the +technical term of these establishments "for the good of the community." +During a temporary absence of the mistress, a ray of kindliness seemed +to touch the woman O'Kin. She pointed to the square of some six feet, to +the rings fastened in the rafters. "Don't carry self-will to extremes. +Here you are to be stripped, hauled up to those rings, and beaten until +the bow breaks. Look at it and take warning. Kin is no weakling." She +shoved back her sleeve, showing an arm as hard and brawny as that of a +stevedore. With disapproval she observed O'Iwa. The latter stood +unresisting, eyes on the ground. Only the lips twitched from time to +time. As the only person in the house, male or female, not to fear the +Okamisan, O'Kin could only put down the courage to ignorance. She +shrugged her shoulders with contempt. "A man would cause you no pain. +The same cannot be said of Kin. You shall have the proof." Perhaps +severity would be more merciful, by quickly breaking down this +obstinacy. + +The wife returned with the instrument of torture, a bow of bamboo wound +with rattan to strengthen it. O'Kin took it, ostentatiously bent and +displayed its stinging flexibility before the eyes of O'Iwa. The latter +closed them. She would cut off all temptation to weakness. At a sign O'Kin +roughly tore off the _obi_. A twist, and the torn and disordered _kimono_ +of O'Iwa fell to her feet with the skirt. She had no shirt. Thus she was +left completely naked. In modesty she sank crouching on the ground. The +cold wind of the March night made her shiver as O'Kin roped her wrists. +Again the woman whispered her counsel in her ear--"When you get enough, +say 'Un! Un!'" Detecting no sign of consent she took a ladder, climbed up, +and passed the ropes through the rings above. She descended, and the two +women began to haul away. Gradually O'Iwa was raised from the sitting +posture to her full height of extended arms, until by effort her toes +could just reach the ground. In this painful position the slightest twist +to relieve the strain on the wrists caused agonizing pains through the +whole body. "Still obstinate--strike!" shouted the wife. O'Kin raised the +bow and delivered the blow with full force across the buttocks. A red +streak appeared. O'Iwa by a natural contortion raised her legs. The blows +descended fast, followed at once by the raised welt of flesh, or the blood +from the lacerated tissue. Across the shoulder blades, the small of the +back, the buttocks, the belly, they descended with the full force of the +robust arms and weight of O'Kin. Every time the legs were raised at the +shock the suspended body spun round. Every time the toes rested on the +ground the bow descended with merciless ferocity. The sight of the torture +roused the fierce spirit in the tormentors. O'Kin redoubled the violence +of her blows, seeking out the hams and the withers, the shoulders, the +tenderest points to cause pain. The wife ran from side to side, gazing +into the face and closed eyes of O'Iwa, trying to detect weakening under +the torture, or result from some more agonizing blow. O'Iwa's body was +striped and splashed with red. O'Kin's hands slipped on the wet surface of +the rod. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation. Blood was now gushing from +the nose, the eyes, the mouth of O'Iwa. "Okamisan! Okamisan! It won't do +to kill her. Deign to give the order to cease. She must be lowered." The +wife coolly examined the victim. "She has fainted. Lower her, and throw +salt water over her. The sting will bring her to." O'Kin followed the +instructions in the most literal sense. She dashed the bucket of water +with great impetus right into O'Iwa's face. "Un!" was the latter's +exclamation as she came to consciousness. "She consents! She consents!" +cried O'Kin with delight. The wife was decidedly sceptical, but her aid +plainly would go no further at this time. Said she--"Leave her as she is. +There are other matters to attend to than the whims of an idle vicious +jade. She would cheat this Matsu out of twenty _ryo[u]_? Well: time will +show the victor." She departed--"to drink her wine, pare her nails, and +sing obscene songs to the accompaniment of the _samisen_." + +Tied hand and foot O'Iwa lay semi-conscious in the cold shed of +punishment. At midnight the girls returned to this "home." They gathered +around the prostate O'Iwa. From O'Kin they had an inkling of the courage +displayed. They admired her, but none dared to touch her bonds. At last +O'Haru San, unusually successful in her night's raid, ventured to +approach the half drunk mistress of the house. "Haru makes report." She +spread her returns before the gratified Okamisan. Timidly the girl +added--"O'Iwa San repents. Deign to remit her punishment. She looks very +ill and weak."--"Shut up!" was the fierce retort. Then as afterthought +of sickness and possible loss came to mind. "She can be untied and sent +to bed."--"And food?"--"She can earn it." The woman turned on O'Haru, +who bowed humbly and slipped away. That night the girls contributed from +their store to feed O'Iwa; as they did on the succeeding days and +nights. The wife would have stopped the practice, but Toémon interfered. +He meant to keep his dilapidated stock in as good repair as possible. He +fed them pretty well. "The woman is not to be starved--at least too +openly. The last case gave this Toémon trouble enough, and on the very +day this epileptic came into the house, to bring confusion with her. +Beat her if you will; but not enough to kill her." O'Matsu followed his +words to the letter. One beating was followed by another; with interval +enough between the torture to insure recuperation and avoid danger to +life. These scenes came to be regarded as a recreation of the house. The +other inmates were allowed to attend, to witness the example and +fascinate their attention. But at last the Okamisan despaired. Amusement +was one thing; but her hatred of O'Iwa was tempered by the desire to +find some use for her, to get a return for the twenty _ryo[u]_ of which +she had been swindled. Finally the advice of the _banto[u]_ was +followed. "The men of the house cannot be tempted to approach such an +apparition. The other girls have not time to devote to making up O'Iwa +as for the stage. They have not twenty _ryo[u]_ at stake, as had +Cho[u]bei. Let her wash the dishes." Thus was O'Iwa "degraded" from her +high estate as street-walker. Turned into a kitchen drudge she shed +tears of joy. She almost forgot the matter of the pledge in this new and +pleasant life. The time and the place, perhaps the drug she took, had +done their work on the mind of O'Iwa. Iémon, the house of Samoncho[u], +the _ihai_ in the Butsudan, the pleasant garden--all were of the tissue +of a dream amid a toil which deposited her on the straw wrappings of the +charcoal and in a shed, thoroughly worn out at the end of her long day. +The O'Iwa of Samoncho[u] at this end of the lapsing year of service was +dormant. But accidents will happen. + +There was excitement in the house. Mobei, the dealer in toilet +articles--combs, brushes, jewel strings--was at the grating. The women +were clustered before the wares he exposed in his trays. This Mobei, as +dealer in toilet articles (_koma-mono_) wandered all the wards of Edo, +his little trays fitting neatly into each other, and wrapped in a +_furoshiki_ or bundle-handkerchief. His wares formed a marvellous +collection of the precious and common place, ranging from true coral and +tortoise shell, antique jewelry and curious _netsuké_ of great value, to +their counterfeits in painted wood, horn, and coloured glass. "Mobei +San, long has been the wait for you. Is there a bent comb in +stock?"--"Truly this Mobei is vexing. He humbly makes apology, lady. +Here is just the thing.... How much? Only a _bu_.... Too high? Nay! With +women in the ordinary walks of life it is the wage of a month. To the +honoured Oiran it is but a night's trifling." The other women tittered. +O'Haru was a little nettled at the high sounding title of Oiran. She +would not show her irritation. Mobei continued his attentions. He laid +before her and the others several strings of jewels, their "coral" made +of cleverly tinted paste. "Deign to look; at but one _bu_ two _shu[u]_. +If real they would cost twenty _ryo[u]_."--"And Mobei has the real?" The +dealer laughed. As in pity, and to give them a glimpse of the far off +upper world, he raised the cover of a box in the lower tier. They gasped +in admiration before the pink of the true coral. Hands were stretched +through the grating to touch it. Mobei quickly replaced the cover. "For +some great lady," sighed O'Haru--"Just so," replied Mobei, adjusting his +boxes. He had sold two wooden painted combs and a string of horn beads +in imitation of tortoise shell. He pocketed the hundred "cash," those +copper coins with a hole in the centre for stringing. Then briefly--"The +necklace is for no other than the Kashiku of the Yamadaya, the loved one +of Kibei Dono of Yotsuya. The comb (_kanzashi_) in tortoise shell and +gold is for the honoured lady wife of Iémon Dono, the _go kenin_. But +Mobei supplies not only the secular world. This--for one who has left +the world; for Myo[u]zen Osho[u] of Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, the gift of Ito[u] +Dono. For the custom of Mobei the Yotsuya stands first in order." He +took a box from his sleeve and showed them the rosary of pure crystal +beads. Even in the dull light of a lowering day the stones flashed and +sparkled. The women showed little interest. A priest to them was not a +man--ordinarily. + +He shouldered his pack. "Mobei San--a comb with black spots, in +imitation of tortoise shell. Please don't fail me on the next visit." +Mobei nodded agreement. Then he halted and turned. One of the women had +called out in derision--"Here is O'Iwa San. Surely she wants to +purchase. Mobei San! Mobei San! A customer with many customers and a +full pocketbook." These women looked on O'Iwa's assignment to the +kitchen as the fall to the lowest possible state. At sight of the +newcomer Mobei gasped. O'Iwa on leaving the door of Toémon's house, +_miso_ (soup) strainers for repair in one hand, fifteen _mon_ for bean +paste (_to[u]fu_) tightly clasped in the other, came face to face with +the toilet dealer, "The lady of Tamiya--here!"--"The lady of Tamiya!" +echoed the astonished and curious women. Said O'Iwa quickly--"Mobei San +is mistaken. This is Iwa; but lady of Tamiya...." Hastily she pulled her +head towel over her face. In doing so the "cash" slipped from her hand. +A _mon_ missing meant no _to[u]fu_; result, a visit to the _seméba_. In +recovering the lost coin Mobei was left in no doubt. "'Tis indeed the +lady of Tamiya. It cannot be denied." O'Iwa no longer attempted the +impossible. She said--"It is Iwa of Tamiya. Mobei San, a word with you." +The women were whispering to each other. "He called her '_shinzo[u]_.'" +Said O'Haru--"There always was something about her to arouse suspicion; +so ugly, and with such grand airs. And how she endured the punishment! +Truly she must be a _samurai_ woman." The minds of all reverted to their +master Toémon, and how he would take this news. + +O'Iwa had drawn Mobei somewhat apart from the grating. With downcast +face she spoke--"Deign, Mobei San, to say nothing in the ward of this +meeting with Iwa." To Mobei's earnest gesture of comprehension--"Affairs +had gone badly with Tamiya. Iémon San was misled into gambling by +Natsumé Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. He was carried away by the +passion. It was no longer possible to stay in Samoncho[u]. Worse conduct +followed. In the kindness and advice of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama and +Kondo[u] Sama, this Iwa found support. But she disobeyed. She would not +follow the advice given. However, gratitude is felt by Iwa. One cannot +leave this place, or long since she would have paid the visit of +acknowledgment. A matter of importance arose. Cho[u]bei San came to +Iwa's aid, and saved the situation. This place is terrible, but the +consequences of not coming would have been more so. To Cho[u]bei +gratitude is felt. It was the opportunity offered the wife to show her +faith and courage." Now she looked bravely in Mobei's face. It was the +toilet dealer's turn to show confusion--"Honoured lady, is nothing +known?"--"Known?" answered O'Iwa in some surprise. "What is there to +know? When this Iwa left Samoncho[u] to be sure the house was cracking +apart everywhere. The light poured in as through a bamboo door.... Ah! +Have matters gone badly with the Danna in Iwa's absence?" Mobei shook +his head in dissent. "Alas! Ito[u] Sama, Akiyama or Kondo[u] San, has +misfortune come to them, without a word of condolence from Iwa? Perhaps +Cho[u]bei San, in his precarious life...." The poor isolated world of +the thoughts of this homely creature was limited to these friends in +need. + +Mobei had sunk on his knees before her. He raised eyes in which stood +tears of pity and indignation. "The Ojo[u]san knows nothing of what has +occurred in Yotsuya? This Mobei will not keep silent. With the affairs +of Iémon Sama, of Ito[u] Dono and Akiyama San nothing has gone wrong. +The absence of the lady O'Iwa is otherwise related. She has abandoned +house and husband to run away with a plebeian, the _banto[u]_ at the +green-grocer's on Shinjuku road. Such is the story circulated." O'Iwa +drew away from him as from a snake--then: "Mobei, you lie! Why tell such +a tale to this Iwa? Are not the words of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama Sama, +of Cho[u]bei San still in Iwa's ears? What else has she had to console +her during these bitter months but the thought of their kindness? This +dress (a scantily wadded single garment), these bare feet in this snow, +this degraded life--are not they evidences of Iwa's struggle for the +honour of husband and House? Mobei, slander of honourable men brings one +to evil. Mobei lies; lies!" + +He seized her dress. The man now was weeping. "The lady of Tamiya is a +saint. Alas! Nothing does she know of the wicked hearts of men. Too +great has been the kindness of the Ojo[u]san to this Mobei for him to +attempt deceit. Deign to listen. This day a week; was it not the day to +a year of the Ojo[u]san's leaving the house in Yotsuya?" O'Iwa turned to +him with a startled face. He continued--"A week ago Mobei visited +Yotsuya. He has many customers there, not too curious about prices. +Hence he brings the best of his wares. Coming to the house in +Samoncho[u] a feast was in progress. There were present Ito[u] Dono, +Akiyama Sama, Natsumé and Imaizumi Sama, Kondo[u] Dono; O'Hana San, of +course. All were exceedingly merry, Iémon Dono poured out a cup of wine. +'Mobei! Mobei! Come here! Drain this cup in honour of the occasion. We +celebrate the anniversary of the expulsion of the _bakémono_. The demon +is driven forth from the Paradise of Yotsuya. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge +Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!' This Mobei was amazed--'The +O'Baké.... What O'Baké?'--'Why: O'Iwa San. A year since, with the aid of +these good friends, and one not present here, Iémon freed himself from +the clutches of the vengeful apparition. Our _Kumi-gashira_ granted +divorce in due form. The son of Takahashi Daihachiro[u]--Yanagibara +Kazuma--Tamiya Iémon no longer catches at sleep to wake in fear. Chief, +deep is the gratitude of Iémon for the favour done by Ito[u] Dono.' The +Ojo[u]san a _bakémono_! At these outrageous words Mobei felt faint. +Receiving the cup, as in modesty returned to the _ro[u]ka_ to drink, the +contents were spilled on the ground. Ah! Honoured lady, it is not only +that the Ojo[u]san has been driven out. Her goods have been cleverly +stolen by false messages of gambling losses. Stored with Kondo[u] Sama +they were brought back on the success of the wicked plot. The whole is a +conspiracy of Iémon Dono with Ito[u] Dono, with Akiyama, Cho[u]bei, +Kondo[u], and others. They bragged of it, and told the tale in full +before this Mobei, laughing the while. Why, lady! On the word of +Cho[u]bei San the order of divorce was issued by Ito[u] Dono. Within the +month O'Hana San left the shelter of the house of Kondo[u] Sama to enter +the Tamiya as bride. Deign to look. Here is a jewelled comb reserved by +Iémon Sama as present for O'Hana San his wife. Here is gift of Ito[u] +Dono to Myo[u]zen Osho[u] for his efforts 'in the cause.'" + +O'Iwa stood as one frozen. With Mobei's words the light was flooding +into mind and soul. Step by step she now followed clearly the stages of +this infamous conspiracy against her peace and honour. She had been +fooled, cheated, degraded--and by Ito[u] Kwaiba, the enemy of +Matazaémon; by Iémon, son of the hereditary foe Takahashi Daihachiro[u]. +Mobei remained huddled at her feet, watching with fright the sudden and +awful change in her face. The words came in a whisper. At first she +brought out her speech with difficulty, then to rise to torrent +force--"Cheated, gulled by the hereditary foe! And this Iwa lies bound +and helpless! 'Tis understood! The end is at hand--Ah! The poison! The +poison! Now it, too, rises; flowing upward to heart and head of Iwa. +Accursed man! Accursed woman; who would play the rival and destroy the +wife! The time is short; the crisis is at hand. Cho[u]bei's dark words +become light. Hana would poison Iwa through this treacherous leech. +Iémon would kill her by the foul life of this brothel--Gods of Nippon! +Buddhas of the Universe! All powerful Amida, the Protector! Kwannon, the +Lady Merciful! Deign to hearken to the prayer of this Iwa. Emma +Dai-o[u], king of Hell, summon not the daughter of Tamiya before the +dreaded throne for judgment--through the course of seven +existences--until the vengeance of Iwa be sated with the miserable end +of these her persecutors. May the sacred characters of the Daimoku, +written on the heart of Iwa for her future salvation, be seared out as +with hot iron. On Ito[u] Kwaiba, Iémon, Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, Cho[u]bei, +all and every one engaged in this vile plot, rests the death curse of +Iwa. Against these; against Natsumé, Imaizumi, Yoémon of Tamiya, lies +the grudge of Iwa of Tamiya. Gods and Buddhas--grant this prayer!" + +A violent hand was laid on the bosom of Mobei's robe. He screamed in +terror at the fearful face bent over him. A broad round dead white +swollen face, too sharp gleaming malignant dots darting flashes as from +a sword between the puffed and swollen lids, froze him into a passive +object. One of these lids drooped horribly down upon the cheek of the +apparition. In the physical effort exerted, the slit of the mouth showed +the broad black even teeth, which seemed about to clutch at his throat; +as did the vigorous hand, the nails of which sank into his gullet. +Framed in the mass of wild disordered hair Mobei was isolated as in a +universe of space; left alone with this fearful vision. "Lady! Lady +O'Iwa! Lady of Tamiya! This Mobei has done naught. Others have wronged +O'Iwa San. Mobei is guiltless.... Ah! Ah!" With fright and pain he +rolled over on the ground in a dead faint. Screaming and shouting the +women Také and Ko[u]ta rushed around and out to his rescue. O'Iwa San +was now under the full control of her disorder. Takézo staggered back, +her hands to her face to hide the horrible sight, to wipe from eyes and +cheeks the blood streaming from the deep tears made by O'Iwa's nails. +Ko[u]ta from behind seized O'Iwa around the waist and shoulders. Sharply +up came the elbow shot, catching this interloper under the chin. Neck +and jaw fairly cracked under the well-delivered blow. Ko[u]ta went down +in a heap as one dead. A _chu[u]gen_ coming along the North Warigesui +had reached the crossing. He thought it better to stand aside, rather +than attempt to stop this maddened fiend tearing through space. At the +canal bank there was a moment's pause. Then came a dull splash; as of +some heavy body plunged in the water. With a cry the man hastened +forward. Not a sign of anything could be seen. In this rural place no +help was to be had, and he was little inclined to plunge at random into +the foul stream. In haste he turned back to where a crowd was gathering +around the prostrate Mobei, the groaning harlots to whom punishment had +been meted out. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +CHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS + + +The _chu[u]gen_ stood over the toilet dealer now coming out of his +half-trance condition. The eyes of the two men met and showed mutual +astonishment. "Naruhodo! Mobei San! In a quarrel over his wares with the +vile women of this district?"--"Kakusuké San! Ah! There is much to tell. +O'Iwa San...." The _chu[u]gen_ of Ito[u] Kwaiba was amazed attention. +"This Mobei to his ill fortune, met with the lady of Tamiya. Her +condition, her ignorance, was too pitiful. Learning all the truth from +Mobei she inflicted on him this punishment. May it cease there! Namu +Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Heavy the grudge against your master +Ito[u] Dono; against Iémon Sama, his wife O'Hana San, all in the plot +against the Lady O'Iwa. 'To seven existences grant this Iwa opportunity +to vent her anger. Every one of the perpetrators of this deed shall be +seized and put to death.' She invoked all the gods and Buddhas; Nay, the +king of Hell--Emma Dai-o[u] himself. Look to yourself, Kakusuké San. +Deign to seek employment elsewhere." Kakusuké completed his task of +raising the battered and scratched toilet dealer to his feet. "Mobei +San, you have acted the fool; without doubt. Relate what has happened." +Mobei did so in full detail. Kakusuké was thoughtful. "Much of this +Kakusuké hears for the first time. A servant gets but snatches of the +inside of such matters. Just now the mission has been from his master, +Ito[u] Dono, to the Inagaki _yashiki_ near Ho[u]onji; matter of transfer +involved in the late adoption of Kibei Dono into the House of the Danna +Sama.... So that scoundrel Cho[u]bei sold the lady of Tamiya to Toémon +for a harlot. Alas! She deserved a better fate. One way or another they +would kill her; and Cho[u]bei, his money in hand, abetted the crime. +Where is this brothel?" + +Surrounded by his women Toémon was listening to their excited +statements. Takézo was crying with rage and pain, as she examined her +fissured countenance before a toilet stand (_kyo[u]dai_). Ko[u]ta, +brought back to consciousness, lay groaning in a corner. They were +applying cold compresses to her broken jaw. Toémon looked up +suspiciously as Kakusuké entered, supporting the lamed and maimed Mobei. +"Look to this man's wares, scattered in the roadway; and to the man +himself." He spoke roughly, and with authority. Toémon did not dare to +resent his manner. With well feigned solicitude he addressed Mobei--"Ma! +Ma! A terrible punishment. Your face has the blush of the plum blossom +marked upon it.... O'Haru, run to the house of Wakiyama Sensei. Ko[u]ta +is badly hurt; his skill is needed. Stop at the drug store. Here is the +'cash' to bring salve for this good man's wounds. Alas! That a woman of +Toémon's house should so maltreat others. When caught her +punishment...."--"Shut up!" said Kakusuké. He had already taken his line +of conduct in his master's interest. "How comes it that the Lady O'Iwa +is found at the house of Toémon?"--"The Lady O'Iwa!" replied the brothel +keeper in well-feigned surprise. Turning to Mobei--"It is true, then, +what the women report; that Mobei San called the O'Iwa of this house +'Shinzo[u].' Who is this O'Iwa?" Said Kakusuké coldly--"The Lady O'Iwa +is the granddaughter and heir of Tamiya Matazaémon, a higher +_do[u]shin_. She is the wife of the _go-kenin_, Tamiya Iémon." + +Toémon now was truly aghast. "Heir and wife of _go-kenin_! This Toémon +had not the slightest inkling of her _status_. Cho[u]bei has juggled +this Toémon most outrageously." He turned savagely on O'Matsu. "So much +for stupid brutality. One must give you head, or have no peace. Why not +treat the woman kindly, learn her story? Lies or truth that of all the +women in the house is known. But O'Iwa San was a mark for malice. +Cho[u]bei has lied. Between you the house is ruined. Since when were +_samurai_ women sold to life service? Fool! It means imprisonment, +exile, to those implicated. This Toémon ends his days among the savage +fishermen of Sado." He would have struck her. Kakusuké and the +_banto[u]_ interposed. The woman did not budge. Defiant, she stood with +folded arms--"It was Toémon's arrangement to buy her in blind belief of +Cho[u]bei. Why blame this Matsu? Since when were women exempt from +service or punishment? The rule of the house is one or the other. How +long has it been since O'Seki left the house--in a box; and Toémon had +to make answer at the office." Then catching herself up in the presence +of strangers--"Danna Sama, this is no time for a quarrel. Those of the +house will say nothing; in their own interest. As for this worthy +gentleman, the Lady O'Iwa was wife and heir neither of himself nor his +master. Toémon San is grossly neglectful of courtesy due to guests. +Leave Mobei San to this Matsu." She whispered in his ear. + +Toémon had now recovered his balance. Kakusuké was a _chu[u]gen_. He +had an object in coming to Toémon's house, instead of making report at +once to his master, to the outraged Iémon Dono. Of course Toémon +misinterepreted this motive; and Kakusuké was quite ready to profit by +his mistake. To the now courteous brothel keeper he was equally cordial. +O'Matsu and her women carried off Mobei, to salve his wounds, regale him +with fish and wine and good treatment, carefully to make inventory of +his goods, and repack them with substantial diminution of purchases. +What more could Mobei ask. His valued rosary, the necklace, the +_kanzashi_, all the treasures were uninjured. His exchequer was palpably +swollen, and more pleasingly than his phiz. His beating had turned out a +good day's venture; and without misgiving he can be left in the careful +hands of O'Matsu and her women. Meanwhile Kakusuké and Toémon sat over +their wine. From the _chu[u]gen_ and toilet dealer the latter secured a +complete view of his situation. It was bad, but not irreparable. As +Kakusuké with due tardiness prepared to depart, the hospitable innkeeper +had ample time to prostrate himself in salutation, meanwhile pushing +over a golden _ryo[u]_ wrapped up in decently thin paper which permitted +the filtering through of its yellow gleam. "Great has been the trouble +and delay of Kakusuké San. Mark not this day in memory, good Sir." +Kakusuké was equally polite in salutation--"Fear enters: thanks for the +kind entertainment of Toémon San. This alone is to be kept in mind, mark +of a day otherwise of but little import." These last words were a +healing balm; and Toémon rejoiced. + +With the departure of Kakusuké, the chief of the "night-hawks" turned at +once to his aides. "Také! Haru!... Ah! Ko[u]ta is completely done up. +You, Také, bear the marks of the day's encounter. Go to Asakusa +Hanagawado[u]. Cho[u]bei is to be brought here at once. The house must +clear its skirts of this affair. If he refuses to come, put a rope about +his neck and drag him here." The women bowed. At once they prepared for +the street, a mission welcome enough under other conditions. O'Také was +smarting from her wounds and not very willing to be an object lesson. +O'Haru had in mind the fearful curse of O'Iwa, plainly heard by the +women. Very willingly she would have had nothing to do with the affair. + +Cho[u]bei was engaged at _go_ with the metal dealer of his +neighbourhood. The fish and wine were in course of preparation in the +kitchen close by and under the skilled hands of O'Taki. The perfume, +vinous and of viands, came to the noses of the competitors, to the +disturbance of their game. Cho[u]bei had just made a profitable stroke. +He had five _ryo[u]_ in hand, commission from the worthy _doguya_ for +the successful sale of a daughter to the Yamadaya of Nakanocho[u]. This +enterprising plebeian, having a son to succeed him in the business, had +secured the necessary furnishing and adoption of a second son into the +rival house of the ward, by means of the fifty _ryo[u]_ secured for the +girl through the experience and clever tactics of Cho[u]bei. Many the +compliments and congratulations exchanged by these excellent men and +worthy representatives of their class as they tussled over their game of +_go_. Profuse were the thanks of the metal dealer for past services and +future feasting. It was with some displeasure therefore that O'Taki had +her offices interrupted to respond to a loud and harsh--"Request to +make!" sounded at the house entrance. Said she crossly--"Who is it?... +Ah! O'Také and O'Haru San of Toémon Sama." Then in wonder--"Oya! Oya! +O'Také San.... Your honoured face.... Has O'Také San gone to bed in the +dark with the cat?" Answered O'Také, in no amiable mood--"It could well +have been. Your man Cho[u]bei deals in such articles. There are the +marks of O'Iwa's nails. As for Cho[u]bei, is the precious rascal at +home?" + +O'Taki heard her with rising rage--"O'Iwa? What has Cho[u]bei San to do +with any O'Iwa and the house of Toémon San? Why call the man of Taki a +scoundrel?"--"Because he is such. Nay, Okamisan, don't get +angry."--O'Haru was speaking--"has your husband a brother in +Abegawacho[u], a brother in need of twenty _ryo[u]_ and with a daughter +who would do nothing but run after the men?" O'Taki was puzzled. +"Cho[u]bei San has no brother, in Abegawacho[u] or any other _cho[u]_. +Hence such brother has no daughter O'Iwa; nor are there children of his +own, except the one born to him by this Taki, and a girl already +sold...." A light was breaking in on O'Taki. Months before she had come +home to find that the Ojo[u]san had taken her departure. Explained +Cho[u]bei--"At Yotsuya everything has been adjusted. Iémon Dono is +established again with his wife. The Okusama will not come back to us. +Deign to rejoice at the auspicious settlement of her affairs." Which +O'Taki did; all the more as Cho[u]bei often was in funds in the +successive days through Tamiya. Now she looked from one woman to the +other, her fists clenched and working. Said the harsh voice of +O'Také--"Cho[u]bei lied then; just as the Danna Sama thought. Nearly a +year ago he brought to the house the daughter of his brother Kanémon. He +sold her into life service as a night-hawk. For this she turned out to +be worthless. O'Taki San knows our Okamisan. No matter how severely +beaten, even until the blood came, O'Iwa would not consent to serve. +Other means were tried, but the men of the house would have nothing to +do with her. She was too ugly. Finally she was degraded into being the +kitchen wench, to fetch and carry, and do the hardest and most +nauseating tasks. At this downfall in her prospects like a very fool she +rejoiced. To-day she met the toilet dealer Mobei. He recognized her as +the Lady O'Iwa of Tamiya in the Yotsuya. Drawn apart they spoke +together. Suddenly she was transformed into a demon. Leaping on Mobei +she tore and clutched at him. Ko[u]ta and this Také ran to aid him. +Ko[u]ta lies helpless and with a broken jaw. Truly it might have been +the kick of a horse she received. This Také is--as can be seen. The Lady +O'Iwa disappeared toward Warigesui. A _chu[u]gen_ saw her leap in. +Probably she has killed herself.... And now, O'Taki San, is not your man +Cho[u]bei a scoundrel?" + +Said O'Taki--"Rightly spoken; more than right. Wait here." Abruptly she +entered the inner room. To Cho[u]bei--"You ... my fine fellow ... is +this a time for _go_? Up and off with you; to accompany O'Také and +O'Haru from Toémon's in Honjo[u]. A pretty business is in preparation +there." Said the embarrassed and enraged Cho[u]bei--"Wh-what does this +rude entrance of Taki mean? Is not the master of the metal shop present? +Is such language, such abruptness, to be used in his presence?"--"The +Danna of the _doguya_ is certainly present," coolly replied the woman. +"It would be better if he was at home.... Honoured Sir, pray betake +yourself there. This Cho[u]bei has business with Toémon Sama of +Honjo[u], the brothel keeper and chief of the night-hawks, to whom he +has sold for life service as a street harlot the Lady O'Iwa, wife of the +_go-kenin_ Iémon Dono and heir of Tamiya Matazaémon the _do[u]shin_. A +man can be too clever--as this Cho[u]bei, who cheats his wife and all +others. Do you be clever enough to take the hint and depart.... Off with +you!" The _doguya_ had sat in silence. His eyes were popping out of his +head in frightened amaze. Cho[u]bei bounded up in a rage--"You +huzzy--shut up! Would you publish the affairs of this Cho[u]bei to the +world? Many a bridge is to be passed in the course through this world; +and none too sure the footing. Money must be had to live and enjoy life. +The result, not the means, is the important factor in its acquisition. +Such rudeness to a guest! Vile jade, Cho[u]bei will...." O'Také and +O'Haru had to interfere--"Fight it out later, Cho[u]bei San. This +quarrel is no concern of ours. The sooner the master is seen, the better +for Cho[u]bei San. His rage is great, and mounting. You have the +contract? With that face the master; if you can."--"Just so! Just so! As +for this wench--she shall have something to remember this Cho[u]bei +by...." The worthy and trembling metal dealer took this remark as threat +of renewed violence. "For the kind reception and entertainment: thanks. +Jubei calls later." Nimbly he was on his feet. Diving under the _haori_ +into which Cho[u]bei was struggling he bounced out the front, leaving +Cho[u]bei on the ground and floundering in the folds of his garments, +from which issued most violent language. For the first time that day +O'Také and O'Haru had something to amuse them. O'Taki refusing, they +assisted Cho[u]bei to his feet and adjusted his robe. Then one on each +side of him they set out for Honjo[u] Yoshidacho[u]. As parting salute +to O'Taki, Cho[u]bei finished his sentence.... "Something to remember on +Cho[u]bei's return." Her laugh in reply was so savage that the women +turned to look at her. In fright they hastened off with their prize. + +At Honjo[u] the reception of Cho[u]bei called forth the whole house. +The pimp entered the presence of Toémon with confident and jaunty air. +"He has the contract?" said Toémon to the woman. O'Haru indicated a +sleeve. The _banto[u]_ and one of the _wakashu[u]_ (young men employes) +grasped the arms of Cho[u]bei. The incriminating document was deftly +removed by O'Haru and passed over to Toémon. "Now the fellow can neither +produce it, nor play his tricks with it." He looked it over carefully; +then placed it with his own copy. Cho[u]bei was too outraged and +frightened to do more than squat and gasp as he looked around the circle +of hostile faces. Without cushion he sat on the bare _tatami_, much as +does a criminal at the white sand. Said Toémon severely--"For once +Cho[u]bei has drunk hot water with this Toémon. Does he think to act +thus with impunity. The younger sister of his brother Kanémon, 'a noted +wench for the streets,' was brought here for life service; sold to +Toémon for twenty _ryo[u]_. Toémon does not intend that the price shall +be too high for him. Cho[u]bei cannot lie out of his own contract. +Toémon has it in his hands. Cho[u]bei has the twenty _ryo[u]_. Toémon +loses his money. Well and good: Toémon clears himself from the affair. +The responsibility lies wholly with Cho[u]bei. Let him look to it." +Cho[u]bei seized the moment when lack of breath in his anger halted the +speech of Toémon. He would have lied, but Toémon again broke in. +"Cho[u]bei has no brother. Cho[u]bei has no woman to dispose of on his +own signature. The one he did have, the one he possesses, Toémon knows +where to find. Toémon had a woman O'Iwa in his house. You sold the wife +of a _go-kenin_, Iémon Dono of Yotsuya; a woman who was the heir of +Tamiya Matazaémon the _do[u]shin_. The Lady O'Iwa is traced to the hands +of Cho[u]bei. Settle the matter with those in office--_machibugyo[u]_, +_do[u]shin_, _yakunin_--when the affair comes to light...."--"Easily," +burst in Cho[u]bei, once more himself. "Honoured chief, matters do not +call for such earnestness. All this is mere froth and fury. It is true +that Cho[u]bei has deceived the chief; but it was at the orders of those +much higher. The lady of Tamiya was an obstacle. The sale was ordered by +Iémon Dono himself; backed by Ito[u] Kwaiba the head of the Yotsuya +ward."--"Cho[u]bei, you lie," said Toémon. The words and advice of +Kakusuké still rang in his ears. "Iémon Dono? Ito[u] Dono? Who else will +Cho[u]bei bring in as his bails? Such a man is not to be trusted. With +this Toémon there is no more dealing. The guild is to be warned by a +circular letter." + +At this fearful threat all Cho[u]bei's jauntiness left him. His +livelihood, his existence, were at stake. He prostrated himself before +Toémon, dragging his body over the _tatami_ to the _zen_ (low table) at +which was seated this autocrat of the night-hawks, this receiver of the +refuse and worn-out goods of his greater brothers in the trade. Toémon +harshly repulsed him with his foot. Cho[u]bei in despair turned to +O'Matsu--"Honoured lady the chief is unreasonably angry. There shall be +no loss of money, no harm suffered by the affair. Deign to say a word +for Cho[u]bei."--"Since when has Matsu had aught to do with the affairs +of the house? The women are her concern. She goes not outside her +province." The pimp sought the feet of O'Také--"Condescend to plead for +Cho[u]bei. His fault is venial. When no injury results, pardon follows. +This is to cut off the breath of Cho[u]bei, of wife and child. Deign to +intercede." The street harlot laughed. Her cracked voice was rough--"The +commission of Cho[u]bei San has no attractions. This Také has had enough +to do with the matter. Truly Cho[u]bei is a wicked fellow. Také would +fare badly in such intercourse. Besides his company is too high flown. +Officials! Samurai! Cho[u]bei San seeks and will find promotion in the +world. Lodgings are preparing for Cho[u]bei Sama in public office--on +the Ryo[u]gokubashi; of such he is assured." She drew away from him, +harshly cackling. Thus he crawled from one to the other. It was +"Cho[u]bei Sama," "Cho[u]bei Dono," in derision they would call him +prince--"Cho[u]bei Ko[u]." All stuck out their tongues at him. The young +fellows of the house, several of them, stood round the entrance, +ostensibly occupied, but with one eye on the scene. As Cho[u]bei sought +the _banto[u]'s_ aid, the man raised a long lean leg and gave him a +violent kick in the breast. Strong hands seized him as he rolled over +and over to the edge of the platform, to land in the arms of the +enthusiastic _wakashu[u]_. The next moment, and Cho[u]bei was picking +himself up out of the mud and snow of the street. The lattice of the +house entrance closed noisily. + +In his confusion of mind by force of habit Cho[u]bei turned round and +bowed with ceremony toward the place of his unceremonious exit--"The +time is inopportune. Cho[u]bei intrudes. He will call again." The +opening of the wicket gate, the peering, scowling face of the _banto[u]_ +recalled the past scene to mind. With all the haste his tottering gait +allowed Cho[u]bei sprang off northward to the Adzumabashi and home. As +he sped, swaying along, his active mind was making calculations. +"Ryo[u]gokubashi, the last home of the outcast beggar--other than the +river which flows beneath it!" He shuddered at the prophecy. "Bah! One +rascal loses; another gains. Toémon loses twenty _ryo[u]_. From Iémon +San ten _ryo[u]_ was the commission. Ito[u] Dono gave five _ryo[u]_ and +asked no questions. The total to Cho[u]bei sums up thirty-five _ryo[u]_. +For a year the affair of O'Iwa has fattened Cho[u]bei; with something +still left." His foot struck a stone in the roadway. He looked up and +around to find himself before the Genkwo[u]ji. About to enter on the +maze of temple grounds and _yashiki_ separating him from the bridge his +gaze fell on the stagnant squalid waters of the canal. It was in the +dirty foulness of this North Warigesui that O'Iwa had disappeared. +Cho[u]bei pulled up short. A dead cur, copper hued, with swollen +germinating sides and grinning teeth, bobbed at him from the green +slime. Cho[u]bei slewed round--"A vile ending; but after all an ending. +Iémon profits; Cho[u]bei gets the scoldings. Ah! If it was not that +Ito[u] Kwaiba is engaged in this affair; Tamiya should pay dearly. There +is a double ration to share with Cho[u]bei--and not to be touched! +Ito[u] Dono is no man to trifle with. There was that affair with Isuké; +and now, as he says, Iémon is a very son to him." A memory seemed to +touch Cho[u]bei. His pace became a crawl. "Why hasten? Cho[u]bei rushes +to the fiend--that demon Taki. Cho[u]bei would rather face O'Iwa than +Taki in a rage." He laughed--"The attenuated hands of a ghost and the +thick fist of Taki, the choice is not uncertain. From the lady mild and +merciful there is nothing to fear. Evidently she has settled matters +once and for all in the Warigesui. But at the tenement--there it is +another affair. This Cho[u]bei will fortify himself against the shock. A +drink; then another, and still more. The scoldings will fall on a +blunted mind wandering in some dreamland. Time will soothe her rage. +To-morrow Cho[u]bei wakes, to find the storm has passed and Taki his +obedient serving wench." Near the Adzumabashi, following his +prescription against domestic enlivenment, he entered a grog shop; to +turn his good coin into wine. + +The quarter at Hanagawado[u] in Asakusa was in an uproar. What had +occurred was this--There was an old woman--"Baba" in the native parlance +for Dame Gossip--a seller of the dried seaweed called _nori_ (sloke or +laver), still called Asakusa _nori_, though even at that time gathered +at Shinagawa, Omori, and more distant places. This old trot had +returned, to make her last sales to the excellent metal dealer who lived +opposite her own home in the _nagaya_, in which she lived next door to +the Cho[u]bei, husband and wife. The tongue of the _doguya_ was still in +full swing of the recital, not only of his own experiences, but of the +revelations of O'Taki. He was only too willing for this twenty-first +time to repeat the tale to the _nori_ seller, his good neighbour. The +good wife and wives listened again with open mouths. The Baba was the +most interested of them all. This choice morsel of gossip was to be +gathered at the primal source, from the lips of O'Taki herself. She was +all sympathy in her curiosity--ranging in the two cases of Cho[u]bei and +wife on the one part, and the metal dealer and his insulted household on +the other part. Away she stepped quickly from the assembly of ward +gossips. At the door of Cho[u]bei's quarters she stopped--"Okamisan! +Okamisan!... Strange: is she not at home? Is she so angered that no +answer is given? However, this Baba fears no one.... Nesan! Nesan!" She +passed the room entrance and went into the area. Glancing into the +kitchen--"Oya! Oya! The meal is burnt to a crisp. It has become a soppy, +disgusting mass. Nesan! Nesan! The rain falls, the roof window +(_hikimado_) is open." She put down her empty tubs in order to play the +good neighbour. The first thing was to close the window against the +descending rain. Quickly and deftly she proceeded to wipe the moisture +off the shining vessels, to put everything in order in O'Taki's usually +immaculate kitchen. Women of this class are finicky housekeepers in +their own homes. As the old wife became less engaged she began to hear +strange sounds above. Some one was in conversation--and yet it was a +one-sided queer kind of talk. The voice was threatening and wheedling. +Then she heard a child cry. Surely O'Taki was in the upper room; and +thus neglectful of her lord and household. + +The old Baba went to the foot of the ladder and listened. "Nesan! +Nesan!" No answer came, beyond the curious droning monotone above, +varied by an occasional wailing cry of the child. It seemed to be in +pain. Resolute, the sturdy old Baba began to climb the steps. At the top +she halted, to get breath and look into the room. The sight she +witnessed froze the old woman in horror to where she stood. A woman was +in the room. She knelt over the body of the child, which now and again +writhed in the hard and cruel grasp. The queer monotonous voice went +on--"Ah! To think you might grow up like your father. The wicked, +unprincipled man! To sell the Ojo[u]san for a street whore, for her to +spend her life in such vile servitude; she by whose kindness this +household has lived. Many the visits in the past two years paid these +humble rooms by the lady of Tamiya. To all her neighbours O'Taki has +pointed out and bragged of the favour of the Ojo[u]san. The very +clothing now on your wretched puny body came from her hands. While +Cho[u]bei spent his gains in drink and paid women, Taki was nourished by +the rice from Tamiya. When Taki lay in of this tiny body it was the +Ojo[u]san who furnished aid, and saw that child and mother could live. +Alas! That you should grow up to be like this villainous man is not to +be endured.... Ah! An idea! To crunch your throat, to secure revenge and +peace, security against the future." She bent down low over the child. +Suddenly it gave a fearful scream, as does a child fallen into the fire. +The Baba, helpless, could only feebly murmur--"Nesan! Nesan! O'Taki San! +What are you about? Control yourself." She gave a frightened yowl as the +creature began to spread far apart the child's limbs, and with quick +rips of the sharp kitchen knife beside her dissevered and tore the +little limbs from the quivering body. At the cry the woman turned half +around and looked toward her. Jaws dripping red with blood, a broad +white flat face with bulging brow, two tiny piercing dots flashing from +amid the thick swollen eyelids, it was the face of O'Iwa glowering at +her. "Kiya!" The scream resounded far and wide. Incontinently the old +woman tumbled backward down the steep steps, to land below on head and +buttocks. + +Some neighbours, people passing, came rushing in. A crowd began to +gather. "Baba! Baba San! What is wrong?" She could not speak; only point +upward and shudder as does one with heavy chills. As they moved toward +the stair a roar went up from the crowd in the street. O'Taki had +appeared at the window, her face smeared with blood and almost +unrecognizable. She waved a limb of the dismembered infant. The crowd +were frozen with horror. As some shouted to those within to hasten the +woman brandished the bloody knife. Thrusting it deep into her throat she +ripped and tore at the handle, spattering the incautious below with the +blood spurting from the wound. Then she fell backward into the room. +When the foremost to interfere rushed in they drew back in fear at what +they saw. The child's head was half knawed from the body; its limbs lay +scattered to this place and that. The body of O'Taki lay where she had +fallen. It was as if the head had been gnawed from the trunk, but the +head itself was missing. Search as they would, it was not to be found. +Meanwhile the news of these happenings spread rapidly. In the next block +it was shouted that the wife of the pimp Cho[u]bei had gone mad and +killed and eaten five children. A block further the number had risen to +twenty-five. At the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi she had killed and +gnawed a hundred adults. + +These rumours were mingled with the strange tale of the old woman as to +O'Iwa San. In time there were many who had witnessed the suicide of +O'Taki, who were ready to swear they had seen the fearful lady of +Tamiya. Cho[u]bei first learned of the affair by being dragged from the +grog shop to the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi. Here he was put under +arrest. Distressed and discomforted he stood before the ruin in his +home, under the eyes of his neighbours. These stood loyally by him. As +happens in ward affairs in Nippon the aspect of the affair not +immediately on the surface was slow to reach official ears. Thus it was +as to the Tamiya phase involved. Cho[u]bei had suffered much, and was in +to suffer more. His fellow wardsmen were silent as to all but the actual +facts needed for interpretation. The marvellous only filters out slowly. +But they had their own way of dealing with him. The _kenshi_ (coroner) +made his report. Examinations, fines, bribes, the funeral costs, reduced +Cho[u]bei to his worst garment. With this after some weeks he was +permitted to go free. The house owner had turned him out. The wardsmen +had expelled him. Enough of Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--for the present. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +NEWS REACHES KWAIBA + + +Kwaiba was hard at it, practising his favourite arts. His _saké_ cup +stood before him, and from time to time he raised the bottle from the +hot water, testing its temperature with skilled hand. He accompanied the +action with a continual drone of a _gidayu_. Kwaiba by no means confined +the art of _gidayu_ recitation to the heroic tales usually therewith +associated. His present effort was one of the suggestive and obscene +_ukarebushi_, quite as frequent and as well received in the _gidayu_ +theme containing them. Kibei listened and applauded, with cynical +amusement at the depravity of the impotent old man. Kwaiba had found an +excellent bottle companion, and renewed his own former days in the +"Quarter," with the fresher experiences retailed by Kibei. Said +Kwaiba--"All has gone well. For half the year Kibei has been the son of +Kwaiba. He has brought luck into the house." Kibei bowed respectfully. +Continued the old man--"Iémon with his whore is fast destroying Tamiya +by riot and drinking. Cho[u]zaémon is a fish in the net. The debt of ten +_ryo[u]_ has doubled into twenty _ryo[u]_, which at any cost he must +repay. Kwaiba will make him cut belly if he don't. And Tamiya! Old +Tamiya; Matazaémon! O'Iwa is paying his debt to Kwaiba by becoming an +outcast, perhaps a beggar somewhere on the highway. If she shows her +face in the ward, seeking 'cash' to keep life in a wretched carcass, +this Kwaiba will send her to the jail, to rot as vagrant. But what did +become of her? Iémon has never spoken." Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "A +close mouthed fellow; too wise to talk of himself. He would but say that +Cho[u]bei took the affair in hand." Kwaiba threw up his hands in horror +and merriment. Said he--"'Tis rumoured the fellow is a pimp. But surely +he could not dispose of O'Iwa in his line. The very demons of the Hell +of lust would refuse all intercourse with her." + +Just then Kakusuké presented himself. "Report to make to the Go Inkyo[u] +Sama. Inagaki Dono sends his compliments to Ito[u] Sama. The papers of +transfer are these; by the hand of Kakusuké." As he took the documents, +said Kwaiba in answer to Kibei's inquiring look--"Your honoured parent +has favoured this Kwaiba. The transfer is of farms in Kazusa for others +in Shimosa. Thus all can be brought under one hand. A single _nanushi_ +(bailiff) can manage the whole property in the two villages."--"But the +office...," objected Kibei. He had the _samurai_ instinct against the +slightest taint of failure in obligation. "Let Kibei San deign to follow +in the footsteps of Kwaiba. The successor to the _nanushi_ recently +deceased is a child. Kwaiba is in no haste to provide a substitute +pending majority. The right will lapse, and at majority the boy can be +found occupation elsewhere, to no small gain in the revenue. Out of +sight, out of mind. Kwaiba's present manager is unsurpassed; so is the +income he manages to gather." He looked around in some surprise, seeing +that Kakusuké still maintained his position, although dismissed. Then +noting him closely--"What has happened, Kakusuké? Your colour is bad. +Too cordial entertainment by the _chu[u]gen_ of Inagaki Dono? Or has +Kakusuké seen a ghost?" + +"Kakusuké has seen O'Iwa San; of Tamiya. Rather would he have seen a +ghost; if indeed it was not a demon he saw." Kwaiba started--"O'Iwa! +Where?"--"It was at the brothel of Toémon, chief of the night-hawks, at +Yoshidacho[u] in Honjo[u]. Mobei the toilet dealer had suffered +direfully at her hands. Meeting her unexpectedly, the fool let out all +he knew of the happenings in the ward. In a rage she flew on him. 'To +seven lives a curse on Iémon Dono, on Akiyama Sama, on Kondo[u] +Sama.'"--He hesitated; then added--"on the Go Inkyo[u] Sama. Then in a +straight line she flew off toward the canal. Did she drown herself? This +Kakusuké could not ascertain. Going to the aid of Mobei, mauled and +prostrate on the ground, the whole story was learned. Cho[u]bei had sold +her for life to Toémon, to serve as a night-hawk." + +Ito[u] Kwaiba sat straight up. His idle braggart words of a few moments +before came home to him. In Kibei he found no encouragement. After all +Kibei was a _samurai_; harsh, but with the courage of his caste and +profession. He spoke openly--"It was an outrageous deed. To sell a +_samurai_ woman to such a life! It stinks. This comes of bringing in a +low dog (_yaro[u]_) such as this Cho[u]bei. Did Iémon know of his +intention?" He looked Kwaiba in the eye, but the latter met him +squarely--"What Iémon knew or did not know, this Kwaiba knows not. But +of this event he must know--and at once. Kakusuké, go in all haste to +the house of Tamiya Sama. Kwaiba would consult with him." Kibei +fidgetted and fumed. He walked up and down the room. Then +abruptly--"Condescend to pardon the presence of Kibei. The honoured +father having matters to discuss with the diviner--he finds no amusement +in the counsellor." As he was withdrawing Iémon entered. Their greeting +was cold to the extreme. Iémon knew that Kibei hated and despised him; +as much as he, Iémon, hated and feared Kibei. Kwaiba called sharply to +his genial son--"Pray be within call, if needed." He was glad to see the +surly fellow's exit. In some things Kwaiba felt fear. The stiff courage +of Kibei made him ashamed openly to air his weakness. He broke the news +at once to Iémon. "Kakusuké has seen O'Iwa." Iémon looked at him +curiously. Was Kwaiba frightened? Said the one-time priest--"What of +that? She lives in Edo. A meeting with her is quite likely; at least for +a man of the grade of Kakusuké." He smiled grimly--"But...," said +Kwaiba. He plunged into the story of the _chu[u]gen_ in its full +details. Iémon listened carefully. "Ah! She is likely to come +here."--"Come here!" bellowed Kwaiba. "Just so," answered Iémon. "If she +seeks vengeance on this Iémon, on Kwaiba, or the others, where else +would she come than Yotsuya. We cannot run away." Kwaiba gasped at his +coolness--"And Iémon Dono, does he open Tamiya to the presence of its +ex-lady and mistress?"--"A beggar, an outcast, importuning Tamiya; the +severed body will lie in the ditch, for the gatherers of offal to cast +as food to the dogs on the moor. Fear enters, but--honoured chief, +condescend to follow the example of Iémon." + +The round eyes in the round face of Kwaiba stood out. He leaned over +and touched Iémon's sleeve. In astonishment Iémon noted the fright +depicted in his face. The blustering old man at bottom was an arrant +coward. Two knaves should understand each other--as did he and +Cho[u]bei. He felt that he had been gulled during the whole of his +intercourse with this old fool. He should have bluffed; and not been +bluffed. Said Kwaiba in lowered voice--"Kakusuké could see nothing of +her. She disappeared into the waters of Warigesui. Suppose O'Iwa appears +as a ghost, to take vengeance on Kwaiba...." He straightened up in +astonishment and some anger at the derisive smile playing over the face +of Iémon. Indeed Iémon was more than amused. Not at the circumstances, +but at finding at last this weak spot in the man who had dominated him. +Conditions, however, controlled him. It was fact that the physical O'Iwa +might appear--to the distress and discomfiture of all concerned. They +must stand together. He spoke with severity--"Rich and afraid of ghosts! +Has not Ito[u] Dono two spearmen when he goes abroad? When he has an +interview with his lord does he tremble with fear? When the enemy in +life, with all physical powers, is not feared; why fear a disembodied +spirit deprived of all means of venting its wrath and spite? It is but +the imagination which works havoc. None are more helpless than the dead. +With them time and occasion has reached an end. If O'Iwa returns to +Yotsuya, it will be in her own person. With O'Iwa, the beggar and +night-hawk, our _Kumi-gashira_ knows how to deal."--"Then Iémon knew the +lot dealt out to O'Iwa."--"At first hand; from Cho[u]bei himself. The +lean knave has prospered by the affair. Iémon had no such desire to see +him, as to secure his costly presence at the dinner so unfortunately +witnessed by Mobei.... But deign to call for wine; drive out these +vapours with wine. Honoured chief, condescend to play the host to +Iémon." Iémon's manner was not wholly natural, as Kwaiba could have +detected if more himself. He felt immensely relieved. A priest--surely +he was one to know all about the nature of ghosts; was one to speak with +authority. Iémon was hardly to be regarded as in ecclesiastical good +odour. But Kwaiba was easily satisfied. He, too, roared--"Wine! Wine! +Bring wine!" As by magic Kibei appeared at the welcome sound. He +disliked Iémon, but he liked wine. The servants bustled around. The wine +was heated--again and again. A feast of fish--with more wine--followed. +It was late when Iémon left the house, the only sober member of the +party. Of his hosts, one was maudlin, the other asleep. The ample +resources of Tamiya, if not of benefit to his person, in these past two +years had given him the chance to harden his head; and he had grasped +it. + +Iémon by no means had all the confidence he displayed before Kwaiba. He +was a priest, but environment influences everybody. There was a +possibility--discountenanced by experience, but existing. As he walked +slowly along Teramachi his thoughts strayed back into the past. "It was +an ill bond between this Iémon and O'Iwa San. Without question she has +drowned herself in the Warigesui. The body must be found and buried. +Memorial services are to be recited, for one dying without relatives or +friends (_segaki_)." The virtuous resolution was the outcome of his +meditation and glances into the many graveyards passed in his progress +through the temple-lined street. It was a beautiful street, with its +overhanging trees, its open spaces populated by the many dead, its +temples gorgeous in red and gilding amid the dark green of pine and +cedar. Iémon on this night had to hasten his steps. Rain threatened. +Gusts of wind came sharply from this side and that, driving the first +drops of the coming storm. He reached home just as it broke with all its +fury. + +To O'Hana he would say nothing of Kwaiba's mission. On her remarking on +the lateness of the hour, he made answer that the old man was out of +sorts. Kibei was too robust a bottle companion for a man reaching toward +his seventieth year. No matter how vigorous, Kwaiba's wine was showing +on him. The two prepared for bed. O'Hana listened as the rain dashed in +streams against the _amado_, as if trying to break its way in. She gave +a little chuckle--"Who would have thought it!"--"What?" asked Iémon, +perhaps a little tartly. He was nervous. O'Hana laughed--"That Iémon and +this Hana should be where they now are. Their parting was on a night +like this. Ah! At seeing a man weep Hana could have retired into a +cave--forever. Only the fortunate accident of a drunken _yakunin_ +(constable) as guest enabled her to give warning.... And now! Once more +united Iémon and this Hana live in luxury. Every wish is gratified. +Thanks for the past which contained this meeting in its womb; thanks for +the present in which happiness is secured: + + 'Losing one's way, again roads meet! + The hill of flowers.'"[27] + +A terrific gust struck the rain-doors. They bent and cracked before +the force of the gale. The vivid white of lightning showed that one door +had been forced from its groove. Iémon rose and replaced it. As he +turned away suddenly the room was plunged in darkness. Said the voice of +O'Hana--"The light of the _andon_ has gone out. Oya! Oya! The lights in +the Butsudan (altar) are lit. And yet this Hana extinguished them." +Grumbled Iémon--"The wind has blown out the light in the _andon_. +Doubtless a spark was left in the wick of the altar light. Fire is to be +dreaded; great care should be taken in extinguishing the light." As he +relit the light in the night lamp, O'Hana went up to the Butsudan to +extinguish the lights there. She put her hand out to take one. A sharp +scream, and she fell back in confusion and fright. "An _aodaisho[u]_ in +the Butsudan! Help! Aid this Hana!" As she fled the snake with a thud +fell on the _tatami_. Unrolling its six feet of length, it started in +pursuit. Iémon stepped behind it and caught it by the tail. A sharp rap +behind the head stunned it. It hung limp in his hand. "Hana, please open +the _amado_."--"No, no: this Hana cannot; move she will not."--"Coward!" +said Iémon. "Time comes when Hana, for generations in the future +existence, will wander hill and dale in such form."--"Ara!" The woman +was properly shocked at this speech, wicked and brutal as an +imprecation. "Has the life of Hana been so foul as to deserve such +punishment in a future life? Surely 'tis not the priest of Reigan who +speaks; nor Iémon." She could only see his lips move as he stood at the +_amado_. "Evil was the connection between O'Iwa and this Iémon. Wander +not as one unburied, but becoming a Buddha at once enter Nirvana. Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Wonderful the +Law, wondrous the Scripture of the Lotus!" With the invocation he cast +the stunned reptile far out into the garden. Returning, he said--"The +_aodaisho[u]_ is the most harmless of snakes. The farmers keep it to +destroy the rats which infest house and store rooms. How can Hana be +afraid of snakes, living in this _yashiki_ overgrown by weeds and grass, +from roof to garden?" O'Hana did not reply in direct terms--"It is evil +fortune to take a snake in the hand."--"Never mind such talk. It is the +priest who speaks. This Iémon knows all about snakes. Go to sleep." She +obeyed, knowing nothing about O'Iwa and the events of the day; yet her +slumber was broken and restless. By morning she was in a high fever.[28] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +NEWS FROM KWAIBA + + +Kwaiba was reported as ill; very ill. His friends and dependents who had +to pay visits of condolence, spoke of this illness with awe and terror. +To understand what follows something must be said of the past of this +man. The actor, drawing on the presumed knowledge of his audience as to +the story in the gross, can pass this over with a speech or two; a +horror-struck gesture and allusion. Not so the _ko[u]dan_ writer, who +perforce must lay before his reader all the _minutić_ of the case. + +Ito[u] Kwaiba did not brag when he spoke of his beauty as a boy, his +handsome figure as a young man. These had brought him wealth and +position; gained, it was whispered, in vilest service to his lord. In +these days he had in his employ a _chu[u]gen_ named Isuké, or as some +say Kohei. Engaged before the mirror Kwaiba was applying the paint and +powder which of late had become necessary adjuncts to fit him to appear +before his lord. A gesture of pain and discomfiture, and then Kwaiba +turned irritably toward his satellite. "Isuké, you are a clever fellow. +Kwaiba has needed no aids to his looks--up to recent days. Now paint and +powder, all the armoury of a woman, or paraphernalia of an actor, hardly +avail to conceal the blotches which disfigure Kwaiba's face and body. +The voice broken and husky, the lightning pains in limbs and joints, +these violet patches--in such state it soon will be impossible to act as +attendant on his lordship's household service, as _kami-yakunin_. What +disorder eats into the life and happiness of Kwaiba?" + +For a time Isuké made no answer, beyond a bow at his master's +acknowledgment of his cleverness, and in which he heartily concurred. He +seemed engaged in a close contemplation of the end of his nose. "Hei! +Hei!" It was all that Kwaiba could get out of him for the moment. Then +noting the growing anger Isuké began with--"Condescend beforehand to +pardon this Isuké. Though the anger of the Wakadono (young lord) is hard +to bear, yet a faithful servitor should speak. Deign to step this way." +He conducted Kwaiba to one of those small retired rooms, opening on an +inner garden and common to every properly built house of any size in +Nippon. He closed the few rain-doors, shutting out the light. Then +fetching a piece of camphor, he set fire to it. When the thick yellow +light flared strongly he took up a hand-mirror and passed it to Kwaiba. +Kwaiba was frightened at what he saw. His face was dark as that of a +peasant of Satsuma. Said Isuké--"The darkness is shown up by the light +of the burning camphor. The colour is due to the poison circulating +between the body and the outer skin. The white sunlight does not show up +this symptom. But there is another test." Lighting a candle, he took a +long steel _kanzashi_ needle and heated it to redness. Holding the cold +end by his head towel he grasped the arm of Kwaiba. The latter drew +back, afraid. "Nay, it will give no pain," said Isuké. He thrust the hot +length of the needle several inches under the skin. As far as Kwaiba was +concerned he might as well have thrust it into the straw matting +(_tatami_) at his feet. Isuké withdrew the needle and carefully pressed +the arm. A brownish liquor oozed out; not blood. "The Danna has a +nose--as yet." Kwaiba hastily applied his arm to that member. He turned +his face to one side in disgust and horror--"Is this Kwaiba already dead +and rotten? In such condition all is lost. Duty no longer can be +performed. Service and income cease together. Isuké, there remains +naught but to get out the mats. Kwaiba will cut belly." + +Isuké examined him carefully and quizzically. Satisfied with his +inspection, he said--"Deign to have confidence in Isuké. In former days +he was not Isuké the _chu[u]gen_. Son of a doctor of the Dutch practice +at Nagasaki; gambling, wine, women have reduced Isuké to the state of a +servant. Family and friends long since have discarded and cast him out. +The severance of relations between parent and child was formal. Isuké +owes naught of service or duty to any but his master Kwaiba. Here is his +refuge. Deign to give Isuké three silver _ryo[u]_. The disease is +curable. Trust the matter to Isuké. _Soppin_ (mercury) duly applied will +remove the poison, and with it all the disastrous symptoms. The two +hundred and thirty _tawara_ of income are enjoyed by the Wakadono. +Service can be performed; and Isuké preserves such a good master." +Flattered and frightened Kwaiba at once handed over the money. Isuké +disappeared to secure the drug necessary to the "Dutch practice." Baths +and potions, potions and baths, followed in due course. The promises of +Isuké were fulfilled. The fearful symptoms gradually were alleviated. In +the course of six months Kwaiba was himself again; his position was +assured to him. He heaved double sighs--of relief from the nightmare +which had pursued him; of anxiety at the nightmare substituted for it. + +Kwaiba was a rake and a gambler. So was Isuké. The two hundred and +thirty _tawara_ of income was saved to Kwaiba--and Isuké. Not long after +the cure was thus assured Isuké disappeared. Kwaiba sighed gently, with +relief at the departure of one who knew too much of his affairs, and +with a scared feeling on losing the only "doctor" in whom he had +confidence. "These fellows come and go, like leaves on a tree. Isuké has +grown tired, and deserted. Some day he may return. This Kwaiba is a good +master." Isuké did return--in the form of a note from the Yoshiwara. +Twenty _ryo[u]_ were needed to pay his debts to pleasure and gambling. +Severely reprimanded, Isuké opened his eyes in astonishment. +"Respectfully heard and understood: has the income been reduced? But +that does not affect the share of Isuké. He keeps well within his +limit." This was the first intimation Kwaiba had of Isuké's views as to +his rôle of physician. In those days the doctor usually had the pleasure +of performance, not of payment. Moreover with the great--like +Kwaiba--performance was carried out at a distance; the pulse felt by the +vibration of a string attached to the wrist, or at best by passing the +hand under the coverlet. For a time Kwaiba's strange medical attendant +devoted himself to his more prosaic duties of _chu[u]gen_. Within ten +days his master ransomed him from a resort in Shinagawa; price, ten +_ryo[u]_. A few weeks later he was heard from at a gambler's resort in +Shinjuku. The note was peremptory--and for fifty _ryo[u]_. Kwaiba lost +all patience. Moreover, just then he held office very favourable for +bringing this matter to an issue. But he must have Isuké; and have him +in Yotsuya. As usual payment secured the presence of a repentant Isuké, +full of promises of amendment. Kwaiba smiled, used soft words; and +shortly after Isuké was confined to the jail on a trumped up charge of +theft from another _chu[u]gen_. Kwaiba, then acting as magistrate for +the district, had full power. On notification he assured Isuké of a +speedy release. This the unhappy man secured through a poisoned meal, +following a long fast. He died raving, and cursing his master. No one +heard him but his two jailers, who considered him crazy--this man of bad +record. + +Years had passed, but Isuké merely lay dormant in the mind of Kwaiba. +Then came up the affair of Tamiya--the threatening curse of O'Iwa San. +Iémon's counsel lasted but over night. With soberness and morning Kwaiba +straightway showed the results of wrecked nerves and distorted +imagination. Sleepless nights he now visited on his friends by an +increasing irritability. The first few days of this state of Kwaiba were +laughable. He spoke of O'Iwa San; not freely, rather with reticence. He +made his references as of jesting expectation of her advent. Then he +passed to boisterous tricks; springing out on the maids from dark +corners or the turns in the corridors. Alarmed by these manifestations +of the old man--not entirely strange, for he was a terror to the female +element in his household--they soon noted that there was an unnatural +wildness in his amusement at their discomfiture. Now he would talk of +nothing but O'Iwa. From this hysterical mirth he passed to an hysterical +fear. Afraid of visions of the Lady of Tamiya he stayed awake at night. +To be alone appalled him. He would have others keep awake with him. He +was now at the gibbering stage. "Night in the house of Kwaiba is to be +turned into day. The day shall be the time for sleep. Lights! Lights! +More lights!" He sat surrounded by his household, until the white light +of dawn filtered through the spaces above the rain-doors. One of his +women, her hair down for washing, met him unexpectedly in the corridor. +With a howl of terror he started to flee. Then recognizing her, he flew +on her and beat her almost to a jelly in his insane rage. People began +to talk of the eccentricities of Ito[u] Kwaiba--the honoured ward head. + +Barely three weeks after Iémon's visit a violent scene occurred in the +mansion of the _Kumi-gashira_. Shouts and screams, the smashing of +screens and sounds of a terrific struggle were heard in Kwaiba's room. +Kibei, who with the men preferred night for sleep, rushed in. He found +the old man standing, stark naked and alone. His attendants had fled--to +a woman. His pillow sword drawn, Kwaiba was dancing to this side and +that. "Isuké! O'Iwa! Pardon! This Kwaiba is a wicked fellow! Isuké was +poisoned by Kwaiba. O'Iwa San? Kwaiba sold her for a street whore. For +seven lives they pursue him. Ah! A merry chase! But Kwaiba deals not +with night-hawks. His game is higher. Away with the huzzy!" He had +grasped in both hands the flower vase standing in the alcove +(_tokonoma_). Kibei dodged, and catching him by a wrestler's hold, threw +him to the ground. Kakusuké, just entering, was knocked flat by the +heavy missile. Groaning, he rose, and with other servants came to the +aid of the Wakadono. Kwaiba was overpowered and guarded during the +remainder of the night. + +With daylight he knew nothing of what had occurred; at least he made +no reference to it, no response to the talk of others. His fear was now +full on him. He babbled of nothing but Isuké and O'Iwa San. Now he was +incapacitated, downright ill. There was no more turning of day into +night, and _vice versa_. He was in the hands of his nurses. But to +humour him Kibei marshalled the women. Their beds were made encircling +that of Kwaiba in the midst. Kibei and Kakusuké were present. Thus they +lay in this room brilliant with its scores of lanterns, its wax lights +blazing on the lamp-stands. At the sides and in each corner were placed +the scrolls of the holy _sutra_. Kwaiba in despair sought a sleep which +would not favour him. "Some one walks in the corridor.... Namu Amida +Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Kibei! Kibei!" The appeal to the man would +bring quicker response than that to the Buddha. Indeed there was a +sound, as of hair rubbing across the paper screens, of some one or +something trying to peer through the opaque material. There was a rattle +and dash of rain. A gust swept through the corridor, the _sho[u]ji_ +slightly parted. Kwaiba gave a shriek--"O'Iwa! O'Iwa San! Ah! The +bloated face, the drooping eyelid, the corpse taint in the air. It +catches Kwaiba's throat. O'Iwa the O'Baké would force away Kwaiba the +living. Ha! Ha!" A stronger gust, and the _sho[u]ji_ dislodged from its +groove whirled round and fell noisily into the room. Terror gave +strength to the sick man. Kwaiba sprang madly forward. It was horrible +to see the ghastly renovation of this tottering, flabby, emaciated man, +who yet inspired the fear of a maniac's reckless strength. The +frightened women huddled and crouched in the now darkened room, lit but +by a single _andon_ near the alcove. Was Kwaiba mad? As the men fought +over the ruins of the _sho[u]ji_, in the darkness of the corridor, at +first faint as a mist, then distinctly seen, the women were assured of +the presence of O'Iwa. In long black robe, face wide and bloated, of a +livid greenish tint, hair in wild disorder, bulging forehead, swollen +eyeless lids, she stood over the struggling men. Suddenly she thrust the +severed head she carried into the face of Kwaiba, leering horribly at +him the while. With a yell he fell flat on his back. The braver entered +with lights. All gathered round the unconscious Kwaiba. + +This scene was the crisis of his disorder. The disease, once dormant, +now fell on him suddenly and with full force. Perhaps these mental +symptoms were its first indication. More annoying to his comfort, ulcers +broke out all over his body. The itching drove the man nearly frantic. +His mad scratching spread the sores. The boils developed. They ran with +pus. So terrible was the stench that few would stay by him. The women +fled the room in terror, driven away by the running stream of physical +corruption, the continual babble of lewdness from the corrupt mind. He +soon noted their absence. Kibei, attended by the sturdy and faithful +Kakusuké, remained to nurse him. Suddenly said Kwaiba--"O'Hana, the +harlot of Reigan; this Kwaiba would have talk and dalliance with her. +Summon her hither. Let wine and the _samisen_ be brought, a feast +prepared. O'Hana! O'Hana!" He raved so for the woman that Kibei thought +her presence would quiet him. A request was sent to the house of Iémon. +Wishing her to know nothing of the affair of O'Iwa, Iémon had kept +silence. He would have refused the mission--on the pretext of a quarrel +with Kwaiba and Kibei. O'Hana showed herself unexpectedly obstinate--"It +is to the favour of Kwaiba Sama that Iémon owes this Hana. She has a +duty to the past, as well as to the present." With a snarl she turned on +him, glowering. Iémon shrank back. He passed his hand across the eyes +into which O'Iwa had just looked. He no longer opposed her going. + +O'Hana was still weak from repeated attacks of the fever which had +visited her ever since the night Iémon had cast forth the _aodaisho[u]_. +She said that the snake had bitten her. It was the poison, not fever, +working in her. Iémon had laughed at her proposal to try the exorcisms +of the priest. Behind the irritation aroused by his scepticism was that +peculiar clinging of a woman to an old lover, to a man with whom she had +been intimate. In the heart of O'Hana there still remained a strong +leaning to the man who had removed her from the rapid and nauseating +life of the Fukagawa brothel, which cast her into the arms of anyone who +paid the price and raised his finger. With time and the old conditions +probably she would have been as unfaithful to Iémon as she had been to +Kwaiba. The latter showing his desire, she would have answered his call. +Even before this disease-eaten swollen mass of dropsy, she showed but +temporary repugnance. Leaning over him, almost overcome by the stench, +with endearing terms she strove to rouse him to consciousness and +recognition of her. It seemed fearful to have him die without the word +of parting. Kibei aided her by raising the old man. The result was a +horrible frightened stare in eyes made large by fever and delirium. Long +he gazed at her. Said the woman--"'Tis Hana; Hana once the intimate of +Kwaiba. Deign to take courage. This is but a passing affliction. With +Hana as nurse recovery to health is assured." She laid her hands on his +shoulders. In so doing her hair, come loose, fell down around her wan +face. Kwaiba was as galvanized. With a howl the old man pushed her +violently away. "Scrawny wench! What impudence to show your face here! +Ah! To the last moment, waking and in dreams, she pursues this Kwaiba. I +sold you. 'Tis true--I sold you for a night-hawk--to Toémon of Honjo[u]. +Does Kwaiba consort with wenches of such ilk?" Raising his fist he dealt +her blow after blow, all the time shouting--"O'Iwa! O'Iwa! The O'Baké +solicits Kwaiba. Broken loose from Hell and the waters of Warigesui she +would force away Kwaiba. Help! Help! Aid for Kwaiba! Away with the +O'Baké!" The old man again had broken into his mad fit. The shouts of +Kibei brought Kakusuké. Kwaiba's hands were detached from the masses of +O'Hana's hair. The wounds on her face were not so deep as those +inflicted on her mind. At last the secret was out. In bare feet she fled +along the muddy street toward the Samoncho[u] house. + +It was true that the vileness of the disease, the vileness of Kwaiba's +tongue, had driven the women from attendance in the sick room to the +remotest quarters of the house. But there was a deterrent even to their +now limited service. All said the place where Kwaiba lay was haunted. +Under press of necessity a maid had brought needed medicaments to the +sick man's room. Putting down the light she carried on the _ro[u]ka_, +she pushed open the _sho[u]ji_ to enter the outer chamber. Her robe +caught as she did so. + +Turning to release it she gave a fearful shriek. Standing in the +corridor, at the open screen behind her, were two tall figures robed in +black. With dishevelled hair, broad white flat faces, bulging brows, +eyelids swollen and sightless, yet they gazed through and through the +onlooker and into the farther room. One creature, even more hideous with +drooping lid and baldness extending far back, half moved, half fell +toward the frightened maid. The woman's screams now were mingled with +wild laughter. Kibei came rushing out, sword drawn, to find her in a fit +of mad hysterics. Catching the drift of her broken phrases he went out +on the _ro[u]ka_. There was no one there. _Haori_ and _kimono_, hung up +there to dry, rustled and moved a little in the draft. Had these +frightened the woman? Kakusuké carried her back to her companions. +Henceforth no one would enter that part of the building occupied by the +sick man. Kibei as son, Kakusuké the old and faithful attendant, were +isolated in their nursing. + +Kibei noted the sick man's face. "Father, why the forehead so wrinkled? +Is pain condescended?" Said Kwaiba--"'Tis the rats; they gnaw and worry +at Kwaiba."--"Rats?" replied Kibei in some astonishment. He looked +around. The _sho[u]ji_ were tight closed. Kwaiba noted the inspection. +He shook his head, and pointed to the _rama-sho[u]ji_, the ornamental +open work near the ceiling. This could not be obviated. "Auntie (Obasan) +is old and deaf. She sleeps; while rats, attracted by the foul sores of +the scrofulous child, enter and attack the infant in its cradle. The +child gets thinner and weaker every day; then dies. A terrible creature +is the rat." So much for the opinion of Nippon. Kibei had brought a +mosquito net. Its edges were weighted down with heavy stones. Thus the +watchers could not be taken by surprise. Under its protection the sick +man was saved from annoyance. + +Said Kibei--"This illness is most tedious. Could not Kibei go to the +Yoshiwara for a space? The letters of the Kashiku (_oiran_) accumulate. +Kibei has nothing to give, and has given no explanation for not giving. +What thinks Kakusuké?" Kakusuké was brave. Moreover he knew the Wakadono +was brave. The prospect, however, of facing his old master in a crazy +fit--and perhaps O'Iwa--had no attraction. He gave his advice--"The Go +Inkyo[u] Sama is in a very precarious state. He is now very weak. The +worst may happen at any moment. For the Wakadono to be taking his +pleasure at the Yoshiwara would arouse criticism in the ward; nay, even +more than criticism. It would be held unfilial. Deign to reconsider the +purpose." Kibei looked sourly at the swollen corruption which +represented Kwaiba--"How does he hold on! His strength must be great." +Kakusuké shrugged his shoulders--"The Go Inkyo[u] Sama will not die +easily. He has much to go through yet."--"In the name of all the _kami_ +and Buddhas, how has he come to such an end? He is a sight to inspire +fear--in those who can feel such." Replied Kakusuké with sly look--"The +Go Inkyo[u] Sama has lived high, and loved beyond measure. The Wakadono +does well to reconsider his purpose." + +The night was passing. The two men, worn out by the continued watching +and nursing, after vain struggle to keep awake had gone to sleep. +Kakusuké was in the room with Kwaiba. In his slumber Kibei was back in +the fencing room. The clash of the wooden swords (_bokken_), the cries +of the contestants, rang clear in his ears. He woke to find rain and +storm shaking and tearing at the _amado_. But it was the shouts of +Kakusuké, standing at the _sho[u]ji_, which had aroused him--"Danna +Sama! Danna Sama! Wakadono! At once! At once! Deign to hasten!" Kibei +rushed into the next room. In fright Kakusuké pointed to the mosquito +net. A figure stood upright within it, swaying, gesticulating, +struggling. It was a figure all black and horrible. "Un! Un!" grunted +Kwaiba. He was answered by a mincing, gnawing sound. "Father! Have +courage! Kibei is here." He rushed at the heavy stones, to toss them to +one side and enter the net. The swaying figure within suddenly toppled +over in a heap. With his sword Kibei tore and severed the cording of the +net. The black mass of rats scattered to the eight directions of space. +On approaching Kwaiba a terrible sight met the eye. Eyes, ears, nose, +chin, toes and fingers had been torn and eaten off. The lips were gnawed +away and exposed to view the grinning teeth. A feeble groan--and Kwaiba +had met his end. Neither Kibei nor Kakusuké dared to touch the foul +body. In their panic the two men looked in each other's faces. "Namu +Amida Butsu! Holy the Lord Buddha, Amida!" prayed Kibei, on his knees +before the corpse. "Namu Amida Butsu!" answered Kakusuké.[29] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO[U] + + +Said a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip--"Ah! Is it +Goémon San? It is said the Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated." Kamimura +Goémon sniffed. He was a long man; with long face, long nose, long thin +arms, long thin legs; a malicious man, who longed to give advice to his +fellows which they much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe +under the infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in +good faith or temper--"The Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated? Escaping +the troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse troubles in +the next." At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi Hambei showed surprise. +Continued Goémon--"The Go Inkyo[u] died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such +an end hardly calls for congratulations." Mizoguchi gasped, with round +eyes and round face. "Extraordinary!"--"Not at all," replied Kamimura, +complacently tapping the palm of one hand with the elongated fingers of +the other. "The Go Inkyo[u] drove out O'Iwa San from Tamiya. He gave +O'Hana in her stead to Iémon as wife. Hana the harlot! Cursed by O'Iwa +in dying, he has met this frightful end. Akiyama, Natsumé, Imaizumi will +surely follow. As will all those involved in the affair."--"But is O'Iwa +San really the cause of the death? The Go Inkyo[u] in life was not the +most careful of men in conserving health." This was timidly interjected +by a third party. Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl--"Of course it is +O'Iwa San. Has she not been seen? The women of the house answer for it. +Only Kibei the sceptic, and Kakusuké who would face the devil in person, +attempt to deny it." He threw up a hand. With unction--"Ah! It inspires +fear. Small is the profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who +indulges in either.... How cold it is for the time of year!" + +Said the interloper--"But the congratulations have to be rendered all +the same. It will be necessary to attend the all-night watch. How +vexatious! Perhaps O'Iwa San will not appear. There is no getting out of +it?"--"Certainly not," answered Kamimura. "The Go Inkyo[u] was the head +of the ward association. Twelve neighbours have been invited to the +watch. At dawn the body is to be prepared. A pleasant undertaking, if +all that is said be true! The viands will be of the best, the wine no +worse and plentiful. None must fail to attend." He smacked his lips. The +others likewise, but much less heartily. + +It was an unwilling band which crawled in laggard procession through +rain and mud and the length of the Teramachi to Kwaiba's house. A +_do[u]shin_, the ward chief, a rich man, the mansion displayed all its +splendour. The atmosphere, however, was oppressive. Kibei greeted the +guests with heartiness, and accepted their condolence and gifts with +lavish thanks and the cheerful face of him that profiteth by the +funeral. Kakusuké was his main aid in connection with the Go Inkyo[u]'s +last appearance. Occasionally a timid white-faced woman was seen, but +she would flit away from the scene of these festivities, to seek the +companionship of her panic-stricken fellows. Entering the funereal +chamber the body was found, laid out and decently swathed so as to +cover, as far as possible, the horrible nature of the death. On a white +wood stand was the _ihai_ in white wood, a virtuous lie as to the +qualities of the deceased. It ran--Tentoku Gishin Jisho[u] Daishi. Which +can be interpreted--"A man of brilliant virtues, virtuous heart, and +benevolent temperament." Screens, upside down, were placed at the head: + +"Alas! The screen: the carp descends the fall."[30] Akiyama, Natsumé, +Imaizumi, were the last to appear. The former had been composing a +violent quarrel between his two friends--the long and the fat. Much +recrimination had passed, and the usually peaceful Imaizumi was in a +most violent and truculent humour. He glared with hate on Natsumé, who +now aided Akiyama in efforts to soothe his anger. On entering the +assembly the looks of all were composed. "A retribution for deeds in the +past world. Old; but so vigorous! The offering is a mere trifle. This +Kyuzo[u] would burn a stick of incense." Kibei extended his thanks and +suppressed his smile as much as possible. He was breathing with full +lungs for the first time in weeks. The storm was over; happiness was +ahead; the clouded sky was all serene. "Thanks are felt. This Kibei is +most fortunate: nay, grateful. Such kindness is not to be forgotten +during life."--"The Inkyo[u] an _hotoké_; Iémon Dono and O'Hana are the +husband and wife not present?" The question came from some one in the +room. "O'Hana San is very ill. Her state is serious. Iémon does not +leave her." Akiyama answered for the truant pair. Kibei's joy was +complete. + +Akiyama, Natsumé, Imaizumi were standing by Kwaiba's body. Kamimura +slowly approached. The long man's face was longer than ever; longer, +much longer than that of Natsumé; and Kibei was not in the running. +Goémon meditatively fondled his nose; on the pretence of concentrating +thought, and for the purpose of relieving that member from the savour +arising from Kwaiba's bier. This was no bed of roses--"Yes, the Inkyo[u] +is indeed dead." He sniffed. "Soon it will be the turn of all of you--to +be like this;" another sniff--"of Iémon and O'Hana, of Natsumé and +Imaizumi, of this Akiyama San." The latter gave a violent start. With +hand to his nose also, he turned on the intruder. Continued Goémon--"A +plot was concocted against O'Iwa San. Beggared and driven from the ward, +deceived and sold as a street harlot, this death of the Inkyo[u] is but +the first in the roll of her vengeance. Kamimura speaks with pure heart +and without malice. You men are not long for this world. Is Akiyama San +reconciled? And...." He pointed a skinny finger at Kyuzo[u], then at +Jinzaémon. "You show it. Your eyes are hollow; your nostrils are fallen +in. The colour of the face is livid. You seem already to be _hotoké_, +prepared to lie with the Go Inkyo[u]." Akiyama found his tongue. He +burst out in a rage--"The jest is unseemly. Kamimura San goes too far. +It is true this Cho[u]zaémon gave counsel to Ito[u] Kwaiba. Kyuzo[u] and +Jinzaémon took some part in what followed. But we acted on the orders of +Ito[u] Dono, of Iémon San. On the first will be visited any grudge." +Goémon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. "Here he lies. How did +he die? Goémon does not jest, and the argument of Akiyama San is rotten. +The master bids the servants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow +falls on them; not on him. How now Akiyama San?" Cho[u]zaémon turned +away discomfited. All three felt very bad--in mind and body. + +The bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (1 A.M.). Just opposite, its +clangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly sound. In the depths of +night this inert mass of metal seemed a thing of life, casting its +influence into the lives of those present, rousing them to face grave +issues. Noting the absence of Natsumé, the round-faced, round-eyed, +round-bodied Imaizumi followed after. Kibei came forth from the supper +room, to find his guests all flown. "Where have they gone to, Kakusuké?" +He looked around in amazement--"They were taken with pains in the belly. +With this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with a flux." The +_chu[u]gen_ answered in the dry and certain tone of one unconvinced. +Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "There is naught wrong with wine or +viands?"--"Nor with the guests," replied Kakusuké. "They are cowards, +who have caught some inkling as to the not over-nice death of the Go +Inkyo[u]."--"The latter day _bushi_ are not what the _bushi_ were of +old; at least this brand of them. Ah! These wretched little bureaucrats; +_bushi_ of the pen. Two men to eat a supper prepared for twelve sturdy +trenchers. Well: two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a hand +Kakusuké."--"Respectfully heard and obeyed," replied the _chu[u]gen_. + +The white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. Secured +by Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy Ko[u]yasan, the +sacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kakusuké dragged a large +tub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was unswathed and placed in it. +Kakusuké eyed his late master with critical and unfavourable eye. +"Naruhodo! The Go Inkyo[u] is a strange object. No eyes: nose, ears, +lips gone; his expression is not a pleasant one.... Nay! The Wakadono is +awkward. Throw the water from head to feet.... Take care! Don't throw it +over Kakusuké. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono is wasteful. More +is needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kakusuké draws it from the well." He +opened the side door and went outside. Kibei drew a little apart from +the body. It stank. A noise at the sliding window (_hikimado_) in the +roof made him look up. Oya! Oya! The face of O'Iwa filled the +aperture--round, white, flat; with puffed eyelids and a sightless glare. +With a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did so +slender attenuated hands groped downward. "Kakusuké! Kakusuké!"--"What +is it, Wakadono?"--"O'Iwa: she looks down through the _hikimado_! She +seeks the Inkyo[u]!" Kakusuké gave a look upward--"Bah! It's the cat. Is +the Wakadono, too, getting nerves? They are a poor investment."--"The +cat!" Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his +sword. + +He turned round--to give a shout of surprise--"Kakusuké! Kakusuké! The +body of the Go Inkyo[u] is no longer here." As the astonished +_chu[u]gen_ came running to look into the empty tub, both men nearly +fell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyo[u] was whirling around +the neighbouring room in execution of a mad dance. Followed by Kakusuké, +his worthy son and heir sprang in pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba +and the pursuers into the darkness of the garden, into the rain and +storm. Kibei heard the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly +after them. "To lose his parent's body--this was against all rules of +Bushido[u]." Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all +the moral and physical atrocities except--failure in filial conduct to +parent and lord; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of Bushido[u]. +Kakusuké soon lost his master in the darkness. Disconcerted and anxious +he returned to secure a lantern. The wind promptly blew it out; then +another, and a third. He stood on the _ro[u]ka_ in the darkness to wait +the return of the Wakadono. For the first time Kakusuké had noted +failing purpose in his young master. He was more solicitous over this +than over the strange disappearance of the Inkyo[u]'s body. Was the +Wakadono losing his nerve; as had the O'Dono? + +In time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuké's inquiring glance--"Kibei +pursued to Myo[u]gyo[u]ji; then up the hill. Here sight was lost of the +Inkyo[u]. The darkness prevented further search. A lantern is next to +worthless in this gale. Kakusuké, go to the houses of Natsumé and +Imaizumi close by. They are young and will aid Kibei in the search." +Kakusuké did not demur. Pulling his cape over his head, off he posted. +He asked but to come across the Inkyo[u]'s body, in O'Iwa's company or +not made no difference to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission was +fruitless. The two men had expressed the intention of spending the night +at the Kwaiba wake. Neither had as yet returned. Grumbled Kibei--"The +filthy fellows! With this excuse to their wives they seek new pastures +at Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), to spend the night in dissipation. 'Tis +Natsumé who is the lecher. Gladly would he wean Imaizumi from his barely +wed wife."--"Or wean the wife from Imaizumi Sama! Wakadono, nothing can +be done now. The dawn should be awaited." With these sage comments the +_chu[u]gen_ squatted at respectful distance from his master. From time +to time one or other arose, to look sceptically into the empty tub in +which once had reposed the Inkyo[u]'s body. Finally both nodded off into +sleep. At dawn--don, don, don, don, came a loud knocking on the outer +gate. Kakusuké went out, to return with astonished face and portentous +news. The dead bodies of Natsumé Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon had +been found at the foot of the _baké-icho[u]_, a huge tree close by the +guardhouse. Finger tip to finger tip three men could not girdle this +tree. With the bodies of the men lay that of a woman. Two corpses, man +and woman, were stark naked. Kibei's presence, as the successor to +Kwaiba's office, was required. + +He prepared at once to start for the Okido[u]. The tale was in time +learned from the prolix Kamimura Goémon, who had witnessed part at least +of the scene. As he was knocking at his door on the Shinjuku road, +having just returned late from the watch at Kwaiba's house, rapid steps +were heard in the street. A man, recognized as Kyuzo[u], passed, running +at top speed. He dragged along by the hand a woman, the wife of +Imaizumi. The two were nearly naked. Close in the rear pursued Imaizumi +Jinzaémon, his drawn sword in his hand. They sped up the wide road. +Goémon stepped out, to follow at a distance this flight and pursuit. At +the _icho[u]_ tree the fugitives were overtaken. The woman was the first +to be cut down. Kyuzo[u] turned to grapple with the assailant. Unarmed +his fate soon overtook him. He fell severed from shoulder to pap. Having +finished his victims Imaizumi seated himself at the foot of the tree, +and cut open his belly. "Long had such outcome been expected," intoned +the long-nosed man. The case needed no explanation. Others echoed the +opinion of Goémon, who was merely many fathoms deeper in the scandal of +the neighbourhood than most of them. It was agreed to hush the matter +up. Reporting his own experience, to the astonishment of his hearers, +Kibei, accompanied by Kakusuké, started down Teramachi toward +Samégabashi. As they passed the Gwansho[u]ji attention was drawn by a +pack of dogs, fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white +object lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up a +grave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. There +lay the body of Ito[u] Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands of O'Iwa to +be torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. Thus was it that the +funerals of Ito[u] Kwaiba, Natsumé Kyuzo[u], and Imaizumi Jinzaémon took +place in one cortége on the same day and at the same time. The +postponement in the first instance--was it providential? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +TAMIYA YOÉMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND MYO[U]ZEN THE +PRIEST + + +Tamiya Yoémon was stumbling home in all haste from the funeral of Ito[u] +Kwaiba. He was full of news for the wife, O'Kamé. The neighbours could +talk of nothing but the strange happenings in the ward, and details lost +nothing in the telling; perhaps gained somewhat by the process. Most +edifying was the reported conduct of the wife of the late Natsumé +Kyuzo[u], the observed of all observers at the funeral, the object of +that solicitous congratulation which embodies the secret sigh of relief +of friends, neighbours, and relatives at the removal of a prospective +burden. Natsumé had left behind him a wife, an old mother, an infant +child, and huge liabilities. To administer this legacy--and perhaps to +get rid of her mother-in-law--the wife had promptly and tearfully +sacrificed her status, and sold herself for a term of years to the +master of the Sagamiya, a pleasure house at Shinagawa post town. The sum +paid--one hundred _ryo[u]_--relieved the immediate future. The +neighbours derided the ignorance of the Sagamiya in accepting the +uncertain bail of Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon. If the lady behaved badly, small +satisfaction was to be obtained of her security. "Ignorance is bliss." +Let the Sagamiya bask in both and the beauty of the prize. Meanwhile +their concern and admiration were for the lady destined to this post +town of the crowded To[u]kaido[u], the stopping place of high and low, +noble and riff-raff, entering Edo town. Of the inmates of the pleasure +quarters, the harlots of Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Itabashi, were held in +lowest esteem. + +Arrived at his door Yoémon stopped short in surprise and alarm. To his +loud call of "Wife! Wife!" answer there was none. Looking within he +could barely distinguish objects through the thick smoke which filled +the house. The last thing the Nipponese would do under such conditions, +would be to throw open doors and panels. This would convert the place at +once to a blazing conflagration. Where was the fire getting its start? +Choking and spluttering Yoémon groped his way through the rooms into the +rear. Wherever the fire was, it was not in the living rooms. The smoke +was accentuated on reaching the kitchen. Here was a smell of burning +rice, of Yoémon's dinner gradually carbonizing under the influence of an +element other than the juices of his round stomach. Looking into the +room, through the thickened haze he saw the flame of the fire +brightening. O'Kamé the wife could be made out, on her knees before the +portable furnace. She was blowing a mass of slivers and brushwood into +flame by the aid of a bamboo pipe. It was this stuff, green and partly +wet, which gave out the choking acrid smoke. Yoémon was angered beyond +measure at the sight of his ruined meal and expectations. "Kamé! Kamé! +What are you doing? Have you gone mad? Ma! Ma! The dinner is being +ruined. You are ill. Kamé's head whirls with head-ache. Yoémon will act +as cook. Go to bed--at once." At his peremptory speech the wife looked +up into the face of the husband standing over her. She scowled at him in +a way to cause fear. "Not a _sho[u]_ of rice; not a _mon_. Yoémon would +give freely to a beggar, rather than confer a 'cash' on Iwa. Yoémon +sells me as a street harlot." He started back in fright before the +snarling distorted visage. The wife sprang to her feet. Pash! On his +devoted head descended the hot iron pan with its content of stew. "Ah! +Kamé is mad--clean daft." With a wild laugh she seized the pot full of +boiling rice and began to pour it into the drain. When he tried to stop +her, he received the mess full in his bosom--"Mad? Not at all. This Kamé +never felt in better spirits. When grass grows in Samoncho[u] we enter +Nirvana. Ha! Ha! Ha! To hasten the happy time!" With a kick she knocked +over the furnace. In an instant the _tatami_ was in a blaze. Yelling +like mad, shouting for help, Yoémon leaped from the house. O'Kamé seized +the burning brands in her bare hands, hurling them into this room and +into that. Outstripping the old Yoémon, the younger men of the +neighbours rushed in. The mad woman was soon overcome and carried from +the burning building. Nothing else was saved. They took her to the house +of Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon. Here she was tied hand and foot, and put in a +closet. The old man Yoémon stood by in despair, watching the progress of +events. Before the conflagration was extinguished his own and four other +houses were destroyed. He was a ruined man; responsible for all. + +Myo[u]zen the priest had just set foot on the slope leading up from +Samégabashi to Yotsuya. A somewhat long retreat at Myo[u]honji, +attendance at the ceremonies held on the Saint's (Nichiren) birthday, +had kept him in ignorance of recent events in Yotsuya. In the dawn of +the beautiful day of earliest 3rd month (our April 13th) he had set out +from Kamakura. Sturdy as were the priest's limbs, yet he was a little +tired. He rested at the foot of the hill. Then his eyes grew big with +astonishment. In the waning afternoon a funeral came wending its way +downwards. But such a funeral! Two spearmen led the way. Then came a +long train of attendants. Three catafalques followed, the first a most +imposing bier. Then came the relatives. Kibei on horseback headed these. +The women rode in _kago_. That it was a ward funeral Myo[u]zen had no +doubt, both from its source and make up. He noted a parishioner in the +cortége. "Kamimura Uji!" The long-limbed, long-faced, long-tongued man +left the ranks and obsequiously greeted his spiritual father. At +Myo[u]zen's question he expressed gratified surprise, and unlimbered his +lingual member at once--"Whose honoured funeral this? Nay! It is a +triple funeral; that of Natsumé Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi Jinzaémon, the Go +Inkyo[u], our ward-head. It is owing to this latter that there is such +an outpouring of the ward, with attendance of barrier guards and +firemen. Although the ending of Natsumé and Jinzaémon was not edifying, +that of our honoured once head gratified still more the public +curiosity. Gnawed and eaten by the rats he died most horribly." He told +of the eventful night. "Hence delay in the burial. The deaths of Natsumé +and Imaizumi were almost coincident. The body of the adulterous woman, +rejected by both families, was cast out on the moor." He noted with +satisfaction the great impression his tale made on the priest, as also +the clerical garb and rosary held in hand. "Pray join the band. A little +re-adjustment...." He bent down. With the baton he held in hand as +leader of his section he carefully dusted the robes. Adjusting the folds +he pronounced the results as most presentable. "The honoured Osho[u] is +ready to bury or be buried." Myo[u]zen took this remark in very ill +form. He prepared to answer tartly, but curiosity overcame his weariness +and ill temper. The procession was moving fast. He fell at once into +line, with hardly an acknowledgment of Kamimura's courtesy, as this +latter hastened forward to his place. + +His neighbour in the procession explained. The nature of the deaths of +the three men had aroused the feeling in the ward. Their connection with +a conspiracy against O'Iwa San was now generally known. Without doubt it +was owing to her vengeance that they had died as they did. Let them lie +outside the quarter. The protest to Kibei was respectful but emphatic. A +newcomer, he had made no great resistance. It was determined to bury +them at the Denzu-In, close by the mound of the nameless dead of Edo's +great fire of more than half a century before. Hence the direction of +the cortége. As the cemetery of the great temple was approached the +curiosity of Myo[u]zen, morbidly growing the while, became overpowering. +The priest slipped from rank to rank. At the grave he stood in the very +front. As long-time friend he besought a last glance at the dead. Those +given to Natsumé and Imaizumi called forth a careless prayer for each. +The men hesitated before raising the cover concealing the body of +Kwaiba. At Myo[u]zen's peremptory gesture they complied. He bent over +and looked in. Frozen with horror, he was fascinated by those great +holes for eyes, large as teacups, which seemed to fix him. Dead of +leprosy, gnawed and torn by beasts, the face presented a sight +unforgettable. The holes torn in the flesh twisted the features into a +lifelike, though ghastly, sardonic grin, full of the pains of the hell +in which Kwaiba had suffered and now suffered. A stench arose from the +box which made the hardened bearers hold their noses and draw away. Yet +the priest bent down all the closer. In his corruption the lips of the +old man seemed to move. Did Kwaiba speak? Closer and closer: Myo[u]zen +seemed never satisfied with this inspection. The poise and brain gave +way. Priest and corpse met in the horrible salutation. With exclamation +the attendants sprang forward. Myo[u]zen in a dead faint was carried +apart and laid on the ground. Some priests of the hall busied themselves +over him. Somewhat revived he was taken off to the residence quarters of +the temple, and soon was able to return to his home. "Curious fool." +Kibei was greatly angered. He was easily irritated in these days. The +delay in the rites almost maddened him. Would old Kwaiba--his father +Ito[u] Inkyo[u]--never be got out of men's sight? Out of Kibei's sight? + +That night Myo[u]zen sat alone in his quarters. Somewhat shaken, he was +ashamed and regretful at thought of his unseemly curiosity of the +afternoon. The priests of Denzuin had regarded him with covert amusement +and repulsion. He had noted one passing the sleeve of his robe over his +lips. Myo[u]zen explained the incident by more than usual weariness. +They condoled with him, and made horrified gestures of ill-disguised +glee when they thought his attention was elsewhere. In his present +privacy the scene at the grave came back to mind again and again. "Ah! +Ah! If this Myo[u]zen had not looked. The Inkyo[u]'s face was terrible. +Myo[u]zen cannot put it from mind." He glanced at the pages of the sutra +lying before him. He turned them over. He knew they spoke of the +horribleness of death; but what was the cold script to the actuality? It +was no use, the attempt to read. Kwaiba's face interposed. "Oh! That +salute! The very idea of that terrible salute, the contact with +corruption!" He was as if plunged in an icy bath. He started nervously. +It was but rain dashing against the _amado_, rattling and twisting in +the gale. He could not sleep. That night he would watch. The fire was +hot in the _hibachi_ (brazier). He went to the closet to get some tea. +On opening it he sprang back with a shout of alarm, to lean trembling +and quivering in every limb huddled against the wall. "Namu Myo[u]ho[u] +Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!" One character of the +wondrous formula secured pardon and safety to the believer in that +paradise of Amida which Myo[u]zen was in no great haste to visit. +Shivering as with a chill intently he watched the animal as it glided +along the edge of the room, to disappear into the shadows. He shrugged +his shoulders wearily. A rat had frightened him almost out of his wits! +His heart beat tumultuously, almost to suffocation; then it seemed to +cease altogether; to resume its wild career. + +Hardly was he again seated, his hand on the kettle--don--don, don--don, +don, don, don. Some one was violently knocking on the door. Myo[u]zen +sprang up. Approaching the _amado_ with silent step he eyed the bolts: +"All secure." Snatching up a stake close by he jammed it in between +floor and crosspiece. Leaning heavily on the panel he listened. +"Myo[u]zen Sama! Osho[u] Sama! Condescend to open; deign to give +entrance! The storm nearly throws one to the ground. News! News for the +Osho[u]! A request to make!" Myo[u]zen held his ground against this +outer temptation. "Who are you, out at this hour of the night and in +such weather? To-night Myo[u]zen does not open. Go away; return in +daylight."--"But the honoured Osho[u] Sama is needed. His presence is +requested. Deign to open; at least to hear the message. The priest aids +the afflicted." There was something in the voice he recognized, despite +its terror. Regaining some courage he parleyed. The priest was for the +consolation of the unfortunate. O'Iwa had been, was unfortunate. He +could not open. "Who are you? Unless the name be given this Myo[u]zen +holds no further talk. To-night he is unwell, positively ill. Come at +dawn and Myo[u]zen will receive you."--"Who? Does not the voice answer +for the person? This is Tomobei, from the house of Kondo[u] +Rokuro[u]bei. Deign to open. The master needs and calls for the aid of +the Osho[u] Sama." + +Voice and speech, the importance of Kondo[u] in the life of Myo[u]zen, +broke down his hesitation. Slowly he removed the bars. Tomobei entered, +dripping with wet. He cast down his straw coat at the entrance. The +man's eyes and manner were wild. He kept casting frightened looks into +the wild welter of storm outside. When the priest would withdraw into +the room he held him by the skirt. "What has happened?" commanded +Myo[u]zen briefly. Replied Tomobei--"A terrible thing! To-day the master +was ready to attend the funeral of Ito[u] Inkyo[u]. The wife was engaged +in putting the house _kimono_ in the closet. O'Tama was playing on the +upper _ro[u]ka_. She is but seven years old. Leaning far over to see her +father leave, she lost her balance. Down she fell, to be impaled on the +knife-like points of the _shinobi-gaeshi_. The sharp-pointed bamboo, +protection against thieves, have robbed the Danna of his greatest +treasure (_tama_). Deep into throat and chest ran the cruel spikes, to +appear through the back. The sight inspired fear, so horrible was it. He +could but call out--'Tomobei! Tomobei!' All effort to detach the child, +to saw off the points, did but make matters worse. It was necessary to +fetch a ladder. When taken down she was dead. Alas! Alas! The Okusama is +nearly crazed. The Danna Sama in his cruel distress does but rage +through the house. 'Myo[u]zen Osho[u], he loved the child. Let Myo[u]zen +Osho[u] be summoned to say a prayer of direction, while yet the child +spirit hovers hereabouts.' Such is the cry of the Okusama. Hence the +presence of this Tomobei. Otherwise he would rather be scourged at the +white sand than face the darkness in which O'Iwa San wanders abroad." +Man and priest were weeping. The former in his fright and over the +confusion and distress fallen on the household; the priest over the +sudden and dreadful end of this child to whom the homeless one, the man +devoted to the solitary life, had taken an unbounded affection as of a +father. Great as was his terror, he forgot his own ills in the greater +misfortune of the life-long friend. He remained bowed in prayer. "Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Oh! The +wondrous law, the _sutra_ of the Lotus!" He rose--"Myo[u]zen comes." + +As they struggled through the storm, Tomobei kept up a nonsensical, +running talk, full of the superstitious fear of the man of the lower +classes. "Iya! The affair has been terrible, but misfortune is in the +air.... What's that! Ah! Something passes by ... above. O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" +He seized the priest's arm and clung to him in terror. Myo[u]zen's fears +had all returned. He would have run away, but was too tightly held. +"Where! Where!" He shrieked and whirled around toward Samégabashi. +Tomobei held on tenaciously to his skirts. An object was bearing down on +them in the dark. Close upon priest and man they jumped to one side. A +cold hand was laid on the neck of the cleric, who squawked with fear. A +howl answered the howls and mad cries and blows of the two men, who now +threw themselves flat on the ground to shut out sight of the apparition. +The beast sped down the hill. Discomfited, Myo[u]zen disentangled +himself from the embraces of a broken water spout, which descending from +the roof under which he had taken shelter, was sending its cold stream +down his neck. Tomobei rose from the mud puddle in which he lay face +downward. They gazed at each other. "A dog! A wandering cur!" Myo[u]zen +eyed his once immaculate garments with disgust. How present himself in +such a state! Tomobei read his thoughts and determined to keep a +companion so hardly won. "There are present but the master and the +Okusama, Tomobei, and Kiku; other company there is none.... Yes; the +Ojo[u]san."--"The corpse needs no company," said Myo[u]zen testily. In +his disgrace and unkempt condition Myo[u]zen was unduly irritated at his +child friend. The business was to be gone through. They were opposite +the cemetery of Sainenji, on its western side. Said Tomobei--"A paling +is loose. There is no need to descend the hill. This is no cheerful spot +at this hour. Deign to sprint it, Osho[u] Sama. In the time one can +count ten the entrance at the rear is reached. Deign a spurt, honoured +priest; deign to sprint." Myo[u]zen felt he was in for everything this +night. With Tomobei he tucked up his robes to his hams, as if entering a +race. Crawling through the bamboo palings into the haunt of the dead, at +it they went--a mad spurt across to Ko[u]ndo's house. Tomobei was the +more active. He turned to watch the priest tripping over hillocks in the +grass, knocking into gravestones hidden by the darkness. So near home, +courage was returning. He burst into laughter at sight of Myo[u]zen +madly hammering a battered old stone lantern of the _yukimido[u]ro_ +style. The broad-brimmed hat-like object he belaboured as something +naturally or unnaturally possessed of life, all the while giving +utterance to anything but priestly language. Tomobei ventured back to +his rescue. Myo[u]zen was quite battered and bleeding as the two rushed +into Kondo[u]'s house. + +The master was expecting them; but he threw up his hands as they +appeared in the room. "Osho[u] Sama! Tomobei! What are you about! Why +rush into the room, clogs still on the feet? Deign to withdraw. The +_tatami_ are stained and streaked with mud.... Water for the feet of the +Osho[u] Sama! Tomobei, are you mad? Out with you: bring water to clean +up this mess." In confusion the priest withdrew. His apologies were +profuse as he reappeared--"Alas! Terrible the loss, and in such dreadful +manner. Kondo[u] Dono, Okusama, part at least of this grief Myo[u]zen +would take on himself. Great is the sorrow at this end of one just +beginning life." The wife received the condolence of the priest with a +burst of weeping. Then she turned fiercely on the husband--"It is all +the fault of Rokuro[u]bei. He was _nako[u]do_ for O'Iwa San in the +marriage with Iémon. Turning against her, he took O'Hana into the house. +Did she not spend her time in idling, and teaching the child the ways of +her questionable life--'how to please men,' forsooth?... Ah! Tama did +have pretty ways. Though but of seven years, she danced, and sang, and +postured as would a girl double her age. Now thus cruelly she has +perished." Her mind, reverted to the child, again took a turn. "The plot +against O'Iwa--with Ito[u] Kwaiba, Iémon, Cho[u]zaémon--here is found +the source of this calamity. O'Iwa in dying has cursed all involved. Now +'tis the turn of Kondo[u] and his unfortunate wife." She ended in +another outburst of tears, her head on the mats at the feet of the +priest. Rokuro[u]bei was tearing up and down the room, gesticulating and +almost shouting--"Yes! 'Tis she! 'Tis she! The hateful O'Iwa strikes the +father through the child. Ah! It was a cowardly act to visit such a +frightful ending on one budding into life. O'Iwa seeks revenge. O'Iwa is +abroad; and yet this Kondo[u] cannot meet with her." Myo[u]zen was +almost deafened with his cries and noisy earnestness. Truly to bring +peace into this household, with division reigning between husband and +wife smitten with fear of the supernatural, would be no easy matter. His +priestly experience taught him the safest way to bring about his object. + +"'Tis true; 'tis true. But loud cries avail nothing. The aid of the +Buddha for the deceased is to be sought." Apologetically he showed +something of his condition to the wife. At once she rose. Outergarments +were removed. Muddied undergarments were renewed. Myo[u]zen went into +the mortuary chamber. The little "Jewel" was laid out as in sleep. The +wounded chest, the torn throat, were concealed by garments and a +scarf-like bandage adjusted by a mother's sad and tender care. The +incense sticks lay in clay saucers near the couch. "Oh, the wonderful +Law! The _sutra_ of the Lotus! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!" He looked long at the little silent figure. +His eyes were full of tears as he turned and took the hands of the +weeping mother who had followed him into the room. Then for long he +spoke in consoling tones. She was somewhat quieted when they returned. + +Kondo[u] Rokuo[u]bei was still moving restlessly about the room. Now he +was here, now there; from the death room he returned to the company; +from them he passed to the kitchen. The wife thought of the friend and +priest. "Tomobei, go to the store-room and bring wine." Myo[u]zen was a +curious mixture. His weak spot was touched--"Deign it, honoured lady, +for all. Let the occasion be made seemly, but more cheerful. Cause not +sorrow to the dead by an unmeasured grief. This does but pain the Spirit +in its forced communion with the living. Death perchance is not the +misfortune of subsequent existence in this world, but a passage to the +paradise of Amida." He spoke unctuously; as one full informed and +longing for its trial. His homily had no effect in moving Tomobei, who +was flatly unwilling to perform the service ordered. "The wine...," +broke in Kondo[u] harshly.--"The go-down is at the end of the lot. The +hour is very late, and the storm ... and other things ... it rages +fiercely. This Tomobei...."--"Shut up!" roared his master, with easily +roused anger. The maid O'Kiku timidly interposed--"There is a supply in +the kitchen. This Kiku early brought it there, anticipating the need. +Indeed the storm is terrible. One gets wet to the bone in traversing the +yard." The wife caught the last words--"Aye! Wet and chilled the lost +child spirit wanders, ringing its bell and vainly seeking aid and +shelter; no aid at hand but that of the heartless hag in the River of +Souls."[31] At the thought of the little O'Tama in cold and storm she +broke down. Crying bitterly, she crept from the room and laid down +beside the bier. + +The wine was served. Myo[u]zen drank. Then he drank again. His +potations gave him confidence--for more drink--and recalled him to his +functions. "Let us all pray. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Wonderful the Law! Wonderful the _sutra_ of +the Lotus, explanatory of the Law by which mankind are saved, to enter +the paradise of Amida. Be sure the wanderings of O'Tama will be short. +Scanty is the power of the Shozuka no Baba. Soon shall the child sit +upon a lotus. Early shall be her entrance into Nirvana. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] +Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!... Honoured master, let all +join in. Command the servants to join in the recital of the Daimoku." +Kondo[u] waved a hand at Tomobei and O'Kiku, in assent and command. +Vigorous were the tones of all in the responses. Myo[u]zen drank again. +He pressed the wine on the others; drinking in turn as they agreed. The +night was passing. It was the eighth hour (1-3 A.M.). Said he--"Don't +get drowsy. By every means avoid it. Now! A vigorous prayer." He raised +his hand--"Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge +Kyo[u]!" But the responses were flagging. Said Myo[u]zen--"This will +never do; at this hour of the night." He drank again--to find that the +supply had come to an end. Kondo[u] was nodding. Tomobei, if awake, was +deaf to words. Myo[u]zen rose himself to fetch a new supply. + +Kondo[u] pricked up his ears. The temple bells were booming the hour +watch in solemn unison. The rain splashed and pattered on the _amado_. A +rustling, swishing sound was heard, close by, in the next room. Now it +was as if a hand was passing along the screen. He sprang up, drawn sword +in hand. His eyes were riveted on the _sho[u]ji_, anticipating an +appearance. Then he laid a violent hand on the interposing obstacle and +threw it back. A tall figure robed in black, with broad flat face and +bulging brow, puffed eyelids in which were sunken little dots in place +of eyes, hair in wild disorder framing the dead white face, stood before +him. "O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" The lamp was knocked over, but not before he dealt +the one fierce upward blow. Madly he sprang on the apparition and +slashed away in the dark. "Kiya!" The cry rang loud. Kondo[u] danced +with joy, calling loudly for lights. "O'Iwa! O'Iwa! Kondo[u] has slain +the O'Baké, the enemy of his child! Rejoice with Kondo[u]! The vendetta +is accomplished!" In the darkness and confusion a groan was heard; then +another, still fainter; then there was silence. Tomobei appeared with a +light. He leaned over the long black robed body; to raise an alarmed +face to his joyful master. "At what does the Danna Sama rejoice? What +has he done? 'Tis Myo[u]zen Sama, the Osho[u] Sama, who lies cut down. +Dreadful has been the mistake of the Danna Sama. This is like to cost +the House dear."--"Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge +Kyo[u]!" The sword had slipped from Kondo[u]'s hand, and in genuine +grief he knelt beside the body of the unfortunate priest, seeking for +some sign of life. Alas! Myo[u]zen had almost been cut in two by the +upward sweep of the sword. From liver to pap was one gaping wound. He +lay in the pool of almost all the blood in his body. Gathered around the +corpse the four people eyed each other with terror. + +Don--don--don, don, don, don. They sprang up in a huddled mass. The +sound was at their very shoulders. "Some one knocks at the back door," +said Tomobei. "Go open it," commanded Kondo[u]. Tomobei flatly refused, +and without respect, nay with insolence. Kondo[u] picked up and weighed +in his hand the bloody sword. Why mingle vile blood with good? Instead +of cutting the man down he went himself and opened the half door at the +top. A woman, dripping with water, her hair in wild disorder, her face +white as chalk, stood outside in the storm. Kondo[u] gave an exclamation +of surprise--"O'Kamé of Tamiya! How comes O'Kamé here? It was said that +Yoémon San had shut her up, as one gone mad." The woman smirked with +satisfied air--"Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei is seer as well as murderer. This +Kamé was bound and imprisoned; nay, almost divorced. Myo[u]zen, just +dead at Kondo[u]'s hands, to-morrow was to pronounce the divorce. For so +much, thanks to Kondo[u] Dono. But O'Tama has died. Kamé would condole +with Kondo[u] San; burn a stick of incense for O'Tama. Condescend to +grant entrance." Said Rokuro[u]bei abruptly--"How knows O'Kamé of the +death of Myo[u]zen; who told her of the fate of O'Tama?" She laughed +wildly--"Who? O'Iwa; O'Iwa is the friend of Kamé. It was she who loosed +the bonds. 'O'Tama of Kondo[u]'s house is dead. O'Kamé should condole +with the wife, the friend of this Iwa. Get you hence, for Kondo[u] has +murdered the priest.' ... So here we are; O'Iwa accompanies Kamé. Here +she is." She waved a hand into the storm and darkness. "Deign to give +passage to the chamber where lies O'Tama. O'Iwa and Kamé would burn +incense to the darling's memory, to the little Jewel." With a roar +Kondo[u] seized the breast of her robe--"Vile old trot, off with you!" +He gave her a violent push which sent her on her buttocks. The woman +remained seated in the mud, laughing noisily. She held out two skinny +arms to him. With a slam he shut the door. + +He knelt by the priest's body, truly grieved--"Ah! O'Iwa is abroad. How +has this mad woman knowledge of this deed? What was the offence of +Myo[u]zen thus to deserve the hatred of Tamiya O'Iwa?" O'Kamé had seen +the priest enter, had stood in the wet listening to the wild talk of +Kondo[u], had seen the bloody sword in his hand. Her mad brain had put +riot and death together. The talk as to O'Tama she had overheard from +her closet. Kondo[u] thought of neither explanation. He was at odds with +Akiyama, and had sent no message to his house. As he speculated and +thought how best to compound matters with the temple, now grieved at the +rash blow fallen on a friend, now aghast at the certain and heavy +indemnification which would be exacted by the enraged clerics, an uproar +arose outside. There were wild cries and a scream of pain. Then came a +loud triumphant shout--"Heads out! Heads out! O'Iwa is slain! This +Akiyama has killed the O'Baké. The incubus of the ward is lifted. Help!" +Kondo[u] sprang up and out of the house. Were the words true? Had +another succeeded where he had failed? His lantern, the lanterns of many +others, threw light on the place where Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon bravely +stood ward over the prostrate body of the apparition. Returning late +from Shitamachi he had entered the ward with shrinking terror. As he +skulked along, with eyes on every dark corner, the figure of a woman was +seen close by the eaves of the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. As he +approached she came forward laughing wildly the while. The light of his +lantern fell on the ghastly white face, the disordered hair. In a spasm +of fright he dropped the lantern and delivered his blow in drawing the +sword. The cut was almost identical with the one delivered to Myo[u]zen +the priest. The men there gathered looked into each other's faces, then +at the body of O'Kamé lying in their midst. The crowd parted, and Tamiya +Yoémon appeared. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei and Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon stood by +with bloody swords, their own skins without a scratch. They were +self-accused. + +The upshot of the affair was ruin for all. Matters in Yotsuya were +coming to the official ears. Yoémon was forced to make charges against +Akiyama; the more willingly as therein lay a chance to recoup his own +losses through the wife he intended to divorce on the morrow. Kondo[u] +easily cleared his skirts of this offence, but was involved with the +irate temple priests. All were entangled in the heavy costs of the law +of those days. Of these three men something is to be said later. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +KIBEI DONO + + +Kibei was in great straits, financial and domestic. The death of Kwaiba +had brought him anything but freedom. In Nippon the headship of a House +is much more than the simple heirship of our western law. Relieved of +his obligation in office the old man's hands were wide open to shower +benefice or caprice on the most worthless. Endorsement for cash and +goods to Natsumé, Imaizumi, and Kamimura; donations to the temples of +Teramachi and the Yotsuyazaka; favours in every direction except that of +Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, in the pursuit of whom Kwaiba found much +amusement; all these items added to the very free living in his +household had pledged deeply the ample revenue of two hundred and thirty +_tawara_, and would have upheld the _samurai_ trait of not knowing the +value of money--if Kwaiba had been of that kind. Between Kwaiba and +Kibei, the wild debauchery of the last year had brought the House to the +verge of ruin. Kibei was aghast. Long since he had become deeply +involved with the Kashiku Tamagiku of the Yamadaya in Edomachi +Itcho[u]me of the Yoshiwara. The ugly fellow was madly in love with the +beauty. On her he had poured out the treasures of the Ito[u] House +during the six months which preceded the illness of Kwaiba. During his +prolonged absence from her the letters of the Kashiku had inundated the +writing table of Kibei. Had he deserted her? Was all affection gone? +Where now were the promises of ransom, the blood-sealed vow to become +husband and wife, to assume the relation which endures for two worlds? +Kibei sullenly read these lines; cursing Kwaiba and cursing himself. +Ransom! With strict living for the next five years _he_ might set +matters straight and free the Tayu; and any day _she_ might be bought by +some rich country _samurai_ or _go[u]shi_ (gentleman farmer), or be +carried off to ornament the _besso[u]_ of some _hatamoto_. Kibei wiped +the bitter saliva from his lips.[32] + +The domestic difficulties were accompaniment to these more important +matters. In the large mansion Kibei was now alone. The tenth day had +witnessed the flight of the last of the servants. The women had departed +with the funeral, through fear, sacrificing wages and even such clothing +as could not surreptitiously be removed. What woman--or man--could +remain in a house which was the nightly scene of such fearful sounds of +combat. Shrieks, wails, groans, came from the quarters once occupied by +the dead Kwaiba. As to this there was no difference of opinion. The more +venturesome had been favoured with actual sight of the scenes enacted. +They had seen the old man as he was in death, pursued from room to room +by two frightful hags, as gaunt, blear, sightless as himself. Dreadful +were the cries of the dead man as the harpies fastened upon him, +descending from above like two huge bats. These scenes took place +usually at the eighth hour (1 A.M.), not to cease until dawn. As for the +men servants, they took their leave in the days following, asking formal +dismissal (_itoma_) with recommendation to another House. They scented +the approaching ruin of their present employer. + +One day Kakusuké presented himself. Kibei looked up. He understood at +once that the man had come in his turn to take leave. Kakusuké alone had +remained with him. He was _chu[u]gen_, stable boy, cook, maid; and did +the work of all four without complaint. The change in his master was too +marked. Kibei, in his turn, had become irritable, timorous as a girl, +subject to outbreaks of almost insane rage. To Kakusuké the young man +seemed to have lost all nerve. Kakusuké wanted to serve a man. As long +as the Wakadono gave promise of redemption, of rising above his +difficulties and emerging into a splendid career in which Kakusuké could +take pride, the _chu[u]gen_ was ready to take the bitter with the sweet. +To be maid servant and keeper of a man half mad had no attraction for +this blunt-nerved fellow. He spoke plainly--"The Wakadono should deign +to throw up the whole connection. Under the present conditions the ruin +of the House is unavoidable. Condescend to return to the original House +in Honjo[u] Yokogawa. This course will be best. At least the Wakadono +secures his own salvation. This is the advice of Kakusuké, grown old in +experience of service in a _samurai_ household. In naught else is there +hope. As to himself, would the Wakadono condescend to grant dismissal." +Long had been the intimacy between Ito[u] Kwaiba and Inagaki Sho[u]gen. +Kakusuké, the messenger between the two Houses, had watched this +Fukutaro[u] (Kibei) grow to manhood, had noted his prowess. It was with +delight he had carried the documents which were to bring this new and +vigorous blood into the home of his decadent master. This was the +result. "A pest on these witches--and their craft!" + +Kibei heard him out with growing anger. As the man's words gathered +vigour and plain spokenness his hand wandered to his sword. He had a mind +to cut him down then and there for his freedom of speech. More than half +induced to recognize the truth of the indictment his better feeling halted +him. With harsh and sardonic tone he gave unbelieving thanks for the +implied reproof of the _chu[u]gen_. The service of Kakusuké had been +faithful beyond measure. It should have its proper reward. If others had +chosen to depart as do those who run away, they had shown ignorance of +this Kibei. From a drawer of the desk he took out a letter already +prepared, a roll containing wages. He pushed the _zen_ toward Kakusuké. +This readiness, as if foreseen, hit the man hard. Respectfully he pressed +the letter to his forehead, bowing with extended hands on the _tatami_; +the money he did not touch. Finally he raised a timid questioning glance +to his one-time master. Said Kibei jeeringly--"Kakusuké has given his +advice. Is it part of his long experience that a servant should question +the wages placed under his nose? Off with you! This Kibei would be alone; +most willingly so." At the peremptory threatening gesture Kakusuké no +longer hesitated. He had no inclination to be a victim of one of the mad +outbreaks of the young man. Taking the roll humbly he backed out of the +room. His steps were heard a few minutes later passing the entrance. Then +the outer gate shut to with a clang. + +For a long watch Kibei sat in meditation. He was as one who sleeps. +Then he rose with decision. "'Tis the last chance. Kakusuké is right. +The matter is to be brought to an end." Dressing for the street he left +the house. He opened the big gate; then went to the stable, and saddled +and bridled his horse. He led it outside, closed the gate, and mounting +he rode forth, to go to Honjo[u] Yokogawa and the _yashiki_ of his +father, Inagaki Sho[u]gen. Coming unaccompanied he was received with +surprise and some discomfiture, as he was quick to note. He was very +quick to note things in these days. Prostrating himself before his +mother--"Kibei presents himself. Honoured mother, deign to pardon the +intrusion. Fukutaro[u] would solicit her pity and influence." The lady +looked at him with amazement. "Fukutaro[u]! What then of Kibei? Is some +jest deigned at the mother's expense? It is in very bad taste.... But +the face of Kibei implies no jest. Pray put the matter plainly. Why does +her son come in petition to the mother?" Began Kibei--"The matter is +most serious...." He went into the full details; from the time of his +entrance into the Ito[u] House, through the course of dissipation and +illness of Kwaiba, down to the present ruined state of affairs. "All +this is due to the curse of O'Iwa San, to this plot in which Kibei +foolishly engaged." Of this he now fully felt the force. The events of +the past weeks had wrecked him in mind and body. One disaster after +another, in house and ward, had been visited on Kibei. The bitterness +and dislike of the people toward Kwaiba was visited on his +representative, who was held responsible. In his great mansion he lived +alone. No servant would enter it to attend to his wants. Was he to cook +and be valet for himself--and pose as the Kumi-gashira, the great chief +of the ward! The position was an impossible one. Deign to use a mother's +influence with Inagaki Dono. "Condescend to secure permission for the +return of this Kibei to his original House, for the cancellation of the +adoption." + +The wife of Sho[u]gen sat frightened; at the tale, and at this radical +way of finding an exit from the situation. The mother's heart was full of +pity for the distracted son, whose haggard looks showed the strain of the +past weeks. Besides she was a woman, and as such fully believed in and +feared the curse of this dead O'Iwa, one who had died without funeral +rites or prayer. "Fortunately the honoured father now is on the night +watch at the castle. He is at home, drinking his wine. His humour is +excellent. Wait but a moment." Leaving Kibei she went to the room of +Sho[u]gen's light indulgence. The severe and conscientious nobleman was +bending under the genial influence of the _saké_. "Kibei? He comes in good +season. The heir of Kwaiba Inkyo[u] has not favoured his real father of +late. Ah! The boy was well placed. Kwaiba soon made way for him; and none +too willingly, one can believe." He chuckled. Then noting his wife's +troubled looks. "But there is something to tell."--"So indeed; none too +pleasant." She went into the story Kibei had told her. "His fear of O'Iwa +San is deadly. The House is ruined, with no profit in the connection. +Deign to permit the cancellation of the adoption, his return to the House +of his true parent." She stopped before the stern astonished look of the +husband. Said he harshly--"Let him come up. Sho[u]gen answers Kibei Dono +in person.... Heigh! Up here with you! For Ito[u] Dono there is wine...." +Kibei entered joyfully at his father's call. Success was in his hands. +Once more he was to marshal his father's retainers and accompany him to +the castle; once more be the habitué of the fencing rooms. "Honoured +father, fear enters: for long this Kibei has not ventured into your +presence."--"And need not for long again," thundered the old man. "What +stuff is this for the ears of Sho[u]gen? Kibei would sever his connection +with the Ito[u] House. Kibei is afraid of a ghost! He fears a girl! A +_samurai_ wearing two swords shrinks from an encounter with a woman! Has +Sho[u]gen no obligation toward his old friend Kwaiba? In more serious +matters and in life Sho[u]gen would share Kwaiba's lot. Back with you to +the house in Yotsuya! If this matter become known, both Kibei and +Sho[u]gen will be the laughing stocks of Edo. At least keep such fears to +yourself. Off with you! Sho[u]gen had wine for Ito[u] Dono. For the fellow +who would call himself--Fukutaro[u], he has none." With a kick he sent +rolling the _zen_ (table) with its burden of bottles and heating +apparatus. In a rage he left the room. + +Kibei's face was white as he raised it from the _tatami_. "Father has no +experience of ghosts; he speaks at random and in anger. Terrible is the +actuality." Said the mother, slowly and painfully--"He is the father; he +is to be obeyed." Kibei was sitting upright. He nodded grave assent. +Then suddenly he prostrated himself ceremoniously before the _sho[u]ji_ +through which Sho[u]gen had disappeared. He repeated the salutation +before his mother. Then he rose--"Ito[u] Kibei takes leave. May good +health and fortune visit those of this House." At his exit the mother +rejoiced. Severe had been the father's words, but they had brought the +boy to reason. She wept and trembled at the reproof. Men had best +knowledge of such affairs. She would pray at Reiganji, and have memorial +service held for the peace of this O'Iwa in the next world. Then the +curse would not rest upon her son. + +On his appearance at the house entrance an _ashigaru_ (foot soldier) +led up the horse. Kibei waved him away--"For the present keep the animal +in charge. With matters to attend to close at hand Kibei will use other +conveyance." The man took the animal away. Leaving the gate of the +_yashiki_ Kibei walked the short distance to the Ho[u]onji bridge. Here +was a _kago_ (litter) stand. "To Yamadaya in Yoshiwara." As the _kago_ +men went off at a trot--"Kibei has played and lost. How does the account +yonder stand? Seventy _ryo[u]_ owed at the Matsuminatoya. For the rest, +this Kibei can claim a night's attendance from the _kashiku_. If +affection would not grant it, the huge sums bestowed in the past have a +claim upon her. Then to end matters and die like a _samurai_. To-morrow +Kibei cuts belly." It was the debt which sent him direct to the +Yamadaya, and not first to the tea house. Sitting over the wine all +effort of the Kashiku to enliven him failed. Noting her discomfiture he +smiled gloomily. Then in explanation--"The thoughts of Kibei go astray. +The House is ruined. Ransom is impossible. This is the last meeting. +To-morrow Kibei cuts belly, and dies like a _samurai_." At first the +girl thought he was joking. Then noting the wild look of despair in his +eyes, she was frightened. Partly in disbelief; partly seeking to +postpone this desperate resolve, to turn his thoughts and gain time for +reflection; partly in that sentimental mood which at times affects this +class of women--"Is Kibei truly ruined? Lamentable the fate of Tamagiku. +Why not join him in death? But the idea is too new. Deign to postpone +the execution for a space. To-night shall be a night of pleasure with +the Kashiku Tamagiku. With the morrow's darkness she dies with Kibei. +Hand in hand they will wander the paths of Amida's paradise." She came +close to him in service of the wine; put her arms about him, and drew +him to her bosom; in every way cajoled and sought to comfort him, and +corrupt his purpose. Consent was easy. The night was passed in love and +wine. In the morning he left her. + +Kibei was making his final preparations; writing directions which +would benefit as far as possible the House in Honjo[u] at the expense of +that in Yotsuya. In the Yoshiwara a very different scene was taking +place. With his departure the Kashiku sprang up. Hastily throwing a robe +around her person she sought the room of the _yarité_--the bawd of the +house. "The Kashiku! At this hour--what has happened?"--"Something of +importance. This night Tama dies with Kibei Dono. The compact is closed, +hard and firm." The astonished bawd had been rubbing the sleep out of +her eyes. The last words brought her full awake--"Is the Kashiku drunk +with wine? Is she mad? Truly it would seem so. And the bail? What is to +become of the unfortunate? True it is Toémon of Honjo[u]; and he has +trouble enough already. He will never leave his prison." Tamagiku made a +gesture of impatience--"This Tama has acted but to gain time. Can she +have affection for such an ugly fellow? Was she to be the victim of some +crazy outburst? Perhaps the day will bring better counsel; but the +night's conversation does not augur it. His plans are most complete. The +master must be seen. Deign to mediate; prevent the admittance of Kibei +Dono as guest." O'Kayo the bawd nodded intelligence and assent. At once +she sought the master of the house. "A dangerous guest," was his +comment. "Send to the Matsuminatoya. They must be warned. We can look +after ourselves." As an attendant of the tea house presented +himself--"And the master, Teisuké San!"--"Is absent; this To[u]suké +represents him. He has gone to Edo. Perhaps the house will deign to look +at a new inmate. A true Tayu! The daughter of Akiyama San of Yotsuya +sacrifices her caste. But sixteen years, she is a jewel. Less than a +hundred _ryo[u]_ will buy her. He is in great difficulties." To[u]suké +spoke with enthusiasm. The master of the Yamadaya answered promptly and +with emphasis--"Accepted: let her be on hand in the course of the day. +But To[u]suké, there is another matter. Kibei Dono no longer can be +accepted as a guest." He went into details. To[u]suké drew a long +breath. "A dangerous fellow! The Danna Sama never liked his presence. +But he owes the house much money; seventy _ryo[u]_."--"That is your +affair," coldly replied the master of the Yamadaya. "This house answers +not for the accounts of the tea-house. Previous notice has been given. +Kibei Dono cannot be received as guest."--"That is not to be denied. He +is most undesirable. But the seventy _ryo[u]_! And the week's settlement +to make with this house?" The Yamadaya had an idea--"It rarely passes a +hundred _ryo[u]_.... Five years is accepted? Then take thirty _ryo[u]_ +and deliver this girl to the Yamadaya.... A true Tayu? If so the debt of +Kibei finds payment." To[u]suké agreed with joy. + +At night the _kago_ man set Kibei down before the Matsuminatoya. +Teisuké, the _teishu[u]_ (host), regarded his arrival with mixed +feelings. His coming meant something. Giving up his two swords, and once +seated, Kibei's first act was to give thanks for past services. Calling +for his account he produced the seventy _ryo[u]_ in its settlement. +Prompt and profound were the humble thanks of the house for this +unexpected liquidation. Kibei had secured the money by the transfer of +obligations of Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon to the usurer Suzuki Sanjuro[u]. +Three hundred and fifty _ryo[u]_ immediately due against seventy +_ryo[u]_ in cash satisfied even this shark. Teisuké was impressed. How +deny such a guest? He would get rid of him, and profit both ways. +Yamadaya now would promptly pay the additional seventy _ryo[u]_ due on +the girl with whom they were so delighted. He had paid fifty _ryo[u]_ +for her. At Kibei's call his order was prompt. "To[u]suké, accompany +Kibei Dono to the Yamadaya." Kibei's calm and collected manner reassured +him. This man did not contemplate suicide. + +With the appearance of To[u]suké and Kibei at the Yamadaya there was a +flutter. The Banto[u] Matsuzo respectfully came forward. As Kibei came +up to the _ro[u]ka_ and shook off his _geta_ he interposed. "Deign to +wait, Kibei Dono. Matters have changed since morning. The Kashiku is +very ill. She can see no one. Condescend to come another time. For one +ill in body pleasure is no pastime. Pray consider; grant excuse for this +one occasion." Kibei was surprised. He had left her perfectly well in +the morning. Something in the _banto[u]'s_ face, in the massed position +of the men standing by, apprised him of the truth. He was enraged at the +lie and the insult. "Ill? That is very strange, when so well at morning. +But it is immaterial. Kibei goes to the room."--"Impossible," was the +firm reply of the _banto[u]_. "The Kashiku lies isolated from all. It is +the order of the physician. Even those in the rooms around her have been +ordered out. Pray forbear." But Kibei was obstinate--"Then a glass of +wine at her bedside; Kibei has matters to impart." The _banto[u]_ stuck +to his post--"Wine! Amid the smell of drugs, the unseemly vessels of the +sick room! Such could not be permitted." Kibei stretched out an arm. The +_banto[u]_ went flying a dozen feet. Kibei made a leap toward the +stairway. But the bawd O'Kayo interposed her vinegary presence. She was +brave; having the support of great numbers, of the whole household. +"What rudeness! How inconsiderate your way of acting! You behave in very +bad taste; with the roughness of an _ashigaru_ (foot soldier). The +Yamadaya does not entertain such miserable scamps. The Tayu is ill. This +Kayo says it. Get you hence--to some coolie house. Return the day before +yesterday."[33] Kibei gave a yell--"Yai! You old bitch! The whole affair +is plain to Kibei. Out of money, his presence is no longer desired. Ah! +Kibei will have vengeance." Without arms, before the sullen +determination of these plebeians, he felt his helplessness. An unseemly +brawl, in which he would be worsted, must not be entered on. He must +leave. In a towering rage he strode back to the tea-house. To[u]suké +tried to keep pace with him. + +Said Teisuké in feigned astonishment--"Kibei Dono! What has happened?" +Kibei did but stutter and fume. The _teishu[u]_ turned to To[u]suké. +This latter made answer for his charge--"At the Yamadaya they were very +rude. Admittance was refused to Kibei Dono. The bawd O'Kayo told him to +come back day before yesterday!"--"Very rude indeed! Were such things +said? It is unpardonable. An explanation must be had with the house. +Danna Sama, for to-night deign to leave this matter to Teisuké. Ample +satisfaction shall be had for the outrage." Teisuké threw up his hands +as with uncontrollable anger. Kibei paid no attention, but demanded his +swords. Outwardly he had regained his self-control. The maid O'Moto +looked with diffidence at her mistress. The woman was accustomed to such +scenes. At her sign the girl brought the weapons, carefully wrapped up. +She placed them before Kibei. Unrolling the cover he put them on. With +scanty salutation he strode off. Teisuké watched him--"It would be wise +for the Yamadaya to close early to-night, to take in their lanterns; +nay, even to board up the front and take refuge in the store-house." +To[u]suké was in no hurry to face Matsuzo, the _banto[u]_ of Yamadaya. +Continued the easy old fellow--"Well, 'tis their affair. They are as +good judges as Teisuké; and they could have been more civil in refusal. +At all events the house has seventy _ryo[u]_, and Kibei Dono is sober. +He will cut belly before dawn; and perhaps nothing will happen +hereabouts." The old pimp went off to his inner room; to sit down before +his wine about the same time that Kibei did the same in a cook shop +opposite the great gate of Yoshiwara. Here he idled, barely touched his +drink, and passed the time in bantering the maid servant. He was in a +riotous humour. He would take her to wife--and sell her the next +morning. "As they do yonder." But O'Kiyo was not of that kind. "There is +a lover?"--"Of course!" In admitting it she blushed, somewhat offended +at hint of suspicion that such was lacking. Jibed Kibei--"He will do the +same. Better to be the wife of a _samurai_; even for an hour." In the +end he frightened the girl a good deal, so boisterous was he. She had +gone out to buy him a deep hat. With relief she saw him put it on and +set forth into the darkness and the rain. + +The eighth hour (1 A.M.) was nearly ready to strike. The pleasure quarter +was silent. Passersby were few. The occasional shuffling sound of +_zo[u]ri_ (sandals) could be heard behind the closed _amado_. Kibei smiled +cynically as he recognized this mark of revolting passage from one room to +another. In doubt he stood before the gate of the Yamadaya. How break in +and kill them all? If Kibei had his way the Kashiku would keep her word. +Just then a noise of voices was heard within, the falling of the bar. +Several belated guests came forth. They were in the charge of O'Moto, the +maid of the Matsuminatoya. Affectionate were the leave-takings with the +quondam wives. "Condescend an early visit. This Haya lives but in the +thought of Mosuké."--"Bunzaémon San, be faithful to this Hana. In his +absence she is always ill. She receives no one." At this there was a roar +of laughter from the others of the company. Bunzaémon answered with +reproaches. Kibei followed behind. This fellow was somewhat lamed. He +lagged behind. Kibei pulled his sleeve. Bunzaémon, the cit, turned in +surprise and fear at sight of the _samurai_ in his deep hat. Said +Kibei--"Don't be afraid. Bunzaémon San has forgotten pipe, or purse, or +something. He must go back to the Yamadaya." At the fellow's groping in +his garments and failure to understand he grew impatient. "A friend lies +at the Yamadaya. It is late, and they will not open at an unknown voice. +Entrance somehow must be had. Deign to lend your aid." At last the fellow +comprehended--"O'Moto San! A moment: my pipe...."--"Oya! The Danna Sama +has forgotten his pipe?" The girl went back the short distance to the +gate. She knocked and called. With sleepy tones the voice of Matsuzo the +_banto[u]_ was heard. The bar fell. The girl turned to look down the +street toward her guests. She looked right into the face of Kibei. +Dropping her lantern, with a smothered scream she fled. + +Matsu, the _banto[u]_, looked with horror at the man before him. As +Kibei threw off his hat he turned to flee. Tripping, he fell. Kibei drew +him back by the leg. A blow cut him through the shoulder. As he rose +staggering a second vicious side swing sent the severed head to the +ground. The gate-man took the chance. Fleeing to the recesses of the +kitchen, he swarmed up a post and hid himself among the rafters of the +roof, amid the darkness of their shadows. Kibei turned back and +carefully barred the gate. With the key at the girdle of Matsuzo he +locked the bar chain. All was now ready for his visitation and search. + +On the floor above they had a drunken guest in hand, trying to get him +to depart. A _banto[u]_ and several women formed the committee of +expulsion. "Ah! Money gone, one's welcome is quickly worn out in this +hell. But Jusuké does not budge. He fears not the whole pack of +foxes.... Thanks: deep the obligation of this Jusuké, extending to the +next life." A woman had picked up and restored his purse. "The bill is +paid? An early start To[u]kaido[u] way? Ah, true! Jusuké had forgotten." +He was now all compliments and thanks. Then in a rage--"Oh! The huzzy! +What is Jusuké's purse worth with nothing in it? Who has robbed the +purse of Jusuké?" He was madly fumbling his tobacco pouch. A woman put +his hand on the missing object in the folds of his girdle. He was +mollified. As they moved to the head of the stairs--"Take care! Jusuké +San, don't fall! Banto[u] San, deign to aid the guest." Refusing all +help the man lurched half way down the flight. Then he stopped, staring +and looking before him. At the foot stood Kibei, bloody sword in hand. +"Down with this Jusuké? But Jusuké cannot down. A fool blocks the +way.... Fool, you block the way of Jusuké."--"Out of the road, +drunkard!" The words of Kibei came between his teeth, half growl, half +snarl. The man obstinately held his own. When Kibei would push past +him--"Beast!" He struck the _samurai_. Kibei whirled the sword. The head +rolled to the bottom of the steps. The blood bathed Kibei from head to +foot. + +His appearance was horrible. The women fled in all directions. The +_banto[u]_ covered their retreat. "Kibei Dono! Pray be reasonable. +Control yourself!" Kibei made a step toward the women's rooms. The +_banto[u]_ was dreadfully frightened, yet bravely he interposed to save +them. He shouted for aid; below and to the neighbours. Kibei reached +him. A blow and he fell severed. Kibei gave a howl of joy. O'Kayo the +bawd came out to ascertain the cause of the brawl. She turned livid with +fear on recognizing Kibei. They were standing together in the sort of +entresol or room at the head of the stairway. Only a large brazier +separated Kibei from his vengeance. Its massiveness of three or four +feet breadth baffled him. The woman was fleeing for life. As he strove +to get within striking distance fear gave her wings. From one side to +another she leaped and dodged. Kibei was hampered. He had to cut her off +from stair and _ro[u]ka_. As he hesitated she discharged the iron kettle +at his head. One implement followed another. In hurling the iron tripod +ashes entered her eyes. At once Kibei leaped to close quarters. The +first sword blow she dodged. As Kibei recovered she sprang by him and +over the _hibachi_, seeking the safety of the stairs now open to her. +Her night-dress caught on the handle of the brazier and brought her to +the ground. Next moment she was severed from shoulder to midriff. + +Methodically Kibei began his examination of the rooms. To most of the +inmates this uproar was a mere quarrel in the house, the cause of which +they neither knew nor cared to know. The first search was at the room of +the Kashiku, close to that of O'Kayo the bawd. Her reception room was +dark. Here the Kashiku's bed usually was prepared. The inner room, her +dressing room, showed the dim light of an _andon_. Noting her absence +from the usual place a hasty stride brought him to the _sho[u]ji_. As he +violently shoved them apart a man rose from the bed in the room. A mere +glance showed that this was no lover. As Kibei with drawn sword stood +over him, he squatted on his hams, crouching and begging for life. To +Kibei's astonishment he called him by name--"Deign, honoured Sir, to +spare this Cho[u]bei. Be assured the Kashiku is not in this place. She +lies to-night with the Danna of the house. Deign to seek her in his +company." He pointed vaguely as he spoke, to give direction. Kibei +laughed ferociously. From this source these directions were atrocious. +He lowered the weapon--"Cho[u]bei! At this place and time! Well met, +good Sir. Kibei is doubly grateful for what he has learned. Cho[u]bei +and Kibei are fellows in fortune. Willingly Kibei leaves him to O'Iwa +San and her mercies." His attentive gaze never wandered from the face of +the one-time pimp. With a gesture of horror he rushed from the room. In +fright Cho[u]bei rolled his head up in the coverlet, to keep out the +vision evoked. + +He continued his search--"Is it my little black fellow?" Such the +greeting of one woman aroused from sleep. Trembling she rose at sight of +Kibei. Harshly told to lie down, she gladly obeyed. Her quivering limbs +already were nearly yielding as he spoke. In but one place did he +encounter opposition. Pushing open the _sho[u]ji_ of the merest closet +of a room he came upon a girl whose face somehow was familiar. She was a +mere slip of a creature to be called a woman. The undeveloped hips, the +yet immature bosom, aroused his astonishment at finding her in such a +place as inmate; that is, until the pure oval and beauty of the face +caught his glance. As he entered she sprang up in alarm. Just roused +from sleep she hardly knew where she was--"Father! Father! A man! A man +is in the room! Help!" Kibei pushed her back on the bed. With his bloody +sword he rolled over the bed-clothes. Then he made a move to get at the +closet behind. Perhaps mistaking his action the girl sprang upon him. +Kibei was startled at her mad energy. When he thrust her down she seized +his hand in her teeth, sinking them deep into it. Pain and +impatience--after all he was pressed for time--overcame him. Unable +otherwise to shake her off he thrust the point of the sword into her +throat and gave a vigorous downward push. Coughing up great clouts of +blood, the girl sank back, dying on the _futon_. As he left the room +remembrance came to Kibei's mind. He had seen her in Yotsuya. More than +once O'Tsuru had served him tea in the house of her father, +Cho[u]zaémon. How came she in this vile den? He took a step back to aid +her if he could. She was stone dead. + +The Tayu Nishikiyama[34] now knew the cause of the disturbance. To the +frightened page (_kamuro_) who came running to her--"Be quiet child. +This is no time to lose self-control. Aid me in preparation." She +dressed herself with the greatest care; "all in white, as befitted a +lady in attendance on a nobleman." Then she took down her _koto_ and +struck the opening bars of an old and famous song--the "Jinmujo[u]" +(Inexhaustible Happiness)--said to have been sung by the famous Shizuka +Go[u]zen when she danced the Ho[u]raku, or sacred dance, before the +Sho[u]gun Yoritomo at Kamakura Hachimangu[u]. As Kibei turned into the +corridor the voice of the Oiran caught his ear as she sang in +accompaniment to the instrument. She was bending over the _koto_ as the +_sho[u]ji_ were flung apart. Kibei, his hair hanging in disorder and +framing a face ghastly white in contrast to the red streaks splashed +over it and his garments, stood transfixed at the entrance. The Tayu +looked up. With calm pose and courteous salute--"Kibei Dono, what manner +of acting is this! Is not Kibei Dono the _bushi_? Truly madness has +seized you, honoured Sir. This is Nishikiyama.... Deign to be seated. +'Tis Nishikiyama who serves Kibei Dono. What has been done cannot be +undone. The last cup of wine in life is to be drained. Deign to accept +it from these humble hands." + +Kibei continued gazing on her. The unhappy man, his mind was opened to +a flood of light. The hurricane of passion was passing. Slowly he +advanced into the room. "Truly the Go Tayu is right. Kibei has gone mad; +mad indeed!" He sank down on the cushion before her. At a sign the page +placed the stand containing the bottle of cold _saké_ before the lady. +Skilfully the slender hands held it, gracefully poured it for the man +doomed to death, taking this final cup served by her. Kibei raised it, +drained it to the last drop. "The Kashiku: she is on this lower floor. +Where lies she?" Nashikiyama noted the wild light returning to his eyes. +She bowed her head before him--"The life of Nishikiyama is at the +command of Kibei Dono. Her lips are sealed. Honoured Sir, how answer +Kibei Dono's question?" For the moment he looked down. Then he +rose--"Whose daughter can the Oiran be! Truly no lady in the land could +show a higher courage, a finer courtesy. The final salute of this Kibei +in life is to the Go Tayu." In grave ceremony it was performed. As he +left the room the woman buried her face in her hands, weeping bitterly. +In wonder and gratitude the frightened page extended her hands, her face +hidden in the white robes of the Go Tayu. + +Kibei trod this lower corridor with sombre tread. He would cut belly at +the garden pond. With some surprise he noted an _amado_ open at the end +of the _ro[u]ka_. Voices were heard. Standing at the opening he saw +lanterns. Some frenzied women had raised a ladder to the garden wall. +They would thus escape, but the knife-like bamboo stakes prevented. Said +a voice outside, and close to him--"The key to the gate: here it is." +The Kashiku at a run passed by him. Kibei gave a shout. The frightened +woman turned, recognized him, then sped on. In a few steps he was on +her. The raised sword descended as she fell on her knees before him, in +attempt to swerve its course. Through wrist and collar-bone, from neck +to navel, the keen blade passed. Kibei threw the weapon aside. He leaned +over her, his dagger drawn. Then he rose, holding by its tresses the +head. For a moment he gazed on it. Slowly he walked to the pond in the +centre of the garden. Carefully he washed the bloody trophy and placed +it on the curbing. Confronting it he made reverential salutation. "Kibei +keeps his promise to the Kashiku. With Tamagiku he treads the gloomy +paths of Shideyama. Honoured lady--a moment and Kibei follows." Seated +before the head reposing on the curb he opened his clothes. Thrusting +the bloody dagger deep into his left side he slowly drew it across the +belly; then made the upward cut. The body fell forward. Kibei indeed had +kept his word. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL + + +Inagaki Sho[u]gen received the news at dawn, just as he was leaving the +castle on completion of his night watch. The old knight smiled gravely, +thanked the bearer of the message, and rewarded him with lavish hand. +The _kago_ bearers jolted on. The news had reached the train, and +_chu[u]gen_ and spearman exchanged whispers. On arrival at the Inagaki +_yashiki_ his lordship made no motion to descend. The chamberlain +raising the curtain gave a cry of horror. The old man lay stretched at +the bottom of the little chamber. The dagger and the pool of blood told +the tale. Sho[u]gen had followed the example of his son. He, too, now +trod the paths of Shideyama. + +With laggard tottering step Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon entered his house. +Regardless of wife and the cushion she offered, of the hardly repressed +tear in her salutation, he cast himself full length on the mats. He +buried his face in his arms. The groans which issued from the prostrate +body frightened the woman. "The honoured return; has other misfortune +fallen on the House?" A shrug of the shoulders, a shiver; then the man +half rose and faced her. She was startled at his expression. He was +facing the most dreadful, not mere thought of ruin to him and +his--"Suzuki San is liar and thief. Fifty _ryo[u]_ in hand the promise +was for abstention. Now he demands twenty _ryo[u]_ more--the interest on +the debt in full." His voice rose to a harsh scream. He laughed +despairingly. "Seventy-five _ryo[u]_ interest, for the loan of a month; +and that loan forced on this Cho[u]zaémon by Ito[u] Kwaiba! Kibei has +squandered everything. The loan comes back on the bail. If Suzuki holds +the interest in hand, he allows the principal, three hundred and fifty +_ryo[u]_, to stand for the month. Unless he has the lacking twenty-five +_ryo[u]_ by the fourth hour (9 A.M.) to-morrow, complaint is laid at the +office. As usual the interest is written into the face of the bond. The +end is certain. This Cho[u]zaémon must cut belly or suffer degradation +(_kaieki_)." He looked her over critically. The light of hope died out +of his eyes--"Ah! If this Tsuyu could but be sold, the money would be in +hand. But she is old and ugly. Pfaugh!..." How he hated her at this +moment. Some half a dozen years older than Cho[u]zaémon the marriage had +been arranged by the parents on truly financial principles. Mizoguchi +Hampei was rich, and reputed stingy and saving. Just recently he had +fallen into the Edogawa as he returned home late one night. Drunk and +surfeited with the foul waters of the stream they had fished him out +stone dead. Then it was learned that the old fellow of sixty odd years +had several concubines, of the kind to eat into house and fortune. The +reversion of the pension, of course, went to the House. In all these +years Cho[u]zaémon had never received the dower of O'Tsuyu; nor dared to +press the rich man for it, too generous to his daughter to quarrel with. +The funds eagerly looked for by Cho[u]zaémon were found to be _non est +inventus_. Probably, if alive, Mizoguchi would have argued that the +dower had been paid in instalments. In his grave difficulties Akiyama +could find no aid in his wife. She mourned her uselessness--"Willingly +would Tsuyu come to the aid of House and husband, join her daughter in +the bitter service. But past forty years.... 'Tis useless to think of +it. Perhaps some expedient will come to mind." She brought out the arm +rest and placed it near his side. Then she sat apart watching him. From +time to time was heard the tap of her pipe as she knocked out the ashes. +At last, overcome by sleep and seeing no sign of movement on the +husband's part, she went off to bed, expecting that he would soon +follow. + +She woke with a start--"Father! Father!" The voice of O'Tsuru rang +sharply in her ears. Dazed she half rose and looked around her. The +daylight streamed through the closed _amado_. She had been dreaming. +With surprise she noted her husband's absence. Had he gone forth? The +cries of a bean curd seller were heard without--"_To[u]fu!_ _To[u]fu!_ +The best of _to[u]fu_!" The palatable, cheap, and nutritious food was a +standard meal in this house as in many others of Nippon. Akiyama was +most generous in indulgence of his passions for gambling, wine, and the +women of Shinjuku; and his household with equal generosity were indulged +in an economical regimen of _to[u]fu_. The wife rose to answer the call +of the street huckster. Her surprise increased as she found every means +of exit bolted and barred, as during the night. The open sliding window +in the kitchen roof caught her eye. Surely he had not departed that way! +As she opened the back door a murmur of voices, as in the roadway or +close by, struck her ear. The _to[u]fu_ seller had his head turned away +looking upward. At her call he turned quickly with apology--"Good day, +honoured lady. A strange event! Ah! The honoured household still sleeps. +All is silent.... Strange indeed! A man has hung himself on the big oak +tree in the temple ground. Deign to look." He pointed to the big tree +close by in the grounds of the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji.[35] Sure enough: forty +feet from the ground dangled the body of a man. It swayed gently to and +fro in harmony with the movement of the branches. A hand seemed to grasp +the heart of Tsuyu. The branches of the tree reached far over their +roof. The open _hikimado_! With feeble voice she said--"My husband; he +is strangely absent. Deign, somebody, to climb up and find out whether +this man is--of the ward." The startled _to[u]fu_ seller hastened to get +aid. Several men entered the garden, quickly mounted to the roof, and +thus reached the tree. Said the topmost fellow--"Ma! Ma! It is no pretty +sight. He makes a hideous spectacle. The face is black as a rice boiler. +The eyes stand out as if ready to burst. The tongue hangs out like a +true guard (_hyo[u]tan_). The grin on the distended mouth is not nice to +see. Ah! The rascal has used the merest cord to cut himself off. And he +has nearly done so. The head is almost severed." He gave a +shout--"Naruhodo! Why, its...." One close by silenced him. The men above +looked down. They made signs to those below. The women gathered around +O'Tsuyu as if to keep her from the sight. She broke away from them as +the body was gently lowered to the ground. Her shrieks rang loud. They +strove to detach her from the dead body of Cho[u]zaémon. The House +ruined, daughter and husband taken out of her life in a single day; the +blow was too crushing for a brain harassed by a life with this debauched +worthless man. Her warders struggled with one gone clean daft. Years +after men grown up from childhood in the ward looked with pity at the +feeble ragged old mad beggar woman who crouched by the beautiful bronze +dragon which ornaments the water basin of the Ten-o[u] Jinja. They would +drop in her hand a copper "cash," and drive off with rebuke the children +who taunted and annoyed her--as they had done years before. Thus were +mother and daughter--the innocent--involved in the father's crime +against the dread Lady of Tamiya. + +All these events created a tremendous stir in Yotsuya. Men disliked to +go abroad at night. Women, to their great inconvenience were confined to +the house. Two figures approaching each other in the darkness would be +seen to hesitate and stop. "What's that--standing, slinking yonder by +the wall? Alas! This Kinsaburo[u], this Genzaémon has evil fortune led +him into the clutches of the O'Baké? O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" With that and mad +cries they would fall on each other; at times only to exercise restraint +after some injury had been done. Hence quarrels arose; feuds, started in +all innocence, came into being. Women, as suspects, were chief +sufferers. The local atmosphere was overcharged, nerve racked. And so +from Honjo[u] to Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), from Nakanocho[u] (Yoshiwara) to +Shinagawa, even in the nearer post towns of Kawasaki, Tsurumi, and +Kanagawa the talk was spreading of the strange happenings in Yotsuya of +Edo town. Katada Tatéwaki, descendant of that Katada Samon who, as +vassal of Gongen Samon (Iyeyasu) had had this Aoyama-Yotsuya district in +fief, now first began his inquiries into the affair. The Katada had wide +possessions elsewhere at the time of the grant. Samon had gifted much of +his new fief as temple land, and on the old maps of the day this part of +Edo is a blood red splash, indication of these many establishments. But +the Katada influence still prevailed through the ward, indeed through +the more than good will of the beneficiaries. Tatéwaki's _yashiki_ was +at the top of Ushigomézaka. His modest pension of a thousand _koku_ by +no means represented the extent of his power. Iémon became frightened at +the storm gathering against him. He was open to all suggestions of +remedy for the cataleptic state into which O'Hana had fallen. The +neighbour gossips suggested calling in the Daiho[u]-in of Shiomachi. A +service kept part at least of the money in the ward. They had their +share in provision and consumption; the fifty _ryo[u]_ necessary were +much to them--and to Iémon in his present circumstances. + +The neighbours were assembled at Tamiya. Iémon went forth to greet the +Daiho[u]-in. With his attendant _kannushi_ and train he presented +himself at the entrance. Iémon was prostrate in salutation before the +great man.--"Reverential thanks for the condescension. Deign to enter +this unfortunate house." The Shinto[u] priest was brusque, as is the way +of the kind. Himself he was the _samurai_, with all the tone of official +manner. "Ha! Ha! Salutation to all." He gave a comprehensive glance +through the assembly and lost none of them in the process. He approached +the couch of O'Hana. He opened the closed eyes, which stared fixedly +into space as of one dead. He raised an arm upright from the body. +Stepping aside, he squatted. Some moments passed. The arm remained +rigidly upright. Satisfied, the Daiho[u]-in signed to his attendants. +Raising O'Hana they placed her in a sitting posture on a mat. Her hair +was arranged in _icho[u]mage_.[36] A _gohei_ was placed between her +hands. Then the Daiho[u]-in began the recitation of the prayers and +charms. The other priests gave voice at times in response. All present +were awe-struck. The women hardly breathed, leaning eagerly forward. +Their eyes took on a vacant stare, as if themselves mesmerized. The +_gohei_ began to tremble; then to shake violently. The woman's hair fell +down in disorder around her face. All turned away their faces. Some +women gave smothered cries. It was O'Iwa San who glared at them out of +those eyes. The Daiho[u]-in eagerly leaned close over O'Hana--"O'Iwa: +where are you? What has become of your body? Be sure to speak the truth. +Don't attempt to lie to the priest.... You don't know? Ah! you would be +obstinate in your grudge. The charm shakes and quivers; it possesses +O'Iwa.... You would rest in Samoncho[u] ground? That is much to ask; +particularly when the body is not in hand.... A substitute will do? Ah! +Prayers?... For a year, at morn and night of each day? That is terrific. +Consider the cost.... You care not for the cost! Only then will you +cease to afflict the ward?... Very well: humbly this Daiho[u]-in +transmits the will of the dead." + +Thus did the priestly mediator interpret to his gaping auditors the +mumbling and cries given forth by O'Hana. The wild look faded from her +eyes. She rolled over as in a faint. The priests raised her up. The +Daiho[u]-in turned to Iémon and the assembly--"The words of O'Iwa have +been heard through this woman. O'Hana has been possessed by O'Iwa. Hence +her trance.... Heigh! Water!" He began making passes over his +patient--"The stage has passed. O'Hana no longer is possessed by O'Iwa. +The wronged lady leaves O'Hana to peace. O'Hana is completely herself +again. O'Iwa is all delusion. O'Hana believes this. She believes firmly. +The Daiho[u]-in tells her to believe. O'Iwa does not haunt O'Hana. O'Iwa +has no ill will against O'Hana." He looked fixedly and with command into +the eyes of O'Hana. His voice rang clear and authoritative. Then he +began gently to stroke the back of her head, her neck and spine. "All is +well?" "Hai! Hai! This Hana is completely restored. All is well." With a +little sigh she sank back, to be laid on the cushions in a sleep which +all wondered to see was most natural. Those present were in transports +of delight. They buzzed approval as the Daiho[u]-in addressed Iémon. +"The Daiho[u]-in has done his part. All have heard the words of O'Iwa +San. The rest lies with the temple. Deign to receive these words. The +Daiho[u]-in returns." With his pack voicing loudly at his tail he left +the entrance gate. The assembly streamed after. Iémon was left alone, +biting his thumbs in helpless rage. He was aghast. "The old fox! What is +to be done, pressed as Iémon is for funds? How is this Iémon to act? +Refusal means the open hostility of the whole ward. It will turn against +him. Ah! What a miserable old scamp. He did it all himself; he and his +confederates. The gods descend from above; the Daiho[u]-in shakes the +_gohei_ from below--and those fools believe, to the ruin of Iémon!" + +Hence he would have postponed the costly appeal to the temple. Within +the week a committee of the ward waited upon him. As if expecting them, +Iémon gave ready compliance. With four or five other gentlemen he waited +upon Shu[u]den Osho[u], the famous priest of the temple of the Gyo[u]ran +Kwannon. The Lady Merciful, Kwannon Sama, seemed the fitting deity to +whom appeal should be made. A word is to be said as to this famous +manifestation of the goddess. Told by Ryuo[u] at length, of necessity +here the account is much abridged. Gyo[u]ran Kwannon--Kwannon of the +fish-basket--has several other names. She is called the Namagusai +Kwannon, from the odour of fresh blood attached to the pursuit; the +Byaku Kwannon, or the white robed; the Baryufu Kwannon, as wife of Baryu +the fisherman. The image of the Byaku Kwannon exists.[37] It is carved +in white wood, stained black, with a scroll in the right hand, and +holding a fish basket (_gyo[u]ran_) in the left hand. The story of +Baryu, and of his connection with Kwannon, is of more moment. + +In Morokoshi (China) there is a place called Kinshaden. Across the bay +from Edo-To[u]kyo[u] is Kazusa with its ninety-nine villages, one of +which has the same name--Kinshaden. The fishing population of Nippon is +a rough lot. From babyhood there is little but quarrelling and fighting +between the bands which control the different wards of the villages. The +relations between the people are very primitive. One of the important +occupations is the _iwashi_, or pilchard, fishing. To pull in the nets +loaded with the fish requires the united effort of the whole village +population, men, women, even children. Among their toilers the people of +Kinshaden noted a young girl of some sixteen or seventeen years; easily +noted by the great beauty and attraction of face and figure, the willing +readiness and wonderful strength she showed in her struggles with the +weighted net. As she appeared several times at last some men went up to +her--"Girl, you are a stranger here. For your aid thanks are offered. +Who may you be; and whence from? Strangers, even in kindness, in Nippon +must not conceal their names." The girl smiled.--"I come from +Fudarakusan in the South Ocean.... Where is Fudarakusan? It is in +India.... And India? It is in the South Ocean, the Nankai." To the +wonder expressed at her coming such a distance of thousands of _ri_--"I +come, I serve, for my husband."--"Your husband? Pray who may he be, in +these parts?"--"Not yet is he chosen," answered the girl. "Come! The +nets are drawn, the fishing ended for the day. I will ascend that rock; +read the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. He who can first memorize it shall +be my husband." Ready was the assent to such an attractive proposal--a +beautiful helpmate in prospect, one endowed with surprising strength for +her frail form, and who seemed to bring luck to the efforts of the +village in the struggle for a livelihood. Even the Nipponese prejudice +against strangers paled before such practical qualification. + +The maid ascended to the rostrum. For three days she read and expounded +the holy sutra of the Lady Kwannon. On the fourth day the fisherman +Baryu--young, handsome, strong--felt sure that he could answer to the +test. "Woman, descend! To-day this Baryu will repeat the sutra, expound +its meaning." With seeming surprise and merriment the girl obeyed. Baryu +took her place. Without slip or fault he repeated the sutra, expounded +the intricacies of its meaning. The girl bowed low in submission. +"Condescend to admit my humble person to the hut of Baryu the fisherman. +To-night she pollutes with her presence a corner of his bed-chamber." +Rejoicing Baryu at once took her to his home, where he would act the +husband. At first gently she rebuked him. "These rough people of +Kinshaden have regard to nothing! There is such a rite as marriage. Nine +times are the _saké_ cups to be drained between husband and wife. Thus +is established this important relation. In the connection between man +and woman there is such a thing as etiquette. This observed, the woman +passes to the possession of the man. For the woman, second marriage +there is none." + +Thus were the decencies of the marriage bed taught to the rough +fisherman. Near dawn Baryu awoke with surprise. His bed-fellow was in the +last extremities. Dripping with sweat, she seemed to be melting away. +Already she was unconscious. Then vomiting forth water she died. Baryu was +tremendously put out. To lose a wife, who barely had been a wife; one so +beautiful, so strong; this was extremely vexatious. "This won't do at all! +Why has such a misfortune befallen this Baryu? O'Kabe (Miss Plaster) and +O'Nabé (Miss Stewpan) endured without mishap the passage of their marriage +night.... Hai! Hai!" in reply to a friend knocking at the door. "Baryu +cannot go to the fishing to-day.... The woman? She has died. Baryu's wife +is dead." Opening the door he retailed his experience to the wondering +friend. As they talked, along came a priest most strangely dressed for +this land. Approaching them he said--"Is this the house of Baryu?" At the +fisherman's acknowledgement--"Has a girl come here?... Dead! Deign to let +this foolish cleric hang eyes upon her." Baryu thought he would take his +turn at questions. "And you; whence from?" "From Fudarakusan in the +Nankai." "Get you hence, frantic interloper," broke in Baryu with grief +and anger. "Enough has this Baryu heard of Fudarakusan. Baryu must needs +observe his state as widower. The month must pass before he seeks a wife. +And more than half its days remain! But look." Mollified by the humble +attitude of the priest he went and raised the coverlet from the woman's +body. He uttered a cry of surprise. "Oya! Oya! She has disappeared. There +is naught here but a wooden image. Ma! Ma! what a curious figure--with +scroll and fish basket, just as the wife appeared at the beach. This is +what one reads of in books." He turned to the priest in wonder and as +seeking explanation. Said the latter with earnest and noble +emphasis--"Favoured has been this Baryu. The Kwannon of Fudarakusan of +Nankai has shown herself before his very eyes. For the reform of this +wicked people, to teach them the holy writing, she has condescended to +submit to the embraces of the fisherman. Let not Baryu think of other +marriage. For him has come the call to leave this world. Fail not to +obey." Baryu rushed to the door, to catch but a glimpse of the departing +form. All sign of the priest quickly faded. Baryu returned to the wooden +figure lying where once had reposed the body of the beautiful girl. It was +a most unsatisfactory substitute for the flesh and blood original. But +Baryu made the most of it. He took his vow. He shaved his head, becoming a +priest to recite and preach the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. Hence this +Kwannon is known as the Baryufu Kwannon--wife of Baryu the fisherman. +Hence she is called the Kwannon of the fish basket, in honour of the aid +she brought the people of this village and land. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE RITES FOR O'IWA SAN + + +Iémo[u]n fared as badly at the hands of the Buddha as at those of the +Kami. Shu[u]den Osho[u], as guardian of the sacred image of the +Gyo[u]ran Kwannon, was a very great man indeed. After some delay the +deputation from Samoncho[u] was ushered into his presence, Iémon made +profound obeisance and explained the cause of their presence. The +visitations of O'Iwa to the district were causing the greatest public +commotion. Not as a matter of private interest, but of public utility +his interference was sought. If Iémon thought to abstract a copper +"cash" from the priestly treasury he made a gross mistake. Besides, the +individual who disturbs the public peace suffers severely from official +mediation, no matter what form this takes. Shu[u]den inquired minutely +as to the visit of the Daiho[u]-in, of which he seemed to have heard. +What information Iémon might have withheld, or minimised, or given a +different complexion, was cheerfully volunteered by others, who also +corrected and amplified any undue curtailing or ambiguity of their +spokesman. Shu[u]den listened to Iémon with a gravity and an expression +hovering between calculation and jeering comment. He turned from him to +the committee, giving great attention to those scholiasts on the text of +the orator. He gravely wagged his head in agreement with the rival +prelate, whose acumen he highly extolled. Memorial services were to be +provided for a year. It was, after all, merely a form of restitution to +the wronged lady. But also the wandering spirit of O'Iwa was to be +suitably confined. Here lay the difficulty. Recitation of the sutra for +seven continuous days; proper inhumation of the substitute beyond +possibility of disturbance, would surely lay a spell on the enraged +lady, and put an end to the curse of one dying an unworshipped spirit. +For the burial a bamboo was to be provided--of length one _shaku_ eight +_bu_ (one foot nine inches) between the joints. + +With this notice Iémon and his companions withdrew. He was resigned to +the payment of the fifty _ryo[u]_ necessary for the memorial services +extending over the year. The inclusion in the bamboo was another affair. +The finding of such was about as easy as the fishing for black pearls. +He soon found that securing the substitute and securing the body of +O'Iwa San for proper inhumation were kindred problems. After looking +over all the bamboo which had drifted to Edo and was in the hands of the +world secular--and most of it at surprisingly cheap rates--the committee +was driven back on the religious world. They soon found that the article +in question was kept in stock only at the Gyo[u]ran Kwannondo[u]. +Resorting to the priestly offices, Iémon felt convinced that the grave +salutation of the incumbent official--they directed him to the +treasury--concealed a derisive grin at his expense. He was sure of it +when he learned that this rare object could be had--for another fifty +_ryo[u]_. The temple gave no credit; but Suzuki, the usurer who was one +of the party, after some demur agreed to hand over the amount, which he +had just received from Akiyama Cho[u]zaémon, the service bounty of the +daughter O'Tsuru. With some reluctance the long nosed, long faced, long +limbed Kamimura went security for the repayment on their return to the +ward. With cheerful recklessness Iémon pledged the last chance of any +income from the pension and resources of Tamiya for the next three +years; so heavily was he in debt. Shu[u]den on his part lost no time. +With at least one member of the committee in attendance, to see that he +played fair, for seven days vigorously was the sutra intoned by the +loudest and most brazen of his subordinates, backed by the whole body of +priests. Day and night a priest would slip to the side altar, to invoke +the pity of the Buddha on the wandering spirit of the deceased lady in +few pithy but hasty words, and to spend the rest of his vigil in a +decent slumberous immobility. + +The seven days accomplished, the procession formed. Six men in new +uniforms--provided by Iémon--made pretence of great difficulty in +carrying the long box (_nagamochi_). Four men carried the _sambo_, or +sacred tray of white wood, on which rested the section of bamboo wrapped +by the hands of Shu[u]den himself in the sacred roll of the sutra of +Kwannon. Officialdom of the ward was present. The citizens turned out +_en masse_. For long Yotsuya had not witnessed such a scene. Within its +precincts the _yashiki_ of the great nobles were conspicuously absent; +their long processions of spearman, _chu[u]gen_, _samurai_ and officials +were only to be witnessed at times on the highway which leaves Shinjuku +for the Ko[u]shu[u]kaido[u] and the alternate and then little used +Ashigarato[u]ge road. Arrived at Samoncho[u] the ground selected was +inspected by Shu[u]den. The bishop's eyebrows puckered in questioning +mien. "Here there are too many people. Is there no other place?" They +led him to another site. The wrinkle deepened to a frown--"Here there +are too many children. Their frolics and necessities are unseemly. These +would outrage the tender spirit. Is there no other place?" The committee +was nonplussed. Iémon was in terrible fear lest all his effort and +expenditure would go for naught but to swell Shu[u]den's cash roll. A +thought came into his mind. "There is no other open land, but the garden +of Tamiya is wide and secluded. The wall prevents public access." People +looked at him aghast. He was either mad with courage, or obstinate in +disbelief in the power of O'Iwa San so plainly manifested. Shu[u]den +paid no attention to that surprised whispering. "Deign to show the way +thither." Thus the procession took its course back to Teramachi and +through the gate of Tamiya. A spot was selected, just before the garden +gate. It was open to the salutation and vows of passers-by, yet could be +shut off from direct access toward house and public. At Shu[u]den's +order a hole was dug, just four _shaku_ (feet) in depth. The Osho[u] +began the recitation of the sutra. The priests stood by in vigilant +attention. As the last word reverberated on the bishop's lips they +seized the sutra wrapped bamboo, slipped it in the long box--bum! the +lock snapped. The congregation was tremendously impressed. For a decent +time Shu[u]den remained in prayer and meditation. "The charm is +complete. O'Iwa no longer wanders, to her own penance and the disaster +of men. Henceforth he who says she does so lies. Hearken to the words of +Shu[u]den. Admit none such to your company. Let not children make this +place a playground. Shu[u]den has given warning. Pollution surely +follows. Their habits are unseemly, an insult to the dead. Even as to +parents, those with infants on their backs are specifically to be +excluded." He tied a paper covered with Sanscrit characters to a bamboo +stick. This was placed on a white wood stake. On the stake he wrote +kindred words, converting it into the counterfeit of a _sotoba_. Neither +he nor any present knew what the words meant, or had care as to their +ignorance of this essential of religion. Then he and his train gathered +up their gowns and galloped out the gate, after practice and receipt of +grave courtesy, so much did temple differ from shrine in its contact +with secular life. The assembled multitude departed; much edified by the +day's proceedings, and with low comment to each other on the +dilapidation of Tamiya, its fall from the one time spruce and +flourishing state. "Introduce a spendthrift in the door, and the wealth +leaks from every crevice. The spirit of Tamiya Matazaémon must grieve at +this sight. But why did he bring in as _muko_ a stranger?" + +Iémon could flatter himself on the efficacy of the divine +interposition. The public mind was quieted. Nothing more was heard of +O'Iwa San. Only the daily summons, on one pretext or another, to the +ward office troubled him. The _yakunin_ also made a practice of taking +in Tamiya en route to performance of their various missions. This he +knew was a practice as to men under observation. He went over his career +as known to Yotsuya. There was nothing in it to call for question. +Official censure does not rest its case on a ghost story. The famous +investigation of Echizen no Kami (O[u]oka) into the Yaeume case of +Yamada was matter of later days. Moreover, all his troubles were +lightened by the state of O'Hana, the devoted object of unwavering +affection. Ever since the Daiho[u]-in had mesmerized her, impressed his +will on her, the daily improvement could be marked. Now again she was +her normal self; sadly thin and worn in spirit, a woman tired out, but +yet the figure of O'Hana and in her right mind. To him she was the +beautiful tradition of the past and just as beautiful as ever in +actuality. Two weeks had passed since Shu[u]den's experiment. One night, +as the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) was striking, there came a knocking at +the door. O'Hana rose from her sewing. "Danna, Kamimura San would say a +word." Iémon made a gesture of annoyance. The long man had shadowed him, +ever since entering on the engagement of bail. He went to the door and +looked at his caller with amazement. Kamimura, his hair in confusion, +was stark naked except for his wife's under cloth--and she was almost a +dwarf. He stretched out a hand to Iémon, half in threat, half in +begging. "Iémon Uji, a word: condescend to grant this Goémon ten +_ryo[u]_ in silver, not in words. Suzuki the usurer has come on Goémon +as bail of Iémon, in the matter of the exorcism. To-day he stripped the +house of everything. Wife and children, hungry and almost naked, lie on +bare boards. When Goémon begged mercy, that he go to Tamiya, the +wretched fellow jeered. 'Tamiya? Tamiya has but _hibachi_ and three +mats; the clothes worn by himself and wife. The house and land of Tamiya +is but a reversion. Suzuki gets nothing at Tamiya but a lawsuit which +would not pay the office fees. Kamimura is rich; his house is well +supplied. One petition; and not only expenses, but the debt finds +payment. Hence Suzuki troubles not Tamiya.' With this off he went +deriding me. Deign the loan, Iémon San. Condescend at least the shelter +of clothes and food." + +To the wretched fellow Iémon could make no reply. Ten _ryo[u]_! +Kamimura might as well have asked for ten thousand _ryo[u]_. In house +and land Iémon was secure. These belonged to the heirship of Tamiya as +long as the House maintained its status. The pension was long mortgaged. +The farms had disappeared. The trouble of Goémon pained him. He could +only refuse; palliating the refusal with vague promises as to the near +future. He would effect a loan. The debt of Suzuki repaid, all his goods +would be restored to Kamimura San. Goémon took this talk at its real +value. Shaking his fist he berated Iémon with violent words. "Ah! Shame +is brought to the House of Kamimura, wretchedness to his family--and by +this vile stranger. It is Iémon with his heartless wicked treatment of +O'Iwa San, who has wrought distress and ruin to the ward. For Goémon +there is neither food nor clothing? Wait! Time shall bring his vengeance +on Iémon and his House." Iémon would have detained him; sought in some +way to mollify him, at least get a hint as to how he purposed injury. +Goémon shook him off as one would a reptile. With a wild laugh he went +out naked as he was into the darkness. + +He had no definite purpose in mind. However, as he passed the garden +gate of Tamiya his eye caught the factitious _sotoba_ standing white in +the fitful moonlight. He stood stock still; then clapped his hands in +mad joy and decision. Hastening to his home he sought out an old +battered mattock and a rusty spade. Soon he was back at the garden gate. +A blow and the bar fell. Goémon passed within. "She lies but four +_shaku_ deep. The task is quickly performed. None pass here at this +hour." The dirt flew under his nervous arms. Soon he had the box out on +the ground beside him. A peal of thunder; he must hasten, or stand a +ducking from the coming storm. He laughed. What had a naked man to fear +from getting wet? The clothes he wore would not spoil. Why did not man +dress in a towel, as after the bath; its use, to wipe the moisture from +the body. Now his eyes were fixed in curiosity on the bamboo staff +before him. The first few drops of the rainstorm fell on his bare +shoulders, but he disregarded them. "Naruhodo! How heavy it is! O'Iwa in +life hardly weighed more. Lady of Tamiya--show pity on this Goémon. +Iémon and O'Hana--those wicked voluptuaries--prosper and flourish, while +Goémon is brought to beggary and starvation. Deign to visit the wrath of +O'Iwa San on these vile wretches. Seize and kill them. Goémon sets O'Iwa +free." He seized the mattock. Raising it overhead he brought the edge +sharply down on the bamboo stake. At the moment there was a violent peal +of thunder rolling off into a crash and rattle. The landscape was lit up +by the vivid lightning. People uneasily turned over on their beds. + +Shortly after dawn Iémon woke with a start. Don-don-don, don-don-don. +There was a tremendous rapping at his door. O'Hana could hear but a +whispered consultation going on without the _amado_. Iémon returned to +the room. His face was white; his step tottered. Hastily he donned an +outer robe. To her question he made scant reply, so agitated was he. His +one idea was to keep from her what he had just heard. In the garden he +found his wardsmen assembled. All were dumbfounded and aghast. They +looked at each other and then at the broken bamboo tube. Close by lay +the body of the man who had done the deed. Brains and blood had oozed +from the hole in the skull in which yet stuck the pointed end of the +mattock sunk deep within. Evidently the instrument had rebounded from +the resilient surface of the bamboo. A by-stander pointed to the tiny +fracture near the hard knot of the staff. It was a small thing, but +enough to destroy all the past labours. Iémon went up to look at the +body. "Why! 'Tis Goémon." To their questioning he told how Kamimura had +called on the previous night, his rage at the inability of Iémon to aid +him in distress. With hanging heads, eyes on the ground, and wagging +tongues, all departed to their homes. Later the body of Goémon was borne +to his house by neighbours. Iémon picked up the bamboo staff. Carrying +it within he placed it in a closet. It was as costly an object as the +house had ever held. He was in despair. + +It was on that very day, at the seventh hour (3 P.M.), that O'Hana +heard a call at the door. "A request to make! A request to make!" She +recoiled from the sight presented. A beggar stood at the entrance of +Tamiya. A dirty mat wrapped around his body, feet and arms emerging from +bandages, making him like to some hideous insect with its carapace, his +face wrapped in a towel, the effects of leprosy were hideously +patent.--"What do you here? There is naught to be had. Pray depart at +once." The answer was in tones the very harshness of which seemed to +cause pain to the utterer--"The request is to Iémon Dono. Condescend to +notify him." With fearful glance O'Hana shrank within, Iémon noted her +nervous quivering. Promptly he was on his feet--"A beggar has frightened +Hana? Such are to be severely dealt with." He went to the entrance. "A +beggar, and such a fellow? How comes it entrance has been had to the +ward? There is nothing for you here. If you would escape the dogs and +bastinado, get you hence at once." The man did not stir from the spot on +which he stood. Slowly he opened the mat held round his body +(_komokaburi_), one of the coarse kind used to wrap round _saké_ +barrels. He was clothed in rags glued together by the foul discharges of +his sores. He removed the towel from his face. The ghastly white and red +blotches, the livid scars of the leper, the head with patches of scurfy +hair ready to fall at a touch, startled even Iémon the priest. He would +not have touched this man, expelled him by force, for all the past +wealth of Tamiya. The intruder noted the effect produced. + +"To such has the wrath of O'Iwa San brought this Cho[u]bei. Does not +Iémon, the one-time neighbour Kazuma, recognize Cho[u]bei? And yet all +comes through Iémon. Child, wife, means of life, all these have failed +Cho[u]bei. In the jail robbed of everything, degenerate in mind and +body, Cho[u]bei has found refuge at nights in the booths of street +vendors; on cold wet nights, even in the mouths of the filthy drains. +Fortunate is he when fine weather sends him to rest on the river banks. +To seek rest; not to find it. O'Iwa stands beside him. When eyelids +drowse Cho[u]bei is aroused, to find her face close glaring into his. +Beg and implore, yet pardon there is none. 'Cho[u]bei has a debt to pay +to Iwa. In life Cho[u]bei must repay by suffering; yet not what Iwa +suffered. Think not to rest.' Some support was found in a daughter, sold +in times past to the Yamadaya of Yoshiwara. There the child grew up to +become the great profit of the house. The influence of the Kashiku was +all powerful to secure entrance. For a night Cho[u]bei was to find food +and a bed. But that night came Kibei San. He killed the Kashiku--crushed +her out, as one would crush an insect. This Cho[u]bei nearly died; but +Kibei left him to the mercy of O'Iwa. Her mercy!" He would have thrown +out his arms in weary gesture of despair. The pain and effort were too +great. He moaned. "Last night Cho[u]bei sought relief. Of late years the +river has been spanned, for passers-by and solace of the human refuse. +Standing on Ryo[u]gokubashi the dark waters of the river called to +Cho[u]bei as they swept strongly by to the sea. A moment, and all would +be ended. About to leap hands were laid on Cho[u]bei's shoulders. He was +dragged back. Turning--lo! 'twas O'Iwa San. Another creature, still +fouler than she, with sloping eyelid, bald head, and savage look, stood +by. Said O'Iwa San--'And Cho[u]bei would end all--with luxury before his +eyes! Cho[u]bei dies not but with the consent of Iwa. Get you to +Yotsuya; to Iémon and Hana, living in luxury and Tamiya. Aid will not be +refused you.' And so she brought me here. Deign to hear the prayer of +Cho[u]bei. Allow him to die in Yotsuya, upon the _tatami_; not on the +bare earth, to be thrown on the moor for dogs to gnaw. Grant him burial +in temple ground." + +He changed his theme; the feeble quivering hands clasped his belly. +"Ah! This pinching hunger. Double Cho[u]bei's suffering; of mind and +body. Apply for alms or food, and the leper is repulsed. See! Two +fingers remain on this hand. Count of the rest fills out the tale for +but one member. O'Hana San, condescend a rice ball for this Cho[u]bei. +You, at least, know not the pinch of hunger.... Ah! She still possesses +some of that beauty and charm for which Iémon has brought ruin upon +all." Before the horrible lascivious leer of this object O'Hana fled. +Left alone Iémon spoke. He had been thinking--"Cho[u]bei has spoken +well. From Iémon he is entitled to relief. Cho[u]bei shall die on his +mat. But in such shape nothing can be done. Get you hence. Buy clothing +fit to appear before men's eyes. In the bath wash that pus-laden body. +Then come to Iémon. Relief shall be granted Cho[u]bei." Wrapping a +_ryo[u]_ in paper he passed it to the leper. It was the last coin he +possessed. O'Hana now returned with five or six rice balls savoured with +salt. Fascinated, the two watched the horrible diseased stumps awkwardly +shoving the food into the toothless mouth, cramming it in, and breaking +it up so as not to lose the savour of a grain. "Until to-morrow," said +Cho[u]bei. He picked up his stick. In silence the man and woman watched +him. "Leaning on his bamboo staff he crawled away like some insect." +O'Hana looked inquiringly at Iémon. He turned away his head. + +Through the dusk Cho[u]bei crawled across the Ryo[u]gokubashi. The +words of the woman O'Také had come true. He had a sense of being +followed. He turned at the sound of footsteps. At sight of a _samurai_ +in deep hat, mechanically he stretched out hands and self in the +roadway, begging an alms. The man drew apart, passing him in disgust and +haste. Cho[u]bei went on. He had no aim. It was with surprise that he +found himself, as often of late, on the embankment of the North +Warigesui. He looked down on the foul place of O'Iwa's disappearance. "A +foul ending; but after all an end. One night! One night's sleep! Deign, +lady of Tamiya, to grant pardon and respite to Cho[u]bei. Just one hour +of sleep." Carefully he adjusted his mat. Painfully he stretched himself +out on it. "To die on the mat. Such was the word of Iémon." He felt his +rags. "It was well he agreed. Cho[u]bei had other means to force +compliance. Well, 'tis for later use." A continued rustling aroused him. +Some one was cautiously picking a way through the dry grass of the past +winter, was creeping toward him. He half rose. Seeing that concealment +was no longer possible, the man rushed on him. Cho[u]bei struggled to +his feet, as one to fight for life. "Life is dear. Why kill Cho[u]bei +the leper? Is he a test for some new sword? Deign to pardon. The flesh +of the leper is too rotten. It defiles the weapon. Cho[u]bei has been +the _samurai_; he knows.... Ah! Respite there is none. 'Tis Iémon! Iémon +of Tamiya would kill Cho[u]bei!" He shouted and coupled the names in his +despair. Fearful of discovery, of being overheard, Iémon did not delay. +The gleaming weapon descended. Standing over the body Iémon showed +uncertainty. He had some thought of search; even bent down over it. But +he could not touch those foul rags. His nicety of feeling, almost +womanlike--recoiled. Besides, what more had Iémon to do with the leper +Cho[u]bei. Their account was closed. Should he leave the body where it +was? Recognition might convey some danger, at least inconvenience. He +looked around for means to sink it in these waters, and yet not handle +its repulsiveness. A _sho[u]yu_ tub, old but fairly intact, lay upon the +bank. It caught his eye. He rolled it up to the corpse. Gingerly he +girdled the body of the dead man with his _tasuki_ (shoulder cord). Now +tight fast it clasped the roundness of the barrel. This he filled with +stones, drove in the head, and with a shove sent it and its burden into +the Warigesui. "That will hold him down. The rotten punk! Three days, +and none could recognize him." Then he set off at rapid pace for +Yotsuya. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS: THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED BY THE DEAD + + +It was the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) before Iémon reached the house in +Yotsuya. To his surprise he found the _amado_ still open on the garden. +Some one was lying face downward on the _ro[u]ka_. It was O'Hana. To his +alarmed inquiry as to what was wrong she answered in the voice of one +trying to suppress great pain. "This Hana knows not. Opening a closet to +get the spices used in preparing the meal, a rat sprang out. It +scratched the face of Hana. Truly the pain is very great." She groaned, +Iémon gently raised her. At the look on his face O'Hana said--"There is +a mirror in the toilet set (_kyo[u]dai_). Deign to get it for Hana." He +did not get it--this dower gift once of O'Iwa--but tried to soothe +her--"Let be: the wounds soon will heal. The pain will pass away." She +shoved him aside and ran to the toilet stand. She took the hand-mirror +to the solitary lamp lighting the room. Aghast she contemplated her +features. One side of the face was completely discoloured. It was a dark +red, almost black, with the mark of five fingers plainly visible, as if +a hand had struck her. No rat had made this wound. O'Hana leaned over, +her head resting almost on her knees. Iémon touched her shoulder--"Don't +mind it. Truly the pain will pass with dawn. Hana...." He drew back from +the scowling madness in the face raised to him--"Sa! Sa! Iémon! Iémon! +Easily did you get hold of all my property, to waste it on O'Hana. 'Twas +like grasping wet millet. Then, barbarous as you were, you sold me to +the vile life of a street harlot. Ah! Vengeance!" In fright Iémon +retreated. O'Hana, taking herself to be O'Iwa, all her madness had +returned. She sprang up. Screens were beaten and torn to pieces. With +the heavy mirror she turned on him, seeking vengeance for her imagined +wrongs. Iémon narrowly escaped injury as he dashed in to grapple with +her. He succeeded in dragging her away from the lamp. Thus did this wild +battle rage in the half dark room. The fictitious strength of the ill +woman gave out. He held her on the floor, as one subdued. As she +relapsed into a sleep, almost of unconsciousness, he ventured to release +her. Going to a closet he placed the mirror beside the bamboo stick; +both hidden away. + +All night he watched over her. Wearied out, with day he sought an aid +readily given. The nurse, however, in alarm soon roused him. O'Hana was +raving madly in a high fever. The woman could not restrain her. Her +cries were terrible, but not more so than the speech from her +lips--"O'Iwa, pardon! With the drugs of Suian this Hana would palsy +O'Iwa's mind and body; poison the very springs of life, cut off all hope +of issue. Ah! Vain the love of a man. All is granted him; body and +goods. Iémon sells Hana for a street harlot. Out with him! Help!... Ah! +Kwaiba aids--in all his rottenness. How horrible he is--huge vacant eye +holes, the purple whitish flesh gnawed and eaten.... Ugh! He stinks!... +Nay! 'Tis not Kwaiba. 'Tis Cho[u]bei: Cho[u]bei the leper, who would +embrace this Hana. Iémon comes. There is murder in his eye--for Hana to +see, not Cho[u]bei. Away! Away!... Again, there she comes!" She grasped +the nurse's arm, and pointed to the just lighted _andon_ which barely +relieved the shadows of the darkening night; was it the woman's +imagination? By the light, dimly outlined; sat O'Iwa San. Her hair hung +down around face and body half turned aside. The bulging forehead, the +puffed eyelids, were not to be mistaken. The woman shook off the sick +girl's hand and fled the house. Iémon did not try to prevent her. He was +as one paralyzed. He, too, had seen, and was convinced. + +To watch through the night was the task of the anxious and wearied man. +In the day a _yakunin_ had come, with formal notice to attend next day +the office of Katada Tatéwaki Dono. His lordship had an inquiry to make. +The summons was not to be disregarded, no matter what his own +exigencies. O'Hana had dropped into a cataleptic state. As the eighth +hour (1 A.M.) approached he thought to clear brain and body by the rest +of a few moments. His head had barely touched the pillow when sleep +followed. The bell of Gwansho[u]ji struck the hour. It roared and +reverberated through Tamiya. Iémon awoke; an oppression like suffocation +pervaded his whole body. Opening his eyes they stared into the wide +white flat face of O'Iwa. Her eyes were now alive, darting gleams of +fire deep from within the puffed and swollen lids. He felt her wild +disordered hair sweeping his face as she swayed a little, still +retaining her post and clutch on his bosom--"Iémon knows Iwa now! Hana +knows Iwa now! Sworn to seize and kill both for seven births--come! Now +it is that Iwa completes her vengeance." As she shook and pressed on him +he came gradually out of his sleep. With a shout he cast her backwards. +Springing up he grasped the sword at his pillow. Madly he dealt blow +after blow on the body before him. To the groans he replied by fresh +blows. + +An uproar without called him to himself. Don--don--don, don, don, don. +There was knocking at the gate. Iémon hastily trimmed up the wick of the +lamp. He leaned over the body. O'Hana! The young man stooped over her, +leaning on the gory sword. Great drops of cold sweat stood out on his +forehead. A shout came from without. "In his lordship's name! Open, or +force will be used." Why had the summons for the day been anticipated? +The unhappy ravings of O'Hana flashed to his mind. Iémon no longer +reasoned. A cunning insane light was in his eyes. Softly he made his way +to the _amado_ fronting on the garden. No one was without. In the rain +and storm he might escape. Traversing the darkness he noted, however, +the man posted at the gate in the rear. Springing on the roof of the +shed he looked over into Teramachi. It was deserted. With the bloody +sword he hacked off the sharp points of the bamboo stakes. They now +aided his flight over the wall. He cast the weapon aside. In a few +minutes he disappeared in rapid flight down the street. When Katada +Tatéwaki, accompanied by his men, at last broke down the stout +resistance offered by the outer door of Tamiya he found the house empty, +except for the dead body of O'Hana, lying in its pool of blood. She was +still warm. He took it for mere murder, giving more urgent directions +for immediate pursuit. Methodically he searched the house, down to the +very rubbish pile. The seal of Tamiya was secured. This meant much. With +sceptical smile he handled the broken bamboo stick found in a closet. He +did not show the discovery to his men. + +Where did Iémon go? The unhappy man himself could not have told what +happened in the intervening days. He came to consciousness in the +darkness of a spring night, just before the dawn. The stars were +beginning to pale in the East. The landscape had the livid eerie light +in which it is uncertain whether day or night is to be the issue. With +surprise Iémon looked around him; then shuddered. The stagnant waters of +Warigesui's filthy stream lay beneath him. He had found rest on the +bank, at the very place where Cho[u]bei had died under his hand. + + "The Sanzugawa--without hills or bridges; + On highway traversed by the dead, flowers there are none."[38] + +The _yama_ ([yama]) refers to Yamada Cho[u]bei; the _hashi_ ([hashi]) to +Takahashi Iémon; the _hana_ ([hana]) to O'Hana, the wife of Iémon. Such +was the then interpretation of the old poem. + +Iémon could go no further. His course was run. He knew it; but how end +life? At heart he was an arrant coward. Determined to cut belly he drew +the dagger he had kept with him. A shudder went through him at sight of +the steel. Ah! Better the green slime of the waters below. He thrust the +blade back into its scabbard. Moodily standing and gazing down, he gave +an idle kick to a stone near by. Dislodged, it swayed, then rolled +heavily down the bank, to plunge noisily into the stream, disturb its +noisome depths. The effect was surprising. Following its course with his +eye Iémon suddenly gave a yell of horror. Eyes starting from his head, +arms raised high, he bent toward the stream. Hair standing on end he +watched the hideous object rise to the surface. The face of Cho[u]bei, +purple and bloated, the lips half gnawed and open in a fiendish grin, +looked up at him. Down came the arms, and Iémon put hands over eyes to +shut out the fearful vision. A horrid curiosity drove him again to view +it. Was he mad? This time the barrel in its slow revolution brought to +view the wide flat face, the bulging brow and heavy lids, the tangled, +disordered hair of the drowned O'Iwa. Scream after scream of the now +frantic wretch rang in the air. These waters! Seek death there! No! No! +A thousand times--No! He turned to flee the place, but his legs refused +the service. With fell purpose he ripped the blade from its scabbard, +tore open his clothes to give the deadly thrust. As he raised the dagger +invisible hands seized his arm. When he would release it, the other arm +was seized. Everywhere these hands held him fast. He raged, tore, +struggled madly to elude their grasp. Then, overcome, he fainted. + +Katada Tatéwaki from the top of the bank had been watching the +struggle of his men. He came forward and looked down at the bound and +helpless creature. "'Tis he: in very fact." On order a bamboo pole was +fetched, and run between the bound hands and feet. Thus like some beast +was Iémon conveyed to the nearest ward office. The formalities were few +and soon over. To avoid chance of repetition of the scene they conveyed +him as he was. Thus began the brutal progress across Edo in full +daylight. People turned and stared after this escort of the man-beast. +At a distance they took the burden as some savage bear, or perhaps one +of those reputed "_tanuki_" so noxious in their pranks on humankind. +Come closer it was seen to be a man. Any mad struggle to get free was +treated to spear pricks applied with no great nicety beyond the +avoidance of serious injury. Violent as were his struggles at times, it +is doubtful if they could have walked him the long distance. For the +days of his flight he had never rested; nor had these men in his +pursuit. Yet he was unexpected game. The Yotsuya affair was taking a +widening sweep. Tamiya Yoémon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei were under +examination. The death of a girl O'Haru at the brothel of Toémon of +Honjo[u] had unexpected effects. In the investigation which followed one +of the women, O'Také, had made full confession. The pedlar Mobei had +never left the house of Toémon; never escaped from the hospitality of +O'Matsu. His goods had aroused her cupidity. The man died by poison, and +was buried in the garden of Toémon's house. O'Haru knew of the deed. +This knowledge was the girl's destruction. The wife and her substitute +O'Kin hated O'Haru. Some remains of a first good looks, her youth, gave +her power with the master of the house. The two women worked on his +fears to gain consent for her destruction. A charge easily was trumped +up, and she was dragged off to the cell of punishment. Under the hands +of the wife and O'Kin she suffered so that she died in three days, not +without letting her mate O'Také into the secret. Promptly the Honjo[u] +police were at work; not more prompt than was the woman O'Kin to +disappear from Edo, almost a confession in itself. The rosary, found in +the hands of the rector of the Reiganji, was easily traced through +different mediators straight to O'Matsu herself. The man Toémon held +out, and died under the torture. The woman confessed; and in her +confession was comprehended the full story of O'Iwa's connection with +Toémon's house. Of her no more need be said. She rotted and died in the +jail. The girls were scattered to kindred houses. Two of the women, +hunting their pray on Warigesui toward the _yashiki_ quarter, had +witnessed the murder of Cho[u]bei three nights before. The police had +gone to secure the body. Tatéwaki Dono was notified and had accompanied +them. To the surprise of all Iémon, then the object of earnest search, +was found on the spot. + +The affair kept on spreading--to the very source of all these troubles. +Katada Tatéwaki in the course of procedure had transmitted the Tamiya +case to the jurisdiction of the _machibugyo[u]_ of the North district of +Edo town, Homma Iga no Kami. With greatest interest the two men in +company poured over the innumerable documents now piling up in the case. +Old Tamiya Yoémon proved easy game. He readily confessed all he knew. +This brought in many witnesses from the wardsmen. It was not exactly +what was wanted. The evidence was mostly mere hearsay and conjecture. In +those days such testimony had a value not far below that of direct +statement. All pointed the way to the real criminal, who after all was +the star witness. Against Yoémon at first there was but little. However, +in his rage against Iémon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--Akiyama was out of +his reach--his tongue was too long. The faces of the magistrates grew +serious as his connection with the money lender Suzuki was made plain. A +_samurai_ loaning money on interest! and pressing men to ruin for +payment!! The stingy avaricious Yoémon appeared behind the usurer--until +in time his own heavy losses had made him a borrower, and placed him in +the hands of his once partner. Yoémon, together with the conspirators, +was not allowed to participate in the forced restitution made by Suzuki. +Nevertheless, at the time no great severity was shown the old man. He +was remanded to the custody of his bail, to be kept confined to one room +in the house. + +The same leniency was shown toward Rokuro[u]bei. When he showed a +disposition to be recalcitrant, to equivocate, Homma gave sign to the +_do[u]shin_. Quickly the scourgers came forward with their fearful +instrument, the _madaké_. Made of bamboo split into long narrow strips, +these tightly wrapped in twisted hempen cord to the thickness of a _sun_ +(inch), with the convenient leverage of a couple of _shaku_ (feet), the +mere sight brought Kondo[u] to terms. As he entered he had seen them +lead away a _heimin_ (commoner) who had undergone the punishment. The +man's back, a mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, was vivid to mind. At +once he prostrated himself; made full confession. At last they were at +the source. Kondo[u] was a witness of the fact. He could and did tell of +the inception and progress of the whole plot against O'Iwa San, the +source of untold woe to Yotsuya. His story covered the period from the +entrance of Iémon into the ward up to the discovery of the body of +Kamimura Goémon. The rôle played by Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was in part +dark to him. Of the disposition of O'Iwa to the Honjo[u] master of the +_Yo[u]taka_ he pleaded ignorance. Tatéwaki Dono smiled as he counselled +indulgence on this point. He knew. + +Kondo[u], however, was sent back to the jail. He was unquestionably a +principal. At last it was the turn of Iémon. The weeks had passed. The +body had been carefully nursed back to vigour. The mind was in +lamentable state. The ill-meant efforts of the jail authorities, the +strengthening of the criminal in order better to endure the torture to +the confession point, were somewhat baffled by the nightly visions of +the wretched man. The two hags, O'Iwa and O'Mino; Cho[u]bei in his final +stage of purple bloatedness; these were his nightly companions, to +torment and harass him. Sleep! If he could but close his eyes to shut +out these horrors! Instead they became more vivid. The jailors put him +at the farthest corner of their ample premises. His fellow prisoners, +such as were allowed daily exit to the yard, visited him with blows and +foul insults for the disturbance he created in the night. But he was +cunning withal. Trapped as he was, in his lucid moments he realized that +there could be but little against him. O'Iwa? Not even in Tokugawa times +was the supernatural cause of prosecution except at the hands of the +vulgar. Nor in those days, any more than in these of Taisho[u] _nengo_, +was a wife legally protected against abuse of husband or parents-in-law. +As for Cho[u]bei--he was dead. His own presence on the scene was no +evidence against him as murderer. His only misgivings on that point lay +in the confusion of mind as to the few days then covered. But who would +blame a _samurai_ for testing his blade on a beggar? What were beggars +for? He knew nothing of the evidence given by Yoémon and Kondo[u]; of +the vile proof in the hands of Katada Dono. He had wholly forgotten the +nurse who had listened to the wild ravings of O'Hana in her illness, +broken sentences bearing so heavily and dove-tailing so nicely into the +completed case. Owing to this woman Tatéwaki Dono had not waited the +appearance of Iémon at morning. Iémon also left out of account the +characters of the two men before whom he appeared. Iga no Kami sat as +judge in the case. Close beside him, a little in the rear, sat Katada +Tatéwaki, in whose jurisdiction the case had originated, and who was +familiar with every stage. The four _do[u]shin_ sat to one side and the +other of these two men. + +Homma and Katada were typical of their caste. Cold, callous, cruel, +devoted rigidly to the formulć; of the _samurai_ code, with strange +exceptions granted to the virtues required of the common people--filial +conduct and unswerving obedience to a superior--they were not men likely +to regard with favour this intruder into their class. The name of +_samurai_ had been brought into contempt. Hence the serious character of +the offence, the necessity of severest scrutiny. To the valued +suggestion of Tatéwaki, Iga no Kami nodded assent. Iémon thought of +nothing but the murder of Cho[u]bei, the abuse of his wife O'Iwa, the +conspiracy against her life and honour. The first question paralyzed his +defence. Was he not the son of Takahashi Daihachiro[u]? The whole +terrible vista of the consequences of avowal appeared before him, once +himself a _do[u]shin_ and familiar with legal procedure. The family had +suffered _kaieki_ (deprivation of rights). It had been degraded from the +caste. Properly speaking Iémon was an intruder into the _samurai_ class. +He was an impostor. His offence was against the suzerain lord, the +Sho[u]gun. All the terrible penalties of treason hung over him. Tatéwaki +had been quick to note the opportunity to take this case out of the +category of offence by a _samurai_. Iémon was a plebeian and a +charlatan. He had insulted Government. At the stumbling denial quick +order was given. A _yakunin_ seized the rope and dragged down the head +of Iémon. Others held him at the sides, to maintain the body rigid. +Stout fellows, the pick of the jailors, came forward. With ferocious +regularity the blows fell. Welts at once appeared. Soon the blood was +trickling from the torn skin. There was no sign to mitigate the severity +of the infliction. When at the seventieth blow the body collapsed in a +faint the wretched man was a terrible sight. The attendants of the jail, +witnesses of the full punishment of double the number of stripes, had +rarely seen such severity exercised. The jailors hated this smooth +fellow, this disturber of their peace. They kept a jail, not a madhouse. +Their superiors showed no sign of the mercy of renewed questioning. +Hence they would change the mad nightly ravings to the subdued groans of +the punished. + +The days passed and his body had healed, though movement caused pain +and distress. Brought again before the judges at the very sight of the +scourges he screamed out confession. Questioned as to the conspiracy +against the caste, his fraudulent attempt to consummate marriage with a +_samurai_ woman--the actual fact or legality of it was ignored--his +ill-treatment and sale of her; all these in terror he denied. Once he +had looked upon banishment from Edo as the limit of his punishment. Now +decapitation would be a merciful end. He strove to secure the favour of +a quick and painless death. Again he was beaten almost to a jelly. He +clung to his denial, so important was the issue. At the next appearance +he was seized and dragged to a post fixed in the ground not far from the +judge's seat. His knees were pressed down on the edges of the triangular +bars. These formed a sort of grid, the edges of the bars being just +enough blunted to avoid cutting the skin. None of the pain was spared, +yet the prisoner remained fit for early future torture. The granite +slabs were then piled on his knees. Each one weighed thirteen _kwan_ +(107 lbs.). As the fifth slab was placed on the body of Iémon, the flesh +assumed a reddish tint from the impeded circulation. Froth stained his +mouth, mucus ran from his nose. A sixth, a seventh stone, were placed. +"How now! How now!" The men pressed heavily on the stones. A _do[u]shin_ +bent over him, listening and waiting for sign of the important +confession. The criminal was the one important witness of Tokugawa penal +law. Without confession he was innocent beyond all other proof. As the +eighth stone was placed Iémon began to vomit blood. The doctor raised +his hand. The feet were showing signs of blackness, which rapidly spread +upward. The man was in a dead faint. No confession had been secured. + +Perhaps the examination was thus conducted out of some severity. Days +passed. Whether or not the report of the physician was unfavourable, +influenced by some means Homma had fear the man might die before a +public retribution was secured. When Iémon again was dragged before his +judges he had a terrible object lesson before him. A man was undergoing +the torture of the lobster. Hands drawn up behind to the shoulders, the +feet tightly bound across the chest, he was propped up on a mat. +Properly conducted this "effort to persuade" took place in the jail. +Homma wished to try the effect of anticipation on Iémon. The prisoner +looked quickly at the man under torture, then hung down his head. His +lips were twitching with uncertainty. Homma struck hard--"Why deny the +plain fact? Is justice so ignorant of the doings and whereabouts of a +scamp. Kichitaro[u], or Kazuma the diviner, as he called himself, +murders Cho[u]bei the pimp; a deed carried out before witnesses." A +_do[u]shin_ placed the document of the confession of the whores so that +Iémon had no difficulty in ascertaining its title. "And why? Because of +the agreement with Cho[u]bei to sell the woman he dared to call his +wife. The proof? The seal of Tamiya, the document itself." At last Iémon +looked up. The _do[u]shin_ placed under his eyes the fatal contract with +Cho[u]bei--agreement of exchange of the body of the woman in return for +five _ryo[u]_ duly received. It had been recovered from the dead pimp's +corpse. Carefully wrapped in oiled paper, Cho[u]bei had carried it--sewn +in what he called his dress. Iémon unwilling to recognize past services, +Cho[u]bei was sure to find it useful. Truly Iémon was young and +impatient, and Cho[u]bei was double his age. With bitterness the +survivor recognized this primal fact. + +Iémon's eyes wandered from the paper to the thief under torture. The +dark green of the body was rapidly changing. The doctor present gave a +quick frightened sign. Skilful hands at once cast loose the bonds. Over +toppled the body. Iémon noted the white, almost livid, colour of death. +Restoratives were applied. All were busied with bringing the man back to +life. Then he was carried off, expression so unlike that of a human +being that the less hardened shuddered. Said Homma--"No confession yet?" +He raised his hand to make a sign. Iémon knew the quickness of response. +He almost screamed his appeal for further respite. The Law had +triumphed. As Iémon put his thumb seal to the confession of guilt to +insolence (_futodoki_) the magistrates rose and disappeared. +"Futodoki"--they and he knew that it meant the death sentence.[39] + +Judgment was not delayed. The next day Homma, with Katada and an officer +of the Sho[u]gun's household present, gave sentence. Yoémon and +Rokuro[u]bei glared hate at Iémon who squatted with head bent to the +ground. The sword--that now was his only hope. The first words of Homma +showed that no mercy was to be dealt out in this case. Suzuki the +plebeian merely suffered stripes and banishment from Edo. He had to make +restitution to the amount of his property--such as was left after paying +the huge fine to Government. Tamiya Yoémon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei +underwent degradation from the caste. There was no disposition to +overlook the offence of usury. Beggary was to be the portion of Yoémon, +the destitution of the outcast. For some years the senile old man, the +virago of a woman once the wife of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, were stationed +at the Nio[u]mon, to attract and amuse the worshippers passing up to the +great temple of the Asakusa Kwannon. Not for long could the woman hold +her tongue. Abuse passed with the sun's height to blows, and the +by-standers had to interfere and rescue the old man from the severe +beating. It was to the profit, rather than disadvantage, of the temple. +The pair were an added attraction. The priests left interference to +those at hand. Then the old man disappeared; to ornament the highway +with his corpse, or be cast on the moor, food for dogs and crows. Such +probably was the end of Tamiya Yoémon. The woman had not been seen for +some months. Her abilities as scold had attracted those qualified to +judge; her transfer to the position of bawd in a low-class house of the +neighbouring Yoshiwara soon followed. + +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei fared tolerably well, considering his deserts. +His confession had been a great aid in unravelling the case. He was not +sentenced to cut belly. Degraded he heard with dismay the sentence of +deportation and exile to the far distant island of Sado. At this savage +place, subject to the hell of a Siberian winter and the intense heats of +the summer, the once pampered man lived out his last days, few and evil. +He who had passed the time idling with tea-cup, or _go_, or flower +arrangement, and taking enjoyment in the freshness and coolness of his +garden at the Yotsuyazaka, at fifty years now tried to lead the hard and +dangerous life of the wild fishing population among whom he was +unceremoniously cast. Such life was soon forbidden him. He was but in +the road. Then he did such clerical duties as the village at times +needed. A wife even was provided for him. The final blow was a palsy, +cutting off all effort at making a livelihood. Beatings now took the +place of food. The villagers laughed when they heard of the old man's +fall from a cliff. They, too, would have acted as had the brothers of +O'Nabé (stew pan). They took the word for the deed; and at the cliff +foot near Negai they erected a wooden shrine to propitiate the spirit of +"Jiya Rokuro[u]." + +The day of execution had come. When sentenced, bound as he was Iémon +struggled forward to plead for mercy, respite from the barbarous +punishment to be inflicted on the traitor. His reward was the cangue and +bamboo saw--_nokogirihiki_; failing death by this, he was to be +crucified. The attendants fell on him. Kicks and blows had little effect +on the man frantic with terror. He almost reached the _ro[u]ka_ at which +sat Homma. Then madly struggling he was carried off to the jail. Said a +_do[u]shin_--"His antics in the cangue will find small scope." The last +clause of the sentence was due to the notorious unwillingness of any +passer-by to give a cut. The punishment had lapsed since the days of the +third Sho[u]gun, and was no more successful in Iémon's case. Placed in +the cangue at the execution ground of Shinagawa a cut was made in each +side of his neck. Smeared with blood the bamboo saw was placed on the +cangue in inviting proximity to the head. For five hours people passed, +with curious glances, but no movement to release the criminal. An Eta +(outcast) butcher sidled up. The guards watched him with curiosity. +Picking up the saw he made one pass. At the yell given by Iémon he +dropped the implement and fled in terror, amid the laughter of guards +and by-standers. Toward the hour of the sheep (1 P.M.) a _yoriki_ with +his _do[u]shin_ appeared. On signal the cangue was removed. Inert limbs +feebly twitching Iémon was bound tight to the double cross, his legs and +arms stretched wide apart. This was raised, and again the hours passed +in miserable waiting for a death which seemed to recede. If +unconsciousness threatened he was given vinegar to drink as restorative. +His fevered lips eagerly sought the fluid and prolonged his torture. In +the spring light the days were long. As the sun was about to set the +officer gave command. A _do[u]shin_ came forward to the cross and made a +sign. A guard thrust his spear upward into the belly of Iémon. The limbs +made a movement, as in attempt to be drawn up. A guard on the other side +in turn made a thrust. Others followed. For some moments they continued +their sport, the reward of long waiting. The man was not yet dead. +Impatient the _do[u]shin_ gave the shaft of a spear a violent upward +thrust. Its point appeared through the left shoulder. The head fell +forward on the breast and hung limp. Iémon was dead. + + * * * * * + +These events could not be let pass without notice from either the pious +or the timorous. Kyo[u]ho[u] 2nd year 2nd month 22nd day (3rd April, +1717) the Inari shrine built to propitiate the fearful Lady of Tamiya +was opened to worship with due ceremonies. It had been erected on the +ground of the house once occupied by Matazaémon, facing on Teramachi and +on the narrow street paralleling Samoncho[u] to the East. It was almost +opposite the entrance to the Sho[u]gwanji. At the family temple, the +Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, on the Samégabashi side, a grave and stela was set up. +With time, however, the opposition made itself felt. It was asserted +that the Lady O'Iwa still walked the ward, inflicting pains and +penalties on the inhabitants thereof. Triumphant reference was made to +recent public disasters--of plague, pestilence, famine, and tax levies. +The shrine was invitation for her presence. People had grown indifferent +as the new paint grew old, then shabby on the once famous _miya_. +Success lay with the opposition, and abolition of shrine and grave was +easily enforced. It was but for a time. The ward was either equally, or +more, unfortunate without the protection of its tutelary Inari shrine. +Just when it was re-established cannot be stated, but in the late +eighteenth century it was most flourishing. It was a favourite resort of +_samurai_ women, seeking consolation for unfaithful or brutal conduct of +their husbands, and strength in the reputation for chastity of the +famous Lady of Tamiya. In 1825 the third Kikugoro[u] made Yotsuya famous +by his presentation of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" as written for the stage by +Tsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]). In the first years of the Meiji +restoration period Shunkintei Ryuo[u], the famous story-teller, heralded +its renown in the Shin Yoshiwara. O'Iwa San became a feature of the +Konharuko[u] fęte of that quarter. A grave was again erected to her at +the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji. As she had no _kaimyo[u]_, or posthumous name, the +rector of the temple gave her that of "Tokusho[u]-In Myo[u]nen Hisho[u] +Daishi," which can be interpreted--"She, pleasing of disposition and +earnest in prayer; a woman of greatest brilliance." Let the reader not +judge this composition harshly; or its truth. + +The editor to the reproduction[40] of Ryuo[u]'s story speaks of his +difficulties. Placed in his hand for judgment he saw at once the power +of the tale. But--how avoid incurring the divine anger of the Yotsuya +Inari; how avoid being charged with the divine punishment? This question +was solved by the publisher assuming the burden of both inflictions; +under the spur of what _he_ regarded as publication in inferior and +untrue form. He answered these questions with a laugh--"Afraid? Not so: +I, too, am human. Though the unusual is an object, yet I would not +rejoice at incurring the divine anger by publishing what should not be +published. Though the divine anger be incurred by publishing the Yotsuya +Kwaidan, and the divine punishment be inflicted, yet who would not +gladden the eyes and ears of the land? Hence in haste the true record is +to be printed; owing to emission of unfounded stories. The true record +being put forth, the people profit by it. How then is the divine wrath +incurred by publication? Certainly not: the protection of the divine one +is secured." The editor trusted in his argument; as does the present +scribe. + +More than once the remark has been heard as to these shrines of +Nippon--"Their temples? Those dirty, shabby places, without architecture +or interest, the haunts of snotty, ragged children?" The sun-helmeted +gentleman and lady, or collection of their kind, rush them by in haughty +contempt, and with some ridicule and ridiculous comment. Good Sir and +Madame, you are passing history on the road. At this Kwo[u]gwanji, in +its rather shabby guest hall, Kusonoki Masashige and his devoted +followers spoke their last defiance and then cut belly. Kobé? It is +noted as a place to take ship, and not be too long in doing so. This +other, barely a mile from the To[u]kyo[u]-Yokohama railway, is +contemporary record of Nitta Yoshioka, who carved his bloody protest on +the Ashikaga before he killed himself in the trap set by their treachery +at this spot. Here behind the Ko[u]raiji near Oiso is a very shabby and +tiny shrine nestled at the foot of the cliff. This had better be +avoided. It is dedicated to the smallpox god. But more than history is +neglected in the indifference and contempt shown these minor _miya_. A +vein of thought inwoven into the minds of this strange people is +instanced by this modest shrine of the Tamiya Inari. Wandering along the +amusement quarter of some great city, a theatre is seen with a _torii_ +gorgeous in its red paint standing before the entrance. Within this +entrance is a small shrine and a box for the practical offerings of cash +or commodities. The theatre is decorated inside and outside with flags +as for a festival (_matsuri_). Such is actually in progress. The +representation is that of the Yotsuya Kwaidan. From manager and actor +(even in the presentation of the figured screen of the moving picture) +the malevolence of the O'Iwa Inari--the Fox-witched O'Iwa--is to be +averted. Hence all the signs of worship as at her very shrine; hence the +unwillingness of author or publisher to handle the story, at least in +its full form. This is but a remnant of the fear of "black magic" still +found and practised in Nippon. On the beach at Kamakura at times can be +found straw chaplets with gaudy cloth attached to the centre; a copper +coin, and rice offering are accompaniments. Or such will be found at the +crossroads of town or village, or on the Yokohama Bluff. Or in times of +epidemic in numbers they are laid on the wayside shrine of the god of +measles or other disease. The latter disposition conveys its own +warning; the others are _majinai_ or charms by which it is hoped to +transfer the disease to some other child, thus insuring the cure of the +first sufferer. The coin has been rubbed on the body of the little +patient. Dogs usually dispose of the food offering; and passing children +are only too likely to pick up the nefarious coin. The road cleaner +comes along at his rare intervals and sweeps the chaplet into the hole +for refuse. It is to be regretted that the ignorance and malevolence +indicated by these charms cannot as easily be gathered in and disposed +of. With these remarks the Yotsuya Kwaidan and its tale of ill-fortune +is brought to an end. + + YOKOHAMA, + 5th June-4th July, + 1916. + +FINIS + + + + +APPENDICES + +A + + +[In printed copies of the _gidayu_ the characters are to be +distinguished by their theme, only the term _kotoba_ is used to mark a +speaker. The shading into descriptive writing is at times vague. In the +present translation the characters are indicated. The original figures +in most _gidayu_ collections. Cf., "Gidayu Hyakuban," p. 271.] + +The Gidayu: + +Tsuruya Namboku was a writer of drama. Many are the persons called +Namboku. The three preceding generations were actors who played in +buffoon parts. In the fourth generation for the first time was taken up +the literary work of play-writing. The Namboku in the fourth generation, +Yo[u]myo[u] Genzo[u], later known as Inosuké, was born at +Motohamacho[u]. The father carried on the business of _katatsuki_ dyer, +(handling the cloth to be more or less gaily patterned). Anei 4th year +(1775), entering at the Kanai Sansho[u] no Mon he (_Yo[u]myo[u]_) took +the name of Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]. Later he received the name of Nan Tsuruya +Boku. When he became a playwright he was about fifty years old. His +plays are most ingenious, and are very numerous. Among them are the +"Osome Hisomatsu," "Iro-yomi-uri," "Sumidagawa Hana Gosho[u]," "Yotsuya +Kwaidan." In the playhouse they are known (collectively) as the "Namboku +Mono." + + +IÉMON SUMIKA NO DAN + +(Scene in the house of Iémon) + +Now to present it:--Already on that day--ko[u], ko[u]--the bell of +sunset had issued its call. In the hedges were heard sounds of the +swarms of insects. Still more lonely was the deserted mansion. O'Iwa, +disturbed, anxious, when was her countenance to be open, her breast +cleared of its darkness? She brought forth the _andon_; took out the +sulphured slivers of wood from the box holding steel, flint, and tinder. +In the depths of her husband's mind no flowers bloomed. She thought it +was her woman's temperament that made her brood. In her anxiety she gave +expression to her gloom: + +_O'Iwa_--"Truly as 'tis said, it is a fleeting world; the flowing of +water the future of men. Before this I performed the service of the +inner apartments of the Hosokawa House. The marriage! Connected in +thought with Iémon Dono the honoured dismissal was requested, that I +should become a bride. Without fortune is that Inosuké, heir of the +master, such object of delight to bring him to maturity. In the end all +affection is absent. Nerve-racked from birth, with the pains of +child-birth, the blood clot, such sickness has seized upon me. Then +suddenly--one without a home, shorn of all ornament. Overcome completely +by the struggle, effort and end have culminated. Parent and child, +husband and wife, these (relations) master this self. Detested is the +fleeting world, gloomy one's existence." + +As she pondered, unbidden the tears mingled with her depression. Without +restraint, gradually rising-rising-rising, mounted the flow of blood: + +_O'Iwa_--"Ah! Ah! Again the ever-present disease shows itself. Deign--a +remedy! Oh! Oh! That! That! That same remedy of aforetime, stirred and +mingled with pure water. Two sips, three sips; if one drinks poison--one +becomes divine; life comes to an end, but pity is aroused." + +The curtain before the dressing room was gently raised. Without speaking +Gombei seated himself close to O'Iwa. + +"Eh! Who is that? Iya! No one is announced. Hana, I say! Hana, I say! +Oh! 'Tis he--of all men! Gombei San, has he come again? Vengeance is +satisfied, no longer exists." + +As she would depart he held her sleeve to stop her. + +_Gombei_--"Ah! Ah! I say--please wait. A little while ago, at Iémon's +coughing and clearing his throat, I was frightened away. Trembling, at +that time I went round to the rear. Thinking him really absent, with +stealth I have entered. The motive of a man lies at the bottom of the +heart. Just think to grant me a little affection. Alas! Ma! Submitting +it is deigned to hear what I have to say. Heigh! A woman like this, her +whole mind on Iémon, she would be the chaste wife. But the affections of +Iémon are elsewhere, far distant. Ya! Hoi! Hoi! Hoi! To fly! Ho! Ho! Ho! +Ho! Ho! Oh! Moreover the disposition of Gombei is not wicked. He seeks +to be the husband. Other purpose there is none. Condescend to be easy in +mind." + +But his words carry no weight. The face of O'Iwa in the light has a +glare. + +_Gombei_--"As usual: Ma! One deeply distrustful. Iya! These matters, +though in thought, are not to be put in words. The state of affairs is +too urgent to be put into words. Sa! But I hear you say--'Iémon probably +goes to Hachiman. Groundless all these censures.' Do you really believe +this? The intrigue is with the only daughter of Okumura Kinai, by name +Koúmé. She is indeed a beauty; whether one regard the shape of her face, +her manners, or the carriage of her loins as if the willow of spring. +The intimacy with Iémon could go no further. The proof spoken of is +here. This letter--the sealed envelope: it fell from the sleeve of +Iémon. Stealthily I picked it up, by accident. Now then! Whereabouts is +it? A lengthy thing--Sa! Let's see what's in it. The coquettishness of +the sentences! But let's see what she does say. Eh! What's that? 'The +night is source of pleasure. Great the pleasure at sight of you. With +compliments.' Assuredly there can be no mistake, when she talks this +way--'The day comes. Soon we will be husband and wife; morning and night +to be at your service. With compliments.'[41]--'Thus are the gods +invoked. With compliments.' Eh! What's this? 'When distant from your +side but for a moment, painful Time's course. Place this signature next +your very person (_hadaka_).'--'To-night--come quickly; your advent is +awaited. With compliments.' What a miserable creature is this! Is she +not? But there's still more. 'O'Iwa Sama and matters with her, this is a +punishment due to offence in a previous existence. Condescend to be +relieved in mind. Be sure thus to view it. The spiteful brush (pen) +stops. With compliments.'--'It is hard (my lot); very hard. With +compliments.'--'The honoured master comes; the ever-present desire.' How +now, O'Iwa Sama? Sa! Is there no outbreak as to this? The occasion is no +pleasing one. Is there no harsh remark forthcoming as to one who holds +illicit intercourse with the husband of another? Eh! You are a woman of +marvellous patience! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! At all events say what you think. +'As yet in this matter, as yet in this affair, you are certain of +nothing.' Is that it? That Koúmé and her mother plot together. Eh; but +she has a beautiful face! And you--you are bloated, eyes wide distended, +one side of the face caved in, the hair of the head all fallen out. +That--and that--how describe the ugliness of your face! The affection of +Iémon has worn out. Ah! What is the name of that poisonous drug, begged +of Suian until secured? That, too, has been learned. Oh! Fearful, +fearful, fearful! This is to act as one without care. Life is not +something which lasts forever. Send from this house dismissal to Iémon, +the act of separation. This the finality! Surely the intrigue is proved. +Mere thought, easily exhausted, is to no purpose. Make up your mind; +express your feelings. At all events your reputation is preserved. Act +and decide as one indifferent. More and more have in mind the _susuki_ +of Masuo. Deign to yield. Do this--just this--O'Iwa Dono!" + +_O'Iwa_--"No! and always, No! Firm the stand taken. In no way is this +to be endured--to be endured. To hate a person is unreasonable; 'tis +unjust. But--the embracing arms, the closely clinging, this is to act +the lover." + +With fingertips she thrust him off. Angry the tears; her voice trembled. + +_O'Iwa_--"Ya! 'A woman, and the object of contempt; one treated by her +lord with rudeness beyond measure. The husband has become wearied. +Here's the proof. Are you a woman lacking sense?' One so unmeasurably +rude--out with you! One's whole frame vibrates with passion. At one's +very feet, the fact is made plain. Quick--away with you! Delay--and this +shall be the guerdon." + +With violence she drew the dagger of Kosuké. Gombei, wicked as he was, +weakened forthwith. + +_Gombei_--"Eh! Treated thus one's purpose is brought to naught. Listen +now to reason, self-willed as you are. A little while, and it will not +be the time for a snarling face. Very well: notice is given that soon +your spirit will be broken. The petition is lodged at the Daikwan's +office. There will be difficulty in gathering principal and interest. +Just wait." He said these words on leaving, ready to make a bolt of it. +With _zo[u]ri_ (sandal) on one foot and a wooden clog (_geta_) on the +other rapidly he ran away. Left alone O'Iwa rose in haste. To the +conflagration burning in her bosom, was added the fuel of a woman's +temperament. If it were true! How learn? Pondering over the details +filled her with anxiety. + +_O'Iwa_--"Ah! Ah! Ill feeling seeks to destroy--already it turns to +wickedness. Gombei's face betrayed him. His talk was specious. At sight +of the letter he read the doubting heart learns the truth. Burdensome +the knowledge for one's heart. The mind tastes the bitterness of +adversity. The hair of the head, behind the temples, is affected by the +feelings. To draw out the dressing stand to hand: the little combs of +willow, where are they? Sorrow effects change; as does entanglements of +the heart. The fine-toothed comb which holds the thousand strands of +hair--how now! It has been forgotten." + +Again she took up the hair. To get it out of the way she took the front +hair in both hands, making space to see. + +_O'Iwa_--"Alas! I fail to understand. To-day the vertigo is more +pronounced than usual; especially with the hair like this. Did sickness +cause the loss?" + +As she spoke, she drew the cover from the mirror. Reflected in it was a +face to inspire fear. Ha! Frightened, she rose and drew back. Though she +looked around her--there was no one. Alas! How strange! Thus she stood. +Then leaning forward carefully she scanned the mirror. "Ya! Ya! Since +when has my face been like this? It is completely altered." As if she +could repair the ravages to self and features squint-eyed she stood and +gazed. To sight she seemed a woman of evil. "Hai! Ha!" She fell +prostrate. "How now! How pitiful!" Like one crazed she arose. Her body +writhed in pain, at the pit of the stomach. These stomach pains, of +frequent occurrence, now seized her. Thus long she lay writhing where +she was. + +While she twisted in agony; knowing nothing of what has happened, and +hearing the wheedling voice of a crying child, Kosuké had returned and +was at the entrance. + +_Kosuké_--"Honoured lady, long have you been kept waiting. The honoured +priest had matter to relate. In Yotsuya I went from this place to that, +in effort to coax supply. But just now.... Is she suckling the child?" +While speaking he drew close--"In the meantime the honoured illness has +developed beyond measure. After retiring for the night you walk in your +sleep. Eh! Deign to be a little prudent." + +Softly the child came to her side. On seeing in what agony she was: + +_Kosuké_--"Ya! Alas! Alas! Have you again one of those hysterical +attacks, now so frequent? Okusama! I say!" + +To restore her from the fit to consciousness he raised her in his arms. +Regarding with attention her frightful appearance: + +_Kosuké_--"Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! This face of the Okusama: Ma! What can be the +matter?" + +He staggered in bewilderment. + +_Kosuké_--"How changed! The Danna is absent. Heigh-ho! Ma! How has this +occurred? What can be done? The cold water in the kettle here...." + +Opening her mouth he made her swallow a mouthful. He placed his mouth to +her ear. + +_Kosuké_--"Okusama! Your ladyship!" + +Gently he stroked her back. Thus nursed, the breath of the heartbroken +O'Iwa faintly returned. + +_O'Iwa_--"Hei! Has Kosuké returned? Why do you stroke me thus? I had but +gone to sleep, just now." + +"Oh! Oh!" said he--"Ma! Ma! How joyful. Ah! Iya! I say, Okusama; how +long have you been in that state? Your face inspires fear." + +At his question again she was the woman. The tears in her breast rose +high and overflowed. For a time she did not answer. When a little calm: + +_O'Iwa_--"Deign then to listen. As usual Iémon Dono went forth to +worship at Hachimangu[u]. Subsequently my vertigo was too pronounced. +Two or three drinks were taken of the medicine prescribed by Suian Dono. +Secretly at the rear entered Naosuké no Gombei, to make illicit +courtship. Various were his pleas. Thus--Iémon Dono was deeply in love +with the daughter of Okumura. The worship (_kami-mairi_) was all a lie. +He was contracted to Koúmé. Hence his affection for me was at an end. +This change was due to the drug. Hear what is to be done. Love +unrequited is to be satisfied by revenge. Thus did Gombei put the +matter. But it is not likely that my husband is so cruel. Heart again +will turn to heart. The attack of vertigo was strong. The hair was +pulled out. Moreover, suddenly the face became altered.... My +appearance: Ma! Gombei then did not lie. By the plotting of the Okumura, +parent and child, I have drunk poison. They have an understanding with +Suian. Eh! At the thought--at the thought--anger rises. My husband, a +man of note, with him she commits adultery. Hence the hatred of these +people. Since the poison has been quaffed; as serpent, as demon, none +shall be my equal. The Okumura, parent and child, are you the kind thus +to act!" + +Suddenly she sprang up, and would have dashed out at the front. At her +act the frightened Kosuké put his arms around and stopped her. + +_Kosuké_--"Heigh! Heigh! I say, Okusama! The expression of your face has +changed. Heigh-ho! Whither away? Alas! It is plain that she would go to +the _yashiki_ of Okumura. Evil her purpose. She would confute the malice +spoken by Koúmé, by parent and child. She would fetch away with her +Iémon Dono. Iya! Ho, there! Your honoured judgment strays. She believes +in what Gombei has said; that he is with the Okumura. Does she not +remember times past, the reproof of the Danna? Sa! As before! As before! +As before! Put on outward seeming. Deign to be calm. No! No! No! Though +there be shame; display a smile. Do but this. The prudence of the lady +carries the day. The colour, the perfume, of the flower has no effect. +Sa! She won't stop! She will go! Thither she will take her way! The +conflagration of her wrath is in her glare. She goes, and Kosuké remains +behind!" At a sound she looked around. The little boy was weeping +bitterly at his mother's state. The tie of blood, her affection, +prevailed. + +_O'Iwa_--"Oh! Bonka! Bonka! Bonka! The pretty fellow grieves." + +She drew near to embrace him. Earnestly he looked in his mother's face. + +_Child_--"Iya! Iya! My lady mother is not like this. I'm afraid! I'm +afraid!" + +Weeping, the little boy dropped from her knee. + +"Bei-yo! Please call my real lady mother." + +_O'Iwa_--"Aré! Aré! Aré! Deign to hear that! In heart children are +without discernment. My appearance changed, he fears the presence of his +mother. To her side he will not approach. How, how comes this face! +Meeting with Iémon Dono one would think--one would think--my very self +meets with retribution for some deed done in a past existence. Husband +and beloved child--alas! they avoid my sight." + +With lamentable cries she wept. Kosuké, too, was moved, and joined in +her tears. O'Iwa again inspected the appearance of her face. + +_O'Iwa_--"To continue living thus in the world would be one unending +shame. Dying the grudge will be repaid. Holding thus the skirt prevents +my leaving. This must not be. To that place I go." + +As the two struggled the girdle (_obi_) came loose. The contest was +brought to an end. At this juncture returned Hamiya Iémon. He had little +disposition to enter his home. Thus unexpectedly, without premeditation, +the two came face to face. Mutually they gazed at each other. "Ho! The +Danna: good day." Kosuké remained where he was, uneasily twisting. O'Iwa +clasped tight the breast of her husband's coat. "Heigh! Iémon Dono." + +_O'Iwa_--"Complete has been the silence toward me. Every night, every +night, polluted. With Koúmé have pillows been exchanged." Speech and +voice vibrated with jealousy. She glared at him. Without showing alarm: + +_Iémon_--"Ma! I don't understand. This way of acting is unusual. Why +look like that? In that manner painful the change in appearance."--"Why? +Why? Eh! You pretend ignorance. You pretend ignorance of the joyful +result. By the artifice of Koúmé, of parent and child, in unison with +Suian, a poisonous drug has been given me to drink. By this means I am +made unrecognizable. Would that never I had been born, to live so +deformed ... all due to the feeling aroused in these people. Sa! Sa! Sa! +Restore my former appearance! Bewitched, seized by anxious care, it +remains but to withdraw." + +_Iémon_--"Ya! What mad talk! In my absence, loosening the cord of the +_obi_, secretly you indulge your lewdness. Detected by the master's eye, +disloyal as you are, death is the weighty punishment. Make ready!" At +hearing the unjust proposal the upright Kosuké with tears held tight his +knees. + +_Kosuké_--"Heigh! Danna Sama. Iya! I say, Iémon Dono! This Kosuké an +adulterous fellow? Heigh-ho! It is unreasonable! Unreasonable! +Unreasonable! You speak for your own purpose. I, the mere servant, have +been to call the honoured priest to the Yotsuya. Returning home I found +the Okusama unconscious. When she learned the true state of affairs the +Okusama would have rushed forth. To stop her I seized the end of the +_obi_. And that is to be unchaste! Iya! A paramour--heigh-ho! That is +too much! Too much! Too much! It is to go to excess. Truly, truly, for +these years and months you have gone forth in the world. Such has been +your conduct. You have allowed a sight of you--at the Bon Matsuri, at +the New Year, in accidental meetings on the street when on some mission. +Why! The very dogs bark--the honoured constables of the night watch--eh! +they administer reproof." + +_O'Iwa_--"Lamentable the distress. How many times! Sleepless the +nights--the time when one should slumber. But this does not move him. +Hence the unkindness of his speech." + +_Kosuké_--"Eh! He don't listen. Danna Dono, beating the _tatami_ one +weeps with regret." + +O'Iwa forthwith sprang up in haste--sprang up--sprang up. + +"Superior is the concubine to the lady wife. Below the basely mean is +one placed. In the relation of husband and wife, the thought is to treat +the husband with respect. Such is the duty of woman. To you the poverty +and distress are not displayed. Obtaining her means to live by washing +and occasional tasks, yet the wife is discarded. The sum total of the +sunshine transforms the flowers; invisible their change. Regardless of +self-distrust of the past is put aside. But you act with cruel motive; a +grudge as lasting as a night without moonlight. From the clouds the +drizzle falls on bamboo and on village. And between the intervals of +rain there is naught but weeping." + +Iémon refused to listen: + +_Iémon_--"Ya! Mere excuses these; mere excuses these. In the master's +absence the cord of the _obi_ is loosed. Madly you go your rounds. The +lewdness is evident. Sa! Make honest confession." At the outrageous +words of the husband the voice of O'Iwa trembled still more: + +_O'Iwa_--"Eh! 'Tis your own sin you would conceal. Regardless of self +you would impute evil reputation to me. Having driven me out, you would +make Koúmé your wife. But by that you shall gain nothing. Miserable one! +Unblushingly do you join in the hate of the Okumura, parent and child?" + +With a rapid motion she snatched his dagger. She half turned: + +_Iémon_--"Ya! Whither? Whither? Here one must pick one's words. This is +not the time to inquire into the facts. Iya! Iya! Iya! Where do you go?" + +At their quarrel Kosuké was perplexed. Said the child in troubled voice: + +_Child_--"Honoured mother--where go ye? Honoured father--forbearance, +patience." + +He clung to their garments in kindness and affection. The eyes of the +two in Shurado[u] (Hell of fighting) were blinded. On this side and that +they pulled at the scabbard of the sword. In the wrestling, the +springing in and recoil, the sword slipped from the scabbard. Without +intention to five or six inches it pierced the shoulder. Atto! The wife +fell--"Namu Sambo[u]!"[42] Plucking out the sword O'Iwa cast it aside. +By the action of retributive fate the point of the weapon pierced the +chest of Kosuké. The wound was fatal. Seven revolutions and a fall: +alas! he was dying. Close under his feet the blow of Iémon had reached +the child. With but a single cry forthwith he died. At the accident the +husband was at a loss what to do. He stood stupified. With difficulty +O'Iwa rose from the ground. + +_O'Iwa_--"Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! You would kill me! Oh! Since you +would kill, put into deed the ardent wish. Wretch! An idea--Koúmé, the +parent and child: these are to be seized and put to death. Be it so!" + +With eyes of hate, her hair fallen down, jealously glaring, in +appearance she was just like a female devil. Blood curdling, she +inspired fear. The husband gave vent to his inner thought: + +_Iémon_--"Though one kill without intent, yet the brandishing of the +sword is one's own deed, one's very act. It is the punishment of Heaven +for unchastity and jealousy. Bear it in mind." + +At the cruel words Kosuké, drawing painful breath: + +_Kosuké_--"Eh! To us, to us, to us, such speech applies not. Unkind, +unrighteous, is this death punishment. There is naught to compare to it. +Very wicked and unprincipled, surely you are possessed of a devil! +Seldom is the life of a serving man grudged him; unconsidered as he is. +Forgetful, the evil reputation of lechery is attached, and death the +portion. Eh! How regrettable! The sight is unseemly. 'Twas you who +inflicted the wound! To the Okusama also, evil the name. Thus, without +intention, the end of your life is not witnessed by your child." + +_Iémon_--"By the hand of another your wound, by one your parent! On my +part--on my part--had I aught to do with this? Heigh! Am I not grieved? +Eh! Cold? Unfeeling? A wound to myself could not pain more." + +Vainly writhing he raised and embraced the body of the child. As sadly +he lamented, O'Iwa crawled up close. Tightly her arms clasped the dead +body of her child. + +_O'Iwa_--"Alas! Alas! Inosuké! Inosuké! The selfishness of your father; +the temperament of the mother; foolish their thoughts. Thus have you +ended life.... How great is the grudge. Heigh! Exercise forbearance! +Exercise forbearance! Deign to show forbearance. Parent and child are +related for but one life, 'tis said. Now separated, again in what world +will there be meeting? Men are born into the wide world. There is such a +thing as sympathy, 'tis said. Before your eyes lie _kerai_ (retainer), +wife, and child. Now, on the very brink of time, not once do you recite +the Buddha's name. Abandon your inordinate desires. Is your heart that +of a demon? Eh! A snake? Cruel and cold to your wife, you reckon up your +various hates. With Kosuké I am the one to lament. Tears overflow. +Steady the fall of rain of Yo[u]suji, of _sumidare_ (the rainy season). +When dying the chief of birds vomits forth blood with his song: so I." + +_Iémon_--"Ya! The song she sings inspires no regret. A prayer said and +the child enters Nirvana. Namu Amida Butsu! As for these two--I would +kill them by inches; as they twisted, and staggered, and fell grasping +at the air, and in every way showed their agony. In the next world may +they meet with a mountain set with sharp-edged swords, so cruel as to +inspire pity." + +Just then came running to the front entrance Suian. He gasped for +breath: + +"Heigh! Heigh! Iémon Dono!" + +_Suian_--"O'Iwa Dono's appearance has changed. It was the drug, our own +secret nostrum, administered at request of the honoured mother of +Okumura. Though sorrow was felt, unexpected the good luck in killing the +honoured wife. Henceforth come out openly. Who would not drain the +_saké_ cups with Koúmé Dono! The three lands (China, India, Japan) are +the inheritance of one who was but an adopted son. All in good order! +All in good order! All in good order! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sa! To set +about it at once." + +The husband concealed tears of regret for past conduct. + +_Iémon_--"Plain it is that wife, child, and _kerai_, though deserving +compassion, have found death. 'Twas determined by fate in a previous +existence. But to obviate fear of future disaster, though not the +original purpose, the dead bodies of these two are to be nailed to a +door panel, with the inscription--'unchaste and jealous.' Let them float +away on the current of the Nenashigawa. The entrance of the house is +close to the inner room. Make ready: it will be best to leave by the +rear. Quick! Quick! But...." + +_Suian_--"It happens that the neighbor Dansuké comes." He bent and +peeped through the entrance. "Dansuké! Dansuké!" Dansuké Mizuo in +presence, mouth to ear he was informed. "Namu! Namu! Namu! Namu!" He +nodded consent. The two men talked in whispers. The dead bodies of the +two (O'Iwa and Kosuké) were carried into the inner room. For some time +Naosuké Gombei had been watching what went on, peeping out and +listening. He appeared from the shadow. + +_Gombei_--"Yai! Unjustly have the blameless wife and _kerai_ been +punished by Hamiya Iémon. Complaint is to be made at the Daikwan's +court." + +When he would rush forth he was pulled back by the girdle (_obi_). "Ya! +Ya! Whither would you go? There is matter of importance to hear."--"The +intent is plain. You would kill me." One had the long sword of the +soldier. Two or three passes and he was nearly cut down by the skill of +Hamiya. When he tried to flee, from behind he received a cut through the +shoulder. It finished him. Then he (Iémon) would hide the dead body of +his child from the eyes and reproach of men. Close at hand was a heavy +stone trough. For funeral rites--"Namu Amida Butsu!" Into the well crib +he threw it. Aré! Marvellous! Suddenly the house creaked and trembled. +From somewhere came swarms of rats. Heigh! Incomprehensible! Iémon +wavered. Singling him out they flew and seized him. Sha! Confused he +slashed in attempt to drive them off. Lightning blazed around the sword; +many phosphorescent lights--in wreaths, double, triple. To the end of +the worlds his retribution. + +Thus the causes, origins, are made known of what remains as the Yotsuya +Kwaidan. + +END OF THE GIDAYU + +[It can be noted that Japanese thought and expression are not very +different from that of the West. An idea perhaps can be obtained from +this _gidayu_ as to why the native waxes enthusiastic over the pose and +vivid gestures of the _geisha_, who is the one to interpret these +dramatic recitations. To her falls the "_kotoba_." The descriptive lines +are recited by a chorus to the harsh and effective twang of the +_samisen_. The _samisen_ may not afford music, but it can give +expression to the emotional in feeling. The _gidayu_ recitation is a +favourite art with the Go Inkyo[u] Sama. Symposia are held, before which +the old gentleman recites, often enough without chorus; for he, and the +_geisha_, at times have to fill the rôle both of "_kotoba_" and chorus, +modulating the voice according to the theme. Symposia is not an +unbefitting term. Meetings are held for public competition in _gidayu_ +recitation; but in the privacy of one's circle and hobby the banquet is +an important feature--at least to the guests. In his history of +"Japanese Literature" (Dai Nihon Bungaku Shi, pp. 591-596) Suzuki +Cho[u]ko[u] gives a long extract from the play, as sample of Tsuruya's +powers as a dramatist. Adopted into the House of the actor Tsuruya +Namboku, and marrying his daughter, Katsu Byo[u]zo[u] in turn assumed +the name Tsuruya Namboku.] + + +B + +[In the original the story by Momogawa Jakuen is found in the Kwaidan +Hyaku Monogatari, vol. ii, p. 83 (Kokkwado[u]-To[u]kyo[u]). This +collection has already been referred to, as sketching a number of the +best known Japanese _kwaidan_. The present example furnishes a specimen +of _ko[u]dan_ style, and has application to the present subject. It also +instances how the Japanese stage boldly faces situations, the exigencies +of which call for the greatest adaptation and facility on the part of +actor and stage manager. The "Yotsuya Kwaidan" in the stage +representation presents a number of critical scenes in which both +qualities are severely strained. Rapid metamorphosis is a _sine qua +non_. And it is effected--somehow.] + +The _ko[u]dan_: + + +ONOÉ KIKUGORO[U] NO YU[U]REI + +From former times and generations the Otowa[43] House held a monopoly +in the representation of ghosts. Its representative in the fifth +generation was the most skilful of all at spectres. This man of the +third generation lived at Muko[u]jima no Terajima. He was commonly +called Terajima no Kikugoro[u]; his stage name was Baiko[u]. This man's +daughter was the mother of the fifth generation. Thus it can be seen +that he was the maternal grandfather of this fifth representative. This +third Kikugoro[u] was the first to act the Yotsuya Kwaidan, in Bunsei +8th year 7th month (14th August-13th September, 1825) at the Nakamura-za +(theatre). The author was the noted Tsuruya Namboku, who constructed the +very famous "To[u]kaido[u] Yotsuya Kwaidan." O'Iwa San, the attendant +(_wakato[u]_) Kohei, and Enya no Ro[u]nin Sato[u] Yo[u]mo Shichi, these +parts fell to Kikugoro[u]. Matsumoto Koshiro[u], he who strutted it at +the Ko[u]raiya, did the Naosuké Gombei. Iémon was the part of the +seventh Danjuro[u]; later Ebizo, who was the real father of the ninth of +the name. The staging of O'Iwa Sama includes--1st scene, the combing of +the hair; 2nd scene, the Sunamura Ombo[u]bori; 3rd scene, Iémon ill in +the dark room at Hebiyama; 4th scene, the _yashiki_ of Naosuké Gombei at +Fukagawa Sankaku. O'Iwa appears at the scene of the combing of the hair +as mentioned, in the incident where the guests are received, and in the +3rd scene at Hebiyama. Iémon is ill. Splitting apart the lantern set out +during the Festival of the Dead (Bon Matsuri) the ghost of O'Iwa appears +with the child in her embrace. Iémon receives them as would a stone +Jizo[u]. O'Iwa, at sight of the fright of Iémon, laughs--ki, ki, ki. At +once they fade away; and at once the ghost of Kohei the _wakato[u]_ +takes her place, he who was charged with unchaste conduct with O'Iwa. It +was the part of the performer to please the uninitiated by some +strenuous effort. The first performance at this theatre was for three +months--from the seventh to the ninth month. On consideration the drama +is of interest. O'Iwa is killed at Yotsuya. With the dead body of the +_wakato[u]_ Kohei she is fastened to a door, and from the rear the +scoundrel sets them adrift. Fishing at Ombo[u]bori, Iémon sees them +float by. From Yotsuya to Sunamura is a very great distance. It would +occupy a woman's legs for the space of a day; or faint-hearted fellows, +water drinkers, such of the kind as would try it. Winding along what +rivers, by what intersecting canals had they floated here? In no way +does one conceive. All the more the reasons influencing the author's +design are not known. Very interesting is the story, to the cheerful +character, and those not to be chilled by apparitions. At all events +they get to Ombo[u]bori? The third Kikugoro[u], the first to take the +part of O'Iwa, was a superlative actor, skilled in capturing the people. +In the third scene, the dark room at Hebiyama, the ghost comes forth +from the _Bon_ lantern. Every day the _kozo[u]_ (man or boy as +apprentice) of the utility shop in Asakusa Umacho[u] slowly took down +the lantern covered with white paper. In a straight line, before the +eyes of all, he passed along Kuramaédo[u]ri, crossing Asakusa. From +Yokoyamacho[u] he crossed to Daimaru no Mae. Passing through +Norigyo[u]cho[u] he reached the Nakamura-za in Sakaicho[u]. As he passed +along these streets crowded with people, the eyes of men were attracted: + +_No. 1_--"Every day, every day, the _kozo[u]_ goes by carrying that +_Bon_ lantern. Where does he go?" + +_No. 2_--"He? Kikugoro[u] now is playing O'Iwa Sama at the Nakamura-za. +The ghost issues from that _Bon_ lantern. The lantern used is brought +every day by the _kozo[u]_." + +_No. 1_--"Ha! A practical application. We must be sure and go see." +Through this advertisement the guests came readily. As fact, every day +but the one _Bon_ lantern was used. Split apart, it was repaired. From +the first day, up to the performances of a thousand autumns, one lantern +answered all purposes. Truly Kikugoro[u] was more than a clever actor. +He was wonderful in securing the good will of people. No actor was equal +to him. Tradesmen, Government officials, learned men, refined people--he +was skilful at gaining their support. Hence he did not lack money. His +_status_ did not affect him. When as usual the _Bon_ lantern one day was +to be carried out, Kikugoro[u] made his pupil Onozo[u] the bearer. Said +Kikugoro[u]: + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Onozo[u], don't I frighten you somewhat in this shape?" + +_Onozo[u]_--"I'm not in the least frightened. Every day acting as your +assistant I'm not afraid." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"What? Not afraid? Say that you're afraid." + +_Onozo[u]_--"Patron, that is unreasonable. One not afraid--is not +afraid. Hence it cannot be helped." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Anyhow, say you are afraid." + +_Onozo[u]_--"I'm not at all afraid." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"An obstinate rascal, this." + +While speaking--_pokari_, he gave _Onozo[u]_ a whack on the head. As it +was he went through the performance. Coming to the green room, at once +he called Onozo[u]. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Fool and low fellow." + +_Onozo[u]_--"Why is it then you would strike a fool and low fellow with +a stick?" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"You are just like a fool. A little while ago when told +to be afraid of me, you would not say you were afraid." + +_Onozo[u]_--"Patron, that is to be unreasonable. I attend you. Every day +I see you." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"I know you are not afraid. But you are the very one who +acts as my attendant. In public you are to look at me as one frightened +beyond measure. If this be not widely published, will not the theatre be +deserted? An actor who is good only at acting, he is not to be called a +clever man. He must draw people. Fool and low fellow!" + +_Onozo[u]_--"Naruhodo! Since you say it--I'm afraid." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Your answer now is to the purpose." + +Hence on considering the matter, was not Kikugoro[u] in every way a +talented man? For the space of eighty days this theatre turned away +guests. Later, in Tempo[u] 7th year 7th month (12th August to 11th +September, 1836) again this drama was produced. The actor was the same +as at the previous production. On this occasion Kikugoro[u] took +thought. As it was the second time, it must be changed in presentation +to an audience. _Do[u]mo!_ There was the coming on of the ghost. It is +clad in a grey robe. If O'Iwa wears a grey robe, and the _wakato[u]_ +Kohei wears a grey robe, both being the same to view this would fail to +interest. He continually worried. Nevertheless it would not do to wear +armour; and a ghost in _kami-shimo_[44] raises no chill. Some +contrivance must be hit upon. Day and night the matter worried him. +Habitué of the gallery of this Morita-za was a man named Tsutaya no +Yoshi, commonly known as Tsutayoshi. An extraordinarily dissolute fellow +he borrowed to the four sides and eight directions. At this time in the +Yoshiwara Sumicho[u] was a tenement placed in the rear of the prostitute +houses. He removed thither, and soothed his troubles by living alone. +His face washed in the morning, at once he ran forth. He ate his meals +at a cheap eating house. A varied meal consumed he made his way to the +Morita-za. Lunch was eaten in the theatre. On the return he took a drink +and then went home. In truth he was a lively fellow. The Yotsuya Kwaidan +had just been determined on for the close of the sixth month (July). At +sundown he returned to his home in the Yoshiwara. On the way he +drank--the strongest of liquors. At once he hung up the mosquito net and +went inside. Not knowing front from rear he went to sleep. Pressed by a +necessity the sound of the wooden clappers (_hyoshigi_) made him open +his eyes. It was the harlot quarter, the 9th hour and more (after 3 +A.M.), and the liveliness of the night was over. The quiet of the place +inspired fear. From evening he had not stirred from the mosquito net, +but had slept. The light had gone out, and it was pitch dark. Soundly +had he slept. In the jar was fresh water for drinking. Greedily he +drank. + +_Yoshi_--"I have slept--in a way to cause fear. It is now past the 9th +hour. I still can sleep without stint." + +Again he entered the net. He drew the tobacco box close to his pillow +head. He would smoke. Looking toward the _andon_, beneath it, faintly +outlined, he saw somebody. + +_Yoshi_--"Who is there? This place used to be a brothel. Now it is a +tenement. I rent it. It don't do to have it taken for a brothel. Oi! +You--whence do you come?" + +At the words--he! It disappeared. + +_Yoshi_--"I say now! A marvellous thing--that over there. A kind of +dream--extraordinary: I don't remember having a grudge with anyone. Yai! +If the spirit which just came entertains a grudge I have never even +dreamed of such. I am a dissolute fellow, but remember no grudge with +anyone." + +Thus loud and wrathfully he shouted out. As one without fear he went to +sleep. Waking up, the next day he left the house to go to the hot bath +in Umacho[u]. On the way he breakfasted. Then he went to the Morita-za. +Although the performance had not begun, as it was a first representation +the theatre was crowded with people. Said a friend: + +_Friend_--"Yoshi San, the colour of your face is bad. Are you affected +by the heat?" + +_Yoshi_--"Liking strong spirits, I feel badly. Moreover, last night a +strange thing was witnessed. I feel out of sorts." + +_Friend_--"What was it?" + +_Yoshi_--"In the middle of last night I opened my eyes. Dimly outlined +beside the lantern (_andon_) sat a rascal; some fellow who had been +amusing himself at a neighbouring brothel. I thought that being drunk +with wine he had come there by mistake. 'Who are you?' Thus I shouted. +It disappeared. _Do[u]mo!_ It was a strange occurrence. Was it a ghost, +thought I? I could remember no grudge with another person. Anyhow, in +all likelihood it is no ghost, thought I. However I look at it, I don't +understand." + +_Friend_--"Hei! Yoshi San, it was your own imagination." + +_Yoshi_--"Though I considered it a vision of my own, as strange I +mention it." + +_Friend_--"If you feel bad it will be well to stay away for to-night." + +_Yoshi_--"I don't think I feel badly in any other way. To-night--for the +whole night--I'll make the test." + +That day he returned to the Yoshiwara house. That night no one was seen. +But when he did see it, was the thing a matter of his own imagination? +The next day he came to the theatre. The friend was waiting for him. + +_Friend_--"Yoshi San, did it appear at night?" + +_Yoshi_--"Iya! At night it did not appear. In the middle of the night +opening my eyes I looked with especial care to the eight sides. Nothing +that could be considered suspicious was to be seen." + +_Friend_--"Then it was as I said. It being at one time a brothel, would +not something appear in this house? Having this wholly in mind, the +thing presented itself to your eyes." + +_Yoshi_--"Doubtless it is but that; a freak of the imagination." + +That night returning to the Yoshiwara, nothing happened. A space of +five nights passed. His habit was to return early; and as his thin dress +was wet with sweat he would change it. Going upstairs he took out the +thin garment from the clothes-basket (_tsuzura_). With this in hand he +was about to descend. Now as at one time the place had been a brothel +the steps were broad and wide. Seated on the lower step, lying face +downward, was somebody. + +_Yoshi_--"Ah! Has it come?" + +Being a courageous fellow, while speaking he raised his leg. + +_Yoshi_--"You're in the way." + +Pon: he gave a kick. There was not the slightest resistance. +Forthwith--ha! it was gone. + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Remarkable: it is a strange occurrence." + +While speaking he changed his robe and lit the fire. Making the water +boil, with Echizen peat he heated some wine he had bought on the road +and brought home with him. With _tsukudani_,[45] or something of that +kind to eat, he drank and thought. + +_Yoshi_--"To-day it is no product of my imagination. Who can that rascal +be?" + +Talking to himself, he drank the _saké_. Attending to preliminaries he +would go to bed. He went to the necessary and opened the door. Some one +stood there, with his back to him. + +_Yoshi_--"Here again?" + +At the words it disappeared. No matter how brave he was, that night he +felt badly and did not sleep. Awaiting dawn he was quick to go forth. On +coming to the theatre-- + +_Friend_--"Good day: how goes it with Yoshi San? Are you not very much +out of tone?" + +_Yoshi_--"At night it came. Moreover it appeared twice." + +_Friend_--"Did it appear?" + +_Yoshi_--"At first it was seated on the stair. The second time it was +inside the necessary." + +_Friend_--"Hei! That is marvellous. Probably it is the work of fox or +badger (_tanuki_)." + +This talk abruptly terminated. Tsutayoshi was a bold fine fellow. +Unmoved, he retired to his own home in the Yoshiwara. After that nothing +was seen for several days. Just as he was forcing a way into the +theatre-- + +_Man_--"Yoshi San! At the Bairin (Plum Tree) over the way is the master +of Otowaya. He is urgent to see you; so he says. It will be well to go +at once." + +_Yoshi_--"Was he told I was here?" + +_Man_--"Ah!" + +_Yoshi_--"How annoying! The Otawaya San has lent me money. _Do[u]mo!_ A +meeting, 'tis bad news." + +_Man_--"As nothing was said about it--go. Surely the return of the loan +is not involved." + +_Yoshi_--"It's not to be avoided. I'll go and see." + +Opposite to the theatre was the tea house called the "Bairin." He went +in. + +_Yoshi_--"Good-day." + +_Maid_--"Oya! Yoshi San. As the master of Otowaya is waiting upstairs +for you, just condescend to go up." + +_Yoshi_--"Ah! Is that so? Condescend to pardon." + +Don, don, he climbed the stairs. At the end of a six-mat room was a man +fanning himself. He was alone. It was Kikugoro[u], the third of the +name. He had been noted as a handsome man. However, at this time he was +an old man. The white summer garb of that very fine quality of +cloth-grass known as _jo[u]fu_ was girded in by a _chakenjo[u] obi_.[46] +Of his profession there was not a hint. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Sa! Yoshi San, come here, please." + +_Yoshi_--"The patron: _do[u]mo_! truly it has been rude not to come and +see you. I have not crossed the threshold." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Iya! Why speak so? You now live in the Yoshiwara." + +_Yoshi_--"That is so; for a long time I lived in Fukiyacho[u]. The +neighbourhood was a bad one. I had borrowed money. It was like running +away in the night. A one-time brothel now the rent is ridiculously +cheap. _Mikoshi_ (carriages) are kept in it now." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"The Yoshiwara is a gay place. For people who would amuse +themselves there is none superior. It is an excellent locality." + +_Yoshi_--"One can find whatever is desired." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"So Yoshi San, now you live alone." + +_Yoshi_--"Hai! I'm alone." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"I've just heard the talk of people. A ghost appears at +your place." + +_Yoshi_--"Who said such a thing?" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Iya! It was heard, by accident. Is it true?" + +_Yoshi_--"Hai! First it was seen beside the _andon_; then on the +stairway, and in the necessary." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"A strange matter! Is it man or woman?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ That I don't know. It was seen as in a mist. +Whether man or woman, I don't know." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Are there male and female ghosts?" + +_Yoshi_--"Male or female--I know nothing about it." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"What its nature? When it appears this time, condescend +to take a good look at it." He continued (then)--"The present drama of +the Yotsuya Kwaidan--as to my part, as you well know, O'Iwa and Kohei +before the very eyes must change places in an instant. For both to wear +the grey _kimono_ lacks interest. Which of them is to change? It is on +my mind. _Do[u]mo!_ Thought fails to solve the question. Hence the +request to you. What kind of dress does that ghost wear? That is what I +want to learn." + +_Yoshi_--"Hei!" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"But Yoshi San: It is no mere request. I loaned you ten +_ryo[u]_." + +_Yoshi_--"Patron, do you condescend still to remember it?" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Deign not to jest. Who would forget such a rascal? I'll +wipe out that ten _ryo[u]_--and give you five _ryo[u]_ in addition. How +now? Condescend to observe." + +_Yoshi_--"Thanks are felt. When it appears I'll take a good look at it." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"With the month's change the first representation takes +place. It must be ascertained in the intervening time. Probably in four +or five days it will be seen." + +_Yoshi_--"That is so. _Do[u]mo!_ The opponent being a ghost, will it +appear to-night? Or has is ended by going away? That I don't know. +Having found out its dwelling place, I'll send a postal-card." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Don't jest. As just said, I'll give you five _ryo[u]_. +Be careful; and please take a good look." + +_Yoshi_--"Respectfully heard and understood. This time I'll get a good +look at it." + +Thus agreed Tsutayoshi returned that night to the Yoshiwara. + +_Yoshi_--"A pleasing thing! Ten _ryo[u]_ wiped off, and five _ryo[u]_ +received in addition. Thanks: a fine bit of work. It will be well if the +rascal of a ghost comes to-night. Anyhow, just before the _Bon_ it +suffers distress beyond measure. For several days nothing has been seen +of it. Its purpose may have changed: Yai! If the ghost is to appear, +please show up at once. Don't it yet appear? Oi! Ghost!" + +The ghost was not to be drawn out by this display of energy. Several +days passed without the slightest sign of it. Every day Kikugoro[u] came +to the Bairin and sent for Tsutayoshi. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Yoshi San, has it not yet appeared?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ The patron is vexed. Every day, every day, it is +awaited; and not a sign of it. Feeling out of sorts, has it not died? +That's my idea." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Being dead, is it not a ghost? Once +dead, does the rascal die again?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Patron, nothing is known of one's spirit. For it +not to appear is annoying. Spirits (_ki_) suffer pain; and suffering +pain they don't show themselves. It seems that you want it to appear +before the first representation. If I see it, I get five _ryo[u]_. I +would like to have it show itself before the _Bon_. My purpose is to get +through this year's _Bon_[47] by means of the ghost." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Anyhow--have a care." + +_Yoshi_--"Agreed." + +That night he went home and drank wine. + +_Man_--"Yoshi San, is he at home?" + +Thereupon without ceremony entered an intimate friend, from Sakaicho[u] +near Fukiyacho[u]. He had loaned money to Tsutayoshi, and now sought the +repayment. + +_Man_--"Yoshi San, you say you will bring it, you will bring it; and you +make no sign of bringing it. That was my money, and the failure to +return it is vexing. Will matters change before the _Bon_?" + +_Yoshi_--"Wait but a little. If to-night something materializes I get +five _ryo[u]_. The money in hand, at once I will pay you back." + +_Man_--"What is going to materialize? The five _ryo[u]_ you spoke of?" + +_Yoshi_--"In fact at my house a ghost appears. The Otowaya San heard of +it. As of immediate use to the theatre I am carefully to observe what +the ghost wears. He says he will give me five _ryo[u]_. The money +obtained, at once the two _ryo[u]_ will be repaid. Wait until that +happens." + +_Man_--"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Does a ghost really appear?" + +_Yoshi_--"It really does." + +_Man_--"What kind of a ghost?" + +_Yoshi_--"As to that--right before one; a most blood-curdling thing. +Anyhow, I shiver all over at sight of it. Just like this--" + +_Man_--"Where does it show itself?" + +_Yoshi_--"Just where you are seated." + +_Man_--"Yoshi San, jokes don't go." + +Without waiting for an answer he fled. Seeing this said Tsutayoshi: + +_Yoshi_--"A ghost is a very profitable object. Do but speak of it, and +he who would collect borrowed money takes to flight. If it appears, +money is obtained. Hence a ghost is a remarkable thing. After this when +the dry goods man comes for repayment, I'll chase him out again with the +ghost. Anyhow this house brings good luck. The rent is cheap, and there +is a ghost which enables one to dodge paying loans. Thanks: henceforth +in renting a house I'll confine myself to haunted houses. So much for +that. Will it show itself to-night?" + +Tsutayoshi hung up the mosquito net. He drank a glass. Thus reinforced, +tranquil and pleased he laid down on the pillow. After sleeping awhile +he opened his eyes. All around was quiet. The bustle of the night had +ceased. There was not a sound. Outside the mosquito net the wick of the +_andon_ had burned low and gave a faint light. Suddenly the bell of the +eighth watch (1 A.M.) was heard on Bentenyama. Thereupon--de!... the +sound was heard and the light of the _andon_ went out. Then as a mist an +object like to a human being (_hito_) was visible. Ha! Tsutayoshi was +frightened. Was this the ghost? He rolled up the mosquito net, the +pupils of the eyes intent. Thus he had it in plain view. The hair of the +head was in wild disorder. To sight it was certain it was a man. He wore +a grey cotton garment. + +_Yoshi_--"That's it!" + +At the sudden exclamation--Ha! It disappeared. The _andon_ having +previously gone out truly it was the very blackness of night. Coming out +from under the mosquito net he (Yoshi) lit the wick. Smoking his tobacco +he staid awake until dawn. In time the East became white. At once he +left the house. He entered the bath at Agecho[u], breakfasted as usual +at the cheap eating house in Komégata, and then went to the Morita-za in +Kibikicho[u]. + +_Friend_--"Good-day." + +_Yoshi_--"Iya! It's hot to-day." + +_Friend_--"How now, Yoshi San? The O'Baké?" + +_Yoshi_--"As usual--it came in the night." + +_Friend_--"Is that so? When Otowaya San hears that, he will rejoice." + +While in talk a message came from Kikugoro[u]. At once Tsutayoshi went +to the Bairin. Otowaya was waiting for him. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Yoshi San, how now--the ghost?" + +_Yoshi_--"Patron, condescend to rejoice. It appeared in the night." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Did it appear? The rascal is brave. Is it man or woman?" + +_Yoshi_--"A man in all likelihood." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"The dress?" + +_Yoshi_--"Was seen to be grey cotton--positively so." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"That's interesting. A _kimono_ of grey colour just suits +the ghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei. Sa! Yoshi San, in accordance with +the bargain I give you five _ryo[u]_." + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Thanks are felt." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"There they are. Yoshi San, you are a brave fellow. Life +in a haunted house is unpleasant. It will be well to remove elsewhere." + +_Yoshi_--"Iya! A haunted house is splendid. A friend just now came for +the return of borrowed money. When told of a ghost appearing, he fled. +Again, merely for noting what the ghost wears, you tell me I will get +five _ryo[u]_. All this is due to the honoured shadow of the ghost. Thus +regarding (my) Yurei Dai Myo[u]jin Sama,[48] to abandon such a splendid +ghost and remove to some other place would change my luck. My purpose is +to go on living with this ghost." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"In that case, Yoshi San, it would be well to have the +house cleaned. _Do[u]mo!_ Don't you think it is the work of fox or +_tanuki_?" + +_Yoshi_--"Naruhodo! At all events I'll have the house cleaned." So +receiving the money from Kikugoro[u], rejoicing Yoshi returned to the +Yoshiwara. On the way he took a glass or so. Somewhat drunk, he entered +the Tanaka no Mikawaya, a _tabi_ (sock) shop. The house was the owner of +the place where Tsutayoshi lived. + +_Yoshi_--"Good-day." + +_Mikawaya_--"Oya! Yoshi San. Are you on your return? Ma! Condescend to +enter. _Do[u]mo!_ The theatre now pleases the people. The audiences are +large." + +_Yoshi_--"Thanks are felt." + +_Mikawaya_--"What your business, Yoshi San?" + +_Yoshi_--"Danna, I would like to have the house cleaned." + +_Mikawaya_--"Cleaned?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ At present a supernatural object appears. It is +vexing. As I will furnish the wages of the workman, I thought it would +be well to have it cleaned." + +_Mikawaya_--"Hei! What appears?" + +_Yoshi_--"At times a ghost shows itself." + +_Mikawaya_--"A ghost?" + +_Yoshi_--"Once it showed itself beside the _andon_. The second time it +was seen in the necessary. At evening it was seated at the entrance to +the stairs. There is nothing to fear, unless it be the work of fox or +badger. It would be bad for outsiders to get wind of it; so I would like +to have the place cleaned." + +_Mikawaya_--"Is it man or woman?" + +_Yoshi_--"There is no doubt of its being a man, of small stature. His +dress plainly is of grey cotton." + +_Mikawaya_--"A dress of grey cotton--the man of small stature. Un! +Jo[u]! It is that low fellow." + +_Yoshi_--"Oi! Oi! Danna, did you know him? Was he a wicked fellow? +Setting up in the ghost way--pray excuse me." + +_Landlord_--"Ma! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. The house +that I rent to you originally was a brothel called the Yamashiroya. The +landlord was an unrighteous fellow. One night an _oiran_ lacked any +guest.[49] He took her with him to the _seméba_--(punishment room) and +treated her most cruelly. No one called the place 'the Yamashiroya.' It +was known as the Onimisé (devil-shop) of Fushimicho[u]. It was just this +time last year that a _wakashu[u]_ (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love +with a woman named Kotsu no Wakataké. Pressed for money, to get it he +had an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low brothel mentioned +perhaps he would get a _bu_--a couple of _shu[u]_. A restitution +privately effected would have been well. He was roped up and carried off +to the town hall. In every way a low scoundrel he was sent to +Temmacho[u]. Soon after he died in the jail. Subsequently there were +nothing but unpleasant happenings at the Yamashiroya. It was completely +ruined. Later I bought it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it +into two houses and rented them out." + +_Yoshi_--"Hei!" + +_Mikawaya_--"That Tokuzo, as the _wakashu[u]_ was called, when sent to +the town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as present +to him by an _oiran_. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and good natured; an +interesting fellow. Of low stature, he was a good worker. Probably he +failed to carry out his purpose." + +_Yoshi_--"Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow condescend +to make everything clean." + +_Mikawaya_--"Agreed." + +After this workmen came from the Mikawaya, and the cleaning up was +performed. Tsutayoshi at a subsequent meeting with Kikugoro[u] told him +the story of Tokuzo. It would be well to have a funeral service held. So +the memorial service for Tokuzo was conducted at the family temple of +Tsutayoshi. The figure was never again seen. Kikugoro[u] in the rôle of +ghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei came out dressed in a grey robe marked +with _kokumochi_ (the badge of the white disk figured on coloured +ground). Before one's very eyes he changed to O'Iwa. As ghost and +arrayed in the family crest it was restricted to the Kohei of the +"Yotsuya Kwaidan." The theatre was packed. Such was the crowd that the +upper gallery of the theatre collapsed. Even though an actor, everywhere +he (Kikugoro[u]) was spoken of as a great man. To favoured guests of +Kikugoro[u] the matter was so related. Thus the tale is a true one. + + +TAKUAN + +Three great priests of influence figure in the rule of the first three +Tokugawa Sho[u]gun. Tenhai Osho[u] of the Nankwo[u]bo[u], bishop of the +temple foundation at Ueno, was all powerful under Iyeyasu. His +successors, Nikkei So[u]zu of the San-en-Zo[u]jo[u]ji at Shiba, and +Takuan Zaisho[u] of the Daikokudo[u], the To[u]kaiji of Shinagawa, were +the priestly influences under the 2nd and 3rd Sho[u]gun. It is the +last-named cleric who is responsible for the hard and palatable yellow +preparation of the _daikon_ (radish) known under his name of _takuan_. +The _daikon_ is soused in brine and rice bran, kept weighted down under +heavy stones, and allowed "to ripen" for some weeks. A way station in +its preparation and edibility, and to be experienced in every Japanese +household, is the unspeakable and unbreathable soft _nukamisozuké_. Its +presence always arouses suspicion of the pressing defect in the house +drainage. + +Takuan deserves esteem and appreciation for other than culinary +reasons. On a visit to the castle one day the old friar noted the +depression of his valued and intimate friend Yagyu Tajima no Kami. The +aging _o[u]metsuké_ (suzerain's eye) and fencing teacher to the third +Sho[u]gun opened out his woes. His second son was dead. His third son +was worthless. At least the father thought so at this time. His eldest +son, Jubei, as great at arms as himself and his legitimate successor, +was a madman--gone mad over his own excellence. Takuan heard the +particulars. At once he volunteered to act as physician. "Be of good +heart. This Takuan will prescribe." The grateful Munenori, in the course +of the next few days sent to the prelate's quarters to know when the +journey to the far-off Yamato fief would be made. He would make +provision for the prior's comfort and conveyance. Said a sleek scribe +and substitute--"The lord abbot has long since departed. It is useless +to attempt to overtake him. He travels fast." Such was the message to +the pleased but discomfited Munenori. Meanwhile at Yagyu Masakizaka in +Yamato there turned up a shabby travel-stained old fellow. The +gatekeepers were inclined flatly to refuse admission. However, the +_karo[u]_, or chief officer of the fief, had to be notified. He was +unwilling to let slip any chance of relief to the condition of Jubei +Dono. With some misgivings the old fellow was ordered around to the +garden. The _samurai_ code made little account of cutting down a +retainer, a beggar, or an outcast. In the first case compensation was +allowed; the last two were honoured by the experiment. Priests and women +were not covered by the code; matter of omission, rather than of +importance. The wanderer had taken his seat by the little pond in the +garden. Here to all appearance he remained in a meditation which was +roughly interrupted by the irruption of the lord of the mansion into a +room close by. Jubei kicked the _sho[u]ji_ out of the frames, and strode +to the edge of the verandah. His hair was in wild disorder. He wore +armour on his shoulders, and was stark naked below the waist. Face +twitching and eyes flashing he hailed his visitor, to demand on what +mission he had dared to intrude on the time and patience of the great +man. Let the excuse be a good one. Otherwise--But at abuse the cleric +was a good hand himself. He, too, had heard of Jubei Dono; he who posed +as the great man of Nippon. This was poaching on his own ground, for he +set himself up to be the match of any number in the land. At this Jubei +broke into angry jeers and invectives. The priest made answer with equal +roughness. "How face two opponents--to right and left?" Jubei snorted +with contempt. He was active enough to neglect the one and cut down the +other before aid could be brought. The Yagyu-ryu[u], or style of +fencing, made provision for such occasion. Aye! And for four--and +against eight.... "And against sixteen, and thirty-two, and sixty-four, +and a hundred and twenty-eight opponents ... against all the many +fighting men of Nippon? How would Jubei face all those?" To this Jubei +could but answer that he would die fighting. The priest in his turn +snorted with contempt. "Die fighting: by such words Jubei admits +defeat." But he did not allow Jubei to turn questioner in his turn. +Swiftly he shifted the argument. He, the cleric, considered Jubei of +small account. He would prove to him what a fool he was by the +interpretation of a mere thirty-one syllables of poetry. This should be +the test of intelligence. The Knight's Way (Budo[u]) had its inner and +cryptic meaning expressed in verse. So had the Way of the Buddha +(Butsudo[u]). Of this latter Jubei knew nothing; and he doubted if he +knew anything of the former. At least let him display some sample of his +wit. Jubei leaped at the test to prove his greatness. Now he scorned to +deal with a priest in arms. How was this: + + "By night storm of Narutaki broken, + The scattered jewels, e'en the moon, it harbours."[50] + +"Is there but that to prove wit?"--"How then with this one?" + + "Tree leaves on Yamakawa's flood: + The self, abandoned, does but drift--lo!"[51] + +The priest threw up his hands. "Such stuff will never do! And this +fellow considers himself educated!" + + "Rain seen, impeded not to flow away; + The snow breaks not the stem of willow green."[52] + + "Various and many though the ways of teaching be, + There is but one true stroke of sword."[53] + +Jubei gleamed most homicidally at his questioner. The priest only +said--"A child has such by heart." And Jubei knew 'twas so, and was +rebuked. Now he was in less haste: + + "The heart, how judge it? + An ink sketch of the breeze amid the pines."[54] + +A shrug of the shoulders was the reward of this effort. + + "Though barrier mount, the leafy mount, the inner mount, be dense + with leafage; + What e'er one wills, naught hinders."[55] + +The priest shook his head as with grave indulgence to childhood's +thoughts. Jubei burst into a rage. He turned to his sword-bearer, and +laid hand on the weapon. The lad knelt with bowed head, uncertain +whether the sword was to fall on himself or the visitor. Without paying +the slightest attention to the hostile attitude the priest cut matters +short. "Jubei Dono would question the priest's right to judge. Come now! +The cleric's foolish head against the wits of Nippon's great man. O +warrior, interpret!" A sign; and ink stone and poem paper (_tanzaku_) +were put before him. Jubei in turn took the scroll in hand. He read: + + "_Tatazumuna, yukuna, modoruna, isuwaruna; + Neruna, okiruna, shiru mo shiranu mo._" + + "It neither stands still, nor goes forward, nor goes backward, + nor remains as it is; + It sleeps not, rises not: known or unknown." + +Jubei started with a bellow; and ended in a whisper. The retainers +looked in each other's faces. Who was the maddest--their lord or the +shabby _bo[u]zu_? A long silence followed. Jubei no longer stood in +grandiloquent pose. He squatted down before the ideographs. At last he +said--"The poem contains much matter. Deign to allow time for the +solution." His voice was gentle and courteous to this future victim of +his intelligence. The priest nodded a genial assent. Before he withdrew +Jubei gave emphatic orders as to ward and entertainment. The pleasures +of anticipation, of solution of the poem and slicing of the cleric, must +have compensation. His tread was slow and stately as he left the room; +his looks were contained and thoughtful. The man of black robe was +carried off to a better reception than so far experienced. With scorn he +sent away the scanty meal of vegetable food; and ordered matters to his +taste with a manner that none cared to obey, or dared to disobey. + +Meanwhile Jubei started in on the poem. With the progress of his +efforts ideas of his greatness disappeared. No matter what might be his +skill with the sword--and the priest already had shown its +limitations--his inexperience in literature was patent. Ah! If he could +but win the head of this scurvy cleric. His mind now was totally removed +from thoughts of himself. For two days and two nights he never closed +his eyes, which were fastened on the infernal ideographs--palpably so +full of a meaning he could not grasp. Then he was worn out. He went to +sleep, and slept for a full twenty-four hours. On awaking he was a +different being. The cobwebs of the mind were clean swept. Its vague +shiftings had been brought to concentration--to thought. Now it was the +household which was mad with joy. It was Jubei, lord of the manor, who +sought interview with his saviour. Prostrate he gave thanks, apology for +the poor entertainment; and expressed his hope and wish to keep always +by him the holy man. Who was he--this man who had given him back mind +and power of thought? Just then a messenger from his father, Tajima no +Kami, was announced. Those assembled leaned forward at sight of the man +in amazed prostration, first before his lord, then before the shabby old +priest. "Takuan Osho[u] Sama at Yagyu! And yet this Kyu[u]taro[u] has +made all speed to Yamato to make report of his lordship's coming." All +fell on their faces, including Jubei. Takuan smiled, a little grimly. +"The garb makes not the cleric. Jubei Dono will forgive the presence of +the humble priest who now must leave him, pressed by affairs, none of +which have been more important than the mission here." And leave he +did--but ample gifts to the temple followed after. Jubei never could +take his father's place close to the Sho[u]gun's side. His one-time +madness forbade assumption of such office. Indeed on rare occasions the +mad fit again would threaten; but the infallible remedy was at hand. To +Jubei's question Takuan had answered--"The meaning? The poem has none. +If there had been verily Takuan would have lost his head. But find one, +if you can." The joy of Tajima no Kami was completed by the return of +his third son Matajuro[u], restored to normal health. Later this +Matajuro[u] became the famous Hida no Kami and successor to his father +as the Sho[u]gun's fencing master. Of these three men--more anon.[56] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] _Kwaidan_ means "Wonder Tale." The word is of general meaning, +requiring limitation for the specific case. + +[2] The _go-kenin_, for the most part; although some _hatamoto_, whose +incomes ran as low as 300 _koku_ could be classed with them. In +English--cf. T.H. Gubbins--Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, xv. + +[3] The hard palatable pickled yellow _daikon_ (radish). _Nukamisozuké_ +is a way station in its production by pickling in salt and bran. +_Nukamisozuké_ is better described than smelt. + +[4] Sanzu no Kawa--the river crossed by the dead; the Buddhist "Styx." +Shide no Yama--the mountain to be crossed on the way to Hell, or to the +judgment hall of its great king--Emma Dai-o[u] (Yama). All deserve, and +get, some punishment in this nether world. + +[5] Near Meguro: scores of quaint figures, seated in tiers and +meditation. + +[6] A famous Chinese book on military tactics. Prince Yoshitsuné, hero +of the Gempei wars, served arduously for a glimpse of it. Cf.: Life of +Benkei, vol. i, pp. 311 reg. Densuké refers to the three (_san_) stages +of rice cooking. + +[7] Geishu[u]-Aki province. For six months the _daimyo[u]_ left Edo to +govern their fief in person. Their wives and families remained in Edo. +The penalties at the barriers (Hakoné, for instance) were severe if the +wife tried to get away (escape) from Edo. + +[8] The Japanese personal pronoun is used--in the first person only to +obviate ambiguity in the sentence. Women use it more frequently than +men. In the second person it is used to express emphasis, great +familiarity, impertinence, or rebuke. The last two uses are frequent. +Ordinarily the honorifics and the construction of the sentence take the +place of these pronouns. Such at least seems to be the usage of the +_ko[u]dan_ writers, and in the present book the example has been +followed, as far as possible. In a few instances the use of a pronoun +will relieve the strain of a lengthy sentence or involved circumlocution +in the western tongue. At times the closer style can be abandoned--as in +the direct narration of the Tale of the Baryufu Kwannon. So also with +the translations of the _gidayu_ and the _ko[u]dan_ attached. These are +for recitation. In the original the pronoun is rarely written in. But +the literal translation of the honorifics would appear stilted. To +westerners these are appellations; to the native they are indications. + +[9] The old Shimbashi station and its yards cover this site. "Tide +limit"--a suggestive name. + +[10] A _sakuji bugyo[u]_ was the official who had charge of the +maintenance and construction of public works within the _daimyo[u]'s_ +fief. + +[11] A deep cutting through the hill. They are common features in +Nippon. Many valleys are only accessible by a climb, unless mitigated by +a _kirido[u]shi_, or obviated by a tunnel. Kamakura, for instance, is +accessible by land in no other way. Asahina _kirido[u]shi_: there are +several others. + +[12] The description is curious. Writing fifty years ago Ryuo[u] tells +us these men no longer practised. His book is not readily met with and +the passage in the original is worth preserving--"_Kono sunegiri yatsu +to iu wa tadaima de wa arimasen ga; makurajima no tabi ni asaura wo +haki, sankeigyo[u] no kyahan de, nagai no wo ippon sashi. Eh! To[u] de o +isogi de nai. Okata wa watakushi no mosu koyaku no ko[u]no[u] wo kiite o +motome nasai. Nukeba tamachiru nagai no yaiba da nure kami de mo kayo ni +kireru, tadaima yatsu ga wo kiri chi wo tomete goran ni ireru; to maru +de kiru yo[u] desu ga ha (yaiba) no aru tokoro wa madzu no kata bakari +de, moto no kata wa yaiba ga hiite aru yue, sono ha hiku no tokoro wo +ude he ataru to suji ga tsuku bakari de kire washimasen ga, tanka ga +kireru kara, chiwa taki-tsu se no gotoku nagareru. Chi ni wa sakarawazu +ikusa naka ko wo mochiireba, sokuza ni todomaru nani mae kara todotteru +no desu ga, hagyu[u] da kara maru de chi ga tomaru yo[u] ni micru kara, +kono ho he hitotsu gai, kono ho he futatsu gai, to uremasu._"--"Yotsuya +Kwaidan," pp. 31-32. + +[13] One-fourth of a _ryo[u]_ = 15 silver mommé = 872 grains Troy. Money +had much greater purchasing value at that time as compared with the +present days; perhaps 20 times, but adulteration of the coinage caused +great variations. + +[14] The Machibugyo[u] was judge and prosecutor (procurator or district +attorney); the two offices being held by the same man. A court trial +included both functions. _Tengu_, used below, is the long-nosed wood +bogey. There is a note in Benkei, i, 260. + +[15] The _tawara_ equals two-fifths of a _koku_. At present-day figures +the stipend of Tamiya can be put at about 2000 yen; that of Ito[u] +Kwaiba, mentioned later, at 13,000 yen. The great _daimyo[u]_ with +incomes running into the hundreds of thousands of _koku_ were princes +administering part of the public domain, with armies and an elaborate +civil service to support. Even a _hatamoto_ (minor _daimyo[u]_, +immediate vassals of the sho[u]gun) of 10,000 _koku_, such as Yagyu[u] +Tajima no Kami had a large train at his Edo _yashiki_ and at his fief. +The Daté House of Sendai, or the Maeda of Kaga, Etchu[u], and Echizen, +are examples of the greater To[u]zama, or lords independent in the +administration of their fiefs. Labour, it is to be added, was cheap +compared to food values. Taxes were heavy--ranging from 30 to 70 per +cent. The middleman took his high fee. Yet sumptuary laws were necessary +to prevent extravagance among the farming class. Some of them were rich +men, especially in the better administered Tokugawa fiefs. The public +works required of the _daimyo[u]_--especially the To[u]zama--prevented a +dangerous accumulation of resources, and sometimes almost ruined his +subjects. Accurate measurements of income are not available. The _koku_ +of _daimyo[u]_ income has been placed as high as ten bushels. The +present-day _koku_ equals 5.13 bushels. The price of rice ranges between +15-20 yen per _koku_. + +[16] The title for all men of learning and professional attainments. The +great medical doctor is "Sensei," the doctor of literature is +"Sensei"--and the charlatan who peddles charms by the highway is +"Sensei"--teacher. + +[17] A technical social expression--"I trouble you" or "with highest +respect and consideration." Satuma = Satsuma-Jo[u]fu, the grass cloth of +fine quality woven and dyed in Loo-choo; narrow swords; all this +(Momogawa) is an example of the earnest study the _ko[u]dan_ lecturers +make of their subject. These delightful little expositions of dress and +manner are frequent. + +[18] _Rusu_ or _rusuban_ = caretaker in the owner's absence. As often as +not the wife is so regarded by the Japanese husband. + +[19] Reiganji, the great temple giving the name to the Reigan district +of Fukagawa, is one of the many temples there found. The Jo[u]shinji is +close by. + +[20] A complicated checkers-chess like game. + +[21] There are nine of these stages of skill. + +[22] 5.13 bushel. Income of the _samurai_ classes were so measured. + +[23] _Kyara_ = nut gall, in Momogawa's _ko[u]dan_. From the marriage to +the expulsion of O'Iwa his treatment of the story is mainly followed. +Ryuo[u] slurs the marriage, but describes the persecution with great +effect. The lines of treatment only diverge subsequently. Ryuo[u] is to +be preferred. + +[24] The monetary _bu_ was one-fourth the _ryo[u]_; the _shu[u]_ was +one-fourth the value of the _bu_. A hundred _mon_ = one _sen_. To-day +there are blind shampooers (and for massage) at 500 _mon_ = 5 _sen_. + +[25] Of the Nichiren sect. The characters of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" move +within the circle of this Presbyterian cult: _i.e._, Presbyterian in its +stiff attitude of hostility and superiority to all other sects. There is +another Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, neighbour to the Ten-o[u] shrine. + +[26] High sounding titles given to the _great hetairae_. The difference +from the Greek world lay in their not being independent. They were +confined to the houses of their owners. But these noted women were +ransomed at times--even by great nobles. Thus Daté Tsunamune the 3rd +_daimyo[u]_ of Sendai bought the famous Oiran Takao, weighing in the +scales the woman against gold. In a fit of passion he killed her soon +after, and had her body cast into the Edogawa. + +[27] "_Hagurete mo mata afu michi ya hana no yama._" + +[28] The _aodaisho[u]_ is something of the nature of a black snake. Says +Brinkley's Dict. "_elaphis virgatus_." + +[29] The term "Inkyo[u]," already several times used, applies to a man +who has retired from active life, leaving the management of the affairs +of the House to the duly appointed heir and successor. A specified +portion of the income is usually assigned for his maintenance, and forms +a first lien, so to speak, on such return. The modernized law of Nippon +does not permit assumption of this state before the age of fifty years, +unless there be incapacitation such as necessitates retirement. In +ancient days (pre-Meiji) there was no such limitation. Men often retired +very early in life--from caprice, family intrigue, or for the freer +management of their affairs. In the latter case they had more power and +less responsibility; the latter falling on the heir and successor, +perhaps still a mere child. _Go_ is merely honorific. + +[30] "Awarase ya: Byo[u]bu wa koi no taki sagari." The living carp +strives to ascend the fall. + +[31] The old hag who lurks in the River of Souls, waylaying little +children, robbing them of their clothes, and compelling them to +construct huge piles of stones. Her counterfeit presentment (by Unkei) +can be well seen at the Enno[u]ji of Kamakura. + +[32] An ordinary disposition of these women; who often preferred their +Edo lover to such lot. + +[33] _Ototoi oidé_: It is the salutation of the good Buddhist to the +captured insect, thrown without and requested to return "the day before +yesterday" = the Greek Kalends. As used above it is a gross insult to +the person addressed. + +[34] Damask hill: the names taken by these great _hetairai_ were most +fanciful. + +[35] Next to the Ten-o[u] Jinja; not that of Samégabashi. To-day +retired, neat and clean; without the dirty publicity of larger temples. +It is a bit of country in crowded Yotsuya. + +[36] A young girl's method of fixing the hair; but Ryuo[u] uses the +term. Gohei are the paper strips used as offering. Usually attached to a +short stick. + +[37] At the Gyo[u]ranji of Matsuzakacho[u] in the Mita district of +To[u]kyo[u]. + +[38] _Sanzugawa_: _Yama_ mo nakereba, _hashi mo nashi_; _shinde no +tabiji hana wa nao nashi_. Sanzugawa, the river crossed by the dead. + +[39] A fourth form of torture was suspension--an exaggerated infliction +of "the lobster." These official forms are described by J. Carey Hall in +the transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. XLI., Part V. The +native references are the "Tokugawa Seikei Shiryo[u]," "Keizai Dai +Hiroku," "Ko[u]jiki Ruihi Horitsu-bu." Cf. article on Go[u]mon in the +"Kokushi Dai Jiten." There were other forms. In the examination into the +famous conspiracy of Yui Sho[u]setsu (1651 A.D.) no confession could be +secured from Yoshida Hatsuémon. He was brought out, to find his +thirteen-year-old son Hachitaro[u] undergoing the torture of dropping +water. At the last extremities the boy pleaded for mercy. His father +drily told him to act the _samurai_, and not to imperil the lives of +others. It was different with Matsubayashi Chuya (really the last heir +of the famous Cho[u]sokabé House of Tosa). At sight of his old, white +haired, white faced, jail wearied mother threatened with the fire +torture, he did for her what he would not do for himself. The old woman +willingly would have undergone the torture. Chuya's confession cost the +lives of seventy-five men. + +[40] Hifumikwan (To[u]kyo[u]), Meiji 29th year 2nd month 15th day (28th +March, 1896). + +[41] _Mairase So[u]ro[u]_: "I take the liberty of...." Brinkley's Dict. +A purely formal expression used in the letters of women writers. + +[42] The three holy things--Buddha, his Law, the priesthood. + +[43] Another reading of the characters for Kikugoro[u]--to the +initiated. + +[44] "Top-bottom": the beautiful lozenge shaped [=X] dress of the +_samurai_ when on court service, or for other ceremony: full dress. + +[45] "Small fish boiled in soy in order to preserve it (named after +Tsukudajima-To[u]kyo[u]--famous for its preparation)."--Brinkley's Dict. + +[46] Brown, with stripes--a favourite pattern with men and women. + +[47] Feast of the Dead. This festival is held in July--in the country in +August, the old calendar seventh month. + +[48] Apparitional divine lord. + +[49] The expression is technical--"_hitoban de mo o cha wo hikeba_." All +night a mere tea-server. + +[50] + + [Narutaki no yoru no arashi ni kudakarete; + Chiru tama goto ni tsuki zo yadoreru.] + +[51] + + [Yamakawa no nagare ni ko no ha shizumu tomo; + Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are.] + +[52] + + [Furu to miba tsumoranu saki ni haraekashi; + Yuki ni wa orenu aoyagi no ito.]^{[3]} + +[53] + + [Sama Sama to oshie no michi mo o[u]keredo + Uchikomu tokoro shin no itto[u].]^{[4]} + +[54] + + [Kokoro to wa ikanaru mono wo iu yaran; + Sumie ni kakitsu matsu kaze no oto.]^{[5]} + +[55] + + [Tsukubayama, Hayama, Nakayama, Shigeredomo; + Omoiru ni wa mono mo sawarazu.]^{[6]} + +[56] Cf.--"Araki Mataémon--Ueno Adauchi," by Masui Nanzan. There is +little reason to believe that Jubei's madness was assumed, a rather +extravagant explanation of the more than probable fact that his +well-known travels were inspired by the Sho[u]gun's government. Actual +knowledge and inspection of the conditions and feelings in far-off +Satsuma, made by an expert, was much desired. Okubo Hikozaémon also +travelled as the Sho[u]gun's private eye. Jubei undoubtedly found his +reputation for one-time madness very useful, and played upon it. + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page 27: nukamisosuké amended to nukamisozuké | + | Page 54: aids amended to aides | + | Page 55, pages 58-61 inclusive: Sakarai amended to Sakurai | + | Page 61: T[=o]eman amended to Toémon | + | Page 104: Nakusuké amended to Kakusuké | + | Page 143: misintrepeted amended to misinterpreted | + | Page 144: aids amended to aides | + | Page 172: honorofic amended to honorific | + | Page 173: Kamikura amended to Kamimura | + | Page 175: trucculent amended to truculent | + | Page 187: Samegebashi amended to Samégabashi | + | Page 193: Akiyima amended to Akiyama | + | Page 194: Teremachi amended to Teramachi | + | Page 198: Fukotar[=o] amended to Fukutar[=o] | + | Page 223: Sh[=o]zaémon amended to Ch[=o]zaémon | + | Page 227: peel amended to peal | + | Page 240: Kamikura amended to Kamimura | + | Page 262: Okusuma amended to Okusama | + | Page 269: gray amended to grey (twice) | + | Page 273: threshhold amended to threshold | + | Page 277: Iye amended to Iya | + | Page 279: Mikowaya amended to Mikawaya | + | | + | Where there is an equal number of instances of a word | + | occurring as hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens | + | have been retained: Blind-man/Blindman; | + | care-taker/caretaker; cross-roads/crossroads; | + | go-down/godown; house-keeping/housekeeping; | + | Mita-mura/Mitamura; near-by/nearby; woman-kind/womankind. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari, by +James S. 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De Benneville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari + Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 1 (of 2) + +Author: James S. De Benneville + +Release Date: November 28, 2006 [EBook #19944] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN OR O'IWA INARI *** + + + + +Produced by Clare Boothby and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<h3>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h3> +<p>Accents and diacritical marks have generally been +standardised. Where there is a single instance of a word +with an accent, and one without, no change has been made +to the original. (e.g. momme/mommé; murashite/murashité; +Kuramae/Kuramaé).</p> + +<p>The letter o with a macron is represented as ō.</p> +<p>The letter u with a macron is represented as ū.</p> + +<p>If you cannot see the above letters with macrons, you may need to +change the font in your browser.</p> + +<p>The italicisation of Japanese words has been standardised.</p> + +<p>Hyphenation and capitalisation has been standardised.</p> + +<p>Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been +corrected. For a complete list, please see <a href="#TN">the bottom +of this document</a>.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<a href="images/001.jpg"><img src="images/001_th.jpg" width="400" height="259" alt="" title="" /></a> +</div> + + + +<h2>LEGEND.</h2> + +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>The outline of the map is that found in Volume I. of the Edo Sunago, +published Keio 2nd year (1866). The detail of district maps found in the +book is worked in, together with that from the sectional map of Edo +published Ansei 4th year (1857), and from the Go Edo Zusetsu Shūran +published Kaei 6th year (1853). The map therefore shows in rough outline +the state of the city just before the removal of the capital from +Kyōto; the distribution of the castes.</p> + +<p>The Pre-Tokugawa villages (Eiroku: 1558-1569) indicated on the map found +in the "Shūran" are:—</p> + +<p>North and South Shinagawa: Meguro-Motomura: Gin-Mitamura: Mitamura: +Ōnemura: Upper and Lower Shibuya: Harajuku-mura: Kokubunji: Azabu: +Kawaza Ichi: Ōzawa-mura: Imai-mura: Sendagaya: Yamanaka-mura: +Ichigaya: Ushigome: Kobiko-mura: Upper and Lower Hirakawa-mura: Ochiya: +Sekihon: Ikebukuroya: Tomizaka-mura: Ishibukero-mura: Tanibaragaike: +Neruma-mura: Okurikyōakarai-mura: Koishikawa: Zoshigayatsu: +Ōji: Shimura: Takinogawa: Kinsoboku-mura: Harajuku-mura (II.): +Komegome-mura: Taninaka-mura: Shimbori-mura: Mikawajima-mura: +Ashigahara-mura: Haratsuka: Ishihama-mura: Senjū-mura: Suda-mura: +Sumidagawa: Yanagijima: Jujō-mura; Itabashi: Sugamo-mura: Arakawa +(river): Kandagawa pool (<i>ike</i>); Kanda-mura: Shibasaki-mura: +Shin-Horima-mura: Yushima-mura: Shitaya-mura: Torigoe-mura: +Shirosawa-mura: Asakusa-mura: Harai-mura: Some-Ushigome: Ishiwara: +Kinoshitagawa: Ubagaike (pool): Negishi-mura: Kinsoki-mura: Kameido-mura +(near Ueno): Shinobazu-ike (pool).</p> + +<p>From South to North circling by the West.</p> + +<p>Shinagawa: Mita-mura: Takanawa:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Near Imai-mura is a Myōjin shrine,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">close by the mouth of the present Akabane river.</span></p> + +<p>Ikura: Hibiya: Tsukiji: Tsukuda: Tame-ike (pool): Tsukuda Myōjin: +Ota's castle: Sanke-in: Hirakawa-mura: Sakurada-mura: Honjū-mura: +Ōtamage-ike: Kametaka-mura. To the East.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 6em;">77 villages, total.</span></p> + +<p>Pronounce as in Italian, giving vowels full value: ch- as in "church."</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h2>THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN</h2> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>O'IWA INARI</h2> + + +<h3><i>BY THIS AUTHOR</i></h3> + +<p class='center'><b>SAKURAMBŌ</b><br /> +(THE FRUIT OF THE TREE)</p> + +<p class='center'>Travel notes on thoughts and things Japanese, experienced<br /> +during a four years' sojourn in the country</p> + +<p class='center'>Octavo. 339 pages.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>MORE JAPONICO</b></p> + +<p class='center'>A critique of the effect of an idea—communityism—on<br /> +the life and history of a people</p> + +<p class='center'>Octavo. VI, 594 pages.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>SAITŌ MUSASHI-BŌ BENKEI</b><br /> +(TALES OF THE WARS OF THE GEMPEI)</p> + +<p class='center'>Being the story of the lives and adventures of<br /> +Iyo-no-Kami Minamoto Kurō Yoshitsune and Saitō<br /> +Musashi-Bō Benkei the Warrior Monk</p> + +<p class='center'>Octavo. 2 Vols., XXI, 841 pages, with 69 full page<br /> +illustrations (frontispieces in color) and<br /> +three maps.</p> + +<p class='center'><b>OGURI HANGWAN ICHIDAIKI</b><br /> +(TALES OF THE SAMURAI)</p> + +<p class='center'>Being the story of the lives, the adventures, and the<br /> +mis-adventures of the Hangwan-dai Kojirō Sukéshigé<br /> +and Ternte-hime, his wife</p> + +<p class='center'>Octavo. XV, 485 pages, with 45 full page illustrations<br /> +(frontispiece in color) and three maps.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 256px;"> +<a href='images/002.jpg'><img src="images/002_th.jpg" width="256" height="400" alt="The O'Iwa of the Tamiya Inari Jinja of Echizenbori, +Tokyo" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">The O'Iwa of the Tamiya Inari Jinja of Echizenbori, +Tokyo</span> +</div> + +<h3><i>TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA</i></h3> + +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>YOTSUYA KWAIDAN</h1> + +<h2>OR</h2> + +<h1>O'IWA INARI</h1> + +<h4>RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS</h4> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE</h3> + +<div class='epigraph'> +"The mainspring of human existence<br /> +is love (<i>nasaké</i>), for others or—oneself."<br /> +<p class='right'>—<span class="smcap">Seishin</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p class='center'>PRESS OF<br /> +J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY<br /> +PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A.<br /> +1917</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">copyright, 1917, by<br /> +James Seguin de Benneville</span></p> + +<p class='center'>PRINTED AND COPYRIGHTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>Tales of the Tokugawa can well be introduced by two "wonder-stories" of +Nippon. One of these, the Yotsuya Kwaidan,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> is presented in the +present volume, not so much because of the incidents involved and the +peculiar relation to a phase of Nipponese mentality, as from the fact +that it contains all the machinery of the Nipponese ghost story. From +this point of view the reading of one of these tales disposes of a whole +class of the native literature. Difference of detail is found. But +unless the tale carries some particular interest, as of curious +illustration of customs or history—the excuse for a second +presentation—a long course of such reading becomes more than +monotonous. It is unprofitable. Curiously enough, it can be said that +most Nipponese ghost stories are true. When a sword is found enshrined, +itself the malevolent influence—as is the Muramasa blade of the +Hamamatsu Suwa Jinja, the subject of the Komatsu Onryū of +Matsubayashi Hakuchi—and with such tradition attached to it, it is +difficult to deny a basis of fact attaching to the tradition. The ghost +story becomes merely an elaboration of an event that powerfully +impressed the men of the day and place. Moreover this naturalistic +element can be detected in the stories themselves. Nipponese writers of +to-day explain most of them by the word <i>shinkei</i>—"nerves"; the working +of a guilty conscience moulding succeeding events, and interpreting the +results to the subsequent disaster involved. The explanation is somewhat +at variance with the native Shintō doctrine of the moral perfection +of the Nipponese, and its maxim—follow the dictates of one's heart; but +that is not our present concern.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>Their theory, however, finds powerful support in the nature of the +Nipponese ghost. The Buddhist ghost does not remain on earth. It has its +travels and penalties to go through in the nether world, or its +residence in Paradise, before it begins a new life—somewhere. The +Shintō ghost, in the vagueness of Shintō theology, does remain on +earth. If of enough importance it is enshrined, and rarely goes abroad, +except when carried in procession at the time of the temple festival. +Otherwise it finds its home in the miniature shrine of the <i>kami-dana</i> +or god-shelf. There is a curious confusion of Nipponese thought on this +subject; at least among the mass of laity. At the Bon-Matsuri the dead +revisit the scene of their earthly sojourn for the space of three days; +and yet the worship of the <i>ihai</i>, or mortuary tablets, the food +offerings with ringing of the bell to call the attention of the resident +Spirit is a daily rite at the household Buddhist shrine (Butsudan). +When, therefore, the ghost does not conform to these well-regulated +habits, it is because it is an unhappy ghost. It is then the <i>O'Baké</i> or +<i>Bakémono</i>, the haunting ghost. Either it has become an unworshipped +spirit, or, owing to some atrocious injury in life, it stays to wander +the earth, and to secure vengeance on the living perpetrator. In most +cases this is effected by the grudge felt or spoken at the last moment +of life. The mind, concentrated in its hate and malice at this final +crisis, secures to the Spirit a continued and unhappy sojourn among the +living, until the vengeance be secured, the grudge satisfied, and the +Spirit pacified. There are other unhappy conditions of this revisiting +of life's scenes; as when the dead mother returns to nurse her infant, +or the dead mistress to console a lover. In the latter case, at least, +the expressed affection has a malignant effect, perhaps purpose—as in +the Bōtan Dōrō of Sanyūtei Enchō, a writer most careful +in observing all the niceties called for by the subject.</p> + +<p>In the Nipponese ghost story the vengeful power of the ghost acts +through entirely natural means. The characters involved suffer through +their own delusions aroused by conscience. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> old days, and among +the common people in Nippon to-day, the supernatural was and is believed +in, with but few exceptions. Such stories still are held to be fact, +albeit the explanation is modern. Hence it can be said that the "Yotsuya +Kwaidan" is a true story. O'Iwa, the Lady of Tamiya, really did exist in +the Genroku and Hōrei periods (1688-1710); just ante-dating the +reforming rule of the eighth Tokugawa Shōgun, Yoshimune Kō. Victim +of an atrocious plot of her husband and others, she committed suicide +with the vow to visit her rage upon all engaged in the conspiracy. The +shrine of the O'Iwa Inari (Fox-witched O'Iwa) in Yotsuya was early +erected (1717) to propitiate her wrathful ghost; and the shrines of +Nippon, to the shabbiest and meanest, have their definite record. On the +register the name of the husband appears as Ibei; "probably correct," as +Mr. Momogawa tells us. With him the name of Iémon is retained in the +present story. Iémon is the classic example of the wicked and brutal +husband, on the stage and in the <i>gidayu</i> recitation of Nippon. There +was but little reason to revert to the record. The shrine always +prospered. It appears on the maps of the district as late as Ansei +fourth year (1857); and the writer has had described to him by a friend +a visit to this shrine some twenty years ago. The lady in question +referred to it rather vaguely as beyond Samegafuchi: <i>i.e.</i>, at Yotsuya +Samonchō. It was particularly favoured by the hair dressers, and to +the eyes of a young girl was a gorgeous structure in its continually +renewed decoration. Inquiry of late in the district elicited the +information that the shrine had been removed. Many changes have been +made on the southern side of Yotsuya by the passage of the railway from +Iidamachi to Shinjuku. The Myōgyōji, with other temples there +located, has been swept away. In fact the Meiji period handled all those +institutions established by deceased piety with great roughness. +Teramachi—Temple Street—is now but a name. The temples of eastern +Yotsuya have nearly all disappeared. Have public institutions occupied +this "public land"? Of course: the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> sites were sold for the secular +purpose of profit, and poverty spread wide and fast over them. Yotsuya +got the shell of this oyster.</p> + +<p>About the middle of Meiji therefore (say 1893) the shrine disappeared +from Yotsuya Samonchō; to be re-erected in Echizenbori near the +Sumidagawa. Local inquiry could or would give but little information. A +fortunate encounter at the Denzu-In with an University student, likewise +bent on hunting out the old sites of Edo's history, set matters right. +Subsequent visits to the newer shrine were not uninteresting, though the +presence of the mirror of O'Iwa and of the bamboo tube inclosing her +Spirit (Mr. Momogawa) was strenuously denied by the incumbent. In the +presence of the very genuine worship at the lady's shrine much stress +need not be laid on the absence.</p> + +<p>The present story practically is based on the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" of +Shunkintei Ryuō, a famous story-teller of the Yoshiwara, and an old +man when the "Restoration" of the Meiji period occurred. The sketch +given in the "O'Iwa Inari Yūrei" of Momogawa Jakuen filled in gaps, +and gave much suggestion in moulding the story into a consistent whole. +Parts merely sketched by the older story-teller found completeness. This +collection of ghost stories—the "Kwaidan Hyaku Monogatari" published by +the Kokkwadō—is in the main written by Mr. Momogawa, and can be +recommended as one of the best of these collections, covering in shorter +form the more important stories of this class of the native literature. +The "Yotsuya Kwaidan" of Shinsai Tōyō, one of the older and +livelier of the <i>kōdan</i> lecturers, gives the scene at the house of +Chōbei, and his quarrel with Toémon. It is found in the +"Kwaidan-Shū" published by the Hakubun-kwan. The <i>gidayu</i> (heroic +recitation) and the drama handle all these stories for their own +peculiar purposes. The incidents of a tale are so distorted, for stage +use and dramatic effect, as to make these literary forms of small avail. +The letter of O'Hana, however, is practically that of the play of +Tsuruya<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> Namboku (Katsu Byōzō). It has been thought well to append +to the story the <i>gidayu</i> of this writer, covering the scene in Iémon's +house. Also the strange experience of the famous actor Kikugorō, +third of that name, is put into English for the curious reader. +Kikugorō was the pioneer in the representation of the Namboku drama.</p> + +<p>This life history of the O'Iwa Inari—the moving cause of the +establishment of her shrine—is no mere ghost story. It is a very +curious exposition of life in Edo among a class of officials entirely +different from the fighting <i>samurai</i> who haunted the fencing schools of +Edo; from the men higher up in social status, who risked heads, or +rather bellies, in the politics of the day and the struggle to obtain +position, which meant power, in the palace clique. These latter were men +who sought to have a share in the government of the Shōgun's person, +and hence of the nation. They strove to seat themselves in the high +posts of the palace. Here was a rapidly revolving wheel to which a man +must cling, or be dashed to pieces. To prevent being shoved off into +destruction they used every means of slander and intrigue, and fought +against such, that the life of a rich and luxurious court afforded. The +result, too often, was the present of a dagger from the suzerain they +sought to please. Trapped into some breach of the harsh discipline, or +even of mere form of etiquette, the gift was "respectfully received" +with the mocking face of gratitude, even from the hand of the successful +rival in office. At his home the defeated politician cut his belly open. +His obedience to the suzerain's will was duly reported. His family was +ruined or reprieved according to a capricious estimation of its power of +resentment—and it became a question of "who next?" to try for a place +on the wheel. On the contrary those lower officials,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> engaged in the +dull routine of bureaucratic office, had a much less dangerous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> service +and etiquette to deal with. In insignificant ease they lived and +intrigued in their petty way, under no obligation to take sides in the +politics of the truly great. If they fell, it was largely their own +fault. Such was the position of those in immediate contact with the +working wheels of the Shōgun's Government. The great <i>bugyō</i> +(magistrates) were continually shifting. Their court staff was the solid +foundation of unyielding precedent in form. The one was a court officer; +the others court officers.</p> + +<p>Hence the Kwaidan possesses value for the social lesson it conveys. The +admittance of a stranger to the ward, his evil bond with the Lady of +Tamiya, the previous passion for O'Hana and thereby the entanglement of +Kwaiba in the plot; all form a network in which the horror of the story +is balanced by the useful lessons to be drawn by the mind of Nippon from +its wickedness. Perhaps this belief in the effect of the curse of the +suicide acts both in deterring or bringing back the erring husband, and +in saving the wife from the extremities of her despair in abandonment. +The story of O'Iwa, the belief in her power, to-day has a strong +influence on a certain class of the Nipponese mind; especially among the +women. If the present writer might have felt momentarily an amused +feeling at sight of her worshippers, it was quickly lost at sight of the +positive unhappiness expressed in these faces of the abandoned. A visit +to the Tamiya Inari is not necessarily either one of idle curiosity or +without results. Some exceedingly painful impressions can be brought +away in the mind.</p> + +<p>It is not entirely in jest therefore that apology is made for the +reproduction of the story. It is well in such matters to follow one's +predecessors. Moreover, public sentiment is not to be derided nor +disregarded. It has a certain title to respect, even when superstition +is involved. Hence the statement can be made, that in telling this story +of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" no derogatory motive is involved—to people, +class, or person; least of all in reference to the dread Lady of Tamiya.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Omarudani</span>—4th July, 1916.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chapter.</span></td><td align='left'></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Proem</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">O'Mino and Densuké</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kawai San of Kanda Ku</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Takahashi Daihachirō</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Appearance of O'Iwa San</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Affair of the Shiba Kiridōshi</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Negotiations: The Business of a Nakōdo or Marriage Broker</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Iémon Appears</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">If Old Acquaintance be Forgot</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Love Knots</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Plot Against O'Iwa</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Plot Develops</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kwaiba's Revenge</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Yōtaka (Night-hawks) of Honjō</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Punishment</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Chōbei Gets the News</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">News Reaches Kwaiba</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">News of Kwaiba</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Shadow of the Go Inkyō</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tamiya Yoémon: With News of Kondō Rokurōbei and Myōzen the Priest</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kibei Dono</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Matters Ecclesiastical</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rites for O'Iwa</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sanzugawa, Bridgeless; the Flowerless Road Traversed by the Dead</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Appendices</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +</table></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>[The pronunciation of the Japanese vowels and consonants follows closely +the Italian; in diphthongs and triphthongs each vowel is given full +value.</p> + +<p>a = a as in father, e = a as in mate, i = e as in meet, o = o as in +soap, u = oo as in fool.</p> + +<p>g is always hard. In the Tōkyō district it has the sound ng.</p> + +<p>ch has full value, as in church. It is <i>not</i> k; c is only found as ch; +<i>i.e.</i> cha, chi, cho, chu.</p> + +<p>The vowels also have long (continued) sounds, marked by the accent -.</p> + +<p>At times a vowel is elided; or rather but faintly touched by the voice. +Thus Sukéshigé is pronounced Skéshigé; Sukénaga = Skénaga; Kuranosuké = +Kuranoské. <i>Bu</i> and <i>mu</i> at the end of word lose the vowel +sound—Shikibu = Shikib.</p> + +<p>Kami used in connection with a man means "lord," Wakasa no Kami = Lord +of Wakasa province.</p> + +<p>Reprinted from the "Oguri Hangwan."]</p> + +<p>(Kami also means "God" or divinized person; including the spirits of the +dead. Even a living man can be regarded as a <i>kami</i>, in cases of some +very unusual service rendered to the public welfare. Professor Imai +recently—at Karuizawa—called attention to the fact that originally +<i>kami</i> was written 上, <i>i.e.</i> "superior." The divine +attribute 神 was introduced with Buddhism.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PROEM" id="PROEM"></a>PROEM</h2> + + +<p>Reader, pray take not the story of the O'Iwa Inari, the Yotsuya Kwaidan, +as a mere fairy tale or novel of the day. The shrine of the Tamiya Inari +stands now to attest the truth of the tradition. Let the doubter but +witness the faith of the believer in the powers of the fearful lady; +and, if doubt still continues to exist, the salutary fear of others at +least will inspire respect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h4>THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN<br /> +OR O'IWA INARI</h4> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>O'MINO AND DENSUKÉ</h3> + + +<p>Yotsuya is a suburb—at the extreme west of Edo-Tōkyō. Its streets +are narrow and winding, though hilly withal; especially on the southern +edge toward the Aoyama district, still devoted to cemeteries and +palaces, sepulchres whited without and within. Echizenbori would be at +the other extremity of the great city. It fronts eastward on the bank of +the Sumidagawa. The populous and now poverty stricken districts of +Honjō and Fukagawa beyond the wide stream, with other qualities, +deprive it of any claim of going to extremes. In fact Echizenbori is a +very staid and solid section of Edo-Tōkyō. Its streets are narrow; +and many are the small shops to purvey for the daily needs of its +inhabitants. But these rows of shops are sandwiched in between great +clumps of stores, partly warehouses and partly residences of the owners +thereof. These stores line the canals of Echizenbori, water courses +crowded with junks carrying their ten tons, or their hundreds of tons, +of freight—precious cargoes of rice to go into these stores in bulk, of +<i>shoyu</i> (soy) by the hundred kegs, of sakarazumi (charcoal from Shimosa) +by the thousand <i>tawara</i> (bale), of fish dried and fresh, of <i>takuan</i> or +<i>daikon</i> (the huge white radish) pickled in salt and rice bran, of all +the odds and ends of material in the gross which go to make up the +necessities of living in a great city. If Echizenbori then can make its +show of poverty, and very little <i>display</i> of wealth, it is not one of +the poor quarters of this capital city of Nippon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Crossing the Takabashi from Hachōbori and plunging down the narrow +street opposite; a short turn to the right, a plunge down another narrow +street and a turn to the right; one comes to the high cement wall, in +its modernness of type a most unusual attachment to shrine or temple. +The gate is narrow and formal; almost like the entrance to a garden or +smaller burying ground. Within all is changed from the busy outside +world. The area inclosed is small—perhaps a square of a hundred and +fifty feet—but marked in lines by a maze of lanterns of the cheap iron +variety, set on cheap wooden posts. On the right is seen a minor shrine +or two dedicated to the Inari goddess. On the left is a small building +devoted to votive offerings, the crude and the more elaborate. The most +striking is the offering of a little <i>geisha</i> lady, and portrays an +heroic scene of early days. There are other portraitures, in which +perhaps a wandering lover is seen as a hero, to the lady's eyes, of +these later times. On the outside of the structure are posted up by the +hundred pictures of once woebegone ladies, now rejoicing in the potent +influence of the Tamiya shrine to restore to them the strayed affections +of husband or lover. Next in line is an open, shed-like structure. It is +a poor chance if here the casual visitor does not encounter one or two +of the petitioners, patiently trotting round in a circle from front to +back, and reciting their prayers in this accomplishment of "the hundred +turns." Just opposite, and close by, is the shrine itself. This is in +part a massive store-house set back in the domestic structure, with the +shrine of the Inari facing the visitor. The floor space at the sides and +before it often is piled high with tubs of <i>shoyu</i> and <i>saké</i>, with +bundles of charcoal, such negotiable articles as the wealthier +shopkeeper can offer to the mighty lady; and long tresses of hair of +women too poor to offer anything else, or wise enough to know that a +woman could make no greater sacrifice. And is not the object of their +worship a woman? Numerous are these severed strands. Entering the shrine +and passing the pleasant spoken warden at its entrance, peddling his +charms and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> giving advice where often it is sadly needed—perhaps the +more valuable of his two public duties—to the left within is the +Oku-no-In, the inner shrine containing the <i>ihai</i> or memorial tablet of +O'Iwa. That the shrine is popular and wealthy; that the lady is feared, +venerated, and her dreadful powers much sought after; this is plain to +the eye in the crowded elaborateness of this inner holy place of the +larger sacred structure.</p> + +<p>Now Echizenbori is not a particularly old quarter of the city. Long +after Edo was established, the city, step by step, fought its way down +to the river; filling in lagoons and swamps, and driving their waters +into the canals which were to furnish very largely the means of +communication for its traffic. Yotsuya on the contrary is old. Its +poverty is of later date. In the Edo days it was a favourite site for +the homes of <i>dōshin</i>, <i>yakunin</i>, and a whole herd of the minor +officials who had the actual working of the great Tokugawa machine of +government in their hands. In the maps of Ansei 4th year (1857) the +shrine of the O'Iwa Inari figures in Samonchō, in its Teramachi; a +small part of the great mass of red, indicating temples and shrines and +their lands, which then covered a large part of Yotsuya. How then did it +come to pass that the shrine was removed to this far off site in +Echizenbori, with such incongruous surroundings? The explanation must be +found in our story.</p> + +<p>When the Tenwa year period (1681-83) opened, long resident at Yotsuya +Samonchō had been Tamiya Matazaémon. By status he was a minor +official or <i>dōshin</i> under the Tokugawa administration. These +<i>dōshin</i> held highest rank of the permanent staff under the +bureaucratic establishment; and on these men lay the main dependence for +smoothness of working of the machinery of the Government. Matazaémon was +the perfect type of the under-official of the day; smooth, civilly +impertinent to his equals, harsh to his inferiors, and all unction and +abjectness to his superiors. Indeed, he laid more stress on those +immediately above him than on the more removed. To serve the greater +lord he served<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> his immediate officer, being careful to allow to the +latter all the credit. No small part of his function was to see that +ceremonial form and precedent were carried out to the letter. It was the +accurate and ready knowledge of these which was of greatest import to +his chief, indeed might save the latter from disaster. Matazaémon's +readiness and conduct rendered him deservedly valued. Hence he enjoyed +the double salary of thirty <i>tawara</i> of rice, largely supplemented by +gifts coming to him as teacher in <i>hanaiké</i> (the art of flower +arrangement) and of the <i>cha-no-yu</i> (tea ceremony). He had a more than +good house, for one of his class, facing on the wide Samonchō road, +and with a garden on the famous Teramachi or long street lined with +temples and which runs eastward from that thoroughfare. The garden of +Tamiya almost faced the entrance to the Gwanshōji, which is one of +the few relics of the time still extant. It was large enough to contain +some fifteen or twenty fruit trees, mainly the <i>kaki</i> or persimmon, for +Matazaémon was of practical mind. Several cherry trees, however, +periodically displayed their bloom against the rich dark green foliage +of the fruit trees; and in one corner, to set forth the mystic qualities +of a small Inari shrine relic of a former owner, were five or six +extremely ancient, gnarled, and propped up plum trees, sufficient in +number to cast their delicate perfume through garden and house in the +second month (March).</p> + +<p>Such was the home of Matazaémon; later that of O'Iwa San. It was +pretentious enough to make display with a large household. But the +master of Tamiya was as close-fisted and hard and bitter as an unripe +<i>biwa</i> (medlar). His wealth was the large and unprofitable stone which +lay within; the acid pulp, a shallow layer, all he had to give to +society in his narrow minded adherence to official routine; the smooth, +easily peeled skin the outward sign of his pretentions to social status +and easily aroused acidity of temper. With most of his neighbours, and +all his relatives, he had a standing quarrel. Secure in his lord's +favour as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> an earnest officer, so little did he care for the dislike of +the ward residents that he was ever at drawn swords with the head of his +ward-association, Itō Kwaiba. As for the relatives, they were only too +ready to come to closer intimacy; and Matazaémon knew it.</p> + +<p>His household consisted of his wife O'Naka, his daughter O'Mino, and the +man servant Densuké. The garden Matazaémon would allow no one to attend +to but himself. The two women did all the work of the household which +ordinarily would fall to woman-kind, with something more. Densuké +performed the heavier tasks, accompanied his master on his outings, and +represented his contribution to the service of the ward barrier, the +Ōkidō, on the great Kōshū-Kaidō and just beyond the +Ōbangumi. The barrier cut off Yotsuya from the Naitō-Shinjuku +district, and, as an entrance into Edo, was of considerable importance. +When the time of service came Densuké appeared in full uniform and with +his pike. A handsome young fellow of nineteen years, the women, +especially O'Mino, saw to it that his appearance should be a credit to +the House. His progress up the wide Samonchō, up to his disappearance +into the great highway, was watched by O'Mino—and by the neighbours, +who had much sharper eyes and tongues than Matazaémon and his wife. They +marvelled.</p> + +<p>With ground for marvel. In the eyes of her parents O'Mino was the most +beautiful creature ever created. Occasionally Matazaémon would venture +on criticism. "Naka, something is to be said to Mino. Too much powder is +used on the face. Unless the colour of the skin be very dark, the use of +too much powder is not good. Mino is to be warned against excess." Thus +spoke the official in his most official tone and manner. Wife and +daughter heard and disobeyed; the wife because she was ruled by her +daughter, and the daughter because she would emulate the fair skin of +Densuké and be fairer in his eyes. O'Mino had suffered both from fate +and fortune. She had been born ugly; with broad, flat face like unto the +moon at full, or a dish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> Her back was a little humped, her arms +disproportionately long, losing in plumpness what they gained in +extension. She seemed to have no breasts at all, the chest forming a +concavity in correspondence to the convexity of the back, with a +smoothness much like the inner surface of a bowl. This perhaps was no +disadvantage—under the conditions. So much for fate. But fortune had +been no kinder. "Blooming" into girlhood, she had been attacked by +smallpox. Matazaémon was busy, and knew nothing of sick nursing. O'Naka +was equally ignorant, though she was well intentioned. Of course the +then serving wench knew no more than her mistress. O'Mino was allowed to +claw her countenance and body, as the itching of the sores drove her +nearly frantic. In fact, O'Naka in her charity aided her. The result was +that she was most hideously pock-marked. Furthermore, the disease cost +her an eye, leaving a cavity, a gaping and unsightly wound, comparable +to the dumplings called <i>kuzumanju</i>, white puffy masses of rice dough +with a depression in the centre marked by a dab of the dark-brown bean +paste. The neighbours used to say that O'Mino was <i>nin san baké +shichi</i>—that is, three parts human and seven parts apparition. The more +critical reduced her humanity to the factor one. The children had no +name for her but "Oni" (fiend). They had reason for this. They would not +play with her, and treated her most cruelly. O'Mino, who was of no mild +temperament, soon learned to retaliate by use of an unusually robust +frame, to which was united by nature and circumstances her father's +acidity of character. When the odds were not too great all the tears +were not on O'Mino's side; but she suffered greatly, and learned with +years that the Tamiya garden was her safest playground.</p> + +<p>O'Mino grew into a woman. Affection had to find some outlet. Not on the +practical and very prosaic mother; not on the absorbed and crabbed +father; but on Densuké, on the <i>samurai's</i> attendant or <i>chūgen</i>, it +fell. All manner of little services were rendered to him; even such as +would appropriately fall within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> his own performance. At first O'Mino +sought out little missions for him to perform, out of the line of his +usual duties, and well rewarded in coin. This was at his first +appearance in the house. Then she grew bolder. Densuké found his +clothing undergoing mysterious repairs and replacement. His washing, +even down to the loin cloths, was undertaken by the Ojōsan. Densuké +did not dare to question or thwart her. Any trifling fault O'Mino took +on herself, as due to her meddling. She became bolder and bolder, and +sought his assistance in her own duties, until finally they were as man +and maid employed in the same house. Matazaémon noted little increases +in the house expenses. O'Mino took these as due to her own extravagance. +The father grunted a little at these unusual expenditures. "What goes +out at one end must be cut off at the other end. Densuké, oil is very +expensive. At night a light is not needed. Be sure, therefore, on going +to bed to extinguish the light." Densuké at once obeyed his master's +order; and that very night, for the first time, O'Mino boldly sought his +couch. Confused, frightened, overpowered by a passionate woman, Densuké +sinned against his lord, with his master's daughter as accomplice.</p> + +<p>Henceforth Densuké had what O'Mino was willing to give him. On +Matazaémon's going forth to his duties, O'Mino, and O'Naka under her +orders, did all his household work. The only return required was +submission to the exigencies of the Ojōsan. This was no slight +obligation. Densuké at times thought of escape, to his home at Tōgané +village in Kazusa, to his uncle Kyūbei in the Kanda quarter of Edo. +O'Mino seemed to divine his thoughts. She would overload him with +favors; or openly express her purpose of following wherever he went in +life. Kanda? Kyūbei was a well-known hanger-on at the Tamiya. +Matazaémon entered him up in his expense book at so much a year. +Tōgané? He could not get there except through Kyūbei. Matazaémon +had farms there, and the <i>nanushi</i> or village bailiff was his servant. +Besides, he would be a runaway. Matazaémon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> surely would come down on +Kyūbei as the security. So the months passed, and matters were +allowed to drift. Perhaps it was some gossip of the quarter which +reached the deaf ears of Matazaémon. As he was about to go forth one day +he followed the figure of O'Mino sharply with his little eyes all +screwed up. "Naka, there seems change in the figure of Mino. Surely the +gossip of the neighbours as to Densuké is not true? Mino is said to +harbour a child by him. In such case it would be necessary to kill them +both. Warn Mino in time; a <i>chūgen</i> is not one to become the adopted +son (<i>muko</i>) of the Tamiya. He is an excellent lad, and costs but +little. His habits are not riotous. To dismiss him thus causelessly +would not only be unjust, but to no profit. Mino giving heed to the +warning, all will be well." With this the lord of the household stalked +forth to the house entrance. Receiving his clogs from O'Mino, he stalked +forth to his official attendance. The two women, prostrate in salutation +at his exit, raised their heads to watch him stalk.</p> + +<p>It was a frightened face that O'Naka turned to her daughter. In +whispering voice—"The honoured father's words have been heard? If not, +it is to be said that gossip of the neighbourhood has come to his ears +as to relations with Densuké. He notices that an <i>obi</i> is not often +worn; and when worn is soon discarded. However, a man's eye is not so +apt in such matters. Even in this Naka cannot speak positively. +Doubtless the report is not true." O'Mino, if ugly, was anything but +obtuse. Her mother must know; and yet not know. "My honoured father does +not consider the difference of age and status in Densuké. Densuké is but +a boy. This Mino has passed her twenty-third year. Moreover, surely she +deserves a better husband than a <i>chūgen</i>. Least of all would she +give her father cause for regret or painful thoughts. Can a woman be +pregnant otherwise than by a man?" O'Mino, respectfully prostrate, with +this raised her head. The two women looked each other in the face. +Finally O'Naka said—"With joy is the answer heard. But Matazaémon San +is of hasty temper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> In his suspicions even he is to be avoided. +However, the business of the house is to be performed. This will take +the time until late in the day. Tradesmen may come for payments of the +month. In the closet ten <i>ryō</i> in silver will be found. Here are the +keys to the chests. It would be well to take an inventory of the +effects. The winter is at hand. It is time to make warmer provision for +it. Be sure to observe circumspection." With these words, and a sad look +at her erring daughter, O'Naka donned street garb, threw a <i>haori</i> +(cloak) over her shoulders, climbed down into her clogs, and their +patter soon disappeared down the street.</p> + +<p>Her departure was almost coincident with the reappearance of Densuké. +His attendance on the master to the offices of the palace stables +accomplished, for the time being he had returned. Thus did Matazaémon +effect an outward state and an household economy. None too willing was +the presence of Densuké. He was faithful in his way to O'Mino, and much +afraid of her. Even in the most private intercourse to him she was the +Ojōsan, the daughter of the House; but he had no other recourse than +the Tamiya. Once assured of him, O'Mino had cut off all the previous +flow of coin, and with it the means of his rare indiscretions at the +Shinjuku pleasure quarter. Besides, their interviews took place in the +darkness of night. In the daytime O'Naka usually was present, who, +lacking other company, sought that of her daughter, and moreover was +unwilling to be too complacent in the intrigue she saw going on. As soon +as the sound of Densuké's steps was heard, O'Mino called him. There was +a sharpness in her tone, a note of alarmed decision, that frightened and +chilled him. Humbly he sought her presence. A glance showed the absence +of O'Naka, yet as usual he prostrated himself in salutation. In that +position he did not see her face. She said impatiently—"For salutation +there is no time nor occasion. It is no longer the Ojōsan who speaks; +it is the wife. My father knows all concerning this Mino and Densuké. On +his return<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> he is sure to take the occasion of the presence of both to +kill us. It is his right and our duty to submit to his punishment. But +to do so consigns the infant in the womb from darkness to darkness. This +is too dreadful to contemplate. Unfilial though it be, we must run away. +Make up your mind to do so." Densuké looked up. She was bent in +meditation over this flight. The corners of the mouth widened out, the +eyelid drooping more conspicuously than ever and forming a heavy fold +over the empty socket, the bald brow, the scanty hair at the sides in +disordered whisps and strands, all these made her a hideous mask. He +could not endure the sight. Timidly he said—"Terrible news indeed! How +has it happened? Surely, honoured lady, you have been very rash; nay, +somewhat clumsy withal. Cannot women take their pleasure with whom they +please without such dire results? Ah! Such luxury, such pleasant +surroundings! All must be abandoned. This Densuké will seek his native +village in Kazusa. And the Ojōsan whither will she go; what will she +do?"</p> + +<p>Was the question asked in innocence, or in deepest guile? O'Mino could +not have answered, well as she thought she knew Densuké. He felt a hand +on his shoulder. He sprang up in fright, hardly knowing whether it was a +demon, or O'Mino turned demon, who confronted him. Her mouth half open, +her large, white, shining, even teeth all displayed, her single eye +darting malignant gleams, and the empty socket and its fold quivering +and shaking, she was a frightful object. "To speak of pleasure without +the consequences, such talk is that of a fool. Densuké was taken for the +relationship of the two worlds. Now you would abandon me. Very well—do +so. But this Mino does not perish by her father's sword. The well is at +hand. Within three days I shall reappear and hunt you out. Torn to +pieces the wretched man shall die a miserable death. Better would it be +now to die with Mino. A last salutation...." Two vigorous arms seized +his neck. Densuké gave a cry of anguish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> as the sharp teeth marked the +ear. Letting him go, she sprang to the <i>rōka</i> (verandah). Frightened +as he was, Densuké was too quick for her. He grasped her robe. "Nay! The +Ojōsan must not act so desperately. Densuké spoke as one clumsy, and +at a loss what to do ... yes ... we must run away ... there is the +uncle, Kawai, in Kanda. To him Densuké will go, and there learn the will +of Tamiya Dono." O'Mino's tragic attitude lapsed. At once she was the +practical woman of the house. She gave thanks for her mother's +foresight. "The escape is not as of those unprovided. Here are ten +<i>ryō</i> in silver. A bundle is to be made of the clothing and other +effects. This is to be carried by Densuké. And the uncle: Mino +presenting herself for the first time as wife, a present is to be +brought. What should it be?" She talked away, already busy with piling +clothes, quilts (<i>futon</i>), toilet articles onto a large <i>furoshiki</i> or +square piece of cloth. Then she arrayed her person with greatest care, +and in the soberest and richest fashion as the newly-wed wife. With time +Densuké managed to get his breath amid this vortex of unexpected +confusion into which he had been launched. "The uncle's teeth are bad. +Soft <i>takuan</i><a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> is just the thing. For long he has eaten little else. +Four or five stalks are sufficient." He went to the kitchen to secure +this valued gift. Then he collected his own possessions. With the huge +bundle of the <i>furoshiki</i> on his shoulders; with straw raincoat, sun +hat, clogs for wet and dry weather, piled on the top, and the stalks of +the <i>takuan</i> dangling down; "it was just as if they were running away +from a fire." As Densuké departed O'Mino closely observed him. He was +too subdued, too scared to give her anxiety. Later she left the house to +join him at the Hanzō-bashi, far enough removed from Yotsuya. It was +then Tenwa, 2nd year, 11th month (December, 1682).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>KAWAI SAN OF KANDU KU</h3> + + +<p>This uncle of Densuké, Kawai Kyūbei by name, was a rice dealer, with +a shop in Matsudachō of the Kanda district. The distance to go was +far. As with all ladies, O'Mino kept Densuké waiting long at the +Hanzō-bashi. Indeed, there was much romance about this ugly, +neglected, hard girl. She waited until the sound of O'Naka's clogs was +heard. Then she halted at the corner of Teramachi until she could see +her mother's figure in the dusk; see it disappear into the house. When +she went down the street toward the Samégabashi she was crying. It was +late therefore—after the hour of the pig (9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>)—when the +pair reached Kanda. The business of the day was long over in this +business section of Edo. The houses were tightly closed. On reaching the +entrance of Kyūbei's house said Densuké—"Ojōsan, condescend to +wait here for a moment. The uncle is to be informed. Deign to have an +eye to the <i>furoshiki</i>. Please don't let the dogs bite into or insult +the <i>takuan</i>." He pounded on the door. Said a voice within—"Obasan +(Auntie)! Obasan! Someone knocks. Please go and open for them." The more +quavering and softer tones of an old woman made answer—"No, it is not +my turn and time to go to the door. Get up; and first make inquiry +before entrance is allowed. With little to lose, loss is much felt. Ah! +Tamiya Dono in the Yotsuya has been sadly neglected." The scolding tones +hummed on. Grumbling, the old man was lighting a rush. "'Tis agreed; +'tis agreed. To-morrow without fail this Kyūbei visits Tamiya. Ah! It +is no jest to go to that house. Not only is the distance great, but...." +He had the door open, and his mouth too. "Densuké! Graceless fellow! But +what are you doing here, and at this hour?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> No; the luck is good. There +is a big bundle with you, a huge bundle." He spied the <i>takuan</i> and his +face broadened into a smile. "Ah! If dismissed, it has been with honour. +Doubtless the <i>takuan</i> is for this Kyūbei. Thanks are felt. But is +all this stuff Densuké's? He has not stolen it? Doubtless a woman is at +the bottom of the affair. Never mind; an opportunity presents itself to +offer you as <i>muko</i>—at the Tatsuya in Yokomachi. Of late a boy has been +hoped for, but another girl presented herself. A <i>muko</i> now will be +welcome. The wife is getting past child-bearing, and there is little +hope of a son. The Tatsuya girl is just the thing. In a few months she +will be fit to be a wife. She...."</p> + +<p>Densuké edged a word into this stream. "The honoured uncle is right. The +cause of Densuké's appearance is a woman." The old man made a face. Said +he—"Well, in such a case it is good to be out of it. This Kyūbei has +heard talk of Densuké—and of all things with the Ojōsan! That would +be terrible indeed. But how is the Oni (demon)? What a sight she is! +Bald, one-eyed, hairless, with a face like a dish and no nose—Kyūbei +came suddenly on her at dusk in the Yotsuya. Iya! It was cold feet and +chills for him for the space of seven days. It is that which keeps +Kyūbei from Yotsuya, although a little aid would go far. The last +dealings in rice notes were not favourable. Besides, account is soon to +be rendered to Tamiya Dono. But though wicked of temper and ugly, O'Mino +San is rich. Even for the demon in time a good match will be found. She +will be the wife of an honoured <i>kenin</i> (vassal), and the husband will +buy <i>geisha</i> and <i>jorō</i> with the money. Such is the expectation of +Tamiya Dono. Don't allow any trifling there. Remember that she is the +daughter of a <i>go-kenin</i>. They talk of Densuké in the Yotsuya. Of course +it is all talk. Don't allow it to happen." Densuké found an opening. The +words meant one thing; the expression another. "It is not <i>going</i> to +happen." Kyūbei looked at him aghast as he took in the meaning. +"What! With the demon?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> Densuké has committed the carnal sin with the +demon? Oh, you filthy scoundrel! Rash, inconsiderate boy! Obasan! +Obasan!... What did she pay you for the deed?... This low fellow +Densuké, this foolish rascal of a nephew, has been caught in fornication +with the demon.... What a fool! How is it that death has been escaped? +And you have run away. Doubtless a pregnancy has followed. After putting +his daughter to death Tamiya Dono will surely hunt out Densuké. Or +perhaps keep O'Mino San until he catches the interloper. Sinning +together, both will die together. Ah! To cross the Sanzu no Kawa, to +climb the Shide no Yama, with the demon as company: terrific! It is +terrific! And what has become of her? Why fall into such a trap, with a +woman old and ugly? Her riches are not for you. Caught here, the +<i>tatami</i> of Kyūbei will be spoiled."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>Densuké countered. He spoke in the old man's ear. "Refusing consent, she +threatened to kill herself and haunt this Densuké as O'Baké +(apparition). The Ojisan (uncle) has seen the Ojōsan. Would he be +haunted by her, be seized and killed with torture?... And then—here she +stands, just at the door." The old man spluttered, and gasped, and went +on his nose in abject salutation—"Oh, the fool!... the Ojōsan is +here in person ... he would trifle with the devil!... the low rascal +would seduce the honoured daughter of Tamiya ... put ten hags in a row +and pick out the worst ... will the Ojōsan condescend to honour +Kyūbei's place.... Oh! She's a very O'Baké already. Pregnancy with a +beautiful woman is bad enough. With this demon it makes her an +apparition ... condescend to enter; deign to enter." O'Mino slowly came +forward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> That what had been said by the rash and unconscious Kyūbei +had escaped her ear was unlikely. The humility of demeanor hardly veiled +the offended dignity of her approach. "Densuké has spoken truth. We come +as husband and wife. Condescend to give shelter for the time being, and +become the intercessor with Tamiya Dono. Such is the prayer of this +Mino." As she spoke she bowed low on the <i>tatami</i> (mats). Kyūbei +caught the hint; for if she had heard the talk of Densuké, she had +assuredly heard his still louder ejaculations and ill-timed wit. The +Obasan was in a rage at him. Taking the conduct of affairs in her own +hand—"Condescend to make this poor dwelling a home for as long as +desired. Plainly the visitors have not come empty handed. Ma! Ma! 'Tis +like an escape from a fire. Densuké is a strong lad to shoulder such a +burden. But he always has been something of an ass. As for Matazaémon +Dono, to-morrow the Ojisan shall attend to the affair, and see what is +to be expected. Meanwhile, deign to be as in Samonchō itself." The +kindly old woman pushed Kyūbei and his clumsy apologies out of the +way. She busied herself about O'Mino. The two women understood each +other. The varied contents of the <i>furoshiki</i> were quickly stowed away. +A little supper was prepared for the hungry fugitives. Kyūbei sat by, +his eyes dazzled by the wealth of goods displayed, and his nostrils +shifting under the acrid perfume of the <i>takuan</i> and remembrance of his +stupidity.</p> + +<p>The next morning Kyūbei was up betimes. Matazaémon was no dawdler. It +was best to catch him satisfied with the morning meal, and perhaps beset +by the night's regret over the loss of his daughter. In no way was it a +pleasant mission. Kyūbei's pace became a crawl as he approached the +garden gate on Teramachi. He put in an appearance at the kitchen side. +O'Naka was here established, engaged in her duties and surely awaiting +him. At sight of him she burst into what was half laugh and half tears. +"Ah! It is Kyūbei San. Doubtless he comes on the part of Mino and +Densuké. It is kind of Kyūbei to befriend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> them. The Danna (master) +is very angry indeed. An only daughter, and one on whom he depended for +a <i>muko</i>, he is much upset. Please go in and talk with him. Show anger +at the runaways. To agree with him may somewhat soothe his passion. +Condescend so to act." Kyūbei winked. And turn some of this anger on +himself? Well, agreement might rouse the spirit of contradiction in +Tamiya Dono. It was a characteristic of this hide-bound official. +Matazaémon was drinking the last sips of tea from his rice bowl when the +<i>shōji</i> were gently pushed apart, and the head of Kyūbei inserted +in the opening. At first he paid no attention. Then as one in +haste—"Ah! Is it Kyūbei? He comes early to-day—and hardly to apply +for anything. The rice notes are not yet due for some weeks." His tone +was grim; the usual indifferent benevolence of demeanor toward a +townsman was conspicuously absent. Kyūbei felt chilled. Densuké must +not sacrifice his good uncle to his own folly.</p> + +<p>Said Kyūbei—"Yet it is to seek the honoured benevolence of Tamiya +Dono that Kyūbei comes." Matazaémon turned sharp around toward him. +Frightened, the townsman continued—"Densuké has acted very wickedly. +The low, lascivious rascal has dared to seduce the honoured daughter of +the House. Both are now harboured at the house of this Kyūbei, who +now makes report. Their lives are in the hand of Tamiya Dono. But +Kyūbei would make earnest plea for delay. O'Mino San being pregnant, +the child would be sent from darkness to darkness—a terrible fate. May +it be condescended to show the honoured mercy and benevolence. Evil and +unfilial though the action of the two has been, yet 'benevolence weighs +the offence; justice possesses two qualities.' Such are the words of +Kōshi (Confucius)." The eyes of Matazaémon twinkled. He had heard +that Kyūbei was on the verge of shaving his head (turning priest). +Truly the townsman was profitting by the exhortations of his teacher. +After a time he said—"The memory of Kyūbei is excellent. Don't let +it fail him on the present occasion. For such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> a deed as has been +committed the punishment is death, meted out by the hand of this +Matazaémon. The fact ascertained, it was intended to kill them both. The +flight of Mino and Densuké has altered the complexion of the affair. It +is no longer necessary to inflict the extreme penalty. O'Mino is +disowned for seven births. Neither she nor Densuké is to appear before +this Matazaémon. If the talk of the ward be true, in exchange for a +loyal service Densuké has secured a beautiful bride. There can be no +regrets." Then, taking a sprightly and jeering air, "But this Kyūbei +has been the one to exercise benevolence. Matazaémon now learns that the +two runaways have been received by him. Entertain them well; entertain +them well. Thanks are due to Kyūbei San—from them. Doubtless he is +much occupied with his guests. Less will be seen of him in Yotsuya.... +But official duties press. This Matazaémon must leave. Don't be in +haste. Stay and take some tea.... Naka! Naka! Tea for Kyūbei San; the +<i>haori</i> (cloak) of Matazaémon.... <i>Sayonara</i>.... Ah! The rice notes this +Matazaémon took up for Kyūbei San, they fall due with the passage of +the weeks. But Kyūbei is one who always meets his obligations. As to +that there is no anxiety." With this last fling the prostrate Kyūbei +heard the sound of the clogs of Matazaémon on the flagged walk outside. +A departing warning to O'Naka as to the tea, and steps were heard +near-by. He raised his head, to confront the mistress of the house.</p> + +<p>O'Naka spoke with tears in her eyes—a salve to the alarmed and wounded +feelings of Kyūbei. "Don't be frightened. After all Matazaémon is a +<i>samurai</i>. To press Kyūbei, or any tradesman, is beyond him. But this +Naka cannot see her daughter! To add to his anger would bring disaster +on her and the unborn child. Alas! Anyhow, give Mino this money; and +these articles of value, properly her own. Her mirror has been forgotten +in the hasty flight." O'Naka brought forth one of those elaborate +polished silver surfaces, used by the ladies of Nippon in these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> later +luxurious days of the Shōgunate. It was only now that it became the +property of O'Mino. It was part of the wedding outfit of O'Naka herself. +With this little fiction the mother continued—"When the child is born +allow the grandmother at least a distant sight of it. Perhaps it will +resemble Tamiya; be like its mother, and soften a father's heart." Now +she wept bitterly; and Kyūbei wept with her—bitterly. "Like the +mother! The Buddhas of Daienji<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> would indeed weep at the appearance of +such a monster." This was his thought; not expressed with the humble +gratitude, prostration, and promises which he fully intended to keep. +Kyūbei reverentially accepted the mirror, the goods, the money. +Taking his leave of Yotsuya—a long one he feared—with sighs he set out +for Kanda. Here he made his report. Said the old townsman with +severity—"The will of the parent is not to be disobeyed. It is the duty +of this Kyūbei to see to its performance." He had O'Naka more in mind +than the master of Tamiya. O'Mino might yet be the goose to lay golden +eggs. A goose of such plumage! Kyūbei made a wry face in the darkness +of the corridor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRŌ</h3> + + +<p>Some means of support had to be found. Employed in a <i>kenin's</i> house, +and leaving it under such conditions, kindred occupation was out of the +question. There was a sort of black list among these officials to cover +all grades of their service. Time and the host of servants of some great +House would get the lad back into the only occupation he understood. +Trusting to some such accident of fortune, Kyūbei made Densuké his +agent on commission. Densuké was no idler. Kyūbei managed to meet the +Tamiya security for his loans, largely through the efforts of the +younger man. The married couple at this time set up their establishment +in Gorōbeichō of Kyōbashi Ku. Coming and going, often with no +definite task in hand, Densuké to all appearance was an out-and-out +idler. For the first time released from the trammels of her class, +O'Mino could attend the theatres and farce shows of the capital. She +delighted in acting this part of a tradesman's wife. Moreover she was +very sure of not meeting with Matazaémon, of whom she was in great fear. +Bound to the <i>formulæ</i> of his class, her father might feel bound to cut +her down on sight.</p> + +<p>One day Densuké was idling and hanging over the parapet of the +Nihonbashi. Some fishermen were violently quarrelling in the fish market +on the bank just below the bridge. As he looked on with interest a hand +was laid on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a man, partly in the dress of +a <i>chūgen</i>, partly in that of a menial attendant of one of the larger +<i>yashiki</i> (nobleman's mansion). Scars of burns on his hands and arms, +patches of rice flour and bran, showed that he was a cook. His eye was +severe and his manner abrupt as he rebuked Densuké. "An idle fellow! +This Tarōbei never fails to come across Densuké as an idler,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> or on +the way to Asakusa with the worthy wife. Is he fit for nothing?" Densuké +was a mild man. To this man with a grievance his answer was soft. +Besides he had no liking for the cook's knife stuck in the girdle, and +handy to carve fish or flesh. He said—"Perchance the idleness is more +in appearance than fact. Buying and selling on commission the task is an +irregular one. It is true, however, that this Densuké has no settled +labour. Alas! Former days in the service of a <i>samurai</i> are much to be +regretted."—"Can you cook rice?" was the abrupt interruption. "This +Densuké knows the 'Sanryaku' fairly well. Is more needed?" The man +looked at him dumbfounded. "The 'Sanryaku'—what's that?"—"Knowledge of +the 'Sanryaku' enables one to meet all the requirements of a <i>bushi</i> +(knight).<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> At the school in Kazusa Tōgané the priest who taught +this Densuké, at one time a <i>samurai</i>, was far more taken with the +'Sanryaku' than with the <i>Sutra</i> (Scripture); the lessons taught applied +more to Bushidō (the knight's way) than to Butsudō (the way of the +Buddha).... But to the point; this Densuké for three years cooked the +rice at Tamiya in Yotsuya. First there is the <i>toro-toro</i> of bubbling +water; then the <i>biri-biri</i>, as what little remains passes as steam +through the rice grains. Then the sharp whistling cry of a baby from the +pot on the slow fire (<i>murashite</i>). The task is done, and the vessel is +removed from the stove." The man looked with respect on this learned +cook. Said he—"Densuké is the man. Tarōbei must leave the +kitchen of Geishū Sama at once. The mother is ill in Aki province. A +substitute is to be found. The salary—is next to nothing; but the +perquisites are numerous, and the food ample to feed several Densuké and +their wives. Deign to accept." Densuké did not hesitate—"The obligation +lies with Densuké. But how secure the position? There is Tamiya...." The +man laughed. "There are many Densuké<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> in Edo; and no connection between +the <i>yashiki</i> of Matsudaira Aki no Kami and the house of a <i>dōshin</i> +in Yotsuya. There is small likelihood of meeting old acquaintances. Be +sure to remember that it is Densuké of Kyōbashi; not Densuké of +Yotsuya. This pass will answer to the gate-man. Substitutes are common. +Whether it be Densuké or Tarōbei who cooks the rice makes no difference; +provided the rice be well cooked. Tarōbei's service lies elsewhere; +to Densuké San deep his obligation." He held out the pass, and Densuké +took it.</p> + +<p>With mutual salutation and joy in heart they parted. Densuké betook +himself to the <i>yashiki</i> of Matsudaira Aki no Kami at Kasumigaseki. No +difficulties were encountered. Tarōbei was not so superlative as a +cook that the substitute could not be better than the original. At this +place Densuké acted the part of the <i>komatsukibatta</i>. This is a narrow +brown weevil, some three parts of an inch in length, and which stands on +its head making the repeated movements of <i>o'jigi</i>, much as at a +ceremonial encounter in Nippon. Densuké was not long in becoming well +liked. He was ready to run errands for all, outside of the hours of his +duties. From those higher up in the <i>yashiki</i> these errands brought him +coin. Every month he could bring O'Mino twenty to thirty <i>mon</i> in +"cash"; apart from the ample rations of rice and <i>daikon</i> bestowed on +the kitchen staff. Nay: as cook at times fish could not be allowed to +spoil, and fell to the perquisites of Densuké. Thus time passed; and +with it the delivery of O'Mino, and the crisis in the affairs of Densuké +approached. Now Geishū Sama<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> was a fourth month <i>daimyō</i>. Hence +with the iris blossoms he took his departure from Edo to the government +of his fief in Aki province. The Sakuji Machibugyō, one Takahashi +Daihachirō, plead illness on this occasion of the exodus. As unable +to accompany his lord he remained in Edo. On plea of convenience<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> he +established himself in the abandoned quarters of the <i>ashigaru</i> or +common soldiers, situated right over Densuké's cooking stoves. Entirely +removed from the bustle of the household, except during Densuké's now +rare attendance, he secured complete isolation and quiet. Densuké went +on cooking for Takahashi Sama, just as if it had been for the whole +military household. Daihachirō was a forbidding kind of man; and it +was with no amiable look that he greeted Densuké when the latter +appeared very late to prepare the meal. It being the 5th month 5th day +(the <i>sekku</i>) of Tenwa 3rd year (30th May, 1683), perhaps he suspected +Densuké of preparation for, and participation in, the great festival +which was in progress. "Densuké is very late. This Daihachirō has +made the trial; to find out that he is no cook. Indeed the right hand +has been severely burnt. A cook should be on time—for the meal, not the +<i>matsuri</i>." Densuké was all apology—"Nay, Danna Sama; it is not the +festival which has detained Densuké. An infant was expected to-day by +the wife. Hence Densuké's neglect. Deign to pardon him."—"A baby being +born is no reason why Daihachirō should starve. Prepare the meal in +haste. The rice is to be soft; and please see that the fish also is +soft. Make the sauce not too sharp. It would give great trouble to make +the bath in the quarters. In Owarimachi, or Kubomachi, good bath-houses +are to be found." Densuké took the hint. At once he recommended one he +thought befitting the great man's greatness. "Well: <i>Sayonara</i>. See that +the meal is ready by the return." Off stalked Takahashi Daihachirō, +towel dangling from his hand, and toothbrush and bran bag in his bosom.</p> + +<p>Densuké gave a sigh of relief as he left the court. Daihachirō often +employed him on missions, and was never particularly generous even when +the transaction was decidedly shady. Densuké was dreadfully afraid of +him. Somehow he felt as if Daihachirō was Fate—his fate. Turning to +his stoves, the pots and the pans, the meal soon was in successful +preparation. As Densuké lifted the cover to inspect the rice—splash! A +great red spot spread in widening circle over the white mass. In fright +Densuké clapped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> on the lid of the pot. He looked upward, to locate this +unusual condiment to his provision. On his forehead he received in +person a second consignment. Applying his finger to his head, and then +to his nose—"Blood! Ah! O'Také's fierce cat has caught a rat and is +chewing it in the room above. How vexatious! If the Danna should find +out...." Hastily he tried to shove his equipment to one side. This would +not do. The massive stone blocks forming the furnace were too heavy for +Densuké to move unaided. Somewhat helpless he looked around. The rice +was almost done; ready for the process of <i>murashité</i>, or simmering over +the slow fire. The fish, carefully prepared, as yet was to be cooked. +All was to be ready against the return of Daihachirō Sama. Ah! Again +the dropping began. As finding some channel in the rough boarding of the +ceiling it came fast. His kitchen began to look like the place where the +Eta (outcasts) slaughter beasts. Densuké shuddered.</p> + +<p>Circumstances, the results involved, make the timid brave. Grasping a +pole Densuké started up the ladder leading to the loft and the quarters +of the <i>ashigaru</i>. Arrived at the top his eyes took in the poor +apartment. The rafters and beams of a low-cast roof; six wretched +(Loo-choo) mats on the floor, for the men to sit, and sleep, and live +upon; such its bare equipment. In the middle of the mats was a great red +stain. Densuké was at once attracted to it. "A cat would eat a rat; but +it would not wipe up the blood." His eyes were caught by the straw +basket used to store away the raincoats. This was all stained red at the +bottom. Going close up he found it was wet. Perhaps the cat was at work +inside. Densuké raised the cover and looked in. In alarm he sprang back. +On the trunk and limbs of a body was placed a freshly severed head. +Without replacing the cover, with pole uplifted over his head in +defence, Densuké backed toward the ladder. His one idea was to flee this +<i>yashiki</i>. As he reached the top of the steps the voice of Daihachirō +was heard below—"A pest on such filthy bath-houses; and filthier +patrons.... What! No rice yet, Densuké? Ah! Where is the fellow?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +Densuké looked down, to meet the altered countenance of Daihachirō +looking up. He retreated as the latter sprang up the ladder. +Daihachirō gave a rapid glance. He saw the raised cover of the +basket. The next moment the bosom of Densuké's dress was harshly +grasped, and he himself was forced down on the floor. Gloomily +Daihachirō regarded him—"Rash and curious fellow! Why not keep to +your pots and pans? Densuké loses his life; and Daihachirō a fool for +a cook." He had drawn his sword to strike. Densuké clung to his knees in +petition—"Pardon, master! Pardon! This Densuké is no idle gossip. The +dripping blood threatened to spoil the meal. Thinking the cat was eating +a rat, fearing the anger of the Danna Sama if the meal had to be +re-cooked, Densuké came up here to chase the animal away. Thus the crime +was discovered...."—"Crime!" thundered Daihachirō. "Ah! This +intermeddler must certainly die. By the word of a <i>samurai</i>...." In his +terror Densuké almost put his hand over the irrevocable sentence. He +spoke with life at stake. "Deign, master, to pardon Densuké. He has +committed no offence; knows of no offence in others. Densuké has seen +nothing. Life is a jewel, to be kept at any cost. Densuké is far too +insignificant to deserve the anger of Takahashi Sama." He grovelled in +the abject terror of his petition.</p> + +<p>Takahashi Daihachirō hesitated. An idea seemed to occur to him, at +sight of the man's fear-struck state. He smiled grimly. "Densuké saw the +head?"—"'Tis so," admitted Densuké. "But to see a head means nothing." +Daihachirō dragged him over to the raincoat basket. Holding him down, +he grasped the head by the cue and lifted it out. "Look!" Densuké gave a +cry of surprise at sight of the features of a once neighbour. "It is the +head of Iséya Jusuké, the money lender of Hachōbori; a hard man. +Surely the Danna...."—"Just so," replied Daihachirō, carelessly +throwing the mortuary relic back into the basket. "Borrowing five +<i>ryō</i>, in six months with the interest the sum now due is twenty-five +<i>ryō</i>. Pleading illness Daihachirō remained in Edo, to try and +soften the usurer. He threatened a report to my lord; grew insolent +beyond measure. The sword drawn, he was killed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> forthwith.... Here +Densuké finds his use and saves his life. This body is an awkward +impediment. Densuké must take and cast it away. Otherwise, a second head +is added to this first. With one already to dispose of a second gives no +difficulty. Decide: is it agreed? Moreover there will be payment." He +took out a money belt (<i>dōmaki</i>), that of Jusuké. Densuké recognized +it. Daihachirō had robbed Jusuké, after killing him. Lovingly he ran +the golden <i>ryō</i> through his fingers. Seventy of them Densuké +counted. Daihachirō picked out three <i>ryō</i>. "Here is payment. Life +is spared, and it is agreed to cast away the body." Stammered +Densuké—"On the rubbish heap?" Daihachirō looked at him—"You fool! +Why not proclaim that Densuké murdered Jusuké? Once the gate is +passed—and this Daihachirō goes in company so far—it is Densuké who +is the murderer of Jusuké. Remain in this place until night. Then off +with the body; pitch it into the ditch of Kuroda Ke, or that of Saiō +Dono. Daihachirō now takes his meal. There is nothing wrong with it?" +He looked meaningly at Densuké. The latter, with eyes on the shining +sword, at once denied all defilement. He now plumed himself on the care +taken of the Danna's interests. Daihachirō descended; to feed at ease +and keep watch over the unwilling Densuké.</p> + +<p>In the 5th month (June) the days are long. Densuké was a coward; and for +company had the corpse of the murdered Jusuké. To the poor cook the time +passed was torture. He was continually going to the stair and calling +down—"Danna Sama, has the time come?... Ah! The sky is light. The +streets at night will be full of people with lanterns. Plainly +O'Tentō Sama (the Sun) has forgotten to decline in the West. Alas! +This Densuké is most unlucky." At last the hour of the dog was passing +(7-9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>). Daihachirō appeared. "Now for the corpse! Wrap +it up in this matting.... Coward! Is Densuké afraid of a dead man?" He +took the body and cut the tendons of arms and legs. Then he placed the +head on the belly. Doubling the limbs over the body so as to hold the +head he wrapped the matting around the whole. The outside he covered +with some red raincoats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>—"in case of accidental stains." Then he +strongly roped the whole together. He stood back to inspect a truly +admirable job. Densuké wondered how many usurers Daihachirō had thus +disposed of. His speculations were interrupted. Everything was ready. +"Now! the loan of Densuké's back." Groaned Densuké—"Danna Sama, a +request."—"What?" asked Daihachirō. "Condescend to put a board +between the body of Densuké and that of Jusuké. The head might seize and +bite me with its teeth." Daihachirō snorted with laughter, contempt, +and anger mixed. "What a cowardly rascal you are! Off with it as it is." +Said Densuké respectfully and firmly—"The task is that of Densuké. +Condescend so far to favour him." His obvious terror threatened collapse +even of the influence of Daihachirō. An old remnant of the back of a +corselet was at hand. Said Daihachirō—"This is still better. It is +metal. In it goes. Now off with you." Stalking along in the rear of the +unfortunate cook, Daihachirō kept within easy distance of a sword +blow. At the gate he said—"Pray grant passage. Densuké takes washing of +this Daihachirō—bed quilts and <i>futon</i> to be +renovated."—"Respectfully heard and understood." The gate-man let fall +the bar and stood aside. Densuké passed into the street. A little way +off he looked around. Takahashi Daihachirō had disappeared. Now +indeed it was an affair between Densuké and Jusuké.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN</h3> + + +<p>Shouldering his pack Densuké made off down the broad space lined by the +white walls of the <i>yashiki</i>. In this quarter of the <i>bushi</i> the highway +was not crowded with citizens and their lanterns. Densuké had high hopes +of an early disposition of the incubus. He approached the ditch which +protected the wall of the <i>yashiki</i> of Prince Kuroda. When about to put +down the bundle a hail reached him from the <i>samurai</i> on guard at the +Kuroda gate. "Heigh there, rascal! Wait!" But Densuké did not wait. In +terror he gave the load a shift on his shoulder and started off almost +at a run. On doing so there was a movement within. The cold sweat stood +out on the unhappy man's forehead. A moment, and would the teeth of +Jusuké be fastened in his shoulder? "Ah! Jusuké San! Good neighbour! +This Densuké is but the wretched agent. 'Tis Daihachirō Sama who +killed Jusuké. Deign to pursue and haunt Takahashi Sama. Jusuké San! +Jusuké San!" Fright gave him strength and boldness. The Tora no Mon +(Tiger gate) of the castle should be the place of disposal. Here the +ditch was deep and dark. But to its very edge swarmed the people with +their lanterns on this night of festival in early summer. The moor of +Kubomachi was his next goal. At this period it really was open ground. +With a sigh of relief Densuké let the bundle slip from his now weary +shoulders. Alive he would have laughed at the idea of carrying the +portly Jusuké. Yet here the usurer bestrode him, far heavier weight than +on other unfortunate clients. "Let's have a look at him; address him +face to face." His hand was on the knot, when a woman's voice spoke in +his ear. Densuké did not wait to ascertain the nature of her +solicitation. He sped away into the darkness, toward the distant city. +Without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> goal, he found himself at Shiodomé.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> Crossing the Shimbashi +he entered on the crowded and lighted Owarichō. It was only the hour +of the pig (9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>), and the house lanterns as yet burned +brightly. He hesitated, with the idea of turning toward Shiba, of trying +his luck in this still rustic district; or on the seashore, not far off.</p> + +<p>A man close by greeted him. "Iya! Densuké San at last is found. The +honoured wife suffers great anxiety. Thinking that the festival might be +the attraction this Goémon set out to find you. Deign to hasten at once +to Gorōbeichō." Densuké shifted his burden away from the man. Did +it not already somewhat taint the air? His nostrils were wide open in +alarmed inquiry. He made excuses. With his heavy pack he would follow +after slowly. He was overwhelmed by his neighbour's kindness. Goémon +offered to share the work. Densuké did more than refuse. Unable to shake +off his companion in stolid desperation he took his way to his home in +the tenement (<i>nagaya</i>). "Tadaima" (just now—present), he called from +the doorway. Entering the shabby room he put down the <i>furoshiki</i> in a +distant corner. Going to the Butsudan, or house altar, at once he lit +the lamps. O'Mino eyed him with astonishment. "What's that?" she asked, +pointing to the bundle—"Washing of Daihachirō Sama"—"But Mino is +ill. So situated she cannot do washing. How negligent!"—"It makes no +matter," replied Densuké recklessly. O'Mino did not like the tone of his +voice. She eyed him sharply. Then more pressing matters urged. "Weary as +you are it is to be regretted; but money must be in hand, for the +midwife and other expenses. A few hours, and this Mino will be unable to +leave her bed—for three turns (weeks). There is cooking and washing to +be done. Please go to Kyūbei San and ask the loan of a <i>ryō</i>. +Perhaps he will give half."—"He will give nothing," was the surly reply +of Densuké. "Of loans he has grown tired of late. As the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> uncle is the +only stay in dire necessity care must be taken not to offend. Moreover, +the loan is unnecessary. Here are three <i>ryō</i>." He brought out the +shining oblong pieces. O'Mino's eyes were bright with terror. "Ah! Has +Densuké turned thief? How was this money secured? What has happened? Why +so late in returning?" But Densuké was made confident and ready of +tongue by the physical helplessness of O'Mino. "Don't be alarmed. +Densuké is neither thief nor murderer. He is no Shirai Gompachi. Perhaps +there is a corpse within, not washing. Would the Ojōsan see a head, +arms, legs, freshly severed?" He laughed harshly as she turned her head +from him to the bundle, then back again. "This money was given to +Densuké by Takahashi Sama; in return for faithful service in an +important matter. Don't be frightened. It has been honestly earned." +Said O'Mino, almost to herself—"But Daihachirō Sama is not one to +give such a sum as three <i>ryō</i>. He is always in debt. The wife of +Jusuké San complains of his delays with her husband. However...." +Confidence restored, she bade Densuké put the money in the drawer of the +toilet stand. Then he was to prepare some food; for themselves, and for +the neighbours ready to assist at the expected birth.</p> + +<p>Densuké did so, his eyes shifting from O'Mino to the stove, from the +stove to the deadly bundle. Finally he removed the <i>furoshiki</i> to their +outer room, mumbling some excuse as to the foulness of a buck-basket. He +returned to his cooking. Barely tasting some food O'Mino soon was sound +asleep. Densuké observed her. "Ugly, rich, a very <i>O'Baké</i> in +appearance is the Ojōsan; and yet she takes as husband a spiritless +creature, such as is this Densuké. Is it good or bad fortune? How +grateful would be her advice." He went to bed himself in the outer room; +to spend a hideous night of nightmare in company with the dead Jusuké, +who now did taint the air with that indefinable pollution of even the +freshest corpse. Wild visions floated through the brain of Densuké. The +neighbours would assemble. The food was ready.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> Ah! Here comes the wife +of Jusuké San. She demands her husband. A moment, and Densuké was +stealing from the house entrance into the darkness. The river? Ah! That +was it. The canal of Hachōbori was close at hand to Jusuké's own +home. It would float him to his very door. Densuké soon saw himself at +the river bank. No one was at hand. Splash! In went the foul burden. +There it was again. But now it was Jusuké in person. "Jusuké San! Jusuké +San! Pardon! 'Twas not this Densuké who killed you. Seek vengeance of +Daihachirō Sama. He is the murderer." In his terror he lost all fear +of being heard. He shouted at the top of his lungs. But Jusuké laid a +heavy hand on him. With one long drawn out groan Densuké—awoke.</p> + +<p>O'Mino was leaning close over him, her face spectre-like with pain. +Seeing that he was awake she took away her hand. "What is the matter +with you? All night you have been shouting and mumbling in sleep. Just +now it was 'Jusuké San! Jusuké San! Daihachirō Sama!' It is indeed a +matter of Jusuké San. The time of Mino is at hand; the pains begin. Go +at once to the house of Jusuké, and ask his wife O'Yoshi to condescend +her aid." Densuké sprang up. An idea flashed into his mind. He would go +to Hachōbori and make full confession. Which was the most important? +O'Yoshi as confessor or as midwife? With his brain thus puzzled over an +answer he started off. His last injunction to O'Mino was—"by no means +meddle with the bundle of Daihachirō Sama." There could have been no +more direct invitation to her to do so. For a short time O'Mino did +nothing but eye the strange bundle. Then she was on her knees before it, +examining it. "Rain coats as wrapping! And tied with rope: a queer kind +of washing. What a strange odour! Pickled <i>daikon</i> (<i>nukamisozuké</i>)?" +She shook it. Something inside went <i>gotsu-gotsu</i>. This was too much for +her curiosity. Her old suspicion came back, that Densuké had turned +robber. She poked a little hole in the straw wrapping. Some kind of +cloth covering was within; a <i>kimono</i> without doubt. Through its tissue +something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> shone white. The kitchen knife was close at hand on the +brazier (<i>hibachi</i>). She reached out, and in a moment the rope was +severed. "Oya! Oya!" Out rolled a head. An arm, two helpless flexible +legs were extended before her. With a scream of horror O'Mino fell flat +on her back. Lying stretched out she uttered one sharp cry after +another. The neighbouring wives came hurrying in, a stream of humanity. +"What is wrong? A young wife screams not without cause. Oya! Oya! O'Mino +San has given birth to a baby and a head. Iya! Head, limbs, body—a +monstrous parturition!" With the woman groaning in the pain of her +delivery, the wives in confusion, children flying to summon the men +folk, the whole district was in an uproar. In the midst of the confusion +arrived Densuké and the wife of Jusuké. As yet he had not found courage +to confess. He was still "deciding." A neighbour greeted him—"Densuké +San! Strange things have happened to O'Mino San. She has given birth to +a head and a baby at the same time. Hasten, Densuké San! Hasten!" +Densuké did hasten; but it was to disappear down the nearest byway in +headlong flight. Amazed and confounded the wife of Jusuké proceeded +alone to the house; as the first thing to set eyes on the head of her +husband, eyes still open and glaring in death. With a cry she +precipitated herself upon it; took it in her arms. The midwife, summoned +in haste, parted infant from mother. Thus did O'Iwa San come forth into +the world.</p> + +<p>The affair was grave. The <i>kenshi</i> (coroner) was soon on the scene. +O'Mino with feeble voice told what she knew. "Deign to examine into the +affair beyond the surface. My husband Densuké is not the man to commit +this crime. Ask the neighbours, who know him. Last night he brought +three <i>ryō</i>, given him by Takahashi Daihachirō Sama, the Sakuji +Machibugyō of Geishū Kō. He said that it was for important +service rendered. There is no doubt that Takahashi San is the murderer. +Deign to examine well; show benevolence.... Ah! This Mino shall have +vengeance. For seven lives Daihachirō shall be pursued...."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> Her eyes +became injected with blood. Her breast heaved painfully in the attempt +to get air. The women around her gave cries of alarm. O'Mino sank back +in a pool of blood. She had died in the midst of her curse. Said one +present—"This Tōkichi would not be the honoured Sakuji Sama; nay, +not for the full seven existences in human form." The others felt as he +did. Even the <i>kenshi</i> drew up his shoulders a little at the frightful +mask of the dead woman's face. He could learn but little. Kyūbei, +soon at hand, petitioned for the dead body of O'Mino and the custody of +the infant. The neighbours corroborated the story of O'Mino; but Densuké +had disappeared. Daihachirō never had confidence in his agent. His +preparations for flight had been made before Densuké's discovery, and +almost together with Densuké he had passed out the gate of Geishū +Sama, with the seventy <i>ryō</i> provided by Jusuké. Report being made to +the Machibugyō a "grass dividing" search was made, without result. No +trace of either man was found. As for the child born under these +auspicious conditions, Kyūbei went at once to Tamiya Matazaémon and +made report. With bowed head the old man awaited the decision. Said +Matazaémon—"The name giving is to take place on the seventh night. +Kyūbei will not fail to be present." He did not speak further. Thus +the offence of the parents was pardoned in O'Iwa the infant; the +grandchild of a man and woman passing the period of middle age.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDŌSHI<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></h3> + + +<p>It was Genroku 8th year (1695). O'Iwa, a girl of twelve years, could +understand what came to her ears. In dealing with each other the +Nipponese are very exact and exacting. The New Year must start with a +clean balance sheet for the tradesman—all bills paid and collected. The +last night of the dying year, and its last few hours; this time is the +busiest and most anxious. Zensuké, the <i>bantō</i> (clerk) of the Shimaya +dry goods shop, accompanied by one Jugorō, was passing the Shiba +Kiridōshi. It was the hour of the tiger (3 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>). Of the +two, Jugorō was the fighting man. Jurōzaémon of the Shimaya had +provided him with a short sword and sent him as guard to Zensuké, who +would have more than three hundred <i>ryō</i> in gold. Said +Jugorō—"Bantō San, whither now? The hour is late."—"It is never +late on the <i>ōmisoka</i> (31st of the 12th month)," replied Zensuké +tersely. "However, there remains but one account to collect; at +Nishikubo. We will hasten."—"Go on ahead," said Jugorō. "A moment +here for a necessity." Thus the two men became separated by nearly a +<i>chō</i> (100 yards). The district was one of <i>yashiki</i> and temples. The +white walls of the former blended with the white carpet of snow on the +ground. At any hour it was no busy place; now it was desolate. The high +banks of the cutting crowned by woods and approached through the trees, +made it an ideal place for a hold-up. Zensuké hesitated. He slowed his +pace to allow his companion to join him. He thought he saw something +move in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> the darkness close by. From behind a tree just before him came +a <i>samurai</i>. Two others followed this man from the shadows. The heads of +all three men were covered by <i>zukin</i> (hoods). They wore vizors. "Wait!" +Zensuké stopped in fright. "What suspicious rascal is this, travelling +the quarter at this hour? Probably some clerk making off with his +master's funds. Come now! Give them into better keeping. Low fellow! You +are fairly trapped." Zensuké began to retreat, but two of the men were +now behind him. He began to shout for Jugorō. The latter came up at a +run—"Honoured Sirs! This is the Bantō San of the Shimaya of Honjō +Itchōme. He is collecting the house bills. Deign not to disturb +him."—"Shut up!" was the reply of the leader. "Another fellow of the +same kidney. Look to him." Roughly he thrust his hand into Zensuké's +bosom and began to hustle and fumble the clerk. When Jugorō would +interfere the two other men prevented him. With fright he saw the money +belt of the <i>bantō</i> dangling from the man's hand. The nature of the +affair was plain. "Heigh! Jokes don't go, honoured sirs. We are not +suspicious fellows. Condescend to pardon us." As he spoke he took +advantage of the negligence of his opponents, their interest in the +struggle of Zensuké and their leader, to wrench himself free. At once +his sword was out. Jugorō was of no mean skill. None of his wardsmen +could face him. One man received severe wounds in scalp and face. The +other lost part of his hand. But Jugorō was no match for the odds of +two trained soldiers. He was soon cut down. Meanwhile Zensuké was +shouting lustily for aid. At this period there was a guard called the +<i>tsujiban</i> (cross-roads watch). It was mostly composed of oldish men not +fit for active service. Such regulations as there were they observed. +These were very severe; but, as with the present day police, kept them +to their post. They rarely troubled themselves to patrol their district. +From these men there could be little hope of aid. Just then, however, +the train of some lord came in sight. With one hand the leader held +Zensuké by the bosom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> of his robe. The hand holding the money belt was +already thrust in his own bosom. In a moment it would be free. Then +Zensuké would go in company with Jugorō to the Yellow Fountain (in +Hell). His captor gave a startled cry. "The train of Geishū Sama! +Lose no time!" As he wrenched himself away Zensuké sank his teeth deep +into the man's hand. With a howl of pain the fellow made off, exchanging +a little finger for the three hundred and twenty-five <i>ryō</i> in +Zensuké's <i>dōmaki</i>.</p> + +<p>The <i>bantō</i> crouched in conventional attitude by the roadside. His +distress was plain; the prostrate body of a man evidence of some unusual +condition. A <i>samurai</i> left the passing train and came up to +investigate. "Ah! Robbery and murder: follow behind to the <i>tsujiban</i>. +It is their affair." With moans and groans Zensuké made his report. He +was indignant at the luxury of these watchmen, toasting at their fire. +They noted it; looked at each other and out into the snowy night, and +laughed with contempt. For a tradesman's money belt were they to disturb +themselves? They questioned him harshly, in such way as to excuse any +further effort on their part. Surely the thieves by this time were at +the other end of Edo. Two of them, however, did accompany Zensuké to the +scene of the hold-up. Casting an eye over Jugorō's mangled corpse, +said one—"A good fight: the occasion has been missed. As perhaps the +criminal this man is to be bound. Probably his intent was to run away +with the master's funds." Roughly they seized him, hustled him back to +the guardhouse. Trussed up Zensuké had to spend the hours in alarm and +fear. Luckily the <i>kenshi</i> soon appeared. It was the <i>ōmisoka</i>. No +official business would be performed during the three days following. +Jugorō could hardly exercise patience and remain as he was for that +space of time. So the examination was duly held. The Shimaya soon +secured the body of Jugorō and the release of Zensuké. The latter's +evidence was put on record; none too satisfactory, as the concealing +<i>zukin</i> prevented any recognition or description of the features of the +assailants. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> only knew of the cries of impatience at wounds received, +and knew that he had left his mark on his own opponent. How then were +they to be run down? The <i>kenshi</i> showed some impatience. Said he to the +captain of the <i>tsujiban</i>—"Why truss up this man, even though a +tradesman? He has all his own fingers, and the corpse lacks none." He +touched the severed finger with his baton. With this all were dismissed, +and to all seeming the affair was forgotten.</p> + +<p>The Tokugawa had their plain-clothes police. One of the most noted was +Magomé Yaémon of Hachōbori. His great grandfather had captured +Marubashi Chuya, of note in the rebellion of Yui Shosetsu at the time of +the fourth Shogun Iyetsuna Kō. One day this Magomé Dono, in company +with a <i>yakunin</i> (constable) named Kuma, was rummaging the poorer +districts of Shitaya Hirokōji. The two men were disguised as charcoal +burners, and attracted little attention. All the legitimate profession +in the way of medicine and pharmacy had been ransacked by the magistrate +(<i>machibugyō</i>) of the south district. Yaémon felt sure that there +were still some by-ways. "Who's that fellow?" he asked Kuma. The +constable laughed. "He's a <i>sunékiri</i> (shin-cutter). The rascals can be +told by their tough dark blue cotton socks, the coarse straw sandals, +and the banded leggings. Deign to note the long staff he carries. They +peddle plasters—shin plasters, guaranteed to cure any wound, to stop +any flow of blood. A man's arm hangs but by a strip of skin; the blood +flows in torrents. Apply the plaster and the flow ceases at once, the +arm heals. They drive a roaring trade, even among the <i>bushi</i> +(<i>samurai</i>); selling a shell here, two there. As for their real +usefulness...." He laughed.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> They followed after the man and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> soon +came to a guard house. Said Magomé San—"Detain that man yonder. He is +to be examined." The ward officer was a little surprised—"Respectfully +heard and understood. It is old Yamabayashi Yōgen." Soon the man +entered the guard house. Said the official drily—"Magomé Dono is here +to talk with Yōgen. What has he been up to?" But the old fellow was +confident. "Thanks are felt." With the ease of the righteous and +prosperous he passed into the presence of Yaémon. The latter greeted him +with a non-official genial smile. "Ah! This is Yamabayashi Yōgen, the +head of the <i>Sunékiri</i>. And business?"—"Truly this Yōgen is +grateful. Man was born with teeth. Men and women still seek each other's +company. So long as such endures Yōgen finds profit."—"And +plasters?"—"They are the affair of Tōkichi. Would his worship deign +to examine him ... condescend dismissal. At once he presents himself."</p> + +<p>Thus in short order the straight haired, unshaven, low browed Tōkichi +stuck his head into the Sanbashi guard house. "Deign to pardon this +Tōkichi. The honoured benevolence...." The ward officer eyed him +knowingly and quizzically. "Shut up! Magomé Dono has questions to ask +about clients. Wait until the questions deal with the doings of +Tōkichi. That will be well. Then it will be time enough to lie. +Meanwhile, be sure and tell the truth." With this disinterested advice +Tōkichi was passed to the presence. Once more conscience spoke louder +than caution.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> "The honoured benevolence, the honoured pity; condescend +the honoured examination into the innocence of Tōkichi." Yaémon +laughed. "Fortunately it is not a matter of Tōkichi, but of his +plasters. Who bought these at this year's Shōgwatsu (New Year)? Be +careful in answer. The case is a bad one." Tōkichi considered. "The +first day of the New Year a man came. His purchase of salve was large. +In the course of the past three months he has been many times to buy. +His visits now are wider spaced, and he praises the goods—as he ought. +No hand ever had a worse poisoned wound. He...."—"Age and appearance?" +interrupted Yaémon, now all attention. He had struck a trail. "Perhaps +fifty years; fair of complexion, tall, and stout. By his lordly manner +he must at least be a <i>go-kenin</i>, or a charlatan." Who was this man? +Yaémon felt sure that he was about to learn something of interest. Kuma +was given his instructions. "Go daily to the shop of this man and +receive his report. As to the <i>samurai</i> in question be circumspect. +Evidently he is no ordinary person. A <i>samurai</i> is to be summoned, not +disgraced by arrest—if he is a <i>samurai</i>." So Kuma with several aides +established himself in the rear of Tōkichi's shop. The man not having +put in an appearance for several weeks, the wait, if uncertain, was soon +rewarded. On the 25th day of the 3rd month (May) he presented himself. +Kuma recognized him at once by the description; sooner than Tōkichi, +who was engaged in filling his little shells with the marvellous salve. +The officer's decision was prompt. At a call Tōkichi turned from his +drugs. "Ah! the honoured Sir. And the arm, does it honourably +progress?"—"Progress could not be better. This is probably the last +visit." In replying the man eyed Tōkichi with some astonishment. The +latter made his bows, first to the newcomer, then to the indefinite rear +of the establishment. "Indeed the drug is all that is claimed for it. +The wound being poisoned, at one time it looked as if the hand, nay arm, +must go. These House doctors are notoriously good for nothing. Just as +nothing can surpass your product, good leech.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> Here is money for two +shells of its virtues." He held out a silver <i>bu</i>.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Busied with his +preparations Tōkichi looked in vain toward the rear apartment. After +as long delay as he could contrive he passed the shells and a heap of +copper change over to the customer. As soon as the latter had left the +shop Tōkichi bolted for the rear. Kuma was gone. His aides were calmly +smoking their pipes and drinking the poor tea (<i>bancha</i>) of Tōkichi.</p> + +<p>Kuma had little trouble in following his man to Okachimachi in Shitaya. +He found near by a shop for the sale of everything, from tobacco to +<i>daikon</i> (radish), both odoriferous, yet lacking perfume. Said Kuma—"A +question or so: this tall <i>samurai</i>, an oldish man, who lives close by; +who is he?" The woman in charge hesitated. Then dislike overcame +discretion. "Ah! With the hand wrapped in a bandage; his name is Sakurai +Kichirō Tayu. Truly he is a bad man. That he should quarrel with his +own class is no great matter. Maimed as he is, thrice report has been +made to the guard house, but in each case he has escaped further +process. He is a dreadful fellow; one who never pays a debt, yet to whom +it is dangerous to refuse credit. Already nearly a <i>ryō</i> is due to +this Echigoya. It has been the bad luck to support him and his family +during the past six months." Said Kuma—"Thus maimed, to hold his own in +quarrels he must be a notable fencer as well as brawler. Was the wound +so received?"—"Iya! That is not known. Some quarrel at the New Year's +festivities probably was the cause. Before that time he was sound +enough." She laughed. "He has two friends; Kahei San and Miemon San. +They are birds of a feather; and all partly plucked. Perhaps they +quarrelled in company, but if so have made it up. Sakurai San is a match +for the two others." She looked at Kuma, to see if he had more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> to say. +Indifferent he picked out a strand of tobacco. "He shouldered this +Gōbei into the ditch close by here. Fortunate is it to have escaped +worse injury." Satisfied with his inquiries he took his way in haste to +his master. The eyes of Yaémon and his aid shone with enjoyment. Surely +they had the men of the Shiba Kiridōshi.</p> + +<p>Magomé Yaémon at once sought out the <i>machibugyō's</i> office. His +lordship heard the report. "Different disorders require different +treatment. Of two of these men this Gemba knows something. The other man +is hard to place, and evidently not so easy to deal with." Two +<i>dōshin</i> and <i>yakunin</i> were sent at once to the addresses indicated. +To capture Nakagawa Miemon and Imai Kahei was an easy task. The +<i>dōshin</i> and <i>yakunin</i> sent to the house of Sakurai formed a band of +twenty men. The house surrounded, without ceremony the officer and an +aid entered. "On the lord's mission: Sakurai San is wanted at the office +of Matsuda Dono. If resistance be made it will be necessary to use the +rope. Pray accompany me." Sakurai Kichirō divined the object of the +arrest. "The affair at the Kiridōshi has been scented out. The manner +of that rascally drug seller was strange to-day." The officer had +planted himself right before the sword rack. Sakurai could neither kill +anybody, nor cut belly. He turned to his wife. "There is a matter on +hand to be explained. Absence will probably be prolonged. Already the +day is far advanced.... Ah! Is it Kichitarō?" A boy of seven years +had rushed into the room. "Pretty fellow!... Honoured Sir, be patient. +The separation is no short one. No resistance is made. We go the same +road.... Tarō; rude fellow! Salute the gentleman." The boy obeyed, +with grave ceremony and a hostility which divined an unpleasant mission. +"Your father leaves you. It is now the time to obey the mother in all +she says. Remember well, or the end will be a bad one." Wife and child +clung to him, frightened and now weeping. It was an arrest; their +mainstay was being taken from them. In the last caresses he had time to +bend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> down and whisper to O'Ren—"In the toilet box is a scroll sealed +up. All is there explained. Read and destroy it. In later days at +discretion let our son know." Roughly he pushed woman and boy aside. +With rapid stride he reached the entrance. The <i>yakunin</i> confronted him. +He laughed and waved a hand. "There is no resistance. We go the same +road." The <i>dōshin</i> permitted the laxity of discipline. He had his +orders.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the examination of the other two men was in progress at the +office of the <i>machibugyō</i>. As the biggest fool of the two, Nakagawa +Miemon was the first summoned to the presence of Matsuda Dono. Said the +Judge<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a>—"Nakagawa Uji, there is a slight inquiry to make. How were +those scars on the face come by? These are marks of wounds not long +since received. Consider well and remember." The tone of menace +staggered Miemon. He had anticipated some rebuke for slight infraction +of the peace, not unusual with these men. "Naruhodo! Has the Shiba +Kiridōshi matter cropped up?" He hesitated—"The story is a long one, +and a foolish one. To weary the honoured ears...." Matsuda Gemba caught +him up with impatient gesture. "Answer the question, and truly. Nakagawa +Miemon is noted neither for judgment nor sobriety." The man caught up +the last phrase as a cue. Eagerly he spoke, the doors of the jail +opening wide for exit—"So it is indeed. Wine never benefited man; much +less a <i>samurai</i>. Hence, with Kahei and Sakurai Uji, it was decided to +forswear wine forever. It was determined to make a pilgrimage to Kompira +San. There the vow of abstinence was to be taken; on its holy ground. +All went well. We met at Nihonbashi. Alas! At the Kyōbashi the +perfume of a grog shop reached our noses. The vow had not yet been +taken. The ground was not holy. Just one last drink<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> before setting out. +But the Buddha was unfavourable. Once begun, the drinking was adjourned +to a cook shop. There the bout continued all day. Wine lent us the wings +of <i>tengu</i>. We travelled the road to Kompira San in a dream. In the +progress Kahei and this Miemon quarrelled. Swords were drawn, and we cut +each other. These wounds on head and face were the portion of this +Miemon. Kahei had his hand nearly severed. Sakurai San, who was asleep, +aroused by the noise, sprang up to part us. He is a man to be feared; +but in my rage I sank my teeth in his hand. The bite of man or beast is +poison. His wound was worse than that of either of us."</p> + +<p>Gemba Dono was in conversation with his chamberlain. He let Miemon talk +away. He was not one to say too little. As barely having listened he +asked—"When was this fight? The day of the vow and journey to Kompira? +Truly the result has been the vengeance of offended deity."—"The +twelfth month tenth day," naturally replied Miemon. Gemba forced him to +repeat the answer. Several times he put the query in different forms. +Miemon, fool that he was, stuck to the date. Then said the +magistrate—"Miemon, you are a liar. Moreover, you are a murderer. On +the 13th day, on going up to the castle, this Gemba had converse with +your lord. At that time Nakagawa Miemon was summoned to carry out a +mission. As a man of whom report had been made you were noted well. At +that time you had no wound.... Tie him up, and take him away." The +<i>yakunin</i> fell on him from all sides. In a trice he was trussed up and +removed.</p> + +<p>Then appeared Imai Kahei. Kahei was cunning, but also a coward. To the +questions of the <i>machibugyō</i> he procrastinated in his answers, +confused them all he could. What had Miemon said? "He spoke of the +eloquence of Imai San; of Kahei Uji as the clever man, the one to tell +the tale properly. Now let us have the true statement of the case." Such +was Gemba's reply. It was flattering. Unable to help himself Kahei set +sail on his sea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> of lies. "We all like wine...."—"Ah! After all you are +agreed." Gemba smiled pleasantly. Kahei took courage—"But wine costs +money. Together we went to Kuraya Jibei, a money-lender living at +Kuramae no Saka, as is well known." Gemba nodded assent. "Of him two +<i>ryō</i> were borrowed, on agreement to repay ten <i>ryō</i> as interest +within a month. The nearest grog shop was sought, and it was the hour of +the rat (11 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>) before the return was started. At the +Teobashi a band of drunkards was encountered. Without cause these men +forced a quarrel on us. Thus was the hand of Kahei nearly severed. This +is the truth."—"And what was the date of this money bond?" Imai +hesitated. He had caught a glimpse of the drug seller Tōkichi on +being brought into the place. Without doubt the Kiridōshi affair was +in question. He must antedate his wound. "Kahei does not remember with +certainty. Perhaps it was the seventeenth day; before the Kwannon +festival of the eighteenth day." He mumbled, and was frightened. Said +Gemba sharply—"Speak distinctly; the seventeenth day?"—"Hei! Hei! Some +time in the last decade of the month; the nineteenth or twentieth +day—not later; not later." Matsuda Gemba almost leaped at him. "Oh, you +liar! On the last day of the year you came, in person, to this Gemba to +anticipate the New Year's gift (<i>sebo</i>). At that time you had no wound. +Yet the drug seller sees you next day with maimed hand. It was not at +Teobashi, but at Shiba Kiridōshi, that the wound was received.... Tie +him up, and away with him." The <i>yakunin</i> came forward. Imai made a +spasmodic attempt to rise. They threw him down, and in a moment he was +keeping company with Nakagawa Miemon.</p> + +<p>Gemba Dono braced himself for the more serious task. So did his +<i>yakunin</i>. A glance showed the magistrate that he had mistaken his man. +Sakurai Kichirō came forward with calm and dignity. Making his +ceremonial salutation to the judge he came at once to the point. "What +lies Miemon and Kahei have told, this Kichirō knows not. The fact is +that we three plotted together<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> to rob the fatly supplied purses of the +<i>bantō</i> making their rounds in settlement of accounts at the close of +the year. Hence the <i>bantō</i> of the Shimaya, Zensuké, lost his money +belt, and a man of the same stamp, one Jugorō, was killed. All three +of us are guilty of the murder...." As he would proceed Gemba held up +his hand. "Bring in the other two men. Continue, Kichirō." Said +Sakurai—"Miemon was badly cut about the head and face. Kahei nearly +lost his hand. This Kichirō would have killed the clerk, but the +procession of Geishū Sama came in sight, and recognition was feared. +Of the three hundred and twenty-five <i>ryō</i> secured...." The eyes of +Nakagawa and Imai stood out. Aghast they had followed the confession of +Sakurai Kichirō, with full intention to deny its truth. Now they were +in a fury. "What! Three hundred and twenty-five <i>ryō</i>! And we had but +ten <i>ryō</i> apiece. You jest, Sakurai Uji.... Oh! The low fellow! The +villain! A very beast! A swine!"</p> + +<p>Gemba Dono could ask for nothing more. With smiling face and courtesy he +turned to Sakurai Kichirō. "Why did Kichirō take the three hundred +<i>ryō</i>, giving to these fellows such a paltry sum?" Answered +Kichirō—"As deserving no more. They are paltry fellows; little +better than common soldiers (<i>ashigaru</i>). But there is more to tell, now +the end is reached. The true name of Sakurai Kichirō is Takahashi +Daihachirō, at one time a retainer of Matsudaira Aki no Kami. Pressed +by the money lender Jusuké, I killed him and had the body disposed of by +one Densuké, the cook at the soldiers' quarters of the <i>yashiki</i>. This +was in Tenwa 3rd year 5th month (June 1683). Fleeing to avoid arrest the +occupation of writing teacher was taken up at Yūki in Shimosa. +Densuké, too, had fled, and hither he came as a wandering beggar. +Fearing his tongue I killed him; and mutilating the corpse, threw it +into the castle moat close by. A beggar found dead, no inquiry was +made."—"When did this take place?" asked Gemba. "Just one year +later—Jōkyō 1st year 5th month." He made a little movement. +Nakagawa and Imai broke out into protest at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> completeness of this +confession, but Sakurai turned fiercely on them. "Shut up! To undergo +public trial would bring shame on all <i>kerai</i> throughout the land; would +cause people to fear our caste. We three planned the deed and secured +the money." He put his arms behind his back. The <i>yakunin</i>, stepping +softly, roped him up almost with respect. A wave of Gemba's hand and the +guilty men were removed. Unable to help themselves, Nakagawa and Imai +made confession to avoid the torture in what was now a hopeless case. +Later the sentences of condemnation were issued. Degraded from their +status the three men were taken to the execution ground of Shinagawa, +and there decapitated.</p> + +<p>The wife of Takahashi Daihachirō did not wait these proceedings. The +confession of her husband was in her hands before he himself told +everything to Matsuda Gemba. Before night she had decamped with her son. +At eight years of age Kichitarō was placed as disciple (<i>deshi</i>) at +the Jōshinji of Fukagawa. Receiving the name of Myōshin he became +the favourite of the rector (<i>jūshoku</i>) of the temple. The mother now +became reduced to the greatest penury. For a time she was bawd in the +Honjō Warigesui district. Subsequently she was promoted to the +position of favourite sultana (wife) of her master Toémon, local head +of his profession. Her name now was O'Matsu. When Myōshin was +thirteen years old in some way he was told that she was dead. Henceforth +he had no stay in the world but the worthy priest, who became a second +and better father to him. This treatment found its usual and virtuous +reward. At eighteen years, now a priest and learned in priestly ways, he +took to himself the contents of the temple strong box. Fifty <i>ryō</i> +soon disappeared in the company of the harlots of Fukagawa Yagura-Shita. +A prolonged absence of Myōshin aroused the inquiries of the other +monks, and the eyes of the rector were soon opened as to his unworthy +proselyte, the blighted issue of a miserable stock.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER (NAKŌDO)</h3> + + +<p>The presence of O'Iwa created an upheaval in the Samonchō household. +The wet nurse required brought with her a train of servants. With the +child's growth this was maintained, even increased. The young lady +(Ojōsan) found herself graduated into one with a <i>status</i> to +maintain. All the niggardly habits of Matazaémon were thrown to the +winds with the advent of this grandchild. The affection never shown +outwardly to the mother, was lavished on her daughter. At seven years of +age O'Iwa underwent the common enough infliction of smallpox. It showed +itself on the anniversary day of O'Mino's death, and the child's +sickness afforded but mutilated rites for the memorial service of the +mother. Matazaémon would have abandoned all his duties, himself to nurse +the child. O'Naka loved O'Iwa for self and daughter. She had sense +enough to drive the old man into a corner of the room, then out of it; +and further expostulations sent him to his duties. Who, in those iron +days, would accept such excuse for absence? The child worried through, +not unscathed. Her grandmother's qualifications as nurse have been +mentioned. O'Iwa was a plain girl. She had the flat plate-like face of +her mother. The eyes were small, disappearing behind the swollen +eyelids, the hair was scanty, the disease added its black pock marks +which stood thick and conspicuous on a fair skin. Otherwise she was +spared by its ravages, except—</p> + +<p>Whatever her looks O'Iwa compensated for all by her disposition. She had +one of those balanced even temperaments, with clear judgment, added to a +rare amiability. Moreover she possessed all the accomplishments and +discipline of a lady. At eleven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> years Matazaémon unwillingly had sought +and found a place for her in attendance on her ladyship of the great +Hosokawa House. O'Iwa's absence made no difference in his household. The +train of servants was maintained, to be disciplined for her return, to +be ready on this return. Perhaps it was a pleasing fiction to the fond +mind of the aging man that she would return, soon, to-morrow. O'Naka +acquiesced in the useless expense and change in her habits. She always +acquiesced; yet her own idea would have been to make a good housekeeper +of O'Iwa—like herself, to sew, cook, wash, clean—a second O'Mino. She +could not understand the new turn of Matazaémon's mind. As for O'Iwa, +she grew to girlhood in the Hosokawa House, learned all the +accomplishments of her own house and what the larger scale of her new +position could teach her; everything in the way of etiquette and the +polite arts, as well as the plainer tasks of housekeeping, she was +likely ever to be called on to perform. The plain child grew into the +plain woman; perhaps fortunately for her. The <i>okugata</i> (her ladyship) +was a jealous woman. Her spouse was mad on women. Every nubile maid +(<i>koshimoto</i>) in the <i>yashiki</i> was a candidate for concubinage. His wife +countered by as hideous a collection of females as her own House and her +lord's retainers could furnish. O'Iwa attracted from the first by her +lack of all physical attraction. His lordship tried to get used to her +with the passage of years—and failed. He could not stomach the +necessary advances. But the girl's admirable temper and even judgment +secured the esteem of all. These latter qualities captivated the whole +household. It was O'Iwa who performed all duties for her ladyship, took +them in charge as her substitute. For the first time in his life Oki no +Kami found something in a woman apart from her sex. When the time came +for O'Iwa to depart, the regret of lord and lady was substantially +expressed in their gifts. But his lordship had to admit failure. Not a +retainer could be found willing to take the daughter of Tamiya as wife. +So far O'Iwa's mission at the <i>yashiki</i> had failed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> O'Naka knew this. +Matazaémon never gave it thought; so glad he was to get her back. He +received the honoured words and presents with humble and delighted +thanks. O'Iwa reentered her home, a recovered jewel. She was the +Ojōsan, the lady daughter. A first step of hers was gradually to get +rid of a good part of the superfluous train. O'Iwa was a very practical +girl.</p> + +<p>Matazaémon was now old and ill. He was nearing his seventieth year. The +one idea in his head was the <i>muko</i>, the son to be adopted as husband of +the heir of the House; the mate to be secured for O'Iwa, and the +posterity to be secured for his House. As a little girl O'Iwa had been +much courted—in fun. Watanabé Juzō, Natsumé Kyuzō, Imaizumi +Jinzaémon, many others the growing "sparks" of Samonchō and +roundabout, could not forbear this amusement with the little +"<i>Bakémono</i>" (apparition). Of their ill intent O'Iwa knew nothing. +Indeed a short experience with O'Iwa disarmed derision. Most of the +unseemly lovers came genuinely to like the girl, unless inherent malice +and ugliness of disposition, as with Natsumé and Akiyama Chōzaémon, +made their sport more than mere pastime. But as grown men they could not +face the results of the final step, and no parent was harsh enough to +graft his unwilling stock on O'Iwa's persimmon trees. The girl was +clever enough to know this. It was Hōei 6th year (1709) and she was +now twenty-six years old. It was indirectly at her suggestion that +Matazaémon sought the aid of Kondō Rokurōbei. This man lived just +behind the large inclosure of the Sainenji, on the hill slope which dips +steeply down to the Samégabashi. The relationship was very distant at +best; but with nearer relatives in general, and with Yoémon his brother +in particular, the master of Tamiya had deadly feud. To them he would +not turn to find a husband for O'Iwa.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that one day in the seventh month (August) Rokurōbei +was awaiting the appearance of Yamada Chōbei. He really knew little +about the man, but Chōbei at one time had been resident in the ward. +He had undergone vicissitudes, and now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> was a dealer in metals and a +kind of broker in everything under the sign of Musashiya. He had a wide +acquaintance over Edo in his different businesses, and was the easy and +slip-shod means by which Rokurōbei would avoid the more arduous part +of the task laid on him by Matazaémon. Chōbei was not long in putting +in an appearance. All affairs were gifts of the gods to a man who lived +on wind. Kazaguruma Chōbei—Windmill Chōbei—he was called. His +flittings were so noiseless and erratic, just like the little paper +windmills made for children, that the nickname applied exactly fitted +him. The maid in announcing him showed no particular politeness. "Wait +here a moment.... Danna Sama (master), Chōbei San, the metal dealer, +requests an interview."—"Ah! Pass him here at once.... Is it Chōbei? +Please sit down." Chōbei had followed almost on the girl's footsteps. +She drew aside to make room for him, then flirted out in haste. Poverty +and dislike had no influence in Yotsuya in those days. She seemed to +scent the man.</p> + +<p>Chōbei looked with envy at the comfortable Rokurōbei. The day was +hot. The thin <i>kimono</i> fallen about his loins, the latter's garb was a +pair of drawers and a thin shirt. He sat looking out on the garden, with +its shade of large trees, its shrubbery and rock work. Everything was +dripping with the water industriously splashed to this side and to that +by the serving man. The tea was brought and Kondō at last remembered +that he had a guest. As he turned—"It is a long time since a visit has +been paid. Deign to pardon the intrusion." Chōbei sighed in making +this remark. The irony was lost on his fat host. As Rokurōbei seemed +unwilling, or hardly to know how to impart the subject concerning which +he had summoned him, Chōbei continued—"And the honoured health, is +it good? The honoured business, is it on some matter of moment that +Chōbei is summoned?" Rokurōbei woke up under the direct question. +He, too, sighed. Chōbei was noted for a greed which inspired fear. +For money he would do anything. "Blindman Chōbei" had been his +nickname<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> of old days in the ward. Kondō remembered this. He liked +money, too. It brought in so much comfort. He hated to part with +comfort. It was to be a question between himself and Chōbei how much +of his hard-earned commission was to be parted with. This last thought +completely aroused him. "It is a matter of securing a <i>muko</i>. This +Rokurōbei is the one charged with the task. As a son-in-law outside +the ward is desired, no one has wider circulation and better +opportunities than Chōbei San. Hence the desire for a consultation." +Chōbei whistled inwardly. Outside the ward! What was wrong with the +case. Here was coin to be turned up by the circumspect. "Surely there +are young fellows enough in Samonchō, fit to be <i>muko</i>. Of course +with impediments...."—"It is the daughter of Tamiya; O'Iwa San. +Matazaémon Dono has commissioned this Rokurōbei to secure a <i>muko</i>." +Chōbei whistled outwardly. "For O'Iwa San!..."—"She is no beauty, as +Chōbei evidently knows. Wealth compensates for other deficiencies. At +all events his aid is desired."—"For how much?" Chōbei spoke +bluntly. If Rokurōbei had forgotten Chōbei, Chōbei had not +forgotten Rokurōbei. He went on—"To get a price for damaged goods is +no sinecure. Fortunately she is only out of repair on the surface.... +Say ten <i>ryō</i>?" Kondō laughed scornfully—"And they call Chōbei +'the Blind-man'! Rather is it vision magnified. The entertainment should +be the reward; with what Chōbei collects from the happy bridegroom." +Chōbei replied gravely—"With such a wealthy connection the future of +Kondō Dono is to be envied. Chōbei has to realize his future at +once. Not a <i>ryō</i> less can he afford." Plainly he was in earnest, as +was the long conversation which followed. Finally Chōbei emerged with +partial success, and half the sum named as stipend for his labours.</p> + +<p>He began them at once. The next day he was at the metal market in Kanda. +In course of chaffering over wares he never bought—"You fellows always +have some <i>rōnin</i> in train; a fine, handsome fellow for whom a wife +is needed. Application is made.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> Jinzaémon, you have a candidate."—"Not +for the kind of wife Chōbei San provides." Those present laughed +loudly at the sally. Chōbei did not wink. He explained. "No bad +provision is this one. Rich, with an income of thirty <i>tawara</i>, a fine +property in reversion, and but twenty-five years old. The man therefore +must be fit to pose as a <i>samurai</i>; able to read and write, to perform +official duty, he must be neither a boy nor a man so old as to be +incapable. Come now! Does no one come forward? <i>Rōnin</i> are to be had. +A <i>ryō</i> for aid to this Chōbei."—"Too cheap as an offer," was +Jinzaémon's retort. "A <i>rōnin</i> is one to be handled with care. Those +favoured with acquaintance of the honoured <i>bushi</i> often part with life +and company at the same date. Those without lords are equally testy as +those in quarters." He spoke with the bluntness of the true Edokko, the +peculiar product of the capital; men who were neither farmers nor +provincials, but true descendants of the men of the guild of Bandzuin +Chōbei. He jested, but the subject interested the crowd. Said +one—"Does Chōbei San get the <i>ryō</i> out of groom or bride? She is +a bold wench, unmarried at that age; and none too chaste eh, Chōbei +San? She will provide the husband with wife and child to hand, or in the +making. Or, are matters the other way? Has she been tried and found +wanting? Is she impotent, or deformed; or is Chōbei making fools of +us?" Answered Chōbei slowly—"No; she is a little ugly. The face +round and flat, shining, with black pock marks, making it look like +speckled pumice, rouses suspicion of leprosy. This, however, is not the +case. At all events she is a woman." All were now roaring with +laughter—"A very beauty indeed! Just the one for Chōbei's trade! Too +honied was his speech. He would market anything. But in this market it +is a matter of hard cash; without credit. This is a bit of goods too +wilted. Even Chōbei cannot sell it."—"You lie!" said Chōbei in a +towering passion. "At the first hint of ill-fortune threatening wine +supply or pleasure, there is not one of you who would not turn to +Chōbei to find the money needed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> Sisters, daughters, wives, aunts +... mothers are for sale." He was choking with rage. "Sell her? +Chōbei can and will." Angered by the final item on his family list, a +man nearby gave him a sharp poke in the back. Others voiced resentment, +perhaps would have given it material form. The canal was spoken of. +Chōbei took the hint. He did not wait for a ducking. At a sharp pace +he trotted off toward his tenement at Asakusa Hanagawadō. For a while +he would avoid the metal market. He regretted his display of temper. It +was in the necessities of other trades that he found the material of his +own, and flourished.</p> + +<p>In plain terms Kazaguruma Chōbei was a pimp for the Yoshiwara and +kindred quarters. His other occupations were mere channels accessory to +this main business. Hence his seasons of increase and decline. Just now +he was in a period of decline. His eagerness in this Tamiya affair was +sharpened. Pushing his way through the Kuramae of Asakusa suddenly a +hopeful light came into his eye. Abruptly he made his way to the side of +the roadway. Here boarding covered the ditch, removing the occupant of a +booth erected thereon, and would-be clients, from the passing stream of +humanity. There was a table in the booth, and on it were several books, +a vessel containing water, brushes (<i>fudé</i>), scrolls for writing, and a +box containing divining sticks. It was the stand of a strolling +fortune-teller. At the time the occupant was engaged in gathering +together his professional apparatus, with the evident purpose to decamp. +Chōbei did not delay in accosting him. "Ah! The Sensei;<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Kazuma +Uji finds the day too hot to pry into the future. Does the Sensei leave +his clients to their fate, or have the clients abandoned the Sensei? +Deign to come along with Chōbei. Perhaps he, too, can tell fortunes. +At all events the wife has been forewarned; the bath is ready. It will +put life<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> into both of us." The young man laughed and hastened his +operations, nodding assent—"Thanks are felt, Chōbei San. Indeed this +Kazuma has but to continue the art of prophecy if he would foretell his +own fate. No one will buy the future when money is so needed for the +present. Besides this is a pleasure ground. Men have no hankering to +learn of possible worse luck than being here. All the fools have +died—except their prophet." He shouldered his scanty apparatus, and +with rapid stride the two men pushed their way up the crowded street +toward the great gate of the temple. In his haste Chōbei yet had time +to eye, from time to time, his companion, always gaining encouragement +from the palpable seediness made more plain by a handsome person. The +two were neighbours in a house-row (<i>nagaya</i>) of the Hanagawadō, that +poverty-stricken district along the river close to the great amusement +ground, and furnishing those who perform its baser tasks. On arrival +Chōbei called out—"O'Taki! O'Taki! The bath, is it ready? The +Sensei, Kazuma San, honours us with his company. Make all ready for his +reception.... Sensei, condescend to enter; please come up."</p> + +<p>Yanagibara Kazuma dropped his clogs in the vestibule. As he entered the +room—"Pray pardon the intrusion. This Kazuma feels much in the way. He +is continually putting his neighbours of the <i>nagaya</i> to inconvenience; +too great the kindness of Chōbei San and wife." O'Taki laughed +deprecatingly. Truly this was a handsome young man. In this 6th year of +Hōei (1709) Yanagibara Kazuma was twenty-one years of age. O'Taki was +thirty odd. She appreciated masculine beauty all the more. Chōbei +grunted from heat and the merest trace of discomfiture. He had his +limit, even in his business. Quickly he shook off his <i>kimono</i>, and fan +in hand squatted in his loin cloth. "Ah! 'Tis hot beyond endurance. +Business is bad—from Yoshiwara to Yotsuya." O'Taki looked up at the +last word. He continued—"The Sensei takes precedence. Kazuma Uji, deign +to enter the bath. All is ready?" His wife nodded assent. Kazuma +followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> the example of Chōbei. In a trice he was naked as his +mother bore him. Chōbei burst out into phrases of admiration—"What a +splendid fellow! Ah! Waste of material! If a woman Kazuma San would be a +fortune to himself and to Chōbei.... Taki, note the skin of the +Sensei. It has the texture of the finest paper. How regrettable!" He +drew back for the better inspection of the sum total of his subject's +charms. O'Taki drew closer for the same purpose. Chōbei sighed—"It +is plain enough that Kazuma San is not a woman. An error of Nature! +Somehow the age at which a woman becomes of use, is that at which a boy +becomes a mere burden. He is fit for nothing but to be a +story-teller.... And you, Taki, what are you about?" The lady of his +affections was far advanced in the process of disrobing. She protested. +"Does not the Sensei need aid in the bath? How cleanse the back, the +shoulders. This Taki would aid him."—"Immodest wench!" bellowed +Chōbei. "The Sensei needs no such aid. Why! You ... Taki ... one +would take you for a charcoal ball (<i>tadon</i>), so dark your skin. Nay! +For two of them, for a cluster piled in a box, so round the buttocks and +belly. The Sensei wants no aid from such an ugly jade. This Chōbei +can do what is needed; with as much skill and better purpose than a +woman." Kazuma modestly interposed in this incipient quarrel between +husband and wife. "Nay, the matter is of no importance. Kazuma is +grateful for such kindness, but aid is not needed. His arm is long." He +held it out, almost simian in proportion and slenderness, the one +proportional defect of this handsome body. The quarrel of Chōbei and +O'Taki lapsed before his pleasant smile.</p> + +<p>Seated over tea said Chōbei—"This Chōbei, too, has claimed to be +a diviner. Don't deny it. The Sensei at one time has been a priest." +Kazuma looked at him with surprise, even misgiving. Explained +Chōbei—"The manner in which the Sensei takes up the cup betrays him; +in both hands, with a little waving of the vessel and shake of the head. +The rust of the priest's garb clings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> close." Said Kazuma—"Chōbei +San is a clever fellow. It is true. At one time I was +priest."—"Whereabouts?" asked Chōbei. "At the Reigan of Fukagawa," +replied the prophet—"Ah! Reiganji; and later would return to the life +of a <i>samurai</i>. Such pose and manner possessed by the Sensei are only +gained in good company. He would reassume the status. This Chōbei was +not always as he is. Wine, women, gambling, have brought him to pimping. +The buying of <i>geisha</i> and <i>jorō</i> cost the more as they imply the +other two vices. Wife, status, fortune; all are gone. Such has been +Chōbei's fate."—"Not the only case of the kind," grumbled his +partner in concubinage. "And the wife, what has become of her?"—"None +of Taki's affair, as she is no longer an issue. Would the jade be +jealous?" He glowered at her. "But Kazuma San, this Chōbei is not +only diviner, to tell fortunes. He can make them." Kazuma laughed. +"Don't joke. Chōbei San's line of business has already cost this +Kazuma fortune and position."—"To secure a better one. Kazuma San is a +<i>rōnin</i> (without lord), a man of education, and of fine appearance. +He is just the one to become a <i>muko</i>."—"In some tradesman's family?" +The <i>samurai</i> spoke with disdain. Said Chōbei eagerly—"No: Chōbei +prophesied the return of Kazuma Uji to his own caste."—"At what cost?" +said Kazuma coolly. "The honour of a <i>samurai</i> cannot stand open taint. +Kazuma has no desire to cut belly at too early a date, to save the +situation for others. Has the woman erred, and is the father's sword +dulled?"—"It is no such case," answered Chōbei. "The parents, rather +grandparents, are fools in pride. The girl is twenty-five years old, +rich, and, one must admit, not too good looking. It is by a mere chance, +a former connection, that the affair comes into Chōbei's hands. As +Kazuma Uji knows, it is not much in his line. Let us share the good luck +together."—"Is she a monster; one of those long-necked, pop-eyed +<i>rokurokubi</i>?"—"That can be determined at the meeting," said the +cautious Chōbei. "She is somewhat pock-marked, as with others. It is +a matter of luck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> Chōbei's position forces him to fall back on +Kazuma San as the only likely man to recommend. Deign not to refuse to +come to his aid."—"Rich, and granddaughter of people old in years." He +eyed Chōbei quizzically. The latter nodded agreement. "No matter what +her looks, this Kazuma accepts with thanks—unless this be a jest of +Chōbei San." Chōbei slightly coughed—"There is a +commission...."—"Ah! Then the foundation is rock. As to commission, +assuredly; Kazuma is not rich, nor in funds."—"But will be. At ten +<i>ryō</i> it is a cheap affair."—"Agreed," replied the diviner +carelessly. "The money will be paid."—"With the delivery of the goods." +Chōbei now was all gaiety—"Of the Rokurokubi, the monster with +sextuple lengthed neck," laughed Kazuma Sensei as he took his leave. He +was engaged to meet Chōbei the next day at the house of Kondō +Rokurōbei in Yotsuya.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>IÉMON APPEARS</h3> + + +<p>In his difficult mission Kondō Rokurōbei had hopes of Chōbei; +but not much more. It was with no small pleasure that he heard the +announcement of his visit the next morning. The maid was a shade more +civil—"Please wait." Kondō was decidedly so. He greeted Chōbei +with an effusion which Chōbei noted. The tea brought, the two men +faced each other over the cups. To Kondō's inquiring look—"Honoured +master the task is a difficult one." He retailed his experience at the +Kanda market. Kondō was somewhat discomfited. He had put a different +interpretation on the early visit of Chōbei. Continued the latter—"A +difficult task, but not hopeless. Surely five <i>ryō</i> is very small +remuneration." Kondō's eye lit up. Chōbei had his man. "It is all +this Kondō is qualified to give. Chōbei knows Tamiya Dono. After +all it is he who pays, and Chōbei can claim but his share. However, +the matter is not urgent. A bad turn with Matazaémon, and O'Naka will be +much easier to deal with ... unless it be Yoémon who interposes." He +made a wry face; joined in by Chōbei. Kondō went on—"It is matter +of regret to have troubled you. The parents of Natsumé Kyuzō show +signs of breaking off present negotiations and coming round to us. This +is a matter of yesterday, and on hearing that the affair of O'Iwa San +was definitely in the hands of Rokurōbei." Chōbei was frightened. +Was this the cause of Kondō's joy? Had he misinterpreted on his +entrance? He put out a hand, as if to stop the talk of his host. "Deign +to allow the money question to stand as agreed. Such step would put this +Chōbei in an awkward position. The man is found, and soon will be +here. Probably even Kondō Dono will be satisfied."—"Who is he?" +asked Kondō.—"One Yanagibara Kazuma. He has practised divination at +Asakusa...."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>—"A charlatan! A quack doctor! Chōbei, are you mad?" +Rokurōbei pushed back his cushion and his cue in horror. Not a word +did he say of Natsumé Kyuzō. Chōbei smiled. He had been trapped; +but he had detected Kondō. "Don't be alarmed. The man is a +<i>rōnin</i>, his divination of small account and due to temporary stress. +Kondō Dono will soon judge of the man by his appearance. Let the +subject of Kazuma San be dropped—with that of Natsumé San. Our bargain +has been made firm." Kondō looked down. He felt a little injured. +Continued Chōbei—"For his man Chōbei cannot answer if all be +known. Pray follow my plan, and precede us to the house of Matazaémon. +He must not see O'Iwa at this juncture. Tamiya Dono is ill and not +visible. The Obasan is wise enough to do as she is told. Years have +drilled that into her. O'Iwa has taken cold. Her hair is loose and she +cannot think of appearing. Make this known when the time comes to serve +the wine. Meanwhile send her off on some mission; to the house of +Akiyama, or that of the newly-wed Imaizumi."—"But the man must see the +girl," protested Kondō. Answered Chōbei—"He must see the +property. It is with that Chōbei intends he shall become enamoured. +He is not to see the girl until she is his wife. To keep the estate he +will cleave to the woman. Trust Chōbei for a knowledge of men's +hearts ... at least that of Yanagibara Kazuma." Perhaps he spoke a +little too plainly. Rokurōbei had a last touch of +conscience—"Chōbei, what manner of man is this one you bring? What +is his real nature? Tamiya is upright as the walls of the Honmaru +(castle). And Yanagibara Kazuma...." Chōbei's brow wrinkled. He was +spared an answer. Said the maid—"Yanagibara Sama would see the +master."—"Show him in at once," said Rokurōbei.</p> + +<p>He rose, as much in amazement as in courtesy. Kazuma was a striking +figure as he entered the room. His dress of white Satsuma was of finest +quality, and perfectly aligned. The <i>haori</i> (cloak) was of the +corrugated Akashi crape. In his girdle he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> wore the narrow swords then +coming into fashion, with finely lacquered scabbards. In person he was +tall, fair, with high forehead and big nose. Slender and sinewy every +movement was lithe as that of a cat. Kondō gasped as he made the +accustomed salutations. "This man for O'Iwa! Bah! A fox has stolen a +jewel." All his compunction and discretion vanished before this unusual +presence. Kazuma gracefully apologized for his intrusion, thus +uninvited. Kondō stammered protests and his delight at the +opportunity of meeting Yanagibara Dono. Chōbei smiled inward and +outward delight at thus summarily removing any too pointed objections of +Kondō. For absolute self-possession in this awkward situation the +younger man easily carried the palm. Kazuma acted as would a man double +his years. Chōbei was not only delighted, but astonished. "Whence had +the Sensei produced all this wondrous get-up? Was he in real fact a +magician?" Kazuma knew, but he was not one to enlighten Chōbei or +anyone else. After talk on general matters the affair of the meeting was +broached. Said Kondō Rokurōbei—"Thus to trouble Yanagibara Dono +requires apology, but the affair is not without advantage. The lady is +the daughter of Tamiya, a <i>dōshin</i> and favoured by the Hosokawa +House. This Kondō is honoured in presenting Kazuma Dono in +Yotsuya."—"Nay, fear enters.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> The honour of this meeting with +Kondō Dono is as great as the intrusion has been unseemly. Deign to +pardon the precipitancy of this Kazuma." Kondō protested in his turn. +Said Chōbei—"The presentation made, doubtless the matter is as good +as concluded. But Tamiya Dono is ill; this visit is unexpected. If +Kondō Dono would deign to precede, and ascertain how matters are at +Tamiya,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> it would be well." To this Kondō assented. Making his +excuses he set out for Samonchō, bubbling over with excitement, and +praying that the matter would have certain issue; and thus establish him +for life on the shoulders of the wealthy Tamiya. Prayers? Indeed he did +stop on the road, one lined with the ecclesiastical structures. Kondō +had too much at stake, not to invoke all likely aid.</p> + +<p>With his departure Chōbei began to go into the externals of the House +of Tamiya. As they walked along—"Congenial surroundings." This was with +a grin and a wave of the hand toward the long line of temple buildings +and graveyards they were passing. "Not much savour of present lodging in +Hanagawadō. Eh! Kazuma Uji, even Chōbei notes the difference." He +stopped opposite the Gwanshōji and looked across the way. The fruit +was already formed on the trees of Matazaémon's garden. "Persimmons of a +hundred momme (375 grammes) each; twenty cartloads for the profit of the +house at the fall of the year." As they passed in the entrance on +Samonchō he pointed to a store-house. "Stuffed with rice, from the +farms of Tamiya in Kazusa. No husks to be found in it."—"Who said there +were?" said Kazuma testily. His eyes were taking in the wide proportions +of the garden, the spreading roof and eaves of a stately mansion. As +they passed along the <i>rōka</i> to a sitting room Chōbei called his +attention to the fret work (<i>rama-shōji</i>) between the rooms, the +panelled ceilings, the polished and rare woodwork of <i>tokonoma</i> +(alcoves). A <i>kakémono</i> of the severe Kano school was hung in the +sitting room alcove, a beautifully arranged vase of flowers stood +beneath it. Matazaémon could not use his legs, but his hands were yet +active. Of his visitors he knew nothing; least of all of Chōbei. +Kondō Rokurōbei appeared. With him was an old lady. O'Naka bowed +to the ground before the proposed son-in-law. She was in a flutter over +the beautiful man destined for O'Iwa. The admirable courtesy of his +manners, the tender softness of voice, robbed her of what little +judgment she had. Her only fear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> was that the candidate for honours and +the Tamiya would escape.</p> + +<p>Said Chōbei—"Asakusa is a long distance; the occasion exceptional. +Cannot the Ojōsan favour us by pouring the wine?" The old woman +hummed and hawed. Kondō, too, seemed put out. "As a matter of fact +O'Iwa is not presentable. She has taken cold, and just now is in bed. +Perhaps the Obasan will urge her further, now that Yanagibara Uji is +present." O'Naka at once rose, like to an automaton, the spring of which +has been pressed. She disappeared, to return and repeat her lesson. +"Wilful as a child! One would suppose her such. Illness she would +disregard, but her hair is not made up. She cannot think of appearing +before company. Truly she is vexing."—"Not so," defended Chōbei. +"She could not show higher regard than by refusing to appear before a +future husband in careless attire. It is a guarantee of conduct when +married. She is much to be commended for such respect. All women like to +appear well. A man in the neighbourhood, and rice powder and rouge are +at once applied. How neglect such an elaborate structure as the hair? +Trust Chōbei's judgment as to women."</p> + +<p>O'Naka thought that he spoke well, but like most men with great conceit. +Kazuma looked out towards the beautiful garden. He took the chance to +smile, for he had soon ascertained that Kondō knew little about his +agent; was in fact a precipitate, testy man. However, he was a little +put out at not seeing the would-be bride. At an opportunity he stepped +out, to see more of the house and its surroundings. Chōbei came up to +him as he stood on the <i>rōka</i>. His voice was coaxing and pleading. +"Is it not a fine prospect—for Kazuma Dono?" His voice hung on the +'Dono.' "Nay, don't let escape this splendid piece of luck. Long has +Chōbei interested himself in his neighbour. Such a beautiful exterior +should have a proper setting. Marry O'Iwa San and Kazuma Dono is master +of Tamiya. Is it agreed?" Kazuma looked down in thought. At his age +there are ideals of the other sex, hard to put aside. Said he—"Not to +see the lady....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> Is she so horrible?" Chōbei protested. "Not so! The +lady is a mere item, well fitted to go with this fine house, this +beautiful garden, these store-houses filled with goods. Look: Tamiya +Dono is a man of double rations. The property has <i>nagaya</i> for +attendants. For long this has not been used. Tamiya will not rent it +out. It will be so much revenue added to the stipend of the House, and +will replace the old man's uncertain income from his accomplishments as +master of <i>hanaiké</i> and <i>cha-no-yu</i>." Kazuma looked around, following +the pointing finger of Chōbei. He was in sad straits. His only future +was this position of a <i>muko</i>. No matter what the woman might be, there +was compensation. To Chōbei's direct question he made answer—"Yes."</p> + +<p>The affair of the marriage suffered no delays. Chōbei had struck +home. Kazuma was so impressed with the surroundings, especially after a +return to his own miserable quarters, that the matter of the interview +took a minor place to the inspection of his future property. Within the +week he had removed to the house of Kondō Rokurōbei. The latter +introduced him to his future associates in the ward by a succession of +fish and wine dinners dear to the heart of the men of Nippon. These +neighbours were astonished at the future son-in-law of the Tamiya. This +man was to be the husband of the O'Baké? Was he mad, or drunk? Perhaps +the latter, for neither themselves nor Kazuma had the opportunity to be +particularly sober during this period of festivity. Of course there was +an introduction to Matazaémon, the other principal involved. As Kondō +carefully explained, no set date could be made for this interview. +Tamiya Dono was ill, and to be seen at a favourable time. As ill luck +would have it, on the very day the interview was permitted O'Iwa San +received an urgent summons from the Okugata of the Hosokawa House. This +could not be disregarded, and her absence on the second occasion was +easily explained and condoned. Kondō certainly made no effort, and +Kazuma no suggestion, for a meeting in the three days intervening before +the formal marriage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>At evening the guests met in the reception rooms of Tamiya. In a private +apartment were Kondō Rokurōbei and his wife, O'Iwa, and Iémon. The +latter name had been assumed by Kazuma on his formal registration in the +Tamiya House. It was Chōbei who had purchased the <i>wataboshi</i>, or +wadded hood, of floss silk worn by the bride on this great occasion of +her life. Iémon could see but little within its depths, except the +shining light of her countenance. Joy perhaps? At least this curiosity +was soon to be satisfied. Nine times—three times three—were the <i>saké</i> +cups drained. Kondō Rokurōbei joined the hands of the train, +exhorting them to mutual forbearance, O'Iwa to unquestioning obedience +to the husband. He pattered over the maxims of the Dōjikun of Kaibara +Yekken in this strange case, as he had done twenty times before with +favourable results. Yekken's book was comparatively recent, only a few +decades old, and the woman's guide. Truly the position of the +<i>nakōdo</i> was no easy one, if it was to bring him at odds with either +House involved. He felt complacent. This pair at least presented less +complications in that line than usual. What there was of doubtful issue +came now to the test. At this crisis he cast an eye to the <i>rōka</i> +(verandah) to see that Chōbei really was at hand as promised. Then +the strings of the <i>wataboshi</i> were loosed. The hood concealing the face +of O'Iwa was removed.</p> + +<p>Iémon rose to his feet as if impelled by springs; then hurriedly he sat +again with some mumbled excuse and trembling hands. He could not take +his eyes from the shining white of the face before him, the glazed +smooth surface left in many places between the black of the pock marks. +The removal of the hood had somewhat disarrayed the hair, leaving the +broad expanse of forehead more prominent, the puffed heavy eyelids in +the face more conspicuous. In the depths shone two tiny points, the +eyes. Indeed, as Chōbei afterwards described it, eyelids and eyes had +the appearance of <i>kuzumanju</i>, the dumplings of white rice paste with +the black dots of dark brown bean paste sunk deep in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> centre. Never +had O'Iwa appeared to such disadvantage. She was now engaged in removing +the white garment, to appear in her proper array as bride and wife. +Iémon took advantage of this absence to step to the <i>rōka</i>. In +leaving the room Kondō had given a wink to Chōbei. Iémon almost +ran into him. He seized him by the arm. The young man's voice was +excited. He spoke in a whisper, as one who could barely find speech. +With satisfaction Chōbei noted that he was frightened, not angered. +"What is that? Who is that creature?" were the first words of Iémon. +Replied Chōbei coldly—"That is the wife of Tamiya Iémon; O'Iwa San, +daughter of Matazaémon Dono; your wife to eight thousand generations." +Then roughly—"Deign, Iémon San, not to be a fool. In the purchase of +cow or horse, what does the buyer know of the animal? Its real qualities +remain to be ascertained. O'Iwa San is ugly. That much Chōbei will +admit. She is pock-marked, perhaps stoops a little. But if the daughter +of the rich Tamiya, a man with this splendid property, had been a great +beauty, this Iémon would not have become the <i>muko</i> of Tamiya, the +future master of its wealth. What qualification had he for such a +position—a diviner, a man whose pedigree perhaps would not stand too +much search." He looked keenly at Iémon, and noted with satisfaction how +the last thrust had gone home. Chōbei must know more of Iémon, +ex-Kazuma. He determined on that for the future.</p> + +<p>He continued—"Withdrawal at this juncture would merely create scandal. +Matazaémon is not so bereft of friends that such a step would not cause +serious displeasure in high quarters. The insult would find an avenger. +Then consider please: the old man is kept alive by the anxiety to see +his granddaughter established in life, the line of the Tamiya assured. +He will die within the month. If the old woman hangs on too long"—he +halted speech for a moment, then coldly—"give her lizard to eat. A +diviner, doubtless Iémon San knows Kondō Rokurōbei by this time. +He will never prejudice the man who holds in his hands the purse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> of the +Tamiya. Iémon San and O'Iwa San are left alone. Good luck to you, +honoured Sir, in the encounter. In this Chōbei a counsellor and +friend always is to be found; and one by no means lacking experience of +the world. As for the woman, she is your wife; one to take charge of the +house and affairs of Iémon Dono is to hand. No other <i>rusu</i><a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> could be +found so earnest in duty and so cheap, as O'Iwa San. Take a concubine. +This Chōbei will purchase one for you; such a one as will be the +object of envy and desire to the whole of young Edo. His opportunities +in that line are exceptional. Come! To turn on the lights. On our part +at least there is nothing to conceal." Iémon did not pay attention to +the hint. The one thought harassing him must out—"lop-sided and—a +leper!" He spoke with despair and conviction, eyes fastened on +Chōbei, and such a frightened look that even Chōbei had pity. One +foot in the room he turned back. "That is not so—absolutely." Iémon +could not disbelieve the earnest testimony. Said Chōbei—"The wounds +of smallpox were no trivial ones. In healing the scars were such in +places as form over burns. Hence the shining surface. Positively there +is no leprous taint in Tamiya." He was gratified by the sigh which came +from Iémon, sign of the immense weight lifted off the young man's mind. +"Bah! leave things to the future, and—enjoy the present. O'Iwa cannot +grow ugly with age. So much is gained. What difference will her looks +make to Iémon thirty years hence? She is a woman. Make a child on her. +Then you are free to turn elsewhere."</p> + +<p>At once he began to place lights everywhere, as a sign to Kondō that +all was well. This worthy came forward with other guests, to +congratulate the Tamiya House on being once more in young and vigorous +hands. It was Iémon himself who gave the signal to retire. How matters +went alone with his bride has reference to one of those occasions over +which the world draws<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> the veil of decency. In the morning O'Iwa arose +early to attend to the matutinal needs of her spouse. The ablutions +performed, Iémon sat down to tea, as exquisite and exquisitely served as +in any dream in literature of how such ceremony of the opening day +should be performed. Then the morning meal was brought, under the same +supervision of this woman, as expert in all the technique of her craft +as she was ugly in feature; and that was saying much. Iémon watched her +movements in the room with curiosity, mixed with a little pain and +admiration. He was quick to note the skill with which she concealed the +slight limp, due to the shrinking of the sinews of one leg and causing +an unevenness of gait. It was a blemish in the little quick movements of +a woman of surpassing grace; who by art had conquered disease and an +ungainly figure.</p> + +<p>O'Iwa had left the room for a moment to get flowers to place in the +vases, offering to the <i>hotoké</i> (Spirits of the departed) in the +Butsudan. On his return Iémon held the <i>ihai</i> (memorial tablets) in his +hands. A priest, these had at once attracted his notice. "Kangetsu +Shinshi; Kangetsu Shimmyō; O'Iwa San, these people have died on the +same day of the month—and the year?"—"Is on the back of the <i>ihai</i>," +replied O'Iwa. "No; it is not a case of suicide together." Then seeing +his evident curiosity she motioned him to sit as she poured tea, ready +for a long story. With its progress voice and manner grew more strained +and earnest. She never took her eyes from the <i>tatami</i> (mats). "The +tablets are those of the father and mother of this Iwa. My mother's name +was Mino. Daughter of Tamiya she acted badly with my father Densuké, a +mere servant in the house. This Densuké was a good man, but his status +of <i>chūgen</i> made my grandfather very angry. He drove the twain from +the house. Thus deprived of means to live, my father took a position as +cook in the <i>yashiki</i> of a great noble. Here he was frightened into +becoming the tool of a very wicked man. Having killed an usurer this man +forced my father to dispose of the body under penalty of death<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> if he +refused. The body being placed in a cloth, my father had carried it to +his house. During his short absence my mother's curiosity led her into +untying the bundle. Her screams aroused the neighbourhood. As they +entered she was seized with convulsions, and gave birth to this Iwa, +thus brought into the world together with the exposure of the crime. My +father, doubtless warned by the crowd, fled from Edo. My mother had but +time to tell her story to the <i>kenshi</i>. Then she died. A year later to +the day my father's dead body was found floating in the castle moat, +near the town of Yūki in Shimosa. A beggar man, but little inquiry +was made into the crime. For long the cause and the criminal were +unknown. Then a <i>bantō</i> was robbed in the Shiba Kiridōshi; his +companion was killed. The criminals were traced, and on confession were +put to death. The leader and most wicked of them also confessed to the +murder of the usurer Jusuké and to that of my father Densuké. My father +had met him again in Yūki town, and had aroused in him fear of +denunciation of past crimes. He spoke of 'this Densuké' as a +superstitious, haunted fool; thus in his wickedness regarding my +father's remorse and desire to clear up the strange affair. The +execution of this man removed all chance of my avenging the deaths of +father and mother on himself. But he has left behind a son. The one wish +of this Iwa is to meet with Kichitarō; to avenge on him the +wickedness of his father Takahashi Daihachirō." Iémon at first had +followed in idle mood her story. With the development of the details he +showed an attention which grew in intensity at every stage. With the +mention of the name of Takahashi Daihachirō he gave a violent start. +Yanagibara Kazuma, Iémon Tamiya—what were these but names to cover this +Kichitarō, the one-time priest Myōshin of the Jōshinji at +Reigan Fukagawa, and son of Daihachirō.</p> + +<p>Strange was this retributory fate which had brought these two into the +most intimate relations of husband and wife. When Iémon could control +his voice he said—"That O'Iwa San should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> have this feeling in +reference to the wicked Daihachirō can be understood. But why such +hatred toward this Kichitarō? Surely the boy is not to be held guilty +of the father's offence!"—"That is a man's way of reasoning," answered +O'Iwa. "A woman, ignorant and foolish, has but her feelings to consult. +To seven births this Iwa will clutch and chew the wicked son of a wicked +father. Against Kichitarō is the vow made." She raised her head. +Iémon turned away shuddering. She had aged into a hag. The shining face, +the marks like black spots in pumice standing out, the mere dots of eyes +in their puffy bed, the spreading mouth with its large shining +teeth—all turned the plain gentle girl into a very demon. The +certainty, the intensity, of a malignant hate was driven into Iémon. He +was so frightened that he even nodded assent to her last words. The +gentle voice of O'Iwa added—"Iwa is ugly; perhaps annoys by the tale. +Leave the affair to her and to the enemy. To Iémon she is bound for two +existences. Deign to drop all formality; call her Iwa, and condescend to +regard her with affection." And Iémon covenanted with himself so to do. +The present should compensate for the past. But in the days which +followed O'Iwa sat on him as a nightmare. He felt the impress of her +teeth at his throat, and would wake up gasping. Time made the situation +familiar. He carefully lulled her into a blind admiration and belief in +her husband Iémon. There seemed no likelihood of O'Iwa learning the +truth; or believing it, if she did.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT</h3> + + +<p>Matazaémon's illness justified all the predictions of Chōbei. In the +course of the month it was plain that his last hold on life was rapidly +weakening. In that time Iémon had won golden opinions from household and +neighbours. His face was beautiful, and this they saw. His heart was +rotten to the core, and this he kept carefully concealed. The incentive +of his fear of O'Iwa kept up the outward signs of good-will. He found +this easier with the passage of the days. Plain as she was in face and +figure, no one could help being attracted by the goodness of O'Iwa's +disposition. Iémon, in his peculiar situation, placed great hopes on +this, even if discovery did take place. Day following day he began to +discount this latter contingency. To a feeling of half liking, half +repugnance, was added a tinge of contempt for one so wrapped in her +immediate surroundings, whose attention was so wholly taken up with the +matter in hand. She easily could be kept in ignorance, easily be +beguiled.</p> + +<p>One day Iémon was summoned to the old man's bedside. He was shocked at +the change which had taken place in a few hours. Propped upon pillows +Matazaémon would speak a few last words. With a shade of his old +impertinent official smile and manner—"The Tamiya is to be +congratulated on its great good fortune in the entrance of one so well +qualified by appearance and manners to uphold its reputation. Deign, +honoured Muko San, to accept the thanks of this Matazaémon. All else has +been placed in the hands of Iémon—goods, reputation, granddaughter." +Iémon bowed flat in acknowledgment and protest at the good-will +expressed. Continued Matazaémon—"There is one matter close to the old +man's heart. Concerning that he would make his last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> request to the +admirable heart of Iémon. Iwa is a plain girl. The end of time for man, +and the carping comment of neighbours come to his ears, have opened the +eyes of Matazaémon to the truth. Great has been the favour in +disregarding this plainness and taking her to wife. Everything is in the +hands of Iémon San. Consider her happiness and deign to use her well. +Abstain if possible from taking a concubine. At all events conceal the +fact from Iwa, if it be deigned to keep such company. Plainness and +jealousy go together. Faithful and upright, such a disposition as hers +is not to be strained on that point. She would be very unhappy. Better +the light women of Shinjuku Nakachō, than one who takes the place of +the wife. Condescend to remember this last request of Tamiya +Matazaémon." He clasped the hand of Iémon, and tears were in his eyes as +he spoke. Iémon, too, was affected. It almost frightened him to be left +alone with O'Iwa. "Deign not to consider such unlikely contingency. The +amiability of O'Iwa is compensation for the greatest beauty. Who could +think of injuring her in any way? Perhaps a child soon will be the +issue. With this in mind condescend to put aside all gloomy thoughts. +Concentrate the honoured will on life, and complete recovery to health +will follow. Such, indeed, is the daily prayer of this Iémon at the +Myōgyōji."</p> + +<p>Matazaémon smiled faintly—with gratification or grimness? Perhaps death +unseals the vision. Often indeed did Iémon present himself at the family +temple; he the substitute for the Master of Tamiya. But as often did his +feet return by the diametrically opposite direction, running the +gauntlet of the charms of the frail beauties of Nakachō. Iémon held +on to the hand of Matazaémon, swearing and forswearing himself with the +greatest earnestness and the best of intentions. Suddenly he raised his +head. The emotion aroused by the interview had been too much for the old +man's fluttering heart. His head had slipped down sideways on the +pillow. A little stream of dark bitter refuse flowed from the mouth and +choked him. He was dead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Great was the grief of wife and grandchild; great was the importance of +Iémon, now in very fact Master of Tamiya. Whether or not he followed the +advice of Chōbei, and gave the old woman <i>tokagé</i> (lizard); whether +her constant small journeys to the houses of neighbours, reciting a +litany of praise of this wondrous son-in-law; whether the loss of the +companion of so many years wore out the feeble frame; it is fact that +O'Naka followed her lord before the maple leaf turned red. Again the +Tamiya was the scene of the funereal chanting of the priest. The corpse +removed with the provision for the guests and watchers at the wake, the +seventh night of the death observed, with this removal of the deceased +spirit from the scenes of its former activities Iémon could turn himself +without impediment to the life of the future. Outward change there was +none. He was the same kind and affectionate husband as of former days. +Neighbours, anticipating some change of manner, were still louder in +their praises. One day there appeared at Tamiya two intimates, Natsumé +Kyuzō and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. "Iémon Uji, a matter of importance +presses. We are on our way to the ward head, Itō Kwaiba Dono. Deign +to go in company. You are known to be an expert at <i>go</i>,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> a game at +which the old man prides himself for skill. He chafes at the presence of +this unknown rival, heard of but not yet tested. A dinner and wine are +at stake. Without Iémon Uji we do not dare to present ourselves. +Condescend to go in company. To know the great man of the ward, the +wealthy Itō Kwaiba, is of advantage even to Tamiya." Iémon laughed +and assented. He was soon dressed for the greater ceremony of a first +visit. All three climbed down into their clogs, and set out for the +house of the Kumi-gashira near Samégabashi.</p> + +<p>If Iémon had been impressed by the wealth of Tamiya, he felt +insignificant before that of the head of Yotsuya. Itō Kwaiba was a +man of sixty-four years, retaining much of the vigour of his youth. For +the past ten years he had added <i>go</i> to his twin passions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> for wine and +women, neither of which seemed to have made any impression on a keenness +of sight which could read the finest print by the scanty light of an +<i>andon</i>, teeth which could chew the hard and tough dried <i>mochi</i> (rice +paste) as if bean confection, and an activity of movement never to be +suspected from his somewhat heavy frame. At the name of Tamiya he looked +up with much curiosity, and Iémon thought his greeting rather brusque. +He saluted with great respect—"Truly fear is inspired. For long no +visit has been paid to the honoured head. Coming thus without invitation +is very rude. Intrusion is feared."—"Nay! Nay!" replied Kwaiba, +apparently attracted by the splendid externals of Iémon. "The failure to +visit is reciprocal. In fact, Tamiya and this Kwaiba have been at odds +these many years. Visits had altogether ceased. This, however, is no +matter for the younger generation. But Iémon San is indeed a fine +fellow. So Kwaiba had heard from all he met. Ah! A fellow to put all the +girls in a flutter. He is the very image of this Kwaiba in younger +years. The husbands were little troubled when he was around. The fair +ones were attracted. Well, well: they all had their turn at Kwaiba; and +Kwaiba has stood the pace. He is as good to-day as ever; in some +ways.... And it is a man like Iémon San who has married the—lady of +Tamiya." Iémon knew the term "O'Baké" had nearly slipped out. Knowing +O'Iwa's attractiveness of temperament, feeling touched in his own +conceit, this astonished and satirical reception he met with on every +side nettled him more than a little. Perhaps Kwaiba noted it. With +greatest unction he urged a cushion and at once changed the subject. +"Iémon San is noted as a <i>go</i> player. This Kwaiba is a mere amateur. It +is for him to ask odds in making request for a game.... Ho! Heigh! The +<i>go</i> board and stones!"</p> + +<p>Kwaiba and Iémon were the antagonists. Natsumé and Imaizumi sat at the +sides of the board. Kwaiba, confident in his powers, readily accepted +the deprecatory answer of Iémon at its face value. The game was to be on +even terms. Iémon really was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> an expert of the sixth grade; certainly of +several grades superiority to Kwaiba.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> The latter's brows knit as his +position rapidly became imperilled. Natsumé was in a ferment. Fish or +wine? If Iémon sought Kwaiba's favour by a preliminary sound thrashing +at his favourite game, the prospects of either were small. He dropped +his tobacco pipe. In picking it up he gave the buttocks of Iémon a +direct and severe pinch. Iémon was too astonished to cry out. His ready +mind sought a motive for this unexpected assault and pain. The face of +Natsumé was unmoved, that of Imaizumi anxious. A glance at Kwaiba's +attitude enlightened him. Politeness and a dinner were at stake. Even +Natsumé and Imaizumi wondered and admired at what followed. The blunder +of Iémon was a stroke of genius, the inspiration of an expert player. It +was a slight blunder, not obvious to the crudeness of Kwaiba; but it +opened up the whole of Iémon's position and put the game in his +antagonist's hands. Kwaiba promptly seized the advantage. His triumphant +glance shifted continually from Iémon to the onlookers, as the former +struggled bravely with a desperate position. Kwaiba won this first game +somewhat easily. A second he lost by a bare margin. In the third he +scored success in a manner to make evident his superiority over a really +expert player. Confident in his championship of the ward, he was all +geniality as at the end he sorted and swept back the <i>go</i> stones into +their polished boxes. "<i>Go-ishi</i> of Shingu; soft as a woman's hands. But +never mind the sex. Now for fish and wine.... However, Hana can serve +the liquor for us." To the servant—"Heigh! Some refreshments for the +honoured guests; and convey the request of Kwaiba to O'Hana San, to be +present."</p> + +<p>With the wine appeared O'Hana San. She was a beautiful girl. Of not more +than twenty years, on the graceful sloping shoulders was daintily set a +head which attracted attention and admiration. The face was a pure +oval—of the <i>uri</i> or melon, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> the Nipponese class it—with high brow, +and was framed in long hair gathered below the waist and reaching nearly +to her ankles with its heavy luxuriant mass. She was dressed for the hot +season of the year in a light coloured Akashi crape, set off by an <i>obi</i> +or broad sash of peach colour in which were woven indistinct and +delicate wavy designs. The sleeves, drawn a little back, showed the arms +well up to the shoulder. Glimpses of a beautifully moulded neck and +bosom appeared from time to time as she moved here and there in her +preparation of the service of the wine utensils. The delicate tissue of +the dress seemed to caress the somewhat narrow hips of a girlish figure. +Every movement was studied and graceful. This O'Hana had belonged to the +Fukadaya at Yagura no Shita of Fukagawa. She had been what is known as +an <i>obitsuké</i> harlot, wearing the <i>obi</i> in the usual form, without the +loose overrobe or <i>shikaké</i> of the common women. "In the period of +Tempō (1830-1843) all Fukagawa harlots were dressed in this manner." +Attracted by her beauty old Kwaiba had ransomed her and made her his +concubine. For nearly two years she had held this position in his house. +In serving the wine she came to the front and knelt before Iémon as +first to receive it. In handing him the tray with the cup she looked +into his face. The start on the part of both was obvious. Some of the +wine was spilled.</p> + +<p>Said Kwaiba—"Then Iémon Uji, you know this woman?" His tone was hard +and truculent. It conveyed the suspicion of the jealous old male. +Iémon's former profession stood him in good stead. He had a glib tongue, +and no intention to deny what had been made perfectly obvious—"It is +fact, and nothing to be ashamed of on the part of Iémon; except as to +attendant conditions beyond control. I was a diviner on the public +highway."—"So 'twas heard," grumbled Kwaiba. "Without customers, and +with no use for the diviner's lens but to charr the rafters of the +garret in which you lived." Iémon did not care to notice the attack. He +merely said—"Deign not to find amusement in what really is a serious +matter to one who has to suffer poverty. While seated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> at the diviner's +stand attention was drawn by a girl coming down the Kuramaé. Slouching +along close by her was a drunken <i>samurai</i>. From time to time he lurched +entirely too close to her. Turning unexpectedly her sunshade caught in +his <i>haori</i> (cloak), which thereby was slightly torn. At once he flew +into a great rage. Laying hands on her he showed no disposition to +accept her excuses. 'Careless wench! You have torn my dress. How very +impudent of you. Unless you at once accompany me to the tea house close +by, to serve the wine and please me, pardon, there is none; be sure of +that.' The people had gathered like a black mountain. Nothing was to be +seen but heads. O'Hana San was in the greatest embarrassment, unable to +free herself from the insults and importunities of the drunken fellow. +The <i>samurai</i> was hid under the diviner's garb. Stepping from the stand +I interposed in the girl's behalf, making apology, and pointing out the +rudeness of his behaviour to the drunkard. Instead of becoming calm he +raised his fist and struck me in the face. His condition gave the +advantage without use of arms. Locking a leg in his tottering supports I +threw him down into the ditch. Then with a word to O'Hana San to flee at +once, we disappeared in different directions. The <i>samurai</i> Iémon again +became the diviner. That part of his rôle this Iémon regrets; but a +weapon he could not draw in the quarrel. Later on meeting O'Hana San at +the Kwannon temple of Asakusa thanks were received, for what was a very +trivial service."—"And again renewed," said the beauty, raising her +downcast face to look direct into that of Iémon. Said Kwaiba—"Ah! +That's the tale, is it? A fortunate encounter, and a strange reunion; +but the world is full of such. O'Hana, it comes in most befitting that +opportunity is afforded to favour the rescuer with something of greater +value than thanks. Pray serve him with wine." Then did Kwaiba take the +matter as a man of the world. But he was no fool, "this old <i>tanuki</i> +(badger) of a thousand autumns' experience on hill and in dale." He +understood very well that between Iémon and O'Hana there had been a +closer connection than that of mere accident.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>LOVE KNOTS</h3> + + +<p>Many were the visits paid by Iémon to contest at <i>go</i> with Itō +Kwaiba. Rapid was the progress of the love affair between a young man +and a young woman, both inspired with a consuming passion for each +other. In former days—something more than two years before—when Iémon +was priest in the Jōshinji of the Reigan district of Fukagawa, and +was spending the money of the <i>oshō</i> so freely, he had met O'Hana +at the Fukagawa of Yagura no Shita. Just entering on her career, she at +once captivated him with a permanent passion. It was in her company that +the funds of the temple had been cast to the four winds of heaven. His +love had been fully reciprocated by O'Hana. The one purpose was to +ransom the lady, and then to live together as husband and wife. Such was +the engagement plighted between them. However, the ransom figure was +large. Iémon—or Kazuma at that time, he dropped his priestly name when +out of bounds—had already planned a larger raid than usual on the +ecclesiastical treasury. Warned by O'Hana that his operations had been +discovered, he had sought safety in flight; not without a last tearful +parting with his mistress, and assurance that fate somehow would bring +them again together. The engagement thus entered on was to flourish +under the new conditions.</p> + +<p>As to this pursuit of O'Hana, in which the maiden was coy and willing, +the lover circumspect and eager, or at least thought he was, those +around the pair were soon well informed; that is, with the exception of +the most interested—O'Iwa and Kwaiba. The marked neglect which now +ensued O'Iwa took in wifely fashion; and attributing it to some passing +attraction of Shinjuku Nakachō, she did not take it to heart as she +would have done if a concubine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> had been at issue. As for Kwaiba, the +usually astute and prying old man was so immersed in his <i>go</i> as to be +struck blind, deaf, and dumb. The matter coming to the ears of Kondō +Rokurōbei, the worthy gentleman was seriously alarmed. If true, the +old man had indeed reached a parting of the ways, at which he had to +satisfy Iémon, Master of Tamiya, O'Iwa, his ward, and Itō Kwaiba, the +powerful influence in the daily life of all of them. That night there +was a meeting at the house of Kwaiba, a competition in <i>gidayu</i> +recitation, dancing, and poetry (<i>uta</i>) making. He presented himself in +season at the door of the Tamiya. "Ah! O'Iwa San; and to-night does +Iémon join the company at the house of the <i>Kumi-gashira</i>? Rokurōbei +comes from Kawagoé, and perhaps is not too late to find company on the +road."—"Oya! Is it Kondō Sama? Iya! the Danna has but begun his +preparations.... Iémon! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come; for company +on the way to Itō Sama's house.... Deign to enter. In a short time +Iémon will be ready." Kondō looked at her quizzically. There was no +sign of distress or misgivings in this quarter. He felt encouraged. +Probably the rumour was false or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due +to the malice of Akiyama Chōzaémon, from whom that day he had heard +it.</p> + +<p>He turned to greet Iémon, who emerged ready for the street. At the +entrance they halted. Said Iémon—"It will be a long drawn-out affair. +Deign to retire, and not await the return." Replied O'Iwa—"A small +matter. The sound of the Danna's footstep will arouse Iwa to receive +him." Iémon laughed. "How so? How distinguish my steps from those of +Akiyama San or other constant callers?" Said O'Iwa gravely—"When the +wife can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection +has departed. O'Iwa will be ready to receive Iémon, no matter what the +hour."—"And, indeed, a late one," put in Kondō. "The party consists +mainly of young men. After it they will adjourn to Nakachō. Is it +allowed to Iémon Dono to accompany them?" O'Iwa winced a little. "The +Master is always master, within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> and without the house. He will do as he +pleases."—"Gently said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are +rarely to be encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of +Morokoshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokurōbei feels proud of his +guardianship." As he and Iémon took their way along the Teramachi, he +said—"Iémon is indeed a wonderful man. He is handsome and pursued by +the women. O'Iwa undeniably is ugly; yet never is there failure to show +her respect and consideration, in private as well as public. One's life +here in Yotsuya is open to all the neighbours, and these speak well of +Iémon." Said the younger man, in matter of fact tone—"Who could fail +toward Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is +the compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than +beauty."—"Well spoken! Deign to keep it in heart, for the neighbours' +tongues wag as to Iémon and O'Hana. Malice can cause as much unhappiness +as downright wickedness. Besides, Kwaiba is no man to trifle with." +Iémon was a little put out and alarmed at the directness of Kondō's +reference. "Be sure there is nothing in such talk. A slight service, +rendered in earlier days, makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise +a stranger. The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But Itō +Dono is good company and has good wine; and besides really is a good +<i>go</i> player. It would be loss to shun his house."</p> + +<p>Kondō noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke sharply to the +maid—"Middle age in company with youth plainly finds a poor reception. +Is that the master's order? The clogs of Tamiya are not the only ones. +Is Rokurōbei to shift for himself?" The girl, all confusion, made +profuse apology as she hastened to repair the neglect. Kondō was +easily mollified. "Bah! No wonder. Bring Tamiya near a woman, and all is +confusion.... But Itō Dono?"—"This way, honoured Sirs: the Danna +awaits the guests." They entered the sitting room, to find Kwaiba in a +high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error in transmission or +date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> appeared. "The +supper prepared is next to useless. We four can do but little in its +dispatch. Not so with the wine; let every man do double duty here." He +hustled around and gave his orders with some excitement; more than +cordial with the guests who had not failed him. There was present one +Kibei. Iémon had noted with curiosity his first appearance on this +ground. What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's position +in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point. Kibei was +exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a woman to make much of +physical beauty, as well as strength and ruggedness. He was a younger +son of Inagaki Shōgen, a <i>hatamoto</i> with a <i>yashiki</i> in Honjō and +an income of three thousand <i>koku</i>.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> It was almost certain that +Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. The negotiations had been long continued, and +there was some hitch in the matter that Iémon could not make out. What +he did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted fencer, making +some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the last man with +whom Iémon had any desire for a quarrel. Iémon was a coward, and the +cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. Himself, he was always +excessively polite in their intercourse.</p> + +<p>Limited as to number the party tried to make up for the missing guests +by liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as substitutes of +the absent, and competition in <i>uta</i> (poetry). Handing in his own +effort—no mean one—Iémon left the room for a moment. As he came out on +the corridor, and was about to return to the guest room, he found the +maid O'Moto awaiting him with water and towel. A slight puckering frown +came over Iémon's face at this imprudence. Said the girl +pleadingly—"Danna Sama, deign to exercise patience. That of the +mistress is sorely tried. The absence of the other guests, the pursuit +of Kibei Dono, who only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion +from the house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven her +well nigh mad. A moment—in this room." Iémon drew back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> —"A room +apart, and in darkness! The age of seven years once passed, and boy and +girl are never to be allowed alone together." He would have refused, but +a sudden push and he was within. The <i>shōji</i> closed at once.</p> + +<p>Kwaiba's voice called loudly—"Hana! Hana! What has become of the girl? +There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugliness of Kibei drives her +to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her out. Hana! Hana!" O'Hana +slipped hastily from the arms of Iémon. Passing through the garden she +entered the kitchen and snatched up a <i>saké</i> bottle from the stove. She +did not notice that the fire had gone entirely out. She and Iémon +entered the sitting room together, from different sides. Rokurōbei +looked sharply at Iémon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with Kwaiba. Said +Kondō—"Where have you been? Pressed by necessity? For such a lapse +of time! nonsense! Is rice powder found in such a place? 'Plaster'? It +does not leave the mark of a cheek on the sleeve." He laid a warning +hand on Iémon, skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. "What +has happened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got into +a dispute over the merits of Heinai and Shōsetsu as fencing masters; +both of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa +Houses. Heinai was loyal, and Shōsetsu a traitor; but Kibei tries the +old man and officer by supporting the prowess of the latter. Besides the +<i>saké</i> is cold and Kwaiba at start was in a very bad temper. He has +thought for naught but his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by +agreeing with him, but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert +with the sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would willingly +engage in one. He don't like you...." He stopped. Kwaiba was speaking +sharply. He had just taken the fresh bottle. "Cold as a stone! How +careless you are."—"Not so," said O'Hana in some surprise. "It has just +come off the stove." Kwaiba put the bottle in her hand, to her +confusion. "O'Hana must have been asleep; or much engaged, not to note +the difference." For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> the first time he looked sharply at her, then at +Iémon. O'Hana often executed great freedom with him—"Asleep! Just so; +and no wonder. Without guests the evening has been stupid enough. If +Tamiya Sama had brought his wife with him it would have been complete." +Kwaiba, Kibei, Kondō smiled at the sally. Iémon took the cue, and +chose to resent the words. He said coldly—"O'Iwa certainly brings spice +into everything she engages in. Her intelligence is unusual." O'Hana +looked at him; then smiled a little, reassured. Passing behind him she +stumbled. "Forgotten"—Iémon felt a letter thrust into his hand, which +he passed quickly to his sleeve. Then he and Kondō rose to take their +leave. The usual salutations followed. As if to compensate for the +failure of the entertainment all joined in seeing them depart. Kwaiba +was still grumbling and half quarrelling with O'Hana. O'Moto was engaged +with Kondō Rokurōbei. Kibei insisted on aiding Iémon; and Iémon +did not dare to refuse his services in donning the <i>haori</i>. As he +adjusted the awkward efforts of Kibei on one side, this amateur valet +made a mess of it on the other. Besides, neither of them was any too +steady on his feet. Then Kondō and Iémon set out in the rain. +"<i>Sayonara! Sayonara!</i>"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA</h3> + + +<p>The following morning Iémon sat brooding, mind and tongue clouded by the +drinking bout of the previous night. O'Iwa silently busied herself with +his renovation. Rokurōbei had delivered him over to her, decidedly +the worse for wine and wear. He was somewhat astonished at the young +man's easy discomfiture. Middle age with the Nipponese usually means the +seasoned and steady toper. Regarding the matter as partly due to her own +fault, and reassured by Kondō as to the events of the evening, O'Iwa +heated the <i>saké</i> with all the greater care, serving it herself, +chatting on the indifferent gossip of the neighbourhood. She spoke of +the talk current as to Itō Kwaiba's adoption of an heir. "This man +Kibei, his disposition appears to be as ugly as his face." With a little +smile she added, "for the latter compensation is to be found in the +first-named quality; a truth which he seems to disregard. What will +become of O'Hana San?" For the first time since the night before the +thought of the letter flashed into Iémon's mind. He put down the +renovating morning draft, and on some excuse arose. His <i>kimono</i> lay +neatly folded in the <i>hirabuta</i> (flat tray). Hastily he searched the +sleeves. There was not a sign of the missive. With clouded brow he +returned to the sitting room. A glance at O'Iwa made him feel ashamed. +It had never come into her hands. He knew her well enough to be assured +that he would have found it, scrupulously laid together with the tobacco +pouch, nose wipe (<i>hanagami</i>), and divers other minor articles of daily +use carried on the person. The whole affair perhaps was a dream. The +more he considered, the more he became so convinced. His transports with +O'Hana, their surprise, Kondō's rebuke—so far the evening was +tolerably clear. It was only as to the final cups, the rising to depart, +the standing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> in the cold night air, that the exact course of events +became clouded. "Ah! It was all a vision. O'Hana never would have been +so imprudent." There was a trace of doubt in his mind. He would clear it +up at the fountain source—at Kwaiba's house and by the lips of O'Hana.</p> + +<p>Kwaiba greeted him with almost boisterous cheerfulness. "Ah! Tamiya +comes early; a flattering acknowledgment of last night's reception." To +Iémon's deprecatory speech and apology—"Don't talk folly, after the +manner of a country boor. Iémon San is a man of the world; and will give +this Kwaiba credit for being the same. What does it amount to? A matter +of a little too much wine.... Hana! Hana! The Master of Tamiya is +present. Cut some bean paste, and bring tea. Heat the wine. Matazaémon +was so sober an old dog that it is doubtful whether O'Iwa knows aught +about the best remedy for past drinking." As Kibei entered—"There is +the inventory of the Shimosa farms. Condescend to take a glance at the +report of the <i>nanushi</i> (bailiff). Hana will aid." Thus dismissed, the +two left the room. Kwaiba turned to Iémon—"A draught: no? Then Kwaiba +will drink for both. For him it is a day of rejoicing. The coming of +Tamiya is opportune. It was intended to send for him. Deign to aid this +Kwaiba with counsel. The adoption of Kibei has finally been settled." +The old man's exultation influenced even the indifference of Iémon's +aching head. With well-simulated interest he said—"Naruhodo! Kibei Dono +is indeed to be congratulated. As to our chief, since everything is to +his satisfaction, Iémon is but too glad to speak his pleasure, to offer +his congratulations."—"Nay! A little more than that, Iémon Uji. This +Kwaiba would seek his aid in another matter of importance. Kwaiba is +old. A woman no longer is an object to him. He cannot make a child. If +O'Hana should give birth to a child great would be the discomfiture, +knowing the truth. What is to be done in such a case?" He now was +looking with direct inquiry into the face of Iémon. The latter was much +confused. He stammered—"Just so: so indeed. O'Hana San is truly an +embarrassment. Doubtless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> she is also an obstacle to Kibei Dono. +She...." Sneered Kwaiba—"Tamiya, though young, is wise. He grasps the +situation at once. Deign, Iémon San, to take O'Hana yourself." Kwaiba +raised his voice a little. Kibei brought O'Hana with him from the next +room. She seemed alarmed and embarrassed. Said Kwaiba—"What have you +there; the inventory? Ah! A letter: and there is no one to read a letter +like Iémon San. Deign, Sir, to favour us. Iémon San alone can give the +contents the proper inflection." He handed it to Iémon. A glance showed +the latter that it was a letter from O'Hana, probably that of the +previous night. His pocket had been neatly picked by Kibei. It was +plain. He had been trapped. The pretended entertainment had been a plot +in which the passion of O'Hana had been given full chance to range. Even +the disinterested witness, the old fool Kondō, had been provided. He +caught a curious, mocking smile on the face of the girl O'Moto, just +then passing along the <i>rōka</i>.</p> + +<p>Kwaiba allowed the silence to become oppressive. He seemed to await an +incriminating outburst on the part of O'Hana, plainly on the verge of +tears. However, the girl caught herself up. Instead she turned a calm, +inquiring look toward the three men. Iémon alone looked down, his gaze +on the letter the characters of which danced and waved before his eyes. +Sharp as he ordinarily was, before this vigorous and astute old man, +backed by the ruffianly prospective son with impertinent smile, the +cowardice of Iémon deprived him of all spirit. His faculties were +numbed. Kwaiba leaned over and removed the letter from his hands. "Since +Iémon San will not read the letter, Kwaiba will try to do so; a poor +substitute for the accomplished cleric." The old fellow seemed to know +everything, as the tone of contempt indicated. He ran the scroll out in +his hands—"Naruhodo! Ma! Ma! What's this? From some woman: a lascivious +jade indeed!... Eh! Kibei Dono, apology is due your ears. This Kwaiba +laughed at your suspicions." He threw down the scroll, as in a fury. +Kibei picked it up. He began to read:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Night is the source of pleasure, but greater that pleasure +at sight of Iémon. The day comes when Iémon and Hana will be +husband and wife, in fact if not in form. 'Ah! Day and night +to be at the service of Iémon.' Thus does Hana pray gods and +Buddhas. When distant from his side, even though the time be +short, painful is its passage. Place this letter next to +your very person. May that night come quickly, when the +coming of Iémon is awaited. The connection with O'Iwa San is +the punishment for sin committed in a previous existence. +Condescend to dismiss her from your mind. View the matter +wholly in this light. The spiteful brush (pen) refuses +further service. Hard, hard, is the lot of this Hana. The +honoured Master comes; the heartfelt wish is accomplished.</p> + +<p class='center'>With compliments,</p> + +<p class='left'>To Iémon Sama."</p><p class='right'><span class="smcap">Hana</span>.</p></div> + +<p>Kwaiba's rage grew and grew with the reading. At Iémon's name he sprang +up and made a movement toward the stand on which reposed his swords. +Laying a hand on the larger weapon he turned with a scowl—"Ah! This +Kwaiba is old, but in vigour he is young. It is for Kwaiba to sport with +the women. They are not to make a fool of him." Kibei sharply +interposed. "Does Kwaiba Dono gain satisfaction by such a vengeance? To +Kibei it seems a poor one. A matter so easily to be settled is not to be +made a scandal in the ward. Deign, honoured Sir, so to regard it. To +punish both at once with death is proper. But is it expedient? +Condescend to hear the words of Kibei."</p> + +<p>Kwaiba pulled himself up. It was as if some one had dragged him back. +His rage departed. A cold malice took its place. He smiled blandly—"One +does not quarrel over a harlot. Kwaiba spares their lives. Iémon shall +take Hana home—as wife."—"As wife!" Iémon broke through his fear. +"Surely the honoured <i>Kashira</i> is unreasonable. This Iémon is but the +<i>muko</i> of Tamiya. To demand that O'Iwa San be discarded is going too +far. Positively in this matter, though there have been love passages, +the most intimate relation has never followed—now or in previous +relations."—"You lie!" said Kwaiba coldly. "Furthermore 'tis a matter +not passing the period of last night.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> But that is not to the point. +Against Matazaémon this Kwaiba has a grudge—as yet unsatisfied. Through +O'Iwa San this shall be paid. With Iémon no harsh measures are adopted. +Nay; Kwaiba comes to his aid. You, too, Kibei, shall assist.... Ah! For +the ready consent, thanks. Ma! A delicious revenge is that gathered by +Kwaiba. O'Hana the harlot takes the place of the Ojōsan. And she +loves Iémon! In our feasts Natsumé and Imaizumi get the skin of the +omelet; Iémon the centre. Then O'Iwa is to be driven out. To that Tamiya +cannot object. He substitutes honey for garlic;<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> O'Hana the flower +for the ugly toad O'Iwa. Splendid! Splendid! But how? Ah! Here's +Kondō, just in the nick of time. Rokurōbei, aid us with your +experience and influence. Aid us with Iémon, who would cleave to the +O'Baké."</p> + +<p>Put in possession of the facts Kondō was aghast. He had come to the +parting of the ways; and under conditions which assured his +participation in the plot. At first he turned on Iémon with bitter +recrimination. "Oh! A virtuous fellow, who would drink a man's wine, lie +with his woman, and then preach morality to a household! But the +mischief is done. If not the paramour of O'Hana San, everybody believes +it to be so...." Kwaiba held up his hands in well-simulated anger. Kibei +and Rokurōbei interfered. Iémon's last resistance was broken down. To +talk? That is the business of a priest. Soon he was as eagerly engaged +in the plot as if he had left the house in Samonchō for that purpose. +Said Rokurōbei—"What difficulty does the matter present? Set on +Watanabé Gorō to tempt and make love to O'Iwa. He is badly in debt. +The handsome man of the ward everyone would suspect her fall. Surprised +by Iémon, O'Iwa is driven out as unchaste. This Kondō stipulates that +matters go no further.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> After all O'Iwa is innocent of offence. The +husband's full rights are not to be excused. Neither she, nor Watanabé +is to suffer injury."</p> + +<p>Kibei laughed outright at the idea of a drawn sword in Iémon's hand. +Iémon turned the contempt on to Kondō. Sneering, he replied—"The +plan is worthless. O'Iwa is chastity itself. In the absence of this +Iémon no man is allowed entrance to the house." Kwaiba knitted his +brows—"Kakusuké! Kakusuké!" As the <i>chūgen</i> appeared—"Go yonder to +the house of Akiyama Chōzaémon San. Say that the Kumi-gashira would +speak with Akiyama San." As the man departed—"Chōzaémon is the man. +For gossip and malice he is a very woman. Rejoice and he weeps; weep and +he rejoices. If Akiyama cannot concoct some plan to get rid of O'Iwa, +then no one can.... Alas! O'Hana and Iémon must die by the hand of this +Kwaiba. Kibei will give his aid." The old man and Kibei got much +enjoyment out of the cowardice of Iémon and the fright of O'Hana. But +not for long. Akiyama Chōzaémon, the one-time boy lover of O'Iwa; a +long, lean, hungry-looking man, with long, cadaverous face and a +decidedly bad eye, appeared with the <i>chūgen</i> Kakusuké close behind. +The latter seemed a sort of policeman attending the none-too-willing +Chōzaémon. The latter's brow lightened at sight of the company. He +owed Kwaiba money. Sending away the servant, Kwaiba unfolded the +situation. Said Chōzaémon—"Heigh! Tamiya takes the cast off leman of +Itō Dono. Fair exchange is no robbery; Kibei Uji against O'Hana San. +Iémon San goes into the matter with eyes wide open. The lady is an old +intimate, it is said." This manner of approaching the subject was +Chōzaémon's way. He cared nothing for the scowls of Kibei nor the +wrath of Kwaiba. He was needed, or they would not have called him to +counsel. As for Iémon, he was grateful to Chōzaémon; as neighbour, +and for the insult to Kibei and Kwaiba.</p> + +<p>Continued the mediator—"The obstacle of course is the O'Baké. O'Iwa is +to be driven out. And Watanabé won't answer? Maa! Chastity in an O'Baké! +It is a thing unheard of. 'Tis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> such, once of womankind, who seduce +living men. Tamiya is now head of the House. O'Iwa once driven out, the +property remains in his hands as its representative. She must be forced +to leave of her own will. Good; very good. What is it worth to Kwaiba +Dono?"—"Look to Iémon for commission," said Kwaiba roughly. "Nay! Nay!" +mouthed Chōzaémon. "Kwaiba is Kwaiba; Iémon is Iémon. The two are to +be settled with separately. If Kwaiba Dono had gone to extremes at the +start no question would have been raised. To do so now, with all present +and after discussion, is out of the question. Kwaiba Dono wishes to +adopt Kibei Uji; to get rid of O'Hana San. Iémon San has been neatly +trapped. He must consent. O'Hana is a woman. She has no voice in the +matter. All this is clear. But as to Chōzaémon's labour in the +affair; that it is which interests this Akiyama." He gave a sour +reprimanding look at Kibei. Then he looked impertinently from Kwaiba to +Iémon, and from Iémon to Kwaiba. Iémon in delight nodded assent. +Chōzaémon promptly turned his back on him and faced Kwaiba. At first +the old man was very angry at the acuteness of Chōzaémon. The sharp, +free exposure did not please him. Then the idea of countering on this +acuteness made him good tempered. He grumbled—"The ten <i>ryō</i> owing +to Kwaiba at the New Year—principal and interest; such is the fee for a +successful issue." Chōzaémon held up his hands in pretended +horror—"Pay back borrowed money! Is that expected by the +Kumi-gashira?"—"Not 'expected,'" put in Kwaiba promptly. "With the seal +of Akiyama San the return is assured." Chōzaémon became +thoughtful—"It is true. The last loan was under seal.... Too bad.... +Well! Well! The conditions are hard. Submission is necessary. The debt +will be forgiven?"—"Kibei and Iémon stand as witnesses," replied +Kwaiba—"Then how is this?" said Chōzaémon. All put their heads +together. Akiyama Chōzaémon went into details. Kwaiba pushed back his +cushion; slapped his thighs. "Chōzaémon, you are cheap at double the +money. Just the thing! Eh, Iémon, Uji? Eh, Muko San?" All grinned a +raptured assent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE PLOT DEVELOPS</h3> + + +<p>For two days Iémon was maturing the preliminaries. He seemed unwell and +out of sorts. The third day he did not get up at all. O'Iwa was properly +anxious. Said she—"The change in the year is a sickly season. +Condescend to take some drug. Allow Suian Sensei to be summoned." Iémon +grumbled a dissent. She went on in her enthusiasm—"He is the very +prince of doctors. See: here is a salve he recommends; for skin and +nerves. O'Hana San, the beautiful concubine of Itō Sama, uses nothing +else. He guarantees it on her praise, as means to remove blemishes of +any kind or source." Iémon looked up quickly. The connection puzzled and +did not please him. Perhaps he noted a puffiness about O'Iwa's face, +remembered a repulsion toward marital usages. The women should leave the +men to play their own game. He said gruffly—"Suian! A dealer in +cosmetics and charms. Have naught to do with his plasters and potions; +as cheats or something worse. As for O'Iwa, she is black as a farm hand +from Ryūkyū (Loo-choo). O'Hana is fair as the white <i>kiku</i>. Can +the pastes of Suian Sensei change black to white?" Startled, O'Iwa +looked round from the glass into which she was peering. She was taken by +surprise. In their personal relations Iémon had always been more than +considerate. For some weeks in secret she had been using this drug of +Suian Sensei. In childhood O'Iwa had shown something of an epileptic +tendency. This had worn off with time. Of late the recurrence had +alarmed her. The drug of Suian, at the time anyhow, made her less +conscious of the alarmed critical feeling which heralded the inception +of the attacks.</p> + +<p>Iémon gave her but time to catch the meaning of his insult. He went +on—"Probably it is but a cold. Some eggs, with plenty of hot wine, will +obviate ill effects. Deign to see that they are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> prepared." The channel +of O'Iwa's thoughts changed. At once she was the housekeeper and nurse, +and all solicitude to make him at ease. In the course of the meal of +eggs with <i>saké</i> in came Natsumé Kyuzō and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. "Ah! +Iémon, pardon the intrusion. Probably the engagement of yesterday with +Kwaiba Sama was forgotten.... In bed! A cold? But such is no treatment +for the complaint. There should be a cheerful, lively atmosphere.... Ah! +Here is the dice box. One can shake dice as well lying down as sitting. +Deign to refresh the spirits with play as well as wine." Iémon saw to it +that both were available. With surprise at first, misgiving afterwards, +O'Iwa heated bottle after bottle of <i>saké</i>. The men did not pay the +slightest attention to her presence. Absorbed in their game, there was +but a rough call from time to time for wine, addressed to the air, a +servant, anybody. At the end of the play Natsumé rose to leave in high +spirits. Imaizumi and Tamiya were correspondingly depressed. This was +but a first day's procedure. Day after day, for the space of half the +month, the play was repeated. Iémon had long since recovered. One day he +stood with his hands shoved into the folds of his sash. He was very +sober and sour. "Iwa, is there money in the house?" She looked at him in +surprise. "Matters have not turned out at all well with Kyuzō and +Jinzaémon. This Iémon is a hundred <i>ryō</i> to the bad. With spare cash +at hand an attempt can be made to repair the loss."</p> + +<p>O'Iwa prostrated herself before him. "May the Danna deign to consider. +To Iwa this pastime of gambling seems a very ill one, particularly in a +man of official rank. It is fraught with peril; and the offence once +known rarely is pardoned. Condescend to hear and forgive the warning of +this Iwa." She stopped a little frightened. Iémon was looking at her in +greatest wrath and astonishment. "What! Is there argument from wife to +husband? This insolence of behaviour crowns the insult of refusal. The +very sight of your face is enough to make one sick at the stomach. Boors +and <i>bakémono</i> are shut out at the Hakoné barrier. But you—the guards +have been put to sleep, and you have slipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> through. Shut up! Get the +money, or...." O'Iwa crouched at the <i>shōji</i>, in terror and surprise. +The insulting words heaped on her pained and tortured. Now she felt the +sharp sting of a hand forcibly applied to her cheek. Without a word she +left the room. Returning she brought thirty <i>ryō</i> in gold on a +salver. Timidly prostrate she presented it to Iémon. "Condescend to +pardon Iwa. That she is ugly and incompetent she knows. Did not Iémon +accept her?" The man stuffed the gold in his girdle. In reply—"No: +Iémon was cheated by Kondō and Chōbei. A plain woman—perhaps; but +a monster, a worse than <i>rokurokubi</i>, was never thought of even in a +dream. Compensation is to be found. Iémon likes gambling. He will +gamble. Have a care to supply the needed funds; and don't interfere." +Roughly he shoved her out of the way, and left the house.</p> + +<p>For long O'Iwa saw nothing of Iémon; but she heard from him. In fact he +was living in semi-secrecy at the house of Rokurōbei. Now this +messenger, then that, would come to O'Iwa. "If there is no money—sell +something. The bearer will indicate. A supply must be found." Thus one +thing after another left the house—to be stored in the godown of +Kondō Rokurōbei, to whose clever suggestion was due this way of +stripping O'Iwa of all she possessed. With goods and clothes went the +servants. In the course of a few weeks O'Iwa was living in one room, +furnished with three <i>tatami</i> in lieu of the usual twelve in number. +Hibachi, <i>andon</i> (night lamp), the single garment she wore, this was all +she possessed in the house. Then at last she saw him. The light dawned +on a cold snowy morning of early March. O'Iwa rose, opened the <i>amado</i>, +and started her day. About the fourth hour (9 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) the +<i>shōji</i> were pushed aside and Iémon entered. He looked as if fresh +from a night's debauch. His garments were dirty and disordered. His face +was sallow, the eyes deep set and weary, his manner listless. O'Iwa gave +him the only cushion in the room. Seated before the <i>hibachi</i> (brazier) +after some time he said—"A million pardons: the luck has been very +bad.... Ah! The place here seems in disorder. It is not fit for a man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +to live in." He looked around as one waking from a dream. "No wonder: +yet all can be restored. Iémon has surprised you?" Said O'Iwa +timidly—"Matters are a little at odds and ends. O'Iwa needs but little; +a stalk of <i>daikon</i> (radish) and a handful of wheat (<i>mugi</i>). Does the +Danna remain here? If so...." There was a painful hitch in her voice, a +puzzled look on her face. She had one <i>bu</i> in cash. In fact she was +hoping for the monthly visit of Yosuké the farmer; if there was a farm +any longer. She did not know.</p> + +<p>"For the night," replied Iémon. "Sleep and food are the essentials of +good play. All has been lost in the gambling houses of Shinjuku and +Shinagawa, at the Nakanochō. Is there no money in the house?... +Evidently not. Deign to secure some, no matter how." He took the silver +<i>bu</i> she presented to him. "At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See +to it that a meal is ready at even; not much, <i>sashimi</i> (sliced raw +fish) and wine. Iémon would play, not eat." With this he rose. O'Iwa +heard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her face buried +in her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she to do? She looked +around. There was not a thing to sell; not even herself. Who would buy +the ugly O'Iwa? An idea came into her head. In a moment she was in the +street. Soon she stood at the door of her uncle, Yoémon. With this uncle +and aunt she had but little to do. Matazaémon had been at daggers drawn +with his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched miser, one +acquiring wealth by very questionable means for a <i>samurai</i>. In old days +Chōbei had been a hired agent of Yoémon. The principal had escaped; +the second had to leave Yotsuya and its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt) +came out at O'Iwa's call. She greeted her niece with surprise. "Oya! +Oya! Iwa is a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid +<i>muko</i> was received at Tamiya." The old woman looked at O'Iwa shrewdly, +and not without kindness. O'Iwa took heart. She made answer—"It is +true; of late matters have not gone well. Just now Iwa would ask the +loan of a <i>shō</i> (1/5 peck) of rice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> together with a <i>bu</i> to buy eels +or <i>sashimi</i>.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> It is very rude indeed...."—"Very rude indeed!" said +a harsh voice close by. O'Iwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway. +The aunt fled to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoémon—"And +what is Iwa doing at the house of Yoémon? That there is relationship +between them this Yoémon does not recognize. Yoémon never exchanged look +or word with his brother Matazaémon, nor does he desire to do so with +the issue. Let the Tamiya of Samonchō look out for itself. A <i>muko</i> +was taken without aid or advice of Yoémon. A stranger, one practising +wayside divination, this fine fellow turns out a gambler and a debauched +man, to the ruin of the House. Iwa can look to him; ignorant and foolish +woman that she is. This Yoémon would contribute to the needs of a beggar +before granting even a single <i>mon</i> to Iwa."</p> + +<p>The grating rattled sharply as the angry old man pushed it to and let +fall the bar. O'Iwa looked into the dark recess with pained and startled +eyes. So much of a recluse she was learning that Iémon had long been the +talk of the ward. She turned, and slowly took her way back to +Samonchō. Here the reaction came. Strong was the inclination to laugh +and weep; too strong for self-control. In alarm she ran to take from the +closet the potion of Suian. Its effect was the opposite of what she +expected—or perhaps it was taken too late. For an hour O'Iwa writhed, +screamed, laughed in her agony. Then she sank into slumber. On awakening +the sun was already well past the zenith. She sprang up in alarm. This +meal to prepare—the duty of the wife—and not a step taken. It could +not be helped. Just as she was, twisting a towel around her disordered +hair, she started out to the place of one Kuraya Jibei of the Asakusa +Kuramaé no Saka. This man was a lender on the notes from the rice +pensions of the <i>samurai</i>—a <i>fudasashi</i> dealer, as these men were +called.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>The distance was great. O'Iwa was tired out on her arrival. At the +entrance the <i>kozō</i> or "boy" hailed her sharply. He waved her off. +"No! No! Old girl, it won't do. Nothing is to be had here. Please come +back the day before yesterday." He barred the way. Said O'Iwa, shrinking +back—"Nothing is wanted of the honoured house. An interview with Jibei +San, an inquiry to make. Such the request." Something about tone or +manner, certainly not pity, made the fellow hesitate—"Jibei San! A +beggar woman wants an interview with Jibei San! How about it?"—"Nothing +to be had," answered the <i>bantō's</i> voice. "Tell her to read the white +tablet hung before the entrance. It is all the house has to give." In +speaking he edged around a little. O'Iwa raised the towel from her face. +At once he was on his feet. "Ah! For long the honoured lady of Tamiya +has not been seen. Many and profitable the dealings with Matazaémon +Dono. Condescend to pardon this senseless fellow. He outrivals his +companions in lack of brains. Deign to enter." The <i>kozō</i> was all +apology—"Condescend wholly to pardon. Deign to have pity on the +ignorance shown. With fear and respect...." Looking into O'Iwa's face he +was overcome by his feelings. Bursting with laughter he fled to the +front of the shop to stuff the dust rag into his mouth in mistake for a +towel. This slight error restored his equanimity. The <i>bantō</i> looked +after him with some fellow feeling and much anger. "He is half idiot. +Condescend to disregard his rude speech and manner. After all he is but +a <i>kozō</i>.... What can this Jibei do for the lady of Tamiya?"</p> + +<p>"Knowing that the House has dealings with Jibei San, and there being +necessity for three <i>shō</i> of rice, it is ventured to ask the loan." +Thus spoke O'Iwa. Money, actual coin, was on the end of her tongue, but +somehow she could not get the words out. Jibei was not particularly +astonished. Since Iémon had taken charge of the affairs of Tamiya, its +income was usually discounted well beforehand. Moreover, the rumour of +Iémon's gambling was spreading among his connections. Neither Kwaiba nor +Akiyama, nor the others engaged, were men to lose sight of the +likelihood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> of fine pickings from the Tamiya. Jibei made prompt answer. +"Respectfully heard and understood. It shall be sent.... Ah! It is +required now? Matsu! Matsu! Put up three <i>shō</i> of rice for the lady +of Tamiya. Its conveyance is to be provided. Place a <i>bu</i> in the parcel. +The distance to Yotsuya is great. The <i>kago</i> (litter) men are exacting." +O'Iwa's heart leaped with gratitude at the perspicacity of Jibei. He +watched her departing figure as far as he could see it. Then he took out +a ledger; and against the name of Tamiya he placed a question mark.</p> + +<p>It was dusk when O'Iwa entered the house at Samonchō. She gave a +start on finding Iémon glumly seated before the fireless brazier. "A +fine hour for a woman to be gadding the street. And the meal! +Unprepared: excellent habits in a wife!—--" "To the Danna apology is +due. This Iwa is much in the wrong. But for the meal money had first to +be secured...."—"Then there is money, or means to procure it? Where is +it? How much?"—"Nay, the rice is here. This <i>bu</i> is enough to secure +eels, <i>sashimi</i>, some delicacy...." She hesitated before Iémon's +doubting glare. He was eyeing rice and money. The mark on the bag caught +his eye. "Whence was this rice had? And this money? From Jibei, the +<i>fudasashi</i> dealer? A visit paid in such garb? Truly the House is +disgraced, not only by your ugliness, but by ill conduct. Who could +remain in such a den?" O'Iwa threw herself in his way as he rose to +leave the room. Clinging to his sleeve she pleaded for pardon, as only a +woman can do who has done no wrong. There was an ugly look on Iémon's +face as he turned on her. Frightened, she would have fled. Instead she +could only crouch like a dog under the blows he showered on her. Then +with a violent kick in the groin he rolled her over, and departed.</p> + +<p>O'Iwa heard footsteps. Had Iémon returned? Despite the pain, she half +sat up in her dread. Kondō Rokurōbei appeared. The portly man held +up his hands in horror and benevolence at what he saw. "But O'Iwa—what +has occurred? Ah! Kondō has heard rumours of what is going on. The +<i>tatami</i> (mats),<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> screens, drawers (<i>tansu</i>), clothes-baskets—the house +is completely stripped to satisfy the thirst for the money of others. +Now he has descended to blows! Truly he is a miserable fellow." +Kondō's voice grew loud in his wrath. "This must not go on. +Rokurōbei is responsible to Tamiya, to the ancestors. To be subject +to a fellow like this will never do. A divorce is to be secured. Let him +depart with his plunder. Let him have everything; only to get rid of +him. He is husband, and head of Tamiya. But Kondō will be too much +for him. A divorce shall be secured. Itō Dono, the ward chief, is to +be interested in the affair. Pressure shall be put on Iémon to grant the +letter of divorce." Indignation choked the worthy man. O'Iwa spoke +slowly, with pain and effort. "Be in no such haste, Kondō Sama. Iémon +has not been a good man. Much is known to this Iwa. He buys women at +Nakachō. He buys <i>geisha</i>. He gambles. These are a man's vices. As to +these Iwa has nothing to say. She is the wife, for two lives to maintain +the house in good and ill fortune. A good wife does not look to divorce +to rectify mistakes. With such remedy Iwa has nothing to do. But is not +Kondō Sama the <i>nakōdo</i>? Was he not the mediator in the marriage +between Iémon and Iwa? Deign to speak as <i>nakōdo</i>. Rebuke Iémon. +Cause this gambling to be brought to an end." Rokurōbei could hardly +hear her to the end. His testy impatience was in evidence. He broke into +protest—"This is complete madness; utter folly. You allow this fellow +to ruin the House. He will dispose of the pension."—"The goods, the +House, Iwa, all belong to Iémon; to do with as he pleases. Iwa is the +wife. She must submit.... Ah! You refuse. Kondō Sama is no longer the +friend of Iwa, to act as <i>nakōdo</i>." What had come into the soul of +this gentle woman? Kondō in fright shrank back from the look she gave +him—"A very demon! The mother, O'Mino, has returned to life. Oni! Oni! +You are not human. Kondō assuredly will have nothing to do with +O'Iwa, or O'Iwa's affairs." He left her helpless in the middle of her +fit. Forgetting in his fright even his clogs, barefooted, he fled from +the house in Samonchō.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>KWAIBA'S REVENGE</h3> + + +<p>Kondō Rokurōbei went direct to the council of the conspirators. He +found them assembled in the house of Itō. Kwaiba, Iémon, O'Hana, +Chōzaémon, Kibei, were drinking <i>saké</i>. Kwaiba as usual was bragging +over his prowess in youth extended into age. O'Hana was laughing at him +behind his back. Kibei was surly; yet his share of income was assured. +Kwaiba roundly berated Iémon for lack of energy. "O'Iwa has been allowed +to get the upper hand. Iémon is far too soft to deal with a woman who +has been spoiled all her life." Iémon listened in silence, with a rather +doubtful smile of acquiescence or contempt. In fact, knowing O'Iwa as he +did, he had little confidence in Kwaiba or Chōzaémon, or the methods +they proposed. His own plan was maturing. Meanwhile in part it ran +parallel. On this assembly burst the discomfited Rokurōbei—"Ah! What +an experience! The woman is a very fiend. A new pair of <i>geta</i>, bought +but yesterday, and left at your house, Iémon Uji." Iémon looked at +Kondō's frightened face and bare feet. Then he burst into a roar of +laughter. Kwaiba was indignant. "Is the fright of Kondō San any +license to bring his dirty feet on the <i>tatami</i>. Deign, good sir, to +accept water for the cleansing. O'Hana San now is inmate of the house of +Kondō; yet condescend for the moment to act the mistress here." This +was part of the arrangement. With the goods of O'Iwa the person of +O'Hana had been transferred to the charge of the honest Rokurōbei. +There Iémon had easy and decent access to the use of both.</p> + +<p>Said Iémon—"What happened after this Iémon left Samonchō? Kondō +Dono has been frightened." Kondō puffed and fumed as he cleansed his +feet at the mounting step. He groaned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>—"Iémon Dono, you are certainly +done for. Was it 'three years,' she said? Her face was frightful. This +Rokurōbei has no more to do with the affair. He goes no more to +Samonchō. Alas! He will never sleep again. Oh! Oh! To be haunted in +the next existence by such a rotten O'Baké." Said Kwaiba—"Did Iémon +really beat her? He says he did." Answered Kondō—"She could barely +move a limb. Of love for Iémon not a spark is left; but she clings to +the honour of Tamiya, to the wife's duty to the House. There is no +moving her. Rokurōbei is suspect, as not doing his duty as +<i>nakōdo</i>. Look to yourselves. If she ever gets suspicious of the real +facts, has an inkling of the truth—look out for yourselves."</p> + +<p>Kwaiba was thoughtful; Iémon was indifferent. None of them could think +of aught but the venture already engaged in. A week, ten days, passed. +In that time every effort was made to move O'Iwa to consent to a +divorce. As <i>Kumi-gashira</i>, Kwaiba summoned her to his house. Before his +kindly sympathy O'Iwa melted into tears. The scandalous treatment of +Iémon had reached his ears. Why had he not heard of it before it reached +such extremes? He looked indignation at his messenger, the one who had +brought O'Iwa to his presence, Akiyama Chōzaémon the neighbour of +Tamiya, living not far off near the Ten-ō. Said the ward +head—"Kwaiba always took this Iémon, or Kazuma, for a scoundrel. A +stranger, why bring him into the ward? But now he is master of Tamiya. +In the place of the excellent, if obstinate, Matazaémon. Alas! The +pension of the House is said to be hypothecated for five years. And the +household goods; and separate properties of Tamiya—all gone?" O'Iwa +nodded assent, and Kwaiba threw up his hands at such wickedness. At all +events he counselled her to consider matters, to accept his aid. He +would place her somewhere; in the country and far off from the ward in +which Iémon as master of Tamiya in its degradation would always be an +unpleasant sight and influence in her life; at least until Iémon could +be expelled. With the fellow's past<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> career doubtless this would happen +before long. Meanwhile O'Iwa was to pass into one of the wretched, +overworked, exhausted drudges on one of Kwaiba's Shimosa farms. From his +chief's expressed views Chōzaémon dissented. This was the one man +O'Iwa distrusted. He had always shown dislike to her. In defense of her +conduct Chōzaémon was too clever to show any warmth. He was the +subordinate making exact report to his chief. O'Iwa was completely taken +in. This friendly neutrality aroused her every grateful feeling. Said +Chōzaémon—"Iémon is a coward. A <i>samurai</i> beats neither woman nor +dog. If either are unfaithful to him, he kills the offender. Iémon's +conduct has been thoroughly bad. Before the reproaches of O'Iwa San, +beaten in argument he has retaliated by beating her to a jelly. Her face +bears the marks of his violence. As to her body, my wife answers for it +that it is a mass of bruises."—"Is that so?" said Kwaiba in deep +sympathy. O'Iwa burst into tears. Kwaiba fumed with rage—"Truly Iémon +is not a human being. He has the horns of a demon."</p> + +<p>Then the priest Myōzen, of the family temple, the Myōgyōji of +Samégabashi,<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> appeared at the Samonchō house. To him O'Iwa looked +for ghostly consolation against the ills of this world. Instead he +merely chanted the old refrain, harped on the scandal brought on +Samonchō by the continued bickering of the married pair. Husband and +wife had mutual duty toward each other; but also there was a duty toward +their neighbours. Iémon was irreclaimable.... This stranger! O'Iwa San +should deign to take the active part herself; not afford this ill +spectacle and example to the ward. Like most parsons he was convinced by +the noise of his own voice, and spoke with the intense conviction of +long rehearsal. O'Iwa heard him out with a curious chill at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> heart. The +graves of her beloved <i>hotoké</i> (departed ones) were in the cemetery of +Myōgyōji. The temple had been one of the few generous features, +almost extravagances, of Matazaémon. It had profited greatly by his +donations. It was the honour of the House against the argument of the +priest and the convenience of the neighbours; and all because a bad man +had been brought into it. "What the revered <i>oshō</i> (prebend) has +said reaches to the heart of this Iwa. Submission is to be an +inspiration from the revered <i>hotoké</i>. Iwa will seek their counsel." +Baffled, the priest left the house; veiled censure was on his lips; open +disobedience and contempt on the part of O'Iwa.</p> + +<p>Said Kwaiba—"Chōzaémon has failed. At least this Kwaiba has saved +his ten <i>ryō</i>—and gained one object. Kondō Dono, thanks for your +kind hospitality to O'Hana San. Do you propose to adopt her?" Kondō +made an emphatic gesture of protest and dissent. He said—"At least +Kondō has the security of goods and money for his generous +expenditures."—"Both of them belonging to O'Iwa San; just as Kwaiba +holds the acknowledgment of Akiyama San." Chōzaémon made a wry face. +The prospect of pressure put on him, with all the added accumulation of +the months of interest, was not a cheerful one. Said Kwaiba +angrily—"Ah! Whoever would have suspected such obstinacy in the O'Baké; +she who always was so yielding within her home and outside of it. She +seemed to be such an easy mark. It was merely a matter of ordering her +out. And now she baffles this Kwaiba of his revenge!" Iémon laughed +outright. Kwaiba looked at him with surprise. Was this charlatan playing +a double game? Said Iémon—"Fear enters at the words of the honoured +chief. Pray condescend to be easy in mind. As yet Chōzaémon has not +failed. At least the question can be argued with the <i>Kumi-gashira</i>. It +is left to these principals. Iémon is of better counsel." Then after a +silence during which Kwaiba intently eyed him—"To-morrow O'Iwa San +leaves Yotsuya. Kwaiba Dono gets his revenge on the late master of +Tamiya. Pray remember<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> it, in favour of the present incumbent of the +House." Said Kwaiba fervently—"Iémon would be a son to Kwaiba! Is it +really true—that the O'Baké will be expelled the ward, in disgrace?" +Iémon nodded assent.</p> + +<p>On the following day O'Iwa had completed her ablutions. She arrayed +herself in freshly washed robes. Then she took her place before the +Butsudan. It was memorial day of the decease of the <i>hotoké</i>. Earnestly +she prayed—"Deign, honoured <i>hotoké</i>, to have regard to this Iwa. The +year has not lapsed since the hand of Iwa was placed in that of Iémon. +Now the House is brought to ruin. No heir appears to console this Iwa +and to continue its worship, to inherit its revenues. 'Take these in +hand. Life lies before Iémon for their enjoyment. His revenue will be +ample. Deign but to have the honour of the House in mind, the +continuance of its line as object.' Such were the words of the honoured +Matazaémon when in life. Unworthy has been the conduct of this trust by +Iémon. But divorce is a scandal, always to be avoided by a woman. Return +the love of Iémon to this Iwa. Deign, honoured <i>hotoké</i>, to influence +his wandering passions toward this child of the House. Cause the husband +to return to Tamiya, once more to uphold its rights and influence. Such +is the prayer of this Iwa." She rose, placed the offerings, and struck +the little bell with the hammer. As she did so a noise was heard at the +entrance. Iémon, carrying fishing rod and basket, and followed by +Natsumé Kyuzō and Imaizumi Jinzaémon, burst into the room. All three +were more or less drunk. Dumfounded O'Iwa looked from one to the other. +Imaizumi carried a tub. Kyuzō knocked it from his shoulders. Then +tumbled clumsily down on the cask. None of them had removed the dirty +<i>waraji</i> (straw sandals) they wore. "Why do so in such a barn?" +hiccoughed Kyuzō. "And this <i>saké</i>; Kyuzō found it without, at the +kitchen door. Jinzaémon shouldered it. Whence does it come, Iémon San? +Faugh! It smells as if the cask had been placed for the convenience of +passers-by on the wayside.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> It stinks. That's what it does." He gave the +cask a kick, knocking out the bung. The filthy liquid poured out on the +floor.</p> + +<p>Iémon appropriated the tub. He seated himself on it. "'Tis the fine +liquor of Tamiya. All the house possesses. Iémon is hungry." Opening his +basket he took out an eel. He began to skin it. A cry from O'Iwa +arrested him. His wife sank down before him in attitude of prayer. +"Importunate jade! What would you now? Further advice to a husband who +wants but to get rid of the sight of an ugly face? Bah! This lump of a +wench is neither good for child-bearing nor for house-keeping; she is +not even a good <i>rusu</i> (care-taker)." His knife made a rip in the skin +of the squirming animal. O'Iwa laid a hand on his sleeve. With a voice +in which sobs mingled with the petition—"To-day is a memorial day of +the honoured <i>Hotoké Sama</i>. Deign to refrain from taking life in the +house; nay, before the very <i>ihai</i> in the Butsudan. Such deed will cause +pain to the <i>Hotoké Sama</i>; bring disaster on the House, perhaps on this +Iwa and Iémon San." Iémon fairly roared as he sprang up from the +tub—"What! You noisy slut! Is this Iémon to go without food because the +<i>hotoké</i> dislikes the smell of eels?... Jinzaémon, can you cook eels?" +Imaizumi had sought the <i>rōka</i>. His round featureless face showed his +fright and indecision before this critical quarrel of husband and wife. +Of all involved in the plot he was the most unwilling in performance of +his rôle. But he answered according to rote—"Iya! Iémon Uji, the office +of cook is a special one. Jinzaémon is no cook. He leaves that office to +his wife. Moreover the cooking of eels is an art in itself."—"And the +artist is here," chimed in the malignancy of Kyuzō. "O'Iwa San is +noted for her skill."—"Right!" said Iémon. "Kyuzō and Jinzaémon have +heard the refusal of O'Iwa. Cook this eel—or else Iémon pronounces the +formula of divorce against the disobedient wife."</p> + +<p>In silence O'Iwa rose. She went to the portable stove. With the bellows +she stirred up the fire therein. She did not dare even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> for a moment to +pray at the Butsudan. The skillet was on the fire. The eels were +sizzling in the hot liquor. Suddenly Iémon made an exclamation. Taking a +towel he grasped the handle of the vessel. The next moment he had forced +down the hot pan and its contents on the head of O'Iwa. "Kiya!" With the +single cry she fell over backwards, writhing in pain under the +infliction of the scalding mess streaming over face, neck, and bosom. +Imaizumi fled in dismay. Even Natsumé Kyuzō protested. Seizing the +arm of Iémon—"Iémon Uji, you go too far. Don't kill her." "Kill the +O'Baké? It's impossible." Iémon spoke coldly. He was the one person of +collected wits in the room.</p> + +<p>Groaning with agony O'Iwa came to her senses. A man was leaning over +her. Half blind as she was, she could recognize Chōbei. His look was +grave. His voice was reticent and confused. "What has been going on +here, O'Iwa Dono? Ah! Chōbei comes at a bad season. Ma! Ma! The +house, too; stripped bare to the very boards, and the season still +wintry. Truly this Iémon is a beast—a very brute (<i>chikushō</i>). What +is Chōbei to do? There is this matter of the honour of Tamiya." He +wrung his hands as in great perplexity, glancing sideways toward O'Iwa. +The first part of his speech she disregarded. Such talk and consolation +were growing stale. That all should pity her caused no surprise. Her +situation was not unusual. It was the last words which caught her ear. +"The honour of Tamiya: Chōbei San?" Chōbei turned away; to put +some peppermint in his eyes. Tears stood in them as he turned again to +her. O'Iwa was alarmed. "What has happened?" She caught his sleeve, drew +close to him. He answered—"Chōbei cannot speak. To find O'Iwa San in +such dreadful state renders it impossible to explain. Iémon San has gone +too far." So he had, from Chōbei's point of view and for his +purposes. These young fellows never can keep within bounds; even in +abuse of a woman. His resentment was extreme. O'Iwa insisted. Finally +the resistance of Chōbei was overcome. Iémon's name was posted at +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> Kuramaé of Asakusa. He was in debt on every side. As the final +blow, he had stolen the seal of Itō Kwaiba and forged an +acknowledgment for twenty <i>ryō</i>. Kwaiba's enmity to Matazaémon was +well known. He liked Iémon no better, and would pursue him to the end, +force him to cut belly, and accomplish the official degradation and +extinction of the Tamiya House (<i>kaieki</i>). "What is to be done?" He +turned squarely to O'Iwa. She said—"Itō Dono has been kind to O'Iwa. +Perhaps if request be made...." Chōbei laughed. "Itō Kwaiba is +always kind to a woman. It is not O'Iwa San whom he hates. But this is +an affair between men. He secures vengeance on Matazaémon through Iémon +and this official extinction of Tamiya. It is too tempting. He is not to +be trusted. No hint of the deed must reach him. Is there no money at the +command of O'Iwa San? The sum is but twenty <i>ryō</i>. Iémon brought this +news to Chōbei last night. He leaves Edo, to go in hiding, after ... +after ... punishing the ... Well! Well! He is a wicked man. Chōbei +never suspected such wickedness. But Iémon is not the issue. He +represents and can disgrace the Tamiya. There lies the issue. Has O'Iwa +San no means, nothing in coin?"—"Less than a <i>bu</i>, sixty <i>mon</i>." She +held out the coppers to Chōbei.</p> + +<p>Said Chōbei with decision—"There is one resource left. There is the +person of O'Iwa San. Deign to go into service at the pleasure quarter. +Chōbei is skilful. In seven days these wounds can be healed. Twenty +<i>ryō</i> secured, the paper is taken up, the robbery of the seal is +never discovered. We can laugh at Kwaiba's anger. All is for the +Tamiya." He noted that O'Iwa was hesitating—"It is but as a pledge. The +money is advanced on the person of O'Iwa San. A week, ten days, and +other sources of loan will be discovered. This is the only measure +Chōbei can suggest. He has no means of his own to meet this debt." He +smiled as at a thought—"Perhaps Kwaiba himself will pay his own debt!" +He chuckled at the idea. "Why not make appeal at once?" repeated O'Iwa, +grasping at any straw of safety from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> this resource, so horrible to the +<i>samurai</i> woman. Said Chōbei promptly—"Itō Sama knows perfectly +well the state of Samonchō. Asakusa, Honjō, are far removed. An +appeal for twenty <i>ryō</i> as surety money in applying for a situation +would appeal to him; the other would not. Besides, thus far away he +could not investigate closely, if he would. He could but say 'yes' or +'no.'" O'Iwa remembered what Kwaiba had said—the necessity of removing +to a distance. The words and actions of these rascals dove-tailed +admirably. A long silence followed. With exultation at heart Chōbei +saw her rise. She put out the fire, gathered together the few personal +articles she still possessed. On seeing her struggle with the heavy rain +doors he came to her aid. "For the time being accept the hospitality of +Chōbei's poor quarters. These wounds are to be healed." With full +heart O'Iwa gratefully accepted. She took his hand as if to kiss it. +Chōbei hastily snatched it away. In his sleeve, the ink not +twenty-four hours old, was the paper of the sale of O'Iwa to Chōbei; +her passing over to his guardianship, to dispose of as a street harlot, +a night-hawk. The consideration? Five <i>ryō</i>: payment duly +acknowledged, and of course nominal. The paper of transfer was in +thoroughly correct form. Chōbei had drawn it himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE YŌTAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJŌ</h3> + + +<p>O'Iwa's stay of nearly seven days at Chōbei's house was one of the +golden periods of her life. O'Taki received the Ojōsan with humble +joy. Iémon could not drop Chōbei out of his life of prosperity. O'Iwa +was soon brought in contact with the humble pair in adversity. Hers was +a generous heart, and O'Taki could not look around her house without +some indication of this kindness. Her sympathy with the wronged wife was +great. A husband—thriftless, a gambler, inconsiderate—of such a one +she had some experience. By the same means this lady was brought to her +present pass. It roused her indignation. As to brutality; that was +another matter. She squared her stout shoulders and looked derisively at +the loose angularity of Chōbei, his rickety physique. But the storm +would pass. Itō Sama, Kondō Sama, Myōzen Oshō, all these +were agreed. The Ojōsan now out of his reach, without a home to go +to, and only hostile faces met with in the ward, Iémon Sama would soon +come to terms. Would the Ojōsan deign to honour their humble home as +long as she liked. She at once suppressed O'Iwa's rather futile attempts +to aid in her rough household work. It had been the lady's part to +direct her maids in their more repugnant tasks, and now brought right +under her hand in this plebeian household. O'Iwa never had undergone the +harsher lot of her mother O'Mino.</p> + +<p>Chōbei in his way was as kind as his wife. At once he devoted himself +to the repair of his property. When O'Iwa produced the paste and lotion +of Suian Sensei, as sovereign for the complexion, Chōbei took them, +smelled and carefully tasted, and finally put some of the paste on the +end of the <i>hashi</i> or sticks to arrange the charcoal in the <i>hibachi</i>. A +smell of garlic pervaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> the room. He noted the puffy face of O'Iwa, +the unnatural, almost ghastly, white of the skin where the wide +pockmarks permitted it to be seen. Within the circles of these scars +there was a curious striated effect, only seen at times in the efforts +of artists to depict the supernatural, or of savages to frighten their +foes. It gave a drawn cadaverous look to the lower part of the face. +"There is more in it than <i>that</i>," mused Chōbei. During her stay +O'Iwa had one of her attacks—of nerves—in fact a true epileptic +seizure. Chōbei put an embargo at once on all remedies but his own. +Cynically, he added—"But elsewhere there will be no Chōbei. If the +Okusama deigns to apply the drugs of Suian Sensei where she now goes, +doubtless she will find early relief. At present they spoil Chōbei's +efforts." The clever rascal at once recognized his fellow in Suian, +bribed to render O'Iwa more hideous than Nature had made her, to take +away her womanhood and hope of an heir to the Tamiya. To poison her? +That he doubted; although the ignorance of leech and victim might +readily lead to such result.</p> + +<p>Within the seven days O'Iwa San once more could show herself in public. +It was now Chōbei's part to carry the plot to completion. Iémon, at +the proposition, had said—"Sell her as a night-hawk! An ugly woman like +that no one will approach."—"'Tis Chōbei's trade," said the pimp +coolly. "In Yoshidamachi they have noses—over night. Between dark and +dawn the member melts, becomes distorted, and has to be made. It has +served its purpose. This is Chōbei's affair. Provided that O'Iwa +never again troubles the presence of Iémon Sama the object is +attained."—"That is true. Do what you please. Kill her, if desired. +O'Iwa in the Yotsuya; and Chōbei feels the wrath of Itō Dono, of +this Iémon." Unwillingly he signed the contract required by Chōbei. +He gave the latter a fee of ten <i>ryō</i> for the excision of this +excrescence, and with a sigh of joy learned of the disappearance in +company of the pimp and O'Iwa. Within three days carpenters and other +workmen swarmed over the Tamiya in Samonchō. The master made ready +for his return.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>O'Taki had gone forth on a mission for Chōbei. This would insure her +absence for the greater part of the day. Said Chōbei—"Deign, +Okusama, to allow Chōbei to prove his art. All his accomplishments +have not been displayed." To pass off the ugly woman at night could be +done. He was compelled to act by daylight; though relying somewhat on +the dusky interior of Toémon's entrance and reception room. This Toémon +was the chief of the guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate +street-walkers, lowest of their class. Chōbei sat down before O'Iwa. +As if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of brushes and +spatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh colour, +pinks—even reds. Under his skilful hands O'Iwa was transformed. To make +her beautiful was impossible. He made her passable. The weather was +cold, though spring was now close at hand. Chōbei hesitated. The walk +was a long one. His handiwork might fade or melt under the sweating +induced by effort. Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were +to be as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house he +had left the two women to themselves, and saw O'Iwa only when O'Taki was +present. So he called a <i>kago</i> and gave the necessary directions. As the +coolies moved off with their fair burden he trotted along in the rear, +his project occupying his busy mind.</p> + +<p>The place of Toémon was at Yoshidachō Nichōme, in the centre of +the Warigesui district. To the north was the canal of that name. To the +south a second canal ditto; the second stream was the larger, fairer, +and more pretentious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was +the Hōonji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just across +the bounding river or canal of the district. As the <i>kago</i> bearers +ambled down the bank of the North Warigesui, O'Iwa thought she had never +seen a more filthy stream than this back-water with its stale current. +The bearers put them down at the canal. Chōbei had some directions to +give during the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their +destination. Said he—"For a <i>samurai</i> woman to engage in this business +is a serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to +secure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. The wife +performs her highest duty in saving the honour of the House. Is not that +true?" There was a little sob in O'Iwa's voice as she gave assent. She +felt different now that she was close at hand to the scene and crisis of +her trial. Continued Chōbei—"The agreement has been made out as with +O'Iwa, daughter of Kanémon, the younger brother of this Chōbei and +green-grocer of Abegawachō of Asakusa. Deign to remember that the +twenty <i>ryō</i> is needed to save a father in peril of default and +imprisonment."—"The cases are not so different," whispered O'Iwa. "Just +so," said Chōbei. "Here is the place. Condescend to wait a moment, +here at the entrance." Briskly he entered the house. "A request to +make!"—"Ah! Is it Chōbei San? The Danna Sama is absent for the day, +at the office of the ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he +has been robbed. The girl he accused was punished—perhaps unjustly. All +the women of this house are honest."—"Beyond repair," laughed +Chōbei. "However, the other matter has been agreed on. The girl is +here. An uncontrollable jade! The master has deigned to aid Chōbei. +Thanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, it is as well for +Kanémon to get the profit of the business. If she breaks out—put a ring +in her nose, and treat her as the farmers treat their cattle. Don't let +her again bother home or Chōbei. She will lie—of course. At Toémon's +they are used to lies?" The woman Matsu laughed—"No fear as to that." +She looked over the contract with care. "Ah! She is sold for life +service; otherwise the twenty <i>ryō</i> would be a scandalous price. Is +that her?... Um! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light.... This +Matsu would never have closed the bargain without a view. But Toémon San +has left no choice. In the scarcity of women, and his good-will to +Chōbei San, he would pay any sum.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> At twenty <i>ryō</i> she is a gem! +You can come up here. Také! Haru! A new girl. Take her in charge and +show her the house and its ways.... Chōbei San, some tea." Chōbei +put a word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls were +leading off the hesitating O'Iwa he said loudly and roughly—"Remember +to obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. Whatever she commands is +right and must be done: no nonsense. Ah! Something forgotten: a moment +please." He drew O'Iwa aside, seeing that she was on the verge of tears. +Speaking gently—"Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything. +The house of Toémon in Honjō is not the drawing room of Tamiya in +Yotsuya. Deign to remember that Chōbei must play his part. Life is +like an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to pass, +some danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condescend to have House and +husband in mind. It is but for a week—or so."—"And Iémon San, the +House; they will be secure?"—"That Chōbei is assured of. See: he has +the twenty <i>ryō</i> in hand. It is mere matter of securing the +compromising paper and the return of Iémon. Some negotiations are +necessary for that. In the future his behaviour will be much improved." +He clinked the coin before her. As O'Iwa passed up the stairs he +returned to the <i>hibachi</i> of the wife. The tea was a short course. +Chōbei was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from +above in the course of O'Iwa's initiation into a vileness the depth of +which she never even could suspect. "Yes: trade is good. Women are +difficult to secure. The men prefer to have them in their homes, rather +than to gain by their service elsewhere." In such professional talk of a +few moments he quickly dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his +clogs, and departed. O'Iwa had disappeared far into the depths.</p> + +<p>Toémon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman—"Are you mad, to +pay twenty <i>ryō</i> for such an ugly wench? No choice was given. This +Matsu was to receive her. Chōbei is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> cheat." Toémon and the +<i>bantō</i> drew O'Iwa under the light, much as if she were a bag of +rice—"The clever rascal! From crown of the head to neck she is all made +up. And perhaps elsewhere."—"At all events she is a woman." The +<i>bantō</i> spoke as in doubt. "Never mind: we are great artists, too, if +not so good at cheating as this Chōbei. Twenty-six years! She's forty +at least.... What may be your honoured age?"—"Twenty-six years," +replied the distressed O'Iwa. The wife threw up her hands—"And she does +not lie!... Haru! Kōta! It is time to go out. The bell already +strikes the hour of the dog (7 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>). Take Iwa to the reception +room (<i>yoséba</i>). She is to learn the ways of the place; where to +entertain her guests.... Come! Along with all of you!" Some ten or +fifteen women had gathered in their array for their night's campaign. +Paint, powder, plaster, disguised the ravages of disease among the +hardened set of this low class house. O'Iwa accompanied O'Haru to what +had been called the <i>yoséba</i>. The girl explained to her. Here was the +place to bring and entertain any guest picked up on the street. They +were not the degraded wretches who made the darkness of an alleyway the +reception room for their lovers. It was to be remembered that the wine +drunk not only profited the house, but paid in commissions for their own +cosmetics and other little gratifications. On entering the place O'Iwa +shrank back to the wall in horror; to shrink away in turn from the filth +and obscenity to be seen on that support. She would have fled, but the +entering crowd pressed her further in. It was a long room. The entrance +formed a sort of parlour or place to sit. The rest of the apartment was +divided longitudinally into little cubicula, rooms of the space of the +one dirty mat with which each was furnished. A shelf contained its +cynically filthy and suggestive furniture.</p> + +<p>O'Iwa's disgust and terror was too obvious. O'Haru held on to her arm to +prevent flight. The attention of the others was drawn to them. "Does the +beauty want an apartment to herself?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> That is the privilege of the +Oiran, the Go Tayu, the Kashiku.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> Ah! Sister dear; it is to be +learned that this place is Hell—First Block. There is no 'second block' +(nichōmé). One gets used to anything here; even to use a demon's +horns for toothpicks." Thus spoke a hard-faced woman of some thirty odd, +by her looks. Said the frightened O'Iwa in low tones—"Iwa has not come +for this service. She is but a pledge. This redeemed, within the week +she returns to her home. This place upsets one's stomach." Those present +laughed loudly. "We all say that. The real reason for our coming is not +to be told. Be assured that you must perform the service, or suffer. +Condescend not to fall into the hands of the Okamisan. In anger she is +terrible." There was a general movement of the women. Said O'Haru, +drawing along O'Iwa by the hand—"Come! Make no trouble. A newcomer, you +are sure to be successful and please Matsu Dono." O'Iwa resolutely held +back. No matter what the suffering she would undergo it. Ah! A week in +this place indeed was to be life in Hell. She called up the sight of the +dismantled house, the figure of her grandfather, anything to strengthen +her will to resist. O'Haru left the room. "Okamisan, the new girl +refuses to serve. Haru makes report." The wife of Toémon leaped up from +her cushion. Dressed in night clothes, a long pipe in hand, she rushed +into the room. "What nonsense is this? Which slut is it that refuses the +service of the house?... You! The ink on the receipt for twenty <i>ryō</i> +paid for your ugly face and body is hardly dry.... Pledge? A week's +service? You lie: as your uncle said you would lie. You are here for +life service as a street harlot. Out with you!... No? No?" She was about +to throw herself on O'Iwa,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> to cast her into the street. Then her +passion, to outward appearance, cooled. She was the woman of her +business, malevolent and without pity. "O'Kin! O'Kin!" The others now +gathered around O'Iwa. O'Haru and the girl O'Také plead with her to +obey. They tried to hustle her off by force. Said O'Haru—"Report had to +be made. This Haru acted for the best. Truly such obstinacy deserves +punishment. But Haru is filled with pity. Deign to obey. Go forth to the +service. The result of refusal is terrible." O'Iwa shook her +head—"O'Haru San is free from blame. Iwa is grateful for the kind +words. To go out to this service is impossible." The woman O'Kin strode +into the room; a big, strapping wench, and the understudy of O'Matsu in +her husband's affections. "A new recruit?" She spoke in inquiry—"Yes: +and obstinate. It is a matter of punishment in the <i>seméba</i>.... Now! Out +with you all! No dawdling!" The irate woman turned on her flock. They +fled like sheep into the open.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE PUNISHMENT</h3> + + +<p>O'Iwa did not move. The two women approached and laid hands on her. Her +yielding made no difference in the roughness of their treatment. +Dragged, hustled, shoved, with amplitude of blows, she was already much +bruised on reaching the place of punishment—the <i>seméba</i>, to use the +technical term of these establishments "for the good of the community." +During a temporary absence of the mistress, a ray of kindliness seemed +to touch the woman O'Kin. She pointed to the square of some six feet, to +the rings fastened in the rafters. "Don't carry self-will to extremes. +Here you are to be stripped, hauled up to those rings, and beaten until +the bow breaks. Look at it and take warning. Kin is no weakling." She +shoved back her sleeve, showing an arm as hard and brawny as that of a +stevedore. With disapproval she observed O'Iwa. The latter stood +unresisting, eyes on the ground. Only the lips twitched from time to +time. As the only person in the house, male or female, not to fear the +Okamisan, O'Kin could only put down the courage to ignorance. She +shrugged her shoulders with contempt. "A man would cause you no pain. +The same cannot be said of Kin. You shall have the proof." Perhaps +severity would be more merciful, by quickly breaking down this +obstinacy.</p> + +<p>The wife returned with the instrument of torture, a bow of bamboo wound +with rattan to strengthen it. O'Kin took it, ostentatiously bent and +displayed its stinging flexibility before the eyes of O'Iwa. The latter +closed them. She would cut off all temptation to weakness. At a sign +O'Kin roughly tore off the <i>obi</i>. A twist, and the torn and disordered +<i>kimono</i> of O'Iwa fell to her feet with the skirt. She had no shirt. +Thus she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> left completely naked. In modesty she sank crouching on +the ground. The cold wind of the March night made her shiver as O'Kin +roped her wrists. Again the woman whispered her counsel in her +ear—"When you get enough, say 'Un! Un!'" Detecting no sign of consent +she took a ladder, climbed up, and passed the ropes through the rings +above. She descended, and the two women began to haul away. Gradually +O'Iwa was raised from the sitting posture to her full height of extended +arms, until by effort her toes could just reach the ground. In this +painful position the slightest twist to relieve the strain on the wrists +caused agonizing pains through the whole body. "Still +obstinate—strike!" shouted the wife. O'Kin raised the bow and delivered +the blow with full force across the buttocks. A red streak appeared. +O'Iwa by a natural contortion raised her legs. The blows descended fast, +followed at once by the raised welt of flesh, or the blood from the +lacerated tissue. Across the shoulder blades, the small of the back, the +buttocks, the belly, they descended with the full force of the robust +arms and weight of O'Kin. Every time the legs were raised at the shock +the suspended body spun round. Every time the toes rested on the ground +the bow descended with merciless ferocity. The sight of the torture +roused the fierce spirit in the tormentors. O'Kin redoubled the violence +of her blows, seeking out the hams and the withers, the shoulders, the +tenderest points to cause pain. The wife ran from side to side, gazing +into the face and closed eyes of O'Iwa, trying to detect weakening under +the torture, or result from some more agonizing blow. O'Iwa's body was +striped and splashed with red. O'Kin's hands slipped on the wet surface +of the rod. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation. Blood was now gushing +from the nose, the eyes, the mouth of O'Iwa. "Okamisan! Okamisan! It +won't do to kill her. Deign to give the order to cease. She must be +lowered." The wife coolly examined the victim. "She has fainted. Lower +her, and throw salt water over her. The sting will bring her to." O'Kin +followed the instructions in the most literal sense. She dashed the +bucket<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> of water with great impetus right into O'Iwa's face. "Un!" was +the latter's exclamation as she came to consciousness. "She consents! +She consents!" cried O'Kin with delight. The wife was decidedly +sceptical, but her aid plainly would go no further at this time. Said +she—"Leave her as she is. There are other matters to attend to than the +whims of an idle vicious jade. She would cheat this Matsu out of twenty +<i>ryō</i>? Well: time will show the victor." She departed—"to drink her +wine, pare her nails, and sing obscene songs to the accompaniment of the +<i>samisen</i>."</p> + +<p>Tied hand and foot O'Iwa lay semi-conscious in the cold shed of +punishment. At midnight the girls returned to this "home." They gathered +around the prostate O'Iwa. From O'Kin they had an inkling of the courage +displayed. They admired her, but none dared to touch her bonds. At last +O'Haru San, unusually successful in her night's raid, ventured to +approach the half drunk mistress of the house. "Haru makes report." She +spread her returns before the gratified Okamisan. Timidly the girl +added—"O'Iwa San repents. Deign to remit her punishment. She looks very +ill and weak."—"Shut up!" was the fierce retort. Then as afterthought +of sickness and possible loss came to mind. "She can be untied and sent +to bed."—"And food?"—"She can earn it." The woman turned on O'Haru, +who bowed humbly and slipped away. That night the girls contributed from +their store to feed O'Iwa; as they did on the succeeding days and +nights. The wife would have stopped the practice, but Toémon interfered. +He meant to keep his dilapidated stock in as good repair as possible. He +fed them pretty well. "The woman is not to be starved—at least too +openly. The last case gave this Toémon trouble enough, and on the very +day this epileptic came into the house, to bring confusion with her. +Beat her if you will; but not enough to kill her." O'Matsu followed his +words to the letter. One beating was followed by another; with interval +enough between the torture to insure recuperation and avoid danger to +life. These scenes came to be regarded as a recreation of the house. The +other inmates were allowed to attend, to witness the example and +fascinate their attention. But at last the Okamisan despaired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +Amusement was one thing; but her hatred of O'Iwa was tempered by the +desire to find some use for her, to get a return for the twenty <i>ryō</i> +of which she had been swindled. Finally the advice of the <i>bantō</i> was +followed. "The men of the house cannot be tempted to approach such an +apparition. The other girls have not time to devote to making up O'Iwa +as for the stage. They have not twenty <i>ryō</i> at stake, as had +Chōbei. Let her wash the dishes." Thus was O'Iwa "degraded" from her +high estate as street-walker. Turned into a kitchen drudge she shed +tears of joy. She almost forgot the matter of the pledge in this new and +pleasant life. The time and the place, perhaps the drug she took, had +done their work on the mind of O'Iwa. Iémon, the house of Samonchō, +the <i>ihai</i> in the Butsudan, the pleasant garden—all were of the tissue +of a dream amid a toil which deposited her on the straw wrappings of the +charcoal and in a shed, thoroughly worn out at the end of her long day. +The O'Iwa of Samonchō at this end of the lapsing year of service was +dormant. But accidents will happen.</p> + +<p>There was excitement in the house. Mobei, the dealer in toilet +articles—combs, brushes, jewel strings—was at the grating. The women +were clustered before the wares he exposed in his trays. This Mobei, as +dealer in toilet articles (<i>koma-mono</i>) wandered all the wards of Edo, +his little trays fitting neatly into each other, and wrapped in a +<i>furoshiki</i> or bundle-handkerchief. His wares formed a marvellous +collection of the precious and common place, ranging from true coral and +tortoise shell, antique jewelry and curious <i>netsuké</i> of great value, to +their counterfeits in painted wood, horn, and coloured glass. "Mobei +San, long has been the wait for you. Is there a bent comb in +stock?"—"Truly this Mobei is vexing. He humbly makes apology, lady. +Here is just the thing.... How much? Only a <i>bu</i>.... Too high? Nay! With +women in the ordinary walks of life it is the wage of a month. To the +honoured Oiran it is but a night's trifling." The other women tittered. +O'Haru was a little nettled at the high<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> sounding title of Oiran. She +would not show her irritation. Mobei continued his attentions. He laid +before her and the others several strings of jewels, their "coral" made +of cleverly tinted paste. "Deign to look; at but one <i>bu</i> two <i>shū</i>. +If real they would cost twenty <i>ryō</i>."—"And Mobei has the real?" The +dealer laughed. As in pity, and to give them a glimpse of the far off +upper world, he raised the cover of a box in the lower tier. They gasped +in admiration before the pink of the true coral. Hands were stretched +through the grating to touch it. Mobei quickly replaced the cover. "For +some great lady," sighed O'Haru—"Just so," replied Mobei, adjusting his +boxes. He had sold two wooden painted combs and a string of horn beads +in imitation of tortoise shell. He pocketed the hundred "cash," those +copper coins with a hole in the centre for stringing. Then briefly—"The +necklace is for no other than the Kashiku of the Yamadaya, the loved one +of Kibei Dono of Yotsuya. The comb (<i>kanzashi</i>) in tortoise shell and +gold is for the honoured lady wife of Iémon Dono, the <i>go kenin</i>. But +Mobei supplies not only the secular world. This—for one who has left +the world; for Myōzen Oshō of Myōgyōji, the gift of Itō +Dono. For the custom of Mobei the Yotsuya stands first in order." He +took a box from his sleeve and showed them the rosary of pure crystal +beads. Even in the dull light of a lowering day the stones flashed and +sparkled. The women showed little interest. A priest to them was not a +man—ordinarily.</p> + +<p>He shouldered his pack. "Mobei San—a comb with black spots, in +imitation of tortoise shell. Please don't fail me on the next visit." +Mobei nodded agreement. Then he halted and turned. One of the women had +called out in derision—"Here is O'Iwa San. Surely she wants to +purchase. Mobei San! Mobei San! A customer with many customers and a +full pocketbook." These women looked on O'Iwa's assignment to the +kitchen as the fall to the lowest possible state. At sight of the +newcomer Mobei gasped. O'Iwa on leaving the door of Toémon's house, +<i>miso</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> (soup) strainers for repair in one hand, fifteen <i>mon</i> for bean +paste (<i>tōfu</i>) tightly clasped in the other, came face to face with +the toilet dealer, "The lady of Tamiya—here!"—"The lady of Tamiya!" +echoed the astonished and curious women. Said O'Iwa quickly—"Mobei San +is mistaken. This is Iwa; but lady of Tamiya...." Hastily she pulled her +head towel over her face. In doing so the "cash" slipped from her hand. +A <i>mon</i> missing meant no <i>tōfu</i>; result, a visit to the <i>seméba</i>. In +recovering the lost coin Mobei was left in no doubt. "'Tis indeed the +lady of Tamiya. It cannot be denied." O'Iwa no longer attempted the +impossible. She said—"It is Iwa of Tamiya. Mobei San, a word with you." +The women were whispering to each other. "He called her '<i>shinzō</i>.'" +Said O'Haru—"There always was something about her to arouse suspicion; +so ugly, and with such grand airs. And how she endured the punishment! +Truly she must be a <i>samurai</i> woman." The minds of all reverted to their +master Toémon, and how he would take this news.</p> + +<p>O'Iwa had drawn Mobei somewhat apart from the grating. With downcast +face she spoke—"Deign, Mobei San, to say nothing in the ward of this +meeting with Iwa." To Mobei's earnest gesture of comprehension—"Affairs +had gone badly with Tamiya. Iémon San was misled into gambling by +Natsumé Kyuzō and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. He was carried away by the +passion. It was no longer possible to stay in Samonchō. Worse conduct +followed. In the kindness and advice of Itō Dono, of Akiyama and +Kondō Sama, this Iwa found support. But she disobeyed. She would not +follow the advice given. However, gratitude is felt by Iwa. One cannot +leave this place, or long since she would have paid the visit of +acknowledgment. A matter of importance arose. Chōbei San came to +Iwa's aid, and saved the situation. This place is terrible, but the +consequences of not coming would have been more so. To Chōbei +gratitude is felt. It was the opportunity offered the wife to show her +faith and courage." Now she looked bravely in Mobei's face. It was the +toilet dealer's turn to show confusion—"Honoured lady, is nothing +known?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>—"Known?" answered O'Iwa in some surprise. "What is there to +know? When this Iwa left Samonchō to be sure the house was cracking +apart everywhere. The light poured in as through a bamboo door.... Ah! +Have matters gone badly with the Danna in Iwa's absence?" Mobei shook +his head in dissent. "Alas! Itō Sama, Akiyama or Kondō San, has +misfortune come to them, without a word of condolence from Iwa? Perhaps +Chōbei San, in his precarious life...." The poor isolated world of +the thoughts of this homely creature was limited to these friends in +need.</p> + +<p>Mobei had sunk on his knees before her. He raised eyes in which stood +tears of pity and indignation. "The Ojōsan knows nothing of what has +occurred in Yotsuya? This Mobei will not keep silent. With the affairs +of Iémon Sama, of Itō Dono and Akiyama San nothing has gone wrong. +The absence of the lady O'Iwa is otherwise related. She has abandoned +house and husband to run away with a plebeian, the <i>bantō</i> at the +green-grocer's on Shinjuku road. Such is the story circulated." O'Iwa +drew away from him as from a snake—then: "Mobei, you lie! Why tell such +a tale to this Iwa? Are not the words of Itō Dono, of Akiyama Sama, +of Chōbei San still in Iwa's ears? What else has she had to console +her during these bitter months but the thought of their kindness? This +dress (a scantily wadded single garment), these bare feet in this snow, +this degraded life—are not they evidences of Iwa's struggle for the +honour of husband and House? Mobei, slander of honourable men brings one +to evil. Mobei lies; lies!"</p> + +<p>He seized her dress. The man now was weeping. "The lady of Tamiya is a +saint. Alas! Nothing does she know of the wicked hearts of men. Too +great has been the kindness of the Ojōsan to this Mobei for him to +attempt deceit. Deign to listen. This day a week; was it not the day to +a year of the Ojōsan's leaving the house in Yotsuya?" O'Iwa turned to +him with a startled face. He continued—"A week ago Mobei visited +Yotsuya.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> He has many customers there, not too curious about prices. +Hence he brings the best of his wares. Coming to the house in +Samonchō a feast was in progress. There were present Itō Dono, +Akiyama Sama, Natsumé and Imaizumi Sama, Kondō Dono; O'Hana San, of +course. All were exceedingly merry, Iémon Dono poured out a cup of wine. +'Mobei! Mobei! Come here! Drain this cup in honour of the occasion. We +celebrate the anniversary of the expulsion of the <i>bakémono</i>. The demon +is driven forth from the Paradise of Yotsuya. Namu Myōhō Renge +Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō!' This Mobei was amazed—'The +O'Baké.... What O'Baké?'—'Why: O'Iwa San. A year since, with the aid of +these good friends, and one not present here, Iémon freed himself from +the clutches of the vengeful apparition. Our <i>Kumi-gashira</i> granted +divorce in due form. The son of Takahashi Daihachirō—Yanagibara +Kazuma—Tamiya Iémon no longer catches at sleep to wake in fear. Chief, +deep is the gratitude of Iémon for the favour done by Itō Dono.' The +Ojōsan a <i>bakémono</i>! At these outrageous words Mobei felt faint. +Receiving the cup, as in modesty returned to the <i>rōka</i> to drink, the +contents were spilled on the ground. Ah! Honoured lady, it is not only +that the Ojōsan has been driven out. Her goods have been cleverly +stolen by false messages of gambling losses. Stored with Kondō Sama +they were brought back on the success of the wicked plot. The whole is a +conspiracy of Iémon Dono with Itō Dono, with Akiyama, Chōbei, +Kondō, and others. They bragged of it, and told the tale in full +before this Mobei, laughing the while. Why, lady! On the word of +Chōbei San the order of divorce was issued by Itō Dono. Within the +month O'Hana San left the shelter of the house of Kondō Sama to enter +the Tamiya as bride. Deign to look. Here is a jewelled comb reserved by +Iémon Sama as present for O'Hana San his wife. Here is gift of Itō +Dono to Myōzen Oshō for his efforts 'in the cause.'"</p> + +<p>O'Iwa stood as one frozen. With Mobei's words the light<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> was flooding +into mind and soul. Step by step she now followed clearly the stages of +this infamous conspiracy against her peace and honour. She had been +fooled, cheated, degraded—and by Itō Kwaiba, the enemy of +Matazaémon; by Iémon, son of the hereditary foe Takahashi Daihachirō. +Mobei remained huddled at her feet, watching with fright the sudden and +awful change in her face. The words came in a whisper. At first she +brought out her speech with difficulty, then to rise to torrent +force—"Cheated, gulled by the hereditary foe! And this Iwa lies bound +and helpless! 'Tis understood! The end is at hand—Ah! The poison! The +poison! Now it, too, rises; flowing upward to heart and head of Iwa. +Accursed man! Accursed woman; who would play the rival and destroy the +wife! The time is short; the crisis is at hand. Chōbei's dark words +become light. Hana would poison Iwa through this treacherous leech. +Iémon would kill her by the foul life of this brothel—Gods of Nippon! +Buddhas of the Universe! All powerful Amida, the Protector! Kwannon, the +Lady Merciful! Deign to hearken to the prayer of this Iwa. Emma +Dai-ō, king of Hell, summon not the daughter of Tamiya before the +dreaded throne for judgment—through the course of seven +existences—until the vengeance of Iwa be sated with the miserable end +of these her persecutors. May the sacred characters of the Daimoku, +written on the heart of Iwa for her future salvation, be seared out as +with hot iron. On Itō Kwaiba, Iémon, Akiyama Chōzaémon, Chōbei, +all and every one engaged in this vile plot, rests the death curse of +Iwa. Against these; against Natsumé, Imaizumi, Yoémon of Tamiya, lies +the grudge of Iwa of Tamiya. Gods and Buddhas—grant this prayer!"</p> + +<p>A violent hand was laid on the bosom of Mobei's robe. He screamed in +terror at the fearful face bent over him. A broad round dead white +swollen face, too sharp gleaming malignant dots darting flashes as from +a sword between the puffed and swollen lids, froze him into a passive +object. One of these lids drooped horribly down upon the cheek of the +apparition. In the physical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> effort exerted, the slit of the mouth +showed the broad black even teeth, which seemed about to clutch at his +throat; as did the vigorous hand, the nails of which sank into his +gullet. Framed in the mass of wild disordered hair Mobei was isolated as +in a universe of space; left alone with this fearful vision. "Lady! Lady +O'Iwa! Lady of Tamiya! This Mobei has done naught. Others have wronged +O'Iwa San. Mobei is guiltless.... Ah! Ah!" With fright and pain he +rolled over on the ground in a dead faint. Screaming and shouting the +women Také and Kōta rushed around and out to his rescue. O'Iwa San +was now under the full control of her disorder. Takézo staggered back, +her hands to her face to hide the horrible sight, to wipe from eyes and +cheeks the blood streaming from the deep tears made by O'Iwa's nails. +Kōta from behind seized O'Iwa around the waist and shoulders. Sharply +up came the elbow shot, catching this interloper under the chin. Neck +and jaw fairly cracked under the well-delivered blow. Kōta went down +in a heap as one dead. A <i>chūgen</i> coming along the North Warigesui +had reached the crossing. He thought it better to stand aside, rather +than attempt to stop this maddened fiend tearing through space. At the +canal bank there was a moment's pause. Then came a dull splash; as of +some heavy body plunged in the water. With a cry the man hastened +forward. Not a sign of anything could be seen. In this rural place no +help was to be had, and he was little inclined to plunge at random into +the foul stream. In haste he turned back to where a crowd was gathering +around the prostrate Mobei, the groaning harlots to whom punishment had +been meted out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>CHŌBEI GETS THE NEWS</h3> + + +<p>The <i>chūgen</i> stood over the toilet dealer now coming out of his +half-trance condition. The eyes of the two men met and showed mutual +astonishment. "Naruhodo! Mobei San! In a quarrel over his wares with the +vile women of this district?"—"Kakusuké San! Ah! There is much to tell. +O'Iwa San...." The <i>chūgen</i> of Itō Kwaiba was amazed attention. +"This Mobei to his ill fortune, met with the lady of Tamiya. Her +condition, her ignorance, was too pitiful. Learning all the truth from +Mobei she inflicted on him this punishment. May it cease there! Namu +Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Heavy the grudge against your master +Itō Dono; against Iémon Sama, his wife O'Hana San, all in the plot +against the Lady O'Iwa. 'To seven existences grant this Iwa opportunity +to vent her anger. Every one of the perpetrators of this deed shall be +seized and put to death.' She invoked all the gods and Buddhas; Nay, the +king of Hell—Emma Dai-ō himself. Look to yourself, Kakusuké San. +Deign to seek employment elsewhere." Kakusuké completed his task of +raising the battered and scratched toilet dealer to his feet. "Mobei +San, you have acted the fool; without doubt. Relate what has happened." +Mobei did so in full detail. Kakusuké was thoughtful. "Much of this +Kakusuké hears for the first time. A servant gets but snatches of the +inside of such matters. Just now the mission has been from his master, +Itō Dono, to the Inagaki <i>yashiki</i> near Hōonji; matter of transfer +involved in the late adoption of Kibei Dono into the House of the Danna +Sama.... So that scoundrel Chōbei sold the lady of Tamiya to Toémon +for a harlot. Alas! She deserved a better fate. One way or another they +would kill her; and Chōbei, his money in hand, abetted the crime. +Where is this brothel?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>Surrounded by his women Toémon was listening to their excited +statements. Takézo was crying with rage and pain, as she examined her +fissured countenance before a toilet stand (<i>kyōdai</i>). Kōta, +brought back to consciousness, lay groaning in a corner. They were +applying cold compresses to her broken jaw. Toémon looked up +suspiciously as Kakusuké entered, supporting the lamed and maimed Mobei. +"Look to this man's wares, scattered in the roadway; and to the man +himself." He spoke roughly, and with authority. Toémon did not dare to +resent his manner. With well feigned solicitude he addressed Mobei—"Ma! +Ma! A terrible punishment. Your face has the blush of the plum blossom +marked upon it.... O'Haru, run to the house of Wakiyama Sensei. Kōta +is badly hurt; his skill is needed. Stop at the drug store. Here is the +'cash' to bring salve for this good man's wounds. Alas! That a woman of +Toémon's house should so maltreat others. When caught her +punishment...."—"Shut up!" said Kakusuké. He had already taken his line +of conduct in his master's interest. "How comes it that the Lady O'Iwa +is found at the house of Toémon?"—"The Lady O'Iwa!" replied the brothel +keeper in well-feigned surprise. Turning to Mobei—"It is true, then, +what the women report; that Mobei San called the O'Iwa of this house +'Shinzō.' Who is this O'Iwa?" Said Kakusuké coldly—"The Lady O'Iwa +is the granddaughter and heir of Tamiya Matazaémon, a higher +<i>dōshin</i>. She is the wife of the <i>go-kenin</i>, Tamiya Iémon."</p> + +<p>Toémon now was truly aghast. "Heir and wife of <i>go-kenin</i>! This Toémon +had not the slightest inkling of her <i>status</i>. Chōbei has juggled +this Toémon most outrageously." He turned savagely on O'Matsu. "So much +for stupid brutality. One must give you head, or have no peace. Why not +treat the woman kindly, learn her story? Lies or truth that of all the +women in the house is known. But O'Iwa San was a mark for malice. +Chōbei has lied. Between you the house is ruined. Since when were +<i>samurai</i> women sold to life service? Fool! It means imprisonment, +exile,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> to those implicated. This Toémon ends his days among the savage +fishermen of Sado." He would have struck her. Kakusuké and the +<i>bantō</i> interposed. The woman did not budge. Defiant, she stood with +folded arms—"It was Toémon's arrangement to buy her in blind belief of +Chōbei. Why blame this Matsu? Since when were women exempt from +service or punishment? The rule of the house is one or the other. How +long has it been since O'Seki left the house—in a box; and Toémon had +to make answer at the office." Then catching herself up in the presence +of strangers—"Danna Sama, this is no time for a quarrel. Those of the +house will say nothing; in their own interest. As for this worthy +gentleman, the Lady O'Iwa was wife and heir neither of himself nor his +master. Toémon San is grossly neglectful of courtesy due to guests. +Leave Mobei San to this Matsu." She whispered in his ear.</p> + +<p>Toémon had now recovered his balance. Kakusuké was a <i>chūgen</i>. He had +an object in coming to Toémon's house, instead of making report at once +to his master, to the outraged Iémon Dono. Of course Toémon +misinterepreted this motive; and Kakusuké was quite ready to profit by +his mistake. To the now courteous brothel keeper he was equally cordial. +O'Matsu and her women carried off Mobei, to salve his wounds, regale him +with fish and wine and good treatment, carefully to make inventory of +his goods, and repack them with substantial diminution of purchases. +What more could Mobei ask. His valued rosary, the necklace, the +<i>kanzashi</i>, all the treasures were uninjured. His exchequer was palpably +swollen, and more pleasingly than his phiz. His beating had turned out a +good day's venture; and without misgiving he can be left in the careful +hands of O'Matsu and her women. Meanwhile Kakusuké and Toémon sat over +their wine. From the <i>chūgen</i> and toilet dealer the latter secured a +complete view of his situation. It was bad, but not irreparable. As +Kakusuké with due tardiness prepared to depart, the hospitable innkeeper +had ample time to prostrate himself in salutation, meanwhile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> pushing +over a golden <i>ryō</i> wrapped up in decently thin paper which permitted +the filtering through of its yellow gleam. "Great has been the trouble +and delay of Kakusuké San. Mark not this day in memory, good Sir." +Kakusuké was equally polite in salutation—"Fear enters: thanks for the +kind entertainment of Toémon San. This alone is to be kept in mind, mark +of a day otherwise of but little import." These last words were a +healing balm; and Toémon rejoiced.</p> + +<p>With the departure of Kakusuké, the chief of the "night-hawks" turned at +once to his aides. "Také! Haru!... Ah! Kōta is completely done up. +You, Také, bear the marks of the day's encounter. Go to Asakusa +Hanagawadō. Chōbei is to be brought here at once. The house must +clear its skirts of this affair. If he refuses to come, put a rope about +his neck and drag him here." The women bowed. At once they prepared for +the street, a mission welcome enough under other conditions. O'Také was +smarting from her wounds and not very willing to be an object lesson. +O'Haru had in mind the fearful curse of O'Iwa, plainly heard by the +women. Very willingly she would have had nothing to do with the affair.</p> + +<p>Chōbei was engaged at <i>go</i> with the metal dealer of his +neighbourhood. The fish and wine were in course of preparation in the +kitchen close by and under the skilled hands of O'Taki. The perfume, +vinous and of viands, came to the noses of the competitors, to the +disturbance of their game. Chōbei had just made a profitable stroke. +He had five <i>ryō</i> in hand, commission from the worthy <i>doguya</i> for +the successful sale of a daughter to the Yamadaya of Nakanochō. This +enterprising plebeian, having a son to succeed him in the business, had +secured the necessary furnishing and adoption of a second son into the +rival house of the ward, by means of the fifty <i>ryō</i> secured for the +girl through the experience and clever tactics of Chōbei. Many the +compliments and congratulations exchanged by these excellent men and +worthy representatives of their class as they tussled over their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> game +of <i>go</i>. Profuse were the thanks of the metal dealer for past services +and future feasting. It was with some displeasure therefore that O'Taki +had her offices interrupted to respond to a loud and harsh—"Request to +make!" sounded at the house entrance. Said she crossly—"Who is it?... +Ah! O'Také and O'Haru San of Toémon Sama." Then in wonder—"Oya! Oya! +O'Také San.... Your honoured face.... Has O'Také San gone to bed in the +dark with the cat?" Answered O'Také, in no amiable mood—"It could well +have been. Your man Chōbei deals in such articles. There are the +marks of O'Iwa's nails. As for Chōbei, is the precious rascal at +home?"</p> + +<p>O'Taki heard her with rising rage—"O'Iwa? What has Chōbei San to do +with any O'Iwa and the house of Toémon San? Why call the man of Taki a +scoundrel?"—"Because he is such. Nay, Okamisan, don't get +angry."—O'Haru was speaking—"has your husband a brother in +Abegawachō, a brother in need of twenty <i>ryō</i> and with a daughter +who would do nothing but run after the men?" O'Taki was puzzled. +"Chōbei San has no brother, in Abegawachō or any other <i>chō</i>. +Hence such brother has no daughter O'Iwa; nor are there children of his +own, except the one born to him by this Taki, and a girl already +sold...." A light was breaking in on O'Taki. Months before she had come +home to find that the Ojōsan had taken her departure. Explained +Chōbei—"At Yotsuya everything has been adjusted. Iémon Dono is +established again with his wife. The Okusama will not come back to us. +Deign to rejoice at the auspicious settlement of her affairs." Which +O'Taki did; all the more as Chōbei often was in funds in the +successive days through Tamiya. Now she looked from one woman to the +other, her fists clenched and working. Said the harsh voice of +O'Také—"Chōbei lied then; just as the Danna Sama thought. Nearly a +year ago he brought to the house the daughter of his brother Kanémon. He +sold her into life service as a night-hawk. For this she turned out to +be worthless. O'Taki San knows our Okamisan. No matter how severely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +beaten, even until the blood came, O'Iwa would not consent to serve. +Other means were tried, but the men of the house would have nothing to +do with her. She was too ugly. Finally she was degraded into being the +kitchen wench, to fetch and carry, and do the hardest and most +nauseating tasks. At this downfall in her prospects like a very fool she +rejoiced. To-day she met the toilet dealer Mobei. He recognized her as +the Lady O'Iwa of Tamiya in the Yotsuya. Drawn apart they spoke +together. Suddenly she was transformed into a demon. Leaping on Mobei +she tore and clutched at him. Kōta and this Také ran to aid him. +Kōta lies helpless and with a broken jaw. Truly it might have been +the kick of a horse she received. This Také is—as can be seen. The Lady +O'Iwa disappeared toward Warigesui. A <i>chūgen</i> saw her leap in. +Probably she has killed herself.... And now, O'Taki San, is not your man +Chōbei a scoundrel?"</p> + +<p>Said O'Taki—"Rightly spoken; more than right. Wait here." Abruptly she +entered the inner room. To Chōbei—"You ... my fine fellow ... is +this a time for <i>go</i>? Up and off with you; to accompany O'Také and +O'Haru from Toémon's in Honjō. A pretty business is in preparation +there." Said the embarrassed and enraged Chōbei—"Wh-what does this +rude entrance of Taki mean? Is not the master of the metal shop present? +Is such language, such abruptness, to be used in his presence?"—"The +Danna of the <i>doguya</i> is certainly present," coolly replied the woman. +"It would be better if he was at home.... Honoured Sir, pray betake +yourself there. This Chōbei has business with Toémon Sama of +Honjō, the brothel keeper and chief of the night-hawks, to whom he +has sold for life service as a street harlot the Lady O'Iwa, wife of the +<i>go-kenin</i> Iémon Dono and heir of Tamiya Matazaémon the <i>dōshin</i>. A +man can be too clever—as this Chōbei, who cheats his wife and all +others. Do you be clever enough to take the hint and depart.... Off with +you!" The <i>doguya</i> had sat in silence. His eyes were popping out of his +head in frightened amaze. Chōbei bounded up in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> rage—"You +huzzy—shut up! Would you publish the affairs of this Chōbei to the +world? Many a bridge is to be passed in the course through this world; +and none too sure the footing. Money must be had to live and enjoy life. +The result, not the means, is the important factor in its acquisition. +Such rudeness to a guest! Vile jade, Chōbei will...." O'Také and +O'Haru had to interfere—"Fight it out later, Chōbei San. This +quarrel is no concern of ours. The sooner the master is seen, the better +for Chōbei San. His rage is great, and mounting. You have the +contract? With that face the master; if you can."—"Just so! Just so! As +for this wench—she shall have something to remember this Chōbei +by...." The worthy and trembling metal dealer took this remark as threat +of renewed violence. "For the kind reception and entertainment: thanks. +Jubei calls later." Nimbly he was on his feet. Diving under the <i>haori</i> +into which Chōbei was struggling he bounced out the front, leaving +Chōbei on the ground and floundering in the folds of his garments, +from which issued most violent language. For the first time that day +O'Také and O'Haru had something to amuse them. O'Taki refusing, they +assisted Chōbei to his feet and adjusted his robe. Then one on each +side of him they set out for Honjō Yoshidachō. As parting salute +to O'Taki, Chōbei finished his sentence.... "Something to remember on +Chōbei's return." Her laugh in reply was so savage that the women +turned to look at her. In fright they hastened off with their prize.</p> + +<p>At Honjō the reception of Chōbei called forth the whole house. The +pimp entered the presence of Toémon with confident and jaunty air. "He +has the contract?" said Toémon to the woman. O'Haru indicated a sleeve. +The <i>bantō</i> and one of the <i>wakashū</i> (young men employes) grasped +the arms of Chōbei. The incriminating document was deftly removed by +O'Haru and passed over to Toémon. "Now the fellow can neither produce +it, nor play his tricks with it." He looked it over carefully; then +placed it with his own copy. Chōbei was too outraged and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> frightened +to do more than squat and gasp as he looked around the circle of hostile +faces. Without cushion he sat on the bare <i>tatami</i>, much as does a +criminal at the white sand. Said Toémon severely—"For once Chōbei +has drunk hot water with this Toémon. Does he think to act thus with +impunity. The younger sister of his brother Kanémon, 'a noted wench for +the streets,' was brought here for life service; sold to Toémon for +twenty <i>ryō</i>. Toémon does not intend that the price shall be too high +for him. Chōbei cannot lie out of his own contract. Toémon has it in +his hands. Chōbei has the twenty <i>ryō</i>. Toémon loses his money. +Well and good: Toémon clears himself from the affair. The responsibility +lies wholly with Chōbei. Let him look to it." Chōbei seized the +moment when lack of breath in his anger halted the speech of Toémon. He +would have lied, but Toémon again broke in. "Chōbei has no brother. +Chōbei has no woman to dispose of on his own signature. The one he +did have, the one he possesses, Toémon knows where to find. Toémon had a +woman O'Iwa in his house. You sold the wife of a <i>go-kenin</i>, Iémon Dono +of Yotsuya; a woman who was the heir of Tamiya Matazaémon the +<i>dōshin</i>. The Lady O'Iwa is traced to the hands of Chōbei. Settle +the matter with those in office—<i>machibugyō</i>, <i>dōshin</i>, +<i>yakunin</i>—when the affair comes to light...."—"Easily," burst in +Chōbei, once more himself. "Honoured chief, matters do not call for +such earnestness. All this is mere froth and fury. It is true that +Chōbei has deceived the chief; but it was at the orders of those much +higher. The lady of Tamiya was an obstacle. The sale was ordered by +Iémon Dono himself; backed by Itō Kwaiba the head of the Yotsuya +ward."—"Chōbei, you lie," said Toémon. The words and advice of +Kakusuké still rang in his ears. "Iémon Dono? Itō Dono? Who else will +Chōbei bring in as his bails? Such a man is not to be trusted. With +this Toémon there is no more dealing. The guild is to be warned by a +circular letter."</p> + +<p>At this fearful threat all Chōbei's jauntiness left him. His +livelihood, his existence, were at stake. He prostrated himself before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +Toémon, dragging his body over the <i>tatami</i> to the <i>zen</i> (low table) at +which was seated this autocrat of the night-hawks, this receiver of the +refuse and worn-out goods of his greater brothers in the trade. Toémon +harshly repulsed him with his foot. Chōbei in despair turned to +O'Matsu—"Honoured lady the chief is unreasonably angry. There shall be +no loss of money, no harm suffered by the affair. Deign to say a word +for Chōbei."—"Since when has Matsu had aught to do with the affairs +of the house? The women are her concern. She goes not outside her +province." The pimp sought the feet of O'Také—"Condescend to plead for +Chōbei. His fault is venial. When no injury results, pardon follows. +This is to cut off the breath of Chōbei, of wife and child. Deign to +intercede." The street harlot laughed. Her cracked voice was rough—"The +commission of Chōbei San has no attractions. This Také has had enough +to do with the matter. Truly Chōbei is a wicked fellow. Také would +fare badly in such intercourse. Besides his company is too high flown. +Officials! Samurai! Chōbei San seeks and will find promotion in the +world. Lodgings are preparing for Chōbei Sama in public office—on +the Ryōgokubashi; of such he is assured." She drew away from him, +harshly cackling. Thus he crawled from one to the other. It was +"Chōbei Sama," "Chōbei Dono," in derision they would call him +prince—"Chōbei Kō." All stuck out their tongues at him. The young +fellows of the house, several of them, stood round the entrance, +ostensibly occupied, but with one eye on the scene. As Chōbei sought +the <i>bantō's</i> aid, the man raised a long lean leg and gave him a +violent kick in the breast. Strong hands seized him as he rolled over +and over to the edge of the platform, to land in the arms of the +enthusiastic <i>wakashū</i>. The next moment, and Chōbei was picking +himself up out of the mud and snow of the street. The lattice of the +house entrance closed noisily.</p> + +<p>In his confusion of mind by force of habit Chōbei turned round and +bowed with ceremony toward the place of his unceremonious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> exit—"The +time is inopportune. Chōbei intrudes. He will call again." The +opening of the wicket gate, the peering, scowling face of the <i>bantō</i> +recalled the past scene to mind. With all the haste his tottering gait +allowed Chōbei sprang off northward to the Adzumabashi and home. As +he sped, swaying along, his active mind was making calculations. +"Ryōgokubashi, the last home of the outcast beggar—other than the +river which flows beneath it!" He shuddered at the prophecy. "Bah! One +rascal loses; another gains. Toémon loses twenty <i>ryō</i>. From Iémon +San ten <i>ryō</i> was the commission. Itō Dono gave five <i>ryō</i> and +asked no questions. The total to Chōbei sums up thirty-five <i>ryō</i>. +For a year the affair of O'Iwa has fattened Chōbei; with something +still left." His foot struck a stone in the roadway. He looked up and +around to find himself before the Genkwōji. About to enter on the +maze of temple grounds and <i>yashiki</i> separating him from the bridge his +gaze fell on the stagnant squalid waters of the canal. It was in the +dirty foulness of this North Warigesui that O'Iwa had disappeared. +Chōbei pulled up short. A dead cur, copper hued, with swollen +germinating sides and grinning teeth, bobbed at him from the green +slime. Chōbei slewed round—"A vile ending; but after all an ending. +Iémon profits; Chōbei gets the scoldings. Ah! If it was not that +Itō Kwaiba is engaged in this affair; Tamiya should pay dearly. There +is a double ration to share with Chōbei—and not to be touched! +Itō Dono is no man to trifle with. There was that affair with Isuké; +and now, as he says, Iémon is a very son to him." A memory seemed to +touch Chōbei. His pace became a crawl. "Why hasten? Chōbei rushes +to the fiend—that demon Taki. Chōbei would rather face O'Iwa than +Taki in a rage." He laughed—"The attenuated hands of a ghost and the +thick fist of Taki, the choice is not uncertain. From the lady mild and +merciful there is nothing to fear. Evidently she has settled matters +once and for all in the Warigesui. But at the tenement—there it is +another affair. This Chōbei will fortify himself against the shock. A +drink; then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> another, and still more. The scoldings will fall on a +blunted mind wandering in some dreamland. Time will soothe her rage. +To-morrow Chōbei wakes, to find the storm has passed and Taki his +obedient serving wench." Near the Adzumabashi, following his +prescription against domestic enlivenment, he entered a grog shop; to +turn his good coin into wine.</p> + +<p>The quarter at Hanagawadō in Asakusa was in an uproar. What had +occurred was this—There was an old woman—"Baba" in the native parlance +for Dame Gossip—a seller of the dried seaweed called <i>nori</i> (sloke or +laver), still called Asakusa <i>nori</i>, though even at that time gathered +at Shinagawa, Omori, and more distant places. This old trot had +returned, to make her last sales to the excellent metal dealer who lived +opposite her own home in the <i>nagaya</i>, in which she lived next door to +the Chōbei, husband and wife. The tongue of the <i>doguya</i> was still in +full swing of the recital, not only of his own experiences, but of the +revelations of O'Taki. He was only too willing for this twenty-first +time to repeat the tale to the <i>nori</i> seller, his good neighbour. The +good wife and wives listened again with open mouths. The Baba was the +most interested of them all. This choice morsel of gossip was to be +gathered at the primal source, from the lips of O'Taki herself. She was +all sympathy in her curiosity—ranging in the two cases of Chōbei and +wife on the one part, and the metal dealer and his insulted household on +the other part. Away she stepped quickly from the assembly of ward +gossips. At the door of Chōbei's quarters she stopped—"Okamisan! +Okamisan!... Strange: is she not at home? Is she so angered that no +answer is given? However, this Baba fears no one.... Nesan! Nesan!" She +passed the room entrance and went into the area. Glancing into the +kitchen—"Oya! Oya! The meal is burnt to a crisp. It has become a soppy, +disgusting mass. Nesan! Nesan! The rain falls, the roof window +(<i>hikimado</i>) is open." She put down her empty tubs in order to play the +good neighbour. The first thing was to close the window against the +descending rain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> Quickly and deftly she proceeded to wipe the moisture +off the shining vessels, to put everything in order in O'Taki's usually +immaculate kitchen. Women of this class are finicky housekeepers in +their own homes. As the old wife became less engaged she began to hear +strange sounds above. Some one was in conversation—and yet it was a +one-sided queer kind of talk. The voice was threatening and wheedling. +Then she heard a child cry. Surely O'Taki was in the upper room; and +thus neglectful of her lord and household.</p> + +<p>The old Baba went to the foot of the ladder and listened. "Nesan! +Nesan!" No answer came, beyond the curious droning monotone above, +varied by an occasional wailing cry of the child. It seemed to be in +pain. Resolute, the sturdy old Baba began to climb the steps. At the top +she halted, to get breath and look into the room. The sight she +witnessed froze the old woman in horror to where she stood. A woman was +in the room. She knelt over the body of the child, which now and again +writhed in the hard and cruel grasp. The queer monotonous voice went +on—"Ah! To think you might grow up like your father. The wicked, +unprincipled man! To sell the Ojōsan for a street whore, for her to +spend her life in such vile servitude; she by whose kindness this +household has lived. Many the visits in the past two years paid these +humble rooms by the lady of Tamiya. To all her neighbours O'Taki has +pointed out and bragged of the favour of the Ojōsan. The very +clothing now on your wretched puny body came from her hands. While +Chōbei spent his gains in drink and paid women, Taki was nourished by +the rice from Tamiya. When Taki lay in of this tiny body it was the +Ojōsan who furnished aid, and saw that child and mother could live. +Alas! That you should grow up to be like this villainous man is not to +be endured.... Ah! An idea! To crunch your throat, to secure revenge and +peace, security against the future." She bent down low over the child. +Suddenly it gave a fearful scream, as does a child fallen into the fire. +The Baba,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> helpless, could only feebly murmur—"Nesan! Nesan! O'Taki +San! What are you about? Control yourself." She gave a frightened yowl +as the creature began to spread far apart the child's limbs, and with +quick rips of the sharp kitchen knife beside her dissevered and tore the +little limbs from the quivering body. At the cry the woman turned half +around and looked toward her. Jaws dripping red with blood, a broad +white flat face with bulging brow, two tiny piercing dots flashing from +amid the thick swollen eyelids, it was the face of O'Iwa glowering at +her. "Kiya!" The scream resounded far and wide. Incontinently the old +woman tumbled backward down the steep steps, to land below on head and +buttocks.</p> + +<p>Some neighbours, people passing, came rushing in. A crowd began to +gather. "Baba! Baba San! What is wrong?" She could not speak; only point +upward and shudder as does one with heavy chills. As they moved toward +the stair a roar went up from the crowd in the street. O'Taki had +appeared at the window, her face smeared with blood and almost +unrecognizable. She waved a limb of the dismembered infant. The crowd +were frozen with horror. As some shouted to those within to hasten the +woman brandished the bloody knife. Thrusting it deep into her throat she +ripped and tore at the handle, spattering the incautious below with the +blood spurting from the wound. Then she fell backward into the room. +When the foremost to interfere rushed in they drew back in fear at what +they saw. The child's head was half knawed from the body; its limbs lay +scattered to this place and that. The body of O'Taki lay where she had +fallen. It was as if the head had been gnawed from the trunk, but the +head itself was missing. Search as they would, it was not to be found. +Meanwhile the news of these happenings spread rapidly. In the next block +it was shouted that the wife of the pimp Chōbei had gone mad and +killed and eaten five children. A block further the number had risen to +twenty-five. At the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> guardhouse of the Adzumabashi she had killed and +gnawed a hundred adults.</p> + +<p>These rumours were mingled with the strange tale of the old woman as to +O'Iwa San. In time there were many who had witnessed the suicide of +O'Taki, who were ready to swear they had seen the fearful lady of +Tamiya. Chōbei first learned of the affair by being dragged from the +grog shop to the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi. Here he was put under +arrest. Distressed and discomforted he stood before the ruin in his +home, under the eyes of his neighbours. These stood loyally by him. As +happens in ward affairs in Nippon the aspect of the affair not +immediately on the surface was slow to reach official ears. Thus it was +as to the Tamiya phase involved. Chōbei had suffered much, and was in +to suffer more. His fellow wardsmen were silent as to all but the actual +facts needed for interpretation. The marvellous only filters out slowly. +But they had their own way of dealing with him. The <i>kenshi</i> (coroner) +made his report. Examinations, fines, bribes, the funeral costs, reduced +Chōbei to his worst garment. With this after some weeks he was +permitted to go free. The house owner had turned him out. The wardsmen +had expelled him. Enough of Kazaguruma Chōbei—for the present.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>NEWS REACHES KWAIBA</h3> + + +<p>Kwaiba was hard at it, practising his favourite arts. His <i>saké</i> cup +stood before him, and from time to time he raised the bottle from the +hot water, testing its temperature with skilled hand. He accompanied the +action with a continual drone of a <i>gidayu</i>. Kwaiba by no means confined +the art of <i>gidayu</i> recitation to the heroic tales usually therewith +associated. His present effort was one of the suggestive and obscene +<i>ukarebushi</i>, quite as frequent and as well received in the <i>gidayu</i> +theme containing them. Kibei listened and applauded, with cynical +amusement at the depravity of the impotent old man. Kwaiba had found an +excellent bottle companion, and renewed his own former days in the +"Quarter," with the fresher experiences retailed by Kibei. Said +Kwaiba—"All has gone well. For half the year Kibei has been the son of +Kwaiba. He has brought luck into the house." Kibei bowed respectfully. +Continued the old man—"Iémon with his whore is fast destroying Tamiya +by riot and drinking. Chōzaémon is a fish in the net. The debt of ten +<i>ryō</i> has doubled into twenty <i>ryō</i>, which at any cost he must +repay. Kwaiba will make him cut belly if he don't. And Tamiya! Old +Tamiya; Matazaémon! O'Iwa is paying his debt to Kwaiba by becoming an +outcast, perhaps a beggar somewhere on the highway. If she shows her +face in the ward, seeking 'cash' to keep life in a wretched carcass, +this Kwaiba will send her to the jail, to rot as vagrant. But what did +become of her? Iémon has never spoken." Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "A +close mouthed fellow; too wise to talk of himself. He would but say that +Chōbei took the affair in hand." Kwaiba threw up his hands in horror +and merriment. Said he—"'Tis rumoured the fellow is a pimp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> But surely +he could not dispose of O'Iwa in his line. The very demons of the Hell +of lust would refuse all intercourse with her."</p> + +<p>Just then Kakusuké presented himself. "Report to make to the Go Inkyō +Sama. Inagaki Dono sends his compliments to Itō Sama. The papers of +transfer are these; by the hand of Kakusuké." As he took the documents, +said Kwaiba in answer to Kibei's inquiring look—"Your honoured parent +has favoured this Kwaiba. The transfer is of farms in Kazusa for others +in Shimosa. Thus all can be brought under one hand. A single <i>nanushi</i> +(bailiff) can manage the whole property in the two villages."—"But the +office...," objected Kibei. He had the <i>samurai</i> instinct against the +slightest taint of failure in obligation. "Let Kibei San deign to follow +in the footsteps of Kwaiba. The successor to the <i>nanushi</i> recently +deceased is a child. Kwaiba is in no haste to provide a substitute +pending majority. The right will lapse, and at majority the boy can be +found occupation elsewhere, to no small gain in the revenue. Out of +sight, out of mind. Kwaiba's present manager is unsurpassed; so is the +income he manages to gather." He looked around in some surprise, seeing +that Kakusuké still maintained his position, although dismissed. Then +noting him closely—"What has happened, Kakusuké? Your colour is bad. +Too cordial entertainment by the <i>chūgen</i> of Inagaki Dono? Or has +Kakusuké seen a ghost?"</p> + +<p>"Kakusuké has seen O'Iwa San; of Tamiya. Rather would he have seen a +ghost; if indeed it was not a demon he saw." Kwaiba started—"O'Iwa! +Where?"—"It was at the brothel of Toémon, chief of the night-hawks, at +Yoshidachō in Honjō. Mobei the toilet dealer had suffered +direfully at her hands. Meeting her unexpectedly, the fool let out all +he knew of the happenings in the ward. In a rage she flew on him. 'To +seven lives a curse on Iémon Dono, on Akiyama Sama, on Kondō +Sama.'"—He hesitated; then added—"on the Go Inkyō Sama. Then in a +straight line she flew off toward the canal. Did she drown herself? This +Kakusuké could not ascertain. Going to the aid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> of Mobei, mauled and +prostrate on the ground, the whole story was learned. Chōbei had sold +her for life to Toémon, to serve as a night-hawk."</p> + +<p>Itō Kwaiba sat straight up. His idle braggart words of a few moments +before came home to him. In Kibei he found no encouragement. After all +Kibei was a <i>samurai</i>; harsh, but with the courage of his caste and +profession. He spoke openly—"It was an outrageous deed. To sell a +<i>samurai</i> woman to such a life! It stinks. This comes of bringing in a +low dog (<i>yarō</i>) such as this Chōbei. Did Iémon know of his +intention?" He looked Kwaiba in the eye, but the latter met him +squarely—"What Iémon knew or did not know, this Kwaiba knows not. But +of this event he must know—and at once. Kakusuké, go in all haste to +the house of Tamiya Sama. Kwaiba would consult with him." Kibei +fidgetted and fumed. He walked up and down the room. Then +abruptly—"Condescend to pardon the presence of Kibei. The honoured +father having matters to discuss with the diviner—he finds no amusement +in the counsellor." As he was withdrawing Iémon entered. Their greeting +was cold to the extreme. Iémon knew that Kibei hated and despised him; +as much as he, Iémon, hated and feared Kibei. Kwaiba called sharply to +his genial son—"Pray be within call, if needed." He was glad to see the +surly fellow's exit. In some things Kwaiba felt fear. The stiff courage +of Kibei made him ashamed openly to air his weakness. He broke the news +at once to Iémon. "Kakusuké has seen O'Iwa." Iémon looked at him +curiously. Was Kwaiba frightened? Said the one-time priest—"What of +that? She lives in Edo. A meeting with her is quite likely; at least for +a man of the grade of Kakusuké." He smiled grimly—"But...," said +Kwaiba. He plunged into the story of the <i>chūgen</i> in its full +details. Iémon listened carefully. "Ah! She is likely to come +here."—"Come here!" bellowed Kwaiba. "Just so," answered Iémon. "If she +seeks vengeance on this Iémon, on Kwaiba, or the others, where else +would she come than Yotsuya. We cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> run away." Kwaiba gasped at his +coolness—"And Iémon Dono, does he open Tamiya to the presence of its +ex-lady and mistress?"—"A beggar, an outcast, importuning Tamiya; the +severed body will lie in the ditch, for the gatherers of offal to cast +as food to the dogs on the moor. Fear enters, but—honoured chief, +condescend to follow the example of Iémon."</p> + +<p>The round eyes in the round face of Kwaiba stood out. He leaned over and +touched Iémon's sleeve. In astonishment Iémon noted the fright depicted +in his face. The blustering old man at bottom was an arrant coward. Two +knaves should understand each other—as did he and Chōbei. He felt +that he had been gulled during the whole of his intercourse with this +old fool. He should have bluffed; and not been bluffed. Said Kwaiba in +lowered voice—"Kakusuké could see nothing of her. She disappeared into +the waters of Warigesui. Suppose O'Iwa appears as a ghost, to take +vengeance on Kwaiba...." He straightened up in astonishment and some +anger at the derisive smile playing over the face of Iémon. Indeed Iémon +was more than amused. Not at the circumstances, but at finding at last +this weak spot in the man who had dominated him. Conditions, however, +controlled him. It was fact that the physical O'Iwa might appear—to the +distress and discomfiture of all concerned. They must stand together. He +spoke with severity—"Rich and afraid of ghosts! Has not Itō Dono two +spearmen when he goes abroad? When he has an interview with his lord +does he tremble with fear? When the enemy in life, with all physical +powers, is not feared; why fear a disembodied spirit deprived of all +means of venting its wrath and spite? It is but the imagination which +works havoc. None are more helpless than the dead. With them time and +occasion has reached an end. If O'Iwa returns to Yotsuya, it will be in +her own person. With O'Iwa, the beggar and night-hawk, our +<i>Kumi-gashira</i> knows how to deal."—"Then Iémon knew the lot dealt out +to O'Iwa."—"At first hand; from Chōbei himself. The lean knave has +prospered by the affair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> Iémon had no such desire to see him, as to +secure his costly presence at the dinner so unfortunately witnessed by +Mobei.... But deign to call for wine; drive out these vapours with wine. +Honoured chief, condescend to play the host to Iémon." Iémon's manner +was not wholly natural, as Kwaiba could have detected if more himself. +He felt immensely relieved. A priest—surely he was one to know all +about the nature of ghosts; was one to speak with authority. Iémon was +hardly to be regarded as in ecclesiastical good odour. But Kwaiba was +easily satisfied. He, too, roared—"Wine! Wine! Bring wine!" As by magic +Kibei appeared at the welcome sound. He disliked Iémon, but he liked +wine. The servants bustled around. The wine was heated—again and again. +A feast of fish—with more wine—followed. It was late when Iémon left +the house, the only sober member of the party. Of his hosts, one was +maudlin, the other asleep. The ample resources of Tamiya, if not of +benefit to his person, in these past two years had given him the chance +to harden his head; and he had grasped it.</p> + +<p>Iémon by no means had all the confidence he displayed before Kwaiba. He +was a priest, but environment influences everybody. There was a +possibility—discountenanced by experience, but existing. As he walked +slowly along Teramachi his thoughts strayed back into the past. "It was +an ill bond between this Iémon and O'Iwa San. Without question she has +drowned herself in the Warigesui. The body must be found and buried. +Memorial services are to be recited, for one dying without relatives or +friends (<i>segaki</i>)." The virtuous resolution was the outcome of his +meditation and glances into the many graveyards passed in his progress +through the temple-lined street. It was a beautiful street, with its +overhanging trees, its open spaces populated by the many dead, its +temples gorgeous in red and gilding amid the dark green of pine and +cedar. Iémon on this night had to hasten his steps. Rain threatened. +Gusts of wind came sharply from this side and that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> driving the first +drops of the coming storm. He reached home just as it broke with all its +fury.</p> + +<p>To O'Hana he would say nothing of Kwaiba's mission. On her remarking on +the lateness of the hour, he made answer that the old man was out of +sorts. Kibei was too robust a bottle companion for a man reaching toward +his seventieth year. No matter how vigorous, Kwaiba's wine was showing +on him. The two prepared for bed. O'Hana listened as the rain dashed in +streams against the <i>amado</i>, as if trying to break its way in. She gave +a little chuckle—"Who would have thought it!"—"What?" asked Iémon, +perhaps a little tartly. He was nervous. O'Hana laughed—"That Iémon and +this Hana should be where they now are. Their parting was on a night +like this. Ah! At seeing a man weep Hana could have retired into a +cave—forever. Only the fortunate accident of a drunken <i>yakunin</i> +(constable) as guest enabled her to give warning.... And now! Once more +united Iémon and this Hana live in luxury. Every wish is gratified. +Thanks for the past which contained this meeting in its womb; thanks for +the present in which happiness is secured:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Losing one's way, again roads meet!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The hill of flowers.'"<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A terrific gust struck the rain-doors. They bent and cracked before the +force of the gale. The vivid white of lightning showed that one door had +been forced from its groove. Iémon rose and replaced it. As he turned +away suddenly the room was plunged in darkness. Said the voice of +O'Hana—"The light of the <i>andon</i> has gone out. Oya! Oya! The lights in +the Butsudan (altar) are lit. And yet this Hana extinguished them." +Grumbled Iémon—"The wind has blown out the light in the <i>andon</i>. +Doubtless a spark was left in the wick of the altar light. Fire is to be +dreaded; great care should be taken in extinguishing the light." As he +relit the light in the night lamp, O'Hana went up to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Butsudan to +extinguish the lights there. She put her hand out to take one. A sharp +scream, and she fell back in confusion and fright. "An <i>aodaishō</i> in +the Butsudan! Help! Aid this Hana!" As she fled the snake with a thud +fell on the <i>tatami</i>. Unrolling its six feet of length, it started in +pursuit. Iémon stepped behind it and caught it by the tail. A sharp rap +behind the head stunned it. It hung limp in his hand. "Hana, please open +the <i>amado</i>."—"No, no: this Hana cannot; move she will not."—"Coward!" +said Iémon. "Time comes when Hana, for generations in the future +existence, will wander hill and dale in such form."—"Ara!" The woman +was properly shocked at this speech, wicked and brutal as an +imprecation. "Has the life of Hana been so foul as to deserve such +punishment in a future life? Surely 'tis not the priest of Reigan who +speaks; nor Iémon." She could only see his lips move as he stood at the +<i>amado</i>. "Evil was the connection between O'Iwa and this Iémon. Wander +not as one unburied, but becoming a Buddha at once enter Nirvana. Namu +Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Wonderful the +Law, wondrous the Scripture of the Lotus!" With the invocation he cast +the stunned reptile far out into the garden. Returning, he said—"The +<i>aodaishō</i> is the most harmless of snakes. The farmers keep it to +destroy the rats which infest house and store rooms. How can Hana be +afraid of snakes, living in this <i>yashiki</i> overgrown by weeds and grass, +from roof to garden?" O'Hana did not reply in direct terms—"It is evil +fortune to take a snake in the hand."—"Never mind such talk. It is the +priest who speaks. This Iémon knows all about snakes. Go to sleep." She +obeyed, knowing nothing about O'Iwa and the events of the day; yet her +slumber was broken and restless. By morning she was in a high fever.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>NEWS FROM KWAIBA</h3> + + +<p>Kwaiba was reported as ill; very ill. His friends and dependents who had +to pay visits of condolence, spoke of this illness with awe and terror. +To understand what follows something must be said of the past of this +man. The actor, drawing on the presumed knowledge of his audience as to +the story in the gross, can pass this over with a speech or two; a +horror-struck gesture and allusion. Not so the <i>kōdan</i> writer, who +perforce must lay before his reader all the <i>minutiæ</i> of the case.</p> + +<p>Itō Kwaiba did not brag when he spoke of his beauty as a boy, his +handsome figure as a young man. These had brought him wealth and +position; gained, it was whispered, in vilest service to his lord. In +these days he had in his employ a <i>chūgen</i> named Isuké, or as some +say Kohei. Engaged before the mirror Kwaiba was applying the paint and +powder which of late had become necessary adjuncts to fit him to appear +before his lord. A gesture of pain and discomfiture, and then Kwaiba +turned irritably toward his satellite. "Isuké, you are a clever fellow. +Kwaiba has needed no aids to his looks—up to recent days. Now paint and +powder, all the armoury of a woman, or paraphernalia of an actor, hardly +avail to conceal the blotches which disfigure Kwaiba's face and body. +The voice broken and husky, the lightning pains in limbs and joints, +these violet patches—in such state it soon will be impossible to act as +attendant on his lordship's household service, as <i>kami-yakunin</i>. What +disorder eats into the life and happiness of Kwaiba?"</p> + +<p>For a time Isuké made no answer, beyond a bow at his master's +acknowledgment of his cleverness, and in which he heartily concurred. He +seemed engaged in a close contemplation of the end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> of his nose. "Hei! +Hei!" It was all that Kwaiba could get out of him for the moment. Then +noting the growing anger Isuké began with—"Condescend beforehand to +pardon this Isuké. Though the anger of the Wakadono (young lord) is hard +to bear, yet a faithful servitor should speak. Deign to step this way." +He conducted Kwaiba to one of those small retired rooms, opening on an +inner garden and common to every properly built house of any size in +Nippon. He closed the few rain-doors, shutting out the light. Then +fetching a piece of camphor, he set fire to it. When the thick yellow +light flared strongly he took up a hand-mirror and passed it to Kwaiba. +Kwaiba was frightened at what he saw. His face was dark as that of a +peasant of Satsuma. Said Isuké—"The darkness is shown up by the light +of the burning camphor. The colour is due to the poison circulating +between the body and the outer skin. The white sunlight does not show up +this symptom. But there is another test." Lighting a candle, he took a +long steel <i>kanzashi</i> needle and heated it to redness. Holding the cold +end by his head towel he grasped the arm of Kwaiba. The latter drew +back, afraid. "Nay, it will give no pain," said Isuké. He thrust the hot +length of the needle several inches under the skin. As far as Kwaiba was +concerned he might as well have thrust it into the straw matting +(<i>tatami</i>) at his feet. Isuké withdrew the needle and carefully pressed +the arm. A brownish liquor oozed out; not blood. "The Danna has a +nose—as yet." Kwaiba hastily applied his arm to that member. He turned +his face to one side in disgust and horror—"Is this Kwaiba already dead +and rotten? In such condition all is lost. Duty no longer can be +performed. Service and income cease together. Isuké, there remains +naught but to get out the mats. Kwaiba will cut belly."</p> + +<p>Isuké examined him carefully and quizzically. Satisfied with his +inspection, he said—"Deign to have confidence in Isuké. In former days +he was not Isuké the <i>chūgen</i>. Son of a doctor of the Dutch practice +at Nagasaki; gambling, wine, women have reduced Isuké to the state of a +servant. Family and friends long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> since have discarded and cast him out. +The severance of relations between parent and child was formal. Isuké +owes naught of service or duty to any but his master Kwaiba. Here is his +refuge. Deign to give Isuké three silver <i>ryō</i>. The disease is +curable. Trust the matter to Isuké. <i>Soppin</i> (mercury) duly applied will +remove the poison, and with it all the disastrous symptoms. The two +hundred and thirty <i>tawara</i> of income are enjoyed by the Wakadono. +Service can be performed; and Isuké preserves such a good master." +Flattered and frightened Kwaiba at once handed over the money. Isuké +disappeared to secure the drug necessary to the "Dutch practice." Baths +and potions, potions and baths, followed in due course. The promises of +Isuké were fulfilled. The fearful symptoms gradually were alleviated. In +the course of six months Kwaiba was himself again; his position was +assured to him. He heaved double sighs—of relief from the nightmare +which had pursued him; of anxiety at the nightmare substituted for it.</p> + +<p>Kwaiba was a rake and a gambler. So was Isuké. The two hundred and +thirty <i>tawara</i> of income was saved to Kwaiba—and Isuké. Not long after +the cure was thus assured Isuké disappeared. Kwaiba sighed gently, with +relief at the departure of one who knew too much of his affairs, and +with a scared feeling on losing the only "doctor" in whom he had +confidence. "These fellows come and go, like leaves on a tree. Isuké has +grown tired, and deserted. Some day he may return. This Kwaiba is a good +master." Isuké did return—in the form of a note from the Yoshiwara. +Twenty <i>ryō</i> were needed to pay his debts to pleasure and gambling. +Severely reprimanded, Isuké opened his eyes in astonishment. +"Respectfully heard and understood: has the income been reduced? But +that does not affect the share of Isuké. He keeps well within his +limit." This was the first intimation Kwaiba had of Isuké's views as to +his rôle of physician. In those days the doctor usually had the pleasure +of performance, not of payment. Moreover with the great—like +Kwaiba—performance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> was carried out at a distance; the pulse felt by +the vibration of a string attached to the wrist, or at best by passing +the hand under the coverlet. For a time Kwaiba's strange medical +attendant devoted himself to his more prosaic duties of <i>chūgen</i>. +Within ten days his master ransomed him from a resort in Shinagawa; +price, ten <i>ryō</i>. A few weeks later he was heard from at a gambler's +resort in Shinjuku. The note was peremptory—and for fifty <i>ryō</i>. +Kwaiba lost all patience. Moreover, just then he held office very +favourable for bringing this matter to an issue. But he must have Isuké; +and have him in Yotsuya. As usual payment secured the presence of a +repentant Isuké, full of promises of amendment. Kwaiba smiled, used soft +words; and shortly after Isuké was confined to the jail on a trumped up +charge of theft from another <i>chūgen</i>. Kwaiba, then acting as +magistrate for the district, had full power. On notification he assured +Isuké of a speedy release. This the unhappy man secured through a +poisoned meal, following a long fast. He died raving, and cursing his +master. No one heard him but his two jailers, who considered him +crazy—this man of bad record.</p> + +<p>Years had passed, but Isuké merely lay dormant in the mind of Kwaiba. +Then came up the affair of Tamiya—the threatening curse of O'Iwa San. +Iémon's counsel lasted but over night. With soberness and morning Kwaiba +straightway showed the results of wrecked nerves and distorted +imagination. Sleepless nights he now visited on his friends by an +increasing irritability. The first few days of this state of Kwaiba were +laughable. He spoke of O'Iwa San; not freely, rather with reticence. He +made his references as of jesting expectation of her advent. Then he +passed to boisterous tricks; springing out on the maids from dark +corners or the turns in the corridors. Alarmed by these manifestations +of the old man—not entirely strange, for he was a terror to the female +element in his household—they soon noted that there was an unnatural +wildness in his amusement at their discomfiture. Now he would talk of +nothing but O'Iwa. From this hysterical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> mirth he passed to an +hysterical fear. Afraid of visions of the Lady of Tamiya he stayed awake +at night. To be alone appalled him. He would have others keep awake with +him. He was now at the gibbering stage. "Night in the house of Kwaiba is +to be turned into day. The day shall be the time for sleep. Lights! +Lights! More lights!" He sat surrounded by his household, until the +white light of dawn filtered through the spaces above the rain-doors. +One of his women, her hair down for washing, met him unexpectedly in the +corridor. With a howl of terror he started to flee. Then recognizing +her, he flew on her and beat her almost to a jelly in his insane rage. +People began to talk of the eccentricities of Itō Kwaiba—the +honoured ward head.</p> + +<p>Barely three weeks after Iémon's visit a violent scene occurred in the +mansion of the <i>Kumi-gashira</i>. Shouts and screams, the smashing of +screens and sounds of a terrific struggle were heard in Kwaiba's room. +Kibei, who with the men preferred night for sleep, rushed in. He found +the old man standing, stark naked and alone. His attendants had fled—to +a woman. His pillow sword drawn, Kwaiba was dancing to this side and +that. "Isuké! O'Iwa! Pardon! This Kwaiba is a wicked fellow! Isuké was +poisoned by Kwaiba. O'Iwa San? Kwaiba sold her for a street whore. For +seven lives they pursue him. Ah! A merry chase! But Kwaiba deals not +with night-hawks. His game is higher. Away with the huzzy!" He had +grasped in both hands the flower vase standing in the alcove +(<i>tokonoma</i>). Kibei dodged, and catching him by a wrestler's hold, threw +him to the ground. Kakusuké, just entering, was knocked flat by the +heavy missile. Groaning, he rose, and with other servants came to the +aid of the Wakadono. Kwaiba was overpowered and guarded during the +remainder of the night.</p> + +<p>With daylight he knew nothing of what had occurred; at least he made no +reference to it, no response to the talk of others. His fear was now +full on him. He babbled of nothing but Isuké and O'Iwa San. Now he was +incapacitated, downright ill. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> was no more turning of day into +night, and <i>vice versa</i>. He was in the hands of his nurses. But to +humour him Kibei marshalled the women. Their beds were made encircling +that of Kwaiba in the midst. Kibei and Kakusuké were present. Thus they +lay in this room brilliant with its scores of lanterns, its wax lights +blazing on the lamp-stands. At the sides and in each corner were placed +the scrolls of the holy <i>sutra</i>. Kwaiba in despair sought a sleep which +would not favour him. "Some one walks in the corridor.... Namu Amida +Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Kibei! Kibei!" The appeal to the man would +bring quicker response than that to the Buddha. Indeed there was a +sound, as of hair rubbing across the paper screens, of some one or +something trying to peer through the opaque material. There was a rattle +and dash of rain. A gust swept through the corridor, the <i>shōji</i> +slightly parted. Kwaiba gave a shriek—"O'Iwa! O'Iwa San! Ah! The +bloated face, the drooping eyelid, the corpse taint in the air. It +catches Kwaiba's throat. O'Iwa the O'Baké would force away Kwaiba the +living. Ha! Ha!" A stronger gust, and the <i>shōji</i> dislodged from its +groove whirled round and fell noisily into the room. Terror gave +strength to the sick man. Kwaiba sprang madly forward. It was horrible +to see the ghastly renovation of this tottering, flabby, emaciated man, +who yet inspired the fear of a maniac's reckless strength. The +frightened women huddled and crouched in the now darkened room, lit but +by a single <i>andon</i> near the alcove. Was Kwaiba mad? As the men fought +over the ruins of the <i>shōji</i>, in the darkness of the corridor, at +first faint as a mist, then distinctly seen, the women were assured of +the presence of O'Iwa. In long black robe, face wide and bloated, of a +livid greenish tint, hair in wild disorder, bulging forehead, swollen +eyeless lids, she stood over the struggling men. Suddenly she thrust the +severed head she carried into the face of Kwaiba, leering horribly at +him the while. With a yell he fell flat on his back. The braver entered +with lights. All gathered round the unconscious Kwaiba.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>This scene was the crisis of his disorder. The disease, once dormant, +now fell on him suddenly and with full force. Perhaps these mental +symptoms were its first indication. More annoying to his comfort, ulcers +broke out all over his body. The itching drove the man nearly frantic. +His mad scratching spread the sores. The boils developed. They ran with +pus. So terrible was the stench that few would stay by him. The women +fled the room in terror, driven away by the running stream of physical +corruption, the continual babble of lewdness from the corrupt mind. He +soon noted their absence. Kibei, attended by the sturdy and faithful +Kakusuké, remained to nurse him. Suddenly said Kwaiba—"O'Hana, the +harlot of Reigan; this Kwaiba would have talk and dalliance with her. +Summon her hither. Let wine and the <i>samisen</i> be brought, a feast +prepared. O'Hana! O'Hana!" He raved so for the woman that Kibei thought +her presence would quiet him. A request was sent to the house of Iémon. +Wishing her to know nothing of the affair of O'Iwa, Iémon had kept +silence. He would have refused the mission—on the pretext of a quarrel +with Kwaiba and Kibei. O'Hana showed herself unexpectedly obstinate—"It +is to the favour of Kwaiba Sama that Iémon owes this Hana. She has a +duty to the past, as well as to the present." With a snarl she turned on +him, glowering. Iémon shrank back. He passed his hand across the eyes +into which O'Iwa had just looked. He no longer opposed her going.</p> + +<p>O'Hana was still weak from repeated attacks of the fever which had +visited her ever since the night Iémon had cast forth the <i>aodaishō</i>. +She said that the snake had bitten her. It was the poison, not fever, +working in her. Iémon had laughed at her proposal to try the exorcisms +of the priest. Behind the irritation aroused by his scepticism was that +peculiar clinging of a woman to an old lover, to a man with whom she had +been intimate. In the heart of O'Hana there still remained a strong +leaning to the man who had removed her from the rapid and nauseating +life of the Fukagawa brothel, which cast her into the arms of anyone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +who paid the price and raised his finger. With time and the old +conditions probably she would have been as unfaithful to Iémon as she +had been to Kwaiba. The latter showing his desire, she would have +answered his call. Even before this disease-eaten swollen mass of +dropsy, she showed but temporary repugnance. Leaning over him, almost +overcome by the stench, with endearing terms she strove to rouse him to +consciousness and recognition of her. It seemed fearful to have him die +without the word of parting. Kibei aided her by raising the old man. The +result was a horrible frightened stare in eyes made large by fever and +delirium. Long he gazed at her. Said the woman—"'Tis Hana; Hana once +the intimate of Kwaiba. Deign to take courage. This is but a passing +affliction. With Hana as nurse recovery to health is assured." She laid +her hands on his shoulders. In so doing her hair, come loose, fell down +around her wan face. Kwaiba was as galvanized. With a howl the old man +pushed her violently away. "Scrawny wench! What impudence to show your +face here! Ah! To the last moment, waking and in dreams, she pursues +this Kwaiba. I sold you. 'Tis true—I sold you for a night-hawk—to +Toémon of Honjō. Does Kwaiba consort with wenches of such ilk?" +Raising his fist he dealt her blow after blow, all the time +shouting—"O'Iwa! O'Iwa! The O'Baké solicits Kwaiba. Broken loose from +Hell and the waters of Warigesui she would force away Kwaiba. Help! +Help! Aid for Kwaiba! Away with the O'Baké!" The old man again had +broken into his mad fit. The shouts of Kibei brought Kakusuké. Kwaiba's +hands were detached from the masses of O'Hana's hair. The wounds on her +face were not so deep as those inflicted on her mind. At last the secret +was out. In bare feet she fled along the muddy street toward the +Samonchō house.</p> + +<p>It was true that the vileness of the disease, the vileness of Kwaiba's +tongue, had driven the women from attendance in the sick room to the +remotest quarters of the house. But there was a deterrent even to their +now limited service. All said the place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> where Kwaiba lay was haunted. +Under press of necessity a maid had brought needed medicaments to the +sick man's room. Putting down the light she carried on the <i>rōka</i>, +she pushed open the <i>shōji</i> to enter the outer chamber. Her robe +caught as she did so.</p> + +<p>Turning to release it she gave a fearful shriek. Standing in the +corridor, at the open screen behind her, were two tall figures robed in +black. With dishevelled hair, broad white flat faces, bulging brows, +eyelids swollen and sightless, yet they gazed through and through the +onlooker and into the farther room. One creature, even more hideous with +drooping lid and baldness extending far back, half moved, half fell +toward the frightened maid. The woman's screams now were mingled with +wild laughter. Kibei came rushing out, sword drawn, to find her in a fit +of mad hysterics. Catching the drift of her broken phrases he went out +on the <i>rōka</i>. There was no one there. <i>Haori</i> and <i>kimono</i>, hung up +there to dry, rustled and moved a little in the draft. Had these +frightened the woman? Kakusuké carried her back to her companions. +Henceforth no one would enter that part of the building occupied by the +sick man. Kibei as son, Kakusuké the old and faithful attendant, were +isolated in their nursing.</p> + +<p>Kibei noted the sick man's face. "Father, why the forehead so wrinkled? +Is pain condescended?" Said Kwaiba—"'Tis the rats; they gnaw and worry +at Kwaiba."—"Rats?" replied Kibei in some astonishment. He looked +around. The <i>shōji</i> were tight closed. Kwaiba noted the inspection. +He shook his head, and pointed to the <i>rama-shōji</i>, the ornamental +open work near the ceiling. This could not be obviated. "Auntie (Obasan) +is old and deaf. She sleeps; while rats, attracted by the foul sores of +the scrofulous child, enter and attack the infant in its cradle. The +child gets thinner and weaker every day; then dies. A terrible creature +is the rat." So much for the opinion of Nippon. Kibei had brought a +mosquito net. Its edges were weighted down with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> heavy stones. Thus the +watchers could not be taken by surprise. Under its protection the sick +man was saved from annoyance.</p> + +<p>Said Kibei—"This illness is most tedious. Could not Kibei go to the +Yoshiwara for a space? The letters of the Kashiku (<i>oiran</i>) accumulate. +Kibei has nothing to give, and has given no explanation for not giving. +What thinks Kakusuké?" Kakusuké was brave. Moreover he knew the Wakadono +was brave. The prospect, however, of facing his old master in a crazy +fit—and perhaps O'Iwa—had no attraction. He gave his advice—"The Go +Inkyō Sama is in a very precarious state. He is now very weak. The +worst may happen at any moment. For the Wakadono to be taking his +pleasure at the Yoshiwara would arouse criticism in the ward; nay, even +more than criticism. It would be held unfilial. Deign to reconsider the +purpose." Kibei looked sourly at the swollen corruption which +represented Kwaiba—"How does he hold on! His strength must be great." +Kakusuké shrugged his shoulders—"The Go Inkyō Sama will not die +easily. He has much to go through yet."—"In the name of all the <i>kami</i> +and Buddhas, how has he come to such an end? He is a sight to inspire +fear—in those who can feel such." Replied Kakusuké with sly look—"The +Go Inkyō Sama has lived high, and loved beyond measure. The Wakadono +does well to reconsider his purpose."</p> + +<p>The night was passing. The two men, worn out by the continued watching +and nursing, after vain struggle to keep awake had gone to sleep. +Kakusuké was in the room with Kwaiba. In his slumber Kibei was back in +the fencing room. The clash of the wooden swords (<i>bokken</i>), the cries +of the contestants, rang clear in his ears. He woke to find rain and +storm shaking and tearing at the <i>amado</i>. But it was the shouts of +Kakusuké, standing at the <i>shōji</i>, which had aroused him—"Danna +Sama! Danna Sama! Wakadono! At once! At once! Deign to hasten!" Kibei +rushed into the next room. In fright Kakusuké pointed to the mosquito +net. A figure stood upright within it, swaying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> gesticulating, +struggling. It was a figure all black and horrible. "Un! Un!" grunted +Kwaiba. He was answered by a mincing, gnawing sound. "Father! Have +courage! Kibei is here." He rushed at the heavy stones, to toss them to +one side and enter the net. The swaying figure within suddenly toppled +over in a heap. With his sword Kibei tore and severed the cording of the +net. The black mass of rats scattered to the eight directions of space. +On approaching Kwaiba a terrible sight met the eye. Eyes, ears, nose, +chin, toes and fingers had been torn and eaten off. The lips were gnawed +away and exposed to view the grinning teeth. A feeble groan—and Kwaiba +had met his end. Neither Kibei nor Kakusuké dared to touch the foul +body. In their panic the two men looked in each other's faces. "Namu +Amida Butsu! Holy the Lord Buddha, Amida!" prayed Kibei, on his knees +before the corpse. "Namu Amida Butsu!" answered Kakusuké.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYŌ</h3> + + +<p>Said a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip—"Ah! Is it +Goémon San? It is said the Go Inkyō is to be congratulated." Kamimura +Goémon sniffed. He was a long man; with long face, long nose, long thin +arms, long thin legs; a malicious man, who longed to give advice to his +fellows which they much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe +under the infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in +good faith or temper—"The Go Inkyō is to be congratulated? Escaping +the troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse troubles in +the next." At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi Hambei showed surprise. +Continued Goémon—"The Go Inkyō died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such +an end hardly calls for congratulations." Mizoguchi gasped, with round +eyes and round face. "Extraordinary!"—"Not at all," replied +Kamimura, complacently tapping the palm of one hand with +the elongated fingers of the other. "The Go Inkyō drove out O'Iwa San +from Tamiya. He gave O'Hana in her stead to Iémon as wife. Hana the +harlot! Cursed by O'Iwa in dying, he has met this frightful end. +Akiyama, Natsumé, Imaizumi will surely follow. As will all those +involved in the affair."—"But is O'Iwa San really the cause of the +death? The Go Inkyō in life was not the most careful of men in +conserving health." This was timidly interjected by a third party. +Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl—"Of course it is O'Iwa San. Has +she not been seen? The women of the house answer for it. Only Kibei the +sceptic, and Kakusuké who would face the devil in person, attempt to +deny it." He threw up a hand. With unction—"Ah! It inspires fear. Small +is the profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who indulges in +either.... How cold it is for the time of year!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>Said the interloper—"But the congratulations have to be rendered all +the same. It will be necessary to attend the all-night watch. How +vexatious! Perhaps O'Iwa San will not appear. There is no getting out of +it?"—"Certainly not," answered Kamimura. "The Go Inkyō was the head +of the ward association. Twelve neighbours have been invited to the +watch. At dawn the body is to be prepared. A pleasant undertaking, if +all that is said be true! The viands will be of the best, the wine no +worse and plentiful. None must fail to attend." He smacked his lips. The +others likewise, but much less heartily.</p> + +<p>It was an unwilling band which crawled in laggard procession through +rain and mud and the length of the Teramachi to Kwaiba's house. A +<i>dōshin</i>, the ward chief, a rich man, the mansion displayed all its +splendour. The atmosphere, however, was oppressive. Kibei greeted the +guests with heartiness, and accepted their condolence and gifts with +lavish thanks and the cheerful face of him that profiteth by the +funeral. Kakusuké was his main aid in connection with the Go Inkyō's +last appearance. Occasionally a timid white-faced woman was seen, but +she would flit away from the scene of these festivities, to seek the +companionship of her panic-stricken fellows. Entering the funereal +chamber the body was found, laid out and decently swathed so as to +cover, as far as possible, the horrible nature of the death. On a white +wood stand was the <i>ihai</i> in white wood, a virtuous lie as to the +qualities of the deceased. It ran—Tentoku Gishin Jishō Daishi. Which +can be interpreted—"A man of brilliant virtues, virtuous heart, and +benevolent temperament." Screens, upside down, were placed at the head:</p> + +<p>"Alas! The screen: the carp descends the fall."<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Akiyama, Natsumé, +Imaizumi, were the last to appear. The former had been composing a +violent quarrel between his two friends—the long and the fat. Much +recrimination had passed, and the usually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> peaceful Imaizumi was in a +most violent and truculent humour. He glared with hate on Natsumé, who +now aided Akiyama in efforts to soothe his anger. On entering the +assembly the looks of all were composed. "A retribution for deeds in the +past world. Old; but so vigorous! The offering is a mere trifle. This +Kyuzō would burn a stick of incense." Kibei extended his thanks and +suppressed his smile as much as possible. He was breathing with full +lungs for the first time in weeks. The storm was over; happiness was +ahead; the clouded sky was all serene. "Thanks are felt. This Kibei is +most fortunate: nay, grateful. Such kindness is not to be forgotten +during life."—"The Inkyō an <i>hotoké</i>; Iémon Dono and O'Hana are the +husband and wife not present?" The question came from some one in the +room. "O'Hana San is very ill. Her state is serious. Iémon does not +leave her." Akiyama answered for the truant pair. Kibei's joy was +complete.</p> + +<p>Akiyama, Natsumé, Imaizumi were standing by Kwaiba's body. Kamimura +slowly approached. The long man's face was longer than ever; longer, +much longer than that of Natsumé; and Kibei was not in the running. +Goémon meditatively fondled his nose; on the pretence of concentrating +thought, and for the purpose of relieving that member from the savour +arising from Kwaiba's bier. This was no bed of roses—"Yes, the Inkyō +is indeed dead." He sniffed. "Soon it will be the turn of all of you—to +be like this;" another sniff—"of Iémon and O'Hana, of Natsumé and +Imaizumi, of this Akiyama San." The latter gave a violent start. With +hand to his nose also, he turned on the intruder. Continued Goémon—"A +plot was concocted against O'Iwa San. Beggared and driven from the ward, +deceived and sold as a street harlot, this death of the Inkyō is but +the first in the roll of her vengeance. Kamimura speaks with pure heart +and without malice. You men are not long for this world. Is Akiyama San +reconciled? And...." He pointed a skinny finger at Kyuzō, then at +Jinzaémon. "You show it. Your eyes are hollow; your nostrils are fallen +in. The colour of the face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> is livid. You seem already to be <i>hotoké</i>, +prepared to lie with the Go Inkyō." Akiyama found his tongue. He +burst out in a rage—"The jest is unseemly. Kamimura San goes too far. +It is true this Chōzaémon gave counsel to Itō Kwaiba. Kyuzō and +Jinzaémon took some part in what followed. But we acted on the orders of +Itō Dono, of Iémon San. On the first will be visited any grudge." +Goémon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. "Here he lies. How did +he die? Goémon does not jest, and the argument of Akiyama San is rotten. +The master bids the servants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow +falls on them; not on him. How now Akiyama San?" Chōzaémon turned +away discomfited. All three felt very bad—in mind and body.</p> + +<p>The bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>). Just +opposite, its clangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly sound. In +the depths of night this inert mass of metal seemed a thing of life, +casting its influence into the lives of those present, rousing them to +face grave issues. Noting the absence of Natsumé, the round-faced, +round-eyed, round-bodied Imaizumi followed after. Kibei came forth from +the supper room, to find his guests all flown. "Where have they gone to, +Kakusuké?" He looked around in amazement—"They were taken with pains in +the belly. With this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with a +flux." The <i>chūgen</i> answered in the dry and certain tone of one +unconvinced. Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "There is naught wrong with +wine or viands?"—"Nor with the guests," replied Kakusuké. "They are +cowards, who have caught some inkling as to the not over-nice death of +the Go Inkyō."—"The latter day <i>bushi</i> are not what the <i>bushi</i> were +of old; at least this brand of them. Ah! These wretched little +bureaucrats; <i>bushi</i> of the pen. Two men to eat a supper prepared for +twelve sturdy trenchers. Well: two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a +hand Kakusuké."—"Respectfully heard and obeyed," replied the +<i>chūgen</i>.</p> + +<p>The white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. Secured +by Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> Kōyasan, the +sacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kakusuké dragged a large +tub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was unswathed and placed in it. +Kakusuké eyed his late master with critical and unfavourable eye. +"Naruhodo! The Go Inkyō is a strange object. No eyes: nose, ears, +lips gone; his expression is not a pleasant one.... Nay! The Wakadono is +awkward. Throw the water from head to feet.... Take care! Don't throw it +over Kakusuké. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono is wasteful. More +is needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kakusuké draws it from the well." He +opened the side door and went outside. Kibei drew a little apart from +the body. It stank. A noise at the sliding window (<i>hikimado</i>) in the +roof made him look up. Oya! Oya! The face of O'Iwa filled the +aperture—round, white, flat; with puffed eyelids and a sightless glare. +With a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did so +slender attenuated hands groped downward. "Kakusuké! Kakusuké!"—"What +is it, Wakadono?"—"O'Iwa: she looks down through the <i>hikimado</i>! She +seeks the Inkyō!" Kakusuké gave a look upward—"Bah! It's the cat. Is +the Wakadono, too, getting nerves? They are a poor investment."—"The +cat!" Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his +sword.</p> + +<p>He turned round—to give a shout of surprise—"Kakusuké! Kakusuké! The +body of the Go Inkyō is no longer here." As the astonished +<i>chūgen</i> came running to look into the empty tub, both men nearly +fell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyō was whirling around +the neighbouring room in execution of a mad dance. Followed by Kakusuké, +his worthy son and heir sprang in pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba +and the pursuers into the darkness of the garden, into the rain and +storm. Kibei heard the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly +after them. "To lose his parent's body—this was against all rules of +Bushidō." Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all +the moral and physical atrocities except—failure in filial conduct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> to +parent and lord; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of Bushidō. +Kakusuké soon lost his master in the darkness. Disconcerted and anxious +he returned to secure a lantern. The wind promptly blew it out; then +another, and a third. He stood on the <i>rōka</i> in the darkness to wait +the return of the Wakadono. For the first time Kakusuké had noted +failing purpose in his young master. He was more solicitous over this +than over the strange disappearance of the Inkyō's body. Was the +Wakadono losing his nerve; as had the O'Dono?</p> + +<p>In time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuké's inquiring glance—"Kibei pursued +to Myōgyōji; then up the hill. Here sight was lost of the +Inkyō. The darkness prevented further search. A lantern is next to +worthless in this gale. Kakusuké, go to the houses of Natsumé and +Imaizumi close by. They are young and will aid Kibei in the search." +Kakusuké did not demur. Pulling his cape over his head, off he posted. +He asked but to come across the Inkyō's body, in O'Iwa's company or +not made no difference to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission was +fruitless. The two men had expressed the intention of spending the night +at the Kwaiba wake. Neither had as yet returned. Grumbled Kibei—"The +filthy fellows! With this excuse to their wives they seek new pastures +at Nakachō (Shinjuku), to spend the night in dissipation. 'Tis +Natsumé who is the lecher. Gladly would he wean Imaizumi from his barely +wed wife."—"Or wean the wife from Imaizumi Sama! Wakadono, nothing can +be done now. The dawn should be awaited." With these sage comments the +<i>chūgen</i> squatted at respectful distance from his master. From time +to time one or other arose, to look sceptically into the empty tub in +which once had reposed the Inkyō's body. Finally both nodded off into +sleep. At dawn—don, don, don, don, came a loud knocking on the outer +gate. Kakusuké went out, to return with astonished face and portentous +news. The dead bodies of Natsumé Kyuzō and Imaizumi Jinzaémon had +been found at the foot of the <i>baké-ichō</i>, a huge tree close by the +guardhouse. Finger tip to finger tip three men could not girdle this +tree. With the bodies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> of the men lay that of a woman. Two corpses, man +and woman, were stark naked. Kibei's presence, as the successor to +Kwaiba's office, was required.</p> + +<p>He prepared at once to start for the Okidō. The tale was in time +learned from the prolix Kamimura Goémon, who had witnessed part at least +of the scene. As he was knocking at his door on the Shinjuku road, +having just returned late from the watch at Kwaiba's house, rapid steps +were heard in the street. A man, recognized as Kyuzō, passed, running +at top speed. He dragged along by the hand a woman, the wife of +Imaizumi. The two were nearly naked. Close in the rear pursued Imaizumi +Jinzaémon, his drawn sword in his hand. They sped up the wide road. +Goémon stepped out, to follow at a distance this flight and pursuit. At +the <i>ichō</i> tree the fugitives were overtaken. The woman was the first +to be cut down. Kyuzō turned to grapple with the assailant. Unarmed +his fate soon overtook him. He fell severed from shoulder to pap. Having +finished his victims Imaizumi seated himself at the foot of the tree, +and cut open his belly. "Long had such outcome been expected," intoned +the long-nosed man. The case needed no explanation. Others echoed the +opinion of Goémon, who was merely many fathoms deeper in the scandal of +the neighbourhood than most of them. It was agreed to hush the matter +up. Reporting his own experience, to the astonishment of his hearers, +Kibei, accompanied by Kakusuké, started down Teramachi toward +Samégabashi. As they passed the Gwanshōji attention was drawn by a +pack of dogs, fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white +object lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up a +grave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. There +lay the body of Itō Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands of O'Iwa to +be torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. Thus was it that the +funerals of Itō Kwaiba, Natsumé Kyuzō, and Imaizumi Jinzaémon took +place in one cortége on the same day and at the same time. The +postponement in the first instance—was it providential?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>TAMIYA YOÉMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDŌ ROKURŌBEI AND MYŌZEN THE +PRIEST</h3> + + +<p>Tamiya Yoémon was stumbling home in all haste from the funeral of Itō +Kwaiba. He was full of news for the wife, O'Kamé. The neighbours could +talk of nothing but the strange happenings in the ward, and details lost +nothing in the telling; perhaps gained somewhat by the process. Most +edifying was the reported conduct of the wife of the late Natsumé +Kyuzō, the observed of all observers at the funeral, the object of +that solicitous congratulation which embodies the secret sigh of relief +of friends, neighbours, and relatives at the removal of a prospective +burden. Natsumé had left behind him a wife, an old mother, an infant +child, and huge liabilities. To administer this legacy—and perhaps to +get rid of her mother-in-law—the wife had promptly and tearfully +sacrificed her status, and sold herself for a term of years to the +master of the Sagamiya, a pleasure house at Shinagawa post town. The sum +paid—one hundred <i>ryō</i>—relieved the immediate future. The +neighbours derided the ignorance of the Sagamiya in accepting the +uncertain bail of Akiyama Chōzaémon. If the lady behaved badly, small +satisfaction was to be obtained of her security. "Ignorance is bliss." +Let the Sagamiya bask in both and the beauty of the prize. Meanwhile +their concern and admiration were for the lady destined to this post +town of the crowded Tōkaidō, the stopping place of high and low, +noble and riff-raff, entering Edo town. Of the inmates of the pleasure +quarters, the harlots of Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Itabashi, were held in +lowest esteem.</p> + +<p>Arrived at his door Yoémon stopped short in surprise and alarm. To his +loud call of "Wife! Wife!" answer there was none. Looking within he +could barely distinguish objects through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> the thick smoke which filled +the house. The last thing the Nipponese would do under such conditions, +would be to throw open doors and panels. This would convert the place at +once to a blazing conflagration. Where was the fire getting its start? +Choking and spluttering Yoémon groped his way through the rooms into the +rear. Wherever the fire was, it was not in the living rooms. The smoke +was accentuated on reaching the kitchen. Here was a smell of burning +rice, of Yoémon's dinner gradually carbonizing under the influence of an +element other than the juices of his round stomach. Looking into the +room, through the thickened haze he saw the flame of the fire +brightening. O'Kamé the wife could be made out, on her knees before the +portable furnace. She was blowing a mass of slivers and brushwood into +flame by the aid of a bamboo pipe. It was this stuff, green and partly +wet, which gave out the choking acrid smoke. Yoémon was angered beyond +measure at the sight of his ruined meal and expectations. "Kamé! Kamé! +What are you doing? Have you gone mad? Ma! Ma! The dinner is being +ruined. You are ill. Kamé's head whirls with head-ache. Yoémon will act +as cook. Go to bed—at once." At his peremptory speech the wife looked +up into the face of the husband standing over her. She scowled at him in +a way to cause fear. "Not a <i>shō</i> of rice; not a <i>mon</i>. Yoémon would +give freely to a beggar, rather than confer a 'cash' on Iwa. Yoémon +sells me as a street harlot." He started back in fright before the +snarling distorted visage. The wife sprang to her feet. Pash! On his +devoted head descended the hot iron pan with its content of stew. "Ah! +Kamé is mad—clean daft." With a wild laugh she seized the pot full of +boiling rice and began to pour it into the drain. When he tried to stop +her, he received the mess full in his bosom—"Mad? Not at all. This Kamé +never felt in better spirits. When grass grows in Samonchō we enter +Nirvana. Ha! Ha! Ha! To hasten the happy time!" With a kick she knocked +over the furnace. In an instant the <i>tatami</i> was in a blaze. Yelling +like mad, shouting for help, Yoémon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> leaped from the house. O'Kamé +seized the burning brands in her bare hands, hurling them into this room +and into that. Outstripping the old Yoémon, the younger men of the +neighbours rushed in. The mad woman was soon overcome and carried from +the burning building. Nothing else was saved. They took her to the house +of Akiyama Chōzaémon. Here she was tied hand and foot, and put in a +closet. The old man Yoémon stood by in despair, watching the progress of +events. Before the conflagration was extinguished his own and four other +houses were destroyed. He was a ruined man; responsible for all.</p> + +<p>Myōzen the priest had just set foot on the slope leading up from +Samégabashi to Yotsuya. A somewhat long retreat at Myōhonji, +attendance at the ceremonies held on the Saint's (Nichiren) birthday, +had kept him in ignorance of recent events in Yotsuya. In the dawn of +the beautiful day of earliest 3rd month (our April 13th) he had set out +from Kamakura. Sturdy as were the priest's limbs, yet he was a little +tired. He rested at the foot of the hill. Then his eyes grew big with +astonishment. In the waning afternoon a funeral came wending its way +downwards. But such a funeral! Two spearmen led the way. Then came a +long train of attendants. Three catafalques followed, the first a most +imposing bier. Then came the relatives. Kibei on horseback headed these. +The women rode in <i>kago</i>. That it was a ward funeral Myōzen had no +doubt, both from its source and make up. He noted a parishioner in the +cortége. "Kamimura Uji!" The long-limbed, long-faced, long-tongued man +left the ranks and obsequiously greeted his spiritual father. At +Myōzen's question he expressed gratified surprise, and unlimbered his +lingual member at once—"Whose honoured funeral this? Nay! It is a +triple funeral; that of Natsumé Kyuzō, Imaizumi Jinzaémon, the +Go Inkyō, our ward-head. It is owing to this latter that there is +such an outpouring of the ward, with attendance of barrier guards and +firemen. Although the ending of Natsumé and Jinzaémon was not edifying, +that of our honoured once head gratified<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> still more the public +curiosity. Gnawed and eaten by the rats he died most horribly." He told +of the eventful night. "Hence delay in the burial. The deaths of Natsumé +and Imaizumi were almost coincident. The body of the adulterous woman, +rejected by both families, was cast out on the moor." He noted with +satisfaction the great impression his tale made on the priest, as also +the clerical garb and rosary held in hand. "Pray join the band. A little +re-adjustment...." He bent down. With the baton he held in hand as +leader of his section he carefully dusted the robes. Adjusting the folds +he pronounced the results as most presentable. "The honoured Oshō is +ready to bury or be buried." Myōzen took this remark in very ill +form. He prepared to answer tartly, but curiosity overcame his weariness +and ill temper. The procession was moving fast. He fell at once into +line, with hardly an acknowledgment of Kamimura's courtesy, as this +latter hastened forward to his place.</p> + +<p>His neighbour in the procession explained. The nature of the deaths of +the three men had aroused the feeling in the ward. Their connection with +a conspiracy against O'Iwa San was now generally known. Without doubt it +was owing to her vengeance that they had died as they did. Let them lie +outside the quarter. The protest to Kibei was respectful but emphatic. A +newcomer, he had made no great resistance. It was determined to bury +them at the Denzu-In, close by the mound of the nameless dead of Edo's +great fire of more than half a century before. Hence the direction of +the cortége. As the cemetery of the great temple was approached the +curiosity of Myōzen, morbidly growing the while, became overpowering. +The priest slipped from rank to rank. At the grave he stood in the very +front. As long-time friend he besought a last glance at the dead. Those +given to Natsumé and Imaizumi called forth a careless prayer for each. +The men hesitated before raising the cover concealing the body of +Kwaiba. At Myōzen's peremptory gesture they complied. He bent over +and looked in. Frozen with horror, he was fascinated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> by those great +holes for eyes, large as teacups, which seemed to fix him. Dead of +leprosy, gnawed and torn by beasts, the face presented a sight +unforgettable. The holes torn in the flesh twisted the features into a +lifelike, though ghastly, sardonic grin, full of the pains of the hell +in which Kwaiba had suffered and now suffered. A stench arose from the +box which made the hardened bearers hold their noses and draw away. Yet +the priest bent down all the closer. In his corruption the lips of the +old man seemed to move. Did Kwaiba speak? Closer and closer: Myōzen +seemed never satisfied with this inspection. The poise and brain gave +way. Priest and corpse met in the horrible salutation. With exclamation +the attendants sprang forward. Myōzen in a dead faint was carried +apart and laid on the ground. Some priests of the hall busied themselves +over him. Somewhat revived he was taken off to the residence quarters of +the temple, and soon was able to return to his home. "Curious fool." +Kibei was greatly angered. He was easily irritated in these days. The +delay in the rites almost maddened him. Would old Kwaiba—his father Itō +Inkyō—never be got out of men's sight? Out of Kibei's sight?</p> + +<p>That night Myōzen sat alone in his quarters. Somewhat shaken, he was +ashamed and regretful at thought of his unseemly curiosity of the +afternoon. The priests of Denzuin had regarded him with covert amusement +and repulsion. He had noted one passing the sleeve of his robe over his +lips. Myōzen explained the incident by more than usual weariness. +They condoled with him, and made horrified gestures of ill-disguised +glee when they thought his attention was elsewhere. In his present +privacy the scene at the grave came back to mind again and again. "Ah! +Ah! If this Myōzen had not looked. The Inkyō's face was terrible. +Myōzen cannot put it from mind." He glanced at the pages of the sutra +lying before him. He turned them over. He knew they spoke of the +horribleness of death; but what was the cold script to the actuality? It +was no use, the attempt to read. Kwaiba's face interposed. "Oh! That +salute! The very idea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> of that terrible salute, the contact with +corruption!" He was as if plunged in an icy bath. He started nervously. +It was but rain dashing against the <i>amado</i>, rattling and twisting in +the gale. He could not sleep. That night he would watch. The fire was +hot in the <i>hibachi</i> (brazier). He went to the closet to get some tea. +On opening it he sprang back with a shout of alarm, to lean trembling +and quivering in every limb huddled against the wall. "Namu Myōhō +Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō!" One character of the +wondrous formula secured pardon and safety to the believer in that +paradise of Amida which Myōzen was in no great haste to visit. +Shivering as with a chill intently he watched the animal as it glided +along the edge of the room, to disappear into the shadows. He shrugged +his shoulders wearily. A rat had frightened him almost out of his wits! +His heart beat tumultuously, almost to suffocation; then it seemed to +cease altogether; to resume its wild career.</p> + +<p>Hardly was he again seated, his hand on the kettle—don—don, don—don, +don, don, don. Some one was violently knocking on the door. Myōzen +sprang up. Approaching the <i>amado</i> with silent step he eyed the bolts: +"All secure." Snatching up a stake close by he jammed it in between +floor and crosspiece. Leaning heavily on the panel he listened. +"Myōzen Sama! Oshō Sama! Condescend to open; deign to give +entrance! The storm nearly throws one to the ground. News! News for the +Oshō! A request to make!" Myōzen held his ground against this +outer temptation. "Who are you, out at this hour of the night and in +such weather? To-night Myōzen does not open. Go away; return in +daylight."—"But the honoured Oshō Sama is needed. His presence is +requested. Deign to open; at least to hear the message. The priest aids +the afflicted." There was something in the voice he recognized, despite +its terror. Regaining some courage he parleyed. The priest was for the +consolation of the unfortunate. O'Iwa had been, was unfortunate. He +could not open. "Who are you? Unless the name be given this Myōzen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +holds no further talk. To-night he is unwell, positively ill. Come at +dawn and Myōzen will receive you."—"Who? Does not the voice answer +for the person? This is Tomobei, from the house of Kondō +Rokurōbei. Deign to open. The master needs and calls for the aid of +the Oshō Sama."</p> + +<p>Voice and speech, the importance of Kondō in the life of Myōzen, +broke down his hesitation. Slowly he removed the bars. Tomobei entered, +dripping with wet. He cast down his straw coat at the entrance. The +man's eyes and manner were wild. He kept casting frightened looks into +the wild welter of storm outside. When the priest would withdraw into +the room he held him by the skirt. "What has happened?" commanded +Myōzen briefly. Replied Tomobei—"A terrible thing! To-day the master +was ready to attend the funeral of Itō Inkyō. The wife was engaged +in putting the house <i>kimono</i> in the closet. O'Tama was playing on the +upper <i>rōka</i>. She is but seven years old. Leaning far over to see her +father leave, she lost her balance. Down she fell, to be impaled on the +knife-like points of the <i>shinobi-gaeshi</i>. The sharp-pointed bamboo, +protection against thieves, have robbed the Danna of his greatest +treasure (<i>tama</i>). Deep into throat and chest ran the cruel spikes, to +appear through the back. The sight inspired fear, so horrible was it. He +could but call out—'Tomobei! Tomobei!' All effort to detach the child, +to saw off the points, did but make matters worse. It was necessary to +fetch a ladder. When taken down she was dead. Alas! Alas! The Okusama is +nearly crazed. The Danna Sama in his cruel distress does but rage +through the house. 'Myōzen Oshō, he loved the child. Let +Myōzen Oshō be summoned to say a prayer of direction, while yet +the child spirit hovers hereabouts.' Such is the cry of the Okusama. +Hence the presence of this Tomobei. Otherwise he would rather be +scourged at the white sand than face the darkness in which O'Iwa San +wanders abroad." Man and priest were weeping. The former in his fright +and over the confusion and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> distress fallen on the household; the priest +over the sudden and dreadful end of this child to whom the homeless one, +the man devoted to the solitary life, had taken an unbounded affection +as of a father. Great as was his terror, he forgot his own ills in the +greater misfortune of the life-long friend. He remained bowed in prayer. +"Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Oh! The +wondrous law, the <i>sutra</i> of the Lotus!" He rose—"Myōzen comes."</p> + +<p>As they struggled through the storm, Tomobei kept up a nonsensical, +running talk, full of the superstitious fear of the man of the lower +classes. "Iya! The affair has been terrible, but misfortune is in the +air.... What's that! Ah! Something passes by ... above. O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" +He seized the priest's arm and clung to him in terror. Myōzen's fears +had all returned. He would have run away, but was too tightly held. +"Where! Where!" He shrieked and whirled around toward Samégabashi. +Tomobei held on tenaciously to his skirts. An object was bearing down on +them in the dark. Close upon priest and man they jumped to one side. A +cold hand was laid on the neck of the cleric, who squawked with fear. A +howl answered the howls and mad cries and blows of the two men, who now +threw themselves flat on the ground to shut out sight of the apparition. +The beast sped down the hill. Discomfited, Myōzen disentangled +himself from the embraces of a broken water spout, which descending from +the roof under which he had taken shelter, was sending its cold stream +down his neck. Tomobei rose from the mud puddle in which he lay face +downward. They gazed at each other. "A dog! A wandering cur!" Myōzen +eyed his once immaculate garments with disgust. How present himself in +such a state! Tomobei read his thoughts and determined to keep a +companion so hardly won. "There are present but the master and the +Okusama, Tomobei, and Kiku; other company there is none.... Yes; the +Ojōsan."—"The corpse needs no company," said Myōzen testily. In +his disgrace and unkempt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> condition Myōzen was unduly irritated at +his child friend. The business was to be gone through. They were +opposite the cemetery of Sainenji, on its western side. Said Tomobei—"A +paling is loose. There is no need to descend the hill. This is no +cheerful spot at this hour. Deign to sprint it, Oshō Sama. In the +time one can count ten the entrance at the rear is reached. Deign a +spurt, honoured priest; deign to sprint." Myōzen felt he was in for +everything this night. With Tomobei he tucked up his robes to his hams, +as if entering a race. Crawling through the bamboo palings into the +haunt of the dead, at it they went—a mad spurt across to Kōndo's +house. Tomobei was the more active. He turned to watch the priest +tripping over hillocks in the grass, knocking into gravestones hidden by +the darkness. So near home, courage was returning. He burst into +laughter at sight of Myōzen madly hammering a battered old stone +lantern of the <i>yukimidōro</i> style. The broad-brimmed hat-like object +he belaboured as something naturally or unnaturally possessed of life, +all the while giving utterance to anything but priestly language. +Tomobei ventured back to his rescue. Myōzen was quite battered and +bleeding as the two rushed into Kondō's house.</p> + +<p>The master was expecting them; but he threw up his hands as they +appeared in the room. "Oshō Sama! Tomobei! What are you about! Why +rush into the room, clogs still on the feet? Deign to withdraw. The +<i>tatami</i> are stained and streaked with mud.... Water for the feet of the +Oshō Sama! Tomobei, are you mad? Out with you: bring water to clean +up this mess." In confusion the priest withdrew. His apologies were +profuse as he reappeared—"Alas! Terrible the loss, and in such dreadful +manner. Kondō Dono, Okusama, part at least of this grief Myōzen +would take on himself. Great is the sorrow at this end of one just +beginning life." The wife received the condolence of the priest with a +burst of weeping. Then she turned fiercely on the husband—"It is all +the fault of Rokurōbei. He was <i>nakōdo</i> for O'Iwa San in the +marriage with Iémon. Turning against her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> he took O'Hana into the +house. Did she not spend her time in idling, and teaching the child the +ways of her questionable life—'how to please men,' forsooth?... Ah! +Tama did have pretty ways. Though but of seven years, she danced, and +sang, and postured as would a girl double her age. Now thus cruelly she +has perished." Her mind, reverted to the child, again took a turn. "The +plot against O'Iwa—with Itō Kwaiba, Iémon, Chōzaémon—here is +found the source of this calamity. O'Iwa in dying has cursed all +involved. Now 'tis the turn of Kondō and his unfortunate wife." She +ended in another outburst of tears, her head on the mats at the feet of +the priest. Rokurōbei was tearing up and down the room, gesticulating +and almost shouting—"Yes! 'Tis she! 'Tis she! The hateful O'Iwa strikes +the father through the child. Ah! It was a cowardly act to visit such a +frightful ending on one budding into life. O'Iwa seeks revenge. O'Iwa is +abroad; and yet this Kondō cannot meet with her." Myōzen was +almost deafened with his cries and noisy earnestness. Truly to bring +peace into this household, with division reigning between husband and +wife smitten with fear of the supernatural, would be no easy matter. His +priestly experience taught him the safest way to bring about his object.</p> + +<p>"'Tis true; 'tis true. But loud cries avail nothing. The aid of the +Buddha for the deceased is to be sought." Apologetically he showed +something of his condition to the wife. At once she rose. Outergarments +were removed. Muddied undergarments were renewed. Myōzen went into +the mortuary chamber. The little "Jewel" was laid out as in sleep. The +wounded chest, the torn throat, were concealed by garments and a +scarf-like bandage adjusted by a mother's sad and tender care. The +incense sticks lay in clay saucers near the couch. "Oh, the wonderful +Law! The <i>sutra</i> of the Lotus! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu +Myōhō Renge Kyō!" He looked long at the little silent figure. +His eyes were full of tears as he turned and took the hands of the +weeping mother who had followed him into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> room. Then for long he +spoke in consoling tones. She was somewhat quieted when they returned.</p> + +<p>Kondō Rokuōbei was still moving restlessly about the room. Now he +was here, now there; from the death room he returned to the company; +from them he passed to the kitchen. The wife thought of the friend and +priest. "Tomobei, go to the store-room and bring wine." Myōzen was a +curious mixture. His weak spot was touched—"Deign it, honoured lady, +for all. Let the occasion be made seemly, but more cheerful. Cause not +sorrow to the dead by an unmeasured grief. This does but pain the Spirit +in its forced communion with the living. Death perchance is not the +misfortune of subsequent existence in this world, but a passage to the +paradise of Amida." He spoke unctuously; as one full informed and +longing for its trial. His homily had no effect in moving Tomobei, who +was flatly unwilling to perform the service ordered. "The wine...," +broke in Kondō harshly.—"The go-down is at the end of the lot. The +hour is very late, and the storm ... and other things ... it rages +fiercely. This Tomobei...."—"Shut up!" roared his master, with easily +roused anger. The maid O'Kiku timidly interposed—"There is a supply in +the kitchen. This Kiku early brought it there, anticipating the need. +Indeed the storm is terrible. One gets wet to the bone in traversing the +yard." The wife caught the last words—"Aye! Wet and chilled the lost +child spirit wanders, ringing its bell and vainly seeking aid and +shelter; no aid at hand but that of the heartless hag in the River of +Souls."<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> At the thought of the little O'Tama in cold and storm she +broke down. Crying bitterly, she crept from the room and laid down +beside the bier.</p> + +<p>The wine was served. Myōzen drank. Then he drank again. His potations +gave him confidence—for more drink—and recalled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> him to his functions. +"Let us all pray. Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge +Kyō! Wonderful the Law! Wonderful the <i>sutra</i> of the Lotus, +explanatory of the Law by which mankind are saved, to enter the paradise +of Amida. Be sure the wanderings of O'Tama will be short. Scanty is the +power of the Shozuka no Baba. Soon shall the child sit upon a lotus. +Early shall be her entrance into Nirvana. Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! +Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō!... Honoured master, let all join in. +Command the servants to join in the recital of the Daimoku." Kondō +waved a hand at Tomobei and O'Kiku, in assent and command. Vigorous were +the tones of all in the responses. Myōzen drank again. He pressed the +wine on the others; drinking in turn as they agreed. The night was +passing. It was the eighth hour (1-3 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>). Said he—"Don't get +drowsy. By every means avoid it. Now! A vigorous prayer." He raised his +hand—"Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō!" +But the responses were flagging. Said Myōzen—"This will never do; at +this hour of the night." He drank again—to find that the supply had +come to an end. Kondō was nodding. Tomobei, if awake, was deaf to +words. Myōzen rose himself to fetch a new supply.</p> + +<p>Kondō pricked up his ears. The temple bells were booming the hour +watch in solemn unison. The rain splashed and pattered on the <i>amado</i>. A +rustling, swishing sound was heard, close by, in the next room. Now it +was as if a hand was passing along the screen. He sprang up, drawn sword +in hand. His eyes were riveted on the <i>shōji</i>, anticipating an +appearance. Then he laid a violent hand on the interposing obstacle and +threw it back. A tall figure robed in black, with broad flat face and +bulging brow, puffed eyelids in which were sunken little dots in place +of eyes, hair in wild disorder framing the dead white face, stood before +him. "O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" The lamp was knocked over, but not before he dealt +the one fierce upward blow. Madly he sprang on the apparition and +slashed away in the dark. "Kiya!" The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> cry rang loud. Kondō danced +with joy, calling loudly for lights. "O'Iwa! O'Iwa! Kondō has slain +the O'Baké, the enemy of his child! Rejoice with Kondō! The vendetta +is accomplished!" In the darkness and confusion a groan was heard; then +another, still fainter; then there was silence. Tomobei appeared with a +light. He leaned over the long black robed body; to raise an alarmed +face to his joyful master. "At what does the Danna Sama rejoice? What +has he done? 'Tis Myōzen Sama, the Oshō Sama, who lies cut down. +Dreadful has been the mistake of the Danna Sama. This is like to cost +the House dear."—"Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō! Namu Myōhō Renge +Kyō!" The sword had slipped from Kondō's hand, and in genuine +grief he knelt beside the body of the unfortunate priest, seeking for +some sign of life. Alas! Myōzen had almost been cut in two by the +upward sweep of the sword. From liver to pap was one gaping wound. He +lay in the pool of almost all the blood in his body. Gathered around the +corpse the four people eyed each other with terror.</p> + +<p>Don—don—don, don, don, don. They sprang up in a huddled mass. The +sound was at their very shoulders. "Some one knocks at the back door," +said Tomobei. "Go open it," commanded Kondō. Tomobei flatly refused, +and without respect, nay with insolence. Kondō picked up and weighed +in his hand the bloody sword. Why mingle vile blood with good? Instead +of cutting the man down he went himself and opened the half door at the +top. A woman, dripping with water, her hair in wild disorder, her face +white as chalk, stood outside in the storm. Kondō gave an exclamation +of surprise—"O'Kamé of Tamiya! How comes O'Kamé here? It was said that +Yoémon San had shut her up, as one gone mad." The woman smirked with +satisfied air—"Kondō Rokurōbei is seer as well as murderer. This +Kamé was bound and imprisoned; nay, almost divorced. Myōzen, just +dead at Kondō's hands, to-morrow was to pronounce the divorce. For so +much, thanks to Kondō Dono. But O'Tama has died. Kamé would condole +with Kondō San; burn a stick of incense for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> O'Tama. Condescend to +grant entrance." Said Rokurōbei abruptly—"How knows O'Kamé of the +death of Myōzen; who told her of the fate of O'Tama?" She laughed +wildly—"Who? O'Iwa; O'Iwa is the friend of Kamé. It was she who loosed +the bonds. 'O'Tama of Kondō's house is dead. O'Kamé should condole +with the wife, the friend of this Iwa. Get you hence, for Kondō has +murdered the priest.' ... So here we are; O'Iwa accompanies Kamé. Here +she is." She waved a hand into the storm and darkness. "Deign to give +passage to the chamber where lies O'Tama. O'Iwa and Kamé would burn +incense to the darling's memory, to the little Jewel." With a roar +Kondō seized the breast of her robe—"Vile old trot, off with you!" +He gave her a violent push which sent her on her buttocks. The woman +remained seated in the mud, laughing noisily. She held out two skinny +arms to him. With a slam he shut the door.</p> + +<p>He knelt by the priest's body, truly grieved—"Ah! O'Iwa is abroad. How +has this mad woman knowledge of this deed? What was the offence of +Myōzen thus to deserve the hatred of Tamiya O'Iwa?" O'Kamé had seen +the priest enter, had stood in the wet listening to the wild talk of +Kondō, had seen the bloody sword in his hand. Her mad brain had put +riot and death together. The talk as to O'Tama she had overheard from +her closet. Kondō thought of neither explanation. He was at odds with +Akiyama, and had sent no message to his house. As he +speculated and thought how best to compound matters with the temple, now +grieved at the rash blow fallen on a friend, now aghast at the certain +and heavy indemnification which would be exacted by the enraged clerics, +an uproar arose outside. There were wild cries and a scream of pain. +Then came a loud triumphant shout—"Heads out! Heads out! O'Iwa is +slain! This Akiyama has killed the O'Baké. The incubus of the ward is +lifted. Help!" Kondō sprang up and out of the house. Were the words +true? Had another succeeded where he had failed? His lantern, the +lanterns of many others, threw light on the place where Akiyama<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +Chōzaémon bravely stood ward over the prostrate body of the +apparition. Returning late from Shitamachi he had entered the ward with +shrinking terror. As he skulked along, with eyes on every dark corner, +the figure of a woman was seen close by the eaves of the house of +Kondō Rokurōbei. As he approached she came forward laughing wildly +the while. The light of his lantern fell on the ghastly white face, the +disordered hair. In a spasm of fright he dropped the lantern and +delivered his blow in drawing the sword. The cut was almost identical +with the one delivered to Myōzen the priest. The men there gathered +looked into each other's faces, then at the body of O'Kamé lying in +their midst. The crowd parted, and Tamiya Yoémon appeared. Kondō +Rokurōbei and Akiyama Chōzaémon stood by with bloody swords, their +own skins without a scratch. They were self-accused.</p> + +<p>The upshot of the affair was ruin for all. Matters in Yotsuya were +coming to the official ears. Yoémon was forced to make charges against +Akiyama; the more willingly as therein lay a chance to recoup his own +losses through the wife he intended to divorce on the morrow. Kondō +easily cleared his skirts of this offence, but was involved with the +irate temple priests. All were entangled in the heavy costs of the law +of those days. Of these three men something is to be said later.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>KIBEI DONO</h3> + + +<p>Kibei was in great straits, financial and domestic. The death of Kwaiba +had brought him anything but freedom. In Nippon the headship of a House +is much more than the simple heirship of our western law. Relieved of +his obligation in office the old man's hands were wide open to shower +benefice or caprice on the most worthless. Endorsement for cash and +goods to Natsumé, Imaizumi, and Kamimura; donations to the temples of +Teramachi and the Yotsuyazaka; favours in every direction except that of +Akiyama Chōzaémon, in the pursuit of whom Kwaiba found much +amusement; all these items added to the very free living in his +household had pledged deeply the ample revenue of two hundred and thirty +<i>tawara</i>, and would have upheld the <i>samurai</i> trait of not knowing the +value of money—if Kwaiba had been of that kind. Between Kwaiba and +Kibei, the wild debauchery of the last year had brought the House to the +verge of ruin. Kibei was aghast. Long since he had become deeply +involved with the Kashiku Tamagiku of the Yamadaya in Edomachi +Itchōme of the Yoshiwara. The ugly fellow was madly in love with the +beauty. On her he had poured out the treasures of the Itō House +during the six months which preceded the illness of Kwaiba. During his +prolonged absence from her the letters of the Kashiku had inundated the +writing table of Kibei. Had he deserted her? Was all affection gone? +Where now were the promises of ransom, the blood-sealed vow to become +husband and wife, to assume the relation which endures for two worlds? +Kibei sullenly read these lines; cursing Kwaiba and cursing himself. +Ransom! With strict living for the next five years <i>he</i> might set +matters straight and free the Tayu; and any day <i>she</i> might be bought by +some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> rich country <i>samurai</i> or <i>gōshi</i> (gentleman farmer), or be +carried off to ornament the <i>bessō</i> of some <i>hatamoto</i>. Kibei wiped +the bitter saliva from his lips.<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a></p> + +<p>The domestic difficulties were accompaniment to these more important +matters. In the large mansion Kibei was now alone. The tenth day had +witnessed the flight of the last of the servants. The women had departed +with the funeral, through fear, sacrificing wages and even such clothing +as could not surreptitiously be removed. What woman—or man—could +remain in a house which was the nightly scene of such fearful sounds of +combat. Shrieks, wails, groans, came from the quarters once occupied by +the dead Kwaiba. As to this there was no difference of opinion. The more +venturesome had been favoured with actual sight of the scenes enacted. +They had seen the old man as he was in death, pursued from room to room +by two frightful hags, as gaunt, blear, sightless as himself. Dreadful +were the cries of the dead man as the harpies fastened upon him, +descending from above like two huge bats. These scenes took place +usually at the eighth hour (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>), not to cease until dawn. +As for the men servants, they took their leave in the days following, +asking formal dismissal (<i>itoma</i>) with recommendation to another House. +They scented the approaching ruin of their present employer.</p> + +<p>One day Kakusuké presented himself. Kibei looked up. He understood at +once that the man had come in his turn to take leave. Kakusuké alone had +remained with him. He was <i>chūgen</i>, stable boy, cook, maid; and did +the work of all four without complaint. The change in his master was too +marked. Kibei, in his turn, had become irritable, timorous as a girl, +subject to outbreaks of almost insane rage. To Kakusuké the young man +seemed to have lost all nerve. Kakusuké wanted to serve a man. As long +as the Wakadono gave promise of redemption, of rising above his +difficulties and emerging into a splendid career in which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> Kakusuké +could take pride, the <i>chūgen</i> was ready to take the bitter with the +sweet. To be maid servant and keeper of a man half mad had no attraction +for this blunt-nerved fellow. He spoke plainly—"The Wakadono should +deign to throw up the whole connection. Under the present conditions the +ruin of the House is unavoidable. Condescend to return to the original +House in Honjō Yokogawa. This course will be best. At least the +Wakadono secures his own salvation. This is the advice of Kakusuké, +grown old in experience of service in a <i>samurai</i> household. In naught +else is there hope. As to himself, would the Wakadono condescend to +grant dismissal." Long had been the intimacy between Itō Kwaiba and +Inagaki Shōgen. Kakusuké, the messenger between the two Houses, had +watched this Fukutarō (Kibei) grow to manhood, had noted his prowess. +It was with delight he had carried the documents which were to bring +this new and vigorous blood into the home of his decadent master. This +was the result. "A pest on these witches—and their craft!"</p> + +<p>Kibei heard him out with growing anger. As the man's words gathered +vigour and plain spokenness his hand wandered to his sword. He had a +mind to cut him down then and there for his freedom of speech. More than +half induced to recognize the truth of the indictment his better feeling +halted him. With harsh and sardonic tone he gave unbelieving thanks for +the implied reproof of the <i>chūgen</i>. The service of Kakusuké had been +faithful beyond measure. It should have its proper reward. If others had +chosen to depart as do those who run away, they had shown ignorance of +this Kibei. From a drawer of the desk he took out a letter already +prepared, a roll containing wages. He pushed the <i>zen</i> toward Kakusuké. +This readiness, as if foreseen, hit the man hard. Respectfully he +pressed the letter to his forehead, bowing with extended hands on the +<i>tatami</i>; the money he did not touch. Finally he raised a timid +questioning glance to his one-time master. Said Kibei +jeeringly—"Kakusuké has given his advice. Is it part of his long +experience that a servant should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> question the wages placed under his +nose? Off with you! This Kibei would be alone; most willingly so." At +the peremptory threatening gesture Kakusuké no longer hesitated. He had +no inclination to be a victim of one of the mad outbreaks of the young +man. Taking the roll humbly he backed out of the room. His steps were +heard a few minutes later passing the entrance. Then the outer gate shut +to with a clang.</p> + +<p>For a long watch Kibei sat in meditation. He was as one who sleeps. Then +he rose with decision. "'Tis the last chance. Kakusuké is right. The +matter is to be brought to an end." Dressing for the street he left the +house. He opened the big gate; then went to the stable, and saddled and +bridled his horse. He led it outside, closed the gate, and mounting he +rode forth, to go to Honjō Yokogawa and the <i>yashiki</i> of his father, +Inagaki Shōgen. Coming unaccompanied he was received with surprise +and some discomfiture, as he was quick to note. He was very quick to +note things in these days. Prostrating himself before his mother—"Kibei +presents himself. Honoured mother, deign to pardon the intrusion. +Fukutarō would solicit her pity and influence." The lady looked at +him with amazement. "Fukutarō! What then of Kibei? Is some jest +deigned at the mother's expense? It is in very bad taste.... But the +face of Kibei implies no jest. Pray put the matter plainly. Why does her +son come in petition to the mother?" Began Kibei—"The matter is most +serious...." He went into the full details; from the time of his +entrance into the Itō House, through the course of dissipation and +illness of Kwaiba, down to the present ruined state of affairs. "All +this is due to the curse of O'Iwa San, to this plot in which Kibei +foolishly engaged." Of this he now fully felt the force. The events of +the past weeks had wrecked him in mind and body. One disaster after +another, in house and ward, had been visited on Kibei. The bitterness +and dislike of the people toward Kwaiba was visited on his +representative, who was held responsible. In his great mansion he lived +alone. No servant would enter it to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> attend to his wants. Was he to cook +and be valet for himself—and pose as the Kumi-gashira, the great chief +of the ward! The position was an impossible one. Deign to use a mother's +influence with Inagaki Dono. "Condescend to secure permission for the +return of this Kibei to his original House, for the cancellation of the +adoption."</p> + +<p>The wife of Shōgen sat frightened; at the tale, and at this radical +way of finding an exit from the situation. The mother's heart was full +of pity for the distracted son, whose haggard looks showed the strain of +the past weeks. Besides she was a woman, and as such fully believed in +and feared the curse of this dead O'Iwa, one who had died without +funeral rites or prayer. "Fortunately the honoured father now is on the +night watch at the castle. He is at home, drinking his wine. His humour +is excellent. Wait but a moment." Leaving Kibei she went to the room of +Shōgen's light indulgence. The severe and conscientious nobleman was +bending under the genial influence of the <i>saké</i>. "Kibei? He comes in +good season. The heir of Kwaiba Inkyō has not favoured his real +father of late. Ah! The boy was well placed. Kwaiba soon made way for +him; and none too willingly, one can believe." He chuckled. Then noting +his wife's troubled looks. "But there is something to tell."—"So +indeed; none too pleasant." She went into the story Kibei had told her. +"His fear of O'Iwa San is deadly. The House is ruined, with no profit in +the connection. Deign to permit the cancellation of the adoption, his +return to the House of his true parent." She stopped before the stern +astonished look of the husband. Said he harshly—"Let him come up. +Shōgen answers Kibei Dono in person.... Heigh! Up here with you! For +Itō Dono there is wine...." Kibei entered joyfully at his father's +call. Success was in his hands. Once more he was to marshal his father's +retainers and accompany him to the castle; once more be the habitué of +the fencing rooms. "Honoured father, fear enters: for long this Kibei +has not ventured into your presence."—"And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> need not for long again," +thundered the old man. "What stuff is this for the ears of Shōgen? +Kibei would sever his connection with the Itō House. Kibei is afraid +of a ghost! He fears a girl! A <i>samurai</i> wearing two swords shrinks from +an encounter with a woman! Has Shōgen no obligation toward his old +friend Kwaiba? In more serious matters and in life Shōgen would share +Kwaiba's lot. Back with you to the house in Yotsuya! If this matter +become known, both Kibei and Shōgen will be the laughing stocks of +Edo. At least keep such fears to yourself. Off with you! Shōgen had +wine for Itō Dono. For the fellow who would call +himself—Fukutarō, he has none." With a kick he sent rolling the +<i>zen</i> (table) with its burden of bottles and heating apparatus. In a +rage he left the room.</p> + +<p>Kibei's face was white as he raised it from the <i>tatami</i>. "Father has no +experience of ghosts; he speaks at random and in anger. Terrible is the +actuality." Said the mother, slowly and painfully—"He is the father; he +is to be obeyed." Kibei was sitting upright. He nodded grave assent. +Then suddenly he prostrated himself ceremoniously before the <i>shōji</i> +through which Shōgen had disappeared. He repeated the salutation +before his mother. Then he rose—"Itō Kibei takes leave. May good +health and fortune visit those of this House." At his exit the mother +rejoiced. Severe had been the father's words, but they had brought the +boy to reason. She wept and trembled at the reproof. Men had best +knowledge of such affairs. She would pray at Reiganji, and have memorial +service held for the peace of this O'Iwa in the next world. Then the +curse would not rest upon her son.</p> + +<p>On his appearance at the house entrance an <i>ashigaru</i> (foot soldier) led +up the horse. Kibei waved him away—"For the present keep the animal in +charge. With matters to attend to close at hand Kibei will use other +conveyance." The man took the animal away. Leaving the gate of the +<i>yashiki</i> Kibei walked the short distance to the Hōonji bridge. Here +was a <i>kago</i> (litter)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> stand. "To Yamadaya in Yoshiwara." As the <i>kago</i> +men went off at a trot—"Kibei has played and lost. How does the account +yonder stand? Seventy <i>ryō</i> owed at the Matsuminatoya. For the rest, +this Kibei can claim a night's attendance from the <i>kashiku</i>. If +affection would not grant it, the huge sums bestowed in the past have a +claim upon her. Then to end matters and die like a <i>samurai</i>. To-morrow +Kibei cuts belly." It was the debt which sent him direct to the +Yamadaya, and not first to the tea house. Sitting over the wine all +effort of the Kashiku to enliven him failed. Noting her discomfiture he +smiled gloomily. Then in explanation—"The thoughts of Kibei go astray. +The House is ruined. Ransom is impossible. This is the last meeting. +To-morrow Kibei cuts belly, and dies like a <i>samurai</i>." At first the +girl thought he was joking. Then noting the wild look of despair in his +eyes, she was frightened. Partly in disbelief; partly seeking to +postpone this desperate resolve, to turn his thoughts and gain time for +reflection; partly in that sentimental mood which at times affects this +class of women—"Is Kibei truly ruined? Lamentable the fate of Tamagiku. +Why not join him in death? But the idea is too new. Deign to postpone +the execution for a space. To-night shall be a night of pleasure with +the Kashiku Tamagiku. With the morrow's darkness she dies with Kibei. +Hand in hand they will wander the paths of Amida's paradise." She came +close to him in service of the wine; put her arms about him, and drew +him to her bosom; in every way cajoled and sought to comfort him, and +corrupt his purpose. Consent was easy. The night was passed in love and +wine. In the morning he left her.</p> + +<p>Kibei was making his final preparations; writing directions which would +benefit as far as possible the House in Honjō at the expense of that +in Yotsuya. In the Yoshiwara a very different scene was taking place. +With his departure the Kashiku sprang up. Hastily throwing a robe around +her person she sought the room of the <i>yarité</i>—the bawd of the house. +"The Kashiku! At<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> this hour—what has happened?"—"Something of +importance. This night Tama dies with Kibei Dono. The compact is closed, +hard and firm." The astonished bawd had been rubbing the sleep out of +her eyes. The last words brought her full awake—"Is the Kashiku drunk +with wine? Is she mad? Truly it would seem so. And the bail? What is to +become of the unfortunate? True it is Toémon of Honjō; and he has +trouble enough already. He will never leave his prison." Tamagiku made a +gesture of impatience—"This Tama has acted but to gain time. Can she +have affection for such an ugly fellow? Was she to be the victim of some +crazy outburst? Perhaps the day will bring better counsel; but the +night's conversation does not augur it. His plans are most complete. The +master must be seen. Deign to mediate; prevent the admittance of Kibei +Dono as guest." O'Kayo the bawd nodded intelligence and assent. At once +she sought the master of the house. "A dangerous guest," was his +comment. "Send to the Matsuminatoya. They must be warned. We can look +after ourselves." As an attendant of the tea house presented +himself—"And the master, Teisuké San!"—"Is absent; this Tōsuké +represents him. He has gone to Edo. Perhaps the house will deign to look +at a new inmate. A true Tayu! The daughter of Akiyama San of Yotsuya +sacrifices her caste. But sixteen years, she is a jewel. Less than a +hundred <i>ryō</i> will buy her. He is in great difficulties." Tōsuké +spoke with enthusiasm. The master of the Yamadaya answered promptly and +with emphasis—"Accepted: let her be on hand in the course of the day. +But Tōsuké, there is another matter. Kibei Dono no longer can be +accepted as a guest." He went into details. Tōsuké drew a long +breath. "A dangerous fellow! The Danna Sama never liked his presence. +But he owes the house much money; seventy <i>ryō</i>."—"That is your +affair," coldly replied the master of the Yamadaya. "This house answers +not for the accounts of the tea-house. Previous notice has been given. +Kibei Dono cannot be received as guest."—"That is not to be denied. He +is most undesirable. But the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> seventy <i>ryō</i>! And the week's +settlement to make with this house?" The Yamadaya had an idea—"It +rarely passes a hundred <i>ryō</i>.... Five years is accepted? Then take +thirty <i>ryō</i> and deliver this girl to the Yamadaya.... A true Tayu? +If so the debt of Kibei finds payment." Tōsuké agreed with joy.</p> + +<p>At night the <i>kago</i> man set Kibei down before the Matsuminatoya. +Teisuké, the <i>teishū</i> (host), regarded his arrival with mixed +feelings. His coming meant something. Giving up his two swords, and once +seated, Kibei's first act was to give thanks for past services. Calling +for his account he produced the seventy <i>ryō</i> in its settlement. +Prompt and profound were the humble thanks of the house for this +unexpected liquidation. Kibei had secured the money by the transfer of +obligations of Akiyama Chōzaémon to the usurer Suzuki Sanjurō. +Three hundred and fifty <i>ryō</i> immediately due against seventy +<i>ryō</i> in cash satisfied even this shark. Teisuké was impressed. How +deny such a guest? He would get rid of him, and profit both ways. +Yamadaya now would promptly pay the additional seventy <i>ryō</i> due on +the girl with whom they were so delighted. He had paid fifty <i>ryō</i> +for her. At Kibei's call his order was prompt. "Tōsuké, accompany +Kibei Dono to the Yamadaya." Kibei's calm and collected manner reassured +him. This man did not contemplate suicide.</p> + +<p>With the appearance of Tōsuké and Kibei at the Yamadaya there was a +flutter. The Bantō Matsuzo respectfully came forward. As Kibei came +up to the <i>rōka</i> and shook off his <i>geta</i> he interposed. "Deign to +wait, Kibei Dono. Matters have changed since morning. The Kashiku is +very ill. She can see no one. Condescend to come another time. For one +ill in body pleasure is no pastime. Pray consider; grant excuse for this +one occasion." Kibei was surprised. He had left her perfectly well in +the morning. Something in the <i>bantō's</i> face, in the massed position +of the men standing by, apprised him of the truth. He was enraged at the +lie and the insult. "Ill? That is very strange, when so well at morning. +But it is immaterial. Kibei goes to the room."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>—"Impossible," was the +firm reply of the <i>bantō</i>. "The Kashiku lies isolated from all. It is +the order of the physician. Even those in the rooms around her have been +ordered out. Pray forbear." But Kibei was obstinate—"Then a glass of +wine at her bedside; Kibei has matters to impart." The <i>bantō</i> stuck +to his post—"Wine! Amid the smell of drugs, the unseemly vessels of the +sick room! Such could not be permitted." Kibei stretched out an arm. The +<i>bantō</i> went flying a dozen feet. Kibei made a leap toward the +stairway. But the bawd O'Kayo interposed her vinegary presence. She was +brave; having the support of great numbers, of the whole household. +"What rudeness! How inconsiderate your way of acting! You behave in very +bad taste; with the roughness of an <i>ashigaru</i> (foot soldier). The +Yamadaya does not entertain such miserable scamps. The Tayu is ill. This +Kayo says it. Get you hence—to some coolie house. Return the day before +yesterday."<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> Kibei gave a yell—"Yai! You old bitch! The whole affair +is plain to Kibei. Out of money, his presence is no longer desired. Ah! +Kibei will have vengeance." Without arms, before the sullen +determination of these plebeians, he felt his helplessness. An unseemly +brawl, in which he would be worsted, must not be entered on. He must +leave. In a towering rage he strode back to the tea-house. Tōsuké +tried to keep pace with him.</p> + +<p>Said Teisuké in feigned astonishment—"Kibei Dono! What has happened?" +Kibei did but stutter and fume. The <i>teishū</i> turned to Tōsuké. +This latter made answer for his charge—"At the Yamadaya they were very +rude. Admittance was refused to Kibei Dono. The bawd O'Kayo told him to +come back day before yesterday!"—"Very rude indeed! Were such things +said? It is unpardonable. An explanation must be had with the house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +Danna Sama, for to-night deign to leave this matter to Teisuké. Ample +satisfaction shall be had for the outrage." Teisuké threw up his hands +as with uncontrollable anger. Kibei paid no attention, but demanded his +swords. Outwardly he had regained his self-control. The maid O'Moto +looked with diffidence at her mistress. The woman was accustomed to such +scenes. At her sign the girl brought the weapons, carefully wrapped up. +She placed them before Kibei. Unrolling the cover he put them on. With +scanty salutation he strode off. Teisuké watched him—"It would be wise +for the Yamadaya to close early to-night, to take in their lanterns; +nay, even to board up the front and take refuge in the store-house." +Tōsuké was in no hurry to face Matsuzo, the <i>bantō</i> of Yamadaya. +Continued the easy old fellow—"Well, 'tis their affair. They are as +good judges as Teisuké; and they could have been more civil in refusal. +At all events the house has seventy <i>ryō</i>, and Kibei Dono is sober. +He will cut belly before dawn; and perhaps nothing will happen +hereabouts." The old pimp went off to his inner room; to sit down before +his wine about the same time that Kibei did the same in a cook shop +opposite the great gate of Yoshiwara. Here he idled, barely touched his +drink, and passed the time in bantering the maid servant. He was in a +riotous humour. He would take her to wife—and sell her the next +morning. "As they do yonder." But O'Kiyo was not of that kind. "There is +a lover?"—"Of course!" In admitting it she blushed, somewhat offended +at hint of suspicion that such was lacking. Jibed Kibei—"He will do the +same. Better to be the wife of a <i>samurai</i>; even for an hour." In the +end he frightened the girl a good deal, so boisterous was he. She had +gone out to buy him a deep hat. With relief she saw him put it on and +set forth into the darkness and the rain.</p> + +<p>The eighth hour (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) was nearly ready to strike. The +pleasure quarter was silent. Passersby were few. The occasional +shuffling sound of <i>zōri</i> (sandals) could be heard behind the closed +<i>amado</i>. Kibei smiled cynically as he recognized this mark of revolting +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>passage from one room to another. In doubt he stood before the gate of +the Yamadaya. How break in and kill them all? If Kibei had his way the +Kashiku would keep her word. Just then a noise of voices was heard +within, the falling of the bar. Several belated guests came forth. They +were in the charge of O'Moto, the maid of the Matsuminatoya. +Affectionate were the leave-takings with the quondam wives. "Condescend +an early visit. This Haya lives but in the thought of +Mosuké."—"Bunzaémon San, be faithful to this Hana. In his absence she +is always ill. She receives no one." At this there was a roar of +laughter from the others of the company. Bunzaémon answered with +reproaches. Kibei followed behind. This fellow was somewhat lamed. He +lagged behind. Kibei pulled his sleeve. Bunzaémon, the cit, turned in +surprise and fear at sight of the <i>samurai</i> in his deep hat. Said +Kibei—"Don't be afraid. Bunzaémon San has forgotten pipe, or purse, or +something. He must go back to the Yamadaya." At the fellow's groping in +his garments and failure to understand he grew impatient. "A friend lies +at the Yamadaya. It is late, and they will not open at an unknown voice. +Entrance somehow must be had. Deign to lend your aid." At last the +fellow comprehended—"O'Moto San! A moment: my pipe...."—"Oya! The +Danna Sama has forgotten his pipe?" The girl went back the short +distance to the gate. She knocked and called. With sleepy tones the +voice of Matsuzo the <i>bantō</i> was heard. The bar fell. The girl turned +to look down the street toward her guests. She looked right into the +face of Kibei. Dropping her lantern, with a smothered scream she fled.</p> + +<p>Matsu, the <i>bantō</i>, looked with horror at the man before him. As +Kibei threw off his hat he turned to flee. Tripping, he fell. Kibei drew +him back by the leg. A blow cut him through the shoulder. As he rose +staggering a second vicious side swing sent the severed head to the +ground. The gate-man took the chance. Fleeing to the recesses of the +kitchen, he swarmed up a post and hid himself among the rafters of the +roof, amid the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> darkness of their shadows. Kibei turned back and +carefully barred the gate. With the key at the girdle of Matsuzo he +locked the bar chain. All was now ready for his visitation and search.</p> + +<p>On the floor above they had a drunken guest in hand, trying to get him +to depart. A <i>bantō</i> and several women formed the committee of +expulsion. "Ah! Money gone, one's welcome is quickly worn out in this +hell. But Jusuké does not budge. He fears not the whole pack of +foxes.... Thanks: deep the obligation of this Jusuké, extending to the +next life." A woman had picked up and restored his purse. "The bill is +paid? An early start Tōkaidō way? Ah, true! Jusuké had forgotten." +He was now all compliments and thanks. Then in a rage—"Oh! The huzzy! +What is Jusuké's purse worth with nothing in it? Who has robbed the +purse of Jusuké?" He was madly fumbling his tobacco pouch. A woman put +his hand on the missing object in the folds of his girdle. He was +mollified. As they moved to the head of the stairs—"Take care! Jusuké +San, don't fall! Bantō San, deign to aid the guest." Refusing all +help the man lurched half way down the flight. Then he stopped, staring +and looking before him. At the foot stood Kibei, bloody sword in hand. +"Down with this Jusuké? But Jusuké cannot down. A fool blocks the +way.... Fool, you block the way of Jusuké."—"Out of the road, +drunkard!" The words of Kibei came between his teeth, half growl, half +snarl. The man obstinately held his own. When Kibei would push past +him—"Beast!" He struck the <i>samurai</i>. Kibei whirled the sword. The head +rolled to the bottom of the steps. The blood bathed Kibei from head to +foot.</p> + +<p>His appearance was horrible. The women fled in all directions. The +<i>bantō</i> covered their retreat. "Kibei Dono! Pray be reasonable. +Control yourself!" Kibei made a step toward the women's rooms. The +<i>bantō</i> was dreadfully frightened, yet bravely he interposed to save +them. He shouted for aid; below and to the neighbours. Kibei reached +him. A blow and he fell severed. Kibei gave a howl of joy. O'Kayo the +bawd came out to ascertain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> the cause of the brawl. She turned livid +with fear on recognizing Kibei. They were standing together in the sort +of entresol or room at the head of the stairway. Only a large brazier +separated Kibei from his vengeance. Its massiveness of three or four +feet breadth baffled him. The woman was fleeing for life. As he strove +to get within striking distance fear gave her wings. From one side to +another she leaped and dodged. Kibei was hampered. He had to cut her off +from stair and <i>rōka</i>. As he hesitated she discharged the iron kettle +at his head. One implement followed another. In hurling the iron tripod +ashes entered her eyes. At once Kibei leaped to close quarters. The +first sword blow she dodged. As Kibei recovered she sprang by him and +over the <i>hibachi</i>, seeking the safety of the stairs now open to her. +Her night-dress caught on the handle of the brazier and brought her to +the ground. Next moment she was severed from shoulder to midriff.</p> + +<p>Methodically Kibei began his examination of the rooms. To most of the +inmates this uproar was a mere quarrel in the house, the cause of which +they neither knew nor cared to know. The first search was at the room of +the Kashiku, close to that of O'Kayo the bawd. Her reception room was +dark. Here the Kashiku's bed usually was prepared. The inner room, her +dressing room, showed the dim light of an <i>andon</i>. Noting her absence +from the usual place a hasty stride brought him to the <i>shōji</i>. As he +violently shoved them apart a man rose from the bed in the room. A mere +glance showed that this was no lover. As Kibei with drawn sword stood +over him, he squatted on his hams, crouching and begging for life. To +Kibei's astonishment he called him by name—"Deign, honoured Sir, to +spare this Chōbei. Be assured the Kashiku is not in this place. She +lies to-night with the Danna of the house. Deign to seek her in his +company." He pointed vaguely as he spoke, to give direction. Kibei +laughed ferociously. From this source these directions were atrocious. +He lowered the weapon—"Chōbei! At this place and time! Well met, +good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> Sir. Kibei is doubly grateful for what he has learned. Chōbei +and Kibei are fellows in fortune. Willingly Kibei leaves him to O'Iwa +San and her mercies." His attentive gaze never wandered from the face of +the one-time pimp. With a gesture of horror he rushed from the room. In +fright Chōbei rolled his head up in the coverlet, to keep out the +vision evoked.</p> + +<p>He continued his search—"Is it my little black fellow?" Such the +greeting of one woman aroused from sleep. Trembling she rose at sight of +Kibei. Harshly told to lie down, she gladly obeyed. Her quivering limbs +already were nearly yielding as he spoke. In but one place did he +encounter opposition. Pushing open the <i>shōji</i> of the merest closet +of a room he came upon a girl whose face somehow was familiar. She was a +mere slip of a creature to be called a woman. The undeveloped hips, the +yet immature bosom, aroused his astonishment at finding her in such a +place as inmate; that is, until the pure oval and beauty of the face +caught his glance. As he entered she sprang up in alarm. Just roused +from sleep she hardly knew where she was—"Father! Father! A man! A man +is in the room! Help!" Kibei pushed her back on the bed. With his bloody +sword he rolled over the bed-clothes. Then he made a move to get at the +closet behind. Perhaps mistaking his action the girl sprang upon him. +Kibei was startled at her mad energy. When he thrust her down she seized +his hand in her teeth, sinking them deep into it. Pain and +impatience—after all he was pressed for time—overcame him. Unable +otherwise to shake her off he thrust the point of the sword into her +throat and gave a vigorous downward push. Coughing up great clouts of +blood, the girl sank back, dying on the <i>futon</i>. As he left the room +remembrance came to Kibei's mind. He had seen her in Yotsuya. More than +once O'Tsuru had served him tea in the house of her father, +Chōzaémon. How came she in this vile den? He took a step back to aid +her if he could. She was stone dead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Tayu Nishikiyama<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> now knew the cause of the disturbance. To the +frightened page (<i>kamuro</i>) who came running to her—"Be quiet child. +This is no time to lose self-control. Aid me in preparation." She +dressed herself with the greatest care; "all in white, as befitted a +lady in attendance on a nobleman." Then she took down her <i>koto</i> and +struck the opening bars of an old and famous song—the "Jinmujō" +(Inexhaustible Happiness)—said to have been sung by the famous Shizuka +Gōzen when she danced the Hōraku, or sacred dance, before the +Shōgun Yoritomo at Kamakura Hachimangū. As Kibei turned into the +corridor the voice of the Oiran caught his ear as she sang in +accompaniment to the instrument. She was bending over the <i>koto</i> as the +<i>shōji</i> were flung apart. Kibei, his hair hanging in disorder and +framing a face ghastly white in contrast to the red streaks splashed +over it and his garments, stood transfixed at the entrance. The Tayu +looked up. With calm pose and courteous salute—"Kibei Dono, what manner +of acting is this! Is not Kibei Dono the <i>bushi</i>? Truly madness has +seized you, honoured Sir. This is Nishikiyama.... Deign to be seated. +'Tis Nishikiyama who serves Kibei Dono. What has been done cannot be +undone. The last cup of wine in life is to be drained. Deign to accept +it from these humble hands."</p> + +<p>Kibei continued gazing on her. The unhappy man, his mind was opened to a +flood of light. The hurricane of passion was passing. Slowly he advanced +into the room. "Truly the Go Tayu is right. Kibei has gone mad; mad +indeed!" He sank down on the cushion before her. At a sign the page +placed the stand containing the bottle of cold <i>saké</i> before the lady. +Skilfully the slender hands held it, gracefully poured it for the man +doomed to death, taking this final cup served by her. Kibei raised it, +drained it to the last drop. "The Kashiku: she is on this lower floor. +Where lies she?" Nashikiyama noted the wild light returning to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +eyes. She bowed her head before him—"The life of Nishikiyama is at the +command of Kibei Dono. Her lips are sealed. Honoured Sir, how answer +Kibei Dono's question?" For the moment he looked down. Then he +rose—"Whose daughter can the Oiran be! Truly no lady in the land could +show a higher courage, a finer courtesy. The final salute of this Kibei +in life is to the Go Tayu." In grave ceremony it was performed. As he +left the room the woman buried her face in her hands, weeping bitterly. +In wonder and gratitude the frightened page extended her hands, her face +hidden in the white robes of the Go Tayu.</p> + +<p>Kibei trod this lower corridor with sombre tread. He would cut belly at +the garden pond. With some surprise he noted an <i>amado</i> open at the end +of the <i>rōka</i>. Voices were heard. Standing at the opening he saw +lanterns. Some frenzied women had raised a ladder to the garden wall. +They would thus escape, but the knife-like bamboo stakes prevented. Said +a voice outside, and close to him—"The key to the gate: here it is." +The Kashiku at a run passed by him. Kibei gave a shout. The frightened +woman turned, recognized him, then sped on. In a few steps he was on +her. The raised sword descended as she fell on her knees before him, in +attempt to swerve its course. Through wrist and collar-bone, from neck +to navel, the keen blade passed. Kibei threw the weapon aside. He leaned +over her, his dagger drawn. Then he rose, holding by its tresses the +head. For a moment he gazed on it. Slowly he walked to the pond in the +centre of the garden. Carefully he washed the bloody trophy and placed +it on the curbing. Confronting it he made reverential salutation. "Kibei +keeps his promise to the Kashiku. With Tamagiku he treads the gloomy +paths of Shideyama. Honoured lady—a moment and Kibei follows." Seated +before the head reposing on the curb he opened his clothes. Thrusting +the bloody dagger deep into his left side he slowly drew it across the +belly; then made the upward cut. The body fell forward. Kibei indeed had +kept his word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL</h3> + + +<p>Inagaki Shōgen received the news at dawn, just as he was leaving the +castle on completion of his night watch. The old knight smiled gravely, +thanked the bearer of the message, and rewarded him with lavish hand. +The <i>kago</i> bearers jolted on. The news had reached the train, and +<i>chūgen</i> and spearman exchanged whispers. On arrival at the Inagaki +<i>yashiki</i> his lordship made no motion to descend. The chamberlain +raising the curtain gave a cry of horror. The old man lay stretched at +the bottom of the little chamber. The dagger and the pool of blood told +the tale. Shōgen had followed the example of his son. He, too, now +trod the paths of Shideyama.</p> + +<p>With laggard tottering step Akiyama Chōzaémon entered his house. +Regardless of wife and the cushion she offered, of the hardly repressed +tear in her salutation, he cast himself full length on the mats. He +buried his face in his arms. The groans which issued from the prostrate +body frightened the woman. "The honoured return; has other misfortune +fallen on the House?" A shrug of the shoulders, a shiver; then the man +half rose and faced her. She was startled at his expression. He was +facing the most dreadful, not mere thought of ruin to him and +his—"Suzuki San is liar and thief. Fifty <i>ryō</i> in hand the promise +was for abstention. Now he demands twenty <i>ryō</i> more—the interest on +the debt in full." His voice rose to a harsh scream. He laughed +despairingly. "Seventy-five <i>ryō</i> interest, for the loan of a month; +and that loan forced on this Chōzaémon by Itō Kwaiba! Kibei has +squandered everything. The loan comes back on the bail. If Suzuki holds +the interest in hand, he allows the principal, three hundred and fifty +<i>ryō</i>, to stand for the month. Unless he has the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> lacking twenty-five +<i>ryō</i> by the fourth hour (9 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) to-morrow, complaint is +laid at the office. As usual the interest is written into the face of +the bond. The end is certain. This Chōzaémon must cut belly or suffer +degradation (<i>kaieki</i>)." He looked her over critically. The light of +hope died out of his eyes—"Ah! If this Tsuyu could but be sold, the +money would be in hand. But she is old and ugly. Pfaugh!..." How he +hated her at this moment. Some half a dozen years older than +Chōzaémon the marriage had been arranged by the parents on truly +financial principles. Mizoguchi Hampei was rich, and reputed stingy and +saving. Just recently he had fallen into the Edogawa as he returned home +late one night. Drunk and surfeited with the foul waters of the stream +they had fished him out stone dead. Then it was learned that the old +fellow of sixty odd years had several concubines, of the kind to eat +into house and fortune. The reversion of the pension, of course, went to +the House. In all these years Chōzaémon had never received the dower +of O'Tsuyu; nor dared to press the rich man for it, too generous to his +daughter to quarrel with. The funds eagerly looked for by Chōzaémon +were found to be <i>non est inventus</i>. Probably, if alive, Mizoguchi would +have argued that the dower had been paid in instalments. In his grave +difficulties Akiyama could find no aid in his wife. She mourned her +uselessness—"Willingly would Tsuyu come to the aid of House and +husband, join her daughter in the bitter service. But past forty +years.... 'Tis useless to think of it. Perhaps some expedient will come +to mind." She brought out the arm rest and placed it near his side. Then +she sat apart watching him. From time to time was heard the tap of her +pipe as she knocked out the ashes. At last, overcome by sleep and seeing +no sign of movement on the husband's part, she went off to bed, +expecting that he would soon follow.</p> + +<p>She woke with a start—"Father! Father!" The voice of O'Tsuru rang +sharply in her ears. Dazed she half rose and looked around her. The +daylight streamed through the closed <i>amado</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> She had been dreaming. +With surprise she noted her husband's absence. Had he gone forth? The +cries of a bean curd seller were heard without—"<i>Tōfu!</i> <i>Tōfu!</i> +The best of <i>tōfu</i>!" The palatable, cheap, and nutritious food was a +standard meal in this house as in many others of Nippon. Akiyama was +most generous in indulgence of his passions for gambling, wine, and the +women of Shinjuku; and his household with equal generosity were indulged +in an economical regimen of <i>tōfu</i>. The wife rose to answer the call +of the street huckster. Her surprise increased as she found every means +of exit bolted and barred, as during the night. The open sliding window +in the kitchen roof caught her eye. Surely he had not departed that way! +As she opened the back door a murmur of voices, as in the roadway or +close by, struck her ear. The <i>tōfu</i> seller had his head turned away +looking upward. At her call he turned quickly with apology—"Good day, +honoured lady. A strange event! Ah! The honoured household still sleeps. +All is silent.... Strange indeed! A man has hung himself on the big oak +tree in the temple ground. Deign to look." He pointed to the big tree +close by in the grounds of the Myōgyōji.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> Sure enough: forty +feet from the ground dangled the body of a man. It swayed gently to and +fro in harmony with the movement of the branches. A hand seemed to grasp +the heart of Tsuyu. The branches of the tree reached far over their +roof. The open <i>hikimado</i>! With feeble voice she said—"My husband; he +is strangely absent. Deign, somebody, to climb up and find out whether +this man is—of the ward." The startled <i>tōfu</i> seller hastened to get +aid. Several men entered the garden, quickly mounted to the roof, and +thus reached the tree. Said the topmost fellow—"Ma! Ma! It is no pretty +sight. He makes a hideous spectacle. The face is black as a rice boiler. +The eyes stand out as if ready to burst. The tongue hangs out like a +true guard (<i>hyōtan</i>). The grin on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> the distended mouth is not nice +to see. Ah! The rascal has used the merest cord to cut himself off. And +he has nearly done so. The head is almost severed." He gave a +shout—"Naruhodo! Why, its...." One close by silenced him. The men above +looked down. They made signs to those below. The women gathered around +O'Tsuyu as if to keep her from the sight. She broke away from them as +the body was gently lowered to the ground. Her shrieks rang loud. They +strove to detach her from the dead body of Chōzaémon. The House +ruined, daughter and husband taken out of her life in a single day; the +blow was too crushing for a brain harassed by a life with this debauched +worthless man. Her warders struggled with one gone clean daft. Years +after men grown up from childhood in the ward looked with pity at the +feeble ragged old mad beggar woman who crouched by the beautiful bronze +dragon which ornaments the water basin of the Ten-ō Jinja. They would +drop in her hand a copper "cash," and drive off with rebuke the children +who taunted and annoyed her—as they had done years before. Thus were +mother and daughter—the innocent—involved in the father's crime +against the dread Lady of Tamiya.</p> + +<p>All these events created a tremendous stir in Yotsuya. Men disliked to +go abroad at night. Women, to their great inconvenience were confined to +the house. Two figures approaching each other in the darkness would be +seen to hesitate and stop. "What's that—standing, slinking yonder by +the wall? Alas! This Kinsaburō, this Genzaémon has evil fortune led +him into the clutches of the O'Baké? O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" With that and mad +cries they would fall on each other; at times only to exercise restraint +after some injury had been done. Hence quarrels arose; feuds, started in +all innocence, came into being. Women, as suspects, were chief +sufferers. The local atmosphere was overcharged, nerve racked. And so +from Honjō to Nakachō (Shinjuku), from Nakanochō (Yoshiwara) to +Shinagawa, even in the nearer post towns of Kawasaki, Tsurumi, and +Kanagawa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> the talk was spreading of the strange happenings in Yotsuya of +Edo town. Katada Tatéwaki, descendant of that Katada Samon who, as +vassal of Gongen Samon (Iyeyasu) had had this Aoyama-Yotsuya district in +fief, now first began his inquiries into the affair. The Katada had wide +possessions elsewhere at the time of the grant. Samon had gifted much of +his new fief as temple land, and on the old maps of the day this part of +Edo is a blood red splash, indication of these many establishments. But +the Katada influence still prevailed through the ward, indeed through +the more than good will of the beneficiaries. Tatéwaki's <i>yashiki</i> was +at the top of Ushigomézaka. His modest pension of a thousand <i>koku</i> by +no means represented the extent of his power. Iémon became frightened at +the storm gathering against him. He was open to all suggestions of +remedy for the cataleptic state into which O'Hana had fallen. The +neighbour gossips suggested calling in the Daihō-in of Shiomachi. A +service kept part at least of the money in the ward. They had their +share in provision and consumption; the fifty <i>ryō</i> necessary were +much to them—and to Iémon in his present circumstances.</p> + +<p>The neighbours were assembled at Tamiya. Iémon went forth to greet the +Daihō-in. With his attendant <i>kannushi</i> and train he presented +himself at the entrance. Iémon was prostrate in salutation before the +great man.—"Reverential thanks for the condescension. Deign to enter +this unfortunate house." The Shintō priest was brusque, as is the way +of the kind. Himself he was the <i>samurai</i>, with all the tone of official +manner. "Ha! Ha! Salutation to all." He gave a comprehensive glance +through the assembly and lost none of them in the process. He approached +the couch of O'Hana. He opened the closed eyes, which stared fixedly +into space as of one dead. He raised an arm upright from the body. +Stepping aside, he squatted. Some moments passed. The arm remained +rigidly upright. Satisfied, the Daihō-in signed to his attendants. +Raising O'Hana they placed her in a sitting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> posture on a mat. Her hair +was arranged in <i>ichōmage</i>.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> A <i>gohei</i> was placed between her +hands. Then the Daihō-in began the recitation of the prayers and +charms. The other priests gave voice at times in response. All present +were awe-struck. The women hardly breathed, leaning eagerly forward. +Their eyes took on a vacant stare, as if themselves mesmerized. The +<i>gohei</i> began to tremble; then to shake violently. The woman's hair fell +down in disorder around her face. All turned away their faces. Some +women gave smothered cries. It was O'Iwa San who glared at them out of +those eyes. The Daihō-in eagerly leaned close over O'Hana—"O'Iwa: +where are you? What has become of your body? Be sure to speak the truth. +Don't attempt to lie to the priest.... You don't know? Ah! you would be +obstinate in your grudge. The charm shakes and quivers; it possesses +O'Iwa.... You would rest in Samonchō ground? That is much to ask; +particularly when the body is not in hand.... A substitute will do? Ah! +Prayers?... For a year, at morn and night of each day? That is terrific. +Consider the cost.... You care not for the cost! Only then will you +cease to afflict the ward?... Very well: humbly this Daihō-in +transmits the will of the dead."</p> + +<p>Thus did the priestly mediator interpret to his gaping auditors the +mumbling and cries given forth by O'Hana. The wild look faded from her +eyes. She rolled over as in a faint. The priests raised her up. The +Daihō-in turned to Iémon and the assembly—"The words of O'Iwa have +been heard through this woman. O'Hana has been possessed by O'Iwa. Hence +her trance.... Heigh! Water!" He began making passes over his +patient—"The stage has passed. O'Hana no longer is possessed by O'Iwa. +The wronged lady leaves O'Hana to peace. O'Hana is completely herself +again. O'Iwa is all delusion. O'Hana believes this. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> believes +firmly. The Daihō-in tells her to believe. O'Iwa does not haunt +O'Hana. O'Iwa has no ill will against O'Hana." He looked fixedly and +with command into the eyes of O'Hana. His voice rang clear and +authoritative. Then he began gently to stroke the back of her head, her +neck and spine. "All is well?" "Hai! Hai! This Hana is completely +restored. All is well." With a little sigh she sank back, to be laid on +the cushions in a sleep which all wondered to see was most natural. +Those present were in transports of delight. They buzzed approval as the +Daihō-in addressed Iémon. "The Daihō-in has done his part. All +have heard the words of O'Iwa San. The rest lies with the temple. Deign +to receive these words. The Daihō-in returns." With his pack voicing +loudly at his tail he left the entrance gate. The assembly streamed +after. Iémon was left alone, biting his thumbs in helpless rage. He was +aghast. "The old fox! What is to be done, pressed as Iémon is for funds? +How is this Iémon to act? Refusal means the open hostility of the whole +ward. It will turn against him. Ah! What a miserable old scamp. He did +it all himself; he and his confederates. The gods descend from above; +the Daihō-in shakes the <i>gohei</i> from below—and those fools believe, +to the ruin of Iémon!"</p> + +<p>Hence he would have postponed the costly appeal to the temple. Within +the week a committee of the ward waited upon him. As if expecting them, +Iémon gave ready compliance. With four or five other gentlemen he waited +upon Shūden Oshō, the famous priest of the temple of the +Gyōran Kwannon. The Lady Merciful, Kwannon Sama, seemed the fitting +deity to whom appeal should be made. A word is to be said as to this +famous manifestation of the goddess. Told by Ryuō at length, of +necessity here the account is much abridged. Gyōran Kwannon—Kwannon +of the fish-basket—has several other names. She is called the Namagusai +Kwannon, from the odour of fresh blood attached to the pursuit; the +Byaku Kwannon, or the white robed; the Baryufu Kwannon, as wife of Baryu +the fisherman. The image<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> of the Byaku Kwannon exists.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> It is carved +in white wood, stained black, with a scroll in the right hand, and +holding a fish basket (<i>gyōran</i>) in the left hand. The story of +Baryu, and of his connection with Kwannon, is of more moment.</p> + +<p>In Morokoshi (China) there is a place called Kinshaden. Across the bay +from Edo-Tōkyō is Kazusa with its ninety-nine villages, one of +which has the same name—Kinshaden. The fishing population of Nippon is +a rough lot. From babyhood there is little but quarrelling and fighting +between the bands which control the different wards of the villages. The +relations between the people are very primitive. One of the important +occupations is the <i>iwashi</i>, or pilchard, fishing. To pull in the nets +loaded with the fish requires the united effort of the whole village +population, men, women, even children. Among their toilers the people of +Kinshaden noted a young girl of some sixteen or seventeen years; easily +noted by the great beauty and attraction of face and figure, the willing +readiness and wonderful strength she showed in her struggles with the +weighted net. As she appeared several times at last some men went up to +her—"Girl, you are a stranger here. For your aid thanks are offered. +Who may you be; and whence from? Strangers, even in kindness, in Nippon +must not conceal their names." The girl smiled.—"I come from +Fudarakusan in the South Ocean.... Where is Fudarakusan? It is in +India.... And India? It is in the South Ocean, the Nankai." To the +wonder expressed at her coming such a distance of thousands of <i>ri</i>—"I +come, I serve, for my husband."—"Your husband? Pray who may he be, in +these parts?"—"Not yet is he chosen," answered the girl. "Come! The +nets are drawn, the fishing ended for the day. I will ascend that rock; +read the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. He who can first memorize it shall +be my husband." Ready was the assent to such an attractive proposal—a +beautiful helpmate in prospect, one endowed with surprising strength for +her frail form, and who seemed to bring luck to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> efforts of the +village in the struggle for a livelihood. Even the Nipponese prejudice +against strangers paled before such practical qualification.</p> + +<p>The maid ascended to the rostrum. For three days she read and expounded +the holy sutra of the Lady Kwannon. On the fourth day the fisherman +Baryu—young, handsome, strong—felt sure that he could answer to the +test. "Woman, descend! To-day this Baryu will repeat the sutra, expound +its meaning." With seeming surprise and merriment the girl obeyed. Baryu +took her place. Without slip or fault he repeated the sutra, expounded +the intricacies of its meaning. The girl bowed low in submission. +"Condescend to admit my humble person to the hut of Baryu the fisherman. +To-night she pollutes with her presence a corner of his bed-chamber." +Rejoicing Baryu at once took her to his home, where he would act the +husband. At first gently she rebuked him. "These rough people of +Kinshaden have regard to nothing! There is such a rite as marriage. Nine +times are the <i>saké</i> cups to be drained between husband and wife. Thus +is established this important relation. In the connection between man +and woman there is such a thing as etiquette. This observed, the woman +passes to the possession of the man. For the woman, second marriage +there is none."</p> + +<p>Thus were the decencies of the marriage bed taught to the rough +fisherman. Near dawn Baryu awoke with surprise. His bed-fellow was in +the last extremities. Dripping with sweat, she seemed to be melting +away. Already she was unconscious. Then vomiting forth water she died. +Baryu was tremendously put out. To lose a wife, who barely had been a +wife; one so beautiful, so strong; this was extremely vexatious. "This +won't do at all! Why has such a misfortune befallen this Baryu? O'Kabe +(Miss Plaster) and O'Nabé (Miss Stewpan) endured without mishap the +passage of their marriage night.... Hai! Hai!" in reply to a friend +knocking at the door. "Baryu cannot go to the fishing to-day.... The +woman? She has died. Baryu's wife is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> dead." Opening the door he +retailed his experience to the wondering friend. As they talked, along +came a priest most strangely dressed for this land. Approaching them he +said—"Is this the house of Baryu?" At the fisherman's +acknowledgement—"Has a girl come here?... Dead! Deign to let this +foolish cleric hang eyes upon her." Baryu thought he would take his turn +at questions. "And you; whence from?" "From Fudarakusan in the Nankai." +"Get you hence, frantic interloper," broke in Baryu with grief and +anger. "Enough has this Baryu heard of Fudarakusan. Baryu must needs +observe his state as widower. The month must pass before he seeks a +wife. And more than half its days remain! But look." Mollified by the +humble attitude of the priest he went and raised the coverlet from the +woman's body. He uttered a cry of surprise. "Oya! Oya! She has +disappeared. There is naught here but a wooden image. Ma! Ma! what a +curious figure—with scroll and fish basket, just as the wife appeared +at the beach. This is what one reads of in books." He turned to the +priest in wonder and as seeking explanation. Said the latter with +earnest and noble emphasis—"Favoured has been this Baryu. The Kwannon +of Fudarakusan of Nankai has shown herself before his very eyes. For the +reform of this wicked people, to teach them the holy writing, she has +condescended to submit to the embraces of the fisherman. Let not Baryu +think of other marriage. For him has come the call to leave this world. +Fail not to obey." Baryu rushed to the door, to catch but a glimpse of +the departing form. All sign of the priest quickly faded. Baryu returned +to the wooden figure lying where once had reposed the body of the +beautiful girl. It was a most unsatisfactory substitute for the flesh +and blood original. But Baryu made the most of it. He took his vow. He +shaved his head, becoming a priest to recite and preach the sutra of the +Lady Kwannon. Hence this Kwannon is known as the Baryufu Kwannon—wife +of Baryu the fisherman. Hence she is called the Kwannon of the fish +basket, in honour of the aid she brought the people of this village and +land.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE RITES FOR O'IWA SAN</h3> + + +<p>Iémōn fared as badly at the hands of the Buddha as at those of +the Kami. Shūden Oshō, as guardian of the sacred image of the +Gyōran Kwannon, was a very great man indeed. After some delay the +deputation from Samonchō was ushered into his presence, Iémon made +profound obeisance and explained the cause of their presence. The +visitations of O'Iwa to the district were causing the greatest public +commotion. Not as a matter of private interest, but of public utility +his interference was sought. If Iémon thought to abstract a copper +"cash" from the priestly treasury he made a gross mistake. Besides, the +individual who disturbs the public peace suffers severely from official +mediation, no matter what form this takes. Shūden inquired minutely +as to the visit of the Daihō-in, of which he seemed to have heard. +What information Iémon might have withheld, or minimised, or given a +different complexion, was cheerfully volunteered by others, who also +corrected and amplified any undue curtailing or ambiguity of their +spokesman. Shūden listened to Iémon with a gravity and an expression +hovering between calculation and jeering comment. He turned from him to +the committee, giving great attention to those scholiasts on the text of +the orator. He gravely wagged his head in agreement with the rival +prelate, whose acumen he highly extolled. Memorial services were to be +provided for a year. It was, after all, merely a form of restitution to +the wronged lady. But also the wandering spirit of O'Iwa was to be +suitably confined. Here lay the difficulty. Recitation of the sutra for +seven continuous days; proper inhumation of the substitute beyond +possibility of disturbance, would surely lay a spell on the enraged +lady, and put an end to the curse of one dying an unworshipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> spirit. +For the burial a bamboo was to be provided—of length one <i>shaku</i> eight +<i>bu</i> (one foot nine inches) between the joints.</p> + +<p>With this notice Iémon and his companions withdrew. He was resigned to +the payment of the fifty <i>ryō</i> necessary for the memorial services +extending over the year. The inclusion in the bamboo was another affair. +The finding of such was about as easy as the fishing for black pearls. +He soon found that securing the substitute and securing the body of +O'Iwa San for proper inhumation were kindred problems. After looking +over all the bamboo which had drifted to Edo and was in the hands of the +world secular—and most of it at surprisingly cheap rates—the committee +was driven back on the religious world. They soon found that the article +in question was kept in stock only at the Gyōran Kwannondō. +Resorting to the priestly offices, Iémon felt convinced that the grave +salutation of the incumbent official—they directed him to the +treasury—concealed a derisive grin at his expense. He was sure of it +when he learned that this rare object could be had—for another fifty +<i>ryō</i>. The temple gave no credit; but Suzuki, the usurer who was one +of the party, after some demur agreed to hand over the amount, which he +had just received from Akiyama Chōzaémon, the service bounty of the +daughter O'Tsuru. With some reluctance the long nosed, long faced, long +limbed Kamimura went security for the repayment on their return to the +ward. With cheerful recklessness Iémon pledged the last chance of any +income from the pension and resources of Tamiya for the next three +years; so heavily was he in debt. Shūden on his part lost no time. +With at least one member of the committee in attendance, to see that he +played fair, for seven days vigorously was the sutra intoned by the +loudest and most brazen of his subordinates, backed by the whole body of +priests. Day and night a priest would slip to the side altar, to invoke +the pity of the Buddha on the wandering spirit of the deceased lady in +few pithy but hasty words, and to spend the rest of his vigil in a +decent slumberous immobility.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>The seven days accomplished, the procession formed. Six men in new +uniforms—provided by Iémon—made pretence of great difficulty in +carrying the long box (<i>nagamochi</i>). Four men carried the <i>sambo</i>, or +sacred tray of white wood, on which rested the section of bamboo wrapped +by the hands of Shūden himself in the sacred roll of the sutra of +Kwannon. Officialdom of the ward was present. The citizens turned out +<i>en masse</i>. For long Yotsuya had not witnessed such a scene. Within its +precincts the <i>yashiki</i> of the great nobles were conspicuously absent; +their long processions of spearman, <i>chūgen</i>, <i>samurai</i> and officials +were only to be witnessed at times on the highway which leaves Shinjuku +for the Kōshūkaidō and the alternate and then little used +Ashigaratōge road. Arrived at Samonchō the ground selected was +inspected by Shūden. The bishop's eyebrows puckered in questioning +mien. "Here there are too many people. Is there no other place?" They +led him to another site. The wrinkle deepened to a frown—"Here there +are too many children. Their frolics and necessities are unseemly. These +would outrage the tender spirit. Is there no other place?" The committee +was nonplussed. Iémon was in terrible fear lest all his effort and +expenditure would go for naught but to swell Shūden's cash roll. A +thought came into his mind. "There is no other open land, but the garden +of Tamiya is wide and secluded. The wall prevents public access." People +looked at him aghast. He was either mad with courage, or obstinate in +disbelief in the power of O'Iwa San so plainly manifested. Shūden +paid no attention to that surprised whispering. "Deign to show the way +thither." Thus the procession took its course back to Teramachi and +through the gate of Tamiya. A spot was selected, just before the garden +gate. It was open to the salutation and vows of passers-by, yet could be +shut off from direct access toward house and public. At Shūden's +order a hole was dug, just four <i>shaku</i> (feet) in depth. The Oshō +began the recitation of the sutra. The priests stood by in vigilant +attention. As the last word reverberated on the bishop's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> lips they +seized the sutra wrapped bamboo, slipped it in the long box—bum! the +lock snapped. The congregation was tremendously impressed. For a decent +time Shūden remained in prayer and meditation. "The charm is +complete. O'Iwa no longer wanders, to her own penance and the disaster +of men. Henceforth he who says she does so lies. Hearken to the words of +Shūden. Admit none such to your company. Let not children make this +place a playground. Shūden has given warning. Pollution surely +follows. Their habits are unseemly, an insult to the dead. Even as to +parents, those with infants on their backs are specifically to be +excluded." He tied a paper covered with Sanscrit characters to a bamboo +stick. This was placed on a white wood stake. On the stake he wrote +kindred words, converting it into the counterfeit of a <i>sotoba</i>. Neither +he nor any present knew what the words meant, or had care as to their +ignorance of this essential of religion. Then he and his train gathered +up their gowns and galloped out the gate, after practice and receipt of +grave courtesy, so much did temple differ from shrine in its contact +with secular life. The assembled multitude departed; much edified by the +day's proceedings, and with low comment to each other on the +dilapidation of Tamiya, its fall from the one time spruce and +flourishing state. "Introduce a spendthrift in the door, and the wealth +leaks from every crevice. The spirit of Tamiya Matazaémon must grieve at +this sight. But why did he bring in as <i>muko</i> a stranger?"</p> + +<p>Iémon could flatter himself on the efficacy of the divine interposition. +The public mind was quieted. Nothing more was heard of O'Iwa San. Only +the daily summons, on one pretext or another, to the ward office +troubled him. The <i>yakunin</i> also made a practice of taking in Tamiya en +route to performance of their various missions. This he knew was a +practice as to men under observation. He went over his career as known +to Yotsuya. There was nothing in it to call for question. Official +censure does not rest its case on a ghost story. The famous +investigation of Echizen no Kami (Ōoka) into the Yaeume case of +Yamada was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> matter of later days. Moreover, all his troubles were +lightened by the state of O'Hana, the devoted object of unwavering +affection. Ever since the Daihō-in had mesmerized her, impressed his +will on her, the daily improvement could be marked. Now again she was +her normal self; sadly thin and worn in spirit, a woman tired out, but +yet the figure of O'Hana and in her right mind. To him she was the +beautiful tradition of the past and just as beautiful as ever in +actuality. Two weeks had passed since Shūden's experiment. One night, +as the hour of the pig (9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>) was striking, there came a +knocking at the door. O'Hana rose from her sewing. "Danna, Kamimura San +would say a word." Iémon made a gesture of annoyance. The long man had +shadowed him, ever since entering on the engagement of bail. He went to +the door and looked at his caller with amazement. Kamimura, his hair in +confusion, was stark naked except for his wife's under cloth—and she +was almost a dwarf. He stretched out a hand to Iémon, half in threat, +half in begging. "Iémon Uji, a word: condescend to grant this Goémon ten +<i>ryō</i> in silver, not in words. Suzuki the usurer has come on Goémon +as bail of Iémon, in the matter of the exorcism. To-day he stripped the +house of everything. Wife and children, hungry and almost naked, lie on +bare boards. When Goémon begged mercy, that he go to Tamiya, the +wretched fellow jeered. 'Tamiya? Tamiya has but <i>hibachi</i> and three +mats; the clothes worn by himself and wife. The house and land of Tamiya +is but a reversion. Suzuki gets nothing at Tamiya but a lawsuit which +would not pay the office fees. Kamimura is rich; his house is well +supplied. One petition; and not only expenses, but the debt finds +payment. Hence Suzuki troubles not Tamiya.' With this off he went +deriding me. Deign the loan, Iémon San. Condescend at least the shelter +of clothes and food."</p> + +<p>To the wretched fellow Iémon could make no reply. Ten <i>ryō</i>! Kamimura +might as well have asked for ten thousand <i>ryō</i>. In house and land +Iémon was secure. These belonged to the heirship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> of Tamiya as long as +the House maintained its status. The pension was long mortgaged. The +farms had disappeared. The trouble of Goémon pained him. He could only +refuse; palliating the refusal with vague promises as to the near +future. He would effect a loan. The debt of Suzuki repaid, all his goods +would be restored to Kamimura San. Goémon took this talk at its real +value. Shaking his fist he berated Iémon with violent words. "Ah! Shame +is brought to the House of Kamimura, wretchedness to his family—and by +this vile stranger. It is Iémon with his heartless wicked treatment of +O'Iwa San, who has wrought distress and ruin to the ward. For Goémon +there is neither food nor clothing? Wait! Time shall bring his vengeance +on Iémon and his House." Iémon would have detained him; sought in some +way to mollify him, at least get a hint as to how he purposed injury. +Goémon shook him off as one would a reptile. With a wild laugh he went +out naked as he was into the darkness.</p> + +<p>He had no definite purpose in mind. However, as he passed the garden +gate of Tamiya his eye caught the factitious <i>sotoba</i> standing white in +the fitful moonlight. He stood stock still; then clapped his hands in +mad joy and decision. Hastening to his home he sought out an old +battered mattock and a rusty spade. Soon he was back at the garden gate. +A blow and the bar fell. Goémon passed within. "She lies but four +<i>shaku</i> deep. The task is quickly performed. None pass here at this +hour." The dirt flew under his nervous arms. Soon he had the box out on +the ground beside him. A peal of thunder; he must hasten, or stand a +ducking from the coming storm. He laughed. What had a naked man to fear +from getting wet? The clothes he wore would not spoil. Why did not man +dress in a towel, as after the bath; its use, to wipe the moisture from +the body. Now his eyes were fixed in curiosity on the bamboo staff +before him. The first few drops of the rainstorm fell on his bare +shoulders, but he disregarded them. "Naruhodo! How heavy it is! O'Iwa in +life hardly weighed more. Lady of Tamiya—show pity on this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> Goémon. +Iémon and O'Hana—those wicked voluptuaries—prosper and flourish, while +Goémon is brought to beggary and starvation. Deign to visit the wrath of +O'Iwa San on these vile wretches. Seize and kill them. Goémon sets O'Iwa +free." He seized the mattock. Raising it overhead he brought the edge +sharply down on the bamboo stake. At the moment there was a violent peal +of thunder rolling off into a crash and rattle. The landscape was lit up +by the vivid lightning. People uneasily turned over on their beds.</p> + +<p>Shortly after dawn Iémon woke with a start. Don-don-don, don-don-don. +There was a tremendous rapping at his door. O'Hana could hear but a +whispered consultation going on without the <i>amado</i>. Iémon returned to +the room. His face was white; his step tottered. Hastily he donned an +outer robe. To her question he made scant reply, so agitated was he. His +one idea was to keep from her what he had just heard. In the garden he +found his wardsmen assembled. All were dumbfounded and aghast. They +looked at each other and then at the broken bamboo tube. Close by lay +the body of the man who had done the deed. Brains and blood had oozed +from the hole in the skull in which yet stuck the pointed end of the +mattock sunk deep within. Evidently the instrument had rebounded from +the resilient surface of the bamboo. A by-stander pointed to the tiny +fracture near the hard knot of the staff. It was a small thing, but +enough to destroy all the past labours. Iémon went up to look at the +body. "Why! 'Tis Goémon." To their questioning he told how Kamimura had +called on the previous night, his rage at the inability of Iémon to aid +him in distress. With hanging heads, eyes on the ground, and wagging +tongues, all departed to their homes. Later the body of Goémon was borne +to his house by neighbours. Iémon picked up the bamboo staff. Carrying +it within he placed it in a closet. It was as costly an object as the +house had ever held. He was in despair.</p> + +<p>It was on that very day, at the seventh hour (3 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>), that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +O'Hana heard a call at the door. "A request to make! A request to make!" +She recoiled from the sight presented. A beggar stood at the entrance of +Tamiya. A dirty mat wrapped around his body, feet and arms emerging from +bandages, making him like to some hideous insect with its carapace, his +face wrapped in a towel, the effects of leprosy were hideously +patent.—"What do you here? There is naught to be had. Pray depart at +once." The answer was in tones the very harshness of which seemed to +cause pain to the utterer—"The request is to Iémon Dono. Condescend to +notify him." With fearful glance O'Hana shrank within, Iémon noted her +nervous quivering. Promptly he was on his feet—"A beggar has frightened +Hana? Such are to be severely dealt with." He went to the entrance. "A +beggar, and such a fellow? How comes it entrance has been had to the +ward? There is nothing for you here. If you would escape the dogs and +bastinado, get you hence at once." The man did not stir from the spot on +which he stood. Slowly he opened the mat held round his body +(<i>komokaburi</i>), one of the coarse kind used to wrap round <i>saké</i> +barrels. He was clothed in rags glued together by the foul discharges of +his sores. He removed the towel from his face. The ghastly white and red +blotches, the livid scars of the leper, the head with patches of scurfy +hair ready to fall at a touch, startled even Iémon the priest. He would +not have touched this man, expelled him by force, for all the past +wealth of Tamiya. The intruder noted the effect produced.</p> + +<p>"To such has the wrath of O'Iwa San brought this Chōbei. Does not +Iémon, the one-time neighbour Kazuma, recognize Chōbei? And yet all +comes through Iémon. Child, wife, means of life, all these have failed +Chōbei. In the jail robbed of everything, degenerate in mind and +body, Chōbei has found refuge at nights in the booths of street +vendors; on cold wet nights, even in the mouths of the filthy drains. +Fortunate is he when fine weather sends him to rest on the river banks. +To seek rest; not to find it. O'Iwa stands beside him. When eyelids +drowse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> Chōbei is aroused, to find her face close glaring into his. +Beg and implore, yet pardon there is none. 'Chōbei has a debt to pay +to Iwa. In life Chōbei must repay by suffering; yet not what Iwa +suffered. Think not to rest.' Some support was found in a daughter, sold +in times past to the Yamadaya of Yoshiwara. There the child grew up to +become the great profit of the house. The influence of the Kashiku was +all powerful to secure entrance. For a night Chōbei was to find food +and a bed. But that night came Kibei San. He killed the Kashiku—crushed +her out, as one would crush an insect. This Chōbei nearly died; but +Kibei left him to the mercy of O'Iwa. Her mercy!" He would have thrown +out his arms in weary gesture of despair. The pain and effort were too +great. He moaned. "Last night Chōbei sought relief. Of late years the +river has been spanned, for passers-by and solace of the human refuse. +Standing on Ryōgokubashi the dark waters of the river called to +Chōbei as they swept strongly by to the sea. A moment, and all would +be ended. About to leap hands were laid on Chōbei's shoulders. He was +dragged back. Turning—lo! 'twas O'Iwa San. Another creature, still +fouler than she, with sloping eyelid, bald head, and savage look, stood +by. Said O'Iwa San—'And Chōbei would end all—with luxury before his +eyes! Chōbei dies not but with the consent of Iwa. Get you to +Yotsuya; to Iémon and Hana, living in luxury and Tamiya. Aid will not be +refused you.' And so she brought me here. Deign to hear the prayer of +Chōbei. Allow him to die in Yotsuya, upon the <i>tatami</i>; not on the +bare earth, to be thrown on the moor for dogs to gnaw. Grant him burial +in temple ground."</p> + +<p>He changed his theme; the feeble quivering hands clasped his belly. "Ah! +This pinching hunger. Double Chōbei's suffering; of mind and body. +Apply for alms or food, and the leper is repulsed. See! Two fingers +remain on this hand. Count of the rest fills out the tale for but one +member. O'Hana San, condescend a rice ball for this Chōbei. You, at +least, know not the pinch of hunger.... Ah! She still possesses some of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +that beauty and charm for which Iémon has brought ruin upon all." Before +the horrible lascivious leer of this object O'Hana fled. Left alone +Iémon spoke. He had been thinking—"Chōbei has spoken well. From +Iémon he is entitled to relief. Chōbei shall die on his mat. But in +such shape nothing can be done. Get you hence. Buy clothing fit to +appear before men's eyes. In the bath wash that pus-laden body. Then +come to Iémon. Relief shall be granted Chōbei." Wrapping a <i>ryō</i> +in paper he passed it to the leper. It was the last coin he possessed. +O'Hana now returned with five or six rice balls savoured with salt. +Fascinated, the two watched the horrible diseased stumps awkwardly +shoving the food into the toothless mouth, cramming it in, and breaking +it up so as not to lose the savour of a grain. "Until to-morrow," said +Chōbei. He picked up his stick. In silence the man and woman watched +him. "Leaning on his bamboo staff he crawled away like some insect." +O'Hana looked inquiringly at Iémon. He turned away his head.</p> + +<p>Through the dusk Chōbei crawled across the Ryōgokubashi. The words +of the woman O'Také had come true. He had a sense of being followed. He +turned at the sound of footsteps. At sight of a <i>samurai</i> in deep hat, +mechanically he stretched out hands and self in the roadway, begging an +alms. The man drew apart, passing him in disgust and haste. Chōbei +went on. He had no aim. It was with surprise that he found himself, as +often of late, on the embankment of the North Warigesui. He looked down +on the foul place of O'Iwa's disappearance. "A foul ending; but after +all an end. One night! One night's sleep! Deign, lady of Tamiya, to +grant pardon and respite to Chōbei. Just one hour of sleep." +Carefully he adjusted his mat. Painfully he stretched himself out on it. +"To die on the mat. Such was the word of Iémon." He felt his rags. "It +was well he agreed. Chōbei had other means to force compliance. Well, +'tis for later use." A continued rustling aroused him. Some one was +cautiously picking a way through the dry grass of the past winter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> was +creeping toward him. He half rose. Seeing that concealment was no longer +possible, the man rushed on him. Chōbei struggled to his feet, as one +to fight for life. "Life is dear. Why kill Chōbei the leper? Is he a +test for some new sword? Deign to pardon. The flesh of the leper is too +rotten. It defiles the weapon. Chōbei has been the <i>samurai</i>; he +knows.... Ah! Respite there is none. 'Tis Iémon! Iémon of Tamiya would +kill Chōbei!" He shouted and coupled the names in his despair. +Fearful of discovery, of being overheard, Iémon did not delay. The +gleaming weapon descended. Standing over the body Iémon showed +uncertainty. He had some thought of search; even bent down over it. But +he could not touch those foul rags. His nicety of feeling, almost +womanlike—recoiled. Besides, what more had Iémon to do with the leper +Chōbei. Their account was closed. Should he leave the body where it +was? Recognition might convey some danger, at least inconvenience. He +looked around for means to sink it in these waters, and yet not handle +its repulsiveness. A <i>shōyu</i> tub, old but fairly intact, lay upon the +bank. It caught his eye. He rolled it up to the corpse. Gingerly he +girdled the body of the dead man with his <i>tasuki</i> (shoulder cord). Now +tight fast it clasped the roundness of the barrel. This he filled with +stones, drove in the head, and with a shove sent it and its burden into +the Warigesui. "That will hold him down. The rotten punk! Three days, +and none could recognize him." Then he set off at rapid pace for +Yotsuya.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS: THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED BY THE DEAD</h3> + + +<p>It was the hour of the pig (9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>) before Iémon reached the +house in Yotsuya. To his surprise he found the <i>amado</i> still open on the +garden. Some one was lying face downward on the <i>rōka</i>. It was +O'Hana. To his alarmed inquiry as to what was wrong she answered in the +voice of one trying to suppress great pain. "This Hana knows not. +Opening a closet to get the spices used in preparing the meal, a rat +sprang out. It scratched the face of Hana. Truly the pain is very +great." She groaned, Iémon gently raised her. At the look on his face +O'Hana said—"There is a mirror in the toilet set (<i>kyōdai</i>). Deign +to get it for Hana." He did not get it—this dower gift once of +O'Iwa—but tried to soothe her—"Let be: the wounds soon will heal. The +pain will pass away." She shoved him aside and ran to the toilet stand. +She took the hand-mirror to the solitary lamp lighting the room. Aghast +she contemplated her features. One side of the face was completely +discoloured. It was a dark red, almost black, with the mark of five +fingers plainly visible, as if a hand had struck her. No rat had made +this wound. O'Hana leaned over, her head resting almost on her knees. +Iémon touched her shoulder—"Don't mind it. Truly the pain will pass +with dawn. Hana...." He drew back from the scowling madness in the face +raised to him—"Sa! Sa! Iémon! Iémon! Easily did you get hold of all my +property, to waste it on O'Hana. 'Twas like grasping wet millet. Then, +barbarous as you were, you sold me to the vile life of a street harlot. +Ah! Vengeance!" In fright Iémon retreated. O'Hana, taking herself to be +O'Iwa, all her madness had returned. She sprang up. Screens were beaten +and torn to pieces. With the heavy mirror she turned on him, seeking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +vengeance for her imagined wrongs. Iémon narrowly escaped injury as he +dashed in to grapple with her. He succeeded in dragging her away from +the lamp. Thus did this wild battle rage in the half dark room. The +fictitious strength of the ill woman gave out. He held her on the floor, +as one subdued. As she relapsed into a sleep, almost of unconsciousness, +he ventured to release her. Going to a closet he placed the mirror +beside the bamboo stick; both hidden away.</p> + +<p>All night he watched over her. Wearied out, with day he sought an aid +readily given. The nurse, however, in alarm soon roused him. O'Hana was +raving madly in a high fever. The woman could not restrain her. Her +cries were terrible, but not more so than the speech from her +lips—"O'Iwa, pardon! With the drugs of Suian this Hana would palsy +O'Iwa's mind and body; poison the very springs of life, cut off all hope +of issue. Ah! Vain the love of a man. All is granted him; body and +goods. Iémon sells Hana for a street harlot. Out with him! Help!... Ah! +Kwaiba aids—in all his rottenness. How horrible he is—huge vacant eye +holes, the purple whitish flesh gnawed and eaten.... Ugh! He stinks!... +Nay! 'Tis not Kwaiba. 'Tis Chōbei: Chōbei the leper, who would +embrace this Hana. Iémon comes. There is murder in his eye—for Hana to +see, not Chōbei. Away! Away!... Again, there she comes!" She grasped +the nurse's arm, and pointed to the just lighted <i>andon</i> which barely +relieved the shadows of the darkening night; was it the woman's +imagination? By the light, dimly outlined; sat O'Iwa San. Her hair hung +down around face and body half turned aside. The bulging forehead, the +puffed eyelids, were not to be mistaken. The woman shook off the sick +girl's hand and fled the house. Iémon did not try to prevent her. He was +as one paralyzed. He, too, had seen, and was convinced.</p> + +<p>To watch through the night was the task of the anxious and wearied man. +In the day a <i>yakunin</i> had come, with formal notice to attend next day +the office of Katada Tatéwaki Dono. His<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> lordship had an inquiry to +make. The summons was not to be disregarded, no matter what his own +exigencies. O'Hana had dropped into a cataleptic state. As the eighth +hour (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) approached he thought to clear brain and body by +the rest of a few moments. His head had barely touched the pillow when +sleep followed. The bell of Gwanshōji struck the hour. It roared and +reverberated through Tamiya. Iémon awoke; an oppression like suffocation +pervaded his whole body. Opening his eyes they stared into the wide +white flat face of O'Iwa. Her eyes were now alive, darting gleams of +fire deep from within the puffed and swollen lids. He felt her wild +disordered hair sweeping his face as she swayed a little, still +retaining her post and clutch on his bosom—"Iémon knows Iwa now! Hana +knows Iwa now! Sworn to seize and kill both for seven births—come! Now +it is that Iwa completes her vengeance." As she shook and pressed on him +he came gradually out of his sleep. With a shout he cast her backwards. +Springing up he grasped the sword at his pillow. Madly he dealt blow +after blow on the body before him. To the groans he replied by fresh +blows.</p> + +<p>An uproar without called him to himself. Don—don—don, don, don, don. +There was knocking at the gate. Iémon hastily trimmed up the wick of the +lamp. He leaned over the body. O'Hana! The young man stooped over her, +leaning on the gory sword. Great drops of cold sweat stood out on his +forehead. A shout came from without. "In his lordship's name! Open, or +force will be used." Why had the summons for the day been anticipated? +The unhappy ravings of O'Hana flashed to his mind. Iémon no longer +reasoned. A cunning insane light was in his eyes. Softly he made his way +to the <i>amado</i> fronting on the garden. No one was without. In the rain +and storm he might escape. Traversing the darkness he noted, however, +the man posted at the gate in the rear. Springing on the roof of the +shed he looked over into Teramachi. It was deserted. With the bloody +sword he hacked off the sharp points of the bamboo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> stakes. They now +aided his flight over the wall. He cast the weapon aside. In a few +minutes he disappeared in rapid flight down the street. When Katada +Tatéwaki, accompanied by his men, at last broke down the stout +resistance offered by the outer door of Tamiya he found the house empty, +except for the dead body of O'Hana, lying in its pool of blood. She was +still warm. He took it for mere murder, giving more urgent directions +for immediate pursuit. Methodically he searched the house, down to the +very rubbish pile. The seal of Tamiya was secured. This meant much. With +sceptical smile he handled the broken bamboo stick found in a closet. He +did not show the discovery to his men.</p> + +<p>Where did Iémon go? The unhappy man himself could not have told what +happened in the intervening days. He came to consciousness in the +darkness of a spring night, just before the dawn. The stars were +beginning to pale in the East. The landscape had the livid eerie light +in which it is uncertain whether day or night is to be the issue. With +surprise Iémon looked around him; then shuddered. The stagnant waters of +Warigesui's filthy stream lay beneath him. He had found rest on the +bank, at the very place where Chōbei had died under his hand.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The Sanzugawa—without hills or bridges;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On highway traversed by the dead, flowers there are none."<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The <i>yama</i> (山) refers to Yamada Chōbei; the <i>hashi</i> (橋) +to Takahashi Iémon; the <i>hana</i> (花) to O'Hana, the wife of +Iémon. Such was the then interpretation of the old poem.</p> + +<p>Iémon could go no further. His course was run. He knew it; but how end +life? At heart he was an arrant coward. Determined to cut belly he drew +the dagger he had kept with him. A shudder went through him at sight of +the steel. Ah! Better the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> green slime of the waters below. He thrust +the blade back into its scabbard. Moodily standing and gazing down, he +gave an idle kick to a stone near by. Dislodged, it swayed, then rolled +heavily down the bank, to plunge noisily into the stream, disturb its +noisome depths. The effect was surprising. Following its course with his +eye Iémon suddenly gave a yell of horror. Eyes starting from his head, +arms raised high, he bent toward the stream. Hair standing on end he +watched the hideous object rise to the surface. The face of Chōbei, +purple and bloated, the lips half gnawed and open in a fiendish grin, +looked up at him. Down came the arms, and Iémon put hands over eyes to +shut out the fearful vision. A horrid curiosity drove him again to view +it. Was he mad? This time the barrel in its slow revolution brought to +view the wide flat face, the bulging brow and heavy lids, the tangled, +disordered hair of the drowned O'Iwa. Scream after scream of the now +frantic wretch rang in the air. These waters! Seek death there! No! No! +A thousand times—No! He turned to flee the place, but his legs refused +the service. With fell purpose he ripped the blade from its scabbard, +tore open his clothes to give the deadly thrust. As he raised the dagger +invisible hands seized his arm. When he would release it, the other arm +was seized. Everywhere these hands held him fast. He raged, tore, +struggled madly to elude their grasp. Then, overcome, he fainted.</p> + +<p>Katada Tatéwaki from the top of the bank had been watching the struggle +of his men. He came forward and looked down at the bound and helpless +creature. "'Tis he: in very fact." On order a bamboo pole was fetched, +and run between the bound hands and feet. Thus like some beast was Iémon +conveyed to the nearest ward office. The formalities were few and soon +over. To avoid chance of repetition of the scene they conveyed him as he +was. Thus began the brutal progress across Edo in full daylight. People +turned and stared after this escort of the man-beast. At a distance they +took the burden as some savage bear,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> or perhaps one of those reputed +"<i>tanuki</i>" so noxious in their pranks on humankind. Come closer it was +seen to be a man. Any mad struggle to get free was treated to spear +pricks applied with no great nicety beyond the avoidance of serious +injury. Violent as were his struggles at times, it is doubtful if they +could have walked him the long distance. For the days of his flight he +had never rested; nor had these men in his pursuit. Yet he was +unexpected game. The Yotsuya affair was taking a widening sweep. Tamiya +Yoémon and Kondō Rokurōbei were under examination. The death of a +girl O'Haru at the brothel of Toémon of Honjō had unexpected effects. +In the investigation which followed one of the women, O'Také, had made +full confession. The pedlar Mobei had never left the house of Toémon; +never escaped from the hospitality of O'Matsu. His goods had aroused her +cupidity. The man died by poison, and was buried in the garden of +Toémon's house. O'Haru knew of the deed. This knowledge was the girl's +destruction. The wife and her substitute O'Kin hated O'Haru. Some +remains of a first good looks, her youth, gave her power with the master +of the house. The two women worked on his fears to gain consent for her +destruction. A charge easily was trumped up, and she was dragged off to +the cell of punishment. Under the hands of the wife and O'Kin she +suffered so that she died in three days, not without letting her mate +O'Také into the secret. Promptly the Honjō police were at work; not +more prompt than was the woman O'Kin to disappear from Edo, almost a +confession in itself. The rosary, found in the hands of the rector of +the Reiganji, was easily traced through different mediators straight to +O'Matsu herself. The man Toémon held out, and died under the torture. +The woman confessed; and in her confession was comprehended the full +story of O'Iwa's connection with Toémon's house. Of her no more need be +said. She rotted and died in the jail. The girls were scattered to +kindred houses. Two of the women, hunting their pray on Warigesui toward +the <i>yashiki</i> quarter, had witnessed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> the murder of Chōbei three +nights before. The police had gone to secure the body. Tatéwaki Dono was +notified and had accompanied them. To the surprise of all Iémon, then +the object of earnest search, was found on the spot.</p> + +<p>The affair kept on spreading—to the very source of all these troubles. +Katada Tatéwaki in the course of procedure had transmitted the Tamiya +case to the jurisdiction of the <i>machibugyō</i> of the North district of +Edo town, Homma Iga no Kami. With greatest interest the two men in +company poured over the innumerable documents now piling up in the case. +Old Tamiya Yoémon proved easy game. He readily confessed all he knew. +This brought in many witnesses from the wardsmen. It was not exactly +what was wanted. The evidence was mostly mere hearsay and conjecture. In +those days such testimony had a value not far below that of direct +statement. All pointed the way to the real criminal, who after all was +the star witness. Against Yoémon at first there was but little. However, +in his rage against Iémon and Kondō Rokurōbei—Akiyama was out of +his reach—his tongue was too long. The faces of the magistrates grew +serious as his connection with the money lender Suzuki was made plain. A +<i>samurai</i> loaning money on interest! and pressing men to ruin for +payment!! The stingy avaricious Yoémon appeared behind the usurer—until +in time his own heavy losses had made him a borrower, and placed him in +the hands of his once partner. Yoémon, together with the conspirators, +was not allowed to participate in the forced restitution made by Suzuki. +Nevertheless, at the time no great severity was shown the old man. He +was remanded to the custody of his bail, to be kept confined to one room +in the house.</p> + +<p>The same leniency was shown toward Rokurōbei. When he showed a +disposition to be recalcitrant, to equivocate, Homma gave sign to the +<i>dōshin</i>. Quickly the scourgers came forward with their fearful +instrument, the <i>madaké</i>. Made of bamboo split into long narrow strips, +these tightly wrapped in twisted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> hempen cord to the thickness of a +<i>sun</i> (inch), with the convenient leverage of a couple of <i>shaku</i> +(feet), the mere sight brought Kondō to terms. As he entered he had +seen them lead away a <i>heimin</i> (commoner) who had undergone the +punishment. The man's back, a mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, was +vivid to mind. At once he prostrated himself; made full confession. At +last they were at the source. Kondō was a witness of the fact. He +could and did tell of the inception and progress of the whole plot +against O'Iwa San, the source of untold woe to Yotsuya. His story +covered the period from the entrance of Iémon into the ward up to the +discovery of the body of Kamimura Goémon. The rôle played +by Kazaguruma Chōbei was in part dark to him. Of the disposition of +O'Iwa to the Honjō master of the <i>Yōtaka</i> he pleaded ignorance. +Tatéwaki Dono smiled as he counselled indulgence on this point. He knew.</p> + +<p>Kondō, however, was sent back to the jail. He was unquestionably a +principal. At last it was the turn of Iémon. The weeks had passed. The +body had been carefully nursed back to vigour. The mind was in +lamentable state. The ill-meant efforts of the jail authorities, the +strengthening of the criminal in order better to endure the torture to +the confession point, were somewhat baffled by the nightly visions of +the wretched man. The two hags, O'Iwa and O'Mino; Chōbei in his final +stage of purple bloatedness; these were his nightly companions, to +torment and harass him. Sleep! If he could but close his eyes to shut +out these horrors! Instead they became more vivid. The jailors put him +at the farthest corner of their ample premises. His fellow prisoners, +such as were allowed daily exit to the yard, visited him with blows and +foul insults for the disturbance he created in the night. But he was +cunning withal. Trapped as he was, in his lucid moments he realized that +there could be but little against him. O'Iwa? Not even in Tokugawa times +was the supernatural cause of prosecution except at the hands of the +vulgar. Nor in those days, any more than in these of Taishō <i>nengo</i>, +was a wife legally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> protected against abuse of husband or +parents-in-law. As for Chōbei—he was dead. His own presence on the +scene was no evidence against him as murderer. His only misgivings on +that point lay in the confusion of mind as to the few days then covered. +But who would blame a <i>samurai</i> for testing his blade on a beggar? What +were beggars for? He knew nothing of the evidence given by Yoémon and +Kondō; of the vile proof in the hands of Katada Dono. He had wholly +forgotten the nurse who had listened to the wild ravings of O'Hana in +her illness, broken sentences bearing so heavily and dove-tailing so +nicely into the completed case. Owing to this woman Tatéwaki Dono had +not waited the appearance of Iémon at morning. Iémon also left out of +account the characters of the two men before whom he appeared. Iga no +Kami sat as judge in the case. Close beside him, a little in the rear, +sat Katada Tatéwaki, in whose jurisdiction the case had originated, and +who was familiar with every stage. The four <i>dōshin</i> sat to one side +and the other of these two men.</p> + +<p>Homma and Katada were typical of their caste. Cold, callous, cruel, +devoted rigidly to the formulæ; of the <i>samurai</i> code, with strange +exceptions granted to the virtues required of the common people—filial +conduct and unswerving obedience to a superior—they were not men likely +to regard with favour this intruder into their class. The name of +<i>samurai</i> had been brought into contempt. Hence the serious character of +the offence, the necessity of severest scrutiny. To the valued +suggestion of Tatéwaki, Iga no Kami nodded assent. Iémon thought of +nothing but the murder of Chōbei, the abuse of his wife O'Iwa, the +conspiracy against her life and honour. The first question paralyzed his +defence. Was he not the son of Takahashi Daihachirō? The whole +terrible vista of the consequences of avowal appeared before him, once +himself a <i>dōshin</i> and familiar with legal procedure. The family had +suffered <i>kaieki</i> (deprivation of rights). It had been degraded from the +caste. Properly speaking Iémon was an intruder into the <i>samurai</i> class. +He was an impostor. His offence was against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> the suzerain lord, the +Shōgun. All the terrible penalties of treason hung over him. Tatéwaki +had been quick to note the opportunity to take this case out of the +category of offence by a <i>samurai</i>. Iémon was a plebeian and a +charlatan. He had insulted Government. At the stumbling denial quick +order was given. A <i>yakunin</i> seized the rope and dragged down the head +of Iémon. Others held him at the sides, to maintain the body rigid. +Stout fellows, the pick of the jailors, came forward. With ferocious +regularity the blows fell. Welts at once appeared. Soon the blood was +trickling from the torn skin. There was no sign to mitigate the severity +of the infliction. When at the seventieth blow the body collapsed in a +faint the wretched man was a terrible sight. The attendants of the jail, +witnesses of the full punishment of double the number of stripes, had +rarely seen such severity exercised. The jailors hated this smooth +fellow, this disturber of their peace. They kept a jail, not a madhouse. +Their superiors showed no sign of the mercy of renewed questioning. +Hence they would change the mad nightly ravings to the subdued groans of +the punished.</p> + +<p>The days passed and his body had healed, though movement caused pain and +distress. Brought again before the judges at the very sight of the +scourges he screamed out confession. Questioned as to the conspiracy +against the caste, his fraudulent attempt to consummate marriage with a +<i>samurai</i> woman—the actual fact or legality of it was ignored—his +ill-treatment and sale of her; all these in terror he denied. Once he +had looked upon banishment from Edo as the limit of his punishment. Now +decapitation would be a merciful end. He strove to secure the favour of +a quick and painless death. Again he was beaten almost to a jelly. He +clung to his denial, so important was the issue. At the next appearance +he was seized and dragged to a post fixed in the ground not far from the +judge's seat. His knees were pressed down on the edges of the triangular +bars. These formed a sort of grid, the edges of the bars being just +enough blunted to avoid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> cutting the skin. None of the pain was spared, +yet the prisoner remained fit for early future torture. The granite +slabs were then piled on his knees. Each one weighed thirteen <i>kwan</i> +(107 lbs.). As the fifth slab was placed on the body of Iémon, the flesh +assumed a reddish tint from the impeded circulation. Froth stained his +mouth, mucus ran from his nose. A sixth, a seventh stone, were placed. +"How now! How now!" The men pressed heavily on the stones. A <i>dōshin</i> +bent over him, listening and waiting for sign of the important +confession. The criminal was the one important witness of Tokugawa penal +law. Without confession he was innocent beyond all other proof. As the +eighth stone was placed Iémon began to vomit blood. The doctor raised +his hand. The feet were showing signs of blackness, which rapidly spread +upward. The man was in a dead faint. No confession had been secured.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the examination was thus conducted out of some severity. Days +passed. Whether or not the report of the physician was unfavourable, +influenced by some means Homma had fear the man might die before a +public retribution was secured. When Iémon again was dragged before his +judges he had a terrible object lesson before him. A man was undergoing +the torture of the lobster. Hands drawn up behind to the shoulders, the +feet tightly bound across the chest, he was propped up on a mat. +Properly conducted this "effort to persuade" took place in the jail. +Homma wished to try the effect of anticipation on Iémon. The prisoner +looked quickly at the man under torture, then hung down his head. His +lips were twitching with uncertainty. Homma struck hard—"Why deny the +plain fact? Is justice so ignorant of the doings and whereabouts of a +scamp. Kichitarō, or Kazuma the diviner, as he called himself, +murders Chōbei the pimp; a deed carried out before witnesses." A +<i>dōshin</i> placed the document of the confession of the whores so that +Iémon had no difficulty in ascertaining its title. "And why? Because of +the agreement with Chōbei to sell the woman he dared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> to call his +wife. The proof? The seal of Tamiya, the document itself." At last Iémon +looked up. The <i>dōshin</i> placed under his eyes the fatal contract with +Chōbei—agreement of exchange of the body of the woman in return for +five <i>ryō</i> duly received. It had been recovered from the dead pimp's +corpse. Carefully wrapped in oiled paper, Chōbei had carried it—sewn +in what he called his dress. Iémon unwilling to recognize past services, +Chōbei was sure to find it useful. Truly Iémon was young and +impatient, and Chōbei was double his age. With bitterness the +survivor recognized this primal fact.</p> + +<p>Iémon's eyes wandered from the paper to the thief under torture. The +dark green of the body was rapidly changing. The doctor present gave a +quick frightened sign. Skilful hands at once cast loose the bonds. Over +toppled the body. Iémon noted the white, almost livid, colour of death. +Restoratives were applied. All were busied with bringing the man back to +life. Then he was carried off, expression so unlike that of a human +being that the less hardened shuddered. Said Homma—"No confession yet?" +He raised his hand to make a sign. Iémon knew the quickness of response. +He almost screamed his appeal for further respite. The Law had +triumphed. As Iémon put his thumb seal to the confession of guilt to +insolence (<i>futodoki</i>) the magistrates rose and disappeared. +"Futodoki"—they and he knew that it meant the death sentence.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<p>Judgment was not delayed. The next day Homma, with Katada and an officer +of the Shōgun's household present, gave sentence. Yoémon and +Rokurōbei glared hate at Iémon who squatted with head bent to the +ground. The sword—that now was his only hope. The first words of Homma +showed that no mercy was to be dealt out in this case. Suzuki the +plebeian merely suffered stripes and banishment from Edo. He had to make +restitution to the amount of his property—such as was left after paying +the huge fine to Government. Tamiya Yoémon and Kondō Rokurōbei +underwent degradation from the caste. There was no disposition to +overlook the offence of usury. Beggary was to be the portion of Yoémon, +the destitution of the outcast. For some years the senile old man, the +virago of a woman once the wife of Kondō Rokurōbei, were stationed +at the Niōmon, to attract and amuse the worshippers passing up to the +great temple of the Asakusa Kwannon. Not for long could the woman hold +her tongue. Abuse passed with the sun's height to blows, and the +by-standers had to interfere and rescue the old man from the severe +beating. It was to the profit, rather than disadvantage, of the temple. +The pair were an added attraction. The priests left interference to +those at hand. Then the old man disappeared; to ornament the highway +with his corpse, or be cast on the moor, food for dogs and crows. Such +probably was the end of Tamiya Yoémon. The woman had not been seen for +some months. Her abilities as scold had attracted those qualified to +judge; her transfer to the position of bawd in a low-class house of the +neighbouring Yoshiwara soon followed.</p> + +<p>Kondō Rokurōbei fared tolerably well, considering his deserts. His +confession had been a great aid in unravelling the case. He was not +sentenced to cut belly. Degraded he heard with dismay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> the sentence of +deportation and exile to the far distant island of Sado. At this savage +place, subject to the hell of a Siberian winter and the intense heats of +the summer, the once pampered man lived out his last days, few and evil. +He who had passed the time idling with tea-cup, or <i>go</i>, or flower +arrangement, and taking enjoyment in the freshness and coolness of his +garden at the Yotsuyazaka, at fifty years now tried to lead the hard and +dangerous life of the wild fishing population among whom he was +unceremoniously cast. Such life was soon forbidden him. He was but in +the road. Then he did such clerical duties as the village at times +needed. A wife even was provided for him. The final blow was a palsy, +cutting off all effort at making a livelihood. Beatings now took the +place of food. The villagers laughed when they heard of the old man's +fall from a cliff. They, too, would have acted as had the brothers of +O'Nabé (stew pan). They took the word for the deed; and at the cliff +foot near Negai they erected a wooden shrine to propitiate the spirit of +"Jiya Rokurō."</p> + +<p>The day of execution had come. When sentenced, bound as he was Iémon +struggled forward to plead for mercy, respite from the barbarous +punishment to be inflicted on the traitor. His reward was the cangue and +bamboo saw—<i>nokogirihiki</i>; failing death by this, he was to be +crucified. The attendants fell on him. Kicks and blows had little effect +on the man frantic with terror. He almost reached the <i>rōka</i> at which +sat Homma. Then madly struggling he was carried off to the jail. Said a +<i>dōshin</i>—"His antics in the cangue will find small scope." The last +clause of the sentence was due to the notorious unwillingness of any +passer-by to give a cut. The punishment had lapsed since the days of the +third Shōgun, and was no more successful in Iémon's case. Placed in +the cangue at the execution ground of Shinagawa a cut was made in each +side of his neck. Smeared with blood the bamboo saw was placed on the +cangue in inviting proximity to the head. For five hours people passed, +with curious glances,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> but no movement to release the criminal. An Eta +(outcast) butcher sidled up. The guards watched him with curiosity. +Picking up the saw he made one pass. At the yell given by Iémon he +dropped the implement and fled in terror, amid the laughter of guards +and by-standers. Toward the hour of the sheep (1 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>) a +<i>yoriki</i> with his <i>dōshin</i> appeared. On signal the cangue was +removed. Inert limbs feebly twitching Iémon was bound tight to the +double cross, his legs and arms stretched wide apart. This was raised, +and again the hours passed in miserable waiting for a death which seemed +to recede. If unconsciousness threatened he was given vinegar to drink +as restorative. His fevered lips eagerly sought the fluid and prolonged +his torture. In the spring light the days were long. As the sun was +about to set the officer gave command. A <i>dōshin</i> came forward to the +cross and made a sign. A guard thrust his spear upward into the belly of +Iémon. The limbs made a movement, as in attempt to be drawn up. A guard +on the other side in turn made a thrust. Others followed. For some +moments they continued their sport, the reward of long waiting. The man +was not yet dead. Impatient the <i>dōshin</i> gave the shaft of a spear a +violent upward thrust. Its point appeared through the left shoulder. The +head fell forward on the breast and hung limp. Iémon was dead.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>These events could not be let pass without notice from either the pious +or the timorous. Kyōhō 2nd year 2nd month 22nd day (3rd April, +1717) the Inari shrine built to propitiate the fearful Lady of Tamiya +was opened to worship with due ceremonies. It had been erected on the +ground of the house once occupied by Matazaémon, facing on Teramachi and +on the narrow street paralleling Samonchō to the East. It was almost +opposite the entrance to the Shōgwanji. At the family temple, the +Myōgyōji, on the Samégabashi side, a grave and stela was set up. +With time, however, the opposition made itself felt. It was asserted +that the Lady O'Iwa still walked the ward, inflicting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> pains and +penalties on the inhabitants thereof. Triumphant reference was made to +recent public disasters—of plague, pestilence, famine, and tax levies. +The shrine was invitation for her presence. People had grown indifferent +as the new paint grew old, then shabby on the once famous <i>miya</i>. +Success lay with the opposition, and abolition of shrine and grave was +easily enforced. It was but for a time. The ward was either equally, or +more, unfortunate without the protection of its tutelary Inari shrine. +Just when it was re-established cannot be stated, but in the late +eighteenth century it was most flourishing. It was a favourite resort of +<i>samurai</i> women, seeking consolation for unfaithful or brutal conduct of +their husbands, and strength in the reputation for chastity of the +famous Lady of Tamiya. In 1825 the third Kikugorō made Yotsuya famous +by his presentation of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" as written for the stage by +Tsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byōzō). In the first years of the Meiji +restoration period Shunkintei Ryuō, the famous story-teller, heralded +its renown in the Shin Yoshiwara. O'Iwa San became a feature of the +Konharukō fête of that quarter. A grave was again erected to her at +the Myōgyōji. As she had no <i>kaimyō</i>, or posthumous name, the +rector of the temple gave her that of "Tokushō-In Myōnen Hishō +Daishi," which can be interpreted—"She, pleasing of disposition and +earnest in prayer; a woman of greatest brilliance." Let the reader not +judge this composition harshly; or its truth.</p> + +<p>The editor to the reproduction<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> of Ryuō's story speaks of his +difficulties. Placed in his hand for judgment he saw at once the power +of the tale. But—how avoid incurring the divine anger of the Yotsuya +Inari; how avoid being charged with the divine punishment? This question +was solved by the publisher assuming the burden of both inflictions; +under the spur of what <i>he</i> regarded as publication in inferior and +untrue form. He answered these questions with a laugh—"Afraid? Not so: +I, too, am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> human. Though the unusual is an object, yet I would not +rejoice at incurring the divine anger by publishing what should not be +published. Though the divine anger be incurred by publishing the Yotsuya +Kwaidan, and the divine punishment be inflicted, yet who would not +gladden the eyes and ears of the land? Hence in haste the true record is +to be printed; owing to emission of unfounded stories. The true record +being put forth, the people profit by it. How then is the divine wrath +incurred by publication? Certainly not: the protection of the divine one +is secured." The editor trusted in his argument; as does the present +scribe.</p> + +<p>More than once the remark has been heard as to these shrines of +Nippon—"Their temples? Those dirty, shabby places, without architecture +or interest, the haunts of snotty, ragged children?" The sun-helmeted +gentleman and lady, or collection of their kind, rush them by in haughty +contempt, and with some ridicule and ridiculous comment. Good Sir and +Madame, you are passing history on the road. At this Kwōgwanji, in +its rather shabby guest hall, Kusonoki Masashige and his devoted +followers spoke their last defiance and then cut belly. Kobé? It is +noted as a place to take ship, and not be too long in doing so. This +other, barely a mile from the Tōkyō-Yokohama railway, is +contemporary record of Nitta Yoshioka, who carved his bloody protest on +the Ashikaga before he killed himself in the trap set +by their treachery at this spot. Here behind the Kōraiji near Oiso is +a very shabby and tiny shrine nestled at the foot of the cliff. This had +better be avoided. It is dedicated to the smallpox god. But more than +history is neglected in the indifference and contempt shown these minor +<i>miya</i>. A vein of thought inwoven into the minds of this strange people +is instanced by this modest shrine of the Tamiya Inari. Wandering along +the amusement quarter of some great city, a theatre is seen with a +<i>torii</i> gorgeous in its red paint standing before the entrance. Within +this entrance is a small shrine and a box for the practical offerings of +cash or commodities. The theatre is decorated inside and outside with +flags as for a festival<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> (<i>matsuri</i>). Such is actually in progress. The +representation is that of the Yotsuya Kwaidan. From manager and actor +(even in the presentation of the figured screen of the moving picture) +the malevolence of the O'Iwa Inari—the Fox-witched O'Iwa—is to be +averted. Hence all the signs of worship as at her very shrine; hence the +unwillingness of author or publisher to handle the story, at least in +its full form. This is but a remnant of the fear of "black magic" still +found and practised in Nippon. On the beach at Kamakura at times can be +found straw chaplets with gaudy cloth attached to the centre; a copper +coin, and rice offering are accompaniments. Or such will be found at the +crossroads of town or village, or on the Yokohama Bluff. Or in times of +epidemic in numbers they are laid on the wayside shrine of the god of +measles or other disease. The latter disposition conveys its own +warning; the others are <i>majinai</i> or charms by which it is hoped to +transfer the disease to some other child, thus insuring the cure of the +first sufferer. The coin has been rubbed on the body of the little +patient. Dogs usually dispose of the food offering; and passing children +are only too likely to pick up the nefarious coin. The road cleaner +comes along at his rare intervals and sweeps the chaplet into the hole +for refuse. It is to be regretted that the ignorance and malevolence +indicated by these charms cannot as easily be gathered in and disposed +of. With these remarks the Yotsuya Kwaidan and its tale of ill-fortune +is brought to an end.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;" class="smcap">Yokohama,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">5th June-4th July,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">1916.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Finis</span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDICES" id="APPENDICES"></a>APPENDICES</h2> + +<p class='center'><b>A</b></p> + + +<p>[In printed copies of the <i>gidayu</i> the characters are to be +distinguished by their theme, only the term <i>kotoba</i> is used to mark a +speaker. The shading into descriptive writing is at times vague. In the +present translation the characters are indicated. The original figures +in most <i>gidayu</i> collections. Cf., "Gidayu Hyakuban," p. 271.]</p> + +<p>The Gidayu:</p> + +<p>Tsuruya Namboku was a writer of drama. Many are the persons called +Namboku. The three preceding generations were actors who played in +buffoon parts. In the fourth generation for the first time was taken up +the literary work of play-writing. The Namboku in the fourth generation, +Yōmyō Genzō, later known as Inosuké, was born at +Motohamachō. The father carried on the business of <i>katatsuki</i> dyer, +(handling the cloth to be more or less gaily patterned). Anei 4th year +(1775), entering at the Kanai Sanshō no Mon he (<i>Yōmyō</i>) took +the name of Katsu Byōzō. Later he received the name of Nan Tsuruya +Boku. When he became a playwright he was about fifty years old. His +plays are most ingenious, and are very numerous. Among them are the +"Osome Hisomatsu," "Iro-yomi-uri," "Sumidagawa Hana Goshō," "Yotsuya +Kwaidan." In the playhouse they are known (collectively) as the "Namboku +Mono."</p> + + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Iémon Sumika no Dan</span></p> + +<p class='center'>(Scene in the house of Iémon)</p> + +<p>Now to present it:—Already on that day—kō, kō—the bell of +sunset had issued its call. In the hedges were heard sounds of the +swarms of insects. Still more lonely was the deserted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> mansion. O'Iwa, +disturbed, anxious, when was her countenance to be open, her breast +cleared of its darkness? She brought forth the <i>andon</i>; took out the +sulphured slivers of wood from the box holding steel, flint, and tinder. +In the depths of her husband's mind no flowers bloomed. She thought it +was her woman's temperament that made her brood. In her anxiety she gave +expression to her gloom:</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Truly as 'tis said, it is a fleeting world; the flowing of +water the future of men. Before this I performed the service of the +inner apartments of the Hosokawa House. The marriage! Connected in +thought with Iémon Dono the honoured dismissal was requested, that I +should become a bride. Without fortune is that Inosuké, heir of the +master, such object of delight to bring him to maturity. In the end all +affection is absent. Nerve-racked from birth, with the pains of +child-birth, the blood clot, such sickness has seized upon me. Then +suddenly—one without a home, shorn of all ornament. Overcome completely +by the struggle, effort and end have culminated. Parent and child, +husband and wife, these (relations) master this self. Detested is the +fleeting world, gloomy one's existence."</p> + +<p>As she pondered, unbidden the tears mingled with her depression. Without +restraint, gradually rising-rising-rising, mounted the flow of blood:</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Ah! Ah! Again the ever-present disease shows itself. Deign—a +remedy! Oh! Oh! That! That! That same remedy of aforetime, stirred and +mingled with pure water. Two sips, three sips; if one drinks poison—one +becomes divine; life comes to an end, but pity is aroused."</p> + +<p>The curtain before the dressing room was gently raised. Without speaking +Gombei seated himself close to O'Iwa.</p> + +<p>"Eh! Who is that? Iya! No one is announced. Hana, I say! Hana, I say! +Oh! 'Tis he—of all men! Gombei San, has he come again? Vengeance is +satisfied, no longer exists."</p> + +<p>As she would depart he held her sleeve to stop her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Gombei</i>—"Ah! Ah! I say—please wait. A little while ago, at Iémon's +coughing and clearing his throat, I was frightened away. Trembling, at +that time I went round to the rear. Thinking him really absent, with +stealth I have entered. The motive of a man lies at the bottom of the +heart. Just think to grant me a little affection. Alas! Ma! Submitting +it is deigned to hear what I have to say. Heigh! A woman like this, her +whole mind on Iémon, she would be the chaste wife. But the affections of +Iémon are elsewhere, far distant. Ya! Hoi! Hoi! Hoi! To fly! Ho! Ho! Ho! +Ho! Ho! Oh! Moreover the disposition of Gombei is not wicked. He seeks +to be the husband. Other purpose there is none. Condescend to be easy in +mind."</p> + +<p>But his words carry no weight. The face of O'Iwa in the light has a +glare.</p> + +<p><i>Gombei</i>—"As usual: Ma! One deeply distrustful. Iya! These matters, +though in thought, are not to be put in words. The state of affairs is +too urgent to be put into words. Sa! But I hear you say—'Iémon probably +goes to Hachiman. Groundless all these censures.' Do you really believe +this? The intrigue is with the only daughter of Okumura Kinai, by name +Koúmé. She is indeed a beauty; whether one regard the shape of her face, +her manners, or the carriage of her loins as if the willow of spring. +The intimacy with Iémon could go no further. The proof spoken of is +here. This letter—the sealed envelope: it fell from the sleeve of +Iémon. Stealthily I picked it up, by accident. Now then! Whereabouts is +it? A lengthy thing—Sa! Let's see what's in it. The coquettishness of +the sentences! But let's see what she does say. Eh! What's that? 'The +night is source of pleasure. Great the pleasure at sight of you. With +compliments.' Assuredly there can be no mistake, when she talks this +way—'The day comes. Soon we will be husband and wife; morning and night +to be at your service. With compliments.'<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>—'Thus are the gods +invoked. With compliments.' Eh! What's this? 'When distant from your +side but for a moment, painful Time's course. Place this signature next +your very person (<i>hadaka</i>).'—'To-night—come quickly; your advent is +awaited. With compliments.' What a miserable creature is this! Is she +not? But there's still more. 'O'Iwa Sama and matters with her, this is a +punishment due to offence in a previous existence. Condescend to be +relieved in mind. Be sure thus to view it. The spiteful brush (pen) +stops. With compliments.'—'It is hard (my lot); very hard. With +compliments.'—'The honoured master comes; the ever-present desire.' How +now, O'Iwa Sama? Sa! Is there no outbreak as to this? The occasion is no +pleasing one. Is there no harsh remark forthcoming as to one who holds +illicit intercourse with the husband of another? Eh! You are a woman of +marvellous patience! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! At all events say what you think. +'As yet in this matter, as yet in this affair, you are certain of +nothing.' Is that it? That Koúmé and her mother plot together. Eh; but +she has a beautiful face! And you—you are bloated, eyes wide distended, +one side of the face caved in, the hair of the head all fallen out. +That—and that—how describe the ugliness of your face! The affection of +Iémon has worn out. Ah! What is the name of that poisonous drug, begged +of Suian until secured? That, too, has been learned. Oh! Fearful, +fearful, fearful! This is to act as one without care. Life is not +something which lasts forever. Send from this house dismissal to Iémon, +the act of separation. This the finality! Surely the intrigue is proved. +Mere thought, easily exhausted, is to no purpose. Make up your mind; +express your feelings. At all events your reputation is preserved. Act +and decide as one indifferent. More and more have in mind the <i>susuki</i> +of Masuo. Deign to yield. Do this—just this—O'Iwa Dono!"</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"No! and always, No! Firm the stand taken. In no way is this to +be endured—to be endured. To hate a person is unreasonable; 'tis +unjust. But—the embracing arms, the closely clinging, this is to act +the lover."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p>With fingertips she thrust him off. Angry the tears; her voice trembled.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Ya! 'A woman, and the object of contempt; one treated by her +lord with rudeness beyond measure. The husband has become wearied. +Here's the proof. Are you a woman lacking sense?' One so unmeasurably +rude—out with you! One's whole frame vibrates with passion. At one's +very feet, the fact is made plain. Quick—away with you! Delay—and this +shall be the guerdon."</p> + +<p>With violence she drew the dagger of Kosuké. Gombei, wicked as he was, +weakened forthwith.</p> + +<p><i>Gombei</i>—"Eh! Treated thus one's purpose is brought to naught. Listen +now to reason, self-willed as you are. A little while, and it will not +be the time for a snarling face. Very well: notice is given that soon +your spirit will be broken. The petition is lodged at the Daikwan's +office. There will be difficulty in gathering principal and interest. +Just wait." He said these words on leaving, ready to make a bolt of it. +With <i>zōri</i> (sandal) on one foot and a wooden clog (<i>geta</i>) on the +other rapidly he ran away. Left alone O'Iwa rose in haste. To the +conflagration burning in her bosom, was added the fuel of a woman's +temperament. If it were true! How learn? Pondering over the details +filled her with anxiety.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Ah! Ah! Ill feeling seeks to destroy—already it turns to +wickedness. Gombei's face betrayed him. His talk was specious. At sight +of the letter he read the doubting heart learns the truth. Burdensome +the knowledge for one's heart. The mind tastes the bitterness of +adversity. The hair of the head, behind the temples, is affected by the +feelings. To draw out the dressing stand to hand: the little combs of +willow, where are they? Sorrow effects change; as does entanglements of +the heart. The fine-toothed comb which holds the thousand strands of +hair—how now! It has been forgotten."</p> + +<p>Again she took up the hair. To get it out of the way she took the front +hair in both hands, making space to see.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Alas! I fail to understand. To-day the vertigo is more +pronounced than usual; especially with the hair like this. Did sickness +cause the loss?"</p> + +<p>As she spoke, she drew the cover from the mirror. Reflected in it was a +face to inspire fear. Ha! Frightened, she rose and drew back. Though she +looked around her—there was no one. Alas! How strange! Thus she stood. +Then leaning forward carefully she scanned the mirror. "Ya! Ya! Since +when has my face been like this? It is completely altered." As if she +could repair the ravages to self and features squint-eyed she stood and +gazed. To sight she seemed a woman of evil. "Hai! Ha!" She fell +prostrate. "How now! How pitiful!" Like one crazed she arose. Her body +writhed in pain, at the pit of the stomach. These stomach pains, of +frequent occurrence, now seized her. Thus long she lay writhing where +she was.</p> + +<p>While she twisted in agony; knowing nothing of what has happened, and +hearing the wheedling voice of a crying child, Kosuké had returned and +was at the entrance.</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Honoured lady, long have you been kept waiting. The honoured +priest had matter to relate. In Yotsuya I went from this place to that, +in effort to coax supply. But just now.... Is she suckling the child?" +While speaking he drew close—"In the meantime the honoured illness has +developed beyond measure. After retiring for the night you walk in your +sleep. Eh! Deign to be a little prudent."</p> + +<p>Softly the child came to her side. On seeing in what agony she was:</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Ya! Alas! Alas! Have you again one of those hysterical +attacks, now so frequent? Okusama! I say!"</p> + +<p>To restore her from the fit to consciousness he raised her in his arms. +Regarding with attention her frightful appearance:</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! This face of the Okusama: Ma! What can be the +matter?"</p> + +<p>He staggered in bewilderment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"How changed! The Danna is absent. Heigh-ho! Ma! How has this +occurred? What can be done? The cold water in the kettle here...."</p> + +<p>Opening her mouth he made her swallow a mouthful. He placed his mouth to +her ear.</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Okusama! Your ladyship!"</p> + +<p>Gently he stroked her back. Thus nursed, the breath of the heartbroken +O'Iwa faintly returned.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Hei! Has Kosuké returned? Why do you stroke me thus? I had but +gone to sleep, just now."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" said he—"Ma! Ma! How joyful. Ah! Iya! I say, Okusama; how +long have you been in that state? Your face inspires fear."</p> + +<p>At his question again she was the woman. The tears in her breast rose +high and overflowed. For a time she did not answer. When a little calm:</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Deign then to listen. As usual Iémon Dono went forth to +worship at Hachimangū. Subsequently my vertigo was too pronounced. +Two or three drinks were taken of the medicine prescribed by Suian Dono. +Secretly at the rear entered Naosuké no Gombei, to make illicit +courtship. Various were his pleas. Thus—Iémon Dono was deeply in love +with the daughter of Okumura. The worship (<i>kami-mairi</i>) was all a lie. +He was contracted to Koúmé. Hence his affection for me was at an end. +This change was due to the drug. Hear what is to be done. Love +unrequited is to be satisfied by revenge. Thus did Gombei put the +matter. But it is not likely that my husband is so cruel. Heart again +will turn to heart. The attack of vertigo was strong. The hair was +pulled out. Moreover, suddenly the face became altered.... My +appearance: Ma! Gombei then did not lie. By the plotting of the Okumura, +parent and child, I have drunk poison. They have an understanding with +Suian. Eh! At the thought—at the thought—anger rises. My husband, a +man of note, with him she commits adultery. Hence the hatred of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +people. Since the poison has been quaffed; as serpent, as demon, none +shall be my equal. The Okumura, parent and child, are you the kind thus +to act!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly she sprang up, and would have dashed out at the front. At her +act the frightened Kosuké put his arms around and stopped her.</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Heigh! Heigh! I say, Okusama! The expression of your face has +changed. Heigh-ho! Whither away? Alas! It is plain that she would go to +the <i>yashiki</i> of Okumura. Evil her purpose. She would confute the malice +spoken by Koúmé, by parent and child. She would fetch away with her +Iémon Dono. Iya! Ho, there! Your honoured judgment strays. She believes +in what Gombei has said; that he is with the Okumura. Does she not +remember times past, the reproof of the Danna? Sa! As before! As before! +As before! Put on outward seeming. Deign to be calm. No! No! No! Though +there be shame; display a smile. Do but this. The prudence of the lady +carries the day. The colour, the perfume, of the flower has no effect. +Sa! She won't stop! She will go! Thither she will take her way! The +conflagration of her wrath is in her glare. She goes, and Kosuké remains +behind!" At a sound she looked around. The little boy was weeping +bitterly at his mother's state. The tie of blood, her affection, +prevailed.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Oh! Bonka! Bonka! Bonka! The pretty fellow grieves."</p> + +<p>She drew near to embrace him. Earnestly he looked in his mother's face.</p> + +<p><i>Child</i>—"Iya! Iya! My lady mother is not like this. I'm afraid! I'm +afraid!"</p> + +<p>Weeping, the little boy dropped from her knee.</p> + +<p>"Bei-yo! Please call my real lady mother."</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Aré! Aré! Aré! Deign to hear that! In heart children are +without discernment. My appearance changed, he fears the presence of his +mother. To her side he will not approach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> How, how comes this face! +Meeting with Iémon Dono one would think—one would think—my very self +meets with retribution for some deed done in a past existence. Husband +and beloved child—alas! they avoid my sight."</p> + +<p>With lamentable cries she wept. Kosuké, too, was moved, and joined in +her tears. O'Iwa again inspected the appearance of her face.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"To continue living thus in the world would be one unending +shame. Dying the grudge will be repaid. Holding thus the skirt prevents +my leaving. This must not be. To that place I go."</p> + +<p>As the two struggled the girdle (<i>obi</i>) came loose. The contest was +brought to an end. At this juncture returned Hamiya Iémon. He had little +disposition to enter his home. Thus unexpectedly, without premeditation, +the two came face to face. Mutually they gazed at each other. "Ho! The +Danna: good day." Kosuké remained where he was, uneasily twisting. O'Iwa +clasped tight the breast of her husband's coat. "Heigh! Iémon Dono."</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Complete has been the silence toward me. Every night, every +night, polluted. With Koúmé have pillows been exchanged." Speech and +voice vibrated with jealousy. She glared at him. Without showing alarm:</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Ma! I don't understand. This way of acting is unusual. Why +look like that? In that manner painful the change in appearance."—"Why? +Why? Eh! You pretend ignorance. You pretend ignorance of the joyful +result. By the artifice of Koúmé, of parent and child, in unison with +Suian, a poisonous drug has been given me to drink. By this means I am +made unrecognizable. Would that never I had been born, to live so +deformed ... all due to the feeling aroused in these people. Sa! Sa! Sa! +Restore my former appearance! Bewitched, seized by anxious care, it +remains but to withdraw."</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Ya! What mad talk! In my absence, loosening the cord of the +<i>obi</i>, secretly you indulge your lewdness. Detected by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> the master's +eye, disloyal as you are, death is the weighty punishment. Make ready!" +At hearing the unjust proposal the upright Kosuké with tears held tight +his knees.</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Heigh! Danna Sama. Iya! I say, Iémon Dono! This Kosuké an +adulterous fellow? Heigh-ho! It is unreasonable! Unreasonable! +Unreasonable! You speak for your own purpose. I, the mere servant, have +been to call the honoured priest to the Yotsuya. Returning home I found +the Okusama unconscious. When she learned the true state of affairs the +Okusama would have rushed forth. To stop her I seized the end of the +<i>obi</i>. And that is to be unchaste! Iya! A paramour—heigh-ho! That is +too much! Too much! Too much! It is to go to excess. Truly, truly, for +these years and months you have gone forth in the world. Such has been +your conduct. You have allowed a sight of you—at the Bon Matsuri, at +the New Year, in accidental meetings on the street when on some mission. +Why! The very dogs bark—the honoured constables of the night watch—eh! +they administer reproof."</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Lamentable the distress. How many times! Sleepless the +nights—the time when one should slumber. But this does not move him. +Hence the unkindness of his speech."</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Eh! He don't listen. Danna Dono, beating the <i>tatami</i> one +weeps with regret."</p> + +<p>O'Iwa forthwith sprang up in haste—sprang up—sprang up.</p> + +<p>"Superior is the concubine to the lady wife. Below the basely mean is +one placed. In the relation of husband and wife, the thought is to treat +the husband with respect. Such is the duty of woman. To you the poverty +and distress are not displayed. Obtaining her means to live by washing +and occasional tasks, yet the wife is discarded. The sum total of the +sunshine transforms the flowers; invisible their change. Regardless of +self-distrust of the past is put aside. But you act with cruel motive; a +grudge as lasting as a night without moonlight. From the clouds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> the +drizzle falls on bamboo and on village. And between the intervals of +rain there is naught but weeping."</p> + +<p>Iémon refused to listen:</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Ya! Mere excuses these; mere excuses these. In the master's +absence the cord of the <i>obi</i> is loosed. Madly you go your rounds. The +lewdness is evident. Sa! Make honest confession." At the outrageous +words of the husband the voice of O'Iwa trembled still more:</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Eh! 'Tis your own sin you would conceal. Regardless of self +you would impute evil reputation to me. Having driven me out, you would +make Koúmé your wife. But by that you shall gain nothing. Miserable one! +Unblushingly do you join in the hate of the Okumura, parent and child?"</p> + +<p>With a rapid motion she snatched his dagger. She half turned:</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Ya! Whither? Whither? Here one must pick one's words. This is +not the time to inquire into the facts. Iya! Iya! Iya! Where do you go?"</p> + +<p>At their quarrel Kosuké was perplexed. Said the child in troubled voice:</p> + +<p><i>Child</i>—"Honoured mother—where go ye? Honoured father—forbearance, +patience."</p> + +<p>He clung to their garments in kindness and affection. The eyes of the +two in Shuradō (Hell of fighting) were blinded. On this side and that +they pulled at the scabbard of the sword. In the wrestling, the +springing in and recoil, the sword slipped from the scabbard. Without +intention to five or six inches it pierced the shoulder. Atto! The wife +fell—"Namu Sambō!"<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> Plucking out the sword O'Iwa cast it aside. +By the action of retributive fate the point of the weapon pierced the +chest of Kosuké. The wound was fatal. Seven revolutions and a fall: +alas! he was dying. Close under his feet the blow of Iémon had reached +the child. With but a single cry forthwith he died. At the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> accident the +husband was at a loss what to do. He stood stupified. With difficulty +O'Iwa rose from the ground.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! You would kill me! Oh! Since you +would kill, put into deed the ardent wish. Wretch! An idea—Koúmé, the +parent and child: these are to be seized and put to death. Be it so!"</p> + +<p>With eyes of hate, her hair fallen down, jealously glaring, in +appearance she was just like a female devil. Blood curdling, she +inspired fear. The husband gave vent to his inner thought:</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Though one kill without intent, yet the brandishing of the +sword is one's own deed, one's very act. It is the punishment of Heaven +for unchastity and jealousy. Bear it in mind."</p> + +<p>At the cruel words Kosuké, drawing painful breath:</p> + +<p><i>Kosuké</i>—"Eh! To us, to us, to us, such speech applies not. Unkind, +unrighteous, is this death punishment. There is naught to compare to it. +Very wicked and unprincipled, surely you are possessed of a devil! +Seldom is the life of a serving man grudged him; unconsidered as he is. +Forgetful, the evil reputation of lechery is attached, and death the +portion. Eh! How regrettable! The sight is unseemly. 'Twas you who +inflicted the wound! To the Okusama also, evil the name. Thus, without +intention, the end of your life is not witnessed by your child."</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"By the hand of another your wound, by one your parent! On my +part—on my part—had I aught to do with this? Heigh! Am I not grieved? +Eh! Cold? Unfeeling? A wound to myself could not pain more."</p> + +<p>Vainly writhing he raised and embraced the body of the child. As sadly +he lamented, O'Iwa crawled up close. Tightly her arms clasped the dead +body of her child.</p> + +<p><i>O'Iwa</i>—"Alas! Alas! Inosuké! Inosuké! The selfishness of your father; +the temperament of the mother; foolish their thoughts. Thus have you +ended life.... How great is the grudge. Heigh! Exercise forbearance! +Exercise forbearance! Deign to show forbearance. Parent and child are +related for but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> one life, 'tis said. Now separated, again in what world +will there be meeting? Men are born into the wide world. There is such a +thing as sympathy, 'tis said. Before your eyes lie <i>kerai</i> (retainer), +wife, and child. Now, on the very brink of time, not once do you recite +the Buddha's name. Abandon your inordinate desires. Is your heart that +of a demon? Eh! A snake? Cruel and cold to your wife, you reckon up your +various hates. With Kosuké I am the one to lament. Tears overflow. +Steady the fall of rain of Yōsuji, of <i>sumidare</i> (the rainy season). +When dying the chief of birds vomits forth blood with his song: so I."</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Ya! The song she sings inspires no regret. A prayer said and +the child enters Nirvana. Namu Amida Butsu! As for these two—I would +kill them by inches; as they twisted, and staggered, and fell grasping +at the air, and in every way showed their agony. In the next world may +they meet with a mountain set with sharp-edged swords, so cruel as to +inspire pity."</p> + +<p>Just then came running to the front entrance Suian. He gasped for +breath:</p> + +<p>"Heigh! Heigh! Iémon Dono!"</p> + +<p><i>Suian</i>—"O'Iwa Dono's appearance has changed. It was the drug, our own +secret nostrum, administered at request of the honoured mother of +Okumura. Though sorrow was felt, unexpected the good luck in killing the +honoured wife. Henceforth come out openly. Who would not drain the +<i>saké</i> cups with Koúmé Dono! The three lands (China, India, Japan) are +the inheritance of one who was but an adopted son. All in good order! +All in good order! All in good order! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sa! To set +about it at once."</p> + +<p>The husband concealed tears of regret for past conduct.</p> + +<p><i>Iémon</i>—"Plain it is that wife, child, and <i>kerai</i>, though deserving +compassion, have found death. 'Twas determined by fate in a previous +existence. But to obviate fear of future disaster, though not the +original purpose, the dead bodies of these two are to be nailed to a +door panel, with the inscription—'unchaste and jealous.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> Let them +float away on the current of the Nenashigawa. The entrance of the house +is close to the inner room. Make ready: it will be best to leave by the +rear. Quick! Quick! But...."</p> + +<p><i>Suian</i>—"It happens that the neighbor Dansuké comes." He bent and +peeped through the entrance. "Dansuké! Dansuké!" Dansuké Mizuo in +presence, mouth to ear he was informed. "Namu! Namu! Namu! Namu!" He +nodded consent. The two men talked in whispers. The dead bodies of the +two (O'Iwa and Kosuké) were carried into the inner room. For some time +Naosuké Gombei had been watching what went on, peeping out and +listening. He appeared from the shadow.</p> + +<p><i>Gombei</i>—"Yai! Unjustly have the blameless wife and <i>kerai</i> been +punished by Hamiya Iémon. Complaint is to be made at the Daikwan's +court."</p> + +<p>When he would rush forth he was pulled back by the girdle (<i>obi</i>). "Ya! +Ya! Whither would you go? There is matter of importance to hear."—"The +intent is plain. You would kill me." One had the long sword of the +soldier. Two or three passes and he was nearly cut down by the skill of +Hamiya. When he tried to flee, from behind he received a cut through the +shoulder. It finished him. Then he (Iémon) would hide the dead body of +his child from the eyes and reproach of men. Close at hand was a heavy +stone trough. For funeral rites—"Namu Amida Butsu!" Into the well crib +he threw it. Aré! Marvellous! Suddenly the house creaked and trembled. +From somewhere came swarms of rats. Heigh! Incomprehensible! Iémon +wavered. Singling him out they flew and seized him. Sha! Confused he +slashed in attempt to drive them off. Lightning blazed around the sword; +many phosphorescent lights—in wreaths, double, triple. To the end of +the worlds his retribution.</p> + +<p>Thus the causes, origins, are made known of what remains as the Yotsuya +Kwaidan.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">End of the Gidayu</span></p> + +<p>[It can be noted that Japanese thought and expression are not very +different from that of the West. An idea perhaps can be obtained from +this <i>gidayu</i> as to why the native waxes enthusiastic over the pose and +vivid gestures of the <i>geisha</i>, who is the one to interpret these +dramatic recitations. To her falls the "<i>kotoba</i>." The descriptive lines +are recited by a chorus to the harsh and effective twang of the +<i>samisen</i>. The <i>samisen</i> may not afford music, but it can give +expression to the emotional in feeling. The <i>gidayu</i> recitation is a +favourite art with the Go Inkyō Sama. Symposia are held, before which +the old gentleman recites, often enough without chorus; for he, and the +<i>geisha</i>, at times have to fill the rôle both of "<i>kotoba</i>" and chorus, +modulating the voice according to the theme. Symposia is not an +unbefitting term. Meetings are held for public competition in <i>gidayu</i> +recitation; but in the privacy of one's circle and hobby the banquet is +an important feature—at least to the guests. In his history of +"Japanese Literature" (Dai Nihon Bungaku Shi, pp. 591-596) Suzuki +Chōkō gives a long extract from the play, as sample of Tsuruya's +powers as a dramatist. Adopted into the House of the actor Tsuruya +Namboku, and marrying his daughter, Katsu Byōzō in turn assumed +the name Tsuruya Namboku.]</p> + + +<p class='center'><b>B</b></p> + +<p>[In the original the story by Momogawa Jakuen is found in the Kwaidan +Hyaku Monogatari, vol. ii, p. 83 (Kokkwadō-Tōkyō). This +collection has already been referred to, as sketching a number of the +best known Japanese <i>kwaidan</i>. The present example furnishes a specimen +of <i>kōdan</i> style, and has application to the present subject. It also +instances how the Japanese stage boldly faces situations, the exigencies +of which call for the greatest adaptation and facility on the part of +actor and stage manager. The "Yotsuya Kwaidan" in the stage +representation presents a number of critical scenes in which both +qualities are severely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> strained. Rapid metamorphosis is a <i>sine qua +non</i>. And it is effected—somehow.]</p> + +<p>The <i>kōdan</i>:</p> + + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Onoé Kikugorō no Yūrei</span></p> + +<p>From former times and generations the Otowa<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> House held a monopoly in +the representation of ghosts. Its representative in the fifth generation +was the most skilful of all at spectres. This man of the third +generation lived at Mukōjima no Terajima. He was commonly called +Terajima no Kikugorō; his stage name was Baikō. This man's +daughter was the mother of the fifth generation. Thus it can be seen +that he was the maternal grandfather of this fifth representative. This +third Kikugorō was the first to act the Yotsuya Kwaidan, in Bunsei +8th year 7th month (14th August-13th September, 1825) at the Nakamura-za +(theatre). The author was the noted Tsuruya Namboku, who constructed the +very famous "Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kwaidan." O'Iwa San, the attendant +(<i>wakatō</i>) Kohei, and Enya no Rōnin Satō Yōmo Shichi, these +parts fell to Kikugorō. Matsumoto Koshirō, he who strutted it at +the Kōraiya, did the Naosuké Gombei. Iémon was the part of the +seventh Danjurō; later Ebizo, who was the real father of the ninth of +the name. The staging of O'Iwa Sama includes—1st scene, the combing of +the hair; 2nd scene, the Sunamura Ombōbori; 3rd scene, Iémon ill in +the dark room at Hebiyama; 4th scene, the <i>yashiki</i> of Naosuké Gombei at +Fukagawa Sankaku. O'Iwa appears at the scene of the combing of the hair +as mentioned, in the incident where the guests are received, and in the +3rd scene at Hebiyama. Iémon is ill. Splitting apart the lantern set out +during the Festival of the Dead (Bon Matsuri) the ghost of O'Iwa appears +with the child in her embrace. Iémon receives them as would a stone +Jizō. O'Iwa, at sight of the fright of Iémon, laughs—ki, ki, ki. At +once they fade away; and at once the ghost of Kohei the <i>wakatō</i> +takes her place, he who was charged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> with unchaste conduct with O'Iwa. +It was the part of the performer to please the uninitiated by some +strenuous effort. The first performance at this theatre was for three +months—from the seventh to the ninth month. On consideration the drama +is of interest. O'Iwa is killed at Yotsuya. With the dead body of the +<i>wakatō</i> Kohei she is fastened to a door, and from the rear the +scoundrel sets them adrift. Fishing at Ombōbori, Iémon sees them +float by. From Yotsuya to Sunamura is a very great distance. It would +occupy a woman's legs for the space of a day; or faint-hearted fellows, +water drinkers, such of the kind as would try it. Winding along what +rivers, by what intersecting canals had they floated here? In no way +does one conceive. All the more the reasons influencing the author's +design are not known. Very interesting is the story, to the cheerful +character, and those not to be chilled by apparitions. At all events +they get to Ombōbori? The third Kikugorō, the first to take the +part of O'Iwa, was a superlative actor, skilled in capturing the people. +In the third scene, the dark room at Hebiyama, the ghost comes forth +from the <i>Bon</i> lantern. Every day the <i>kozō</i> (man or boy as +apprentice) of the utility shop in Asakusa Umachō slowly took down +the lantern covered with white paper. In a straight line, before the +eyes of all, he passed along Kuramaédōri, crossing Asakusa. From +Yokoyamachō he crossed to Daimaru no Mae. Passing through +Norigyōchō he reached the Nakamura-za in Sakaichō. As he passed +along these streets crowded with people, the eyes of men were attracted:</p> + +<p><i>No. 1</i>—"Every day, every day, the <i>kozō</i> goes by carrying that +<i>Bon</i> lantern. Where does he go?"</p> + +<p><i>No. 2</i>—"He? Kikugorō now is playing O'Iwa Sama at the Nakamura-za. +The ghost issues from that <i>Bon</i> lantern. The lantern used is brought +every day by the <i>kozō</i>."</p> + +<p><i>No. 1</i>—"Ha! A practical application. We must be sure and go see." +Through this advertisement the guests came readily. As fact, every day +but the one <i>Bon</i> lantern was used. Split apart,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> it was repaired. From +the first day, up to the performances of a thousand autumns, one lantern +answered all purposes. Truly Kikugorō was more than a clever actor. +He was wonderful in securing the good will of people. No actor was equal +to him. Tradesmen, Government officials, learned men, refined people—he +was skilful at gaining their support. Hence he did not lack money. His +<i>status</i> did not affect him. When as usual the <i>Bon</i> lantern one day was +to be carried out, Kikugorō made his pupil Onozō the bearer. Said +Kikugorō:</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Onozō, don't I frighten you somewhat in this shape?"</p> + +<p><i>Onozō</i>—"I'm not in the least frightened. Every day acting as your +assistant I'm not afraid."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"What? Not afraid? Say that you're afraid."</p> + +<p><i>Onozō</i>—"Patron, that is unreasonable. One not afraid—is not +afraid. Hence it cannot be helped."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Anyhow, say you are afraid."</p> + +<p><i>Onozō</i>—"I'm not at all afraid."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"An obstinate rascal, this."</p> + +<p>While speaking—<i>pokari</i>, he gave <i>Onozō</i> a whack on the head. As it +was he went through the performance. Coming to the green room, at once +he called Onozō.</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Fool and low fellow."</p> + +<p><i>Onozō</i>—"Why is it then you would strike a fool and low fellow with +a stick?"</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"You are just like a fool. A little while ago when told +to be afraid of me, you would not say you were afraid."</p> + +<p><i>Onozō</i>—"Patron, that is to be unreasonable. I attend you. Every day +I see you."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"I know you are not afraid. But you are the very one who +acts as my attendant. In public you are to look at me as one frightened +beyond measure. If this be not widely published, will not the theatre be +deserted? An actor who is good only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> at acting, he is not to be called a +clever man. He must draw people. Fool and low fellow!"</p> + +<p><i>Onozō</i>—"Naruhodo! Since you say it—I'm afraid."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Your answer now is to the purpose."</p> + +<p>Hence on considering the matter, was not Kikugorō in every way a +talented man? For the space of eighty days this theatre turned away +guests. Later, in Tempō 7th year 7th month (12th August to 11th +September, 1836) again this drama was produced. The actor was the same +as at the previous production. On this occasion Kikugorō took +thought. As it was the second time, it must be changed in presentation +to an audience. <i>Dōmo!</i> There was the coming on of the ghost. It is +clad in a grey robe. If O'Iwa wears a grey robe, and the <i>wakatō</i> +Kohei wears a grey robe, both being the same to view this would fail to +interest. He continually worried. Nevertheless it would not do to wear +armour; and a ghost in <i>kami-shimo</i><a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> raises no chill. Some +contrivance must be hit upon. Day and night the matter worried him. +Habitué of the gallery of this Morita-za was a man named Tsutaya no +Yoshi, commonly known as Tsutayoshi. An extraordinarily dissolute fellow +he borrowed to the four sides and eight directions. At this time in the +Yoshiwara Sumichō was a tenement placed in the rear of the prostitute +houses. He removed thither, and soothed his troubles by living alone. +His face washed in the morning, at once he ran forth. He ate his meals +at a cheap eating house. A varied meal consumed he made his way to the +Morita-za. Lunch was eaten in the theatre. On the return he took a drink +and then went home. In truth he was a lively fellow. The Yotsuya Kwaidan +had just been determined on for the close of the sixth month (July). At +sundown he returned to his home in the Yoshiwara. On the way he +drank—the strongest of liquors. At once he hung up the mosquito net +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> went inside. Not knowing front from rear he went to sleep. Pressed +by a necessity the sound of the wooden clappers (<i>hyoshigi</i>) made him +open his eyes. It was the harlot quarter, the 9th hour and more (after 3 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span>), and the liveliness of the night was over. The quiet of +the place inspired fear. From evening he had not stirred from the +mosquito net, but had slept. The light had gone out, and it was pitch +dark. Soundly had he slept. In the jar was fresh water for drinking. +Greedily he drank.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"I have slept—in a way to cause fear. It is now past the 9th +hour. I still can sleep without stint."</p> + +<p>Again he entered the net. He drew the tobacco box close to his pillow +head. He would smoke. Looking toward the <i>andon</i>, beneath it, faintly +outlined, he saw somebody.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Who is there? This place used to be a brothel. Now it is a +tenement. I rent it. It don't do to have it taken for a brothel. Oi! +You—whence do you come?"</p> + +<p>At the words—he! It disappeared.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"I say now! A marvellous thing—that over there. A kind of +dream—extraordinary: I don't remember having a grudge with anyone. Yai! +If the spirit which just came entertains a grudge I have never even +dreamed of such. I am a dissolute fellow, but remember no grudge with +anyone."</p> + +<p>Thus loud and wrathfully he shouted out. As one without fear he went to +sleep. Waking up, the next day he left the house to go to the hot bath +in Umachō. On the way he breakfasted. Then he went to the Morita-za. +Although the performance had not begun, as it was a first representation +the theatre was crowded with people. Said a friend:</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Yoshi San, the colour of your face is bad. Are you affected +by the heat?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Liking strong spirits, I feel badly. Moreover, last night a +strange thing was witnessed. I feel out of sorts."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"What was it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"In the middle of last night I opened my eyes. Dimly outlined +beside the lantern (<i>andon</i>) sat a rascal; some fellow who had been +amusing himself at a neighbouring brothel. I thought that being drunk +with wine he had come there by mistake. 'Who are you?' Thus I shouted. +It disappeared. <i>Dōmo!</i> It was a strange occurrence. Was it a ghost, +thought I? I could remember no grudge with another person. Anyhow, in +all likelihood it is no ghost, thought I. However I look at it, I don't +understand."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Hei! Yoshi San, it was your own imagination."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Though I considered it a vision of my own, as strange I +mention it."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"If you feel bad it will be well to stay away for to-night."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"I don't think I feel badly in any other way. To-night—for the +whole night—I'll make the test."</p> + +<p>That day he returned to the Yoshiwara house. That night no one was seen. +But when he did see it, was the thing a matter of his own imagination? +The next day he came to the theatre. The friend was waiting for him.</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Yoshi San, did it appear at night?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Iya! At night it did not appear. In the middle of the night +opening my eyes I looked with especial care to the eight sides. Nothing +that could be considered suspicious was to be seen."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Then it was as I said. It being at one time a brothel, would +not something appear in this house? Having this wholly in mind, the +thing presented itself to your eyes."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Doubtless it is but that; a freak of the imagination."</p> + +<p>That night returning to the Yoshiwara, nothing happened. A space of five +nights passed. His habit was to return early; and as his thin dress was +wet with sweat he would change it. Going upstairs he took out the thin +garment from the clothes-basket (<i>tsuzura</i>). With this in hand he was +about to descend. Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> as at one time the place had been a brothel the +steps were broad and wide. Seated on the lower step, lying face +downward, was somebody.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Ah! Has it come?"</p> + +<p>Being a courageous fellow, while speaking he raised his leg.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"You're in the way."</p> + +<p>Pon: he gave a kick. There was not the slightest resistance. +Forthwith—ha! it was gone.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"<i>Dōmo!</i> Remarkable: it is a strange occurrence."</p> + +<p>While speaking he changed his robe and lit the fire. Making the water +boil, with Echizen peat he heated some wine he had bought on the road +and brought home with him. With <i>tsukudani</i>,<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> or something of that +kind to eat, he drank and thought.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"To-day it is no product of my imagination. Who can that rascal +be?"</p> + +<p>Talking to himself, he drank the <i>saké</i>. Attending to preliminaries he +would go to bed. He went to the necessary and opened the door. Some one +stood there, with his back to him.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Here again?"</p> + +<p>At the words it disappeared. No matter how brave he was, that night he +felt badly and did not sleep. Awaiting dawn he was quick to go forth. On +coming to the theatre—</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Good day: how goes it with Yoshi San? Are you not very much +out of tone?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"At night it came. Moreover it appeared twice."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Did it appear?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"At first it was seated on the stair. The second time it was +inside the necessary."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Hei! That is marvellous. Probably it is the work of fox or +badger (<i>tanuki</i>)."</p> + +<p>This talk abruptly terminated. Tsutayoshi was a bold fine fellow. +Unmoved, he retired to his own home in the Yoshiwara.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> After that +nothing was seen for several days. Just as he was forcing a way into the +theatre—</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Yoshi San! At the Bairin (Plum Tree) over the way is the master +of Otowaya. He is urgent to see you; so he says. It will be well to go +at once."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Was he told I was here?"</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Ah!"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"How annoying! The Otawaya San has lent me money. <i>Dōmo!</i> A +meeting, 'tis bad news."</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"As nothing was said about it—go. Surely the return of the loan +is not involved."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"It's not to be avoided. I'll go and see."</p> + +<p>Opposite to the theatre was the tea house called the "Bairin." He went +in.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Good-day."</p> + +<p><i>Maid</i>—"Oya! Yoshi San. As the master of Otowaya is waiting upstairs +for you, just condescend to go up."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Ah! Is that so? Condescend to pardon."</p> + +<p>Don, don, he climbed the stairs. At the end of a six-mat room was a man +fanning himself. He was alone. It was Kikugorō, the third of the +name. He had been noted as a handsome man. However, at this time he was +an old man. The white summer garb of that very fine quality of +cloth-grass known as <i>jōfu</i> was girded in by a <i>chakenjō obi</i>.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> +Of his profession there was not a hint.</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Sa! Yoshi San, come here, please."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"The patron: <i>dōmo</i>! truly it has been rude not to come and +see you. I have not crossed the threshold."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Iya! Why speak so? You now live in the Yoshiwara."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"That is so; for a long time I lived in Fukiyachō. The +neighbourhood was a bad one. I had borrowed money. It was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> like running +away in the night. A one-time brothel now the rent is ridiculously +cheap. <i>Mikoshi</i> (carriages) are kept in it now."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"The Yoshiwara is a gay place. For people who would amuse +themselves there is none superior. It is an excellent locality."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"One can find whatever is desired."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"So Yoshi San, now you live alone."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Hai! I'm alone."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"I've just heard the talk of people. A ghost appears at +your place."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Who said such a thing?"</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Iya! It was heard, by accident. Is it true?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Hai! First it was seen beside the <i>andon</i>; then on the +stairway, and in the necessary."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"A strange matter! Is it man or woman?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"<i>Dōmo!</i> That I don't know. It was seen as in a mist. +Whether man or woman, I don't know."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Are there male and female ghosts?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Male or female—I know nothing about it."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"What its nature? When it appears this time, condescend +to take a good look at it." He continued (then)—"The present drama of +the Yotsuya Kwaidan—as to my part, as you well know, O'Iwa and Kohei +before the very eyes must change places in an instant. For both to wear +the grey <i>kimono</i> lacks interest. Which of them is to change? It is on +my mind. <i>Dōmo!</i> Thought fails to solve the question. Hence the +request to you. What kind of dress does that ghost wear? That is what I +want to learn."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Hei!"</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"But Yoshi San: It is no mere request. I loaned you ten +<i>ryō</i>."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Patron, do you condescend still to remember it?"</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Deign not to jest. Who would forget such a rascal?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> I'll +wipe out that ten <i>ryō</i>—and give you five <i>ryō</i> in addition. How +now? Condescend to observe."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Thanks are felt. When it appears I'll take a good look at it."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"With the month's change the first representation takes +place. It must be ascertained in the intervening time. Probably in four +or five days it will be seen."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"That is so. <i>Dōmo!</i> The opponent being a ghost, will it +appear to-night? Or has is ended by going away? That I don't know. +Having found out its dwelling place, I'll send a postal-card."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Don't jest. As just said, I'll give you five <i>ryō</i>. +Be careful; and please take a good look."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Respectfully heard and understood. This time I'll get a good +look at it."</p> + +<p>Thus agreed Tsutayoshi returned that night to the Yoshiwara.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"A pleasing thing! Ten <i>ryō</i> wiped off, and five <i>ryō</i> +received in addition. Thanks: a fine bit of work. It will be well if the +rascal of a ghost comes to-night. Anyhow, just before the <i>Bon</i> it +suffers distress beyond measure. For several days nothing has been seen +of it. Its purpose may have changed: Yai! If the ghost is to appear, +please show up at once. Don't it yet appear? Oi! Ghost!"</p> + +<p>The ghost was not to be drawn out by this display of energy. Several +days passed without the slightest sign of it. Every day Kikugorō came +to the Bairin and sent for Tsutayoshi.</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Yoshi San, has it not yet appeared?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"<i>Dōmo!</i> The patron is vexed. Every day, every day, it is +awaited; and not a sign of it. Feeling out of sorts, has it not died? +That's my idea."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Being dead, is it not a ghost? Once +dead, does the rascal die again?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"<i>Dōmo!</i> Patron, nothing is known of one's spirit. For it +not to appear is annoying. Spirits (<i>ki</i>) suffer pain; and suffering +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>pain they don't show themselves. It seems that you want it to appear +before the first representation. If I see it, I get five <i>ryō</i>. I +would like to have it show itself before the <i>Bon</i>. My purpose is to get +through this year's <i>Bon</i><a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> by means of the ghost."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Anyhow—have a care."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Agreed."</p> + +<p>That night he went home and drank wine.</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Yoshi San, is he at home?"</p> + +<p>Thereupon without ceremony entered an intimate friend, from Sakaichō +near Fukiyachō. He had loaned money to Tsutayoshi, and now sought the +repayment.</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Yoshi San, you say you will bring it, you will bring it; and you +make no sign of bringing it. That was my money, and the failure to +return it is vexing. Will matters change before the <i>Bon</i>?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Wait but a little. If to-night something materializes I get +five <i>ryō</i>. The money in hand, at once I will pay you back."</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"What is going to materialize? The five <i>ryō</i> you spoke of?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"In fact at my house a ghost appears. The Otowaya San heard of +it. As of immediate use to the theatre I am carefully to observe what +the ghost wears. He says he will give me five <i>ryō</i>. The money +obtained, at once the two <i>ryō</i> will be repaid. Wait until that +happens."</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Does a ghost really appear?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"It really does."</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"What kind of a ghost?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"As to that—right before one; a most blood-curdling thing. +Anyhow, I shiver all over at sight of it. Just like this—"</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Where does it show itself?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Just where you are seated."</p> + +<p><i>Man</i>—"Yoshi San, jokes don't go."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer he fled. Seeing this said Tsutayoshi:</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"A ghost is a very profitable object. Do but speak of it, and +he who would collect borrowed money takes to flight. If it appears, +money is obtained. Hence a ghost is a remarkable thing. After this when +the dry goods man comes for repayment, I'll chase him out again with the +ghost. Anyhow this house brings good luck. The rent is cheap, and there +is a ghost which enables one to dodge paying loans. Thanks: henceforth +in renting a house I'll confine myself to haunted houses. So much for +that. Will it show itself to-night?"</p> + +<p>Tsutayoshi hung up the mosquito net. He drank a glass. Thus reinforced, +tranquil and pleased he laid down on the pillow. After sleeping awhile +he opened his eyes. All around was quiet. The bustle of the night had +ceased. There was not a sound. Outside the mosquito net the wick of the +<i>andon</i> had burned low and gave a faint light. Suddenly the bell of the +eighth watch (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) was heard on Bentenyama. +Thereupon—de!... the sound was heard and the light of the <i>andon</i> went +out. Then as a mist an object like to a human being (<i>hito</i>) was +visible. Ha! Tsutayoshi was frightened. Was this the ghost? He rolled up +the mosquito net, the pupils of the eyes intent. Thus he had it in plain +view. The hair of the head was in wild disorder. To sight it was certain +it was a man. He wore a grey cotton garment.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"That's it!"</p> + +<p>At the sudden exclamation—Ha! It disappeared. The <i>andon</i> having +previously gone out truly it was the very blackness of night. Coming out +from under the mosquito net he (Yoshi) lit the wick. Smoking his tobacco +he staid awake until dawn. In time the East became white. At once he +left the house. He entered the bath at Agechō, breakfasted as usual +at the cheap eating house in Komégata, and then went to the Morita-za in +Kibikichō.</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Good-day."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Iya! It's hot to-day."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"How now, Yoshi San? The O'Baké?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"As usual—it came in the night."</p> + +<p><i>Friend</i>—"Is that so? When Otowaya San hears that, he will rejoice."</p> + +<p>While in talk a message came from Kikugorō. At once Tsutayoshi went +to the Bairin. Otowaya was waiting for him.</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Yoshi San, how now—the ghost?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Patron, condescend to rejoice. It appeared in the night."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"Did it appear? The rascal is brave. Is it man or woman?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"A man in all likelihood."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"The dress?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Was seen to be grey cotton—positively so."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"That's interesting. A <i>kimono</i> of grey colour just suits +the ghost of the <i>wakatō</i> Kohei. Sa! Yoshi San, in accordance with +the bargain I give you five <i>ryō</i>."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"<i>Dōmo!</i> Thanks are felt."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"There they are. Yoshi San, you are a brave fellow. Life +in a haunted house is unpleasant. It will be well to remove elsewhere."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Iya! A haunted house is splendid. A friend just now came for +the return of borrowed money. When told of a ghost appearing, he fled. +Again, merely for noting what the ghost wears, you tell me I will get +five <i>ryō</i>. All this is due to the honoured shadow of the ghost. Thus +regarding (my) Yurei Dai Myōjin Sama,<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> to abandon such a splendid +ghost and remove to some other place would change my luck. My purpose is +to go on living with this ghost."</p> + +<p><i>Kikugorō</i>—"In that case, Yoshi San, it would be well to have the +house cleaned. <i>Dōmo!</i> Don't you think it is the work of fox or +<i>tanuki</i>?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Naruhodo! At all events I'll have the house cleaned." So +receiving the money from Kikugorō, rejoicing Yoshi returned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> to the +Yoshiwara. On the way he took a glass or so. Somewhat drunk, he entered +the Tanaka no Mikawaya, a <i>tabi</i> (sock) shop. The house was the owner of +the place where Tsutayoshi lived.</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Good-day."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"Oya! Yoshi San. Are you on your return? Ma! Condescend to +enter. <i>Dōmo!</i> The theatre now pleases the people. The audiences are +large."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Thanks are felt."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"What your business, Yoshi San?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Danna, I would like to have the house cleaned."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"Cleaned?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"<i>Dōmo!</i> At present a supernatural object appears. It is +vexing. As I will furnish the wages of the workman, I thought it would +be well to have it cleaned."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"Hei! What appears?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"At times a ghost shows itself."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"A ghost?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Once it showed itself beside the <i>andon</i>. The second time it +was seen in the necessary. At evening it was seated at the entrance to +the stairs. There is nothing to fear, unless it be the work of fox or +badger. It would be bad for outsiders to get wind of it; so I would like +to have the place cleaned."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"Is it man or woman?"</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"There is no doubt of its being a man, of small stature. His +dress plainly is of grey cotton."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"A dress of grey cotton—the man of small stature. Un! +Jō! It is that low fellow."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Oi! Oi! Danna, did you know him? Was he a wicked fellow? +Setting up in the ghost way—pray excuse me."</p> + +<p><i>Landlord</i>—"Ma! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. The house +that I rent to you originally was a brothel called the Yamashiroya. The +landlord was an unrighteous fellow. One night an <i>oiran</i> lacked any +guest.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> He took her with him to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> <i>seméba</i>—(punishment room) and +treated her most cruelly. No one called the place 'the Yamashiroya.' It +was known as the Onimisé (devil-shop) of Fushimichō. It was just this +time last year that a <i>wakashū</i> (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love +with a woman named Kotsu no Wakataké. Pressed for money, to get it he +had an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low brothel mentioned +perhaps he would get a <i>bu</i>—a couple of <i>shū</i>. A restitution +privately effected would have been well. He was roped up and carried off +to the town hall. In every way a low scoundrel he was sent to +Temmachō. Soon after he died in the jail. Subsequently there were +nothing but unpleasant happenings at the Yamashiroya. It was completely +ruined. Later I bought it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it +into two houses and rented them out."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Hei!"</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"That Tokuzo, as the <i>wakashū</i> was called, when sent to +the town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as present +to him by an <i>oiran</i>. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and good natured; an +interesting fellow. Of low stature, he was a good worker. Probably he +failed to carry out his purpose."</p> + +<p><i>Yoshi</i>—"Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow condescend +to make everything clean."</p> + +<p><i>Mikawaya</i>—"Agreed."</p> + +<p>After this workmen came from the Mikawaya, and the cleaning up was +performed. Tsutayoshi at a subsequent meeting with Kikugorō told him +the story of Tokuzo. It would be well to have a funeral service held. So +the memorial service for Tokuzo was conducted at the family temple of +Tsutayoshi. The figure was never again seen. Kikugorō in the rôle of +ghost of the <i>wakatō</i> Kohei came out dressed in a grey robe marked +with <i>kokumochi</i> (the badge of the white disk figured on coloured +ground). Before one's very eyes he changed to O'Iwa. As ghost and +arrayed in the family crest it was restricted to the Kohei of the +"Yotsuya Kwaidan." The theatre was packed. Such was the crowd that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> the +upper gallery of the theatre collapsed. Even though an actor, everywhere +he (Kikugorō) was spoken of as a great man. To favoured guests of +Kikugorō the matter was so related. Thus the tale is a true one.</p> + + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Takuan</span></p> + +<p>Three great priests of influence figure in the rule of the first three +Tokugawa Shōgun. Tenhai Oshō of the Nankwōbō, bishop of the +temple foundation at Ueno, was all powerful under Iyeyasu. His +successors, Nikkei Sōzu of the San-en-Zōjōji at Shiba, and +Takuan Zaishō of the Daikokudō, the Tōkaiji of Shinagawa, were +the priestly influences under the 2nd and 3rd Shōgun. It is the +last-named cleric who is responsible for the hard and palatable yellow +preparation of the <i>daikon</i> (radish) known under his name of <i>takuan</i>. +The <i>daikon</i> is soused in brine and rice bran, kept weighted down under +heavy stones, and allowed "to ripen" for some weeks. A way station in +its preparation and edibility, and to be experienced in every Japanese +household, is the unspeakable and unbreathable soft <i>nukamisozuké</i>. Its +presence always arouses suspicion of the pressing defect in the house +drainage.</p> + +<p>Takuan deserves esteem and appreciation for other than culinary reasons. +On a visit to the castle one day the old friar noted the depression of +his valued and intimate friend Yagyu Tajima no Kami. The aging +<i>ōmetsuké</i> (suzerain's eye) and fencing teacher to the third +Shōgun opened out his woes. His second son was dead. His third son +was worthless. At least the father thought so at this time. His eldest +son, Jubei, as great at arms as himself and his legitimate successor, +was a madman—gone mad over his own excellence. Takuan heard the +particulars. At once he volunteered to act as physician. "Be of good +heart. This Takuan will prescribe." The grateful Munenori, in the course +of the next few days sent to the prelate's quarters to know when the +journey to the far-off Yamato fief would be made. He would make +provision for the prior's comfort and conveyance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> Said a sleek scribe +and substitute—"The lord abbot has long since departed. It is useless +to attempt to overtake him. He travels fast." Such was the message to +the pleased but discomfited Munenori. Meanwhile at Yagyu Masakizaka in +Yamato there turned up a shabby travel-stained old fellow. The +gatekeepers were inclined flatly to refuse admission. However, the +<i>karō</i>, or chief officer of the fief, had to be notified. He was +unwilling to let slip any chance of relief to the condition of Jubei +Dono. With some misgivings the old fellow was ordered around to the +garden. The <i>samurai</i> code made little account of cutting down a +retainer, a beggar, or an outcast. In the first case compensation was +allowed; the last two were honoured by the experiment. Priests and women +were not covered by the code; matter of omission, rather than of +importance. The wanderer had taken his seat by the little pond in the +garden. Here to all appearance he remained in a meditation which was +roughly interrupted by the irruption of the lord of the mansion into a +room close by. Jubei kicked the <i>shōji</i> out of the frames, and strode +to the edge of the verandah. His hair was in wild disorder. He wore +armour on his shoulders, and was stark naked below the waist. Face +twitching and eyes flashing he hailed his visitor, to demand on what +mission he had dared to intrude on the time and patience of the great +man. Let the excuse be a good one. Otherwise—But at abuse the cleric +was a good hand himself. He, too, had heard of Jubei Dono; he who posed +as the great man of Nippon. This was poaching on his own ground, for he +set himself up to be the match of any number in the land. At this Jubei +broke into angry jeers and invectives. The priest made answer with equal +roughness. "How face two opponents—to right and left?" Jubei snorted +with contempt. He was active enough to neglect the one and cut down the +other before aid could be brought. The Yagyu-ryū, or style of +fencing, made provision for such occasion. Aye! And for four—and +against eight.... "And against sixteen, and thirty-two, and sixty-four, +and a hundred and twenty-eight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> opponents ... against all the many +fighting men of Nippon? How would Jubei face all those?" To this Jubei +could but answer that he would die fighting. The priest in his turn +snorted with contempt. "Die fighting: by such words Jubei admits +defeat." But he did not allow Jubei to turn questioner in his turn. +Swiftly he shifted the argument. He, the cleric, considered Jubei of +small account. He would prove to him what a fool he was by the +interpretation of a mere thirty-one syllables of poetry. This should be +the test of intelligence. The Knight's Way (Budō) had its inner and +cryptic meaning expressed in verse. So had the Way of the Buddha +(Butsudō). Of this latter Jubei knew nothing; and he doubted if he +knew anything of the former. At least let him display some sample of his +wit. Jubei leaped at the test to prove his greatness. Now he scorned to +deal with a priest in arms. How was this:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"By night storm of Narutaki broken,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The scattered jewels, e'en the moon, it harbours."<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Is there but that to prove wit?"—"How then with this one?"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Tree leaves on Yamakawa's flood:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The self, abandoned, does but drift—lo!"<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The priest threw up his hands. "Such stuff will never do! And this +fellow considers himself educated!"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Rain seen, impeded not to flow away;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The snow breaks not the stem of willow green."<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Various and many though the ways of teaching be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There is but one true stroke of sword."<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a><br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>Jubei gleamed most homicidally at his questioner. The priest only +said—"A child has such by heart." And Jubei knew 'twas so, and was +rebuked. Now he was in less haste:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The heart, how judge it?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An ink sketch of the breeze amid the pines."<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A shrug of the shoulders was the reward of this effort.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Though barrier mount, the leafy mount, the inner mount, be dense with leafage;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What e'er one wills, naught hinders."<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The priest shook his head as with grave indulgence to childhood's +thoughts. Jubei burst into a rage. He turned to his sword-bearer, and +laid hand on the weapon. The lad knelt with bowed head, uncertain +whether the sword was to fall on himself or the visitor. Without paying +the slightest attention to the hostile attitude the priest cut matters +short. "Jubei Dono would question the priest's right to judge. Come now! +The cleric's foolish head against the wits of Nippon's great man. O +warrior, interpret!" A sign; and ink stone and poem paper (<i>tanzaku</i>) +were put before him. Jubei in turn took the scroll in hand. He read:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>Tatazumuna, yukuna, modoruna, isuwaruna;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Neruna, okiruna, shiru mo shiranu mo.</i>"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>"It neither stands still, nor goes forward, nor goes backward, nor remains as it is;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>It sleeps not, rises not: known or unknown."</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Jubei started with a bellow; and ended in a whisper. The retainers +looked in each other's faces. Who was the maddest—their lord or the +shabby <i>bōzu</i>? A long silence followed. Jubei no longer stood in +grandiloquent pose. He squatted down before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> the ideographs. At last he +said—"The poem contains much matter. Deign to allow time for the +solution." His voice was gentle and courteous to this future victim of +his intelligence. The priest nodded a genial assent. Before he withdrew +Jubei gave emphatic orders as to ward and entertainment. The pleasures +of anticipation, of solution of the poem and slicing of the cleric, must +have compensation. His tread was slow and stately as he left the room; +his looks were contained and thoughtful. The man of black robe was +carried off to a better reception than so far experienced. With scorn he +sent away the scanty meal of vegetable food; and ordered matters to his +taste with a manner that none cared to obey, or dared to disobey.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Jubei started in on the poem. With the progress of his efforts +ideas of his greatness disappeared. No matter what might be his skill +with the sword—and the priest already had shown its limitations—his +inexperience in literature was patent. Ah! If he could but win the head +of this scurvy cleric. His mind now was totally removed from thoughts of +himself. For two days and two nights he never closed his eyes, which +were fastened on the infernal ideographs—palpably so full of a meaning +he could not grasp. Then he was worn out. He went to sleep, and slept +for a full twenty-four hours. On awaking he was a different being. The +cobwebs of the mind were clean swept. Its vague shiftings had been +brought to concentration—to thought. Now it was the household which was +mad with joy. It was Jubei, lord of the manor, who sought interview with +his saviour. Prostrate he gave thanks, apology for the poor +entertainment; and expressed his hope and wish to keep always by him the +holy man. Who was he—this man who had given him back mind and power of +thought? Just then a messenger from his father, Tajima no Kami, was +announced. Those assembled leaned forward at sight of the man in amazed +prostration, first before his lord, then before the shabby old priest. +"Takuan Oshō Sama at Yagyu! And yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> this Kyūtarō has made all +speed to Yamato to make report of his lordship's coming." All fell on +their faces, including Jubei. Takuan smiled, a little grimly. "The garb +makes not the cleric. Jubei Dono will forgive the presence of the humble +priest who now must leave him, pressed by affairs, none of which have +been more important than the mission here." And leave he did—but ample +gifts to the temple followed after. Jubei never could take his father's +place close to the Shōgun's side. His one-time madness forbade +assumption of such office. Indeed on rare occasions the mad fit again +would threaten; but the infallible remedy was at hand. To Jubei's +question Takuan had answered—"The meaning? The poem has none. If there +had been verily Takuan would have lost his head. But find one, if you +can." The joy of Tajima no Kami was completed by the return of his third +son Matajurō, restored to normal health. Later this Matajurō +became the famous Hida no Kami and successor to his father as the +Shōgun's fencing master. Of these three men—more anon.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>Kwaidan</i> means "Wonder Tale." The word is of general +meaning, requiring limitation for the specific case.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The <i>go-kenin</i>, for the most part; although some +<i>hatamoto</i>, whose incomes ran as low as 300 <i>koku</i> could be classed with +them. In English—cf. T.H. Gubbins—Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, xv.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The hard palatable pickled yellow <i>daikon</i> (radish). +<i>Nukamisozuké</i> is a way station in its production by pickling in salt +and bran. <i>Nukamisozuké</i> is better described than smelt.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Sanzu no Kawa—the river crossed by the dead; the Buddhist +"Styx." Shide no Yama—the mountain to be crossed on the way to Hell, or +to the judgment hall of its great king—Emma Dai-ō (Yama). All +deserve, and get, some punishment in this nether world.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Near Meguro: scores of quaint figures, seated in tiers and +meditation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> A famous Chinese book on military tactics. Prince +Yoshitsuné, hero of the Gempei wars, served arduously for a glimpse of +it. Cf.: Life of Benkei, vol. i, pp. 311 reg. Densuké refers to the three +(<i>san</i>) stages of rice cooking.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Geishū-Aki province. For six months the <i>daimyō</i> left +Edo to govern their fief in person. Their wives and families remained in +Edo. The penalties at the barriers (Hakoné, for instance) were severe if +the wife tried to get away (escape) from Edo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The Japanese personal pronoun is used—in the first person +only to obviate ambiguity in the sentence. Women use it more frequently +than men. In the second person it is used to express emphasis, great +familiarity, impertinence, or rebuke. The last two uses are frequent. +Ordinarily the honorifics and the construction of the sentence take the +place of these pronouns. Such at least seems to be the usage of the +<i>kōdan</i> writers, and in the present book the example has been +followed, as far as possible. In a few instances the use of a pronoun +will relieve the strain of a lengthy sentence or involved circumlocution +in the western tongue. At times the closer style can be abandoned—as in +the direct narration of the Tale of the Baryufu Kwannon. So also with +the translations of the <i>gidayu</i> and the <i>kōdan</i> attached. These are +for recitation. In the original the pronoun is rarely written in. But +the literal translation of the honorifics would appear stilted. To +westerners these are appellations; to the native they are indications.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The old Shimbashi station and its yards cover this site. +"Tide limit"—a suggestive name.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> A <i>sakuji bugyō</i> was the official who had charge of the +maintenance and construction of public works within the <i>daimyō's</i> +fief.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> A deep cutting through the hill. They are common features +in Nippon. Many valleys are only accessible by a climb, unless mitigated +by a <i>kiridōshi</i>, or obviated by a tunnel. Kamakura, for instance, is +accessible by land in no other way. Asahina <i>kiridōshi</i>: there are +several others.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> The description is curious. Writing fifty years ago +Ryuō tells us these men no longer practised. His book is not readily +met with and the passage in the original is worth preserving—"<i>Kono +sunegiri yatsu to iu wa tadaima de wa arimasen ga; makurajima no tabi ni +asaura wo haki, sankeigyō no kyahan de, nagai no wo ippon sashi. Eh! +Tō de o isogi de nai. Okata wa watakushi no mosu koyaku no kōnō +wo kiite o motome nasai. Nukeba tamachiru nagai no yaiba da nure kami de +mo kayo ni kireru, tadaima yatsu ga wo kiri chi wo tomete goran ni +ireru; to maru de kiru yō desu ga ha (yaiba) no aru tokoro wa madzu +no kata bakari de, moto no kata wa yaiba ga hiite aru yue, sono ha hiku +no tokoro wo ude he ataru to suji ga tsuku bakari de kire washimasen ga, +tanka ga kireru kara, chiwa taki-tsu se no gotoku nagareru. Chi ni wa +sakarawazu ikusa naka ko wo mochiireba, sokuza ni todomaru nani mae kara +todotteru no desu ga, hagyū da kara maru de chi ga tomaru yō ni +micru kara, kono ho he hitotsu gai, kono ho he futatsu gai, to +uremasu.</i>"—"Yotsuya Kwaidan," pp. 31-32.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> One-fourth of a <i>ryō</i> = 15 silver mommé = 872 grains +Troy. Money had much greater purchasing value at that time as compared +with the present days; perhaps 20 times, but adulteration of the coinage +caused great variations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> The Machibugyō was judge and prosecutor (procurator or +district attorney); the two offices being held by the same man. A court +trial included both functions. <i>Tengu</i>, used below, is the long-nosed +wood bogey. There is a note in Benkei, i, 260.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> The <i>tawara</i> equals two-fifths of a <i>koku</i>. At present-day +figures the stipend of Tamiya can be put at about 2000 yen; that of +Itō Kwaiba, mentioned later, at 13,000 yen. The great <i>daimyō</i> +with incomes running into the hundreds of thousands of <i>koku</i> were +princes administering part of the public domain, with armies and an +elaborate civil service to support. Even a <i>hatamoto</i> (minor +<i>daimyō</i>, immediate vassals of the shōgun) of 10,000 <i>koku</i>, such +as Yagyū Tajima no Kami had a large train at his Edo <i>yashiki</i> and at +his fief. The Daté House of Sendai, or the Maeda of Kaga, Etchū, and +Echizen, are examples of the greater Tōzama, or lords independent in +the administration of their fiefs. Labour, it is to be added, was cheap +compared to food values. Taxes were heavy—ranging from 30 to 70 per +cent. The middleman took his high fee. Yet sumptuary laws were necessary +to prevent extravagance among the farming class. Some of them were rich +men, especially in the better administered Tokugawa fiefs. The public +works required of the <i>daimyō</i>—especially the Tōzama—prevented a +dangerous accumulation of resources, and sometimes almost ruined his +subjects. Accurate measurements of income are not available. The <i>koku</i> +of <i>daimyō</i> income has been placed as high as ten bushels. The +present-day <i>koku</i> equals 5.13 bushels. The price of rice ranges between +15-20 yen per <i>koku</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The title for all men of learning and professional +attainments. The great medical doctor is "Sensei," the doctor of +literature is "Sensei"—and the charlatan who peddles charms by the +highway is "Sensei"—teacher.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> A technical social expression—"I trouble you" or "with +highest respect and consideration." Satuma = Satsuma-Jōfu, the grass +cloth of fine quality woven and dyed in Loo-choo; narrow swords; all +this (Momogawa) is an example of the earnest study the <i>kōdan</i> +lecturers make of their subject. These delightful little expositions of +dress and manner are frequent.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <i>Rusu</i> or <i>rusuban</i> = caretaker in the owner's absence. As +often as not the wife is so regarded by the Japanese husband.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Reiganji, the great temple giving the name to the Reigan +district of Fukagawa, is one of the many temples there found. The +Jōshinji is close by.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> A complicated checkers-chess like game.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> There are nine of these stages of skill.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> 5.13 bushel. Income of the <i>samurai</i> classes were so +measured.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> <i>Kyara</i> = nut gall, in Momogawa's <i>kōdan</i>. From the +marriage to the expulsion of O'Iwa his treatment of the story is mainly +followed. Ryuō slurs the marriage, but describes the persecution with +great effect. The lines of treatment only diverge subsequently. Ryuō +is to be preferred.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> The monetary <i>bu</i> was one-fourth the <i>ryō</i>; the +<i>shū</i> was one-fourth the value of the <i>bu</i>. A hundred <i>mon</i> = one +<i>sen</i>. To-day there are blind shampooers (and for massage) at 500 <i>mon</i> += 5 <i>sen</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Of the Nichiren sect. The characters of the "Yotsuya +Kwaidan" move within the circle of this Presbyterian cult: <i>i.e.</i>, +Presbyterian in its stiff attitude of hostility and superiority to all +other sects. There is another Myōgyōji, neighbour to the Ten-ō +shrine.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> High sounding titles given to the <i>great hetairae</i>. The +difference from the Greek world lay in their not being independent. They +were confined to the houses of their owners. But these noted women were +ransomed at times—even by great nobles. Thus Daté Tsunamune the 3rd +<i>daimyō</i> of Sendai bought the famous Oiran Takao, weighing in the +scales the woman against gold. In a fit of passion he killed her soon +after, and had her body cast into the Edogawa.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> "<i>Hagurete mo mata afu michi ya hana no yama.</i>"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> The <i>aodaishō</i> is something of the nature of a black +snake. Says Brinkley's Dict. "<i>elaphis virgatus</i>."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> The term "Inkyō," already several times used, applies +to a man who has retired from active life, leaving the management of the +affairs of the House to the duly appointed heir and successor. A +specified portion of the income is usually assigned for his maintenance, +and forms a first lien, so to speak, on such return. The modernized law +of Nippon does not permit assumption of this state before the age of +fifty years, unless there be incapacitation such as necessitates +retirement. In ancient days (pre-Meiji) there was no such limitation. +Men often retired very early in life—from caprice, family intrigue, or +for the freer management of their affairs. In the latter case they had +more power and less responsibility; the latter falling on the heir and +successor, perhaps still a mere child. <i>Go</i> is merely honorific.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> "Awarase ya: Byōbu wa koi no taki sagari." The living +carp strives to ascend the fall.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> The old hag who lurks in the River of Souls, waylaying +little children, robbing them of their clothes, and compelling them to +construct huge piles of stones. Her counterfeit presentment (by Unkei) +can be well seen at the Ennōji of Kamakura.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> An ordinary disposition of these women; who often +preferred their Edo lover to such lot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> <i>Ototoi oidé</i>: It is the salutation of the good Buddhist +to the captured insect, thrown without and requested to return "the day +before yesterday" = the Greek Kalends. As used above it is a gross +insult to the person addressed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Damask hill: the names taken by these great <i>hetairai</i> +were most fanciful.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Next to the Ten-ō Jinja; not that of Samégabashi. +To-day retired, neat and clean; without the dirty publicity of larger +temples. It is a bit of country in crowded Yotsuya.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> A young girl's method of fixing the hair; but Ryuō uses +the term. Gohei are the paper strips used as offering. Usually attached +to a short stick.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> At the Gyōranji of Matsuzakachō in the Mita district +of Tōkyō.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> <i>Sanzugawa</i>: <i>Yama</i> mo nakereba, <i>hashi mo nashi</i>; <i>shinde +no tabiji hana wa nao nashi</i>. Sanzugawa, the river crossed by the dead.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> A fourth form of torture was suspension—an exaggerated +infliction of "the lobster." These official forms are described by J. +Carey Hall in the transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. +XLI., Part V. The native references are the "Tokugawa Seikei Shiryō," +"Keizai Dai Hiroku," "Kōjiki Ruihi Horitsu-bu." Cf. article on +Gōmon in the "Kokushi Dai Jiten." There were other forms. In the +examination into the famous conspiracy of Yui Shōsetsu (1651 A.D.) no +confession could be secured from Yoshida Hatsuémon. He was brought out, +to find his thirteen-year-old son Hachitarō undergoing the torture of +dropping water. At the last extremities the boy pleaded for mercy. His +father drily told him to act the <i>samurai</i>, and not to imperil the lives +of others. It was different with Matsubayashi Chuya (really the last +heir of the famous Chōsokabé House of Tosa). At sight of his old, +white haired, white faced, jail wearied mother threatened with the fire +torture, he did for her what he would not do for himself. The old woman +willingly would have undergone the torture. Chuya's confession cost the +lives of seventy-five men.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Hifumikwan (Tōkyō), Meiji 29th year 2nd month 15th +day (28th March, 1896).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> <i>Mairase Sōrō</i>: "I take the liberty of...." +Brinkley's Dict. A purely formal expression used in the letters of women +writers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> The three holy things—Buddha, his Law, the priesthood.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Another reading of the characters for Kikugorō—to the +initiated.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> "Top-bottom": the beautiful lozenge shaped X̅ +dress of the <i>samurai</i> when on court service, or for other ceremony: +full dress.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> "Small fish boiled in soy in order to preserve it (named +after Tsukudajima-Tōkyō—famous for its preparation)."—Brinkley's +Dict.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Brown, with stripes—a favourite pattern with men and +women.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Feast of the Dead. This festival is held in July—in the +country in August, the old calendar seventh month.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Apparitional divine lord.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The expression is technical—"<i>hitoban de mo o cha wo +hikeba</i>." All night a mere tea-server.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[Narutaki no yoru no arashi ni kudakarete;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Chiru tama goto ni tsuki zo yadoreru.]<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[Yamakawa no nagare ni ko no ha shizumu tomo;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are.]<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[Furu to miba tsumoranu saki ni haraekashi;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yuki ni wa orenu aoyagi no ito.]<sup>[3]</sup><br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a></p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[Sama Sama to oshie no michi mo ōkeredo<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Uchikomu tokoro shin no ittō.]<sup>[4]</sup><br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[Kokoro to wa ikanaru mono wo iu yaran;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sumie ni kakitsu matsu kaze no oto.]<sup>[5]</sup><br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">[Tsukubayama, Hayama, Nakayama, Shigeredomo;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Omoiru ni wa mono mo sawarazu.]<sup>[6]</sup><br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Cf.—"Araki Mataémon—Ueno Adauchi," by Masui Nanzan. +There is little reason to believe that Jubei's madness was assumed, a +rather extravagant explanation of the more than probable fact that his +well-known travels were inspired by the Shōgun's government. Actual +knowledge and inspection of the conditions and feelings in far-off +Satsuma, made by an expert, was much desired. Okubo Hikozaémon also +travelled as the Shōgun's private eye. Jubei undoubtedly found his +reputation for one-time madness very useful, and played upon it.</p></div></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h3><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Typographical errors corrected in text:</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_27">27</a>: nukamisosuké amended to nukamisozuké</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_54">54</a>: aids amended to aides</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, pages <a href="#Page_58">58-61</a> inclusive: Sakarai amended to Sakurai</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_61">61</a>: Tōeman amended to Toémon</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_104">104</a>: Nakusuké amended to Kakusuké</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_143">143</a>: misintrepeted amended to misinterpreted</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_144">144</a>: aids amended to aides</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_172">172</a>: honorofic amended to honorific</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_173">173</a>: Kamikura amended to Kamimura</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_175">175</a>: trucculent amended to truculent</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_187">187</a>: Samegebashi amended to Samégabashi</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_193">193</a>: Akiyima amended to Akiyama</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_194">194</a>: Teremachi amended to Teramachi</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_198">198</a>: Fukotarō amended to Fukutarō</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_223">223</a>: Shōzaémon amended to Chōzaémon</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_227">227</a>: peel amended to peal</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_240">240</a>: Kamikura amended to Kamimura</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_262">262</a>: Okusuma amended to Okusama</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_269">269</a>: gray amended to grey (twice)</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_273">273</a>: threshhold amended to threshold</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_277">277</a>: Iye amended to Iya</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_279">279</a>: Mikowaya amended to Mikawaya</p> + +<p>Where there is an equal number of instances of a word occurring as +hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens have been retained: +Blind-man/Blindman; care-taker/caretaker; cross-roads/crossroads; +go-down/godown; house-keeping/housekeeping; Mita-mura/Mitamura; +near-by/nearby; woman-kind/womankind.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari, by +James S. 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De Benneville + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari + Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 1 (of 2) + +Author: James S. De Benneville + +Release Date: November 28, 2006 [EBook #19944] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN OR O'IWA INARI *** + + + + +Produced by Clare Boothby and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + | TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES | + | | + | Accents and diacritical marks have generally been | + | standardised. Where there is a single instance of a word | + | with an accent, and one without, no change has been made | + | to the original. (e.g. momme/momme; murashite/murashite; | + | Kuramae/Kuramae). | + | | + | The letter o with a macron is represented as o[u]. | + | The letter u with a macron is represented as u[u]. | + | | + | Kanji characters in the original book are shown | + | enclosed in square brackets: for example, [kami]. | + | | + | The italicisation of Japanese words has been standardised. | + | | + | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been | + | corrected. | + | | + | Hyphenation and capitalisation has been standardised. | + | | + | The symbol referred to in footnote 44, an X with a bar | + | across the top, has been represented as [=X]. | + | | + | Superscript numbers in square brackets are represented | + | as ^{[4]}. | + | | + | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been | + | corrected. For a complete list, please see the bottom | + | of this document. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + + + + +LEGEND. + + +The outline of the map is that found in Volume I. of the Edo Sunago, +published Keio 2nd year (1866). The detail of district maps found in the +book is worked in, together with that from the sectional map of Edo +published Ansei 4th year (1857), and from the Go Edo Zusetsu Shu[u]ran +published Kaei 6th year (1853). The map therefore shows in rough outline +the state of the city just before the removal of the capital from +Kyo[u]to; the distribution of the castes. + +The Pre-Tokugawa villages (Eiroku: 1558-1569) indicated on the map found +in the "Shu[u]ran" are:-- + +North and South Shinagawa: Meguro-Motomura: Gin-Mitamura: Mitamura: +O[u]nemura: Upper and Lower Shibuya: Harajuku-mura: Kokubunji: Azabu: +Kawaza Ichi: O[u]zawa-mura: Imai-mura: Sendagaya: Yamanaka-mura: +Ichigaya: Ushigome: Kobiko-mura: Upper and Lower Hirakawa-mura: Ochiya: +Sekihon: Ikebukuroya: Tomizaka-mura: Ishibukero-mura: Tanibaragaike: +Neruma-mura: Okurikyo[u]: Nakarai-mura: Koishikawa: Zoshigayatsu: +O[u]ji: Shimura: Takinogawa: Kinsoboku-mura: Harajuku-mura (II.): +Komegome-mura: Taninaka-mura: Shimbori-mura: Mikawajima-mura: +Ashigahara-mura: Haratsuka: Ishihama-mura: Senju[u]-mura: Suda-mura: +Sumidagawa: Yanagijima: Jujo[u]-mura; Itabashi: Sugamo-mura: Arakawa +(river): Kandagawa pool (_ike_); Kanda-mura: Shibasaki-mura: +Shin-Horima-mura: Yushima-mura: Shitaya-mura: Torigoe-mura: +Shirosawa-mura: Asakusa-mura: Harai-mura: Some-Ushigome: Ishiwara: +Kinoshitagawa: Ubagaike (pool): Negishi-mura: Kinsoki-mura: Kameido-mura +(near Ueno): Shinobazu-ike (pool). + +From South to North circling by the West. + +Shinagawa: Mita-mura: Takanawa: Near Imai-mura is a Myo[u]jin shrine, +close by the mouth of the present Akabane river. + +Ikura: Hibiya: Tsukiji: Tsukuda: Tame-ike (pool): Tsukuda Myo[u]jin: +Ota's castle: Sanke-in: Hirakawa-mura: Sakurada-mura: Honju[u]-mura: +O[u]tamage-ike: Kametaka-mura. To the East. + +77 villages, total. + +Pronounce as in Italian, giving vowels full value: ch- as in "church." + +THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN + +OR + +O'IWA INARI + +_BY THIS AUTHOR_ + + SAKURAMBO[U] + (THE FRUIT OF THE TREE) + + Travel notes on thoughts and things Japanese, experienced + during a four years' sojourn in the country + + Octavo. 339 pages. + + + MORE JAPONICO + + A critique of the effect of an idea--communityism--on + the life and history of a people + + Octavo. VI, 594 pages. + + + SAITO[U] MUSASHI-BO[U] BENKEI + (TALES OF THE WARS OF THE GEMPEI) + + Being the story of the lives and adventures of + Iyo-no-Kami Minamoto Kuro[u] Yoshitsune and Saito[u] + Musashi-Bo[u] Benkei the Warrior Monk + + Octavo. 2 Vols., XXI, 841 pages, with 69 full page + illustrations (frontispieces in color) and + three maps. + + + OGURI HANGWAN ICHIDAIKI + (TALES OF THE SAMURAI) + + Being the story of the lives, the adventures, and the + mis-adventures of the Hangwan-dai Kojiro[u] Sukeshige + and Ternte-hime, his wife + + Octavo. XV, 485 pages, with 45 full page illustrations + (frontispiece in color) and three maps. + +[Illustration: THE O'IWA OF THE TAMIYA INARI JINJA OF ECHIZENBORI, +TOKYO] + +_TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA_ + +THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN + +OR + +O'IWA INARI + +RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS BY JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE + + "The mainspring of human existence + is love (_nasake_), for others or--oneself." + --SEISHIN + +PRESS OF J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A. 1917 + +COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY JAMES SEGUIN DE BENNEVILLE + +PRINTED AND COPYRIGHTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + +PREFACE + + +Tales of the Tokugawa can well be introduced by two "wonder-stories" of +Nippon. One of these, the Yotsuya Kwaidan,[1] is presented in the +present volume, not so much because of the incidents involved and the +peculiar relation to a phase of Nipponese mentality, as from the fact +that it contains all the machinery of the Nipponese ghost story. From +this point of view the reading of one of these tales disposes of a whole +class of the native literature. Difference of detail is found. But +unless the tale carries some particular interest, as of curious +illustration of customs or history--the excuse for a second +presentation--a long course of such reading becomes more than +monotonous. It is unprofitable. Curiously enough, it can be said that +most Nipponese ghost stories are true. When a sword is found enshrined, +itself the malevolent influence--as is the Muramasa blade of the +Hamamatsu Suwa Jinja, the subject of the Komatsu Onryu[u] of +Matsubayashi Hakuchi--and with such tradition attached to it, it is +difficult to deny a basis of fact attaching to the tradition. The ghost +story becomes merely an elaboration of an event that powerfully +impressed the men of the day and place. Moreover this naturalistic +element can be detected in the stories themselves. Nipponese writers of +to-day explain most of them by the word _shinkei_--"nerves"; the working +of a guilty conscience moulding succeeding events, and interpreting the +results to the subsequent disaster involved. The explanation is somewhat +at variance with the native Shinto[u] doctrine of the moral perfection +of the Nipponese, and its maxim--follow the dictates of one's heart; but +that is not our present concern. + +Their theory, however, finds powerful support in the nature of the +Nipponese ghost. The Buddhist ghost does not remain on earth. It has its +travels and penalties to go through in the nether world, or its +residence in Paradise, before it begins a new life--somewhere. The +Shinto[u] ghost, in the vagueness of Shinto[u] theology, does remain on +earth. If of enough importance it is enshrined, and rarely goes abroad, +except when carried in procession at the time of the temple festival. +Otherwise it finds its home in the miniature shrine of the _kami-dana_ +or god-shelf. There is a curious confusion of Nipponese thought on this +subject; at least among the mass of laity. At the Bon-Matsuri the dead +revisit the scene of their earthly sojourn for the space of three days; +and yet the worship of the _ihai_, or mortuary tablets, the food +offerings with ringing of the bell to call the attention of the resident +Spirit is a daily rite at the household Buddhist shrine (Butsudan). +When, therefore, the ghost does not conform to these well-regulated +habits, it is because it is an unhappy ghost. It is then the _O'Bake_ or +_Bakemono_, the haunting ghost. Either it has become an unworshipped +spirit, or, owing to some atrocious injury in life, it stays to wander +the earth, and to secure vengeance on the living perpetrator. In most +cases this is effected by the grudge felt or spoken at the last moment +of life. The mind, concentrated in its hate and malice at this final +crisis, secures to the Spirit a continued and unhappy sojourn among the +living, until the vengeance be secured, the grudge satisfied, and the +Spirit pacified. There are other unhappy conditions of this revisiting +of life's scenes; as when the dead mother returns to nurse her infant, +or the dead mistress to console a lover. In the latter case, at least, +the expressed affection has a malignant effect, perhaps purpose--as in +the Bo[u]tan Do[u]ro[u] of Sanyu[u]tei Encho[u], a writer most careful +in observing all the niceties called for by the subject. + +In the Nipponese ghost story the vengeful power of the ghost acts +through entirely natural means. The characters involved suffer through +their own delusions aroused by conscience. In the old days, and among +the common people in Nippon to-day, the supernatural was and is believed +in, with but few exceptions. Such stories still are held to be fact, +albeit the explanation is modern. Hence it can be said that the "Yotsuya +Kwaidan" is a true story. O'Iwa, the Lady of Tamiya, really did exist in +the Genroku and Ho[u]rei periods (1688-1710); just ante-dating the +reforming rule of the eighth Tokugawa Sho[u]gun, Yoshimune Ko[u]. Victim +of an atrocious plot of her husband and others, she committed suicide +with the vow to visit her rage upon all engaged in the conspiracy. The +shrine of the O'Iwa Inari (Fox-witched O'Iwa) in Yotsuya was early +erected (1717) to propitiate her wrathful ghost; and the shrines of +Nippon, to the shabbiest and meanest, have their definite record. On the +register the name of the husband appears as Ibei; "probably correct," as +Mr. Momogawa tells us. With him the name of Iemon is retained in the +present story. Iemon is the classic example of the wicked and brutal +husband, on the stage and in the _gidayu_ recitation of Nippon. There +was but little reason to revert to the record. The shrine always +prospered. It appears on the maps of the district as late as Ansei +fourth year (1857); and the writer has had described to him by a friend +a visit to this shrine some twenty years ago. The lady in question +referred to it rather vaguely as beyond Samegafuchi: _i.e._, at Yotsuya +Samoncho[u]. It was particularly favoured by the hair dressers, and to +the eyes of a young girl was a gorgeous structure in its continually +renewed decoration. Inquiry of late in the district elicited the +information that the shrine had been removed. Many changes have been +made on the southern side of Yotsuya by the passage of the railway from +Iidamachi to Shinjuku. The Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, with other temples there +located, has been swept away. In fact the Meiji period handled all those +institutions established by deceased piety with great roughness. +Teramachi--Temple Street--is now but a name. The temples of eastern +Yotsuya have nearly all disappeared. Have public institutions occupied +this "public land"? Of course: the sites were sold for the secular +purpose of profit, and poverty spread wide and fast over them. Yotsuya +got the shell of this oyster. + +About the middle of Meiji therefore (say 1893) the shrine disappeared +from Yotsuya Samoncho[u]; to be re-erected in Echizenbori near the +Sumidagawa. Local inquiry could or would give but little information. A +fortunate encounter at the Denzu-In with an University student, likewise +bent on hunting out the old sites of Edo's history, set matters right. +Subsequent visits to the newer shrine were not uninteresting, though the +presence of the mirror of O'Iwa and of the bamboo tube inclosing her +Spirit (Mr. Momogawa) was strenuously denied by the incumbent. In the +presence of the very genuine worship at the lady's shrine much stress +need not be laid on the absence. + +The present story practically is based on the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" of +Shunkintei Ryuo[u], a famous story-teller of the Yoshiwara, and an old +man when the "Restoration" of the Meiji period occurred. The sketch +given in the "O'Iwa Inari Yu[u]rei" of Momogawa Jakuen filled in gaps, +and gave much suggestion in moulding the story into a consistent whole. +Parts merely sketched by the older story-teller found completeness. This +collection of ghost stories--the "Kwaidan Hyaku Monogatari" published by +the Kokkwado[u]--is in the main written by Mr. Momogawa, and can be +recommended as one of the best of these collections, covering in shorter +form the more important stories of this class of the native literature. +The "Yotsuya Kwaidan" of Shinsai To[u]yo[u], one of the older and +livelier of the _ko[u]dan_ lecturers, gives the scene at the house of +Cho[u]bei, and his quarrel with Toemon. It is found in the +"Kwaidan-Shu[u]" published by the Hakubun-kwan. The _gidayu_ (heroic +recitation) and the drama handle all these stories for their own +peculiar purposes. The incidents of a tale are so distorted, for stage +use and dramatic effect, as to make these literary forms of small avail. +The letter of O'Hana, however, is practically that of the play of +Tsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]). It has been thought well to append +to the story the _gidayu_ of this writer, covering the scene in Iemon's +house. Also the strange experience of the famous actor Kikugoro[u], +third of that name, is put into English for the curious reader. +Kikugoro[u] was the pioneer in the representation of the Namboku drama. + +This life history of the O'Iwa Inari--the moving cause of the +establishment of her shrine--is no mere ghost story. It is a very +curious exposition of life in Edo among a class of officials entirely +different from the fighting _samurai_ who haunted the fencing schools of +Edo; from the men higher up in social status, who risked heads, or +rather bellies, in the politics of the day and the struggle to obtain +position, which meant power, in the palace clique. These latter were men +who sought to have a share in the government of the Sho[u]gun's person, +and hence of the nation. They strove to seat themselves in the high +posts of the palace. Here was a rapidly revolving wheel to which a man +must cling, or be dashed to pieces. To prevent being shoved off into +destruction they used every means of slander and intrigue, and fought +against such, that the life of a rich and luxurious court afforded. The +result, too often, was the present of a dagger from the suzerain they +sought to please. Trapped into some breach of the harsh discipline, or +even of mere form of etiquette, the gift was "respectfully received" +with the mocking face of gratitude, even from the hand of the successful +rival in office. At his home the defeated politician cut his belly open. +His obedience to the suzerain's will was duly reported. His family was +ruined or reprieved according to a capricious estimation of its power of +resentment--and it became a question of "who next?" to try for a place +on the wheel. On the contrary those lower officials,[2] engaged in the +dull routine of bureaucratic office, had a much less dangerous service +and etiquette to deal with. In insignificant ease they lived and +intrigued in their petty way, under no obligation to take sides in the +politics of the truly great. If they fell, it was largely their own +fault. Such was the position of those in immediate contact with the +working wheels of the Sho[u]gun's Government. The great _bugyo[u]_ +(magistrates) were continually shifting. Their court staff was the solid +foundation of unyielding precedent in form. The one was a court officer; +the others court officers. + +Hence the Kwaidan possesses value for the social lesson it conveys. The +admittance of a stranger to the ward, his evil bond with the Lady of +Tamiya, the previous passion for O'Hana and thereby the entanglement of +Kwaiba in the plot; all form a network in which the horror of the story +is balanced by the useful lessons to be drawn by the mind of Nippon from +its wickedness. Perhaps this belief in the effect of the curse of the +suicide acts both in deterring or bringing back the erring husband, and +in saving the wife from the extremities of her despair in abandonment. +The story of O'Iwa, the belief in her power, to-day has a strong +influence on a certain class of the Nipponese mind; especially among the +women. If the present writer might have felt momentarily an amused +feeling at sight of her worshippers, it was quickly lost at sight of the +positive unhappiness expressed in these faces of the abandoned. A visit +to the Tamiya Inari is not necessarily either one of idle curiosity or +without results. Some exceedingly painful impressions can be brought +away in the mind. + +It is not entirely in jest therefore that apology is made for the +reproduction of the story. It is well in such matters to follow one's +predecessors. Moreover, public sentiment is not to be derided nor +disregarded. It has a certain title to respect, even when superstition +is involved. Hence the statement can be made, that in telling this story +of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" no derogatory motive is involved--to people, +class, or person; least of all in reference to the dread Lady of Tamiya. + +OMARUDANI--4th July, 1916. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER. PAGE + + PROEM 15 + I. O'MINO AND DENSUKE 17 + II. KAWAI SAN OF KANDA KU 28 + III. TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO[U] 35 + IV. THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN 43 + V. THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDO[U]SHI 49 + VI. NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A NAKO[U]DO OR MARRIAGE BROKER 63 + VII. IEMON APPEARS 74 + VIII. IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT 86 + IX. LOVE KNOTS 93 + X. THE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA 99 + XI. THE PLOT DEVELOPS 106 + XII. KWAIBA'S REVENGE 114 + XIII. THE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U] 123 + XIV. THE PUNISHMENT 131 + XV. CHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS 141 + XVI. NEWS REACHES KWAIBA 155 + XVII. NEWS OF KWAIBA 162 + XVIII. IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO INKYO[U] 173 + XIX. TAMIYA YOEMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND + MYO[U]ZEN THE PRIEST 180 + XX. KIBEI DONO 195 + XXI. MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL 212 + XXII. THE RITES FOR O'IWA 222 + XXIII. THE SANZUGAWA, BRIDGELESS; THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED + BY THE DEAD 233 + APPENDICES 251 + +[The pronunciation of the Japanese vowels and consonants follows closely +the Italian; in diphthongs and triphthongs each vowel is given full +value. + +a = a as in father, e = a as in mate, i = e as in meet, o = o as in +soap, u = oo as in fool. + +g is always hard. In the To[u]kyo[u] district it has the sound ng. + +ch has full value, as in church. It is _not_ k; c is only found as ch; +_i.e._ cha, chi, cho, chu. + +The vowels also have long (continued) sounds, marked by the accent -. + +At times a vowel is elided; or rather but faintly touched by the voice. +Thus Sukeshige is pronounced Skeshige; Sukenaga = Skenaga; Kuranosuke = +Kuranoske. _Bu_ and _mu_ at the end of word lose the vowel +sound--Shikibu = Shikib. + +Kami used in connection with a man means "lord," Wakasa no Kami = Lord +of Wakasa province. + +Reprinted from the "Oguri Hangwan."] + +(Kami also means "God" or divinized person; including the spirits of +the dead. Even a living man can be regarded as a _kami_, in cases of +some very unusual service rendered to the public welfare. Professor Imai +recently--at Karuizawa--called attention to the fact that originally +_kami_ was written [kami], _i.e._ "superior." The divine attribute +[kami] was introduced with Buddhism.) + + + + +PROEM + + +Reader, pray take not the story of the O'Iwa Inari, the Yotsuya +Kwaidan, as a mere fairy tale or novel of the day. The shrine of the +Tamiya Inari stands now to attest the truth of the tradition. Let the +doubter but witness the faith of the believer in the powers of the +fearful lady; and, if doubt still continues to exist, the salutary fear +of others at least will inspire respect. + +THE YOTSUYA KWAIDAN OR O'IWA INARI + + + + +CHAPTER I + +O'MINO AND DENSUKE + + +Yotsuya is a suburb--at the extreme west of Edo-To[u]kyo[u]. Its +streets are narrow and winding, though hilly withal; especially on the +southern edge toward the Aoyama district, still devoted to cemeteries +and palaces, sepulchres whited without and within. Echizenbori would be +at the other extremity of the great city. It fronts eastward on the bank +of the Sumidagawa. The populous and now poverty stricken districts of +Honjo[u] and Fukagawa beyond the wide stream, with other qualities, +deprive it of any claim of going to extremes. In fact Echizenbori is a +very staid and solid section of Edo-To[u]kyo[u]. Its streets are narrow; +and many are the small shops to purvey for the daily needs of its +inhabitants. But these rows of shops are sandwiched in between great +clumps of stores, partly warehouses and partly residences of the owners +thereof. These stores line the canals of Echizenbori, water courses +crowded with junks carrying their ten tons, or their hundreds of tons, +of freight--precious cargoes of rice to go into these stores in bulk, of +_shoyu_ (soy) by the hundred kegs, of sakarazumi (charcoal from Shimosa) +by the thousand _tawara_ (bale), of fish dried and fresh, of _takuan_ or +_daikon_ (the huge white radish) pickled in salt and rice bran, of all +the odds and ends of material in the gross which go to make up the +necessities of living in a great city. If Echizenbori then can make its +show of poverty, and very little _display_ of wealth, it is not one of +the poor quarters of this capital city of Nippon. + +Crossing the Takabashi from Hacho[u]bori and plunging down the narrow +street opposite; a short turn to the right, a plunge down another narrow +street and a turn to the right; one comes to the high cement wall, in +its modernness of type a most unusual attachment to shrine or temple. +The gate is narrow and formal; almost like the entrance to a garden or +smaller burying ground. Within all is changed from the busy outside +world. The area inclosed is small--perhaps a square of a hundred and +fifty feet--but marked in lines by a maze of lanterns of the cheap iron +variety, set on cheap wooden posts. On the right is seen a minor shrine +or two dedicated to the Inari goddess. On the left is a small building +devoted to votive offerings, the crude and the more elaborate. The most +striking is the offering of a little _geisha_ lady, and portrays an +heroic scene of early days. There are other portraitures, in which +perhaps a wandering lover is seen as a hero, to the lady's eyes, of +these later times. On the outside of the structure are posted up by the +hundred pictures of once woebegone ladies, now rejoicing in the potent +influence of the Tamiya shrine to restore to them the strayed affections +of husband or lover. Next in line is an open, shed-like structure. It is +a poor chance if here the casual visitor does not encounter one or two +of the petitioners, patiently trotting round in a circle from front to +back, and reciting their prayers in this accomplishment of "the hundred +turns." Just opposite, and close by, is the shrine itself. This is in +part a massive store-house set back in the domestic structure, with the +shrine of the Inari facing the visitor. The floor space at the sides and +before it often is piled high with tubs of _shoyu_ and _sake_, with +bundles of charcoal, such negotiable articles as the wealthier +shopkeeper can offer to the mighty lady; and long tresses of hair of +women too poor to offer anything else, or wise enough to know that a +woman could make no greater sacrifice. And is not the object of their +worship a woman? Numerous are these severed strands. Entering the shrine +and passing the pleasant spoken warden at its entrance, peddling his +charms and giving advice where often it is sadly needed--perhaps the +more valuable of his two public duties--to the left within is the +Oku-no-In, the inner shrine containing the _ihai_ or memorial tablet of +O'Iwa. That the shrine is popular and wealthy; that the lady is feared, +venerated, and her dreadful powers much sought after; this is plain to +the eye in the crowded elaborateness of this inner holy place of the +larger sacred structure. + +Now Echizenbori is not a particularly old quarter of the city. Long +after Edo was established, the city, step by step, fought its way down +to the river; filling in lagoons and swamps, and driving their waters +into the canals which were to furnish very largely the means of +communication for its traffic. Yotsuya on the contrary is old. Its +poverty is of later date. In the Edo days it was a favourite site for +the homes of _do[u]shin_, _yakunin_, and a whole herd of the minor +officials who had the actual working of the great Tokugawa machine of +government in their hands. In the maps of Ansei 4th year (1857) the +shrine of the O'Iwa Inari figures in Samoncho[u], in its Teramachi; a +small part of the great mass of red, indicating temples and shrines and +their lands, which then covered a large part of Yotsuya. How then did it +come to pass that the shrine was removed to this far off site in +Echizenbori, with such incongruous surroundings? The explanation must be +found in our story. + +When the Tenwa year period (1681-83) opened, long resident at Yotsuya +Samoncho[u] had been Tamiya Matazaemon. By status he was a minor +official or _do[u]shin_ under the Tokugawa administration. These +_do[u]shin_ held highest rank of the permanent staff under the +bureaucratic establishment; and on these men lay the main dependence for +smoothness of working of the machinery of the Government. Matazaemon was +the perfect type of the under-official of the day; smooth, civilly +impertinent to his equals, harsh to his inferiors, and all unction and +abjectness to his superiors. Indeed, he laid more stress on those +immediately above him than on the more removed. To serve the greater +lord he served his immediate officer, being careful to allow to the +latter all the credit. No small part of his function was to see that +ceremonial form and precedent were carried out to the letter. It was the +accurate and ready knowledge of these which was of greatest import to +his chief, indeed might save the latter from disaster. Matazaemon's +readiness and conduct rendered him deservedly valued. Hence he enjoyed +the double salary of thirty _tawara_ of rice, largely supplemented by +gifts coming to him as teacher in _hanaike_ (the art of flower +arrangement) and of the _cha-no-yu_ (tea ceremony). He had a more than +good house, for one of his class, facing on the wide Samoncho[u] road, +and with a garden on the famous Teramachi or long street lined with +temples and which runs eastward from that thoroughfare. The garden of +Tamiya almost faced the entrance to the Gwansho[u]ji, which is one of +the few relics of the time still extant. It was large enough to contain +some fifteen or twenty fruit trees, mainly the _kaki_ or persimmon, for +Matazaemon was of practical mind. Several cherry trees, however, +periodically displayed their bloom against the rich dark green foliage +of the fruit trees; and in one corner, to set forth the mystic qualities +of a small Inari shrine relic of a former owner, were five or six +extremely ancient, gnarled, and propped up plum trees, sufficient in +number to cast their delicate perfume through garden and house in the +second month (March). + +Such was the home of Matazaemon; later that of O'Iwa San. It was +pretentious enough to make display with a large household. But the +master of Tamiya was as close-fisted and hard and bitter as an unripe +_biwa_ (medlar). His wealth was the large and unprofitable stone which +lay within; the acid pulp, a shallow layer, all he had to give to +society in his narrow minded adherence to official routine; the smooth, +easily peeled skin the outward sign of his pretentions to social status +and easily aroused acidity of temper. With most of his neighbours, and +all his relatives, he had a standing quarrel. Secure in his lord's +favour as an earnest officer, so little did he care for the dislike of +the ward residents that he was ever at drawn swords with the head of his +ward-association, Ito[u] Kwaiba. As for the relatives, they were only +too ready to come to closer intimacy; and Matazaemon knew it. + +His household consisted of his wife O'Naka, his daughter O'Mino, and the +man servant Densuke. The garden Matazaemon would allow no one to attend +to but himself. The two women did all the work of the household which +ordinarily would fall to woman-kind, with something more. Densuke +performed the heavier tasks, accompanied his master on his outings, and +represented his contribution to the service of the ward barrier, the +O[u]kido[u], on the great Ko[u]shu[u]-Kaido[u] and just beyond the +O[u]bangumi. The barrier cut off Yotsuya from the Naito[u]-Shinjuku +district, and, as an entrance into Edo, was of considerable importance. +When the time of service came Densuke appeared in full uniform and with +his pike. A handsome young fellow of nineteen years, the women, +especially O'Mino, saw to it that his appearance should be a credit to +the House. His progress up the wide Samoncho[u], up to his disappearance +into the great highway, was watched by O'Mino--and by the neighbours, +who had much sharper eyes and tongues than Matazaemon and his wife. They +marvelled. + +With ground for marvel. In the eyes of her parents O'Mino was the most +beautiful creature ever created. Occasionally Matazaemon would venture +on criticism. "Naka, something is to be said to Mino. Too much powder is +used on the face. Unless the colour of the skin be very dark, the use of +too much powder is not good. Mino is to be warned against excess." Thus +spoke the official in his most official tone and manner. Wife and +daughter heard and disobeyed; the wife because she was ruled by her +daughter, and the daughter because she would emulate the fair skin of +Densuke and be fairer in his eyes. O'Mino had suffered both from fate +and fortune. She had been born ugly; with broad, flat face like unto the +moon at full, or a dish. Her back was a little humped, her arms +disproportionately long, losing in plumpness what they gained in +extension. She seemed to have no breasts at all, the chest forming a +concavity in correspondence to the convexity of the back, with a +smoothness much like the inner surface of a bowl. This perhaps was no +disadvantage--under the conditions. So much for fate. But fortune had +been no kinder. "Blooming" into girlhood, she had been attacked by +smallpox. Matazaemon was busy, and knew nothing of sick nursing. O'Naka +was equally ignorant, though she was well intentioned. Of course the +then serving wench knew no more than her mistress. O'Mino was allowed to +claw her countenance and body, as the itching of the sores drove her +nearly frantic. In fact, O'Naka in her charity aided her. The result was +that she was most hideously pock-marked. Furthermore, the disease cost +her an eye, leaving a cavity, a gaping and unsightly wound, comparable +to the dumplings called _kuzumanju_, white puffy masses of rice dough +with a depression in the centre marked by a dab of the dark-brown bean +paste. The neighbours used to say that O'Mino was _nin san bake +shichi_--that is, three parts human and seven parts apparition. The more +critical reduced her humanity to the factor one. The children had no +name for her but "Oni" (fiend). They had reason for this. They would not +play with her, and treated her most cruelly. O'Mino, who was of no mild +temperament, soon learned to retaliate by use of an unusually robust +frame, to which was united by nature and circumstances her father's +acidity of character. When the odds were not too great all the tears +were not on O'Mino's side; but she suffered greatly, and learned with +years that the Tamiya garden was her safest playground. + +O'Mino grew into a woman. Affection had to find some outlet. Not on the +practical and very prosaic mother; not on the absorbed and crabbed +father; but on Densuke, on the _samurai's_ attendant or _chu[u]gen_, it +fell. All manner of little services were rendered to him; even such as +would appropriately fall within his own performance. At first O'Mino +sought out little missions for him to perform, out of the line of his +usual duties, and well rewarded in coin. This was at his first +appearance in the house. Then she grew bolder. Densuke found his +clothing undergoing mysterious repairs and replacement. His washing, +even down to the loin cloths, was undertaken by the Ojo[u]san. Densuke +did not dare to question or thwart her. Any trifling fault O'Mino took +on herself, as due to her meddling. She became bolder and bolder, and +sought his assistance in her own duties, until finally they were as man +and maid employed in the same house. Matazaemon noted little increases +in the house expenses. O'Mino took these as due to her own extravagance. +The father grunted a little at these unusual expenditures. "What goes +out at one end must be cut off at the other end. Densuke, oil is very +expensive. At night a light is not needed. Be sure, therefore, on going +to bed to extinguish the light." Densuke at once obeyed his master's +order; and that very night, for the first time, O'Mino boldly sought his +couch. Confused, frightened, overpowered by a passionate woman, Densuke +sinned against his lord, with his master's daughter as accomplice. + +Henceforth Densuke had what O'Mino was willing to give him. On +Matazaemon's going forth to his duties, O'Mino, and O'Naka under her +orders, did all his household work. The only return required was +submission to the exigencies of the Ojo[u]san. This was no slight +obligation. Densuke at times thought of escape, to his home at To[u]gane +village in Kazusa, to his uncle Kyu[u]bei in the Kanda quarter of Edo. +O'Mino seemed to divine his thoughts. She would overload him with +favors; or openly express her purpose of following wherever he went in +life. Kanda? Kyu[u]bei was a well-known hanger-on at the Tamiya. +Matazaemon entered him up in his expense book at so much a year. +To[u]gane? He could not get there except through Kyu[u]bei. Matazaemon +had farms there, and the _nanushi_ or village bailiff was his servant. +Besides, he would be a runaway. Matazaemon surely would come down on +Kyu[u]bei as the security. So the months passed, and matters were +allowed to drift. Perhaps it was some gossip of the quarter which +reached the deaf ears of Matazaemon. As he was about to go forth one day +he followed the figure of O'Mino sharply with his little eyes all +screwed up. "Naka, there seems change in the figure of Mino. Surely the +gossip of the neighbours as to Densuke is not true? Mino is said to +harbour a child by him. In such case it would be necessary to kill them +both. Warn Mino in time; a _chu[u]gen_ is not one to become the adopted +son (_muko_) of the Tamiya. He is an excellent lad, and costs but +little. His habits are not riotous. To dismiss him thus causelessly +would not only be unjust, but to no profit. Mino giving heed to the +warning, all will be well." With this the lord of the household stalked +forth to the house entrance. Receiving his clogs from O'Mino, he stalked +forth to his official attendance. The two women, prostrate in salutation +at his exit, raised their heads to watch him stalk. + +It was a frightened face that O'Naka turned to her daughter. In +whispering voice--"The honoured father's words have been heard? If not, +it is to be said that gossip of the neighbourhood has come to his ears +as to relations with Densuke. He notices that an _obi_ is not often +worn; and when worn is soon discarded. However, a man's eye is not so +apt in such matters. Even in this Naka cannot speak positively. +Doubtless the report is not true." O'Mino, if ugly, was anything but +obtuse. Her mother must know; and yet not know. "My honoured father does +not consider the difference of age and status in Densuke. Densuke is but +a boy. This Mino has passed her twenty-third year. Moreover, surely she +deserves a better husband than a _chu[u]gen_. Least of all would she +give her father cause for regret or painful thoughts. Can a woman be +pregnant otherwise than by a man?" O'Mino, respectfully prostrate, with +this raised her head. The two women looked each other in the face. +Finally O'Naka said--"With joy is the answer heard. But Matazaemon San +is of hasty temper. In his suspicions even he is to be avoided. However, +the business of the house is to be performed. This will take the time +until late in the day. Tradesmen may come for payments of the month. In +the closet ten _ryo[u]_ in silver will be found. Here are the keys to +the chests. It would be well to take an inventory of the effects. The +winter is at hand. It is time to make warmer provision for it. Be sure +to observe circumspection." With these words, and a sad look at her +erring daughter, O'Naka donned street garb, threw a _haori_ (cloak) over +her shoulders, climbed down into her clogs, and their patter soon +disappeared down the street. + +Her departure was almost coincident with the reappearance of Densuke. +His attendance on the master to the offices of the palace stables +accomplished, for the time being he had returned. Thus did Matazaemon +effect an outward state and an household economy. None too willing was +the presence of Densuke. He was faithful in his way to O'Mino, and much +afraid of her. Even in the most private intercourse to him she was the +Ojo[u]san, the daughter of the House; but he had no other recourse than +the Tamiya. Once assured of him, O'Mino had cut off all the previous +flow of coin, and with it the means of his rare indiscretions at the +Shinjuku pleasure quarter. Besides, their interviews took place in the +darkness of night. In the daytime O'Naka usually was present, who, +lacking other company, sought that of her daughter, and moreover was +unwilling to be too complacent in the intrigue she saw going on. As soon +as the sound of Densuke's steps was heard, O'Mino called him. There was +a sharpness in her tone, a note of alarmed decision, that frightened and +chilled him. Humbly he sought her presence. A glance showed the absence +of O'Naka, yet as usual he prostrated himself in salutation. In that +position he did not see her face. She said impatiently--"For salutation +there is no time nor occasion. It is no longer the Ojo[u]san who speaks; +it is the wife. My father knows all concerning this Mino and Densuke. On +his return he is sure to take the occasion of the presence of both to +kill us. It is his right and our duty to submit to his punishment. But +to do so consigns the infant in the womb from darkness to darkness. This +is too dreadful to contemplate. Unfilial though it be, we must run away. +Make up your mind to do so." Densuke looked up. She was bent in +meditation over this flight. The corners of the mouth widened out, the +eyelid drooping more conspicuously than ever and forming a heavy fold +over the empty socket, the bald brow, the scanty hair at the sides in +disordered whisps and strands, all these made her a hideous mask. He +could not endure the sight. Timidly he said--"Terrible news indeed! How +has it happened? Surely, honoured lady, you have been very rash; nay, +somewhat clumsy withal. Cannot women take their pleasure with whom they +please without such dire results? Ah! Such luxury, such pleasant +surroundings! All must be abandoned. This Densuke will seek his native +village in Kazusa. And the Ojo[u]san whither will she go; what will she +do?" + +Was the question asked in innocence, or in deepest guile? O'Mino could +not have answered, well as she thought she knew Densuke. He felt a hand +on his shoulder. He sprang up in fright, hardly knowing whether it was a +demon, or O'Mino turned demon, who confronted him. Her mouth half open, +her large, white, shining, even teeth all displayed, her single eye +darting malignant gleams, and the empty socket and its fold quivering +and shaking, she was a frightful object. "To speak of pleasure without +the consequences, such talk is that of a fool. Densuke was taken for the +relationship of the two worlds. Now you would abandon me. Very well--do +so. But this Mino does not perish by her father's sword. The well is at +hand. Within three days I shall reappear and hunt you out. Torn to +pieces the wretched man shall die a miserable death. Better would it be +now to die with Mino. A last salutation...." Two vigorous arms seized +his neck. Densuke gave a cry of anguish as the sharp teeth marked the +ear. Letting him go, she sprang to the _ro[u]ka_ (verandah). Frightened +as he was, Densuke was too quick for her. He grasped her robe. "Nay! The +Ojo[u]san must not act so desperately. Densuke spoke as one clumsy, and +at a loss what to do ... yes ... we must run away ... there is the +uncle, Kawai, in Kanda. To him Densuke will go, and there learn the will +of Tamiya Dono." O'Mino's tragic attitude lapsed. At once she was the +practical woman of the house. She gave thanks for her mother's +foresight. "The escape is not as of those unprovided. Here are ten +_ryo[u]_ in silver. A bundle is to be made of the clothing and other +effects. This is to be carried by Densuke. And the uncle: Mino +presenting herself for the first time as wife, a present is to be +brought. What should it be?" She talked away, already busy with piling +clothes, quilts (_futon_), toilet articles onto a large _furoshiki_ or +square piece of cloth. Then she arrayed her person with greatest care, +and in the soberest and richest fashion as the newly-wed wife. With time +Densuke managed to get his breath amid this vortex of unexpected +confusion into which he had been launched. "The uncle's teeth are bad. +Soft _takuan_[3] is just the thing. For long he has eaten little else. +Four or five stalks are sufficient." He went to the kitchen to secure +this valued gift. Then he collected his own possessions. With the huge +bundle of the _furoshiki_ on his shoulders; with straw raincoat, sun +hat, clogs for wet and dry weather, piled on the top, and the stalks of +the _takuan_ dangling down; "it was just as if they were running away +from a fire." As Densuke departed O'Mino closely observed him. He was +too subdued, too scared to give her anxiety. Later she left the house to +join him at the Hanzo[u]-bashi, far enough removed from Yotsuya. It was +then Tenwa, 2nd year, 11th month (December, 1682). + + + + +CHAPTER II + +KAWAI SAN OF KANDU KU + + +This uncle of Densuke, Kawai Kyu[u]bei by name, was a rice dealer, with +a shop in Matsudacho[u] of the Kanda district. The distance to go was +far. As with all ladies, O'Mino kept Densuke waiting long at the +Hanzo[u]-bashi. Indeed, there was much romance about this ugly, +neglected, hard girl. She waited until the sound of O'Naka's clogs was +heard. Then she halted at the corner of Teramachi until she could see +her mother's figure in the dusk; see it disappear into the house. When +she went down the street toward the Samegabashi she was crying. It was +late therefore--after the hour of the pig (9 P.M.)--when the pair +reached Kanda. The business of the day was long over in this business +section of Edo. The houses were tightly closed. On reaching the entrance +of Kyu[u]bei's house said Densuke--"Ojo[u]san, condescend to wait here +for a moment. The uncle is to be informed. Deign to have an eye to the +_furoshiki_. Please don't let the dogs bite into or insult the +_takuan_." He pounded on the door. Said a voice within--"Obasan +(Auntie)! Obasan! Someone knocks. Please go and open for them." The more +quavering and softer tones of an old woman made answer--"No, it is not +my turn and time to go to the door. Get up; and first make inquiry +before entrance is allowed. With little to lose, loss is much felt. Ah! +Tamiya Dono in the Yotsuya has been sadly neglected." The scolding tones +hummed on. Grumbling, the old man was lighting a rush. "'Tis agreed; +'tis agreed. To-morrow without fail this Kyu[u]bei visits Tamiya. Ah! It +is no jest to go to that house. Not only is the distance great, but...." +He had the door open, and his mouth too. "Densuke! Graceless fellow! But +what are you doing here, and at this hour? No; the luck is good. There +is a big bundle with you, a huge bundle." He spied the _takuan_ and his +face broadened into a smile. "Ah! If dismissed, it has been with honour. +Doubtless the _takuan_ is for this Kyu[u]bei. Thanks are felt. But is +all this stuff Densuke's? He has not stolen it? Doubtless a woman is at +the bottom of the affair. Never mind; an opportunity presents itself to +offer you as _muko_--at the Tatsuya in Yokomachi. Of late a boy has been +hoped for, but another girl presented herself. A _muko_ now will be +welcome. The wife is getting past child-bearing, and there is little +hope of a son. The Tatsuya girl is just the thing. In a few months she +will be fit to be a wife. She...." + +Densuke edged a word into this stream. "The honoured uncle is right. +The cause of Densuke's appearance is a woman." The old man made a face. +Said he--"Well, in such a case it is good to be out of it. This +Kyu[u]bei has heard talk of Densuke--and of all things with the +Ojo[u]san! That would be terrible indeed. But how is the Oni (demon)? +What a sight she is! Bald, one-eyed, hairless, with a face like a dish +and no nose--Kyu[u]bei came suddenly on her at dusk in the Yotsuya. Iya! +It was cold feet and chills for him for the space of seven days. It is +that which keeps Kyu[u]bei from Yotsuya, although a little aid would go +far. The last dealings in rice notes were not favourable. Besides, +account is soon to be rendered to Tamiya Dono. But though wicked of +temper and ugly, O'Mino San is rich. Even for the demon in time a good +match will be found. She will be the wife of an honoured _kenin_ +(vassal), and the husband will buy _geisha_ and _joro[u]_ with the +money. Such is the expectation of Tamiya Dono. Don't allow any trifling +there. Remember that she is the daughter of a _go-kenin_. They talk of +Densuke in the Yotsuya. Of course it is all talk. Don't allow it to +happen." Densuke found an opening. The words meant one thing; the +expression another. "It is not _going_ to happen." Kyu[u]bei looked at +him aghast as he took in the meaning. "What! With the demon? Densuke has +committed the carnal sin with the demon? Oh, you filthy scoundrel! Rash, +inconsiderate boy! Obasan! Obasan!... What did she pay you for the +deed?... This low fellow Densuke, this foolish rascal of a nephew, has +been caught in fornication with the demon.... What a fool! How is it +that death has been escaped? And you have run away. Doubtless a +pregnancy has followed. After putting his daughter to death Tamiya Dono +will surely hunt out Densuke. Or perhaps keep O'Mino San until he +catches the interloper. Sinning together, both will die together. Ah! To +cross the Sanzu no Kawa, to climb the Shide no Yama, with the demon as +company: terrific! It is terrific! And what has become of her? Why fall +into such a trap, with a woman old and ugly? Her riches are not for you. +Caught here, the _tatami_ of Kyu[u]bei will be spoiled."[4] + +Densuke countered. He spoke in the old man's ear. "Refusing consent, +she threatened to kill herself and haunt this Densuke as O'Bake +(apparition). The Ojisan (uncle) has seen the Ojo[u]san. Would he be +haunted by her, be seized and killed with torture?... And then--here she +stands, just at the door." The old man spluttered, and gasped, and went +on his nose in abject salutation--"Oh, the fool!... the Ojo[u]san is +here in person ... he would trifle with the devil!... the low rascal +would seduce the honoured daughter of Tamiya ... put ten hags in a row +and pick out the worst ... will the Ojo[u]san condescend to honour +Kyu[u]bei's place.... Oh! She's a very O'Bake already. Pregnancy with a +beautiful woman is bad enough. With this demon it makes her an +apparition ... condescend to enter; deign to enter." O'Mino slowly came +forward. That what had been said by the rash and unconscious Kyu[u]bei +had escaped her ear was unlikely. The humility of demeanor hardly veiled +the offended dignity of her approach. "Densuke has spoken truth. We come +as husband and wife. Condescend to give shelter for the time being, and +become the intercessor with Tamiya Dono. Such is the prayer of this +Mino." As she spoke she bowed low on the _tatami_ (mats). Kyu[u]bei +caught the hint; for if she had heard the talk of Densuke, she had +assuredly heard his still louder ejaculations and ill-timed wit. The +Obasan was in a rage at him. Taking the conduct of affairs in her own +hand--"Condescend to make this poor dwelling a home for as long as +desired. Plainly the visitors have not come empty handed. Ma! Ma! 'Tis +like an escape from a fire. Densuke is a strong lad to shoulder such a +burden. But he always has been something of an ass. As for Matazaemon +Dono, to-morrow the Ojisan shall attend to the affair, and see what is +to be expected. Meanwhile, deign to be as in Samoncho[u] itself." The +kindly old woman pushed Kyu[u]bei and his clumsy apologies out of the +way. She busied herself about O'Mino. The two women understood each +other. The varied contents of the _furoshiki_ were quickly stowed away. +A little supper was prepared for the hungry fugitives. Kyu[u]bei sat by, +his eyes dazzled by the wealth of goods displayed, and his nostrils +shifting under the acrid perfume of the _takuan_ and remembrance of his +stupidity. + +The next morning Kyu[u]bei was up betimes. Matazaemon was no dawdler. +It was best to catch him satisfied with the morning meal, and perhaps +beset by the night's regret over the loss of his daughter. In no way was +it a pleasant mission. Kyu[u]bei's pace became a crawl as he approached +the garden gate on Teramachi. He put in an appearance at the kitchen +side. O'Naka was here established, engaged in her duties and surely +awaiting him. At sight of him she burst into what was half laugh and +half tears. "Ah! It is Kyu[u]bei San. Doubtless he comes on the part of +Mino and Densuke. It is kind of Kyu[u]bei to befriend them. The Danna +(master) is very angry indeed. An only daughter, and one on whom he +depended for a _muko_, he is much upset. Please go in and talk with him. +Show anger at the runaways. To agree with him may somewhat soothe his +passion. Condescend so to act." Kyu[u]bei winked. And turn some of +this anger on himself? Well, agreement might rouse the spirit of +contradiction in Tamiya Dono. It was a characteristic of this hide-bound +official. Matazaemon was drinking the last sips of tea from his rice +bowl when the _sho[u]ji_ were gently pushed apart, and the head of +Kyu[u]bei inserted in the opening. At first he paid no attention. Then +as one in haste--"Ah! Is it Kyu[u]bei? He comes early to-day--and hardly +to apply for anything. The rice notes are not yet due for some weeks." +His tone was grim; the usual indifferent benevolence of demeanor toward +a townsman was conspicuously absent. Kyu[u]bei felt chilled. Densuke +must not sacrifice his good uncle to his own folly. + +Said Kyu[u]bei--"Yet it is to seek the honoured benevolence of Tamiya +Dono that Kyu[u]bei comes." Matazaemon turned sharp around toward him. +Frightened, the townsman continued--"Densuke has acted very wickedly. +The low, lascivious rascal has dared to seduce the honoured daughter of +the House. Both are now harboured at the house of this Kyu[u]bei, who +now makes report. Their lives are in the hand of Tamiya Dono. But +Kyu[u]bei would make earnest plea for delay. O'Mino San being pregnant, +the child would be sent from darkness to darkness--a terrible fate. May +it be condescended to show the honoured mercy and benevolence. Evil and +unfilial though the action of the two has been, yet 'benevolence weighs +the offence; justice possesses two qualities.' Such are the words of +Ko[u]shi (Confucius)." The eyes of Matazaemon twinkled. He had heard +that Kyu[u]bei was on the verge of shaving his head (turning priest). +Truly the townsman was profitting by the exhortations of his teacher. +After a time he said--"The memory of Kyu[u]bei is excellent. Don't let +it fail him on the present occasion. For such a deed as has been +committed the punishment is death, meted out by the hand of this +Matazaemon. The fact ascertained, it was intended to kill them both. The +flight of Mino and Densuke has altered the complexion of the affair. It +is no longer necessary to inflict the extreme penalty. O'Mino is +disowned for seven births. Neither she nor Densuke is to appear before +this Matazaemon. If the talk of the ward be true, in exchange for a +loyal service Densuke has secured a beautiful bride. There can be no +regrets." Then, taking a sprightly and jeering air, "But this Kyu[u]bei +has been the one to exercise benevolence. Matazaemon now learns that the +two runaways have been received by him. Entertain them well; entertain +them well. Thanks are due to Kyu[u]bei San--from them. Doubtless he is +much occupied with his guests. Less will be seen of him in Yotsuya.... +But official duties press. This Matazaemon must leave. Don't be in +haste. Stay and take some tea.... Naka! Naka! Tea for Kyu[u]bei San; the +_haori_ (cloak) of Matazaemon.... _Sayonara_.... Ah! The rice notes this +Matazaemon took up for Kyu[u]bei San, they fall due with the passage of +the weeks. But Kyu[u]bei is one who always meets his obligations. As to +that there is no anxiety." With this last fling the prostrate Kyu[u]bei +heard the sound of the clogs of Matazaemon on the flagged walk outside. +A departing warning to O'Naka as to the tea, and steps were heard +near-by. He raised his head, to confront the mistress of the house. + +O'Naka spoke with tears in her eyes--a salve to the alarmed and +wounded feelings of Kyu[u]bei. "Don't be frightened. After all +Matazaemon is a _samurai_. To press Kyu[u]bei, or any tradesman, is +beyond him. But this Naka cannot see her daughter! To add to his anger +would bring disaster on her and the unborn child. Alas! Anyhow, give +Mino this money; and these articles of value, properly her own. Her +mirror has been forgotten in the hasty flight." O'Naka brought forth one +of those elaborate polished silver surfaces, used by the ladies of +Nippon in these later luxurious days of the Sho[u]gunate. It was only +now that it became the property of O'Mino. It was part of the wedding +outfit of O'Naka herself. With this little fiction the mother +continued--"When the child is born allow the grandmother at least a +distant sight of it. Perhaps it will resemble Tamiya; be like its +mother, and soften a father's heart." Now she wept bitterly; and +Kyu[u]bei wept with her--bitterly. "Like the mother! The Buddhas of +Daienji[5] would indeed weep at the appearance of such a monster." This +was his thought; not expressed with the humble gratitude, prostration, +and promises which he fully intended to keep. Kyu[u]bei reverentially +accepted the mirror, the goods, the money. Taking his leave of +Yotsuya--a long one he feared--with sighs he set out for Kanda. Here he +made his report. Said the old townsman with severity--"The will of the +parent is not to be disobeyed. It is the duty of this Kyu[u]bei to see +to its performance." He had O'Naka more in mind than the master of +Tamiya. O'Mino might yet be the goose to lay golden eggs. A goose of +such plumage! Kyu[u]bei made a wry face in the darkness of the corridor. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TAKAHASHI DAIHACHIRO[U] + + +Some means of support had to be found. Employed in a _kenin's_ house, +and leaving it under such conditions, kindred occupation was out of the +question. There was a sort of black list among these officials to cover +all grades of their service. Time and the host of servants of some great +House would get the lad back into the only occupation he understood. +Trusting to some such accident of fortune, Kyu[u]bei made Densuke his +agent on commission. Densuke was no idler. Kyu[u]bei managed to meet the +Tamiya security for his loans, largely through the efforts of the +younger man. The married couple at this time set up their establishment +in Goro[u]beicho[u] of Kyo[u]bashi Ku. Coming and going, often with no +definite task in hand, Densuke to all appearance was an out-and-out +idler. For the first time released from the trammels of her class, +O'Mino could attend the theatres and farce shows of the capital. She +delighted in acting this part of a tradesman's wife. Moreover she was +very sure of not meeting with Matazaemon, of whom she was in great fear. +Bound to the _formulae_ of his class, her father might feel bound to cut +her down on sight. + +One day Densuke was idling and hanging over the parapet of the +Nihonbashi. Some fishermen were violently quarrelling in the fish market +on the bank just below the bridge. As he looked on with interest a hand +was laid on his shoulder. Turning, he saw a man, partly in the dress of +a _chu[u]gen_, partly in that of a menial attendant of one of the larger +_yashiki_ (nobleman's mansion). Scars of burns on his hands and arms, +patches of rice flour and bran, showed that he was a cook. His eye was +severe and his manner abrupt as he rebuked Densuke. "An idle fellow! +This Taro[u]bei never fails to come across Densuke as an idler, or on +the way to Asakusa with the worthy wife. Is he fit for nothing?" Densuke +was a mild man. To this man with a grievance his answer was soft. +Besides he had no liking for the cook's knife stuck in the girdle, and +handy to carve fish or flesh. He said--"Perchance the idleness is more +in appearance than fact. Buying and selling on commission the task is an +irregular one. It is true, however, that this Densuke has no settled +labour. Alas! Former days in the service of a _samurai_ are much to be +regretted."--"Can you cook rice?" was the abrupt interruption. "This +Densuke knows the 'Sanryaku' fairly well. Is more needed?" The man +looked at him dumbfounded. "The 'Sanryaku'--what's that?"--"Knowledge of +the 'Sanryaku' enables one to meet all the requirements of a _bushi_ +(knight).[6] At the school in Kazusa To[u]gane the priest who taught +this Densuke, at one time a _samurai_, was far more taken with the +'Sanryaku' than with the _Sutra_ (Scripture); the lessons taught applied +more to Bushido[u] (the knight's way) than to Butsudo[u] (the way of the +Buddha).... But to the point; this Densuke for three years cooked the +rice at Tamiya in Yotsuya. First there is the _toro-toro_ of bubbling +water; then the _biri-biri_, as what little remains passes as steam +through the rice grains. Then the sharp whistling cry of a baby from the +pot on the slow fire (_murashite_). The task is done, and the vessel is +removed from the stove." The man looked with respect on this learned +cook. Said he--"Densuke is the man. Taro[u]bei must leave the kitchen of +Geishu[u] Sama at once. The mother is ill in Aki province. A substitute +is to be found. The salary--is next to nothing; but the perquisites are +numerous, and the food ample to feed several Densuke and their wives. +Deign to accept." Densuke did not hesitate--"The obligation lies with +Densuke. But how secure the position? There is Tamiya...." The man +laughed. "There are many Densuke in Edo; and no connection between the +_yashiki_ of Matsudaira Aki no Kami and the house of a _do[u]shin_ in +Yotsuya. There is small likelihood of meeting old acquaintances. Be sure +to remember that it is Densuke of Kyo[u]bashi; not Densuke of Yotsuya. +This pass will answer to the gate-man. Substitutes are common. Whether +it be Densuke or Taro[u]bei who cooks the rice makes no difference; +provided the rice be well cooked. Taro[u]bei's service lies elsewhere; +to Densuke San deep his obligation." He held out the pass, and Densuke +took it. + +With mutual salutation and joy in heart they parted. Densuke betook +himself to the _yashiki_ of Matsudaira Aki no Kami at Kasumigaseki. No +difficulties were encountered. Taro[u]bei was not so superlative as a +cook that the substitute could not be better than the original. At this +place Densuke acted the part of the _komatsukibatta_. This is a narrow +brown weevil, some three parts of an inch in length, and which stands on +its head making the repeated movements of _o'jigi_, much as at a +ceremonial encounter in Nippon. Densuke was not long in becoming well +liked. He was ready to run errands for all, outside of the hours of his +duties. From those higher up in the _yashiki_ these errands brought him +coin. Every month he could bring O'Mino twenty to thirty _mon_ in +"cash"; apart from the ample rations of rice and _daikon_ bestowed on +the kitchen staff. Nay: as cook at times fish could not be allowed to +spoil, and fell to the perquisites of Densuke. Thus time passed; and +with it the delivery of O'Mino, and the crisis in the affairs of Densuke +approached. Now Geishu[u] Sama[7] was a fourth month _daimyo[u]_. Hence +with the iris blossoms he took his departure from Edo to the government +of his fief in Aki province. The Sakuji Machibugyo[u], one Takahashi +Daihachiro[u], plead illness on this occasion of the exodus. As unable +to accompany his lord he remained in Edo. On plea of convenience he +established himself in the abandoned quarters of the _ashigaru_ or +common soldiers, situated right over Densuke's cooking stoves. Entirely +removed from the bustle of the household, except during Densuke's now +rare attendance, he secured complete isolation and quiet. Densuke went +on cooking for Takahashi Sama, just as if it had been for the whole +military household. Daihachiro[u] was a forbidding kind of man; and it +was with no amiable look that he greeted Densuke when the latter +appeared very late to prepare the meal. It being the 5th month 5th day +(the _sekku_) of Tenwa 3rd year (30th May, 1683), perhaps he suspected +Densuke of preparation for, and participation in, the great festival +which was in progress. "Densuke is very late. This Daihachiro[u] has +made the trial; to find out that he is no cook. Indeed the right hand +has been severely burnt. A cook should be on time--for the meal, not the +_matsuri_." Densuke was all apology--"Nay, Danna Sama; it is not the +festival which has detained Densuke. An infant was expected to-day by +the wife. Hence Densuke's neglect. Deign to pardon him."--"A baby being +born is no reason why Daihachiro[u] should starve. Prepare the meal in +haste. The rice is to be soft; and please see that the fish also is +soft. Make the sauce not too sharp. It would give great trouble to make +the bath in the quarters. In Owarimachi, or Kubomachi, good bath-houses +are to be found." Densuke took the hint. At once he recommended one he +thought befitting the great man's greatness. "Well: _Sayonara_. See that +the meal is ready by the return." Off stalked Takahashi Daihachiro[u], +towel dangling from his hand, and toothbrush and bran bag in his bosom. + +Densuke gave a sigh of relief as he left the court. Daihachiro[u] often +employed him on missions, and was never particularly generous even when +the transaction was decidedly shady. Densuke was dreadfully afraid of +him. Somehow he felt as if Daihachiro[u] was Fate--his fate. Turning to +his stoves, the pots and the pans, the meal soon was in successful +preparation. As Densuke lifted the cover to inspect the rice--splash! A +great red spot spread in widening circle over the white mass. In fright +Densuke clapped on the lid of the pot. He looked upward, to locate this +unusual condiment to his provision. On his forehead he received in +person a second consignment. Applying his finger to his head, and then +to his nose--"Blood! Ah! O'Take's fierce cat has caught a rat and is +chewing it in the room above. How vexatious! If the Danna should find +out...." Hastily he tried to shove his equipment to one side. This would +not do. The massive stone blocks forming the furnace were too heavy for +Densuke to move unaided. Somewhat helpless he looked around. The rice +was almost done; ready for the process of _murashite_, or simmering over +the slow fire. The fish, carefully prepared, as yet was to be cooked. +All was to be ready against the return of Daihachiro[u] Sama. Ah! Again +the dropping began. As finding some channel in the rough boarding of the +ceiling it came fast. His kitchen began to look like the place where the +Eta (outcasts) slaughter beasts. Densuke shuddered. + +Circumstances, the results involved, make the timid brave. Grasping a +pole Densuke started up the ladder leading to the loft and the quarters +of the _ashigaru_. Arrived at the top his eyes took in the poor +apartment. The rafters and beams of a low-cast roof; six wretched +(Loo-choo) mats on the floor, for the men to sit, and sleep, and live +upon; such its bare equipment. In the middle of the mats was a great red +stain. Densuke was at once attracted to it. "A cat would eat a rat; but +it would not wipe up the blood." His eyes were caught by the straw +basket used to store away the raincoats. This was all stained red at the +bottom. Going close up he found it was wet. Perhaps the cat was at work +inside. Densuke raised the cover and looked in. In alarm he sprang back. +On the trunk and limbs of a body was placed a freshly severed head. +Without replacing the cover, with pole uplifted over his head in +defence, Densuke backed toward the ladder. His one idea was to flee this +_yashiki_. As he reached the top of the steps the voice of Daihachiro[u] +was heard below--"A pest on such filthy bath-houses; and filthier +patrons.... What! No rice yet, Densuke? Ah! Where is the fellow?" +Densuke looked down, to meet the altered countenance of Daihachiro[u] +looking up. He retreated as the latter sprang up the ladder. +Daihachiro[u] gave a rapid glance. He saw the raised cover of the +basket. The next moment the bosom of Densuke's dress was harshly +grasped, and he himself was forced down on the floor. Gloomily +Daihachiro[u] regarded him--"Rash and curious fellow! Why not keep to +your pots and pans? Densuke loses his life; and Daihachiro[u] a fool for +a cook." He had drawn his sword to strike. Densuke clung to his knees in +petition--"Pardon, master! Pardon! This Densuke is no idle gossip. The +dripping blood threatened to spoil the meal. Thinking the cat was eating +a rat, fearing the anger of the Danna Sama if the meal had to be +re-cooked, Densuke came up here to chase the animal away. Thus the crime +was discovered...."--"Crime!" thundered Daihachiro[u]. "Ah! This +intermeddler must certainly die. By the word of a _samurai_...." In his +terror Densuke almost put his hand over the irrevocable sentence. He +spoke with life at stake. "Deign, master, to pardon Densuke. He has +committed no offence; knows of no offence in others. Densuke has seen +nothing. Life is a jewel, to be kept at any cost. Densuke is far too +insignificant to deserve the anger of Takahashi Sama." He grovelled in +the abject terror of his petition. + +Takahashi Daihachiro[u] hesitated. An idea seemed to occur to him, at +sight of the man's fear-struck state. He smiled grimly. "Densuke saw the +head?"--"'Tis so," admitted Densuke. "But to see a head means nothing." +Daihachiro[u] dragged him over to the raincoat basket. Holding him down, +he grasped the head by the cue and lifted it out. "Look!" Densuke gave a +cry of surprise at sight of the features of a once neighbour. "It is the +head of Iseya Jusuke, the money lender of Hacho[u]bori; a hard man. +Surely the Danna...."--"Just so," replied Daihachiro[u], carelessly +throwing the mortuary relic back into the basket. "Borrowing five +_ryo[u]_, in six months with the interest the sum now due is twenty-five +_ryo[u]_. Pleading illness Daihachiro[u] remained in Edo, to try and +soften the usurer. He threatened a report to my lord; grew insolent +beyond measure. The sword drawn, he was killed forthwith.... Here +Densuke finds his use and saves his life. This body is an awkward +impediment. Densuke must take and cast it away. Otherwise, a second head +is added to this first. With one already to dispose of a second gives no +difficulty. Decide: is it agreed? Moreover there will be payment." He +took out a money belt (_do[u]maki_), that of Jusuke. Densuke recognized +it. Daihachiro[u] had robbed Jusuke, after killing him. Lovingly he ran +the golden _ryo[u]_ through his fingers. Seventy of them Densuke +counted. Daihachiro[u] picked out three _ryo[u]_. "Here is payment. Life +is spared, and it is agreed to cast away the body." Stammered +Densuke--"On the rubbish heap?" Daihachiro[u] looked at him--"You fool! +Why not proclaim that Densuke murdered Jusuke? Once the gate is +passed--and this Daihachiro[u] goes in company so far--it is Densuke who +is the murderer of Jusuke. Remain in this place until night. Then off +with the body; pitch it into the ditch of Kuroda Ke, or that of Saio[u] +Dono. Daihachiro[u] now takes his meal. There is nothing wrong with it?" +He looked meaningly at Densuke. The latter, with eyes on the shining +sword, at once denied all defilement. He now plumed himself on the care +taken of the Danna's interests. Daihachiro[u] descended; to feed at ease +and keep watch over the unwilling Densuke. + +In the 5th month (June) the days are long. Densuke was a coward; and +for company had the corpse of the murdered Jusuke. To the poor cook the +time passed was torture. He was continually going to the stair and +calling down--"Danna Sama, has the time come?... Ah! The sky is light. +The streets at night will be full of people with lanterns. Plainly +O'Tento[u] Sama (the Sun) has forgotten to decline in the West. Alas! +This Densuke is most unlucky." At last the hour of the dog was passing +(7-9 P.M.). Daihachiro[u] appeared. "Now for the corpse! Wrap it up in +this matting.... Coward! Is Densuke afraid of a dead man?" He took the +body and cut the tendons of arms and legs. Then he placed the head on +the belly. Doubling the limbs over the body so as to hold the head he +wrapped the matting around the whole. The outside he covered with some +red raincoats--"in case of accidental stains." Then he strongly roped +the whole together. He stood back to inspect a truly admirable job. +Densuke wondered how many usurers Daihachiro[u] had thus disposed of. +His speculations were interrupted. Everything was ready. "Now! the loan +of Densuke's back." Groaned Densuke--"Danna Sama, a request."--"What?" +asked Daihachiro[u]. "Condescend to put a board between the body of +Densuke and that of Jusuke. The head might seize and bite me with its +teeth." Daihachiro[u] snorted with laughter, contempt, and anger mixed. +"What a cowardly rascal you are! Off with it as it is." Said Densuke +respectfully and firmly--"The task is that of Densuke. Condescend so far +to favour him." His obvious terror threatened collapse even of the +influence of Daihachiro[u]. An old remnant of the back of a corselet was +at hand. Said Daihachiro[u]--"This is still better. It is metal. In it +goes. Now off with you." Stalking along in the rear of the unfortunate +cook, Daihachiro[u] kept within easy distance of a sword blow. At the +gate he said--"Pray grant passage. Densuke takes washing of this +Daihachiro[u]--bed quilts and _futon_ to be renovated."--"Respectfully +heard and understood." The gate-man let fall the bar and stood aside. +Densuke passed into the street. A little way off he looked around. +Takahashi Daihachiro[u] had disappeared. Now indeed it was an affair +between Densuke and Jusuke.[8] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN + + +Shouldering his pack Densuke made off down the broad space lined by the +white walls of the _yashiki_. In this quarter of the _bushi_ the highway +was not crowded with citizens and their lanterns. Densuke had high hopes +of an early disposition of the incubus. He approached the ditch which +protected the wall of the _yashiki_ of Prince Kuroda. When about to put +down the bundle a hail reached him from the _samurai_ on guard at the +Kuroda gate. "Heigh there, rascal! Wait!" But Densuke did not wait. In +terror he gave the load a shift on his shoulder and started off almost +at a run. On doing so there was a movement within. The cold sweat stood +out on the unhappy man's forehead. A moment, and would the teeth of +Jusuke be fastened in his shoulder? "Ah! Jusuke San! Good neighbour! +This Densuke is but the wretched agent. 'Tis Daihachiro[u] Sama who +killed Jusuke. Deign to pursue and haunt Takahashi Sama. Jusuke San! +Jusuke San!" Fright gave him strength and boldness. The Tora no Mon +(Tiger gate) of the castle should be the place of disposal. Here the +ditch was deep and dark. But to its very edge swarmed the people with +their lanterns on this night of festival in early summer. The moor of +Kubomachi was his next goal. At this period it really was open ground. +With a sigh of relief Densuke let the bundle slip from his now weary +shoulders. Alive he would have laughed at the idea of carrying the +portly Jusuke. Yet here the usurer bestrode him, far heavier weight than +on other unfortunate clients. "Let's have a look at him; address him +face to face." His hand was on the knot, when a woman's voice spoke in +his ear. Densuke did not wait to ascertain the nature of her +solicitation. He sped away into the darkness, toward the distant city. +Without goal, he found himself at Shiodome.[9] Crossing the Shimbashi he +entered on the crowded and lighted Owaricho[u]. It was only the hour of +the pig (9 P.M.), and the house lanterns as yet burned brightly. He +hesitated, with the idea of turning toward Shiba, of trying his luck in +this still rustic district; or on the seashore, not far off. + +A man close by greeted him. "Iya! Densuke San at last is found. The +honoured wife suffers great anxiety. Thinking that the festival might be +the attraction this Goemon set out to find you. Deign to hasten at once +to Goro[u]beicho[u]." Densuke shifted his burden away from the man. Did +it not already somewhat taint the air? His nostrils were wide open in +alarmed inquiry. He made excuses. With his heavy pack he would follow +after slowly. He was overwhelmed by his neighbour's kindness. Goemon +offered to share the work. Densuke did more than refuse. Unable to shake +off his companion in stolid desperation he took his way to his home in +the tenement (_nagaya_). "Tadaima" (just now--present), he called from +the doorway. Entering the shabby room he put down the _furoshiki_ in a +distant corner. Going to the Butsudan, or house altar, at once he lit +the lamps. O'Mino eyed him with astonishment. "What's that?" she asked, +pointing to the bundle--"Washing of Daihachiro[u] Sama"--"But Mino is +ill. So situated she cannot do washing. How negligent!"--"It makes no +matter," replied Densuke recklessly. O'Mino did not like the tone of his +voice. She eyed him sharply. Then more pressing matters urged. "Weary as +you are it is to be regretted; but money must be in hand, for the +midwife and other expenses. A few hours, and this Mino will be unable to +leave her bed--for three turns (weeks). There is cooking and washing to +be done. Please go to Kyu[u]bei San and ask the loan of a _ryo[u]_. +Perhaps he will give half."--"He will give nothing," was the surly reply +of Densuke. "Of loans he has grown tired of late. As the uncle is the +only stay in dire necessity care must be taken not to offend. Moreover, +the loan is unnecessary. Here are three _ryo[u]_." He brought out the +shining oblong pieces. O'Mino's eyes were bright with terror. "Ah! Has +Densuke turned thief? How was this money secured? What has happened? Why +so late in returning?" But Densuke was made confident and ready of +tongue by the physical helplessness of O'Mino. "Don't be alarmed. +Densuke is neither thief nor murderer. He is no Shirai Gompachi. Perhaps +there is a corpse within, not washing. Would the Ojo[u]san see a head, +arms, legs, freshly severed?" He laughed harshly as she turned her head +from him to the bundle, then back again. "This money was given to +Densuke by Takahashi Sama; in return for faithful service in an +important matter. Don't be frightened. It has been honestly earned." +Said O'Mino, almost to herself--"But Daihachiro[u] Sama is not one to +give such a sum as three _ryo[u]_. He is always in debt. The wife of +Jusuke San complains of his delays with her husband. However...." +Confidence restored, she bade Densuke put the money in the drawer of the +toilet stand. Then he was to prepare some food; for themselves, and for +the neighbours ready to assist at the expected birth. + +Densuke did so, his eyes shifting from O'Mino to the stove, from the +stove to the deadly bundle. Finally he removed the _furoshiki_ to their +outer room, mumbling some excuse as to the foulness of a buck-basket. He +returned to his cooking. Barely tasting some food O'Mino soon was sound +asleep. Densuke observed her. "Ugly, rich, a very _O'Bake_ in appearance +is the Ojo[u]san; and yet she takes as husband a spiritless creature, +such as is this Densuke. Is it good or bad fortune? How grateful would +be her advice." He went to bed himself in the outer room; to spend a +hideous night of nightmare in company with the dead Jusuke, who now did +taint the air with that indefinable pollution of even the freshest +corpse. Wild visions floated through the brain of Densuke. The +neighbours would assemble. The food was ready. Ah! Here comes the wife +of Jusuke San. She demands her husband. A moment, and Densuke was +stealing from the house entrance into the darkness. The river? Ah! That +was it. The canal of Hacho[u]bori was close at hand to Jusuke's own +home. It would float him to his very door. Densuke soon saw himself at +the river bank. No one was at hand. Splash! In went the foul burden. +There it was again. But now it was Jusuke in person. "Jusuke San! Jusuke +San! Pardon! 'Twas not this Densuke who killed you. Seek vengeance of +Daihachiro[u] Sama. He is the murderer." In his terror he lost all fear +of being heard. He shouted at the top of his lungs. But Jusuke laid a +heavy hand on him. With one long drawn out groan Densuke--awoke. + +O'Mino was leaning close over him, her face spectre-like with pain. +Seeing that he was awake she took away her hand. "What is the matter +with you? All night you have been shouting and mumbling in sleep. Just +now it was 'Jusuke San! Jusuke San! Daihachiro[u] Sama!' It is indeed a +matter of Jusuke San. The time of Mino is at hand; the pains begin. Go +at once to the house of Jusuke, and ask his wife O'Yoshi to condescend +her aid." Densuke sprang up. An idea flashed into his mind. He would go +to Hacho[u]bori and make full confession. Which was the most important? +O'Yoshi as confessor or as midwife? With his brain thus puzzled over an +answer he started off. His last injunction to O'Mino was--"by no means +meddle with the bundle of Daihachiro[u] Sama." There could have been no +more direct invitation to her to do so. For a short time O'Mino did +nothing but eye the strange bundle. Then she was on her knees before it, +examining it. "Rain coats as wrapping! And tied with rope: a queer kind +of washing. What a strange odour! Pickled _daikon_ (_nukamisozuke_)?" +She shook it. Something inside went _gotsu-gotsu_. This was too much for +her curiosity. Her old suspicion came back, that Densuke had turned +robber. She poked a little hole in the straw wrapping. Some kind of +cloth covering was within; a _kimono_ without doubt. Through its tissue +something shone white. The kitchen knife was close at hand on the +brazier (_hibachi_). She reached out, and in a moment the rope was +severed. "Oya! Oya!" Out rolled a head. An arm, two helpless flexible +legs were extended before her. With a scream of horror O'Mino fell flat +on her back. Lying stretched out she uttered one sharp cry after +another. The neighbouring wives came hurrying in, a stream of humanity. +"What is wrong? A young wife screams not without cause. Oya! Oya! O'Mino +San has given birth to a baby and a head. Iya! Head, limbs, body--a +monstrous parturition!" With the woman groaning in the pain of her +delivery, the wives in confusion, children flying to summon the men +folk, the whole district was in an uproar. In the midst of the confusion +arrived Densuke and the wife of Jusuke. As yet he had not found courage +to confess. He was still "deciding." A neighbour greeted him--"Densuke +San! Strange things have happened to O'Mino San. She has given birth to +a head and a baby at the same time. Hasten, Densuke San! Hasten!" +Densuke did hasten; but it was to disappear down the nearest byway in +headlong flight. Amazed and confounded the wife of Jusuke proceeded +alone to the house; as the first thing to set eyes on the head of her +husband, eyes still open and glaring in death. With a cry she +precipitated herself upon it; took it in her arms. The midwife, summoned +in haste, parted infant from mother. Thus did O'Iwa San come forth into +the world. + +The affair was grave. The _kenshi_ (coroner) was soon on the scene. +O'Mino with feeble voice told what she knew. "Deign to examine into the +affair beyond the surface. My husband Densuke is not the man to commit +this crime. Ask the neighbours, who know him. Last night he brought +three _ryo[u]_, given him by Takahashi Daihachiro[u] Sama, the Sakuji +Machibugyo[u] of Geishu[u] Ko[u]. He said that it was for important +service rendered. There is no doubt that Takahashi San is the murderer. +Deign to examine well; show benevolence.... Ah! This Mino shall have +vengeance. For seven lives Daihachiro[u] shall be pursued...." Her eyes +became injected with blood. Her breast heaved painfully in the attempt +to get air. The women around her gave cries of alarm. O'Mino sank back +in a pool of blood. She had died in the midst of her curse. Said one +present--"This To[u]kichi would not be the honoured Sakuji Sama; nay, +not for the full seven existences in human form." The others felt as he +did. Even the _kenshi_ drew up his shoulders a little at the frightful +mask of the dead woman's face. He could learn but little. Kyu[u]bei, +soon at hand, petitioned for the dead body of O'Mino and the custody of +the infant. The neighbours corroborated the story of O'Mino; but Densuke +had disappeared. Daihachiro[u] never had confidence in his agent. His +preparations for flight had been made before Densuke's discovery, and +almost together with Densuke he had passed out the gate of Geishu[u] +Sama, with the seventy _ryo[u]_ provided by Jusuke. Report being made to +the Machibugyo[u] a "grass dividing" search was made, without result. No +trace of either man was found. As for the child born under these +auspicious conditions, Kyu[u]bei went at once to Tamiya Matazaemon and +made report. With bowed head the old man awaited the decision. Said +Matazaemon--"The name giving is to take place on the seventh night. +Kyu[u]bei will not fail to be present." He did not speak further. Thus +the offence of the parents was pardoned in O'Iwa the infant; the +grandchild of a man and woman passing the period of middle age.[10] + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE AFFAIR OF THE SHIBA KIRIDO[U]SHI[11] + + +It was Genroku 8th year (1695). O'Iwa, a girl of twelve years, could +understand what came to her ears. In dealing with each other the +Nipponese are very exact and exacting. The New Year must start with a +clean balance sheet for the tradesman--all bills paid and collected. The +last night of the dying year, and its last few hours; this time is the +busiest and most anxious. Zensuke, the _banto[u]_ (clerk) of the Shimaya +dry goods shop, accompanied by one Jugoro[u], was passing the Shiba +Kirido[u]shi. It was the hour of the tiger (3 A.M.). Of the two, +Jugoro[u] was the fighting man. Juro[u]zaemon of the Shimaya had +provided him with a short sword and sent him as guard to Zensuke, who +would have more than three hundred _ryo[u]_ in gold. Said +Jugoro[u]--"Banto[u] San, whither now? The hour is late."--"It is never +late on the _o[u]misoka_ (31st of the 12th month)," replied Zensuke +tersely. "However, there remains but one account to collect; at +Nishikubo. We will hasten."--"Go on ahead," said Jugoro[u]. "A moment +here for a necessity." Thus the two men became separated by nearly a +_cho[u]_ (100 yards). The district was one of _yashiki_ and temples. The +white walls of the former blended with the white carpet of snow on the +ground. At any hour it was no busy place; now it was desolate. The high +banks of the cutting crowned by woods and approached through the trees, +made it an ideal place for a hold-up. Zensuke hesitated. He slowed his +pace to allow his companion to join him. He thought he saw something +move in the darkness close by. From behind a tree just before him came a +_samurai_. Two others followed this man from the shadows. The heads of +all three men were covered by _zukin_ (hoods). They wore vizors. "Wait!" +Zensuke stopped in fright. "What suspicious rascal is this, travelling +the quarter at this hour? Probably some clerk making off with his +master's funds. Come now! Give them into better keeping. Low fellow! You +are fairly trapped." Zensuke began to retreat, but two of the men were +now behind him. He began to shout for Jugoro[u]. The latter came up at a +run--"Honoured Sirs! This is the Banto[u] San of the Shimaya of Honjo[u] +Itcho[u]me. He is collecting the house bills. Deign not to disturb +him."--"Shut up!" was the reply of the leader. "Another fellow of the +same kidney. Look to him." Roughly he thrust his hand into Zensuke's +bosom and began to hustle and fumble the clerk. When Jugoro[u] would +interfere the two other men prevented him. With fright he saw the money +belt of the _banto[u]_ dangling from the man's hand. The nature of the +affair was plain. "Heigh! Jokes don't go, honoured sirs. We are not +suspicious fellows. Condescend to pardon us." As he spoke he took +advantage of the negligence of his opponents, their interest in the +struggle of Zensuke and their leader, to wrench himself free. At once +his sword was out. Jugoro[u] was of no mean skill. None of his wardsmen +could face him. One man received severe wounds in scalp and face. The +other lost part of his hand. But Jugoro[u] was no match for the odds of +two trained soldiers. He was soon cut down. Meanwhile Zensuke was +shouting lustily for aid. At this period there was a guard called the +_tsujiban_ (cross-roads watch). It was mostly composed of oldish men not +fit for active service. Such regulations as there were they observed. +These were very severe; but, as with the present day police, kept them +to their post. They rarely troubled themselves to patrol their district. +From these men there could be little hope of aid. Just then, however, +the train of some lord came in sight. With one hand the leader held +Zensuke by the bosom of his robe. The hand holding the money belt was +already thrust in his own bosom. In a moment it would be free. Then +Zensuke would go in company with Jugoro[u] to the Yellow Fountain (in +Hell). His captor gave a startled cry. "The train of Geishu[u] Sama! +Lose no time!" As he wrenched himself away Zensuke sank his teeth deep +into the man's hand. With a howl of pain the fellow made off, exchanging +a little finger for the three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_ in +Zensuke's _do[u]maki_. + +The _banto[u]_ crouched in conventional attitude by the roadside. His +distress was plain; the prostrate body of a man evidence of some unusual +condition. A _samurai_ left the passing train and came up to +investigate. "Ah! Robbery and murder: follow behind to the _tsujiban_. +It is their affair." With moans and groans Zensuke made his report. He +was indignant at the luxury of these watchmen, toasting at their fire. +They noted it; looked at each other and out into the snowy night, and +laughed with contempt. For a tradesman's money belt were they to disturb +themselves? They questioned him harshly, in such way as to excuse any +further effort on their part. Surely the thieves by this time were at +the other end of Edo. Two of them, however, did accompany Zensuke to the +scene of the hold-up. Casting an eye over Jugoro[u]'s mangled corpse, +said one--"A good fight: the occasion has been missed. As perhaps the +criminal this man is to be bound. Probably his intent was to run away +with the master's funds." Roughly they seized him, hustled him back to +the guardhouse. Trussed up Zensuke had to spend the hours in alarm and +fear. Luckily the _kenshi_ soon appeared. It was the _o[u]misoka_. No +official business would be performed during the three days following. +Jugoro[u] could hardly exercise patience and remain as he was for that +space of time. So the examination was duly held. The Shimaya soon +secured the body of Jugoro[u] and the release of Zensuke. The latter's +evidence was put on record; none too satisfactory, as the concealing +_zukin_ prevented any recognition or description of the features of the +assailants. He only knew of the cries of impatience at wounds received, +and knew that he had left his mark on his own opponent. How then were +they to be run down? The _kenshi_ showed some impatience. Said he to the +captain of the _tsujiban_--"Why truss up this man, even though a +tradesman? He has all his own fingers, and the corpse lacks none." He +touched the severed finger with his baton. With this all were dismissed, +and to all seeming the affair was forgotten. + +The Tokugawa had their plain-clothes police. One of the most noted was +Magome Yaemon of Hacho[u]bori. His great grandfather had captured +Marubashi Chuya, of note in the rebellion of Yui Shosetsu at the time of +the fourth Shogun Iyetsuna Ko[u]. One day this Magome Dono, in company +with a _yakunin_ (constable) named Kuma, was rummaging the poorer +districts of Shitaya Hiroko[u]ji. The two men were disguised as charcoal +burners, and attracted little attention. All the legitimate profession +in the way of medicine and pharmacy had been ransacked by the magistrate +(_machibugyo[u]_) of the south district. Yaemon felt sure that there +were still some by-ways. "Who's that fellow?" he asked Kuma. The +constable laughed. "He's a _sunekiri_ (shin-cutter). The rascals can be +told by their tough dark blue cotton socks, the coarse straw sandals, +and the banded leggings. Deign to note the long staff he carries. They +peddle plasters--shin plasters, guaranteed to cure any wound, to stop +any flow of blood. A man's arm hangs but by a strip of skin; the blood +flows in torrents. Apply the plaster and the flow ceases at once, the +arm heals. They drive a roaring trade, even among the _bushi_ +(_samurai_); selling a shell here, two there. As for their real +usefulness...." He laughed.[12] They followed after the man and soon +came to a guard house. Said Magome San--"Detain that man yonder. He is +to be examined." The ward officer was a little surprised--"Respectfully +heard and understood. It is old Yamabayashi Yo[u]gen." Soon the man +entered the guard house. Said the official drily--"Magome Dono is here +to talk with Yo[u]gen. What has he been up to?" But the old fellow was +confident. "Thanks are felt." With the ease of the righteous and +prosperous he passed into the presence of Yaemon. The latter greeted him +with a non-official genial smile. "Ah! This is Yamabayashi Yo[u]gen, the +head of the _Sunekiri_. And business?"--"Truly this Yo[u]gen is +grateful. Man was born with teeth. Men and women still seek each other's +company. So long as such endures Yo[u]gen finds profit."--"And +plasters?"--"They are the affair of To[u]kichi. Would his worship deign +to examine him ... condescend dismissal. At once he presents himself." + +Thus in short order the straight haired, unshaven, low browed +To[u]kichi stuck his head into the Sanbashi guard house. "Deign to +pardon this To[u]kichi. The honoured benevolence...." The ward officer +eyed him knowingly and quizzically. "Shut up! Magome Dono has questions +to ask about clients. Wait until the questions deal with the doings of +To[u]kichi. That will be well. Then it will be time enough to lie. +Meanwhile, be sure and tell the truth." With this disinterested advice +To[u]kichi was passed to the presence. Once more conscience spoke louder +than caution. "The honoured benevolence, the honoured pity; condescend +the honoured examination into the innocence of To[u]kichi." Yaemon +laughed. "Fortunately it is not a matter of To[u]kichi, but of his +plasters. Who bought these at this year's Sho[u]gwatsu (New Year)? Be +careful in answer. The case is a bad one." To[u]kichi considered. "The +first day of the New Year a man came. His purchase of salve was large. +In the course of the past three months he has been many times to buy. +His visits now are wider spaced, and he praises the goods--as he ought. +No hand ever had a worse poisoned wound. He...."--"Age and appearance?" +interrupted Yaemon, now all attention. He had struck a trail. "Perhaps +fifty years; fair of complexion, tall, and stout. By his lordly manner +he must at least be a _go-kenin_, or a charlatan." Who was this man? +Yaemon felt sure that he was about to learn something of interest. Kuma +was given his instructions. "Go daily to the shop of this man and +receive his report. As to the _samurai_ in question be circumspect. +Evidently he is no ordinary person. A _samurai_ is to be summoned, not +disgraced by arrest--if he is a _samurai_." So Kuma with several aides +established himself in the rear of To[u]kichi's shop. The man not having +put in an appearance for several weeks, the wait, if uncertain, was soon +rewarded. On the 25th day of the 3rd month (May) he presented himself. +Kuma recognized him at once by the description; sooner than To[u]kichi, +who was engaged in filling his little shells with the marvellous salve. +The officer's decision was prompt. At a call To[u]kichi turned from his +drugs. "Ah! the honoured Sir. And the arm, does it honourably +progress?"--"Progress could not be better. This is probably the last +visit." In replying the man eyed To[u]kichi with some astonishment. The +latter made his bows, first to the newcomer, then to the indefinite rear +of the establishment. "Indeed the drug is all that is claimed for it. +The wound being poisoned, at one time it looked as if the hand, nay arm, +must go. These House doctors are notoriously good for nothing. Just as +nothing can surpass your product, good leech. Here is money for two +shells of its virtues." He held out a silver _bu_.[13] Busied with his +preparations To[u]kichi looked in vain toward the rear apartment. After +as long delay as he could contrive he passed the shells and a heap of +copper change over to the customer. As soon as the latter had left the +shop To[u]kichi bolted for the rear. Kuma was gone. His aides were +calmly smoking their pipes and drinking the poor tea (_bancha_) of +To[u]kichi. + +Kuma had little trouble in following his man to Okachimachi in Shitaya. +He found near by a shop for the sale of everything, from tobacco to +_daikon_ (radish), both odoriferous, yet lacking perfume. Said Kuma--"A +question or so: this tall _samurai_, an oldish man, who lives close by; +who is he?" The woman in charge hesitated. Then dislike overcame +discretion. "Ah! With the hand wrapped in a bandage; his name is Sakurai +Kichiro[u] Tayu. Truly he is a bad man. That he should quarrel with his +own class is no great matter. Maimed as he is, thrice report has been +made to the guard house, but in each case he has escaped further +process. He is a dreadful fellow; one who never pays a debt, yet to whom +it is dangerous to refuse credit. Already nearly a _ryo[u]_ is due to +this Echigoya. It has been the bad luck to support him and his family +during the past six months." Said Kuma--"Thus maimed, to hold his own in +quarrels he must be a notable fencer as well as brawler. Was the wound +so received?"--"Iya! That is not known. Some quarrel at the New Year's +festivities probably was the cause. Before that time he was sound +enough." She laughed. "He has two friends; Kahei San and Miemon San. +They are birds of a feather; and all partly plucked. Perhaps they +quarrelled in company, but if so have made it up. Sakurai San is a match +for the two others." She looked at Kuma, to see if he had more to say. +Indifferent he picked out a strand of tobacco. "He shouldered this +Go[u]bei into the ditch close by here. Fortunate is it to have escaped +worse injury." Satisfied with his inquiries he took his way in haste to +his master. The eyes of Yaemon and his aid shone with enjoyment. Surely +they had the men of the Shiba Kirido[u]shi. + +Magome Yaemon at once sought out the _machibugyo[u]'s_ office. His +lordship heard the report. "Different disorders require different +treatment. Of two of these men this Gemba knows something. The other man +is hard to place, and evidently not so easy to deal with." Two +_do[u]shin_ and _yakunin_ were sent at once to the addresses indicated. +To capture Nakagawa Miemon and Imai Kahei was an easy task. The +_do[u]shin_ and _yakunin_ sent to the house of Sakurai formed a band of +twenty men. The house surrounded, without ceremony the officer and an +aid entered. "On the lord's mission: Sakurai San is wanted at the office +of Matsuda Dono. If resistance be made it will be necessary to use the +rope. Pray accompany me." Sakurai Kichiro[u] divined the object of the +arrest. "The affair at the Kirido[u]shi has been scented out. The manner +of that rascally drug seller was strange to-day." The officer had +planted himself right before the sword rack. Sakurai could neither kill +anybody, nor cut belly. He turned to his wife. "There is a matter on +hand to be explained. Absence will probably be prolonged. Already the +day is far advanced.... Ah! Is it Kichitaro[u]?" A boy of seven years +had rushed into the room. "Pretty fellow!... Honoured Sir, be patient. +The separation is no short one. No resistance is made. We go the same +road.... Taro[u]; rude fellow! Salute the gentleman." The boy obeyed, +with grave ceremony and a hostility which divined an unpleasant mission. +"Your father leaves you. It is now the time to obey the mother in all +she says. Remember well, or the end will be a bad one." Wife and child +clung to him, frightened and now weeping. It was an arrest; their +mainstay was being taken from them. In the last caresses he had time to +bend down and whisper to O'Ren--"In the toilet box is a scroll sealed +up. All is there explained. Read and destroy it. In later days at +discretion let our son know." Roughly he pushed woman and boy aside. +With rapid stride he reached the entrance. The _yakunin_ confronted him. +He laughed and waved a hand. "There is no resistance. We go the same +road." The _do[u]shin_ permitted the laxity of discipline. He had his +orders. + +Meanwhile the examination of the other two men was in progress at the +office of the _machibugyo[u]_. As the biggest fool of the two, Nakagawa +Miemon was the first summoned to the presence of Matsuda Dono. Said the +Judge[14]--"Nakagawa Uji, there is a slight inquiry to make. How were +those scars on the face come by? These are marks of wounds not long +since received. Consider well and remember." The tone of menace +staggered Miemon. He had anticipated some rebuke for slight infraction +of the peace, not unusual with these men. "Naruhodo! Has the Shiba +Kirido[u]shi matter cropped up?" He hesitated--"The story is a long one, +and a foolish one. To weary the honoured ears...." Matsuda Gemba caught +him up with impatient gesture. "Answer the question, and truly. Nakagawa +Miemon is noted neither for judgment nor sobriety." The man caught up +the last phrase as a cue. Eagerly he spoke, the doors of the jail +opening wide for exit--"So it is indeed. Wine never benefited man; much +less a _samurai_. Hence, with Kahei and Sakurai Uji, it was decided to +forswear wine forever. It was determined to make a pilgrimage to Kompira +San. There the vow of abstinence was to be taken; on its holy ground. +All went well. We met at Nihonbashi. Alas! At the Kyo[u]bashi the +perfume of a grog shop reached our noses. The vow had not yet been +taken. The ground was not holy. Just one last drink before setting out. +But the Buddha was unfavourable. Once begun, the drinking was adjourned +to a cook shop. There the bout continued all day. Wine lent us the wings +of _tengu_. We travelled the road to Kompira San in a dream. In the +progress Kahei and this Miemon quarrelled. Swords were drawn, and we cut +each other. These wounds on head and face were the portion of this +Miemon. Kahei had his hand nearly severed. Sakurai San, who was asleep, +aroused by the noise, sprang up to part us. He is a man to be feared; +but in my rage I sank my teeth in his hand. The bite of man or beast is +poison. His wound was worse than that of either of us." + +Gemba Dono was in conversation with his chamberlain. He let Miemon talk +away. He was not one to say too little. As barely having listened he +asked--"When was this fight? The day of the vow and journey to Kompira? +Truly the result has been the vengeance of offended deity."--"The +twelfth month tenth day," naturally replied Miemon. Gemba forced him to +repeat the answer. Several times he put the query in different forms. +Miemon, fool that he was, stuck to the date. Then said the +magistrate--"Miemon, you are a liar. Moreover, you are a murderer. On +the 13th day, on going up to the castle, this Gemba had converse with +your lord. At that time Nakagawa Miemon was summoned to carry out a +mission. As a man of whom report had been made you were noted well. At +that time you had no wound.... Tie him up, and take him away." The +_yakunin_ fell on him from all sides. In a trice he was trussed up and +removed. + +Then appeared Imai Kahei. Kahei was cunning, but also a coward. To the +questions of the _machibugyo[u]_ he procrastinated in his answers, +confused them all he could. What had Miemon said? "He spoke of the +eloquence of Imai San; of Kahei Uji as the clever man, the one to tell +the tale properly. Now let us have the true statement of the case." Such +was Gemba's reply. It was flattering. Unable to help himself Kahei set +sail on his sea of lies. "We all like wine...."--"Ah! After all you are +agreed." Gemba smiled pleasantly. Kahei took courage--"But wine costs +money. Together we went to Kuraya Jibei, a money-lender living at +Kuramae no Saka, as is well known." Gemba nodded assent. "Of him two +_ryo[u]_ were borrowed, on agreement to repay ten _ryo[u]_ as interest +within a month. The nearest grog shop was sought, and it was the hour of +the rat (11 P.M.) before the return was started. At the Teobashi a band +of drunkards was encountered. Without cause these men forced a quarrel +on us. Thus was the hand of Kahei nearly severed. This is the +truth."--"And what was the date of this money bond?" Imai hesitated. He +had caught a glimpse of the drug seller To[u]kichi on being brought into +the place. Without doubt the Kirido[u]shi affair was in question. He +must antedate his wound. "Kahei does not remember with certainty. +Perhaps it was the seventeenth day; before the Kwannon festival of the +eighteenth day." He mumbled, and was frightened. Said Gemba +sharply--"Speak distinctly; the seventeenth day?"--"Hei! Hei! Some time +in the last decade of the month; the nineteenth or twentieth day--not +later; not later." Matsuda Gemba almost leaped at him. "Oh, you liar! On +the last day of the year you came, in person, to this Gemba to +anticipate the New Year's gift (_sebo_). At that time you had no wound. +Yet the drug seller sees you next day with maimed hand. It was not at +Teobashi, but at Shiba Kirido[u]shi, that the wound was received.... Tie +him up, and away with him." The _yakunin_ came forward. Imai made a +spasmodic attempt to rise. They threw him down, and in a moment he was +keeping company with Nakagawa Miemon. + +Gemba Dono braced himself for the more serious task. So did his +_yakunin_. A glance showed the magistrate that he had mistaken his man. +Sakurai Kichiro[u] came forward with calm and dignity. Making his +ceremonial salutation to the judge he came at once to the point. "What +lies Miemon and Kahei have told, this Kichiro[u] knows not. The fact is +that we three plotted together to rob the fatly supplied purses of the +_banto[u]_ making their rounds in settlement of accounts at the close of +the year. Hence the _banto[u]_ of the Shimaya, Zensuke, lost his money +belt, and a man of the same stamp, one Jugoro[u], was killed. All three +of us are guilty of the murder...." As he would proceed Gemba held up +his hand. "Bring in the other two men. Continue, Kichiro[u]." Said +Sakurai--"Miemon was badly cut about the head and face. Kahei nearly +lost his hand. This Kichiro[u] would have killed the clerk, but the +procession of Geishu[u] Sama came in sight, and recognition was feared. +Of the three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_ secured...." The eyes of +Nakagawa and Imai stood out. Aghast they had followed the confession of +Sakurai Kichiro[u], with full intention to deny its truth. Now they were +in a fury. "What! Three hundred and twenty-five _ryo[u]_! And we had but +ten _ryo[u]_ apiece. You jest, Sakurai Uji.... Oh! The low fellow! The +villain! A very beast! A swine!" + +Gemba Dono could ask for nothing more. With smiling face and courtesy +he turned to Sakurai Kichiro[u]. "Why did Kichiro[u] take the three +hundred _ryo[u]_, giving to these fellows such a paltry sum?" Answered +Kichiro[u]--"As deserving no more. They are paltry fellows; little +better than common soldiers (_ashigaru_). But there is more to tell, now +the end is reached. The true name of Sakurai Kichiro[u] is Takahashi +Daihachiro[u], at one time a retainer of Matsudaira Aki no Kami. Pressed +by the money lender Jusuke, I killed him and had the body disposed of by +one Densuke, the cook at the soldiers' quarters of the _yashiki_. This +was in Tenwa 3rd year 5th month (June 1683). Fleeing to avoid arrest the +occupation of writing teacher was taken up at Yu[u]ki in Shimosa. +Densuke, too, had fled, and hither he came as a wandering beggar. +Fearing his tongue I killed him; and mutilating the corpse, threw it +into the castle moat close by. A beggar found dead, no inquiry was +made."--"When did this take place?" asked Gemba. "Just one year +later--Jo[u]kyo[u] 1st year 5th month." He made a little movement. +Nakagawa and Imai broke out into protest at the completeness of this +confession, but Sakurai turned fiercely on them. "Shut up! To undergo +public trial would bring shame on all _kerai_ throughout the land; would +cause people to fear our caste. We three planned the deed and secured +the money." He put his arms behind his back. The _yakunin_, stepping +softly, roped him up almost with respect. A wave of Gemba's hand and the +guilty men were removed. Unable to help themselves, Nakagawa and Imai +made confession to avoid the torture in what was now a hopeless case. +Later the sentences of condemnation were issued. Degraded from their +status the three men were taken to the execution ground of Shinagawa, +and there decapitated. + +The wife of Takahashi Daihachiro[u] did not wait these proceedings. +The confession of her husband was in her hands before he himself told +everything to Matsuda Gemba. Before night she had decamped with her son. +At eight years of age Kichitaro[u] was placed as disciple (_deshi_) at +the Jo[u]shinji of Fukagawa. Receiving the name of Myo[u]shin he became +the favourite of the rector (_ju[u]shoku_) of the temple. The mother now +became reduced to the greatest penury. For a time she was bawd in the +Honjo[u] Warigesui district. Subsequently she was promoted to the +position of favourite sultana (wife) of her master Toemon, local head of +his profession. Her name now was O'Matsu. When Myo[u]shin was thirteen +years old in some way he was told that she was dead. Henceforth he had +no stay in the world but the worthy priest, who became a second and +better father to him. This treatment found its usual and virtuous +reward. At eighteen years, now a priest and learned in priestly ways, he +took to himself the contents of the temple strong box. Fifty _ryo[u]_ +soon disappeared in the company of the harlots of Fukagawa Yagura-Shita. +A prolonged absence of Myo[u]shin aroused the inquiries of the other +monks, and the eyes of the rector were soon opened as to his unworthy +proselyte, the blighted issue of a miserable stock.[15] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NEGOTIATIONS: THE BUSINESS OF A MARRIAGE BROKER (NAKO[U]DO) + + +The presence of O'Iwa created an upheaval in the Samoncho[u] household. +The wet nurse required brought with her a train of servants. With the +child's growth this was maintained, even increased. The young lady +(Ojo[u]san) found herself graduated into one with a _status_ to +maintain. All the niggardly habits of Matazaemon were thrown to the +winds with the advent of this grandchild. The affection never shown +outwardly to the mother, was lavished on her daughter. At seven years of +age O'Iwa underwent the common enough infliction of smallpox. It showed +itself on the anniversary day of O'Mino's death, and the child's +sickness afforded but mutilated rites for the memorial service of the +mother. Matazaemon would have abandoned all his duties, himself to nurse +the child. O'Naka loved O'Iwa for self and daughter. She had sense +enough to drive the old man into a corner of the room, then out of it; +and further expostulations sent him to his duties. Who, in those iron +days, would accept such excuse for absence? The child worried through, +not unscathed. Her grandmother's qualifications as nurse have been +mentioned. O'Iwa was a plain girl. She had the flat plate-like face of +her mother. The eyes were small, disappearing behind the swollen +eyelids, the hair was scanty, the disease added its black pock marks +which stood thick and conspicuous on a fair skin. Otherwise she was +spared by its ravages, except-- + +Whatever her looks O'Iwa compensated for all by her disposition. She +had one of those balanced even temperaments, with clear judgment, added +to a rare amiability. Moreover she possessed all the accomplishments and +discipline of a lady. At eleven years Matazaemon unwillingly had sought +and found a place for her in attendance on her ladyship of the great +Hosokawa House. O'Iwa's absence made no difference in his household. The +train of servants was maintained, to be disciplined for her return, to +be ready on this return. Perhaps it was a pleasing fiction to the fond +mind of the aging man that she would return, soon, to-morrow. O'Naka +acquiesced in the useless expense and change in her habits. She always +acquiesced; yet her own idea would have been to make a good housekeeper +of O'Iwa--like herself, to sew, cook, wash, clean--a second O'Mino. She +could not understand the new turn of Matazaemon's mind. As for O'Iwa, +she grew to girlhood in the Hosokawa House, learned all the +accomplishments of her own house and what the larger scale of her new +position could teach her; everything in the way of etiquette and the +polite arts, as well as the plainer tasks of housekeeping, she was +likely ever to be called on to perform. The plain child grew into the +plain woman; perhaps fortunately for her. The _okugata_ (her ladyship) +was a jealous woman. Her spouse was mad on women. Every nubile maid +(_koshimoto_) in the _yashiki_ was a candidate for concubinage. His wife +countered by as hideous a collection of females as her own House and her +lord's retainers could furnish. O'Iwa attracted from the first by her +lack of all physical attraction. His lordship tried to get used to her +with the passage of years--and failed. He could not stomach the +necessary advances. But the girl's admirable temper and even judgment +secured the esteem of all. These latter qualities captivated the whole +household. It was O'Iwa who performed all duties for her ladyship, took +them in charge as her substitute. For the first time in his life Oki no +Kami found something in a woman apart from her sex. When the time came +for O'Iwa to depart, the regret of lord and lady was substantially +expressed in their gifts. But his lordship had to admit failure. Not a +retainer could be found willing to take the daughter of Tamiya as wife. +So far O'Iwa's mission at the _yashiki_ had failed. O'Naka knew this. +Matazaemon never gave it thought; so glad he was to get her back. He +received the honoured words and presents with humble and delighted +thanks. O'Iwa reentered her home, a recovered jewel. She was the +Ojo[u]san, the lady daughter. A first step of hers was gradually to get +rid of a good part of the superfluous train. O'Iwa was a very practical +girl. + +Matazaemon was now old and ill. He was nearing his seventieth year. The +one idea in his head was the _muko_, the son to be adopted as husband of +the heir of the House; the mate to be secured for O'Iwa, and the +posterity to be secured for his House. As a little girl O'Iwa had been +much courted--in fun. Watanabe Juzo[u], Natsume Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi +Jinzaemon, many others the growing "sparks" of Samoncho[u] and +roundabout, could not forbear this amusement with the little +"_Bakemono_" (apparition). Of their ill intent O'Iwa knew nothing. +Indeed a short experience with O'Iwa disarmed derision. Most of the +unseemly lovers came genuinely to like the girl, unless inherent malice +and ugliness of disposition, as with Natsume and Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, +made their sport more than mere pastime. But as grown men they could not +face the results of the final step, and no parent was harsh enough to +graft his unwilling stock on O'Iwa's persimmon trees. The girl was +clever enough to know this. It was Ho[u]ei 6th year (1709) and she was +now twenty-six years old. It was indirectly at her suggestion that +Matazaemon sought the aid of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. This man lived just +behind the large inclosure of the Sainenji, on the hill slope which dips +steeply down to the Samegabashi. The relationship was very distant at +best; but with nearer relatives in general, and with Yoemon his brother +in particular, the master of Tamiya had deadly feud. To them he would +not turn to find a husband for O'Iwa. + +Thus it happened that one day in the seventh month (August) +Rokuro[u]bei was awaiting the appearance of Yamada Cho[u]bei. He really +knew little about the man, but Cho[u]bei at one time had been resident +in the ward. He had undergone vicissitudes, and now was a dealer in +metals and a kind of broker in everything under the sign of Musashiya. +He had a wide acquaintance over Edo in his different businesses, and was +the easy and slip-shod means by which Rokuro[u]bei would avoid the more +arduous part of the task laid on him by Matazaemon. Cho[u]bei was not +long in putting in an appearance. All affairs were gifts of the gods to +a man who lived on wind. Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--Windmill Cho[u]bei--he +was called. His flittings were so noiseless and erratic, just like the +little paper windmills made for children, that the nickname applied +exactly fitted him. The maid in announcing him showed no particular +politeness. "Wait here a moment.... Danna Sama (master), Cho[u]bei San, +the metal dealer, requests an interview."--"Ah! Pass him here at +once.... Is it Cho[u]bei? Please sit down." Cho[u]bei had followed +almost on the girl's footsteps. She drew aside to make room for him, +then flirted out in haste. Poverty and dislike had no influence in +Yotsuya in those days. She seemed to scent the man. + +Cho[u]bei looked with envy at the comfortable Rokuro[u]bei. The day was +hot. The thin _kimono_ fallen about his loins, the latter's garb was a +pair of drawers and a thin shirt. He sat looking out on the garden, with +its shade of large trees, its shrubbery and rock work. Everything was +dripping with the water industriously splashed to this side and to that +by the serving man. The tea was brought and Kondo[u] at last remembered +that he had a guest. As he turned--"It is a long time since a visit has +been paid. Deign to pardon the intrusion." Cho[u]bei sighed in making +this remark. The irony was lost on his fat host. As Rokuro[u]bei seemed +unwilling, or hardly to know how to impart the subject concerning which +he had summoned him, Cho[u]bei continued--"And the honoured health, is +it good? The honoured business, is it on some matter of moment that +Cho[u]bei is summoned?" Rokuro[u]bei woke up under the direct question. +He, too, sighed. Cho[u]bei was noted for a greed which inspired fear. +For money he would do anything. "Blindman Cho[u]bei" had been his +nickname of old days in the ward. Kondo[u] remembered this. He liked +money, too. It brought in so much comfort. He hated to part with +comfort. It was to be a question between himself and Cho[u]bei how much +of his hard-earned commission was to be parted with. This last thought +completely aroused him. "It is a matter of securing a _muko_. This +Rokuro[u]bei is the one charged with the task. As a son-in-law outside +the ward is desired, no one has wider circulation and better +opportunities than Cho[u]bei San. Hence the desire for a consultation." +Cho[u]bei whistled inwardly. Outside the ward! What was wrong with the +case. Here was coin to be turned up by the circumspect. "Surely there +are young fellows enough in Samoncho[u], fit to be _muko_. Of course +with impediments...."--"It is the daughter of Tamiya; O'Iwa San. +Matazaemon Dono has commissioned this Rokuro[u]bei to secure a _muko_." +Cho[u]bei whistled outwardly. "For O'Iwa San!..."--"She is no beauty, as +Cho[u]bei evidently knows. Wealth compensates for other deficiencies. At +all events his aid is desired."--"For how much?" Cho[u]bei spoke +bluntly. If Rokuro[u]bei had forgotten Cho[u]bei, Cho[u]bei had not +forgotten Rokuro[u]bei. He went on--"To get a price for damaged goods is +no sinecure. Fortunately she is only out of repair on the surface.... +Say ten _ryo[u]_?" Kondo[u] laughed scornfully--"And they call Cho[u]bei +'the Blind-man'! Rather is it vision magnified. The entertainment should +be the reward; with what Cho[u]bei collects from the happy bridegroom." +Cho[u]bei replied gravely--"With such a wealthy connection the future of +Kondo[u] Dono is to be envied. Cho[u]bei has to realize his future at +once. Not a _ryo[u]_ less can he afford." Plainly he was in earnest, as +was the long conversation which followed. Finally Cho[u]bei emerged with +partial success, and half the sum named as stipend for his labours. + +He began them at once. The next day he was at the metal market in +Kanda. In course of chaffering over wares he never bought--"You fellows +always have some _ro[u]nin_ in train; a fine, handsome fellow for whom a +wife is needed. Application is made. Jinzaemon, you have a +candidate."--"Not for the kind of wife Cho[u]bei San provides." Those +present laughed loudly at the sally. Cho[u]bei did not wink. He +explained. "No bad provision is this one. Rich, with an income of thirty +_tawara_, a fine property in reversion, and but twenty-five years old. +The man therefore must be fit to pose as a _samurai_; able to read and +write, to perform official duty, he must be neither a boy nor a man so +old as to be incapable. Come now! Does no one come forward? _Ro[u]nin_ +are to be had. A _ryo[u]_ for aid to this Cho[u]bei."--"Too cheap as an +offer," was Jinzaemon's retort. "A _ro[u]nin_ is one to be handled with +care. Those favoured with acquaintance of the honoured _bushi_ often +part with life and company at the same date. Those without lords are +equally testy as those in quarters." He spoke with the bluntness of the +true Edokko, the peculiar product of the capital; men who were neither +farmers nor provincials, but true descendants of the men of the guild of +Bandzuin Cho[u]bei. He jested, but the subject interested the crowd. +Said one--"Does Cho[u]bei San get the _ryo[u]_ out of groom or bride? +She is a bold wench, unmarried at that age; and none too chaste eh, +Cho[u]bei San? She will provide the husband with wife and child to hand, +or in the making. Or, are matters the other way? Has she been tried and +found wanting? Is she impotent, or deformed; or is Cho[u]bei making +fools of us?" Answered Cho[u]bei slowly--"No; she is a little ugly. The +face round and flat, shining, with black pock marks, making it look like +speckled pumice, rouses suspicion of leprosy. This, however, is not the +case. At all events she is a woman." All were now roaring with +laughter--"A very beauty indeed! Just the one for Cho[u]bei's trade! Too +honied was his speech. He would market anything. But in this market it +is a matter of hard cash; without credit. This is a bit of goods too +wilted. Even Cho[u]bei cannot sell it."--"You lie!" said Cho[u]bei in a +towering passion. "At the first hint of ill-fortune threatening wine +supply or pleasure, there is not one of you who would not turn to +Cho[u]bei to find the money needed. Sisters, daughters, wives, aunts ... +mothers are for sale." He was choking with rage. "Sell her? Cho[u]bei +can and will." Angered by the final item on his family list, a man +nearby gave him a sharp poke in the back. Others voiced resentment, +perhaps would have given it material form. The canal was spoken of. +Cho[u]bei took the hint. He did not wait for a ducking. At a sharp pace +he trotted off toward his tenement at Asakusa Hanagawado[u]. For a while +he would avoid the metal market. He regretted his display of temper. It +was in the necessities of other trades that he found the material of his +own, and flourished. + +In plain terms Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was a pimp for the Yoshiwara and +kindred quarters. His other occupations were mere channels accessory to +this main business. Hence his seasons of increase and decline. Just now +he was in a period of decline. His eagerness in this Tamiya affair was +sharpened. Pushing his way through the Kuramae of Asakusa suddenly a +hopeful light came into his eye. Abruptly he made his way to the side of +the roadway. Here boarding covered the ditch, removing the occupant of a +booth erected thereon, and would-be clients, from the passing stream of +humanity. There was a table in the booth, and on it were several books, +a vessel containing water, brushes (_fude_), scrolls for writing, and a +box containing divining sticks. It was the stand of a strolling +fortune-teller. At the time the occupant was engaged in gathering +together his professional apparatus, with the evident purpose to decamp. +Cho[u]bei did not delay in accosting him. "Ah! The Sensei;[16] Kazuma +Uji finds the day too hot to pry into the future. Does the Sensei leave +his clients to their fate, or have the clients abandoned the Sensei? +Deign to come along with Cho[u]bei. Perhaps he, too, can tell fortunes. +At all events the wife has been forewarned; the bath is ready. It will +put life into both of us." The young man laughed and hastened his +operations, nodding assent--"Thanks are felt, Cho[u]bei San. Indeed this +Kazuma has but to continue the art of prophecy if he would foretell his +own fate. No one will buy the future when money is so needed for the +present. Besides this is a pleasure ground. Men have no hankering to +learn of possible worse luck than being here. All the fools have +died--except their prophet." He shouldered his scanty apparatus, and +with rapid stride the two men pushed their way up the crowded street +toward the great gate of the temple. In his haste Cho[u]bei yet had time +to eye, from time to time, his companion, always gaining encouragement +from the palpable seediness made more plain by a handsome person. The +two were neighbours in a house-row (_nagaya_) of the Hanagawado[u], that +poverty-stricken district along the river close to the great amusement +ground, and furnishing those who perform its baser tasks. On arrival +Cho[u]bei called out--"O'Taki! O'Taki! The bath, is it ready? The +Sensei, Kazuma San, honours us with his company. Make all ready for his +reception.... Sensei, condescend to enter; please come up." + +Yanagibara Kazuma dropped his clogs in the vestibule. As he entered the +room--"Pray pardon the intrusion. This Kazuma feels much in the way. He +is continually putting his neighbours of the _nagaya_ to inconvenience; +too great the kindness of Cho[u]bei San and wife." O'Taki laughed +deprecatingly. Truly this was a handsome young man. In this 6th year of +Ho[u]ei (1709) Yanagibara Kazuma was twenty-one years of age. O'Taki was +thirty odd. She appreciated masculine beauty all the more. Cho[u]bei +grunted from heat and the merest trace of discomfiture. He had his +limit, even in his business. Quickly he shook off his _kimono_, and fan +in hand squatted in his loin cloth. "Ah! 'Tis hot beyond endurance. +Business is bad--from Yoshiwara to Yotsuya." O'Taki looked up at the +last word. He continued--"The Sensei takes precedence. Kazuma Uji, deign +to enter the bath. All is ready?" His wife nodded assent. Kazuma +followed the example of Cho[u]bei. In a trice he was naked as his mother +bore him. Cho[u]bei burst out into phrases of admiration--"What a +splendid fellow! Ah! Waste of material! If a woman Kazuma San would be a +fortune to himself and to Cho[u]bei.... Taki, note the skin of the +Sensei. It has the texture of the finest paper. How regrettable!" He +drew back for the better inspection of the sum total of his subject's +charms. O'Taki drew closer for the same purpose. Cho[u]bei sighed--"It +is plain enough that Kazuma San is not a woman. An error of Nature! +Somehow the age at which a woman becomes of use, is that at which a boy +becomes a mere burden. He is fit for nothing but to be a +story-teller.... And you, Taki, what are you about?" The lady of his +affections was far advanced in the process of disrobing. She protested. +"Does not the Sensei need aid in the bath? How cleanse the back, the +shoulders. This Taki would aid him."--"Immodest wench!" bellowed +Cho[u]bei. "The Sensei needs no such aid. Why! You ... Taki ... one +would take you for a charcoal ball (_tadon_), so dark your skin. Nay! +For two of them, for a cluster piled in a box, so round the buttocks and +belly. The Sensei wants no aid from such an ugly jade. This Cho[u]bei +can do what is needed; with as much skill and better purpose than a +woman." Kazuma modestly interposed in this incipient quarrel between +husband and wife. "Nay, the matter is of no importance. Kazuma is +grateful for such kindness, but aid is not needed. His arm is long." He +held it out, almost simian in proportion and slenderness, the one +proportional defect of this handsome body. The quarrel of Cho[u]bei and +O'Taki lapsed before his pleasant smile. + +Seated over tea said Cho[u]bei--"This Cho[u]bei, too, has claimed to be +a diviner. Don't deny it. The Sensei at one time has been a priest." +Kazuma looked at him with surprise, even misgiving. Explained +Cho[u]bei--"The manner in which the Sensei takes up the cup betrays him; +in both hands, with a little waving of the vessel and shake of the head. +The rust of the priest's garb clings close." Said Kazuma--"Cho[u]bei San +is a clever fellow. It is true. At one time I was priest."--"Whereabouts?" +asked Cho[u]bei. "At the Reigan of Fukagawa," replied the prophet--"Ah! +Reiganji; and later would return to the life of a _samurai_. Such pose and +manner possessed by the Sensei are only gained in good company. He would +reassume the status. This Cho[u]bei was not always as he is. Wine, women, +gambling, have brought him to pimping. The buying of _geisha_ and +_joro[u]_ cost the more as they imply the other two vices. Wife, status, +fortune; all are gone. Such has been Cho[u]bei's fate."--"Not the only +case of the kind," grumbled his partner in concubinage. "And the wife, +what has become of her?"--"None of Taki's affair, as she is no longer an +issue. Would the jade be jealous?" He glowered at her. "But Kazuma San, +this Cho[u]bei is not only diviner, to tell fortunes. He can make them." +Kazuma laughed. "Don't joke. Cho[u]bei San's line of business has already +cost this Kazuma fortune and position."--"To secure a better one. Kazuma +San is a _ro[u]nin_ (without lord), a man of education, and of fine +appearance. He is just the one to become a _muko_."--"In some tradesman's +family?" The _samurai_ spoke with disdain. Said Cho[u]bei eagerly--"No: +Cho[u]bei prophesied the return of Kazuma Uji to his own caste."--"At what +cost?" said Kazuma coolly. "The honour of a _samurai_ cannot stand open +taint. Kazuma has no desire to cut belly at too early a date, to save the +situation for others. Has the woman erred, and is the father's sword +dulled?"--"It is no such case," answered Cho[u]bei. "The parents, rather +grandparents, are fools in pride. The girl is twenty-five years old, rich, +and, one must admit, not too good looking. It is by a mere chance, a +former connection, that the affair comes into Cho[u]bei's hands. As Kazuma +Uji knows, it is not much in his line. Let us share the good luck +together."--"Is she a monster; one of those long-necked, pop-eyed +_rokurokubi_?"--"That can be determined at the meeting," said the cautious +Cho[u]bei. "She is somewhat pock-marked, as with others. It is a matter of +luck. Cho[u]bei's position forces him to fall back on Kazuma San as the +only likely man to recommend. Deign not to refuse to come to his +aid."--"Rich, and granddaughter of people old in years." He eyed Cho[u]bei +quizzically. The latter nodded agreement. "No matter what her looks, this +Kazuma accepts with thanks--unless this be a jest of Cho[u]bei San." +Cho[u]bei slightly coughed--"There is a commission...."--"Ah! Then the +foundation is rock. As to commission, assuredly; Kazuma is not rich, nor +in funds."--"But will be. At ten _ryo[u]_ it is a cheap +affair."--"Agreed," replied the diviner carelessly. "The money will be +paid."--"With the delivery of the goods." Cho[u]bei now was all +gaiety--"Of the Rokurokubi, the monster with sextuple lengthed neck," +laughed Kazuma Sensei as he took his leave. He was engaged to meet +Cho[u]bei the next day at the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei in Yotsuya. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +IEMON APPEARS + + +In his difficult mission Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei had hopes of +Cho[u]bei; but not much more. It was with no small pleasure that he +heard the announcement of his visit the next morning. The maid was a +shade more civil--"Please wait." Kondo[u] was decidedly so. He greeted +Cho[u]bei with an effusion which Cho[u]bei noted. The tea brought, the +two men faced each other over the cups. To Kondo[u]'s inquiring +look--"Honoured master the task is a difficult one." He retailed his +experience at the Kanda market. Kondo[u] was somewhat discomfited. He +had put a different interpretation on the early visit of Cho[u]bei. +Continued the latter--"A difficult task, but not hopeless. Surely five +_ryo[u]_ is very small remuneration." Kondo[u]'s eye lit up. Cho[u]bei +had his man. "It is all this Kondo[u] is qualified to give. Cho[u]bei +knows Tamiya Dono. After all it is he who pays, and Cho[u]bei can +claim but his share. However, the matter is not urgent. A bad turn +with Matazaemon, and O'Naka will be much easier to deal with ... +unless it be Yoemon who interposes." He made a wry face; joined in by +Cho[u]bei. Kondo[u] went on--"It is matter of regret to have troubled +you. The parents of Natsume Kyuzo[u] show signs of breaking off +present negotiations and coming round to us. This is a matter of +yesterday, and on hearing that the affair of O'Iwa San was definitely +in the hands of Rokuro[u]bei." Cho[u]bei was frightened. Was this the +cause of Kondo[u]'s joy? Had he misinterpreted on his entrance? He put +out a hand, as if to stop the talk of his host. "Deign to allow the +money question to stand as agreed. Such step would put this Cho[u]bei +in an awkward position. The man is found, and soon will be here. +Probably even Kondo[u] Dono will be satisfied."--"Who is he?" asked +Kondo[u].--"One Yanagibara Kazuma. He has practised divination at +Asakusa...."--"A charlatan! A quack doctor! Cho[u]bei, are you mad?" +Rokuro[u]bei pushed back his cushion and his cue in horror. Not a word +did he say of Natsume Kyuzo[u]. Cho[u]bei smiled. He had been trapped; +but he had detected Kondo[u]. "Don't be alarmed. The man is a +_ro[u]nin_, his divination of small account and due to temporary +stress. Kondo[u] Dono will soon judge of the man by his appearance. +Let the subject of Kazuma San be dropped--with that of Natsume San. +Our bargain has been made firm." Kondo[u] looked down. He felt a +little injured. Continued Cho[u]bei--"For his man Cho[u]bei cannot +answer if all be known. Pray follow my plan, and precede us to the +house of Matazaemon. He must not see O'Iwa at this juncture. Tamiya +Dono is ill and not visible. The Obasan is wise enough to do as she is +told. Years have drilled that into her. O'Iwa has taken cold. Her hair +is loose and she cannot think of appearing. Make this known when the +time comes to serve the wine. Meanwhile send her off on some mission; +to the house of Akiyama, or that of the newly-wed Imaizumi."--"But the +man must see the girl," protested Kondo[u]. Answered Cho[u]bei--"He +must see the property. It is with that Cho[u]bei intends he shall +become enamoured. He is not to see the girl until she is his wife. To +keep the estate he will cleave to the woman. Trust Cho[u]bei for a +knowledge of men's hearts ... at least that of Yanagibara Kazuma." +Perhaps he spoke a little too plainly. Rokuro[u]bei had a last touch +of conscience--"Cho[u]bei, what manner of man is this one you bring? +What is his real nature? Tamiya is upright as the walls of the Honmaru +(castle). And Yanagibara Kazuma...." Cho[u]bei's brow wrinkled. He was +spared an answer. Said the maid--"Yanagibara Sama would see the +master."--"Show him in at once," said Rokuro[u]bei. + +He rose, as much in amazement as in courtesy. Kazuma was a striking +figure as he entered the room. His dress of white Satsuma was of finest +quality, and perfectly aligned. The _haori_ (cloak) was of the +corrugated Akashi crape. In his girdle he wore the narrow swords then +coming into fashion, with finely lacquered scabbards. In person he was +tall, fair, with high forehead and big nose. Slender and sinewy every +movement was lithe as that of a cat. Kondo[u] gasped as he made the +accustomed salutations. "This man for O'Iwa! Bah! A fox has stolen a +jewel." All his compunction and discretion vanished before this unusual +presence. Kazuma gracefully apologized for his intrusion, thus +uninvited. Kondo[u] stammered protests and his delight at the +opportunity of meeting Yanagibara Dono. Cho[u]bei smiled inward and +outward delight at thus summarily removing any too pointed objections of +Kondo[u]. For absolute self-possession in this awkward situation the +younger man easily carried the palm. Kazuma acted as would a man double +his years. Cho[u]bei was not only delighted, but astonished. "Whence had +the Sensei produced all this wondrous get-up? Was he in real fact a +magician?" Kazuma knew, but he was not one to enlighten Cho[u]bei or +anyone else. After talk on general matters the affair of the meeting was +broached. Said Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--"Thus to trouble Yanagibara Dono +requires apology, but the affair is not without advantage. The lady is +the daughter of Tamiya, a _do[u]shin_ and favoured by the Hosokawa +House. This Kondo[u] is honoured in presenting Kazuma Dono in +Yotsuya."--"Nay, fear enters.[17] The honour of this meeting with +Kondo[u] Dono is as great as the intrusion has been unseemly. Deign to +pardon the precipitancy of this Kazuma." Kondo[u] protested in his turn. +Said Cho[u]bei--"The presentation made, doubtless the matter is as good +as concluded. But Tamiya Dono is ill; this visit is unexpected. If +Kondo[u] Dono would deign to precede, and ascertain how matters are at +Tamiya, it would be well." To this Kondo[u] assented. Making his excuses +he set out for Samoncho[u], bubbling over with excitement, and praying +that the matter would have certain issue; and thus establish him for +life on the shoulders of the wealthy Tamiya. Prayers? Indeed he did stop +on the road, one lined with the ecclesiastical structures. Kondo[u] had +too much at stake, not to invoke all likely aid. + +With his departure Cho[u]bei began to go into the externals of the +House of Tamiya. As they walked along--"Congenial surroundings." This +was with a grin and a wave of the hand toward the long line of temple +buildings and graveyards they were passing. "Not much savour of present +lodging in Hanagawado[u]. Eh! Kazuma Uji, even Cho[u]bei notes the +difference." He stopped opposite the Gwansho[u]ji and looked across the +way. The fruit was already formed on the trees of Matazaemon's garden. +"Persimmons of a hundred momme (375 grammes) each; twenty cartloads for +the profit of the house at the fall of the year." As they passed in the +entrance on Samoncho[u] he pointed to a store-house. "Stuffed with rice, +from the farms of Tamiya in Kazusa. No husks to be found in it."--"Who +said there were?" said Kazuma testily. His eyes were taking in the wide +proportions of the garden, the spreading roof and eaves of a stately +mansion. As they passed along the _ro[u]ka_ to a sitting room Cho[u]bei +called his attention to the fret work (_rama-sho[u]ji_) between the +rooms, the panelled ceilings, the polished and rare woodwork of +_tokonoma_ (alcoves). A _kakemono_ of the severe Kano school was hung in +the sitting room alcove, a beautifully arranged vase of flowers stood +beneath it. Matazaemon could not use his legs, but his hands were yet +active. Of his visitors he knew nothing; least of all of Cho[u]bei. +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. With him was an old lady. O'Naka bowed +to the ground before the proposed son-in-law. She was in a flutter over +the beautiful man destined for O'Iwa. The admirable courtesy of his +manners, the tender softness of voice, robbed her of what little +judgment she had. Her only fear was that the candidate for honours and +the Tamiya would escape. + +Said Cho[u]bei--"Asakusa is a long distance; the occasion exceptional. +Cannot the Ojo[u]san favour us by pouring the wine?" The old woman +hummed and hawed. Kondo[u], too, seemed put out. "As a matter of fact +O'Iwa is not presentable. She has taken cold, and just now is in bed. +Perhaps the Obasan will urge her further, now that Yanagibara Uji is +present." O'Naka at once rose, like to an automaton, the spring of which +has been pressed. She disappeared, to return and repeat her lesson. +"Wilful as a child! One would suppose her such. Illness she would +disregard, but her hair is not made up. She cannot think of appearing +before company. Truly she is vexing."--"Not so," defended Cho[u]bei. +"She could not show higher regard than by refusing to appear before a +future husband in careless attire. It is a guarantee of conduct when +married. She is much to be commended for such respect. All women like to +appear well. A man in the neighbourhood, and rice powder and rouge are +at once applied. How neglect such an elaborate structure as the hair? +Trust Cho[u]bei's judgment as to women." + +O'Naka thought that he spoke well, but like most men with great +conceit. Kazuma looked out towards the beautiful garden. He took the +chance to smile, for he had soon ascertained that Kondo[u] knew little +about his agent; was in fact a precipitate, testy man. However, he was a +little put out at not seeing the would-be bride. At an opportunity he +stepped out, to see more of the house and its surroundings. Cho[u]bei +came up to him as he stood on the _ro[u]ka_. His voice was coaxing and +pleading. "Is it not a fine prospect--for Kazuma Dono?" His voice hung +on the 'Dono.' "Nay, don't let escape this splendid piece of luck. Long +has Cho[u]bei interested himself in his neighbour. Such a beautiful +exterior should have a proper setting. Marry O'Iwa San and Kazuma Dono +is master of Tamiya. Is it agreed?" Kazuma looked down in thought. At +his age there are ideals of the other sex, hard to put aside. Said +he--"Not to see the lady.... Is she so horrible?" Cho[u]bei protested. +"Not so! The lady is a mere item, well fitted to go with this fine +house, this beautiful garden, these store-houses filled with goods. +Look: Tamiya Dono is a man of double rations. The property has _nagaya_ +for attendants. For long this has not been used. Tamiya will not rent it +out. It will be so much revenue added to the stipend of the House, and +will replace the old man's uncertain income from his accomplishments as +master of _hanaike_ and _cha-no-yu_." Kazuma looked around, following +the pointing finger of Cho[u]bei. He was in sad straits. His only future +was this position of a _muko_. No matter what the woman might be, there +was compensation. To Cho[u]bei's direct question he made answer--"Yes." + +The affair of the marriage suffered no delays. Cho[u]bei had struck +home. Kazuma was so impressed with the surroundings, especially after a +return to his own miserable quarters, that the matter of the interview +took a minor place to the inspection of his future property. Within the +week he had removed to the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. The latter +introduced him to his future associates in the ward by a succession of +fish and wine dinners dear to the heart of the men of Nippon. These +neighbours were astonished at the future son-in-law of the Tamiya. This +man was to be the husband of the O'Bake? Was he mad, or drunk? Perhaps +the latter, for neither themselves nor Kazuma had the opportunity to be +particularly sober during this period of festivity. Of course there was +an introduction to Matazaemon, the other principal involved. As Kondo[u] +carefully explained, no set date could be made for this interview. +Tamiya Dono was ill, and to be seen at a favourable time. As ill luck +would have it, on the very day the interview was permitted O'Iwa San +received an urgent summons from the Okugata of the Hosokawa House. This +could not be disregarded, and her absence on the second occasion was +easily explained and condoned. Kondo[u] certainly made no effort, and +Kazuma no suggestion, for a meeting in the three days intervening before +the formal marriage. + +At evening the guests met in the reception rooms of Tamiya. In a private +apartment were Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei and his wife, O'Iwa, and Iemon. The +latter name had been assumed by Kazuma on his formal registration in the +Tamiya House. It was Cho[u]bei who had purchased the _wataboshi_, or +wadded hood, of floss silk worn by the bride on this great occasion of +her life. Iemon could see but little within its depths, except the +shining light of her countenance. Joy perhaps? At least this curiosity +was soon to be satisfied. Nine times--three times three--were the _sake_ +cups drained. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei joined the hands of the train, +exhorting them to mutual forbearance, O'Iwa to unquestioning obedience +to the husband. He pattered over the maxims of the Do[u]jikun of Kaibara +Yekken in this strange case, as he had done twenty times before with +favourable results. Yekken's book was comparatively recent, only a few +decades old, and the woman's guide. Truly the position of the +_nako[u]do_ was no easy one, if it was to bring him at odds with either +House involved. He felt complacent. This pair at least presented less +complications in that line than usual. What there was of doubtful issue +came now to the test. At this crisis he cast an eye to the _ro[u]ka_ +(verandah) to see that Cho[u]bei really was at hand as promised. Then +the strings of the _wataboshi_ were loosed. The hood concealing the face +of O'Iwa was removed. + +Iemon rose to his feet as if impelled by springs; then hurriedly he sat +again with some mumbled excuse and trembling hands. He could not take +his eyes from the shining white of the face before him, the glazed +smooth surface left in many places between the black of the pock marks. +The removal of the hood had somewhat disarrayed the hair, leaving the +broad expanse of forehead more prominent, the puffed heavy eyelids in +the face more conspicuous. In the depths shone two tiny points, the +eyes. Indeed, as Cho[u]bei afterwards described it, eyelids and eyes had +the appearance of _kuzumanju_, the dumplings of white rice paste with +the black dots of dark brown bean paste sunk deep in the centre. Never +had O'Iwa appeared to such disadvantage. She was now engaged in removing +the white garment, to appear in her proper array as bride and wife. +Iemon took advantage of this absence to step to the _ro[u]ka_. In +leaving the room Kondo[u] had given a wink to Cho[u]bei. Iemon almost +ran into him. He seized him by the arm. The young man's voice was +excited. He spoke in a whisper, as one who could barely find speech. +With satisfaction Cho[u]bei noted that he was frightened, not angered. +"What is that? Who is that creature?" were the first words of Iemon. +Replied Cho[u]bei coldly--"That is the wife of Tamiya Iemon; O'Iwa San, +daughter of Matazaemon Dono; your wife to eight thousand generations." +Then roughly--"Deign, Iemon San, not to be a fool. In the purchase of +cow or horse, what does the buyer know of the animal? Its real qualities +remain to be ascertained. O'Iwa San is ugly. That much Cho[u]bei will +admit. She is pock-marked, perhaps stoops a little. But if the daughter +of the rich Tamiya, a man with this splendid property, had been a great +beauty, this Iemon would not have become the _muko_ of Tamiya, the +future master of its wealth. What qualification had he for such a +position--a diviner, a man whose pedigree perhaps would not stand too +much search." He looked keenly at Iemon, and noted with satisfaction how +the last thrust had gone home. Cho[u]bei must know more of Iemon, +ex-Kazuma. He determined on that for the future. + +He continued--"Withdrawal at this juncture would merely create scandal. +Matazaemon is not so bereft of friends that such a step would not cause +serious displeasure in high quarters. The insult would find an avenger. +Then consider please: the old man is kept alive by the anxiety to see +his granddaughter established in life, the line of the Tamiya assured. +He will die within the month. If the old woman hangs on too long"--he +halted speech for a moment, then coldly--"give her lizard to eat. A +diviner, doubtless Iemon San knows Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei by this time. +He will never prejudice the man who holds in his hands the purse of the +Tamiya. Iemon San and O'Iwa San are left alone. Good luck to you, +honoured Sir, in the encounter. In this Cho[u]bei a counsellor and +friend always is to be found; and one by no means lacking experience of +the world. As for the woman, she is your wife; one to take charge of the +house and affairs of Iemon Dono is to hand. No other _rusu_[18] could be +found so earnest in duty and so cheap, as O'Iwa San. Take a concubine. +This Cho[u]bei will purchase one for you; such a one as will be the +object of envy and desire to the whole of young Edo. His opportunities +in that line are exceptional. Come! To turn on the lights. On our part +at least there is nothing to conceal." Iemon did not pay attention to +the hint. The one thought harassing him must out--"lop-sided and--a +leper!" He spoke with despair and conviction, eyes fastened on +Cho[u]bei, and such a frightened look that even Cho[u]bei had pity. One +foot in the room he turned back. "That is not so--absolutely." Iemon +could not disbelieve the earnest testimony. Said Cho[u]bei--"The wounds +of smallpox were no trivial ones. In healing the scars were such in +places as form over burns. Hence the shining surface. Positively there +is no leprous taint in Tamiya." He was gratified by the sigh which came +from Iemon, sign of the immense weight lifted off the young man's mind. +"Bah! leave things to the future, and--enjoy the present. O'Iwa cannot +grow ugly with age. So much is gained. What difference will her looks +make to Iemon thirty years hence? She is a woman. Make a child on her. +Then you are free to turn elsewhere." + +At once he began to place lights everywhere, as a sign to Kondo[u] that +all was well. This worthy came forward with other guests, to +congratulate the Tamiya House on being once more in young and vigorous +hands. It was Iemon himself who gave the signal to retire. How matters +went alone with his bride has reference to one of those occasions over +which the world draws the veil of decency. In the morning O'Iwa arose +early to attend to the matutinal needs of her spouse. The ablutions +performed, Iemon sat down to tea, as exquisite and exquisitely served as +in any dream in literature of how such ceremony of the opening day +should be performed. Then the morning meal was brought, under the same +supervision of this woman, as expert in all the technique of her craft +as she was ugly in feature; and that was saying much. Iemon watched her +movements in the room with curiosity, mixed with a little pain and +admiration. He was quick to note the skill with which she concealed the +slight limp, due to the shrinking of the sinews of one leg and causing +an unevenness of gait. It was a blemish in the little quick movements of +a woman of surpassing grace; who by art had conquered disease and an +ungainly figure. + +O'Iwa had left the room for a moment to get flowers to place in the +vases, offering to the _hotoke_ (Spirits of the departed) in the +Butsudan. On his return Iemon held the _ihai_ (memorial tablets) in his +hands. A priest, these had at once attracted his notice. "Kangetsu +Shinshi; Kangetsu Shimmyo[u]; O'Iwa San, these people have died on the +same day of the month--and the year?"--"Is on the back of the _ihai_," +replied O'Iwa. "No; it is not a case of suicide together." Then seeing +his evident curiosity she motioned him to sit as she poured tea, ready +for a long story. With its progress voice and manner grew more strained +and earnest. She never took her eyes from the _tatami_ (mats). "The +tablets are those of the father and mother of this Iwa. My mother's name +was Mino. Daughter of Tamiya she acted badly with my father Densuke, a +mere servant in the house. This Densuke was a good man, but his status +of _chu[u]gen_ made my grandfather very angry. He drove the twain from +the house. Thus deprived of means to live, my father took a position as +cook in the _yashiki_ of a great noble. Here he was frightened into +becoming the tool of a very wicked man. Having killed an usurer this man +forced my father to dispose of the body under penalty of death if he +refused. The body being placed in a cloth, my father had carried it to +his house. During his short absence my mother's curiosity led her into +untying the bundle. Her screams aroused the neighbourhood. As they +entered she was seized with convulsions, and gave birth to this Iwa, +thus brought into the world together with the exposure of the crime. My +father, doubtless warned by the crowd, fled from Edo. My mother had but +time to tell her story to the _kenshi_. Then she died. A year later to +the day my father's dead body was found floating in the castle moat, +near the town of Yu[u]ki in Shimosa. A beggar man, but little inquiry +was made into the crime. For long the cause and the criminal were +unknown. Then a _banto[u]_ was robbed in the Shiba Kirido[u]shi; his +companion was killed. The criminals were traced, and on confession were +put to death. The leader and most wicked of them also confessed to the +murder of the usurer Jusuke and to that of my father Densuke. My father +had met him again in Yu[u]ki town, and had aroused in him fear of +denunciation of past crimes. He spoke of 'this Densuke' as a +superstitious, haunted fool; thus in his wickedness regarding my +father's remorse and desire to clear up the strange affair. The +execution of this man removed all chance of my avenging the deaths of +father and mother on himself. But he has left behind a son. The one wish +of this Iwa is to meet with Kichitaro[u]; to avenge on him the +wickedness of his father Takahashi Daihachiro[u]." Iemon at first had +followed in idle mood her story. With the development of the details he +showed an attention which grew in intensity at every stage. With the +mention of the name of Takahashi Daihachiro[u] he gave a violent start. +Yanagibara Kazuma, Iemon Tamiya--what were these but names to cover this +Kichitaro[u], the one-time priest Myo[u]shin of the Jo[u]shinji at +Reigan Fukagawa, and son of Daihachiro[u]. + +Strange was this retributory fate which had brought these two into the +most intimate relations of husband and wife. When Iemon could control +his voice he said--"That O'Iwa San should have this feeling in reference +to the wicked Daihachiro[u] can be understood. But why such hatred +toward this Kichitaro[u]? Surely the boy is not to be held guilty of the +father's offence!"--"That is a man's way of reasoning," answered O'Iwa. +"A woman, ignorant and foolish, has but her feelings to consult. To +seven births this Iwa will clutch and chew the wicked son of a wicked +father. Against Kichitaro[u] is the vow made." She raised her head. +Iemon turned away shuddering. She had aged into a hag. The shining face, +the marks like black spots in pumice standing out, the mere dots of eyes +in their puffy bed, the spreading mouth with its large shining +teeth--all turned the plain gentle girl into a very demon. The +certainty, the intensity, of a malignant hate was driven into Iemon. He +was so frightened that he even nodded assent to her last words. The +gentle voice of O'Iwa added--"Iwa is ugly; perhaps annoys by the tale. +Leave the affair to her and to the enemy. To Iemon she is bound for two +existences. Deign to drop all formality; call her Iwa, and condescend to +regard her with affection." And Iemon covenanted with himself so to do. +The present should compensate for the past. But in the days which +followed O'Iwa sat on him as a nightmare. He felt the impress of her +teeth at his throat, and would wake up gasping. Time made the situation +familiar. He carefully lulled her into a blind admiration and belief in +her husband Iemon. There seemed no likelihood of O'Iwa learning the +truth; or believing it, if she did.[19] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT + + +Matazaemon's illness justified all the predictions of Cho[u]bei. In the +course of the month it was plain that his last hold on life was rapidly +weakening. In that time Iemon had won golden opinions from household and +neighbours. His face was beautiful, and this they saw. His heart was +rotten to the core, and this he kept carefully concealed. The incentive +of his fear of O'Iwa kept up the outward signs of good-will. He found +this easier with the passage of the days. Plain as she was in face and +figure, no one could help being attracted by the goodness of O'Iwa's +disposition. Iemon, in his peculiar situation, placed great hopes on +this, even if discovery did take place. Day following day he began to +discount this latter contingency. To a feeling of half liking, half +repugnance, was added a tinge of contempt for one so wrapped in her +immediate surroundings, whose attention was so wholly taken up with the +matter in hand. She easily could be kept in ignorance, easily be +beguiled. + +One day Iemon was summoned to the old man's bedside. He was shocked at +the change which had taken place in a few hours. Propped upon pillows +Matazaemon would speak a few last words. With a shade of his old +impertinent official smile and manner--"The Tamiya is to be +congratulated on its great good fortune in the entrance of one so well +qualified by appearance and manners to uphold its reputation. Deign, +honoured Muko San, to accept the thanks of this Matazaemon. All else has +been placed in the hands of Iemon--goods, reputation, granddaughter." +Iemon bowed flat in acknowledgment and protest at the good-will +expressed. Continued Matazaemon--"There is one matter close to the old +man's heart. Concerning that he would make his last request to the +admirable heart of Iemon. Iwa is a plain girl. The end of time for man, +and the carping comment of neighbours come to his ears, have opened the +eyes of Matazaemon to the truth. Great has been the favour in +disregarding this plainness and taking her to wife. Everything is in the +hands of Iemon San. Consider her happiness and deign to use her well. +Abstain if possible from taking a concubine. At all events conceal the +fact from Iwa, if it be deigned to keep such company. Plainness and +jealousy go together. Faithful and upright, such a disposition as hers +is not to be strained on that point. She would be very unhappy. Better +the light women of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], than one who takes the place of +the wife. Condescend to remember this last request of Tamiya +Matazaemon." He clasped the hand of Iemon, and tears were in his eyes as +he spoke. Iemon, too, was affected. It almost frightened him to be left +alone with O'Iwa. "Deign not to consider such unlikely contingency. The +amiability of O'Iwa is compensation for the greatest beauty. Who could +think of injuring her in any way? Perhaps a child soon will be the +issue. With this in mind condescend to put aside all gloomy thoughts. +Concentrate the honoured will on life, and complete recovery to health +will follow. Such, indeed, is the daily prayer of this Iemon at the +Myo[u]gyo[u]ji." + +Matazaemon smiled faintly--with gratification or grimness? Perhaps +death unseals the vision. Often indeed did Iemon present himself at the +family temple; he the substitute for the Master of Tamiya. But as often +did his feet return by the diametrically opposite direction, running the +gauntlet of the charms of the frail beauties of Nakacho[u]. Iemon held +on to the hand of Matazaemon, swearing and forswearing himself with the +greatest earnestness and the best of intentions. Suddenly he raised his +head. The emotion aroused by the interview had been too much for the old +man's fluttering heart. His head had slipped down sideways on the +pillow. A little stream of dark bitter refuse flowed from the mouth and +choked him. He was dead. + +Great was the grief of wife and grandchild; great was the importance of +Iemon, now in very fact Master of Tamiya. Whether or not he followed the +advice of Cho[u]bei, and gave the old woman _tokage_ (lizard); whether +her constant small journeys to the houses of neighbours, reciting a +litany of praise of this wondrous son-in-law; whether the loss of the +companion of so many years wore out the feeble frame; it is fact that +O'Naka followed her lord before the maple leaf turned red. Again the +Tamiya was the scene of the funereal chanting of the priest. The corpse +removed with the provision for the guests and watchers at the wake, the +seventh night of the death observed, with this removal of the deceased +spirit from the scenes of its former activities Iemon could turn himself +without impediment to the life of the future. Outward change there was +none. He was the same kind and affectionate husband as of former days. +Neighbours, anticipating some change of manner, were still louder in +their praises. One day there appeared at Tamiya two intimates, Natsume +Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. "Iemon Uji, a matter of importance +presses. We are on our way to the ward head, Ito[u] Kwaiba Dono. Deign +to go in company. You are known to be an expert at _go_,[20] a game at +which the old man prides himself for skill. He chafes at the presence of +this unknown rival, heard of but not yet tested. A dinner and wine are +at stake. Without Iemon Uji we do not dare to present ourselves. +Condescend to go in company. To know the great man of the ward, the +wealthy Ito[u] Kwaiba, is of advantage even to Tamiya." Iemon laughed +and assented. He was soon dressed for the greater ceremony of a first +visit. All three climbed down into their clogs, and set out for the +house of the Kumi-gashira near Samegabashi. + +If Iemon had been impressed by the wealth of Tamiya, he felt +insignificant before that of the head of Yotsuya. Ito[u] Kwaiba was a +man of sixty-four years, retaining much of the vigour of his youth. For +the past ten years he had added _go_ to his twin passions for wine and +women, neither of which seemed to have made any impression on a keenness +of sight which could read the finest print by the scanty light of an +_andon_, teeth which could chew the hard and tough dried _mochi_ (rice +paste) as if bean confection, and an activity of movement never to be +suspected from his somewhat heavy frame. At the name of Tamiya he looked +up with much curiosity, and Iemon thought his greeting rather brusque. +He saluted with great respect--"Truly fear is inspired. For long no +visit has been paid to the honoured head. Coming thus without invitation +is very rude. Intrusion is feared."--"Nay! Nay!" replied Kwaiba, +apparently attracted by the splendid externals of Iemon. "The failure to +visit is reciprocal. In fact, Tamiya and this Kwaiba have been at odds +these many years. Visits had altogether ceased. This, however, is no +matter for the younger generation. But Iemon San is indeed a fine +fellow. So Kwaiba had heard from all he met. Ah! A fellow to put all the +girls in a flutter. He is the very image of this Kwaiba in younger +years. The husbands were little troubled when he was around. The fair +ones were attracted. Well, well: they all had their turn at Kwaiba; and +Kwaiba has stood the pace. He is as good to-day as ever; in some +ways.... And it is a man like Iemon San who has married the--lady of +Tamiya." Iemon knew the term "O'Bake" had nearly slipped out. Knowing +O'Iwa's attractiveness of temperament, feeling touched in his own +conceit, this astonished and satirical reception he met with on every +side nettled him more than a little. Perhaps Kwaiba noted it. With +greatest unction he urged a cushion and at once changed the subject. +"Iemon San is noted as a _go_ player. This Kwaiba is a mere amateur. It +is for him to ask odds in making request for a game.... Ho! Heigh! The +_go_ board and stones!" + +Kwaiba and Iemon were the antagonists. Natsume and Imaizumi sat at the +sides of the board. Kwaiba, confident in his powers, readily accepted +the deprecatory answer of Iemon at its face value. The game was to be on +even terms. Iemon really was an expert of the sixth grade; certainly of +several grades superiority to Kwaiba.[21] The latter's brows knit as his +position rapidly became imperilled. Natsume was in a ferment. Fish or +wine? If Iemon sought Kwaiba's favour by a preliminary sound thrashing +at his favourite game, the prospects of either were small. He dropped +his tobacco pipe. In picking it up he gave the buttocks of Iemon a +direct and severe pinch. Iemon was too astonished to cry out. His ready +mind sought a motive for this unexpected assault and pain. The face of +Natsume was unmoved, that of Imaizumi anxious. A glance at Kwaiba's +attitude enlightened him. Politeness and a dinner were at stake. Even +Natsume and Imaizumi wondered and admired at what followed. The blunder +of Iemon was a stroke of genius, the inspiration of an expert player. It +was a slight blunder, not obvious to the crudeness of Kwaiba; but it +opened up the whole of Iemon's position and put the game in his +antagonist's hands. Kwaiba promptly seized the advantage. His triumphant +glance shifted continually from Iemon to the onlookers, as the former +struggled bravely with a desperate position. Kwaiba won this first game +somewhat easily. A second he lost by a bare margin. In the third he +scored success in a manner to make evident his superiority over a really +expert player. Confident in his championship of the ward, he was all +geniality as at the end he sorted and swept back the _go_ stones into +their polished boxes. "_Go-ishi_ of Shingu; soft as a woman's hands. But +never mind the sex. Now for fish and wine.... However, Hana can serve +the liquor for us." To the servant--"Heigh! Some refreshments for the +honoured guests; and convey the request of Kwaiba to O'Hana San, to be +present." + +With the wine appeared O'Hana San. She was a beautiful girl. Of not +more than twenty years, on the graceful sloping shoulders was daintily +set a head which attracted attention and admiration. The face was a pure +oval--of the _uri_ or melon, as the Nipponese class it--with high brow, +and was framed in long hair gathered below the waist and reaching nearly +to her ankles with its heavy luxuriant mass. She was dressed for the hot +season of the year in a light coloured Akashi crape, set off by an _obi_ +or broad sash of peach colour in which were woven indistinct and +delicate wavy designs. The sleeves, drawn a little back, showed the arms +well up to the shoulder. Glimpses of a beautifully moulded neck and +bosom appeared from time to time as she moved here and there in her +preparation of the service of the wine utensils. The delicate tissue of +the dress seemed to caress the somewhat narrow hips of a girlish figure. +Every movement was studied and graceful. This O'Hana had belonged to the +Fukadaya at Yagura no Shita of Fukagawa. She had been what is known as +an _obitsuke_ harlot, wearing the _obi_ in the usual form, without the +loose overrobe or _shikake_ of the common women. "In the period of +Tempo[u] (1830-1843) all Fukagawa harlots were dressed in this manner." +Attracted by her beauty old Kwaiba had ransomed her and made her his +concubine. For nearly two years she had held this position in his house. +In serving the wine she came to the front and knelt before Iemon as +first to receive it. In handing him the tray with the cup she looked +into his face. The start on the part of both was obvious. Some of the +wine was spilled. + +Said Kwaiba--"Then Iemon Uji, you know this woman?" His tone was hard +and truculent. It conveyed the suspicion of the jealous old male. +Iemon's former profession stood him in good stead. He had a glib tongue, +and no intention to deny what had been made perfectly obvious--"It is +fact, and nothing to be ashamed of on the part of Iemon; except as to +attendant conditions beyond control. I was a diviner on the public +highway."--"So 'twas heard," grumbled Kwaiba. "Without customers, and +with no use for the diviner's lens but to charr the rafters of the +garret in which you lived." Iemon did not care to notice the attack. He +merely said--"Deign not to find amusement in what really is a serious +matter to one who has to suffer poverty. While seated at the diviner's +stand attention was drawn by a girl coming down the Kuramae. Slouching +along close by her was a drunken _samurai_. From time to time he lurched +entirely too close to her. Turning unexpectedly her sunshade caught in +his _haori_ (cloak), which thereby was slightly torn. At once he flew +into a great rage. Laying hands on her he showed no disposition to +accept her excuses. 'Careless wench! You have torn my dress. How very +impudent of you. Unless you at once accompany me to the tea house close +by, to serve the wine and please me, pardon, there is none; be sure of +that.' The people had gathered like a black mountain. Nothing was to be +seen but heads. O'Hana San was in the greatest embarrassment, unable to +free herself from the insults and importunities of the drunken fellow. +The _samurai_ was hid under the diviner's garb. Stepping from the stand +I interposed in the girl's behalf, making apology, and pointing out the +rudeness of his behaviour to the drunkard. Instead of becoming calm he +raised his fist and struck me in the face. His condition gave the +advantage without use of arms. Locking a leg in his tottering supports I +threw him down into the ditch. Then with a word to O'Hana San to flee at +once, we disappeared in different directions. The _samurai_ Iemon again +became the diviner. That part of his role this Iemon regrets; but a +weapon he could not draw in the quarrel. Later on meeting O'Hana San at +the Kwannon temple of Asakusa thanks were received, for what was a very +trivial service."--"And again renewed," said the beauty, raising her +downcast face to look direct into that of Iemon. Said Kwaiba--"Ah! +That's the tale, is it? A fortunate encounter, and a strange reunion; +but the world is full of such. O'Hana, it comes in most befitting that +opportunity is afforded to favour the rescuer with something of greater +value than thanks. Pray serve him with wine." Then did Kwaiba take the +matter as a man of the world. But he was no fool, "this old _tanuki_ +(badger) of a thousand autumns' experience on hill and in dale." He +understood very well that between Iemon and O'Hana there had been a +closer connection than that of mere accident. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LOVE KNOTS + + +Many were the visits paid by Iemon to contest at _go_ with Ito[u] +Kwaiba. Rapid was the progress of the love affair between a young man +and a young woman, both inspired with a consuming passion for each +other. In former days--something more than two years before--when Iemon +was priest in the Jo[u]shinji of the Reigan district of Fukagawa, and +was spending the money of the _osho[u]_ so freely, he had met O'Hana at +the Fukagawa of Yagura no Shita. Just entering on her career, she at +once captivated him with a permanent passion. It was in her company that +the funds of the temple had been cast to the four winds of heaven. His +love had been fully reciprocated by O'Hana. The one purpose was to +ransom the lady, and then to live together as husband and wife. Such was +the engagement plighted between them. However, the ransom figure was +large. Iemon--or Kazuma at that time, he dropped his priestly name when +out of bounds--had already planned a larger raid than usual on the +ecclesiastical treasury. Warned by O'Hana that his operations had been +discovered, he had sought safety in flight; not without a last tearful +parting with his mistress, and assurance that fate somehow would bring +them again together. The engagement thus entered on was to flourish +under the new conditions. + +As to this pursuit of O'Hana, in which the maiden was coy and willing, +the lover circumspect and eager, or at least thought he was, those +around the pair were soon well informed; that is, with the exception of +the most interested--O'Iwa and Kwaiba. The marked neglect which now +ensued O'Iwa took in wifely fashion; and attributing it to some passing +attraction of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], she did not take it to heart as she +would have done if a concubine had been at issue. As for Kwaiba, the +usually astute and prying old man was so immersed in his _go_ as to be +struck blind, deaf, and dumb. The matter coming to the ears of Kondo[u] +Rokuro[u]bei, the worthy gentleman was seriously alarmed. If true, the +old man had indeed reached a parting of the ways, at which he had to +satisfy Iemon, Master of Tamiya, O'Iwa, his ward, and Ito[u] Kwaiba, the +powerful influence in the daily life of all of them. That night there +was a meeting at the house of Kwaiba, a competition in _gidayu_ +recitation, dancing, and poetry (_uta_) making. He presented himself in +season at the door of the Tamiya. "Ah! O'Iwa San; and to-night does +Iemon join the company at the house of the _Kumi-gashira_? Rokuro[u]bei +comes from Kawagoe, and perhaps is not too late to find company on the +road."--"Oya! Is it Kondo[u] Sama? Iya! the Danna has but begun his +preparations.... Iemon! The Danna of Yotsuyazaka has come; for company +on the way to Ito[u] Sama's house.... Deign to enter. In a short time +Iemon will be ready." Kondo[u] looked at her quizzically. There was no +sign of distress or misgivings in this quarter. He felt encouraged. +Probably the rumour was false or exaggerated; perhaps it was wholly due +to the malice of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, from whom that day he had heard +it. + +He turned to greet Iemon, who emerged ready for the street. At the +entrance they halted. Said Iemon--"It will be a long drawn-out affair. +Deign to retire, and not await the return." Replied O'Iwa--"A small +matter. The sound of the Danna's footstep will arouse Iwa to receive +him." Iemon laughed. "How so? How distinguish my steps from those of +Akiyama San or other constant callers?" Said O'Iwa gravely--"When the +wife can no longer distinguish the husband's footstep, then affection +has departed. O'Iwa will be ready to receive Iemon, no matter what the +hour."--"And, indeed, a late one," put in Kondo[u]. "The party consists +mainly of young men. After it they will adjourn to Nakacho[u]. Is it +allowed to Iemon Dono to accompany them?" O'Iwa winced a little. "The +Master is always master, within and without the house. He will do as he +pleases."--"Gently said; like a true wife. Truly such a married pair are +rarely to be encountered. They are the mandarin duck and drake of +Morokoshi transplanted to Yotsuya. Rokuro[u]bei feels proud of his +guardianship." As he and Iemon took their way along the Teramachi, he +said--"Iemon is indeed a wonderful man. He is handsome and pursued by +the women. O'Iwa undeniably is ugly; yet never is there failure to show +her respect and consideration, in private as well as public. One's life +here in Yotsuya is open to all the neighbours, and these speak well of +Iemon." Said the younger man, in matter of fact tone--"Who could fail +toward Iwa? She is amiability itself. Plain, perhaps, but gentleness is +the compensating quality, a truer source of household wealth than +beauty."--"Well spoken! Deign to keep it in heart, for the neighbours' +tongues wag as to Iemon and O'Hana. Malice can cause as much unhappiness +as downright wickedness. Besides, Kwaiba is no man to trifle with." +Iemon was a little put out and alarmed at the directness of Kondo[u]'s +reference. "Be sure there is nothing in such talk. A slight service, +rendered in earlier days, makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise +a stranger. The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But Ito[u] +Dono is good company and has good wine; and besides really is a good +_go_ player. It would be loss to shun his house." + +Kondo[u] noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke sharply to +the maid--"Middle age in company with youth plainly finds a poor +reception. Is that the master's order? The clogs of Tamiya are not the +only ones. Is Rokuro[u]bei to shift for himself?" The girl, all +confusion, made profuse apology as she hastened to repair the neglect. +Kondo[u] was easily mollified. "Bah! No wonder. Bring Tamiya near a +woman, and all is confusion.... But Ito[u] Dono?"--"This way, honoured +Sirs: the Danna awaits the guests." They entered the sitting room, to +find Kwaiba in a high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error +in transmission or date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had +appeared. "The supper prepared is next to useless. We four can do but +little in its dispatch. Not so with the wine; let every man do double +duty here." He hustled around and gave his orders with some excitement; +more than cordial with the guests who had not failed him. There was +present one Kibei. Iemon had noted with curiosity his first appearance +on this ground. What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's +position in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point. +Kibei was exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a woman to +make much of physical beauty, as well as strength and ruggedness. He was +a younger son of Inagaki Sho[u]gen, a _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in +Honjo[u] and an income of three thousand _koku_.[22] It was almost +certain that Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. The negotiations had been long +continued, and there was some hitch in the matter that Iemon could not +make out. What he did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted +fencer, making some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the +last man with whom Iemon had any desire for a quarrel. Iemon was a +coward, and the cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. Himself, +he was always excessively polite in their intercourse. + +Limited as to number the party tried to make up for the missing guests +by liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as substitutes of +the absent, and competition in _uta_ (poetry). Handing in his own +effort--no mean one--Iemon left the room for a moment. As he came out on +the corridor, and was about to return to the guest room, he found the +maid O'Moto awaiting him with water and towel. A slight puckering frown +came over Iemon's face at this imprudence. Said the girl +pleadingly--"Danna Sama, deign to exercise patience. That of the +mistress is sorely tried. The absence of the other guests, the pursuit +of Kibei Dono, who only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion +from the house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven her +well nigh mad. A moment--in this room." Iemon drew back.--"A room +apart, and in darkness! The age of seven years once passed, and boy and +girl are never to be allowed alone together." He would have refused, but +a sudden push and he was within. The _sho[u]ji_ closed at once. + +Kwaiba's voice called loudly--"Hana! Hana! What has become of the +girl? There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugliness of Kibei drives +her to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her out. Hana! Hana!" O'Hana +slipped hastily from the arms of Iemon. Passing through the garden she +entered the kitchen and snatched up a _sake_ bottle from the stove. She +did not notice that the fire had gone entirely out. She and Iemon +entered the sitting room together, from different sides. Rokuro[u]bei +looked sharply at Iemon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with Kwaiba. Said +Kondo[u]--"Where have you been? Pressed by necessity? For such a lapse +of time! nonsense! Is rice powder found in such a place? 'Plaster'? It +does not leave the mark of a cheek on the sleeve." He laid a warning +hand on Iemon, skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. "What +has happened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got into +a dispute over the merits of Heinai and Sho[u]setsu as fencing masters; +both of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa +Houses. Heinai was loyal, and Sho[u]setsu a traitor; but Kibei tries the +old man and officer by supporting the prowess of the latter. Besides the +_sake_ is cold and Kwaiba at start was in a very bad temper. He has +thought for naught but his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by +agreeing with him, but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert +with the sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would willingly +engage in one. He don't like you...." He stopped. Kwaiba was speaking +sharply. He had just taken the fresh bottle. "Cold as a stone! How +careless you are."--"Not so," said O'Hana in some surprise. "It has just +come off the stove." Kwaiba put the bottle in her hand, to her +confusion. "O'Hana must have been asleep; or much engaged, not to note +the difference." For the first time he looked sharply at her, then at +Iemon. O'Hana often executed great freedom with him--"Asleep! Just so; +and no wonder. Without guests the evening has been stupid enough. If +Tamiya Sama had brought his wife with him it would have been complete." +Kwaiba, Kibei, Kondo[u] smiled at the sally. Iemon took the cue, and +chose to resent the words. He said coldly--"O'Iwa certainly brings spice +into everything she engages in. Her intelligence is unusual." O'Hana +looked at him; then smiled a little, reassured. Passing behind him she +stumbled. "Forgotten"--Iemon felt a letter thrust into his hand, which +he passed quickly to his sleeve. Then he and Kondo[u] rose to take their +leave. The usual salutations followed. As if to compensate for the +failure of the entertainment all joined in seeing them depart. Kwaiba +was still grumbling and half quarrelling with O'Hana. O'Moto was engaged +with Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. Kibei insisted on aiding Iemon; and Iemon +did not dare to refuse his services in donning the _haori_. As he +adjusted the awkward efforts of Kibei on one side, this amateur valet +made a mess of it on the other. Besides, neither of them was any too +steady on his feet. Then Kondo[u] and Iemon set out in the rain. +"_Sayonara! Sayonara!_" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PLOT AGAINST O'IWA + + +The following morning Iemon sat brooding, mind and tongue clouded by +the drinking bout of the previous night. O'Iwa silently busied herself +with his renovation. Rokuro[u]bei had delivered him over to her, +decidedly the worse for wine and wear. He was somewhat astonished at the +young man's easy discomfiture. Middle age with the Nipponese usually +means the seasoned and steady toper. Regarding the matter as partly due +to her own fault, and reassured by Kondo[u] as to the events of the +evening, O'Iwa heated the _sake_ with all the greater care, serving it +herself, chatting on the indifferent gossip of the neighbourhood. She +spoke of the talk current as to Ito[u] Kwaiba's adoption of an heir. +"This man Kibei, his disposition appears to be as ugly as his face." +With a little smile she added, "for the latter compensation is to be +found in the first-named quality; a truth which he seems to disregard. +What will become of O'Hana San?" For the first time since the night +before the thought of the letter flashed into Iemon's mind. He put down +the renovating morning draft, and on some excuse arose. His _kimono_ lay +neatly folded in the _hirabuta_ (flat tray). Hastily he searched the +sleeves. There was not a sign of the missive. With clouded brow he +returned to the sitting room. A glance at O'Iwa made him feel ashamed. +It had never come into her hands. He knew her well enough to be assured +that he would have found it, scrupulously laid together with the tobacco +pouch, nose wipe (_hanagami_), and divers other minor articles of daily +use carried on the person. The whole affair perhaps was a dream. The +more he considered, the more he became so convinced. His transports with +O'Hana, their surprise, Kondo[u]'s rebuke--so far the evening was +tolerably clear. It was only as to the final cups, the rising to depart, +the standing in the cold night air, that the exact course of events +became clouded. "Ah! It was all a vision. O'Hana never would have been +so imprudent." There was a trace of doubt in his mind. He would clear it +up at the fountain source--at Kwaiba's house and by the lips of O'Hana. + +Kwaiba greeted him with almost boisterous cheerfulness. "Ah! Tamiya +comes early; a flattering acknowledgment of last night's reception." To +Iemon's deprecatory speech and apology--"Don't talk folly, after the +manner of a country boor. Iemon San is a man of the world; and will give +this Kwaiba credit for being the same. What does it amount to? A matter +of a little too much wine.... Hana! Hana! The Master of Tamiya is +present. Cut some bean paste, and bring tea. Heat the wine. Matazaemon +was so sober an old dog that it is doubtful whether O'Iwa knows aught +about the best remedy for past drinking." As Kibei entered--"There is +the inventory of the Shimosa farms. Condescend to take a glance at the +report of the _nanushi_ (bailiff). Hana will aid." Thus dismissed, the +two left the room. Kwaiba turned to Iemon--"A draught: no? Then Kwaiba +will drink for both. For him it is a day of rejoicing. The coming of +Tamiya is opportune. It was intended to send for him. Deign to aid this +Kwaiba with counsel. The adoption of Kibei has finally been settled." +The old man's exultation influenced even the indifference of Iemon's +aching head. With well-simulated interest he said--"Naruhodo! Kibei Dono +is indeed to be congratulated. As to our chief, since everything is to +his satisfaction, Iemon is but too glad to speak his pleasure, to offer +his congratulations."--"Nay! A little more than that, Iemon Uji. This +Kwaiba would seek his aid in another matter of importance. Kwaiba is +old. A woman no longer is an object to him. He cannot make a child. If +O'Hana should give birth to a child great would be the discomfiture, +knowing the truth. What is to be done in such a case?" He now was +looking with direct inquiry into the face of Iemon. The latter was much +confused. He stammered--"Just so: so indeed. O'Hana San is truly an +embarrassment. Doubtless she is also an obstacle to Kibei Dono. She...." +Sneered Kwaiba--"Tamiya, though young, is wise. He grasps the situation +at once. Deign, Iemon San, to take O'Hana yourself." Kwaiba raised his +voice a little. Kibei brought O'Hana with him from the next room. She +seemed alarmed and embarrassed. Said Kwaiba--"What have you there; the +inventory? Ah! A letter: and there is no one to read a letter like Iemon +San. Deign, Sir, to favour us. Iemon San alone can give the contents the +proper inflection." He handed it to Iemon. A glance showed the latter +that it was a letter from O'Hana, probably that of the previous night. +His pocket had been neatly picked by Kibei. It was plain. He had been +trapped. The pretended entertainment had been a plot in which the +passion of O'Hana had been given full chance to range. Even the +disinterested witness, the old fool Kondo[u], had been provided. He +caught a curious, mocking smile on the face of the girl O'Moto, just +then passing along the _ro[u]ka_. + +Kwaiba allowed the silence to become oppressive. He seemed to await an +incriminating outburst on the part of O'Hana, plainly on the verge of +tears. However, the girl caught herself up. Instead she turned a calm, +inquiring look toward the three men. Iemon alone looked down, his gaze +on the letter the characters of which danced and waved before his eyes. +Sharp as he ordinarily was, before this vigorous and astute old man, +backed by the ruffianly prospective son with impertinent smile, the +cowardice of Iemon deprived him of all spirit. His faculties were +numbed. Kwaiba leaned over and removed the letter from his hands. "Since +Iemon San will not read the letter, Kwaiba will try to do so; a poor +substitute for the accomplished cleric." The old fellow seemed to know +everything, as the tone of contempt indicated. He ran the scroll out in +his hands--"Naruhodo! Ma! Ma! What's this? From some woman: a lascivious +jade indeed!... Eh! Kibei Dono, apology is due your ears. This Kwaiba +laughed at your suspicions." He threw down the scroll, as in a fury. +Kibei picked it up. He began to read: + + "Night is the source of pleasure, but greater that pleasure + at sight of Iemon. The day comes when Iemon and Hana will be + husband and wife, in fact if not in form. 'Ah! Day and night + to be at the service of Iemon.' Thus does Hana pray gods and + Buddhas. When distant from his side, even though the time be + short, painful is its passage. Place this letter next to + your very person. May that night come quickly, when the + coming of Iemon is awaited. The connection with O'Iwa San is + the punishment for sin committed in a previous existence. + Condescend to dismiss her from your mind. View the matter + wholly in this light. The spiteful brush (pen) refuses + further service. Hard, hard, is the lot of this Hana. The + honoured Master comes; the heartfelt wish is accomplished. + + With compliments, + + To Iemon Sama." HANA. + +Kwaiba's rage grew and grew with the reading. At Iemon's name he sprang +up and made a movement toward the stand on which reposed his swords. +Laying a hand on the larger weapon he turned with a scowl--"Ah! This +Kwaiba is old, but in vigour he is young. It is for Kwaiba to sport with +the women. They are not to make a fool of him." Kibei sharply +interposed. "Does Kwaiba Dono gain satisfaction by such a vengeance? To +Kibei it seems a poor one. A matter so easily to be settled is not to be +made a scandal in the ward. Deign, honoured Sir, so to regard it. To +punish both at once with death is proper. But is it expedient? +Condescend to hear the words of Kibei." + +Kwaiba pulled himself up. It was as if some one had dragged him back. +His rage departed. A cold malice took its place. He smiled blandly--"One +does not quarrel over a harlot. Kwaiba spares their lives. Iemon shall +take Hana home--as wife."--"As wife!" Iemon broke through his fear. +"Surely the honoured _Kashira_ is unreasonable. This Iemon is but the +_muko_ of Tamiya. To demand that O'Iwa San be discarded is going too +far. Positively in this matter, though there have been love passages, +the most intimate relation has never followed--now or in previous +relations."--"You lie!" said Kwaiba coldly. "Furthermore 'tis a matter +not passing the period of last night. But that is not to the point. +Against Matazaemon this Kwaiba has a grudge--as yet unsatisfied. Through +O'Iwa San this shall be paid. With Iemon no harsh measures are adopted. +Nay; Kwaiba comes to his aid. You, too, Kibei, shall assist.... Ah! For +the ready consent, thanks. Ma! A delicious revenge is that gathered by +Kwaiba. O'Hana the harlot takes the place of the Ojo[u]san. And she +loves Iemon! In our feasts Natsume and Imaizumi get the skin of the +omelet; Iemon the centre. Then O'Iwa is to be driven out. To that Tamiya +cannot object. He substitutes honey for garlic;[23] O'Hana the flower +for the ugly toad O'Iwa. Splendid! Splendid! But how? Ah! Here's +Kondo[u], just in the nick of time. Rokuro[u]bei, aid us with your +experience and influence. Aid us with Iemon, who would cleave to the +O'Bake." + +Put in possession of the facts Kondo[u] was aghast. He had come to the +parting of the ways; and under conditions which assured his +participation in the plot. At first he turned on Iemon with bitter +recrimination. "Oh! A virtuous fellow, who would drink a man's wine, lie +with his woman, and then preach morality to a household! But the +mischief is done. If not the paramour of O'Hana San, everybody believes +it to be so...." Kwaiba held up his hands in well-simulated anger. Kibei +and Rokuro[u]bei interfered. Iemon's last resistance was broken down. To +talk? That is the business of a priest. Soon he was as eagerly engaged +in the plot as if he had left the house in Samoncho[u] for that purpose. +Said Rokuro[u]bei--"What difficulty does the matter present? Set on +Watanabe Goro[u] to tempt and make love to O'Iwa. He is badly in debt. +The handsome man of the ward everyone would suspect her fall. Surprised +by Iemon, O'Iwa is driven out as unchaste. This Kondo[u] stipulates that +matters go no further. After all O'Iwa is innocent of offence. The +husband's full rights are not to be excused. Neither she, nor Watanabe +is to suffer injury." + +Kibei laughed outright at the idea of a drawn sword in Iemon's hand. +Iemon turned the contempt on to Kondo[u]. Sneering, he replied--"The +plan is worthless. O'Iwa is chastity itself. In the absence of this +Iemon no man is allowed entrance to the house." Kwaiba knitted his +brows--"Kakusuke! Kakusuke!" As the _chu[u]gen_ appeared--"Go yonder to +the house of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon San. Say that the Kumi-gashira would +speak with Akiyama San." As the man departed--"Cho[u]zaemon is the man. +For gossip and malice he is a very woman. Rejoice and he weeps; weep and +he rejoices. If Akiyama cannot concoct some plan to get rid of O'Iwa, +then no one can.... Alas! O'Hana and Iemon must die by the hand of this +Kwaiba. Kibei will give his aid." The old man and Kibei got much +enjoyment out of the cowardice of Iemon and the fright of O'Hana. But +not for long. Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, the one-time boy lover of O'Iwa; a +long, lean, hungry-looking man, with long, cadaverous face and a +decidedly bad eye, appeared with the _chu[u]gen_ Kakusuke close behind. +The latter seemed a sort of policeman attending the none-too-willing +Cho[u]zaemon. The latter's brow lightened at sight of the company. He +owed Kwaiba money. Sending away the servant, Kwaiba unfolded the +situation. Said Cho[u]zaemon--"Heigh! Tamiya takes the cast off leman of +Ito[u] Dono. Fair exchange is no robbery; Kibei Uji against O'Hana San. +Iemon San goes into the matter with eyes wide open. The lady is an old +intimate, it is said." This manner of approaching the subject was +Cho[u]zaemon's way. He cared nothing for the scowls of Kibei nor the +wrath of Kwaiba. He was needed, or they would not have called him to +counsel. As for Iemon, he was grateful to Cho[u]zaemon; as neighbour, +and for the insult to Kibei and Kwaiba. + +Continued the mediator--"The obstacle of course is the O'Bake. O'Iwa +is to be driven out. And Watanabe won't answer? Maa! Chastity in an +O'Bake! It is a thing unheard of. 'Tis such, once of womankind, who +seduce living men. Tamiya is now head of the House. O'Iwa once driven +out, the property remains in his hands as its representative. She must +be forced to leave of her own will. Good; very good. What is it worth to +Kwaiba Dono?"--"Look to Iemon for commission," said Kwaiba roughly. +"Nay! Nay!" mouthed Cho[u]zaemon. "Kwaiba is Kwaiba; Iemon is Iemon. The +two are to be settled with separately. If Kwaiba Dono had gone to +extremes at the start no question would have been raised. To do so now, +with all present and after discussion, is out of the question. Kwaiba +Dono wishes to adopt Kibei Uji; to get rid of O'Hana San. Iemon San has +been neatly trapped. He must consent. O'Hana is a woman. She has no +voice in the matter. All this is clear. But as to Cho[u]zaemon's labour +in the affair; that it is which interests this Akiyama." He gave a sour +reprimanding look at Kibei. Then he looked impertinently from Kwaiba to +Iemon, and from Iemon to Kwaiba. Iemon in delight nodded assent. +Cho[u]zaemon promptly turned his back on him and faced Kwaiba. At first +the old man was very angry at the acuteness of Cho[u]zaemon. The sharp, +free exposure did not please him. Then the idea of countering on this +acuteness made him good tempered. He grumbled--"The ten _ryo[u]_ owing +to Kwaiba at the New Year--principal and interest; such is the fee for a +successful issue." Cho[u]zaemon held up his hands in pretended +horror--"Pay back borrowed money! Is that expected by the +Kumi-gashira?"--"Not 'expected,'" put in Kwaiba promptly. "With the seal +of Akiyama San the return is assured." Cho[u]zaemon became +thoughtful--"It is true. The last loan was under seal.... Too bad.... +Well! Well! The conditions are hard. Submission is necessary. The debt +will be forgiven?"--"Kibei and Iemon stand as witnesses," replied +Kwaiba--"Then how is this?" said Cho[u]zaemon. All put their heads +together. Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon went into details. Kwaiba pushed back his +cushion; slapped his thighs. "Cho[u]zaemon, you are cheap at double the +money. Just the thing! Eh, Iemon, Uji? Eh, Muko San?" All grinned a +raptured assent. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE PLOT DEVELOPS + + +For two days Iemon was maturing the preliminaries. He seemed unwell and +out of sorts. The third day he did not get up at all. O'Iwa was properly +anxious. Said she--"The change in the year is a sickly season. +Condescend to take some drug. Allow Suian Sensei to be summoned." Iemon +grumbled a dissent. She went on in her enthusiasm--"He is the very +prince of doctors. See: here is a salve he recommends; for skin and +nerves. O'Hana San, the beautiful concubine of Ito[u] Sama, uses nothing +else. He guarantees it on her praise, as means to remove blemishes of +any kind or source." Iemon looked up quickly. The connection puzzled and +did not please him. Perhaps he noted a puffiness about O'Iwa's face, +remembered a repulsion toward marital usages. The women should leave the +men to play their own game. He said gruffly--"Suian! A dealer in +cosmetics and charms. Have naught to do with his plasters and potions; +as cheats or something worse. As for O'Iwa, she is black as a farm hand +from Ryu[u]kyu[u] (Loo-choo). O'Hana is fair as the white _kiku_. Can +the pastes of Suian Sensei change black to white?" Startled, O'Iwa +looked round from the glass into which she was peering. She was taken by +surprise. In their personal relations Iemon had always been more than +considerate. For some weeks in secret she had been using this drug of +Suian Sensei. In childhood O'Iwa had shown something of an epileptic +tendency. This had worn off with time. Of late the recurrence had +alarmed her. The drug of Suian, at the time anyhow, made her less +conscious of the alarmed critical feeling which heralded the inception +of the attacks. + +Iemon gave her but time to catch the meaning of his insult. He went +on--"Probably it is but a cold. Some eggs, with plenty of hot wine, will +obviate ill effects. Deign to see that they are prepared." The channel +of O'Iwa's thoughts changed. At once she was the housekeeper and nurse, +and all solicitude to make him at ease. In the course of the meal of +eggs with _sake_ in came Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. "Ah! +Iemon, pardon the intrusion. Probably the engagement of yesterday with +Kwaiba Sama was forgotten.... In bed! A cold? But such is no treatment +for the complaint. There should be a cheerful, lively atmosphere.... Ah! +Here is the dice box. One can shake dice as well lying down as sitting. +Deign to refresh the spirits with play as well as wine." Iemon saw to it +that both were available. With surprise at first, misgiving afterwards, +O'Iwa heated bottle after bottle of _sake_. The men did not pay the +slightest attention to her presence. Absorbed in their game, there was +but a rough call from time to time for wine, addressed to the air, a +servant, anybody. At the end of the play Natsume rose to leave in high +spirits. Imaizumi and Tamiya were correspondingly depressed. This was +but a first day's procedure. Day after day, for the space of half the +month, the play was repeated. Iemon had long since recovered. One day he +stood with his hands shoved into the folds of his sash. He was very +sober and sour. "Iwa, is there money in the house?" She looked at him in +surprise. "Matters have not turned out at all well with Kyuzo[u] and +Jinzaemon. This Iemon is a hundred _ryo[u]_ to the bad. With spare cash +at hand an attempt can be made to repair the loss." + +O'Iwa prostrated herself before him. "May the Danna deign to consider. +To Iwa this pastime of gambling seems a very ill one, particularly in a +man of official rank. It is fraught with peril; and the offence once +known rarely is pardoned. Condescend to hear and forgive the warning of +this Iwa." She stopped a little frightened. Iemon was looking at her in +greatest wrath and astonishment. "What! Is there argument from wife to +husband? This insolence of behaviour crowns the insult of refusal. The +very sight of your face is enough to make one sick at the stomach. Boors +and _bakemono_ are shut out at the Hakone barrier. But you--the guards +have been put to sleep, and you have slipped through. Shut up! Get the +money, or...." O'Iwa crouched at the _sho[u]ji_, in terror and surprise. +The insulting words heaped on her pained and tortured. Now she felt the +sharp sting of a hand forcibly applied to her cheek. Without a word she +left the room. Returning she brought thirty _ryo[u]_ in gold on a +salver. Timidly prostrate she presented it to Iemon. "Condescend to +pardon Iwa. That she is ugly and incompetent she knows. Did not Iemon +accept her?" The man stuffed the gold in his girdle. In reply--"No: +Iemon was cheated by Kondo[u] and Cho[u]bei. A plain woman--perhaps; but +a monster, a worse than _rokurokubi_, was never thought of even in a +dream. Compensation is to be found. Iemon likes gambling. He will +gamble. Have a care to supply the needed funds; and don't interfere." +Roughly he shoved her out of the way, and left the house. + +For long O'Iwa saw nothing of Iemon; but she heard from him. In fact he +was living in semi-secrecy at the house of Rokuro[u]bei. Now this +messenger, then that, would come to O'Iwa. "If there is no money--sell +something. The bearer will indicate. A supply must be found." Thus one +thing after another left the house--to be stored in the godown of +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, to whose clever suggestion was due this way of +stripping O'Iwa of all she possessed. With goods and clothes went the +servants. In the course of a few weeks O'Iwa was living in one room, +furnished with three _tatami_ in lieu of the usual twelve in number. +Hibachi, _andon_ (night lamp), the single garment she wore, this was all +she possessed in the house. Then at last she saw him. The light dawned +on a cold snowy morning of early March. O'Iwa rose, opened the _amado_, +and started her day. About the fourth hour (9 A.M.) the _sho[u]ji_ were +pushed aside and Iemon entered. He looked as if fresh from a night's +debauch. His garments were dirty and disordered. His face was sallow, +the eyes deep set and weary, his manner listless. O'Iwa gave him the +only cushion in the room. Seated before the _hibachi_ (brazier) after +some time he said--"A million pardons: the luck has been very bad.... +Ah! The place here seems in disorder. It is not fit for a man to live +in." He looked around as one waking from a dream. "No wonder: yet all +can be restored. Iemon has surprised you?" Said O'Iwa timidly--"Matters +are a little at odds and ends. O'Iwa needs but little; a stalk of +_daikon_ (radish) and a handful of wheat (_mugi_). Does the Danna remain +here? If so...." There was a painful hitch in her voice, a puzzled look +on her face. She had one _bu_ in cash. In fact she was hoping for the +monthly visit of Yosuke the farmer; if there was a farm any longer. She +did not know. + +"For the night," replied Iemon. "Sleep and food are the essentials of +good play. All has been lost in the gambling houses of Shinjuku and +Shinagawa, at the Nakanocho[u]. Is there no money in the house?... +Evidently not. Deign to secure some, no matter how." He took the silver +_bu_ she presented to him. "At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See +to it that a meal is ready at even; not much, _sashimi_ (sliced raw +fish) and wine. Iemon would play, not eat." With this he rose. O'Iwa +heard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her face buried +in her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she to do? She looked +around. There was not a thing to sell; not even herself. Who would buy +the ugly O'Iwa? An idea came into her head. In a moment she was in the +street. Soon she stood at the door of her uncle, Yoemon. With this uncle +and aunt she had but little to do. Matazaemon had been at daggers drawn +with his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched miser, one +acquiring wealth by very questionable means for a _samurai_. In old days +Cho[u]bei had been a hired agent of Yoemon. The principal had escaped; +the second had to leave Yotsuya and its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt) +came out at O'Iwa's call. She greeted her niece with surprise. "Oya! +Oya! Iwa is a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid +_muko_ was received at Tamiya." The old woman looked at O'Iwa shrewdly, +and not without kindness. O'Iwa took heart. She made answer--"It is +true; of late matters have not gone well. Just now Iwa would ask the +loan of a _sho[u]_ (1/5 peck) of rice, together with a _bu_ to buy eels +or _sashimi_.[24] It is very rude indeed...."--"Very rude indeed!" said +a harsh voice close by. O'Iwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway. +The aunt fled to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoemon--"And +what is Iwa doing at the house of Yoemon? That there is relationship +between them this Yoemon does not recognize. Yoemon never exchanged look +or word with his brother Matazaemon, nor does he desire to do so with +the issue. Let the Tamiya of Samoncho[u] look out for itself. A _muko_ +was taken without aid or advice of Yoemon. A stranger, one practising +wayside divination, this fine fellow turns out a gambler and a debauched +man, to the ruin of the House. Iwa can look to him; ignorant and foolish +woman that she is. This Yoemon would contribute to the needs of a beggar +before granting even a single _mon_ to Iwa." + +The grating rattled sharply as the angry old man pushed it to and let +fall the bar. O'Iwa looked into the dark recess with pained and startled +eyes. So much of a recluse she was learning that Iemon had long been the +talk of the ward. She turned, and slowly took her way back to +Samoncho[u]. Here the reaction came. Strong was the inclination to laugh +and weep; too strong for self-control. In alarm she ran to take from the +closet the potion of Suian. Its effect was the opposite of what she +expected--or perhaps it was taken too late. For an hour O'Iwa writhed, +screamed, laughed in her agony. Then she sank into slumber. On awakening +the sun was already well past the zenith. She sprang up in alarm. This +meal to prepare--the duty of the wife--and not a step taken. It could +not be helped. Just as she was, twisting a towel around her disordered +hair, she started out to the place of one Kuraya Jibei of the Asakusa +Kuramae no Saka. This man was a lender on the notes from the rice +pensions of the _samurai_--a _fudasashi_ dealer, as these men were +called. + +The distance was great. O'Iwa was tired out on her arrival. At the +entrance the _kozo[u]_ or "boy" hailed her sharply. He waved her off. +"No! No! Old girl, it won't do. Nothing is to be had here. Please come +back the day before yesterday." He barred the way. Said O'Iwa, shrinking +back--"Nothing is wanted of the honoured house. An interview with Jibei +San, an inquiry to make. Such the request." Something about tone or +manner, certainly not pity, made the fellow hesitate--"Jibei San! A +beggar woman wants an interview with Jibei San! How about it?"--"Nothing +to be had," answered the _banto[u]'s_ voice. "Tell her to read the white +tablet hung before the entrance. It is all the house has to give." In +speaking he edged around a little. O'Iwa raised the towel from her face. +At once he was on his feet. "Ah! For long the honoured lady of Tamiya +has not been seen. Many and profitable the dealings with Matazaemon +Dono. Condescend to pardon this senseless fellow. He outrivals his +companions in lack of brains. Deign to enter." The _kozo[u]_ was all +apology--"Condescend wholly to pardon. Deign to have pity on the +ignorance shown. With fear and respect...." Looking into O'Iwa's face he +was overcome by his feelings. Bursting with laughter he fled to the +front of the shop to stuff the dust rag into his mouth in mistake for a +towel. This slight error restored his equanimity. The _banto[u]_ looked +after him with some fellow feeling and much anger. "He is half idiot. +Condescend to disregard his rude speech and manner. After all he is but +a _kozo[u]_.... What can this Jibei do for the lady of Tamiya?" + +"Knowing that the House has dealings with Jibei San, and there being +necessity for three _sho[u]_ of rice, it is ventured to ask the loan." +Thus spoke O'Iwa. Money, actual coin, was on the end of her tongue, but +somehow she could not get the words out. Jibei was not particularly +astonished. Since Iemon had taken charge of the affairs of Tamiya, its +income was usually discounted well beforehand. Moreover, the rumour of +Iemon's gambling was spreading among his connections. Neither Kwaiba nor +Akiyama, nor the others engaged, were men to lose sight of the +likelihood of fine pickings from the Tamiya. Jibei made prompt answer. +"Respectfully heard and understood. It shall be sent.... Ah! It is +required now? Matsu! Matsu! Put up three _sho[u]_ of rice for the lady +of Tamiya. Its conveyance is to be provided. Place a _bu_ in the parcel. +The distance to Yotsuya is great. The _kago_ (litter) men are exacting." +O'Iwa's heart leaped with gratitude at the perspicacity of Jibei. He +watched her departing figure as far as he could see it. Then he took out +a ledger; and against the name of Tamiya he placed a question mark. + +It was dusk when O'Iwa entered the house at Samoncho[u]. She gave a +start on finding Iemon glumly seated before the fireless brazier. "A +fine hour for a woman to be gadding the street. And the meal! +Unprepared: excellent habits in a wife!----" "To the Danna apology is +due. This Iwa is much in the wrong. But for the meal money had first to +be secured...."--"Then there is money, or means to procure it? Where is +it? How much?"--"Nay, the rice is here. This _bu_ is enough to secure +eels, _sashimi_, some delicacy...." She hesitated before Iemon's +doubting glare. He was eyeing rice and money. The mark on the bag caught +his eye. "Whence was this rice had? And this money? From Jibei, the +_fudasashi_ dealer? A visit paid in such garb? Truly the House is +disgraced, not only by your ugliness, but by ill conduct. Who could +remain in such a den?" O'Iwa threw herself in his way as he rose to +leave the room. Clinging to his sleeve she pleaded for pardon, as only a +woman can do who has done no wrong. There was an ugly look on Iemon's +face as he turned on her. Frightened, she would have fled. Instead she +could only crouch like a dog under the blows he showered on her. Then +with a violent kick in the groin he rolled her over, and departed. + +O'Iwa heard footsteps. Had Iemon returned? Despite the pain, she half +sat up in her dread. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. The portly man held +up his hands in horror and benevolence at what he saw. "But O'Iwa--what +has occurred? Ah! Kondo[u] has heard rumours of what is going on. The +_tatami_ (mats), screens, drawers (_tansu_), clothes-baskets--the house +is completely stripped to satisfy the thirst for the money of others. +Now he has descended to blows! Truly he is a miserable fellow." +Kondo[u]'s voice grew loud in his wrath. "This must not go on. +Rokuro[u]bei is responsible to Tamiya, to the ancestors. To be subject +to a fellow like this will never do. A divorce is to be secured. Let him +depart with his plunder. Let him have everything; only to get rid of +him. He is husband, and head of Tamiya. But Kondo[u] will be too much +for him. A divorce shall be secured. Ito[u] Dono, the ward chief, is to +be interested in the affair. Pressure shall be put on Iemon to grant the +letter of divorce." Indignation choked the worthy man. O'Iwa spoke +slowly, with pain and effort. "Be in no such haste, Kondo[u] Sama. Iemon +has not been a good man. Much is known to this Iwa. He buys women at +Nakacho[u]. He buys _geisha_. He gambles. These are a man's vices. As to +these Iwa has nothing to say. She is the wife, for two lives to maintain +the house in good and ill fortune. A good wife does not look to divorce +to rectify mistakes. With such remedy Iwa has nothing to do. But is not +Kondo[u] Sama the _nako[u]do_? Was he not the mediator in the marriage +between Iemon and Iwa? Deign to speak as _nako[u]do_. Rebuke Iemon. +Cause this gambling to be brought to an end." Rokuro[u]bei could hardly +hear her to the end. His testy impatience was in evidence. He broke into +protest--"This is complete madness; utter folly. You allow this fellow +to ruin the House. He will dispose of the pension."--"The goods, the +House, Iwa, all belong to Iemon; to do with as he pleases. Iwa is the +wife. She must submit.... Ah! You refuse. Kondo[u] Sama is no longer the +friend of Iwa, to act as _nako[u]do_." What had come into the soul of +this gentle woman? Kondo[u] in fright shrank back from the look she gave +him--"A very demon! The mother, O'Mino, has returned to life. Oni! Oni! +You are not human. Kondo[u] assuredly will have nothing to do with +O'Iwa, or O'Iwa's affairs." He left her helpless in the middle of her +fit. Forgetting in his fright even his clogs, barefooted, he fled from +the house in Samoncho[u]. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +KWAIBA'S REVENGE + + +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei went direct to the council of the conspirators. He +found them assembled in the house of Ito[u]. Kwaiba, Iemon, O'Hana, +Cho[u]zaemon, Kibei, were drinking _sake_. Kwaiba as usual was bragging +over his prowess in youth extended into age. O'Hana was laughing at him +behind his back. Kibei was surly; yet his share of income was assured. +Kwaiba roundly berated Iemon for lack of energy. "O'Iwa has been allowed +to get the upper hand. Iemon is far too soft to deal with a woman who +has been spoiled all her life." Iemon listened in silence, with a rather +doubtful smile of acquiescence or contempt. In fact, knowing O'Iwa as he +did, he had little confidence in Kwaiba or Cho[u]zaemon, or the methods +they proposed. His own plan was maturing. Meanwhile in part it ran +parallel. On this assembly burst the discomfited Rokuro[u]bei--"Ah! What +an experience! The woman is a very fiend. A new pair of _geta_, bought +but yesterday, and left at your house, Iemon Uji." Iemon looked at +Kondo[u]'s frightened face and bare feet. Then he burst into a roar of +laughter. Kwaiba was indignant. "Is the fright of Kondo[u] San any +license to bring his dirty feet on the _tatami_. Deign, good sir, to +accept water for the cleansing. O'Hana San now is inmate of the house of +Kondo[u]; yet condescend for the moment to act the mistress here." This +was part of the arrangement. With the goods of O'Iwa the person of +O'Hana had been transferred to the charge of the honest Rokuro[u]bei. +There Iemon had easy and decent access to the use of both. + +Said Iemon--"What happened after this Iemon left Samoncho[u]? Kondo[u] +Dono has been frightened." Kondo[u] puffed and fumed as he cleansed his +feet at the mounting step. He groaned--"Iemon Dono, you are certainly +done for. Was it 'three years,' she said? Her face was frightful. This +Rokuro[u]bei has no more to do with the affair. He goes no more to +Samoncho[u]. Alas! He will never sleep again. Oh! Oh! To be haunted in +the next existence by such a rotten O'Bake." Said Kwaiba--"Did Iemon +really beat her? He says he did." Answered Kondo[u]--"She could barely +move a limb. Of love for Iemon not a spark is left; but she clings to +the honour of Tamiya, to the wife's duty to the House. There is no +moving her. Rokuro[u]bei is suspect, as not doing his duty as +_nako[u]do_. Look to yourselves. If she ever gets suspicious of the real +facts, has an inkling of the truth--look out for yourselves." + +Kwaiba was thoughtful; Iemon was indifferent. None of them could think +of aught but the venture already engaged in. A week, ten days, passed. +In that time every effort was made to move O'Iwa to consent to a +divorce. As _Kumi-gashira_, Kwaiba summoned her to his house. Before his +kindly sympathy O'Iwa melted into tears. The scandalous treatment of +Iemon had reached his ears. Why had he not heard of it before it reached +such extremes? He looked indignation at his messenger, the one who had +brought O'Iwa to his presence, Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon the neighbour of +Tamiya, living not far off near the Ten-o[u]. Said the ward +head--"Kwaiba always took this Iemon, or Kazuma, for a scoundrel. A +stranger, why bring him into the ward? But now he is master of Tamiya. +In the place of the excellent, if obstinate, Matazaemon. Alas! The +pension of the House is said to be hypothecated for five years. And the +household goods; and separate properties of Tamiya--all gone?" O'Iwa +nodded assent, and Kwaiba threw up his hands at such wickedness. At all +events he counselled her to consider matters, to accept his aid. He +would place her somewhere; in the country and far off from the ward in +which Iemon as master of Tamiya in its degradation would always be an +unpleasant sight and influence in her life; at least until Iemon could +be expelled. With the fellow's past career doubtless this would happen +before long. Meanwhile O'Iwa was to pass into one of the wretched, +overworked, exhausted drudges on one of Kwaiba's Shimosa farms. From his +chief's expressed views Cho[u]zaemon dissented. This was the one man +O'Iwa distrusted. He had always shown dislike to her. In defense of her +conduct Cho[u]zaemon was too clever to show any warmth. He was the +subordinate making exact report to his chief. O'Iwa was completely taken +in. This friendly neutrality aroused her every grateful feeling. Said +Cho[u]zaemon--"Iemon is a coward. A _samurai_ beats neither woman nor +dog. If either are unfaithful to him, he kills the offender. Iemon's +conduct has been thoroughly bad. Before the reproaches of O'Iwa San, +beaten in argument he has retaliated by beating her to a jelly. Her face +bears the marks of his violence. As to her body, my wife answers for it +that it is a mass of bruises."--"Is that so?" said Kwaiba in deep +sympathy. O'Iwa burst into tears. Kwaiba fumed with rage--"Truly Iemon +is not a human being. He has the horns of a demon." + +Then the priest Myo[u]zen, of the family temple, the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji of +Samegabashi,[25] appeared at the Samoncho[u] house. To him O'Iwa looked +for ghostly consolation against the ills of this world. Instead he +merely chanted the old refrain, harped on the scandal brought on +Samoncho[u] by the continued bickering of the married pair. Husband and +wife had mutual duty toward each other; but also there was a duty toward +their neighbours. Iemon was irreclaimable.... This stranger! O'Iwa San +should deign to take the active part herself; not afford this ill +spectacle and example to the ward. Like most parsons he was convinced by +the noise of his own voice, and spoke with the intense conviction of +long rehearsal. O'Iwa heard him out with a curious chill at heart. The +graves of her beloved _hotoke_ (departed ones) were in the cemetery of +Myo[u]gyo[u]ji. The temple had been one of the few generous features, +almost extravagances, of Matazaemon. It had profited greatly by his +donations. It was the honour of the House against the argument of the +priest and the convenience of the neighbours; and all because a bad man +had been brought into it. "What the revered _osho[u]_ (prebend) has said +reaches to the heart of this Iwa. Submission is to be an inspiration +from the revered _hotoke_. Iwa will seek their counsel." Baffled, the +priest left the house; veiled censure was on his lips; open disobedience +and contempt on the part of O'Iwa. + +Said Kwaiba--"Cho[u]zaemon has failed. At least this Kwaiba has saved +his ten _ryo[u]_--and gained one object. Kondo[u] Dono, thanks for your +kind hospitality to O'Hana San. Do you propose to adopt her?" Kondo[u] +made an emphatic gesture of protest and dissent. He said--"At least +Kondo[u] has the security of goods and money for his generous +expenditures."--"Both of them belonging to O'Iwa San; just as Kwaiba +holds the acknowledgment of Akiyama San." Cho[u]zaemon made a wry face. +The prospect of pressure put on him, with all the added accumulation of +the months of interest, was not a cheerful one. Said Kwaiba +angrily--"Ah! Whoever would have suspected such obstinacy in the O'Bake; +she who always was so yielding within her home and outside of it. She +seemed to be such an easy mark. It was merely a matter of ordering her +out. And now she baffles this Kwaiba of his revenge!" Iemon laughed +outright. Kwaiba looked at him with surprise. Was this charlatan playing +a double game? Said Iemon--"Fear enters at the words of the honoured +chief. Pray condescend to be easy in mind. As yet Cho[u]zaemon has not +failed. At least the question can be argued with the _Kumi-gashira_. It +is left to these principals. Iemon is of better counsel." Then after a +silence during which Kwaiba intently eyed him--"To-morrow O'Iwa San +leaves Yotsuya. Kwaiba Dono gets his revenge on the late master of +Tamiya. Pray remember it, in favour of the present incumbent of the +House." Said Kwaiba fervently--"Iemon would be a son to Kwaiba! Is it +really true--that the O'Bake will be expelled the ward, in disgrace?" +Iemon nodded assent. + +On the following day O'Iwa had completed her ablutions. She arrayed +herself in freshly washed robes. Then she took her place before the +Butsudan. It was memorial day of the decease of the _hotoke_. Earnestly +she prayed--"Deign, honoured _hotoke_, to have regard to this Iwa. The +year has not lapsed since the hand of Iwa was placed in that of Iemon. +Now the House is brought to ruin. No heir appears to console this Iwa +and to continue its worship, to inherit its revenues. 'Take these in +hand. Life lies before Iemon for their enjoyment. His revenue will be +ample. Deign but to have the honour of the House in mind, the +continuance of its line as object.' Such were the words of the honoured +Matazaemon when in life. Unworthy has been the conduct of this trust by +Iemon. But divorce is a scandal, always to be avoided by a woman. Return +the love of Iemon to this Iwa. Deign, honoured _hotoke_, to influence +his wandering passions toward this child of the House. Cause the husband +to return to Tamiya, once more to uphold its rights and influence. Such +is the prayer of this Iwa." She rose, placed the offerings, and struck +the little bell with the hammer. As she did so a noise was heard at the +entrance. Iemon, carrying fishing rod and basket, and followed by +Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon, burst into the room. All three +were more or less drunk. Dumfounded O'Iwa looked from one to the other. +Imaizumi carried a tub. Kyuzo[u] knocked it from his shoulders. Then +tumbled clumsily down on the cask. None of them had removed the dirty +_waraji_ (straw sandals) they wore. "Why do so in such a barn?" +hiccoughed Kyuzo[u]. "And this _sake_; Kyuzo[u] found it without, at the +kitchen door. Jinzaemon shouldered it. Whence does it come, Iemon San? +Faugh! It smells as if the cask had been placed for the convenience of +passers-by on the wayside. It stinks. That's what it does." He gave the +cask a kick, knocking out the bung. The filthy liquid poured out on the +floor. + +Iemon appropriated the tub. He seated himself on it. "'Tis the fine +liquor of Tamiya. All the house possesses. Iemon is hungry." Opening his +basket he took out an eel. He began to skin it. A cry from O'Iwa +arrested him. His wife sank down before him in attitude of prayer. +"Importunate jade! What would you now? Further advice to a husband who +wants but to get rid of the sight of an ugly face? Bah! This lump of a +wench is neither good for child-bearing nor for house-keeping; she is +not even a good _rusu_ (care-taker)." His knife made a rip in the skin +of the squirming animal. O'Iwa laid a hand on his sleeve. With a voice +in which sobs mingled with the petition--"To-day is a memorial day of +the honoured _Hotoke Sama_. Deign to refrain from taking life in the +house; nay, before the very _ihai_ in the Butsudan. Such deed will cause +pain to the _Hotoke Sama_; bring disaster on the House, perhaps on this +Iwa and Iemon San." Iemon fairly roared as he sprang up from the +tub--"What! You noisy slut! Is this Iemon to go without food because the +_hotoke_ dislikes the smell of eels?... Jinzaemon, can you cook eels?" +Imaizumi had sought the _ro[u]ka_. His round featureless face showed his +fright and indecision before this critical quarrel of husband and wife. +Of all involved in the plot he was the most unwilling in performance of +his role. But he answered according to rote--"Iya! Iemon Uji, the office +of cook is a special one. Jinzaemon is no cook. He leaves that office to +his wife. Moreover the cooking of eels is an art in itself."--"And the +artist is here," chimed in the malignancy of Kyuzo[u]. "O'Iwa San is +noted for her skill."--"Right!" said Iemon. "Kyuzo[u] and Jinzaemon have +heard the refusal of O'Iwa. Cook this eel--or else Iemon pronounces the +formula of divorce against the disobedient wife." + +In silence O'Iwa rose. She went to the portable stove. With the bellows +she stirred up the fire therein. She did not dare even for a moment to +pray at the Butsudan. The skillet was on the fire. The eels were +sizzling in the hot liquor. Suddenly Iemon made an exclamation. Taking a +towel he grasped the handle of the vessel. The next moment he had forced +down the hot pan and its contents on the head of O'Iwa. "Kiya!" With the +single cry she fell over backwards, writhing in pain under the +infliction of the scalding mess streaming over face, neck, and bosom. +Imaizumi fled in dismay. Even Natsume Kyuzo[u] protested. Seizing the +arm of Iemon--"Iemon Uji, you go too far. Don't kill her." "Kill the +O'Bake? It's impossible." Iemon spoke coldly. He was the one person of +collected wits in the room. + +Groaning with agony O'Iwa came to her senses. A man was leaning over +her. Half blind as she was, she could recognize Cho[u]bei. His look was +grave. His voice was reticent and confused. "What has been going on +here, O'Iwa Dono? Ah! Cho[u]bei comes at a bad season. Ma! Ma! The +house, too; stripped bare to the very boards, and the season still +wintry. Truly this Iemon is a beast--a very brute (_chikusho[u]_). What +is Cho[u]bei to do? There is this matter of the honour of Tamiya." He +wrung his hands as in great perplexity, glancing sideways toward O'Iwa. +The first part of his speech she disregarded. Such talk and consolation +were growing stale. That all should pity her caused no surprise. Her +situation was not unusual. It was the last words which caught her ear. +"The honour of Tamiya: Cho[u]bei San?" Cho[u]bei turned away; to put +some peppermint in his eyes. Tears stood in them as he turned again to +her. O'Iwa was alarmed. "What has happened?" She caught his sleeve, drew +close to him. He answered--"Cho[u]bei cannot speak. To find O'Iwa San in +such dreadful state renders it impossible to explain. Iemon San has gone +too far." So he had, from Cho[u]bei's point of view and for his +purposes. These young fellows never can keep within bounds; even in +abuse of a woman. His resentment was extreme. O'Iwa insisted. Finally +the resistance of Cho[u]bei was overcome. Iemon's name was posted at the +Kuramae of Asakusa. He was in debt on every side. As the final blow, he +had stolen the seal of Ito[u] Kwaiba and forged an acknowledgment for +twenty _ryo[u]_. Kwaiba's enmity to Matazaemon was well known. He liked +Iemon no better, and would pursue him to the end, force him to cut +belly, and accomplish the official degradation and extinction of the +Tamiya House (_kaieki_). "What is to be done?" He turned squarely to +O'Iwa. She said--"Ito[u] Dono has been kind to O'Iwa. Perhaps if request +be made...." Cho[u]bei laughed. "Ito[u] Kwaiba is always kind to a +woman. It is not O'Iwa San whom he hates. But this is an affair between +men. He secures vengeance on Matazaemon through Iemon and this official +extinction of Tamiya. It is too tempting. He is not to be trusted. No +hint of the deed must reach him. Is there no money at the command of +O'Iwa San? The sum is but twenty _ryo[u]_. Iemon brought this news to +Cho[u]bei last night. He leaves Edo, to go in hiding, after ... after +... punishing the ... Well! Well! He is a wicked man. Cho[u]bei never +suspected such wickedness. But Iemon is not the issue. He represents and +can disgrace the Tamiya. There lies the issue. Has O'Iwa San no means, +nothing in coin?"--"Less than a _bu_, sixty _mon_." She held out the +coppers to Cho[u]bei. + +Said Cho[u]bei with decision--"There is one resource left. There is +the person of O'Iwa San. Deign to go into service at the pleasure +quarter. Cho[u]bei is skilful. In seven days these wounds can be healed. +Twenty _ryo[u]_ secured, the paper is taken up, the robbery of the seal +is never discovered. We can laugh at Kwaiba's anger. All is for the +Tamiya." He noted that O'Iwa was hesitating--"It is but as a pledge. The +money is advanced on the person of O'Iwa San. A week, ten days, and +other sources of loan will be discovered. This is the only measure +Cho[u]bei can suggest. He has no means of his own to meet this debt." He +smiled as at a thought--"Perhaps Kwaiba himself will pay his own debt!" +He chuckled at the idea. "Why not make appeal at once?" repeated O'Iwa, +grasping at any straw of safety from this resource, so horrible to the +_samurai_ woman. Said Cho[u]bei promptly--"Ito[u] Sama knows perfectly +well the state of Samoncho[u]. Asakusa, Honjo[u], are far removed. An +appeal for twenty _ryo[u]_ as surety money in applying for a situation +would appeal to him; the other would not. Besides, thus far away he +could not investigate closely, if he would. He could but say 'yes' or +'no.'" O'Iwa remembered what Kwaiba had said--the necessity of removing +to a distance. The words and actions of these rascals dove-tailed +admirably. A long silence followed. With exultation at heart Cho[u]bei +saw her rise. She put out the fire, gathered together the few personal +articles she still possessed. On seeing her struggle with the heavy rain +doors he came to her aid. "For the time being accept the hospitality of +Cho[u]bei's poor quarters. These wounds are to be healed." With full +heart O'Iwa gratefully accepted. She took his hand as if to kiss it. +Cho[u]bei hastily snatched it away. In his sleeve, the ink not +twenty-four hours old, was the paper of the sale of O'Iwa to Cho[u]bei; +her passing over to his guardianship, to dispose of as a street harlot, +a night-hawk. The consideration? Five _ryo[u]_: payment duly +acknowledged, and of course nominal. The paper of transfer was in +thoroughly correct form. Cho[u]bei had drawn it himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U] + + +O'Iwa's stay of nearly seven days at Cho[u]bei's house was one of the +golden periods of her life. O'Taki received the Ojo[u]san with humble +joy. Iemon could not drop Cho[u]bei out of his life of prosperity. O'Iwa +was soon brought in contact with the humble pair in adversity. Hers was +a generous heart, and O'Taki could not look around her house without +some indication of this kindness. Her sympathy with the wronged wife was +great. A husband--thriftless, a gambler, inconsiderate--of such a one +she had some experience. By the same means this lady was brought to her +present pass. It roused her indignation. As to brutality; that was +another matter. She squared her stout shoulders and looked derisively at +the loose angularity of Cho[u]bei, his rickety physique. But the storm +would pass. Ito[u] Sama, Kondo[u] Sama, Myo[u]zen Osho[u], all these +were agreed. The Ojo[u]san now out of his reach, without a home to go +to, and only hostile faces met with in the ward, Iemon Sama would soon +come to terms. Would the Ojo[u]san deign to honour their humble home as +long as she liked. She at once suppressed O'Iwa's rather futile attempts +to aid in her rough household work. It had been the lady's part to +direct her maids in their more repugnant tasks, and now brought right +under her hand in this plebeian household. O'Iwa never had undergone the +harsher lot of her mother O'Mino. + +Cho[u]bei in his way was as kind as his wife. At once he devoted +himself to the repair of his property. When O'Iwa produced the paste and +lotion of Suian Sensei, as sovereign for the complexion, Cho[u]bei took +them, smelled and carefully tasted, and finally put some of the paste on +the end of the _hashi_ or sticks to arrange the charcoal in the +_hibachi_. A smell of garlic pervaded the room. He noted the puffy face +of O'Iwa, the unnatural, almost ghastly, white of the skin where the +wide pockmarks permitted it to be seen. Within the circles of these +scars there was a curious striated effect, only seen at times in the +efforts of artists to depict the supernatural, or of savages to frighten +their foes. It gave a drawn cadaverous look to the lower part of the +face. "There is more in it than _that_," mused Cho[u]bei. During her +stay O'Iwa had one of her attacks--of nerves--in fact a true epileptic +seizure. Cho[u]bei put an embargo at once on all remedies but his own. +Cynically, he added--"But elsewhere there will be no Cho[u]bei. If the +Okusama deigns to apply the drugs of Suian Sensei where she now goes, +doubtless she will find early relief. At present they spoil Cho[u]bei's +efforts." The clever rascal at once recognized his fellow in Suian, +bribed to render O'Iwa more hideous than Nature had made her, to take +away her womanhood and hope of an heir to the Tamiya. To poison her? +That he doubted; although the ignorance of leech and victim might +readily lead to such result. + +Within the seven days O'Iwa San once more could show herself in public. +It was now Cho[u]bei's part to carry the plot to completion. Iemon, at +the proposition, had said--"Sell her as a night-hawk! An ugly woman like +that no one will approach."--"'Tis Cho[u]bei's trade," said the pimp +coolly. "In Yoshidamachi they have noses--over night. Between dark and +dawn the member melts, becomes distorted, and has to be made. It has +served its purpose. This is Cho[u]bei's affair. Provided that O'Iwa +never again troubles the presence of Iemon Sama the object is +attained."--"That is true. Do what you please. Kill her, if desired. +O'Iwa in the Yotsuya; and Cho[u]bei feels the wrath of Ito[u] Dono, of +this Iemon." Unwillingly he signed the contract required by Cho[u]bei. +He gave the latter a fee of ten _ryo[u]_ for the excision of this +excrescence, and with a sigh of joy learned of the disappearance in +company of the pimp and O'Iwa. Within three days carpenters and other +workmen swarmed over the Tamiya in Samoncho[u]. The master made ready +for his return. + +O'Taki had gone forth on a mission for Cho[u]bei. This would insure her +absence for the greater part of the day. Said Cho[u]bei--"Deign, +Okusama, to allow Cho[u]bei to prove his art. All his accomplishments +have not been displayed." To pass off the ugly woman at night could be +done. He was compelled to act by daylight; though relying somewhat on +the dusky interior of Toemon's entrance and reception room. This Toemon +was the chief of the guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate +street-walkers, lowest of their class. Cho[u]bei sat down before O'Iwa. +As if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of brushes and +spatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh colour, +pinks--even reds. Under his skilful hands O'Iwa was transformed. To make +her beautiful was impossible. He made her passable. The weather was +cold, though spring was now close at hand. Cho[u]bei hesitated. The walk +was a long one. His handiwork might fade or melt under the sweating +induced by effort. Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were +to be as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house he +had left the two women to themselves, and saw O'Iwa only when O'Taki was +present. So he called a _kago_ and gave the necessary directions. As the +coolies moved off with their fair burden he trotted along in the rear, +his project occupying his busy mind. + +The place of Toemon was at Yoshidacho[u] Nicho[u]me, in the centre of +the Warigesui district. To the north was the canal of that name. To the +south a second canal ditto; the second stream was the larger, fairer, +and more pretentious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was +the Ho[u]onji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just across the +bounding river or canal of the district. As the _kago_ bearers ambled +down the bank of the North Warigesui, O'Iwa thought she had never seen a +more filthy stream than this back-water with its stale current. The +bearers put them down at the canal. Cho[u]bei had some directions to +give during the short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their +destination. Said he--"For a _samurai_ woman to engage in this business +is a serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to +secure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. The wife +performs her highest duty in saving the honour of the House. Is not that +true?" There was a little sob in O'Iwa's voice as she gave assent. She +felt different now that she was close at hand to the scene and crisis of +her trial. Continued Cho[u]bei--"The agreement has been made out as with +O'Iwa, daughter of Kanemon, the younger brother of this Cho[u]bei and +green-grocer of Abegawacho[u] of Asakusa. Deign to remember that the +twenty _ryo[u]_ is needed to save a father in peril of default and +imprisonment."--"The cases are not so different," whispered O'Iwa. "Just +so," said Cho[u]bei. "Here is the place. Condescend to wait a moment, +here at the entrance." Briskly he entered the house. "A request to +make!"--"Ah! Is it Cho[u]bei San? The Danna Sama is absent for the day, +at the office of the ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he +has been robbed. The girl he accused was punished--perhaps unjustly. All +the women of this house are honest."--"Beyond repair," laughed +Cho[u]bei. "However, the other matter has been agreed on. The girl is +here. An uncontrollable jade! The master has deigned to aid Cho[u]bei. +Thanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, it is as well for +Kanemon to get the profit of the business. If she breaks out--put a ring +in her nose, and treat her as the farmers treat their cattle. Don't let +her again bother home or Cho[u]bei. She will lie--of course. At Toemon's +they are used to lies?" The woman Matsu laughed--"No fear as to that." +She looked over the contract with care. "Ah! She is sold for life +service; otherwise the twenty _ryo[u]_ would be a scandalous price. Is +that her?... Um! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light.... This +Matsu would never have closed the bargain without a view. But Toemon San +has left no choice. In the scarcity of women, and his good-will to +Cho[u]bei San, he would pay any sum. At twenty _ryo[u]_ she is a gem! +You can come up here. Take! Haru! A new girl. Take her in charge and +show her the house and its ways.... Cho[u]bei San, some tea." Cho[u]bei +put a word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls were +leading off the hesitating O'Iwa he said loudly and roughly--"Remember +to obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. Whatever she commands is +right and must be done: no nonsense. Ah! Something forgotten: a moment +please." He drew O'Iwa aside, seeing that she was on the verge of tears. +Speaking gently--"Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything. +The house of Toemon in Honjo[u] is not the drawing room of Tamiya in +Yotsuya. Deign to remember that Cho[u]bei must play his part. Life is +like an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to pass, +some danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condescend to have House and +husband in mind. It is but for a week--or so."--"And Iemon San, the +House; they will be secure?"--"That Cho[u]bei is assured of. See: he has +the twenty _ryo[u]_ in hand. It is mere matter of securing the +compromising paper and the return of Iemon. Some negotiations are +necessary for that. In the future his behaviour will be much improved." +He clinked the coin before her. As O'Iwa passed up the stairs he +returned to the _hibachi_ of the wife. The tea was a short course. +Cho[u]bei was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from +above in the course of O'Iwa's initiation into a vileness the depth of +which she never even could suspect. "Yes: trade is good. Women are +difficult to secure. The men prefer to have them in their homes, rather +than to gain by their service elsewhere." In such professional talk of a +few moments he quickly dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his +clogs, and departed. O'Iwa had disappeared far into the depths. + +Toemon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman--"Are you mad, to +pay twenty _ryo[u]_ for such an ugly wench? No choice was given. This +Matsu was to receive her. Cho[u]bei is a cheat." Toemon and the +_banto[u]_ drew O'Iwa under the light, much as if she were a bag of +rice--"The clever rascal! From crown of the head to neck she is all made +up. And perhaps elsewhere."--"At all events she is a woman." The +_banto[u]_ spoke as in doubt. "Never mind: we are great artists, too, if +not so good at cheating as this Cho[u]bei. Twenty-six years! She's forty +at least.... What may be your honoured age?"--"Twenty-six years," +replied the distressed O'Iwa. The wife threw up her hands--"And she does +not lie!... Haru! Ko[u]ta! It is time to go out. The bell already +strikes the hour of the dog (7 P.M.). Take Iwa to the reception room +(_yoseba_). She is to learn the ways of the place; where to entertain +her guests.... Come! Along with all of you!" Some ten or fifteen women +had gathered in their array for their night's campaign. Paint, powder, +plaster, disguised the ravages of disease among the hardened set of this +low class house. O'Iwa accompanied O'Haru to what had been called the +_yoseba_. The girl explained to her. Here was the place to bring and +entertain any guest picked up on the street. They were not the degraded +wretches who made the darkness of an alleyway the reception room for +their lovers. It was to be remembered that the wine drunk not only +profited the house, but paid in commissions for their own cosmetics and +other little gratifications. On entering the place O'Iwa shrank back to +the wall in horror; to shrink away in turn from the filth and obscenity +to be seen on that support. She would have fled, but the entering crowd +pressed her further in. It was a long room. The entrance formed a sort +of parlour or place to sit. The rest of the apartment was divided +longitudinally into little cubicula, rooms of the space of the one dirty +mat with which each was furnished. A shelf contained its cynically +filthy and suggestive furniture. + +O'Iwa's disgust and terror was too obvious. O'Haru held on to her arm +to prevent flight. The attention of the others was drawn to them. "Does +the beauty want an apartment to herself? That is the privilege of the +Oiran, the Go Tayu, the Kashiku.[26] Ah! Sister dear; it is to be +learned that this place is Hell--First Block. There is no 'second block' +(nicho[u]me). One gets used to anything here; even to use a demon's +horns for toothpicks." Thus spoke a hard-faced woman of some thirty odd, +by her looks. Said the frightened O'Iwa in low tones--"Iwa has not come +for this service. She is but a pledge. This redeemed, within the week +she returns to her home. This place upsets one's stomach." Those present +laughed loudly. "We all say that. The real reason for our coming is not +to be told. Be assured that you must perform the service, or suffer. +Condescend not to fall into the hands of the Okamisan. In anger she is +terrible." There was a general movement of the women. Said O'Haru, +drawing along O'Iwa by the hand--"Come! Make no trouble. A newcomer, you +are sure to be successful and please Matsu Dono." O'Iwa resolutely held +back. No matter what the suffering she would undergo it. Ah! A week in +this place indeed was to be life in Hell. She called up the sight of the +dismantled house, the figure of her grandfather, anything to strengthen +her will to resist. O'Haru left the room. "Okamisan, the new girl +refuses to serve. Haru makes report." The wife of Toemon leaped up from +her cushion. Dressed in night clothes, a long pipe in hand, she rushed +into the room. "What nonsense is this? Which slut is it that refuses the +service of the house?... You! The ink on the receipt for twenty _ryo[u]_ +paid for your ugly face and body is hardly dry.... Pledge? A week's +service? You lie: as your uncle said you would lie. You are here for +life service as a street harlot. Out with you!... No? No?" She was about +to throw herself on O'Iwa, to cast her into the street. Then her +passion, to outward appearance, cooled. She was the woman of her +business, malevolent and without pity. "O'Kin! O'Kin!" The others now +gathered around O'Iwa. O'Haru and the girl O'Take plead with her to +obey. They tried to hustle her off by force. Said O'Haru--"Report had to +be made. This Haru acted for the best. Truly such obstinacy deserves +punishment. But Haru is filled with pity. Deign to obey. Go forth to the +service. The result of refusal is terrible." O'Iwa shook her +head--"O'Haru San is free from blame. Iwa is grateful for the kind +words. To go out to this service is impossible." The woman O'Kin strode +into the room; a big, strapping wench, and the understudy of O'Matsu in +her husband's affections. "A new recruit?" She spoke in inquiry--"Yes: +and obstinate. It is a matter of punishment in the _semeba_.... Now! Out +with you all! No dawdling!" The irate woman turned on her flock. They +fled like sheep into the open. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE PUNISHMENT + + +O'Iwa did not move. The two women approached and laid hands on her. Her +yielding made no difference in the roughness of their treatment. +Dragged, hustled, shoved, with amplitude of blows, she was already much +bruised on reaching the place of punishment--the _semeba_, to use the +technical term of these establishments "for the good of the community." +During a temporary absence of the mistress, a ray of kindliness seemed +to touch the woman O'Kin. She pointed to the square of some six feet, to +the rings fastened in the rafters. "Don't carry self-will to extremes. +Here you are to be stripped, hauled up to those rings, and beaten until +the bow breaks. Look at it and take warning. Kin is no weakling." She +shoved back her sleeve, showing an arm as hard and brawny as that of a +stevedore. With disapproval she observed O'Iwa. The latter stood +unresisting, eyes on the ground. Only the lips twitched from time to +time. As the only person in the house, male or female, not to fear the +Okamisan, O'Kin could only put down the courage to ignorance. She +shrugged her shoulders with contempt. "A man would cause you no pain. +The same cannot be said of Kin. You shall have the proof." Perhaps +severity would be more merciful, by quickly breaking down this +obstinacy. + +The wife returned with the instrument of torture, a bow of bamboo wound +with rattan to strengthen it. O'Kin took it, ostentatiously bent and +displayed its stinging flexibility before the eyes of O'Iwa. The latter +closed them. She would cut off all temptation to weakness. At a sign O'Kin +roughly tore off the _obi_. A twist, and the torn and disordered _kimono_ +of O'Iwa fell to her feet with the skirt. She had no shirt. Thus she was +left completely naked. In modesty she sank crouching on the ground. The +cold wind of the March night made her shiver as O'Kin roped her wrists. +Again the woman whispered her counsel in her ear--"When you get enough, +say 'Un! Un!'" Detecting no sign of consent she took a ladder, climbed up, +and passed the ropes through the rings above. She descended, and the two +women began to haul away. Gradually O'Iwa was raised from the sitting +posture to her full height of extended arms, until by effort her toes +could just reach the ground. In this painful position the slightest twist +to relieve the strain on the wrists caused agonizing pains through the +whole body. "Still obstinate--strike!" shouted the wife. O'Kin raised the +bow and delivered the blow with full force across the buttocks. A red +streak appeared. O'Iwa by a natural contortion raised her legs. The blows +descended fast, followed at once by the raised welt of flesh, or the blood +from the lacerated tissue. Across the shoulder blades, the small of the +back, the buttocks, the belly, they descended with the full force of the +robust arms and weight of O'Kin. Every time the legs were raised at the +shock the suspended body spun round. Every time the toes rested on the +ground the bow descended with merciless ferocity. The sight of the torture +roused the fierce spirit in the tormentors. O'Kin redoubled the violence +of her blows, seeking out the hams and the withers, the shoulders, the +tenderest points to cause pain. The wife ran from side to side, gazing +into the face and closed eyes of O'Iwa, trying to detect weakening under +the torture, or result from some more agonizing blow. O'Iwa's body was +striped and splashed with red. O'Kin's hands slipped on the wet surface of +the rod. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation. Blood was now gushing from +the nose, the eyes, the mouth of O'Iwa. "Okamisan! Okamisan! It won't do +to kill her. Deign to give the order to cease. She must be lowered." The +wife coolly examined the victim. "She has fainted. Lower her, and throw +salt water over her. The sting will bring her to." O'Kin followed the +instructions in the most literal sense. She dashed the bucket of water +with great impetus right into O'Iwa's face. "Un!" was the latter's +exclamation as she came to consciousness. "She consents! She consents!" +cried O'Kin with delight. The wife was decidedly sceptical, but her aid +plainly would go no further at this time. Said she--"Leave her as she is. +There are other matters to attend to than the whims of an idle vicious +jade. She would cheat this Matsu out of twenty _ryo[u]_? Well: time will +show the victor." She departed--"to drink her wine, pare her nails, and +sing obscene songs to the accompaniment of the _samisen_." + +Tied hand and foot O'Iwa lay semi-conscious in the cold shed of +punishment. At midnight the girls returned to this "home." They gathered +around the prostate O'Iwa. From O'Kin they had an inkling of the courage +displayed. They admired her, but none dared to touch her bonds. At last +O'Haru San, unusually successful in her night's raid, ventured to +approach the half drunk mistress of the house. "Haru makes report." She +spread her returns before the gratified Okamisan. Timidly the girl +added--"O'Iwa San repents. Deign to remit her punishment. She looks very +ill and weak."--"Shut up!" was the fierce retort. Then as afterthought +of sickness and possible loss came to mind. "She can be untied and sent +to bed."--"And food?"--"She can earn it." The woman turned on O'Haru, +who bowed humbly and slipped away. That night the girls contributed from +their store to feed O'Iwa; as they did on the succeeding days and +nights. The wife would have stopped the practice, but Toemon interfered. +He meant to keep his dilapidated stock in as good repair as possible. He +fed them pretty well. "The woman is not to be starved--at least too +openly. The last case gave this Toemon trouble enough, and on the very +day this epileptic came into the house, to bring confusion with her. +Beat her if you will; but not enough to kill her." O'Matsu followed his +words to the letter. One beating was followed by another; with interval +enough between the torture to insure recuperation and avoid danger to +life. These scenes came to be regarded as a recreation of the house. The +other inmates were allowed to attend, to witness the example and +fascinate their attention. But at last the Okamisan despaired. Amusement +was one thing; but her hatred of O'Iwa was tempered by the desire to +find some use for her, to get a return for the twenty _ryo[u]_ of which +she had been swindled. Finally the advice of the _banto[u]_ was +followed. "The men of the house cannot be tempted to approach such an +apparition. The other girls have not time to devote to making up O'Iwa +as for the stage. They have not twenty _ryo[u]_ at stake, as had +Cho[u]bei. Let her wash the dishes." Thus was O'Iwa "degraded" from her +high estate as street-walker. Turned into a kitchen drudge she shed +tears of joy. She almost forgot the matter of the pledge in this new and +pleasant life. The time and the place, perhaps the drug she took, had +done their work on the mind of O'Iwa. Iemon, the house of Samoncho[u], +the _ihai_ in the Butsudan, the pleasant garden--all were of the tissue +of a dream amid a toil which deposited her on the straw wrappings of the +charcoal and in a shed, thoroughly worn out at the end of her long day. +The O'Iwa of Samoncho[u] at this end of the lapsing year of service was +dormant. But accidents will happen. + +There was excitement in the house. Mobei, the dealer in toilet +articles--combs, brushes, jewel strings--was at the grating. The women +were clustered before the wares he exposed in his trays. This Mobei, as +dealer in toilet articles (_koma-mono_) wandered all the wards of Edo, +his little trays fitting neatly into each other, and wrapped in a +_furoshiki_ or bundle-handkerchief. His wares formed a marvellous +collection of the precious and common place, ranging from true coral and +tortoise shell, antique jewelry and curious _netsuke_ of great value, to +their counterfeits in painted wood, horn, and coloured glass. "Mobei +San, long has been the wait for you. Is there a bent comb in +stock?"--"Truly this Mobei is vexing. He humbly makes apology, lady. +Here is just the thing.... How much? Only a _bu_.... Too high? Nay! With +women in the ordinary walks of life it is the wage of a month. To the +honoured Oiran it is but a night's trifling." The other women tittered. +O'Haru was a little nettled at the high sounding title of Oiran. She +would not show her irritation. Mobei continued his attentions. He laid +before her and the others several strings of jewels, their "coral" made +of cleverly tinted paste. "Deign to look; at but one _bu_ two _shu[u]_. +If real they would cost twenty _ryo[u]_."--"And Mobei has the real?" The +dealer laughed. As in pity, and to give them a glimpse of the far off +upper world, he raised the cover of a box in the lower tier. They gasped +in admiration before the pink of the true coral. Hands were stretched +through the grating to touch it. Mobei quickly replaced the cover. "For +some great lady," sighed O'Haru--"Just so," replied Mobei, adjusting his +boxes. He had sold two wooden painted combs and a string of horn beads +in imitation of tortoise shell. He pocketed the hundred "cash," those +copper coins with a hole in the centre for stringing. Then briefly--"The +necklace is for no other than the Kashiku of the Yamadaya, the loved one +of Kibei Dono of Yotsuya. The comb (_kanzashi_) in tortoise shell and +gold is for the honoured lady wife of Iemon Dono, the _go kenin_. But +Mobei supplies not only the secular world. This--for one who has left +the world; for Myo[u]zen Osho[u] of Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, the gift of Ito[u] +Dono. For the custom of Mobei the Yotsuya stands first in order." He +took a box from his sleeve and showed them the rosary of pure crystal +beads. Even in the dull light of a lowering day the stones flashed and +sparkled. The women showed little interest. A priest to them was not a +man--ordinarily. + +He shouldered his pack. "Mobei San--a comb with black spots, in +imitation of tortoise shell. Please don't fail me on the next visit." +Mobei nodded agreement. Then he halted and turned. One of the women had +called out in derision--"Here is O'Iwa San. Surely she wants to +purchase. Mobei San! Mobei San! A customer with many customers and a +full pocketbook." These women looked on O'Iwa's assignment to the +kitchen as the fall to the lowest possible state. At sight of the +newcomer Mobei gasped. O'Iwa on leaving the door of Toemon's house, +_miso_ (soup) strainers for repair in one hand, fifteen _mon_ for bean +paste (_to[u]fu_) tightly clasped in the other, came face to face with +the toilet dealer, "The lady of Tamiya--here!"--"The lady of Tamiya!" +echoed the astonished and curious women. Said O'Iwa quickly--"Mobei San +is mistaken. This is Iwa; but lady of Tamiya...." Hastily she pulled her +head towel over her face. In doing so the "cash" slipped from her hand. +A _mon_ missing meant no _to[u]fu_; result, a visit to the _semeba_. In +recovering the lost coin Mobei was left in no doubt. "'Tis indeed the +lady of Tamiya. It cannot be denied." O'Iwa no longer attempted the +impossible. She said--"It is Iwa of Tamiya. Mobei San, a word with you." +The women were whispering to each other. "He called her '_shinzo[u]_.'" +Said O'Haru--"There always was something about her to arouse suspicion; +so ugly, and with such grand airs. And how she endured the punishment! +Truly she must be a _samurai_ woman." The minds of all reverted to their +master Toemon, and how he would take this news. + +O'Iwa had drawn Mobei somewhat apart from the grating. With downcast +face she spoke--"Deign, Mobei San, to say nothing in the ward of this +meeting with Iwa." To Mobei's earnest gesture of comprehension--"Affairs +had gone badly with Tamiya. Iemon San was misled into gambling by +Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. He was carried away by the +passion. It was no longer possible to stay in Samoncho[u]. Worse conduct +followed. In the kindness and advice of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama and +Kondo[u] Sama, this Iwa found support. But she disobeyed. She would not +follow the advice given. However, gratitude is felt by Iwa. One cannot +leave this place, or long since she would have paid the visit of +acknowledgment. A matter of importance arose. Cho[u]bei San came to +Iwa's aid, and saved the situation. This place is terrible, but the +consequences of not coming would have been more so. To Cho[u]bei +gratitude is felt. It was the opportunity offered the wife to show her +faith and courage." Now she looked bravely in Mobei's face. It was the +toilet dealer's turn to show confusion--"Honoured lady, is nothing +known?"--"Known?" answered O'Iwa in some surprise. "What is there to +know? When this Iwa left Samoncho[u] to be sure the house was cracking +apart everywhere. The light poured in as through a bamboo door.... Ah! +Have matters gone badly with the Danna in Iwa's absence?" Mobei shook +his head in dissent. "Alas! Ito[u] Sama, Akiyama or Kondo[u] San, has +misfortune come to them, without a word of condolence from Iwa? Perhaps +Cho[u]bei San, in his precarious life...." The poor isolated world of +the thoughts of this homely creature was limited to these friends in +need. + +Mobei had sunk on his knees before her. He raised eyes in which stood +tears of pity and indignation. "The Ojo[u]san knows nothing of what has +occurred in Yotsuya? This Mobei will not keep silent. With the affairs +of Iemon Sama, of Ito[u] Dono and Akiyama San nothing has gone wrong. +The absence of the lady O'Iwa is otherwise related. She has abandoned +house and husband to run away with a plebeian, the _banto[u]_ at the +green-grocer's on Shinjuku road. Such is the story circulated." O'Iwa +drew away from him as from a snake--then: "Mobei, you lie! Why tell such +a tale to this Iwa? Are not the words of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama Sama, +of Cho[u]bei San still in Iwa's ears? What else has she had to console +her during these bitter months but the thought of their kindness? This +dress (a scantily wadded single garment), these bare feet in this snow, +this degraded life--are not they evidences of Iwa's struggle for the +honour of husband and House? Mobei, slander of honourable men brings one +to evil. Mobei lies; lies!" + +He seized her dress. The man now was weeping. "The lady of Tamiya is a +saint. Alas! Nothing does she know of the wicked hearts of men. Too +great has been the kindness of the Ojo[u]san to this Mobei for him to +attempt deceit. Deign to listen. This day a week; was it not the day to +a year of the Ojo[u]san's leaving the house in Yotsuya?" O'Iwa turned to +him with a startled face. He continued--"A week ago Mobei visited +Yotsuya. He has many customers there, not too curious about prices. +Hence he brings the best of his wares. Coming to the house in +Samoncho[u] a feast was in progress. There were present Ito[u] Dono, +Akiyama Sama, Natsume and Imaizumi Sama, Kondo[u] Dono; O'Hana San, of +course. All were exceedingly merry, Iemon Dono poured out a cup of wine. +'Mobei! Mobei! Come here! Drain this cup in honour of the occasion. We +celebrate the anniversary of the expulsion of the _bakemono_. The demon +is driven forth from the Paradise of Yotsuya. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge +Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!' This Mobei was amazed--'The +O'Bake.... What O'Bake?'--'Why: O'Iwa San. A year since, with the aid of +these good friends, and one not present here, Iemon freed himself from +the clutches of the vengeful apparition. Our _Kumi-gashira_ granted +divorce in due form. The son of Takahashi Daihachiro[u]--Yanagibara +Kazuma--Tamiya Iemon no longer catches at sleep to wake in fear. Chief, +deep is the gratitude of Iemon for the favour done by Ito[u] Dono.' The +Ojo[u]san a _bakemono_! At these outrageous words Mobei felt faint. +Receiving the cup, as in modesty returned to the _ro[u]ka_ to drink, the +contents were spilled on the ground. Ah! Honoured lady, it is not only +that the Ojo[u]san has been driven out. Her goods have been cleverly +stolen by false messages of gambling losses. Stored with Kondo[u] Sama +they were brought back on the success of the wicked plot. The whole is a +conspiracy of Iemon Dono with Ito[u] Dono, with Akiyama, Cho[u]bei, +Kondo[u], and others. They bragged of it, and told the tale in full +before this Mobei, laughing the while. Why, lady! On the word of +Cho[u]bei San the order of divorce was issued by Ito[u] Dono. Within the +month O'Hana San left the shelter of the house of Kondo[u] Sama to enter +the Tamiya as bride. Deign to look. Here is a jewelled comb reserved by +Iemon Sama as present for O'Hana San his wife. Here is gift of Ito[u] +Dono to Myo[u]zen Osho[u] for his efforts 'in the cause.'" + +O'Iwa stood as one frozen. With Mobei's words the light was flooding +into mind and soul. Step by step she now followed clearly the stages of +this infamous conspiracy against her peace and honour. She had been +fooled, cheated, degraded--and by Ito[u] Kwaiba, the enemy of +Matazaemon; by Iemon, son of the hereditary foe Takahashi Daihachiro[u]. +Mobei remained huddled at her feet, watching with fright the sudden and +awful change in her face. The words came in a whisper. At first she +brought out her speech with difficulty, then to rise to torrent +force--"Cheated, gulled by the hereditary foe! And this Iwa lies bound +and helpless! 'Tis understood! The end is at hand--Ah! The poison! The +poison! Now it, too, rises; flowing upward to heart and head of Iwa. +Accursed man! Accursed woman; who would play the rival and destroy the +wife! The time is short; the crisis is at hand. Cho[u]bei's dark words +become light. Hana would poison Iwa through this treacherous leech. +Iemon would kill her by the foul life of this brothel--Gods of Nippon! +Buddhas of the Universe! All powerful Amida, the Protector! Kwannon, the +Lady Merciful! Deign to hearken to the prayer of this Iwa. Emma +Dai-o[u], king of Hell, summon not the daughter of Tamiya before the +dreaded throne for judgment--through the course of seven +existences--until the vengeance of Iwa be sated with the miserable end +of these her persecutors. May the sacred characters of the Daimoku, +written on the heart of Iwa for her future salvation, be seared out as +with hot iron. On Ito[u] Kwaiba, Iemon, Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, Cho[u]bei, +all and every one engaged in this vile plot, rests the death curse of +Iwa. Against these; against Natsume, Imaizumi, Yoemon of Tamiya, lies +the grudge of Iwa of Tamiya. Gods and Buddhas--grant this prayer!" + +A violent hand was laid on the bosom of Mobei's robe. He screamed in +terror at the fearful face bent over him. A broad round dead white +swollen face, too sharp gleaming malignant dots darting flashes as from +a sword between the puffed and swollen lids, froze him into a passive +object. One of these lids drooped horribly down upon the cheek of the +apparition. In the physical effort exerted, the slit of the mouth showed +the broad black even teeth, which seemed about to clutch at his throat; +as did the vigorous hand, the nails of which sank into his gullet. +Framed in the mass of wild disordered hair Mobei was isolated as in a +universe of space; left alone with this fearful vision. "Lady! Lady +O'Iwa! Lady of Tamiya! This Mobei has done naught. Others have wronged +O'Iwa San. Mobei is guiltless.... Ah! Ah!" With fright and pain he +rolled over on the ground in a dead faint. Screaming and shouting the +women Take and Ko[u]ta rushed around and out to his rescue. O'Iwa San +was now under the full control of her disorder. Takezo staggered back, +her hands to her face to hide the horrible sight, to wipe from eyes and +cheeks the blood streaming from the deep tears made by O'Iwa's nails. +Ko[u]ta from behind seized O'Iwa around the waist and shoulders. Sharply +up came the elbow shot, catching this interloper under the chin. Neck +and jaw fairly cracked under the well-delivered blow. Ko[u]ta went down +in a heap as one dead. A _chu[u]gen_ coming along the North Warigesui +had reached the crossing. He thought it better to stand aside, rather +than attempt to stop this maddened fiend tearing through space. At the +canal bank there was a moment's pause. Then came a dull splash; as of +some heavy body plunged in the water. With a cry the man hastened +forward. Not a sign of anything could be seen. In this rural place no +help was to be had, and he was little inclined to plunge at random into +the foul stream. In haste he turned back to where a crowd was gathering +around the prostrate Mobei, the groaning harlots to whom punishment had +been meted out. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +CHO[U]BEI GETS THE NEWS + + +The _chu[u]gen_ stood over the toilet dealer now coming out of his +half-trance condition. The eyes of the two men met and showed mutual +astonishment. "Naruhodo! Mobei San! In a quarrel over his wares with the +vile women of this district?"--"Kakusuke San! Ah! There is much to tell. +O'Iwa San...." The _chu[u]gen_ of Ito[u] Kwaiba was amazed attention. +"This Mobei to his ill fortune, met with the lady of Tamiya. Her +condition, her ignorance, was too pitiful. Learning all the truth from +Mobei she inflicted on him this punishment. May it cease there! Namu +Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Heavy the grudge against your master +Ito[u] Dono; against Iemon Sama, his wife O'Hana San, all in the plot +against the Lady O'Iwa. 'To seven existences grant this Iwa opportunity +to vent her anger. Every one of the perpetrators of this deed shall be +seized and put to death.' She invoked all the gods and Buddhas; Nay, the +king of Hell--Emma Dai-o[u] himself. Look to yourself, Kakusuke San. +Deign to seek employment elsewhere." Kakusuke completed his task of +raising the battered and scratched toilet dealer to his feet. "Mobei +San, you have acted the fool; without doubt. Relate what has happened." +Mobei did so in full detail. Kakusuke was thoughtful. "Much of this +Kakusuke hears for the first time. A servant gets but snatches of the +inside of such matters. Just now the mission has been from his master, +Ito[u] Dono, to the Inagaki _yashiki_ near Ho[u]onji; matter of transfer +involved in the late adoption of Kibei Dono into the House of the Danna +Sama.... So that scoundrel Cho[u]bei sold the lady of Tamiya to Toemon +for a harlot. Alas! She deserved a better fate. One way or another they +would kill her; and Cho[u]bei, his money in hand, abetted the crime. +Where is this brothel?" + +Surrounded by his women Toemon was listening to their excited +statements. Takezo was crying with rage and pain, as she examined her +fissured countenance before a toilet stand (_kyo[u]dai_). Ko[u]ta, +brought back to consciousness, lay groaning in a corner. They were +applying cold compresses to her broken jaw. Toemon looked up +suspiciously as Kakusuke entered, supporting the lamed and maimed Mobei. +"Look to this man's wares, scattered in the roadway; and to the man +himself." He spoke roughly, and with authority. Toemon did not dare to +resent his manner. With well feigned solicitude he addressed Mobei--"Ma! +Ma! A terrible punishment. Your face has the blush of the plum blossom +marked upon it.... O'Haru, run to the house of Wakiyama Sensei. Ko[u]ta +is badly hurt; his skill is needed. Stop at the drug store. Here is the +'cash' to bring salve for this good man's wounds. Alas! That a woman of +Toemon's house should so maltreat others. When caught her +punishment...."--"Shut up!" said Kakusuke. He had already taken his line +of conduct in his master's interest. "How comes it that the Lady O'Iwa +is found at the house of Toemon?"--"The Lady O'Iwa!" replied the brothel +keeper in well-feigned surprise. Turning to Mobei--"It is true, then, +what the women report; that Mobei San called the O'Iwa of this house +'Shinzo[u].' Who is this O'Iwa?" Said Kakusuke coldly--"The Lady O'Iwa +is the granddaughter and heir of Tamiya Matazaemon, a higher +_do[u]shin_. She is the wife of the _go-kenin_, Tamiya Iemon." + +Toemon now was truly aghast. "Heir and wife of _go-kenin_! This Toemon +had not the slightest inkling of her _status_. Cho[u]bei has juggled +this Toemon most outrageously." He turned savagely on O'Matsu. "So much +for stupid brutality. One must give you head, or have no peace. Why not +treat the woman kindly, learn her story? Lies or truth that of all the +women in the house is known. But O'Iwa San was a mark for malice. +Cho[u]bei has lied. Between you the house is ruined. Since when were +_samurai_ women sold to life service? Fool! It means imprisonment, +exile, to those implicated. This Toemon ends his days among the savage +fishermen of Sado." He would have struck her. Kakusuke and the +_banto[u]_ interposed. The woman did not budge. Defiant, she stood with +folded arms--"It was Toemon's arrangement to buy her in blind belief of +Cho[u]bei. Why blame this Matsu? Since when were women exempt from +service or punishment? The rule of the house is one or the other. How +long has it been since O'Seki left the house--in a box; and Toemon had +to make answer at the office." Then catching herself up in the presence +of strangers--"Danna Sama, this is no time for a quarrel. Those of the +house will say nothing; in their own interest. As for this worthy +gentleman, the Lady O'Iwa was wife and heir neither of himself nor his +master. Toemon San is grossly neglectful of courtesy due to guests. +Leave Mobei San to this Matsu." She whispered in his ear. + +Toemon had now recovered his balance. Kakusuke was a _chu[u]gen_. He +had an object in coming to Toemon's house, instead of making report at +once to his master, to the outraged Iemon Dono. Of course Toemon +misinterepreted this motive; and Kakusuke was quite ready to profit by +his mistake. To the now courteous brothel keeper he was equally cordial. +O'Matsu and her women carried off Mobei, to salve his wounds, regale him +with fish and wine and good treatment, carefully to make inventory of +his goods, and repack them with substantial diminution of purchases. +What more could Mobei ask. His valued rosary, the necklace, the +_kanzashi_, all the treasures were uninjured. His exchequer was palpably +swollen, and more pleasingly than his phiz. His beating had turned out a +good day's venture; and without misgiving he can be left in the careful +hands of O'Matsu and her women. Meanwhile Kakusuke and Toemon sat over +their wine. From the _chu[u]gen_ and toilet dealer the latter secured a +complete view of his situation. It was bad, but not irreparable. As +Kakusuke with due tardiness prepared to depart, the hospitable innkeeper +had ample time to prostrate himself in salutation, meanwhile pushing +over a golden _ryo[u]_ wrapped up in decently thin paper which permitted +the filtering through of its yellow gleam. "Great has been the trouble +and delay of Kakusuke San. Mark not this day in memory, good Sir." +Kakusuke was equally polite in salutation--"Fear enters: thanks for the +kind entertainment of Toemon San. This alone is to be kept in mind, mark +of a day otherwise of but little import." These last words were a +healing balm; and Toemon rejoiced. + +With the departure of Kakusuke, the chief of the "night-hawks" turned at +once to his aides. "Take! Haru!... Ah! Ko[u]ta is completely done up. +You, Take, bear the marks of the day's encounter. Go to Asakusa +Hanagawado[u]. Cho[u]bei is to be brought here at once. The house must +clear its skirts of this affair. If he refuses to come, put a rope about +his neck and drag him here." The women bowed. At once they prepared for +the street, a mission welcome enough under other conditions. O'Take was +smarting from her wounds and not very willing to be an object lesson. +O'Haru had in mind the fearful curse of O'Iwa, plainly heard by the +women. Very willingly she would have had nothing to do with the affair. + +Cho[u]bei was engaged at _go_ with the metal dealer of his +neighbourhood. The fish and wine were in course of preparation in the +kitchen close by and under the skilled hands of O'Taki. The perfume, +vinous and of viands, came to the noses of the competitors, to the +disturbance of their game. Cho[u]bei had just made a profitable stroke. +He had five _ryo[u]_ in hand, commission from the worthy _doguya_ for +the successful sale of a daughter to the Yamadaya of Nakanocho[u]. This +enterprising plebeian, having a son to succeed him in the business, had +secured the necessary furnishing and adoption of a second son into the +rival house of the ward, by means of the fifty _ryo[u]_ secured for the +girl through the experience and clever tactics of Cho[u]bei. Many the +compliments and congratulations exchanged by these excellent men and +worthy representatives of their class as they tussled over their game of +_go_. Profuse were the thanks of the metal dealer for past services and +future feasting. It was with some displeasure therefore that O'Taki had +her offices interrupted to respond to a loud and harsh--"Request to +make!" sounded at the house entrance. Said she crossly--"Who is it?... +Ah! O'Take and O'Haru San of Toemon Sama." Then in wonder--"Oya! Oya! +O'Take San.... Your honoured face.... Has O'Take San gone to bed in the +dark with the cat?" Answered O'Take, in no amiable mood--"It could well +have been. Your man Cho[u]bei deals in such articles. There are the +marks of O'Iwa's nails. As for Cho[u]bei, is the precious rascal at +home?" + +O'Taki heard her with rising rage--"O'Iwa? What has Cho[u]bei San to do +with any O'Iwa and the house of Toemon San? Why call the man of Taki a +scoundrel?"--"Because he is such. Nay, Okamisan, don't get +angry."--O'Haru was speaking--"has your husband a brother in +Abegawacho[u], a brother in need of twenty _ryo[u]_ and with a daughter +who would do nothing but run after the men?" O'Taki was puzzled. +"Cho[u]bei San has no brother, in Abegawacho[u] or any other _cho[u]_. +Hence such brother has no daughter O'Iwa; nor are there children of his +own, except the one born to him by this Taki, and a girl already +sold...." A light was breaking in on O'Taki. Months before she had come +home to find that the Ojo[u]san had taken her departure. Explained +Cho[u]bei--"At Yotsuya everything has been adjusted. Iemon Dono is +established again with his wife. The Okusama will not come back to us. +Deign to rejoice at the auspicious settlement of her affairs." Which +O'Taki did; all the more as Cho[u]bei often was in funds in the +successive days through Tamiya. Now she looked from one woman to the +other, her fists clenched and working. Said the harsh voice of +O'Take--"Cho[u]bei lied then; just as the Danna Sama thought. Nearly a +year ago he brought to the house the daughter of his brother Kanemon. He +sold her into life service as a night-hawk. For this she turned out to +be worthless. O'Taki San knows our Okamisan. No matter how severely +beaten, even until the blood came, O'Iwa would not consent to serve. +Other means were tried, but the men of the house would have nothing to +do with her. She was too ugly. Finally she was degraded into being the +kitchen wench, to fetch and carry, and do the hardest and most +nauseating tasks. At this downfall in her prospects like a very fool she +rejoiced. To-day she met the toilet dealer Mobei. He recognized her as +the Lady O'Iwa of Tamiya in the Yotsuya. Drawn apart they spoke +together. Suddenly she was transformed into a demon. Leaping on Mobei +she tore and clutched at him. Ko[u]ta and this Take ran to aid him. +Ko[u]ta lies helpless and with a broken jaw. Truly it might have been +the kick of a horse she received. This Take is--as can be seen. The Lady +O'Iwa disappeared toward Warigesui. A _chu[u]gen_ saw her leap in. +Probably she has killed herself.... And now, O'Taki San, is not your man +Cho[u]bei a scoundrel?" + +Said O'Taki--"Rightly spoken; more than right. Wait here." Abruptly she +entered the inner room. To Cho[u]bei--"You ... my fine fellow ... is +this a time for _go_? Up and off with you; to accompany O'Take and +O'Haru from Toemon's in Honjo[u]. A pretty business is in preparation +there." Said the embarrassed and enraged Cho[u]bei--"Wh-what does this +rude entrance of Taki mean? Is not the master of the metal shop present? +Is such language, such abruptness, to be used in his presence?"--"The +Danna of the _doguya_ is certainly present," coolly replied the woman. +"It would be better if he was at home.... Honoured Sir, pray betake +yourself there. This Cho[u]bei has business with Toemon Sama of +Honjo[u], the brothel keeper and chief of the night-hawks, to whom he +has sold for life service as a street harlot the Lady O'Iwa, wife of the +_go-kenin_ Iemon Dono and heir of Tamiya Matazaemon the _do[u]shin_. A +man can be too clever--as this Cho[u]bei, who cheats his wife and all +others. Do you be clever enough to take the hint and depart.... Off with +you!" The _doguya_ had sat in silence. His eyes were popping out of his +head in frightened amaze. Cho[u]bei bounded up in a rage--"You +huzzy--shut up! Would you publish the affairs of this Cho[u]bei to the +world? Many a bridge is to be passed in the course through this world; +and none too sure the footing. Money must be had to live and enjoy life. +The result, not the means, is the important factor in its acquisition. +Such rudeness to a guest! Vile jade, Cho[u]bei will...." O'Take and +O'Haru had to interfere--"Fight it out later, Cho[u]bei San. This +quarrel is no concern of ours. The sooner the master is seen, the better +for Cho[u]bei San. His rage is great, and mounting. You have the +contract? With that face the master; if you can."--"Just so! Just so! As +for this wench--she shall have something to remember this Cho[u]bei +by...." The worthy and trembling metal dealer took this remark as threat +of renewed violence. "For the kind reception and entertainment: thanks. +Jubei calls later." Nimbly he was on his feet. Diving under the _haori_ +into which Cho[u]bei was struggling he bounced out the front, leaving +Cho[u]bei on the ground and floundering in the folds of his garments, +from which issued most violent language. For the first time that day +O'Take and O'Haru had something to amuse them. O'Taki refusing, they +assisted Cho[u]bei to his feet and adjusted his robe. Then one on each +side of him they set out for Honjo[u] Yoshidacho[u]. As parting salute +to O'Taki, Cho[u]bei finished his sentence.... "Something to remember on +Cho[u]bei's return." Her laugh in reply was so savage that the women +turned to look at her. In fright they hastened off with their prize. + +At Honjo[u] the reception of Cho[u]bei called forth the whole house. +The pimp entered the presence of Toemon with confident and jaunty air. +"He has the contract?" said Toemon to the woman. O'Haru indicated a +sleeve. The _banto[u]_ and one of the _wakashu[u]_ (young men employes) +grasped the arms of Cho[u]bei. The incriminating document was deftly +removed by O'Haru and passed over to Toemon. "Now the fellow can neither +produce it, nor play his tricks with it." He looked it over carefully; +then placed it with his own copy. Cho[u]bei was too outraged and +frightened to do more than squat and gasp as he looked around the circle +of hostile faces. Without cushion he sat on the bare _tatami_, much as +does a criminal at the white sand. Said Toemon severely--"For once +Cho[u]bei has drunk hot water with this Toemon. Does he think to act +thus with impunity. The younger sister of his brother Kanemon, 'a noted +wench for the streets,' was brought here for life service; sold to +Toemon for twenty _ryo[u]_. Toemon does not intend that the price shall +be too high for him. Cho[u]bei cannot lie out of his own contract. +Toemon has it in his hands. Cho[u]bei has the twenty _ryo[u]_. Toemon +loses his money. Well and good: Toemon clears himself from the affair. +The responsibility lies wholly with Cho[u]bei. Let him look to it." +Cho[u]bei seized the moment when lack of breath in his anger halted the +speech of Toemon. He would have lied, but Toemon again broke in. +"Cho[u]bei has no brother. Cho[u]bei has no woman to dispose of on his +own signature. The one he did have, the one he possesses, Toemon knows +where to find. Toemon had a woman O'Iwa in his house. You sold the wife +of a _go-kenin_, Iemon Dono of Yotsuya; a woman who was the heir of +Tamiya Matazaemon the _do[u]shin_. The Lady O'Iwa is traced to the hands +of Cho[u]bei. Settle the matter with those in office--_machibugyo[u]_, +_do[u]shin_, _yakunin_--when the affair comes to light...."--"Easily," +burst in Cho[u]bei, once more himself. "Honoured chief, matters do not +call for such earnestness. All this is mere froth and fury. It is true +that Cho[u]bei has deceived the chief; but it was at the orders of those +much higher. The lady of Tamiya was an obstacle. The sale was ordered by +Iemon Dono himself; backed by Ito[u] Kwaiba the head of the Yotsuya +ward."--"Cho[u]bei, you lie," said Toemon. The words and advice of +Kakusuke still rang in his ears. "Iemon Dono? Ito[u] Dono? Who else will +Cho[u]bei bring in as his bails? Such a man is not to be trusted. With +this Toemon there is no more dealing. The guild is to be warned by a +circular letter." + +At this fearful threat all Cho[u]bei's jauntiness left him. His +livelihood, his existence, were at stake. He prostrated himself before +Toemon, dragging his body over the _tatami_ to the _zen_ (low table) at +which was seated this autocrat of the night-hawks, this receiver of the +refuse and worn-out goods of his greater brothers in the trade. Toemon +harshly repulsed him with his foot. Cho[u]bei in despair turned to +O'Matsu--"Honoured lady the chief is unreasonably angry. There shall be +no loss of money, no harm suffered by the affair. Deign to say a word +for Cho[u]bei."--"Since when has Matsu had aught to do with the affairs +of the house? The women are her concern. She goes not outside her +province." The pimp sought the feet of O'Take--"Condescend to plead for +Cho[u]bei. His fault is venial. When no injury results, pardon follows. +This is to cut off the breath of Cho[u]bei, of wife and child. Deign to +intercede." The street harlot laughed. Her cracked voice was rough--"The +commission of Cho[u]bei San has no attractions. This Take has had enough +to do with the matter. Truly Cho[u]bei is a wicked fellow. Take would +fare badly in such intercourse. Besides his company is too high flown. +Officials! Samurai! Cho[u]bei San seeks and will find promotion in the +world. Lodgings are preparing for Cho[u]bei Sama in public office--on +the Ryo[u]gokubashi; of such he is assured." She drew away from him, +harshly cackling. Thus he crawled from one to the other. It was +"Cho[u]bei Sama," "Cho[u]bei Dono," in derision they would call him +prince--"Cho[u]bei Ko[u]." All stuck out their tongues at him. The young +fellows of the house, several of them, stood round the entrance, +ostensibly occupied, but with one eye on the scene. As Cho[u]bei sought +the _banto[u]'s_ aid, the man raised a long lean leg and gave him a +violent kick in the breast. Strong hands seized him as he rolled over +and over to the edge of the platform, to land in the arms of the +enthusiastic _wakashu[u]_. The next moment, and Cho[u]bei was picking +himself up out of the mud and snow of the street. The lattice of the +house entrance closed noisily. + +In his confusion of mind by force of habit Cho[u]bei turned round and +bowed with ceremony toward the place of his unceremonious exit--"The +time is inopportune. Cho[u]bei intrudes. He will call again." The +opening of the wicket gate, the peering, scowling face of the _banto[u]_ +recalled the past scene to mind. With all the haste his tottering gait +allowed Cho[u]bei sprang off northward to the Adzumabashi and home. As +he sped, swaying along, his active mind was making calculations. +"Ryo[u]gokubashi, the last home of the outcast beggar--other than the +river which flows beneath it!" He shuddered at the prophecy. "Bah! One +rascal loses; another gains. Toemon loses twenty _ryo[u]_. From Iemon +San ten _ryo[u]_ was the commission. Ito[u] Dono gave five _ryo[u]_ and +asked no questions. The total to Cho[u]bei sums up thirty-five _ryo[u]_. +For a year the affair of O'Iwa has fattened Cho[u]bei; with something +still left." His foot struck a stone in the roadway. He looked up and +around to find himself before the Genkwo[u]ji. About to enter on the +maze of temple grounds and _yashiki_ separating him from the bridge his +gaze fell on the stagnant squalid waters of the canal. It was in the +dirty foulness of this North Warigesui that O'Iwa had disappeared. +Cho[u]bei pulled up short. A dead cur, copper hued, with swollen +germinating sides and grinning teeth, bobbed at him from the green +slime. Cho[u]bei slewed round--"A vile ending; but after all an ending. +Iemon profits; Cho[u]bei gets the scoldings. Ah! If it was not that +Ito[u] Kwaiba is engaged in this affair; Tamiya should pay dearly. There +is a double ration to share with Cho[u]bei--and not to be touched! +Ito[u] Dono is no man to trifle with. There was that affair with Isuke; +and now, as he says, Iemon is a very son to him." A memory seemed to +touch Cho[u]bei. His pace became a crawl. "Why hasten? Cho[u]bei rushes +to the fiend--that demon Taki. Cho[u]bei would rather face O'Iwa than +Taki in a rage." He laughed--"The attenuated hands of a ghost and the +thick fist of Taki, the choice is not uncertain. From the lady mild and +merciful there is nothing to fear. Evidently she has settled matters +once and for all in the Warigesui. But at the tenement--there it is +another affair. This Cho[u]bei will fortify himself against the shock. A +drink; then another, and still more. The scoldings will fall on a +blunted mind wandering in some dreamland. Time will soothe her rage. +To-morrow Cho[u]bei wakes, to find the storm has passed and Taki his +obedient serving wench." Near the Adzumabashi, following his +prescription against domestic enlivenment, he entered a grog shop; to +turn his good coin into wine. + +The quarter at Hanagawado[u] in Asakusa was in an uproar. What had +occurred was this--There was an old woman--"Baba" in the native parlance +for Dame Gossip--a seller of the dried seaweed called _nori_ (sloke or +laver), still called Asakusa _nori_, though even at that time gathered +at Shinagawa, Omori, and more distant places. This old trot had +returned, to make her last sales to the excellent metal dealer who lived +opposite her own home in the _nagaya_, in which she lived next door to +the Cho[u]bei, husband and wife. The tongue of the _doguya_ was still in +full swing of the recital, not only of his own experiences, but of the +revelations of O'Taki. He was only too willing for this twenty-first +time to repeat the tale to the _nori_ seller, his good neighbour. The +good wife and wives listened again with open mouths. The Baba was the +most interested of them all. This choice morsel of gossip was to be +gathered at the primal source, from the lips of O'Taki herself. She was +all sympathy in her curiosity--ranging in the two cases of Cho[u]bei and +wife on the one part, and the metal dealer and his insulted household on +the other part. Away she stepped quickly from the assembly of ward +gossips. At the door of Cho[u]bei's quarters she stopped--"Okamisan! +Okamisan!... Strange: is she not at home? Is she so angered that no +answer is given? However, this Baba fears no one.... Nesan! Nesan!" She +passed the room entrance and went into the area. Glancing into the +kitchen--"Oya! Oya! The meal is burnt to a crisp. It has become a soppy, +disgusting mass. Nesan! Nesan! The rain falls, the roof window +(_hikimado_) is open." She put down her empty tubs in order to play the +good neighbour. The first thing was to close the window against the +descending rain. Quickly and deftly she proceeded to wipe the moisture +off the shining vessels, to put everything in order in O'Taki's usually +immaculate kitchen. Women of this class are finicky housekeepers in +their own homes. As the old wife became less engaged she began to hear +strange sounds above. Some one was in conversation--and yet it was a +one-sided queer kind of talk. The voice was threatening and wheedling. +Then she heard a child cry. Surely O'Taki was in the upper room; and +thus neglectful of her lord and household. + +The old Baba went to the foot of the ladder and listened. "Nesan! +Nesan!" No answer came, beyond the curious droning monotone above, +varied by an occasional wailing cry of the child. It seemed to be in +pain. Resolute, the sturdy old Baba began to climb the steps. At the top +she halted, to get breath and look into the room. The sight she +witnessed froze the old woman in horror to where she stood. A woman was +in the room. She knelt over the body of the child, which now and again +writhed in the hard and cruel grasp. The queer monotonous voice went +on--"Ah! To think you might grow up like your father. The wicked, +unprincipled man! To sell the Ojo[u]san for a street whore, for her to +spend her life in such vile servitude; she by whose kindness this +household has lived. Many the visits in the past two years paid these +humble rooms by the lady of Tamiya. To all her neighbours O'Taki has +pointed out and bragged of the favour of the Ojo[u]san. The very +clothing now on your wretched puny body came from her hands. While +Cho[u]bei spent his gains in drink and paid women, Taki was nourished by +the rice from Tamiya. When Taki lay in of this tiny body it was the +Ojo[u]san who furnished aid, and saw that child and mother could live. +Alas! That you should grow up to be like this villainous man is not to +be endured.... Ah! An idea! To crunch your throat, to secure revenge and +peace, security against the future." She bent down low over the child. +Suddenly it gave a fearful scream, as does a child fallen into the fire. +The Baba, helpless, could only feebly murmur--"Nesan! Nesan! O'Taki San! +What are you about? Control yourself." She gave a frightened yowl as the +creature began to spread far apart the child's limbs, and with quick +rips of the sharp kitchen knife beside her dissevered and tore the +little limbs from the quivering body. At the cry the woman turned half +around and looked toward her. Jaws dripping red with blood, a broad +white flat face with bulging brow, two tiny piercing dots flashing from +amid the thick swollen eyelids, it was the face of O'Iwa glowering at +her. "Kiya!" The scream resounded far and wide. Incontinently the old +woman tumbled backward down the steep steps, to land below on head and +buttocks. + +Some neighbours, people passing, came rushing in. A crowd began to +gather. "Baba! Baba San! What is wrong?" She could not speak; only point +upward and shudder as does one with heavy chills. As they moved toward +the stair a roar went up from the crowd in the street. O'Taki had +appeared at the window, her face smeared with blood and almost +unrecognizable. She waved a limb of the dismembered infant. The crowd +were frozen with horror. As some shouted to those within to hasten the +woman brandished the bloody knife. Thrusting it deep into her throat she +ripped and tore at the handle, spattering the incautious below with the +blood spurting from the wound. Then she fell backward into the room. +When the foremost to interfere rushed in they drew back in fear at what +they saw. The child's head was half knawed from the body; its limbs lay +scattered to this place and that. The body of O'Taki lay where she had +fallen. It was as if the head had been gnawed from the trunk, but the +head itself was missing. Search as they would, it was not to be found. +Meanwhile the news of these happenings spread rapidly. In the next block +it was shouted that the wife of the pimp Cho[u]bei had gone mad and +killed and eaten five children. A block further the number had risen to +twenty-five. At the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi she had killed and +gnawed a hundred adults. + +These rumours were mingled with the strange tale of the old woman as to +O'Iwa San. In time there were many who had witnessed the suicide of +O'Taki, who were ready to swear they had seen the fearful lady of +Tamiya. Cho[u]bei first learned of the affair by being dragged from the +grog shop to the guardhouse of the Adzumabashi. Here he was put under +arrest. Distressed and discomforted he stood before the ruin in his +home, under the eyes of his neighbours. These stood loyally by him. As +happens in ward affairs in Nippon the aspect of the affair not +immediately on the surface was slow to reach official ears. Thus it was +as to the Tamiya phase involved. Cho[u]bei had suffered much, and was in +to suffer more. His fellow wardsmen were silent as to all but the actual +facts needed for interpretation. The marvellous only filters out slowly. +But they had their own way of dealing with him. The _kenshi_ (coroner) +made his report. Examinations, fines, bribes, the funeral costs, reduced +Cho[u]bei to his worst garment. With this after some weeks he was +permitted to go free. The house owner had turned him out. The wardsmen +had expelled him. Enough of Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--for the present. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +NEWS REACHES KWAIBA + + +Kwaiba was hard at it, practising his favourite arts. His _sake_ cup +stood before him, and from time to time he raised the bottle from the +hot water, testing its temperature with skilled hand. He accompanied the +action with a continual drone of a _gidayu_. Kwaiba by no means confined +the art of _gidayu_ recitation to the heroic tales usually therewith +associated. His present effort was one of the suggestive and obscene +_ukarebushi_, quite as frequent and as well received in the _gidayu_ +theme containing them. Kibei listened and applauded, with cynical +amusement at the depravity of the impotent old man. Kwaiba had found an +excellent bottle companion, and renewed his own former days in the +"Quarter," with the fresher experiences retailed by Kibei. Said +Kwaiba--"All has gone well. For half the year Kibei has been the son of +Kwaiba. He has brought luck into the house." Kibei bowed respectfully. +Continued the old man--"Iemon with his whore is fast destroying Tamiya +by riot and drinking. Cho[u]zaemon is a fish in the net. The debt of ten +_ryo[u]_ has doubled into twenty _ryo[u]_, which at any cost he must +repay. Kwaiba will make him cut belly if he don't. And Tamiya! Old +Tamiya; Matazaemon! O'Iwa is paying his debt to Kwaiba by becoming an +outcast, perhaps a beggar somewhere on the highway. If she shows her +face in the ward, seeking 'cash' to keep life in a wretched carcass, +this Kwaiba will send her to the jail, to rot as vagrant. But what did +become of her? Iemon has never spoken." Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "A +close mouthed fellow; too wise to talk of himself. He would but say that +Cho[u]bei took the affair in hand." Kwaiba threw up his hands in horror +and merriment. Said he--"'Tis rumoured the fellow is a pimp. But surely +he could not dispose of O'Iwa in his line. The very demons of the Hell +of lust would refuse all intercourse with her." + +Just then Kakusuke presented himself. "Report to make to the Go Inkyo[u] +Sama. Inagaki Dono sends his compliments to Ito[u] Sama. The papers of +transfer are these; by the hand of Kakusuke." As he took the documents, +said Kwaiba in answer to Kibei's inquiring look--"Your honoured parent +has favoured this Kwaiba. The transfer is of farms in Kazusa for others +in Shimosa. Thus all can be brought under one hand. A single _nanushi_ +(bailiff) can manage the whole property in the two villages."--"But the +office...," objected Kibei. He had the _samurai_ instinct against the +slightest taint of failure in obligation. "Let Kibei San deign to follow +in the footsteps of Kwaiba. The successor to the _nanushi_ recently +deceased is a child. Kwaiba is in no haste to provide a substitute +pending majority. The right will lapse, and at majority the boy can be +found occupation elsewhere, to no small gain in the revenue. Out of +sight, out of mind. Kwaiba's present manager is unsurpassed; so is the +income he manages to gather." He looked around in some surprise, seeing +that Kakusuke still maintained his position, although dismissed. Then +noting him closely--"What has happened, Kakusuke? Your colour is bad. +Too cordial entertainment by the _chu[u]gen_ of Inagaki Dono? Or has +Kakusuke seen a ghost?" + +"Kakusuke has seen O'Iwa San; of Tamiya. Rather would he have seen a +ghost; if indeed it was not a demon he saw." Kwaiba started--"O'Iwa! +Where?"--"It was at the brothel of Toemon, chief of the night-hawks, at +Yoshidacho[u] in Honjo[u]. Mobei the toilet dealer had suffered +direfully at her hands. Meeting her unexpectedly, the fool let out all +he knew of the happenings in the ward. In a rage she flew on him. 'To +seven lives a curse on Iemon Dono, on Akiyama Sama, on Kondo[u] +Sama.'"--He hesitated; then added--"on the Go Inkyo[u] Sama. Then in a +straight line she flew off toward the canal. Did she drown herself? This +Kakusuke could not ascertain. Going to the aid of Mobei, mauled and +prostrate on the ground, the whole story was learned. Cho[u]bei had sold +her for life to Toemon, to serve as a night-hawk." + +Ito[u] Kwaiba sat straight up. His idle braggart words of a few moments +before came home to him. In Kibei he found no encouragement. After all +Kibei was a _samurai_; harsh, but with the courage of his caste and +profession. He spoke openly--"It was an outrageous deed. To sell a +_samurai_ woman to such a life! It stinks. This comes of bringing in a +low dog (_yaro[u]_) such as this Cho[u]bei. Did Iemon know of his +intention?" He looked Kwaiba in the eye, but the latter met him +squarely--"What Iemon knew or did not know, this Kwaiba knows not. But +of this event he must know--and at once. Kakusuke, go in all haste to +the house of Tamiya Sama. Kwaiba would consult with him." Kibei +fidgetted and fumed. He walked up and down the room. Then +abruptly--"Condescend to pardon the presence of Kibei. The honoured +father having matters to discuss with the diviner--he finds no amusement +in the counsellor." As he was withdrawing Iemon entered. Their greeting +was cold to the extreme. Iemon knew that Kibei hated and despised him; +as much as he, Iemon, hated and feared Kibei. Kwaiba called sharply to +his genial son--"Pray be within call, if needed." He was glad to see the +surly fellow's exit. In some things Kwaiba felt fear. The stiff courage +of Kibei made him ashamed openly to air his weakness. He broke the news +at once to Iemon. "Kakusuke has seen O'Iwa." Iemon looked at him +curiously. Was Kwaiba frightened? Said the one-time priest--"What of +that? She lives in Edo. A meeting with her is quite likely; at least for +a man of the grade of Kakusuke." He smiled grimly--"But...," said +Kwaiba. He plunged into the story of the _chu[u]gen_ in its full +details. Iemon listened carefully. "Ah! She is likely to come +here."--"Come here!" bellowed Kwaiba. "Just so," answered Iemon. "If she +seeks vengeance on this Iemon, on Kwaiba, or the others, where else +would she come than Yotsuya. We cannot run away." Kwaiba gasped at his +coolness--"And Iemon Dono, does he open Tamiya to the presence of its +ex-lady and mistress?"--"A beggar, an outcast, importuning Tamiya; the +severed body will lie in the ditch, for the gatherers of offal to cast +as food to the dogs on the moor. Fear enters, but--honoured chief, +condescend to follow the example of Iemon." + +The round eyes in the round face of Kwaiba stood out. He leaned over +and touched Iemon's sleeve. In astonishment Iemon noted the fright +depicted in his face. The blustering old man at bottom was an arrant +coward. Two knaves should understand each other--as did he and +Cho[u]bei. He felt that he had been gulled during the whole of his +intercourse with this old fool. He should have bluffed; and not been +bluffed. Said Kwaiba in lowered voice--"Kakusuke could see nothing of +her. She disappeared into the waters of Warigesui. Suppose O'Iwa appears +as a ghost, to take vengeance on Kwaiba...." He straightened up in +astonishment and some anger at the derisive smile playing over the face +of Iemon. Indeed Iemon was more than amused. Not at the circumstances, +but at finding at last this weak spot in the man who had dominated him. +Conditions, however, controlled him. It was fact that the physical O'Iwa +might appear--to the distress and discomfiture of all concerned. They +must stand together. He spoke with severity--"Rich and afraid of ghosts! +Has not Ito[u] Dono two spearmen when he goes abroad? When he has an +interview with his lord does he tremble with fear? When the enemy in +life, with all physical powers, is not feared; why fear a disembodied +spirit deprived of all means of venting its wrath and spite? It is but +the imagination which works havoc. None are more helpless than the dead. +With them time and occasion has reached an end. If O'Iwa returns to +Yotsuya, it will be in her own person. With O'Iwa, the beggar and +night-hawk, our _Kumi-gashira_ knows how to deal."--"Then Iemon knew the +lot dealt out to O'Iwa."--"At first hand; from Cho[u]bei himself. The +lean knave has prospered by the affair. Iemon had no such desire to see +him, as to secure his costly presence at the dinner so unfortunately +witnessed by Mobei.... But deign to call for wine; drive out these +vapours with wine. Honoured chief, condescend to play the host to +Iemon." Iemon's manner was not wholly natural, as Kwaiba could have +detected if more himself. He felt immensely relieved. A priest--surely +he was one to know all about the nature of ghosts; was one to speak with +authority. Iemon was hardly to be regarded as in ecclesiastical good +odour. But Kwaiba was easily satisfied. He, too, roared--"Wine! Wine! +Bring wine!" As by magic Kibei appeared at the welcome sound. He +disliked Iemon, but he liked wine. The servants bustled around. The wine +was heated--again and again. A feast of fish--with more wine--followed. +It was late when Iemon left the house, the only sober member of the +party. Of his hosts, one was maudlin, the other asleep. The ample +resources of Tamiya, if not of benefit to his person, in these past two +years had given him the chance to harden his head; and he had grasped +it. + +Iemon by no means had all the confidence he displayed before Kwaiba. He +was a priest, but environment influences everybody. There was a +possibility--discountenanced by experience, but existing. As he walked +slowly along Teramachi his thoughts strayed back into the past. "It was +an ill bond between this Iemon and O'Iwa San. Without question she has +drowned herself in the Warigesui. The body must be found and buried. +Memorial services are to be recited, for one dying without relatives or +friends (_segaki_)." The virtuous resolution was the outcome of his +meditation and glances into the many graveyards passed in his progress +through the temple-lined street. It was a beautiful street, with its +overhanging trees, its open spaces populated by the many dead, its +temples gorgeous in red and gilding amid the dark green of pine and +cedar. Iemon on this night had to hasten his steps. Rain threatened. +Gusts of wind came sharply from this side and that, driving the first +drops of the coming storm. He reached home just as it broke with all its +fury. + +To O'Hana he would say nothing of Kwaiba's mission. On her remarking on +the lateness of the hour, he made answer that the old man was out of +sorts. Kibei was too robust a bottle companion for a man reaching toward +his seventieth year. No matter how vigorous, Kwaiba's wine was showing +on him. The two prepared for bed. O'Hana listened as the rain dashed in +streams against the _amado_, as if trying to break its way in. She gave +a little chuckle--"Who would have thought it!"--"What?" asked Iemon, +perhaps a little tartly. He was nervous. O'Hana laughed--"That Iemon and +this Hana should be where they now are. Their parting was on a night +like this. Ah! At seeing a man weep Hana could have retired into a +cave--forever. Only the fortunate accident of a drunken _yakunin_ +(constable) as guest enabled her to give warning.... And now! Once more +united Iemon and this Hana live in luxury. Every wish is gratified. +Thanks for the past which contained this meeting in its womb; thanks for +the present in which happiness is secured: + + 'Losing one's way, again roads meet! + The hill of flowers.'"[27] + +A terrific gust struck the rain-doors. They bent and cracked before +the force of the gale. The vivid white of lightning showed that one door +had been forced from its groove. Iemon rose and replaced it. As he +turned away suddenly the room was plunged in darkness. Said the voice of +O'Hana--"The light of the _andon_ has gone out. Oya! Oya! The lights in +the Butsudan (altar) are lit. And yet this Hana extinguished them." +Grumbled Iemon--"The wind has blown out the light in the _andon_. +Doubtless a spark was left in the wick of the altar light. Fire is to be +dreaded; great care should be taken in extinguishing the light." As he +relit the light in the night lamp, O'Hana went up to the Butsudan to +extinguish the lights there. She put her hand out to take one. A sharp +scream, and she fell back in confusion and fright. "An _aodaisho[u]_ in +the Butsudan! Help! Aid this Hana!" As she fled the snake with a thud +fell on the _tatami_. Unrolling its six feet of length, it started in +pursuit. Iemon stepped behind it and caught it by the tail. A sharp rap +behind the head stunned it. It hung limp in his hand. "Hana, please open +the _amado_."--"No, no: this Hana cannot; move she will not."--"Coward!" +said Iemon. "Time comes when Hana, for generations in the future +existence, will wander hill and dale in such form."--"Ara!" The woman +was properly shocked at this speech, wicked and brutal as an +imprecation. "Has the life of Hana been so foul as to deserve such +punishment in a future life? Surely 'tis not the priest of Reigan who +speaks; nor Iemon." She could only see his lips move as he stood at the +_amado_. "Evil was the connection between O'Iwa and this Iemon. Wander +not as one unburied, but becoming a Buddha at once enter Nirvana. Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Wonderful the +Law, wondrous the Scripture of the Lotus!" With the invocation he cast +the stunned reptile far out into the garden. Returning, he said--"The +_aodaisho[u]_ is the most harmless of snakes. The farmers keep it to +destroy the rats which infest house and store rooms. How can Hana be +afraid of snakes, living in this _yashiki_ overgrown by weeds and grass, +from roof to garden?" O'Hana did not reply in direct terms--"It is evil +fortune to take a snake in the hand."--"Never mind such talk. It is the +priest who speaks. This Iemon knows all about snakes. Go to sleep." She +obeyed, knowing nothing about O'Iwa and the events of the day; yet her +slumber was broken and restless. By morning she was in a high fever.[28] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +NEWS FROM KWAIBA + + +Kwaiba was reported as ill; very ill. His friends and dependents who had +to pay visits of condolence, spoke of this illness with awe and terror. +To understand what follows something must be said of the past of this +man. The actor, drawing on the presumed knowledge of his audience as to +the story in the gross, can pass this over with a speech or two; a +horror-struck gesture and allusion. Not so the _ko[u]dan_ writer, who +perforce must lay before his reader all the _minutiae_ of the case. + +Ito[u] Kwaiba did not brag when he spoke of his beauty as a boy, his +handsome figure as a young man. These had brought him wealth and +position; gained, it was whispered, in vilest service to his lord. In +these days he had in his employ a _chu[u]gen_ named Isuke, or as some +say Kohei. Engaged before the mirror Kwaiba was applying the paint and +powder which of late had become necessary adjuncts to fit him to appear +before his lord. A gesture of pain and discomfiture, and then Kwaiba +turned irritably toward his satellite. "Isuke, you are a clever fellow. +Kwaiba has needed no aids to his looks--up to recent days. Now paint and +powder, all the armoury of a woman, or paraphernalia of an actor, hardly +avail to conceal the blotches which disfigure Kwaiba's face and body. +The voice broken and husky, the lightning pains in limbs and joints, +these violet patches--in such state it soon will be impossible to act as +attendant on his lordship's household service, as _kami-yakunin_. What +disorder eats into the life and happiness of Kwaiba?" + +For a time Isuke made no answer, beyond a bow at his master's +acknowledgment of his cleverness, and in which he heartily concurred. He +seemed engaged in a close contemplation of the end of his nose. "Hei! +Hei!" It was all that Kwaiba could get out of him for the moment. Then +noting the growing anger Isuke began with--"Condescend beforehand to +pardon this Isuke. Though the anger of the Wakadono (young lord) is hard +to bear, yet a faithful servitor should speak. Deign to step this way." +He conducted Kwaiba to one of those small retired rooms, opening on an +inner garden and common to every properly built house of any size in +Nippon. He closed the few rain-doors, shutting out the light. Then +fetching a piece of camphor, he set fire to it. When the thick yellow +light flared strongly he took up a hand-mirror and passed it to Kwaiba. +Kwaiba was frightened at what he saw. His face was dark as that of a +peasant of Satsuma. Said Isuke--"The darkness is shown up by the light +of the burning camphor. The colour is due to the poison circulating +between the body and the outer skin. The white sunlight does not show up +this symptom. But there is another test." Lighting a candle, he took a +long steel _kanzashi_ needle and heated it to redness. Holding the cold +end by his head towel he grasped the arm of Kwaiba. The latter drew +back, afraid. "Nay, it will give no pain," said Isuke. He thrust the hot +length of the needle several inches under the skin. As far as Kwaiba was +concerned he might as well have thrust it into the straw matting +(_tatami_) at his feet. Isuke withdrew the needle and carefully pressed +the arm. A brownish liquor oozed out; not blood. "The Danna has a +nose--as yet." Kwaiba hastily applied his arm to that member. He turned +his face to one side in disgust and horror--"Is this Kwaiba already dead +and rotten? In such condition all is lost. Duty no longer can be +performed. Service and income cease together. Isuke, there remains +naught but to get out the mats. Kwaiba will cut belly." + +Isuke examined him carefully and quizzically. Satisfied with his +inspection, he said--"Deign to have confidence in Isuke. In former days +he was not Isuke the _chu[u]gen_. Son of a doctor of the Dutch practice +at Nagasaki; gambling, wine, women have reduced Isuke to the state of a +servant. Family and friends long since have discarded and cast him out. +The severance of relations between parent and child was formal. Isuke +owes naught of service or duty to any but his master Kwaiba. Here is his +refuge. Deign to give Isuke three silver _ryo[u]_. The disease is +curable. Trust the matter to Isuke. _Soppin_ (mercury) duly applied will +remove the poison, and with it all the disastrous symptoms. The two +hundred and thirty _tawara_ of income are enjoyed by the Wakadono. +Service can be performed; and Isuke preserves such a good master." +Flattered and frightened Kwaiba at once handed over the money. Isuke +disappeared to secure the drug necessary to the "Dutch practice." Baths +and potions, potions and baths, followed in due course. The promises of +Isuke were fulfilled. The fearful symptoms gradually were alleviated. In +the course of six months Kwaiba was himself again; his position was +assured to him. He heaved double sighs--of relief from the nightmare +which had pursued him; of anxiety at the nightmare substituted for it. + +Kwaiba was a rake and a gambler. So was Isuke. The two hundred and +thirty _tawara_ of income was saved to Kwaiba--and Isuke. Not long after +the cure was thus assured Isuke disappeared. Kwaiba sighed gently, with +relief at the departure of one who knew too much of his affairs, and +with a scared feeling on losing the only "doctor" in whom he had +confidence. "These fellows come and go, like leaves on a tree. Isuke has +grown tired, and deserted. Some day he may return. This Kwaiba is a good +master." Isuke did return--in the form of a note from the Yoshiwara. +Twenty _ryo[u]_ were needed to pay his debts to pleasure and gambling. +Severely reprimanded, Isuke opened his eyes in astonishment. +"Respectfully heard and understood: has the income been reduced? But +that does not affect the share of Isuke. He keeps well within his +limit." This was the first intimation Kwaiba had of Isuke's views as to +his role of physician. In those days the doctor usually had the pleasure +of performance, not of payment. Moreover with the great--like +Kwaiba--performance was carried out at a distance; the pulse felt by the +vibration of a string attached to the wrist, or at best by passing the +hand under the coverlet. For a time Kwaiba's strange medical attendant +devoted himself to his more prosaic duties of _chu[u]gen_. Within ten +days his master ransomed him from a resort in Shinagawa; price, ten +_ryo[u]_. A few weeks later he was heard from at a gambler's resort in +Shinjuku. The note was peremptory--and for fifty _ryo[u]_. Kwaiba lost +all patience. Moreover, just then he held office very favourable for +bringing this matter to an issue. But he must have Isuke; and have him +in Yotsuya. As usual payment secured the presence of a repentant Isuke, +full of promises of amendment. Kwaiba smiled, used soft words; and +shortly after Isuke was confined to the jail on a trumped up charge of +theft from another _chu[u]gen_. Kwaiba, then acting as magistrate for +the district, had full power. On notification he assured Isuke of a +speedy release. This the unhappy man secured through a poisoned meal, +following a long fast. He died raving, and cursing his master. No one +heard him but his two jailers, who considered him crazy--this man of bad +record. + +Years had passed, but Isuke merely lay dormant in the mind of Kwaiba. +Then came up the affair of Tamiya--the threatening curse of O'Iwa San. +Iemon's counsel lasted but over night. With soberness and morning Kwaiba +straightway showed the results of wrecked nerves and distorted +imagination. Sleepless nights he now visited on his friends by an +increasing irritability. The first few days of this state of Kwaiba were +laughable. He spoke of O'Iwa San; not freely, rather with reticence. He +made his references as of jesting expectation of her advent. Then he +passed to boisterous tricks; springing out on the maids from dark +corners or the turns in the corridors. Alarmed by these manifestations +of the old man--not entirely strange, for he was a terror to the female +element in his household--they soon noted that there was an unnatural +wildness in his amusement at their discomfiture. Now he would talk of +nothing but O'Iwa. From this hysterical mirth he passed to an hysterical +fear. Afraid of visions of the Lady of Tamiya he stayed awake at night. +To be alone appalled him. He would have others keep awake with him. He +was now at the gibbering stage. "Night in the house of Kwaiba is to be +turned into day. The day shall be the time for sleep. Lights! Lights! +More lights!" He sat surrounded by his household, until the white light +of dawn filtered through the spaces above the rain-doors. One of his +women, her hair down for washing, met him unexpectedly in the corridor. +With a howl of terror he started to flee. Then recognizing her, he flew +on her and beat her almost to a jelly in his insane rage. People began +to talk of the eccentricities of Ito[u] Kwaiba--the honoured ward head. + +Barely three weeks after Iemon's visit a violent scene occurred in the +mansion of the _Kumi-gashira_. Shouts and screams, the smashing of +screens and sounds of a terrific struggle were heard in Kwaiba's room. +Kibei, who with the men preferred night for sleep, rushed in. He found +the old man standing, stark naked and alone. His attendants had fled--to +a woman. His pillow sword drawn, Kwaiba was dancing to this side and +that. "Isuke! O'Iwa! Pardon! This Kwaiba is a wicked fellow! Isuke was +poisoned by Kwaiba. O'Iwa San? Kwaiba sold her for a street whore. For +seven lives they pursue him. Ah! A merry chase! But Kwaiba deals not +with night-hawks. His game is higher. Away with the huzzy!" He had +grasped in both hands the flower vase standing in the alcove +(_tokonoma_). Kibei dodged, and catching him by a wrestler's hold, threw +him to the ground. Kakusuke, just entering, was knocked flat by the +heavy missile. Groaning, he rose, and with other servants came to the +aid of the Wakadono. Kwaiba was overpowered and guarded during the +remainder of the night. + +With daylight he knew nothing of what had occurred; at least he made +no reference to it, no response to the talk of others. His fear was now +full on him. He babbled of nothing but Isuke and O'Iwa San. Now he was +incapacitated, downright ill. There was no more turning of day into +night, and _vice versa_. He was in the hands of his nurses. But to +humour him Kibei marshalled the women. Their beds were made encircling +that of Kwaiba in the midst. Kibei and Kakusuke were present. Thus they +lay in this room brilliant with its scores of lanterns, its wax lights +blazing on the lamp-stands. At the sides and in each corner were placed +the scrolls of the holy _sutra_. Kwaiba in despair sought a sleep which +would not favour him. "Some one walks in the corridor.... Namu Amida +Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!... Kibei! Kibei!" The appeal to the man would +bring quicker response than that to the Buddha. Indeed there was a +sound, as of hair rubbing across the paper screens, of some one or +something trying to peer through the opaque material. There was a rattle +and dash of rain. A gust swept through the corridor, the _sho[u]ji_ +slightly parted. Kwaiba gave a shriek--"O'Iwa! O'Iwa San! Ah! The +bloated face, the drooping eyelid, the corpse taint in the air. It +catches Kwaiba's throat. O'Iwa the O'Bake would force away Kwaiba the +living. Ha! Ha!" A stronger gust, and the _sho[u]ji_ dislodged from its +groove whirled round and fell noisily into the room. Terror gave +strength to the sick man. Kwaiba sprang madly forward. It was horrible +to see the ghastly renovation of this tottering, flabby, emaciated man, +who yet inspired the fear of a maniac's reckless strength. The +frightened women huddled and crouched in the now darkened room, lit but +by a single _andon_ near the alcove. Was Kwaiba mad? As the men fought +over the ruins of the _sho[u]ji_, in the darkness of the corridor, at +first faint as a mist, then distinctly seen, the women were assured of +the presence of O'Iwa. In long black robe, face wide and bloated, of a +livid greenish tint, hair in wild disorder, bulging forehead, swollen +eyeless lids, she stood over the struggling men. Suddenly she thrust the +severed head she carried into the face of Kwaiba, leering horribly at +him the while. With a yell he fell flat on his back. The braver entered +with lights. All gathered round the unconscious Kwaiba. + +This scene was the crisis of his disorder. The disease, once dormant, +now fell on him suddenly and with full force. Perhaps these mental +symptoms were its first indication. More annoying to his comfort, ulcers +broke out all over his body. The itching drove the man nearly frantic. +His mad scratching spread the sores. The boils developed. They ran with +pus. So terrible was the stench that few would stay by him. The women +fled the room in terror, driven away by the running stream of physical +corruption, the continual babble of lewdness from the corrupt mind. He +soon noted their absence. Kibei, attended by the sturdy and faithful +Kakusuke, remained to nurse him. Suddenly said Kwaiba--"O'Hana, the +harlot of Reigan; this Kwaiba would have talk and dalliance with her. +Summon her hither. Let wine and the _samisen_ be brought, a feast +prepared. O'Hana! O'Hana!" He raved so for the woman that Kibei thought +her presence would quiet him. A request was sent to the house of Iemon. +Wishing her to know nothing of the affair of O'Iwa, Iemon had kept +silence. He would have refused the mission--on the pretext of a quarrel +with Kwaiba and Kibei. O'Hana showed herself unexpectedly obstinate--"It +is to the favour of Kwaiba Sama that Iemon owes this Hana. She has a +duty to the past, as well as to the present." With a snarl she turned on +him, glowering. Iemon shrank back. He passed his hand across the eyes +into which O'Iwa had just looked. He no longer opposed her going. + +O'Hana was still weak from repeated attacks of the fever which had +visited her ever since the night Iemon had cast forth the _aodaisho[u]_. +She said that the snake had bitten her. It was the poison, not fever, +working in her. Iemon had laughed at her proposal to try the exorcisms +of the priest. Behind the irritation aroused by his scepticism was that +peculiar clinging of a woman to an old lover, to a man with whom she had +been intimate. In the heart of O'Hana there still remained a strong +leaning to the man who had removed her from the rapid and nauseating +life of the Fukagawa brothel, which cast her into the arms of anyone who +paid the price and raised his finger. With time and the old conditions +probably she would have been as unfaithful to Iemon as she had been to +Kwaiba. The latter showing his desire, she would have answered his call. +Even before this disease-eaten swollen mass of dropsy, she showed but +temporary repugnance. Leaning over him, almost overcome by the stench, +with endearing terms she strove to rouse him to consciousness and +recognition of her. It seemed fearful to have him die without the word +of parting. Kibei aided her by raising the old man. The result was a +horrible frightened stare in eyes made large by fever and delirium. Long +he gazed at her. Said the woman--"'Tis Hana; Hana once the intimate of +Kwaiba. Deign to take courage. This is but a passing affliction. With +Hana as nurse recovery to health is assured." She laid her hands on his +shoulders. In so doing her hair, come loose, fell down around her wan +face. Kwaiba was as galvanized. With a howl the old man pushed her +violently away. "Scrawny wench! What impudence to show your face here! +Ah! To the last moment, waking and in dreams, she pursues this Kwaiba. I +sold you. 'Tis true--I sold you for a night-hawk--to Toemon of Honjo[u]. +Does Kwaiba consort with wenches of such ilk?" Raising his fist he dealt +her blow after blow, all the time shouting--"O'Iwa! O'Iwa! The O'Bake +solicits Kwaiba. Broken loose from Hell and the waters of Warigesui she +would force away Kwaiba. Help! Help! Aid for Kwaiba! Away with the +O'Bake!" The old man again had broken into his mad fit. The shouts of +Kibei brought Kakusuke. Kwaiba's hands were detached from the masses of +O'Hana's hair. The wounds on her face were not so deep as those +inflicted on her mind. At last the secret was out. In bare feet she fled +along the muddy street toward the Samoncho[u] house. + +It was true that the vileness of the disease, the vileness of Kwaiba's +tongue, had driven the women from attendance in the sick room to the +remotest quarters of the house. But there was a deterrent even to their +now limited service. All said the place where Kwaiba lay was haunted. +Under press of necessity a maid had brought needed medicaments to the +sick man's room. Putting down the light she carried on the _ro[u]ka_, +she pushed open the _sho[u]ji_ to enter the outer chamber. Her robe +caught as she did so. + +Turning to release it she gave a fearful shriek. Standing in the +corridor, at the open screen behind her, were two tall figures robed in +black. With dishevelled hair, broad white flat faces, bulging brows, +eyelids swollen and sightless, yet they gazed through and through the +onlooker and into the farther room. One creature, even more hideous with +drooping lid and baldness extending far back, half moved, half fell +toward the frightened maid. The woman's screams now were mingled with +wild laughter. Kibei came rushing out, sword drawn, to find her in a fit +of mad hysterics. Catching the drift of her broken phrases he went out +on the _ro[u]ka_. There was no one there. _Haori_ and _kimono_, hung up +there to dry, rustled and moved a little in the draft. Had these +frightened the woman? Kakusuke carried her back to her companions. +Henceforth no one would enter that part of the building occupied by the +sick man. Kibei as son, Kakusuke the old and faithful attendant, were +isolated in their nursing. + +Kibei noted the sick man's face. "Father, why the forehead so wrinkled? +Is pain condescended?" Said Kwaiba--"'Tis the rats; they gnaw and worry +at Kwaiba."--"Rats?" replied Kibei in some astonishment. He looked +around. The _sho[u]ji_ were tight closed. Kwaiba noted the inspection. +He shook his head, and pointed to the _rama-sho[u]ji_, the ornamental +open work near the ceiling. This could not be obviated. "Auntie (Obasan) +is old and deaf. She sleeps; while rats, attracted by the foul sores of +the scrofulous child, enter and attack the infant in its cradle. The +child gets thinner and weaker every day; then dies. A terrible creature +is the rat." So much for the opinion of Nippon. Kibei had brought a +mosquito net. Its edges were weighted down with heavy stones. Thus the +watchers could not be taken by surprise. Under its protection the sick +man was saved from annoyance. + +Said Kibei--"This illness is most tedious. Could not Kibei go to the +Yoshiwara for a space? The letters of the Kashiku (_oiran_) accumulate. +Kibei has nothing to give, and has given no explanation for not giving. +What thinks Kakusuke?" Kakusuke was brave. Moreover he knew the Wakadono +was brave. The prospect, however, of facing his old master in a crazy +fit--and perhaps O'Iwa--had no attraction. He gave his advice--"The Go +Inkyo[u] Sama is in a very precarious state. He is now very weak. The +worst may happen at any moment. For the Wakadono to be taking his +pleasure at the Yoshiwara would arouse criticism in the ward; nay, even +more than criticism. It would be held unfilial. Deign to reconsider the +purpose." Kibei looked sourly at the swollen corruption which +represented Kwaiba--"How does he hold on! His strength must be great." +Kakusuke shrugged his shoulders--"The Go Inkyo[u] Sama will not die +easily. He has much to go through yet."--"In the name of all the _kami_ +and Buddhas, how has he come to such an end? He is a sight to inspire +fear--in those who can feel such." Replied Kakusuke with sly look--"The +Go Inkyo[u] Sama has lived high, and loved beyond measure. The Wakadono +does well to reconsider his purpose." + +The night was passing. The two men, worn out by the continued watching +and nursing, after vain struggle to keep awake had gone to sleep. +Kakusuke was in the room with Kwaiba. In his slumber Kibei was back in +the fencing room. The clash of the wooden swords (_bokken_), the cries +of the contestants, rang clear in his ears. He woke to find rain and +storm shaking and tearing at the _amado_. But it was the shouts of +Kakusuke, standing at the _sho[u]ji_, which had aroused him--"Danna +Sama! Danna Sama! Wakadono! At once! At once! Deign to hasten!" Kibei +rushed into the next room. In fright Kakusuke pointed to the mosquito +net. A figure stood upright within it, swaying, gesticulating, +struggling. It was a figure all black and horrible. "Un! Un!" grunted +Kwaiba. He was answered by a mincing, gnawing sound. "Father! Have +courage! Kibei is here." He rushed at the heavy stones, to toss them to +one side and enter the net. The swaying figure within suddenly toppled +over in a heap. With his sword Kibei tore and severed the cording of the +net. The black mass of rats scattered to the eight directions of space. +On approaching Kwaiba a terrible sight met the eye. Eyes, ears, nose, +chin, toes and fingers had been torn and eaten off. The lips were gnawed +away and exposed to view the grinning teeth. A feeble groan--and Kwaiba +had met his end. Neither Kibei nor Kakusuke dared to touch the foul +body. In their panic the two men looked in each other's faces. "Namu +Amida Butsu! Holy the Lord Buddha, Amida!" prayed Kibei, on his knees +before the corpse. "Namu Amida Butsu!" answered Kakusuke.[29] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO[U] + + +Said a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip--"Ah! Is it +Goemon San? It is said the Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated." Kamimura +Goemon sniffed. He was a long man; with long face, long nose, long thin +arms, long thin legs; a malicious man, who longed to give advice to his +fellows which they much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe +under the infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in +good faith or temper--"The Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated? Escaping +the troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse troubles in +the next." At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi Hambei showed surprise. +Continued Goemon--"The Go Inkyo[u] died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such +an end hardly calls for congratulations." Mizoguchi gasped, with round +eyes and round face. "Extraordinary!"--"Not at all," replied Kamimura, +complacently tapping the palm of one hand with the elongated fingers of +the other. "The Go Inkyo[u] drove out O'Iwa San from Tamiya. He gave +O'Hana in her stead to Iemon as wife. Hana the harlot! Cursed by O'Iwa +in dying, he has met this frightful end. Akiyama, Natsume, Imaizumi will +surely follow. As will all those involved in the affair."--"But is O'Iwa +San really the cause of the death? The Go Inkyo[u] in life was not the +most careful of men in conserving health." This was timidly interjected +by a third party. Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl--"Of course it is +O'Iwa San. Has she not been seen? The women of the house answer for it. +Only Kibei the sceptic, and Kakusuke who would face the devil in person, +attempt to deny it." He threw up a hand. With unction--"Ah! It inspires +fear. Small is the profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who +indulges in either.... How cold it is for the time of year!" + +Said the interloper--"But the congratulations have to be rendered all +the same. It will be necessary to attend the all-night watch. How +vexatious! Perhaps O'Iwa San will not appear. There is no getting out of +it?"--"Certainly not," answered Kamimura. "The Go Inkyo[u] was the head +of the ward association. Twelve neighbours have been invited to the +watch. At dawn the body is to be prepared. A pleasant undertaking, if +all that is said be true! The viands will be of the best, the wine no +worse and plentiful. None must fail to attend." He smacked his lips. The +others likewise, but much less heartily. + +It was an unwilling band which crawled in laggard procession through +rain and mud and the length of the Teramachi to Kwaiba's house. A +_do[u]shin_, the ward chief, a rich man, the mansion displayed all its +splendour. The atmosphere, however, was oppressive. Kibei greeted the +guests with heartiness, and accepted their condolence and gifts with +lavish thanks and the cheerful face of him that profiteth by the +funeral. Kakusuke was his main aid in connection with the Go Inkyo[u]'s +last appearance. Occasionally a timid white-faced woman was seen, but +she would flit away from the scene of these festivities, to seek the +companionship of her panic-stricken fellows. Entering the funereal +chamber the body was found, laid out and decently swathed so as to +cover, as far as possible, the horrible nature of the death. On a white +wood stand was the _ihai_ in white wood, a virtuous lie as to the +qualities of the deceased. It ran--Tentoku Gishin Jisho[u] Daishi. Which +can be interpreted--"A man of brilliant virtues, virtuous heart, and +benevolent temperament." Screens, upside down, were placed at the head: + +"Alas! The screen: the carp descends the fall."[30] Akiyama, Natsume, +Imaizumi, were the last to appear. The former had been composing a +violent quarrel between his two friends--the long and the fat. Much +recrimination had passed, and the usually peaceful Imaizumi was in a +most violent and truculent humour. He glared with hate on Natsume, who +now aided Akiyama in efforts to soothe his anger. On entering the +assembly the looks of all were composed. "A retribution for deeds in the +past world. Old; but so vigorous! The offering is a mere trifle. This +Kyuzo[u] would burn a stick of incense." Kibei extended his thanks and +suppressed his smile as much as possible. He was breathing with full +lungs for the first time in weeks. The storm was over; happiness was +ahead; the clouded sky was all serene. "Thanks are felt. This Kibei is +most fortunate: nay, grateful. Such kindness is not to be forgotten +during life."--"The Inkyo[u] an _hotoke_; Iemon Dono and O'Hana are the +husband and wife not present?" The question came from some one in the +room. "O'Hana San is very ill. Her state is serious. Iemon does not +leave her." Akiyama answered for the truant pair. Kibei's joy was +complete. + +Akiyama, Natsume, Imaizumi were standing by Kwaiba's body. Kamimura +slowly approached. The long man's face was longer than ever; longer, +much longer than that of Natsume; and Kibei was not in the running. +Goemon meditatively fondled his nose; on the pretence of concentrating +thought, and for the purpose of relieving that member from the savour +arising from Kwaiba's bier. This was no bed of roses--"Yes, the Inkyo[u] +is indeed dead." He sniffed. "Soon it will be the turn of all of you--to +be like this;" another sniff--"of Iemon and O'Hana, of Natsume and +Imaizumi, of this Akiyama San." The latter gave a violent start. With +hand to his nose also, he turned on the intruder. Continued Goemon--"A +plot was concocted against O'Iwa San. Beggared and driven from the ward, +deceived and sold as a street harlot, this death of the Inkyo[u] is but +the first in the roll of her vengeance. Kamimura speaks with pure heart +and without malice. You men are not long for this world. Is Akiyama San +reconciled? And...." He pointed a skinny finger at Kyuzo[u], then at +Jinzaemon. "You show it. Your eyes are hollow; your nostrils are fallen +in. The colour of the face is livid. You seem already to be _hotoke_, +prepared to lie with the Go Inkyo[u]." Akiyama found his tongue. He +burst out in a rage--"The jest is unseemly. Kamimura San goes too far. +It is true this Cho[u]zaemon gave counsel to Ito[u] Kwaiba. Kyuzo[u] and +Jinzaemon took some part in what followed. But we acted on the orders of +Ito[u] Dono, of Iemon San. On the first will be visited any grudge." +Goemon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. "Here he lies. How did +he die? Goemon does not jest, and the argument of Akiyama San is rotten. +The master bids the servants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow +falls on them; not on him. How now Akiyama San?" Cho[u]zaemon turned +away discomfited. All three felt very bad--in mind and body. + +The bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (1 A.M.). Just opposite, its +clangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly sound. In the depths of +night this inert mass of metal seemed a thing of life, casting its +influence into the lives of those present, rousing them to face grave +issues. Noting the absence of Natsume, the round-faced, round-eyed, +round-bodied Imaizumi followed after. Kibei came forth from the supper +room, to find his guests all flown. "Where have they gone to, Kakusuke?" +He looked around in amazement--"They were taken with pains in the belly. +With this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with a flux." The +_chu[u]gen_ answered in the dry and certain tone of one unconvinced. +Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "There is naught wrong with wine or +viands?"--"Nor with the guests," replied Kakusuke. "They are cowards, +who have caught some inkling as to the not over-nice death of the Go +Inkyo[u]."--"The latter day _bushi_ are not what the _bushi_ were of +old; at least this brand of them. Ah! These wretched little bureaucrats; +_bushi_ of the pen. Two men to eat a supper prepared for twelve sturdy +trenchers. Well: two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a hand +Kakusuke."--"Respectfully heard and obeyed," replied the _chu[u]gen_. + +The white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. Secured +by Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy Ko[u]yasan, the +sacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kakusuke dragged a large +tub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was unswathed and placed in it. +Kakusuke eyed his late master with critical and unfavourable eye. +"Naruhodo! The Go Inkyo[u] is a strange object. No eyes: nose, ears, +lips gone; his expression is not a pleasant one.... Nay! The Wakadono is +awkward. Throw the water from head to feet.... Take care! Don't throw it +over Kakusuke. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono is wasteful. More +is needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kakusuke draws it from the well." He +opened the side door and went outside. Kibei drew a little apart from +the body. It stank. A noise at the sliding window (_hikimado_) in the +roof made him look up. Oya! Oya! The face of O'Iwa filled the +aperture--round, white, flat; with puffed eyelids and a sightless glare. +With a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did so +slender attenuated hands groped downward. "Kakusuke! Kakusuke!"--"What +is it, Wakadono?"--"O'Iwa: she looks down through the _hikimado_! She +seeks the Inkyo[u]!" Kakusuke gave a look upward--"Bah! It's the cat. Is +the Wakadono, too, getting nerves? They are a poor investment."--"The +cat!" Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his +sword. + +He turned round--to give a shout of surprise--"Kakusuke! Kakusuke! The +body of the Go Inkyo[u] is no longer here." As the astonished +_chu[u]gen_ came running to look into the empty tub, both men nearly +fell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyo[u] was whirling around +the neighbouring room in execution of a mad dance. Followed by Kakusuke, +his worthy son and heir sprang in pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba +and the pursuers into the darkness of the garden, into the rain and +storm. Kibei heard the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly +after them. "To lose his parent's body--this was against all rules of +Bushido[u]." Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all +the moral and physical atrocities except--failure in filial conduct to +parent and lord; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of Bushido[u]. +Kakusuke soon lost his master in the darkness. Disconcerted and anxious +he returned to secure a lantern. The wind promptly blew it out; then +another, and a third. He stood on the _ro[u]ka_ in the darkness to wait +the return of the Wakadono. For the first time Kakusuke had noted +failing purpose in his young master. He was more solicitous over this +than over the strange disappearance of the Inkyo[u]'s body. Was the +Wakadono losing his nerve; as had the O'Dono? + +In time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuke's inquiring glance--"Kibei +pursued to Myo[u]gyo[u]ji; then up the hill. Here sight was lost of the +Inkyo[u]. The darkness prevented further search. A lantern is next to +worthless in this gale. Kakusuke, go to the houses of Natsume and +Imaizumi close by. They are young and will aid Kibei in the search." +Kakusuke did not demur. Pulling his cape over his head, off he posted. +He asked but to come across the Inkyo[u]'s body, in O'Iwa's company or +not made no difference to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission was +fruitless. The two men had expressed the intention of spending the night +at the Kwaiba wake. Neither had as yet returned. Grumbled Kibei--"The +filthy fellows! With this excuse to their wives they seek new pastures +at Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), to spend the night in dissipation. 'Tis +Natsume who is the lecher. Gladly would he wean Imaizumi from his barely +wed wife."--"Or wean the wife from Imaizumi Sama! Wakadono, nothing can +be done now. The dawn should be awaited." With these sage comments the +_chu[u]gen_ squatted at respectful distance from his master. From time +to time one or other arose, to look sceptically into the empty tub in +which once had reposed the Inkyo[u]'s body. Finally both nodded off into +sleep. At dawn--don, don, don, don, came a loud knocking on the outer +gate. Kakusuke went out, to return with astonished face and portentous +news. The dead bodies of Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon had +been found at the foot of the _bake-icho[u]_, a huge tree close by the +guardhouse. Finger tip to finger tip three men could not girdle this +tree. With the bodies of the men lay that of a woman. Two corpses, man +and woman, were stark naked. Kibei's presence, as the successor to +Kwaiba's office, was required. + +He prepared at once to start for the Okido[u]. The tale was in time +learned from the prolix Kamimura Goemon, who had witnessed part at least +of the scene. As he was knocking at his door on the Shinjuku road, +having just returned late from the watch at Kwaiba's house, rapid steps +were heard in the street. A man, recognized as Kyuzo[u], passed, running +at top speed. He dragged along by the hand a woman, the wife of +Imaizumi. The two were nearly naked. Close in the rear pursued Imaizumi +Jinzaemon, his drawn sword in his hand. They sped up the wide road. +Goemon stepped out, to follow at a distance this flight and pursuit. At +the _icho[u]_ tree the fugitives were overtaken. The woman was the first +to be cut down. Kyuzo[u] turned to grapple with the assailant. Unarmed +his fate soon overtook him. He fell severed from shoulder to pap. Having +finished his victims Imaizumi seated himself at the foot of the tree, +and cut open his belly. "Long had such outcome been expected," intoned +the long-nosed man. The case needed no explanation. Others echoed the +opinion of Goemon, who was merely many fathoms deeper in the scandal of +the neighbourhood than most of them. It was agreed to hush the matter +up. Reporting his own experience, to the astonishment of his hearers, +Kibei, accompanied by Kakusuke, started down Teramachi toward +Samegabashi. As they passed the Gwansho[u]ji attention was drawn by a +pack of dogs, fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white +object lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up a +grave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. There +lay the body of Ito[u] Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands of O'Iwa to +be torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. Thus was it that the +funerals of Ito[u] Kwaiba, Natsume Kyuzo[u], and Imaizumi Jinzaemon took +place in one cortege on the same day and at the same time. The +postponement in the first instance--was it providential? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +TAMIYA YOEMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND MYO[U]ZEN THE +PRIEST + + +Tamiya Yoemon was stumbling home in all haste from the funeral of Ito[u] +Kwaiba. He was full of news for the wife, O'Kame. The neighbours could +talk of nothing but the strange happenings in the ward, and details lost +nothing in the telling; perhaps gained somewhat by the process. Most +edifying was the reported conduct of the wife of the late Natsume +Kyuzo[u], the observed of all observers at the funeral, the object of +that solicitous congratulation which embodies the secret sigh of relief +of friends, neighbours, and relatives at the removal of a prospective +burden. Natsume had left behind him a wife, an old mother, an infant +child, and huge liabilities. To administer this legacy--and perhaps to +get rid of her mother-in-law--the wife had promptly and tearfully +sacrificed her status, and sold herself for a term of years to the +master of the Sagamiya, a pleasure house at Shinagawa post town. The sum +paid--one hundred _ryo[u]_--relieved the immediate future. The +neighbours derided the ignorance of the Sagamiya in accepting the +uncertain bail of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon. If the lady behaved badly, small +satisfaction was to be obtained of her security. "Ignorance is bliss." +Let the Sagamiya bask in both and the beauty of the prize. Meanwhile +their concern and admiration were for the lady destined to this post +town of the crowded To[u]kaido[u], the stopping place of high and low, +noble and riff-raff, entering Edo town. Of the inmates of the pleasure +quarters, the harlots of Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Itabashi, were held in +lowest esteem. + +Arrived at his door Yoemon stopped short in surprise and alarm. To his +loud call of "Wife! Wife!" answer there was none. Looking within he +could barely distinguish objects through the thick smoke which filled +the house. The last thing the Nipponese would do under such conditions, +would be to throw open doors and panels. This would convert the place at +once to a blazing conflagration. Where was the fire getting its start? +Choking and spluttering Yoemon groped his way through the rooms into the +rear. Wherever the fire was, it was not in the living rooms. The smoke +was accentuated on reaching the kitchen. Here was a smell of burning +rice, of Yoemon's dinner gradually carbonizing under the influence of an +element other than the juices of his round stomach. Looking into the +room, through the thickened haze he saw the flame of the fire +brightening. O'Kame the wife could be made out, on her knees before the +portable furnace. She was blowing a mass of slivers and brushwood into +flame by the aid of a bamboo pipe. It was this stuff, green and partly +wet, which gave out the choking acrid smoke. Yoemon was angered beyond +measure at the sight of his ruined meal and expectations. "Kame! Kame! +What are you doing? Have you gone mad? Ma! Ma! The dinner is being +ruined. You are ill. Kame's head whirls with head-ache. Yoemon will act +as cook. Go to bed--at once." At his peremptory speech the wife looked +up into the face of the husband standing over her. She scowled at him in +a way to cause fear. "Not a _sho[u]_ of rice; not a _mon_. Yoemon would +give freely to a beggar, rather than confer a 'cash' on Iwa. Yoemon +sells me as a street harlot." He started back in fright before the +snarling distorted visage. The wife sprang to her feet. Pash! On his +devoted head descended the hot iron pan with its content of stew. "Ah! +Kame is mad--clean daft." With a wild laugh she seized the pot full of +boiling rice and began to pour it into the drain. When he tried to stop +her, he received the mess full in his bosom--"Mad? Not at all. This Kame +never felt in better spirits. When grass grows in Samoncho[u] we enter +Nirvana. Ha! Ha! Ha! To hasten the happy time!" With a kick she knocked +over the furnace. In an instant the _tatami_ was in a blaze. Yelling +like mad, shouting for help, Yoemon leaped from the house. O'Kame seized +the burning brands in her bare hands, hurling them into this room and +into that. Outstripping the old Yoemon, the younger men of the +neighbours rushed in. The mad woman was soon overcome and carried from +the burning building. Nothing else was saved. They took her to the house +of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon. Here she was tied hand and foot, and put in a +closet. The old man Yoemon stood by in despair, watching the progress of +events. Before the conflagration was extinguished his own and four other +houses were destroyed. He was a ruined man; responsible for all. + +Myo[u]zen the priest had just set foot on the slope leading up from +Samegabashi to Yotsuya. A somewhat long retreat at Myo[u]honji, +attendance at the ceremonies held on the Saint's (Nichiren) birthday, +had kept him in ignorance of recent events in Yotsuya. In the dawn of +the beautiful day of earliest 3rd month (our April 13th) he had set out +from Kamakura. Sturdy as were the priest's limbs, yet he was a little +tired. He rested at the foot of the hill. Then his eyes grew big with +astonishment. In the waning afternoon a funeral came wending its way +downwards. But such a funeral! Two spearmen led the way. Then came a +long train of attendants. Three catafalques followed, the first a most +imposing bier. Then came the relatives. Kibei on horseback headed these. +The women rode in _kago_. That it was a ward funeral Myo[u]zen had no +doubt, both from its source and make up. He noted a parishioner in the +cortege. "Kamimura Uji!" The long-limbed, long-faced, long-tongued man +left the ranks and obsequiously greeted his spiritual father. At +Myo[u]zen's question he expressed gratified surprise, and unlimbered his +lingual member at once--"Whose honoured funeral this? Nay! It is a +triple funeral; that of Natsume Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi Jinzaemon, the Go +Inkyo[u], our ward-head. It is owing to this latter that there is such +an outpouring of the ward, with attendance of barrier guards and +firemen. Although the ending of Natsume and Jinzaemon was not edifying, +that of our honoured once head gratified still more the public +curiosity. Gnawed and eaten by the rats he died most horribly." He told +of the eventful night. "Hence delay in the burial. The deaths of Natsume +and Imaizumi were almost coincident. The body of the adulterous woman, +rejected by both families, was cast out on the moor." He noted with +satisfaction the great impression his tale made on the priest, as also +the clerical garb and rosary held in hand. "Pray join the band. A little +re-adjustment...." He bent down. With the baton he held in hand as +leader of his section he carefully dusted the robes. Adjusting the folds +he pronounced the results as most presentable. "The honoured Osho[u] is +ready to bury or be buried." Myo[u]zen took this remark in very ill +form. He prepared to answer tartly, but curiosity overcame his weariness +and ill temper. The procession was moving fast. He fell at once into +line, with hardly an acknowledgment of Kamimura's courtesy, as this +latter hastened forward to his place. + +His neighbour in the procession explained. The nature of the deaths of +the three men had aroused the feeling in the ward. Their connection with +a conspiracy against O'Iwa San was now generally known. Without doubt it +was owing to her vengeance that they had died as they did. Let them lie +outside the quarter. The protest to Kibei was respectful but emphatic. A +newcomer, he had made no great resistance. It was determined to bury +them at the Denzu-In, close by the mound of the nameless dead of Edo's +great fire of more than half a century before. Hence the direction of +the cortege. As the cemetery of the great temple was approached the +curiosity of Myo[u]zen, morbidly growing the while, became overpowering. +The priest slipped from rank to rank. At the grave he stood in the very +front. As long-time friend he besought a last glance at the dead. Those +given to Natsume and Imaizumi called forth a careless prayer for each. +The men hesitated before raising the cover concealing the body of +Kwaiba. At Myo[u]zen's peremptory gesture they complied. He bent over +and looked in. Frozen with horror, he was fascinated by those great +holes for eyes, large as teacups, which seemed to fix him. Dead of +leprosy, gnawed and torn by beasts, the face presented a sight +unforgettable. The holes torn in the flesh twisted the features into a +lifelike, though ghastly, sardonic grin, full of the pains of the hell +in which Kwaiba had suffered and now suffered. A stench arose from the +box which made the hardened bearers hold their noses and draw away. Yet +the priest bent down all the closer. In his corruption the lips of the +old man seemed to move. Did Kwaiba speak? Closer and closer: Myo[u]zen +seemed never satisfied with this inspection. The poise and brain gave +way. Priest and corpse met in the horrible salutation. With exclamation +the attendants sprang forward. Myo[u]zen in a dead faint was carried +apart and laid on the ground. Some priests of the hall busied themselves +over him. Somewhat revived he was taken off to the residence quarters of +the temple, and soon was able to return to his home. "Curious fool." +Kibei was greatly angered. He was easily irritated in these days. The +delay in the rites almost maddened him. Would old Kwaiba--his father +Ito[u] Inkyo[u]--never be got out of men's sight? Out of Kibei's sight? + +That night Myo[u]zen sat alone in his quarters. Somewhat shaken, he was +ashamed and regretful at thought of his unseemly curiosity of the +afternoon. The priests of Denzuin had regarded him with covert amusement +and repulsion. He had noted one passing the sleeve of his robe over his +lips. Myo[u]zen explained the incident by more than usual weariness. +They condoled with him, and made horrified gestures of ill-disguised +glee when they thought his attention was elsewhere. In his present +privacy the scene at the grave came back to mind again and again. "Ah! +Ah! If this Myo[u]zen had not looked. The Inkyo[u]'s face was terrible. +Myo[u]zen cannot put it from mind." He glanced at the pages of the sutra +lying before him. He turned them over. He knew they spoke of the +horribleness of death; but what was the cold script to the actuality? It +was no use, the attempt to read. Kwaiba's face interposed. "Oh! That +salute! The very idea of that terrible salute, the contact with +corruption!" He was as if plunged in an icy bath. He started nervously. +It was but rain dashing against the _amado_, rattling and twisting in +the gale. He could not sleep. That night he would watch. The fire was +hot in the _hibachi_ (brazier). He went to the closet to get some tea. +On opening it he sprang back with a shout of alarm, to lean trembling +and quivering in every limb huddled against the wall. "Namu Myo[u]ho[u] +Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!" One character of the +wondrous formula secured pardon and safety to the believer in that +paradise of Amida which Myo[u]zen was in no great haste to visit. +Shivering as with a chill intently he watched the animal as it glided +along the edge of the room, to disappear into the shadows. He shrugged +his shoulders wearily. A rat had frightened him almost out of his wits! +His heart beat tumultuously, almost to suffocation; then it seemed to +cease altogether; to resume its wild career. + +Hardly was he again seated, his hand on the kettle--don--don, don--don, +don, don, don. Some one was violently knocking on the door. Myo[u]zen +sprang up. Approaching the _amado_ with silent step he eyed the bolts: +"All secure." Snatching up a stake close by he jammed it in between +floor and crosspiece. Leaning heavily on the panel he listened. +"Myo[u]zen Sama! Osho[u] Sama! Condescend to open; deign to give +entrance! The storm nearly throws one to the ground. News! News for the +Osho[u]! A request to make!" Myo[u]zen held his ground against this +outer temptation. "Who are you, out at this hour of the night and in +such weather? To-night Myo[u]zen does not open. Go away; return in +daylight."--"But the honoured Osho[u] Sama is needed. His presence is +requested. Deign to open; at least to hear the message. The priest aids +the afflicted." There was something in the voice he recognized, despite +its terror. Regaining some courage he parleyed. The priest was for the +consolation of the unfortunate. O'Iwa had been, was unfortunate. He +could not open. "Who are you? Unless the name be given this Myo[u]zen +holds no further talk. To-night he is unwell, positively ill. Come at +dawn and Myo[u]zen will receive you."--"Who? Does not the voice answer +for the person? This is Tomobei, from the house of Kondo[u] +Rokuro[u]bei. Deign to open. The master needs and calls for the aid of +the Osho[u] Sama." + +Voice and speech, the importance of Kondo[u] in the life of Myo[u]zen, +broke down his hesitation. Slowly he removed the bars. Tomobei entered, +dripping with wet. He cast down his straw coat at the entrance. The +man's eyes and manner were wild. He kept casting frightened looks into +the wild welter of storm outside. When the priest would withdraw into +the room he held him by the skirt. "What has happened?" commanded +Myo[u]zen briefly. Replied Tomobei--"A terrible thing! To-day the master +was ready to attend the funeral of Ito[u] Inkyo[u]. The wife was engaged +in putting the house _kimono_ in the closet. O'Tama was playing on the +upper _ro[u]ka_. She is but seven years old. Leaning far over to see her +father leave, she lost her balance. Down she fell, to be impaled on the +knife-like points of the _shinobi-gaeshi_. The sharp-pointed bamboo, +protection against thieves, have robbed the Danna of his greatest +treasure (_tama_). Deep into throat and chest ran the cruel spikes, to +appear through the back. The sight inspired fear, so horrible was it. He +could but call out--'Tomobei! Tomobei!' All effort to detach the child, +to saw off the points, did but make matters worse. It was necessary to +fetch a ladder. When taken down she was dead. Alas! Alas! The Okusama is +nearly crazed. The Danna Sama in his cruel distress does but rage +through the house. 'Myo[u]zen Osho[u], he loved the child. Let Myo[u]zen +Osho[u] be summoned to say a prayer of direction, while yet the child +spirit hovers hereabouts.' Such is the cry of the Okusama. Hence the +presence of this Tomobei. Otherwise he would rather be scourged at the +white sand than face the darkness in which O'Iwa San wanders abroad." +Man and priest were weeping. The former in his fright and over the +confusion and distress fallen on the household; the priest over the +sudden and dreadful end of this child to whom the homeless one, the man +devoted to the solitary life, had taken an unbounded affection as of a +father. Great as was his terror, he forgot his own ills in the greater +misfortune of the life-long friend. He remained bowed in prayer. "Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Oh! The +wondrous law, the _sutra_ of the Lotus!" He rose--"Myo[u]zen comes." + +As they struggled through the storm, Tomobei kept up a nonsensical, +running talk, full of the superstitious fear of the man of the lower +classes. "Iya! The affair has been terrible, but misfortune is in the +air.... What's that! Ah! Something passes by ... above. O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" +He seized the priest's arm and clung to him in terror. Myo[u]zen's fears +had all returned. He would have run away, but was too tightly held. +"Where! Where!" He shrieked and whirled around toward Samegabashi. +Tomobei held on tenaciously to his skirts. An object was bearing down on +them in the dark. Close upon priest and man they jumped to one side. A +cold hand was laid on the neck of the cleric, who squawked with fear. A +howl answered the howls and mad cries and blows of the two men, who now +threw themselves flat on the ground to shut out sight of the apparition. +The beast sped down the hill. Discomfited, Myo[u]zen disentangled +himself from the embraces of a broken water spout, which descending from +the roof under which he had taken shelter, was sending its cold stream +down his neck. Tomobei rose from the mud puddle in which he lay face +downward. They gazed at each other. "A dog! A wandering cur!" Myo[u]zen +eyed his once immaculate garments with disgust. How present himself in +such a state! Tomobei read his thoughts and determined to keep a +companion so hardly won. "There are present but the master and the +Okusama, Tomobei, and Kiku; other company there is none.... Yes; the +Ojo[u]san."--"The corpse needs no company," said Myo[u]zen testily. In +his disgrace and unkempt condition Myo[u]zen was unduly irritated at his +child friend. The business was to be gone through. They were opposite +the cemetery of Sainenji, on its western side. Said Tomobei--"A paling +is loose. There is no need to descend the hill. This is no cheerful spot +at this hour. Deign to sprint it, Osho[u] Sama. In the time one can +count ten the entrance at the rear is reached. Deign a spurt, honoured +priest; deign to sprint." Myo[u]zen felt he was in for everything this +night. With Tomobei he tucked up his robes to his hams, as if entering a +race. Crawling through the bamboo palings into the haunt of the dead, at +it they went--a mad spurt across to Ko[u]ndo's house. Tomobei was the +more active. He turned to watch the priest tripping over hillocks in the +grass, knocking into gravestones hidden by the darkness. So near home, +courage was returning. He burst into laughter at sight of Myo[u]zen +madly hammering a battered old stone lantern of the _yukimido[u]ro_ +style. The broad-brimmed hat-like object he belaboured as something +naturally or unnaturally possessed of life, all the while giving +utterance to anything but priestly language. Tomobei ventured back to +his rescue. Myo[u]zen was quite battered and bleeding as the two rushed +into Kondo[u]'s house. + +The master was expecting them; but he threw up his hands as they +appeared in the room. "Osho[u] Sama! Tomobei! What are you about! Why +rush into the room, clogs still on the feet? Deign to withdraw. The +_tatami_ are stained and streaked with mud.... Water for the feet of the +Osho[u] Sama! Tomobei, are you mad? Out with you: bring water to clean +up this mess." In confusion the priest withdrew. His apologies were +profuse as he reappeared--"Alas! Terrible the loss, and in such dreadful +manner. Kondo[u] Dono, Okusama, part at least of this grief Myo[u]zen +would take on himself. Great is the sorrow at this end of one just +beginning life." The wife received the condolence of the priest with a +burst of weeping. Then she turned fiercely on the husband--"It is all +the fault of Rokuro[u]bei. He was _nako[u]do_ for O'Iwa San in the +marriage with Iemon. Turning against her, he took O'Hana into the house. +Did she not spend her time in idling, and teaching the child the ways of +her questionable life--'how to please men,' forsooth?... Ah! Tama did +have pretty ways. Though but of seven years, she danced, and sang, and +postured as would a girl double her age. Now thus cruelly she has +perished." Her mind, reverted to the child, again took a turn. "The plot +against O'Iwa--with Ito[u] Kwaiba, Iemon, Cho[u]zaemon--here is found +the source of this calamity. O'Iwa in dying has cursed all involved. Now +'tis the turn of Kondo[u] and his unfortunate wife." She ended in +another outburst of tears, her head on the mats at the feet of the +priest. Rokuro[u]bei was tearing up and down the room, gesticulating and +almost shouting--"Yes! 'Tis she! 'Tis she! The hateful O'Iwa strikes the +father through the child. Ah! It was a cowardly act to visit such a +frightful ending on one budding into life. O'Iwa seeks revenge. O'Iwa is +abroad; and yet this Kondo[u] cannot meet with her." Myo[u]zen was +almost deafened with his cries and noisy earnestness. Truly to bring +peace into this household, with division reigning between husband and +wife smitten with fear of the supernatural, would be no easy matter. His +priestly experience taught him the safest way to bring about his object. + +"'Tis true; 'tis true. But loud cries avail nothing. The aid of the +Buddha for the deceased is to be sought." Apologetically he showed +something of his condition to the wife. At once she rose. Outergarments +were removed. Muddied undergarments were renewed. Myo[u]zen went into +the mortuary chamber. The little "Jewel" was laid out as in sleep. The +wounded chest, the torn throat, were concealed by garments and a +scarf-like bandage adjusted by a mother's sad and tender care. The +incense sticks lay in clay saucers near the couch. "Oh, the wonderful +Law! The _sutra_ of the Lotus! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!" He looked long at the little silent figure. +His eyes were full of tears as he turned and took the hands of the +weeping mother who had followed him into the room. Then for long he +spoke in consoling tones. She was somewhat quieted when they returned. + +Kondo[u] Rokuo[u]bei was still moving restlessly about the room. Now he +was here, now there; from the death room he returned to the company; +from them he passed to the kitchen. The wife thought of the friend and +priest. "Tomobei, go to the store-room and bring wine." Myo[u]zen was a +curious mixture. His weak spot was touched--"Deign it, honoured lady, +for all. Let the occasion be made seemly, but more cheerful. Cause not +sorrow to the dead by an unmeasured grief. This does but pain the Spirit +in its forced communion with the living. Death perchance is not the +misfortune of subsequent existence in this world, but a passage to the +paradise of Amida." He spoke unctuously; as one full informed and +longing for its trial. His homily had no effect in moving Tomobei, who +was flatly unwilling to perform the service ordered. "The wine...," +broke in Kondo[u] harshly.--"The go-down is at the end of the lot. The +hour is very late, and the storm ... and other things ... it rages +fiercely. This Tomobei...."--"Shut up!" roared his master, with easily +roused anger. The maid O'Kiku timidly interposed--"There is a supply in +the kitchen. This Kiku early brought it there, anticipating the need. +Indeed the storm is terrible. One gets wet to the bone in traversing the +yard." The wife caught the last words--"Aye! Wet and chilled the lost +child spirit wanders, ringing its bell and vainly seeking aid and +shelter; no aid at hand but that of the heartless hag in the River of +Souls."[31] At the thought of the little O'Tama in cold and storm she +broke down. Crying bitterly, she crept from the room and laid down +beside the bier. + +The wine was served. Myo[u]zen drank. Then he drank again. His +potations gave him confidence--for more drink--and recalled him to his +functions. "Let us all pray. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu +Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Wonderful the Law! Wonderful the _sutra_ of +the Lotus, explanatory of the Law by which mankind are saved, to enter +the paradise of Amida. Be sure the wanderings of O'Tama will be short. +Scanty is the power of the Shozuka no Baba. Soon shall the child sit +upon a lotus. Early shall be her entrance into Nirvana. Namu Myo[u]ho[u] +Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]!... Honoured master, let all +join in. Command the servants to join in the recital of the Daimoku." +Kondo[u] waved a hand at Tomobei and O'Kiku, in assent and command. +Vigorous were the tones of all in the responses. Myo[u]zen drank again. +He pressed the wine on the others; drinking in turn as they agreed. The +night was passing. It was the eighth hour (1-3 A.M.). Said he--"Don't +get drowsy. By every means avoid it. Now! A vigorous prayer." He raised +his hand--"Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge +Kyo[u]!" But the responses were flagging. Said Myo[u]zen--"This will +never do; at this hour of the night." He drank again--to find that the +supply had come to an end. Kondo[u] was nodding. Tomobei, if awake, was +deaf to words. Myo[u]zen rose himself to fetch a new supply. + +Kondo[u] pricked up his ears. The temple bells were booming the hour +watch in solemn unison. The rain splashed and pattered on the _amado_. A +rustling, swishing sound was heard, close by, in the next room. Now it +was as if a hand was passing along the screen. He sprang up, drawn sword +in hand. His eyes were riveted on the _sho[u]ji_, anticipating an +appearance. Then he laid a violent hand on the interposing obstacle and +threw it back. A tall figure robed in black, with broad flat face and +bulging brow, puffed eyelids in which were sunken little dots in place +of eyes, hair in wild disorder framing the dead white face, stood before +him. "O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" The lamp was knocked over, but not before he dealt +the one fierce upward blow. Madly he sprang on the apparition and +slashed away in the dark. "Kiya!" The cry rang loud. Kondo[u] danced +with joy, calling loudly for lights. "O'Iwa! O'Iwa! Kondo[u] has slain +the O'Bake, the enemy of his child! Rejoice with Kondo[u]! The vendetta +is accomplished!" In the darkness and confusion a groan was heard; then +another, still fainter; then there was silence. Tomobei appeared with a +light. He leaned over the long black robed body; to raise an alarmed +face to his joyful master. "At what does the Danna Sama rejoice? What +has he done? 'Tis Myo[u]zen Sama, the Osho[u] Sama, who lies cut down. +Dreadful has been the mistake of the Danna Sama. This is like to cost +the House dear."--"Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge Kyo[u]! Namu Myo[u]ho[u] Renge +Kyo[u]!" The sword had slipped from Kondo[u]'s hand, and in genuine +grief he knelt beside the body of the unfortunate priest, seeking for +some sign of life. Alas! Myo[u]zen had almost been cut in two by the +upward sweep of the sword. From liver to pap was one gaping wound. He +lay in the pool of almost all the blood in his body. Gathered around the +corpse the four people eyed each other with terror. + +Don--don--don, don, don, don. They sprang up in a huddled mass. The +sound was at their very shoulders. "Some one knocks at the back door," +said Tomobei. "Go open it," commanded Kondo[u]. Tomobei flatly refused, +and without respect, nay with insolence. Kondo[u] picked up and weighed +in his hand the bloody sword. Why mingle vile blood with good? Instead +of cutting the man down he went himself and opened the half door at the +top. A woman, dripping with water, her hair in wild disorder, her face +white as chalk, stood outside in the storm. Kondo[u] gave an exclamation +of surprise--"O'Kame of Tamiya! How comes O'Kame here? It was said that +Yoemon San had shut her up, as one gone mad." The woman smirked with +satisfied air--"Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei is seer as well as murderer. This +Kame was bound and imprisoned; nay, almost divorced. Myo[u]zen, just +dead at Kondo[u]'s hands, to-morrow was to pronounce the divorce. For so +much, thanks to Kondo[u] Dono. But O'Tama has died. Kame would condole +with Kondo[u] San; burn a stick of incense for O'Tama. Condescend to +grant entrance." Said Rokuro[u]bei abruptly--"How knows O'Kame of the +death of Myo[u]zen; who told her of the fate of O'Tama?" She laughed +wildly--"Who? O'Iwa; O'Iwa is the friend of Kame. It was she who loosed +the bonds. 'O'Tama of Kondo[u]'s house is dead. O'Kame should condole +with the wife, the friend of this Iwa. Get you hence, for Kondo[u] has +murdered the priest.' ... So here we are; O'Iwa accompanies Kame. Here +she is." She waved a hand into the storm and darkness. "Deign to give +passage to the chamber where lies O'Tama. O'Iwa and Kame would burn +incense to the darling's memory, to the little Jewel." With a roar +Kondo[u] seized the breast of her robe--"Vile old trot, off with you!" +He gave her a violent push which sent her on her buttocks. The woman +remained seated in the mud, laughing noisily. She held out two skinny +arms to him. With a slam he shut the door. + +He knelt by the priest's body, truly grieved--"Ah! O'Iwa is abroad. How +has this mad woman knowledge of this deed? What was the offence of +Myo[u]zen thus to deserve the hatred of Tamiya O'Iwa?" O'Kame had seen +the priest enter, had stood in the wet listening to the wild talk of +Kondo[u], had seen the bloody sword in his hand. Her mad brain had put +riot and death together. The talk as to O'Tama she had overheard from +her closet. Kondo[u] thought of neither explanation. He was at odds with +Akiyama, and had sent no message to his house. As he speculated and +thought how best to compound matters with the temple, now grieved at the +rash blow fallen on a friend, now aghast at the certain and heavy +indemnification which would be exacted by the enraged clerics, an uproar +arose outside. There were wild cries and a scream of pain. Then came a +loud triumphant shout--"Heads out! Heads out! O'Iwa is slain! This +Akiyama has killed the O'Bake. The incubus of the ward is lifted. Help!" +Kondo[u] sprang up and out of the house. Were the words true? Had +another succeeded where he had failed? His lantern, the lanterns of many +others, threw light on the place where Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon bravely +stood ward over the prostrate body of the apparition. Returning late +from Shitamachi he had entered the ward with shrinking terror. As he +skulked along, with eyes on every dark corner, the figure of a woman was +seen close by the eaves of the house of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei. As he +approached she came forward laughing wildly the while. The light of his +lantern fell on the ghastly white face, the disordered hair. In a spasm +of fright he dropped the lantern and delivered his blow in drawing the +sword. The cut was almost identical with the one delivered to Myo[u]zen +the priest. The men there gathered looked into each other's faces, then +at the body of O'Kame lying in their midst. The crowd parted, and Tamiya +Yoemon appeared. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei and Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon stood by +with bloody swords, their own skins without a scratch. They were +self-accused. + +The upshot of the affair was ruin for all. Matters in Yotsuya were +coming to the official ears. Yoemon was forced to make charges against +Akiyama; the more willingly as therein lay a chance to recoup his own +losses through the wife he intended to divorce on the morrow. Kondo[u] +easily cleared his skirts of this offence, but was involved with the +irate temple priests. All were entangled in the heavy costs of the law +of those days. Of these three men something is to be said later. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +KIBEI DONO + + +Kibei was in great straits, financial and domestic. The death of Kwaiba +had brought him anything but freedom. In Nippon the headship of a House +is much more than the simple heirship of our western law. Relieved of +his obligation in office the old man's hands were wide open to shower +benefice or caprice on the most worthless. Endorsement for cash and +goods to Natsume, Imaizumi, and Kamimura; donations to the temples of +Teramachi and the Yotsuyazaka; favours in every direction except that of +Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, in the pursuit of whom Kwaiba found much +amusement; all these items added to the very free living in his +household had pledged deeply the ample revenue of two hundred and thirty +_tawara_, and would have upheld the _samurai_ trait of not knowing the +value of money--if Kwaiba had been of that kind. Between Kwaiba and +Kibei, the wild debauchery of the last year had brought the House to the +verge of ruin. Kibei was aghast. Long since he had become deeply +involved with the Kashiku Tamagiku of the Yamadaya in Edomachi +Itcho[u]me of the Yoshiwara. The ugly fellow was madly in love with the +beauty. On her he had poured out the treasures of the Ito[u] House +during the six months which preceded the illness of Kwaiba. During his +prolonged absence from her the letters of the Kashiku had inundated the +writing table of Kibei. Had he deserted her? Was all affection gone? +Where now were the promises of ransom, the blood-sealed vow to become +husband and wife, to assume the relation which endures for two worlds? +Kibei sullenly read these lines; cursing Kwaiba and cursing himself. +Ransom! With strict living for the next five years _he_ might set +matters straight and free the Tayu; and any day _she_ might be bought by +some rich country _samurai_ or _go[u]shi_ (gentleman farmer), or be +carried off to ornament the _besso[u]_ of some _hatamoto_. Kibei wiped +the bitter saliva from his lips.[32] + +The domestic difficulties were accompaniment to these more important +matters. In the large mansion Kibei was now alone. The tenth day had +witnessed the flight of the last of the servants. The women had departed +with the funeral, through fear, sacrificing wages and even such clothing +as could not surreptitiously be removed. What woman--or man--could +remain in a house which was the nightly scene of such fearful sounds of +combat. Shrieks, wails, groans, came from the quarters once occupied by +the dead Kwaiba. As to this there was no difference of opinion. The more +venturesome had been favoured with actual sight of the scenes enacted. +They had seen the old man as he was in death, pursued from room to room +by two frightful hags, as gaunt, blear, sightless as himself. Dreadful +were the cries of the dead man as the harpies fastened upon him, +descending from above like two huge bats. These scenes took place +usually at the eighth hour (1 A.M.), not to cease until dawn. As for the +men servants, they took their leave in the days following, asking formal +dismissal (_itoma_) with recommendation to another House. They scented +the approaching ruin of their present employer. + +One day Kakusuke presented himself. Kibei looked up. He understood at +once that the man had come in his turn to take leave. Kakusuke alone had +remained with him. He was _chu[u]gen_, stable boy, cook, maid; and did +the work of all four without complaint. The change in his master was too +marked. Kibei, in his turn, had become irritable, timorous as a girl, +subject to outbreaks of almost insane rage. To Kakusuke the young man +seemed to have lost all nerve. Kakusuke wanted to serve a man. As long +as the Wakadono gave promise of redemption, of rising above his +difficulties and emerging into a splendid career in which Kakusuke could +take pride, the _chu[u]gen_ was ready to take the bitter with the sweet. +To be maid servant and keeper of a man half mad had no attraction for +this blunt-nerved fellow. He spoke plainly--"The Wakadono should deign +to throw up the whole connection. Under the present conditions the ruin +of the House is unavoidable. Condescend to return to the original House +in Honjo[u] Yokogawa. This course will be best. At least the Wakadono +secures his own salvation. This is the advice of Kakusuke, grown old in +experience of service in a _samurai_ household. In naught else is there +hope. As to himself, would the Wakadono condescend to grant dismissal." +Long had been the intimacy between Ito[u] Kwaiba and Inagaki Sho[u]gen. +Kakusuke, the messenger between the two Houses, had watched this +Fukutaro[u] (Kibei) grow to manhood, had noted his prowess. It was with +delight he had carried the documents which were to bring this new and +vigorous blood into the home of his decadent master. This was the +result. "A pest on these witches--and their craft!" + +Kibei heard him out with growing anger. As the man's words gathered +vigour and plain spokenness his hand wandered to his sword. He had a mind +to cut him down then and there for his freedom of speech. More than half +induced to recognize the truth of the indictment his better feeling halted +him. With harsh and sardonic tone he gave unbelieving thanks for the +implied reproof of the _chu[u]gen_. The service of Kakusuke had been +faithful beyond measure. It should have its proper reward. If others had +chosen to depart as do those who run away, they had shown ignorance of +this Kibei. From a drawer of the desk he took out a letter already +prepared, a roll containing wages. He pushed the _zen_ toward Kakusuke. +This readiness, as if foreseen, hit the man hard. Respectfully he pressed +the letter to his forehead, bowing with extended hands on the _tatami_; +the money he did not touch. Finally he raised a timid questioning glance +to his one-time master. Said Kibei jeeringly--"Kakusuke has given his +advice. Is it part of his long experience that a servant should question +the wages placed under his nose? Off with you! This Kibei would be alone; +most willingly so." At the peremptory threatening gesture Kakusuke no +longer hesitated. He had no inclination to be a victim of one of the mad +outbreaks of the young man. Taking the roll humbly he backed out of the +room. His steps were heard a few minutes later passing the entrance. Then +the outer gate shut to with a clang. + +For a long watch Kibei sat in meditation. He was as one who sleeps. +Then he rose with decision. "'Tis the last chance. Kakusuke is right. +The matter is to be brought to an end." Dressing for the street he left +the house. He opened the big gate; then went to the stable, and saddled +and bridled his horse. He led it outside, closed the gate, and mounting +he rode forth, to go to Honjo[u] Yokogawa and the _yashiki_ of his +father, Inagaki Sho[u]gen. Coming unaccompanied he was received with +surprise and some discomfiture, as he was quick to note. He was very +quick to note things in these days. Prostrating himself before his +mother--"Kibei presents himself. Honoured mother, deign to pardon the +intrusion. Fukutaro[u] would solicit her pity and influence." The lady +looked at him with amazement. "Fukutaro[u]! What then of Kibei? Is some +jest deigned at the mother's expense? It is in very bad taste.... But +the face of Kibei implies no jest. Pray put the matter plainly. Why does +her son come in petition to the mother?" Began Kibei--"The matter is +most serious...." He went into the full details; from the time of his +entrance into the Ito[u] House, through the course of dissipation and +illness of Kwaiba, down to the present ruined state of affairs. "All +this is due to the curse of O'Iwa San, to this plot in which Kibei +foolishly engaged." Of this he now fully felt the force. The events of +the past weeks had wrecked him in mind and body. One disaster after +another, in house and ward, had been visited on Kibei. The bitterness +and dislike of the people toward Kwaiba was visited on his +representative, who was held responsible. In his great mansion he lived +alone. No servant would enter it to attend to his wants. Was he to cook +and be valet for himself--and pose as the Kumi-gashira, the great chief +of the ward! The position was an impossible one. Deign to use a mother's +influence with Inagaki Dono. "Condescend to secure permission for the +return of this Kibei to his original House, for the cancellation of the +adoption." + +The wife of Sho[u]gen sat frightened; at the tale, and at this radical +way of finding an exit from the situation. The mother's heart was full of +pity for the distracted son, whose haggard looks showed the strain of the +past weeks. Besides she was a woman, and as such fully believed in and +feared the curse of this dead O'Iwa, one who had died without funeral +rites or prayer. "Fortunately the honoured father now is on the night +watch at the castle. He is at home, drinking his wine. His humour is +excellent. Wait but a moment." Leaving Kibei she went to the room of +Sho[u]gen's light indulgence. The severe and conscientious nobleman was +bending under the genial influence of the _sake_. "Kibei? He comes in good +season. The heir of Kwaiba Inkyo[u] has not favoured his real father of +late. Ah! The boy was well placed. Kwaiba soon made way for him; and none +too willingly, one can believe." He chuckled. Then noting his wife's +troubled looks. "But there is something to tell."--"So indeed; none too +pleasant." She went into the story Kibei had told her. "His fear of O'Iwa +San is deadly. The House is ruined, with no profit in the connection. +Deign to permit the cancellation of the adoption, his return to the House +of his true parent." She stopped before the stern astonished look of the +husband. Said he harshly--"Let him come up. Sho[u]gen answers Kibei Dono +in person.... Heigh! Up here with you! For Ito[u] Dono there is wine...." +Kibei entered joyfully at his father's call. Success was in his hands. +Once more he was to marshal his father's retainers and accompany him to +the castle; once more be the habitue of the fencing rooms. "Honoured +father, fear enters: for long this Kibei has not ventured into your +presence."--"And need not for long again," thundered the old man. "What +stuff is this for the ears of Sho[u]gen? Kibei would sever his connection +with the Ito[u] House. Kibei is afraid of a ghost! He fears a girl! A +_samurai_ wearing two swords shrinks from an encounter with a woman! Has +Sho[u]gen no obligation toward his old friend Kwaiba? In more serious +matters and in life Sho[u]gen would share Kwaiba's lot. Back with you to +the house in Yotsuya! If this matter become known, both Kibei and +Sho[u]gen will be the laughing stocks of Edo. At least keep such fears to +yourself. Off with you! Sho[u]gen had wine for Ito[u] Dono. For the fellow +who would call himself--Fukutaro[u], he has none." With a kick he sent +rolling the _zen_ (table) with its burden of bottles and heating +apparatus. In a rage he left the room. + +Kibei's face was white as he raised it from the _tatami_. "Father has no +experience of ghosts; he speaks at random and in anger. Terrible is the +actuality." Said the mother, slowly and painfully--"He is the father; he +is to be obeyed." Kibei was sitting upright. He nodded grave assent. +Then suddenly he prostrated himself ceremoniously before the _sho[u]ji_ +through which Sho[u]gen had disappeared. He repeated the salutation +before his mother. Then he rose--"Ito[u] Kibei takes leave. May good +health and fortune visit those of this House." At his exit the mother +rejoiced. Severe had been the father's words, but they had brought the +boy to reason. She wept and trembled at the reproof. Men had best +knowledge of such affairs. She would pray at Reiganji, and have memorial +service held for the peace of this O'Iwa in the next world. Then the +curse would not rest upon her son. + +On his appearance at the house entrance an _ashigaru_ (foot soldier) +led up the horse. Kibei waved him away--"For the present keep the animal +in charge. With matters to attend to close at hand Kibei will use other +conveyance." The man took the animal away. Leaving the gate of the +_yashiki_ Kibei walked the short distance to the Ho[u]onji bridge. Here +was a _kago_ (litter) stand. "To Yamadaya in Yoshiwara." As the _kago_ +men went off at a trot--"Kibei has played and lost. How does the account +yonder stand? Seventy _ryo[u]_ owed at the Matsuminatoya. For the rest, +this Kibei can claim a night's attendance from the _kashiku_. If +affection would not grant it, the huge sums bestowed in the past have a +claim upon her. Then to end matters and die like a _samurai_. To-morrow +Kibei cuts belly." It was the debt which sent him direct to the +Yamadaya, and not first to the tea house. Sitting over the wine all +effort of the Kashiku to enliven him failed. Noting her discomfiture he +smiled gloomily. Then in explanation--"The thoughts of Kibei go astray. +The House is ruined. Ransom is impossible. This is the last meeting. +To-morrow Kibei cuts belly, and dies like a _samurai_." At first the +girl thought he was joking. Then noting the wild look of despair in his +eyes, she was frightened. Partly in disbelief; partly seeking to +postpone this desperate resolve, to turn his thoughts and gain time for +reflection; partly in that sentimental mood which at times affects this +class of women--"Is Kibei truly ruined? Lamentable the fate of Tamagiku. +Why not join him in death? But the idea is too new. Deign to postpone +the execution for a space. To-night shall be a night of pleasure with +the Kashiku Tamagiku. With the morrow's darkness she dies with Kibei. +Hand in hand they will wander the paths of Amida's paradise." She came +close to him in service of the wine; put her arms about him, and drew +him to her bosom; in every way cajoled and sought to comfort him, and +corrupt his purpose. Consent was easy. The night was passed in love and +wine. In the morning he left her. + +Kibei was making his final preparations; writing directions which +would benefit as far as possible the House in Honjo[u] at the expense of +that in Yotsuya. In the Yoshiwara a very different scene was taking +place. With his departure the Kashiku sprang up. Hastily throwing a robe +around her person she sought the room of the _yarite_--the bawd of the +house. "The Kashiku! At this hour--what has happened?"--"Something of +importance. This night Tama dies with Kibei Dono. The compact is closed, +hard and firm." The astonished bawd had been rubbing the sleep out of +her eyes. The last words brought her full awake--"Is the Kashiku drunk +with wine? Is she mad? Truly it would seem so. And the bail? What is to +become of the unfortunate? True it is Toemon of Honjo[u]; and he has +trouble enough already. He will never leave his prison." Tamagiku made a +gesture of impatience--"This Tama has acted but to gain time. Can she +have affection for such an ugly fellow? Was she to be the victim of some +crazy outburst? Perhaps the day will bring better counsel; but the +night's conversation does not augur it. His plans are most complete. The +master must be seen. Deign to mediate; prevent the admittance of Kibei +Dono as guest." O'Kayo the bawd nodded intelligence and assent. At once +she sought the master of the house. "A dangerous guest," was his +comment. "Send to the Matsuminatoya. They must be warned. We can look +after ourselves." As an attendant of the tea house presented +himself--"And the master, Teisuke San!"--"Is absent; this To[u]suke +represents him. He has gone to Edo. Perhaps the house will deign to look +at a new inmate. A true Tayu! The daughter of Akiyama San of Yotsuya +sacrifices her caste. But sixteen years, she is a jewel. Less than a +hundred _ryo[u]_ will buy her. He is in great difficulties." To[u]suke +spoke with enthusiasm. The master of the Yamadaya answered promptly and +with emphasis--"Accepted: let her be on hand in the course of the day. +But To[u]suke, there is another matter. Kibei Dono no longer can be +accepted as a guest." He went into details. To[u]suke drew a long +breath. "A dangerous fellow! The Danna Sama never liked his presence. +But he owes the house much money; seventy _ryo[u]_."--"That is your +affair," coldly replied the master of the Yamadaya. "This house answers +not for the accounts of the tea-house. Previous notice has been given. +Kibei Dono cannot be received as guest."--"That is not to be denied. He +is most undesirable. But the seventy _ryo[u]_! And the week's settlement +to make with this house?" The Yamadaya had an idea--"It rarely passes a +hundred _ryo[u]_.... Five years is accepted? Then take thirty _ryo[u]_ +and deliver this girl to the Yamadaya.... A true Tayu? If so the debt of +Kibei finds payment." To[u]suke agreed with joy. + +At night the _kago_ man set Kibei down before the Matsuminatoya. +Teisuke, the _teishu[u]_ (host), regarded his arrival with mixed +feelings. His coming meant something. Giving up his two swords, and once +seated, Kibei's first act was to give thanks for past services. Calling +for his account he produced the seventy _ryo[u]_ in its settlement. +Prompt and profound were the humble thanks of the house for this +unexpected liquidation. Kibei had secured the money by the transfer of +obligations of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon to the usurer Suzuki Sanjuro[u]. +Three hundred and fifty _ryo[u]_ immediately due against seventy +_ryo[u]_ in cash satisfied even this shark. Teisuke was impressed. How +deny such a guest? He would get rid of him, and profit both ways. +Yamadaya now would promptly pay the additional seventy _ryo[u]_ due on +the girl with whom they were so delighted. He had paid fifty _ryo[u]_ +for her. At Kibei's call his order was prompt. "To[u]suke, accompany +Kibei Dono to the Yamadaya." Kibei's calm and collected manner reassured +him. This man did not contemplate suicide. + +With the appearance of To[u]suke and Kibei at the Yamadaya there was a +flutter. The Banto[u] Matsuzo respectfully came forward. As Kibei came +up to the _ro[u]ka_ and shook off his _geta_ he interposed. "Deign to +wait, Kibei Dono. Matters have changed since morning. The Kashiku is +very ill. She can see no one. Condescend to come another time. For one +ill in body pleasure is no pastime. Pray consider; grant excuse for this +one occasion." Kibei was surprised. He had left her perfectly well in +the morning. Something in the _banto[u]'s_ face, in the massed position +of the men standing by, apprised him of the truth. He was enraged at the +lie and the insult. "Ill? That is very strange, when so well at morning. +But it is immaterial. Kibei goes to the room."--"Impossible," was the +firm reply of the _banto[u]_. "The Kashiku lies isolated from all. It is +the order of the physician. Even those in the rooms around her have been +ordered out. Pray forbear." But Kibei was obstinate--"Then a glass of +wine at her bedside; Kibei has matters to impart." The _banto[u]_ stuck +to his post--"Wine! Amid the smell of drugs, the unseemly vessels of the +sick room! Such could not be permitted." Kibei stretched out an arm. The +_banto[u]_ went flying a dozen feet. Kibei made a leap toward the +stairway. But the bawd O'Kayo interposed her vinegary presence. She was +brave; having the support of great numbers, of the whole household. +"What rudeness! How inconsiderate your way of acting! You behave in very +bad taste; with the roughness of an _ashigaru_ (foot soldier). The +Yamadaya does not entertain such miserable scamps. The Tayu is ill. This +Kayo says it. Get you hence--to some coolie house. Return the day before +yesterday."[33] Kibei gave a yell--"Yai! You old bitch! The whole affair +is plain to Kibei. Out of money, his presence is no longer desired. Ah! +Kibei will have vengeance." Without arms, before the sullen +determination of these plebeians, he felt his helplessness. An unseemly +brawl, in which he would be worsted, must not be entered on. He must +leave. In a towering rage he strode back to the tea-house. To[u]suke +tried to keep pace with him. + +Said Teisuke in feigned astonishment--"Kibei Dono! What has happened?" +Kibei did but stutter and fume. The _teishu[u]_ turned to To[u]suke. +This latter made answer for his charge--"At the Yamadaya they were very +rude. Admittance was refused to Kibei Dono. The bawd O'Kayo told him to +come back day before yesterday!"--"Very rude indeed! Were such things +said? It is unpardonable. An explanation must be had with the house. +Danna Sama, for to-night deign to leave this matter to Teisuke. Ample +satisfaction shall be had for the outrage." Teisuke threw up his hands +as with uncontrollable anger. Kibei paid no attention, but demanded his +swords. Outwardly he had regained his self-control. The maid O'Moto +looked with diffidence at her mistress. The woman was accustomed to such +scenes. At her sign the girl brought the weapons, carefully wrapped up. +She placed them before Kibei. Unrolling the cover he put them on. With +scanty salutation he strode off. Teisuke watched him--"It would be wise +for the Yamadaya to close early to-night, to take in their lanterns; +nay, even to board up the front and take refuge in the store-house." +To[u]suke was in no hurry to face Matsuzo, the _banto[u]_ of Yamadaya. +Continued the easy old fellow--"Well, 'tis their affair. They are as +good judges as Teisuke; and they could have been more civil in refusal. +At all events the house has seventy _ryo[u]_, and Kibei Dono is sober. +He will cut belly before dawn; and perhaps nothing will happen +hereabouts." The old pimp went off to his inner room; to sit down before +his wine about the same time that Kibei did the same in a cook shop +opposite the great gate of Yoshiwara. Here he idled, barely touched his +drink, and passed the time in bantering the maid servant. He was in a +riotous humour. He would take her to wife--and sell her the next +morning. "As they do yonder." But O'Kiyo was not of that kind. "There is +a lover?"--"Of course!" In admitting it she blushed, somewhat offended +at hint of suspicion that such was lacking. Jibed Kibei--"He will do the +same. Better to be the wife of a _samurai_; even for an hour." In the +end he frightened the girl a good deal, so boisterous was he. She had +gone out to buy him a deep hat. With relief she saw him put it on and +set forth into the darkness and the rain. + +The eighth hour (1 A.M.) was nearly ready to strike. The pleasure quarter +was silent. Passersby were few. The occasional shuffling sound of +_zo[u]ri_ (sandals) could be heard behind the closed _amado_. Kibei smiled +cynically as he recognized this mark of revolting passage from one room to +another. In doubt he stood before the gate of the Yamadaya. How break in +and kill them all? If Kibei had his way the Kashiku would keep her word. +Just then a noise of voices was heard within, the falling of the bar. +Several belated guests came forth. They were in the charge of O'Moto, the +maid of the Matsuminatoya. Affectionate were the leave-takings with the +quondam wives. "Condescend an early visit. This Haya lives but in the +thought of Mosuke."--"Bunzaemon San, be faithful to this Hana. In his +absence she is always ill. She receives no one." At this there was a roar +of laughter from the others of the company. Bunzaemon answered with +reproaches. Kibei followed behind. This fellow was somewhat lamed. He +lagged behind. Kibei pulled his sleeve. Bunzaemon, the cit, turned in +surprise and fear at sight of the _samurai_ in his deep hat. Said +Kibei--"Don't be afraid. Bunzaemon San has forgotten pipe, or purse, or +something. He must go back to the Yamadaya." At the fellow's groping in +his garments and failure to understand he grew impatient. "A friend lies +at the Yamadaya. It is late, and they will not open at an unknown voice. +Entrance somehow must be had. Deign to lend your aid." At last the fellow +comprehended--"O'Moto San! A moment: my pipe...."--"Oya! The Danna Sama +has forgotten his pipe?" The girl went back the short distance to the +gate. She knocked and called. With sleepy tones the voice of Matsuzo the +_banto[u]_ was heard. The bar fell. The girl turned to look down the +street toward her guests. She looked right into the face of Kibei. +Dropping her lantern, with a smothered scream she fled. + +Matsu, the _banto[u]_, looked with horror at the man before him. As +Kibei threw off his hat he turned to flee. Tripping, he fell. Kibei drew +him back by the leg. A blow cut him through the shoulder. As he rose +staggering a second vicious side swing sent the severed head to the +ground. The gate-man took the chance. Fleeing to the recesses of the +kitchen, he swarmed up a post and hid himself among the rafters of the +roof, amid the darkness of their shadows. Kibei turned back and +carefully barred the gate. With the key at the girdle of Matsuzo he +locked the bar chain. All was now ready for his visitation and search. + +On the floor above they had a drunken guest in hand, trying to get him +to depart. A _banto[u]_ and several women formed the committee of +expulsion. "Ah! Money gone, one's welcome is quickly worn out in this +hell. But Jusuke does not budge. He fears not the whole pack of +foxes.... Thanks: deep the obligation of this Jusuke, extending to the +next life." A woman had picked up and restored his purse. "The bill is +paid? An early start To[u]kaido[u] way? Ah, true! Jusuke had forgotten." +He was now all compliments and thanks. Then in a rage--"Oh! The huzzy! +What is Jusuke's purse worth with nothing in it? Who has robbed the +purse of Jusuke?" He was madly fumbling his tobacco pouch. A woman put +his hand on the missing object in the folds of his girdle. He was +mollified. As they moved to the head of the stairs--"Take care! Jusuke +San, don't fall! Banto[u] San, deign to aid the guest." Refusing all +help the man lurched half way down the flight. Then he stopped, staring +and looking before him. At the foot stood Kibei, bloody sword in hand. +"Down with this Jusuke? But Jusuke cannot down. A fool blocks the +way.... Fool, you block the way of Jusuke."--"Out of the road, +drunkard!" The words of Kibei came between his teeth, half growl, half +snarl. The man obstinately held his own. When Kibei would push past +him--"Beast!" He struck the _samurai_. Kibei whirled the sword. The head +rolled to the bottom of the steps. The blood bathed Kibei from head to +foot. + +His appearance was horrible. The women fled in all directions. The +_banto[u]_ covered their retreat. "Kibei Dono! Pray be reasonable. +Control yourself!" Kibei made a step toward the women's rooms. The +_banto[u]_ was dreadfully frightened, yet bravely he interposed to save +them. He shouted for aid; below and to the neighbours. Kibei reached +him. A blow and he fell severed. Kibei gave a howl of joy. O'Kayo the +bawd came out to ascertain the cause of the brawl. She turned livid with +fear on recognizing Kibei. They were standing together in the sort of +entresol or room at the head of the stairway. Only a large brazier +separated Kibei from his vengeance. Its massiveness of three or four +feet breadth baffled him. The woman was fleeing for life. As he strove +to get within striking distance fear gave her wings. From one side to +another she leaped and dodged. Kibei was hampered. He had to cut her off +from stair and _ro[u]ka_. As he hesitated she discharged the iron kettle +at his head. One implement followed another. In hurling the iron tripod +ashes entered her eyes. At once Kibei leaped to close quarters. The +first sword blow she dodged. As Kibei recovered she sprang by him and +over the _hibachi_, seeking the safety of the stairs now open to her. +Her night-dress caught on the handle of the brazier and brought her to +the ground. Next moment she was severed from shoulder to midriff. + +Methodically Kibei began his examination of the rooms. To most of the +inmates this uproar was a mere quarrel in the house, the cause of which +they neither knew nor cared to know. The first search was at the room of +the Kashiku, close to that of O'Kayo the bawd. Her reception room was +dark. Here the Kashiku's bed usually was prepared. The inner room, her +dressing room, showed the dim light of an _andon_. Noting her absence +from the usual place a hasty stride brought him to the _sho[u]ji_. As he +violently shoved them apart a man rose from the bed in the room. A mere +glance showed that this was no lover. As Kibei with drawn sword stood +over him, he squatted on his hams, crouching and begging for life. To +Kibei's astonishment he called him by name--"Deign, honoured Sir, to +spare this Cho[u]bei. Be assured the Kashiku is not in this place. She +lies to-night with the Danna of the house. Deign to seek her in his +company." He pointed vaguely as he spoke, to give direction. Kibei +laughed ferociously. From this source these directions were atrocious. +He lowered the weapon--"Cho[u]bei! At this place and time! Well met, +good Sir. Kibei is doubly grateful for what he has learned. Cho[u]bei +and Kibei are fellows in fortune. Willingly Kibei leaves him to O'Iwa +San and her mercies." His attentive gaze never wandered from the face of +the one-time pimp. With a gesture of horror he rushed from the room. In +fright Cho[u]bei rolled his head up in the coverlet, to keep out the +vision evoked. + +He continued his search--"Is it my little black fellow?" Such the +greeting of one woman aroused from sleep. Trembling she rose at sight of +Kibei. Harshly told to lie down, she gladly obeyed. Her quivering limbs +already were nearly yielding as he spoke. In but one place did he +encounter opposition. Pushing open the _sho[u]ji_ of the merest closet +of a room he came upon a girl whose face somehow was familiar. She was a +mere slip of a creature to be called a woman. The undeveloped hips, the +yet immature bosom, aroused his astonishment at finding her in such a +place as inmate; that is, until the pure oval and beauty of the face +caught his glance. As he entered she sprang up in alarm. Just roused +from sleep she hardly knew where she was--"Father! Father! A man! A man +is in the room! Help!" Kibei pushed her back on the bed. With his bloody +sword he rolled over the bed-clothes. Then he made a move to get at the +closet behind. Perhaps mistaking his action the girl sprang upon him. +Kibei was startled at her mad energy. When he thrust her down she seized +his hand in her teeth, sinking them deep into it. Pain and +impatience--after all he was pressed for time--overcame him. Unable +otherwise to shake her off he thrust the point of the sword into her +throat and gave a vigorous downward push. Coughing up great clouts of +blood, the girl sank back, dying on the _futon_. As he left the room +remembrance came to Kibei's mind. He had seen her in Yotsuya. More than +once O'Tsuru had served him tea in the house of her father, +Cho[u]zaemon. How came she in this vile den? He took a step back to aid +her if he could. She was stone dead. + +The Tayu Nishikiyama[34] now knew the cause of the disturbance. To the +frightened page (_kamuro_) who came running to her--"Be quiet child. +This is no time to lose self-control. Aid me in preparation." She +dressed herself with the greatest care; "all in white, as befitted a +lady in attendance on a nobleman." Then she took down her _koto_ and +struck the opening bars of an old and famous song--the "Jinmujo[u]" +(Inexhaustible Happiness)--said to have been sung by the famous Shizuka +Go[u]zen when she danced the Ho[u]raku, or sacred dance, before the +Sho[u]gun Yoritomo at Kamakura Hachimangu[u]. As Kibei turned into the +corridor the voice of the Oiran caught his ear as she sang in +accompaniment to the instrument. She was bending over the _koto_ as the +_sho[u]ji_ were flung apart. Kibei, his hair hanging in disorder and +framing a face ghastly white in contrast to the red streaks splashed +over it and his garments, stood transfixed at the entrance. The Tayu +looked up. With calm pose and courteous salute--"Kibei Dono, what manner +of acting is this! Is not Kibei Dono the _bushi_? Truly madness has +seized you, honoured Sir. This is Nishikiyama.... Deign to be seated. +'Tis Nishikiyama who serves Kibei Dono. What has been done cannot be +undone. The last cup of wine in life is to be drained. Deign to accept +it from these humble hands." + +Kibei continued gazing on her. The unhappy man, his mind was opened to +a flood of light. The hurricane of passion was passing. Slowly he +advanced into the room. "Truly the Go Tayu is right. Kibei has gone mad; +mad indeed!" He sank down on the cushion before her. At a sign the page +placed the stand containing the bottle of cold _sake_ before the lady. +Skilfully the slender hands held it, gracefully poured it for the man +doomed to death, taking this final cup served by her. Kibei raised it, +drained it to the last drop. "The Kashiku: she is on this lower floor. +Where lies she?" Nashikiyama noted the wild light returning to his eyes. +She bowed her head before him--"The life of Nishikiyama is at the +command of Kibei Dono. Her lips are sealed. Honoured Sir, how answer +Kibei Dono's question?" For the moment he looked down. Then he +rose--"Whose daughter can the Oiran be! Truly no lady in the land could +show a higher courage, a finer courtesy. The final salute of this Kibei +in life is to the Go Tayu." In grave ceremony it was performed. As he +left the room the woman buried her face in her hands, weeping bitterly. +In wonder and gratitude the frightened page extended her hands, her face +hidden in the white robes of the Go Tayu. + +Kibei trod this lower corridor with sombre tread. He would cut belly at +the garden pond. With some surprise he noted an _amado_ open at the end +of the _ro[u]ka_. Voices were heard. Standing at the opening he saw +lanterns. Some frenzied women had raised a ladder to the garden wall. +They would thus escape, but the knife-like bamboo stakes prevented. Said +a voice outside, and close to him--"The key to the gate: here it is." +The Kashiku at a run passed by him. Kibei gave a shout. The frightened +woman turned, recognized him, then sped on. In a few steps he was on +her. The raised sword descended as she fell on her knees before him, in +attempt to swerve its course. Through wrist and collar-bone, from neck +to navel, the keen blade passed. Kibei threw the weapon aside. He leaned +over her, his dagger drawn. Then he rose, holding by its tresses the +head. For a moment he gazed on it. Slowly he walked to the pond in the +centre of the garden. Carefully he washed the bloody trophy and placed +it on the curbing. Confronting it he made reverential salutation. "Kibei +keeps his promise to the Kashiku. With Tamagiku he treads the gloomy +paths of Shideyama. Honoured lady--a moment and Kibei follows." Seated +before the head reposing on the curb he opened his clothes. Thrusting +the bloody dagger deep into his left side he slowly drew it across the +belly; then made the upward cut. The body fell forward. Kibei indeed had +kept his word. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL + + +Inagaki Sho[u]gen received the news at dawn, just as he was leaving the +castle on completion of his night watch. The old knight smiled gravely, +thanked the bearer of the message, and rewarded him with lavish hand. +The _kago_ bearers jolted on. The news had reached the train, and +_chu[u]gen_ and spearman exchanged whispers. On arrival at the Inagaki +_yashiki_ his lordship made no motion to descend. The chamberlain +raising the curtain gave a cry of horror. The old man lay stretched at +the bottom of the little chamber. The dagger and the pool of blood told +the tale. Sho[u]gen had followed the example of his son. He, too, now +trod the paths of Shideyama. + +With laggard tottering step Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon entered his house. +Regardless of wife and the cushion she offered, of the hardly repressed +tear in her salutation, he cast himself full length on the mats. He +buried his face in his arms. The groans which issued from the prostrate +body frightened the woman. "The honoured return; has other misfortune +fallen on the House?" A shrug of the shoulders, a shiver; then the man +half rose and faced her. She was startled at his expression. He was +facing the most dreadful, not mere thought of ruin to him and +his--"Suzuki San is liar and thief. Fifty _ryo[u]_ in hand the promise +was for abstention. Now he demands twenty _ryo[u]_ more--the interest on +the debt in full." His voice rose to a harsh scream. He laughed +despairingly. "Seventy-five _ryo[u]_ interest, for the loan of a month; +and that loan forced on this Cho[u]zaemon by Ito[u] Kwaiba! Kibei has +squandered everything. The loan comes back on the bail. If Suzuki holds +the interest in hand, he allows the principal, three hundred and fifty +_ryo[u]_, to stand for the month. Unless he has the lacking twenty-five +_ryo[u]_ by the fourth hour (9 A.M.) to-morrow, complaint is laid at the +office. As usual the interest is written into the face of the bond. The +end is certain. This Cho[u]zaemon must cut belly or suffer degradation +(_kaieki_)." He looked her over critically. The light of hope died out +of his eyes--"Ah! If this Tsuyu could but be sold, the money would be in +hand. But she is old and ugly. Pfaugh!..." How he hated her at this +moment. Some half a dozen years older than Cho[u]zaemon the marriage had +been arranged by the parents on truly financial principles. Mizoguchi +Hampei was rich, and reputed stingy and saving. Just recently he had +fallen into the Edogawa as he returned home late one night. Drunk and +surfeited with the foul waters of the stream they had fished him out +stone dead. Then it was learned that the old fellow of sixty odd years +had several concubines, of the kind to eat into house and fortune. The +reversion of the pension, of course, went to the House. In all these +years Cho[u]zaemon had never received the dower of O'Tsuyu; nor dared to +press the rich man for it, too generous to his daughter to quarrel with. +The funds eagerly looked for by Cho[u]zaemon were found to be _non est +inventus_. Probably, if alive, Mizoguchi would have argued that the +dower had been paid in instalments. In his grave difficulties Akiyama +could find no aid in his wife. She mourned her uselessness--"Willingly +would Tsuyu come to the aid of House and husband, join her daughter in +the bitter service. But past forty years.... 'Tis useless to think of +it. Perhaps some expedient will come to mind." She brought out the arm +rest and placed it near his side. Then she sat apart watching him. From +time to time was heard the tap of her pipe as she knocked out the ashes. +At last, overcome by sleep and seeing no sign of movement on the +husband's part, she went off to bed, expecting that he would soon +follow. + +She woke with a start--"Father! Father!" The voice of O'Tsuru rang +sharply in her ears. Dazed she half rose and looked around her. The +daylight streamed through the closed _amado_. She had been dreaming. +With surprise she noted her husband's absence. Had he gone forth? The +cries of a bean curd seller were heard without--"_To[u]fu!_ _To[u]fu!_ +The best of _to[u]fu_!" The palatable, cheap, and nutritious food was a +standard meal in this house as in many others of Nippon. Akiyama was +most generous in indulgence of his passions for gambling, wine, and the +women of Shinjuku; and his household with equal generosity were indulged +in an economical regimen of _to[u]fu_. The wife rose to answer the call +of the street huckster. Her surprise increased as she found every means +of exit bolted and barred, as during the night. The open sliding window +in the kitchen roof caught her eye. Surely he had not departed that way! +As she opened the back door a murmur of voices, as in the roadway or +close by, struck her ear. The _to[u]fu_ seller had his head turned away +looking upward. At her call he turned quickly with apology--"Good day, +honoured lady. A strange event! Ah! The honoured household still sleeps. +All is silent.... Strange indeed! A man has hung himself on the big oak +tree in the temple ground. Deign to look." He pointed to the big tree +close by in the grounds of the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji.[35] Sure enough: forty +feet from the ground dangled the body of a man. It swayed gently to and +fro in harmony with the movement of the branches. A hand seemed to grasp +the heart of Tsuyu. The branches of the tree reached far over their +roof. The open _hikimado_! With feeble voice she said--"My husband; he +is strangely absent. Deign, somebody, to climb up and find out whether +this man is--of the ward." The startled _to[u]fu_ seller hastened to get +aid. Several men entered the garden, quickly mounted to the roof, and +thus reached the tree. Said the topmost fellow--"Ma! Ma! It is no pretty +sight. He makes a hideous spectacle. The face is black as a rice boiler. +The eyes stand out as if ready to burst. The tongue hangs out like a +true guard (_hyo[u]tan_). The grin on the distended mouth is not nice to +see. Ah! The rascal has used the merest cord to cut himself off. And he +has nearly done so. The head is almost severed." He gave a +shout--"Naruhodo! Why, its...." One close by silenced him. The men above +looked down. They made signs to those below. The women gathered around +O'Tsuyu as if to keep her from the sight. She broke away from them as +the body was gently lowered to the ground. Her shrieks rang loud. They +strove to detach her from the dead body of Cho[u]zaemon. The House +ruined, daughter and husband taken out of her life in a single day; the +blow was too crushing for a brain harassed by a life with this debauched +worthless man. Her warders struggled with one gone clean daft. Years +after men grown up from childhood in the ward looked with pity at the +feeble ragged old mad beggar woman who crouched by the beautiful bronze +dragon which ornaments the water basin of the Ten-o[u] Jinja. They would +drop in her hand a copper "cash," and drive off with rebuke the children +who taunted and annoyed her--as they had done years before. Thus were +mother and daughter--the innocent--involved in the father's crime +against the dread Lady of Tamiya. + +All these events created a tremendous stir in Yotsuya. Men disliked to +go abroad at night. Women, to their great inconvenience were confined to +the house. Two figures approaching each other in the darkness would be +seen to hesitate and stop. "What's that--standing, slinking yonder by +the wall? Alas! This Kinsaburo[u], this Genzaemon has evil fortune led +him into the clutches of the O'Bake? O'Iwa! O'Iwa!" With that and mad +cries they would fall on each other; at times only to exercise restraint +after some injury had been done. Hence quarrels arose; feuds, started in +all innocence, came into being. Women, as suspects, were chief +sufferers. The local atmosphere was overcharged, nerve racked. And so +from Honjo[u] to Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), from Nakanocho[u] (Yoshiwara) to +Shinagawa, even in the nearer post towns of Kawasaki, Tsurumi, and +Kanagawa the talk was spreading of the strange happenings in Yotsuya of +Edo town. Katada Tatewaki, descendant of that Katada Samon who, as +vassal of Gongen Samon (Iyeyasu) had had this Aoyama-Yotsuya district in +fief, now first began his inquiries into the affair. The Katada had wide +possessions elsewhere at the time of the grant. Samon had gifted much of +his new fief as temple land, and on the old maps of the day this part of +Edo is a blood red splash, indication of these many establishments. But +the Katada influence still prevailed through the ward, indeed through +the more than good will of the beneficiaries. Tatewaki's _yashiki_ was +at the top of Ushigomezaka. His modest pension of a thousand _koku_ by +no means represented the extent of his power. Iemon became frightened at +the storm gathering against him. He was open to all suggestions of +remedy for the cataleptic state into which O'Hana had fallen. The +neighbour gossips suggested calling in the Daiho[u]-in of Shiomachi. A +service kept part at least of the money in the ward. They had their +share in provision and consumption; the fifty _ryo[u]_ necessary were +much to them--and to Iemon in his present circumstances. + +The neighbours were assembled at Tamiya. Iemon went forth to greet the +Daiho[u]-in. With his attendant _kannushi_ and train he presented +himself at the entrance. Iemon was prostrate in salutation before the +great man.--"Reverential thanks for the condescension. Deign to enter +this unfortunate house." The Shinto[u] priest was brusque, as is the way +of the kind. Himself he was the _samurai_, with all the tone of official +manner. "Ha! Ha! Salutation to all." He gave a comprehensive glance +through the assembly and lost none of them in the process. He approached +the couch of O'Hana. He opened the closed eyes, which stared fixedly +into space as of one dead. He raised an arm upright from the body. +Stepping aside, he squatted. Some moments passed. The arm remained +rigidly upright. Satisfied, the Daiho[u]-in signed to his attendants. +Raising O'Hana they placed her in a sitting posture on a mat. Her hair +was arranged in _icho[u]mage_.[36] A _gohei_ was placed between her +hands. Then the Daiho[u]-in began the recitation of the prayers and +charms. The other priests gave voice at times in response. All present +were awe-struck. The women hardly breathed, leaning eagerly forward. +Their eyes took on a vacant stare, as if themselves mesmerized. The +_gohei_ began to tremble; then to shake violently. The woman's hair fell +down in disorder around her face. All turned away their faces. Some +women gave smothered cries. It was O'Iwa San who glared at them out of +those eyes. The Daiho[u]-in eagerly leaned close over O'Hana--"O'Iwa: +where are you? What has become of your body? Be sure to speak the truth. +Don't attempt to lie to the priest.... You don't know? Ah! you would be +obstinate in your grudge. The charm shakes and quivers; it possesses +O'Iwa.... You would rest in Samoncho[u] ground? That is much to ask; +particularly when the body is not in hand.... A substitute will do? Ah! +Prayers?... For a year, at morn and night of each day? That is terrific. +Consider the cost.... You care not for the cost! Only then will you +cease to afflict the ward?... Very well: humbly this Daiho[u]-in +transmits the will of the dead." + +Thus did the priestly mediator interpret to his gaping auditors the +mumbling and cries given forth by O'Hana. The wild look faded from her +eyes. She rolled over as in a faint. The priests raised her up. The +Daiho[u]-in turned to Iemon and the assembly--"The words of O'Iwa have +been heard through this woman. O'Hana has been possessed by O'Iwa. Hence +her trance.... Heigh! Water!" He began making passes over his +patient--"The stage has passed. O'Hana no longer is possessed by O'Iwa. +The wronged lady leaves O'Hana to peace. O'Hana is completely herself +again. O'Iwa is all delusion. O'Hana believes this. She believes firmly. +The Daiho[u]-in tells her to believe. O'Iwa does not haunt O'Hana. O'Iwa +has no ill will against O'Hana." He looked fixedly and with command into +the eyes of O'Hana. His voice rang clear and authoritative. Then he +began gently to stroke the back of her head, her neck and spine. "All is +well?" "Hai! Hai! This Hana is completely restored. All is well." With a +little sigh she sank back, to be laid on the cushions in a sleep which +all wondered to see was most natural. Those present were in transports +of delight. They buzzed approval as the Daiho[u]-in addressed Iemon. +"The Daiho[u]-in has done his part. All have heard the words of O'Iwa +San. The rest lies with the temple. Deign to receive these words. The +Daiho[u]-in returns." With his pack voicing loudly at his tail he left +the entrance gate. The assembly streamed after. Iemon was left alone, +biting his thumbs in helpless rage. He was aghast. "The old fox! What is +to be done, pressed as Iemon is for funds? How is this Iemon to act? +Refusal means the open hostility of the whole ward. It will turn against +him. Ah! What a miserable old scamp. He did it all himself; he and his +confederates. The gods descend from above; the Daiho[u]-in shakes the +_gohei_ from below--and those fools believe, to the ruin of Iemon!" + +Hence he would have postponed the costly appeal to the temple. Within +the week a committee of the ward waited upon him. As if expecting them, +Iemon gave ready compliance. With four or five other gentlemen he waited +upon Shu[u]den Osho[u], the famous priest of the temple of the Gyo[u]ran +Kwannon. The Lady Merciful, Kwannon Sama, seemed the fitting deity to +whom appeal should be made. A word is to be said as to this famous +manifestation of the goddess. Told by Ryuo[u] at length, of necessity +here the account is much abridged. Gyo[u]ran Kwannon--Kwannon of the +fish-basket--has several other names. She is called the Namagusai +Kwannon, from the odour of fresh blood attached to the pursuit; the +Byaku Kwannon, or the white robed; the Baryufu Kwannon, as wife of Baryu +the fisherman. The image of the Byaku Kwannon exists.[37] It is carved +in white wood, stained black, with a scroll in the right hand, and +holding a fish basket (_gyo[u]ran_) in the left hand. The story of +Baryu, and of his connection with Kwannon, is of more moment. + +In Morokoshi (China) there is a place called Kinshaden. Across the bay +from Edo-To[u]kyo[u] is Kazusa with its ninety-nine villages, one of +which has the same name--Kinshaden. The fishing population of Nippon is +a rough lot. From babyhood there is little but quarrelling and fighting +between the bands which control the different wards of the villages. The +relations between the people are very primitive. One of the important +occupations is the _iwashi_, or pilchard, fishing. To pull in the nets +loaded with the fish requires the united effort of the whole village +population, men, women, even children. Among their toilers the people of +Kinshaden noted a young girl of some sixteen or seventeen years; easily +noted by the great beauty and attraction of face and figure, the willing +readiness and wonderful strength she showed in her struggles with the +weighted net. As she appeared several times at last some men went up to +her--"Girl, you are a stranger here. For your aid thanks are offered. +Who may you be; and whence from? Strangers, even in kindness, in Nippon +must not conceal their names." The girl smiled.--"I come from +Fudarakusan in the South Ocean.... Where is Fudarakusan? It is in +India.... And India? It is in the South Ocean, the Nankai." To the +wonder expressed at her coming such a distance of thousands of _ri_--"I +come, I serve, for my husband."--"Your husband? Pray who may he be, in +these parts?"--"Not yet is he chosen," answered the girl. "Come! The +nets are drawn, the fishing ended for the day. I will ascend that rock; +read the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. He who can first memorize it shall +be my husband." Ready was the assent to such an attractive proposal--a +beautiful helpmate in prospect, one endowed with surprising strength for +her frail form, and who seemed to bring luck to the efforts of the +village in the struggle for a livelihood. Even the Nipponese prejudice +against strangers paled before such practical qualification. + +The maid ascended to the rostrum. For three days she read and expounded +the holy sutra of the Lady Kwannon. On the fourth day the fisherman +Baryu--young, handsome, strong--felt sure that he could answer to the +test. "Woman, descend! To-day this Baryu will repeat the sutra, expound +its meaning." With seeming surprise and merriment the girl obeyed. Baryu +took her place. Without slip or fault he repeated the sutra, expounded +the intricacies of its meaning. The girl bowed low in submission. +"Condescend to admit my humble person to the hut of Baryu the fisherman. +To-night she pollutes with her presence a corner of his bed-chamber." +Rejoicing Baryu at once took her to his home, where he would act the +husband. At first gently she rebuked him. "These rough people of +Kinshaden have regard to nothing! There is such a rite as marriage. Nine +times are the _sake_ cups to be drained between husband and wife. Thus +is established this important relation. In the connection between man +and woman there is such a thing as etiquette. This observed, the woman +passes to the possession of the man. For the woman, second marriage +there is none." + +Thus were the decencies of the marriage bed taught to the rough +fisherman. Near dawn Baryu awoke with surprise. His bed-fellow was in the +last extremities. Dripping with sweat, she seemed to be melting away. +Already she was unconscious. Then vomiting forth water she died. Baryu was +tremendously put out. To lose a wife, who barely had been a wife; one so +beautiful, so strong; this was extremely vexatious. "This won't do at all! +Why has such a misfortune befallen this Baryu? O'Kabe (Miss Plaster) and +O'Nabe (Miss Stewpan) endured without mishap the passage of their marriage +night.... Hai! Hai!" in reply to a friend knocking at the door. "Baryu +cannot go to the fishing to-day.... The woman? She has died. Baryu's wife +is dead." Opening the door he retailed his experience to the wondering +friend. As they talked, along came a priest most strangely dressed for +this land. Approaching them he said--"Is this the house of Baryu?" At the +fisherman's acknowledgement--"Has a girl come here?... Dead! Deign to let +this foolish cleric hang eyes upon her." Baryu thought he would take his +turn at questions. "And you; whence from?" "From Fudarakusan in the +Nankai." "Get you hence, frantic interloper," broke in Baryu with grief +and anger. "Enough has this Baryu heard of Fudarakusan. Baryu must needs +observe his state as widower. The month must pass before he seeks a wife. +And more than half its days remain! But look." Mollified by the humble +attitude of the priest he went and raised the coverlet from the woman's +body. He uttered a cry of surprise. "Oya! Oya! She has disappeared. There +is naught here but a wooden image. Ma! Ma! what a curious figure--with +scroll and fish basket, just as the wife appeared at the beach. This is +what one reads of in books." He turned to the priest in wonder and as +seeking explanation. Said the latter with earnest and noble +emphasis--"Favoured has been this Baryu. The Kwannon of Fudarakusan of +Nankai has shown herself before his very eyes. For the reform of this +wicked people, to teach them the holy writing, she has condescended to +submit to the embraces of the fisherman. Let not Baryu think of other +marriage. For him has come the call to leave this world. Fail not to +obey." Baryu rushed to the door, to catch but a glimpse of the departing +form. All sign of the priest quickly faded. Baryu returned to the wooden +figure lying where once had reposed the body of the beautiful girl. It was +a most unsatisfactory substitute for the flesh and blood original. But +Baryu made the most of it. He took his vow. He shaved his head, becoming a +priest to recite and preach the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. Hence this +Kwannon is known as the Baryufu Kwannon--wife of Baryu the fisherman. +Hence she is called the Kwannon of the fish basket, in honour of the aid +she brought the people of this village and land. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE RITES FOR O'IWA SAN + + +Iemo[u]n fared as badly at the hands of the Buddha as at those of the +Kami. Shu[u]den Osho[u], as guardian of the sacred image of the +Gyo[u]ran Kwannon, was a very great man indeed. After some delay the +deputation from Samoncho[u] was ushered into his presence, Iemon made +profound obeisance and explained the cause of their presence. The +visitations of O'Iwa to the district were causing the greatest public +commotion. Not as a matter of private interest, but of public utility +his interference was sought. If Iemon thought to abstract a copper +"cash" from the priestly treasury he made a gross mistake. Besides, the +individual who disturbs the public peace suffers severely from official +mediation, no matter what form this takes. Shu[u]den inquired minutely +as to the visit of the Daiho[u]-in, of which he seemed to have heard. +What information Iemon might have withheld, or minimised, or given a +different complexion, was cheerfully volunteered by others, who also +corrected and amplified any undue curtailing or ambiguity of their +spokesman. Shu[u]den listened to Iemon with a gravity and an expression +hovering between calculation and jeering comment. He turned from him to +the committee, giving great attention to those scholiasts on the text of +the orator. He gravely wagged his head in agreement with the rival +prelate, whose acumen he highly extolled. Memorial services were to be +provided for a year. It was, after all, merely a form of restitution to +the wronged lady. But also the wandering spirit of O'Iwa was to be +suitably confined. Here lay the difficulty. Recitation of the sutra for +seven continuous days; proper inhumation of the substitute beyond +possibility of disturbance, would surely lay a spell on the enraged +lady, and put an end to the curse of one dying an unworshipped spirit. +For the burial a bamboo was to be provided--of length one _shaku_ eight +_bu_ (one foot nine inches) between the joints. + +With this notice Iemon and his companions withdrew. He was resigned to +the payment of the fifty _ryo[u]_ necessary for the memorial services +extending over the year. The inclusion in the bamboo was another affair. +The finding of such was about as easy as the fishing for black pearls. +He soon found that securing the substitute and securing the body of +O'Iwa San for proper inhumation were kindred problems. After looking +over all the bamboo which had drifted to Edo and was in the hands of the +world secular--and most of it at surprisingly cheap rates--the committee +was driven back on the religious world. They soon found that the article +in question was kept in stock only at the Gyo[u]ran Kwannondo[u]. +Resorting to the priestly offices, Iemon felt convinced that the grave +salutation of the incumbent official--they directed him to the +treasury--concealed a derisive grin at his expense. He was sure of it +when he learned that this rare object could be had--for another fifty +_ryo[u]_. The temple gave no credit; but Suzuki, the usurer who was one +of the party, after some demur agreed to hand over the amount, which he +had just received from Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon, the service bounty of the +daughter O'Tsuru. With some reluctance the long nosed, long faced, long +limbed Kamimura went security for the repayment on their return to the +ward. With cheerful recklessness Iemon pledged the last chance of any +income from the pension and resources of Tamiya for the next three +years; so heavily was he in debt. Shu[u]den on his part lost no time. +With at least one member of the committee in attendance, to see that he +played fair, for seven days vigorously was the sutra intoned by the +loudest and most brazen of his subordinates, backed by the whole body of +priests. Day and night a priest would slip to the side altar, to invoke +the pity of the Buddha on the wandering spirit of the deceased lady in +few pithy but hasty words, and to spend the rest of his vigil in a +decent slumberous immobility. + +The seven days accomplished, the procession formed. Six men in new +uniforms--provided by Iemon--made pretence of great difficulty in +carrying the long box (_nagamochi_). Four men carried the _sambo_, or +sacred tray of white wood, on which rested the section of bamboo wrapped +by the hands of Shu[u]den himself in the sacred roll of the sutra of +Kwannon. Officialdom of the ward was present. The citizens turned out +_en masse_. For long Yotsuya had not witnessed such a scene. Within its +precincts the _yashiki_ of the great nobles were conspicuously absent; +their long processions of spearman, _chu[u]gen_, _samurai_ and officials +were only to be witnessed at times on the highway which leaves Shinjuku +for the Ko[u]shu[u]kaido[u] and the alternate and then little used +Ashigarato[u]ge road. Arrived at Samoncho[u] the ground selected was +inspected by Shu[u]den. The bishop's eyebrows puckered in questioning +mien. "Here there are too many people. Is there no other place?" They +led him to another site. The wrinkle deepened to a frown--"Here there +are too many children. Their frolics and necessities are unseemly. These +would outrage the tender spirit. Is there no other place?" The committee +was nonplussed. Iemon was in terrible fear lest all his effort and +expenditure would go for naught but to swell Shu[u]den's cash roll. A +thought came into his mind. "There is no other open land, but the garden +of Tamiya is wide and secluded. The wall prevents public access." People +looked at him aghast. He was either mad with courage, or obstinate in +disbelief in the power of O'Iwa San so plainly manifested. Shu[u]den +paid no attention to that surprised whispering. "Deign to show the way +thither." Thus the procession took its course back to Teramachi and +through the gate of Tamiya. A spot was selected, just before the garden +gate. It was open to the salutation and vows of passers-by, yet could be +shut off from direct access toward house and public. At Shu[u]den's +order a hole was dug, just four _shaku_ (feet) in depth. The Osho[u] +began the recitation of the sutra. The priests stood by in vigilant +attention. As the last word reverberated on the bishop's lips they +seized the sutra wrapped bamboo, slipped it in the long box--bum! the +lock snapped. The congregation was tremendously impressed. For a decent +time Shu[u]den remained in prayer and meditation. "The charm is +complete. O'Iwa no longer wanders, to her own penance and the disaster +of men. Henceforth he who says she does so lies. Hearken to the words of +Shu[u]den. Admit none such to your company. Let not children make this +place a playground. Shu[u]den has given warning. Pollution surely +follows. Their habits are unseemly, an insult to the dead. Even as to +parents, those with infants on their backs are specifically to be +excluded." He tied a paper covered with Sanscrit characters to a bamboo +stick. This was placed on a white wood stake. On the stake he wrote +kindred words, converting it into the counterfeit of a _sotoba_. Neither +he nor any present knew what the words meant, or had care as to their +ignorance of this essential of religion. Then he and his train gathered +up their gowns and galloped out the gate, after practice and receipt of +grave courtesy, so much did temple differ from shrine in its contact +with secular life. The assembled multitude departed; much edified by the +day's proceedings, and with low comment to each other on the +dilapidation of Tamiya, its fall from the one time spruce and +flourishing state. "Introduce a spendthrift in the door, and the wealth +leaks from every crevice. The spirit of Tamiya Matazaemon must grieve at +this sight. But why did he bring in as _muko_ a stranger?" + +Iemon could flatter himself on the efficacy of the divine +interposition. The public mind was quieted. Nothing more was heard of +O'Iwa San. Only the daily summons, on one pretext or another, to the +ward office troubled him. The _yakunin_ also made a practice of taking +in Tamiya en route to performance of their various missions. This he +knew was a practice as to men under observation. He went over his career +as known to Yotsuya. There was nothing in it to call for question. +Official censure does not rest its case on a ghost story. The famous +investigation of Echizen no Kami (O[u]oka) into the Yaeume case of +Yamada was matter of later days. Moreover, all his troubles were +lightened by the state of O'Hana, the devoted object of unwavering +affection. Ever since the Daiho[u]-in had mesmerized her, impressed his +will on her, the daily improvement could be marked. Now again she was +her normal self; sadly thin and worn in spirit, a woman tired out, but +yet the figure of O'Hana and in her right mind. To him she was the +beautiful tradition of the past and just as beautiful as ever in +actuality. Two weeks had passed since Shu[u]den's experiment. One night, +as the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) was striking, there came a knocking at +the door. O'Hana rose from her sewing. "Danna, Kamimura San would say a +word." Iemon made a gesture of annoyance. The long man had shadowed him, +ever since entering on the engagement of bail. He went to the door and +looked at his caller with amazement. Kamimura, his hair in confusion, +was stark naked except for his wife's under cloth--and she was almost a +dwarf. He stretched out a hand to Iemon, half in threat, half in +begging. "Iemon Uji, a word: condescend to grant this Goemon ten +_ryo[u]_ in silver, not in words. Suzuki the usurer has come on Goemon +as bail of Iemon, in the matter of the exorcism. To-day he stripped the +house of everything. Wife and children, hungry and almost naked, lie on +bare boards. When Goemon begged mercy, that he go to Tamiya, the +wretched fellow jeered. 'Tamiya? Tamiya has but _hibachi_ and three +mats; the clothes worn by himself and wife. The house and land of Tamiya +is but a reversion. Suzuki gets nothing at Tamiya but a lawsuit which +would not pay the office fees. Kamimura is rich; his house is well +supplied. One petition; and not only expenses, but the debt finds +payment. Hence Suzuki troubles not Tamiya.' With this off he went +deriding me. Deign the loan, Iemon San. Condescend at least the shelter +of clothes and food." + +To the wretched fellow Iemon could make no reply. Ten _ryo[u]_! +Kamimura might as well have asked for ten thousand _ryo[u]_. In house +and land Iemon was secure. These belonged to the heirship of Tamiya as +long as the House maintained its status. The pension was long mortgaged. +The farms had disappeared. The trouble of Goemon pained him. He could +only refuse; palliating the refusal with vague promises as to the near +future. He would effect a loan. The debt of Suzuki repaid, all his goods +would be restored to Kamimura San. Goemon took this talk at its real +value. Shaking his fist he berated Iemon with violent words. "Ah! Shame +is brought to the House of Kamimura, wretchedness to his family--and by +this vile stranger. It is Iemon with his heartless wicked treatment of +O'Iwa San, who has wrought distress and ruin to the ward. For Goemon +there is neither food nor clothing? Wait! Time shall bring his vengeance +on Iemon and his House." Iemon would have detained him; sought in some +way to mollify him, at least get a hint as to how he purposed injury. +Goemon shook him off as one would a reptile. With a wild laugh he went +out naked as he was into the darkness. + +He had no definite purpose in mind. However, as he passed the garden +gate of Tamiya his eye caught the factitious _sotoba_ standing white in +the fitful moonlight. He stood stock still; then clapped his hands in +mad joy and decision. Hastening to his home he sought out an old +battered mattock and a rusty spade. Soon he was back at the garden gate. +A blow and the bar fell. Goemon passed within. "She lies but four +_shaku_ deep. The task is quickly performed. None pass here at this +hour." The dirt flew under his nervous arms. Soon he had the box out on +the ground beside him. A peal of thunder; he must hasten, or stand a +ducking from the coming storm. He laughed. What had a naked man to fear +from getting wet? The clothes he wore would not spoil. Why did not man +dress in a towel, as after the bath; its use, to wipe the moisture from +the body. Now his eyes were fixed in curiosity on the bamboo staff +before him. The first few drops of the rainstorm fell on his bare +shoulders, but he disregarded them. "Naruhodo! How heavy it is! O'Iwa in +life hardly weighed more. Lady of Tamiya--show pity on this Goemon. +Iemon and O'Hana--those wicked voluptuaries--prosper and flourish, while +Goemon is brought to beggary and starvation. Deign to visit the wrath of +O'Iwa San on these vile wretches. Seize and kill them. Goemon sets O'Iwa +free." He seized the mattock. Raising it overhead he brought the edge +sharply down on the bamboo stake. At the moment there was a violent peal +of thunder rolling off into a crash and rattle. The landscape was lit up +by the vivid lightning. People uneasily turned over on their beds. + +Shortly after dawn Iemon woke with a start. Don-don-don, don-don-don. +There was a tremendous rapping at his door. O'Hana could hear but a +whispered consultation going on without the _amado_. Iemon returned to +the room. His face was white; his step tottered. Hastily he donned an +outer robe. To her question he made scant reply, so agitated was he. His +one idea was to keep from her what he had just heard. In the garden he +found his wardsmen assembled. All were dumbfounded and aghast. They +looked at each other and then at the broken bamboo tube. Close by lay +the body of the man who had done the deed. Brains and blood had oozed +from the hole in the skull in which yet stuck the pointed end of the +mattock sunk deep within. Evidently the instrument had rebounded from +the resilient surface of the bamboo. A by-stander pointed to the tiny +fracture near the hard knot of the staff. It was a small thing, but +enough to destroy all the past labours. Iemon went up to look at the +body. "Why! 'Tis Goemon." To their questioning he told how Kamimura had +called on the previous night, his rage at the inability of Iemon to aid +him in distress. With hanging heads, eyes on the ground, and wagging +tongues, all departed to their homes. Later the body of Goemon was borne +to his house by neighbours. Iemon picked up the bamboo staff. Carrying +it within he placed it in a closet. It was as costly an object as the +house had ever held. He was in despair. + +It was on that very day, at the seventh hour (3 P.M.), that O'Hana +heard a call at the door. "A request to make! A request to make!" She +recoiled from the sight presented. A beggar stood at the entrance of +Tamiya. A dirty mat wrapped around his body, feet and arms emerging from +bandages, making him like to some hideous insect with its carapace, his +face wrapped in a towel, the effects of leprosy were hideously +patent.--"What do you here? There is naught to be had. Pray depart at +once." The answer was in tones the very harshness of which seemed to +cause pain to the utterer--"The request is to Iemon Dono. Condescend to +notify him." With fearful glance O'Hana shrank within, Iemon noted her +nervous quivering. Promptly he was on his feet--"A beggar has frightened +Hana? Such are to be severely dealt with." He went to the entrance. "A +beggar, and such a fellow? How comes it entrance has been had to the +ward? There is nothing for you here. If you would escape the dogs and +bastinado, get you hence at once." The man did not stir from the spot on +which he stood. Slowly he opened the mat held round his body +(_komokaburi_), one of the coarse kind used to wrap round _sake_ +barrels. He was clothed in rags glued together by the foul discharges of +his sores. He removed the towel from his face. The ghastly white and red +blotches, the livid scars of the leper, the head with patches of scurfy +hair ready to fall at a touch, startled even Iemon the priest. He would +not have touched this man, expelled him by force, for all the past +wealth of Tamiya. The intruder noted the effect produced. + +"To such has the wrath of O'Iwa San brought this Cho[u]bei. Does not +Iemon, the one-time neighbour Kazuma, recognize Cho[u]bei? And yet all +comes through Iemon. Child, wife, means of life, all these have failed +Cho[u]bei. In the jail robbed of everything, degenerate in mind and +body, Cho[u]bei has found refuge at nights in the booths of street +vendors; on cold wet nights, even in the mouths of the filthy drains. +Fortunate is he when fine weather sends him to rest on the river banks. +To seek rest; not to find it. O'Iwa stands beside him. When eyelids +drowse Cho[u]bei is aroused, to find her face close glaring into his. +Beg and implore, yet pardon there is none. 'Cho[u]bei has a debt to pay +to Iwa. In life Cho[u]bei must repay by suffering; yet not what Iwa +suffered. Think not to rest.' Some support was found in a daughter, sold +in times past to the Yamadaya of Yoshiwara. There the child grew up to +become the great profit of the house. The influence of the Kashiku was +all powerful to secure entrance. For a night Cho[u]bei was to find food +and a bed. But that night came Kibei San. He killed the Kashiku--crushed +her out, as one would crush an insect. This Cho[u]bei nearly died; but +Kibei left him to the mercy of O'Iwa. Her mercy!" He would have thrown +out his arms in weary gesture of despair. The pain and effort were too +great. He moaned. "Last night Cho[u]bei sought relief. Of late years the +river has been spanned, for passers-by and solace of the human refuse. +Standing on Ryo[u]gokubashi the dark waters of the river called to +Cho[u]bei as they swept strongly by to the sea. A moment, and all would +be ended. About to leap hands were laid on Cho[u]bei's shoulders. He was +dragged back. Turning--lo! 'twas O'Iwa San. Another creature, still +fouler than she, with sloping eyelid, bald head, and savage look, stood +by. Said O'Iwa San--'And Cho[u]bei would end all--with luxury before his +eyes! Cho[u]bei dies not but with the consent of Iwa. Get you to +Yotsuya; to Iemon and Hana, living in luxury and Tamiya. Aid will not be +refused you.' And so she brought me here. Deign to hear the prayer of +Cho[u]bei. Allow him to die in Yotsuya, upon the _tatami_; not on the +bare earth, to be thrown on the moor for dogs to gnaw. Grant him burial +in temple ground." + +He changed his theme; the feeble quivering hands clasped his belly. +"Ah! This pinching hunger. Double Cho[u]bei's suffering; of mind and +body. Apply for alms or food, and the leper is repulsed. See! Two +fingers remain on this hand. Count of the rest fills out the tale for +but one member. O'Hana San, condescend a rice ball for this Cho[u]bei. +You, at least, know not the pinch of hunger.... Ah! She still possesses +some of that beauty and charm for which Iemon has brought ruin upon +all." Before the horrible lascivious leer of this object O'Hana fled. +Left alone Iemon spoke. He had been thinking--"Cho[u]bei has spoken +well. From Iemon he is entitled to relief. Cho[u]bei shall die on his +mat. But in such shape nothing can be done. Get you hence. Buy clothing +fit to appear before men's eyes. In the bath wash that pus-laden body. +Then come to Iemon. Relief shall be granted Cho[u]bei." Wrapping a +_ryo[u]_ in paper he passed it to the leper. It was the last coin he +possessed. O'Hana now returned with five or six rice balls savoured with +salt. Fascinated, the two watched the horrible diseased stumps awkwardly +shoving the food into the toothless mouth, cramming it in, and breaking +it up so as not to lose the savour of a grain. "Until to-morrow," said +Cho[u]bei. He picked up his stick. In silence the man and woman watched +him. "Leaning on his bamboo staff he crawled away like some insect." +O'Hana looked inquiringly at Iemon. He turned away his head. + +Through the dusk Cho[u]bei crawled across the Ryo[u]gokubashi. The +words of the woman O'Take had come true. He had a sense of being +followed. He turned at the sound of footsteps. At sight of a _samurai_ +in deep hat, mechanically he stretched out hands and self in the +roadway, begging an alms. The man drew apart, passing him in disgust and +haste. Cho[u]bei went on. He had no aim. It was with surprise that he +found himself, as often of late, on the embankment of the North +Warigesui. He looked down on the foul place of O'Iwa's disappearance. "A +foul ending; but after all an end. One night! One night's sleep! Deign, +lady of Tamiya, to grant pardon and respite to Cho[u]bei. Just one hour +of sleep." Carefully he adjusted his mat. Painfully he stretched himself +out on it. "To die on the mat. Such was the word of Iemon." He felt his +rags. "It was well he agreed. Cho[u]bei had other means to force +compliance. Well, 'tis for later use." A continued rustling aroused him. +Some one was cautiously picking a way through the dry grass of the past +winter, was creeping toward him. He half rose. Seeing that concealment +was no longer possible, the man rushed on him. Cho[u]bei struggled to +his feet, as one to fight for life. "Life is dear. Why kill Cho[u]bei +the leper? Is he a test for some new sword? Deign to pardon. The flesh +of the leper is too rotten. It defiles the weapon. Cho[u]bei has been +the _samurai_; he knows.... Ah! Respite there is none. 'Tis Iemon! Iemon +of Tamiya would kill Cho[u]bei!" He shouted and coupled the names in his +despair. Fearful of discovery, of being overheard, Iemon did not delay. +The gleaming weapon descended. Standing over the body Iemon showed +uncertainty. He had some thought of search; even bent down over it. But +he could not touch those foul rags. His nicety of feeling, almost +womanlike--recoiled. Besides, what more had Iemon to do with the leper +Cho[u]bei. Their account was closed. Should he leave the body where it +was? Recognition might convey some danger, at least inconvenience. He +looked around for means to sink it in these waters, and yet not handle +its repulsiveness. A _sho[u]yu_ tub, old but fairly intact, lay upon the +bank. It caught his eye. He rolled it up to the corpse. Gingerly he +girdled the body of the dead man with his _tasuki_ (shoulder cord). Now +tight fast it clasped the roundness of the barrel. This he filled with +stones, drove in the head, and with a shove sent it and its burden into +the Warigesui. "That will hold him down. The rotten punk! Three days, +and none could recognize him." Then he set off at rapid pace for +Yotsuya. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +SANZUGAWA BRIDGELESS: THE FLOWERLESS ROAD TRAVERSED BY THE DEAD + + +It was the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) before Iemon reached the house in +Yotsuya. To his surprise he found the _amado_ still open on the garden. +Some one was lying face downward on the _ro[u]ka_. It was O'Hana. To his +alarmed inquiry as to what was wrong she answered in the voice of one +trying to suppress great pain. "This Hana knows not. Opening a closet to +get the spices used in preparing the meal, a rat sprang out. It +scratched the face of Hana. Truly the pain is very great." She groaned, +Iemon gently raised her. At the look on his face O'Hana said--"There is +a mirror in the toilet set (_kyo[u]dai_). Deign to get it for Hana." He +did not get it--this dower gift once of O'Iwa--but tried to soothe +her--"Let be: the wounds soon will heal. The pain will pass away." She +shoved him aside and ran to the toilet stand. She took the hand-mirror +to the solitary lamp lighting the room. Aghast she contemplated her +features. One side of the face was completely discoloured. It was a dark +red, almost black, with the mark of five fingers plainly visible, as if +a hand had struck her. No rat had made this wound. O'Hana leaned over, +her head resting almost on her knees. Iemon touched her shoulder--"Don't +mind it. Truly the pain will pass with dawn. Hana...." He drew back from +the scowling madness in the face raised to him--"Sa! Sa! Iemon! Iemon! +Easily did you get hold of all my property, to waste it on O'Hana. 'Twas +like grasping wet millet. Then, barbarous as you were, you sold me to +the vile life of a street harlot. Ah! Vengeance!" In fright Iemon +retreated. O'Hana, taking herself to be O'Iwa, all her madness had +returned. She sprang up. Screens were beaten and torn to pieces. With +the heavy mirror she turned on him, seeking vengeance for her imagined +wrongs. Iemon narrowly escaped injury as he dashed in to grapple with +her. He succeeded in dragging her away from the lamp. Thus did this wild +battle rage in the half dark room. The fictitious strength of the ill +woman gave out. He held her on the floor, as one subdued. As she +relapsed into a sleep, almost of unconsciousness, he ventured to release +her. Going to a closet he placed the mirror beside the bamboo stick; +both hidden away. + +All night he watched over her. Wearied out, with day he sought an aid +readily given. The nurse, however, in alarm soon roused him. O'Hana was +raving madly in a high fever. The woman could not restrain her. Her +cries were terrible, but not more so than the speech from her +lips--"O'Iwa, pardon! With the drugs of Suian this Hana would palsy +O'Iwa's mind and body; poison the very springs of life, cut off all hope +of issue. Ah! Vain the love of a man. All is granted him; body and +goods. Iemon sells Hana for a street harlot. Out with him! Help!... Ah! +Kwaiba aids--in all his rottenness. How horrible he is--huge vacant eye +holes, the purple whitish flesh gnawed and eaten.... Ugh! He stinks!... +Nay! 'Tis not Kwaiba. 'Tis Cho[u]bei: Cho[u]bei the leper, who would +embrace this Hana. Iemon comes. There is murder in his eye--for Hana to +see, not Cho[u]bei. Away! Away!... Again, there she comes!" She grasped +the nurse's arm, and pointed to the just lighted _andon_ which barely +relieved the shadows of the darkening night; was it the woman's +imagination? By the light, dimly outlined; sat O'Iwa San. Her hair hung +down around face and body half turned aside. The bulging forehead, the +puffed eyelids, were not to be mistaken. The woman shook off the sick +girl's hand and fled the house. Iemon did not try to prevent her. He was +as one paralyzed. He, too, had seen, and was convinced. + +To watch through the night was the task of the anxious and wearied man. +In the day a _yakunin_ had come, with formal notice to attend next day +the office of Katada Tatewaki Dono. His lordship had an inquiry to make. +The summons was not to be disregarded, no matter what his own +exigencies. O'Hana had dropped into a cataleptic state. As the eighth +hour (1 A.M.) approached he thought to clear brain and body by the rest +of a few moments. His head had barely touched the pillow when sleep +followed. The bell of Gwansho[u]ji struck the hour. It roared and +reverberated through Tamiya. Iemon awoke; an oppression like suffocation +pervaded his whole body. Opening his eyes they stared into the wide +white flat face of O'Iwa. Her eyes were now alive, darting gleams of +fire deep from within the puffed and swollen lids. He felt her wild +disordered hair sweeping his face as she swayed a little, still +retaining her post and clutch on his bosom--"Iemon knows Iwa now! Hana +knows Iwa now! Sworn to seize and kill both for seven births--come! Now +it is that Iwa completes her vengeance." As she shook and pressed on him +he came gradually out of his sleep. With a shout he cast her backwards. +Springing up he grasped the sword at his pillow. Madly he dealt blow +after blow on the body before him. To the groans he replied by fresh +blows. + +An uproar without called him to himself. Don--don--don, don, don, don. +There was knocking at the gate. Iemon hastily trimmed up the wick of the +lamp. He leaned over the body. O'Hana! The young man stooped over her, +leaning on the gory sword. Great drops of cold sweat stood out on his +forehead. A shout came from without. "In his lordship's name! Open, or +force will be used." Why had the summons for the day been anticipated? +The unhappy ravings of O'Hana flashed to his mind. Iemon no longer +reasoned. A cunning insane light was in his eyes. Softly he made his way +to the _amado_ fronting on the garden. No one was without. In the rain +and storm he might escape. Traversing the darkness he noted, however, +the man posted at the gate in the rear. Springing on the roof of the +shed he looked over into Teramachi. It was deserted. With the bloody +sword he hacked off the sharp points of the bamboo stakes. They now +aided his flight over the wall. He cast the weapon aside. In a few +minutes he disappeared in rapid flight down the street. When Katada +Tatewaki, accompanied by his men, at last broke down the stout +resistance offered by the outer door of Tamiya he found the house empty, +except for the dead body of O'Hana, lying in its pool of blood. She was +still warm. He took it for mere murder, giving more urgent directions +for immediate pursuit. Methodically he searched the house, down to the +very rubbish pile. The seal of Tamiya was secured. This meant much. With +sceptical smile he handled the broken bamboo stick found in a closet. He +did not show the discovery to his men. + +Where did Iemon go? The unhappy man himself could not have told what +happened in the intervening days. He came to consciousness in the +darkness of a spring night, just before the dawn. The stars were +beginning to pale in the East. The landscape had the livid eerie light +in which it is uncertain whether day or night is to be the issue. With +surprise Iemon looked around him; then shuddered. The stagnant waters of +Warigesui's filthy stream lay beneath him. He had found rest on the +bank, at the very place where Cho[u]bei had died under his hand. + + "The Sanzugawa--without hills or bridges; + On highway traversed by the dead, flowers there are none."[38] + +The _yama_ ([yama]) refers to Yamada Cho[u]bei; the _hashi_ ([hashi]) to +Takahashi Iemon; the _hana_ ([hana]) to O'Hana, the wife of Iemon. Such +was the then interpretation of the old poem. + +Iemon could go no further. His course was run. He knew it; but how end +life? At heart he was an arrant coward. Determined to cut belly he drew +the dagger he had kept with him. A shudder went through him at sight of +the steel. Ah! Better the green slime of the waters below. He thrust the +blade back into its scabbard. Moodily standing and gazing down, he gave +an idle kick to a stone near by. Dislodged, it swayed, then rolled +heavily down the bank, to plunge noisily into the stream, disturb its +noisome depths. The effect was surprising. Following its course with his +eye Iemon suddenly gave a yell of horror. Eyes starting from his head, +arms raised high, he bent toward the stream. Hair standing on end he +watched the hideous object rise to the surface. The face of Cho[u]bei, +purple and bloated, the lips half gnawed and open in a fiendish grin, +looked up at him. Down came the arms, and Iemon put hands over eyes to +shut out the fearful vision. A horrid curiosity drove him again to view +it. Was he mad? This time the barrel in its slow revolution brought to +view the wide flat face, the bulging brow and heavy lids, the tangled, +disordered hair of the drowned O'Iwa. Scream after scream of the now +frantic wretch rang in the air. These waters! Seek death there! No! No! +A thousand times--No! He turned to flee the place, but his legs refused +the service. With fell purpose he ripped the blade from its scabbard, +tore open his clothes to give the deadly thrust. As he raised the dagger +invisible hands seized his arm. When he would release it, the other arm +was seized. Everywhere these hands held him fast. He raged, tore, +struggled madly to elude their grasp. Then, overcome, he fainted. + +Katada Tatewaki from the top of the bank had been watching the +struggle of his men. He came forward and looked down at the bound and +helpless creature. "'Tis he: in very fact." On order a bamboo pole was +fetched, and run between the bound hands and feet. Thus like some beast +was Iemon conveyed to the nearest ward office. The formalities were few +and soon over. To avoid chance of repetition of the scene they conveyed +him as he was. Thus began the brutal progress across Edo in full +daylight. People turned and stared after this escort of the man-beast. +At a distance they took the burden as some savage bear, or perhaps one +of those reputed "_tanuki_" so noxious in their pranks on humankind. +Come closer it was seen to be a man. Any mad struggle to get free was +treated to spear pricks applied with no great nicety beyond the +avoidance of serious injury. Violent as were his struggles at times, it +is doubtful if they could have walked him the long distance. For the +days of his flight he had never rested; nor had these men in his +pursuit. Yet he was unexpected game. The Yotsuya affair was taking a +widening sweep. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei were under +examination. The death of a girl O'Haru at the brothel of Toemon of +Honjo[u] had unexpected effects. In the investigation which followed one +of the women, O'Take, had made full confession. The pedlar Mobei had +never left the house of Toemon; never escaped from the hospitality of +O'Matsu. His goods had aroused her cupidity. The man died by poison, and +was buried in the garden of Toemon's house. O'Haru knew of the deed. +This knowledge was the girl's destruction. The wife and her substitute +O'Kin hated O'Haru. Some remains of a first good looks, her youth, gave +her power with the master of the house. The two women worked on his +fears to gain consent for her destruction. A charge easily was trumped +up, and she was dragged off to the cell of punishment. Under the hands +of the wife and O'Kin she suffered so that she died in three days, not +without letting her mate O'Take into the secret. Promptly the Honjo[u] +police were at work; not more prompt than was the woman O'Kin to +disappear from Edo, almost a confession in itself. The rosary, found in +the hands of the rector of the Reiganji, was easily traced through +different mediators straight to O'Matsu herself. The man Toemon held +out, and died under the torture. The woman confessed; and in her +confession was comprehended the full story of O'Iwa's connection with +Toemon's house. Of her no more need be said. She rotted and died in the +jail. The girls were scattered to kindred houses. Two of the women, +hunting their pray on Warigesui toward the _yashiki_ quarter, had +witnessed the murder of Cho[u]bei three nights before. The police had +gone to secure the body. Tatewaki Dono was notified and had accompanied +them. To the surprise of all Iemon, then the object of earnest search, +was found on the spot. + +The affair kept on spreading--to the very source of all these troubles. +Katada Tatewaki in the course of procedure had transmitted the Tamiya +case to the jurisdiction of the _machibugyo[u]_ of the North district of +Edo town, Homma Iga no Kami. With greatest interest the two men in +company poured over the innumerable documents now piling up in the case. +Old Tamiya Yoemon proved easy game. He readily confessed all he knew. +This brought in many witnesses from the wardsmen. It was not exactly +what was wanted. The evidence was mostly mere hearsay and conjecture. In +those days such testimony had a value not far below that of direct +statement. All pointed the way to the real criminal, who after all was +the star witness. Against Yoemon at first there was but little. However, +in his rage against Iemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--Akiyama was out of +his reach--his tongue was too long. The faces of the magistrates grew +serious as his connection with the money lender Suzuki was made plain. A +_samurai_ loaning money on interest! and pressing men to ruin for +payment!! The stingy avaricious Yoemon appeared behind the usurer--until +in time his own heavy losses had made him a borrower, and placed him in +the hands of his once partner. Yoemon, together with the conspirators, +was not allowed to participate in the forced restitution made by Suzuki. +Nevertheless, at the time no great severity was shown the old man. He +was remanded to the custody of his bail, to be kept confined to one room +in the house. + +The same leniency was shown toward Rokuro[u]bei. When he showed a +disposition to be recalcitrant, to equivocate, Homma gave sign to the +_do[u]shin_. Quickly the scourgers came forward with their fearful +instrument, the _madake_. Made of bamboo split into long narrow strips, +these tightly wrapped in twisted hempen cord to the thickness of a _sun_ +(inch), with the convenient leverage of a couple of _shaku_ (feet), the +mere sight brought Kondo[u] to terms. As he entered he had seen them +lead away a _heimin_ (commoner) who had undergone the punishment. The +man's back, a mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, was vivid to mind. At +once he prostrated himself; made full confession. At last they were at +the source. Kondo[u] was a witness of the fact. He could and did tell of +the inception and progress of the whole plot against O'Iwa San, the +source of untold woe to Yotsuya. His story covered the period from the +entrance of Iemon into the ward up to the discovery of the body of +Kamimura Goemon. The role played by Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was in part +dark to him. Of the disposition of O'Iwa to the Honjo[u] master of the +_Yo[u]taka_ he pleaded ignorance. Tatewaki Dono smiled as he counselled +indulgence on this point. He knew. + +Kondo[u], however, was sent back to the jail. He was unquestionably a +principal. At last it was the turn of Iemon. The weeks had passed. The +body had been carefully nursed back to vigour. The mind was in +lamentable state. The ill-meant efforts of the jail authorities, the +strengthening of the criminal in order better to endure the torture to +the confession point, were somewhat baffled by the nightly visions of +the wretched man. The two hags, O'Iwa and O'Mino; Cho[u]bei in his final +stage of purple bloatedness; these were his nightly companions, to +torment and harass him. Sleep! If he could but close his eyes to shut +out these horrors! Instead they became more vivid. The jailors put him +at the farthest corner of their ample premises. His fellow prisoners, +such as were allowed daily exit to the yard, visited him with blows and +foul insults for the disturbance he created in the night. But he was +cunning withal. Trapped as he was, in his lucid moments he realized that +there could be but little against him. O'Iwa? Not even in Tokugawa times +was the supernatural cause of prosecution except at the hands of the +vulgar. Nor in those days, any more than in these of Taisho[u] _nengo_, +was a wife legally protected against abuse of husband or parents-in-law. +As for Cho[u]bei--he was dead. His own presence on the scene was no +evidence against him as murderer. His only misgivings on that point lay +in the confusion of mind as to the few days then covered. But who would +blame a _samurai_ for testing his blade on a beggar? What were beggars +for? He knew nothing of the evidence given by Yoemon and Kondo[u]; of +the vile proof in the hands of Katada Dono. He had wholly forgotten the +nurse who had listened to the wild ravings of O'Hana in her illness, +broken sentences bearing so heavily and dove-tailing so nicely into the +completed case. Owing to this woman Tatewaki Dono had not waited the +appearance of Iemon at morning. Iemon also left out of account the +characters of the two men before whom he appeared. Iga no Kami sat as +judge in the case. Close beside him, a little in the rear, sat Katada +Tatewaki, in whose jurisdiction the case had originated, and who was +familiar with every stage. The four _do[u]shin_ sat to one side and the +other of these two men. + +Homma and Katada were typical of their caste. Cold, callous, cruel, +devoted rigidly to the formulae; of the _samurai_ code, with strange +exceptions granted to the virtues required of the common people--filial +conduct and unswerving obedience to a superior--they were not men likely +to regard with favour this intruder into their class. The name of +_samurai_ had been brought into contempt. Hence the serious character of +the offence, the necessity of severest scrutiny. To the valued +suggestion of Tatewaki, Iga no Kami nodded assent. Iemon thought of +nothing but the murder of Cho[u]bei, the abuse of his wife O'Iwa, the +conspiracy against her life and honour. The first question paralyzed his +defence. Was he not the son of Takahashi Daihachiro[u]? The whole +terrible vista of the consequences of avowal appeared before him, once +himself a _do[u]shin_ and familiar with legal procedure. The family had +suffered _kaieki_ (deprivation of rights). It had been degraded from the +caste. Properly speaking Iemon was an intruder into the _samurai_ class. +He was an impostor. His offence was against the suzerain lord, the +Sho[u]gun. All the terrible penalties of treason hung over him. Tatewaki +had been quick to note the opportunity to take this case out of the +category of offence by a _samurai_. Iemon was a plebeian and a +charlatan. He had insulted Government. At the stumbling denial quick +order was given. A _yakunin_ seized the rope and dragged down the head +of Iemon. Others held him at the sides, to maintain the body rigid. +Stout fellows, the pick of the jailors, came forward. With ferocious +regularity the blows fell. Welts at once appeared. Soon the blood was +trickling from the torn skin. There was no sign to mitigate the severity +of the infliction. When at the seventieth blow the body collapsed in a +faint the wretched man was a terrible sight. The attendants of the jail, +witnesses of the full punishment of double the number of stripes, had +rarely seen such severity exercised. The jailors hated this smooth +fellow, this disturber of their peace. They kept a jail, not a madhouse. +Their superiors showed no sign of the mercy of renewed questioning. +Hence they would change the mad nightly ravings to the subdued groans of +the punished. + +The days passed and his body had healed, though movement caused pain +and distress. Brought again before the judges at the very sight of the +scourges he screamed out confession. Questioned as to the conspiracy +against the caste, his fraudulent attempt to consummate marriage with a +_samurai_ woman--the actual fact or legality of it was ignored--his +ill-treatment and sale of her; all these in terror he denied. Once he +had looked upon banishment from Edo as the limit of his punishment. Now +decapitation would be a merciful end. He strove to secure the favour of +a quick and painless death. Again he was beaten almost to a jelly. He +clung to his denial, so important was the issue. At the next appearance +he was seized and dragged to a post fixed in the ground not far from the +judge's seat. His knees were pressed down on the edges of the triangular +bars. These formed a sort of grid, the edges of the bars being just +enough blunted to avoid cutting the skin. None of the pain was spared, +yet the prisoner remained fit for early future torture. The granite +slabs were then piled on his knees. Each one weighed thirteen _kwan_ +(107 lbs.). As the fifth slab was placed on the body of Iemon, the flesh +assumed a reddish tint from the impeded circulation. Froth stained his +mouth, mucus ran from his nose. A sixth, a seventh stone, were placed. +"How now! How now!" The men pressed heavily on the stones. A _do[u]shin_ +bent over him, listening and waiting for sign of the important +confession. The criminal was the one important witness of Tokugawa penal +law. Without confession he was innocent beyond all other proof. As the +eighth stone was placed Iemon began to vomit blood. The doctor raised +his hand. The feet were showing signs of blackness, which rapidly spread +upward. The man was in a dead faint. No confession had been secured. + +Perhaps the examination was thus conducted out of some severity. Days +passed. Whether or not the report of the physician was unfavourable, +influenced by some means Homma had fear the man might die before a +public retribution was secured. When Iemon again was dragged before his +judges he had a terrible object lesson before him. A man was undergoing +the torture of the lobster. Hands drawn up behind to the shoulders, the +feet tightly bound across the chest, he was propped up on a mat. +Properly conducted this "effort to persuade" took place in the jail. +Homma wished to try the effect of anticipation on Iemon. The prisoner +looked quickly at the man under torture, then hung down his head. His +lips were twitching with uncertainty. Homma struck hard--"Why deny the +plain fact? Is justice so ignorant of the doings and whereabouts of a +scamp. Kichitaro[u], or Kazuma the diviner, as he called himself, +murders Cho[u]bei the pimp; a deed carried out before witnesses." A +_do[u]shin_ placed the document of the confession of the whores so that +Iemon had no difficulty in ascertaining its title. "And why? Because of +the agreement with Cho[u]bei to sell the woman he dared to call his +wife. The proof? The seal of Tamiya, the document itself." At last Iemon +looked up. The _do[u]shin_ placed under his eyes the fatal contract with +Cho[u]bei--agreement of exchange of the body of the woman in return for +five _ryo[u]_ duly received. It had been recovered from the dead pimp's +corpse. Carefully wrapped in oiled paper, Cho[u]bei had carried it--sewn +in what he called his dress. Iemon unwilling to recognize past services, +Cho[u]bei was sure to find it useful. Truly Iemon was young and +impatient, and Cho[u]bei was double his age. With bitterness the +survivor recognized this primal fact. + +Iemon's eyes wandered from the paper to the thief under torture. The +dark green of the body was rapidly changing. The doctor present gave a +quick frightened sign. Skilful hands at once cast loose the bonds. Over +toppled the body. Iemon noted the white, almost livid, colour of death. +Restoratives were applied. All were busied with bringing the man back to +life. Then he was carried off, expression so unlike that of a human +being that the less hardened shuddered. Said Homma--"No confession yet?" +He raised his hand to make a sign. Iemon knew the quickness of response. +He almost screamed his appeal for further respite. The Law had +triumphed. As Iemon put his thumb seal to the confession of guilt to +insolence (_futodoki_) the magistrates rose and disappeared. +"Futodoki"--they and he knew that it meant the death sentence.[39] + +Judgment was not delayed. The next day Homma, with Katada and an officer +of the Sho[u]gun's household present, gave sentence. Yoemon and +Rokuro[u]bei glared hate at Iemon who squatted with head bent to the +ground. The sword--that now was his only hope. The first words of Homma +showed that no mercy was to be dealt out in this case. Suzuki the +plebeian merely suffered stripes and banishment from Edo. He had to make +restitution to the amount of his property--such as was left after paying +the huge fine to Government. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei +underwent degradation from the caste. There was no disposition to +overlook the offence of usury. Beggary was to be the portion of Yoemon, +the destitution of the outcast. For some years the senile old man, the +virago of a woman once the wife of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, were stationed +at the Nio[u]mon, to attract and amuse the worshippers passing up to the +great temple of the Asakusa Kwannon. Not for long could the woman hold +her tongue. Abuse passed with the sun's height to blows, and the +by-standers had to interfere and rescue the old man from the severe +beating. It was to the profit, rather than disadvantage, of the temple. +The pair were an added attraction. The priests left interference to +those at hand. Then the old man disappeared; to ornament the highway +with his corpse, or be cast on the moor, food for dogs and crows. Such +probably was the end of Tamiya Yoemon. The woman had not been seen for +some months. Her abilities as scold had attracted those qualified to +judge; her transfer to the position of bawd in a low-class house of the +neighbouring Yoshiwara soon followed. + +Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei fared tolerably well, considering his deserts. +His confession had been a great aid in unravelling the case. He was not +sentenced to cut belly. Degraded he heard with dismay the sentence of +deportation and exile to the far distant island of Sado. At this savage +place, subject to the hell of a Siberian winter and the intense heats of +the summer, the once pampered man lived out his last days, few and evil. +He who had passed the time idling with tea-cup, or _go_, or flower +arrangement, and taking enjoyment in the freshness and coolness of his +garden at the Yotsuyazaka, at fifty years now tried to lead the hard and +dangerous life of the wild fishing population among whom he was +unceremoniously cast. Such life was soon forbidden him. He was but in +the road. Then he did such clerical duties as the village at times +needed. A wife even was provided for him. The final blow was a palsy, +cutting off all effort at making a livelihood. Beatings now took the +place of food. The villagers laughed when they heard of the old man's +fall from a cliff. They, too, would have acted as had the brothers of +O'Nabe (stew pan). They took the word for the deed; and at the cliff +foot near Negai they erected a wooden shrine to propitiate the spirit of +"Jiya Rokuro[u]." + +The day of execution had come. When sentenced, bound as he was Iemon +struggled forward to plead for mercy, respite from the barbarous +punishment to be inflicted on the traitor. His reward was the cangue and +bamboo saw--_nokogirihiki_; failing death by this, he was to be +crucified. The attendants fell on him. Kicks and blows had little effect +on the man frantic with terror. He almost reached the _ro[u]ka_ at which +sat Homma. Then madly struggling he was carried off to the jail. Said a +_do[u]shin_--"His antics in the cangue will find small scope." The last +clause of the sentence was due to the notorious unwillingness of any +passer-by to give a cut. The punishment had lapsed since the days of the +third Sho[u]gun, and was no more successful in Iemon's case. Placed in +the cangue at the execution ground of Shinagawa a cut was made in each +side of his neck. Smeared with blood the bamboo saw was placed on the +cangue in inviting proximity to the head. For five hours people passed, +with curious glances, but no movement to release the criminal. An Eta +(outcast) butcher sidled up. The guards watched him with curiosity. +Picking up the saw he made one pass. At the yell given by Iemon he +dropped the implement and fled in terror, amid the laughter of guards +and by-standers. Toward the hour of the sheep (1 P.M.) a _yoriki_ with +his _do[u]shin_ appeared. On signal the cangue was removed. Inert limbs +feebly twitching Iemon was bound tight to the double cross, his legs and +arms stretched wide apart. This was raised, and again the hours passed +in miserable waiting for a death which seemed to recede. If +unconsciousness threatened he was given vinegar to drink as restorative. +His fevered lips eagerly sought the fluid and prolonged his torture. In +the spring light the days were long. As the sun was about to set the +officer gave command. A _do[u]shin_ came forward to the cross and made a +sign. A guard thrust his spear upward into the belly of Iemon. The limbs +made a movement, as in attempt to be drawn up. A guard on the other side +in turn made a thrust. Others followed. For some moments they continued +their sport, the reward of long waiting. The man was not yet dead. +Impatient the _do[u]shin_ gave the shaft of a spear a violent upward +thrust. Its point appeared through the left shoulder. The head fell +forward on the breast and hung limp. Iemon was dead. + + * * * * * + +These events could not be let pass without notice from either the pious +or the timorous. Kyo[u]ho[u] 2nd year 2nd month 22nd day (3rd April, +1717) the Inari shrine built to propitiate the fearful Lady of Tamiya +was opened to worship with due ceremonies. It had been erected on the +ground of the house once occupied by Matazaemon, facing on Teramachi and +on the narrow street paralleling Samoncho[u] to the East. It was almost +opposite the entrance to the Sho[u]gwanji. At the family temple, the +Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, on the Samegabashi side, a grave and stela was set up. +With time, however, the opposition made itself felt. It was asserted +that the Lady O'Iwa still walked the ward, inflicting pains and +penalties on the inhabitants thereof. Triumphant reference was made to +recent public disasters--of plague, pestilence, famine, and tax levies. +The shrine was invitation for her presence. People had grown indifferent +as the new paint grew old, then shabby on the once famous _miya_. +Success lay with the opposition, and abolition of shrine and grave was +easily enforced. It was but for a time. The ward was either equally, or +more, unfortunate without the protection of its tutelary Inari shrine. +Just when it was re-established cannot be stated, but in the late +eighteenth century it was most flourishing. It was a favourite resort of +_samurai_ women, seeking consolation for unfaithful or brutal conduct of +their husbands, and strength in the reputation for chastity of the +famous Lady of Tamiya. In 1825 the third Kikugoro[u] made Yotsuya famous +by his presentation of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" as written for the stage by +Tsuruya Namboku (Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]). In the first years of the Meiji +restoration period Shunkintei Ryuo[u], the famous story-teller, heralded +its renown in the Shin Yoshiwara. O'Iwa San became a feature of the +Konharuko[u] fete of that quarter. A grave was again erected to her at +the Myo[u]gyo[u]ji. As she had no _kaimyo[u]_, or posthumous name, the +rector of the temple gave her that of "Tokusho[u]-In Myo[u]nen Hisho[u] +Daishi," which can be interpreted--"She, pleasing of disposition and +earnest in prayer; a woman of greatest brilliance." Let the reader not +judge this composition harshly; or its truth. + +The editor to the reproduction[40] of Ryuo[u]'s story speaks of his +difficulties. Placed in his hand for judgment he saw at once the power +of the tale. But--how avoid incurring the divine anger of the Yotsuya +Inari; how avoid being charged with the divine punishment? This question +was solved by the publisher assuming the burden of both inflictions; +under the spur of what _he_ regarded as publication in inferior and +untrue form. He answered these questions with a laugh--"Afraid? Not so: +I, too, am human. Though the unusual is an object, yet I would not +rejoice at incurring the divine anger by publishing what should not be +published. Though the divine anger be incurred by publishing the Yotsuya +Kwaidan, and the divine punishment be inflicted, yet who would not +gladden the eyes and ears of the land? Hence in haste the true record is +to be printed; owing to emission of unfounded stories. The true record +being put forth, the people profit by it. How then is the divine wrath +incurred by publication? Certainly not: the protection of the divine one +is secured." The editor trusted in his argument; as does the present +scribe. + +More than once the remark has been heard as to these shrines of +Nippon--"Their temples? Those dirty, shabby places, without architecture +or interest, the haunts of snotty, ragged children?" The sun-helmeted +gentleman and lady, or collection of their kind, rush them by in haughty +contempt, and with some ridicule and ridiculous comment. Good Sir and +Madame, you are passing history on the road. At this Kwo[u]gwanji, in +its rather shabby guest hall, Kusonoki Masashige and his devoted +followers spoke their last defiance and then cut belly. Kobe? It is +noted as a place to take ship, and not be too long in doing so. This +other, barely a mile from the To[u]kyo[u]-Yokohama railway, is +contemporary record of Nitta Yoshioka, who carved his bloody protest on +the Ashikaga before he killed himself in the trap set by their treachery +at this spot. Here behind the Ko[u]raiji near Oiso is a very shabby and +tiny shrine nestled at the foot of the cliff. This had better be +avoided. It is dedicated to the smallpox god. But more than history is +neglected in the indifference and contempt shown these minor _miya_. A +vein of thought inwoven into the minds of this strange people is +instanced by this modest shrine of the Tamiya Inari. Wandering along the +amusement quarter of some great city, a theatre is seen with a _torii_ +gorgeous in its red paint standing before the entrance. Within this +entrance is a small shrine and a box for the practical offerings of cash +or commodities. The theatre is decorated inside and outside with flags +as for a festival (_matsuri_). Such is actually in progress. The +representation is that of the Yotsuya Kwaidan. From manager and actor +(even in the presentation of the figured screen of the moving picture) +the malevolence of the O'Iwa Inari--the Fox-witched O'Iwa--is to be +averted. Hence all the signs of worship as at her very shrine; hence the +unwillingness of author or publisher to handle the story, at least in +its full form. This is but a remnant of the fear of "black magic" still +found and practised in Nippon. On the beach at Kamakura at times can be +found straw chaplets with gaudy cloth attached to the centre; a copper +coin, and rice offering are accompaniments. Or such will be found at the +crossroads of town or village, or on the Yokohama Bluff. Or in times of +epidemic in numbers they are laid on the wayside shrine of the god of +measles or other disease. The latter disposition conveys its own +warning; the others are _majinai_ or charms by which it is hoped to +transfer the disease to some other child, thus insuring the cure of the +first sufferer. The coin has been rubbed on the body of the little +patient. Dogs usually dispose of the food offering; and passing children +are only too likely to pick up the nefarious coin. The road cleaner +comes along at his rare intervals and sweeps the chaplet into the hole +for refuse. It is to be regretted that the ignorance and malevolence +indicated by these charms cannot as easily be gathered in and disposed +of. With these remarks the Yotsuya Kwaidan and its tale of ill-fortune +is brought to an end. + + YOKOHAMA, + 5th June-4th July, + 1916. + +FINIS + + + + +APPENDICES + +A + + +[In printed copies of the _gidayu_ the characters are to be +distinguished by their theme, only the term _kotoba_ is used to mark a +speaker. The shading into descriptive writing is at times vague. In the +present translation the characters are indicated. The original figures +in most _gidayu_ collections. Cf., "Gidayu Hyakuban," p. 271.] + +The Gidayu: + +Tsuruya Namboku was a writer of drama. Many are the persons called +Namboku. The three preceding generations were actors who played in +buffoon parts. In the fourth generation for the first time was taken up +the literary work of play-writing. The Namboku in the fourth generation, +Yo[u]myo[u] Genzo[u], later known as Inosuke, was born at +Motohamacho[u]. The father carried on the business of _katatsuki_ dyer, +(handling the cloth to be more or less gaily patterned). Anei 4th year +(1775), entering at the Kanai Sansho[u] no Mon he (_Yo[u]myo[u]_) took +the name of Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]. Later he received the name of Nan Tsuruya +Boku. When he became a playwright he was about fifty years old. His +plays are most ingenious, and are very numerous. Among them are the +"Osome Hisomatsu," "Iro-yomi-uri," "Sumidagawa Hana Gosho[u]," "Yotsuya +Kwaidan." In the playhouse they are known (collectively) as the "Namboku +Mono." + + +IEMON SUMIKA NO DAN + +(Scene in the house of Iemon) + +Now to present it:--Already on that day--ko[u], ko[u]--the bell of +sunset had issued its call. In the hedges were heard sounds of the +swarms of insects. Still more lonely was the deserted mansion. O'Iwa, +disturbed, anxious, when was her countenance to be open, her breast +cleared of its darkness? She brought forth the _andon_; took out the +sulphured slivers of wood from the box holding steel, flint, and tinder. +In the depths of her husband's mind no flowers bloomed. She thought it +was her woman's temperament that made her brood. In her anxiety she gave +expression to her gloom: + +_O'Iwa_--"Truly as 'tis said, it is a fleeting world; the flowing of +water the future of men. Before this I performed the service of the +inner apartments of the Hosokawa House. The marriage! Connected in +thought with Iemon Dono the honoured dismissal was requested, that I +should become a bride. Without fortune is that Inosuke, heir of the +master, such object of delight to bring him to maturity. In the end all +affection is absent. Nerve-racked from birth, with the pains of +child-birth, the blood clot, such sickness has seized upon me. Then +suddenly--one without a home, shorn of all ornament. Overcome completely +by the struggle, effort and end have culminated. Parent and child, +husband and wife, these (relations) master this self. Detested is the +fleeting world, gloomy one's existence." + +As she pondered, unbidden the tears mingled with her depression. Without +restraint, gradually rising-rising-rising, mounted the flow of blood: + +_O'Iwa_--"Ah! Ah! Again the ever-present disease shows itself. Deign--a +remedy! Oh! Oh! That! That! That same remedy of aforetime, stirred and +mingled with pure water. Two sips, three sips; if one drinks poison--one +becomes divine; life comes to an end, but pity is aroused." + +The curtain before the dressing room was gently raised. Without speaking +Gombei seated himself close to O'Iwa. + +"Eh! Who is that? Iya! No one is announced. Hana, I say! Hana, I say! +Oh! 'Tis he--of all men! Gombei San, has he come again? Vengeance is +satisfied, no longer exists." + +As she would depart he held her sleeve to stop her. + +_Gombei_--"Ah! Ah! I say--please wait. A little while ago, at Iemon's +coughing and clearing his throat, I was frightened away. Trembling, at +that time I went round to the rear. Thinking him really absent, with +stealth I have entered. The motive of a man lies at the bottom of the +heart. Just think to grant me a little affection. Alas! Ma! Submitting +it is deigned to hear what I have to say. Heigh! A woman like this, her +whole mind on Iemon, she would be the chaste wife. But the affections of +Iemon are elsewhere, far distant. Ya! Hoi! Hoi! Hoi! To fly! Ho! Ho! Ho! +Ho! Ho! Oh! Moreover the disposition of Gombei is not wicked. He seeks +to be the husband. Other purpose there is none. Condescend to be easy in +mind." + +But his words carry no weight. The face of O'Iwa in the light has a +glare. + +_Gombei_--"As usual: Ma! One deeply distrustful. Iya! These matters, +though in thought, are not to be put in words. The state of affairs is +too urgent to be put into words. Sa! But I hear you say--'Iemon probably +goes to Hachiman. Groundless all these censures.' Do you really believe +this? The intrigue is with the only daughter of Okumura Kinai, by name +Koume. She is indeed a beauty; whether one regard the shape of her face, +her manners, or the carriage of her loins as if the willow of spring. +The intimacy with Iemon could go no further. The proof spoken of is +here. This letter--the sealed envelope: it fell from the sleeve of +Iemon. Stealthily I picked it up, by accident. Now then! Whereabouts is +it? A lengthy thing--Sa! Let's see what's in it. The coquettishness of +the sentences! But let's see what she does say. Eh! What's that? 'The +night is source of pleasure. Great the pleasure at sight of you. With +compliments.' Assuredly there can be no mistake, when she talks this +way--'The day comes. Soon we will be husband and wife; morning and night +to be at your service. With compliments.'[41]--'Thus are the gods +invoked. With compliments.' Eh! What's this? 'When distant from your +side but for a moment, painful Time's course. Place this signature next +your very person (_hadaka_).'--'To-night--come quickly; your advent is +awaited. With compliments.' What a miserable creature is this! Is she +not? But there's still more. 'O'Iwa Sama and matters with her, this is a +punishment due to offence in a previous existence. Condescend to be +relieved in mind. Be sure thus to view it. The spiteful brush (pen) +stops. With compliments.'--'It is hard (my lot); very hard. With +compliments.'--'The honoured master comes; the ever-present desire.' How +now, O'Iwa Sama? Sa! Is there no outbreak as to this? The occasion is no +pleasing one. Is there no harsh remark forthcoming as to one who holds +illicit intercourse with the husband of another? Eh! You are a woman of +marvellous patience! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! At all events say what you think. +'As yet in this matter, as yet in this affair, you are certain of +nothing.' Is that it? That Koume and her mother plot together. Eh; but +she has a beautiful face! And you--you are bloated, eyes wide distended, +one side of the face caved in, the hair of the head all fallen out. +That--and that--how describe the ugliness of your face! The affection of +Iemon has worn out. Ah! What is the name of that poisonous drug, begged +of Suian until secured? That, too, has been learned. Oh! Fearful, +fearful, fearful! This is to act as one without care. Life is not +something which lasts forever. Send from this house dismissal to Iemon, +the act of separation. This the finality! Surely the intrigue is proved. +Mere thought, easily exhausted, is to no purpose. Make up your mind; +express your feelings. At all events your reputation is preserved. Act +and decide as one indifferent. More and more have in mind the _susuki_ +of Masuo. Deign to yield. Do this--just this--O'Iwa Dono!" + +_O'Iwa_--"No! and always, No! Firm the stand taken. In no way is this +to be endured--to be endured. To hate a person is unreasonable; 'tis +unjust. But--the embracing arms, the closely clinging, this is to act +the lover." + +With fingertips she thrust him off. Angry the tears; her voice trembled. + +_O'Iwa_--"Ya! 'A woman, and the object of contempt; one treated by her +lord with rudeness beyond measure. The husband has become wearied. +Here's the proof. Are you a woman lacking sense?' One so unmeasurably +rude--out with you! One's whole frame vibrates with passion. At one's +very feet, the fact is made plain. Quick--away with you! Delay--and this +shall be the guerdon." + +With violence she drew the dagger of Kosuke. Gombei, wicked as he was, +weakened forthwith. + +_Gombei_--"Eh! Treated thus one's purpose is brought to naught. Listen +now to reason, self-willed as you are. A little while, and it will not +be the time for a snarling face. Very well: notice is given that soon +your spirit will be broken. The petition is lodged at the Daikwan's +office. There will be difficulty in gathering principal and interest. +Just wait." He said these words on leaving, ready to make a bolt of it. +With _zo[u]ri_ (sandal) on one foot and a wooden clog (_geta_) on the +other rapidly he ran away. Left alone O'Iwa rose in haste. To the +conflagration burning in her bosom, was added the fuel of a woman's +temperament. If it were true! How learn? Pondering over the details +filled her with anxiety. + +_O'Iwa_--"Ah! Ah! Ill feeling seeks to destroy--already it turns to +wickedness. Gombei's face betrayed him. His talk was specious. At sight +of the letter he read the doubting heart learns the truth. Burdensome +the knowledge for one's heart. The mind tastes the bitterness of +adversity. The hair of the head, behind the temples, is affected by the +feelings. To draw out the dressing stand to hand: the little combs of +willow, where are they? Sorrow effects change; as does entanglements of +the heart. The fine-toothed comb which holds the thousand strands of +hair--how now! It has been forgotten." + +Again she took up the hair. To get it out of the way she took the front +hair in both hands, making space to see. + +_O'Iwa_--"Alas! I fail to understand. To-day the vertigo is more +pronounced than usual; especially with the hair like this. Did sickness +cause the loss?" + +As she spoke, she drew the cover from the mirror. Reflected in it was a +face to inspire fear. Ha! Frightened, she rose and drew back. Though she +looked around her--there was no one. Alas! How strange! Thus she stood. +Then leaning forward carefully she scanned the mirror. "Ya! Ya! Since +when has my face been like this? It is completely altered." As if she +could repair the ravages to self and features squint-eyed she stood and +gazed. To sight she seemed a woman of evil. "Hai! Ha!" She fell +prostrate. "How now! How pitiful!" Like one crazed she arose. Her body +writhed in pain, at the pit of the stomach. These stomach pains, of +frequent occurrence, now seized her. Thus long she lay writhing where +she was. + +While she twisted in agony; knowing nothing of what has happened, and +hearing the wheedling voice of a crying child, Kosuke had returned and +was at the entrance. + +_Kosuke_--"Honoured lady, long have you been kept waiting. The honoured +priest had matter to relate. In Yotsuya I went from this place to that, +in effort to coax supply. But just now.... Is she suckling the child?" +While speaking he drew close--"In the meantime the honoured illness has +developed beyond measure. After retiring for the night you walk in your +sleep. Eh! Deign to be a little prudent." + +Softly the child came to her side. On seeing in what agony she was: + +_Kosuke_--"Ya! Alas! Alas! Have you again one of those hysterical +attacks, now so frequent? Okusama! I say!" + +To restore her from the fit to consciousness he raised her in his arms. +Regarding with attention her frightful appearance: + +_Kosuke_--"Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo! This face of the Okusama: Ma! What can be the +matter?" + +He staggered in bewilderment. + +_Kosuke_--"How changed! The Danna is absent. Heigh-ho! Ma! How has this +occurred? What can be done? The cold water in the kettle here...." + +Opening her mouth he made her swallow a mouthful. He placed his mouth to +her ear. + +_Kosuke_--"Okusama! Your ladyship!" + +Gently he stroked her back. Thus nursed, the breath of the heartbroken +O'Iwa faintly returned. + +_O'Iwa_--"Hei! Has Kosuke returned? Why do you stroke me thus? I had but +gone to sleep, just now." + +"Oh! Oh!" said he--"Ma! Ma! How joyful. Ah! Iya! I say, Okusama; how +long have you been in that state? Your face inspires fear." + +At his question again she was the woman. The tears in her breast rose +high and overflowed. For a time she did not answer. When a little calm: + +_O'Iwa_--"Deign then to listen. As usual Iemon Dono went forth to +worship at Hachimangu[u]. Subsequently my vertigo was too pronounced. +Two or three drinks were taken of the medicine prescribed by Suian Dono. +Secretly at the rear entered Naosuke no Gombei, to make illicit +courtship. Various were his pleas. Thus--Iemon Dono was deeply in love +with the daughter of Okumura. The worship (_kami-mairi_) was all a lie. +He was contracted to Koume. Hence his affection for me was at an end. +This change was due to the drug. Hear what is to be done. Love +unrequited is to be satisfied by revenge. Thus did Gombei put the +matter. But it is not likely that my husband is so cruel. Heart again +will turn to heart. The attack of vertigo was strong. The hair was +pulled out. Moreover, suddenly the face became altered.... My +appearance: Ma! Gombei then did not lie. By the plotting of the Okumura, +parent and child, I have drunk poison. They have an understanding with +Suian. Eh! At the thought--at the thought--anger rises. My husband, a +man of note, with him she commits adultery. Hence the hatred of these +people. Since the poison has been quaffed; as serpent, as demon, none +shall be my equal. The Okumura, parent and child, are you the kind thus +to act!" + +Suddenly she sprang up, and would have dashed out at the front. At her +act the frightened Kosuke put his arms around and stopped her. + +_Kosuke_--"Heigh! Heigh! I say, Okusama! The expression of your face has +changed. Heigh-ho! Whither away? Alas! It is plain that she would go to +the _yashiki_ of Okumura. Evil her purpose. She would confute the malice +spoken by Koume, by parent and child. She would fetch away with her +Iemon Dono. Iya! Ho, there! Your honoured judgment strays. She believes +in what Gombei has said; that he is with the Okumura. Does she not +remember times past, the reproof of the Danna? Sa! As before! As before! +As before! Put on outward seeming. Deign to be calm. No! No! No! Though +there be shame; display a smile. Do but this. The prudence of the lady +carries the day. The colour, the perfume, of the flower has no effect. +Sa! She won't stop! She will go! Thither she will take her way! The +conflagration of her wrath is in her glare. She goes, and Kosuke remains +behind!" At a sound she looked around. The little boy was weeping +bitterly at his mother's state. The tie of blood, her affection, +prevailed. + +_O'Iwa_--"Oh! Bonka! Bonka! Bonka! The pretty fellow grieves." + +She drew near to embrace him. Earnestly he looked in his mother's face. + +_Child_--"Iya! Iya! My lady mother is not like this. I'm afraid! I'm +afraid!" + +Weeping, the little boy dropped from her knee. + +"Bei-yo! Please call my real lady mother." + +_O'Iwa_--"Are! Are! Are! Deign to hear that! In heart children are +without discernment. My appearance changed, he fears the presence of his +mother. To her side he will not approach. How, how comes this face! +Meeting with Iemon Dono one would think--one would think--my very self +meets with retribution for some deed done in a past existence. Husband +and beloved child--alas! they avoid my sight." + +With lamentable cries she wept. Kosuke, too, was moved, and joined in +her tears. O'Iwa again inspected the appearance of her face. + +_O'Iwa_--"To continue living thus in the world would be one unending +shame. Dying the grudge will be repaid. Holding thus the skirt prevents +my leaving. This must not be. To that place I go." + +As the two struggled the girdle (_obi_) came loose. The contest was +brought to an end. At this juncture returned Hamiya Iemon. He had little +disposition to enter his home. Thus unexpectedly, without premeditation, +the two came face to face. Mutually they gazed at each other. "Ho! The +Danna: good day." Kosuke remained where he was, uneasily twisting. O'Iwa +clasped tight the breast of her husband's coat. "Heigh! Iemon Dono." + +_O'Iwa_--"Complete has been the silence toward me. Every night, every +night, polluted. With Koume have pillows been exchanged." Speech and +voice vibrated with jealousy. She glared at him. Without showing alarm: + +_Iemon_--"Ma! I don't understand. This way of acting is unusual. Why +look like that? In that manner painful the change in appearance."--"Why? +Why? Eh! You pretend ignorance. You pretend ignorance of the joyful +result. By the artifice of Koume, of parent and child, in unison with +Suian, a poisonous drug has been given me to drink. By this means I am +made unrecognizable. Would that never I had been born, to live so +deformed ... all due to the feeling aroused in these people. Sa! Sa! Sa! +Restore my former appearance! Bewitched, seized by anxious care, it +remains but to withdraw." + +_Iemon_--"Ya! What mad talk! In my absence, loosening the cord of the +_obi_, secretly you indulge your lewdness. Detected by the master's eye, +disloyal as you are, death is the weighty punishment. Make ready!" At +hearing the unjust proposal the upright Kosuke with tears held tight his +knees. + +_Kosuke_--"Heigh! Danna Sama. Iya! I say, Iemon Dono! This Kosuke an +adulterous fellow? Heigh-ho! It is unreasonable! Unreasonable! +Unreasonable! You speak for your own purpose. I, the mere servant, have +been to call the honoured priest to the Yotsuya. Returning home I found +the Okusama unconscious. When she learned the true state of affairs the +Okusama would have rushed forth. To stop her I seized the end of the +_obi_. And that is to be unchaste! Iya! A paramour--heigh-ho! That is +too much! Too much! Too much! It is to go to excess. Truly, truly, for +these years and months you have gone forth in the world. Such has been +your conduct. You have allowed a sight of you--at the Bon Matsuri, at +the New Year, in accidental meetings on the street when on some mission. +Why! The very dogs bark--the honoured constables of the night watch--eh! +they administer reproof." + +_O'Iwa_--"Lamentable the distress. How many times! Sleepless the +nights--the time when one should slumber. But this does not move him. +Hence the unkindness of his speech." + +_Kosuke_--"Eh! He don't listen. Danna Dono, beating the _tatami_ one +weeps with regret." + +O'Iwa forthwith sprang up in haste--sprang up--sprang up. + +"Superior is the concubine to the lady wife. Below the basely mean is +one placed. In the relation of husband and wife, the thought is to treat +the husband with respect. Such is the duty of woman. To you the poverty +and distress are not displayed. Obtaining her means to live by washing +and occasional tasks, yet the wife is discarded. The sum total of the +sunshine transforms the flowers; invisible their change. Regardless of +self-distrust of the past is put aside. But you act with cruel motive; a +grudge as lasting as a night without moonlight. From the clouds the +drizzle falls on bamboo and on village. And between the intervals of +rain there is naught but weeping." + +Iemon refused to listen: + +_Iemon_--"Ya! Mere excuses these; mere excuses these. In the master's +absence the cord of the _obi_ is loosed. Madly you go your rounds. The +lewdness is evident. Sa! Make honest confession." At the outrageous +words of the husband the voice of O'Iwa trembled still more: + +_O'Iwa_--"Eh! 'Tis your own sin you would conceal. Regardless of self +you would impute evil reputation to me. Having driven me out, you would +make Koume your wife. But by that you shall gain nothing. Miserable one! +Unblushingly do you join in the hate of the Okumura, parent and child?" + +With a rapid motion she snatched his dagger. She half turned: + +_Iemon_--"Ya! Whither? Whither? Here one must pick one's words. This is +not the time to inquire into the facts. Iya! Iya! Iya! Where do you go?" + +At their quarrel Kosuke was perplexed. Said the child in troubled voice: + +_Child_--"Honoured mother--where go ye? Honoured father--forbearance, +patience." + +He clung to their garments in kindness and affection. The eyes of the +two in Shurado[u] (Hell of fighting) were blinded. On this side and that +they pulled at the scabbard of the sword. In the wrestling, the +springing in and recoil, the sword slipped from the scabbard. Without +intention to five or six inches it pierced the shoulder. Atto! The wife +fell--"Namu Sambo[u]!"[42] Plucking out the sword O'Iwa cast it aside. +By the action of retributive fate the point of the weapon pierced the +chest of Kosuke. The wound was fatal. Seven revolutions and a fall: +alas! he was dying. Close under his feet the blow of Iemon had reached +the child. With but a single cry forthwith he died. At the accident the +husband was at a loss what to do. He stood stupified. With difficulty +O'Iwa rose from the ground. + +_O'Iwa_--"Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! You would kill me! Oh! Since you +would kill, put into deed the ardent wish. Wretch! An idea--Koume, the +parent and child: these are to be seized and put to death. Be it so!" + +With eyes of hate, her hair fallen down, jealously glaring, in +appearance she was just like a female devil. Blood curdling, she +inspired fear. The husband gave vent to his inner thought: + +_Iemon_--"Though one kill without intent, yet the brandishing of the +sword is one's own deed, one's very act. It is the punishment of Heaven +for unchastity and jealousy. Bear it in mind." + +At the cruel words Kosuke, drawing painful breath: + +_Kosuke_--"Eh! To us, to us, to us, such speech applies not. Unkind, +unrighteous, is this death punishment. There is naught to compare to it. +Very wicked and unprincipled, surely you are possessed of a devil! +Seldom is the life of a serving man grudged him; unconsidered as he is. +Forgetful, the evil reputation of lechery is attached, and death the +portion. Eh! How regrettable! The sight is unseemly. 'Twas you who +inflicted the wound! To the Okusama also, evil the name. Thus, without +intention, the end of your life is not witnessed by your child." + +_Iemon_--"By the hand of another your wound, by one your parent! On my +part--on my part--had I aught to do with this? Heigh! Am I not grieved? +Eh! Cold? Unfeeling? A wound to myself could not pain more." + +Vainly writhing he raised and embraced the body of the child. As sadly +he lamented, O'Iwa crawled up close. Tightly her arms clasped the dead +body of her child. + +_O'Iwa_--"Alas! Alas! Inosuke! Inosuke! The selfishness of your father; +the temperament of the mother; foolish their thoughts. Thus have you +ended life.... How great is the grudge. Heigh! Exercise forbearance! +Exercise forbearance! Deign to show forbearance. Parent and child are +related for but one life, 'tis said. Now separated, again in what world +will there be meeting? Men are born into the wide world. There is such a +thing as sympathy, 'tis said. Before your eyes lie _kerai_ (retainer), +wife, and child. Now, on the very brink of time, not once do you recite +the Buddha's name. Abandon your inordinate desires. Is your heart that +of a demon? Eh! A snake? Cruel and cold to your wife, you reckon up your +various hates. With Kosuke I am the one to lament. Tears overflow. +Steady the fall of rain of Yo[u]suji, of _sumidare_ (the rainy season). +When dying the chief of birds vomits forth blood with his song: so I." + +_Iemon_--"Ya! The song she sings inspires no regret. A prayer said and +the child enters Nirvana. Namu Amida Butsu! As for these two--I would +kill them by inches; as they twisted, and staggered, and fell grasping +at the air, and in every way showed their agony. In the next world may +they meet with a mountain set with sharp-edged swords, so cruel as to +inspire pity." + +Just then came running to the front entrance Suian. He gasped for +breath: + +"Heigh! Heigh! Iemon Dono!" + +_Suian_--"O'Iwa Dono's appearance has changed. It was the drug, our own +secret nostrum, administered at request of the honoured mother of +Okumura. Though sorrow was felt, unexpected the good luck in killing the +honoured wife. Henceforth come out openly. Who would not drain the +_sake_ cups with Koume Dono! The three lands (China, India, Japan) are +the inheritance of one who was but an adopted son. All in good order! +All in good order! All in good order! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sa! To set +about it at once." + +The husband concealed tears of regret for past conduct. + +_Iemon_--"Plain it is that wife, child, and _kerai_, though deserving +compassion, have found death. 'Twas determined by fate in a previous +existence. But to obviate fear of future disaster, though not the +original purpose, the dead bodies of these two are to be nailed to a +door panel, with the inscription--'unchaste and jealous.' Let them float +away on the current of the Nenashigawa. The entrance of the house is +close to the inner room. Make ready: it will be best to leave by the +rear. Quick! Quick! But...." + +_Suian_--"It happens that the neighbor Dansuke comes." He bent and +peeped through the entrance. "Dansuke! Dansuke!" Dansuke Mizuo in +presence, mouth to ear he was informed. "Namu! Namu! Namu! Namu!" He +nodded consent. The two men talked in whispers. The dead bodies of the +two (O'Iwa and Kosuke) were carried into the inner room. For some time +Naosuke Gombei had been watching what went on, peeping out and +listening. He appeared from the shadow. + +_Gombei_--"Yai! Unjustly have the blameless wife and _kerai_ been +punished by Hamiya Iemon. Complaint is to be made at the Daikwan's +court." + +When he would rush forth he was pulled back by the girdle (_obi_). "Ya! +Ya! Whither would you go? There is matter of importance to hear."--"The +intent is plain. You would kill me." One had the long sword of the +soldier. Two or three passes and he was nearly cut down by the skill of +Hamiya. When he tried to flee, from behind he received a cut through the +shoulder. It finished him. Then he (Iemon) would hide the dead body of +his child from the eyes and reproach of men. Close at hand was a heavy +stone trough. For funeral rites--"Namu Amida Butsu!" Into the well crib +he threw it. Are! Marvellous! Suddenly the house creaked and trembled. +From somewhere came swarms of rats. Heigh! Incomprehensible! Iemon +wavered. Singling him out they flew and seized him. Sha! Confused he +slashed in attempt to drive them off. Lightning blazed around the sword; +many phosphorescent lights--in wreaths, double, triple. To the end of +the worlds his retribution. + +Thus the causes, origins, are made known of what remains as the Yotsuya +Kwaidan. + +END OF THE GIDAYU + +[It can be noted that Japanese thought and expression are not very +different from that of the West. An idea perhaps can be obtained from +this _gidayu_ as to why the native waxes enthusiastic over the pose and +vivid gestures of the _geisha_, who is the one to interpret these +dramatic recitations. To her falls the "_kotoba_." The descriptive lines +are recited by a chorus to the harsh and effective twang of the +_samisen_. The _samisen_ may not afford music, but it can give +expression to the emotional in feeling. The _gidayu_ recitation is a +favourite art with the Go Inkyo[u] Sama. Symposia are held, before which +the old gentleman recites, often enough without chorus; for he, and the +_geisha_, at times have to fill the role both of "_kotoba_" and chorus, +modulating the voice according to the theme. Symposia is not an +unbefitting term. Meetings are held for public competition in _gidayu_ +recitation; but in the privacy of one's circle and hobby the banquet is +an important feature--at least to the guests. In his history of +"Japanese Literature" (Dai Nihon Bungaku Shi, pp. 591-596) Suzuki +Cho[u]ko[u] gives a long extract from the play, as sample of Tsuruya's +powers as a dramatist. Adopted into the House of the actor Tsuruya +Namboku, and marrying his daughter, Katsu Byo[u]zo[u] in turn assumed +the name Tsuruya Namboku.] + + +B + +[In the original the story by Momogawa Jakuen is found in the Kwaidan +Hyaku Monogatari, vol. ii, p. 83 (Kokkwado[u]-To[u]kyo[u]). This +collection has already been referred to, as sketching a number of the +best known Japanese _kwaidan_. The present example furnishes a specimen +of _ko[u]dan_ style, and has application to the present subject. It also +instances how the Japanese stage boldly faces situations, the exigencies +of which call for the greatest adaptation and facility on the part of +actor and stage manager. The "Yotsuya Kwaidan" in the stage +representation presents a number of critical scenes in which both +qualities are severely strained. Rapid metamorphosis is a _sine qua +non_. And it is effected--somehow.] + +The _ko[u]dan_: + + +ONOE KIKUGORO[U] NO YU[U]REI + +From former times and generations the Otowa[43] House held a monopoly +in the representation of ghosts. Its representative in the fifth +generation was the most skilful of all at spectres. This man of the +third generation lived at Muko[u]jima no Terajima. He was commonly +called Terajima no Kikugoro[u]; his stage name was Baiko[u]. This man's +daughter was the mother of the fifth generation. Thus it can be seen +that he was the maternal grandfather of this fifth representative. This +third Kikugoro[u] was the first to act the Yotsuya Kwaidan, in Bunsei +8th year 7th month (14th August-13th September, 1825) at the Nakamura-za +(theatre). The author was the noted Tsuruya Namboku, who constructed the +very famous "To[u]kaido[u] Yotsuya Kwaidan." O'Iwa San, the attendant +(_wakato[u]_) Kohei, and Enya no Ro[u]nin Sato[u] Yo[u]mo Shichi, these +parts fell to Kikugoro[u]. Matsumoto Koshiro[u], he who strutted it at +the Ko[u]raiya, did the Naosuke Gombei. Iemon was the part of the +seventh Danjuro[u]; later Ebizo, who was the real father of the ninth of +the name. The staging of O'Iwa Sama includes--1st scene, the combing of +the hair; 2nd scene, the Sunamura Ombo[u]bori; 3rd scene, Iemon ill in +the dark room at Hebiyama; 4th scene, the _yashiki_ of Naosuke Gombei at +Fukagawa Sankaku. O'Iwa appears at the scene of the combing of the hair +as mentioned, in the incident where the guests are received, and in the +3rd scene at Hebiyama. Iemon is ill. Splitting apart the lantern set out +during the Festival of the Dead (Bon Matsuri) the ghost of O'Iwa appears +with the child in her embrace. Iemon receives them as would a stone +Jizo[u]. O'Iwa, at sight of the fright of Iemon, laughs--ki, ki, ki. At +once they fade away; and at once the ghost of Kohei the _wakato[u]_ +takes her place, he who was charged with unchaste conduct with O'Iwa. It +was the part of the performer to please the uninitiated by some +strenuous effort. The first performance at this theatre was for three +months--from the seventh to the ninth month. On consideration the drama +is of interest. O'Iwa is killed at Yotsuya. With the dead body of the +_wakato[u]_ Kohei she is fastened to a door, and from the rear the +scoundrel sets them adrift. Fishing at Ombo[u]bori, Iemon sees them +float by. From Yotsuya to Sunamura is a very great distance. It would +occupy a woman's legs for the space of a day; or faint-hearted fellows, +water drinkers, such of the kind as would try it. Winding along what +rivers, by what intersecting canals had they floated here? In no way +does one conceive. All the more the reasons influencing the author's +design are not known. Very interesting is the story, to the cheerful +character, and those not to be chilled by apparitions. At all events +they get to Ombo[u]bori? The third Kikugoro[u], the first to take the +part of O'Iwa, was a superlative actor, skilled in capturing the people. +In the third scene, the dark room at Hebiyama, the ghost comes forth +from the _Bon_ lantern. Every day the _kozo[u]_ (man or boy as +apprentice) of the utility shop in Asakusa Umacho[u] slowly took down +the lantern covered with white paper. In a straight line, before the +eyes of all, he passed along Kuramaedo[u]ri, crossing Asakusa. From +Yokoyamacho[u] he crossed to Daimaru no Mae. Passing through +Norigyo[u]cho[u] he reached the Nakamura-za in Sakaicho[u]. As he passed +along these streets crowded with people, the eyes of men were attracted: + +_No. 1_--"Every day, every day, the _kozo[u]_ goes by carrying that +_Bon_ lantern. Where does he go?" + +_No. 2_--"He? Kikugoro[u] now is playing O'Iwa Sama at the Nakamura-za. +The ghost issues from that _Bon_ lantern. The lantern used is brought +every day by the _kozo[u]_." + +_No. 1_--"Ha! A practical application. We must be sure and go see." +Through this advertisement the guests came readily. As fact, every day +but the one _Bon_ lantern was used. Split apart, it was repaired. From +the first day, up to the performances of a thousand autumns, one lantern +answered all purposes. Truly Kikugoro[u] was more than a clever actor. +He was wonderful in securing the good will of people. No actor was equal +to him. Tradesmen, Government officials, learned men, refined people--he +was skilful at gaining their support. Hence he did not lack money. His +_status_ did not affect him. When as usual the _Bon_ lantern one day was +to be carried out, Kikugoro[u] made his pupil Onozo[u] the bearer. Said +Kikugoro[u]: + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Onozo[u], don't I frighten you somewhat in this shape?" + +_Onozo[u]_--"I'm not in the least frightened. Every day acting as your +assistant I'm not afraid." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"What? Not afraid? Say that you're afraid." + +_Onozo[u]_--"Patron, that is unreasonable. One not afraid--is not +afraid. Hence it cannot be helped." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Anyhow, say you are afraid." + +_Onozo[u]_--"I'm not at all afraid." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"An obstinate rascal, this." + +While speaking--_pokari_, he gave _Onozo[u]_ a whack on the head. As it +was he went through the performance. Coming to the green room, at once +he called Onozo[u]. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Fool and low fellow." + +_Onozo[u]_--"Why is it then you would strike a fool and low fellow with +a stick?" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"You are just like a fool. A little while ago when told +to be afraid of me, you would not say you were afraid." + +_Onozo[u]_--"Patron, that is to be unreasonable. I attend you. Every day +I see you." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"I know you are not afraid. But you are the very one who +acts as my attendant. In public you are to look at me as one frightened +beyond measure. If this be not widely published, will not the theatre be +deserted? An actor who is good only at acting, he is not to be called a +clever man. He must draw people. Fool and low fellow!" + +_Onozo[u]_--"Naruhodo! Since you say it--I'm afraid." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Your answer now is to the purpose." + +Hence on considering the matter, was not Kikugoro[u] in every way a +talented man? For the space of eighty days this theatre turned away +guests. Later, in Tempo[u] 7th year 7th month (12th August to 11th +September, 1836) again this drama was produced. The actor was the same +as at the previous production. On this occasion Kikugoro[u] took +thought. As it was the second time, it must be changed in presentation +to an audience. _Do[u]mo!_ There was the coming on of the ghost. It is +clad in a grey robe. If O'Iwa wears a grey robe, and the _wakato[u]_ +Kohei wears a grey robe, both being the same to view this would fail to +interest. He continually worried. Nevertheless it would not do to wear +armour; and a ghost in _kami-shimo_[44] raises no chill. Some +contrivance must be hit upon. Day and night the matter worried him. +Habitue of the gallery of this Morita-za was a man named Tsutaya no +Yoshi, commonly known as Tsutayoshi. An extraordinarily dissolute fellow +he borrowed to the four sides and eight directions. At this time in the +Yoshiwara Sumicho[u] was a tenement placed in the rear of the prostitute +houses. He removed thither, and soothed his troubles by living alone. +His face washed in the morning, at once he ran forth. He ate his meals +at a cheap eating house. A varied meal consumed he made his way to the +Morita-za. Lunch was eaten in the theatre. On the return he took a drink +and then went home. In truth he was a lively fellow. The Yotsuya Kwaidan +had just been determined on for the close of the sixth month (July). At +sundown he returned to his home in the Yoshiwara. On the way he +drank--the strongest of liquors. At once he hung up the mosquito net and +went inside. Not knowing front from rear he went to sleep. Pressed by a +necessity the sound of the wooden clappers (_hyoshigi_) made him open +his eyes. It was the harlot quarter, the 9th hour and more (after 3 +A.M.), and the liveliness of the night was over. The quiet of the place +inspired fear. From evening he had not stirred from the mosquito net, +but had slept. The light had gone out, and it was pitch dark. Soundly +had he slept. In the jar was fresh water for drinking. Greedily he +drank. + +_Yoshi_--"I have slept--in a way to cause fear. It is now past the 9th +hour. I still can sleep without stint." + +Again he entered the net. He drew the tobacco box close to his pillow +head. He would smoke. Looking toward the _andon_, beneath it, faintly +outlined, he saw somebody. + +_Yoshi_--"Who is there? This place used to be a brothel. Now it is a +tenement. I rent it. It don't do to have it taken for a brothel. Oi! +You--whence do you come?" + +At the words--he! It disappeared. + +_Yoshi_--"I say now! A marvellous thing--that over there. A kind of +dream--extraordinary: I don't remember having a grudge with anyone. Yai! +If the spirit which just came entertains a grudge I have never even +dreamed of such. I am a dissolute fellow, but remember no grudge with +anyone." + +Thus loud and wrathfully he shouted out. As one without fear he went to +sleep. Waking up, the next day he left the house to go to the hot bath +in Umacho[u]. On the way he breakfasted. Then he went to the Morita-za. +Although the performance had not begun, as it was a first representation +the theatre was crowded with people. Said a friend: + +_Friend_--"Yoshi San, the colour of your face is bad. Are you affected +by the heat?" + +_Yoshi_--"Liking strong spirits, I feel badly. Moreover, last night a +strange thing was witnessed. I feel out of sorts." + +_Friend_--"What was it?" + +_Yoshi_--"In the middle of last night I opened my eyes. Dimly outlined +beside the lantern (_andon_) sat a rascal; some fellow who had been +amusing himself at a neighbouring brothel. I thought that being drunk +with wine he had come there by mistake. 'Who are you?' Thus I shouted. +It disappeared. _Do[u]mo!_ It was a strange occurrence. Was it a ghost, +thought I? I could remember no grudge with another person. Anyhow, in +all likelihood it is no ghost, thought I. However I look at it, I don't +understand." + +_Friend_--"Hei! Yoshi San, it was your own imagination." + +_Yoshi_--"Though I considered it a vision of my own, as strange I +mention it." + +_Friend_--"If you feel bad it will be well to stay away for to-night." + +_Yoshi_--"I don't think I feel badly in any other way. To-night--for the +whole night--I'll make the test." + +That day he returned to the Yoshiwara house. That night no one was seen. +But when he did see it, was the thing a matter of his own imagination? +The next day he came to the theatre. The friend was waiting for him. + +_Friend_--"Yoshi San, did it appear at night?" + +_Yoshi_--"Iya! At night it did not appear. In the middle of the night +opening my eyes I looked with especial care to the eight sides. Nothing +that could be considered suspicious was to be seen." + +_Friend_--"Then it was as I said. It being at one time a brothel, would +not something appear in this house? Having this wholly in mind, the +thing presented itself to your eyes." + +_Yoshi_--"Doubtless it is but that; a freak of the imagination." + +That night returning to the Yoshiwara, nothing happened. A space of +five nights passed. His habit was to return early; and as his thin dress +was wet with sweat he would change it. Going upstairs he took out the +thin garment from the clothes-basket (_tsuzura_). With this in hand he +was about to descend. Now as at one time the place had been a brothel +the steps were broad and wide. Seated on the lower step, lying face +downward, was somebody. + +_Yoshi_--"Ah! Has it come?" + +Being a courageous fellow, while speaking he raised his leg. + +_Yoshi_--"You're in the way." + +Pon: he gave a kick. There was not the slightest resistance. +Forthwith--ha! it was gone. + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Remarkable: it is a strange occurrence." + +While speaking he changed his robe and lit the fire. Making the water +boil, with Echizen peat he heated some wine he had bought on the road +and brought home with him. With _tsukudani_,[45] or something of that +kind to eat, he drank and thought. + +_Yoshi_--"To-day it is no product of my imagination. Who can that rascal +be?" + +Talking to himself, he drank the _sake_. Attending to preliminaries he +would go to bed. He went to the necessary and opened the door. Some one +stood there, with his back to him. + +_Yoshi_--"Here again?" + +At the words it disappeared. No matter how brave he was, that night he +felt badly and did not sleep. Awaiting dawn he was quick to go forth. On +coming to the theatre-- + +_Friend_--"Good day: how goes it with Yoshi San? Are you not very much +out of tone?" + +_Yoshi_--"At night it came. Moreover it appeared twice." + +_Friend_--"Did it appear?" + +_Yoshi_--"At first it was seated on the stair. The second time it was +inside the necessary." + +_Friend_--"Hei! That is marvellous. Probably it is the work of fox or +badger (_tanuki_)." + +This talk abruptly terminated. Tsutayoshi was a bold fine fellow. +Unmoved, he retired to his own home in the Yoshiwara. After that nothing +was seen for several days. Just as he was forcing a way into the +theatre-- + +_Man_--"Yoshi San! At the Bairin (Plum Tree) over the way is the master +of Otowaya. He is urgent to see you; so he says. It will be well to go +at once." + +_Yoshi_--"Was he told I was here?" + +_Man_--"Ah!" + +_Yoshi_--"How annoying! The Otawaya San has lent me money. _Do[u]mo!_ A +meeting, 'tis bad news." + +_Man_--"As nothing was said about it--go. Surely the return of the loan +is not involved." + +_Yoshi_--"It's not to be avoided. I'll go and see." + +Opposite to the theatre was the tea house called the "Bairin." He went +in. + +_Yoshi_--"Good-day." + +_Maid_--"Oya! Yoshi San. As the master of Otowaya is waiting upstairs +for you, just condescend to go up." + +_Yoshi_--"Ah! Is that so? Condescend to pardon." + +Don, don, he climbed the stairs. At the end of a six-mat room was a man +fanning himself. He was alone. It was Kikugoro[u], the third of the +name. He had been noted as a handsome man. However, at this time he was +an old man. The white summer garb of that very fine quality of +cloth-grass known as _jo[u]fu_ was girded in by a _chakenjo[u] obi_.[46] +Of his profession there was not a hint. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Sa! Yoshi San, come here, please." + +_Yoshi_--"The patron: _do[u]mo_! truly it has been rude not to come and +see you. I have not crossed the threshold." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Iya! Why speak so? You now live in the Yoshiwara." + +_Yoshi_--"That is so; for a long time I lived in Fukiyacho[u]. The +neighbourhood was a bad one. I had borrowed money. It was like running +away in the night. A one-time brothel now the rent is ridiculously +cheap. _Mikoshi_ (carriages) are kept in it now." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"The Yoshiwara is a gay place. For people who would amuse +themselves there is none superior. It is an excellent locality." + +_Yoshi_--"One can find whatever is desired." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"So Yoshi San, now you live alone." + +_Yoshi_--"Hai! I'm alone." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"I've just heard the talk of people. A ghost appears at +your place." + +_Yoshi_--"Who said such a thing?" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Iya! It was heard, by accident. Is it true?" + +_Yoshi_--"Hai! First it was seen beside the _andon_; then on the +stairway, and in the necessary." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"A strange matter! Is it man or woman?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ That I don't know. It was seen as in a mist. +Whether man or woman, I don't know." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Are there male and female ghosts?" + +_Yoshi_--"Male or female--I know nothing about it." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"What its nature? When it appears this time, condescend +to take a good look at it." He continued (then)--"The present drama of +the Yotsuya Kwaidan--as to my part, as you well know, O'Iwa and Kohei +before the very eyes must change places in an instant. For both to wear +the grey _kimono_ lacks interest. Which of them is to change? It is on +my mind. _Do[u]mo!_ Thought fails to solve the question. Hence the +request to you. What kind of dress does that ghost wear? That is what I +want to learn." + +_Yoshi_--"Hei!" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"But Yoshi San: It is no mere request. I loaned you ten +_ryo[u]_." + +_Yoshi_--"Patron, do you condescend still to remember it?" + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Deign not to jest. Who would forget such a rascal? I'll +wipe out that ten _ryo[u]_--and give you five _ryo[u]_ in addition. How +now? Condescend to observe." + +_Yoshi_--"Thanks are felt. When it appears I'll take a good look at it." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"With the month's change the first representation takes +place. It must be ascertained in the intervening time. Probably in four +or five days it will be seen." + +_Yoshi_--"That is so. _Do[u]mo!_ The opponent being a ghost, will it +appear to-night? Or has is ended by going away? That I don't know. +Having found out its dwelling place, I'll send a postal-card." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Don't jest. As just said, I'll give you five _ryo[u]_. +Be careful; and please take a good look." + +_Yoshi_--"Respectfully heard and understood. This time I'll get a good +look at it." + +Thus agreed Tsutayoshi returned that night to the Yoshiwara. + +_Yoshi_--"A pleasing thing! Ten _ryo[u]_ wiped off, and five _ryo[u]_ +received in addition. Thanks: a fine bit of work. It will be well if the +rascal of a ghost comes to-night. Anyhow, just before the _Bon_ it +suffers distress beyond measure. For several days nothing has been seen +of it. Its purpose may have changed: Yai! If the ghost is to appear, +please show up at once. Don't it yet appear? Oi! Ghost!" + +The ghost was not to be drawn out by this display of energy. Several +days passed without the slightest sign of it. Every day Kikugoro[u] came +to the Bairin and sent for Tsutayoshi. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Yoshi San, has it not yet appeared?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ The patron is vexed. Every day, every day, it is +awaited; and not a sign of it. Feeling out of sorts, has it not died? +That's my idea." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Being dead, is it not a ghost? Once +dead, does the rascal die again?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Patron, nothing is known of one's spirit. For it +not to appear is annoying. Spirits (_ki_) suffer pain; and suffering +pain they don't show themselves. It seems that you want it to appear +before the first representation. If I see it, I get five _ryo[u]_. I +would like to have it show itself before the _Bon_. My purpose is to get +through this year's _Bon_[47] by means of the ghost." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Anyhow--have a care." + +_Yoshi_--"Agreed." + +That night he went home and drank wine. + +_Man_--"Yoshi San, is he at home?" + +Thereupon without ceremony entered an intimate friend, from Sakaicho[u] +near Fukiyacho[u]. He had loaned money to Tsutayoshi, and now sought the +repayment. + +_Man_--"Yoshi San, you say you will bring it, you will bring it; and you +make no sign of bringing it. That was my money, and the failure to +return it is vexing. Will matters change before the _Bon_?" + +_Yoshi_--"Wait but a little. If to-night something materializes I get +five _ryo[u]_. The money in hand, at once I will pay you back." + +_Man_--"What is going to materialize? The five _ryo[u]_ you spoke of?" + +_Yoshi_--"In fact at my house a ghost appears. The Otowaya San heard of +it. As of immediate use to the theatre I am carefully to observe what +the ghost wears. He says he will give me five _ryo[u]_. The money +obtained, at once the two _ryo[u]_ will be repaid. Wait until that +happens." + +_Man_--"Oi! Oi! Yoshi San. Does a ghost really appear?" + +_Yoshi_--"It really does." + +_Man_--"What kind of a ghost?" + +_Yoshi_--"As to that--right before one; a most blood-curdling thing. +Anyhow, I shiver all over at sight of it. Just like this--" + +_Man_--"Where does it show itself?" + +_Yoshi_--"Just where you are seated." + +_Man_--"Yoshi San, jokes don't go." + +Without waiting for an answer he fled. Seeing this said Tsutayoshi: + +_Yoshi_--"A ghost is a very profitable object. Do but speak of it, and +he who would collect borrowed money takes to flight. If it appears, +money is obtained. Hence a ghost is a remarkable thing. After this when +the dry goods man comes for repayment, I'll chase him out again with the +ghost. Anyhow this house brings good luck. The rent is cheap, and there +is a ghost which enables one to dodge paying loans. Thanks: henceforth +in renting a house I'll confine myself to haunted houses. So much for +that. Will it show itself to-night?" + +Tsutayoshi hung up the mosquito net. He drank a glass. Thus reinforced, +tranquil and pleased he laid down on the pillow. After sleeping awhile +he opened his eyes. All around was quiet. The bustle of the night had +ceased. There was not a sound. Outside the mosquito net the wick of the +_andon_ had burned low and gave a faint light. Suddenly the bell of the +eighth watch (1 A.M.) was heard on Bentenyama. Thereupon--de!... the +sound was heard and the light of the _andon_ went out. Then as a mist an +object like to a human being (_hito_) was visible. Ha! Tsutayoshi was +frightened. Was this the ghost? He rolled up the mosquito net, the +pupils of the eyes intent. Thus he had it in plain view. The hair of the +head was in wild disorder. To sight it was certain it was a man. He wore +a grey cotton garment. + +_Yoshi_--"That's it!" + +At the sudden exclamation--Ha! It disappeared. The _andon_ having +previously gone out truly it was the very blackness of night. Coming out +from under the mosquito net he (Yoshi) lit the wick. Smoking his tobacco +he staid awake until dawn. In time the East became white. At once he +left the house. He entered the bath at Agecho[u], breakfasted as usual +at the cheap eating house in Komegata, and then went to the Morita-za in +Kibikicho[u]. + +_Friend_--"Good-day." + +_Yoshi_--"Iya! It's hot to-day." + +_Friend_--"How now, Yoshi San? The O'Bake?" + +_Yoshi_--"As usual--it came in the night." + +_Friend_--"Is that so? When Otowaya San hears that, he will rejoice." + +While in talk a message came from Kikugoro[u]. At once Tsutayoshi went +to the Bairin. Otowaya was waiting for him. + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Yoshi San, how now--the ghost?" + +_Yoshi_--"Patron, condescend to rejoice. It appeared in the night." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"Did it appear? The rascal is brave. Is it man or woman?" + +_Yoshi_--"A man in all likelihood." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"The dress?" + +_Yoshi_--"Was seen to be grey cotton--positively so." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"That's interesting. A _kimono_ of grey colour just suits +the ghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei. Sa! Yoshi San, in accordance with +the bargain I give you five _ryo[u]_." + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Thanks are felt." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"There they are. Yoshi San, you are a brave fellow. Life +in a haunted house is unpleasant. It will be well to remove elsewhere." + +_Yoshi_--"Iya! A haunted house is splendid. A friend just now came for +the return of borrowed money. When told of a ghost appearing, he fled. +Again, merely for noting what the ghost wears, you tell me I will get +five _ryo[u]_. All this is due to the honoured shadow of the ghost. Thus +regarding (my) Yurei Dai Myo[u]jin Sama,[48] to abandon such a splendid +ghost and remove to some other place would change my luck. My purpose is +to go on living with this ghost." + +_Kikugoro[u]_--"In that case, Yoshi San, it would be well to have the +house cleaned. _Do[u]mo!_ Don't you think it is the work of fox or +_tanuki_?" + +_Yoshi_--"Naruhodo! At all events I'll have the house cleaned." So +receiving the money from Kikugoro[u], rejoicing Yoshi returned to the +Yoshiwara. On the way he took a glass or so. Somewhat drunk, he entered +the Tanaka no Mikawaya, a _tabi_ (sock) shop. The house was the owner of +the place where Tsutayoshi lived. + +_Yoshi_--"Good-day." + +_Mikawaya_--"Oya! Yoshi San. Are you on your return? Ma! Condescend to +enter. _Do[u]mo!_ The theatre now pleases the people. The audiences are +large." + +_Yoshi_--"Thanks are felt." + +_Mikawaya_--"What your business, Yoshi San?" + +_Yoshi_--"Danna, I would like to have the house cleaned." + +_Mikawaya_--"Cleaned?" + +_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ At present a supernatural object appears. It is +vexing. As I will furnish the wages of the workman, I thought it would +be well to have it cleaned." + +_Mikawaya_--"Hei! What appears?" + +_Yoshi_--"At times a ghost shows itself." + +_Mikawaya_--"A ghost?" + +_Yoshi_--"Once it showed itself beside the _andon_. The second time it +was seen in the necessary. At evening it was seated at the entrance to +the stairs. There is nothing to fear, unless it be the work of fox or +badger. It would be bad for outsiders to get wind of it; so I would like +to have the place cleaned." + +_Mikawaya_--"Is it man or woman?" + +_Yoshi_--"There is no doubt of its being a man, of small stature. His +dress plainly is of grey cotton." + +_Mikawaya_--"A dress of grey cotton--the man of small stature. Un! +Jo[u]! It is that low fellow." + +_Yoshi_--"Oi! Oi! Danna, did you know him? Was he a wicked fellow? +Setting up in the ghost way--pray excuse me." + +_Landlord_--"Ma! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. The house +that I rent to you originally was a brothel called the Yamashiroya. The +landlord was an unrighteous fellow. One night an _oiran_ lacked any +guest.[49] He took her with him to the _semeba_--(punishment room) and +treated her most cruelly. No one called the place 'the Yamashiroya.' It +was known as the Onimise (devil-shop) of Fushimicho[u]. It was just this +time last year that a _wakashu[u]_ (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love +with a woman named Kotsu no Wakatake. Pressed for money, to get it he +had an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low brothel mentioned +perhaps he would get a _bu_--a couple of _shu[u]_. A restitution +privately effected would have been well. He was roped up and carried off +to the town hall. In every way a low scoundrel he was sent to +Temmacho[u]. Soon after he died in the jail. Subsequently there were +nothing but unpleasant happenings at the Yamashiroya. It was completely +ruined. Later I bought it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it +into two houses and rented them out." + +_Yoshi_--"Hei!" + +_Mikawaya_--"That Tokuzo, as the _wakashu[u]_ was called, when sent to +the town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as present +to him by an _oiran_. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and good natured; an +interesting fellow. Of low stature, he was a good worker. Probably he +failed to carry out his purpose." + +_Yoshi_--"Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow condescend +to make everything clean." + +_Mikawaya_--"Agreed." + +After this workmen came from the Mikawaya, and the cleaning up was +performed. Tsutayoshi at a subsequent meeting with Kikugoro[u] told him +the story of Tokuzo. It would be well to have a funeral service held. So +the memorial service for Tokuzo was conducted at the family temple of +Tsutayoshi. The figure was never again seen. Kikugoro[u] in the role of +ghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei came out dressed in a grey robe marked +with _kokumochi_ (the badge of the white disk figured on coloured +ground). Before one's very eyes he changed to O'Iwa. As ghost and +arrayed in the family crest it was restricted to the Kohei of the +"Yotsuya Kwaidan." The theatre was packed. Such was the crowd that the +upper gallery of the theatre collapsed. Even though an actor, everywhere +he (Kikugoro[u]) was spoken of as a great man. To favoured guests of +Kikugoro[u] the matter was so related. Thus the tale is a true one. + + +TAKUAN + +Three great priests of influence figure in the rule of the first three +Tokugawa Sho[u]gun. Tenhai Osho[u] of the Nankwo[u]bo[u], bishop of the +temple foundation at Ueno, was all powerful under Iyeyasu. His +successors, Nikkei So[u]zu of the San-en-Zo[u]jo[u]ji at Shiba, and +Takuan Zaisho[u] of the Daikokudo[u], the To[u]kaiji of Shinagawa, were +the priestly influences under the 2nd and 3rd Sho[u]gun. It is the +last-named cleric who is responsible for the hard and palatable yellow +preparation of the _daikon_ (radish) known under his name of _takuan_. +The _daikon_ is soused in brine and rice bran, kept weighted down under +heavy stones, and allowed "to ripen" for some weeks. A way station in +its preparation and edibility, and to be experienced in every Japanese +household, is the unspeakable and unbreathable soft _nukamisozuke_. Its +presence always arouses suspicion of the pressing defect in the house +drainage. + +Takuan deserves esteem and appreciation for other than culinary +reasons. On a visit to the castle one day the old friar noted the +depression of his valued and intimate friend Yagyu Tajima no Kami. The +aging _o[u]metsuke_ (suzerain's eye) and fencing teacher to the third +Sho[u]gun opened out his woes. His second son was dead. His third son +was worthless. At least the father thought so at this time. His eldest +son, Jubei, as great at arms as himself and his legitimate successor, +was a madman--gone mad over his own excellence. Takuan heard the +particulars. At once he volunteered to act as physician. "Be of good +heart. This Takuan will prescribe." The grateful Munenori, in the course +of the next few days sent to the prelate's quarters to know when the +journey to the far-off Yamato fief would be made. He would make +provision for the prior's comfort and conveyance. Said a sleek scribe +and substitute--"The lord abbot has long since departed. It is useless +to attempt to overtake him. He travels fast." Such was the message to +the pleased but discomfited Munenori. Meanwhile at Yagyu Masakizaka in +Yamato there turned up a shabby travel-stained old fellow. The +gatekeepers were inclined flatly to refuse admission. However, the +_karo[u]_, or chief officer of the fief, had to be notified. He was +unwilling to let slip any chance of relief to the condition of Jubei +Dono. With some misgivings the old fellow was ordered around to the +garden. The _samurai_ code made little account of cutting down a +retainer, a beggar, or an outcast. In the first case compensation was +allowed; the last two were honoured by the experiment. Priests and women +were not covered by the code; matter of omission, rather than of +importance. The wanderer had taken his seat by the little pond in the +garden. Here to all appearance he remained in a meditation which was +roughly interrupted by the irruption of the lord of the mansion into a +room close by. Jubei kicked the _sho[u]ji_ out of the frames, and strode +to the edge of the verandah. His hair was in wild disorder. He wore +armour on his shoulders, and was stark naked below the waist. Face +twitching and eyes flashing he hailed his visitor, to demand on what +mission he had dared to intrude on the time and patience of the great +man. Let the excuse be a good one. Otherwise--But at abuse the cleric +was a good hand himself. He, too, had heard of Jubei Dono; he who posed +as the great man of Nippon. This was poaching on his own ground, for he +set himself up to be the match of any number in the land. At this Jubei +broke into angry jeers and invectives. The priest made answer with equal +roughness. "How face two opponents--to right and left?" Jubei snorted +with contempt. He was active enough to neglect the one and cut down the +other before aid could be brought. The Yagyu-ryu[u], or style of +fencing, made provision for such occasion. Aye! And for four--and +against eight.... "And against sixteen, and thirty-two, and sixty-four, +and a hundred and twenty-eight opponents ... against all the many +fighting men of Nippon? How would Jubei face all those?" To this Jubei +could but answer that he would die fighting. The priest in his turn +snorted with contempt. "Die fighting: by such words Jubei admits +defeat." But he did not allow Jubei to turn questioner in his turn. +Swiftly he shifted the argument. He, the cleric, considered Jubei of +small account. He would prove to him what a fool he was by the +interpretation of a mere thirty-one syllables of poetry. This should be +the test of intelligence. The Knight's Way (Budo[u]) had its inner and +cryptic meaning expressed in verse. So had the Way of the Buddha +(Butsudo[u]). Of this latter Jubei knew nothing; and he doubted if he +knew anything of the former. At least let him display some sample of his +wit. Jubei leaped at the test to prove his greatness. Now he scorned to +deal with a priest in arms. How was this: + + "By night storm of Narutaki broken, + The scattered jewels, e'en the moon, it harbours."[50] + +"Is there but that to prove wit?"--"How then with this one?" + + "Tree leaves on Yamakawa's flood: + The self, abandoned, does but drift--lo!"[51] + +The priest threw up his hands. "Such stuff will never do! And this +fellow considers himself educated!" + + "Rain seen, impeded not to flow away; + The snow breaks not the stem of willow green."[52] + + "Various and many though the ways of teaching be, + There is but one true stroke of sword."[53] + +Jubei gleamed most homicidally at his questioner. The priest only +said--"A child has such by heart." And Jubei knew 'twas so, and was +rebuked. Now he was in less haste: + + "The heart, how judge it? + An ink sketch of the breeze amid the pines."[54] + +A shrug of the shoulders was the reward of this effort. + + "Though barrier mount, the leafy mount, the inner mount, be dense + with leafage; + What e'er one wills, naught hinders."[55] + +The priest shook his head as with grave indulgence to childhood's +thoughts. Jubei burst into a rage. He turned to his sword-bearer, and +laid hand on the weapon. The lad knelt with bowed head, uncertain +whether the sword was to fall on himself or the visitor. Without paying +the slightest attention to the hostile attitude the priest cut matters +short. "Jubei Dono would question the priest's right to judge. Come now! +The cleric's foolish head against the wits of Nippon's great man. O +warrior, interpret!" A sign; and ink stone and poem paper (_tanzaku_) +were put before him. Jubei in turn took the scroll in hand. He read: + + "_Tatazumuna, yukuna, modoruna, isuwaruna; + Neruna, okiruna, shiru mo shiranu mo._" + + "It neither stands still, nor goes forward, nor goes backward, + nor remains as it is; + It sleeps not, rises not: known or unknown." + +Jubei started with a bellow; and ended in a whisper. The retainers +looked in each other's faces. Who was the maddest--their lord or the +shabby _bo[u]zu_? A long silence followed. Jubei no longer stood in +grandiloquent pose. He squatted down before the ideographs. At last he +said--"The poem contains much matter. Deign to allow time for the +solution." His voice was gentle and courteous to this future victim of +his intelligence. The priest nodded a genial assent. Before he withdrew +Jubei gave emphatic orders as to ward and entertainment. The pleasures +of anticipation, of solution of the poem and slicing of the cleric, must +have compensation. His tread was slow and stately as he left the room; +his looks were contained and thoughtful. The man of black robe was +carried off to a better reception than so far experienced. With scorn he +sent away the scanty meal of vegetable food; and ordered matters to his +taste with a manner that none cared to obey, or dared to disobey. + +Meanwhile Jubei started in on the poem. With the progress of his +efforts ideas of his greatness disappeared. No matter what might be his +skill with the sword--and the priest already had shown its +limitations--his inexperience in literature was patent. Ah! If he could +but win the head of this scurvy cleric. His mind now was totally removed +from thoughts of himself. For two days and two nights he never closed +his eyes, which were fastened on the infernal ideographs--palpably so +full of a meaning he could not grasp. Then he was worn out. He went to +sleep, and slept for a full twenty-four hours. On awaking he was a +different being. The cobwebs of the mind were clean swept. Its vague +shiftings had been brought to concentration--to thought. Now it was the +household which was mad with joy. It was Jubei, lord of the manor, who +sought interview with his saviour. Prostrate he gave thanks, apology for +the poor entertainment; and expressed his hope and wish to keep always +by him the holy man. Who was he--this man who had given him back mind +and power of thought? Just then a messenger from his father, Tajima no +Kami, was announced. Those assembled leaned forward at sight of the man +in amazed prostration, first before his lord, then before the shabby old +priest. "Takuan Osho[u] Sama at Yagyu! And yet this Kyu[u]taro[u] has +made all speed to Yamato to make report of his lordship's coming." All +fell on their faces, including Jubei. Takuan smiled, a little grimly. +"The garb makes not the cleric. Jubei Dono will forgive the presence of +the humble priest who now must leave him, pressed by affairs, none of +which have been more important than the mission here." And leave he +did--but ample gifts to the temple followed after. Jubei never could +take his father's place close to the Sho[u]gun's side. His one-time +madness forbade assumption of such office. Indeed on rare occasions the +mad fit again would threaten; but the infallible remedy was at hand. To +Jubei's question Takuan had answered--"The meaning? The poem has none. +If there had been verily Takuan would have lost his head. But find one, +if you can." The joy of Tajima no Kami was completed by the return of +his third son Matajuro[u], restored to normal health. Later this +Matajuro[u] became the famous Hida no Kami and successor to his father +as the Sho[u]gun's fencing master. Of these three men--more anon.[56] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] _Kwaidan_ means "Wonder Tale." The word is of general meaning, +requiring limitation for the specific case. + +[2] The _go-kenin_, for the most part; although some _hatamoto_, whose +incomes ran as low as 300 _koku_ could be classed with them. In +English--cf. T.H. Gubbins--Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, xv. + +[3] The hard palatable pickled yellow _daikon_ (radish). _Nukamisozuke_ +is a way station in its production by pickling in salt and bran. +_Nukamisozuke_ is better described than smelt. + +[4] Sanzu no Kawa--the river crossed by the dead; the Buddhist "Styx." +Shide no Yama--the mountain to be crossed on the way to Hell, or to the +judgment hall of its great king--Emma Dai-o[u] (Yama). All deserve, and +get, some punishment in this nether world. + +[5] Near Meguro: scores of quaint figures, seated in tiers and +meditation. + +[6] A famous Chinese book on military tactics. Prince Yoshitsune, hero +of the Gempei wars, served arduously for a glimpse of it. Cf.: Life of +Benkei, vol. i, pp. 311 reg. Densuke refers to the three (_san_) stages +of rice cooking. + +[7] Geishu[u]-Aki province. For six months the _daimyo[u]_ left Edo to +govern their fief in person. Their wives and families remained in Edo. +The penalties at the barriers (Hakone, for instance) were severe if the +wife tried to get away (escape) from Edo. + +[8] The Japanese personal pronoun is used--in the first person only to +obviate ambiguity in the sentence. Women use it more frequently than +men. In the second person it is used to express emphasis, great +familiarity, impertinence, or rebuke. The last two uses are frequent. +Ordinarily the honorifics and the construction of the sentence take the +place of these pronouns. Such at least seems to be the usage of the +_ko[u]dan_ writers, and in the present book the example has been +followed, as far as possible. In a few instances the use of a pronoun +will relieve the strain of a lengthy sentence or involved circumlocution +in the western tongue. At times the closer style can be abandoned--as in +the direct narration of the Tale of the Baryufu Kwannon. So also with +the translations of the _gidayu_ and the _ko[u]dan_ attached. These are +for recitation. In the original the pronoun is rarely written in. But +the literal translation of the honorifics would appear stilted. To +westerners these are appellations; to the native they are indications. + +[9] The old Shimbashi station and its yards cover this site. "Tide +limit"--a suggestive name. + +[10] A _sakuji bugyo[u]_ was the official who had charge of the +maintenance and construction of public works within the _daimyo[u]'s_ +fief. + +[11] A deep cutting through the hill. They are common features in +Nippon. Many valleys are only accessible by a climb, unless mitigated by +a _kirido[u]shi_, or obviated by a tunnel. Kamakura, for instance, is +accessible by land in no other way. Asahina _kirido[u]shi_: there are +several others. + +[12] The description is curious. Writing fifty years ago Ryuo[u] tells +us these men no longer practised. His book is not readily met with and +the passage in the original is worth preserving--"_Kono sunegiri yatsu +to iu wa tadaima de wa arimasen ga; makurajima no tabi ni asaura wo +haki, sankeigyo[u] no kyahan de, nagai no wo ippon sashi. Eh! To[u] de o +isogi de nai. Okata wa watakushi no mosu koyaku no ko[u]no[u] wo kiite o +motome nasai. Nukeba tamachiru nagai no yaiba da nure kami de mo kayo ni +kireru, tadaima yatsu ga wo kiri chi wo tomete goran ni ireru; to maru +de kiru yo[u] desu ga ha (yaiba) no aru tokoro wa madzu no kata bakari +de, moto no kata wa yaiba ga hiite aru yue, sono ha hiku no tokoro wo +ude he ataru to suji ga tsuku bakari de kire washimasen ga, tanka ga +kireru kara, chiwa taki-tsu se no gotoku nagareru. Chi ni wa sakarawazu +ikusa naka ko wo mochiireba, sokuza ni todomaru nani mae kara todotteru +no desu ga, hagyu[u] da kara maru de chi ga tomaru yo[u] ni micru kara, +kono ho he hitotsu gai, kono ho he futatsu gai, to uremasu._"--"Yotsuya +Kwaidan," pp. 31-32. + +[13] One-fourth of a _ryo[u]_ = 15 silver momme = 872 grains Troy. Money +had much greater purchasing value at that time as compared with the +present days; perhaps 20 times, but adulteration of the coinage caused +great variations. + +[14] The Machibugyo[u] was judge and prosecutor (procurator or district +attorney); the two offices being held by the same man. A court trial +included both functions. _Tengu_, used below, is the long-nosed wood +bogey. There is a note in Benkei, i, 260. + +[15] The _tawara_ equals two-fifths of a _koku_. At present-day figures +the stipend of Tamiya can be put at about 2000 yen; that of Ito[u] +Kwaiba, mentioned later, at 13,000 yen. The great _daimyo[u]_ with +incomes running into the hundreds of thousands of _koku_ were princes +administering part of the public domain, with armies and an elaborate +civil service to support. Even a _hatamoto_ (minor _daimyo[u]_, +immediate vassals of the sho[u]gun) of 10,000 _koku_, such as Yagyu[u] +Tajima no Kami had a large train at his Edo _yashiki_ and at his fief. +The Date House of Sendai, or the Maeda of Kaga, Etchu[u], and Echizen, +are examples of the greater To[u]zama, or lords independent in the +administration of their fiefs. Labour, it is to be added, was cheap +compared to food values. Taxes were heavy--ranging from 30 to 70 per +cent. The middleman took his high fee. Yet sumptuary laws were necessary +to prevent extravagance among the farming class. Some of them were rich +men, especially in the better administered Tokugawa fiefs. The public +works required of the _daimyo[u]_--especially the To[u]zama--prevented a +dangerous accumulation of resources, and sometimes almost ruined his +subjects. Accurate measurements of income are not available. The _koku_ +of _daimyo[u]_ income has been placed as high as ten bushels. The +present-day _koku_ equals 5.13 bushels. The price of rice ranges between +15-20 yen per _koku_. + +[16] The title for all men of learning and professional attainments. The +great medical doctor is "Sensei," the doctor of literature is +"Sensei"--and the charlatan who peddles charms by the highway is +"Sensei"--teacher. + +[17] A technical social expression--"I trouble you" or "with highest +respect and consideration." Satuma = Satsuma-Jo[u]fu, the grass cloth of +fine quality woven and dyed in Loo-choo; narrow swords; all this +(Momogawa) is an example of the earnest study the _ko[u]dan_ lecturers +make of their subject. These delightful little expositions of dress and +manner are frequent. + +[18] _Rusu_ or _rusuban_ = caretaker in the owner's absence. As often as +not the wife is so regarded by the Japanese husband. + +[19] Reiganji, the great temple giving the name to the Reigan district +of Fukagawa, is one of the many temples there found. The Jo[u]shinji is +close by. + +[20] A complicated checkers-chess like game. + +[21] There are nine of these stages of skill. + +[22] 5.13 bushel. Income of the _samurai_ classes were so measured. + +[23] _Kyara_ = nut gall, in Momogawa's _ko[u]dan_. From the marriage to +the expulsion of O'Iwa his treatment of the story is mainly followed. +Ryuo[u] slurs the marriage, but describes the persecution with great +effect. The lines of treatment only diverge subsequently. Ryuo[u] is to +be preferred. + +[24] The monetary _bu_ was one-fourth the _ryo[u]_; the _shu[u]_ was +one-fourth the value of the _bu_. A hundred _mon_ = one _sen_. To-day +there are blind shampooers (and for massage) at 500 _mon_ = 5 _sen_. + +[25] Of the Nichiren sect. The characters of the "Yotsuya Kwaidan" move +within the circle of this Presbyterian cult: _i.e._, Presbyterian in its +stiff attitude of hostility and superiority to all other sects. There is +another Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, neighbour to the Ten-o[u] shrine. + +[26] High sounding titles given to the _great hetairae_. The difference +from the Greek world lay in their not being independent. They were +confined to the houses of their owners. But these noted women were +ransomed at times--even by great nobles. Thus Date Tsunamune the 3rd +_daimyo[u]_ of Sendai bought the famous Oiran Takao, weighing in the +scales the woman against gold. In a fit of passion he killed her soon +after, and had her body cast into the Edogawa. + +[27] "_Hagurete mo mata afu michi ya hana no yama._" + +[28] The _aodaisho[u]_ is something of the nature of a black snake. Says +Brinkley's Dict. "_elaphis virgatus_." + +[29] The term "Inkyo[u]," already several times used, applies to a man +who has retired from active life, leaving the management of the affairs +of the House to the duly appointed heir and successor. A specified +portion of the income is usually assigned for his maintenance, and forms +a first lien, so to speak, on such return. The modernized law of Nippon +does not permit assumption of this state before the age of fifty years, +unless there be incapacitation such as necessitates retirement. In +ancient days (pre-Meiji) there was no such limitation. Men often retired +very early in life--from caprice, family intrigue, or for the freer +management of their affairs. In the latter case they had more power and +less responsibility; the latter falling on the heir and successor, +perhaps still a mere child. _Go_ is merely honorific. + +[30] "Awarase ya: Byo[u]bu wa koi no taki sagari." The living carp +strives to ascend the fall. + +[31] The old hag who lurks in the River of Souls, waylaying little +children, robbing them of their clothes, and compelling them to +construct huge piles of stones. Her counterfeit presentment (by Unkei) +can be well seen at the Enno[u]ji of Kamakura. + +[32] An ordinary disposition of these women; who often preferred their +Edo lover to such lot. + +[33] _Ototoi oide_: It is the salutation of the good Buddhist to the +captured insect, thrown without and requested to return "the day before +yesterday" = the Greek Kalends. As used above it is a gross insult to +the person addressed. + +[34] Damask hill: the names taken by these great _hetairai_ were most +fanciful. + +[35] Next to the Ten-o[u] Jinja; not that of Samegabashi. To-day +retired, neat and clean; without the dirty publicity of larger temples. +It is a bit of country in crowded Yotsuya. + +[36] A young girl's method of fixing the hair; but Ryuo[u] uses the +term. Gohei are the paper strips used as offering. Usually attached to a +short stick. + +[37] At the Gyo[u]ranji of Matsuzakacho[u] in the Mita district of +To[u]kyo[u]. + +[38] _Sanzugawa_: _Yama_ mo nakereba, _hashi mo nashi_; _shinde no +tabiji hana wa nao nashi_. Sanzugawa, the river crossed by the dead. + +[39] A fourth form of torture was suspension--an exaggerated infliction +of "the lobster." These official forms are described by J. Carey Hall in +the transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. XLI., Part V. The +native references are the "Tokugawa Seikei Shiryo[u]," "Keizai Dai +Hiroku," "Ko[u]jiki Ruihi Horitsu-bu." Cf. article on Go[u]mon in the +"Kokushi Dai Jiten." There were other forms. In the examination into the +famous conspiracy of Yui Sho[u]setsu (1651 A.D.) no confession could be +secured from Yoshida Hatsuemon. He was brought out, to find his +thirteen-year-old son Hachitaro[u] undergoing the torture of dropping +water. At the last extremities the boy pleaded for mercy. His father +drily told him to act the _samurai_, and not to imperil the lives of +others. It was different with Matsubayashi Chuya (really the last heir +of the famous Cho[u]sokabe House of Tosa). At sight of his old, white +haired, white faced, jail wearied mother threatened with the fire +torture, he did for her what he would not do for himself. The old woman +willingly would have undergone the torture. Chuya's confession cost the +lives of seventy-five men. + +[40] Hifumikwan (To[u]kyo[u]), Meiji 29th year 2nd month 15th day (28th +March, 1896). + +[41] _Mairase So[u]ro[u]_: "I take the liberty of...." Brinkley's Dict. +A purely formal expression used in the letters of women writers. + +[42] The three holy things--Buddha, his Law, the priesthood. + +[43] Another reading of the characters for Kikugoro[u]--to the +initiated. + +[44] "Top-bottom": the beautiful lozenge shaped [=X] dress of the +_samurai_ when on court service, or for other ceremony: full dress. + +[45] "Small fish boiled in soy in order to preserve it (named after +Tsukudajima-To[u]kyo[u]--famous for its preparation)."--Brinkley's Dict. + +[46] Brown, with stripes--a favourite pattern with men and women. + +[47] Feast of the Dead. This festival is held in July--in the country in +August, the old calendar seventh month. + +[48] Apparitional divine lord. + +[49] The expression is technical--"_hitoban de mo o cha wo hikeba_." All +night a mere tea-server. + +[50] + + [Narutaki no yoru no arashi ni kudakarete; + Chiru tama goto ni tsuki zo yadoreru.] + +[51] + + [Yamakawa no nagare ni ko no ha shizumu tomo; + Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are.] + +[52] + + [Furu to miba tsumoranu saki ni haraekashi; + Yuki ni wa orenu aoyagi no ito.]^{[3]} + +[53] + + [Sama Sama to oshie no michi mo o[u]keredo + Uchikomu tokoro shin no itto[u].]^{[4]} + +[54] + + [Kokoro to wa ikanaru mono wo iu yaran; + Sumie ni kakitsu matsu kaze no oto.]^{[5]} + +[55] + + [Tsukubayama, Hayama, Nakayama, Shigeredomo; + Omoiru ni wa mono mo sawarazu.]^{[6]} + +[56] Cf.--"Araki Mataemon--Ueno Adauchi," by Masui Nanzan. There is +little reason to believe that Jubei's madness was assumed, a rather +extravagant explanation of the more than probable fact that his +well-known travels were inspired by the Sho[u]gun's government. Actual +knowledge and inspection of the conditions and feelings in far-off +Satsuma, made by an expert, was much desired. Okubo Hikozaemon also +travelled as the Sho[u]gun's private eye. Jubei undoubtedly found his +reputation for one-time madness very useful, and played upon it. + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page 27: nukamisosuke amended to nukamisozuke | + | Page 54: aids amended to aides | + | Page 55, pages 58-61 inclusive: Sakarai amended to Sakurai | + | Page 61: T[=o]eman amended to Toemon | + | Page 104: Nakusuke amended to Kakusuke | + | Page 143: misintrepeted amended to misinterpreted | + | Page 144: aids amended to aides | + | Page 172: honorofic amended to honorific | + | Page 173: Kamikura amended to Kamimura | + | Page 175: trucculent amended to truculent | + | Page 187: Samegebashi amended to Samegabashi | + | Page 193: Akiyima amended to Akiyama | + | Page 194: Teremachi amended to Teramachi | + | Page 198: Fukotar[=o] amended to Fukutar[=o] | + | Page 223: Sh[=o]zaemon amended to Ch[=o]zaemon | + | Page 227: peel amended to peal | + | Page 240: Kamikura amended to Kamimura | + | Page 262: Okusuma amended to Okusama | + | Page 269: gray amended to grey (twice) | + | Page 273: threshhold amended to threshold | + | Page 277: Iye amended to Iya | + | Page 279: Mikowaya amended to Mikawaya | + | | + | Where there is an equal number of instances of a word | + | occurring as hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens | + | have been retained: Blind-man/Blindman; | + | care-taker/caretaker; cross-roads/crossroads; | + | go-down/godown; house-keeping/housekeeping; | + | Mita-mura/Mitamura; near-by/nearby; woman-kind/womankind. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yotsuya Kwaidan or O'Iwa Inari, by +James S. 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