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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/19945-8.txt b/19945-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e8bb23 --- /dev/null +++ b/19945-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9561 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House), 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: Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House) + Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 2 (of 2) + +Author: James S. De Benneville + +Release Date: November 28, 2006 [EBook #19945] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BAKEMONO YASHIKI *** + + + + +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. Shigenari/Shigénari, Uesugi/Uésugi). | + | | + | The letter o with a macron is represented as o[u]. | + | The letter u with a macron is represented as u[u]. | + | The letter e with a macron is represented as e[e]. | + | | + | Kanji and hiragana characters in the original book are | + | shown enclosed in square brackets: for example, [sara]. | + | | + | The italicisation of Japanese words has been standardised. | + | | + | Hyphenation and capitalisation has been standardised. | + | | + | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been | + | corrected. For a complete list, please see the bottom | + | of this document. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: EDO WAN (TOKYO BAY)] + + + + +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." + +[NIROKUDO[U] ISSUES] + +TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA II + +BAKÉMONO YASHIKI + +(THE HAUNTED HOUSE) + + + +RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS + +BY + +JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE + + + "Woman's greatest need, + The base of all governance, + Is governance; Seldom found, + And rarely applied."--_Seishin_ + +YOKOHAMA + +1921 + + + + +PREFACE + + +In 1590 A.D. the Ho[u]jo[u] were overthrown at Odawara by the Taiko[u] +Hidéyoshi, and the provinces once under their sway were intrusted to his +second in command, Tokugawa Iyeyasu. This latter, on removing to the +castle of Chiyoda near Edo, at first paid main attention to +strengthening his position in the military sense. From his fief in +To[u]to[u]mi and Suruga he had brought with him a band of noted +captains, devoted to his service through years of hardest warfare. He +placed them around his castle ward, from East to South in a great +sweeping arc of detached fortresses, extending from Shimo[u]sa province +to that of Sagami. Koga was the chief stronghold on the North, against +what was left of the Uésugi power. The most devoted of his captains, +Honda Tadakatsu, was established at Kawagoé. Odawara, under an O[u]kubo, +as always, blocked the way from the Hakoné and Ashigara passes. In the +hands of Iyeyasu and his captains, the formidable garrison here +established was not likely to offer opportunity of a second "Odawara +conference," during which dalliance with compromise and surrender would +bring sudden attack and disaster. At this period there is no sign that +in his personal service Prince Iyeyasu made changes from the system +common to the great military Houses of the time. The castle ward and +attendance always were divided up among the immediate vassals of the +lord. The basis was strictly military, not domestic. Even the beautiful +_kami-shimo_ (X), or butterfly hempen cloth garb of ceremonial +attendance was an obvious reminder of the armour worn in the field. + +Great statesman and warrior that he was, the Taiko[u] Hidéyoshi must +have realised the difficulties confronting his House. The formidable +power he had created in the North was no small part of them. On several +occasions he sought a quarrel with Iyeyasu; sought to humiliate him in +small ways, to lower his prestige and provoke an outbreak. Such was the +trifling incident of the lavish donation required of Iyeyasu to the +Hachiman shrine at Kamakura. But Hidéyoshi, as with Elizabeth of +England, looked rather to the balance of cost against result, always +with possibility of failure in view. When he died in 1598, and left +Tokugawa Iyeyasu practically regent of the land, his expectation can be +judged to be, either that the loyal members of the council of regency +would at least balance the Tokugawa power for their own sakes, or that +the majority of his son Hidéyori, then a mere infant, would witness no +question of supremacy. In the one event the glory and prestige of his +House would stand. In the second case the safety of his posterity would +be assured. With his experience, and belief in the over-riding power of +Nobunaga and himself, the first was as likely to happen as the second; +and the influence of the Toyotomi House was the means necessary to +insure to Iyeyasu the position already secured, against the jealousy of +the other lords. Time showed that he granted a perspicuity and energy to +the members of his council which Iyeyasu alone possessed. + +With Sekigahara (1600) the situation was definitely changed. In 1603 +Iyeyasu was made Sho[u]gun, and the first steps were to organize the +Eastern capital at Edo on an Imperial scale. The modest proportions of +the Chiyoda castle of Ho[u]jo[u] times--the present inner keep--had +already grown to the outer moat. Around these precincts were thrown the +vassals of the Sho[u]gun. The distribution at first was without much +method, beyond the establishment of greater lords in close proximity to +the person of the Sho[u]gun. This feature was accentuated in the time of +the third Sho[u]gun Iyemitsu. Immediately allied Houses and vassals +occupied the castle ward between the inner and outer moats, from the +Hitotsubashi gate on the North, sweeping East and South to the Hanzo[u] +gate on the West. The Nishimaru, or western inclosure of the castle, +faced this Hanzo[u] Gomon. From this gate to a line drawn diagonally +north eastward from the Kanda-bashi Gomon to the Sujikae Gomon, the +section of the circle was devoted to the _yashiki_ (mansions) of the +_hatamoto_ or minor lords in immediate vassalage of the Sho[u]gun's +service. Kanda, Bancho[u], Ko[u]jimachi (within the outer moat), the +larger parts of Asakusa, Shitaya, Hongo[u], Koishikawa, Ushigomé +(Ichigaya), Yotsuya, Akasaka, Azabu, and Shiba, were occupied by +_yashiki_ of _hatamoto_ and _daimyo[u]_--with an ample proportion of +temple land. It would seem that there was little left for commercial +Edo. Such was the case. The scattered towns of Kanda, Tayasu, +Ko[u]jicho[u], several score of villages on the city outskirts, are +found in this quarter. The townsmen's houses were crowded into the made +ground between the outer moat of the castle and the _yashiki_ which +lined the Sumida River between Shiba and the Edogawa. In 1624 the +reclaimed ground extended almost to the present line of the river. The +deepening of the beds of the Kanda and Edo Rivers had drained the +marshes. The use of the waters of the Kandagawa for the castle moat had +made dry land of the large marsh just to the south of the present Ueno +district. Thus Hongo[u], in its more particular sense, became a building +site. + +With elaboration of the outer defences went elaboration of the immediate +service on the Sho[u]gun. There was no sudden change. The military forms +of the camp stiffened into the etiquette of the palace. The +_Sho[u]inban_ or service of the audience chamber, the _Ko[u]sho[u]gumi_ +or immediate attendants, these were the most closely attached to the +Sho[u]gun's person. To be added to these are the O[u]bangumi or palace +guard, the _Kojuningumi_ and the Kachigumi which preceded and surrounded +the prince on his outside appearances. These "sections" formed the Go +Banshu[u], the _honoured_ bodyguard. In the time of Iyemitsu a sixth +_kumi_ or section was formed, to organize the service of the women +attendants of the palace, of the _oku_ or private apartments in +distinction from the _omoté_ or public (men's) apartments, to which the +Go Banshu[u] were attached. Given the name of _Shinban_ (New) this +_kumi_ was annexed to the Banshu[u]. This aroused instant protest. The +then lords of the Go Ban inherited their position through the merits of +men who had fought on the bloody fields of war. Now "luck, not service," +was to be the condition of deserving. The protest was made in form, and +regarded. Iyemitsu gave order that the Shinbangumi retain its name, but +without connection with the Banshu[u]. + +At this point the confusion of terms is to be explained. All through the +rule of the first three Sho[u]gun a gradual sifting had been taking +place. Into Edo were crowding the _daimyo[u]_ who sought proximity to +the great man of the land. Then came the order of compulsory residence, +issued by Iyemitsu himself; seconded by the mighty lords of Sendai and +Satsuma, who laid hands on sword hilts, and made formal statement that +he who balked nourished a treacherous heart. The support of one of them +was at least unexpected. The acquiescence of both cut off all +opposition. Most of the ground now within the outer moat was devoted to +the greater lords in immediate service on the Tokugawa House. The +_hatamoto_ were removed to the outer sites in Koishikawa, Ushigomé, +Yotsuya; to the Bancho[u], the only closer ward they retained; or across +the river to Honjo[u] and Fukagawa. Those in immediate service were +placed nearest to the palace. From the beginning the favoured residence +site had been just outside the Hanzo[u] and Tayasu Gomon, across the +inner moat from the palace. Hence the district got the name of +Bancho[u]. _Go Ban_ ([go ban]) in popular usage was confused with ([go +ban])--"five" instead of "honoured." In course of time the constant +removals to this district made it so crowded, its ways so intricate, +that one who lived in the Bancho[u] (Ban ward) was not expected to know +the locality; a wide departure from the original checker board design on +which it had been laid out, and hence the characters [bancho[u]] +(Bancho[u]) used at one time. This, however, was when Edo had expanded +from its original 808 _cho[u]_ (20200 acres) to 2350 _cho[u]_ (58750 +acres). The original Bancho[u] included all the ground of Iidamachi, and +extended to the Ko[u]jimachi road. Ko[u]jimachi (the _mura_ or village) +was then in the Bancho[u], and known as _samurai ko[u]jimachi_ +[ko[u]jimachi] (by-way), not the present [ko[u]ji] (yeast). In the time +of the third Sho[u]gun the Bancho[u] was as yet a lonely place--to the +west of the city and on its outskirts. The filling in process, under the +Government pressure for ground, was just under way. Daimyo[u]-ko[u]ji, +between the inner and outer moats, through the heart of which runs the +railway spur from Shimbashi to To[u]kyo[u] station, was being created +by elimination of the minor lords. At the close of Kwanei (1624 A.D.) +all the Daimyo[u]-koji was very solid ground; an achievement of no +little note when the distance from the Sumidagawa is considered. At +Iyeyasu's advent to Edo the shore line ran close to the inner moat of +the castle. The monastery of Zo[u]jo[u]ji then situated close to the +site of the present Watagaru gate, was converted by him into the great +establishment at Shiba; and placed as close to the waters of the bay as +the present Seikenji of Okitsu in Suruga--its fore-bear in the material +and ecclesiastical sense. + +The same rapid development of the town took place on the eastern side of +the river. Honjo[u] and Fukagawa became covered by the _yashiki_ sites, +interspersed with the numerous and extensive temple grounds. Iyeyasu was +as liberal to the material comforts of his ghostly advisers, as he was +strict in their supervision. One fifth of Edo was ecclesiastical. One +eighth of it, perhaps, was given over to the needed handicrafts and +tradesmen of the Kyo[u]bashi and Nihonbashi wards along the river, with a +moiety of central Honjo[u]--and to the fencing rooms. The balance of the +city site was covered by the _yashiki_. Thus matters remained until the +Meiji period swept away feudalism, and substituted for the military town +the modern capital of a living nation. So much for the Edo with which we +have to deal, apart from its strange legends and superstitions, its +malevolent and haunting influences, working ill to the invaders, daring to +encroach upon the palace itself and attack the beloved of the Sho[u]gun +and his heir, only to be quelled by the divine majesty of his look--as +expounded in such tangle of verities as the Honjo[u]-Nana-fushigi (seven +marvels of Honjo[u]), the Azabu Nana-fushigi, the Fukagawa Nana-fushigi, +the Bancho[u] Nana-fushigi, the Okumura Kiroku, the temple scrolls and +traditions, and many kindred volumes. + +In reference to the Bancho[u]: the stories outlined in the present +volume date from the period of the puppet shows and strolling reciters, +men who cast these tales into their present lines, thus reducing popular +tradition to the form in which it could be used by the _ko[u]danshi_ or +lecturers on history, or by those diving into the old tales and +scandals connected with the _yashiki_ of Edo town. In the present volume +main reliance for the detail has been placed on the following +_ko[u]dan_:-- + + "The Bancho[u] Nana-fushigi" of Matsubayashi Hakuen. + + "The Bancho[u] Sarayashiki" of Momogawa Jo[u]en. + + "The Bancho[u] Sarayashiki" of Byo[u]haku Hakuchi, in the + "Kwaidan-shu[u]" published by the Hakubunkwan. + + "The Bancho[u] Sarayashiki" of Ho[u]gyu[u]sha To[u]ko. + + "Yui Sho[u]setsu" of Ko[u]ganei Koshu[u]. + +These references could be extended. The story of the Sarayashiki figures +in most of the collections of wonder tales. The Gidayu of the "Banshu[u] +Sarayashiki" by Tamenaga Taro[u]bei and Asada Itcho[u] finds no +application. It deals with Himeji in Harima. As for the stories from an +esoteric point of view, as illustrations of the period they have a +value--to be continued in those more historical, and which deal with the +lives and deeds of men of greater note and influence in this early +Tokugawa court. The present volume instances the second class of wonder +tales referred to in the preface to the Yotsuya Kwaidan. + +O[u]marudani, 14th November, 1916. + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE + + Preface v + + Map of Edo _Facing_ xii + + PART I. + + TALES OF THE EDO BANCHO[U]: + WHO AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN WAS 1 + + Chapter I. The Chu[u]gen Rokuzo 3 + + II. The Bakémono Yashiki 17 + + III. Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen 26 + + IV. The O'kagé Sama 38 + + V. The Report to the Tono Sama 48 + + VI. The Shrine of the O'Inari Sama 55 + + VII. The Luck of Okumura Shu[u]zen 64 + + VIII. Aoyama Shu[u]zen 76 + + IX. Shu[u]zen meets Shu[u]zen 84 + + X. The Meeting of the Gaman Kwai 89 + + + PART II. + + BANCHO[U] SARAYASHIKI: + WHAT AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN BECAME 97 + + Chapter XI. The Yoshida Goten 99 + + XII. The Ko[u]jimachi Well 111 + + XIII. The Sen Himégimi (Princess Sen) 122 + + XIV. Shu[u]zen Adolescens 130 + + XV. The God favours Shu[u]zen 142 + + XVI. The Affair of the Asakusa Kwannon 150 + + XVII. Emma Dai-O[u] gives Judgment 156 + + XVIII. Kosaka Jinnai 165 + + XIX. A Matter of Pedestrianism 171 + + XX. The Affair of Kishu[u] Ke 179 + + XXI. If old Acquaintance be forgot 192 + + XXII. The Shrine of the Jinnai-bashi 201 + + XXIII. A Winter Session 212 + + XXIV. The Tiger at the front Gate; the Wolf at + the Postern 218 + + XXV. Chu[u]dayu wins his Suit 229 + + XXVI. Sampei Dono 236 + + XXVII. Aoyama wins his Suit 245 + + XXVIII. The Sarayashiki 251 + + + + + + + + +PART I + + +TALES OF THE EDO BANCHO[U] + +WHO AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN WAS. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE _Chu[u]gen_ ROKUZO + + +Rokuzo the _chu[u]gen_ sighed as he faced the long slope leading to the +Kudanzaka. Pleasant had been his journey to this point. From his master's +_yashiki_ in Ichigaya to the shop of the sandal maker Sukébei in lower +Kanda it had been one long and easy descent. Sukébei had gratified Rokuzo +with the desired and well established commission or "squeeze." Orders for +sandals in the _yashiki_ of a nobleman were no small item. Rokuzo was +easily satisfied. Though of a scant thirty years in age he had not the +vice of women, the exactions of whom were the prime source of rascality in +the sphere of _chu[u]gen_, as well as in the glittering train of the +palace. At the turn of the road ahead Rokuzo could eye the massive walls +of the moat, which hid the fortress and seraglio built up by the skilful +hands of Kasuga no Tsubone in her earnest efforts to overcome the woman +hating propensities of the San-dai-ke, the third prince of the Tokugawa +line, Iyemitsu Ko[u]. Rokuzo was a _chu[u]gen_, servant in attendance on +his master Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon, _hatamoto_ or immediate vassal of the +commander-in-chief, the Sho[u]gun or real ruler in the land of Nippon +since the long past days of Taira Kiyomori. + +Rokuzo had no great lady in charge of his domestic arrangements, one +whose obsession it was to overcome his dislike of man's natural mate. +Nor had he such mate to administer reproof for his decided liking for +the sherry-like rice wine called _saké_. Sukébei had rigidly performed +his part in the matter of the "squeeze"; but Rokuzo considered him +decidedly stingy in administration of the wine bottle--or bottles. +Willingly would he have sacrificed the commission for an amplitude of +the wine. But even _chu[u]gen_ had their formulae of courtesy, and such +reflection on his host would have been too gross. With a sigh therefore +he had set out from the shop of the sandal maker, eyeing the wine shops +passed from time to time, but not fortunate enough to chance upon any +acquaintance whose services he could call upon in facing him over a +glass. Rokuzo had the virtue of not drinking alone. + +Kanda village once passed, the _yashiki_ walls hemmed in the highway +which ran through a district now one of the busiest quarters of the +city. This sloping ground was popularly known as Ichimenhara, to +indicate its uniformity of surface. There was not a hint of the great +university, the long street of book-stores close packed side by side for +blocks. Their site was covered by the waters of the marsh, almost lake, +of the Kanda River, then being slowly drained into the castle moats. The +top of the hill reached, at what is now South Jimbocho[u], the shops and +houses of the one village hereabouts, Tayasu-mura, offered a last chance +for diversion. The steep slope of the Kudan hill was now before Rokuzo, +and beyond he had to pass through the lonely wood which harboured a +temple to the war god Hachiman, and which covered the site of the +present Sho[u]konsha or shrine to the spirits of the soldiers killed in +Nippon's wars. This road ran through the San-Bancho[u], then a lonely +quarter in which stood isolated from each other _yashiki_ of the +_hatamoto_. The district was filling up, under press of the needs of the +castle service for space immediately round about. But the process was a +slow one, and the district one much suspected by the lower classes. + +Rokuzo was not fat. He was short, thick necked, sturdy with a +barrel-like roundness, and, owing to his drinking propensities, endowed +with legs the thinness of which found the conveyance of the upper +massiveness no mean task. Hence he stopped at the foot of the hill to +wipe the sweat from his face. He eyed with envy a low caste being, a +_heimin_ and labourer. Clad in a breech-clout the fellow swung rapidly +down the hill with his load of charcoal balanced at each end of the +carrying pole. It was etiquette, not modesty, which confined Rokuzo to +the livery of his master. He was compelled to a coat which, light and +thin as it was, cut off all the breeze from his muscular shoulders. +Well! Up the hill he must get. The rolling down was a matter of the +past. The _yashiki_, the house officer (_kyu[u]nin_) to whom report was +to be made, lay beyond. About to make the start a voice spoke in his +ear. Though soft and gentle it would have had no particular attraction +for the now thirsty Rokuzo. But apart from thirst Rokuzo was of the +thoroughly good natured kind. He was surprised at the beauty of the face +on which his eyes rested; still more so at the size of the bundle she +was trying to carry, and which plainly was far beyond her strength. The +rashness of benevolence overcame the not too energetic Rokuzo. Sigh as +he did over the conveyance of his carcass up the steep hill, he sighed +still more at thought of this fragile creature attempting to carry such +a burden. + +She followed his eyes to the bundle. "Alas! Honoured Sir, what is to be +done? The _furoshiki_ is far beyond one's poor strength. Though the +distance is not great--only to Go Bancho[u]--yet it could as well be a +pilgrimage to Isé. Surely the hills of Hakoné and Iga are no steeper +than this Kudanzaka." She sighed; and apart from a weariness of voice +there was a suspicion of moisture in her eyes. The more Rokuzo looked at +her, the greater waxed his pity and benevolence. Barely of eighteen +years she was a beautiful girl; not a servant, yet not one of the +secluded and guarded daughters of a noble House. Perhaps she was the +young wife of some soldier, and he was surprised at her being +unattended. She noted this, and readily explained the fact. There were +purchases yet to make, close by in Tayasu. Here a servant was to be at +hand, but wearied by waiting the woman had made off. "To offer a wage, +good sir, seems impolite; yet the way being the same deign to grant the +favour of your strength." In the petition her face was wreathed in +admiring smiles at Rokuzo's fine figure of a man. A light in the eyes, +captious and coquettish, the furtive glances at his broad shoulders and +stout neck, betrayed him into the indiscretion of volunteering a service +promptly accepted. This done, the lady, without losing sight of display +of her charm of manner, was all business. + +Rokuzo had much to learn, and he was not one to profit much by his +lessons. If he was virtuous, he was by nature a very Simple Simon. A +greater liking for women might by contact have sharpened wits rather +dulled by drinking. As it was, anyone in the _yashiki_, who wished to +shift some unpleasant obligation, found in Rokuzo the one to be +impressed by the most specious excuse, and the one whose kindness of +heart undertook and carried out the purpose of avoidance by assumption +of the task. Instead of concocting some pretext to carry off Sukébei, or +one, or all, of his apprentices to the neighbouring street and a grog +shop, his inexperience and diffidence had carried him away still +thirsty. Instead of bumping into some passing fellow _chu[u]gen_ on the +street, and wiping out the insult with wine, he had idled along, leaving +to every man his share of the roadway, and to the thirsty with burdens +more than their share. Hence this uncongenial company of thirst and a +woman. She had halted at a grocer's shop, and his eyes were soon agog at +sight of her investments--mushrooms, not of much weight, but in bulk +forming almost a mound; the dried sliced gourd called _kambyoku_, of +which she seemed very fond; marrow, _to[u]gan_ (gourd-melon),[1] the new +and expensive potato (_imo_), for money was no object in her purchases. +A second shop close by caught her eye. Here were added to the pile the +long string beans, doubtless to roast in the pod for an afternoon's +amusement and repast, _kabocha_ or squashes, large stalks of _daikon_ +(radish) two feet in length, _go[u]bo[u]_ or burdock, and a huge +watermelon. The list is too long to quote except for the report of a +produce exchange. Indeed it was rather a case of what she did not buy, +on a scale to furnish forth a _yashiki_. Then she made her way to a +confection and fruit shop just opposite the scene of her last purchases. +Pears were coming into season--weighty in measure and on the stomach. +But the lady was not frightened. She bought for yesterday, to-day, and +to-morrows, in fruit and cakes of all kinds. Conveyed by the divers +attendants her goods lay piled up at the last source of supply. Puzzled, +she regarded the huge mass; then took eye measure of the shoulders of +Rokuzo. They inspired confidence. She laid a gentle and admiring hand on +his massiveness. She looked into his face with enticing smile. There was +a silvery little laugh in her voice. Concealing their grins the shop +attendants fled to their different haunts. Here they smothered cries and +roars of coarse merriment; and one man nearly smothered himself by +sticking his head in the brine cask. This _chu[u]gen_ was no servant of +the lady. He was a volunteer conveyancer caught by a pretty face. They +knew her. + +Rokuzo had more than sturdy shoulders. He stuck to his bargain. Plainly +something must be done; and the lady did it. In a trice she haled him to +a draper's shop. "A five-fold _furoshiki_--at once." The draper gaped +not; he obeyed. The cloth was produced, and his several apprentices were +engaged in sewing together one of those square package cloths, so +convenient in the conveyance of scattered parcels. It was a portentous +product, a very sheet. Obsequiously offered and accepted, the draper +watched his customers depart with curious eyes. It was not the first of +its kind bought by the lady. He hoped it would not be the last; for his +own sake and that of his fellow traders. The money at least was always +good. The girl must be popular and rich. A number of _chu[u]gen_ were +employed in her service. Never did she bring the same man. Then the +purchases were piled into one bundle. At this both Rokuzo and the +dispenser of sweets were skilled hands. The lady looked anxiously up and +down the road. She tripped into this place and that. Finally she came +back to the bundle, looking as if about to cry. Of the servant's return +there was no sign. Stolidly the shop-keeper maintained his pose. His +shop could not be left to itself; the lady could not wait. Outside was +the blazing sun of the sixth month (July), then at its hottest period of +the hour of the ape (after 3 P.M.). She looked at Rokuzo. He twisted +uneasily. + +His good nature yielded again to the caressing glance. "Come! As boy +this Rokuzo has carried many a farmer's frame of grass from the mountain +to Shibukawa village. Nay; many a sick man has he shouldered on the +hills leading to the healing springs of Ikao and Kusatsu." He ran an eye +over the bundle. "Ah! A terrific bundle; one to cause fright. There is +nothing else to do." He would have liked to measure strength with this +truant servant; doubtless a terrific female. The confectioner puffed and +blew, with straining, swelling neck. The _furoshiki_ at last was on the +shoulders of the unhappy Rokuzo. Fortunately the shops of Nippon have no +doors. A most mountainous and monstrous wrestler, a very Daniel Lambert, +can be carried forth feet first from such a front. The shop keeper +followed the pair with his eyes. He passed his hand over the money. Then +he looked again. The lady went lightly up the hill. Puffing and blowing +at last Rokuzo was compelled to zig-zag on its steepness. Then she +followed after his movements, gently encouraging him with words, and a +cheerful pleased giggle that was a very goad in his rear. The grocer +crossed to consultation with the baker. "Bah! He has a ring in his +nose." Said the man of confections--"He is Rokuzo, _chu[u]gen_ of +Endo[u] Sama. But the other day it was Isuké, _chu[u]gen_ of Okumura +Sama, who did her service. And so with others. Truly entertainment at +Yoshiwara costs less effort and wage. These cats are all one colour in +the dark." The philosophic and cynical shop-keepers, each departed to +his own place, arguing more shrewdness in a _chu[u]gen_, and the greater +freedom, if less honour, implied in the gains and amusements of the +townsman. Again and again the baker inspected his coin. There were still +houses for women in the Ko[u]jimachi road. This satisfied his doubts. + +Encouraged by the lady Rokuzo reached the top of the Kudan hill. In all +his experience of burden bearing never before had he shouldered the +like. It seemed at times as if the lady herself had floated up on its +broad surface, to deposit a weight far beyond her appearance. Perhaps +she did; for Rokuzo, blinded by the pouring sweat, hardly knew what +occurred. From time to time the sweet voice gave direction. Skirting the +castle moat she led him up the short slope of the Gomizaka. A fitting +name, thought Rokuzo. There were more than "five flavours" on his back, +without counting the nasty taste in a very dry mouth. His journey was +almost at an end. At least he had so determined, when suddenly the +destination was reached. The lady knocked at the side door of a splendid +gate set in a long stretch of wall. So much Rokuzo could see through the +damp stream from his brow; and that the surroundings were very rural. A +rattling of the bar and he turned eagerly to the gate. Its opening gave +a vision of beauty. Clean swept was the ground beneath the splendid pine +trees; graceful the curves of the roofs of the villa seen beyond; and +still more beautiful, and little more mature than his companion, was the +figure of the girl framed in the doorway. + +Forgetful of his burden Rokuzo gaged. Forgetful of etiquette the girl +stared. She scanned Rokuzo from head to foot. The squat and sturdy +figure of the man, in combination with the huge burden, turned him into +some new and useful kind of beast. Astonishment passed into a smile; the +smile into a mad burst of laughter in which the other girl more +discreetly joined. "Ne[e]san (elder sister) the hour is late, but to-day +the opportunity of assistance was slow to appear. With such sturdy +support it was thought well to make ample provision."--"Provision +indeed! Merry will be the feast. Truly sister, great has been the good +fortune. Honoured Sir, deign to furnish forth the entertainment." Again +came the merry peal, this time from both the girls. Rokuzo hardly +appreciated such reward of his efforts. He had a strong suspicion that +this merriment was directed at him; that the courtesy and gentle voices +were on the surface. There was a snappy nasal sneering ring in the +laughter, most unpleasant and savouring of derision. However there was +certain to be something at the end of the task. Why neglect to take the +reward now close to hand? He passed through the large gate, opened by +the elder maiden to admit the size of his burden. Under her guidance he +struggled along past the corner of the house and into the more removed +privacy. Of this he could note the carefully kept inner garden, the +massive old well curb standing in its centre, and the scent and strange +beauty of the flowering plants. Attention was attracted by the conduct +of his three employers; for another and older girl now made her +appearance at the _ro[u]ka_ (verandah). She too gave the same short +sharp exclamation of amusement at the sight of the porter and his +portentous load. She leaped down quickly from the verandah and ran up to +peer into his face. Then she went off into the same mad peal of +laughter, in which she was joined without stint by her sisters. + +Rokuzo was now angry beyond measure; yet as a man and good natured he +found it difficult of expression with such beautiful women. All the +terms of revilement came to his lips--rude rascals (_burei na yatsu_), +scoundrels (_berabo[u]mé_), vile beasts (_chikusho[u]mé_). These were +freely loaded on himself in time of displeasure of master or fellows. +But somehow now they stayed in his throat. "Rude"--yes; "rascals"--yes. +These words reached to a murmur. But the crowning insult of calling +these beautiful women "beasts" stuck in his gorge and he nearly choked. +Said the oldest girl--and she was not over twenty years--"Sister, you +are wearied by the heat and your efforts. Deign to enter the bath. All +is ready. Come! We will enter it together." Hand in hand the three were +about to depart. Rokuzo found speech. He stuttered in his +indignation--"Honoured ladies! Heigh there! This bundle--how now? Truly +it is as if this Rokuzo had been carrying a child. His back is wet +through. It is very unpleasant. Where is the package to be bestowed? +Deign to indicate." At the sharpness of his tone the elder girl turned +in surprise. His anger dropped before the attraction of smile and +address. Truly these creatures had attention but for the passing moment. +"Ah! In joy at the sister's return the burden and its bearer have been +completely forgotten. This is to be very rude. Aré! Honoured Sir, you +are melting away with heat. Place the burden here. At the well yonder is +water. Deign to wipe off the sweat which pours from your honoured +person." + +At once with more than relief he deposited the huge package on the +_ro[u]ka_. Pending its disposition Rokuzo devoted himself to his +ablutions with decent slowness, to allow the idea of remuneration to +filter into the somewhat fat wits of these ladies. At first he was +inclined thoroughly to sluice himself inwardly. The water was +deliciously cool to the outer person on this hot day. But on approaching +the bucket to his mouth there was an indefinable nauseating something +about it that made him hesitate. Again he tried to drink. Decidedly it +was bad, this water; offensive for drinking. With a sigh he diverted the +stream from his gullet to his shoulders. So pleased was Rokuzo with the +experience that he repeated it again and again from the inexhaustible +coolness of the well. Then with his head towel he began to wipe the +nudity of his person, taking in at leisure his surroundings as he did +so. Oya! Oya! It was indeed an extraordinarily beautiful place, this +which he had entered. The care lavished upon plants and ornamentation +was carried to extravagance. The eyes of Rokuzo opened wider and wider. +Here was a splendid cherry tree in the full magnificence of its bloom. +The square of this inner garden was completed by half a dozen plum trees +laden with the scented blossoms, although the fruit hung heavy from the +branches. At the opposite corner the polished red of the ripe persimmons +made the mouth water. Beyond these trees and the house was a large and +splendid bed of iris, the curious and variegated bloom counterfeiting +some patterned screen. From the _ro[u]ka_ extended a wide trellis heavy +with the blossoms of the wisteria. Lotus was in flower in the pond. +Wherever he turned his eyes the affection of these ladies for colour and +scent showed itself. Jinjo[u]ki, hibiscus, pyrus spectabilis, +chrysanthemum, peonies, ayamé or the early iris, all were in mad bloom +to please the eye. With growing fright Rokuzo gazed from side to side. +What could be the social condition of these women, thus treated so +familiarly by a mere _chu[u]gen_? The gardener surely was an +extraordinary genius, such as would serve none but the truly great. This +was a suspicious place. + +These thoughts were interrupted. Abruptly he approached the part of the +house that seemed a sort of kitchen. The huge bundle had disappeared. +The elder sister showed herself. The two younger girls held back +diffidently in the rear. All showed amusement, but the freshness of the +bath had wrought a change in manner, and made them still more lovely +than before. Said the elder--"Thanks are due for the kindness shown. +Though ashamed, deign to accept this trifling acknowledgment as porter's +wage." She held out to Rokuzo a _hana-furi-kin_. This gold coin, worth a +_bu_ (the quarter of a _ryo[u]_) was an extravagant fee.[2] Somewhat +strange withal; struck off in the Taiko[u]'s day the savour of +disloyalty was compensated by the "raining flowers" stamped in the +gold. Rokuzo was still more frightened. Ladies of course were ignorant +of values. Plainly these were ladies, of but little contact with the +world. As an honest and somewhat simple fellow he would have refused the +over-payment. But he was not eloquent in explanation, and the acceptance +meant the speedier departure. Prostrate with extended hands he gave +thanks. Then he thrust the coin into his bosom and rose in good earnest +to depart. Here follows the fall of Rokuzo from the grace of good +behaviour. + +On her way to a room at the end of the garden passed the youngest of the +sisters. She was bearing a tray, the burden of which was _saké_ bottles. +In the other hand was the heating apparatus, flask included. Rokuzo's +nostrils opened wide at the delicious perfume. He stood stock still. As +in some surprise the elder sister regarded him. Thereupon the wine +bearer halted, in her pose holding the grateful steam directly under his +nose. Said the first girl--"Is the wage insufficient? If so...." +Rokuzo's nostrils twitched. The younger sister stopped a movement as of +further bestowal. "Ah! This honoured Sir can carry more than burdens." +She broke into a merry laugh. Said the sister--"Is that so? The _saké_ +is object of desire." Beauty was now enhanced a thousand times by the +benevolence of their demeanor. With tongue at last eloquent--"Ah, +ladies! This Rokuzo is dying of thirst. The well here offers no means to +quench it. But for the honoured encounter at Kudanzaka long since would +the company at the wine shop of Ichigaya have been sought. For reward +deign wine rather than coin." He made a movement as if to restore the +gold, but the elder girl stopped him. "So then, Rokuzo likes wine. He +shall have both wine and coin, and entertainment in addition." With the +request from him their manner had changed. It was now more sedate and +purposeful. Rokuzo hardly understood the further course of his +experiences. Emerged from the bath he found himself seated before a +plentiful repast. The viand contents of the monumental burden together +with what sea and hill could provide--these figured. Rokuzo drank first, +and plentifully. Never had he tasted such delicious wine. He knew that +the Tono Sama drank no better _saké_; nor did his master occupy a more +splendid apartment than this one of the wine feast. The silken figured +_fusuma_ (screens), the fretwork crowning them, the many lamps--it was +now dark--in bronze and precious metals, dazzled his small +understanding. + +The women acted as attendants. Rokuzo sat long, now thoroughly fuddled. +He listened to an orchestral theme, interpreted by _koto_, _fué_, +_biwa_, or the _taiko_ (drum). Perhaps there were better voices. Even in +their singing the three girls had that sharp, derisive, unpleasant, +nasal twang. But Rokuzo was past criticism. To their questioning he told +who and what he was; a _chu[u]gen_ in the service of his lord, Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaémon, _hatamoto_ in the land, and now in office at the +fireward of the palace. Had he a wife? A _chu[u]gen_ is not one to have +a wife. At this all the women seemed very pleased. They exchanged +glances. + +The elder girl now came close to him. She nestled by his side and took +his arm, looking coquettishly and smilingly into his face. "Rokuzo Dono +has done much for three lonely women. Will he not do more? Why not +remain as now, perform the tasks of this house? Does not the change of +masters attract?" Rokuzo's latest remembrance of encounter with the +honoured house officer (_kyu[u]nin_) of his master was the six days turn +in the _yashiki_ prison, on very scant fare. His face was long at the +thought. He was very remiss on this present occasion. What would happen? +In the haze of his wine the voice of the girl continued. Her face was +very close as she pressed on him. "Rokuzo Dono, deign to serve this +house, meet its difficulties." For a moment Rokuzo broke the spell. +"Difficulties? Of luxurious living and a splendid home? Such +'difficulties' make one laugh."--"Yet there are real difficulties. Three +women--they have their difficulties. Be the man of the house; the man in +the house. Condescend the favour." Restraint was thrown off. She held +him in her arms and drew him close. Rokuzo's brain was in a whirl. +Women? Women? Ah! The wine! His lips eagerly sought the cup she held to +them. When she rose he allowed her gentle persuasion. The two other +girls busied themselves in the preparations for the night. They +whispered to each other; and there seemed to be some ground of division, +but the elder had her way. She and Rokuzo were left alone. + +If Rokuzo sought solace in the arms of his mistress he certainly failed +to find it. Never had such a nightmare descended on his slumbers. +Through the night he was battling with most fearful visions, seeking to +avoid tortures of hell. He had pursued his beauty into some huge cave. +Now possession was secure. From this there was no escape. But it was no +escape for Rokuzo. Now she turned into a huge obscene object, a very +_rokurokubi_, one of those hideous monsters with lengthy neck, gleaming +teeth, and distorted human-like face. Again there was change. He lay +supine and helpless; and extended full length over him was a fox of +portentous size. The sharp, yelping, nasal voice sounded in his ears. +"Coin, wine, then lechery: Rokuzo would drink, then play the beast. The +porter's wage is insufficient. Now let him pay the beast's wage." The +sharp gleaming teeth were at his throat. The foul breath filled his +lungs. Rokuzo struggled for air, shouted for an aid not at hand. +"Drunkard; lecher." By a final effort he would free himself from the +succubus--"Liar!... Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Holy the Lord +Buddha!" + +A heavy chill went through his body, shaking him from head to foot. He +opened his eyes. In amazement he looked around him. The magnificent +apartment, the women, the garden, the feast, nothing remained of his +night's experience. It was the chill of early dawn, and he was lying on +the bare ground, in the midst of a wild grass grown and deserted moor. A +tree root was his pillow. He rose to find the waters of the Kanda marsh +under his eyes. He was still on the Ichimenhara. The Kudanzaka was yet +to be climbed. Ah! He had been foxed, bewitched by reynard or _tanuki_ +(badger). Then remembrance of the _hana-furi-kin_ came to mind. Here +would be proof. He thrust a hand into his bosom--to draw out the leaf of +a tree. There was no doubt about it. And the banquet? At the very +thought of the viands Rokuzo squirmed. He made a gesture of nausea and +disgust. The _saké_--was excrement. The food--worse yet. He felt very +ill. + +His aching limbs and heavy head accompanied him to his lord's _yashiki_ +in Ichigaya. Rokuzo took to his bed. At the porter's lodge the +_kyu[u]nin_, Naito[u] Kyu[u]saburo[u], inspected the tickets of the +_chu[u]gen_. At last Rokuzo had made his appearance; and had made no +report. He was not long in reaching the _chu[u]gen's_ bedside. With +severe face he questioned him as to his absence and neglect. "Gluttonous +fellow! Something eaten is the cause of the sickness. Rascal that you +are, a good purge is the thing. Then a fast in the jail will restore the +stomach. This the punishment, if great your good luck. Otherwise--it +will be the garden front. Report is to be made." He turned to go. Rokuzo +detained him. He spoke with timidity, but under spur of the greater +retribution. He admitted his fault. "But...."--"But what?" impatiently +interjected Naito[u]. "Is not the food furnished by his lordship ample +supply for the belly? Does a _chu[u]gen_ question his lord's generosity? +What banquet tempted this rascal...?"--"Indeed it was a banquet." Rokuzo +went into details. Kyu[u]saburo[u]'s rage increased. "You are lying. Or +does illness follow food partaken in a dream? Perhaps the rascal Sukébei +has not been paid. Is Rokuzo a thief?" Rokuzo groaned in pain and +discomfiture. He would make a clean breast of it; confess to more than +mere food. And he did. "Nor is Rokuzo the only victim. Isuké, +_chu[u]gen_ of Okumura Sama of the Bancho[u], nearly lost his life. +Others have been trapped; and others knew enough to refuse service and +run away. Truly this Rokuzo is a fool. Condescend the honoured +intercession. Ah, that banquet!" He shuddered at the thoughts aroused. +At sight of the receipt of Sukébei perforce Naito[u] Kyu[u]saburo[u] +believed. He pitied Rokuzo, administered the stoutest purges in his +pharmacy, and left him somewhat relieved in mind and body. The tale was +soon known all over the _yashiki_--to the profit of all and the +amusement of most. With gleeful malice Rokuzo would be asked to describe +his meal, the superlative flavour of the wine, for past fact and present +fancy became strangely mixed in his recital. Thus, through the report of +the _kyu[u]nin_, Naito[u] Kyu[u]saburo[u], the experience of his +_chu[u]gen_ Rokuzo came to the ears of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon, +_hatamoto_ of the land, of four hundred _koku_ income, and officer in +charge of the Hiban or fire-ward at the Ushigomé gate.[3] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE _Bakémono Yashiki_ + + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon heard the report of his officer. A slight frown +puckered his brow, and he contemplated the big toe of his immaculately +white _tabi_ (sock). "A vexatious matter! _Hatamoto_ of the land, +official duty gives occupation enough. Yet for such things to take +place, and so close to the person of the suzerain, this is not to be +permitted. Beyond his love for wine Rokuzo has shown himself +trustworthy. He is not lying?" Kyu[u]saburo[u] bowed low--"As your +lordship says. Of his illness there is no question; and that not merely +from a drunken debauch. Rokuzo is not one to be tempted by women; and to +those beyond his station he dares not raise his eyes. It was the wine +which tempted him beyond discretion. He has tried all patience, been +most disloyal. The honoured dismissal or severe punishment at the least +is his due. The Tono Sama summoning him to the garden front, and +deigning the kindness of putting him to death (_te-uchi_) ... yet...." +Hesitating he brought out the once _hana-furi-kin_, wage of the +unfortunate Rokuzo, now in such danger of drastic remedy for his aching +head. Respectfully pushing forward a knee the _kyu[u]nin_ presented it +to his lord. Saburo[u]zaémon examined it with much curiosity. "And +this?"--"The wage for his porter's work," answered the officer, his face +respectfully wrinkled with the trace of a smile. "Though one could say +from his exhaustion that he received other favour than coin. The very +thought of his filthy repast drives the rascal to most fearful +retchings. He is in a parlous way, and if your lordship deign +forbearance...."--"Heigh!" He was interrupted by the exclamation of +Saburo[u]zaémon, now examining the leaf most intently. "I say now! An +oak leaf, the broad reminder of the _kiri_ (paulownia imperialis), such +might come from last year's fall. This leaf never sprang from Nippon's +soil."--"Just so," replied the _kyu[u]nin_. "Hence petition for delay in +administering punishment."--"And of course the fellow is useless. Ill, +and besides he knows not whither he went, and came to himself on the +Ichimenhara."--"Yet, while still in his five senses, he recognized Go +Bancho[u]; and it is fact that the _chu[u]gen_ of Okumura Dono suffered +likewise in the Bancho[u]."--"Of Kakunai and the strange horse this +Saburo[u]zaémon has heard. And the other man?"--"One Isuké, a stout +fellow, but in good fortune the twin brother of this rascal Rokuzo." + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon rose to his feet with an elasticity and snap +denoting decision. His wife standing close by laid hand upon his arm. He +turned to meet her frightened questioning look. He spoke reassuringly. +"Don't be afraid. Such things so near the suzerain's honoured dwelling +are not to be permitted. This Saburo[u]zaémon goes to learn the facts as +to this suspicious house. The _samurai_ has no fear of apparitions; and +less of thieves, as is likely to be the case. Let the rascals look to +themselves if they would avoid the taste of Saburo[u]zaémon's sword. +Kyu[u]saburo[u] is to see that the _Yashiki_ is well guarded. To-night +O[u]kubo Hikoroku Dono holds the fire ward. The occasion fits." At once +he was busied with his preparations for out door service. His wife, +granddaughter of old Nagasaki Chiyari Kuro[u]--he of the "bloody +spear"--was the _samurai_ woman, to aid her lord in his duty, not to +hold him back with tears and plaints. The pair were admirable specimens +of their caste. Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon's grand-father had been a +retainer of that hard hitting Asai Nagamasa who had to bow the head +before the sword of Hidéyoshi. The son Kiémon perforce had served the +Taiko[u], and well. It was with more than readiness that he had appeared +in the army of the Tokugawa at Sekigahara, to be killed in all loyalty +before O[u]saka in Genwa 1st year (1618). Saburo[u]zaémon was then but +five years old. But the early Tokugawa did not forget loyal service. +When of age he was summoned to Edo from his native province of O[u]mi, +given duty in the palace service, to become with years a _hatamato_ with +income of four hundred _koku_ and a _yashiki_ in Ichigaya, just beyond +the Gomon or great gate at the outer moat. + +In the present matter night must be awaited. When the bell of the +Gekkeiji, the huge temple of the district, struck the watch of the pig +(9-11 P.M.) Endo[u] prepared to set forth. "In case of necessity ask the +aid of Hikoroku Dono, of Juro[u]zaémon."[4] This to his wife. "At least +one attendant? Kyu[u]saburo[u] is old enough to know that these rascals +never deal with more than one human." This to the old _kyu[u]nin_, who +with anxiety watched him depart into the darkness. With a sigh the +officer shut fast the outer gate. Then, sword over his knees, he +squatted himself at the house entrance, to slumber and await his lord's +return. + +As officer of the fire ward Saburo[u]zaémon met with little difficulty +in passing the Ichigaya gate, beyond which lay the suspected district of +the Bancho[u]. To the sharp hail and protest at his appearance without a +lantern he sought the service of those of the guard. Surprise and abject +apology followed the bringing of face and equipment into their light. As +on urgent mission to the palace he explained the one and disregarded the +other. For form he borrowed a lantern at the guard house, to leave it in +a hedge close by, to hand for his return if in the darkness. Straight +ahead he walked for some distance. Now he was in the very centre of the +Bancho[u]. It was a most lonely place. The district had been set apart +for the _yashiki_ of _hatamoto_ and the houses of _gokenin_ who showed +no haste to apply for its ample space. Its highways and byways showed +lines of bamboo fences, plaster walls, broken at intervals by gates. +Between the far _yashiki_ there was much waste land. Suspicious were its +precincts in these days when the haunting spirits and apparitions, +attendant on once owners and their wars, were being driven out by the +advent and aggression of the new lords from the South. Still fresh in +men's minds was the wondrous _mami-ana_ of Azabu--the cave of the +_tanuki_ (badger)--with the implied curse on the Tokugawa. The cohorts +of apparitions, driven northward to the land of savages, had suffered +severely at the hands of Ii Naomasa on the banks of the Ueno Toshima +ferry. Thus the curse came down the centuries on the Tokugawa House. + +Once in the heart of the district Saburo[u]zaémon stood uncertain. All +sense of locality was lost. The Bancho[u] by day and by night greatly +differed. The wind sighed through the great pine trees and whispered in +the long _suzuki_ grass. He thought to reach the neighbourhood of the +Gomizaka. The noise and bustle of the Ko[u]jimachi would give direction. +Just then a lantern came in sight at the turning in the lane. As it drew +near it was seen that to all appearance the bearer was a _chu[u]gen_. +Endo[u] drew back into the shadow. He would take a good look at him. He +allowed the man to pass. Then from behind--"Heigh! Wait!" Instead of +waiting the fellow took to his heels. Endo[u] pursued and soon caught +him. In terror the fellow sank on his knees before the two sworded man. +"Deign, honoured sir, to spare the cutting test. This Isuké is yet +young. He loves life. Condescend not to cut short his breath." +Saburo[u]zaémon was struck by the name fresh to his ears. Coldly he +looked the man over; played on his terror--"Yet you are fat; just of the +girth to give fair test to a new blade."--"Nay! Your lordship can deign +to observe it. Isuké is stuffed out with a recent meal. It would be but +a case of tripes. His bones are young and soft, his muscles wasted by +mere feeding. It would be as cutting _to[u]fu_ (bean paste). Deign to +spare him." + +Said Saburo[u]zaémon. "'Tis no cutting test. Thus passing carelessly at +the side that fat paunch was an easy mark. Be more careful +henceforth.... You live hereabouts?"--"Honoured Sir, 'tis so. Isuké is +_chu[u]gen_ at the _yashiki_ of Okumura Sama."--"Ah! Then you know the +haunted house (_bakémono yashiki_) of the Bancho[u]."--"Just beyond? +Isuké knows it too well."--"Life spared, act as guide thither." The +man's knees bent under him. He plead for forbearance. Plainly he must +die. Only to this dreadful sentence and sight of Endo[u]'s sword did he +yield. Reluctantly he went ahead of the _samurai_, as far as a gate the +massiveness of which attracted attention. Saburo[u]zaémon looked it +over, then carefully considered his guide. He held out a coin. The +fellow respectfully drew back. Said Endo[u] with impatience--"As lord of +this mansion the money of guidance is offered. Accept it without +question. Here lies my purpose." This was but addition to obvious +terror. With wabbling knees the fellow persisted in refusal. "Honoured +lord, deign forbearance. Already has this Isuké accepted entertainment +here, with fearful results; nearly quaffing the waters of the Yellow +Fountain in Meido." Said Saburo[u]zaémon sourly--"What has the purpose +to do with a low fellow's entertainment? Take the coin, and be off with +you. Darkness acts as screen." The man did but whimper, "With purpose in +hand: truly darkness the screen, upside down; the balsam an incense, the +sticks to hand in the clay dishes. This? 'Twill turn out but the leaf of +a tree, to bring sorrow on Isuké. Your lordship has said it."--"It is +good coin," replied Endo[u] briefly. Then with some curiosity--"But what +has a tree leaf to do with purpose?"--"Pine leaves denote purpose, and +are so named."[5]--"A clever fellow after all! No wonder he escaped.... +But be off with you. The coin shall ring true with daylight. So much is +promised on the word of a _samurai_. Fear the living man, not the +inanimate object; and say nothing of meeting the donor. Otherwise Isuké +ends badly. Now--off with you!" The voice was very human, the peremptory +gesture surely that of a two sworded man. The _chu[u]gen_ took +confidence in the fact that he could not help himself. Whatever doubts +he possessed, these he kept with the coin in his bosom. With scant +thanks cut short by fear he obeyed the order to depart into the shades. +Gathering impetus with distance he fairly took to his heels. + +Saburo[u]zaémon waited for the lantern to disappear. Then he turned to +inspect the gate. There was no entrance through its solidity. It was a +_yashiki mon_, almost house, with two posterns. He must get a look +within. A long high plaster wall ran on both sides into the distance. +The moonlight, flooding the scene, showed him a breach opened by long +neglect. Once within he felt convinced that he was on the scene of +Rokuzo's experience. But the pine grove was anything but swept clean. +Branches torn off by storm and wind, fallen trees, lay scattered +everywhere. It was a very winding course which took him to the eaves of +the building some distance off. Plainly the once occupant had been a +person of position, perhaps a minor _daimyo[u]_. At the corner of the +structure he found himself in the garden more particularly attached to +the house. An exclamation of regret at sight of such desolation came to +the lips of Saburo[u]zaémon. A master hand had laid out this beautiful +piece of work; but trees and plants, no longer trained and trimmed by +man's hand, had run wild. In the centre was a wide well curb rising some +three feet from the ground. A single stone step allowed easier access +for those drawing water. The well-sweep had rotted off and lay upon the +ground. There was no bucket. Saburo[u]zaémon leaned over. From the still +surface of the water came an indefinable putrescent odour, perhaps from +the decaying plants, or refuse blown into the depths. He drew away, +disgusted and convinced. Carefully he made the round of this pleasaunce. +At the bottom of the garden near the confines of the well, was an +artificial mound--a _tsukiyama_ or moon viewing hill. Before this was a +little lake, for fish and lotus, of perhaps a couple of hundred feet in +length by narrow width. In places he could jump across it; and elsewhere +stepping stones offered passage. An Inari shrine in a plum grove offered +no particular interest, beyond recent inclosure showing a neighbour's +hand. There was swampy ground for the _shobu_ or iris and beds of peony +plants. In front of the line of towering pines was a row of Yoshino +cherry trees, all broken and neglected. The one time owner had loved +flowers. Endo[u] turned to the house. + +The moon was pouring full on the closed _amado_ (rain doors), its cold +silver globe lighting up the scene. "Solitary is the moon of winter +glorious that of autumn." This was the tranquil moon of summer, +pacifying yet saddening men's hearts, as does all moonlight. It was +plain there was no entrance on this side of the house, unless unseemly +force was used. This was unnecessary. Endo[u] noticed the lattice work +of the bath-room. A few strokes of his dagger, and the frame was lifted +out. Then it was easy to draw back the heavy wooden panels and allow the +moonlight to flood these exposed chambers. Carefully he scanned his +immediate surroundings. The paper of the _sho[u]ji_ was torn and eaten +by the rats. In places the frayed _tatami_ (mats) bent under his feet, +evidence of decay of the supporting floor. There was the mouldy damp +smell common to places long closed to the freedom of the outer air. It +sent a chill to the bone; which Endo[u] noted with surprise as he turned +to the dark inner rooms. He must have some kind of light. Almost the +first step into the semi-obscurity offered the means to hand. Stumbling +over an object at his feet he picked up a staff. On examination it +proved to be one of those _kongo_ canes, the support to feet and belly +of the devout in their long pilgrimages, sign manual of the pious intent +of the bearer. He had taken a candle from his pocket, and, with small +respect to the "six worlds" of its rings, used the spiked end to +improvise a torch. Then an unexpected voice caught his ear; a sad, +wailing cry which chilled the heart. Then followed low, rapid, +disorderly speech, the meaning of which rendered indistinct by distance +could not be made out. Then came the unearthly startling shriek which +rang through the whole mansion. + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon now had his torch fastened and blazing. Loosing +his sword in the scabbard promptly he set forth into the darkness +beyond. The candle cast a feeble light, making the darkness still more +apparent. However, he could see the splendour of these once inhabited +rooms. Screens worked in silk were dirty and frayed, but they were by +master hands, and still showed the outlines of beautiful designing. The +_rama-sho[u]ji_--the fret work between the rooms--was broken in places, +yet it displayed the erratic course of Nature's handiwork, the most +bizarre and effective of all. And always just before him went the +shuffling drag of sandals--as of some one on the _ro[u]ka_, further on, +at the room beyond. He sprang forward in haste, to fling back the closed +screens, but still the object eluded him; always there, yet never seen. +Thus it led him from room to room--reception rooms, sitting rooms, the +women's apartments; all gorgeous, all unfurnished, not a single object +of the value to tempt stray visitor or intentional thief. Even the +kitchen was stripped bare of equipment. Not even the stones to support +the furnace had been left. Thieves, or others, had long since accounted +for all movables. + +Dumbfounded Saburo[u]zaémon stood at the foot of the stairway. Patter, +patter the footsteps had led him to this point. The width was coated +thickly with dust, swept by breezes from without, and from the +disintegrating plaster (_kabé_) walls. The webs of spiders were woven +across it; across the aperture. Yet--again came the wild sounds of riot +above. This time the voices were distinct and close at hand. A woman was +struggling, pleading under torture. "Alas! Alas! Deign to show pity. +What has been the offence, thus to inflict punishment. Condescend the +honoured pity. Ah! Pardon there is none. The child is consigned from the +darkness of the womb to the darkness of death. Alas! Most harsh and +unkind! How avoid the eternal grudge? Unending the hate of...." The +voice, like to the sharp rending of silk, ended in the fearful shriek, +chilling, heart rending, paralysing even the stout heart of Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaémon. "Ki-i-i!" There followed the ineffectual gurgling +wailing cries of one struggling for breath. Drawn sword in hand +Saburo[u]zaémon sprang up the stairway. Nothing! The _amado_ thrown back +in haste light enough was given to show the emptiness of the room. Still +the voice was heard. He passed beyond. As before--nothing; except the +voice, now plain, as at his very side. + +Saburo[u]zaémon was now assured of some witchery. "This is Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaémon Takékiyo, _hatamoto_ of the land. Whoever, or whatever, +be present, assume the proper shape. Fox or _tanuki_ (badger), strip off +all disguise; stand to the test of Saburo[u]zaémon's blade." But the sad +wailing voice made answer--"Unkind the words of Endo[u] Sama. This is no +trick of fox or badger. Meeting an untimely end, the Spirit now wanders +as an unworshipped demon; as one deprived of all honour in the grave. +Brave has been the deed of Endo[u] Dono. Others have come; to depart in +fright. He alone stays to challenge. For so much, thanks. Deign worship +to my spirit, the security of rest from its wanderings." Saburo[u]zaémon +in amazement looked around. The voice was clearly heard, and close to +him; yet naught was to be seen. "Whoever you be, if wronged the sword of +Saburo[u]zaémon is here to avenge the wrong. If in life, the perpetrator +shall pay the penalty of the misdeed; yourself shall secure worship. +Such is the office of a _bushi_--to aid the helpless. But cannot the +shape be seen? Why this concealment from the eyes of Saburo[u]zaémon?" +And the voice made answer--"Has Endo[u] Sama no eyes? Concentrate the +thoughts. Here! Here!" Carefully and long Saburo[u]zaémon scrutinized +every spot. Following the voice he sought to get nearer and nearer. Thus +he was brought right before the _tokonoma_ (alcove). For a moment he +shielded his eyes with his hands, then boldly removed the screen and +faced the spectre in the plaster. At first faint, then more strongly +outlined was the vision of a young girl. At one time the face perhaps +had had great beauty. Now there was a weird expression of life amid the +wasting and decay of death. The living eyes gleamed a deadly hate and +distress which showed the torment of the spirit. Framed in the wild +disordered masses of long black hair the face of the apparition sought +to plunge its own unhappiness into the soul of its visitor. It was a +strange vision; one to rouse the desire for the beautiful woman in man's +heart, the wish to shield; together with repulsion toward the most evil +passions of a malice which inspires fear. Long and steadily the man +gazed; the woman answered the challenge. Then again Endo[u] was the +_samurai_. "On with the tale. To the wronged Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon +gives right and worship. A _samurai_, he has passed his word, not to be +broken." He would have taken seat before the alcove. Said the +voice--"Honoured Sir, the tale is long. On the _ro[u]ka_ without is a +stool. The _tatami_ are dangerous with the wet. Later deign the honoured +hearing." With surprise Endo[u] followed these household directions. At +the room close by he found the object indicated. Here met his eye a sign +unmistakeable. In the very centre of the _tatami_ was a huge +red-brownish stain; by the verandah a second stain; at the further +entrance a third of kindred character. Plainly the tale he would hear +was of no peaceful exit from life. To the tragedy of death had been +added violence. Thus fortified he returned, to take his seat before the +vision in the alcove; steadily, with the harsh official manner of his +caste, to meet the evil, strangely seductive, malice of its look and +suggestion. Then it spoke: + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NAKAKAWACHI SHU[U]ZEN + + +Honoured sir, long past the source of this offence. It was the +fourteenth year of Kwanei (1637). As now, the summer heat was stifling. +To seek relief this Shimo had left the house, to stroll the +neighbourhood close by. Thus idly engaged, listening to the song of the +_suzumushi_, watching the fireflies flitting over the tops of the +_suzuki_ grass, and bending to cull a few lilies to arrange in the +_hanaike_, the presence of a stranger was felt. Ah! He was indeed a +handsome man. Not too young to seem a callow youth to the eyes of +Shimo's sixteen years; not too old to look on her merely as one of +different sex. Indeed he was not yet thirty years, a soldier, carrying +his two swords and his person most nobly. At very sight of him Shimo was +carried into the gust of the love passion. Her cheeks were "dashed with +the maple leaf, her heart swelled as the noon-tide." Her confusion did +not escape the notice of one already surprised at sight of a girl so +young strolling alone on the byways of the Bancho[u]. At once he spoke, +with the confidence of one who has the right to question--"And who may +this little beauty be, unaccompanied, with night so close at hand? The +Bancho[u] is said to be no safe place with coming of darkness. If on +some mission and belated, this Shu[u]zen will protect from harm. Or +perhaps, though young in years, this is some new wife. Or is it a lover +who is in question?" He spoke with kindness and authority, coming very +close to get his answer, his eyes fastened on my person, to the greater +increase of embarrassment. Vain was the attempt to throw some +indignation into the reply. Lover there was none. Of but sixteen years, +Shimo was in the hands of father and mother. To admit a lover would be +unfilial.... The father? Kawasaki Cho[u]bei, attached to the palace +stables. Humble was his rank in the minor office he held; but a one +time _ashigaru_ (common soldier) his service had entitled him to the +position and the suzerain's stipend of twenty _koku_. Hence he was of +some consequence among his neighbours. At this information, given with +some heat, the _samurai_ smiled and praised my father's service. + +He did more than praise; on this night, and other nights. Frequent were +the meetings. Yet never did this Shimo pass the bounds of propriety. +Carried away by the gust of passion, incited by the lover's presence and +solicitation, yet Shimo's filial duty kept her person pure. A night came +when he failed at the rendezvous. So with the next, and following +nights. He had laughed at parting, and said that where was the will, +there a means would be found. Plainly the will was lacking, and he was +too proud and too highly placed even to endure the presence of Shimo at +his side. With these thoughts, and overcome by love and vexation, I +sickened. Great was the anxiety of the parents. Doctors were called in; +the priest's charms were sought. They were of no avail. It was the +advice of the wise old Saito[u] Sensei to leave me to myself and time. +"It is her years," said he. "Time will effect the cure; unless she +herself sooner indicates the means." Laughing he departed, as one +convinced that the cure was a simple one. Long had the determination +been held to tell all to the mother; always put off at sight of the +kindly anxious face. With such a lover she would have felt alarmed and +helpless. + +Time brought the cure. The summer heats were nearly past; the eighth +month (September) close at hand. One day came a _chu[u]gen_ to the +house, bearing a message. At once all was in confusion. Nakakawachi Dono +was a _fudai daimyo[u]_ of twelve thousand _koku_ income. He was a +new-comer in the district, and known to be held in high favour at the +palace. A goodly portion of the site of the former Yoshida Goten in +Bancho[u] Ko[u]jimachi had recently been assigned to him. With the +removal of the Takata no Kata[6] to quarters closer to the castle the +greater portion of the palace had been removed to build the prior's hall +of the Iinuma Kugyo[u]ji. The villa part (_besso[u]_) of the structure +had been left intact, and with much of the park and garden had been +secured by favour to Nakakawachi Sama. For such a great lord in his +passage to condescend to rest at the humble house of a mere _go-kenin_ +caused much disturbance. The limited household staff was put +energetically to work at cleaning and making all preparations for the +honoured visit. Treading with cat's paw my parents went from room to +room, to see that all was befitting. The articles of greatest value were +set forth for his lordship's view. An instinct set dancing my barely +restored nerves. Why did this great lord, so near home in his +progress--his fief was in Ko[u]shu[u]--deign thus to rest? What command +would he urge? His name was Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen. The _samurai_ lover +of the Bancho[u] spoke of himself as Shu[u]zen. Thus was the watching +and waiting, in a flutter of trepidation and newly aroused passion. + +Then he came. My parents prostrated themselves on the ground in his +presence. "With your permission--" Haughty he swept on, to be ushered to +the inner rooms. Even the officer in charge remained at a distance. +Prostrate at the sill my father gave thanks for the honour of this +unexpected presence, for his lordship's deigning to halt the palanquin. +On command Shimo served the tea, not daring to raise face from the +_tatami_ under the satisfied scrutiny of this honoured guest, exercising +all her self control, which yet did not prevent a trembling of the +fingers in presenting the salver with the cup. In due course, on +withdrawal of the service, he noted the one who served, and indicated +his wishes. He was a new-comer in the district. He would have his +service therefrom, at the hands of those close by. No girl was better +spoken of than the daughter of Cho[u]bei San. He would ask that Shimo be +sent to the _yashiki_ to attend as _koshimoto_ (maid in waiting) to her +ladyship. His short stay in this house he regarded as most fortunate. He +spoke through his chamberlain, now present; but followed the officer's +words with close attention. My father was overwhelmed by the honour. +Profuse and earnest were his astonished thanks. Shimo was the only child +of people now entering into the coldness of age. This was of small +moment. But there had been no opportunity to give her the training +required for such service. Beyond an awkward touch on _samisen_, mainly +due to her own practice, she was a moor girl, a very rustic. She could +keep house--yes; like a wardsman's daughter. Polite accomplishments she +lacked. Deign in this instance his lordship's honoured forbearance. The +girl was too young and awkward for such service. + +Polite was the withdrawal; without knowledge of his lordship's +disposition and previous acquaintance. Shu[u]zen Dono was not so easily +balked. All the objections were brushed aside. Youth was everything in +my favour. His eyes twinkled with inward amusement as he spoke. All the +easier came the practice which everyone must go through. If Shimo was +incurably awkward she would not be dismembered, but dismissed. Great +would be the forbearance. That she had everything to learn pleased him +all the more. She would be the more readily moulded to his service. At +the _yashiki_ youth was an object, and not the experience of long time +service which had left the adept far too experienced. Such women had +their lord's service little at heart. Shimo had youth and beauty. These +were a girl's treasures and accomplishments. He had never seen one +better fitted for entrance on such service. All this the chamberlain +conveyed with an authority which put aside opposition. The lord's will +was spoken. First the mother gave thanks for the honour condescended to +one so insignificant. She claimed the promised forbearance of his +lordship to any faults. My father followed her example, and gave his +thanks. Such entertainment as the humble house afforded was now +produced. After partaking his lordship departed in state. The neighbours +had been agape at the great lord's train stationed at the gate. For them +and for the curious and discreet questioning, the congratulations at +such promotion in the world, this Shimo cared little. His lordship's +will had prevailed. Henceforth Shimo would live close to his side. + +I had fled to the little working room, as one taking refuge amid the +constant household sewing. But needle could not be seen through the veil +of tears. "What joy! What joy!" Thoughtless the words were spoken out +loud. The mother's hand was laid on my shoulder. The look was kind, yet +with some reproach at this unfilial rejoicing. Apology was made. To her +doubts eager was the answer. "How else succeed in life? Service at the +_yashiki_, its life always under eye, its etiquette, even its +dangers--this experience alone can teach how to meet its requirements; +and so close at hand, near to home and parents. Others had succeeded in +such promotion. Why not Shimo, thus offered the chance to rise from the +status of a wardsman's daughter, or not much more, to become an +attendant in a lord's _yashiki_?" Sadly my mother smiled. Grave would be +her anxieties concerning one so inexperienced. "The child thinks but of +self and pleasure. The mother thinks but of the child, and sees the +dangers." This in lower tones--"If Shimo becomes the favourite of her +lord, how is such inexperience to meet the evil passions roused in those +around her? Always place her ladyship first. Resist the solicitation of +Shu[u]zen Dono; unless the _okusama_ chooses to favour what would be but +a transient passion. Keep this well in mind.... And now--to the +preparation of what is needed." She had detected the motive of his +lordship's summons, thought him captivated by a pretty face and figure +come across by accident. Thus she understood the inner feeling of this +Shimo. With the words of advice she turned to the subject of my needs. +Willingly this was left to her skilled hands; and the advice received as +little attention. To speak of resistance to his lordship, to one who +hungered for his presence, was but to set the brain devising all the +means to secure his favour. Thus outwardly busied with needle and +garments, the self was existing as in a dream. The preparations in any +event could not be elaborate. Shu[u]zen Dono was urgent. A lucky day was +chosen, and with my modest equipment I entered on the service of the +_yashiki_ of Nakakawachi Sama. + +Introduction to the immediate presence of her ladyship, O'Hagi was +anything but pleasing. Seated with her were two maids, O'Tsugi and +O'Han. The first named was a buxom masculine woman of nearly thirty +years. The girl O'Han was a recent promotion from the scullery; and, as +was learned later, she owed the favour to the goodwill of the +chamberlain (_yo[u]nin_) Nishioka Shintaro[u], a cold, smooth spoken, +evil eyed man, mainly notable for the uncompromising readiness with +which he carried out the wishes of her ladyship. Over them all, of +greatest influence with O'Hagi Dono, was an old woman, O'Saku. She had +accompanied her ladyship from the original House, was utterly +unscrupulous in her service, and her sharp voice, like that of a file +scratching glass, sent shivers down the spine as I prostrated myself +before the group. Cold was the reception. "A likely wench! Plainly his +lordship's choice, without reference to your ladyship. But time will +show.... Meanwhile no service as yet is assigned. With this girl his +lordship's orders are first to be heard. O'Han, show the new comer to +the quarters of the _koshimoto_, that she stand in no necessity or +likelihood of forgetting where they are. For to-day there is remission +of service." Thus spoke the harsh voice of O'Saku, passing over my head. +The cold, knife like glances of all were like steel plunged into my +body. With obeisance I withdrew, to follow O'Han, who gave no greater +welcome and was no kinder than the rest. Almost at once she left me, and +several days were passed in solitude awaiting a summons. This came one +evening. With evil dubious smile O'Han presented herself. "His lordship +summons O'Shimo Dono to his service this night. You are to attend. Deign +not to forget the good services of this Han." She laughed, with a bitter +suggestiveness. What would anyone have done, thus treated at start as +evil doer, as intruder? With joy his lordship's command was heard. The +whole person of Shimo showed a well restrained love and joy. He was +pleased at the effect wrought on me by his presence. Small the +experience, beyond what love's attention could afford. The night's +banquet was plainly not the dullest of its kind. At its close O'Shimo +had command to accompany him. With morning I was a woman. + +In the period which followed every night came the summons to attend my +lord. Foolish and inexperienced, in this whirlwind of passion Shimo was +but a leaf driven by the storm. The assignment to duty in the _yashiki_ +never came. There was the daily report for duty at her ladyship's +rising, the cold and curt reception, the quick dismissal. O'Hagi Dono +was past her thirtieth year. Of the great Doi House, she brought to her +husband a dower of influence and prestige. Older than her husband the +love passion had never taken root. An ugly woman, there was small +chance for other good qualities to secure a fictitious esteem with a man +so easily captivated by beauty as Shu[u]zen Sama. Furthermore her +ladyship did not possess such amiable traits. She was a proud, hard, +jealous woman; with the natural graft of a bad temper. Soon abandoned to +a lonely bed she was no longer treated as a wife. Though the marriage +had endured some five years there was no child, and little prospect of +one. On occasions of ceremony the _okugata_ presided at his lordship's +wine feasts, attended by her band of furies. With the exception of +O'Han, who possessed the freshness of youth, none of them had any +pretence to good looks. Outwardly all due respect was paid to his +lordship, but the private apartments (_oku_) were in league against him. +For weeks the contact was through the _yo[u]nin_, Nishioka Shintaro[u], +who acted as messenger of his lord's commands, and conveyed to his +lordship any intimation of the wishes of her ladyship. Hence Shu[u]zen +Sama knew and cared little as to what passed in the inner apartments of +his wife. She knew everything which passed in those of his lordship. +This tacit divorce appeared welcome to both. + +The object of his lordship's passion, in a household in which one side +or the other of the existing feud must be taken, the position of this +Shimo was quickly determined. Not by her, for short experience of her +ladyship inspired a terror which would even have counselled cooler +treatment from his lordship in one more experienced. The other girls +were all honey, to disguise the bitterness of gall. There was not one of +them who would not gladly have obeyed her lord's call to Shimo's place. +Hence to partisanship was added jealousy. At the daily tasks there was +but one topic of conversation--O'Shimo's favour with her lord. The +charms she used were evident enough, for Nature had been lavish with the +kind to meet his lordship's wishes. How was it their own parents had +spawned such incapacity? "Deign, O'Shimo Dono, to teach the art so sadly +lacking. How bring to prominence such meagre gifts of proportion as one +does possess? In turn shall be taught the art of the _hanaike_--the +arrangement of flowers, of the _koto_ and the _biwa_ in accompaniment of +old songs of heroes and their ladies, the ceremonial grace so necessary +in attendance, the conduct of a lady. From a wardsman's daughter little +is expected, beyond good looks. Alas! O'Shimo Dono is the _yamabuki_, +the yellow rose, beautiful in its out of season bloom (April), but only +too likely to be nipped by the frost. Deign to enlighten, O'Shimo Dono. +Beauty soon wanes, and pregnancy kills good looks as completely as the +chill wind does the flowers." Then they all broke into mad laughter; and +whispered to each other. + +Their suspicions were correct. The constant companionship of his +lordship had the natural effect. When told great was his pleasure. If a +boy, the child should be acknowledged as heir of the House. If a girl, +it should be the solace of his years. So great was his joy and pride +that he spoke to the retainers as if it was the _okugata_ herself who +was at issue. Thus the news must have reached her ladyship's ears with +the first telling, for Nishioka usually was present at his lord's +repast. He was the black cloud hanging over all. A tall, gaunt, suave, +determined man of nearly forty years, the smile he cast upon this Shimo +chilled her. Always courteous in his lordship's presence, elsewhere his +courtesy conveyed a threat and insult which made me as the bird before +the snake. I feared the man; and feared him all the more when one day, +with small disguise of malice, he told me that his lordship had departed +in all haste for the fief in Ko[u]shu[u], not to return for some weeks. +Considering the state of affairs, this should inconvenience me but +little. This open reference to the pregnancy was a first alarm. It +showed how well known it was to the whole household. Indeed concealment +now was impossible. The fifth month had been entered upon; the +supporting band had become a necessity. But the climax was at hand. + +That very day--toward noon--the summons came through the girl O'Han. +With sinking heart I took my way to her ladyship's sitting room. What +was going to take place. Passing the _chu[u]gen_ Jisuké on the _ro[u]ka_ +he called to someone in the garden--"His lordship's absence gives the +chance to clean out the house." Covertly glancing below--there was no +one. Was it in malice, or as warning? Probably the latter. Jisuké always +had been active in little services; often the chosen messenger of my +lord. His look in passing conveyed no insolence; rather kind intention. +It took away the exhibition of surprise at my reception. Her ladyship +was seated at the upper end of the room. The maids O'Tsugi and O'Han +stood close by. Nishioka Shintaro[u] was just behind her ladyship. The +old hag O'Saku was seated at the front. She motioned me to make +salutation. The _okugata_ spoke harshly, with contempt and dislike of +the one thus brought before her at the white sand of judicial process. +"The affair at issue is a simple one. Shimo is to answer the +questions--without tergiversation or lying. To Saku is left the matter +of the examination." + +The old woman bowed with respect and smiling gratitude at the pleasing +task. The smile conveyed to her ladyship promise of satisfaction, even +amusement, in the torture of a forced confession from this child who +would play the woman. Turning to me her face, with cheeks fallen in, +long sharp nose, hard bright glittering eyes of a bird of prey, the +snowy hair piled high around the temples, it was that of one keenly +searching out the tenderest spot into which to drive the knife. Her +first words were all flattery. "Much has been heard, and little seen, of +O'Shimo Dono since her entrance into the _yashiki_. What has been heard +is all to her advantage. Her devotion to the service of his lordship has +been carried to the utmost--even, some say, to extremes. Of that there +can be no criticism. His lordship's wishes are paramount. The action of +O'Shimo Dono contains nothing but merit. It is for the malice of others +to say that O'Shimo has sought and stolen the fruit belonging to her +ladyship; that her cat's eyes have been quick to fasten upon the place +of the mistress of the house; that it is she who would furnish forth an +heir to his lordship. Such is not to be believed. But the truth is to be +told. An heir to his lordship is a matter for her ladyship. No child has +fallen to her lot. If O'Shimo Dono be the first to give birth to a child +in the _yashiki_, it must be between the knees of her ladyship. Deign +then to make full confession.... Ah! There is no need to beg for mercy +and reprieve from the examination. Saku is old. Her ladyship is a +married woman. Both possess experience. On refusal personal examination +is to be made. O'Tsugi, O'Han, are to aid." The two women had come +forward and passed behind me. Seized and thrown down the clenched fist +of O'Tsugi was roughly pressed into my abdomen. In fright and pain, in +dread for the unborn child, I cried out. Then the violent old woman +dragged out the confession of all that had passed with his lordship. +Minute and shameful the details to be told in the presence of a man. But +Shimo was an animal with powers of speech, and must tell all. With the +confession the old woman's smoothness departed. "Vile slut! A townsman's +brat, sprung from the stable dung, you would play the adulteress, take +her ladyship's place, and supplant her with an heir got by some +stranger's seed.... She is gone to the sixth month? High time for +interference. She shall be kept here, until the separation of persons +takes place. No wonder his lordship abandoned the shameless hussy--for +some fresh country wench in Ko[u]shu[u]. For such loose jades to please +the taste of the Tono Sama causes surprise. But off with her, to the +room for confinement. There she is to lie, until her affair is settled." +At a sign O'Tsugi and O'Han seized hold of me. Clothes torn and in +disorder, the person vilely exposed, roughly I was dragged over to this +barred and retired apartment. Always I made effort to preserve my body +and its fruit from their harsh violence. O'Tsugi roared with laughter at +the feeble resistance. The woman was strong as a horse. To O'Han--"Look +at her big belly. Ah! Her ladyship is none too wise. Let the matter but +be left to Tsugi, and the midwife soon would be needed." She raised a +massive leg with suggestive gesture. In some fright O'Han stopped her, +on plea of no such orders. The girl was young, of full figure and not +without attraction. Perhaps she harboured hopes, and would not in a +rival's person set precedent for her own. O'Tsugi spun me around, as a +child would a top with the cord. Then suddenly she released me. With a +crash my body fell against the wall. Sick and faint I tried to rise, and +failed. They watched me for a time as I grovelled and retched in +sickness. Then the bar fell on the outer passage and my imprisonment. + +The day light waned. The sound of the birds going to roost came to the +ears. It was now spring, the gladsome period of the year. The cooing and +chirping brought no charm to the prisoner's ear. These birds were as the +birds of Shidéyama (in Hell). Mournful the dirge they sang. Filled with +foreboding, with dread for self and the passing from the darkness of the +womb to the darkness of death for the unborn child, faintness of heart +was made worse by the faintness of hunger. I sank into a kind of +slumber, more racking than the working hours. Then the harsh cries of +the crows aroused me. Daylight was again streaming through the window +bars. At a corner of the sill was a jar. The water in it was stale and +foul smelling. None other was to hand. A _mimitarai_ (hand basin) was +found in the closet. Thus was the nauseating ablution performed. Near +mid-day, when ready to cry out with hunger, for sake of child not self, +the door opened. It was O'Han who brought me food. One strip of +_takuan_, the bitter pickled radish; for drink, ice cold water. Such was +the meal. At night some pickled greens replaced the radish. On my knees +I plead with O'Han, besought her mercy for the unborn child. She laughed +at my misery. "Good living on forbidden fruits has made O'Shimo Dono +fat. Her big belly is perchance to be reduced by diet. Such are the +orders of the _okugata_. Han can do nothing; and would do nothing if she +could. What a fool! Cannot one please his lordship, all night and every +night, without promise of an heir to the House? Condescend the vacancy +and leave such matter to this Han...." Perhaps she felt that she had +said too much. Abruptly she turned and left the room. + +I was not long alone. At least it seemed not so, for the light slumbers +were disturbed by the pangs of hunger. Then came a hand fingering the +outside bar. It was done stealthily. In aid or menace? A deadly fear +came over me. With wild staring eyes, loosened hair framing an anguished +and distorted figure I faced the object without, seeking its entrance. +The terror was not relieved by the appearance of the chamberlain, +Nishioka Shintaro[u]. His face was set and drawn, as of a man who has a +problem to work out, as of one who would carry out the purpose with +certainty and expedition. He closed the door, set the lamp carefully on +the floor in a distant corner. Not a word was spoken. Eyes bright with +terror I watched his movements. He carried something in one hand. Shaken +loose it was allowed to trail behind him. His preparations made he came +toward me with decision. Retreating before his advance the wall was +reached. By this time he was on me. Then I saw what it was he held; a +slender rope, its dreadful meaning plain. I screamed in terror. Roughly +he silenced me, one hand on open mouth. In stifled tones I plead for +mercy. Then failing sign of respite, by desperate effort my struggles +called for all his strength. My screams resounded loud in the room. +"Aré! Aré! Murder! Deep the grudge, to seven lives! Nishioka San! The +grudge of one dying against Nishioka! Against man and woman who would +cut off the life of Shimo and her child. Ah! Her ladyship! The grudge!" +The cord had tightened round my throat. The ends were in the strong +hands of Nishioka Shintaro[u]. I mocked and stuck out my tongue at him. +I know I did so, as the breath came with greater and greater difficulty. +His face, that of a demon, grew to huge proportions, bright scarlet. Now +heart and lungs were bursting with fullness. Dreadful the agony, +dreadful the grudge for this ill deed. Thus I died. Then followed the +ruin of the House of Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE O'KAGÉ SAMA + + +On the following night all were gathered in the apartments of her +ladyship. O'Tsugi was engaged in putting back the _koto_ (harp) into its +cover. O'Hagi Dono touched the instrument with no mean skill, and on +this night had deigned to please herself and those who heard her. O'Han +was engaged in heating the _saké_ bottles. Rarely did her ladyship +retire without this indulgence. The old woman, O'Saku, aimlessly moved +about the room. She seemed to be awaiting some news. A sound of steps in +the corridor, and with pleased countenance she made sign to her +ladyship. A moment later and Nishioka Shintaro[u] entered the room. +There was not a trace of difference from the ordinary in his composed +harsh reverential manner to her ladyship. The latter gave a look at +O'Saku. The old women asked the momentous question. "The matter in +hand--has all gone well? The wench no longer troubles the peace and +future of the _okugata_?"--"Everything to perfection: the _chu[u]gen_ +and servants were given tasks to take them far removed. There was barely +a struggle. By the hands of this Shintaro[u] the affair was soon carried +to completion." With complacence he displayed two lean strong hands, +regarded with fondness and admiration by her ladyship. They could bestow +a more tender embrace than that suffered by the unfortunate _koshimoto_. +"And later; the traces of the deed, these are to be removed?"--"There +are none. The time was waited until the body grew cold. It was safe to +do so. The weather is yet raw, the room one seldom entered, and the bar +key in the hands of Shintaro[u]. But just now the task of dismemberment +and disposal has been completed. On pretext of repairs to the _ashigaru_ +quarters much plaster was obtained. With this the severed fragments of +the hussy and her foetus were mingled, and thus concealed in the wall +of the _tokonoma_. The whole new surfaced no trace of the deed appears; +nor is there fear of stench from the corpse. Her ladyship can be assured +that all is well. O'Shimo no longer will give trouble with her +pretensions to his lordship's fondness. In a few days Shintaro[u] will +notify the father that the girl has run off with some lover. A worthless +jade, thus dismissed the _yashiki_, he will be too ashamed to make +inquiry here; and his searches elsewhere are not likely to bear +fruit.... How strange!" He brushed away a firefly which had flown into +his face. With surprise those present watched the bug flitting here and +there in the darkness of the corners and the open corridor. It was +barely the middle of the third month (April), and no season for the +appearance of those insects of the hottest period of the year. Failing +to catch it, O'Tsugi drove it into the outer darkness. Then closed the +screens. + +More lights were brought. Her ladyship would take wine, and talk of +nothing but the joy and relief. "For life this deed shall not be +forgotten. Always in the ready courage and resource of Nishioka has +support been found; many awkward corners turned. If he finds favour with +his lord, still greater the regard of this Hagi. A cup--Shintaro[u]!" +Herself she offered it, leaning fondly toward him. Her hand trembled in +her passion as he took it, with purposed glance and pressure. Always +formal in outward seeming, the intimate relations of the pair for past +months were more than understood by these immediate attendants and +abettors. Nishioka Shintaro[u] long had been the honoured substitute of +his lord--the shadow, the O'Kagé Sama, of Nakakawachi Dono. In this case +the shadow was the substance. This ugly virile woman was boiling over +with passion. In the old O'Saku she had a bawd to her service. She had +entered this House as friend or enemy, according as the event would turn +out. Neglected by Shu[u]zen, unable to rule him by will or personal +attraction, she sought to do so by substitution, to the satisfaction of +both. Hence she made Nishioka Shintaro[u] her lover. He was nephew of +O'Saku and foster brother of O'Hagi. Once introduced into the house he +easily made his way into the confidence of Shu[u]zen Dono, by taking all +cares off his shoulders, beyond those of ceremonial attendance and +pleasure. The minutest details of everything were looked to by Nishioka. +This pleased Shu[u]zen, who placed confidence in the readiness and +proved resourcefulness of the man. Nishioka was an infallible guide in +all minutiae of the palace service and intrigue; his knowledge gained by +a long experience in attendance on the great Doi House. Here he had +risen from _chu[u]gen_ to _kyu[u]nin_ (house officer). When he came to +the _yashiki_ of Shu[u]zen he soon replaced the _karo[u]_ (minister) of +the fief in his lord's intimacy, and the latter official found +honourable banishment in continued occupation and residence at the fief +in Ko[u]shu[u], where Shu[u]zen played the rôle of a castle lord +(_jo[u]shu[u]_), a _fudai daimyo[u]_, a subordinate and spy on his +greater neighbours. The new comer was source of congratulation to her +ladyship. As O'Saku--and perhaps O'Hagi Dono intended, revenge was +sought on Shu[u]zen by promptly throwing the mistress into the arms of +Nishioka. Behind the impenetrable shield of the inner apartments--a +place that Shu[u]zen only sought to avoid--they could live as husband +and wife. Other arrangement now was met by the cold reception meted out +to her lord by the lady of the House. Any compunction Shu[u]zen might +feel as to what he thought to be the enforced sterility of O'Hagi thus +was salved. + +Merry almost to madness was the progress of the wine feast. Her ladyship +went beyond the bonds even of a decent veil of sobriety. Her loving +attitude to Nishioka found more open expression than usual in the +presence of the others. Her abandonment was undisguised. All rejoiced +with her; congratulated the strong man on his ready energy. Only the +girl O'Han showed some lack of spirit, which she attributed to headache. +In kindness her ladyship forbade further concern with the service of the +wine, with the aggravation of its fumes; but she had too little +consideration for those about her to relieve the suffering girl from +attendance. Then the hour came to retire. According to the decent +formula in practice, Nishioka, notified of the fact, rose to take his +leave--to the next chamber. Here the O'Kagé Sama did his disrobing. The +girl O'Tsugi was the first to leave her ladyship, on some mission. She +came behind Shintaro[u], to administer a rousing slap between the +shoulders which brought him almost to his knees. Grumbling and gasping +he turned to meet her admiring looks. "A fine figure of a man! And one +to act as well as pose. For us his lordship has but pretty words. +O'Shimo alone profited otherwise. But the O'Kagé Sama of his lordship is +of another kind. Deign to favour this Tsugi from time to time." +Shintaro[u] volunteered a grimace which could pass for a consenting +smile. His shoulders burned under the heat of the lady's passion. In +search for a reply the screens again parted, and O'Saku made her +appearance. O'Tsugi at once took to flight, somewhat in derision. The +old woman followed her with eyes of suspicion. Then she marched straight +up to Nishioka--"An impudent jade! Shintaro[u] is to place no confidence +in her or her words. She brings nothing but shame, and perhaps worse. +There is not a serving man in the _yashiki_ who does not know her. And +remember this well. It is this Saku who holds the string of her +ladyship's favour. O'Hagi Dono is not so far enamoured as not to accept +a substitute at Saku's hands.... But he is a fine figure of a man! Too +fine to be spoiled by his lordship's hand." To avoid the threatening +lascivious gleam in the eyes of this withered branch Nishioka made +pretence of trouble with a knot in his girdle. The whispered invitation +grazed a negligent ear, to be interrupted by the sound of her ladyship's +voice. O'Saku was in no haste to leave or to say more. O'Han was the +last to appear. There were anger and tears in her eyes as the girl +stopped a few feet from him. She spoke half turned away, as ready to +take flight at expected interruption. "Nishioka Dono keeps faith with +her ladyship! Does he keep faith with Han? Earnest was the promise that +at all events Han should share his favour with O'Hagi Dono. Nearly a +month has passed since he has deigned a visit. Surely her ladyship is +not so exacting. Give fair answer. Is will or power lacking?" She waited +the reply, eyes cast down on the _tatami_, for she at least had some +remains of modesty. Thus the almost despairing gesture of Shintaro[u] +escaped her. He spoke in low voice, with emphasis, to this fairest of +his bevy of fair ones--"As for the _okugata_, O'Han knows her almost as +well as this Shintaro[u]. What would be the fate of both if their +treachery were suspected? Deign to be patient. The fountain of plenty +has not run dry. Shintaro[u] would go but so far. In this horde of women +he must look to himself. The dependence now is on her ladyship and +O'Saku Dono. Shu[u]zen Sama is cajoled by having thought for nothing. +The _karo[u]_ now is very old. This Shintaro[u] surely will take his +place. A break then with her ladyship finds punishment in exile to +Ko[u]shu[u]. Then comes the time for O'Han openly to join Shintaro[u], +for the happy bond of two lives." The girl's lips barely moved. Both +were startled at peremptory call from the neighbouring room. She spoke +rapidly--"'Tis small matter, even with her ladyship. But from time to +time a visit to this Han? Condescend it."--"Agreed!" was the impatient +answer. "But with O'Hagi Dono, O'Tsugi, O'Han.... O'Saku, the occasions +must be limited." He suddenly seized her in his arms and silenced her +protest in an embrace. Then with hasty steps he passed to her ladyship's +bed-chamber, leaving O'Han with wide staring eyes which shifted from the +room of the lovers to the door through which she had witnessed the old +woman's departure. + +Such was the vileness of the life in which was engaged Nishioka +Shintaro[u]. A week had barely elapsed. There was occasion to make +purchases for the _yashiki_. The _chu[u]gen_ Jisuké remained +respectfully prostrate before the officer. Nishioka again ran over the +list required. "These are to be got at the Owariya in Mikawacho[u]. The +month's settlement is yet far off. The order stands sufficient. Now off +with you." The man did not budge. Rising to a sitting posture he looked +fixedly in the face of Nishioka. "What now?" grumbled the _yo[u]nin_. +Answered the _chu[u]gen_ with respect--"Something of a tip will be +well."--"A tip!" said Nishioka in astonishment. "For what is the month's +wage paid to a _chu[u]gen_? Is he to be given drink money for carrying +out his duties? Take the _furoshiki_; and now out with it and yourself." +"'Out with it'; just so." Such the answer; but the fellow did not budge. +The steady insolence of his attitude made Nishioka straighten up as by a +shock. He was too surprised to speak. The _chu[u]gen_ spoke for him. +"Yes--out with it. Ah! It is quite private with Shintaro[u]. Jisuké can +speak at ease. Drink money is just the thing for Jisuké. Jisuké Dono is +fond of drink. The O'Kagé Sama will supply the coin, three _ryo[u]_, in +return for the silence of Jisuké." + +At the suggestive nickname, known only to the few in the secrets of the +_oku_ Nishioka fairly gasped. Jisuké did not give time for answer. He +drove the matter home. "'Heaven knows, Earth knows, Man knows.' So does +this Jisuké, of the doings of Shintaro[u] with the Okusama. Naruhodo! No +strange sight. When the honoured Sun (Tento[u] Sama) disappears toward +Ko[u]shu[u], the honoured Moon (Tsuki Sama) appears in the ascendant in +Musashi. The matter is a most important one, not to be brought to an end +by a gesture. Bring the Okusama on the head and shoulders of Jisuké; and +Jisuké tells all to his lordship. The proof is easy, and this Jisuké the +fitting messenger between these lovers.... Oh! Don't lay hand to sword. +Jisuké is active, and the way of retreat is open. The honoured Jisuké is +not one to perish by the hand of the low fellow (_yaro[u]_) Shintaro[u]. +In plain terms, the rascal is male concubine of her ladyship; who knows +little of the even balance with which her paramour shares his favours +with her women. Surely Shintaro[u] was born under the sign of the goat. +But that is not all. The very walls can talk. At least that in which the +unhappy O'Shimo, seven months gone with child, stands walled in. +Naruhodo! Such punishment is inflicted on bugs, and worms, and creeping +things; not on human beings. How does Jisuké know? Go question the +plaster, you coward; or learn that Jisuké is, and has been, everywhere +present at council and at deeds. But a word to Cho[u]bei Dono, and +Nishioka crouches at the white sand for confession." + +At first astonishment and incredulity, then wrath, now dismay filled the +heart of Nishioka Shintaro[u]. The fellow's insolence, the honorifics +bestowed on Jisuké, the vile terms heaped on himself, showed the secure +ground on which Jisuké stood in his full knowledge of events. For whom +was he spy? He must find out. Jisuké, however, volunteered the +information. "Spy? Jisuké Dono is spy for no one's interest but that of +Jisuké Sama. He would have warned O'Shimo Dono, but repented in time to +have all more completely in his hands. She passed on to her death, +carried out under the eyes of Jisuké, and at the hands--Yes, the hands +of the low fellow Shintaro[u]. Ah! Did beautiful eyebrows inspire this +deed? Was it the love for O'Hagi now, or love for O'Han hereafter? As +rival to his lordship the rascal Shintaro[u] had no chance with O'Shimo +Dono. The clothes prop is the most useful instrument of the house. It +brings things long unseen to light and sight. Jisuké Dono will be the +clothes prop for this completed wickedness--unless his silence be well +bought. Come! Fifty _ryo[u]_: not down: but ten suffices for the +occasion.... Come and demand it of the Okusama? No indeed! Before her +ladyship the prescribed etiquette demands obeisance, and off is whipped +the head of Jisuké. It is money and--a sword cut. On the contrary, off +with Shintaro[u] to beg the needed sum. The tongue of Jisuké Sama is +silenced only by the coin which secures his absence." + +Nishioka could not help himself. "Jisuké is right. It is a matter of +importance. But her ladyship alone can supply the sum. Remain here, +where safety has been so well secured." Then he betook himself to the +inner apartments. At his tale O'Hagi was aghast. She touched the root of +the matter at once. "The man must have the money demanded. And +afterward...." Nishioka smiled grimly at the kindred thought. "Into the +_oku_ he is not to be inveigled. Leave the matter to this Shintaro[u]. +After all be is but a _chu[u]gen_, plainly a fellow with two eyes; but +despite his long experience he must leave the _yashiki_ or conform to +the etiquette of the service. He will not leave a place where lies his +future mine of gold, no matter what his insolence in private. All will +be well. His ignorance and position offer chance to play upon. +Shintaro[u] surely will find a way to kill him." With this solace and +the coin he took his way back to the waiting Jisuké. "I say now! His +lordship's shadow indeed! This rascal Shintaro[u] has but to shake the +tree and the golden fruit falls into his hands. The kind of friend to +possess! Ask; and one receives. Sheet metal too! A very thief, he is +more generous than the Tono Sama! So far thanks. And now--_sayonara_! +Jisuké Dono is off to the pleasant land--the Amatsuki of Fushimicho[u], +the land of reed plains (Yoshiwara). The knave Jisuké, values higher +than the knave (_yaro[u]_) Shintaro[u]. The Honoured Sir pays for the +favours of his queen; his queen pays the _yaro[u]_ Shintaro[u]." With +this parting shot Jisuké was up and out into the open. With some +surprise he halted for a moment. Nishioka had received the sally in good +part. He was laughing, half in amusement, half in vexation. Thought +Jisuké--"Truly this rascal of a _yo[u]nin_ matches even the honoured +Jisuké. Both spring from the farm, and the jest touches him, and not his +rank. Between the two, lord and lady are like to pay dear." + +Nishioka returned slowly to the inner apartments, to make report as to +this rather doubtful progress. For several days nothing was seen of +Jisuké. For a time, as one satisfied, he resumed his duties in the old +respectful rôle. Only a sly veiled jest would show the wolf lying in +wait. Then came further demands, promptly responded to by Nishioka. He +began to be curious as to the adventures of Jisuké. He made the +_chu[u]gen_ talk; whose experiences were painted in glowing colours. +With a sigh Nishioka handed over the cash demanded, granted the leave of +absence. Grumbled Jisuké--"'Tis like digging the metal from the ground. +Few are the miners of another's hoard. Why grudge this Jisuké what costs +Shintaro[u] nothing!" Nishioka grasped at the opening. "What costs +nothing, carries no grudge. But Jisuké has the cash at the cost of this +Shintaro[u], only obtained in the company of an ugly old woman. With +this coin it is Jisuké who commands the selected beauty of Nippon. Come! +There has been enough of this. To-night Shintaro[u] takes Jisuké as +guide. He too will take his pleasure amid the beauties of the +Yoshiwara." He spoke expansively, with far off smile and look, as if the +beauties were ranged before his vision. Jisuké stood with mouth wide +open. "What! Not even the whole private apartments of a _daimyo[u]_ +satisfies this lecher? Ah! The rascal would plant horns on the Okusama. +Husband and wife alike adorned! How now: is not her ladyship already +something of a demon? Nishioka Dono will be impaled on one or the +other." With mock respect he gave advice and bowed before his officer. +His interest in this rebellion was plain. Nishioka was seen to hesitate. +He looked doubtfully at Jisuké, as if seeking counsel in this +questionable matter. To Jisuké the matter was a jest; thus to involve +all three victims in a common treachery to one another. The temptation +was great, and he was a match for any underhand design on the part of +Nishioka. No safer place for him than Yoshiwara, in which his enemy +might be still more involved. _Samurai_ were particularly marked in the +place. Meanwhile the chamberlain would be his butt for the evening. +Jisuké's hints as to his source of revenue were broad enough to the +companions of his evening pleasures. They would be delighted at a sight +of this generous official. + +Hence he urged objections to his company, and himself found answers. +Said Nishioka--"It is agreed. To-night all is propitious. The old girl +has taken cold. She intends a sweating. Such the notice to this +Shintaro[u]. It is his time to be fickle. He accompanies Jisuké." His +mind was made up, with some evident tear and reluctance. Jisuké aided +him in his preparations. Wearing _zukin_ (hood) he passed out the gate +with Jisuké. The latter handed in two _chu[u]gen_ tickets to the +_momban_, and none knew that the honoured _yo[u]nin_ had left the +_yashiki_. In merry company they descended the Gomizaka. Shintaro[u] was +as a boy just out of school, so merry was he. He lagged behind, then +went ahead. At the top of the Kudanzaka he halted. "On with you, Jisuké. +Shintaro[u] stops here a moment." He passed to the side of the road. +Jisuké in turn halted. He was standing in the moonlight. Said he, with a +touch of his usual insolent jesting--"How explain to the ladies the +presence of the honoured chamberlain? Shintaro[u] _yaro[u]_ wears two +swords. Jisuké Dono is but a _chu[u]gen_. Odd company! Notable will be +the compliment."--"No explanation is required." Terrible the voice from +the shadow beside him. "Ei!" Quick as a flash Jisuké made a spring +forward, not too soon to prevent arm and back being ripped open by the +keen weapon.--"Ah! The low fellow Shintaro[u] is not the one to kill the +honoured Jisuké. He has already said it.... The beast! He has cut me. +The devil lies between Jisuké and the lights of the O[u]mon. With +Cho[u]bei San is found safety and vengeance." With all speed he fled up +the Ushinakizaka to seek safety in the darkness of its wood. Nishioka +pursued with determination. The rip of cloth and flesh showed him that +he had reached his man. Loss of blood would bring him down. Jisuké aimed +for the middle of the grove, for the Hachiman shrine, now the site of +the Sho[u]konsha. Under the dark shadow of the trees he hoped to escape +the pursuer. Alas! A tree root caught his foot and threw him on his +face. As he rose the sword ran him through from back to breast. +Staggering, grasping at air, he turned on Nishioka; spitting out his +grudge with the clots of blood. His last words of hate were mingled with +the rumblings of the storm close over head. The moon's brightness had +disappeared. Heavy clouds rolled up, illuminated time and again by a +glare of dismal light. Big gouts of rain began to wet the clothes of +living and of dead in this solitude. For surety Nishioka gave the final +thrust through the throat. Just then the bell of Ichigaya Gekkeiji +reverberated through the thick wood. In the night hour it sounded sharp +and sudden, like a harsh call to men to rise and witness. Nishioka wiped +his sword on the dead man's dress. A flash of lightning lit the face, +horrible and mocking in the death agony. As the chamberlain leaned over +the corpse a voice spoke behind him, harsh and as if half stifled with +the blood filling gorge and lungs--"Yai! Shintaro[u] has his way. He +murders Jisuké--not once, but twice. Deep the grudge! Deep the grudge!" +Then it broke into a wail, chilling in the helplessness of the malice +expressed. Nishioka sprang to his feet and whirled around. In the +uncertain light close by stood Jisuké. His hair in wild disorder, cheeks +fallen in and corpse like with the bluishness of clay, the _chu[u]gen_ +grinned and threatened. The living man could match him with his pallor. +"Namu Amida Butsu! Get you hence vile spectre, or stay the test of +Nishioka's sword." He made a sweep with the weapon. The figure +disappeared. A mocking laugh resounded far and wide, followed by the +same chilling hopeless wail. In haste, and pursued by the wild laughter, +stumbling over stones and roots, Nishioka fled the wood, to make report +at the feet of her ladyship. For long the figure of the _chu[u]gen_, +crying, wailing in baffled malice, haunted the wood of the Ushinakizaka. +Men hastened to pass by, none would enter; and in time the apparition +became one of the seven marvels (the Nana-Fushigi) of the Bancho[u]. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE REPORT TO THE TONO SAMA + + +On the dull evening of the rainy season (June) Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen sat +looking out on the dripping plants and trees. The home coming had +brought no pleasure. The treachery of the favoured Shimo was assured. +The father himself admitted the search made for the lover; wept and +grovelled in shame and apology. O'Saku had seen him in person, when he +came to the _yashiki_ several weeks before the flight. O'Tsugi had heard +him call--"choi! choi!" had overheard O'Shimo's surprised +exclamation--"my lover! my lover!" After several mysterious absences, on +excuse to see her father lying ill, she had disappeared. On inquiry it +was found that Cho[u]bei had never known a day of illness. The excuse +was all a lie. "A case of the wild duck; the cock had come." Whose was +the child she bore? O'Hagi laughed, and her attendant woman smiled, at +his credulity. + +Shu[u]zen never suspected the deceit. Something of a _dilettante_ for +the period he was learned in the Chinese tradition. Seventeen years, and +a woman has no heart. This Shimo was a debauched wench. Truly she had +foxed him with her superficial charms, picked him up thus easily in the +Bancho[u]. With gesture of weariness and disgust he turned to the papers +and scrolls on the desk before him. They were house accounts submitted +by Nishioka, and none too pleasing. A round sum was missing on the +person of the _chu[u]gen_ Jisuké. Sent out to make important payment, he +had run off with the money, leaving no sign of his whereabouts. Just +then the bell of Gekkeiji struck the hour of the pig (9 P.M.). With +impatience Shu[u]zen swept the papers together. Her ladyship as +companion of his wine feasts chilled the bottles with freezing glance. +The monotonous talk of debts and expenses, exchanged with those around, +added a bitter flavour. Always demands, or hints of demands, which made +the meal a very time of penance. + +With some slowness he rose to attend the repast. Then from the garden +side came a sad wailing voice. "Grateful the honoured return, so long +delayed. Fond the thoughts of the past long weeks. Deep the longing for +the honoured presence. Report is to be made to his lordship. Alas! +Alas!" A chill went to the very heart of Shu[u]zen. Lamentable and +grievous as was the sound, he had no difficulty in recognizing the voice +of O'Shimo. Startled he turned in indignant anger to the _ro[u]ka_ +whence the sound had come. He looked out into the darkness of the +dripping night. Nothing was to be seen. Plainly he had thought too much +of the girl, of her condition and the disappointment. He gave his body a +violent shake to throw off this cold oppression and foreboding. Then +slowly he took his way to the wine feast. The _saké_ would bring warmth. +This was not the case. Freely as he drank, it added to powers of vision. +His mind now always on the missing girl, the familiarity between spouse +and chamberlain seemed strange for the relation between mistress and +servant. As usual, with the finish of the last bottle, Nishioka +accompanied him to his retirement. Shu[u]zen spoke sharply of the large +increase in the expenses of the inner apartments. To meet these the +revenues would have to be forestalled, the income anticipated. The +smooth fellow met him more than half way in agreement. His lordship was +too estranged from the _okugata_. Greater familiarity toward the women's +apartments would be the needed restraint. Deign his presence this very +night. Nishioka Shintaro[u] spoke in no hypocrisy. The O'Kagé Sama now +was longing for the rightful substitution. His nest well feathered, he +would seek safer quarters with the softer charms of O'Han. On +Shu[u]zen's abrupt gesture and refusal he took his departure, almost +betraying his own disgruntlement. Comical was his despairing gesture as +he took his way to the bed of her ladyship. + +The temple bell struck the seventh hour (3 A.M.). It roared and +reverberated through the room. Shu[u]zen opened his eyes. He was +tormented with the thirst inspired by his copious libations. His head +was heavy and whirling. He took a long draft from the jar close by his +pillow. Then he rose to tread the corridor. On his return he sought to +wash his hands. Turning to find the towel, close by him he saw a woman. +Dressed all in white, slender to emaciation, her face concealed by the +long hair which hung in heavy disordered masses over shoulders and +bosom, she presented to him the desired article. As he would take the +towel he spoke in surprise--"Who may this be, awake at this late hour +for Shu[u]zen's service?" Again the sad lamentable voice made +reply--"Fond the thoughts of his lordship. Long waited his return. +Report is to be made." At sight of her face he gave a cry--"Shimo!" At +the words the figure faded away. The outstretched towel fell to the +ground. A slight rustle of the breeze swept the corridor. "Shimo! +Shimo!" In amaze and suspicion came the words. Something had gone wrong +here. Shu[u]zen pressed the towel to his lips, as to get rid of the +nauseating taste in his mouth. Then came the voice from the garden. With +hasty movement he threw back the _amado_. The wind sighed through the +pines; a gentle patter of rain came in gusts. Close by the voice spoke +again--as from a _yukimido[u]ro_, one of those broad capped stone +lanterns, like to some squat figure of a gnome, and so beautiful an +ornament with white snow cap or glistening with the dripping mirror of +the rain. + +"Report is to be made. Long has Shimo waited her lord's return. In this +Shimo was no treachery of heart. Devoted was her service to her lord. By +the hand of Nishioka Shintaro[u], by the malice of O'Hagi Dono, Shimo +and her unborn babe met a miserable end. Nor has the ill deed ended +there. Go now to the chamber of the wife, and witness the adulterous +deed. Deign to learn the truth from Shimo." The voice ceased. Shu[u]zen +passed a hand over his wine heated brow. Fox or badger? Did some over +bold and infamous apparition seek to delude him? With a bound he sought +his chamber and the sword at his pillow. He would deal harshly with such +lies. Then came a second thought. Why not ascertain the fact? He was the +husband. His presence was a right. Softly he made his way to the inner +apartments. At the outer ward he stumbled in the darkness against some +object. "Aré! The Tono Sama!" With a cry of alarm up sprang the sleeping +O'Han. She would have outstripped him in a race to the inner rooms, but +Shu[u]zen was too quick for her. With hand over mouth he dragged her to +the garden side. She would have cried out, and made resistance. Then he +changed her tune. Lacking confession he held her flat and prostrate +under him. Firmly grasping both wrists tight together, he forced his +dagger between the hands, and began to twist the keen blade. Unable to +resist the torture she soon told all she knew, confessed her own part of +watch and ward in the offense. This done, he drove the weapon through +her throat and left her pinned to where she lay, the limbs feebly +twitching in the last throes. + +Assured of his suspicions Shu[u]zen now sought to surprise the lovers. +Cautiously he approached the sleeping room of her ladyship from the +inner side. There was no doubt of it. In the very throes of her passion +O'Hagi was without disguise. Shu[u]zen threw back the screens on this +vileness. "Lechers! For this disloyalty Shu[u]zen finds revenge! Make +ready!" Nishioka Shintaro[u] sprang to his feet, only to sink down in a +pool of blood which soaked the bed he had dishonoured. Severed from +shoulder to pap he died forthwith. With wild screams O'Hagi fled to the +corridor. As she reached it the point of the weapon was thrust through +her back, to come out at the navel. As she writhed and twisted on the +floor, Shu[u]zen measured the blow and nearly cut the body in twain. +"Ah! In good season the old bawd presents herself." In fright the old +woman's head had been thrust between the screens into the room close by +the master. An easy mark it fell severed to the ground, the blood +spouting its powerful streams from the arteries as from a pump. The +woman O'Tsugi was a sterner task. Aroused by the noise she came stalking +into the middle of the room, still rubbing eyes confused by sleep. "Ah! +The villainous cuckold. He has murdered these, and now would add the +next (_tsugi_). Not so!" With her wild jest she threw herself upon him. +Trained soldier as he was Shu[u]zen found the contest no easy one +against this virile woman. Getting the worst of it, she fastened her +teeth deep into his hand. Grunting with pain Shu[u]zen flung her off, +and quickly brought down the sword. Prostrate she lay, the blood stream +pouring over the real lord of this harem. + +With a long breath Shu[u]zen surveyed his work. It was complete. Then he +went to the outer ward of the apartments. To his call no one came. +Repeated, in the distance of the _ro[u]ka_ appeared from the outer ward +(_omoté_) the old and faithful Nakamura Saisuké. At sight of his lord, +dyed in blood from head to foot, he threw up his hands. Without undue +haste or any words Shu[u]zen led him to the scene of the punishment. +Respectfully Saisuké brought a cushion. Then prostrate he waited for his +lord to speak. Long endured the silence. Then said Shu[u]zen +briefly--"Caught in the act of adultery this Shu[u]zen has put to death +the guilty. The results are most important. The lack of discipline in +the House is sure to lead to the honoured punishment by the suzerain. +From this there is no escape." Saisuké surveyed the scene with the calm +eye of experience. "Be in no haste, my lord. This Saisuké in his long +experience has seen many deeds of violence. For the present this matter +need not be published. Of the outer apartments (_omoté_), the +_chu[u]gen_ and servants need know nothing. In any case they do not +count, and can be sent away. The others are not curious; moreover they +are loyal, as _samurai_.... Of the inner apartments--a very clean sweep +has been made. Deign to leave matters for the present to this Saisuké." +With approval the old man examined the handiwork of his lord. It was +most thorough, even to the eye of this remnant of the battle field. Then +he went to work. The bodies he conveyed to the side of the artificial +mound in the garden. Digging out part of the hill, here he buried them; +forced in, dove-tailed together, in the smallest space; the old man +grumbling at the ground they occupied. Then with water he washed out the +blood stains on the wood work. When dry he would plane out tell-tale +marks. Meanwhile he would serve his lord, to the exclusion of all +others. Would the Tono Sama deign to rest? With sad misgivings the +_kyu[u]nin_ (house officer) watched Shu[u]zen as he retired to his room. +Himself he mounted guard at the women's entrance, to prevent all +intrusion. + +Nakamura Saisuké's heart was pure. His age beyond recall. For two days +he struggled, alone in his task. On one pretext or another the +_samurai_ were sent off, one here one there, on lengthy missions. +Perhaps the old man's efforts had been too great. In the course of the +day a _chu[u]gen_, come on some affair, found him flat on his belly, +groaning with pain as in the very last extremities. To the man's +inquiries he could but cry out with colic and distress. Aid was brought, +but only to find him dead. Then a second discovery was made. Report was +necessary to his lordship. Here all was found closed against reception. +On making their way into the inner room Shu[u]zen was found, clad all in +white, the bloody dirk in hand, the body fallen forward on the +ceremonial mats. He had cut his belly open, on retiring for the night. +All now was in confusion. Should the _karo[u]_ be awaited. None knew +this exile to the Ko[u]shu[u] fief, beyond his reputed morose severity. +Official there was none to whom to make report. They were afraid, and +took their own part. With everything of value they could lay their hands +on they fled in different directions. The open gate and abandonment +attracted attention. The dead body of Shu[u]zen was proved a voluntary +_seppuku_ (cut belly) for some cause; that of the old man required no +explanation. The inquiry set on foot led only to confusion, and was soon +lost in the greater question of the heirship. Placed in charge of Yamada +Dono, a caretaker was sought for the _yashiki_. A property tangled in a +long dispute, this would seem a pleasing task and one to summon many +applicants. But this was not the case. Successful candidacy was followed +by early exodus. None could endure the frightful sounds heard every +night; the cries of pleasure followed by the screams of those in the +agony of a painful dying. Spectral lights were seen, the old well in the +garden poured forth its confined spirits, all the evil influence of the +place was rejuvenated in the minds of people by this last disaster. +"Thus the matter rests. 'Tis not this Shimo who is the cause of these +nightly scenes of strife and pain. In mad chase Shu[u]zen Dono, the +Okusama, the villainous Nishioka and his concubines, act the scene of +their cutting off. Shimo has but her part, to find Nirvana in the +worship of the upright. Deign this act of kindness." At the fierceness +of the voice Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon started. The red light of dawn was +pouring into the open room. All sight of the dreadful vision had faded +from the wall before him. Vision, or fact? It had been too vivid to +doubt. Yet as he came to the mound he passed around it. On the side next +to the lake now he noticed that it was all caved in, an obvious +depression. The tale then had truth. Thus he took his way from the +haunted precincts, determined to secure the _yashiki_ as his own, and +the future rest and peace of Nirvana to the unhappy O'Shimo. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SHRINE OF THE O'INARI SAMA + + +Something has been already said of the _chu[u]gen_ Isuké, unwilling +guide of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon to the haunted house of the Go +Bancho[u]. Thus is the second person of the name of Shu[u]zen introduced +into the traditions and history of the Bancho[u]. Of him and his +experiences with its denizens something is to be said. + +Okumura Shu[u]zen had distinguished himself in the Amakusa uprising of +1637-8. A retainer of Matsudaira Nobutsuna he had not been the last man +to force his way into the blazing ruins of Arima castle. He did his very +best amid the struggling mass of halt, maimed, and blind, after the real +defenders of the castle had died weapons in hand. He was able to present +himself before his lord with a reasonable number of his own company with +heads on their shoulders; and a phenomenal number of heads minus +shoulders, of all ages and sexes--men, women, and children--of the +castle inmates. Against the once owners Shu[u]zen had little grudge. So +much was to be said of him. In private he railed against the bad rule +which had brought him and his fellows into the field against the +embattled farmers. But this was a thing to be endured; not cured, except +by time. Rebellion against the liege lord, under the leadership of +_samurai_ once retainers of the cowardly Konishi Yukinaga, added edge to +his sword and point to his spear. His service brought him in the train +of his lord's progress to Edo. In the report made Okumura Shu[u]zen +figured so well, that request--amounting to command--transferred him to +the Tokugawa over-lord. Made _hatamoto_ with fief of four hundred _koku_ +he was as well liked by his greater lord as when in the humbler service +of a _daimyo[u]_. Five years of faithful work, and the necessities of +Government for his _yashiki_ site in Mita received the reward of a +liberal grant of another site in the Go Bancho[u], together with the +thousand _ryo[u]_ of costs of removal. + +The work of transfer was pushed forward. The more modest abode of a lord +of moderate income, and the massive gateway with its supporting walls +and fence of closely woven, sharp pointed, bamboo retiring into the +distance now were ready to shut in Shu[u]zen to the privacy of his share +in the suzerain's defence. Plainly Shu[u]zen Dono put more confidence in +his own prowess, or insignificance, than in the strength of outer +defences against sudden attack of those at feud with him. Part of his +tract inclosed a shrine of the Inari goddess. This had still its +worshippers. On his inspection Shu[u]zen noted the loneliness of the +building, its desolation. Yet it was clean swept and kept, and a money +box for offerings was proof of attendance at the shrine. Whether this +was of man or beast was not so easy to determine, for traces of the +latter were plain to the eye. Their tracks swarmed about the building +itself. As Shu[u]zen stood in some uncertainty, a woman of the middle +class appeared. To inquiries she admitted that the care of the shrine +was due to herself and her piety; a care gladly rendered to its +efficacy. It had returned to her a son once sent adrift to the +provinces; and to her affection a husband who had gone astray much +closer home, for the intruding female was a minor member of her own +household. Finding excuse in some domestic misdeed, the worthy cit had +sent forth the damsel into the wilderness of the world with the fruit of +her experience. The relief of this incubus, and the return of a more +rightful heir than promised, the good lady attributed to the virtue of +her prayers to the Inari Sama. She was urgent to bring support to her +views in the general opinion of all the neighbourhood, mainly of the +Ko[u]jimachi village. These corroborated what she said as to the +shrine's efficacy and petitioned for its continued support. Made the +tutelary shrine of the _yashiki_, separated therefrom by a mere +brushwood fence, this Inari Jinja of the Bancho[u] continued to exist +for the good of the public and the annoyance of the amiable Okumura +Shu[u]zen. Its _kannushi_ (Shinto priest) he could never find. The woman +and others said that he lived at Ushinakizaka. At least the money +contributions were always accounted for, although they had never seen +his face. A few days before the formal opening of the _yashiki_ the +_chu[u]gen_ Isuké and the workmen stood with puzzled faces before a hole +discovered underneath the flooring of the shrine. It led to some passage +or cave. None were in humour to investigate, perhaps to the annoyance of +the O'Inari Sama. At Isuké's direction, and with difficulty in the +cramped space, it was found possible to shove into place the massive +granite slab which fitted tightly into the aperture, and plainly +belonged to it. "A one time store house of the god," quoth Isuké. With +that he and the others betook themselves to their divers tasks of +finishing the clearing up of building and surroundings. In the +excitement and confusion of moving in there was little thought of the +cavity in this twelfth month of Kwanei twentieth year (January 1644), +and the idea of making report was lost sight of until other conditions +brought up again the subject. + +The ceremonial visits of the New Year, the congratulations and presents, +were to be made to the suzerain by his attendant _hatamoto_ and the +_daimyo[u]_ then in Edo town. Every _yashiki_ was in a turmoil of +excitement and confusion. Even in the greater _yashiki_ there was demand +for outsiders to carry the _hakomochi_ or long boxes, for the +_rokushaku_ (six footers) or tall fellows to carry the sedan chair, for +others to bear the _kappakago_ or rain-coat boxes. _Samurai_, +_ashigaru_, spearholders, _chu[u]gen_, _zo[u]ri_ holders--these were +attendant in the _yashiki_. But the minor establishments were mainly +dependent on outside aid to swell the lord's train. Hence the rôle of +Bandzuin Cho[u]bei and his successors was no sinecure, in addition to +the exercise of the art of arranging time and place so that the inferior +lords would be least inconvenienced by the necessary and often +humiliating deference to their superiors in rank. The guild patron +looked well to the interests of his employers--_daimyo[u]_--with small +regard to those who shifted for themselves; which was one of the causes +of grudge by the _hatamoto_ against Cho[u]bei, later removed from the +scene by assassination. + +Every horse in Edo, destined for the morrow's ceremony, underwent the +pampered treatment that the groom Kakunai devoted to his master's nag. +On the preceding day Kagé (Fawn colour) had been treated to all the +luxuries of horse diet. He must eat for to-day and for to-morrow, and +perform all the offices connected there with beforehand. Said +Kakunai--"Kagé, be circumspect and constipated. To-morrow the master +offers congratulations at the castle. Kagé is stuffed beyond measure +to-day, that he be able to fast to-morrow. Show no discontent. For the +passage of the sun there is to be no eating, and but a modicum of +drinking. Halt not the procession for unseemly purposes." He stroked the +horse, and the pleased animal purred and whinnied with the contentment +of a cat at being petted. Then harshly said a voice in the ear of the +bending Kakunai--"For this feed of the year's end thanks are rendered. +Though not exactly of the kind desired, the intent has been good and the +stomach filled. Hence congratulations in turn for the New Year season." + +Kakunai jumped as if some one had thrust the unblunted end of a spear +into his posteriors. He looked around, and over, and under the horse. +"Who speaks? Where from? And what concerning?... Yai! Yai! It's Kagé!... +Is no one hiding hereabouts, to make a fool of Kakunai?" With eyes +bolting out he backed away in terror. The horse grinned broadly, showing +its ugly yellow teeth in attempt at graciousness--"It is true. Kagé, +addresses the honoured _betto[u]_ Kakunai, gives congratulations to his +friend." Kakunai did not wait to receive them. Now he bolted forth in +person, to burst into the room of the _chu[u]gen_ Isuké, just then +struggling to arrange garments and hair for attendance on his lord's +progress. Head throbbing from not unliberal potations due to the seasons +festivities this was no pleasant task. To Kakunai's report the answer +was prompt and sour--"Kakunai is a liar or a fool; or if he would play a +jest on Isuké, his own head shall ache as badly." Kakunai accepted the +challenge and asseverated the truth of his report. Not at all convinced, +and with a gloomy satisfaction of the idea of having it out with Kakunai +on failure of the proof, Isuké accompanied the groom to the stable. +Kakunai gingerly made up to the horse--"Kakunai has been friend to Kagé. +Hence he is called liar or fool or mountebank. Deign to prove his truth, +Kagé Dono." Respectfully he bowed to the horse. The latter at once +turning to the _chu[u]gen_, brayed into his face--"'Tis fact. Kagé is at +least as human as these his brothers. He speaks to whom he wills. Not so +with Isuké and Kakunai. A word to the Tono Sama, and Kagé will kill and +eat these his friends. Keep his good will by friendship." Gently the +horse raised a front hoof. The voice was harsh; and the push, though +gentle--for a horse--sent Isuké flat, with reminder of Kagé thus closely +applied. Without a word the _chu[u]gen_ wallowed from the floor, none +too clean, and took to flight. Kakunai followed after, holding his nose. +In the privacy of the _chu[u]gen's_ room Isuké changed to sweeter garb +and discussed the matter with Kakunai. Should his lordship be informed? +Kakunai, as immediate attendant and in greatest danger, earnestly +protested. Isuké at any time might be brought into closest contact with +Kagé in his office of _chu[u]gen_ attending his master. They agreed that +it would be very disagreeable to be killed and eaten, especially with +such evidences of Kagé's powers of disposition. Hence nothing was to be +said; or rather each agreed to leave the matter of report to the other. + +Great was the crush and excitement on this day of the year. Long and +continuous were the processions (_gyo[u]retsu_) of _daimyo[u]_ and +_hatamoto_ making their way to and from the castle. The rule of the day +was to avoid unnecessary collision, as far as possible; not only in the +matter of precedence, but of order. Commoners, male and female, old and +young, _ro[u]nin_, _samurai_, according to their caste squatted or +prostrated themselves in reverential attitude as the palanquin of some +lord passed by. Caustic or benign, generally malicious, the comment of +the Kidahachi and Yajiro[u]bei--"O[u]kubo Hikoroku Dono; 'tis true he +possesses influence, and the roughness of Hikoza Sama, but the keen wit +of the honoured father lacks."--"Yet the lord O[u]kubo has much kindness +beneath his roughness. The latter is passport to the favour of the +suzerain." Iyeyasu Ko[u] ruled by statecraft; Hidétada Ko[u] by +benevolence; the third Sho[u]gun Iyemitsu Ko[u], by rough energy. Such +the tradition of the personality of these three men handed down in +Nippon's history. With the passage of Tadamune Ko[u], of the great +Sendai fief, heads went very low. Great his wealth, and greater still +was his influence with the Suzerain. Tadamune swept proudly on; the +future disasters represented in the boy who rode close to the palanquin, +and whose licentious life later threatened to wreck the wealth and +position of the great house. + +At the dismount notice (_geba-fuda_) Okumura Shu[u]zen, accompanied by +two pages, donned _zo[u]ri_ (sandals) and betook himself to the palace. +He was a small figure in this crush of great nobles, but as _hatamoto_ +had his right and duty of being present at the palace; both rigidly +enforced, and assuredly with greater regard and welcome than most of the +men of much greater rank, always regarded with suspicion. The modest +train of a four hundred _koku_ lord was squeezed into a corner of this +mass of underlings waiting the return of their masters from audience. +Close companion to his beloved and now feared Kagé, the groom Kakunai +was well satisfied with his insignificance. Great was his consternation +to hear the harsh voice of his equine friend in his ear. A whisper to +Kagé meant a roar to the crowd--"Naruhodo! The stench of these humans +excels even that of the stable. One is as much confined here as there. +His lordship has now departed. Deign, Kakunai San, to indulge in +amusement. Let's be off--to the Kwannon of Asakusa, to the Yoshiwara. +Here there is naught but press and riot. In the pleasure quarter both +convey diversion. Deign so to regard it." With wide open mouths those +around turned to the quarter whence came these uncomplimentary terms. +Kakunai was sweating with fear--"Shut up!... Rude? Then deign to be +silent. Great the press. To withdraw is difficult; to desert his +lordship impossible. Silence is the part of the inferior." At this +exercise of authority the horse grumbled loudly--"Away from the stinking +stable one feels gay and at ease. Quicksilver runs in the veins. At +Yoshiwara the _hatsudochu[u]_ will be in progress. Following the +processions of the honoured _oiran_, liberal will be the _saké_ offered +at the tea houses. Deign, Kakunai San, to reconsider your purpose to +remain." + +At this Kakunai almost melted into the icy puddle on the ground. He +shivered as he wiped the cold sweat dripping from his forehead. At first +voices said--"Who is speaking in these ribald terms? Kakunai San is it +not? Who the companion?... Oya! 'Tis the horse which talks! Asakusa and +Yoshiwara? What say the women to the presence of the beast? Eh! Off with +you, Kakunai San, to show which is horse and which groom." They crowded +around the pair, not daring to come close. Kakunai felt extremely +unwell. He could not deny the fact. "Like boys, he boasts beyond his +powers. The power of speech runs loose. Yet as a horse it is a wise +beast, the treasure of a four hundred _koku yashiki_, since none other +possesses his like. Deign to note his own proclamation of his tastes." +This was to throw the consequences of discovery on the animal, to file +the sharpness of teeth against the promised mauling of Kakunai's flesh. +Then he waxed eloquent and proud--"A fine horse indeed! Such a horse in +battle is unequalled. Is it not so, Kagé?" And Kagé promptly answered to +his friend's praise. "A horse of noble quality, with good deeds to his +credit, gains reputation. At the astonishment of the foe the rider runs +them through with the spear. Hence gain of heads, and reputation to both +steed and master." Kagé spun round, letting fly hoofs in all directions, +shaking his head and biting savagely. At this display of battle fire +those too close fled in disorder. At a safe distance wonder and advice +was expressed. "Deign to be off, Kakunai San. Truly the animal is foxed, +and foxes enough are to be found in Yoshiwara. He will find company +without fail." Kakunai, as he restrained the beast, now full at +ease--"Of that we are assured. Alas! He cannot squat. In that he is +clumsy, as is the red haired, green-eyed western barbarian. Otherwise it +is not Kakunai who would bring coin to Nakanocho[u], but convey money +hence." Some agreed, and some disagreed, and all congratulated. Thus did +horse and groom get much advertisement at the O[u]te-mon, to the +subsequent profit of both. + +Shu[u]zen, audience granted, appeared at the castle gate. Respectfully +the crowd drew apart, and watched the lord depart with his train. Never +had one of the minor _hatamoto_ attracted greater attention; and of +these many were notable men for personal exploits. Entirely unconscious +of this notice Shu[u]zen rode off to his _yashiki_. In the course of +the succeeding days many visits were to be paid, and the wondrous fact +had chance to spread from the under world to the surface. At the +_yashiki_ of Abé Shiro[u]goro[u] the salutations were exchanged; the +spiced _saké_ to preserve life--the _to[u]so_--was brought forth. +Shu[u]zen detected in his host a quizzical, even amused attitude. Said +Shiro[u]goro[u]--"Shu[u]zen Uji, did he deign to ride, or mount the +_kago_ (palanquin)." The question was abrupt, and seemed not over +courteous. A _hatamoto_ of four hundred _koku_ possessed steed and +spearmen. Abé Shiro[u]goro[u] was a great lord, and Shu[u]zen answered +smoothly, seeking any source of offense. To his affirmative, said the +host--"Then Shu[u]zen Dono perhaps deigned to mount the favourite and +talking horse.... Surely he knows of the animal's great gift.... +Congratulations are due, for what is the talk of the castle precincts." +Shu[u]zen's astonishment was too great not to be genuine. He was the +first to propose to Abé Dono the taking of a look at the noted beast. He +was eager to inspect an animal, which, it seemed, he had as yet never +seen. The two lords came forth to the _genkwan_ (house entrance). On +summons Kakunai brought forward the horse, expecting his lord to mount, +not exactly understanding the presence of the lord of the mansion. +Shu[u]zen's first words enlightened him unpleasantly. With some +severity--"Kakunai, does this horse talk?" Thunderstruck Kakunai did not +know what answer to make. Kagé could bite. His master could do worse, if +enough angered. He hesitated--"Hai!" Quoth Shu[u]zen--"'Hai' is no +answer. Has the horse power of human speech?" Kakunai put his hand to +his head, then turned to Kagé, who was obstinately silent. He gave him +as hard a blow on the neck as he dared, without result. "The Tono Sama +has heard the tale; as has this Kakunai. His head in a whirl, Kakunai +knows not whether it be true or not. By an humble groom such matters are +not understood. To report idle gossip or the illusions of one's brain, +savours of impudence. Deign the question in person. Kagé refuses answer +to this Kakunai." + +Thus skilfully he lied. Kagé eyed him with approval; Shu[u]zen with some +doubt. He turned to the horse--"Kagé, it is said you speak. Shu[u]zen is +the master. Answer without lying." Kagé spoke, indifferent to rank and +without circumlocution of polite society--"'Tis so; and just as does a +human being. Truly Shu[u]zen Sama has supplied a most foul smelling +place to learn the art." Abé Shiro[u]goro[u] snickered--"Kagé Dono is +too precise. Would he learn the art of converse over his master's +wine?"--"Not unwillingly," replied the nag. "But in any case he would +have Isuké and this lazy groom make better and more frequent use of +broom and bucket. The good offices of Abé Dono are requested." By this +retort courteous the two noblemen were silenced and amused. Uncertain as +to the course of further converse with the beast Okumura made +salutation, mounted and departed homewards. As he gave the horse into +the groom's charge he said--"It is for Kakunai to keep in mind the words +of Kagé." As he vigorously applied broom and water to the stall and +vicinity of the favoured animal, Kakunai mentally determined that on the +whole Shu[u]zen Dono was the more dangerous of the two. Hence-forward he +would be careful to remember all that Kagé said--and make report. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE LUCK OF OKUMURA SHU[U]ZEN + + +The first efforts of Shu[u]zen at solving this mystery were not overly +successful. A _samurai_, he betook himself to the highest exponent of +the caste cult. In search of illumination he hit upon Hayashi Daigaku no +Kami Dono. This man, learned in all the lore of Morokoshi (China), head +of the certified institute of letters--the University--could but confess +his ignorance--vicariously. Rats nesting in the tails of horses formed +part of the experience of books, but not of that of men. Of talking +horses there was no authenticated case. The whole matter remained +without proof. He had never heard of such. Shu[u]zen squatted in a +drowsy stupefaction as an incomprehensible learning was poured into his +ear. He choked with the dust raised from the ancient volumes, tenderly +and reverently pawed over by the learned doctor, who seemed dust-proof. +Finally through the mist he heard the asseveration that it must be the +work of fox or badger. It was matter for the diviner, not the divinity +of the learned. With this Hayashi Dono gave the pile of dusty script +before him a mighty thump, and disappeared behind the cloud he had +raised. + +Okumura Shu[u]zen sought the open air and respiration. Where now should +he go for counsel? He would sell the beast. Kakunai sought mercy. He was +but a groom, and death was easy at his master's hand. At all events +easier than the one promised by Kagé, if Kakunai should lead him out to +the market, and with fluent lies send him forth to earn the cruel +livelihood of his kind between the shafts of a cart. Shu[u]zen was a +kindly man; the horse one deserving better treatment. The groom's terror +and the beast's threat added a new and interesting element to this +search into the unknown. On the next day was to be heard memorial +service for the ancestral tablets. This was to be performed in person +by the abbot of the Seisho[u]ji of Shiba, Bankei Osho[u] known to fame. +Shu[u]zen snoozed and exercised patience as the abbot read and expounded +the lengthy _sutra_ scroll. Over the subsequent repast he broached the +subject of the talk of beasts, and his own particular difficulties. +Bankei Osho[u] was most interested. All animals had speech and memory +according to their kind. Food, a master's kindness, their own particular +concerns, were matters of great intelligence among them. Why then should +speech be aught else than to possess the organ? Such was the case with +parrots. Monkeys evidently understood each other well, understood the +gestures of men. As to the horse, there were very ancient records of the +speech of such; so dim in the memory of men that probably they were mere +talk of ignorance. But he would see this wondrous beast. Deign that +guidance be supplied. + +Shu[u]zen grasped at the offer. The abbot spoke with an ease and +glibness that only the ecclesiastic on his own ground can show to those +ignorant of his subject. He wrapped his lore, made easy for the +beginner, in such technical phraseology, that Shu[u]zen could grasp at +the meaning without knowing anything about what the abbot said, and +hence had all the greater respect for the immense truth which he could +see and not understand. Appreciation is as good as knowing--for the one +who would pose--and soon Shu[u]zen and the cleric stood at the house +entrance, waiting the production of the horse. Isuké in haste had +carried the message to Kakunai. Kakunai, assured of his master's +forbearance and Kagé's accomplishments, had been none too sober since +that happy day. Said he aloud--"A horse is not an ass; and a talking +horse is one of his kind. Tip money to see the wondrous beast has flowed +into the stable; and wine has flowed into Kakunai. For Kagé there has +been soft rice paste (_mochi_) and dumpling (_dango_) in unstinted +quantities. The pastry cook has been overworked. Kagé, now seize the +opportunity. Speak with fluency and argument. Ah! If you had but the +taste of this Kakunai! Wine would be an inspiration."--"Just try me!" +chimed in the brute's voice. "Follow up the wine with rice cakes in +syrup (_shiruko_). Otherwise Kagé opens not his mouth, except to bite. +Grievous is it to exercise speech, and to witness the benefits accruing +to the human hog. Henceforth Kakunai must share alike with Kagé." At +this rebellion Kakunai was dumbfounded--"Nay, Kagé! _Shiruko_ and _saké_ +for a beast? Never would such come to the inside of the belly (mind) of +Kakunai. If you did but know its content...."--"Shut up!" was the nag's +discourteous response. "Kagé knows it well. You have eaten _takuan_ +(pickled radish), and it smells none too sweet. A little further off, +good Sir: now--who is this would be interviewer?" + +Reduced to proper proportion Kakunai made humble reply. "Most fitting +company for the honoured Kagé Sama. The abbot Bankei deigns his +presence." The horse gave a violent snort, and plunged back to the limit +of his halter. "Kagé talks not with a priest, nor henceforth with +anyone." Kakunai was all consternation--"But Kagé Dono ... the tips! +This refusal is terrific. Why not favour the curiosity of the Osho[u] +Sama? Deign to reconsider. The dainties of Kagé, the wine of Kakunai, +are at stake. Silent before the Osho[u], the Danna Sama in anger will +strike off the head of Kagé. Kakunai loses friend and fortune at a +blow." The animal duly mused. "It is so. Shu[u]zen Dono of late has been +short tempered. It cannot be avoided. Better had it been for Kakunai to +take this Kagé and depart to country fairs and towns; to pick up much +coin for wine and dainties. However, all may go well. Delay not past the +coming night to join yourself with Kagé. Between the service of +Shu[u]zen and that of Kagé this low fellow (_yaro[u]_) Kakunai must not +hesitate."--"Just so," agreed the groom. "It is mere matter of gambling +anyhow that any ill occurs. Drinking wine, does Kagé also gamble?" A +shudder went through the frame of the horse--"Why speak thus? Of horses' +bones the dice are made. Would Kagé trifle with the relics of his kind? +Make answer, Kakunai." He spoke with a fierce earnestness. Kakunai +stammering sought answer. Just then Isuké appeared, to urge all speed. + +With lowered heads man and beast appeared at the house entrance. Kakunai +touched three fingers to the ground. To insure due reverence Kakunai had +haltered Kagé so that he could talk, but hardly move a limb. At sight +of the beast Bankei Osho[u] took his most severe ecclesiastical pose. +Dressed in violet robes, the gold embroidered stole (_kesa_) over his +shoulders, the rosary of crystal beads in hand, he approached the horse. +With the brush of long white hair which clears away the dust of the +world's offences (_hossu_) he swept the circumambient air. Long he +observed the nag. Then coming close to it he grasped the forelock. Kagé +raised his head, with open mouth as if about to snap. The abbot +continued his recitation of the holy _sutra_. Mouth still wide open, +clumsily the horse sank on his knees before the priest. Then suddenly +and deftly Bankei thrust a bolus into the open mouth, which closed as +moved by springs. Sweeping the air with _hossu_ and his rescued +arm--"Acquire the heart of virtue. Assume the true nature, and seek +Nirvana." He kept on stroking the beast's head with the rosary. Once or +twice Kagé opened his mouth as if to speak. Then incontinently the body +rolled over lifeless. The bystanders looked on with fear and amazement. +Without speaking the abbot took the arm of Shu[u]zen and accompanied him +within. + +Kakunai, left to himself, rolled to the ground as speechless as his four +legged charge. Tears of sorrow and anger flowed copiously. "Ah! He is +dead! Kagé is dead! Wise was he to advise flight. Alas! This beast of a +_bo[u]zu_ (priest), what purge did he use, thus to cut off at once the +breath of Kagé? No more gambling, no more wine, with Kagé nicely bedded +and asleep in his stable, and Kakunai with equal luck asleep in the +pleasure quarter! Alas! Alas! Kagé is no better now than a dead +ass--while Kakunai still lives." Thus he vented his grief, to the +amusement of his fellows who had shared but little in his fortunes. +Meanwhile Shu[u]zen and the abbot were otherwise engaged. Said +Bankei--"Deign to relate something of how Shu[u]zen Dono came to this +_yashiki_. Honoured Sir, was not the former site in Mita? How came the +change?" Shu[u]zen explained the conditions and the time of change to +his new site and experiences. If there was aught of grudge, it attached +rather to place than person. To this Bankei Osho[u] was agreed. "The +fact of the case is plain to Bankei. The spirit directing the actions of +the horse is not the spirit of the animal. The possession brought to an +end by the exorcism, the alien spirit departed, and the carcass of the +animal deprived of this influence, it fell to the ground an inert mass, +like to the abandoned shell of the cicada. But the malevolent influence +is to be found. This is the task of Shu[u]zen Dono. Deign, honoured sir, +then to have memorial rites performed by this Bankei, and no longer will +the _yashiki_ be haunted by such unusual and unseemly performance.... +Daigaku no Sensei? He is but a Confucianist, bound to the letter of +material substance. Nor would he confess the ignorance of the spiritual +world he undoubtedly is gifted with, of the law of punishment for deeds +performed in a past existence (_ingwai_) as taught by the Lord Buddha. +The materialist has his nose to earth, and can see naught else. The +idiot has his nose to heaven, and can see naught else. The Buddha's Law +comprehends Heaven and Earth. Hence its truth." With this expression of +the _odium theologicum_ the worthy abbot departed templewards, +accompanied, as gage for further proceedings and profit, by the carcass +of the horse. Bankei had this inhumed in the ground behind the main hall +of the temple. Kakunai superintended these last obsequies. The abbot's +words, as to the malevolence of the influence involved, was proved to +Shu[u]zen the next day, when report was brought that the groom had +hanged himself at the gratings of the stall once occupied by Kagé. Moved +by this strong hint, Kakunai was sent to join his equine friend in one +common grave. + +Warned by the unusual nature of these events Shu[u]zen determined at +once to trace out the source of this evil influence. It was his duty as +a _samurai_ to suppress such manifestations occurring so close to the +suzerain's dwelling. It was to his own interest to free the _yashiki_ +from such noxious vapours. The _karo[u]_, Beita Heima, set on foot an +investigation. Then it was that Isuké the _chu[u]gen_ had thought of the +hole detected under the shrine of the O'Inari Sama. On Shu[u]zen's order +the _karo[u]_ undertook the task of examining this suspicious adjunct to +the _yashiki_. Torches in hand several _chu[u]gen_, under the direction +of the _samurai_, were appointed to the work. The men hesitated a little +to violate the precincts of the shrine. Growled Beita--"The carpenters +did not hesitate to build it. What they put up, men can destroy. Up +with the boarding. Thus the stone easily will be raised." The directions +were carried out. There were many tracks of beasts, all of which seemed +to converge to this spot. With removal of flooring and joists, soon the +massive lid of granite was raised on edge. With a thud and cloud of dust +it fell to one side. The men drew away, not only checked by the dark +aperture exposed, but by the foul odour which poured up from the +confined space. Holding his nose the _karo[u]_ took a lighted torch for +further inspection of depth and means of entrance. "Um! A shallow place; +not more than a _jo[u]_ (10 feet). Who volunteers to enter? Come! Don't +be backward on his lordship's service. Isuké, eh?" + +Isuké came forward readily enough at the call. He was a brave man, and +moreover a little angered at the fate of his one time friend, Kakunai. +If the beast of a horse, or the spirit beast, held occupancy here, Isuké +would deal with him. The kick of spiritual hoofs and the bite of +immaterial teeth had no terrors for Isuké. Carefully inspecting his +ground he took the leap. A lighted torch was lowered to him. With this +he marched off, the light growing quickly faint in the darkness. "Oya! +Oya! 'Tis strange. The stench--it is unendurable. The darkness too thick +even for the torch. It fails to burn." For a time his voice was heard +rumbling off with increasing distance. To repeated shouts no answer was +returned. Said Heima--"Isuké has gone too far, out of range. Some other +must bear him aid.... What! All milk livers? You, Gensuké, love the wine +cellar. Its care would seem to be your calling. Now down with you! Here +is one made to hand for the _yashiki_. Make report of the discovery to +his lordship." Gensuké was most unwilling, but his comrades loudly +applauded the choice. He was lowered into the hole by hands energetic to +lend him assistance in reaching its depths. Provided with a light he too +started off on his march into the darkness. "Iya! Iya! What stench! 'Tis +past endurance. Ah! There is a loud roaring yonder. Gensuké will +investigate. Deign support in necessity." His voice also faded off with +the distance. Then all was silence. Those outside now could hear the +faint reverberation spoken of. To their shouts there was no answer. All +were much alarmed. They looked into each others' faces. At the +_karo[u]'s_ order there was now no hesitation, though there was some +grumbling at the rashness of those who risked the wrath of the O'Inari +Sama by the heedless undertaking. + +Three or four men at once jumped down into the hole. With dimly burning +torches, and holding each other by the hand, they made their way into +the blackness of the cavern. Almost at once came a cry, answered by +others. Those above leaned eagerly over the aperture. Some took the +leap. Soon the men appeared, dragging along the limp and helpless body +of Gensuké. The trouble now was clear. The men had been overcome by the +vicious air of the cave. Soon Isuké also was brought to the upper air. +With the removal all the roar and reverberation was transferred to the +surface. The two men lay unconscious, breathing noisily, and to all +appearance in great extremity. Beita San at once ordered local aid. +While friction and cold water was being applied, the leech summoned, +Saito[u] Sensei, came on the ground. Heima questioned anxiously as to +the men's condition. The Sensei reassured him--"It is but the noxious +air of the cavern which has overcome them. A day or two, and they will +be as good as ever." The old man wrinkled his face and chuckled a little +as he surveyed the victims of the O'Inari Sama. Greatly was the +reputation of the shrine for efficacy added to in this punishment. "Boy +and man this aging Saito[u] Genan has known the place. Evil its repute. +The cave is very ancient, and in the past much feared by people round +about. Failure to worship has been followed by misfortune. Horse or cow +has disappeared, house been burned down, or pregnant wife frightened +into miscarriage by apparitions. Young girls attending at the shrine +have disappeared. Its reputation is as evil as that of the Ko[u]jimachi +well yonder." He jerked a finger in the direction indicated, at the +neighbouring site beyond the bamboo fence. "A bolus, and these fellows +are restored to consciousness." From his wallet he prepared the drug. +Gensuké showed signs of life, opened his eyes, uneasily moving first +this limb, and then that. Isuké sat bolt upright, with most stentorian +snort. He waved both arms with a violence which sent his two supporters +to the ground. In wrath he sprang up, but the malign effect was still +too powerful. His legs wavered under him, and they had to come again to +his aid. However, it was necessary to carry off Gensuké limp and +helpless; with the support of the arms on each side of him, Isuké made +his way back to the _yashiki_ on his own legs. + +Heima made report to his lord of what had passed, of the history of the +place as reported by Saito[u] Sensei. Shu[u]zen pursed his lips, and +inquired as to the condition of Isuké. The _chu[u]gen_ was a favoured +attendant; one much trusted. At the end of a week he was summoned to his +lord's presence. "And Katai (tough) Isuké, his experience has gone +beyond his powers?" Shu[u]zen spoke with that slight jeering condolence +which arouses obstinacy. Isuké, prostrate on his hands, expressed +gratitude for his lord's reproof. The fault was not his. Overcome by the +foul air he became giddy, then lost all sensation of time or place. "And +the roaring and noises, these did not frighten Isuké into his +faint?"--"Roaring, noise, there were none; beyond the gentle drip of +water often heard in such places. The roaring heard must have been due +to the snoring of Gensuké. The cowardly fellow still clings to the bed, +sucking in the dainty fare of the invalid; not so, Isuké." Shu[u]zen had +an idea. All the others were too struck by fear to be of aid--"Then +Isuké fears not the work of fox or badger. He will again make the +venture?"--"For the Tono Sama; though none too willingly," was the +_chu[u]gen's_ reply. "Fox or badger? Let them but come under the knife +of Isuké, and he will make soup of them; a better soup than they supply +otherwise. But the stench!"--"And the foxes of Nakano (Shinjuku)?" Isuké +blushed. His master was far too knowing. + +At Shu[u]zen's order that night Isuké met his lord at the steps of the +Inari Shrine. The adventure pleased Shu[u]zen. He was still young enough +to delight in exposure and difficulties. Plainly old Beita was not the +man for this task. His retainers readily would obey their lord's +direction. But Shu[u]zen hungered for a more direct credit. He stripped +to his loin cloth in the cold winter night. Isuké followed his lord's +example. The job would be no clean one. Then the two men dropped to the +floor of the cavern. Isuké spoke in surprise. "Naruhodo! At night the +place seems much brighter than by day." He looked around in some +suspicion and astonishment. Then his eye rested on the torches. "Oya! +The torch burns brightly, not dimly as before. Pfu! The stench is +unaltered, but the air at least is breathable." Preceding his master by +some ten paces, Shu[u]zen heard him give a shout. Hastening up, with +Isuké he bent over the aperture of what seemed to be a well. What was +its depth? "In with you, Isuké," said Shu[u]zen. The _chu[u]gen_ +protested--"Nay! The Tono Sama deigns to jest. Is Isuké a bat +(_ko[u]mori_), one to fly off into the darkness.... Ah! The depth is +terrific. The light hardly shows the blackness of the place. It may +reach down to Meido itself." Shu[u]zen lit a second torch, then cast it +down into the cavity. He broke into a laugh. The light continued to burn +brightly. "Meido then is not far off. The bottom of the well lies not +five _shaku_ (feet) below. Now in with you!" Anticipating the +_chu[u]gen_ he sprang down himself. + +Isuké spoke, holding his nose--"Heigh! Tono Sama, deign to go no +further. The stink passes beyond measurement. It increases with distance +gone. Peugh! It blows from yonder." He pointed to a low aperture in one +corner of the roundish space in which they stood. Shu[u]zen could +understand better now. The whole cave was due to water; had been formed +by water in the loose volcanic soil. The well was a mere passage way by +which it once had risen, and been drained off again. Isuké was right. +With decuple vigour the stench now rose close to hand. "In with you," +was the peremptory order. "Anything found in way of gold and silver +belongs to Isuké; and caves are always rich in such finds."--"Is that +so?" said the _chu[u]gen_--"It is the tale of old books; which often +lie. But in with you, and find out." Under spur of avarice and command +Isuké crawled into the passage. He had gone but a bare ten feet when +Shu[u]zen heard a most fearful yell, saw the rapid progress outwards of +the posteriors of Isuké. The man's face was chalk white--"Deign, Danna +Sama, to go no further." He choked for utterance. "How now!" said +Shu[u]zen in pretended astonishment. "Fox or badger? They were to be +converted into soup for Katai Isuké, soft food for his grinders."--"For +fox or badger Isuké cares not. He invites their presence.... Kiya!" +Shu[u]zen in sport had placed a cold wet hand on his neck. "Ah! The +Danna jests. Of fox and badger soup is made. With human stench it is not +savoured. There is a dead body within. Hence the frightful odour." + +Shu[u]zen at once began to twist his head towel around his nose. With +feeblest protest Isuké saw him take the torch and disappear into the +passage. Soon his voice was heard. "Isuké! Isuké! Is he milk livered? +How about the gold and silver? Would Isuké abandon it?" Isuké would not. +In a trice he was on hands and knees, to rejoin his master who was +roaring with laughter. "Gold and silver may be here," Shu[u]zen +explained. "Otherwise Isuké would have backed out of the undertaking, +all the way to the cave's entrance. Turn the body over. See whether it +is of man or woman." Much put out Isuké did as he was bid. "Pfugh! +Stirring does no good. The very flesh is melting from the bones. The +hair of the beard and head show it to be a man." Shu[u]zen turned to a +wider passage, plainly due in part to hand. By crouching he could enter +into a larger chamber. In wonder and admiration he called to Isuké. In +so far, the _chu[u]gen_ would pursue the venture. Besides would he not +follow his master to Meido itself? "Look, Isuké! Such groining of the +roof is only made by Nature's hand. The cave of Fudo[u] Sama at Meguro +shows no finer sight." He pointed to the mass of interlacing roots of +some huge _icho[u]_ rising from the ground above. Isuké grumbled assent, +without much vigour. He was getting tired of this adventure. It was a +satisfaction they could go no further. Shu[u]zen meanwhile was rummaging +the place, which evidently had been a kind of dwelling. In a closet were +found some coarse cooking utensils and crockery for food. A supply of +firewood in one corner, and a box, completed the furniture. With +curiosity Shu[u]zen turned over the books in the box. A cry brought +Isuké to his side. "Your share, Isuké." He pointed to three shining +silver _ryo[u]_ which lay below the scrolls. Isuké looked incredulous at +the find. Then he prostrated himself before his master in deepest +gratitude. With joy he pocketed the coin and shouldered the scrolls. +There was nothing more to do. They sought the open air. + +The strange sight reported to him, Beita Heima the _karo[u]_ appeared +before his master. In the early morning light Shu[u]zen was pouring +buckets of cold water over Isuké, having himself undergone the same +treatment at the _chu[u]gen's_ hands. "Kan mairi, Heima,"[7] said +Shu[u]zen with a laugh. Then he explained matters to the astonished +_karo[u]_. Isuké's further ablutions were left to other hands. The +affair now was cleared up. The removal of the slab, the fresh air +penetrating the cavern, made the removal of the body easy. This was to +be sent to Bankei's care for proper burial and rites. Meanwhile +Shu[u]zen with interest and increasing gravity examined his prize. The +books were all on war. One was in the suspected script of the western +barbarian. From its plates, it was a work on fortification, and the art +of attack and defence. Shu[u]zen did not understand the Dutch words, but +he regarded the find as of importance, at least as adding to his own +merit. So likewise did Abé Bungo no Kami, minister for the month, and +with a great liking for Shu[u]zen. He saw to it that the affair was to +the latter's profit. The _Ometsuké_ inspected the books, inspected the +cave, drank Shu[u]zen's wine, and commended the vigilance and energy of +the _hatamoto_. The report was worth an added hundred _koku_ to his +modest income. Isuké also counted his gains with joy; a means of +continued defiance and pursuit of the foxes of the Nakano pleasure +quarter. + +As to Bankei--the funeral rites had been performed, the _sutra_ read, +the body inhumed in the same mound with those of Kakunai and the horse. +Liberal had been the gift of Okumura Shu[u]zen for all these divers +interments, and great the unction of Bankei at the accomplishment and +solution of the mystery of the cave in the Bancho[u]. But one thing +rested uneasily on his mind. What the identity of the evil spirit which +caused these wonders? That night, as the abbot rested in his bed, there +appeared at his pillow a man of some thirty odd years, tall, gaunt, +hairy, ugly, and much dejected. "His eyes were prominent in his head, +his lofty nose showed ability, he had the mouth of a shark." Plainly +very great had been his wickedness. Prostrate the apparition gave +thanks to the saint. All the spice and joy of evil doing had been +exchanged for the insipidity of Paradise. Now he was threatened with +Nirvana through the prayers of the saintly abbot. In life he had been +the wicked So[u]ja Mushuku (lodgeless). A famous thief, he was the +source of the raids on purse and person, on _yashiki_ in particular and +the common people in general, which had caused much fear and distress in +Edo. The cave of the Inari, a lucky discovery, had been his safe haunt +from pursuit. None could betray him, for none of his band knew his lair. +He would betray no one; but he would tell the abbot of his fate. It was +Isuké who had sealed him up in the cave by thrusting into place the +heavy cover. Here he passed miserable days in hunger until the poisonous +air, gradually accumulating, had put an end to him. His spirit, however, +had haunted the place, with no disposition to leave. With the +opportunity he had entered the body of Kagé, in search of human +requirements and enjoyments. Betrayed by appetite he had been driven +forth by the prayers of the abbot, and solaced by his petitions for the +future life. Deign to let the matter rest there, and not pursue him into +the inanity, the nothingness of Nirvana. To this the practiced ear of +the holy Bankei gave deep thought. This fellow already had forced the +unhappy Kakunai to follow in his tracks. What might he not do to others +in whom the abbot had far greater interest? "To such wickedness the gift +of Nirvana is not likely. Bankei wastes his breath, and Shu[u]zen Dono +his substance. Deign to enter Meido, be wholly purified of wickedness, +and in a second birth, if in human form, be of a virtuous House. For +present and past sins atonement is to be made. For those still living +Bankei holds not his lips silent. Off with you at once to these insipid +joys." He thrust the rosary of crystal beads into the vision's face. At +once it disappeared, and Bankei woke amid a nauseating odour. He +stretched himself in weariness--"A dream? Tribulation of the Five +Viscera?" Yet he would report it to Shu[u]zen, and on the uncertainty of +the truth secure further aid for man and horse. Hence the monument of +the Bato[u] (horse-headed) Kwannon, which long stood on its mound behind +the _hondo[u]_ of the Seisho[u]ji of Shiba. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN + + +These events could not fail to cause comment. It was in the general room +of the _hiban_, the fire guard of the castle, that the discussion came +to a head. There were a number of these guards for different quarters of +the castle inclosure; and for better drill and coordination the officers +met, apart from the site of their particular duties. This made the +office of the _hiban_ a sort of club of the _hatamoto_, bringing +together the members of the more particular cliques, known respectively +as the Shiratsukagumi (white handle club), the Kingingumi (gold and +silver clubs), the members of which knocked out a conspicuous tooth, +replacing it with the metal ensign of their affiliation, and the Kubo no +Shiro-oshigumi. These organizations, something like the Otokodaté of the +townsmen in the closeness of the relations of their members, had by no +means the same worthy object. They were often merely a way of ruffling +it through the town, particularly at the amusement quarter of Asakusa; +seeking quarrels with _ro[u]nin_, abusing women, and literally +gravelling the discomfited townsmen, not seldom left on the ground, +subsequently to be put into it. The Otokodaté, or chivalrous band, were +indeed needed in this state of early Edo. They could hold their own, +inasmuch as the _samurai_ involved dared not bring a quarrel to light. +He had the advantage of his training; and by the rules of his caste did +not hesitate to have assassinated a plebeian he could not overcome, and +chose to regard as impertinent. Collisions with these, however, were +rare. _Ro[u]nin_ were the particular object of dislike of the Tokugawa +adherents. It was the great exception made, when Hida no Kami (Yagyu[u] +Matajuro[u]) admitted Kumé no Heinai to his fencing room and +discipleship. The _ro[u]nin_, of course, deserved the proscription, +being often the devoted adherents of a lost cause--Hoo[u]jo[u] or +Toyotomi--and unwilling to transfer their fealty to a second lord. The +most noted and hated of the _ro[u]nin_, though free from any taint of +rebellion to the Tokugawa, was this Heinaibei; the vilest assassination, +that of his friend Bandzuin Cho[u]bei by Mizuno Juro[u]zaémon aided by +other members of the Shiratsukagumi. + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon had related the mishap of his _chu[u]gen_, his +own experience in pursuing the offenders. The old fellows, heroes of the +Genwa and Kwanei periods, were gathered close to a _hibachi_. Despite +the season age sought pretence of warmth or closer company. Said the +veteran Matsudaira Montaro[u]--"O[u]kubo, what think you? Surely the ice +water of gathering years runs in our veins. Such happenings, so close to +the dwelling of the Ue Sama, never would have taken place in former +days. But we are old. The stiffened joints and the wrinkles would not +deceive such miscreants. 'Twould be a palpable fraud, our +presentation."--"True," growled Shichinosuké; "but ice water runs in +other veins than those who are old." Kondo[u] Noborinosuké, verging +toward his fifties, now chimed in--"Naruhodo! The talk of these young +chaps infects one with their own complaints. This one can but thump +himself on the chest and speculate as to whether he has one lung, or two +of the kind. This other limps and dreams of _kakké_. His tongue hangs +out a yard, that he can better inspect its colour; and his legs are +black and blue from efforts to detect a dropsy. A third excuses himself +by a flux, which he would cure with hot wine; and a fourth is assured of +a cold, to lead to all these and other ailments, and hence steeps +himself night and day in the hot bath, the one to be most easily +excused. Emma Dai-O[u] in Hell[8] could not afflict these fellows more +than they grieve over themselves. Only in talk of their ailments do they +find company. Plasters and medicaments for their persons, instead of +armour and the quietus of the foe, these are the objects of their +quest." The two old rascals, and their middle aged abettor, looked slyly +over each other's heads at the younger men grouped in the rear, then at +each other. Thus it was with these violent fellows of the actual +battlefield. They would stir someone to action. + +"Heigh! Heigh! Not Endo[u] Uji: he at least has proved his mettle. The +pressing offices of the day do not call for sleep all night. He is of +the stock of Kiémon Dono. Old Hikoza never tired of tales of his +father's prowess." Kondo[u] chuckled as he continued--"The old fellow +(_oyaji_) spoke well of the dead. The living had need to take care of +his praise of them. Witness Torii Dono and Akiyama Dono, at the two +extremes of age. Good luck, as well as management, extricated them from +the results of a commendation like to cost them much. Alas! His place is +not to be filled." O[u]kubo Hikozaémon, governor of these wild fellows, +keeper of the suzerain's conscience, had left his seat vacant these past +five years. Sorrow for his loss did not prevent Noborinosuké bringing a +bright and beady eye on Aoyama Shu[u]zen. O[u]kubo Shichinosuké followed +the look. All of the old ones fastened Shu[u]zen with inquisitive glare. +The object of their attention neither quailed nor showed undue +eagerness. "The honoured ancients favour this Shu[u]zen with the task." +His laugh was so cold and purposeful, his look so derisive and +comprehending, that the old fellows in some confusion sought comfort in +each other. This Aoyama Shu[u]zen was a very devil of a fellow. He had a +perspicacity in finesse that the plain, keen, and honest bluntness of +former days could not deceive. Aoyama was not one to charge with +effeminacy in any form. He had a wife--whom he neglected. He had a page, +whom he favoured. He had all the harsh vices and capabilities of the +warrior age. Turning to Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon--"Endo[u] Uji has seen +the vision, not fox or _tanuki_. This has been the experience of the +_chu[u]gen_?" Saburo[u]zaémon did not like the connection; nor did he +like Shu[u]zen. "It is fact. Rokuzo was bewitched, not Endo[u]. See to +it that Aoyama Dono has better luck." Thus tacitly he would force the +mission on Shu[u]zen. The latter suppressed his anger at the assumption. +"Endo[u] Dono, as with this Shu[u]zen, is _hatamoto_ of the land. Such +vile rascals as these do not make them object of their tricks."--"Don't +be too sure of that," replied Endo[u]. "Neither fox nor _tanuki_ would +care for the company of the vision. This Saburo[u]zaémon does but seek +to give it rest--and himself." He spoke with some gloom. Said Aoyama +with decision--"Agreed! What may be the reward?" A chorus of protest +went up. "Reward! Reward!... The applause of all.... The interest in the +tale, as with that of Endo[u] Dono, just recited." But Shu[u]zen smiled +and shook his head--"Endo[u] Dono seeks the good will of an unworshipped +demon." Saburo[u]zaémon shot a glance at him. "Shu[u]zen too has his +object. Otherwise, let others volunteer." The force of what he said was +made plain by the silence of the company. The stories told, none longed +for the experience. Thought Montaro[u] testily--"This fellow always has +something in his sleeve." With hesitation--"Endo[u] deserves reward, and +claims it not. Aoyama would have it in advance. How now: a sword?" All +looked inquisitively at Shu[u]zen. They were surprised and disgruntled +at his gesture of dissent. He knew the ancients, and could suspect a +trap. "Shu[u]zen knows the kind. As with buying radishes at Yanagibara; +one good for nothing, and bringing anything but honour.... Shu[u]zen +selects his own weapon, nor asks reward apart from the issue." Kondo[u] +Noborinosuké clapped his hands. The younger man was a favourite and +kindred spirit of his own, near enough in age to be congenial. "The +presiding chair at the Endurance Society meeting. We are _samurai_, +_hatamoto_ of the land. Gold is not to the purpose. A sword is bought +with gold. Let Aoyama Uji make report to the meeting, and on that hang +the office." Shu[u]zen was the first to nod eager assent. All agreed; +with no great joy at prospect of the coming test, yet afraid of his +refusal. Thus the company separated, committed to a meeting of the Gaman +Kwai at the house of Noborinosuké, to hear the report of Aoyama +Shu[u]zen's venture into the Bancho[u]. + +His preparations made, the next night, at the hour of the rat (11-1 +A.M.), saw Aoyama in his turn climbing the slope of the Gomizaka. +Attached to the immediate service of the palace, the place was very +desolate and strange to him. At a loss where to look for the objects of +his search he sauntered at random, attention drawn to footing in this +darkness. Thus it was that the Gekkeiji bell sounded over the moorland, +striking the first watch of the hour of the ox (3 A.M.). He stopped to +listen his eye fixed at the time on the long line of wall and fine gate +of a _besso[u]-yashiki_ (country villa), evidently of a great lord. He +had passed from here some little distance, to the turning of the wall, +when hasty steps and the hard breathing of one who had just breasted the +hill struck his ear. Shu[u]zen standing at the corner was almost knocked +down by the dark bulk which bounded out of the shadow. Both parties +sprang back in attitude of watchfulness. Shu[u]zen had never seen such a +fellow. At least seven feet in height, hairy of arms and legs and face, +his eyes shone like bright mirrors. Bulging forth these made him like to +the ghost of some huge dragon fly. Did he not have an eye in the middle +of his forehead? Shu[u]zen could not have denied it. Of size to inspire +fear, decidedly the rascal was to be suspected. Shu[u]zen was the first +to question. "Who and where from? Answer at once, or this Aoyama deigns +the death cut." The man, or monster, merely opened and shut the plate +like eye holes. Then with a roaring derisive lip--"Ha! Ha! This is +Tanuki-baké, come hither to find and fetch Aoyama." + +"Ya! Ya!" Aoyama was in a great rage. In the act of drawing his sword he +would cut the rascal down. Thus to insult a _hatamoto_ of the land, lord +of twelve hundred _koku_! "Make ready!" Apparition or not, at a bound +the man was some ten feet off. Then followed a space, during which +Shu[u]zen made every effort known to the fencing room. He would have +impaled a real dragon fly more readily. Without attempt to flee the +object merely darted hither and thither. Shu[u]zen was dripping with +perspiration. He felt badly and discouraged. For a moment he would +rest--"To see this Aoyama?" He grunted. "Just so," was the reply. "Fools +at close quarters give entertainment. Aoyama is not the clever one to +cut down the _tanuki-baké_ (badger-ghost). Get you hence to your quilts, +good sir; to your fool companions who wear summer garb in depth of +winter, and triple garments in the heats of the sixth and seventh +months; stuff themselves with hot food and wine in summer, and freeze +the viands and _saké_ in winter. Get you hence to your companions of the +Gaman Kwai (Endurance Society). Make report to them of Aoyama's venture, +and bray and brag to them of spending a night outside the sheets." +Shu[u]zen strove to be calm on receipt of these insults to his kind. In +haughty condescension he explained--"Those of the Gaman Kwai wear +_katabira_ (light summer wear) in winter, triple gear in summer, to +undergo the hardships of the battlefield. In war one regards not heat or +cold. He drinks from the puddle on the field, and cooks the rice straw +for food in his helmet. This is the great time of peace. The experiences +and the hardships of the battlefield are lacking. It is as substitute +for these...." He was interrupted by a mighty burst of impolite +merriment from the heavy man, who held his sides as like to split from +laughter. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Naruhodo! These chitterlings; stuffed +sausages! 'Sufferings of the battlefield; hardships'! They are not to +encountered in such childish sport. He who would face these must +practise the art of the inner belly (mind). It is by hardening the belly +that the trials of war are met. You fellows practise but the outer cult. +Of the inner and secret precepts you are ignorant. Degraded fools +(_bakéyaro[u]_)!"--"Shut up!" roared Shu[u]zen. He could take the fellow +at a disadvantage in his fit of outrageous merriment. Close to hand he +leaped on him. In effort to avoid the blow the miscreant tumbled head +over heels into the close deep waving _suzuki_ grass. With satisfaction +Aoyama felt the sword sink deep into the resisting substance. Great his +disgust to find that he had cleft an old and hidden stump to the very +root. He seated himself upon it. + +At least he was in the centre of disturbance. Should he await further +encounter, or depart elsewhere to find it. He had a mind to abandon the +lanes and plunge into the waste land. Just then screams and cries were +heard; the sound of rapid flying feet coming in his direction. A young +woman in flight was now close at hand. Her hair unbound streamed behind +her. She was in night clothes, and the knot of the narrow _obi_ or band +come loose in her flight, exposed a figure all attraction. On reaching +Aoyama she threw herself at his feet, clasping his knees. "Aid! Aid from +the honoured _samurai_! Thieves breaking in threaten with death and +pillage. Deign, honoured sir, to aid." Shu[u]zen was very willing to do +so. The lady was very urgent and very beautiful. He himself was +uncertain as to goal, and the matter of the ghost could wait on her +extremity. To his inquiry she made reply--"Just yonder." With her he +retraced his steps. To his surprise the gate of the _yashiki_, already +noticed, was wide open. In all haste she urged him to the entrance, yet +in his rapid passage he seemed to have seen this place before. The girl +gave a call, then another. Shu[u]zen joined her in chorus and the +search. The mansion was thrown wide open and abandoned. Not a soul was +to be seen. All had either been killed, or had fled. The wailing of the +girl brought him to her side. Prostrate she lay on the bodies of an old +man and old woman, who had been put to death without mercy by the +miscreants. Great was the pity of Aoyama. "The bodies still smoke in +blood; the perpetrators cannot be far off. It would be well to seize +them. This lantern ... how now? Is it of the house?" The girl raised her +head to observe it. "No," she said. "The house lanterns have not the bow +handle. This is of the thieves.... What's that?" A noise was heard +above. Aoyama, hand on his sword, sprang to the stairway. The girl, all +smiles at the prospective vengeance, followed him. + +Three fellows were busy at the closets and chests. The contents were +scattered over the floor, evidently for purpose of selection. Aoyama +burst upon them. "Heigh-ho! Vile rascals! Submit your necks at once to +the blow, your arms to the cord." At first the pillagers were greatly +astonished and put out. "A _samurai_! Our work is interfered with. Alas! +We must away." Said the leader, a determined looking fellow--"Umph! 'Tis +nothing but a board wages _samurai_ (_sampin_). He is alone. Kick him +down. Teach him the lesson of interference." With yells all made for +Shu[u]zen. Disregarding those at the side he delivered his blow at the +man in front. Kiya! He split him in two as one would green bamboo. +Shu[u]zen drew back with a side sweep which cut another clean across the +girdle. He stopped to rub his eyes with amazement. Was it not +witchcraft? Not three, but five men now confronted him; and lively +rascals they were. Strive as he would Aoyama's blows seemed but to +multiply his foes. He was but one man. A kick to this side sent a +rascal flying to the wall; an elbow shot sent another through the +screens. Then all took to flight. One closely pursued sought the roof, +the drying frame its heights. Aoyama was about to cut him down, when the +fellow sprang off into the darkness like a flying bird. At the same time +came most urgent and piteous cries from below. "Danna Sama! Honoured +_Samurai_ Sama! Deign rescue. The thieves! They force me to +extremities." Reluctant Shu[u]zen turned back. On reaching the lower +stair he came upon the rascals who were gathered round the girl. At +sight of him all took to flight. To Shu[u]zen's astonishment the girl in +her turn fled in pursuit. Out of the house rushed the whole band, +Shu[u]zen joining in the mad race. Down the slope went all. Then +dobun!... Shu[u]zen's foot caught in a hole, or root, or some obstacle. +Head first he went into the ditch. Struggling, gasping, spitting out the +dirty water of the drain, Aoyama scrambled up on the bank. He looked +around in amazement. The white light of dawn illuminated the scene; the +ill fated tree stump and the dirty drain close by. House there was none. +Girl and thieves had disappeared. He stood on the moor, shivering in +Nippon's always cool dawn and dripping wet with the filthy fluid of the +ditch or stream flowing through these fields and the valley. With +discomfiture he took his long way homewards to the Do[u]sanbashi. +Plainly he had been bewitched and derided. So believing, he was startled +to find himself again before the _yashiki_ gate; but in the light of day +it showed the obvious neglect of years. Shu[u]zen at once sought +entrance, not by the gate, but over the wall for lack of other means. He +recognized the scene of last night's exploit, and its description as +given by Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon. Besides, he recognized the place in +his own experience of long past years, the favour and support of one to +whom he was much indebted. Ah! Truly these were dangerous rascals he had +encountered. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SHU[U]ZEN MEETS SHU[U]ZEN + + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen was not likely to brag of this exploit. All day he sat +biting his thumbs, and drinking wine to obviate the effect of his nasty +bath. An idea began to crystallize in his brain. But this matter +pressed. The preparations for the night were to be made. He hoped for +better luck in his vengeance on the miscreants. The watch of the rat +again saw him skirting the Ushigafuchi on his way to the Bancho[u]. He +had just started up the slope of the Gomizaka when he heard steps behind +him. Oya! Oya! Two _chu[u]gen_ and a lady. About these there was nothing +suspicious. But the lantern they carried? It was marked with the +_mitsuba-aoi_, or triple leaf holly hock crest of the suzerain's House. +Plainly the bearers were on mission from one of the San Ke (Princes of +the Blood), or perhaps from the palace itself. Reverence must be done to +the lantern. On his present mission, and thus arrayed, Aoyama sought to +avoid notice. He disappeared into the long _suzuki_ grass at the road +side. He could hear the lady express her anxiety and haste. Then with +curiosity Aoyama watched their strange behavior. A bare sixty feet +beyond they came to a halt. The lady shrank back as in terror. Haténa! +Aoyama recognized him by his size, the antagonist and critic of the +previous night. Without delay, or giving time for flight, the huge +ruffian with one hand grasped the bosom of the lady's dress, with the +other the arm of a _chu[u]gen_. A kick sent the other fellow very +willingly to the ground. Tremendous was the apparition as he towered +over his victims. He seemed taller than ever. His hair stood out like +iron wire. His mouth grinned open wide from ear to ear; and now Aoyama +could see distinctly the horns sprouting from his temples. Did he not +have claws? Aoyama could not remember. + +He would rescue the lady, beautiful of course. Rapidly passing through +the grass Aoyama burst out upon the group. He took aim at the knave's +breast bone. "Yai!" The fellow let go. The two prisoners, thrust +violently into the knees of Shu[u]zen, brought him to the ground. When +he had recovered balance the rascal had disappeared. The lady was in a +dead faint. One _chu[u]gen_ seemed to be dead. The other was squatting +at some distance, eyes saucer like in fright. He regarded Aoyama with +grave suspicion. The _samurai_ called to him. "Here you! Your mistress +has fainted. Water at once!" But the fellow did nothing but answer "Hei! +Hei!" without sign of motion. "Don't sit and purr like a cat," roared +Shu[u]zen. "Off with you, and fetch water." At last the man took courage +to approach. "Alas! Danna Sama, this Bancho[u], where the thieves are +apparitions, and apparitions turn to women, frightens this +Isuké."--"Fear or no fear, water must be had. Such milk livered fellows +are not for man's work. Weakness of loins won't do. Off with you."--"But +how?"--"In your scabbard, fool." For answer the _chu[u]gen_ made a wry +face and tugged at his weapon. As often the case with those men, it was +of wood. Shu[u]zen laughed. Then he gave his own scabbard to the +_chu[u]gen_. Off the fellow crawled, with gait and speed of a maimed +insect. + +Meanwhile what was to be done. Shu[u]zen put his hand into the bosom of +the lady, and rummaged. Women were always dosing and fainting. Doubtless +she was provided for such contingency. Surely a perfume reached his +nostrils. Ah! Here it was. He drew out the fragrant package. Medicine +without doubt. The drug savoured strongly of musk. At last the fellow +was on hand with the liquid. Shu[u]zen made a pellet from the drug. +"Raise up your mistress. Take her in your arms." But the man drew away +in horror. He prostrated himself flat on the ground. "Deign forbearance. +To touch with a finger one of the ladies of the palace is not to be +ventured."--"Ah! Is that so?" grunted Shu[u]zen. "Circumstances of +course don't alter cases. He who will not touch a woman is usually a +most lecherous rascal." With this comment he roughly shoved aside the +awkward efforts of this meticulous attendant. Taking the operation upon +himself, he gently pressed the back of the lady's neck, forcing her to +open her mouth. Inserting the drug he poured in water from the scabbard. +A sudden slap on the back and down went the bolus. The lady opened and +shut her eyes. Then they remained open. "Be firm," commented Aoyama +Sensei. "Thanks," replied the dame. "Ah! What fright! With hand on +dagger was this Bancho[u] entered on. So near, how suspect misfortune at +hand? Truly honoured sir, great your trouble and inconvenience." + +Aoyama accepted the thanks, to satisfy curiosity. "But so late abroad +... and doubtless of the honoured San Ke...." Replied the lady--"The +mission was of Kishu[u] Ke, said to be of grave import. Hence the late +hour of the night. This insignificant person is lady in waiting at the +San no Ma of the palace; Takigawa by name. The _yashiki_ of Okumura +Shu[u]zen, my father, lies close at hand. Great the cowardice shown by +this Taki." Shu[u]zen grasped the whole affair. Between Kishu[u] Ke and +the parent House the feeling in those days was none too good. Grave +suspicion on the part of one, angry resentment on that of the other. He +would see more of the matter. It was his duty as _hatamoto_. "To go +abroad with _chu[u]gen_ is no safe thing. At this hour and place +_samurai_ could well have been taken as company. As for courage--of that +kind it is not expected of a woman. Valour was shown in undertaking the +mission. And this fellow...." He turned sharply to the _chu[u]gen_ and +pointed to his fellow. "Mujina-také."--"What!" roared Shu[u]zen. He +looked from _chu[u]gen_ to lady, and from lady to _chu[u]gen_. They +seemed surprised. Stammered the man in fright--"It is but a nickname. +His name is Také, and he is very worthless. Hence he is called +Tanuki-také. I am called Yo[u]kai Isuké (Apparition Isuké), being +nothing but wind." Aoyama grunted a ready assent to this self critic. +The fellow's ignorance and cowardice was as gross as the material flesh +which Shu[u]zen tested with a well applied kick in the buttocks, +bringing Isuké in position to render first aid to his companion. This +was done by passing on the application. A vigorous snort followed the +thump on the back administered to Mujina. He sat up and regarded his +mate with astonishment. "Ah! The Yo[u]kai.... No more of that. 'Tis +Mujina's turn." This, when his fellow proposed a second application. The +return came sooner than anticipated. A terrific sneeze followed. Up came +his head sharply, and the _yo[u]kai_ rolled over backwards on the +ground. He rose in fury, holding his jaw. Shu[u]zen was laughing, the +lady smiling. "The distance is but short? Plainly those fellows are next +to worthless. This Shu[u]zen will act as guard." Thus did Aoyama go in +company to the _yashiki_ of Okumura Shu[u]zen; and thus was his second +night's venture brought to naught. + +The arrival of the Ojo[u]sama (lady daughter) in company with Aoyama +caused much excitement. Okumura was of five hundred _koku_; Aoyama of +twelve hundred _koku_. The latter was at once ushered to the inner +apartments. The lady wife of Okumura came forward to urge his stay for +some entertainment. Aoyama in turn was curious to know more of this +mission in connection with a _hatamoto_ like himself. He spoke gravely +of the dangers in this neighbourhood, apart from the strange tales told. +Okumura Shu[u]zen heartily agreed. The charge being to Kishu[u] Ke was +not to be declined. Himself he had many strange tales to relate. Though +the hour was late, every effort was made. Aoyama Shu[u]zen was gratified +with a beautiful repast. The wine was served in person by Takigawa Dono. +The talk passed from personal affairs to tales of war. Here Aoyama was +in his element, both from experience and the tales of others heard in +the _hiban_ and at the meetings of the Gaman Kwai. This was a first +meeting, not to be too long drawn out. Okumura was a new comer in the +Bancho[u], his service was in connection with the public works. Aoyama +had been of the palace staff until very recently. Both expressed deepest +gratification at their encounter. As he took his way home in the morning +light, Aoyama Shu[u]zen could but contrast with pleasure his present +arrival with that of the previous morning. He had feasted well, and made +an acquaintance of some value. + +The following day he would make his acknowledgments. Aping no great +style he walked accompanied by a page and two _chu[u]gen_. Inquiry soon +brought him to the _yashiki_. Inquiry soon introduced him to a sitting +room. "Lucky fellow!" thought Aoyama. "The influence of Matsudaira +Ko[u] lands him in affluence. A modest income; a double _yashiki_!" This +part of the house was different from that of his last night's +introduction. Then he stated his business to the _karo[u]_. The night +before he had accompanied the Ojo[u]san to the _yashiki_. He would make +acknowledgment of the courtesy then received. The face of old Beita +Heima was a puzzle. Deep the respect due to twelve hundred _koku_ +Aoyama, but had he been drunk or dreaming?--"Has not your lordship +mistaken the _yashiki_?" Aoyama was a little severe at what seemed +gratuitous assumption. "You were not on the guard last night." Beita +spoke, prostrate and with great respect, but with an earnestness and +obstinacy not to be mistaken. He had been on the guard--from sunset to +dawn. Aoyama began to feel uncomfortable. Veiling the sharpness--"Is +this not the _yashiki_ of Okumura Dono?" Heima gulped assent. "Is not +Takigawa Dono, of the San no Ma, the Ojo[u]san of the House?" Here Heima +was on sure ground. "Ojo[u]san of the House there is none. It is very +rude; but surely there is mistake as to the _yashiki_." Aoyama now was +beginning to see light. He felt very hot and uncomfortable. He ventured +a last question for surety. "And Okumura Dono?"--"The Tono Sama absent +in Shimosa, the _yashiki_ has been in this Heima's charge for this past +month's course." With such grace as he could in his discomfiture Aoyama +Shu[u]zen took his leave. The astonished page and _chu[u]gen_, still +retaining the intended presents of acknowledgment, with difficulty kept +up with their master. Ah! The beasts again had scored. Detestable! +Shu[u]zen thought with horror of his repast of the previous night. He +had no better fare than Rokuzo the _chu[u]gen_. In rage he sought his +room, and swallowed all the purges and emetics to hand. Occupied in +retching, and thinking, and other matters germane to his condition, he +concocted the plan by which he hoped to bring the foe to book, and +himself to the presiding chair which surely he had earned. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE MEETING OF THE GAMAN KWAI + + +With the fall of O[u]saka castle (1615), and the culmination of the +uneasy movements of the years following in the conspiracy of Honda +Masazumi, the country entered on a long peace--the Tokugawa Taihei. The +Arima rebellion after all was but an affair of farming folk, in far off +Kyu[u]shu[u]. Masazumi struck right at the person of the Sho[u]gun +himself. A special ceiling was constructed in his castle at Utsunomiya. +This was to collapse on the sleeping Iyemitsu Ko[u] sheltered beneath +it. Caught between the heavy boulders above and beneath the couch, the +Sho[u]gun was to be sent to rest with, not worship of, his divinized +grandfather at Nikko[u]. Iyemitsu slept the night at Edo castle, owing +to the valour and strength of Ishikawa Hachiémon. Masazumi had failed, +and the set field of battle between the factions of the _samurai_ was a +thing of the past. The duel, forbidden in theory and compulsory in +practice, was to take its place. The substitute always had existed. It +tried men's courage, not the sustained endurance of campaigning. How +then was the old spirit of the warrior to be maintained? The desire to +emulate their sires worked on the younger generation. The relics of the +Tensho[u], Keicho[u] and Genwa periods (1573-1623) O[u]kubo Hikozaémon, +Matsudaira Montaro[u], Nagasaki Chiyari Kuro[u], were heroes who could +boast of having stood before the horse of Iyeyasu in his earlier trials +of battles, trials in which the veteran commander would pound with his +fist the pommel of the saddle until it was red with the blood from his +bruised knuckles. Their tales of actual war, the sly jeers at the +softening manners, spurred on younger members to find ways by which to +simulate practical experience of campaigning. The result was curious. +One of the organizations was the Undameshi Kwai, or Fortune Testing +Society. Loaded firelocks were stacked in the middle of the room of +meeting. Around them sat the members of the club, squeezed into full +armour, from helmet to the warriors shoes of skin. The match was set. +The weapons were exploded, sending a shower of balls in every direction. +"Ah! Ha! The bullet grazed my helmet."--"The gorgelet caught it."--"The +corselet has saved me."--"Congratulations are in order. Surely your +pension will be increased during the year."--"Oya! Oya! And Genzaémon +Uji?" The unfortunate Genzaémon had not fared so well in the mimic war. +At all events he sat the meeting out--if he could. To be reported dead, +in the course of duty; or be overcome with regrets at showing such +clumsiness in being wounded; or, if actually incapacitated, to go home +and die of "illness" (cut belly).[9] + +The Gaman Kwai, or Endurance Society, was another form the movement +took. In the season of great cold its meetings were held as if in the +height of the _doyo[u]_ or dog days; vice-versa with the time of great +heat. It was the beginning of the seventh month (first half of August). +The heat was intense, and had been for the past weeks. The farmer +watched the steamy vapour rising from the rice fields and rejoiced. The +plants were growing luxuriantly, the leaves of the willow trees were +hanging yellow and wilted. Passers by on city or village streets sought +the shade under the buildings, walking with languid lagging step, and, +home once reached, removing every garment which etiquette--not +decency--had hitherto compelled. Great was the dismay of the weaker +members of the Gaman Kwai on receipt of a circular letter couched much +as follows: + + "In this season of great cold the continuance of the + honoured health is observed with joy. On the seventeenth day + it is desired to make offering of a cup of indifferent wine. + It is begged that the use of the honoured _kago_ (palanquin) + be condescended. This the purport of the missive. With + reverence and respect. + + KONDO[U] NOBORINOSUKÉ. + + To...." + +The weaker allowed this missive to float gently and despairingly +earthwards. Gasping for breath in the stifling heat they sought to fan +themselves into a semi consciousness. "Terrific! Terrific! Yet refusal +is out of the question. Ah! This Kondo[u] is a doubtful sort of rascal. +He is of the cruel kind. No mercy is to be expected of him. Yet if one +fails to attend there will be but jeers and taunts of cowardice. One +could not appear in public. Alas! Alas!" The stronger received it with +equal impatience, but with the purpose to put in the evil hours with the +best possible face, and score on the host--if they could. All left +strict orders at home for a cold bath to be in readiness for the return. +To this rash step the weaker groaned and yielded. The Nipponese fear and +detest cold water--even for drink. + +Thus they sallied forth--from Ichigaya to Honjo[u] Kameidocho[u], from +Shitaya to Shinagawa; some on horseback, some in _kago_; all arrayed in +triple set of thickly wadded winter garments, in _hakama_, or trousers +with double folds, in shirts and leggings, and fur shoes of the warrior +on winter campaign. The gate keeper of the _yashiki_ in Owaricho[u] +called their names on arrival--"O[u]kubo Hikoroku Dono, Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaémon Dono, Abé Shiro[u]goro[u] Dono, Matsudaira Montaro[u] +Dono, O[u]kubo Shichinosuké Dono, Mizuno Juro[u]zaémon Dono, Ishikawa +Hachiémon Dono,[10] Okumura Shu[u]zen Dono, Kusé Sanshichiro[u] Dono, +Aoyama Shu[u]zen Dono...." The list was a long one. One and all were met +by Kondo[u] Noborinosuké in person at the entrance. Over his triple +winter garb he wore a wadded coat or _kosodé_. Others had donned the +longer _kataginu_. These were of the weaker kind. It did not fit so +closely; pressed the warmth of its tissue less lovingly to the person. +All complained of the intense cold. "Never was such cold felt," blandly +agreed Noborinosuké. "An old fellow of the gardeners says that for sixty +years such cold has not been experienced. It is a marvellous cold year. +The ground will not be thawed this season. Deign to enter. Warmth is +provided against this intensity of cold." And his hearers bowed and +offered thanks, as well as their unwieldy wrappings would allow. At all +events in the room yonder there would be the breeze from the garden +side. They knew the place and its delights. Kondo[u] was of the age to +provide himself with quiet comforts. With eager stride the banquet room +was sought. + +"Oya! Oya!" The speaker gasped in dismay and for breath. They had been +introduced into a furnace. Explained Kondo[u] gently--"Everything has +been done to shut out the intense cold. The _amado_ are tight closed, +the braziers well supplied.... Heigh-ho! Allow none of these to get +dark. More charcoal! More fuel!" The attendants obeyed, urging the fires +before each guest. Seated close together to conserve the heat, the sweat +poured off in streams. Unable to get breath some groaned and grunted--to +pass it off as due to the intensity of cold. Soon they "would be thawed +out with the genial warmth." Kondo[u] and Aoyama were immensely pleased +in their assent and at their sufferings. But the more discontented +sought the fly in the ointment of the content of their hosts. Aoyama +really was such. He was the one responsible for the call; Kondo[u] his +ready abettor. Said one--"Intense the cold, yet how explain the freaks +of Nature. If it were not so freezing the blue clusters hanging in +Kondo[u] Dono's garden, just traversed, could well pass for wisteria." +They laughed at him--"Wisteria in the seventh month? That would be as +great a marvel as the cold."--"Not so the grape," replied another. +"Kondo[u] Uji long since promised sight of the new plant. To be sure the +barbarian fruits are as ill trained and uncouth as the denizens of the +land they grow in. They flower and fruit in winter season. If not +wisteria the clusters must be of the grape."--"Not so," promptly put in +Aoyama. "Truly it is the green eye of jealousy which colours the vision. +They are icicles; and no seasoning for the repast or the conversation of +this cold occasion."--"Which brings the sweat to the face of Aoyama +Uji." Aoyama turned calmly on the rash interloper. "It is not sweat; +'tis mucous. The intense cold causes flow of mucous. Are not others so +affected?" He looked around grimly on the steaming shining faces before +him. "Mucous?" questioned a doubter. "Yes: face mucous," was the calm +rejoinder. + +All turned to Kondo[u] Noborinosuké who would explain the more +particular purport of the meeting. There was report to make, a new +member to introduce. All turned with respect and salutation to Okumura +Shu[u]zen. It was a long and painful ceremony in the bulky winter garb. +But they were in relays, took turns. Ah! If it was but Aoyama, thus long +bent double, murmuring apology and compliment. Then Aoyama Shu[u]zen +made his report. He made it as one sure to please his hearers, many of +whom regarded him with no particular liking. In fact at the tale of his +discomfiture there was some joy, and tendency to show it. "Then, as with +us, Aoyama Uji meets Okumura Dono for the first time." Aoyama nodded an +amused assent. Said one more malicious, "And the repast? Surely the +_hatamoto_ was as well entertained as the _chu[u]gen_?" Shu[u]zen +skilfully dodged the issue. "The hour was very late. Such could hardly +be expected or offered to this Shu[u]zen without raising doubts. +Fortunately it was thus." Said one more persistent--"At least a cup of +wine...."--"Without fire or heating? More than rude the +implication!"--"Yet beasts know but little of etiquette; and if fox or +badger...." Kondo[u] Noborinosuké came in with--"That shall be at once +determined. It is time for the repast. The _tanuki_ killed by Aoyama Uji +furnishes the soup." At a sign the retainers brought the beast in his +own skin. All rose in marvel at the sight. Truly it was a huge fellow. +"An old rascal, too. See! The hair on the back is of different colour +from that on the rest of the body."--"Showing the great age and +wickedness. Many are those he has gulled to their destruction. Now in +turn he furnishes forth the repast." Said Kondo[u]--"How did Aoyama Uji +secure the beast." + +"This Shu[u]zen was much put out. Plainly by no ordinary means could +these miscreants be eliminated. How meet them in true shape? Against the +usual weapons they were secure in their transformations. Only the flying +bullet could reach such mark; and the discharge of a gun in Edo town +means banishment at the least. Then an idea came to Shu[u]zen. At the +hour of the ox again the Bancho[u] was sought. Position of great +dejection and weariness was taken, on a stone amid its greatest +desolation. The wait was not long. Unexpectedly the sound of a gunshot +was heard. This was surprising, for the reasons given. Hardly believing +in an apparition, thinking it rather due to some rascally outlaw, his +coming was awaited. Slouching along appeared a man in hunter's garb. He +carried a fowling piece, and evidently was the criminal. Taught however +by past events this Shu[u]zen took no action. Merely hailing him, his +purpose and game was inquired. He was ready in answer as to both. Yonder +on Matsuyama harboured a huge and dangerous boar. It was this boar he +sought. Kindly he gave warning, and advised return to safer quarters. On +my part great enthusiasm was expressed for the sport; his company was +sought. At this he jeered; then denied attendance as lacking a gun. 'Not +so,' quoth I. With these words the punk carried in the hand was touched +to the fuse of the fire crackers concealed at one side. 'Kiya!' So +startled was he that his gun fell to the ground and he took his proper +shape. At once this Shu[u]zen in the act of drawing cut him into two +parts. Thus he died. Awaiting dawn another beast appeared, this time in +true form. Approaching the prostrate body it wept and wailed. This too +'twas sought to slay, but the beast had the advantage of being +forewarned. For the time it has escaped. Meanwhile, returning from its +pursuit, was found an admiring crowd of plebeians gathered round the +slaughtered _tanuki_. The priest for his exorcisms took cash; the +_samurai_ were the ones to act. Their joy and wonder was turned to good +account. Under penalty of sharing the fate of the beast two of them +shouldered it to the _yashiki_. Such the tale of Shu[u]zen. And now for +the results!" + +Kondo[u] gave a sign, and the gaping wonder of the assembly at the deed +was stifled in the wave of heat which poured in from the neighbouring +room. "Ah! Truly these are cruel fellows!" Here a furnace had been +erected for the cooking of the _tanuki_. It sent its streams of hot air +into the already crowded and stifling room. Aoyama in person supervised +the cooking. The animal was cut into small portions. Smoking hot the +viands were placed under the noses of the gasping guests. With the great +age of the beast it had accumulated great toughness. The younger +members had the consolation of their jibes at the old fellows. They tore +at, struggled with, the leathery fragments. But the latter had no teeth, +and the malicious Aoyama would see to it that it stuck in their throats. +"How, now, ancients? Is not the meat of this _tanuki_ tender beyond +measure? Truly one cannot call this engaging in the practice of war; to +enjoy such a delightful mess."--"Just so," grunted Montaro[u]. "One can +then eat the knobs off one's helmet. The flesh of this fellow is so +tender it sticks in one's throat, as unwilling to allow it passage.... +G'up! G'up! G'up!" + +Said another--"The wine thus steaming hot, the viands sizzling, truly +the feed is most beneficial. One even sweats in this intensity of +cold."--"Of course," was the matter of fact reply of the wise. "Thus +does the heat of spring thaw out the cold ground into a perspiration; +thus does the frozen body burst into a sweat with the hot food and +drink." All accepted the explanation without argument. They were in +haste to end this meeting, even at cost of swallowing whole the _tanuki_ +and Aoyama Shu[u]zen with it. Despite the prospect of attendance at his +_yashiki_ all rapturously agreed. Aoyama was an original. He would not +repeat the experiment of Kondo[u]. They had nearly a six month's respite +before them. With this the entertainment was brought to a close. In +almost unceremonious haste the guests took their leave, fairly galloping +out of the entrance, hanging out of the _kago_ or over the horse's neck, +urging attendants to full speed homeward. Here the stifling garments +were torn off, the plunge into the cold tub followed; and many paid for +this rashness with an illness of days. Meanwhile Aoyama Shu[u]zen had +learned one important fact. Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon in application for +the _bakémono yashiki_ had met with flat refusal. The field was open to +himself. Moreover he had said nothing of the fact that, in the exercise +of his new office as magistrate for the apprehension of thieves and +fire-bugs, he was in fair way to suppress forever and in great torments +the Mujina-baké and his fellows, residuary legatees of the prowess and +field of action of the late So[u]ja Mushuku. + +END OF PART I + + + + +PART II + + +THE BANCHO[U] SARAYASHIKI + +OR + +THE LADY OF THE PLATES + +WHAT AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN BECAME. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE YOSHIDA GOTEN + + +When Prince Iyeyasu consolidated his power at Edo, more particularly on +his becoming Sei-i-tai-Sho[u]gun, some provision had to be made for the +great _daimyo[u]_ brought by the necessities of occasion to personal +interview with their chief and suzerain. In the suburbs rose beautiful +structures devoted to the entertainment of these _kyakubun_--or +guests--as the greater _daimyo[u]_ were then termed. The Yatsuyama +Goten, the Hakuzan Goten, the Kosugé Goten, the Yoshida Goten, other and +elegant, if minor, palaces arose. Their first use disappeared with the +compulsory residence of the _daimyo[u]_ under Iyemitsu Ko[u], but some +were still maintained as places of resort and entertainment for the +Sho[u]gun in his more relaxed moments. Others were devoted to the +residences of favoured members of his family. Others were maintained for +the entertainment of State or Church dignitaries, on occasion of +particular mission from the court in Kyo[u]to to that of Edo. Others +were destroyed, or put to temporal uses, or their use granted to +favoured retainers or church purposes. + +One of the most beautiful of these was the Yoshida Goten in the +Bancho[u]. The site originally had been covered by the _yashiki_ of +Yoshida Daizen no Suké. One of those nobles favouring the Tokugawa +against Ishida Mitsunari, as their designs became clearer with the years +following Sekigahara, at the attack on Osaka castle he was found within +its walls. Thus the "Overseer of the kitchen" fell under the wrath of +his suzerain. Hidétada Ko[u] was a man of much kind temperament, but he +was a strict disciplinarian and a rough soldier. Whether or not the +dishes furnished for his consumption and digestion had anything to do +with the matter, there was serious cause enough. With many others the +Daizen no Suké was ordered to cut belly, and his tribe suffered +extinction--of rank and rations (_kaieki_). Such the reward of this +turn-coat. His disappearance from the scene was followed by other +removals. Daizen no Suké was head of the Ko[u]sho[u]gumi. With the +confiscation of his _yashiki_ site five other Houses of the "company" +were ordered to remove to other sites at Akasaka. Thus 2,500 _tsubo_ of +ground (24 acres) were obtained for the building of a new _kyakubun +goten_. Erected on the ground of Yoshida's old mansion, now waste +([sara]), it got the name of Sarayashiki. Time confused this character +[sara] with the events which there took place; and it was written Sara +([sara]) yashiki or Mansion of the Plates. Thus was the unhappy tale of +O'Kiku written into the history of Edo and the Yoshida Goten. + +The second daughter of Hidédata Ko[u], the Nidai Sho[u]gun, had been +married to the lord of Echizen, Matsudaira Tadanao. At the time of the +Osaka campaign Tadanao sulked. Prince Iyeyasu was very angry with him. +However, when finally Echizen Ke did appear, he acted with such bravery, +and to such effect in the campaign, that the old captain's anger was +dispelled in his appreciation. To this connected House of the Tokugawa +he thought to be liberal enough; not to meet the inflated scale of the +ideas of Tadanao, who spent the next half dozen years in so misgoverning +his lordly fief as to render necessary an adviser, planted at his side +by his powerful cousin in Edo. In Genwa ninth year Tadanao +rebelled--with the usual result to him who acts too late. He was +suppressed, largely by the aid of his own vassals, and exiled to Hita in +Bungo province. Here he shaved his head, took the name of Ichihaku. It +was of no avail. Promptly he died. It seemed to be a dispensation of +Providence--or dispensation of some kind--that exiles usually and early +developed alarming symptoms; in the shortest possible time removing +themselves and all cause of irritation to the overlord by their transfer +to another sphere. + +The Tokugawa Sho[u]gun was generous to his relations. The exit of +Tadanao was promptly followed by the induction of his infant son +Mitsunaga into his fief. However, for the child to govern the great +district of 750,000 _koku_ appeared to be a doubtful step. Its +government actually being invested in the _daimyo[u]_, it was not to be +made a breeding ground for trouble through the action of subordinates. +Hence the main fief with the seat at Kita no Sho[u] (Fukui) was given to +the uncle. Fukui to-day is a dull provincial town, and excellent +stopping place for those who would have eyes opened as to the great +wealth and wide flat expanse of these three provinces of Kaga, Etchu[u], +and Echizen. Their lord was a mighty chieftain, entrenched behind +mountain barriers; and the great campaigns, which figure in pre-Tokugawa +history, were fought for a great object. The Maéda House, however, had +had their wings clipped, and were confined to Kaga. The Matsudaira were +established in Echizen. Etchu[u] was much divided up. The reduction of +the fief of Echizen Ke to 500,000 _koku_ brought him within reasonable +bounds, and he could well be left to ride with his hawks along the +pretty Ashibagawa, or to take his pleasure outing on the crest of +Asuwayama, the holy place of the city suburbs, and where Hidéyoshi +nearly lost life and an umbrella by a stray shot. Then would follow the +return, the ride across the wide moat, its waters dotted with the fowl +he went elsewhere to shoot, but safe within these precincts. Whether he +returned to any better entertainment than that of the present day +Tsuki-mi-ro or Moon viewing inn, one can doubt. He certainly did not +have the pretty outlook from its river bordered garden front. + +Sen-chiyo-maru, later Mitsunaga, was relegated to Takata castle in +Echigo, with the minor income of 250,000 _koku_. Perhaps this fact, +together with his youth, and the more entertaining expenditure of the +income at an Edo _yashiki_, rather than in a mountain castle town, +brought the Takata no Kata to the capital. Takata Dono, or the Takata no +Kata, so named from the fief, is not known to fame or history under +other appellation. She is said to have possessed all the beauty of her +elder sister, the Senhimégimi, wife of Hidéyori Ko[u], son of the +Taiko[u], he who fell at Osaka castle. Furthermore, with the training of +the _samurai_ woman, the greatness of her position and personal +attraction, she possessed all the obstinacy and energy of the male +members of her family, with few of the restraints imposed on them by +public service. Takata Dono frankly threw herself into all the pleasures +she could find at the capital. Established in the Yoshida Goten, the +younger _samurai_ of the _hatamoto_ quickly came under her influence. +There was a taint of license in her blood, perhaps inherited from the +father who was most unbridled in his passions. The result was a sad +falling off from the precepts of Bushido[u] in herself and her +paramours. The Bakufu (Sho[u]gunal Government) was compelled to look on, +so great was her power at the castle. In the earlier days sentence of +_seppuku_ (cut belly) was a common reward for open misconduct. A word +from Takata Dono, and the disgraceful quarrels over her favours were +perforce condoned; and her lavish expenditures on her favourites were +promptly met. Alas! Alas! The up to date histories of Nippon sigh over +and salve these matters. "They were the inventions of a later age; were +not current in her life-time." Nor likely to be put too bluntly by those +tender of their skins. But an old poem has come down to express the +popular belief: + + "_Yoshida to[u]reba nikai kara maneku; + Shikamo kano ko no furisode de._" + +Somewhat irregular, like the lady's conduct, but which can be +interpreted, + + "Passing Yoshida, from above the signal; + Furthermore, the waving of long sleeves." + +Of little deer (or dears) for the style of sleeve, the _kano ko_, can be +read young deer. Bah! Was there not a "parc aux cerfs" half way round +the world? Nor were such confined to the capital cities of Edo and +Paris.[11] + +The poem refers to the unbridled licentiousness the little lady +developed on her translation from her provincial residence; though +locally she had not failed to distinguish herself. What follows is part +of the tales current. At the time the _himégimi_ (princess) was thrown +on her own devices in Takata-jo[u] the _karo[u]_ or chief officer of the +household was one Hanai Iki. This fellow owed his position entirely to +his good looks and her ladyship's favour. This favour he met, not in the +spirit of a loyal vassal, but in that of a professed and bold lady +killer. As _karo[u]_ his attendance on her ladyship was constant and +intimate, and it took no particular acumen to find out that the intimacy +was of a more peculiar relation. Hence great was the under current of +comment, and regret at the unbridled conduct of the lady. None, however, +dared to interfere with the caprices of one so highly placed; and the +only means was to work on the decent feelings of Iki himself. Thus the +tale was brought to his wife's ears. It is to be said that with her all +jealousy was suppressed. It was for her to find the cure for her +husband's unbridled conduct. As Hanai Iki was a mere official, and with +no great claim to unusual or able services, it was hoped that his +removal or reform in conduct would bring back the _himégimi_ to a +befitting conduct. There was no suspicion that her passion was a disease +raging in her very blood, and that it was the man, not his personality +she sought. + +The wife first adopted the orthodox method of formal remonstrance. +Without chiding, with a smile and great indulgence of one at no +particular fault himself, she enlarged upon the subject in the service +of the tea. "It is not a matter between Iki Dono and this Chiyo. There +is no unseemly jealousy in the wife to bring forward the complaint. In +fact the marital relation is not in question. As the husband pleases, so +should the wife submit. But great is the talk aroused at these too +private meetings with the _himégimi_. It is the House which is at stake. +Its influence and prestige is threatened by a mere retainer. This in a +short time can but lead to ruin. The caprice of a woman is well known. +In some cooler moment the eyes of her ladyship will see another colour. +The one to suffer will be Iki Dono, for now he has no other support but +in his mistress. Deign to regain the confidence of the household, and no +great harm can result beyond neglect. Honoured sir, you stretch out for +what is far beyond reach; and in the end can but fail. Deign to be +circumspect." If there was any tone of contempt and depreciation in the +protest it was in the last few words. At all events the eyes of Iki were +opened to the fact that it was sought to reach him through the wife's +remonstrance. He expressed surprise and discomfiture at what he asserted +had no real basis in fact. His office brought him in close contact with +her ladyship; the more so as the management of the fief was in her +hands. Matters were to be discussed which necessitated the exclusion of +all others. However, if such was the talk of the palace, or even beyond +its walls, he could but give thanks for the kindness of the +remonstrance. Henceforth he would be more careful, and would trust to +her good feeling to believe in his good faith. + +With joy the wife heard what he said. With all good will she made +herself the apostle of this explanation. No one believed her and facts +soon belied words. Her ladyship, just entering on her passion, became +more exigent in her calls for the _karo[u]'s_ attendance. Iki now seldom +appeared at his home. Long absences from the castle town, pressing +business, any excuse to hand came to the alarmed ears of the wife. All +the rumours gathered were sure to reach her in exaggerated form. Hanai +Dono was the constant companion of her ladyship's wine feasts. He was +her acknowledged paramour, and lived in the private apartments of the +castle as in his own house. All talked--except the ladies in waiting of +the _himégimi_. These were selected and trained by her; selected for +beauty and trained to discretion. She would have no ugly thing about +her; and all was to be for her use. Iki was handsome, and discreet. To +her he was an object; as were the maids; the same apart from sex. He +filled his rôle admirably, never introduced his favour with her ladyship +into the public affairs of the House, or solicited for such personal +advancement as made toward outward display. But circumspection of +conduct never yet closed the mouth of gossip. There were those who were +jealous of what he might do; and jealous of a favour they would gladly +share themselves. The _himégimi_ was the prize which all coveted, and +which no one should possess to the exclusion of others. + +Hence the buzz of talk rose loud, and the criticism stung the wife. She +determined herself to learn the truth of these tales. Hitherto they +were but the scandalous talk of people. Wife of the _karo[u]_, naturally +her ladyship did not require her attendance; but as such she had ready +access and an intimate acquaintance with the palace routine. Her mind +made up, she presented herself on some trifling pretext. Certainly in +her manner there was nothing to arouse comment. Received in the inner +apartments (_oku_), her plea, the introduction of a page into the +service, was readily granted. On retiring she would speak with the +superintendent of the _oku_, the old and experienced lady in waiting in +charge of the _himégimi's_ service. Thus she found the opportunity to +wander the inner precincts, to disappear and to slip into the bed room +of the _himégimi_. Here she stepped into a closet, pulled to the screen, +and crouched down behind the heaped up quilts. For the companionship of +her wandering lord she did not have long to wait; nor for proof of his +inconstancy. Iki came into the room, holding by the hand and drawing +after him one of palace ladies in waiting, Takeo by name. The girl was +by no means unwilling. Her blushes and confusion added to the great +beauty which made her the favoured attendant on the _himégimi_. Iki +pressed her close and openly. The girl plead ignorance and inexperience. +She was ashamed. Iki laughed. "Does not her ladyship set the example for +others to follow? Deign...." The plea of his relations with the mistress +came quite fit to the coarse feeling of Iki. Not so to the girl, who was +warmed into some indignation, and drew all the more from him. He would +persist; but just then her ladyship called from the next room--"Takeo! +Takeo!" The voice was impatient, as of one in haste. Iki had time to +thrust a letter into the girl's hand, which she quickly transferred to +her bosom. All the boldness of O'Chiyo was at stake as the maid came to +the closet. Close down she crouched; but Takeo had one eye on Iki, and +only one careless eye on the heap of _futon_, of which she drew from the +top. Iki made a grimace, for the benefit of the one he really loved. Her +ladyship's appearance was received with the warm and flattering +affection of the favoured lover; and O'Chiyo had proof positive that the +relations of the two were kind indeed. + +The suicide of the wife, the letter of protest she left behind, had +more influence on the public than on the conduct of Hanai Iki. It simply +removed the last restraint and means of reaching him. All now depended +on her ladyship's infatuation. Old vassals sighed with joy when they +heard of the proposed removal to Edo. As _karo[u]_ Hanai Iki would be +left in charge of the fief. Not so: it was soon learned that his name +headed the list of those transferred for household service. The +grumbling was as open as it dared to be. The fief was to be contented +with the service of two vice-_karo[u]_; no great loss, except in matter +of prestige in dealing with other Houses. The _karo[u]_ became a kind of +male superintendent of the _oku_! But at all events the fief was rid of +him. Nor was Iki particularly pleased. He had been feathering his nest +in the material sense. The severance of the connection, without loss of +esteem, meant to him a quicker consummation of his wishes with Takeo +Dono, whom he would ask for as wife. Their relations had gone forward at +a wild pace. Once thrown into the whirl of passion Takeo sought but to +meet the wishes of her lover. The passion of the _himégimi_ stood +between them. + +Established in Edo, at the Yoshida Goten, all went mad with content in +their beautiful surroundings. The palace gardens were noted. A hint of +the fine construction of the buildings is found to-day at the Kugyo[u]ji +of Iinuma, built subsequently from the materials. For the use of the +Sho[u]gun Ke in entertainment of his visitors, every art had been +exhausted in its adornment. The screens were objects of beauty, and +separated the large rooms with their fine pillars and ceilings of +grained and polished woods. The _rama-sho[u]ji_ were carved by Nature's +handiwork, and the polished lacquer and brass reflected a thousand times +the beauties roundabout. Whether the garden be viewed from the +apartments, or both from the _tsukiyama_ or artificial hill beside the +little lake, it was a scene of balanced beauty, showing every nicety of +man's hand in Nature's own proportion, and not guided into the +geometrical designs of a carpet square or a surveyor's working table. +Instead of the dry dullness of a provincial town, in which themselves +they had to fill the stage to give it life and pompousness, Edo was +close at hand, and they were part of, and actors in, the luxury and +magnificence of the Sho[u]gun's court. It is not surprising that the +_himégimi_ returned to all this glitter and activity as one long +banished from its seductions to a wilderness; added her own dissipation +and lavish entertainment to the constant round of festivity and luxury +rapidly supplanting the hard military discipline of the first +Sho[u]gun's camp; a luxury itself to crystallize into a gorgeous rigid +formalism, as deadly to the one not meeting its requirements as the +lined and spotted beauty of some poisonous serpent. + +The wine feast was at its height. The cup passed more freely in this +chilly season of the year; and in the tightly closed apartments the +warmth of association and the table's cheer were sought. The _himégimi_ +was more expansive than usual under the influence of the wine. Iki was +positively drunk, and in his state over-estimated the condition of her +ladyship. Takeo was serving the wine. Beyond stolen interviews of +moments the lovers had found no opportunity for the longed for clinging +of soul to soul, of person to person, during the night's long hours. The +girl's hands trembled with passion as furtively she sought those of her +lover in the passing of the wine cup. Iki was absolutely careless. Her +ladyship too far gone to note his conduct? He seized the arms of Takeo +and drew her to his side. The display of amorous emotion on the part of +both was too open to escape notice. The _himégimi_ rose to her feet as +on springs. The beautiful flushed face took on a deeper tint as she +scowled on the guilty and now frightened pair. Her breath came hard and +with difficulty. Then reaching down she wound the long tresses of Takeo +in her hand, and dragged her to her knee. Twisting and twisting, until +the agony made the girl cry out, she berated her--"Ah! Wicked jade! Thou +too have eyes for a man's person. Disloyal wench, would you aim to make +the beloved of your mistress partner of your bed?... What's this?" From +the girl's hand she tore the answer to the lover's plaint. The sharp +eyes of her ladyship sought the maid's person. A nervous hand fumbled +the folds of her _obi_ (sash). "Ah! The treasure house is not far off. +Such valued gems are carried on the person." Thrusting her hand into the +gentle bosom the _himégimi_ drew forth the guilty complement. + +Wrote Iki-- + + "How act to drop the mask; + Many the pledges breathed in truth." + +And the girl made answer: + + "Ah! The night of meeting, love's consummation; + The hindrance, thing or person, object of hate."[12] + +The words were too plain. There was a certain savage tone of exulting +wrath as the _himégimi_ read out loud the contents of the missives. It +chilled the hearts of those who heard her. She spoke: at first in low +concentrated tones of bitter jesting hate. "Ha! Ha! Disloyalty goes +beyond mere thought; would strike at the person of its lord. What +lascivious slut is this, who thus would creep into the mistress' bed, to +take her place?... Look up! Naruhodo! In that face is too much beauty. +Vile huzzy, you would seek the favour of my lover. Hence forth neither +he nor any man shall look on you, except with loathing." Close beside +her was the _hibachi_, its burden of the hard burning charcoal from +Ikéda now a bright cherry red. Dragging the girl to the brazier, +twisting both hands more firmly in the long black hair, she forced her, +face downwards, into the heated mass, pressing into the back with her +knee. In terror the other girls looked away, or hid their faces in their +sleeves. Before the towering anger of the princess none dared apology or +intercession. The smell of burning flesh rose sickening. Takeo feebly +moaned, and writhed a little under the nervous pressure of those +delicate powerful hands. Then she was silent. The inhuman punishment had +reached its end. Roughly her ladyship threw her aside, face upward on +the _tatami_. Those who took a hasty glance turned away in horror from +the face, black here, red and swollen there, the mouth filled with +ashes, the eyes--one totally destroyed. + +The _himégimi_ was on her feet. "Iki--here with you!" In fear the man +prostrated himself before the vision. "Not yet did the demon's horns +sprout from her head; but the eyes injected with blood, the hair +standing up to Heaven, converted her ladyship into a veritable demon." +In slow and measured wrath she spoke--"Ah, the fool! Admitted to the +favour of his mistress, the long continued object of her affection, with +all at his command and service, he would sacrifice these for the +embraces of a serving wench. Truly the man has gone mad with lust; or +rather it is a man's face and a beast's mind. Thus before my very eyes +he would dally with his whore and make me cuckold. Of such miscreants +one feels no jealousy. Hate and punishment follow the insult." A quick +movement backward and her halberd hanging at the wall was in her hand. +The scabbard stripped from the shining blade was held over head. "Namu +San! Holy the three sacred things!" Iki sprang to his feet, coward and +fool he sought not to grapple with her, but to flee. The command of the +_himégimi_ rang sharp--"He is not to escape!" In this company of her +maids, all _samurai_ women, the discipline was complete. If they would +not suffer the punishment of Takeo, they must respond. Whatever the +backbiting and division among themselves, in her ladyship's service they +would sacrifice life itself. Besides, more than one hated Iki with the +heart-whole hate of neglected love and advances. Takeo had been more +favoured than her companions, not through any fault of theirs in seeking +this lady killer. Hence the alarm was quickly given. Iki was beset by +this female army, every one armed, himself with but his dagger. There +was no outlet for escape. Then they came to close quarters. The boldest +threw themselves on him. Dragged to the ground, bound fast, he was +pulled and pushed into the garden. Breathless and dishevelled the female +horde parted to allow the approach of the _himégimi_--"Such open insult +and vile conduct is difficult to overlook. The disloyalty intended is +past pardon. For this, too great the grudge." The keen blade flashed, +and the head of Iki rolled some feet distant. Without a glance in the +direction of the miserable Takeo, the princess took her way back to her +apartment. At last some attention could be given to the suffering and +disfigured girl. She was paying the penalty for her treachery and +disloyal thoughts. The pains which followed were aggravated by neglect. +The face and chest one mass of burns, the wounds soon became putrid. The +stench was so frightful that none would go near her. They brought her +food; then fled her presence in disgust. As she grew weaker, unable to +feed herself, the pangs of starvation were added to her woes. The +continued cries of agony grew feebler and feebler, became a mere low +moaning; then ceased altogether. "Thus trifles lead to death, and +lechery finds its punishment." The bodies of the guilty pair, thrown +into the garden well, there found the only interment. + +Her ladyship was not to escape. Following this scene her passions broke +out of all bounds. She took no new lover; it was lovers. Men were +beckoned to the Yoshida Goten as to a brothel--with waving sleeves from +the upper story. For a night, for a week, for a month they would be +entertained. The weaker sort soon displeased her, and were dismissed; to +find their end in the well of the willow, the Yanagi no Ido, of the +inner garden of the palace. It would seem as if some wicked demon had +entered the person of Takata Dono, to lead her into this course of +debauchery. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE KO[U]JIMACHI WELL + + +One day a toilet dealer came through the Bancho[u]. The sun was already +on its decline as he passed the front of the Yoshida Goten on his way to +his home in Kanda. It shone, however, on a fellow who at once attracted +the attention of the look-out maid. She gave an exclamation--"Ma! Ma! +What a handsome man! Such a loveable fellow! Her ladyship...." Then a +feeling of pity seemed to close her mouth. But further speech was +useless. The _himégimi_ lacked company for her night's feast. Herself +she responded to the incomplete summons. A glance and--"Bring him here; +without delay. Such a fine specimen is not to be allowed to escape." It +could not be helped. At once the beauty, all smiles and gestures, with +waving sleeves sought to attract the attention of the itinerant trader. +The district was new to him, his sales had been poor. This summons was +the direct favour of the Buddha. From this great mansion surely his pack +would be much lighter on return. Timidly he approached the _samurai_ at +the gate, fearing harsh repulse. The officer, however, was very +amenable, transferring him at once to the guidance of the maid already +waiting close by. Thus was he brought to the women's apartments; to be +surrounded by a bevy of the sex, of a beauty of which he had had no +experience. They began looking negligently over his poor stock, and +closely over his own person. Then--"'Tis at her ladyship's order that +the summons is made. Come this way." At this unusual conduct in a +_yashiki_ he had some misgivings. His hesitation met with small +consideration. The crowd of women surrounded him and pushed him forward, +exercising a violence which astonished and paralysed resistance at being +thus exalted above his sphere. Protesting he was taken to the bath. This +office completed amid admiring comment, he was dressed in _hakama_ +(trousers) and blouse, of stuff perfumed and of silky softness, which +made him feel as if he moved in some dream. Thus purified and arrayed he +was led through a long range of magnificent rooms, the sight of which +sent his heart further and further into his heels. Finally he was +introduced into an apartment of no great size, but with dais and bamboo +blind. Led before this, his guides drew apart and prostrated themselves +in obeisance. The toilet dealer followed the excellent example. + +The screen slowly rose and the Takata Dono appeared in all her beauty. +At this period she was barely thirty years, in the full development of +her charms. To the eyes of the poor toilet dealer it seemed as if Benten +Sama, the goddess of love, was thus gravely regarding and measuring +every line of face and body. Finally she seemed satisfied with this +close inspection. A sign and the formality of the scene vanished. "Come +closer.... The _saké_ cup!" Anxiously wriggling himself to her very +presence, she then questioned him as to age, business, habits. Her voice +was as silvery gentle as her face was beautiful. Soon he found himself +looking up into it with confidence, as well as with awed respect. The +_saké_ utensils brought, she condescended herself to fill the cup. This +was filled again; and yet again. When the liquor began to show its +influence her manner became more familiar. With a quick movement, which +surprised him by the latent strength shown, she drew him close to her +side, began openly to show her favour for him. "Such fine figure of a +man is no such fool as not to know he can please a woman. The very trade +leads him to study women's taste. Now sir: for test of your +qualities...." But frightened the toilet dealer disengaged himself, and +springing back a little he prostrated himself flat on the ground. "Deign +not an unseemly jest. Close to the person of a great lady, such as is +the honoured presence, the poor artisan finds but distress. His wares +have no market amid this magnificence. Dependent on him for means of +life are two aged parents. A bare subsistence is secured for them. +Condescend his dismissal, that he may return to relieve their +anxieties." + +The speech met with but poor reception. Gentle was the laugh of the +_himégimi_, yet a little wrinkle knitted her brow. She seemed to regard +him in a somewhat strange light. "Have no misgivings as to their fate. +An ample sum shall be sent to assure them against need. Meanwhile Nature +and the occasion has furnished forth the toilet dealer--for the lady's +toilet.... Now for the wine feast." In the scene of riot and merriment +which followed the one thought of the unfortunate trader was to escape. +There was no strict order in the banquet, no formality. The idea of the +_himégimi_ was to get the greatest pleasure out of everything to her +hand, and all vied with each other, by song and art, with voice and +musical accompaniment, by a minute attention to needs of host and guest +to make the sensual effect of the scene complete. There was not a +jarring element in the well trained bevy of women devoted to pleasure. +The toilet dealer was free, yet bound. If he would seek occasion to +leave his place, to move uneasily hither and thither in these wide +rooms, as did the women with their carelessness and ease, always he +found himself balked by their presence. Escape there was none. Soon he +found himself again by her ladyship's side, to be plied with the wine +until sense and caution gave way before the spell of the beautiful +woman. To her it was an amusing game, a stimulant to her passion, the +conquest of this reluctance in a man found to lack the brazenness and +vulgarity of his caste. In the end he could but murmur at her feet that +he was hers--to do with as she would. "Would that this dream could last +forever! In this Paradise of the wondrous Presence." + +The scene was changed. Her ladyship rose. In the company of a few of the +women he was led still further into the recesses of the palace. Here he +was arrayed for the night, amid the merry jesting and admiring criticism +of his attendants. Accompanied to the bed chamber the _fusuma_ (screens) +were closed, and he could hear the fall of the bars in the outer +passages. Submission now was easy, as inevitable, as taken by the storm +of this woman's passion. With but short intervals of dozing she would +draw him to her embrace, and intoxicate him with her caresses. "When the +poison be taken--let the plate be full." With clearing brain, though +under the spell of her beauty he never lost sight of the purpose to flee +this doubtful snare. When at dawn she really slept, he rose to seek +exit; to run into the ever vigilant guard. "Naruhodo! Truly an early +riser the honoured guest. But all has been made ready. The bath is at +hand. Deign to enter." Thus surrounded and compelled he began the second +day. As the maid dressed him after the bath she broke out in admiration +of his physical presence. "The handsome fellow! No wonder her ladyship +was seized by the love wind." In the evening's entertainment he had +proved himself no fool in interesting anecdote of the town, and a quaint +and naive description of the view the lowly take of those who call +themselves the great. Under the skilful questioning of one or other this +simple fellow--of keen wit and observation--had shown a phase of life +unknown to them, beyond the careless view afforded from between the +blinds of the curtains of the palanquin. The vulgar boldness of his +predecessors was conspicuously lacking, as was the tedious talk of war +and discussion of court etiquette of noble and more formal guests. Not +only her ladyship, but the maids thoroughly enjoyed him. + +His astonishment and fearful protest at the gorgeous robe put on him +turned them from pity to amusement. Said a bolder wench--"Take and enjoy +the gifts of her ladyship as offered. The chance is not likely again to +present itself. Put aside all thought of past; seek pleasure in the +present, without regard to the future." Though spoken with a smile which +showed the whole row of beautiful teeth, there was a menace in the words +which came home to him. If he had had some suspicions of his +whereabouts, he felt sure of it now. There were but rumours and +suspicions, slanders of course, of which he seemed destined to prove the +truth. The knowledge seemed to add dignity to his pose. He would await +her ladyship's exit from the bath. Conducted to the garden he strolled +its beautiful inclosure, noted the high roofs on every side. Standing by +the _tsukiyama_ he heard the shuffling of sandals. Turning he prostrated +himself before the _himégimi_. Rosy, with sparkling eyes, long flowing +black hair, regal presence, she was indeed the goddess Benten Sama in +human flesh and blood. Without rising the toilet dealer made +request--"Deign the honoured pity. To spend one's life in the service of +the honoured Presence, this has been said; and for the words regret +there is none. It is for those dependent. Condescend that no harm come +to them, no distress from this visitation of gods and the Buddha. +Willingly the price is paid for the delicious dream, no grudge felt for +what is to follow." + +The _himégimi_ stopped short. For some time she was lost in thought. +This man was keen enough of wit to know the price at which her favours +were bought; brave enough not to flinch, or to make abortive effort to +avoid his fate. Her whole experience brought feeling of disgust toward +men, when once satiated. With this man the chord of pity was touched. +The honoured sleeves were wet with the honoured tears as she made answer +to the plea. Without slightest effort to deny her once purpose she +consoled and reassured him. "It was determined, that granted favour you +should never leave this place." Her brow darkened for a moment at the +ominous words; than cleared radiant. "Those who enter here ascribe to +their good fortune the pleasures they enjoy. Instead of modest gratitude +they show the arrogance of possession. Purpose was first shaken by the +filial love expressed for those who gave you being, the tender care and +anxiety for their welfare. A man like you, one is assured of his faith +and silence. At night you shall depart from here unharmed." She took him +by the hand, and when he would show respect, with familiarity drew him +along with her. Thus they walked the gardens, talking of varying +subjects; she listening to his explanations and instances of life in the +common world, and questioning him adroitly as to his past and future. +Then the return was made to the inner apartments of the palace. From +this stray honey bee the little lady sucked the last juices of its +nature. The day was spent in the same riotous merriment and feasting. At +the order of the _himégimi_ he had withdrawn for the moment from her +presence. When the maid came toward him, it was with expectation of +another summons that he followed after. She took him to a little room. +Here were his coarse garments and his pack. To these were added the +gifts heaped on him by her ladyship. The change of garb completed +suddenly the girl took him in her embrace, pressing the now soft +perfumed hair and warm moist skin of his neck. "Ah! You lucky fellow! +But know that silence is golden." With this she as suddenly seized his +hand and led him swiftly along the dark corridor. At its end an _amado_ +was slipped back, and they were in the garden. To a postern gate she +fitted the key. Pack adjusted he would turn to make salutation. Two +slender firm hands laid on his shoulders sent him flying into the +roadway. The gate closed with a sharp bang, and all sign of this fairy +palace disappeared. + +Every day the toilet dealer had prayed to _kami_ and Buddha, made his +offering of "cash" at the favoured shrines, performed such pilgrimages +(_sankei_) as his limited means and scanty time permitted. To this alone +is to be ascribed his escape. Not so with others: to turn the page to a +second instance--One day a maid from above called to the gate +guard--"Stop that man!"--"Who?" The guard was at loss, not what to do, +but whom to stop. Promptly the highway was roped off. None were allowed +to move until inspection was made. As the plebeians lay prostrate with +noses on the backs of their hands they marvelled and spoke to each +other. "Truly a wondrous event! Some great rascal must have been +detected. Thanks to the _kami_ and the Buddhas the heart of this +Taro[u]bei is clean."--"And of this Jimbei. To pay the debt to the +_saké_ shop he has not hesitated to contract Tama to the Yoshidaya of +Yoshiwara."--"Well done!" quoth his friend. "Then credit at the Echigoya +is good?"--"Deign to come and drink a glass of poor wine, to the +pleasure and good luck of Jimbei." The edifying conversation was +interrupted by call for inspection. All passers by but men were +summarily motioned on. A maid stood by--"No, not this one ... nor this +one ... nor that.... Ah! That big brown fellow, with huge calves. He is +the man." At once the "big brown man" with enlarged pediments was cut +out from the heap of humanity, with whispering fear and looks the others +went about their business. "Truly his crime must be very great. Yet who +would suspect it! He is not an ill looking fellow by any means." Others +shook their heads as they went away, vowing never again to take this +road to work, or home, or pleasure. + +Before the _yakunin_ the prisoner fell on his knees. "Deign the honoured +pardon. Doubtless grave is the offence; but of it there is no +remembrance. An humble wheel-wright of Kanda, this worthless fellow is +known as Gonjuro[u]. It is work at Nakano which brings him hither." He +turned from one officer to the other. They disregarded his prayers, and +delivered him over to the maid, directing him to obey her orders, or +suffer for it. In dumbfounded surprise and gathering confidence he +followed after. Surrounded by the army of maids he more than readily +submitted to their ministrations. The freedom of the bath, the donning +of the gorgeous robe, pleased him beyond measure. To their quips and +words of double meaning he made ready answer, meeting them more than +half way with the obscenity of the Yoshiwara. "Taro[u]bei is tricked out +like an actor." At this all the greater was their merriment and +boisterousness. Introduced into the presence of her ladyship, his first +confusion at the magnificence of the surroundings was quickly removed by +his cordial reception. The _himégimi_ laughed at sight of him; laughed +still louder at his uncouthness. Then she passed to more earnest +measures; praised his thickness of limb, the sturdy robustness of neck +and loins. To his apologies--she urged him not to be frightened or +backward. Pushing the thick shock of hair back from his eyes he eyed her +with growing comprehension. After all a woman was a woman. "'Tis no +fault of this Taro[u]bei. The _yakunin_ compelled his presence. For such +a noble lady he would make any sacrifice." He spoke with bold look and +manner, thoroughly understanding now the nature of his summons at the +caprice of some great lady. Had he not suffered equal good fortune with +the beauties of Yoshiwara? He treated lady and maids with the same free +familiarity and sportive roughness as if in one of his favoured haunts. + +All the more was the _himégimi_ amused at his extravagance. She made no +sign of displeasure, and the girls made little resistance to the +fellow's boisterous manifestations as he tousled them. Always her +ladyship had eyes of the greatest appreciation on this splendid animal. +The feast set before him he looked on with small favour. "What then +tickles the palate of Juro[u]?" She leaned toward him, her face flushed +with this struggle to cage her latest prize. The silvery and enticing +voice had for answer--"Také (bamboo); just plain boiled, with syrup and +_sho[u]yu_." Then timidly, as he sought her good will--"Just a little +wine; two _go_ (a pint) ... say five _go_." She laughed with good +humour. His choice among this bevy of beauties at last had fallen +spontaneously on herself. The conquest pleased her. Then he was well +stuffed with coarse foods, hunted out of the supplies for the grooms and +stablemen in the palace kitchen, with _saké_ of a harsh and burning +kind--"which had some taste to it." Indeed never had he drank such! The +_himégimi_ sipped a drop or two of the acrid liquor, made a wry face, +and sought to bring the scene to its climax. + +With the bath next day he was all grumbling and exigencies. The maids +bore this with patience, and glances interchanged. Her ladyship had +promised him breakfast to restore exhausted Nature--"And such was +promised as that this Taro[u]bei would never need another." He roared +his dissatisfaction. The hint was taken up at once. "This way: it is for +the _yakunin_ to carry out her ladyship's order, and to stop your +gullet." The brusqueness of the _samurai_ was poor exchange for the +noisy amorous atmosphere of the inner palace. With indignation the +worthy wheelwright obeyed the order to march ahead. "Ah! Just wait my +fine fellow. A word to the lady of the mansion, and you shall learn the +cost of insult to the man she favours. This _yaro[u]_ Gonjuro[u] has no +other wife. Her ladyship takes him as adopted husband." The officer +winked and blushed a little at this very crude specimen. By this time he +had led the man to the well curb in the inner garden. Harshly--"Now down +with you. Favoured by the gods and Buddhas you cannot even hold your +tongue. Ladies like not boasting of their favours. 'Tis now the time to +express pity for you. Make ready!" Deftly he tripped him up, to send him +an all fours. The sword flashed, and the wheelwright's head rolled on +the ground. Just as it was the body was cast into the well. + +Such was the fate of those who found favour with the _himégimi_. More +and more suspicious became people of the strange disappearances traced +to the precincts of the palace. Strange tales went around, to gather +force with numbers. Kwanei 8th year (1635), whether for closer +supervision of the lady or actual necessity, she was removed to the +castle precincts, and there given quarters. Time doubtless it was, that +tempered these crazy outbursts of the _himégimi_. She lived until +Kwambun 12th year. On the 2nd month 21st day (12th September 1672) she +died at the age of seventy two years. Grand were the obsequies of one so +favoured by the Sho[u]gun. The _daimyo[u]_ went up in long processions +to condole with the suzerain at the death of a rich aunt, and +congratulate him on the possessions seized. On the 24th day the lord of +the land sent lavish incense and a thousand pieces of silver, by the +hand of Inaba Mimasaka no Kami Masamori, to Matsudaira Echigo Ke the son +and heir, doubtless glad enough to get this much out of his lady +mother's rich furniture and dower. From the Midai-dokoro, the +Sho[u]gun's consort, by the Bangashira (Superintendent) of the women's +apartments of the Sho[u]gunal palace, he secured another thousand pieces +of silver. All was treasure trove toward the heavy expense of the +imposing funeral. On the seventh day of the decease--the 27th day (18th +September)--the obsequies took place at the Tentokuji of Shiba, where +she was to rest, well weighted down by massive sandstone and an +interminable epitaph--of which the posthumous name of Tenso[u]-in can be +remembered. The Sho[u]gun Ke was present in his proxy of Tsuchiya Tajima +no Kami Kazunao. + +The Yoshida Goten had shorter shrift than its once occupant. The +_daimyo[u]_ were moving into _yashiki_ under the compulsory residence +edict. The _kyakubun_ were still met at the outskirts of the city, but +the many different palaces for their entertainment became superfluous. +The main part of the Yoshida Goten was pulled down, and its magnificent +timbers and decoration went to the equipment of the prior's hall of the +Kugyo[u]ji of Iinuma. This great temple, situate one _ri_ (2-1/2 miles) +to the north of Midzukaido-machi, in the plain at the base of +Tsukuba-san, is one of the eighteen holy places of the Kwanto[u], and +under the charge of the Jo[u]do[u] sect of Buddhists. In former days the +notice board was posted at the Chu[u]mon (middle gate), ordering all +visitors to dismount from horse or _kago_. The _bushi_ removed their +swords on presenting themselves for worship. The temple itself is of +moderately ancient foundation, being established in Oei 21st year (1414) +by the two Hanyu lords, Tsunésada and Yoshisada, who built the castles +of Yokosomé and Hanyu, close by here in Shimosa. Grand is the _hondo[u]_ +(main hall); and grand the magnificent old pines and cedars which +surround it and line its avenues. These are set off by the girdle of the +flowering cherry, famed among the ancient seven villages of Iimura. +Moreover it was the scene of the early labours in youth of the famous +bishop--Yu[u]ten So[u]jo[u]; who solved so successfully the blending of +the pale maple colour of its cherry blossoms that he gave the name +_myo[u]jo[u] no sakura_, a new transcript of the "six characters." Here +he grappled with and prevailed over the wicked spirit of the Embukasané. +In later writers there is a confusion as to the tale of the Yoshida +Goten. The palace material was used for the construction of the prior's +hall.[13] In the Genwa period (1615-23) the Senhimégimi, eldest daughter +of Hidétada Ko[u] the second sho[u]gun, cut _short_ her beautiful hair +and assumed the name of the Tenju-in-Den (as nun). The hair was buried +here under an imposing monument; and later one of the ladies-in-waiting +of the princess--the Go-tsuboné Iiguchi Hayao. (The name of the princess +Tsuruhimé in _kana_ is probably a later and mistaken addition.) Thus +were the many adventures of the Takata Dono transferred to her equally +well known and beautiful elder sister. The Senhimé, wife of Hidéyori, +suffered and did quite enough herself for which to make answer. +Meanwhile the site of the Yoshida Goten in the Bancho[u] became more +than suspected. Jack-o-lanterns, the ghosts of the victims of the +_himégimi_, came forth from the old well to haunt and frighten +passers-by. Nor were subsequent attempts to use it encouraging. Thus the +ground lay idle and uncalled for, with no one to occupy it until the +grant of a large tract in Dosanbashi as site for the _yashiki_ of +Matsudaira Higo no Kami compelled removal of several of the _hatamoto_. +Among these were O[u]kubo Hikoroku and Aoyama Shu[u]zen.[14] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE SEN-HIMÉGIMI (Princess Sen) + + +The Sen-_himégimi_, eldest daughter of Hidétada the second Sho[u]gun, +figures little in our story; enough so, however, to necessitate the +telling of one of the not least striking episodes in a life full of +event. Married at the mature age of six years to the Udaijin Hidéyori, +son of the Taiko[u] Hidéyoshi and lord of O[u]saka castle, those +childish years were the happiest of that period. Clouds were rising +between Toyotomi and Tokugawa as the princess approached nubile years. +On her the Yodogimi, mother of the Udaijin, visited the more personal +effects of her resentment. For the growing girl it was a period of tears +and affliction. In truth she well knew the weight of her mother-in-law's +hand. So wretched was her life that there was some fear of her killing +herself. A powerful influence in screening her in these later years was +that of the famous Kimura Nagato no Kami. Shigenari and his wife Aoyagi +were the guides and friends of the _himégimi_ during this trying period; +her councillors to forestall cause of the Yodogimi's wrath. Moreover the +pleasant relations between the young husband and wife were an incentive +to bear a burden patiently, which time might remove. Nevertheless the +Yodogimi was inexorable. The night screens were set up in different +chambers. When the Sen-himégimi made her escape from O[u]saka castle she +was sixteen years old, and in all likelihood a virgin. + +As to the stories of her escape from the besieged castle, then in the +very throes of the final vigorous and successful assault by the three +hundred thousand men surrounding it, these vary. According to one +account Iyeyasu Ko[u], brows knit with anxiety as he watched his men +pressing to the attack, thumped his saddle bow as vigorously as waning +years now permitted--"The Senhimé to wife, to him who brings her safe +from the castle!" Not a man in his train moved. They looked at the +blazing mass before them, the flying missiles--and staid where they +were. Then came forward a Tozama _daimyo[u]_, Sakasaki Dewa no Kami +Takachika.[15] Prostrating himself he announced his purpose to make the +attempt. Making his way into the blazing pile of the burning castle he +found the Senhimé amid her frightened maids. Wrapping her up carefully +he took her in his arms, and with great regard for her person, and none +for his own, he sought her rescue. The last chance was through the +blazing mass of the great gate. Just as he was about to clear it, down +came the tottering superincumbent structure almost on their heads. The +red hot tiles, the sparks like a fiery deluge, the blazing fragments of +wood carried and tossed by the air currents, surrounded them as in a +furnace. Nearly all the train perished in the attempt. Dewa no Kami +succeeded in presenting himself before the O[u]gosho[u] (Iyeyasu). Even +the old captain could but turn with pity from the hideously disfigured +man. The Senhimé in all her beauty was saved. Bitter was her resentment +against all--father, grandfather, their partisans--who had refused the +gift of life to the young husband. Rescue or no rescue, she absolutely +refused to carry out the agreement and become the wife of this--mask. + +Other tales are less romantic. The most prosaic sends Dewa no Kami to +Kyo[u]to, on orders of Hidétada Ko[u]. For the princess a second bed was +to be found among the Sekké (the five great _kugé_ Houses of the +imperial court). The mission was not unsuccessful, but by the time the +messenger returned Hidétada had changed his mind.[16] Brusquely he +offered her to Dewa no Kami. The Senhimé got wind of these movements. +Her resentment toward the Tokugawa House determined her hostile stand. +She would not be an instrument to their advancement. Family relations +were taken very seriously. It is to be remembered that her uncle +Hidéyasu, adopted into the Toyotomi, was so fiercely loyal to that House +that his natural father, the O[u]gosho[u] Iyeyasu, poisoned him, by his +own hand and a gift of cakes, it is said. Those likely to hitch and +hamper the movement against O[u]saka, such as the famous Kato[u] +Kiyomasa, found short shrift in the soup bowl. At all events the insult +of refusal fell on Dewa no Kami. After all, by the most authentic tale, +he seems to have deserved no particular credit. As to the actual escape +from O[u]saka-Jo[u] either of the following versions can be accepted. As +suicide was the inevitable issue for the defeated, the Yodogimi, with +some reluctance, had announced her purpose; and her intent to involve +the _himégimi_ in the fate of herself and son. This was but the ethics +of the time; and was neither cruel nor unusual. It was thoroughly +constitutional. Fortunately the fears of the Lady Dowager made her +add--"the time is not yet propitious." She left the keep, intending to +ascertain in person how matters went on outside, before going on with +the ceremony inside. The maids of the Senhimé at once surrounded her and +urged flight. Overpowering any resistance, moral and physical, these +energetic _samurai_ women bundled their mistress well into _futon_ +(quilts). Then with no particular gentleness they lowered her over the +castle wall. Others followed her--to destruction or better luck, without +_futon_. Some twenty of them risked the descent. Horiuchi Mondo[u], a +gentleman of Kishu[u] Kumano, noticed the unusual group. They besought +an aid for the princess he readily gave. Dewa no Kami happened to come +on the scene, and promptly took the responsibility of the safety of the +princess on his own shoulders. + +Here the two versions join, for by the other Ono Shuri, captain of the +defense and hence most seriously involved, sought the safety of his own +daughter. The princess therefore was sent from the castle, under the +care of his _karo[u]_ Yonemura Gonémon, to plead for the lives of the +Udaijin and his mother the Yodogimi. Ono was careful to include his +daughter in the train, and the _karo[u]_ followed his illustrious +example. Dewa no Kami met the party outside the castle, and grasped the +chance of being agreeable by escorting it to the camp of the +O[u]gosho[u]. Honda Sado no Kami here was in charge. His mission to the +grandfather was eminently successful. Iyeyasu, overjoyed at the escape +of the beloved grandchild, consented; provided that of the actual +Sho[u]gun be obtained. All rejoiced, with little thought of Hidétada's +harsh feeling. Perhaps the message expressed this; perhaps it was spoken +to cover refusal, for he had deep affection for his children. But as in +greatest wrath he made answer--"The thing is not to be spoken of. Why +did she not die together with Hidéyori?" The Senhimé was safe enough now +in his camp; and he did not purpose the escape of his rival Hidéyori, to +be a permanent danger to his House. The princess, worn out by many days +of suffering, went to sleep in the shed which furnished her with +quarters, and never woke until high noon on the following day. By that +time she could choose between the tales of her husband's escape to +Satsuma; or his suicide and her widowhood, the only proof of which was +the finding of the hereditary sword of the Toyotomi House. She clung to +the former story, despite the ascertained suicide of the Yodogimi, who +hardly would have allowed the escape of the son and her own destruction. +Thus disgruntled, later the _himégimi_ was removed to Kyo[u]to, fiercely +hostile to all the Kwanto[u] influence. + +A word in conclusion as to the fate of the attendants, thus skilfully +foisted on her. The daughter of Ono Shuri had escaped, with all the +sufferings and passions aroused by family disaster. When subsequently +the princess was removed to Edo she went in her train. They were +companions in misfortune. In the hostile atmosphere she was taken with a +consumption, long to undergo its torments. Overcome by homesickness she +would return to former scenes, and worship at her father's grave. +Permission was now granted. Yonémura accompanied the dying girl to the +capital. Here Ono Shuri had lost his head in the bed of the Kamogawa +(the execution ground). Here at Kyo[u]to the daughter found her tortured +end. Gloomy the old vassal prepared the funeral pyre of his mistress. As +the flames shot high and wrapped the corpse, a woman's figure darted +forward and sprang into the midst. Unable to distinguish the bones of +his daughter from those of the honoured mistress, Gonémon placed the +remains of both within the same casket, to rest at the last beneath the +pines and cedars of the holy mountain of Ko[u]ya. + +On June 4th (1615) the castle had fallen. The date is important in +connection with one of the current scandals. Later the Senhimé was +escorted down to Edo by Honda Mino no Kami Tadamasa, in whose train was +his handsome son To[u]nosuké (Tadatoki). He is said to have been like +enough in appearance to the Udaijin Hidéyori to act as his substitute in +the most intimate sense. The fierce little lady fell violently in love +with him. By the time Edo was reached she ought to have married Honda, +and in the passage of the months and days would have to. At all events +this rather disproportionate marriage was early proposed to the council +of the Bakufu, and after some discussion accepted. This decision was not +reached until Genwa 2nd year 9th month (October 1616), or more than a +full year after the fall of the castle. The failure to carry out the +agreement with Dewa no Kami afforded ample reason for the extremity to +which this latter's rage was carried. By all accounts he had lost a +bride, the acknowledged beauty of the land, apart from the great +influence of the connection. Perhaps his own hideous disfigurement was +involved. He determined to lie in wait for the journey down to Himeji, +Honda's fief; and kill or carry off the lady. The Sho[u]gun's Government +got wind of the purpose. The lords were storming with wrath, and a +public fracas was feared. All composition had been refused. Dewa refused +to see his friend Yagyu[u] Munénori, sent to him as messenger of +greatest influence. Secret orders then were sent that Dewa no Kami must +be induced to cut belly, or--his vassals ought to send his head to Edo. +The Sho[u]gun's word and bond must be saved. The vassals knew their +lord, and had not loyalty enough to act otherwise than to sever his +head, as he lay sleeping off a drunken fit in broad daylight. It was +against rewarding this disloyal act that Honda Masazumi showed open +opposition to the council's decision; and Hidétada Ko[u] himself +disapproved enough not to inflict extinction (_kaieki_) on the family of +the dead lord, the usual process. The continuance of the succession was +permitted on the Sho[u]gun's order. All these matters were so public +that little credit is to be given to the rôle assigned to Sakasaki Dewa +no Kami in the event about to be described; the issue of which was so +unfortunate in the carrying out, that Sakasaki, in command of the bridal +cortege and keenly feeling the disgrace, cut open his belly in +expiation; and that the Government, to hush up talk as to attack on the +train of the princess, put forward as explanation the proposed treachery +and resultant death of Dewa no Kami. + +As to the event itself: with greatest reluctance, uncertain as to her +former husband's fate, the Senhimé had been forced into agreement with +the Honda marriage. From the Nishimaru (western) palace the bridal +cortege took its way to the _yashiki_ of Honda near the Hitotsubashi +Gomon. Time was at a discount in those days, and by no means was the +shortest route to anything taken. The procession filed out of the +Sakurada Gomon, to circle with its pompous glitter the outer moat. All +went very well. The _yashiki_ walls bordering Tayasumura were slipping +by. Then the steadily accumulating clouds poured forth their contents. +It was a downpour, blinding in effect. The _rokushaku_ of the +Kurokwagumi--stout and tall palanquin bearers, "six footers"--floundered +and staggered in the mud. The heavy palanquin came to the ground. Great +was the rage of the princess at this unseemly precedent for such an +occasion. "Rude ruffians! By this very hand this scum shall die!" +_Te-uchi_ was to be the lot of the miserable fellows prostrate in +obeisance and seeking pardon in the blinding storm from the lady's +dagger, menacing them from the open door of the palanquin. The Lady of +O[u]saka was quite capable of carrying out her threat. Abé +Shiro[u]goro[u], later the famous Bungo no Kami, was equal to the +occasion. With soft words he would soothe her. "Congratulations to the +_Himégimi_! May her highness deign to accept the so happy augury of +present ill luck bringing good fortune throughout a long and happy life. +Deign to regard with future favour the words of Shiro[u]goro[u]." He got +as near the mud as he dared in his respectful salutation. The lady's +face softened. She was appeased. + +Then she held up the hand, with the dagger still ready for action. +Shiro[u]goro[u] sprang to his feet. Something else than storm was in +progress. In the escort ahead there were other sounds than the rumbling +and sharp crash of the thunder, the swishing of rain wind driven. The +flashes of lightning showed that the cortege was the object of a most +determined attack, which sought to make its way to the palanquin of the +princess. Abé Shiro[u]goro[u] would have leaped forward, but the +flashing eyes and presence of the _himégimi_ held him to her nearer +defence. The number of the assailants could not be ascertained in this +darkness like to night.[17] The tower of defence was Yagyu[u] Tajima no +Kami, greatest master of the sword in Nippon. He had the support of the +younger O[u]kubo, of Kondo[u] Noborinosuké, of Mizuno Juro[u]zaémon even +then noted as expert with the spear. In general command was the beloved +superintendent of the _hatamoto_, O[u]kubo Hikozaémon. In daylight the +affair would have been easy. But in this darkness they had to stand to +their defence. That it was an attack by O[u]saka _ro[u]nin_, enraged at +the marriage of the princess, there was no doubt. But what their +numbers? So far the defense was impregnable. There was nothing to fear. +Three of the leaders of the _ro[u]nin_ lay on the ground. Their chief, +visible in the lightning flashes, could not hope for success. It was the +old and still active Hikozaémon, the _oyaji_ (old chap), the hardened +warrior of Iyeyasu, who scented out the threatening move. He sprang off +into the dark wood, almost as the crack of the musket was heard. They +would seek the life of the _himégimi_ with deadly missiles! How +contemptible; for great as yet was the scorn of such use. Vigorous was +the old man's pursuit of a foe, seeking to ascertain his success and +reluctant to flee. "Ah! Ah! Rascal! Just wait! Wait for this +Hikozaémon!" The fellow did wait, a little too long. Noting the +lessening darkness, the discomfiture of his train, he turned to flee in +real earnest. As he did so, Hikozaémon, despairing of success, hurled +his dirk. Deep into the fellow's shoulder it went. "Atsu!" Savagely he +turned on the old man. Hikozaémon was skilled in defence, but stiffening +with age. His opponent showed himself an able warrior. "Ah! Ha! 'Tis +Hikozaémon Dono. With him there is no quarrel. Deign to receive a +wound." The old fellow's sword dropped helpless under a sharp rap over +the wrist from the back of the blade. This was enough for the man's +purpose. With laughing and respectful salutation, of short duration, he +turned to a more successful flight. + +The storm cleared away, the cortege was re-formed; to enter in state the +_yashiki_ of Honda Sama. It was said that he got but a cold bride--one +on whom only "the bed quilt lay light." Time, the ascertained fact of +Hidéyori's death, worked a change in the insanity simulated by the +princess. Then she was so taken with her lord that she proved fatal to +him. He died at the age of thirty-one years, was buried in his castle +town of Himeji, leaving but one daughter as issue by the princess. The +lady returned to residence at the Takébashi Goten, to be a disgruntling +influence in her brother's court. But Honda Ke had not done badly. This +consort made him a minister in the Sho[u]gun's household (Nakatsukasa no +Tayu), a more likely promotion than one at the age of sixteen years, at +this date of the Sho[u]gunate. From 10,000 _koku_ his fief was raised to +150,000 _koku_; and he secured a wife so beautiful that his exodus to +the houris of Paradise was a bad exchange. Meanwhile what was the cause +of objection, thus expressed by force of arms, to the conduct and +nuptials of the Sen-himégimi? + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SHU[U]ZEN ADOLESCENS + + +The struggle between Toyotomi and Tokugawa was of that embittered +character which follows from two diverse theories of political +structure. The Taiko[u] Hidéyoshi, by force of military genius and +constructive statesmanship, had assumed the pre-eminent position in the +land. In doing so he had drawn to himself a sturdy band of followers +whose whole faith and devotion lay in the Toyotomi. Such were the "seven +captains," so conspicuous in the defence of O[u]saka-Jo[u] in later +years. Such were the doughty fighters Susukita Kanéyasu (Iwami +Ju[u]taro[u]) and Ban Danémon. The latter unceremoniously shook off +allegiance to his lord on the latter's treachery at Sekigahara, and +turned _ro[u]nin_. Such were great recalcitrant nobles thumped into +complete submission, granted unexpected and favourable terms in their +capitulation, devoted henceforth to the Toyotomi House, and of whom the +Cho[u]so[u]kabé of Tosa are representative. It is the fashion of modern +historians to regard and speak of these brave men as irreconcileables +and swashbucklers; thus tamely following after the Tokugawa writers of +contemporary times, and imperialistic writers of to-day, to whom all +opposition to the favoured "Ins" is high treason. As matter of fact, if +men like the Ono were lukewarm and seeking their own advantage; if Obata +Kambei Kagemori was a mere traitorous spy of the Tokugawa; Sanada +Yukimura and Kimura Nagato no Kami, and in humbler sense Susukita +Kanéyasu and Ban Danémon, if they had much to gain by the victory of +their lord, yet were willing to endure hardship, face a defeat early +seen, and accept the inevitable death which was meted out to him who +refused the attempts at bribery and corruption of the victor. The +"_ro[u]nin_," of whom the then Tokugawa chronicles and captains spoke so +contemptuously, were in the bulk not only "the outs," as opposed to +"the ins," but they were too devoted to their party tamely to accept +service with the enemy. Large were the bribes actually offered to Sanada +and Kimura; and any or all of the seven captains could have made terms +of advantage--to themselves. + + "The scent of the plum, with the flower of the cherry; + Blooming on branch of willow 'tis seen."[18] + +Iyemitsu Ko[u] hung this poem on the flowering plum tree to which he +gave the name of Kimura no Ume; a conscious tribute to the chivalry of +Shigénari. And O[u]kubo Hikozaémon risked life and favour in the +destruction of the plant, and rebuke of the bad taste shown to men who +had lost fathers, brothers, gone down before the deadly spear of the +young captain. + +The fall of O[u]saka-Jo[u] decided the fate of the Toyotomi House. Not +at once, for the rumour of the Udaijin's escape to Kyu[u]shu[u] kept +alive hopeful resentment in the minds of the scattered _samurai_ whose +captains had perished in the battles around O[u]saka, had died or cut +belly in the final assault, or had lost their heads by the executioner's +sword in the bed of the Kamogawa. Among those who found refuge in the +hills of Iga was a certain Ogita Kuro[u]ji; a retainer of Nagato no +Kami. This man gathered a band of kindred spirits, among whom his +favoured lieutenant was Mo[u]ri Munéoki, although he much leaned to the +astonishing acumen of Kosaka Jinnai, a mere boy in years, but hiding in +his short and sturdy form a toughness and agility, with expertness in +all feats of arms, which discomfited would be antagonists. In the +discussions as to future movements there was wide difference of opinion. +Munéoki, the true partisan, proposed to rejoin Hidéyori in Satsuma. "The +prince is now harboured by Higo no Kami; Shimazu Dono of Satsuma, close +at hand, will never permit the entrance of the Tokugawa into his +borders. It is at Kagoshima-Jo[u] that the prince will reorganize his +party; and thither duty calls." But Kosaka Jinnai was equally positive +in the opposite sense. He turned Munéoki's own argument against the +proposal. The prince could well be left to organize the West. It was +for others to see how affairs went in the North. Therefore the first +thing was to hasten to Edo, to ascertain the position of Daté Masamuné +and the great northern lords at this final triumph of the Tokugawa, when +at last their jealousy and fear might be aroused to opposition. + +Adventurous inclination, the desire to meet rather than run away from +the enemy, turned the scale to Edo. Reluctantly Munéoki agreed. With +Jinnai he proceeded, to learn the state of affairs as to the great +northern House, so devoted to the new creed of Yaso (Jesus) as certain +to be angry and alarmed at the savage persecution now entered on by the +second Sho[u]gun. They returned to meet Ogita and the other captains at +Odawara, and with unpleasant news. Masamuné Ko[u], luckily for his would +be interviewers, was absent at Sendai. However there was no difficulty +in finding out that far from dreaming of further embassies to Rome from +the Prince of O[u]shu[u], he had and was acting so vigorously that +probably in no quarter of Nippon was the hostile and treacherous creed +so thoroughly stamped out. The watch and ward of the north country was +practically left to a loyalty of which the Tokugawa felt assured. +Munéoki made this report with bitter joy, and Jinnai could not say him +nay. Then the former carried out his first plan. He made his way to +Kyu[u]shu[u], to learn the truth as to the Udaijin's fate. Assured of +this he harboured with the malcontents of Higo and Hizen, to take his +part and perish some years later in the Amakusa uprising. + +Perhaps the tartness of Mori's criticism made his company unacceptable. +Ogita preferred to follow the urging of Jinnai and his own inclination +to observe how matters were going in Edo. Most of the company followed +him, to establish themselves as best they could in the confusion of the +growing town, rendered a thousand times worse by the settlement of the +later troubles and the flocking of all classes to this eastern capital. +Ogita set up as a doctor in Daikucho[u] (carpenters' street) of the +Nihonbashi ward, under the name of Gita Kyu[u]an. His chief lieutenant, +Jinnai, settled close to his leader in Kurémasacho[u], figuring as a +physiognomist, of near enough relation to excite no comment in the +companionship with the older man. His own years were disguised by an +ample growth of hair and the past experience of an accomplished rascal. +Jinnai could have passed himself off for a man of thirty odd years. The +house of a physiognomist was overrun with visitors, whom Jinnai knew how +to sift, and who had no particular wish to encounter each other. Hence +the presence of the leaders, with his own particular followers, Watanabé +Mondo, Ashizuké To[u]suké, Yokoyama Daizo[u], Hyu[u]chi To[u]goro[u], +excited no comment among the neighbours. The question of the marriage of +the Senhimé, the honoured widow of the Udaijin Ko[u], soon was stirring +up a ferment in higher circles than these in Edo town. Sakai Uta no Kami +and Doi Oi no Kami of the _ro[u]ju[u]_ (council of state) were keen to +urge the match. She was young, and they plead the cruelty of forcing +celibacy on her. She was the centre of the ill disposed and most +willingly so. The stern old soldier Aoyama Hoki no Kami took the +opposite ground. It was for her to cut short her hair and pray for the +soul of the husband perished in the flames of O[u]saka-Jo[u]. Such was +the precedent, and, he hinted with good ground, the disposition of the +princess, then coquetting with Toshitsuné lord of the great Maéda House +of Kaga. Besides he knew that Kasuga no Tsuboné, powerful influence in +the private apartments of the palace, was urging on the match. The mere +fact of her constant interference in the public affairs irritated Hoki +no Kami beyond measure. He was acting through sentiment and +conservatism. Kasuga and her allies were acting on political motives. +They carried the day; to the great indignation of Hoki no Kami, and of +an assistance he never dreamed of. + +Among the band of _ro[u]nin_ the matter was discussed with all the +greater heat and bitterness of purpose, inasmuch as they had to do so +mouth to ear. Ogita expressed their feeling when he summed up the matter +as an outrageous breach of chastity on the part of a princess, who could +not positively know whether the husband was yet living, or really had +died at O[u]saka--"Hence she is doubly guilty, of treachery and +pollution of her living lord; or of shameful lechery in this open +neglect of his memory and seeking another bed. Moreover to put her to +death will strike terror into the partisans of the Tokugawa, and give +courage to all the adherents of the cause, of whom thousands are +gathered here in Edo. A display of vigour will maintain those inclined +to the new service true to the cause." All rapturously agreed. The +occasion of the marriage and procession was settled upon for the attack, +in which the leaders and some eighty men were engaged. The result, as +told, was disastrous to them. Watanabe and Ashizuké were killed by +Tajima no Kami's own hand. Kondo[u] Noborinosuké thrust his spear +through the belly of Yokoyama Daizo[u]. Jinnai brought off in safety the +bulk of the party. Ogita had tried to bring down the lady princess by a +gun shot. In the straggle with Hiko[u]zaémon he purposely did the old +man as little injury as possible. Respect for the grand old warrior, an +amused interest in one whose influence lay in plain speaking, held his +hand. If O[u]kubo Dono was entitled freely to express his opinion of the +Sho[u]gun Ke, Kuro[u]ji took it as no insult to endure the same himself. +He reached his home with a painful but not dangerous wound in the +shoulder, to grunt over the infliction and this latest discomfiture. + +His nurse was not at all to the taste of Kosaka Jinnai. O'Yoshi was a bare +twenty-three years in age. She was a beauty and a flirt. Ogita indulged in +the greatest expansion with her; as would the man of fifty years to the +girl, a mistress young enough to be a daughter. The months and weeks +passed following the attempt on the Senhimé. The effort to hunt out the +perpetrators had been given up in despair. The population of Edo as yet +was too fluid and shifting to take very exact account of its movements. +Doubtless they were _ro[u]nin_, and had promptly scattered on failure of +the attack. Then the constant attempts at incendiarism, in many cases +successful, began to attract attention. The two _machibugyo[u]_, together +with the particular office for detection of thieves and incendiaries, were +at their wits end to trace out this gang of fire bugs. One day O'Yoshi was +just leaving the bath house in Daikucho[u] called the Cho[u]senya, when +she met with an adventure. A young _samurai_ coming along the street +attracted her admiring attention. He was barely twenty years of age, of +good height and commanding presence. In black garb and wearing _hakama_, +his two swords tucked in his girdle, and his cue trimmed high, attended +by a _do[u]shin_ and several _yakunin_, the procession greatly flattered a +woman's feeling. She tripped along, towel in hand, and her eyes anywhere +but on her footing. Suddenly the strap of her clog broke. She was pitched +forward, just able to keep her balance. The _samurai_ trod sharply on the +discarded _geta_. A cry of pain followed, and O'Yoshi was all discomfiture +at sight of the blood staining the white _tabi_ of the young lord. At once +she was humble apology for her awkwardness, very badly received by the +_do[u]shin_ who scolded her most severely--"Careless wench! Such rudeness +is not to be pardoned." He would have laid rough hands on her, but Aoyama +Shu[u]zen interfered. The woman was pretty, the injury painful, and he was +young. "Don't scold her. It was by accident.... Don't be alarmed.... Ah! +It hurts!..." He looked around, as seeking a place to rest. + +O'Yoshi was very solicitous over the handsome young man. "Deign to +pardon the careless action. Alas! The foot of the young master is sadly +injured. My husband is a doctor, Gita Kyu[u]an, of wondrous skill in the +Dutch practice. Condescend to enter the poor house close by here, and +allow drugs to be applied to the wound." Shu[u]zen really was suffering +inconvenience and pain from his wound. Besides, as attached to the +office of the _machibugyo[u]_, he sought all means of contact with the +class whose offences were to be dealt with. He at once agreed. Ogita was +absent when they entered. O'Yoshi tended the wound herself. The salve +really had wonderful effect. Flow of blood and pain ceased. Cakes and +tea, for refreshment, were placed before Shu[u]zen. O'Yoshi entertained +him with amusing talk of the wardsmen of Nihonbashi, not the most stupid +in Nippon. She retailed the bath house gossip, and Aoyama carefully took +in costume, manners, and the conversation of the beauty, which did not +at all accord with her station in life. If she was connected with a +doctor now, at some time she had been intimate with men of affairs in +his own caste. He thanked her graciously and would have forced lavish +payment on her. O'Yoshi was all pained surprise and refusal. That her +reluctance was genuine he could easily see. "I am Aoyama Shu[u]zen, and +live in the _yashiki_ at Surugadai. The kindness shown is not to be +forgotten, and perhaps some day this Shu[u]zen can serve his hostess." +With compliments he took his leave. O'Yoshi watched the handsome youth +well out of sight. She could not hear the remark of Shu[u]zen to the +_do[u]shin_--"A suspicious house; no frowsy doctor shows such favour to +his dame. Dress, manners, language, betray contact with the _samurai_." +The officer nodded admiring assent to his young lord's acumen. + +Ogita Kuro[u]ji came limping home, to find O'Yoshi--Cho[u]senburo[u] +Yoshi, as this adventure dubbed her--overflowing with her experience. At +first he was rather pleased at such addition to his acquaintance. +O'Yoshi was a bait to all but Jinnai, who would detach him from her. The +others sought his favour to secure hers with greater ease. At mention of +the _do[u]shin_, subordinate officials of the legal machinery, the +official grade of the visitor, his brows knit. "Of official rank--that +will never do! Deign Yoshi to be careful in relations with this man, if +he should again appear. Engaged as is this Kuro[u]ji, the slightest +hint, a suspicion, would be most disastrous."--"Then the affair of the +Senhimégimi did not block matters? This Yoshi yet is to ride in +palanquin, to be a _daimyo[u]'s_ wife?" The tone was a little jeering, +and the laugh as of one sceptical. With thoughts on this new love the +reference to this futile scheming annoyed her. She would push this +acquaintance to the full effect of her charms. Ogita took some offence. +He spoke braggingly, but disastrously to the point--"Assuredly 'tis +Yoshi who shall be the lady of a _daimyo[u]_ of high place, not of a +meagre fifteen or twenty thousand _koku_. Kaga Ke, Maéda Toshitsuné, is +grinding his sword. The great Houses in the west--Hosokawa, Bizen, +Kato[u], Mo[u]ri, Satsuma, will follow him. Give them but the +opportunity in the disorder of Edo, and the sword will be drawn. In a +month, Edo, fired at a hundred points will lie in ashes. Then...." He +stopped a little frightened. But she feigned the greatest indifference, +teased him into opposition. Sitting down before the wine she got out of +him the whole affair. Reverting to the accident--"But yourself, an +accident has been deigned. Has another Yoshi encountered Kuro[u]ji +Dono?" To the tender solicitude half laughing he made jesting answer. +"A Yoshi with beard and wearing two swords. To-day the contract was +signed by all with the blood seal. The wine feast followed. The talk was +earnest, some of it rash. Interposing in the quarrel, the dagger +intended for the belly of one, was sheathed in the thigh of this +Kuro[u]ji. A trifling flesh wound; well in a day or two, at present rest +is needed."--"A dangerous affair; if it gives rise so easily to +dispute." Such her comment. "Not so," answered the infatuated veteran. +"They are too far in to withdraw." Before her eyes he unrolled the +scroll. Her eye quickly ran along the crowded columns of the names--by +the score. Here was indeed a big affair. Out of the corner of one eye +she watched him put it away. + +The salve Ogita Kuro[u]ji used for his wound had no such benefit as that +offered Aoyama Shu[u]zen; and perhaps O'Yoshi could have told the reason +of its failure. By the next day the wound was inflamed enough to make +movement difficult. Feeling the necessity of repair, Kuro[u]ji left all +matters to his mistress, and sought early recuperation in complete rest. +On plea of needed articles O'Yoshi was out of the house and on her +hurried way to the Aoyama _yashiki_ at Suragadai. The distance was +short; yet her plan was already laid. Her dislike for the ageing Ogita +was sharpened into hate by her love for the handsome young _samurai_. +Close to the _yashiki_ on pretext she entered the shop of a tradesman. +To her delight she learned that the Waka Dono, Aoyama Shu[u]zen, as yet +had no wife. She had a hundred yards to go, and her purpose and ambition +had expanded widely in that short distance. Her application for an +interview with his lordship was quickly granted. She had often been +subject of talk and comment between Shu[u]zen and his subordinate +officer. The _do[u]shin_ happened to be present, and the attendant +announced her at once. Passed to the inner apartment she found Shu[u]zen +as if he had been eagerly awaiting her coming for hours. Her reception +was flattering. The ordinary salutations over they passed to most +familiar talk, as of oldest friends between man and woman. When +Shu[u]zen would go further, and in love making press still greater +intimacy, her refusal was of that kind which sought compliance. Said she +with a smile--"Make Yoshi the wife of the Waka Dono and she will make +the fortune even of one so highly placed as Aoyama Dono." To his +incredulity and astonishment she would say no more. Shu[u]zen now was +determined not to let her go. He feigned consent, agreement to +everything, with much regard for her, and small regard for the promotion +at which he jested. Now they were in the very heigh-day of love. She +resented his scepticism, and in the heat of her passion gave him +everything--including the contract. His mistress by his side, seated in +the confidence of an accomplished love affair he listened to her stream +of revelation. This "doctor" and "husband" was neither doctor nor +husband. His name was Ogita Kuro[u]ji, an O[u]saka _ro[u]nin_. With +Kosaka Jinnai and others of the same kidney he had been the head and +front of the attempted rape of the Senhimé. Shu[u]zen knew enough to +discount all the talk as to Maéda Ko[u], of the Hosokawa, and other +great Houses. They were beyond his sphere. But here in his hands lay the +web of a most important affair; so important that it frightened him a +little. As his brows knit O'Yoshi too grew a little frightened; +regretted that she had told so much all at once. She had babbled beyond +measure in her transport. She had misgivings. Shu[u]zen reassured her. +For her to return to Daikucho[u] would never do. A breath of suspicion, +and Ogita's sword would deprive him of his mistress. Safe quarters were +to be found in the _yashiki_. He called the _do[u]shin_, one Makishima +Gombei, and put her in his charge. The two men exchanged glances as she +was led away. + +The office of the south _machibugyo[u]_ was in a ferment when Aoyama +made his report. All available _yakunin_ were at once gathered. The list +was carefully gone over with the minister for the month, Hoki no Kami. +Despatched on their various missions the squads departed. To Shu[u]zen +was assigned the capture of Ogita Kuro[u]ji, leader of the conspiracy. +This latter was chafing at the prolonged absence of O'Yoshi. Some +accident must have happened to her. Then he remembered. She had gone to +Hacho[u]bori. Here lived a sister, whose delivery was daily expected. +Doubtless this commonplace event, yet surpassing in interest to every +woman, detained her. A confusion outside attracted his attention. There +was a crowd, and some disturbance. Hatsu! The people were being kept +back by _yakunin_. "The thoughts of Kuro[u]ji were those of the wicked." +At once he attributed their presence to himself. A look out at the rear +and he quickly shot to the wooden bar. Between the bamboo of the fence +men could be seen passing to and fro in numbers; and they were +_yakunin_. He had been betrayed. The counsel of Jinnai came to mind, and +he ground his teeth as he stood with drawn sword before the empty drawer +of the cabinet. The scarlet of the _obi_ of his false mistress flashed +before his eyes. He had to die unavenged. "On his lordship's business! +On his lordship's business!" The harsh voices sounded at the front. +Those who would enter uninvited found themselves face to face in the +narrow space with the old Kuro[u]ji, the man who had fought from Sagami +to Tosa, from Cho[u]sen to Kyu[u]shu[u]. The more incautious fell +severed with a cut from shoulder to pap. A second man put his hand to +his side, and rolled over to breathe his last in a pool of blood. +Visions of "Go-ban" Tadanobu came to mind. Kuro[u]ji would die, but he +would leave his mark on the foe. Shu[u]zen's men could make no progress, +except to swell the death roll or their wounds. In rage their lord +sprang to the encounter. Shu[u]zen was young, but it is doubtful if the +issue would have been successful with this man turned demon by the +double injury and treachery. But Ogita amid this horde of assailants had +suffered in his turn. In a parry his sword broke off short near the +hilt. With a yell he sprang to close quarters, dealing Shu[u]zen a blow +with the hilt that sent him reeling senseless to the ground. Then, +unable to accomplish more, and taking advantage of the respite caused by +the rescue of his foe, he sprang to the ladder leading above. Once on +the roof he saw that escape was hopeless. Already they were breaking +into the rear. Men were approaching over the neighbouring houses. In the +old style of ages past he waved them back with drawn dagger. There was +no Shu[u]zen to give command--"Take him alive!" They were only too glad +to halt and let him do his will. Stripping to his girdle, before the +assembled crowd he thrust his dagger into his left side and drew it +across his belly. Then he made the cross cut through the navel. +"Splendid fellow! A true _bushi_!" Admiring voices rose in the crowd. +The body of Kuro[u]ji fell forward and down into the street. Thus he +died. + +This affair had ended in a way to redound greatly to the credit of +Aoyama Shu[u]zen. Others had not been so successful. Of nearly two +hundred names only eighteen prisoners were secured. Shu[u]zen stamped +with impatience on learning of the escape of Kosaka Jinnai. He had +learned much about him from the hate of O'Yoshi. "That man is the real +leader of the band, the inspiration of Ogita Kuro[u]ji. Ah! Why could +not this Shu[u]zen be in two places at once!" Older officials bowed low, +and smiled to themselves and each other at youth's self confidence. +O'Yoshi now found short entertainment. Shu[u]zen had no further use for +the woman, for the means of his promotion. One day a _chu[u]gen_ led her +to the postern gate of the _yashiki_, put a paper containing a silver +_ryo[u]_ in her hand, and unceremoniously shoved her into the roadway. +The gate closed behind her. At first she hardly comprehended the meaning +of this treatment. Then, as it filtered into her mind, her rage passed +all measure. "Ah! The beast and liar! Yoshi was not fit to be the wife; +nay, not even the female companion of this arrogant lord?" She had been +juggled out of the secret of such value to him, then cast forth with the +wages of a prostitute summoned to the _yashiki_. The woman was helpless. +Broken in spirit she dragged herself off, to undergo a severe illness +brought on by despite. Her foul rôle ascertained, friends and family +would have nothing to do with her. Once recovered, she found herself +deprived of all means of subsistence, even that of beauty, by her +disease. Never more would she deal with the noble class, to be left with +such a legacy. She would pray for the salvation of the man she had +betrayed. On her way to the Asakusa Kwannon she passed the jail, then +near the Torigoébashi. Stumbling along just here she raised her head, to +confront the long line of rotting heads there set forth. Just facing her +was that of her ex-lover Ogita Kuro[u]ji. It took on life. The eyes +opened and glared fierce hate. The lips moved, and the teeth ground +together. Then the other heads made measured movements. "Atsu!" With the +cry she fell fainting to the ground, and it was difficult to restore +her to consciousness. For several years the half crazed beggar woman +sought alms near the jail, to act as guide and comment on the fresh +heads exposed, until as nuisance she was driven off by the guard. Then +the shameful swollen corruption of the body was drawn from the canal +close by; thus to end on the refuse heap the treachery of Cho[u]senburo +no O'Yoshi. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE GOD FAVOURS SHU[U]ZEN + + +The influence of a House close to the person of the Sho[u]gun was no +drawback to the close attention Aoyama Shu[u]zen gave to official duty +throughout his career. The Aoyama stood high in the council of the +governing power. Even an old blunderbuss like Hoki no Kami could not +shake this influence. When Yukinari tore the mirror from the hands of +the young Sho[u]gun Iyemitsu Ko[u], berated him roundly for effeminacy, +and dashed the offending object to pieces on the stones of the garden, +this wanton treatment of the prince could not be overlooked. "Invited" +to cut belly by his intimates and opponents in the council +(_ro[u]ju[u]_) he defied them, laid hand to sword, and swore they should +join him in a "dog's death." The timely entrance of O[u]kubo Hikozaémon +prevented the unseemly spectacle of three old soldiers and statesmen +enjoying the fierce and deadly pastime of one of the duels of Keicho[u] +(1596-1614). Hoki no Kami in his own way was right--and knew it; and he +had the tacit approval of Hidétada Ko[u]. The result was not _harakiri_, +but the offending noble was consigned to the care of his brother. He and +his were "extinguished"; for the time being, and to the greater glory of +his other relatives near the Sho[u]gun's person. Such was the rough +discipline in Hidétada's camp of Edo. The second Sho[u]gun, now retired +(O[u]gosho[u]--_inkyo[u]_), never lost the manners or the methods of the +battle field. + +The career of Aoyama Shu[u]zen therefore was a steady rise in the +Government service; in younger years attached to the immediate train of +the prince, in greater maturity to the enforcement of the edicts through +the legal machinery of the Bakufu. At this time he ruffled it bravely +with the other young blades. The younger _hatamoto_ on their part +opposed to the _otokodaté_ of the townsmen the far more splendid +_Jingumi_ or divine bands. Yamanaka Gonzaémon knocked out several front +teeth and inserted in their places gold ones. Hence the rise of the +_Kingumi_ or Gold Band. Aoyama Shu[u]zen did likewise with substitution +of silver. Hence the _Gingumi_. They were all of the Mikawa _bushi_; +that is, drawn from the native province and closely affiliated to the +Tokugawa House. Hence these _hatamoto_ carried themselves high even +against the greater _daimyo[u]_, sure of support from their over-lord +the Sho[u]gun. As for the town, they did as they pleased, seeking +quarrels, distributing blows, and only restrained by wholesome reprisals +of _ro[u]nin_ or the _otokodaté_ of the townsmen, who in turn relied on +such _daimyo[u]_ as Daté Ko[u] and Maéda Ko[u], valued allies of the +Tokugawa House, yet showing no particular liking for the encroachments +of the palace clique on their own privileges. + +The necessity of moving quarters was equally an embarrassment to Aoyama +Shu[u]zen and to his intimate and neighbour O[u]kubo Hikoroku. O[u]kubo +suggested Honjo[u]--"The water lies close by. Hence in winter the place +is warm, in summer cool."--"And of mosquitoes swarms," interjected the +practical Aoyama. "If the hillside be cold, it surely is no drawback to +Hikoroku Uji." The one named made something of a wry face, and Aoyama +smiled apart. He knew that Hikoroku was not so affectioned to the +meetings of the Gaman Kwai as himself. However, smoothly--"This matter +of the Yoshida Goten coming up offers fair opportunity. The failure of +Endo[u] Uji need not discourage O[u]kubo Dono and this Aoyama." Both +smiled a little. They could put palace influences better to work. "It is +two thousand _tsubo_," said Shu[u]zen. "Just the thing: moreover, it is +close to palace duty. On this point Honjo[u] is not in the running. +Besides, the site has its own attraction. Of course Shu[u]zen takes the +well, in the division." O[u]kubo interposed a lively objection, the +shallowness of which Shu[u]zen could detect. He humoured his friend's +obstinacy. "Leave it to the lots." In haste the slips were +prepared--"Hachiman, god of the bow and feathered shaft, grant your +divine aid and bestow the old well ghost haunted on this Aoyama." Okubo +laughed at his earnestness. "Aoyama Uji leaves this O[u]kubo no resort +but in the Buddha. Good fortune to O[u]kubo, and may the will of the +Lord Buddha be done.... Naruhodo! 'Tis yours after all. The shaft of the +war god is stronger than the Buddha's staff." He took his disappointment +so well as to be the more urgent in securing the transfer. This was +granted, with expenses of removal. + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen superintended in person the preparation of his new +residence. This was soon in readiness as little was to be done. O[u]kubo +took cash and construction. The former villa, fallen to Shu[u]zen's +part, needed mainly air and light, and repairs to its rotten woodwork. +When it was time to think of the water supply Aoyama ordered the +cleaning out of the old well. The workmen began to talk--"'Tis the old +well of the inner garden, the Yanagi-ido of the Yoshida Goten. Danna +Sama, deign to order exorcism made, and that the well be filled up and +covered from men's sight." The Danna laughed at them, and was obstinate +in his purpose. He took upon himself all the wrath of the disturbed and +angered spirits. He hoped that they would not furnish material for more. +To hearten them, he and his men descended to the level of the water. +With headshakes and misgivings the chief ordered his men to the +task--"Pfu! It stinks of ghosts, or something. Surely there will be dead +men's bones for harvest; and perhaps those of the living. The old well +has not seen its last ill deed." As for the dead men's bones, the well +refuse was laid aside, and on Aoyama's order buried with no particular +reverence in the bowels of the _tsukiyama_ close by. "Let all the +spirits of the place find company together," he jeered. The _yashiki_ of +Komiyasan in Honjo[u] had its processions of marvels--dead men, frogs, +_tanuki_, and fox--to shake its _amado_ at night and divert the monotony +of those who lived therein. The portentous foot perhaps he could not +match, but he would share in this contest with ghostly visions. Chance +had offered him the opportunity. All was prepared. Shu[u]zen had +established himself. Nightly with his camp stool he took his seat by the +old well, to smoke his pipe and drink his wine--"Now! Out with you, +ghosts! Here present is Aoyama Shu[u]zen, _hatamoto_ of the land. He +would join in your revels. Deign to hasten.... What! The ghosts would +rest this night?" Thus night after night passed with his jeering and no +sign of the supernatural objects, not thus to be conjured. Time made the +pastime stale--as stale as the waters of the Yanagi-ido which never +furnished supply for the house or its tasks. Aoyama had the excuse of +drinking wine. As for the household, the women would not even use the +water for washing. They said it stunk too badly. In so far Shu[u]zen +failed. + +It was about the time of his entrance on this new possession that more +good fortune came to Shu[u]zen. He was made the magistrate whose office +covered the detection and punishment of thieves and incendiaries. It +showed the estimation in which he was held, and satisfied both the +vanity and the hard cold temper of Aoyama Shu[u]zen. Looking to results, +more than method, the selection was most satisfactory; if return of the +number of criminals was the index assumed. Until a method attracted +unfavourable attention by some scandal, only results were regarded by +the Bakufu. But his household could not regard with any easiness a +devotion of his lordship to the wine cup, which turned his court into a +wine feast. Up to this time Aoyama Shu[u]zen in all official duty had +shown himself hard, unbending, callous, conscientious. Now the element +of cruelty appeared, to develop rapidly with exercise until it was the +predominant tone. Some illustrations are to be given from events +occurring in these first three years of Sho[u]ho[u] (1644-6). + +Aoyama would show himself the strict disciplinarian. His chamberlain +(_yo[u]nin_) Aikawa Chu[u]dayu close beside him, his _do[u]shin_ seated +at either hand, he gave his orders and rebuke to the assembled +constables. He scowled at them. Then with voice harsh from the contents +of the big wine cup beside him he commanded--"Diligence is to be +expected of all. He who fails to make many arrests shows sloth or ill +will to his lord. Anyone against whom there is the slightest suspicion, +even if he or she be abroad late at night, is to be brought to the jail. +No explanation is to be allowed. There must be many arrests. Examination +in the court is to follow; and many crimes, discovered under the +torture, will be brought to punishment.... Heigh! Call up that old +fellow there.... Who? That Ryu[u]suké." At Shu[u]zen's order Ryu[u]suké +forthwith came close to the _ro[u]ka_. "You, fellow ... what manner of +man to act as constable are you? Days pass without a single prisoner +being brought in. This jade, found in the street at the hour of the rat +(11 P.M.) pleads excuse of illness and the doctor. This lurking +scoundrel, seeking to set half the town on fire, pleads drunkenness as +keeping him abroad. Thus many of these villainous characters, whores and +fire bugs, find field for their offenses. No more of such leniency. +Failure to arrest means dismissal from the service and punishment as an +ill-wisher. Oldest and most experienced, the greatest number of +prisoners is to be expected at your hands. Shu[u]zen shows mercy. Your +age remits the punishment, but dismissal shall afford example to the +rest as to the wisdom of showing energy." Thus he cast forth without +pity an ageing officer whose only offense was an experience which sought +the mission of the night straggler, and allowed the harmless to go free. +Ryu[u]suké went forth from the office of the _bugyo[u]_ stripped of the +means of living and of reputation, and assured of the unforgiving +character of his lord. That night he cut belly, recommending his family +to mercy. This was soon found--in debt and the debtor's slavery allowed +by the harsh code. Thus was the jail kept full, with the innocent and a +sprinkling of the guilty. No one dared to be lax; for life hung on +salary, and on zeal the continuance of the salary. Moreover all revelled +in the reward of the wine cup liberally bestowed for zealous +service--and the more liberally as Shu[u]zen took his turn with his big +cup, every time he sent down the _saké_ to his underling. + +In Bakuracho[u] lived one Zeisuké, a poor but honest fellow who made his +living by peddling the smaller kinds of fish and the salted varieties, +for his trifling resources allowed no larger outlay for his trays. In +this way with greatest difficulty he managed to support an old mother, a +wife, a young child. Locally he was known as "Honest Zeisuké" for the +not often found quality of representing the antiquity and character of +his wares much as they were. When bad weather forbade the opening of the +fish market, Zeisuké readily found some task at day labour by which a +few _mon_ could be secured, and for which his character for honest +service recommended him. One night, when on his way homeward, he was +passing the Asakusa Gomon just as the cry of fire was raised. Knowing +the alarm of his aged mother Zeisuké at once bolted towards home. When +all were running toward the fire this at once attracted attention. By +the law it was the strict duty of the citizen to betake himself to his +ward, and to be ready for service in preventing spread of the often +disastrous conflagration. His action was noted by the ever present +myrmidons of Shu[u]zen. In a moment they were after him. Surrounded he +was quickly caught. His explanation was not heard. "Say your say at the +white sand, under the strokes of the _madaké_," was the rough answer. +Thus he was dragged off to the jail. + +The next day Aoyama's first motion was to reward the captors with the +wine cup. Harsh was the vinous scowl he cast on Zeisuké now cringing at +the white sand. "Ha! Ah! A notable criminal; a firebug caught in the +act, and attempting to escape. Make full confession. Thus much suffering +is escaped, and the execution ground soon reached." Zeisuké had no +confession to make, and to his explanation Aoyama turned a deaf ear. +"Obstinacy is to be over-ruled." He made a sign. At once Zeisuké was +seized. His head drawn downward two stout fellows now began to apply in +rhythm the _madaké_--strips of bamboo to the thickness of an inch +tightly wound together with hempen cord, and making an exceedingly +flexible and painful scourge. The blood quickly was spurting from his +shoulders. Aoyama and his chamberlain sat enjoying the scene immensely. +At the seventieth blow the peddler fainted. "A wicked knave! Off with +him until restored." Then he settled himself for the day's pastime; for +the torture had come to have the zest of an exhilarating sport. The +cries of pain, the distortions of agony under the stones, or the +lobster, or suspension, the noting of the curious changes of flesh +colour and expression under these punishments, the ready assent to +absurdly illogical questions, all this not only amused, but interested +Shu[u]zen. The naivété and obstinacy of the fisherman was just of the +kind to furnish the best material. The fellow was sturdy of frame, and +under skilled hands readily submitted to this dalliance for days without +bending from his truth. + +Meanwhile things went on very badly at the house in Bakuracho[u]. The +disaster of the arrest fell like a thunderbolt on the wretched little +household. Day after day, hoping for the acquittal and release, one +article after another went to the pawn shop. Reduced to absolute misery +the house owner and the neighbours came to the rescue with a small sum +raised among them. The long continued official suspicion affected even +these toward the "Honest Zeisuké," and their support grew cold. Then +came the news that Zeisuké had died in the jail under the torture. +Tearless, aghast, deprived of all support, the wife and mother long +looked in each other's faces. Said the old woman--"Alas! Alas! Neither +gods nor the Buddha exist. Faithful and devoted was Zeisuké to this old +mother. Unfortunate in his life, he has been equally unlucky in death. +What now is to be done!" She put her sleeves over the old and wrinkled +face, and bending low concealed tears and a long farewell to the beloved +in the person of her grandchild. + +The wife was in little better case, but had to soothe this grief. A few +coins remained. She would buy the necessaries for the evening meal. "But +a moment, honoured mother. The return is quick. 'Tis but for the needed +meal." Taking the child on her back she started off into the darkness. +For a moment she turned to look at the mother. The old woman was +following her with eyes tear dimmed in the sunken hollows. Thus they +parted. For a moment the wife halted on the bridge over the Edogawa. The +dark slimy waters were a solution, but she put it aside in the face of a +higher duty. Soon she was on her way back. To her surprise the house was +in darkness. Surely a little oil was left in the bottom of the jar. She +called, without getting an answer. In alarm she groped her way in the +darkness, to stumble over the body of the old woman, lying limp and +helpless. Something wet her hand. Now she was in all haste for a light. +"Ah! Ah! The honoured mother! What has occurred? Has not ill fortune +enough fallen upon the home of Zeisuké?" Alas! the hand was stained with +blood. The old woman had intended the parting salute to be the last. +Left alone she had bit off her tongue, and thus had died. Rigid, as one +stupified, the wife sat; without tears, but thinking. Now she was left +alone. But what as to the child? A girl too? Ah! There were enough of +her sex in this hard world. She reached out a hand to the long +triangular sharp blade close by. She touched edge and point of the +_debabo[u]cho[u]_ (kitchen knife) with the finger. + +Here was the solution. Rapidly she loosed the child and lowered it to +the ground. It took but a moment to open the little dress and expose the +breast. Then knife in hand she leaned over it. As she did so the child +opened its eyes, smiled, then laughing began to finger her bosom seeking +sustenance. The feelings of the mother came over the woman. She put +aside the knife to give the babe the breast. Alas! Starvation afforded +but scant milk. Failing its supply the child cried peevishly. This last +stroke of poverty was too much. The original purpose came back in full +sway. With quick motion she put the child beside her and held it firmly +down. The sharp pointed knife was thrust clean through the little body. +A whimpering cry, the spurting of the blood, and the face began to take +on the waxen tint. With the same short energetic movements the mother +now sought her own end. Guiding its course with the fingers the knife +was now thrust deep into her own throat. Both hands on the heavy handle +she tore it downward; then fell forward on the mats. The wardsmen made +report. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE AFFAIR OF THE ASAKUSA KWANNON + + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen stalked forward to his cushion near the _ro[u]ka_. +Carefully adjusting his robes he scowled--most heavily; mainly at the +almost boy crouched before him at the white sand. Expectant the +_yakunin_ stood by. Their leader stated the case against this outrageous +criminal captured in the dead of night on the very steps of the +Jizo[u]do[u], in the very shadow of the great temple of the Asakusa +Kwannon. The sacred structure, object of his nefarious design guarded +his slumbers; the healing Yakushi Nyo[u]rai, Jizo[u] the god of youth +and childhood, casting stony glances of benevolence through the closed +lattices. "A most hardened wretch, an evident firebug, and probable +thief; at once make full confession of the offence. Thus the torture is +to be avoided, the punishment in so far mitigated." The voice was harsh +and unrelenting, admitting of no explanation. The look accompanying it +was without trace of pity, but full of the official scorn and dislike +which would anticipate the turns and doubles of its quarry. The hare in +this case but thought how best to meet this unforeseen and disastrous +turn to events. He had heard much of the Yakujin--the god of disease and +pestilence--under which pet name Aoyama Shu[u]zen was known by a certain +element of Edo town. He would tell the truth, with the certainty that in +the effort enough lie would slip in to make out a good case. + +The story at root was a simple one. Great of reputation for beauty and +attraction in the Yoshiwara was "Little Chrysanthemum"--Kogiku. In +company with friends this Masajiro[u], second son of the wealthy +Iwakuniya of Kanda Konyacho[u], (dyers street), had met and loved the +_oiran_. He had been favoured in turn by the great lady of the pleasure +quarter. Hence the displeasure of his father, who learned the fact by +the unanticipated and unpleasant presentation of bills he thought had +been settled long before by the diligence of Masajiro[u]. Hence the +preceding night, on the boy's return from dalliance with his mistress, +he had been summarily turned out.... "Ha! Ah!" roared Shu[u]zen. "A self +confessed vagrant; a thief! Gentle the face and wicked the heart it +conceals. Plainly a case for the jail and torture. The truth is to be +learned. The scourges will bring it out. Make full confession...." A +sign, and the attendants with their _madaké_ stood forward. In his +terror Masajiro[u] crawled toward the _ro[u]ka_. "Confession! +Confession!" he bawled out. With grim smile Shu[u]zen signed a halt. The +_do[u]shin_ prepared the scroll. + +Yes: he had been turned out, but not as vagrant. The mother, so severe +in the presence of the father, had fondled and wept over him. The +Banto[u] Sho[u]bei had grave and kindly words of admonition. All would +be well, and forgiveness follow in time. He was to go at once to his +nurse at Koshigeyatsu. Such effects as were needed would follow him. +Money he was better without; beyond the little needed for the short +journey. The father's anger was not to be aggravated. Soon he would +enter for his night's draught, so haste was to be made. Thus he was +bundled forth, to make his way in the darkness to the distant country +village. The Baya's kind aid in the little conspiracy was assured at +sight of her once ward. Overwhelmed with advice and woe he departed into +the night, his step growing slower and slower with separation from his +home. No money! That meant no Kogiku. The idea of never again seeing her +face made his stomach turn. It did turn the direction of his footsteps, +which now was toward the Yoshiwara. + +Kogiku was overjoyed at sight of him. He had but just left her, and now +returned to her side. What greater proof of love could she have? The +favouritism of the Go-Tayu found favour for her lover's presence. Seated +together she soon noticed his gloom, which all her efforts failed to +lighten. Somewhat nettled she showed displeasure, charged him with the +fickleness of satiation. Then he took her hands, and told her that this +was the final interview. His dissipated life, the discovery of their +relations, had so angered his father that under sentence of banishment +from Edo he had come for a last look at her face. "What's to be done! +What's to be done!" The lady wrung her hands in genuine grief over the +handsome youth thus torn away. She had welcomed his presence as means of +escape from her own difficulties. But a few hours before the master of +the Uedaya had announced her sale and transfer to a wealthy farmer of +Chiba. Ransomed by this country magnate she was to leave the gay life +and glitter of the Yoshiwara, for a country life and the veiled +hardships of a farm. In exchange for the twenty years of +Masajiro[u]--she obtained this settlement and a master passing fifty +odd. She was in despair. The brilliant beauty, thus to sink in a few +year's course into a farm wench, felt the sacrifice too great. Finding +no aid in the boy lover, long she lay weeping, her head on his knees, +hands pressed against her temples. + +Masajiro[u] was at no happier pass. "Up to the arrow point in love" his +idea at bottom had been of a temporary separation. To find another +Kogiku, a petted _oiran_, whose fame and beauty flattered any lover, was +a stroke of good fortune not likely to occur. His own expression showed +how little real idea of separation was in his mind. She noted it. +Looking steadily in his face--"Constant the vows of this Kogiku, met by +the love of Masa San. No matter how remote the prospect, the bond is +that of husband and wife. With this old suburban drake Kogiku pollutes +not her charms. Condescend to agree to a mutual suicide. Thus the +obligation is avoided. Together the lovers pass to Meido (Hades) to +wander its shades until the next and happier existence unites them in +the flesh." In amazement and discomfiture Masajiro[u] hung down his +head. He would conceal the shock to his boyish timidity this proposal +gave. His mind was full of such stories. He knew the earnestness of +Kogiku. Then and there would she not draw her dagger to accomplish the +deed? He was dreadfully frightened. Never would he have sought her +presence, if such result had been anticipated. Now he must accompany her +in death, or endure her grudge if successful in escaping her insistence. +He temporized. Pointing to his plain disordered garb--"As to +that--heartily agreed. But there is a seemliness about such procedure. A +more befitting, a holiday costume, is to be sought. Then together, as on +a joyful occasion, Masajiro[u] and the Oiran will consummate the vows +of husband and wife in a joint death." She looked him over, and was +easily pacified by the evident truth and good sense. Again herself, in +prospect of this avoidance of the unpleasant future she sought to +entertain her lover with all the skill and charm she was so noted for. +At midnight he left her, to secure an interview with Sho[u]bei on plea +of forgotten needs; then he would return in more fitting garb. + +His course lay through the now silent precincts of the great temple. +More than the sun's circuit passed in these excesses, physical and +mental, weighed upon him. He would rest a moment and consider his course +amid the holy surroundings. Yakushi? The god was the physical healer in +his theology and his services the strong and healthy youth did not need. +Jizo[u] Sama, or the six Jizo[u] Sama, but a little way off? Probably +the gentle divinity no longer regarded him as under tutelage. But the +Lady Merciful--Kwannon Sama--why not make his petition to her? It was an +inspiration, and earnest was the prayer which followed it--"Lady of +Mercy, deign to regard with pity the unfortunate lovers. Grant that some +exit be found for their woes, less harsh than the severance of the vital +knot, offence to the Lord Buddha. Kwannon Sama! Kwannon Sama!... may the +Buddha's will be done!" As he spoke a heavy object fell from above, to +graze his shoulder and land at his feet. He stooped and picked it up. +With astonished delight he noted the glittering coin within the bag. Ah! +Ah! Away with all ideas of self destruction. Here was the means to +escape the guilty consequence. Here was the ransom of Kogiku. He had +shuddered at thought of return to the side of that woman, in death to +wander the paths of Shidéyama (in Hell) with the unhappy ghost--bald +headed! Here now was the solution, in wine and the flesh and blood of +the living long-tressed Kogiku, a very different person. His thought now +turned to Yoshiwara. But--Naruhodo! Here was a second petitioner at this +extraordinary hour. With amazement he saw a girl come flying across the +tree and lantern dotted space before the great temple. There was +something in gait and manner that he recognized, despite the deep +_ko[u]so[u]-zukin_ concealing her features. From the shadow of the steps +he sprang forward to confront her. It was so! The face beneath the +_zukin_ was that of O'Somé the beloved of his brother Minosuké. The +great dye house of the Iwakuniya sent much work to the minor +establishment of Aizawaya in Honjo[u]. His brother had such matters in +his charge. At sight of Masajiro[u] the face of the sixteen year old +O'Somé was dyed like unto the maple. "O'Somé San! Here; and at this +hour! Is it some visit to the shrine that in such haste...." In place of +answer she wrung her hands and plead to be released. She must die. The +river was not far off; there to end her woes. The scandal caused in the +affair between herself and Minosuké had brought her to shame. Solemn had +been the vows passed between them, tender the acknowledgments. By some +retribution from a past existence thus she had found pollution with a +beast. The heart yet was pure, and there was nothing to do but die. +Deign forthwith to release her. + +In his amazement he nearly did so. Alas! All these young girls, at least +the desirable ones, wanted only to die. To become a divinity by +death--_Shingami_--seemed to the feminine brain in youth the height of +fashion. Very well: but he would seek to dissuade her. His pockets full +of gold the present beauty of O'Somé dimmed the past charms of Kogiku. +She yielded to force and his urgency in so far as to accompany him to a +refreshment stand just opening with the dawn. The mistress greeted them +with kindness and affection. She showed them to an inner room. Here he +urged his suit; flight and a home with the devoted nurse at +Koshigayatsu. But O'Somé was unwilling. She had been "foxed"--herself +was but a mere moor-fox. Deign to leave her to her own sad fate. It was +the brother that she loved. Since she was deprived of him, she would +seek the embraces only of the waters of the river. She urged and plead +so prettily that her sadness and gloom entered into his own heart. She +should be his companion. Kogiku in despite would join them. Thus the +three together would find comfort in the shadow land of Meido. He gave +up all attempt to persuade the girl. Briefly and almost harshly--"Be it +so. Then we will die together. This Masajiro[u] is under contract to +die; and too tired to walk so far to find a partner. Condescend to await +the night. Then we will take the shortest course to the river." + +To this O'Somé joyfully agreed. The day was passed in such harmless +dalliance and favour as a young girl can show, who has had her own way; +with a young man willing to dispense with thought during the intervening +space of time before a not overly agreeable ending; and under the +auspices of an honoured hostess fee'd by the glitter of coin into a +consenting obtuseness. With the night they set forth in the rain. The +river bank was not far off, but such vulgar plunge from the edge of the +coarse promiscuity of Hanagawado[u] was not to the taste of either. +Then, as now, a ferry not far from the Adzuma bridge crossed to the +pretty sounding "Eight hundred Pines." _Yashiki_ then surrounded, a +palace to-day covers the site. They watched the ferryman pushing off +into the river's darkness. Then hand in hand they strolled up the bank +of the stream, under the gloomy trees, seeking the favoured spot of +their undoing. Suddenly O'Somé stopped; sank at the feet of Masajiro[u]. +His hand sought the handle of the dagger. The weapon raised he was about +to plunge it into the tender neck. Then a shout startled his ear. "Rash +youths--Wait! Wait!" A powerful grasp was on his arm. With a shiver he +came to consciousness. O'Somé, the river, the bag of gold in his bosom, +all had disappeared. He was lying on the steps of the Jizo[u]do[u], +surrounded by the _yakunin_. All had been a dream! + +With open mouths the _yakunin_ in the court looked at each other. Lo! +They had nabbed a mere dreamer. How would his lordship take it? One more +quick witted and thirstier than the rest answered for all--"Ha! Ah! A +wretched fellow! Not only thief and firebug, but murderer also!" To the +astonished and stammering protest of Masajiro[u] there was the answering +scowl of a very Emma Dai-O[u] on the bench. "Miserable wretch! What is +in the heart at best comes to the lips. This matter is to be sifted to +the dregs, the witnesses examined. For offence so far disclosed he can +take the lash. Then off with him to the jail." Masajiro[u], his back +torn to ribbons and bloody with the fifty blows, was supported out of +the court. Then the wine cup was condescended to the energy and +acuteness of his captors. Enlivened by the morning's entertainment and +his own big cup Aoyama Shu[u]zen rose and departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +EMMA DAI-O[U] GIVES JUDGMENT + + +Great was the excitement and lamentable the experience of the Aizawaya. +The matter of O'Somé had been under discussion with the Iwakuniya. +Beyond good words and cold courtesy little satisfaction could be +obtained; nor could it be expected. The offence had been the work of a +fox, and the jewel of a girl's reputation had been trodden in the mire. +Returned to the saddened home, the nurse of O'Somé was found awaiting +them. At the news she had hastened from the country to console her old +mistress and to take her one time charge in her arms. "Alas! Alas! Is +the matter so beyond remedy? Surely with a good dower the +Iwakuniya...."--"'Tis no such affair," answered the mistress, wiping +away her tears. "As fact the girl is a wretched wench, disregardless of +the parents. The little fool fell madly in love with the figure of the +eldest son of the dye-shop. It seems that daily she made pilgrimage and +prayer to the Ushi no Gozen, to the Gentoku Inari. What more malign +influence could be invoked! One day Minosuké came on a mission to the +shop. She followed him to the street, and for hours her whereabouts was +unknown, until this return in disgrace. Accompanying him to Asakusa, +there she exchanged vows and pillows with him at a convenient +assignation house. Alas! On the return he was taken with a fit in the +street. The prior of the Kido-ku-In, the great priest of the Shu[u]genja +(Yamabushi), was passing. His aid invoked, at once he recognized the +rascal's disguise. Under the charms recited by the priest the true +appearance was assumed, and a huge fox with a long tail darted away from +the gathered crowd. No reputation has the girl gained by consorting with +such a mate." + +The nurse listened with amazed horror, turning first to the mother, +then intently regarding the damasked face of O'Somé, dyed red at the +story of her shame. "Oya! Oya! Possessed by a fox! Alas! Truly it is +almost irreparable. If it were mere defloration by the young master of +Iwakuniya, that could be endured. But a fox mixed up in the matter.... +Truly it would be well to take her off somewhere, to some hot spring in +Idzu. There the influence can be removed, and O'Somé San at least +restored in mind." With this advice and gossip, with whispered +consolation and laughing cheer--"'Tis no great matter after all; in the +country--will be found girls a'plenty, quite as lucky or otherwise"--the +kind and jovial dame took her leave. + +The advice as to the hot spring seemed so good that preparations were +under way in all haste. The straw baskets with their convenient deep +covers to fit the larger or smaller needs of travel (_ko[u]ri_), the +_furoshiki_ or large square wrapping cloths, lay in the middle of the +room, amid the pile of wraps and clothing for daily and more formal use. +Skilled hands of maids and youths (_wakashu[u]-kozo[u]_) employed in the +house were fast packing these latter into convenient parcels. Then to +the hustle and bustle within the house was added the more unusual murmur +of voices and tread of many feet without. The house owner (_ienushi_), +accompanied by the head of the house block (_gumigashira_), entered in +haste. Close at their heels followed the land owner (_jinushi_), the two +bails (_jiuki_ and _tanauki_). All looked with surprise and suspicion at +these hurried preparations for departure. "Oya! Oya! This will never do. +Honoured Sir of Aizawaya, the _yakunin_ are now at hand from the office +of Aoyama Sama. Your daughter in summoned to the white sand. Remove at +once these signs of what looks like a flight." Eyes agog the frightened +parents watched their neighbours and the servants hustle goods and +parcels into the closets. They had hardly done so when the _do[u]shin_, +followed by several constables, burst into the room. "The girl Somé, +where is she? Don't attempt to lie, or conceal her whereabouts." Eyes +ferreting everywhere, the parents too frightened to move, the _yakunin_ +soon entered, dragging along the weeping O'Somé. "Heigh! Heigh! The +rope! At once she is to be bound and dragged before the honoured +presence." Amid the bawling and the tumult at last the father found +opportunity to make himself heard. He prostrated himself at the feet of +the _do[u]shin_, so close to O'Somé that the process of binding and +roping necessarily included his own ample person. "Deign, honoured +official, to forbear the rope. There is no resistance. The girl is very +young, and ill. We accompany her to the presence of his lordship." +Weeping he preferred the request. Iyenushi, Jinushi, Gumi-gashira, in +pity added their own petition to the officer. This latter surveyed the +slight figure of this fearful criminal. Besides, notoriously she had +been foxed. He grumbled and conceded. "The rope can be forborne; not so +as to the hands, which must be securely tied to prevent escape. The +affair is most important. Delay there cannot be. His lordship is not to +be kept waiting." Then he swept them all into his net. _Do[u]shin_, +_Yakunin_, _Jinushi_, _Iyenushi_, _Gumi-gashira_, _Ban-gashira_, +_Jiuki_, _Tanauki_, debtors, creditors, all and every in the slightest +degree connected with the Aizawaya fell into the procession. But Edo +town was growing used to these. 'Twas merely another haul of the active +officers of the honoured Yakujin. "Kimyo[u] Cho[u]rai"--may the Buddha's +will be done, but spare this Taro[u]bei, Jizaémon, Tasuké, or whoever +the petitioner chanced to be. + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen stalked slowly forward to the _ro[u]ka_. Scowling he +ran his eye over the crowd, taking in each and every. Then his eyes +fell--first on Kogiku, the harlot of the Uedaya; then on the shrinking +beauty of O'Somé of the Aizawaya. Shu[u]zen was improving in these days. +The Ue-Sama (Sho[u]gun) spoke harshly of those retainers who made no +provision for issue to support loyally the fortune of his House. Let him +who would seek his lord's favour furnish forth such noble and lusty +issue as in the Kamakura days, when Ho[u]jo[u] Tokimasa, Wada Yoshimori +Hatakeyama Shigetada, the Kajiwara, Miura, Doi, attended the hunting +field of their suzerain followed by a dozen lusty heirs of the +line--direct and indirect. Hence of late Shu[u]zen had renewed his +matrimonial venture, and taken to his bed a second partner. For side +issue and attendance on his household affairs, his office was a fruitful +field. The families of those condemned suffered with them, and the more +favoured served in Aoyama's household, in all offices, from that of +ladies in waiting to menial service--down to the _yatsuho[u]ko[u]nin_. +These latter, slaves for life, were more fortunate than their sisters +_yatsu yu[u]jo[u]_, who were condemned to be sold for life service as +harlots in the Yoshiwara. It was a hard law; but it was the law of the +Tokugawa, of before the days of the ruling House. Shu[u]zen profited +greatly by it in the domestic sense. The harlot and the girl budding +into womanhood would be acceptable addition to the companionship of his +then bachelor existence. + +His manner softened as he took his seat. His robes were more carefully +adjusted. His cue bristled more erect. He was strikingly good looking. +Dismissing all minor offenders he took up at once the great case of the +day. The wretched Masajiro[u], his back bloodily marked by the scourge, +was crouching in shame at the white sand before him. Shu[u]zen gave him +one savage glare, which added terror to his confusion before those once +friends and relations. Then Shu[u]zen began carefully and insistently to +scan the faces of the girls. They were well worth attention. O'Somé, +sixteen and a beauty, had these aids to her other charms--a _kimono_ of +the fine striped silk of Izu, made in the neighbouring island of +Hachijo[u] by girls well fitted themselves to give grace to the +beautiful tissue, an _obi_ (sash) of fawn and scarlet into which was +woven the shadowy figure, here and there, of a landscape--sketchy but +suggestive. The belt which girded it within was of egg coloured crape, +and the orange tissue broadened and hung down to add its touch of +carefully contrasted colour. The hair was built high in the +_taka-shimada_ style, tied on top with a five coloured knot of thick +crape. The combs and other hair ornaments were beautiful, and befitting +the cherished daughter of the well-to-do townsman. Then Shu[u]zen's look +wandered to the harlot. Kogiku, Little Chrysanthemum, was noted in Edo +town. Her beauty was more experienced, but hardly more mature than that +of the town girl. Sedately she met the look, and without movement eyes +plead smilingly for gentle treatment. She was dressed[19] in a robe of +gauzy water coloured silk. The sleeves were widely patterned--as with +her class--but worked with rare harmony into the light grey colour of +the robe. The long outer robe thrown over the inner garment (_uchikaku_) +in these brilliant colours, in its tamer shades yet harmonized. Taken +with the broad sash of the _obi_ it made her rival the peacock in his +grandest display. Her hair dressed high, was a bewildering harmony of +the costly tortoise shell combs and pins (_kanzashi_) arrayed in +crab-like eccentricity. The gold ornamentation glistened and sparkled +amid the dark tresses. Truly Shu[u]zen was puzzled in this claim for +priority between the unrivalled beauty and the fresher and naiver charms +of inexperience. Ah! Both should be the cup-bearers. But the sequel! +Benten Sama alone could guide the lot. + +It was ordered that the confession be read. Once more the judge, +Shu[u]zen carefully watched the faces before him of those most +concerned. It was not difficult to detect amid the confusion of O'Somé, +the growing wrath of Kogiku, an unfeigned astonishment. With some +satisfaction he noted this evident discrepancy in the plea. Suave, yet +still somewhat harsh, he addressed O'Somé. "The confession of this +wicked fellow has been heard. What has Somé to say in answer thereto." +For a moment the girl raised her head to that of this Emma Dai-O[u]. +Then in confusion she half turned as seeking support--"Mother! Mother!" +It was all she could say in her fright, and more than the mother could +stand. She was the townswoman; self-assured in her way. She boldly +advanced a knee. "With fear and respect: the girl is but of sixteen +years, and the white sand has paralysed her thought and utterance. +Deign, honoured lord, to pardon the mother's speech." Then she went into +details as to the late unfortunate occurrence. With indignant looks at +the crushed and unfortunate Masajiro[u], she gave her own testimony +which rang with truth. "Well he knows all this matter. For the past six +days the girl has not left home or parents caring for her afflicted +body. 'Tis only this fellow Masajiro[u] who claims to be the lover, to +take the place of his brother Minosuké; a poor exchange in either case, +with fellows who do but run after the harlots of Yoshiwara, to the +bewitching of innocent girls." Tenderly she took the now weeping O'Somé +in her mother arms, and added her own tears to the soothing. + +Shu[u]zen slowly leaked a smile. He left the pair to themselves and +turned to Kogiku. "And you?" Kogiku was not so easily confused. Readily +she confessed to the contract between herself and Masajiro[u]. "This +affair of the rich purchaser from Kazusa came up suddenly. There seemed +no outlet but suicide--if the dreary life away from Edo was to be +avoided." Shu[u]zen took her up harshly--"Bound to the Uedaya for a term +of years then you would cheat your master out of the money he expended +on you. This is theft, and most reprehensible. For such it is hard to +find excuse." His roughness puzzled and frightened even the experience +of Kogiku. She became confused. Shu[u]zen was satisfied with the +impression. He was unwilling further to delay his own prospects. Sending +the matter over to the next sitting for final settlement he remanded all +the accused--Masajiro[u] to the jail and repeated scourgings for the +lies contained in his confession; the girls to his own care. His +experiences for the time being would largely condition the final +judgment. + +Shu[u]zen was regular in his irregularities. Promptly, the case again +convened, he gave judgment. There was none of the customary roughness in +his manner. Even the official harshness was smoothed down. He dilated on +the importance of the case, the necessity of making an example of this +evident depravity of manners and morals affecting Edo town--"As for the +girl Somé, it is matter of question with whom she is involved, +Masajiro[u] or Minosuké; both well could be her lovers. Thus she has +fallen under strange influences and been foxed. Such a girl is not to be +allowed to wander at random. As act of benevolence henceforth charge is +continued as in the present conditions. Kogiku is still more +reprehensible. The attempt to cheat her master being so brazenly +confessed is hard to overlook. Owing to her previous life perhaps the +feelings have become blunted. The same benevolence and punishment is +awarded to her--with hope of future amendment." The master of the +Uedaya, crouching close to his head clerk made a wry face. The two men +exchanged glances, and the clerk opened a very big round eye for his +master to observe. The latter sighed. Continued Shu[u]zen severely--"As +for this Masajiro[u], he is not only liar, but would-be firebug and +thief. What is harboured in the mind he would put into deed. It is but +chance which has saved the life and purse of the passing citizen, and +the sacred structures from the flames. To him the severest punishment is +meet. However benevolence shall still hold its sway. Instead of the +sword, banishment to the islands for the term of life, to serve as slave +therein to the Eta--such his sentence. To this judgment there is no +appeal." Abruptly he rose. The weeping father and mother were baffled by +the nonchalance of the daughter, who had no chance to give them comfort, +but was at once removed in company with the willing lady of pleasure and +experience. The huddled form of Masajiro[u] was hustled roughly out with +the kicks and blows to which he was becoming accustomed. Two or three +years, under the rough charge of his new masters, were pretty sure to +witness his body cast out on the moorland to the kites--or into the sea +for fishes to knaw. + +It was the _banto[u]_ (clerk), faint with the hunger of long waiting, +who led the parents into the first cook shop encountered on the way. +Here over greens and cold water the father sighed, the mother wept +apart, the clerk eyed biliously the meagre fare. Then in poured the +company of Kogiku--a noisy, merry crowd. There were expressions of +amused discomfiture, caught by the sharp ears of the clerk; suggestive +references. He watched them; heard the lavish orders for food and +wine--"Plenty of wine, and piping hot"--"Respectfully heard and +understood." The waiting girls were at their wit's end. The feast in +progress the _banto[u]_ came boldly forward. "Honoured sirs, deign to +note these parents here, deprived of their daughter. Your honoured +selves have lost a girl of much value to your master. How is it then +that you thus deign to rejoice? Plainly the grief of these must be out +of place." The man addressed more directly looked him over coldly; then +cast an eye on the distressed father and mother, at their meagre fare. +His manner changed. He became more cordial. "Good sir, the affair is not +to be taken thus! Sentence has been given, but...." He laughed--"it can +be revoked. Already in the inner room the master is in consultation +with the agent of Takai Yokubei San (Mr. Highly Covetous), Aikawa +Dono,--the honoured _yo[u]nin_ of Aoyama Sama. A round bribe, and the +girl will be released...." The words were not out of his mouth when the +father was on his feet. Led by the _banto[u]_ he made the rounds of +all--pimps, bawds, and bouncers--soliciting their influence--"Honoured +gentlemen of the Yoshiwara, deign to interfere in the matter, to plead +with the master of the Uedaya. House, lands, goods, all these are +nothing if the cherished daughter be restored." He wept; and they took +pity on his inexperience. The first speaker at once sprang up and went +to the inner room. The master of the Uedaya cordially desired their +presence. Added funds were no drawback to his own petition in the +dealings with Yokubei San. The parents introduced he told them--"It is +but a matter of cash. Kogiku, within the next three days, must be +delivered to the _go[u]shi_ of Kazusa, or else a large forfeit paid. She +can kill herself on the day following. 'Tis no affair of the Uedaya. Add +your gift of a hundred _ryo[u]_ to the bribe of the Uedaya, and Saisuké +San, here present, can assure success. Aikawa Dono surely has not left +the court. He awaits report, with as great anxiety as your honoured +selves. As for the Tono Sama, he has had the presence of the girls for +the six days, and will be all the more easily worked on. But from all +accounts the honoured daughter had little to lose in the experience. She +would make a splendid Go-Tayu." Seeing no sign of acquiescence he +shrugged his shoulders, and continued to the honoured Saisuké San--"A +most annoying affair: a hundred _ryo[u]_ to this shark, and only the +premium and the debts of the _oiran_ will be paid. But he will take no +less?... Be sure she shall learn the use of the _seméba_ (punishment +cell) before she finds her new master." Saisuké San with slow smile made +answer--"Be sure that by night she will be in your hands, ready for the +experience." + +Rejoicing the parents gave thanks, and betook themselves to their home. +Half ruined, again O'Somé would gladden their hearts. But the mother had +an eye to the expense, and promised a reception hardly better than that +awaiting Little Chrysanthemum. Why show favouritism? There was small +difference between the two. But this the father energetically denied. +Meanwhile Aoyama Shu[u]zen was preparing for his wine feast, one of a +pleasant succession extended over this interval. With misgiving and no +pleasure he saw the entrance of Aikawa Chu[u]dayu. The chamberlain +brought with him the account books. Shu[u]zen's experience, however, +noted past profit as salve to annoyance. He was a bitter hard man in +domestic administration; cutting down food, and by fines the wages, of +those more regularly employed in the household. This made the threatened +loss of women serving by compulsion the more severe. Chu[u]dayu knew how +to deal with his master. Affairs in the household were not going well, +under the free indulgence of Shu[u]zen toward himself and his pleasures. +Besides he was about to deprive him of his new favourites. At a sign +Kogiku and O'Somé, already present by the lord's favour, withdrew. The +younger girl had aged ten years in experience with this companionship of +the week. Chu[u]dayu watched them depart. Then sighed heavily. "Ah! Ha! +So it's _that_." Shu[u]zen moved testily, as sharply he regarded his +satellite. "Acting under the instructions of your lordship, the box of +cakes has duly been received from Saisuké. The affairs of the household +require a large sum. Her ladyship's confinement is to be considered, the +entertainments required by custom for the expected heir. To return the +gift means to your lordship--the sacrifice of two hundred _ryo[u]_. May +the Tono Sama deign to consider a moment. Such double good fortune is +rare--and the messenger waits upon this trifling sacrifice of a pleasure +for which substitutes easily can be found." He drew the _furoshiki_ from +the box. Shu[u]zen sighed; but did not hesitate. "Hasten Saisuké off at +once; with the exchange." He placed the box in a closet close by. "As +for the wine feast, Chu[u]dayu shall be the cup-bearer. Shu[u]zen is in +an ill humour." He had an ugly look. Chu[u]dayu, however, did not draw +back. Leaning forward with a smile--"This Chu[u]dayu would make report, +to the pleasure of the Tono Sama."--"Of what?" asked Aoyama, in some +surprise at his chamberlain's earnest manner. "Of the whereabouts and +close proximity of Kosaka Jinnai."--"Ah!" The tone of voice had the +depth of years of expectant hate. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +KOSAKA JINNAI + + +When Takéda Shingen swept down upon the lower provinces in 1571, fought +a rear guard action at Mikatagahara, in which he nearly extinguished +Tokugawa Iyeyasu, with a taste of the latter's remarkable powers of +recuperation, he went on to his real aim of a trial of strength with the +main Oda forces in Mikawa and O[u]mi. The great captain lost his life by +a stray bullet before Noda castle. His death for long kept secret, until +the northern forces had withdrawn into the fastnesses of Kai, the war +languished, to be renewed with greater activity under the rash and +ignorant leadership of his son. Katsuyori and his tribe cut belly at +Temmoku-zan, the last and successful bid of Iyeyasu against his former +enemies. Then the Tokugawa standard was planted from Suruga to Mikawa, +and Iyeyasu became indisputably the first of Nobunaga's vassals--and one +never thoroughly trusted. + +Among the twenty-four captains of Takéda Shingen was a Kosaka Danjo[u] +no Chu[u]den. His son Heima inherited the devotion, as well as the fief, +of the father. Unlike many of the Takéda vassals in Kai he clung to +Katsuyori Ko[u] through all the bad weather of that unlucky prince. Kai +was no longer a safe place for vassals true to the native House. Better +luck could be assured with the old enemies, the Uesugi in the North. But +Heima would not seek other service than that of his once lord. He only +sought a place to live. + +When the ex-soldier appeared with his wife in the village of +Nishi-Furutsuka at the base of Tsukuba, the people thereabouts had more +than strong suspicion that he who came so quietly into their midst was +not of their kind. However his presence was accepted. His willingness to +take up farm labour and another status, to become a _go[u]shi_ or +gentleman farmer, his valued aid and leadership in the troubled times +which followed, were much appreciated. The year 1599 found the old fox +Iyeyasu Ko[u] planted in Edo castle; and Jisuké, as Heima now called +himself, leaning over the cradle of a boy just born--a very jewel. +Jisuké's wife was now over forty years in age. Hence this unexpected +offspring was all the dearer. In the years there had been losses and +distress. The new-comer surely was the gift from the Kwannondo[u] +nestled on the slopes of the mountain far above the village. To the Lady +Merciful many the prayers for such aid. + +The child grew and prospered. A farmer's boy, yet he was the _bushi's_ +son; made plain in every action. Under the tutelage of the priests of +the neighbouring Zen temple he learned all that they chose to teach, far +outstripped his fellows, and in class room and in sport was their +natural leader. Sport was the better test. With years Jinnosuké tired of +the clerical teaching. The leader of the village band he was its +mainstay in the wars with boys of rival hamlets thereabouts. These were +soon driven away, and their own precincts invaded at will. The mountain +became distinctively the property of Jinnosuké and his youthful +companions, whose whole sport was devoted to mimic warfare. Their +leader, thus unchallenged, became more and more reckless; more and more +longed to distinguish himself by some feat beyond mere counterfeit war. +One day, under his direction, in the storming of the hill which +represented the enemy's castle, much brushwood and dried leaves were +gathered. "Now then! Set the fire! The foe, blinded by the smoke, +perishes under our blows. On! On!" The other children eagerly obeyed. +The blazing mass towered up and up. The trees now were on fire. The wind +blowing fiercely drove the fire directly on to the Kwannondo[u], which +stood for the citadel of the besieged. Soon the temple itself was in +flames. Greatly excited the boys swarmed amid the smoke and confusion as +if in real battle. "Now--for the plunder!" At Jinnosuké's order the +furniture of the temple was made the object of loot, heaped up at a safe +distance for future division. + +Thus engaged loud shouts met their ears. In fright the band of +youngsters turned to meet the presence of the enraged incumbent, the +_do[u]mori_. The temple was his charge and residence. His small +necessities were supplied by visits to the villages below. "Oi! Oi! +wretched little villains! Thus to fire the temple in your sport is most +scandalous. Surely your heads shall be wrung off--one by one. Terrible +the punishment--from Heaven and the Daikwan."[20] The boys in confusion +began to slink away. Then the voice of Jinnosuké rose above the tumult. +"On! On! This priest stinks of blood. Be not cowards! The commander of +the castle would frighten with words. 'Tis he who is afraid. It is his +part to cut belly in defeat and die amid the ruins." In a trice the +whole pack had faced around. Boldly with staves they set upon the +priest. Numbers brought him helpless to the ground. There was a large +stone lying close by. Heaving it to his shoulder Jinnosuké stood over +the prostrate man. "According to rule the matter is thus to be +conducted. This fellow is to be given the finishing stroke; then buried +in the castle ruins." He cast down the heavy block with all his force. +The priest's brains were spattered on the ground. Under the direction of +Jinnosuké the body with feebly twitching limbs was thrown into the now +blazing mass of the temple. Then forming in line, and raising the shout +of victory, the youthful band of heroes marched off to the village. +Under pain of his displeasure--which meant much--Jinnosuké forbade any +bragging or reference to the affair. Wisely: a day or two after a +peasant came on the scene. In fright the man hastened to make report. At +once buzz was most tremendous. Was it accident or the work of thieves, +this disaster? Said one man sagely--"The _do[u]mori_ was a great +drunkard. Deign to consider. The temple furniture is untouched. Thieves +would have carried it off. He carried it out to safety, to fall a victim +in a further attempt at salvage. The offence lies with the priest, not +with the villagers." The report pleased all, none too anxious to offend +the bands of robbers ranging the mountain mass and the neighbouring +villages. Thus report was made by the village council to the Daikwan's +office. The temple authorities had a severe reprimand for allowing such +a drunkard to be in charge of the shrine. Jinnosuké stuck his tongue in +his cheek. "Trust to the valour and skill of this Jinnosuké. These +constables are fools." But his companions were a little frightened with +this late exploit. Their numbers fell off. Many of them now came to the +age fit for farm work. Jinnosuké was not long in finding substitutes in +the real thieves who haunted the neighbourhood. Their spy, and often +engaged in their raids, yet in his own district he was only known as a +bad and dissipated boy. + +Something of this had to come to the ears of Jisuké; but not the full +extent of his son's wickedness. He sought a remedy for what he thought +mere wild behaviour. Now in the town, years ago, there had lived a poor +farmer and his wife; "water drinkers," in the local expression for +bitter poverty. The man laboured at day tasks, and the wife laboured as +hard with him, bearing her baby girl on her back. Jisuké aided as he +could, and as was his wont, and when the pair were taken down and died +with a prevailing epidemic disease, it was Jisuké and his wife who took +the child to themselves, to bring her up as their own. O'Ichi San grew +into a beautiful girl, and at this time Jisuké and his wife trusted to +her favour and influence to bring Jinnosuké to the sedateness and +regularity of a farmer's life. The girl blushed and looked down as she +listened to what was more than request, though put in mildest form. "One +so humble is hardly likely to please the young master. Filial duty bids +this Ichi to obey, and yield her person at command." The mother was more +than gratified at the assent and modesty--"Dutiful you have always been. +We parents have no eyes. The whole matter is left to you. If Jinnosuké +can be taken by your person, perchance he will devote his time to home +and the farm work, now so irksome to his father. Where he goes in these +long absences is not known; they can be for no good purpose." Thus the +arrangement was made. The girl now busied herself about and with +Jinnosuké. She was the one to attend to all his comforts, to await his +often late return. Thus used to her he soon began to look on her with +anything but brotherly eyes. Was she not the daughter of old +Taro[u]bei, the water drinker? He knew the story well. Thus one night he +took O'Ichi to himself. She pleased him--as with the parents. No +objection was anywhere raised to the connection; a village of Nippon has +cognizance of such matters; and in short order public notice was given +of the marriage. + +The influence was not of long duration. With his wife's pregnancy +Jinnosuké disappeared. From the age of thirteen years he had been hand +in glove with all the rough fellows of the district. These were stirring +times in the south. There was something to pick up. After all was not he +a _samurai's_ son. Jinnosuké was too late for action. Although but +seventeen years old his short sturdy and astonishingly active frame and +skill with weapons was a welcome addition to the band that Ogita +Kuro[u]ji had gathered after the fall of O[u]saka-jo[u]. Now Jinnosuké +figured as Kosaka Jinnai. Here first he came in contact with the law and +Aoyama Shu[u]zen. On this failure he betook himself at once to the +disguise of his native village; to enter it as quietly as if he never +had left it, to find himself the father of a baby girl, Kikujo[u], and +to procreate another on his patient wife. But before this second girl, +O'Yui, was born Jinnosuké, as the village still knew him, had again +disappeared. This was in strict accordance with his principle, of which +something is to be said. + +Of these O[u]saka _ro[u]nin_, determined not to take another master, +there were three Jinnai. In council over past failure, said Tomizawa +Jinnai.[21] "The ambition of this Tomizawa?" He laughed. Jinnai was no +distinctive term in this gathering. "It is to collect all the beautiful +costumes of Nippon."--"Admirable indeed!" chimed in Sho[u]ji Jinnai (or +Jinémon, as he called himself). "But why stop at the surface? As you +know, the ambition of this Sho[u]ji had long been to see gathered +together all the most beautiful women of Nippon. And you, Kosaka?"--"To +see all distinction done away with between other men's property and my +own."--"Splendid indeed! But don't poach on our ground." The two others +clapped their hands and laughed. Kosaka Jinnai did not. "Well then--to +put the matter to the test," said he callously. Tomizawa Jinnai +forthwith took up the collection of old clothing and costumes of divers +sorts. He can be said to be the ancestor of the old clothes trade of +Edo--To[u]kyo[u]; and the Tomizawacho[u] at Ningyo[u]cho[u] no +Yokocho[u], the place of his residence, is his memorial. To this day it +is a centre for old clothes shops. Sho[u]ji Jinnai pressed the petition +he had once put in (Keicho[u] 17th year--1612) as Jinémon before being +finally convinced of the righteousness of a Tokugawa world. He was lucky +enough to find oblivion and reward in the permit for a harlot quarter. +As its bailiff (_nanushi_) he assembled three thousand beautiful women +for the service of the Yoshiwara, then at Fukiyacho[u] near Nihonbashi, +and of which O[u]mondori is the chief relic. Kosaka Jinnai, under such +encouragement and auspices, betook himself more vigorously than ever to +robbery; enhanced by a mighty idea which the years gradually brought to +ripeness in his mind. From being a sandal bearer Hidéyoshi the Taiko[u] +had risen to rule. He, Jinnai, would emulate the example and rise to +rule from being a bandit. He was not, and would not be, the only one of +the kind in the political world. Hence his wide travels through the +provinces, his seeking out all the most desperate and villainous +characters, for he had "trust" in few others, his weaving together of a +vast conspiracy of crime, not to be equalled in any time but the closing +days of the Ashikaga Sho[u]gunate--and that not so far off. Of this +period of Jinnai's life there is a tale to relate. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A MATTER OF PEDESTRIANISM + + +Up to the very recent days of Meiji the precincts of the Shiba +San-en-zan Zo[u]jo[u]ji, now known more particularly as the most +accessible of the burial places of the Tokugawa Sho[u]gun, were an +excellent example of the old monastic establishments. The main temple +with its wide grounds was completely girdled by a succession of halls or +monastic foundations, some of which were famed through the land for +their theological teaching of the principles of the Jo[u]do[u] sect. +Conspicuous among these were the Tenjingatani and the Mushigatani, +seminaries widely sought for the erudition of the professors. In all +nearly three thousand students attended the halls, with an eye to an +ecclesiastical future. + +On the dawn of a cold winter morning a priestly clad man, a _shoké_ or +one of the lowest clerical order, mainly notable for the vastness and +robustness of his proportions, could have been seen leaving the gate of +the Tokucho[u]-in. His size alone would have attracted attention, for +the mouse coloured _kimono_, the white leggings and mitts (_tekko[u]_), +the double soled _waraji_ (sandals) fastened on a pair of big feet, were +usual travelling equipment of his kind, made sure by the close woven +_ajiro_ or mushroom hat covering his head; admirable shelter against +heat in summer, and a canopy--umbrella like--against falling snow in +winter. By somewhat devious route he strode along a narrow lane, crossed +the Gokurakubashi and halted before the Chu[u]mon on the broad avenue +leading up to the temple. A glance thither satisfied him for a +leave-taking, which yet displayed some sentiment. A few moments carried +him without the entrance gate, and but few more saw him crossing +Kanésujibashi, evidently on some long tramp, if the steady swing of a +practised walker, in no haste and conserving his strength, is any test. + +The road in those days passed through a long succession of village +houses, the _cho[u]_ of Shiba village, broken very occasionally by a +_yashiki_ wall. It was not until he reached the barrier at Takanawa, +Kurumacho[u], that he came full out on the bay just lighting up with the +coming day--a beautiful stretch of water, now spoiled by the ugliness of +the railway and the filling in which has turned the haunt of thousands +of wild fowl into a prairie, soon to be covered by hideous factories and +other sites of man's superfluous toil. Close by the little saddle at +Shinagawa, now a railway cutting, a stream came into the bay from the +west. On the bridge the priest Dentatsu stopped for a moment. +Throughout, from the time of leaving Kanésujibashi, he had had a feeling +of being followed. Now he determined to get a good look at his pursuer, +it was not particularly satisfying. "Iya! An ill looking chap--with an +eye like a knife." The object of these remarks had halted with him, at +the further side of the bridge. He was contemplating the water with one +eye, the priest with the other. A short sturdy man of forty odd years, +Dentatsu noted the good but thin upper garment, the close fitting +leggings, the well chosen _waraji_, the copper handled dagger in his +girdle. Furthermore he noted a cold decision in the glance of the eye +that he liked least of all in the fellow's equipment. + +This was a man he would not choose for companion--"Bah! Short Legs, this +Dentatsu will soon leave your stumps in the rear. A little speed, and +this doubtful fellow is left behind beyond hope." So off started his +reverence at the full pace of his huge legs and really great endurance. +Through O[u]mori and Kamata, crossing in the same boat at the Rokugo +ferry, through Kawasaki and Tsurumigi--totsu-totsu-totsu the stranger's +legs kept easy pace with those of the priest. "A most extraordinary +fellow," thought Dentatsu. "He moves as on springs. It would be well to +settle matters at once with him." Halting he waited for this pursuer to +close up the few score feet maintained between them. His frowning manner +had a genial greeting. "Ah! Ha! Truly the Go Shukké Sama[22] is no mean +walker. But even then company on the road is good. From the +Zo[u]jo[u]ji; by that _kesa_ (stole), dress, and carriage? Probably the +honoured priest has a long journey before him--to the capital?" Dentatsu +duly scanned his company--"To the Chion-In, the parent temple, and none +too fond of companionship on the road. Deign, good sir, to spare yours; +with such short legs the task of precedence would be out of the +question. Drop the useless effort of this pursuit, which becomes an +annoyance." + +Dentatsu's manner was truculent, his grasp on his stick even +threatening. The fellow met this rough greeting with the suavest +determination. "Oya! Oya! Naruhodo, Go Shukké Sama! A very rude speech +indeed! After all the highway is free to all, and I too travel the +To[u]kaido[u] toward the capital. Deign to grant your company and the +entertainment will be all the better. Don't be deceived by length, or +lack of length, in one's legs. The promise will be kept not to detain +you.... That you came from Zo[u]jo[u]ji is plain from your garb, if you +had not been seen to turn into To[u]kaido[u] from the temple avenue.... +I too travel Kyo[u]to way.... See! In our talk already Hodogaya town is +passed. This climb.... here is the top of the Yakimochizaka. The mark +stands here to bound Sagami and Musashi. Ha! Ha! The Go Shukké Sama has +splendid legs, but he is handicapped by his weight. Surely it cannot be +less than two thousand _ryo[u]_ in coin that he carries in the pack on +his shoulders. That contains no bills on the Sho[u]shidai (Governor) of +the capital." + +Ah! The matter now was fully lighted. The fellow then had known his +mission from Zo[u]jo[u]ji to the parent temple, to remit this sum to the +capital. Dentatsu had not anticipated difficulty so early in his +journey, nor did he much care for the contest which was offered him. He +judged the man by his legs, and these were almost miraculous in +swiftness, activity, and strength. "Alas! A dangerous fellow indeed. The +luck of this Dentatsu is bad. What now is to be done?" The cold sweat at +his responsibility gently bedewed his forehead. Yet Dentatsu was a brave +man. The tradesman--or robber--laughed lightly. "Don't look so queer, so +put out, honoured Shukké Sama. Truth is told in saying there is business +on To[u]kaido[u]. Even if highwayman, the last thing thought of would +be to meddle with the funds of the honoured Hotoké Sama (Buddha). Be +reassured; and as such be more assured in having a companion. The coin? +Pure guess, and from the small size of the parcel and the evident +difficulty found in carrying it. It weighs too much on one shoulder. +Trust not only the thief, but the trader to know the signs of cash.... +You would breakfast at Totsuka town? Did they send you forth with empty +belly? Surely the monastery kitchen has no such reputation for +stinginess among the vulgar." His manner was so reassuring that Dentatsu +gained confidence in him and his profession. Gladly now he accepted this +failure to relieve him of his precious burden, and this offer of +company. He resented however the reflection on the monastery +kitchen--"Not so! Nor is this foolish priest so at odds with the cook as +not to find a bit of mountain whale (flesh) in the soup. Repletion is +the aim and object of a monastic existence."--"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed the +fellow. "Yet the honoured Shukké Sama would breakfast so close to Edo +town! Good sir, deign to leave the matter to me. Both are in haste--you +to the capital; I almost as far.... This Fujisawa is a wondrous place. +As priest you know its temple and its wandering prior, the precious +relics of the Hangwan, but the woman Teruté of course the priest +despises; yet Oguri owed much to her--life and success in his vendetta. +Besides in a copse, just over yonder hill, is the shrine of the other +Hangwan--Yoshitsuné. A prayer to his head there buried brings success in +warlike adventure, no great affair for cleric or tradesman.... Already +the Banyu[u] ferry is close at hand. Surely if we would reach Sumpu +(Shizuoka) this day there can be no lunching short of Odawara town." + +Dentatsu would have stopped short, if such halt had not involved the +rapid disappearance of this elastic and now entertaining companion. As +it was both had to slow pace to let him get breath taken away by pure +amazement. "Odawara town! Sumpu before night! Tradesman, have you gone +mad? To Sumpu it is full forty-eight _ri_ (120 miles). You talk like a +fool. Who is there, to walk such a stage in a day?"--"The honoured +Shukké Sama and this tradesman. In talk and argument the ground flies +under the feet of such walkers, and the promise to keep pace will be +maintained. Just see--this is Kodzu town; yonder the waters of +Sakawagawa. 'Tis early yet, but time can be spared for food. For +exercise belly timber is needed. A good lining of wine and food to the +inwards is the tonic to more talk and exertion. Now in with you, to this +broad space leading to the castle--the keep of O[u]kubo Kaga no Kami, +with his hundred thousand _koku_ and the trust of the suzerain worth all +his other honours. Ah! Here is the eight roofed Minoya, best of its kind +in the town. And what a town. Between wine, food, and singing girls, one +loiters as long as a second Odawara conference; at times to one's +ruin.... Ah! Ha! A stop for the mid-day meal. Ne[e]san, no more delay +than needed. Speed is urgent, yet food and wine of the best. The +honoured Shukké Sama is affected toward vegetable food.... What! The +Buddha called wine _hannyato_--hot water bringing wisdom? Ne[e]san, the +honoured Shukké Sama is a man of sense, no ascetic when unsatiated--or +on a journey. He would wear out belly and _waraji_ (sandals) on the same +service. Fish boiled with a little salt, _sashimi_ (sliced raw +fish)--and _don't_ forget the _kamaboku_ (fish paste). Two bottles for +each, with as much more heating. Bring a large bowl, empty. Never mind +the change.... And now, honoured Shukké Sama, deign at least to the +uninitiated the basis of this wondrous argument." Dentatsu could not +take offence at his merry humour. Himself he smiled, as he poured from +the second bottle of the wine. "Yes; the Buddha has called wine +_hannyato_, thus permitting its use to the initiated; just as stronger +foods, properly labelled, are fit for the belly. Thus by the mouth is +purified what goes into the belly. If the mouth can perform lustration +in the one case, it can do so by its exercise in another and more +intimate fashion." The fellow was immensely pleased. Leaning over he had +drunk in the countenance of the priest in the course of his +argument--"Naruhodo! A big body: 'twas feared the mind would be small. +Deign, honoured sir, to wait a moment; a purchase to make...." Off he +bolted with the _domburi_ or large bowl, something of a mystery to the +priest. It was soon solved by his reappearance with the vessel filled +with the small salted squid (_ika_). "There! Honoured Shukké Sama, +sample the best of Odawara town, noted for _kamaboku_ and its small +fish-salted; and of these the _ika_ is unsurpassed." As they drank the +wine, urged on by the savoury relish, he gave few and brief directions. +The food was wrapped up by the _ne[e]san_, several bottles of wine put +in the package, for use in a journey that must be pressed. "Now--the +bill; for you, _ne[e]san_, what is left over. Honoured Shukké Sama, a +gentle pace for the time being. The belly full, one loiters to let it do +its work. From here to Yumoto is a _ri_ (2-1/2 miles), of most gentle +rise. And what a pretty scene; the valley narrowing to its clinging +hills hiding the strange and beautiful scenes beyond, yet which cause a +little fear even to the stoutest hearts. This river seems alive, +twisting, and turning, and pouring in multitudinous and minute falls +over the rounded boulders. The greater falls are naught else--on the +larger scale. All day one could watch the twists and turns of one spot +in a rivulet, white, green, almost black, yet never the same.... Note +how the pass narrows. This is Hata, beyond is the monkey's clinging +hill--well named. More than one rock from the steep above has torn away +the traveller's grasp and crushed a skull as if an egg shell." They +breasted the steep hills through forest, came out on the gentler upper +slopes covered with the long bamboo grass through which could be seen +the rough heaped up surface of volcanic debris. The trader came to a +halt. "A request to make." + +"Ah! Now the fellow's mask is off--in this lonely spot.... He shall have +a tussle for it." Dentatsu was as much enraged as scared. Grasping his +staff he faced the townsman with harshness and visible irritation. Said +the latter testily--"Put off the honoured scowl. Truly the distrust of +the Shukké Sama is most uncomplimentary. But--as priest of Zo[u]jo[u]ji, +and on its mission, there is a passport. Women or guns with such, and +those unfurnished, cannot pass the barrier. I am unfurnished." Dentatsu +showed his amazement--"Yet you would journey to the capital! +And...."--"Started in great haste, without time even for equipment, as +can be seen--in a way. Deign to grant the request of entering in +'companion.' With this favour all will be well, and the obligation +greater." Said the priest gravely--"True: and companions for the day, +breaking food together, it is no great matter. But a townsman as +company--the barrier guards would certainly make question."--"Write the +matter in; write the matter in. They shall have answer.... For whom? The +name is Jimbei, of Kanda ward; but just now a servant of Zo[u]jo[u]ji. +Jimbei will be a credit to the honoured Shukké Sama. Write it in." His +manner was so peremptory that the priest drew forth his writing +materials. With one hand grinding his tablet of ink, with one eye +watching Jimbei, he saw him disappear into the bushes. With misgiving +the characters were added to the passport, a gentle forgery easy to the +cleric in mind and hand. Who would not cheat barrier and customs, and +feel all the better for the deed? To the misgivings were added a gasp of +astonishment. From the bush appeared Jimbei clad in full raiment of a +temple servant, carrying pole and the two boxes (_ryo[u]gaké_) on his +shoulders, and so like to the rôle that Dentatsu felt as travelling in +the style of his betters. "But ... in this lonely place how effect such +change? How...." Jimbei quietly removed the document dangling from his +fingers. "How--and why--and which--and where--all these are for later +explanation. Time presses if Sumpu is to be reached at night. Jimbei +answers for the credit of the Go Shukké Sama. Now, honoured sir--down +the hill with you." They were standing on the crest overlooking the lake +far below. Jimbei set the example by starting off at a rapid pace. Never +had priest better attendant, or one more skilled in dealing with barrier +curiosity. He was loquacious, without giving information. The matter was +clear, and Jimbei gave hint as to the mission and the burden. Dentatsu +was given early clearance. At the top of Muko[u]zaka Jimbei loyally +restored to him the precious burden until then assumed. "Now, sir +priest, be assured of Jimbei Dono's good faith. The favour has been +great. The acknowledgment shall be as great. In this life the Go Shukké +Sama and this Jimbei are bound in brotherhood." If Dentatsu felt +grateful, he also felt a little chilled. + +"A wonderful fellow! Such legs on such a small body have never been +seen.... Nor such an eye. This man is as much brains as bulk. Every +member is intelligence--Extraordinary!" He kept this opinion to +himself. Aloud--"This Dentatsu admits his inferiority. He is worn out. +Since Jimbei balks Mishima town, from there onward this foolish priest +takes nag or _kago_." Was he speaking truth, or trying to get rid of +him? Jimbei stopped and observed him keenly. Bah! His was the master +mind over this poor cleric. "The Shukké Sama already has had test of +Jimbei's wit and talk. Deign not to spit folly. Leave the matter to +Jimbei, and be assured that the passage of time and space will go +unobserved." Nor did the priest find it otherwise. The leagues passed on +apace. At this rest shed they stopped awhile for tea, and to consume +provision. At another Jimbei halted to order _saké_ for himself and +companion. The sun was far down as the ferrymen landed them on the +further side of the Fujikawa. Okitsu? Mio no Matsubara? No indeed: +passing under the walls of the Seikenji, Jimbei spoke with enthusiasm of +the place famed for eatables--Sumpu town. To[u]to[u]mi-wan, Suruga-wan, +furnished the fish, unsurpassed; the _tai_ (bream) of Okitsu, famed for +_sashimi_--all these, including the best _saké_ in Nippon. Dentatsu +sighed with weariness and anticipated pleasure of the table set. Passing +through the darkness of full night the mass of a castle bulk could be +made out. Then they came into the blaze of such light as a large +provincial town afforded. Said Jimbei, with some exultation--"Sumpu +town, and its inns of note. Eh! Honoured Shukké Sama!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE AFFAIR OF KISHU[U] KE + + +Jimbei, as of one born and bred in the town, at once led his companion +off from the castle precincts. The many lanterns hung out in the narrow +streets showed this Jinshukucho[u] to be the lodging quarter of the +town. Approaching the entrance of one more conspicuous--"The +Yorozuya.... Ah! Shelter for the night." The maids kneeling at the +entrance chorused their welcome. Keenly they took in the prospective +guests, garb mainly, possessions less conspicuous. All Nipponese travel +light, and tea money is to be judged by outward appearance. "Deign to +enter;" the usual mechanical and none too enthusiastic greeting. Jimbei +was at home--"And the eight mat room over looking the street?... Oh! +Ne[e]san is without memory." The girl, a little puzzled, admitted the +defect and made apology. Alas! The room had been taken for one of the +train of Kishu[u] Ke. They were _samurai_, on their lord's business, and +would have no near neighbours. Another room of size and suitability was +available. "Honoured Shukké Sama, water for the feet." Deftly he +stripped off the sandals of Dentatsu, acted the servant to perfection, +and attended to his own purification with practised swiftness. Then +under the guidance of the maid the room was sought. The host appeared +almost as soon with the inn register. "Dentatsu, _shoké_ of +Jo[u]jo[u]ji; one companion--from Mishima this day." With grave face +Jimbei made the entry; and Dentatsu gave all the approval of an outraged +weariness. + +"And now--the bath? Ne[e]san, the Danna Sama is large of body and +liberal of needs. No vegetation as repast for him. Just a...." Jimbei +went into a huge order of food and wine to repair their tired bodies. +The girl sighed in relief--"The honoured _bo[u]zu_-san (sir priest) is +most considerate. He asks but what is easily supplied." To Jimbei's +supposed inquiry--"To furnish out of the usual course is never easy. The +honoured priests often give trouble." A serving man stuck his nose +within the _sho[u]ji_. "For the honoured guests the bath...."--"Danna, +the bath." The girl stood expectant. Following her guidance the weary +Dentatsu, under the manipulation of his more active companion, underwent +this partial renovation. Before the _zen_, well covered with the +eatables, Dentatsu sighed--"Ah! Ha! This Dentatsu is weary beyond +measure. To-morrow he will rest here. The distance...." Jimbei cut him +short--"The Danna deigns to jest. The rest of a night, and all the +weariness departs. Wine and food, sleep, will show the folly of such +thought. Besides, the temple's important affair...." Dentatsu did not +seem to be so solicitous concerning temple matters as his attendant. +Jimbei gave him little chance to show it. He prattled and talked, had +much to ask of _ne[e]san_. This shortly, and as decided--"With an early +start let the beds be laid at once." Off he dragged the unwilling +Dentatsu. When they returned from preparation for the night the beds +were laid. Dentatsu tumbled incontinently into one, and in a moment was +snoring. Jimbei sat smoking, watching him and the girl making the final +preparation of the chamber for the night. As she passed close to him +suddenly he seized her and drew her down to him--"Ara! Danna, this won't +do at all. A maid in the inn, such service must be refused. Condescend +to loosen." But Jimbei did not let her go. He drew her very close.--"Ha! +Ah! Indeed one is much in love. However don't be alarmed. It is another +affair. The Go Shukké Sama has a little soul in a big body. He is +wearied beyond measure; yet the temple affairs require an early start. +Deign to call us at the seventh hour, but be sure to say it is the +sixth. Is it agreed?... For a hair ornament." The maid understood the +coin and the innocent deception. Dimming the night light she took her +departure. An inn of Nippon never sleeps. + +Dentatsu was aroused, to find the lamp still burning brightly in the +room. The maid, somewhat frightened, was vigorously shaking him. "Oya! +Oya! To shake up such a big Danna, 'tis terrific. He may deign to bestow +a beating." Said Jimbei, with calm philosophy--"For the _kerai_ to +inconvenience his master is not to be permitted. You are of the inn +service. Hence not to be reproved by strangers. It is your function to +arouse."--"The sixth hour!" grumbled Dentatsu. He rubbed his eyes as one +who had just gone to sleep. Jimbei carried him off to the cleaning +processes of early morn. The return found the table laid with the meal. +With quietness and despatch Jimbei settled all matters with the aplomb +of the practised traveller. Before he was well awake Dentatsu found +himself following after through the dark streets. "Surely the maid has +mistaken the hour.[23] 'Tis yet the darkness of night."--"Not likely," +interjected Jimbei, as swiftly he urged him on. "The girl sees to +departure every day in the year. It is the darkness of bad weather, and +all the more need for haste." He looked around in surprise. They had +reached the ferry at the Tegoé crossing of the Abégawa, at the edge of +the town. "Naruhodo! Not a coolie has yet appeared. There is no one to +carry us across the river. How now! Has the girl really mistaken the +hour?... Return? Why so? That would be to look ridiculous, and the woman +is not worth scolding. However, this Jimbei knows...." With misgiving +and protest Dentatsu followed him a little up stream, toward the +Ambai-nai or Nitta crossing. Here the broad middle space is usually left +bare of flood. Jimbei began to strip. + +"Naruhodo! Townsman, surely the crossing is not to be trod without the +practised guidance of the coolies? This Dentatsu budges not a +step...."--"Deign to be silent," was the reply. Jimbei was already in +the water; with the priest's luggage and his own. With fright and +interest Dentatsu watched him feel his way through the stream. Surely he +was a most surprising fellow. On the other bank doubtless he would +disappear at once. The big legs of Dentatsu trembled under him. He had +thoughts of entrance, but the impossibility of overtaking these legs of +quicksilver prevented him. "Ora pro nobis"; these departing treasures. +No! Now he was returning. "Now, Go Shukké Sama, up with you." He made a +back for Dentatsu, but the big man backed away. "Jimbei! Are you mad? Is +Jimbei one to carry the big...."--"Body in which is lodged such a small +soul? Be sure, sir priest, this Jimbei easily could shift double the +weight. Up with you!... Don't put the hands over my eyes. A little +higher: that's it." Off he started into the flood. The first channel was +easy; barely to the thigh. Dentatsu walked across the intervening sand, +with more confidence and not a word of doubting protest. Again, and +readily, he mounted this surprising conveyance. The second attempt was +another affair. The river flowed swift. The legs of Dentatsu were wound +around the neck of Jimbei, now in water to his chest. He looked in +fright and some pleasure at the waves, flicked here and there with +white. Jimbei halted--"A fine sight, sir priest. Note the deep blue. It +shows depth, yet this is the ford. Just below it runs far over man's +head, with swift undercurrent. He who once is caught in it rises not +again until the crossing is reached, far below." Said Dentatsu, scared +and annoyed--"Why loiter then in such a dangerous place?"--"Because just +now the world is Jimbei's world." The tone of voice, the look up he +gave, froze the soul of Dentatsu. + +"Just consider, sir priest. A movement, and the honoured Go Shukké Sama +is food for fishes. His disappearance accounted for, his luggage, the +two thousand _ryo[u]_ of the temple, pass to Jimbei as his heir, and +none to make report. The honoured Shukké Sama, is he prepared?" Dentatsu +was no fool. This man was in earnest for the moment. With all the +calmness of a desperate position he made terms--"Life is everything. +Deign to place this foolish priest on solid ground. Jimbei takes the +coin, goes unscathed, without word now or hereafter. The priest's word +for it--and surely Jimbei fears not for himself." He clung fast to +Jimbei's neck. The latter had gone off into a most outrageous peal of +laughter which almost shook his freight from the perch aloft. Then +slowly and carefully he proceeded into the shallows, set down his charge +on the further bank--"A magnificent compliment: but no more of this. +Perhaps now the Go Shukké Sama will have trust in Jimbei, submit to his +guidance. For once in earnest, the escape was a narrow one.... Ah! Ha! +Ha! Ha! How scared!" Dentatsu did not deny it--"More than frightened; +thoroughly scared." He scanned his companion. "A most surprising fellow! +Surely...." He was perplexed. But Jimbei paid no attention to his +questioning deferential manner. He was plainly the master--"Come now! +All haste is to be made." Urging the pace soon they were amid the hills. +The white light of dawn was approaching as they were reaching the top of +a difficult climb. "The Utsunoya-to[u]ge (pass)," said Jimbei. A +peculiar vibration in his voice made Dentatsu look at him with surprise. +His mouth was set. His eyes shone colder than ever. Every faculty of the +man was awake and alert. Silent he halted, put down the pack on the +steps of a little wayside shrine, drew out his pipe to smoke. "Beyond is +the Tsuta no Hosomichi, running along the mountain side for some +_cho[u]_; the 'slender road of Ivy,' for it is no wider than a +creeper."--"A bad place!" mechanically murmured Dentatsu. "A very bad +place!" was the grave reply. + +Then the sound of steps was heard. A man, puffing, came up on the run. +He addressed himself with respect to Jimbei--"Honoured chief, they enter +on the pass."--"Good: now--vamoose; but be at hand." The man saluted, to +Jimbei and the priest, and disappeared in the direction whence he came. +"Vamoose? Vamoose? What and why this word vamoose?"--"Shut up!" was the +emphatic reply of Jimbei. His eye turned to wayside shrine, close by at +the summit of the pass. "Now, in with you, sir priest. No word or +motion, if life be valued.... In with you." Dentatsu looked him all +over. In resentment? If he felt it, he did not dare to show it. +Mechanically he turned and huddled himself within the grating. Jimbei +forced it in on him, for the space would but hold the big body of the +priest. He had hardly done so when another man came running up, almost +breathless--"Chief! They are at hand."--"Good: vamoose."--"Again +'vamoose'", grumbled Dentatsu openly.[24] "Why such strange words; and +at least why not explain them?"--"Ah! Ha! A noisy priest; these clerics +can do nothing but clack, clack, like a parcel of geese or women. Even +the best of them--who thus consorts with Jimbei. Remember, +Bo[u]zu--silence, or the Go Shukké Sama finds Nirvana--not Gion; or was +it Chion." With a silent ferocious laugh, or expression of such, he +disappeared into the bushes. + +But few moments passed. Dentatsu wriggled uneasily in his robes, the +only motion space permitted. Then was heard the merry sound of bells. A +pack train appeared; or rather two horses, one as carrier. A _samurai_ +rode in front; another followed on foot. Four or five grooms were in +attendance. Close by the shrine, at the top of the ascent, they halted +to get wind after this last steep pull. "What a splendid sight! +Naruhodo, Gemba Dono! The sun rises from the bosom of the waters. How +blue they seem! The hills take shape in the dawn's light. Truly the +start, so inconveniently early, is repaid in part. One could stay here +forever ... what call you this place?... Tsuta no Hosomichi? And the +resort of highwaymen. But the _samurai_ has his sword. Such fellows are +not of the kind to trouble. Much more so a _tanka_ couplet to celebrate +the beauty of the spot." He laughed, and his companion swaggered to the +front of the shrine, with that peculiar hip motion of his caste. +Dentatsu held his breath. The grooms chanted the few lines of a +song--"The eight _ri_ of Hakoné--the horse's pack; the Oigawa--its wide +flood, not so." Slowly they rose to follow the masters. He who walked +preceded. The pack horse followed. The rider was well engaged in the +narrow way. The grooms were preparing to follow. Then a man burst forth +from the bushes at the roadside. "Atsu!" The _samurai_ had but hand on +his sword hilt when his assailant had cut deep into shoulder and pap. +His companion tried to turn. Then Dentatsu saw the animal he rode +stagger and fall. The rider had but time to throw himself to the ground. +Before he could rise his head rolled off a dozen paces, then bounded +down the steep slope. Striding over the body smoking in blood, Jimbei +grasped the rein of the pack horse. The grooms, who had looked on eyes +agog, took to flight down the pass as they had come. The whole affair +had not taken two minutes. + +Gasping with fright Dentatsu allowed himself to be dragged from the +shrine. "Ah! Ha! Ha! A surprising fellow! Such activity was never shown +by man. Truly Jimbei is of the hobgoblin kind." Jimbei was once more +transformed. His costume of priests' attendant had been resumed. The +carrying boxes, now much heavier, were ready to shoulder. Gravely he +indicated the burden. "Four thousand _ryo[u]_ there; a thousand _ryo[u]_ +to be carried elsewhere. But now there is need for great haste. Neither +Jimbei nor the Go Shukké Sama is to be found in these parts. On with +you, sir priest."--"Ah! Jimbei! Jimbei! A strange fellow indeed! What +manner of company has this Dentatsu fallen in with?"--"This is no time +for questions--or answers," was Jimbei's stern reply. "The relation +evidently is for life. Jimbei recognizes it.... Yes, the crest is that +of Kishu[u] Ke; the money, funds remitted to his treasury. Hence all the +greater need to hasten." Speed they did, by paths and shorter ways +unknown to Dentatsu as frequent traveller of this road, and which spared +the Hamana bight and rest at the tea sheds of the To[u]kaido[u]. Fright +urged on Dentatsu without protest; settled purpose hastened Jimbei. Thus +Yoshida post town was reached in good time to inn, for the priest was +half dead with fatigue. + +Jimbei surveyed his charge, critically and with much kindness, as one +does what has been of greatest use to him. "Not a step further can this +Dentatsu go." It was not refusal; it was plain assertion of fact; and +Jimbei agreed. "There is no longer need for haste. Two, three days +stoppage, with the best of food and wine shall be the reward of the +honoured Shukké Sama. Nay, until thoroughly restored." They had come +from the bath and were seated at a table loaded with wine and food. +Dentatsu prepared to eat. Just then the landlord stuck his head in +between the _sho[u]ji_. His face was anxious and frightened. "Regret is +felt. On Utsunoyama, at the crossing of the pass, the honoured money +train of Kishu[u] Ke has been held up and robbed. 'Tis a great affair; +by some notable robber! At Yoshida none are allowed exit or entrance +during the next six days. People and strangers are to undergo strict +examination. Deign the honoured pardon, but ... after all the charges +are to be met for the detention." The morsel then being conveyed to the +mouth of Dentatsu stopped short. A warning look from Jimbei nearly made +him choke. The townsman was all suavity and glee--"How fortunate! The +honoured Shukké Sama, foot sore, would rest several days. And at no +expense! The generosity of Matsudaira Ko[u] passes measure. Are we not +lucky, Danna?" To the host--"So it makes no difference. But at this +distance...." The host shrugged his shoulders. "It would seem so; but +the order is official. The notice came by boat from Oigawa. The whole +To[u]kaido[u] is up--from Yoshida to Numazu town."--"And why not to Edo +and the capital (Kyo[u]to)," Jimbei laughed. The host laughed too. Well +satisfied with his guests' satisfaction he withdrew. Dentatsu did but +blink. + +The meal removed Jimbei sat in apparent thought. "A boat--and Yoshida! +Who would have thought it? Ah! The wicked are not to escape punishment. +Three feet nearer Heaven--on a stake; and one's belly full of wind +holes--from the spears. Go Shukké Sama, the crime was a dastardly one. +Five thousand _ryo[u]_! Surely it means crucifixion on the embankment. +We will furnish poles for plover--to roost upon."[25] Dentatsu made a +sign of frightened repulsion. He could not speak. Jimbei seemed to catch +an idea. "Ne[e]san! Ne[e]san! keep the honoured Shukké Sama company over +his wine. There is a purchase to make.... By the house? No such trouble +asked. It is for _waraji_, with cloth in front and rear, +indispensable.... Not found here? Nay, these eyes saw them on entering +the town. Someone will get ahead in the purchase--with great regret. The +place was seen, but not knowing the streets it is not to be described." +When the girl carried out the dishes, to bring in more wine, Dentatsu +raised heavy reproachful eyes--"Then Jimbei would run away, leave the +priest in the lurch." He cast a look at the hateful _ryo[u]gaké_, +stuffed with recent spoil. Jimbei froze him into silence--"From the town +there is no escape. Leave the matter to Jimbei. Drink: even if the +liquor chokes."--"A means of escape will be found?"--"Truly a big body +and a cowardly heart. Why, man this but a difficult place. Jimbei +leaves, to find an exit."--"Just so!" was the gloomy answer of the +priest. He put his head in his hands. Meanwhile Jimbei betook himself to +the front. To avoid annoyance he borrowed an inn lantern. With its broad +mark of "Masuya," the name of the inn, he sallied out into the darkness. + +He was gone nearly a whole watch. Dentatsu, assured of his desertion, +was in despair. He had relied on the fertile mind of this scamp. Ah! +What a predicament this fellow had got him into. Then the voice of +Jimbei sounded at his shoulder. Dentatsu almost leaped up. Instead he +gulped down the _saké_, until then barely touched, to the maid's great +astonishment. "Surely the Danna Sama must be ill."--"More likely tired, +than unwell. But the wine will make it pass. The _waraji_? Here they +are." He laughed as he drew them from his bosom. The girl was all +astonishment. They were just as described; such as were never seen west +of Hakoné. Truly a sharp-sighted guest! When alone Jimbei spoke +briefly--"Take courage. The matter is arranged." Said Dentatsu, +heavy-eyed--"The mission settled? Has some other lost his life at +Jimbei's hand?" Jimbei laughed; then frowned. "Neither blood nor coin +does Jimbei spill for mere pastime. He has purpose." He handled the +_waraji_. Said Dentatsu in some amaze--"Where did you get them?"--"In +Odawara."--"Has Jimbei been to Odawara?"--"Just so: but not now. Jimbei +is no Tengu Sama. Did not the Go Shukké Sama take food at Odawara? This +kind are only found there; and pretexts are always needed to range a +town in darkness. The mission is performed. Be assured that before day +these very people will urge departure.... How so? Jimbei is not without +friends; and has done his own part as well. The train is laid, and in +all quarters of Yoshida town the fire will break out. The wind blows +strong, and ... 'tis them or us." His look was so cold as to freeze. +Dentatsu, in ecstasy of gratitude did but seize his hands and +murmur--"Wonderful man--truly a great captain!" For the first time +Jimbei looked a genuine benevolence. + +Dentatsu pushed the covers partly away and sat up in bed. Severe had +been the chiding of Jimbei--"Honoured Shukké Sama, such conduct will +never do. Fortunate it is that the event is postponed but an hour or +so. Ne[e]san surely is amazed at the sudden abstinence of the Go Shukké +Sama from food and drink. Moreover there is work to be done. The body +unnourished, it gives way. Deign to rest. Be assured the urging will +come from others." These the final words before the townsman-bandit had +himself dropped off into soundest slumbers. Dentatsu watched him, with +confidence and some awe. Smoothed out in sleep and under the influence +of some pleasant dream, Jimbei was as harmless looking as one of the +doves in the temple of the war god Hachiman. He leaned over and would +wake him. "_Urusai!_ Annoying fellow! Ah! This _bo[u]zu_ is part hare, +part ass, part swine. When not braying, he is stuffing, or ears up in +fright. Deign to rest, honoured priest. Legs and body will soon have +enough to do." Again he turned over; and again the snores rose loud. +Dentatsu could not sleep. He lay awake, listening to the diminishing +sounds of inn life. + +The temple bells were striking the sixth hour. The sound was a strange +one. The strokes of the hour ran into one continued roar. +Jan-jan-jan--pon-pon--gon-gon--cries of men, the racket of wooden +clappers and of drums, were now added to the uproar. For a few moments +Dentatsu stood the increasing excitement. Through the cracks of the +closed _amado_ he could see a reddish glare, becoming brighter and +brighter. He sat up and roughly shook Jimbei by the shoulder. "Oh! This +rascally cleric. Nothing will satisfy his stupidity, but to carry it to +extremes. Honoured Shukké Sama, wait the urgency of others; don't supply +it. We at least lack not preparation.... Ah!" The _sho[u]ji_ were thrown +hastily back. The host of the inn appeared, his face pale and lips +trembling. "Honoured guests! Still in bed? Deign at once to flee. The +town is in a blaze. Every quarter has its conflagration which walks +apace; and in this gale hopeless to overcome...."--"Don't talk folly," +sleepily answered Jimbei. "Is not the town in ward for these six days. +Why disturb oneself? Let all burn together?" The host wrung his +hands--"Honoured sirs, the blame and punishment falls on this Masuya if +injury befall its guests. All lies wide open. Deign at once to leave.... +Naruhodo!" His mouth was wide open. Jimbei and Dentatsu rose as on +springs, full clad, _waraji_ on their feet. The way "lies wide open." +This was the watchword to Jimbei. "Edokko (sons of Edo) always are +ready, and need no urging." With this genial explanation he and Dentatsu +shouldered past the astonished landlord. If the latter would have had +suspicions they were thwarted or postponed by the cries which rose +below. His own main house was now in flames. Hands to head in this +confusion of ideas he abandoned all thought of his guests and rushed +down below. As if in his own home, with no guide but the outer glare +Jimbei passed to the inn rear. In the darkness of the passage he had +stopped, leaned down and struck a light. The precious _ryo[u]gaké_ on +his shoulders, with the priest he took to the fieldpaths in the rear of +the town. The ground was level; the land rich rice field with its +interspersed and picturesque clumps of trees and bamboo, its verdure +bowered villages. From time to time they looked back at the sky, flaming +red, and in its darker outer parts a mass of glittering flying sparks +"like the gold dashes on aventurine lacquer ware." + +For two days they had lain at Okazaki town, Dentatsu incapable of +movement after the mad run along the classic highway in the darkness of +that fearful night. As refugees from the stricken town they met with +kind reception. The greater part of Yoshida town lay in ashes; and so +great the disaster, so unsuspected the cause, that men looked rather to +the hand of Heaven than of human kind for the source of such punishment. +Jimbei spoke gravely as the two stood on the long bridge leading to +Yahagi across the river. "The luck of one, the misfortune of +another--'twas the life of the Go Shukké Sama and of this Jimbei against +the lives and fortunes of those wretched people. And is there aught to +outweigh life?" The priest nodded a lugubrious and pleased assent to +this plain doctrine. "It is just as well the host of Masuya lost life as +well as goods. He might have made plaint, and had too long a tongue.... +Jimbei could not foresee such weakness in so huge a body." He looked +Dentatsu over with a little kindly contempt. "And so the honoured Shukké +Sama would ask the name of this Jimbei? Honoured sir, the favour of your +ears--for Kosaka Jinnai, son of Heima of that name, descendant of the +Kosaka known to fame in service with Shingen Ko[u] of Kai. Times have +changed, and misfortune driven Jinnai to seek revenge for his lord's +undoing." He mocked a little; the tone was too unctuously hypocritical. +Then abruptly--"Sir priest, here we part. Your way lies ahead to Gifu +town. Delay not too much, until the lake (Biwa-ko) is reached. Travel in +company, for Jinnai, though his men are numbered by the thousand, +controls not all the craft. A priest can scent a true priest. Seek out +your kind.... Ha! You make a face.... Here: two hundred _ryo[u]_. The +monastery is none too generous, and would have you live--abroad. _Sutra_ +and prayers are not amusing. By face and years the honoured Shukké Sama +loves the sex as well as the best of his kind. The very shadow of a +monastery is prolific. More merriment is to be found with the girls of +Gion than with those who dance the _kagura_ (sacred dances) at +Higashiyama. Besides, these are for your betters. If further off--seek +Shimabara (the noted pleasure quarter). Go buy a Tayu; the funds are +ample and not to be hoarded.... There need be no hesitation. 'Tis money +of no thief. The prince robs the public; and Jinnai robs the princely +thief. No trader ever has hung himself from the house beam for act of +Jinnai; and more than one owes credit and freedom from a debtor's +slavery to his aid." + +It was with thanks, the parting with a man famed by deed before one's +eyes, that Dentatsu slowly passed on to the bridge. From its further end +he could see the road leading into the Nakasendo[u] hills. Long he +waited until a diminutive figure, hastening along it, appeared from time +to time between scattered houses on the outskirts of Okazaki town. Then +in earnest he took his own way, partly impelled by fright and anxiety at +loss of his companion and being thrown on the resources of his own wits. +He felt for a time as a blind man deprived of his staff. It was years +after that Yoshida Hatsuémon, he who died so bravely at O[u]saka, +accompanied Marubashi Chu[u]ya to the new fencing room opened at Aoyama +Edo by the teacher of the _yawatori_--a new style of wrestling +introduced from Morokoshi (China)--of spear exercise (_so[u]jutsu_), of +ju[u]jutsu. Marubashi Chu[u]ya had tried the new exponent of these arts, +and found him master in all but that of the spear, in which himself he +was famed as teacher. At this time (Sho[u]ho[u] 3rd year--1646) the +crisis of Jinnai's fate and the conspiracy of the famous Yui Sho[u]setsu +were both approaching issue. To his amazement Hatsuémon recognized in +Osada Jinnai the one time Jimbei of the days when he had journeyed the +To[u]kaido[u] in priestly robe and under the name of Dentatsu. The +recognition was mutual, its concealment courteously discreet on the part +of both men. Sho[u]setsu appreciated the merits, the audacity, and the +certain failure ahead of Jinnai's scheme. The better remnants he would +gather to himself. Yui Sho[u]setsu Sensei aimed to pose as a new +Kusunoki Masashigé, whose picture was the daily object of his prayers +and worship. All was grist to the mill of his designs; but not +association with such a chief--or lieutenant--as Kosaka Jinnai. +Forewarned Marubashi and Yoshida (Dentatsu) held coldly off and sought +no intimacy. Thus watched by keen wits of greater comprehension Jinnai +rushed on his course into the claws of Aoyama Shu[u]zen and the meshes +of the Tokugawa code for criminals of his class. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT + + +Thus Kosaka Jinnai, under the name of Osada, at the beginning of +Sho[u]ho[u] 2nd year (1645) was established at Aoyama Harajuku-mura. For +a gentleman of such abilities his pretensions were modest. It is true +that he hung out a gilt sign before his fencing hall, with no boasting +advertisement of his qualities as teacher. Yet his fame quickly became +such that students flocked to him by the score. In a few months, on plea +of being over-stocked, he was turning away all who would seek his +instruction. Some he could not refuse--retainers of _yashiki_ in his +vicinity. But the generality of his disciples were a very rough lot; and +this finer quality of his flock were carefully segregated, came and went +at their appointed time apart from the common herd; and as matter of +fact profited much from their teacher, and knew very little about him. +Which was exactly the aim of Jinnai. This was remembered of him later. + +There is but one domestic episode connected with this period, so short +and purposely obscure in its duration. About the time of his first +establishment a villager, on visit to Edo town, chanced upon the +practice hour of Jinnai. The years had passed, yet the rustic had no +difficulty in recognizing in the Sensei the one time Jinnosuké. When +later he sought a more personal interview the great man was found +courteous but freezing cold in the reception. The news from Tsukuba +district was of that mixed character not to afford any exuberant +pleasure. His reputation for bad company had gone abroad, though no +great deeds of wickedness had been attributed to him. With the devotion +of a daughter his wife had nourished the old folk, brought up her two +daughters. On her shoulders during all these years had rested the +management of these small affairs. The girls grew toward womanhood. +When O'Kiku was in her seventeenth year Jisuké had died--unconsoled at +the ill turn fortune had played him in this unfilial son. These +grandparents had lingered out the years, crippled and helpless, urging a +re-marriage on O'Ichi--always refused on the plea that such relation was +for two lives. Jisuké Dono had united them, and he alone could separate +her from Jinnai. She sought no second relation herself and plead against +it; and Jisuké would not force it on this filial daughter, who thus +would block the disinheritance of the son. Thus the farm stood, ready +for the master on his return. Truly the whole village wondered, and +admired her filial conduct. + +To most of this Jinnai listened with indifference. "These girls--their +looks and age?" Replied the man--"O'Kiku now is seventeen years; O'Yui +Dono has fifteen years. Truly they are the village beauties, and rarely +found in such life, for they would spare the mother all labour." He +spoke with enthusiasm. "Then the mother lives?" The man shook his +head--"The grave mound yet is very fresh. When she died she spoke no +word of Jinnosuké Dono." Boldly he looked in rebuke at the unfilial man. +Jinnai, if anything, showed annoyance. The old woman alive would have +kept the inconvenient wife--the three women--at the distance of +Tsukuba's slopes. His plans admitted of no possible descent on him at +Aoyama Harajuku. Briefly he made request for the favour of bearing a +message. Gladly the mission was accepted. With a discouraging cordiality +in the leave taking the old acquaintance took his way back to the +village. With something of a flutter O'Ichi opened and ran out the +scroll he brought--"Unexpected and gratifying the meeting with +Taro[u]bei San. The news of the village, not pleasing, is subject of +condolence. Deign to observe well the instructions here given. The time +will come when a summons to Edo town will be in order. At present the +establishment is new and tender, and stands not the presence of +strangers to the town. Condescend to show the same care in the present +as in the past. The farm and its tenure is left to the hands of Ichi. As +for these girls, look well to their care. They are said to be handsome +and reputed the daughters of this Jinnai. Obey then his command. These +are no mares for the public service, or for the private delectation of +some rich plebeian. Service in a _yashiki_ need not be refused, and +jumps more with the plans and purposes of Jinnai. Keep this well in +mind, and await the ripeness of time. With salutation...." Such the cold +greeting through the years. "Reputed the daughters of this Jinnai." Ah! +He thought and knew the years turned the beauty Ichi into the worn and +wrinkled country hag of nearly forty years, only too ready to market her +girls for her own necessities. She was ill and worn in her service. Here +Jinnai was to be recognized. He was the man of his caste, with contempt +for the plebeian he turned to his uses, but who must have no intimate +contact with him or his. + +Edo town was in a turmoil. North, East, South of the town the lives and +purses of men who walked were at hazard. Plainly some band was operating +in these quarters of the town. Aoyama Shu[u]zen was hard put to it. His +arrests, outrageous and barbarous, increased with his difficulties. Some +specimens have been instanced. His bands of _yakunin_ lay out in a wide +net around the threatened quarters of the city. On the outskirts of +Honjo[u] a country mansion would be fired and plundered. In O[u]kubo a +temple (the Jisho[u]-in) was clean gutted of its treasury--without +notice to its neighbours. Not a sign of the spoil could be traced until +the Sho[u]shidai of Kyo[u]to sent as present to the suzerain a most +valued hanging picture (_kakémono_) of Shu[u]bun, picked up for him in +O[u]saka town, and worthy of being seen by the eyes of Edo's ruler. +Murder and rape were the common accompaniments of these crimes, the +doers of which left no witness, if resisted. _Tsujikiri_, cutting down +wayfarers merely to test the value of a sword blade, found revival. Such +murders in the outward wards of the city were of nightly occurrence. Yet +they all centred in Aoyama's own precinct; starting forth from the +fencing hall of Osada Jinnai. What a band they were! At this long +distant date the names read with that tinge of the descriptive which +such nomenclature gives--Yamaguchi Chiyari, Kanagawa Koni, Sendai no +O[u]kami, Okayama Koshin, Kumamoto Kondo[u], Tsukuba Endé;[26] their +great chief being Kosaka Jinnai. + +The eleventh month (December) was closing its first decade. The wine +shop at Shiba Nihon Enoki was celebrating a first opening, a feast in +progress for some hours, and to be maintained for the few ensuing days. +The enthusiasm was at its height, and the wine flowed like water. Some +few guests, who could, tottered home at midnight. Clerks and +domestics--there is little difference in Nipponese practice--shut up the +premises as well as their drunken state permitted. Those who had still +some trace of sobriety proceeded to guzzle what was left in the opened +casks. When the hour of the ox (1 A.M.) struck, not a man in the place +knew front from rear. They lay sprawled out dead drunk--as were some of +the women. This was the hour watched for and chosen by Jinnai. Such of +the females as could give the alarm were bound and gagged by the masked +invaders. Then they gutted place and store-houses. With bending backs +they betook themselves over the hills the short distance to Harajuku. +Here Jinnai, in the unwise benevolence of the bandit chieftain, gave +rein to the licentiousness of these favourites of his mature age, to +these lieutenants and agents in the great movement for which all this +loot was gathered. The circuit was formed. The heads of wine barrels +just stolen were broached. The grizzled, tousled member who officiated +as cook, and as such had been left behind to his own offices, produced +the feast of fish and delicacies in celebration of the great deed and +accomplishment. "Now is the turn of this company," said Jinnai in +pleasant reference to the victims of the raid. "A real banquet of +extreme intoxication.[27] Alas! We have no _tabo_.... Too dangerous a +loot," commented Jinnai amid the roar of laughter and approval. "Use and +abuse go together; and the necessity to slit the throats of such +chattering parrots. For this company the remains would give trouble, +and might bring unexpected visitors about our ears. Be virtuous--and +spare not the wine." The advice was followed to the letter. Soon the +house of Jinnai was a match for that of the looted wine shop. + +With the light of the December dawn a metal dealer (_doguya_) was +trudging his way over the sifted cover of an early snow fall. He lived +thereabouts; often had had small jobs of mending the weapons and +implements of this sturdy establishment of Jinnai, hence had some good +will to its owner, which was more than could be said of most of the +neighbours. To his surprise he noted the wide open gate to Jinnai's +entrance, the many tracks leading within. Strange sounds were heard. He +would venture on a look. "Oya! Oya!" The man stood stock still, half in +fright and half in a wondering concupiscence of curiosity, as he took in +the riotous vision of the fencing hall. Some twenty men lay scattered in +different postures--all dead drunk. The noise arose from their wide open +snoring mouths and nostrils. A score of wine casks lay tumbled, the +liquor spilled on the _tatami_. Mingled with the remains of food and +vomit were stained cups and dirty plates. More suggestive to his +frightened eyes was the heap of packages laid out at the side. Some of +them had been opened, and displayed the varied assortment of the +contents. Most conspicuous was Jinnai, who had gone to sleep with the +bag of all the coin found in the wine shop as pillow. Ah! Ha! The scene +needed no interpreter. This was a mere band of thieves, the house their +den. The man stole to the kitchen. He knew his ground, and that in these +bachelor quarters no women would be stirring. Jinnai was a +misogynist--on business principles. Hearing a stir he would have fled at +the rear, but the body of the drunken cook, the intermediary of their +dealings, lay square across the exit. Fearful he made his return. As he +passed out the front--"Alas! Alas! What is to be done? The Sensei, so +just and prompt in his dealings, so kind in his patronage, is a mere +thief. Report is to be made. As witness this Sentaro[u] will send the +Sensei to the execution ground. But the honoured mother--no trouble is +to be brought on her. By other discovery ... and perchance someone has +seen this entrance! What's to be done? What's to be done?" He did one +thing in his perplexity. He shut the outside door, closed fast the big +gate, and departed by the service gate. Thus no others should intrude on +this rash man; and likewise Jinnai had no inkling of his visit. Then the +_doguya_ fled to his home, so blue in the face and overcome as to +frighten the household. They gathered round the unhappy man with hot +water to drink as restorative. "Had he seen a ghost?" + +All day he pondered. Then he told his story to Aikawa Chu[u]dayu. The +officer was indebted to Sentaro[u]; for many a hint in his operations. +"Deign somehow, honoured _yo[u]nin_, that the Sensei be allowed to +escape. For this Sentaro[u] to appear as witness will bring down the +curse of one sure to be visited with execution. Condescend this favour." +Chu[u]dayu looked on him with approval, but shook his head in +doubt--"Never mind the curse of one dead. The service to the suzerain is +most opportune. Thus surely there will be reward, not punishment. For +the present you cannot be allowed to leave, but the mother shall suffer +no anxiety. There is much serious matter against this man; perchance no +testimony will be called for.... Strange he should be caught thus; on +both sides, and in accordance." He looked over the scroll he held in his +hands, and with it took his way to his master's apartment. Thus it was +he could spring on Shu[u]zen the greater affair concerning the long +missing man. Making his report of the tale of the _doguya_ he passed +over the scroll he held in his hand--"The fellow is caught in both +quarters. There are three of these _ro[u]nin_, most intimate. Of this +Marubashi Chu[u]ya little favourable is known, but he has the support of +Yui Sensei, the noted master of the Ushigomé Enoki fencing room, and +favourite of all but Hida no Kami, whom he would rival in attainment. +Shibata Saburo[u]bei and this Kato[u] Ichiémon seem honourable men, of +clean lives and reputation beyond the fact of being _ro[u]nin_. All +experts at arms they live by teaching one form or other of the practice. +Curiosity led Chu[u]ya to the encounter of this Osada at his fencing +hall, to find him more than his match at everything but his favourite +art of the spear. But here lies the point. Later he returned, in company +with a one time _shoké_ of the Zo[u]jo[u]ji. As Dentatsu the priest had +met with Jinnai, and nearly suffered at his hands. In what way he did +not say, but told Chu[u]ya that the man's real name was Kosaka--of the +stock of Kosaka Dansho[u] no Chu[u]den of Kai; of him your lordship +already has had experience in early days. At last he comes into the net +and under such fair terms." + +Aoyama did know his man; even after all these years. He had ripened +much. Why not Jinnai? He would have gone himself, and chafed at not +doing so; but his satellites showed him the lack of dignity in such +procedure. The magistrate in person to take a common thief! Darkness +offered chance of escape; so with dawn a host of _yakunin_ was sent +under a _yoriki_[28] and several _do[u]shin_. Aikawa Chu[u]dayu himself +volunteered. Jinnai and his men were not yet up. On the previous day +awaking amid the unseemly debris of the night's debauch, with no clear +recollection of its progress and ending, the chief's first alarm had +been dissipated by finding the outer gate locked. The unbarred wicket +was attributed to an oversight which hardly would attract notice from +the outside. Indeed he had not been the first to rise and take tale of +his companions, to ascertain which one had occasion to open it and go +without. With such a chief few would admit negligence. The day passed +without notice. Confidence was restored. Now from the outside was heard +a hum of voices. "On his lordship's business! On his lordship's +business!" The cries came together with an irruption of _yakunin_ into +the entrance hall, Jinnai and his men promptly sprang to arms. A +scattered fight began, with none too great stomach of the officers +before the stout resistance offered. It was no great matter to reach a +ladder to the loft. Jinnai was the last man up. The more daring to +follow was laid low with an arrow shot from above, and the ladder +disappeared heavenward. Panels now were thrust back, short bows brought +into use, and almost before they had thought to fight or flee the +constables had five of their men stretched out on the _tatami_. + +Before the shower of missiles they could but retreat. At the request +for aid Aoyama Shu[u]zen was in a rage. There was now no preventing his +departure. Mounting his horse off he rode from Kanda-mura toward +Harajuku-mura. But it had taken some little time for the messenger to +come; and more for Aoyama with his staff to go. Meanwhile much had taken +place. The ward constables had joined the _yakunin_ of Shu[u]zen. The +place completely surrounded, _tatami_ were taken from the neighbouring +houses for use as shields against the arrows. Then on signal a concerted +rush of the hardiest was made. Pouring in, with ladders raised aloft; +tumbling each other into the ditches, in the confusion pummelling each +other with mighty blows, and in consequence securing stout whacks from +the enraged recipients; the unlucky constables were soon +indistinguishable in their coating of mud and blood. The outrageous +ruffians, however, were soon tumbled from the posts of vantage and +precise aim by well directed thrusts. A dozen men poured up the ladders +and through broken panels into the loft above. Here in the uncertain +light they hesitated. The figures of the foe could be seen, armed and +ready for an arrow flight. Then a shout was raised from below. Stifling +smoke poured up from every quarter. The scene was illuminated by the +blazing figures of the archers, for these were old armour and weapons, +lay figures stuffed with straw and meant but to gain precious moments of +respite. The _yakunin_ now had themselves to save. The retreat was as +disorderly as at their first advent, but their rear was not galled by +aught but flying sparks and burning timbers. Discomfited they watched +the blazing mass of Jinnai's once establishment; watched it until it was +a mere mass of ashes and charred beams. + +Jinnai had been long prepared for such an adventure. The _yakunin_ at +first driven back he followed his company through the tunnel[29] leading +to beneath a subsidiary shrine in the grounds of the neighbouring temple +of the Zenkwo[u]ji. Here he dismissed them, with hasty division of the +raided coin, and instructions to their chiefs to meet him at the +festival of the Owari no Tsushima in the fifth month (June). Himself he +would go north, to give notice and gather his recruits. Thus exposed at +Edo, the great uprising now must centre in O[u]saka. They scattered to +their different courses; and thus Jinnai failed to meet the enraged +Aoyama Shu[u]zen, now present on the scene. But even the harsh +discipline of their master had to yield to the piteous appearance of his +men in their discomfiture. Aikawa Chu[u]dayu bent low in most humble +apology. They had underestimated the man, had virtually allowed him to +escape--"Naruhodo! The figures were of straw, and no wonder yielded so +readily to the spear. Only the sight of the flames rising amid the +armour betrayed the deceit in the gloom of the loft. Deign to excuse the +negligence this once." A _do[u]shin_, an old and experienced officer, +spoke almost with tears. Aoyama gave a "humph!" Then looking over this +mud stained, blear eyed, bloody nosed, ash dusted band of his +confederates he began to chuckle at the battered and ludicrous +composition. All breathed again. But when he had re-entered his +_yashiki_, and was left to himself, without concubine for service, or +Jinnai for prospective amusement, then indeed he stamped his feet, his +belly greatly risen. Alas! Alas! How could Yokubei Sama find a +substitute for the one; and secure the real presence of the other? + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE SHRINE OF THE JINNAI-BASHI + + +It was one of those small Fudo[u] temples, tucked away on a shelf of the +hillside just above the roadway, embowered in trees, with its tiny fall +and rock basin for the enthusiastic sinner bathing in the waters of this +bitterly cold day. The whole construction of shrine, steep stone steps, +and priestly box for residence, so compactly arranged with the +surrounding Nature as to be capable of very decent stowage into a +case--much like those of the dolls of the third or fifth month. The +nearest neighbour was the Shichimen-shi--the seven faced Miya--in this +district so dotted even to day with ecclesiastical remnants, from +Takénotsuka to Hanabatakémura on the north edge of Edo--To[u]kyo[u]. +However it was not one of their resident priests who stood at the +_ro[u]ka_ of the incumbent cleric seeking a night's lodging. The kindly +oldish _do[u]mori_ (temple guardian) looked him over. Nearly fifty years +of age, two teeth lacking in the front, his head shaved bald as one of +the stones from the bed of the Tonégawa, a tired hard eye, thin cruel +and compressed lips added nothing to the recommendation of the rosary +(_juzu_) and pilgrim's staff (_shakujo[u]_) grasped in hand; and indeed +the whole air of the man savoured of the weariness of debauch, and of +strife with things of this world rather than of battles against its +temptations. Yet the wayfarer was greeted with kindness, his tale of woe +heard. His own quarters--a flourishing tribute to the mercies of the +eleven-faced Kwannon, with a side glance at Amida--had gone up in smoke +the day before. Naught remained but the store-house, with its treasure +of _sutra_ scrolls and hastily removed _ihai_ of deceased parishioners. +The disaster was not irreparable. His enthusiastic followers already +sought to make good the damage. Himself he would find aid from the cult +in Edo. + +Kosaka Jinnai, for the unfortunate cleric was none else, seated himself +in the comfortable quarters of the _do[u]mori_, to earn his shelter by a +talk which in interest richly repaid the meagre fare, and made amends +for no prepossessing exterior. On his pleading weariness the _do[u]mori_ +got out _futon_ and spread a couch for the guest. This suited Jinnai's +real purpose, which was not to loiter close to Edo and Aoyama's claws, +but to push on that night toward Tsukuba and old friends, and recent +ones he knew he would find on its none too savoury slopes. But Heaven +does not permit the wicked a continued license in ill deeds. The +weariness and indisposition pleaded, in part genuine, rapidly grew +worse. The chilled feeling passed into its palpable and physical +exposition. With alarm the _do[u]mori_ watched the progress of this +ailment. His hot drinks and solicitude would not produce the needed +perspiration. Instead the chill was followed by high fever and delirium. +The medical man, summoned from the village, was taking leave--"A plain +case of ague from Shimosa's swamps. Is he friend or relative of the +honoured Shukké Sama? No?... Alas! A case of resting under the shade of +the same tree; of drinking from the same stream.[30] Deign to have a +care with this fellow. He says strange things, and raves of robbery and +strife--'I am Kosaka Jinnai; the famous Jinnai.' Truly you are to be +pitied at being saddled with such a guest. Doubtless it is affliction +for some deed committed in a previous life, a connection of two worlds +between the honoured Shukké Sama and this doubtful guest." + +The _do[u]mori_ was an old and foolish fellow; but still able to catch +the warning tone and manner of the leech. With anxiety he went to his +guest. Jinnai was sleeping under influence of the draught administered, +and on the word of the medical man was insured for some hours +unconsciousness under the drug. Placing food and drink close to hand, +out into the darkness went the sturdy old chap. The day saw him at +Harajuku-mura, wandering around the site of ashes and charred beams of +the late conflagration. No sign of renovation was there found. For +satisfaction and a meal he turned to the benches of a near-by eating +shed. His inquiries confirmed his own fears and aroused the suspicions +of others. "Truly the honoured Bo[u]zu San must live far from this part +of Edo. These ruins are of no temple. Here stood the fencing room of one +Osada Jinnai, a _ro[u]nin_. This fellow turned out to be a famous bandit +and escaped criminal; no less a person than the Kosaka Jinnai engaged in +the attempt of years ago to carry off or slay the Tenju-in-Den of the +suzerain's House. Heaven's vengeance long since visited the others. Now +Aoyama Dono seeks this fellow. Is he friend or relative that thus +inquiry is made?" The _do[u]mori_ in fright cut short his meal and +questions. Paying his scot he made off in a hurry. Soon after one of +Shu[u]zen's spies passing, he was informed of the matter. Then the hue +and cry was raised through the ranks to find this suspicious cleric. + +From Jinnai the _do[u]mori_ got little satisfaction on return at dark. +He found him sitting, with natural and restored presence, smoking, and +measuring him with the cold cynical glance which froze the marrow in his +spine. "Ha! Ah! The honoured Shukké Sama wanders far and long." The +priest did not attempt to conceal fright or mission--"Honoured guest, +the poor quarters of this foolish cleric are open to the afflicted of +his kind. But Kosaka Dono, deign at once to remove from here. Already +the _yakunin_ are on the trail. Yourself, in the mad fits, you make no +concealment of name and exploits. Found here, discredit is brought upon +the Buddha, and ruin to this his follower. Condescend at once to seek +other quarters." He looked earnestly and pleadingly at the bandit chief, +with squawking groan to lower his head almost to the _tatami_. Jinnai's +eye went through him in his cold wrath--"Be assured of it; that I am +Kosaka Jinnai; and hence one without fear. Let the _yakunin_ come--to +their own destruction. These quarters just suit this Jinnai--for the +time. Cowardly and foolish cleric, you would prattle and bring trouble +on yourself with that wheel of a tongue. Then get you hence. This Jinnai +undertakes the charge and exercise of the weapons of the furious god. +Bah! They are but of wood." To the horror of the priest he gave the +wooden Fudo[u] which adorned the chamber such a whack that the +unfortunate and flawed divinity parted into its aged fragments. "What! +You still delay!" A hand of iron was laid on the old fellow's neck. +Jinnai bent him to the ground. He looked around for implement. None was +better to hand than part of the outraged god. Holding firm his victim, +and raising his robes, a vigorous hand applied to the priest's cushions +such a drubbing as he had not had since childhood's days. Then grasping +him neck and thigh Jinnai cast him out onto the _ro[u]ka_ and down the +steps which led to it. The old fellow heard the _amado_ close tight with +noise. Thus the unwilling god entered on the service of this new +satellite. + +The hue and cry was loud. In the cold of the night the _do[u]mori_ +wandered, afraid in his shame and trouble to approach parishioners; +afraid in the chill outside air to sleep. A hail came to his ears--"Sir +priest, have you not dropped coin?" Ah! Here was a stranger; and his +tale he did unfold. Parlous his case; and for him the sky was upside +down. "Most lucky! At our place to-day a prayer of _hyakumanban_ +(memorial service) is to be held. Food, sleep, and counsel, wide enough +for this weariness and distress are offered. Deign to go in company." +Thus the spy led him to his officer, a _yoriki_ established at +Fuchiémura in the attempt to net this desperate fellow. With joy the +news of Jinnai's close proximity was heard. Entrusting the tired and +barely conscious priest to the village head-man, officer, _do[u]shin_, +and _yakunin_ set out. Jinnai had overrated his capacity. Again the fit +was strong on him. He shook and shivered, helpless under the weight of +every covering he could find, and dared not move or turn in fear of the +chill aroused. Then at the outside came the shout--"His lordship's +business! Make no resistance; submit at once to the rope, in hope to +secure grace." The _yakunin_ roughly broke down the doors of the +priest's house. They found Jinnai on foot. Growled he--"You are not the +kind to face Jinnai. A rush--to freedom; with such of you as stand for +carrion." He boasted overmuch. His fit was too strong even for such iron +resolution. The crisis of the fever was at hand, and his legs bent under +him. A shove from behind sent him weakly sprawling in a heap. Then they +all fell on him, bound him hand and foot, and carried him to the +village. + +The cortege halted on its way to Edo town. Loud had been the lamentation +of the unfortunate _do[u]mori_. He was a ruined priest. At best a +witness, perhaps to be regarded and tortured as the accomplice of this +desperate villain; jail or the execution ground awaited him. He plead +with this one and with that. With sympathy they heard, but in stolid +silence. The spy, who had accosted him, knew the old man well--holy, +pure, somewhat simple and guileless of mind, he was object of reverence +and gentle derision of the parishioners who sought his service in every +trouble. The man spoke to the _do[u]shin_, explained the matter. The +_do[u]shin_ took him to the _yoriki_ seated beneath a tea shed. The +officer nodded; then called for the report. "There is an error of +transcription." Thus he altered the characters [tsujido[u]] to +[tsujido[u]]. Instead of _tsujido[u]_ a cross road temple, now it read +"taken at the cross roads"--"Call the old man here." To the +priest--"Through no fault of yours has this man visited you. Be better +advised as to other guests.... But now--take this coin. This man's +course is run. He surely will be ordered to the execution ground. Great +has been his wickedness, and his grudge is not to be visited on others. +Prayers are to be said for his soul in the next world. The _do[u]mori_ +of the Fudo[u], his zeal and honesty, his purity of heart and manners +are vouched for by those who know. Pray for him.... Now--get you hence!" +He put a gold _koban_ in the priest's hand, allowed the joyful +reverence, and cut short the protests of inconvenient gratitude. The +_do[u]shin_ shoved him off to the rear. The friendly spy carried him +apart and pointed to a path running through the fields behind the houses +of the hamlet. None cared to observe his departure. Thus Jinnai came to +Edo, minus his ghostly purveyor. + +First carefully was his body nourished for the coming entertainment. +With clement genial smile Aoyama Shu[u]zen claimed the acquaintance of +this one time antagonist. As to the past and recent events there was no +doubt. Aoyama had hazy, but little confirmed, ideas of greater objects; +knowing as he did the early nature and history of Jinnai. But the +Tokugawa were now so firmly seated. Confession was to be secured in the +first place, to legalize the execution; and information in the second +place, if such existed. Of confession there was none; not even answer. +Jinnai closed tight his lips in scorn. Then first he was scourged; the +scourging of he who is already condemned. The stout fellows stood +forward with their _madaké_; those thin slips of rattan, two feet in +length, wrapped into a bundle an inch in thickness with stout hempen +cord. Ah! How flexible and painful! As they laid on quickly the welts +and bloody stripes appeared. At the hundred and fiftieth blow the +medical man and legal procedure demanded forbearance. He was removed. +"Cure his back!" roared Shu[u]zen. "Rub salt into the cuts. Next time +the tender surface will force at least words from his lips." But he +underestimated his man. Bound to a stake, with arms behind, kneeling on +the sharp grids, Jinnai hugged the stones--five, six, seven--Chu[u]dayu +leaped down to aid the _do[u]shin_ in pressing down the weight of nearly +eight hundred pounds resting between chin and doubled hams. The body of +Jinnai grew lobster red, his lips were tinged with bloody foam and gouts +appeared. The hours passed. The black colour of the feet rose upwards. +Then the sign was given and the man taken away in a dead faint, without +the utterance of word or groan. + +Thus the game went on. Now it was the lobster. Aoyama would not go to +the prison, nor miss the sight. For a whole morning with curiosity he +watched the progress of the torture. Jinnai lay on a mat. Arms pulled +tight to the shoulders and behind the back, the legs drawn together in +the front and dragged up to the chin. The body at first had the dark red +of a violent fever, but the sweat which covered it was cold as ice. Then +the colour darkened to a purple, changed to an ominous blackish green. +Suddenly it began to whiten. In alarm the doctor ordered relief. With +wrath Shu[u]zen rose from his camp chair close by; still no confession. + +What was suspension to this? Jinnai hung limp as a dangling fish from +the beam. Arms drawn behind his back and upward to the shoulders, a +weight added to the feet made any movement of the limbs agony to the +whole body. It was a sort of prolonged crucifixion. When blood began to +ooze from the toes again removal was ordered. Of the latter part of the +torture Jinnai knew little. He was unconscious. This hardy body of his +was adding to his torments. Even Shu[u]zen could not help admiring this +obstinate courage. He would try one other means--flattery; genuine in +its way. "Useless the torture, Jinnai, as is well known with such a +brave man. But why prolong this uselessness? Done in the performance of +official duty, yet it is after all to our entertainment. Make confession +and gain the due meed of the fear of future generations, their +admiration and worship of such thorough paced wickedness. Surely Jinnai +is no ordinary thief. Shu[u]zen never can be brought to believe him +such." He spoke the last somewhat in scorn. At last Jinnai was touched +with anger. He opened eyes, and, for the first time, mouth--"Aoyama Dono +speaks truth. But why regret past failure? My followers? They number +thousands. Why rouse envy or show favour by giving name of this or that +lusty fellow? The object? As to that exercise your wits. Fat wits; which +in these twenty years could not hunt out this Jinnai. Ah! 'Twas but this +unexpected illness which played this evil trick; else Jinnai never would +have faced Shu[u]zen; except sword in hand. This Jinnai is a thief, a +bandit; the tongue grudges to say. Such is his confession. Not a word +more--to Aoyama Uji." He closed his eyes and mouth. Enraged at the +failure and familiarity Aoyama shouted out--"The wooden horse! The water +torture!" They mounted the man on the sharp humped beast. Lungs, belly, +abdomen wide distended, in every physical agony, his body could but +writhe, to add to the torture of his seat as they dragged down on his +legs. Eyes starting wildly from his head, gasping for air, the +unfortunate wretch was given the chance to belch forth the liquid. +"Atsu!" The cry was between a sigh and a yelp of agony. Then he fainted. +With chagrin at his failure Aoyama Shu[u]zen put official seal to the +confession bearing the thumb print of Kosaka Jinnai. Thus ended this +phase of the contest between the two men. + +Jinnai's body was too racked by the torture for immediate sentence. When +he was brought in the court Aoyama Shu[u]zen had another wicked surprise +to spring upon him. Jinnai's rejuvenating eye noted the band of +peasants, the two beautiful girls brought captive in their midst. He +knew at once who they were; even if the viciously triumphant look in +Shu[u]zen's eyes, the piteous fright and affectionate sympathy in +theirs, had not enlightened him. The presence of O'Kiku and O'Yui was +due to an ill freak played by fortune. In the fall of the year an +illness of the mother--cold?--came to its end and herself with it. What +was to be done with farm and girls? To the villagers this question was +of serious debate. Of one thing they were in dense ignorance. Three +years before a new farm hand appeared in Jisuké's household, and men +could well wonder at the favour he found with the old man. With some +misgivings they had warned him against recklessly introducing a strange +_muko_, without first consent of the village. Jisuké assured them +against what was actual fact. Wataru Sampei was a _samurai_, of +_samurai_ stock, and liegeman to his own old masters of Kai province. It +was with the consent and approval of the dying man that O'Kiku was +united to him. The household in Nippon is adamant in its secrets to the +outside world--and that against the most prying curiosity anywhere +found. O'Kiku lay in of her child and nursed the babe in her own nurse's +house. Thus in full ignorance the council met to consider the request +made by the girls to communicate with Jinnai--Osada Sensei--at the +famous _yashiki_ of Aoyama. + +Most of them were ready to consent. Then rose one Jinémon, smarting +under the sense of having fields adjacent, coupled with flat refusal to +his son of the simple girl O'Kiku. He suspected this virginity of nearly +twenty years; and with an ill turn to this obstacle might do himself a +good one. "Take heed, good sirs, what counsel ye come to. News fresh +from Edo couples the name of Osada Sensei with Kosaka Jinnai; makes him +out a violent bandit and would be ravisher years ago of the +Tenju-in-Den. Surely his fate will be hard. Send them to the _yashiki_ +of Aoyama--but to that of Aoyama Shu[u]zen Dono. Thus their request is +met; and no blame incurred. The honoured _bugyo[u]_ (magistrate) answers +for the district (Aoyama), and the girls will not suspect the +destination. Otherwise, look well to yourselves. Aoyama Sama is known as +the Yakujin. Great his influence in Edo, and sour his wrath as that of +Emma Dai-O[u]. It will fall heavy on you." This intimation, that he +would do what they would avoid, soured all the milk of human kindness. +Wataru Sampei, departed in all haste to Edo, returned in fright to +announce his discovery of the state of affairs. The father Jinnai then +was undergoing the harsh tortures of Shu[u]zen. He found the farm in +charge of Jinémon and his son; the two girls already sent in all +ignorance to the _yashiki_ of Aoyama. Receiving a harsh dismissal he +dared not punish, from the house and tears of the old nurse he received +as if by theft his infant son. With him he took his way to Edo; to +establish himself as gardener at Honjo[u] Koumé; or at Narihira, some +say. + +In daily rounds of the jail the _do[u]shin_ stood over Jinnai. In three +days this man was to go to Torigoébashi. Here he was to be crucified and +speared--"with many spears" ran the sentence, to indicate the +prolongation of the torture. "Jinnai, you have shown yourself brave, +have refused to name even one associate. The time passes. Perhaps some +wish, not incompatible with duty, comes to mind." Jinnai opened his eyes +at the unexpected kindly tone and words. It was as if one soldier looked +into the eyes of his compeer on the battle field, as well could be the +case with this man older and of more regular experience than himself. +The answer came with the measured slowness of an earnest thanks and +appreciation--"The offer comes from a kind heart, shown on previous +occasions.... There are women held here." He hesitated. "Deign the last +cup of cold water at their hands." The officer did not refuse. O'Kiku +and O'Yui knelt beside the couch on which lay the broken body of the +father. Said Jinnai--"The end is most unseemly; words grudge to speak +that mere accident thus should determine the fate of Kosaka Jinnai; he +who sought to determine the fate of Tokugawa Ke. A dagger would have +secured the fitting ending, that you two should not bear the public +service of the town, a certain fate. This remedy Jinnai now forbids. +With life changes occur; old scores are wiped out. Hearken well: live +with patience; serve well to the hour. Now the last cup of life is to be +drained; this first meeting brought to an end." Tears running down her +face O'Yui, mere child budding into womanhood, presented to her sister +the vessel never used as yet and filled with the cold liquid. From the +hand of O'Kiku it was accepted. Jinnai drank, looked long and earnestly +into the face of both, then with a wave of the hand dismissed them. He +had had his say. The hardness of the man returned, and all his courage +with it. + +Three days later--Sho[u]ho[u] 2nd year 12th month 1st day (17th January +1646)--the procession was formed to move to the execution ground at +Torigoébashi. The assembled cits marvelled at sight of the man and +rumour of his extraordinary wickedness. There was a concentration of +mind and energy in the face of Jinnai, which under any condition would +attract attention. The centre of the scene, he bore himself splendidly. +Despite the pain he suffered no incapacity was pleaded. Thus he forced +nature. The costume of the famed robber at this noted execution in Edo's +annals? He wore--"a wadded coat (_kosodé_) of fine silk from Hachijo[u] +in Izu, and that of quintuple stripe. The _obi_ (sash) was seamless and +of a purple crape. Into brick coloured leggings was twisted bias white +thread, and his straw sandals (_waraji_) matched them." The jail had +given to a naturally fair colour a somewhat livid greenish tint, +rendered more commanding and terrible by the piercing cold eyes. Those +far off said--"How mild looking! How tranquil!" Those near at hand +shuddered and were glad at the removal of such wickedness. The +_yoriki_--informed of the purport--let him speak. Jinnai turned to the +crowd. His voice reached far. "Brought to contempt and a punishment +words grudge to mention, this Jinnai holds not evil thoughts against +those who carry out the law. The ill fortune of unexpected disease made +capture easy, and has brought about this vile ending. Hence on death +Jinnai will not leave this place; but as an evil spirit remain to answer +those who pray for relief from the mischance of this ill disease. Those +afflicted with _okori_ (malaria) shall find sure answer to their +prayers. Held now in no respect, this later will be bestowed. The last +purposes of those about to die are carried out." He ceased speaking. A +sign and he was stripped and raised on the implement of torture [ki] ill +described as a cross. For hours he hung, revived from time to time with +vinegar. Then signal was given for the end. First one, then another, +_yakunin_ thrust a spear into his belly, seeking least injury and +greatest torture. As he approached the utter prostration of a +dissolution the _yoriki_ gave sign. The spear point thrust into the +vitals showed through the left shoulder. And Jinnai died. + +To the north, just beyond the present Torigoébashi, is the Jinnaibashi, +relic of this episode. On the north, close by the Torigoé Jinja stands +the shrine to Jinnai, the god granting cure to sufferers from ague. No +mean resort is it; nor modest the offerings of wine to his service. +There it has endured through these hundreds of years. Jinnaibashi, +Jigokubashi (Hell Bridge) is a relic of the place of execution soon +abandoned. After the fifth year of the period the jail was removed to +Temmacho[u]; the execution ground to Kotsukabara. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A WINTER SESSION + + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen was in conference with Chu[u]dayu. Preparations were to +be made. It was with something like dismay that the members of the +Endurance Society received the missive--"At this season of the great +heat your honoured health is matter of solicitude. More and more may it +thrive. Hence the condescension of the honoured (your) litter is +requested on the coming sixteenth day. The wish is expressed to offer a +cup of inferior wine. With fear and respect:-- + +To...." + +Alas! Alas! If they could have but reached the ceremonies of the New +Year.[31] This rascal Aoyama would have been too occupied with the +official visits to press his right to a meeting in the season of extreme +cold (the _tai-kan_). But now--on the 16th day of the 12th month (2nd +February): Ah! Ha! He was a wicked fellow. The grudge properly lay +against Kondo[u] Noborinosuké who had sweated the juice out of them in +the intense heat of the hot season. Now Aoyama proposed to freeze it on +the surface of their bodies. But to refuse was out of the question. +Charged with weakness and effeminacy one would be laughed at as a fool; +be unable to show his face. After all perhaps one could escape the +ordeal with life. + +The 15th day, on which the invitations were issued, was threatening. The +16th day fulfilled the promise. Cold blew the blasts down from snow clad +Tsukuba, with full sweep across the Shimosa plain. As it caught the +unfortunates crossing the Ryo[u]gokubashi in their progress toward the +Bancho[u], they shook and shivered with more than anticipation. An +occasional flake of snow heralded the heavier fall. At the _yashiki_ of +Aoyama all was in readiness to welcome the guests. Shu[u]zen stood at +the house entrance to greet them. With thin open silken robe thrown over +his _katabira_ or summer robe, lacking shirt, and wearing the wide woven +grass cloth _hakama_ (trousers) which sought every breeze, he carried a +fan in his hand. The _kerai_ met the guests with ice cold water for such +as cared to dip the hands--and none dared refuse. Shu[u]zen fanned +himself vigorously; and his guests were zealously supplied with fans, or +the heat inspired by their progress was dissipated in the draught raised +over them by energetic hands. The door-man (_toritsugi_) monotonously +sang out the new arrivals--"Abé Shirogoro[u] Sama, Kondo[u] Noborinosuké +Sama, O[u]kubo Hikoroku Sama, Yamanaka Genzaémon Sama, O[u]kubo Jizaémon +Sama, Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon Sama, Kanématsu Matashiro[u] Sama, Okumura +Shu[u]zen Sama..."; and Shu[u]zen had greeting for all. "Ah! Ha! Such +terrific heat! Not for sixty years has such been experienced. An old +fellow in the _yashiki_ will answer for it. But be sure all has made +ready for comfort. Truly the honoured presence in these dog days in a +gratification. The viands, the drink, all have been carefully cooled. +Deign to come within, to a cooler place, away from this desolating heat. +Condescend to notice how the very leaves have been withered off the +trees." + +With inward groans, their teeth chattering and their bodies shivering, +they followed this merciless fellow. "Ha! Ha! For tobacco there will be +fire in the braziers. At least one's fingers are assured of warmth." +They smirked at the anticipated pleasure. Warm fingers and the heated +_saké_! But--Oya! Oya! Bare were swept and wide open thrown the rooms. +Screens (inner and outer) had all been taken away. From the garden came +the cold blast, blowing icily through this wide bare space. For +cushions--the straw _zabuton_; for fire in the braziers--punk! Explained +Shu[u]zen in all kindness and suavity--"Fires in the braziers in this +heat were too terrific even to think of; so punk (_hinawa_) has been +substituted.... No need for thanks; the mere duty of the host. And +now--no ceremony: off with the garments of all. A middle cloth answers +purposes of decency. Deign the trial. Here is cold water to cool the +heated body." Promptly he stripped to the skin. The _kerai_ were +bringing to the verandah black lacquered basins filled with water in +which ice floated. Before this terrific fellow there could be no +hesitation. They followed his example in being soused from head to foot. +In the wiping--"Let the rag hang loose. Don't wipe with knotted towel. +Stupid fellows! The cool wetness clinging to the skin gives a shiver of +delight." Thus shouted Shu[u]zen to his officiating satellites. Then all +the guests took seats. The mucous was running from the noses of the old +fellows who had fought campaigns at Odawara, Sekigahara, O[u]saka. +Aoyama noted it with delight; and even Kondo[u] felt a grudge against +him, yet was compelled to laugh. + +The viands were brought--to send a chill down the spines of all; +macaroni in cold water (_hiyamugi_), and the equally heating sea ear in +frozen salt water (_mizugai_). Shu[u]zen urged the latter, as better +fitted for the season. As piles of _sashimi_ (sliced raw fish), resting +on neat beds of shaven ice, were brought eyes looked to heaven--to hide +the expression. When the wine appeared, the bottles immersed to the neck +in tubs filled with salted ice, the more recondite parts of the room +echoed groans. Even Shu[u]zen smiled with complacence. He felt he had +scored success. It was Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon who showed no sign of +discomfiture. "Naruhodo! Aoyama Uji, in this great heat how explain a +thing so strange? Deign, honoured sir, to look. This white substance +falling from the sky; if it were not so hot, one would call it snow." +Said Aoyama undisturbed--"Not so, Endo[u] Uji. It is but from wild geese +fighting in the sky, their feathers; or perchance _kanro_--the sweet dew +which falls from heaven when a virtuous lord condescends to rule. Who +more virtuous than the honoured suzerain?" All bowed in heartfelt +enthusiasm and respect. Then said Saburo[u]zaémon--"'Tis a thing to note +closer at hand; a stroll in the garden, to seek its coolness in this +heat." He leaped down into the fast accumulating snow. + +Others too stole away, at least to get protection from the outrageously +cold blasts of the exposed rooms, and the further exactions to be +anticipated from the ingenuity of their host. Growled Kanématsu--"It is +the value of one's life risked with such a fellow as Aoyama. Where +Kanématsu sits the snow drifts in on his shoulders. He is without +consideration or mercy."--"For any: his women must find service in such +a _yashiki_ a substitute for the torments of Emma Dai-O[u]."--"Not so," +sneered Kondo[u]. "Even the wife is but a wooden figure; much like +Kondo[u]'s fingers." An idea seemed to come to him. He left them for the +time being. The others stood sheltered from the wind, to talk and +shiver, Endo[u] joined them from his garden stroll. Seeing Kondo[u] on +his return, said Abé Shiro[u]goro[u]--"Eh! Naruhodo! The smile of pain +relieved! Kondo[u] Uji, has he found means to unbend, to thaw out those +fingers? Ha! The rascally fellow knows the way about. There is hot water +at hand. Deign to give the hint, Kondo[u] Dono." Kondo[u] leaked a +smile, then snickered--"It was but an idea. Hot water in this _yashiki_ +on such a day there is none. But it is always to hand for the effort. +The fingers of Kondo[u] were turning white, were in danger, and so...." +He held out his fingers for inspection. Abé looked with envy. "They +fairly steam!" Then suddenly putting his fingers to his nose--"Oh! Oh! +The filthy fellow! Kondo[u] Uji! Deign to wash your hands. Indeed hot +water is always carried on one's person. But...." All grasped their +nasal members and protested. Noborinosuké laughed outright, and +submitted to the ablution. Abé in malice gave the hands a copious +libation. For the nonce his fingers had been saved and Kondo[u] was +satisfied with the outcome. + +A woman dressed in the summer garb for service came from a room close +by. The opening and closing of the _sho[u]ji_ gave Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaémon a glimpse. At once--"This way...." His tone commanded +attention. Abé Shiro[u]goro[u], Kanématsu Matashiro[u], O[u]kubo +Hikoroku followed him. It was the maids' sleeping room they entered. +"Aré! Aré! Have not the honoured sirs made a mistake? Deign to return to +the other apartment. This is the maids' dressing room."--"And in no +better place can one be," grumbled Shiro[u]goro[u]. His eyes took in the +room with avid curiosity. Here the girls quickly slipped into winter +garb, until called to the banquet hall for service. But it was not the +glimpse of shoulders of the one so engaged at the moment, as the brazier +covered by a quilt and placed in the centre of the room. From this the +girls had emerged in confusion. Said he reprovingly--"Eh! Eh! In this +great heat to have a brazier--it is more than out of season. Surely it +is against the order of the master of the house." The girls, uneasy and +at a loss, had but for answer--"It was the idea of O'Kiku...." The +beauty, still flushed with the suddenness of her effort, came forward +smiling. The attention of all was riveted. A little taller than the +average of her sex, very fair of skin, the sparkling eyes in the pure +oval of the face framed in tresses reaching almost to her feet, the tiny +feet and long fingers appearing from the edge of the robe, the +incomparable poise of head and neck, this woman was a beauty, to be +rivalled by few in Edo town. The voice too was as musical as were her +words to the frozen men--"It is but a water _kotatsu_; so that one can +be cooled in this extreme of heat.... Within? Ice--of course. Deign to +enter." The suppressed groan of Abé was cut short. He looked fixedly at +the bright laughing face before him. The smile was pained and +stereotyped, but the sympathy was evident. He understood. "Ho! Ho! +Endo[u], Kanématsu, O[u]kubo, deign to try this delicious coolness. Ah! +Ha! This water _kotatsu_ is a splendid idea. In this great heat it +restores one to life. Truly Kiku is as clever as she is beautiful; one +apart from all the others." The men crowded together under the +_kotatsu_--"More ice! More ice! The _hibachi_ grows warm." Laughing +O'Kiku brought the necessary supply with the tongs, blew it into life +with a little bellows. + +All the time Endo[u] observed her closely. To Abé--"Truly she is a +beauty.... Your name is Kiku.... And age?... Twenty years only!... So +Kiku is sempstress in the house of Aoyama Uji. So! So!" He and Abé +regarded her attentively. They praised her beauty. The crimson blush +spread over face and neck, adding to her charm. Thoroughly warmed the +men left the room. Said Endo[u]--"Oh, the liar! This Aoyama poses as a +misogynist, takes a wife--perforce, and charges those of us who like +women with effeminacy. O[u]kubo, how about this Kiku.... The Sempstress? +Oh, you stupid fellow! Why--there is no more beautiful woman in Edo. She +is the mistress of Aoyama; who deceives and mocks us all. And now--to +bring him to open shame." Aoyama Shu[u]zen, quick to note their absence, +and the return so refreshed, was much put out. "Where have these fellows +been?" + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon was not slow in the attack. "Truly, Aoyama Uji, +words do not fit deeds. Are you not a bit of a rascal?"--"Why so?" was +the calm reply of Shu[u]zen, always ready to a quarrel. "You pretend to +hate women; you charge us with effeminacy who have wives; and take your +own but on compulsion. Yet in this very house there is not only a wife, +but the most beautiful woman in Edo for concubine." Shu[u]zen's +astonishment was too manifest. "Who?" said Endo[u], with some misgiving +that he had missed fire. "This Kiku; would you deny it?"--"Surely so," +was Shu[u]zen's assured reply. Then seeing the curiosity of those around +he added with courtesy--"This Kiku is a slave girl, a criminal under +judgment, a _yatsu-ho[u]ko[u]nin_ by favour. Would you know about her? +She is daughter to the robber Jinnai, not long since put to death. The +law may be harsh, yet it condemns the line of such men to extinction, +and sends their issue to the execution ground. Whether through good +will, or mistaking the Aoyama Harajuku, the resort of this Jinnai, for +this _yashiki_, the villagers brought the two girls Kiku and Yui from +near Tsukuba. In pity one was taken into the life service of the +_yashiki_. For his business Jinzaémon of the Yoshiwara Miuraya +considered the younger Yui as more fitting. To him she was bound as +_yatsu-yu[u]jo[u]_.... Husband? No: and thus all posterity of the robber +is stamped out. Yui serves for life as harlot in the Yoshiwara, with no +recognized issue. Kiku serves for life at the _yashiki_. The case is a +pitiable one." All present echoed what he said. "It is the offence, not +the person, which is to be hated. Truly it is a hard lot." They were +curious to see her. Said Shu[u]zen--"Surely she has been rated too high, +but--summon Kiku here." As the girl stood in the midst for all to +observe, blushing and panting a little with fright at all these eyes +upon her, there was no gaze more intent than that of Aoyama Shu[u]zen. +The pity expressed and the praises lavished reached his ears. He studied +her from head to foot, heard the caustic criticisms--"Such a beauty, and +a serving wench! Aoyama is a fool." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE TIGER AT THE FRONT GATE; THE WOLF AT THE POSTERN + + +Thus it came about that O'Kiku was an inmate of Aoyama's _yashiki_. He +had told the tale, the fatal error drawn by the mother from the +peasant's message. It was her own deed. Thus "evil seed produces evil +fruit. In one's posterity is punishment found." All knew Kiku's story. +Promptly with her appearance in the household she was named +Shioki--O'Shioki San, O'Shioki San; when not addressing her these +companions called it to each other for her to hear. Shioki? It means +"the execution ground." + +A flower blooms but to wither; and this flowering branch was to be +tended by the master's hand. Now she was faced with a new and terrible +danger. O'Kiku was quick to note the state of Shu[u]zen's household. Of +the _koshimoto_, two were the favoured concubines during the +incapacitation of the wife. The lowliness of her own position--menial +servant and mere serving wench--would seem to protect her. Moreover she +was not brought into contact with the house master. But after all she +was the _bushi's_ daughter, brought up by a mother trained from youth at +the hand of the _samurai_ grandmother. Thus dragged out into the light +by indiscreet curiosity the tiger's eye had fallen upon her. Shu[u]zen +marvelled at his stupidity, his oversight. This woman was indeed a +beauty, the concubine for long sought, and to hand free of her charms. +He stood adjusting his robes; then lost in thought. There were +obstacles--in the girl's position. But that night O'Kiku was ordered to +serve the wine. The intelligence and training, corresponding to the +outward physical charms, aroused in him a very fury for possession. +Abrupt, blunt, overbearing he approached her in the coarsest way--"Kiku, +first pity and now love has seized upon the heart of Shu[u]zen. With +women all his relations have been those of cold formality--the business +of connection or the necessity of an heir. Now an entirely different +feeling is aroused. The very sight of Kiku's figure inspires fondness, +an exclusion of all others of her sex. 'Tis Kiku alone who remains the +object, all others are mere lay figures. You are a woman, and by nature +know of such things. Is not this truly love? Consent to become the +concubine of Shu[u]zen. Let this very night seal the union." + +He attempted to draw her close to him, but she shrank away in confusion +and fright. Shu[u]zen was amazed--"What! You refuse?... Ah! Then it is +hate of this Shu[u]zen which is felt. Most unreasonable hate, for he +acted but as _bugyo[u]_ of the land. It is a disloyal hate." In his mad +and thwarted lust his lips trembled. The girl humbly remained +prostrate--"Condescend the honoured forbearance. Such could not be the +case. Great the favour of Heaven, of your lordship as its agent, in +saving this Kiku from the final punishment, the coarse assault of +menials. But deign to consider. Kiku is the daughter of Jinnai. She is a +reprieved criminal in the land, can be naught else but of lowest status. +Kind the honoured words, great the gratitude inspired; but is not the +summons unseemly. Deign forbearance; add not to the offence of Kiku." In +her mind was the last scene with her father Jinnai; the tortured, +distorted, suffering body of the condemned bandit. Pollute her body with +this man who had thus played with the one to whom she owed life and +duty; to the man who had sent the father to the execution ground? She +would have used her dagger first on herself, rather than on him. His +words did inspire uncertainty. He was the officer in the land, the +representative of the suzerain, hence guiltless. But that made not the +idea of his embraces less repulsive, though she wavered in thoughts of +vendetta--between filial duty and loyal service to the suzerain. Her +attitude puzzled Aoyama. The unusualness of his proposition he put +aside. Her claim to loyalty, in his hopes as the successful lecher, he +was disposed to accept. Was there not something deeper? + +Then the battle began between them, to last for those weeks of the +winter months. Force matters he would not. There was a zest in this +pursuit, far apart from any mere sensual gratification. The desire he +felt for her person was all cruel. It was joined to the desire to humble +her, to force her to consent by her own lips and motion and against +reason, to grant the gift of herself even if unwilling. There was an +enjoyment in soiling the body and mind of this beauty. Thus with refusal +love began slowly to turn to a hatred full of malice. One night Aikawa +Chu[u]dayu was present. O'Kiku as usual served the wine. Shu[u]zen +turned to him impatiently--"The speech of the overlord is without +effect. Chu[u]dayu, try your hand, and bend Kiku to consent to my +wishes, to become my concubine." Shamed before the whole household? +O'Kiku had grown used to this grossness in the determined pursuit of +Shu[u]zen. Now openly addressed before the chamberlain and others she +looked down; a little flushed, and hearing with astonishment the words +which came from such a quarter. Chu[u]dayu spoke slowly; addressed her +with a severity of tone which belied his intent. "O'Kiku Dono, why are +not thanks given for such condescension on the part of the Tono Sama? +Apart from his rank is not the experience of his fifty years, on the +battle field of war and love, to count in his favour? Most imposing and +strong his figure, despite his age. All bow in respect before the lines +marked by the wisdom of years in his lordships face. Why refuse to +follow the example of the other women of the household--and share with +them? These are indeed _koshimoto_; your promotion to the position, from +the vilest status, but a caprice and kindness. You should obey the order +of the Tono Sama. His face alone would inspire fear. All regard it with +awe, as if in contemplation of that of Emma Dai-O[u]. And who refuses to +obey the mandate of the king of hell? Answer--who?" He leaned far over +toward her. O'Kiku looked at him; then hid her face in her hands. + +These were not her only trials in this Jigoku _yashiki_ (Hell mansion). +There was her ladyship to take into account. Says the proverb of the +Nipponese--"dabble in vermilion, and one is stained red." Contact with +Shu[u]zen had developed all the harsher traits in this stern _samurai_ +dame. She despised the former character of her husband, and now was mad +with jealousy at his unrestrained lechery. However there was some +consolation in this new pursuit. Promiscuous in his intercourse with all +and every other of her household, she could do but little. These were +women of more or less position. Now he threatened to turn all devotion +in the one direction of this beautiful girl, to condescend to a serving +wench. + + "The Rangiku: it has a fox's shape."[32] + +Thus sneered her fellows. O'Kiku now was punished as scapegoat for all +the others. The natural harshness of her ladyship's character turned to +barbarity. This "slave"--O'Shioki--in no way could satisfy her. The +slightest fault, of self or other, was visited on O'Kiku. One day her +ladyship in her rage seized her and dragged her by the hair over her +knees. A short baton of bamboo was to hand, and with this before all she +put the girl to the shame of childhood's punishment, and with a malice +and heartiness of will and muscle which left O'Kiku lame, and thus +victim in other derelictions of duty. This so pleased the _okugata_ that +it became a favourite pastime, whenever the girl was at hand and her own +arm had rested. She would have starved her, but the rest contributed of +their store out of mere fellowship. Her ladyship recognized the +uselessness. She did not dare deface her beauty. Believing in +Shu[u]zen's love her vengeance was confined in its exercise. With +despair she regarded her bloated disfigured person, the wan faded aspect +due to her advanced pregnancy. Ah! If she could but fasten some offence +upon her. She would bring about this interloper's death. With delight +she noted the signs of dislike and malice in Shu[u]zen. Surely the tales +were true that the beauty was holding out for the price of her charms. +It should be a case where beauty would not secure pardon. + +It was at this time that, with Shu[u]zen's consent, she put O'Kiku in +charge of ten plates condescended in trust to the House by the +To[u]sho[u]gu[u] (Iyeyasu). It was a bid of Shu[u]zen, the mark of the +conferrence of position as _koshimoto_ in his household. Only in the +madness of love--or lust--would he have risked such impropriety. The +regular time for counting had arrived. O'Kiku carefully replaced the +beautiful objects, marked with holly hock crest, into their lacquered +box. Again Shu[u]zen importuned her with his suit. Then in +vexation--"Ah! Truly a rebellious and wicked grudge is held by this +Kiku. Attempt at denial is useless, it is not only rebellion against the +master, but against the decree of the master of all. Decide at once. +Either be the concubine of Shu[u]zen; or suffer the sword cut." Again +she plead with him, and Shu[u]zen's eyes opened wide with astonishment. +"Condescend the honoured hearing. Kiku has plead as one no longer of +this world. 'Tis true. But before now she has already taken the vow of +two worlds."--"What!" said Shu[u]zen in amazement. His mind lighted up +as she proceeded--"It is true. Under guise of farm hand at the village +lived Wataru Sampei, a _samurai_ and _ro[u]nin_ of the Takéda House of +Kai. By him there is a child--now three years old. Alas! The father +lives in direst poverty. Twice in the month--the 15th day when the +festival of the Ichigaya Hachiman shrine is held, the 25th day when that +of the Hirakawa Tenjin Sama is held--with the child Jumatsu he is to +pass. A wave of the hand--'Is it Kiku?... Is it mother?' The +relationship longed for and regarded as enduring to the whiteness of the +hair thus is reduced to the wave of a hand. The chaste wife suffers not +the embrace of two men. Oh! Husband! Son!" Weeping O'Kiku hid her face +in her sleeves as she made her plea. + +Harsh and triumphant was the voice of Shu[u]zen as he pressed on this +newly discovered weakness. "Then you lied; Jinnai lied, in calling you a +maid. This Sampei and Jumatsu rightly are gallows-birds, doomed to the +execution ground. Shu[u]zen has but to say the word. Seized they are put +to the torture; the child to know the bitterness of the scourge. Such a +tiny body will be cut to ribbons. Listen well! Obey the command of this +Shu[u]zen. 'Tis the choice between the jewelled palanquin of the +favoured mistress, or torture for these two. The kind offices of the bed +for Shu[u]zen, or the rottenness of the jail for these two criminals. +The gift of Kiku's chastity secures for them oblivion.... You would ask +time? To-morrow night, after the counting of the plates, the answer will +be received." He ceased--to turn to Chu[u]dayu, who for a little time +had stood by, as one waiting on a matter of business. O'Kiku, face white +and drawn, tottered away to her room. + +She had played false, and at a cast lost all. Gloomy, the long hair +framing the distraught and unhappy face, she sat. "Unhappy the lot of +this Kiku. The sisters left without a father's sanction, to witness the +shadow on the mother's life; to know that father but as criminal ready +to be sent to the execution ground; and now, by rashness of the tongue, +to condemn husband and infant son to such a hideous fate! Remedy there +is none. Perchance the life of this Kiku in sacrifice for both arouses +kindness to pardon; or at least secures them in ignorance." Now she was +all decision. Rapidly she loosed the girdle of her sash. The safety of +her beloved was at stake, and no father's command held. The feet bound +she seated herself before the mirror, took up the dagger and felt its +keen point, then the morbid soft flesh of the neck. As she raised her +arm it was seized at her side. Noiseless Chu[u]dayu had entered and +acted in prevention. With a grunt he bent down and severed the sash cord +which restrained her. Then holding the dagger daintily he spoke his +will--"Is not this madness, O'Kiku Dono? The Tono Sama has issued his +summons, and the heart does not conform. The secret thought is known to +this Chu[u]dayu. Turn therefore to a friend. Safety is not to be sought +by the drastic method of the steel. Look to flight. Chu[u]dayu aids--nay +goes in company. Against him there can be no grudge. If Sampei and this +boy exist, they are not to be met within the _yashiki_ of Aoyama +Shu[u]zen--either by submission and riding in the jewelled palanquin, or +by the argument of the dagger. It is an easy matter for Chu[u]dayu. An +error confessed in conducting of the accounts, and with purse well lined +with the gold of Shu[u]zen this _yashiki_ is abandoned. O'Kiku Dono goes +in company. Between the two known connection there is none, and without +the wife this Sampei and Jumatsu go unharmed. In the relationship with +Jinnai the link is missing and Edo too wide a mark to pick them out. So +much can Chu[u]dayu answer for." + +"Ah!" At times a Buddha is met in Hell itself. With astonishment and +reverence O'Kiku regarded this saintly apparition. Noting the impression +made Chu[u]dayu sat close by her. A little disturbed and restive she +moved away. "The words of Chu[u]dayu Dono are more than kind; never to +be forgotten in this world. By such means are Sampei and Jumatsu really +to be saved?"--"Most assuredly," was the smooth reply. "Chu[u]dayu acts +at once. Deign but the required pledge...."--"The pledge?" O'Kiku spoke +now with misgiving filtering into a sinking heart. Said Chu[u]dayu with +impatience--"Pledge: don't feign innocence, O'Kiku Dono. Does Chu[u]dayu +sacrifice all for the mere amusement of the affair. Amusement there is +indeed for him. O'Kiku must consent to accept this Chu[u]dayu. Deign to +change ox for horse. Failing Sampei, it is to Chu[u]dayu she grants her +favours. This is to be agreed--and right now, as pledge, a proof offered +of her sincerity." Now there was no mistaking the words in invitation +made plain by eye and gesture. She wrenched away the detaining hands +laid upon her; sprang up. "Ah! Villainous man! You would rob your lord, +deceive and betray this Kiku. Such speech is pollution to the ears; the +touch of such a creature is loathsome. Chu[u]dayu has the weapon of +Kiku; but Kiku can still cry out and bring the household about your +ears. Beast--away from here!" Armed as he was Chu[u]dayu was +afraid--"'Pollution'--'beast'? Ha! The woman's thought rises after all +to the surface in her hate. For this you shall pay. Just wait." He left +the room in haste, to betake himself at once to the apartments of the +_okugata_. O'Kiku crouched on the _tatami_, her eyes wide open, fastened +on the texture of the straw surface, saw nothing but this new and +terrible position. She could not die; she could not live; and yet the +tiger was at the gate, the wolf at the postern. + +A maid came to summon her to Shu[u]zen's presence. Knowing her position, +her feelings, the solidarity of sex had veered to kindliness for this +unwilling rival. The girl was shocked at sight of her. "O'Kiku Dono! Tis +but for the counting of the plates--as usual." She aided her to don the +ceremonial costume. In all the magnificence of her apparel, with hair +dressed high, she followed after the girl. In her beauty a splendid sight, +in her heart "she was as the sheep going to the butcher." Her ladyship sat +close beside Shu[u]zen. Other _koshimoto_, with Chu[u]dayu and several +retainers, were present. Despite the customary nature of this vicarious +reverence to the spirit of the To[u]sho[u] Shinkun (Iyeyasu) there was an +oppression, a suppressed interest, which seemed to fasten every eye on +O'Kiku as slowly and gracefully she bore the box before her lord, made +salutation. "Open;" the word from Shu[u]zen's lips came dry and +harsh--"One"--"Um"--"Two"--"Um"--"Three, four"--"Um"--"Five"--"Um"--"Six, +seven"--"Um"--"Eight"--"Um"--"Nine.... Oya! Oya!" Then in fright--"What +shall I do!" With horror O'Kiku gazed at the fragments of the tenth plate +lying at the bottom. Shu[u]zen, all moved by his wrath and excitement, +leaned forward. The holly hock crest ground to powder was almost +indistinguishable. Hardly able to believe her eyes O'Kiku mechanically +began to finger the pile of porcelain--One, two, three ... they followed +up to nine.... "What shall I do!" + +The malice and ferocity of Shu[u]zen's tone sent a thrill through those +present--"Vicious jade! This is a sample of Kiku's hatred to this +Shu[u]zen, through him of her disloyalty to the revered House. What +explanation can be offered? What expiation?" Slowly and in despair +O'Kiku raised her head. She caught the triumphant glance passed between +the _okugata_ and Chu[u]dayu. All was illuminated. This was Chu[u]dayu's +threatened vengeance. As of one dying her voice--"This is not the deed +of Kiku. Daughter of the criminal Jinnai she holds no grudge against +lord or suzerain; would but pray in this world for oblivion of those +offences in a future existence. Deign, my lord to believe this Kiku. +Malice acts here. But a short time ago Chu[u]dayu...." The man sprang +forward--"Lying hussy!... Tono Sama, this woman would save herself by +slander. Plain has been her ill feeling against the honoured lord in +refusal to obey his summons. Here lies the proof of ill intent and +rebellion against the suzerain's House. Surely there is no punishment +for such but death!"--"Surely there is no punishment for this but +death!" The harsh voice of the _okugata_ was heard in repetition. + +Shu[u]zen spoke--"'A twig broken on the flowering branch of plum, and +the whole is to be cut off.' Such the words of Kuro[u] Hangwan +Yoshitsuné. Kiku, you are a vile, treacherous woman; undeserving of +Heaven's favour and the kindness shown by Shu[u]zen. Now you lie--with +the fancy tale of child and husband, in order to escape the bed of +Shu[u]zen; with slanderous insinuation to throw your crime against +others.... Here!" At the command the _kerai_ came forward and dragged +her within reach. Shu[u]zen seized a hand. "Ten the plates: one broken, +the tale destroyed. Apology is to be made. Make full confession. No? For +the one, ten are due." There was a _hibachi_ close by his side. He +dragged her arm over the brazier, drew his dagger--"One." At the middle +joint the finger fell severed into the ashes. "Two"--"Two," faintly +answered O'Kiku. "Three"--"Three"--"Four"--"Four"--"Five"--"Five." +Shu[u]zen laughed. "Kiku cannot hold grudge as being maimed. The stumps +remain." Chu[u]dayu sprang forward at Shu[u]zen's sign. Roughly holding +the bleeding stumps he pressed them into the harsh cautery of living +coals. A suppressed wailing cry from Kiku, a shuddering and turning away +of the frightened women; her ladyship laughed out loud. Kiku raised her +head and gave her a long look. Shu[u]zen grasped the other arm. The +punishment went on. "Six.... No confession?" One by one the remaining +joints fell. Only the thumb remained. Like a demon the _okugata_ sprang +forward. She snatched away the keen weapon, and pressing down the edge +of the blade triumphant raised the severed digit torn away to the wrist. +Shu[u]zen himself rose in astonishment at the act. All were in a wild +excitement. The violent woman strove to shriek, but choked in her rage +and utterance. They surrounded her and bore her off to her own +apartment. + +A wave of the hand and all but Chu[u]dayu had departed. Shu[u]zen was +divided between his hate and the certainty of having been deceived. +Besides, only the body was maimed, and in the malice of his heart he +would soil this woman's soul. He leaned over the helpless figure. "Your +own deed, Kiku: make confession and submission. There is yet life to +plead for. Ha! 'Tis true. Vicious wench, you would seek the destruction +of Shu[u]zen by temptation; the grudge is to be carried to the end." +From far off came the answer--"Alas! To this Kiku are imputed the wet +garments. A lie destroys her to whom life is displeasing. Aye! The +grudge is to be carried to the end. Against this treacherous Chu[u]dayu, +against Aoyama and his House the grudge. Remember well!" In fury +Shu[u]zen sprang to his feet--"Chuu[u]dayu, take hold of this woman. Out +with her to the garden!" With practised hand the chamberlain bound hands +and feet. Then following after Shu[u]zen he dragged her through the snow +to the old well. "'Tis here," said Shu[u]zen briefly. Removing the +bucket the rope was tied under the arms of O'Kiku. "Your own act and +deed, Kiku. In your punishment apology is made to the suzerain House. Go +join your father Jinnai at the Yellow Fountain (Kwo[u]sen) in Hell.... +Chu[u]dayu, kill her by inches." Seeing the chamberlain's hesitation +Shu[u]zen gave the body a push. Swift the descent. The splash of the +water was heard. "Heave up!" With eager energy Chu[u]dayu brought O'Kiku +to the curb. "No confession yet?"--"Aye! Grudge the last thought; grudge +against Chu[u]dayu; against this Aoyama, him and his." The long wet hair +hanging about the chalk white face, the bulging glaring eyes, the +disordered saturated garments of the half drowned girl, were too much +for Chu[u]dayu. The man now was struck with fright. He sought to save +her. "Tono Sama, is not the purpose satisfied? A request...."--"Coward! +Are you afraid of the ghost? Surely Kiku will visit the couch of +Chu[u]dayu--as perhaps to his desire." But Chu[u]dayu now openly was +afraid and not ashamed. "Deign to spare her, Tono Sama.... O'Kiku Dono, +this is no affair of Chu[u]dayu. As ghost deign to haunt the Tono Sama. +'Tis the Tono Sama who kills you." He plead; but inexorable the +whispering voice--"The grudge! Against Chu[u]dayu...." Then in terror +Chu[u]dayu sought the end--"Ah! Vile bitch!... Tono Sama, deign to cut +short the curse, and with it the breath of this hussy."--"Your act and +deed, Chu[u]dayu...." Shu[u]zen took up the rest of the sentence. "Pass +your sword into her belly, Chu[u]dayu; the lord's order." Chu[u]dayu +hesitated. Then looking away he thrust--once, twice. There was a +squishing sound, as of steel entering something soft. A heart rending +scream rang through the air. It was like the ripping apart of silk. +Shu[u]zen stepped to the curb, looked into the agonized staring eyes. +Then he gave the final thrust of his dagger into the windpipe, and cast +the weapon to Chu[u]dayu to cleanse. As if an automaton the man went +through his task: brought the heavy stone to bind into the long trailing +garment. Seeing his helplessness Shu[u]zen shrugged his shoulders with +contempt. With his dagger he severed the rope. _Dobun!_ A final splash +of water at the end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CHU[U]DAYU WINS HIS SUIT + + +Chu[u]dayu's legs bent under him. "Ah! My lord! O'Kiku grasps my neck!" +A cold hand laid upon him he shrieked in fear. Shu[u]zen turned--"Fool! +'Tis a clod of snow from the tree above, fallen on your collar. Off with +you to bed. Truly in these days such fellows are good for nothing." Off +he strode to the _ro[u]ka_. For a moment he looked out--on the heavy +flakes coming down like cotton wadding, at the figure of Chu[u]dayu +staggering like a drunken man to his quarters. With a laugh he closed +the _amado_, seated himself before the heated wine. Yet the woman would +not get out of his thoughts. "What a fool! A matter of no import would +have given her position with others and influence with this +Shu[u]zen.... Ha! Ha! How frightened was Chu[u]dayu! It is not the +shadowy fingers of the dead which do good or ill, but the flesh clad +muscles of the living. As to your ghosts...." He snapped his fingers and +drank wine in derision. Thus he spent the early hours of the night. + +"What's that!" He put the bottle down at the sound of voices in +excitement, of running feet. Soon an officer appeared. The _okugata_ was +threatened with premature delivery. A physician was to be had at once. +Shu[u]zen shrugged his shoulders with indifference. Five months--seven +months--nine months--what a matter to trouble a man with! So angry was +he that they dared not tell him more. Matters were going very badly with +her ladyship. In her delirium she raved over the past scene of the +punishment. The tortures of this present delivery were added to an +hundred fold by the disorders of the over-wrought brain. Then the child +was born. The assembled women whispered to each other. A very monster +had seen light: perfect in its main parts, but with the face of Emma +Dai-O[u] as a foetus--with the fingers lacking on the hands. They dared +not let the sick woman see it. She detected their confusion, asked to +see the child. She grew more and more excited with refusal, and they +were at a loss what to do. Finally the child was brought, to her +distress and confusion. Then--as from the ceiling--"Shame on the House +of Aoyama Shu[u]zen. A maimed child, a monster is born as its issue." +And the voice began to count, followed by the moving lips of her +ladyship--"One"--"One"--"Two"--"Two"--"Three"--"Three"--monotonously it +went on to--"Nine.... Ah! What shall I do! One is missing. Wa! Wa!" So +lamentable the crying voice that a chill went to the hearts of all. +Again the count went on; again the failure and the lamentable cry and +weeping. Her ladyship sat up. They strove to restrain her, but in her +madness she shouted back in answer to the counting--"One, two, three, +four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.... Ha! One is missing! Vile slut! +Thus to maim the child in malice." She raved and tore at the covering. +From the disordered hair streaming around face and bust looked out at +them the wan face of O'Kiku. In disorder the women fled. Driven back by +the necessity of their duty they found her lying dead in a pool of +blood. As for the maimed and deformed monster, he took well to the +nurse's breast. Such they always do. + +Where was Chu[u]dayu in all this confusion? Shu[u]zen had men hunting +him high and low. Angered at his absence, his own dislike and suspicion +of him as possible rival grew with the night and the hours, rendered +bitter by these household scenes. He would settle matters with +Chu[u]dayu. "Yokubei" he had heard him called; and covetousness turns +not only to gold and such like. As fact Chu[u]dayu had good excuse for +absence. Much out of sorts he had betaken himself to his own rooms and +the care of the old woman in charge, his only female companion in lieu +of wife. Ah! What weather! The snow changed to sleet and rain drove into +and chilled to the marrow those out in the storm. The _baya_ (old woman) +at his entrance was all astonishment--"Danna Sama! The garments are wet +through. Condescend at once to make a change." Gruffly Chu[u]dayu +accepted her aid. Stripping off first one and then another of the outer +garments he too grumbled in his turn--"What a fool the woman was! To +lose life against the sacrifice of such a trifling thing. Ah! She was a +maddening beauty; of the kind to drive the blood to boiling heat. Never +again.... What's that?" Pon-pon: the sound of someone knocking ashes +from a pipe into the receiver came from the inner room. The _baya_ was +laughing--"Ha! Ah! The Danna Sama is a sly one. He is the one to make +friends with the beauties. The lady regretted the Danna's absence, said +that she would wait the honoured return.... Who? 'Tis she so sought by +the Tono Sama himself; and who instead favours the Danna. O'Kiku +Dono...." Before the wild stare of Chu[u]dayu, the clutch on her wrist, +the old woman stopped in fright. Then from within came the +counting--"One, two, three, four, five"--"Six," Chu[u]dayu mechanically +joined in. "Seven"--"Seven"--"Eight"--"Eight"--"Nine"--"Nine"--the words +were followed by the chilling lamentable wail of a soul in agony. "What +shall I do! What shall I do!" With a yell Chu[u]dayu dashed to the +_sho[u]ji_ and threw them back. No one! With astonishment and terror the +old woman gazed at him as seeking an explanation which did not come. +"The lights in the Butsudan! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Praise +to Amida, the Lord Buddha!... Wine! Wine, and much of it; very hot!" + +He sat, his head in hands, watching the flickering light in the altar +stand. "Ha! 'A woman and a man of small comprehension: these are hard to +govern.' Ko[u]shi (Confucius) says it. This Chu[u]dayu has played the +fool to the Tono Sama's extravagances." The bell of Gekkeiji began to +strike the hour of the watch. It came clear and mournful across the +snow. "How like a woman's nature," says the native scribe. +"One"--"One"--"Two"--"Two"--"Three"--"Three." ... Chu[u]dayu went on, +mechanically following the blows hammered into his brain. Then came the +heart rending hopeless wail which chilled his very soul. The old woman +in amazement and pain gave a howl as the hot wine ran over hands and +fingers. Chu[u]dayu on his feet stupidly gazed at the bottle rolling to +the end of the room. "'Tis of no import," he muttered. "Now--to get +hence. Close up all. To-night Chu[u]dayu returns not."--"But Danna Sama! +Condescend to consider! The Danna Sama is not himself. Truly he will be +ill. Deign the honoured couch." The couch in that room! He shuddered all +over. The old woman wrung and wiped her scalded fingers, and would +persuade him to seek rest. She simpered in her blandishment. "Where +could she possibly have gone, for _baya_ saw no exit? Perhaps the lady +comes again; and in the _yashiki_ there is no greater beauty than O'Kiku +Dono. Fortunate the Danna...." Truly she thought him gone mad. "Shut +up!" roared Chu[u]dayu. His eyes blazing under the heat of the quantity +of his hot stimulant he thrust her, a heap huddled into a corner of the +room. Trembling hands adjusted what garments he could lay eyes upon. +Over all he threw a long wool cloak with hood and eyelets against the +snow. Turning to the entrance he glowered at her, hand on his +dagger--"More words of that vile jade, and _baya_ joins her own beneath +the stone. This Chu[u]dayu goes to Nakacho[u], to a public woman. If +that O'Baké comes again.... Ha! Ha!... Let her lie with Baya.... Why! +She's not even rotten yet!" He left the old woman stupefied and quaking, +himself to leap out into the storm and darkness. + +Outside the gate he had a shock. In the shadow he ran into a woman +standing by, who turned at his greeting. O'Kiku's face? With clenched +fist he would have struck, but the vision faded. "Truly the _baya_ is not +wrong. Chu[u]dayu is mad, or drunk." His knuckles had near encounter with +the brazen crest fastened into the post. This brought him to himself. +Rapid was his descent of Gomizaka. At its foot was a _kago_ stand. "The +Danna Sama from the Aoyama _yashiki_--he condescends the _kago_. One all +closed? The Danna Sama will lie as snug as in a _koshi_ (_kwanoké_ = +hearse)." Chu[u]dayu took the joke badly. The fellow sprawled on the +ground under the blow--"Is this a funeral procession? Truly the night +itself is bad enough--without the joke."--"A scurvy knave," humbly +explained the _kago_ chief. "A country recruit, just to hand. Deign to +pardon his impertinence." He edged the fellow off, called up another +man--"The Danna stands not on the fare? Truly 'tis such a night as rarely +has been seen. With wind and sleet the men can barely stand. But the +Danna is in haste. Surely a woman is at the journey's end.... Not a +palanquin but with mats." Chu[u]dayu was neatly bundled into the litter. +The mats were lowered at the sides and covered with oiled paper. "To +Nakanocho[u]; and at good round pace." He hardly heard the functionary's +words. "Ah! How she hated this Chu[u]dayu! How she glared into the Tono +Sama's eyes as he dealt the blow into her pap!... A vicious jade; yet a +beauty. Where could such beauty be encountered? May the _kami_ (gods) +grant Chu[u]dayu the same good fortune this night!" More pleasing vision +soothed him. He was filled with hot wine and fast grew dazed and sleepy. +The gentle motion of the _kago_ rocked him as in a cradle. Yet he could +not get sleep. Her voice was in his ears; without, in talk with the +_kago_ men? He raised a corner of the mat. With surprise--"Heigh, +_kagoya_! What place is this?" He was passing the moat on his right not +left; the hill sloped down, not up toward Nakano (Shinjuku). "Danna Sama, +it is Suido[u]bashi."--"Suido[u]bashi! And does one go to Nakanocho[u] by +Suido[u]bashi? Knaves! About with you, and to the right course as +directed." + +The men, after their kind, grumbled; but to themselves; and in a way +their fare should hear. "Naruhodo! What a beast of a night is this! +Mate, it is to Nakanocho[u]; but Nakanocho[u] whither? The Danna Sama is +testy. He is not to be questioned. He might give a cut. Jubei is lucky. +He has changed head for rear. A care there! A care there! What? Again +around? What a night, and what a Danna to deal with!" The unconscious +Chu[u]dayu was borne onward. Again the vinous fumes passed off. To his +amazement be saw the water on the left; but not what he sought. "Heigh! +Heigh! _Kago_ men, whither now? What place yonder?"--"Yanagibara, Danna +Sama." Chu[u]dayu's voice was big with wrath. "True _kago_ men as +guides! Does one go to Yanagibara to go to Nakanocho[u] of +Shinjuku."--"Oya! Oya! The Danna always tells us to go this way, that +way. Nakanocho[u], Nakacho[u]--is it Yoshiwara, or Fukagawa, or Naito[u] +Shinjuku to which the Danna goes? 'Tis but the lady at the pole who has +a clear head and forces us to go this way.... Danna, never mind the fare +money. Condescend to alight. It is a hard night; too hard for such a +baffling task.... Here is your pretty friend again!" + +Chu[u]dayu raised the mat and looked out. Vaguely outlined in the again +whirling snowy darkness stood O'Kiku. With wild cry he sprang out, sword +drawn. The _kago_ men dropped the litter and took to their heels. Dazed +Chu[u]dayu looked around him. Ah! He was drunk with wine, and visions +haunted him. Yanagibara? Let it be Yoshiwara then. Stalking through the +O[u]mon he made his way to the Nagatoya, a tea house at which he was +known. "Oya! The honoured Danna Sama of the Bancho[u] _yashiki_. In good +season Aikawa Dono; the lady awaits the honoured _buké-sama_."--"A lady +waiting? Fool! Who brings a woman to this market where he comes to +purchase?" The _banto[u]_ (clerk) of the tea house insisted. "Aikawa +Sama, is it not fact? She is barely of twenty years; outstripping in +beauty the greatest of the Go Tayu.... Her name? O'Kiku San...." In his +amazement the man rose from his kneeling salutation, craned his neck to +watch the flying figure of Chu[u]dayu disappear. Perhaps the Danna had +gone mad. Surely he was mad; and not one to come on foot on such a night +and all the way from the Bancho[u]. He sighed at loss of such an eager +customer. + +Chu[u]dayu walked into the first tea house to hand when he had stopped +for breath. A first visit, his tea money (_chadai_) was munificent. Such +a customer deserved good treatment from the Izuzuya. Hence the attendant +guided him to the Miuraya, where was bespoken the presence of the +brilliant _oiran_ O'Yodo. The hour was late. The _oiran_ was detained. +Chu[u]dayu was sleepy and demanded his room. Hardly had he taken to his +couch to await her presence than he was asleep. Leaving her other guest +O'Yodo pushed open the _sho[u]ji_ and entered. She deserved her +reputation for beauty. A splendid girl, for she was not more than woman +yet. A little tall for her sex; fair and with but little powder, an oval +face, long trailing hair, and shapely hands and feet for all this +business. _Batan-batan_ the sound of the _zo[u]ri_ (sandals). She +dropped these on the outside. The stranger was asleep. Sitting beside +him she gathered the folds of her crape night robe about her bare feet. +With a deft touch she adjusted the knot of the pink sash which confined +it; then turned attention to the long silver chased pipe and the face of +the sleeping man. Some feeling was aroused she could not understand. +There was much she did not yet understand in this bitter toil of hers. + +Chu[u]dayu began to speak; at first in halting and broken sentences; +then in a continued flood--"Ah! Ha! That look of hate! Chu[u]dayu +acted most foully. 'Twas he who took the plate, to secure his +safety and O'Kiku's death. Deign to pardon. It was not Chu[u]dayu; +'twas the Tono Sama who dealt the fatal blow.... What? The +suffering?... Ah! But the suffering of mind.... Now she +begins--one--two--three--four--five--six--seven--eight--nine.... +Kiya!" The shriek rang through the room, bringing O'Yodo to her feet. +Crouched beside the _andon_ was outlined vaguely the figure of her sister +O'Kiku. "Ne[e]san! Here! And what...." At the words she turned to meet +the wide open frighted gaze of Chu[u]dayu. The matter of fact, gentle +tones calmed him. "A first meeting with the honoured guest. Deign to +pardon the awkwardness of Yodo." Chu[u]dayu came out of his sleep +reassured. He had dreamed; a frightful dream. She told him so, and +pressed him curiously as to why he had called out. "The honoured +_samurai_ (_buké-sama_), who then favours Yodo?" He spoke, as being again +himself--the military man, and no less a person than the chamberlain of +Aoyama Shu[u]zen Sama, _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in the Bancho[u]. +"Perhaps then a serving maid called O'Kiku is known to the honoured sir." +Again Chu[u]dayu's doubts were raised at evident resemblance--to be +reassured. "No kin: we knew each other well in early life. The father was +a great criminal, and O'Kiku, it was heard, was condemned to be a slave +for life. Entered in this business nothing has been seen of each other. +She is well--in mind and body?" The question was timid, and Chu[u]dayu +did not notice the unnatural eagerness. "In Kiku's place mind and body +are assured their lot; to undergo no change." Captivated by this beauty +he was now eager for his good fortune. Reluctant and with misgiving she +allowed him to draw her close. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +SAMPEI DONO + + +He was poor; coarsely and scantily clad as he came on his return through +the darkness and snowflakes now coming down wet and moist, whirling and +twisting under the increasing gale and gradually turning into a +penetrating chilling sleet against which the straw raincoat was poor +protection. In this guise Wataru Sampei was the gardener, making a +precarious living at which his skill was accidental and vicarious. In +his shabby home he was the _samurai_, his two swords treasured, +carefully wrapped and put away in the closet; struggling to live in +order to bring up this boy Jumatsu in his own cult, to better times and +retribution on the upstarts from the South. This night too had been part +of his _samurai's_ duty, in its _sankei_ or pilgrimage to the Asakusa +Kwannon. O'Kiku believed in efficacy of prayer to the goddess of mercy. +A hasty word, implied rather than spoken, as to a passer by during the +first sight of her, and the gesture of acquiescence on his part who had +little faith. But the gesture was as strong in its obligation as an oath +written and signed in blood. + +On approaching his home with surprise he noted a woman by the door. She +seemed to be in the act of coming or going. Surely he could not mistake +that figure; nay, throwing the light of his lantern ahead a glimpse of +the white wan face startled him. His heart leaped within him--"Is it +Kiku? How comes the wife here at this hour? How has exit from the +_yashiki_ been permitted?" But the woman answered not. Instead she moved +away from him, into the darkness. More and more astonished Sampei called +after her and followed. Always she eluded him. Thus he was led away two +hundred, three hundred yards. There she was, halted beneath the willow +tree on the river bank. His pace broke into a run. Now she did not move +or attempt to elude him, but as he came up the figure was but a stela to +point the way to a near-by shrine. Sampei passed his hand over his brow. +Kiku was too much on his mind; this forced widowerhood with charge of a +toddling boy. Ah! If pity and affection would but allow him to transfer +the child to others! Better would it be for both. But how face the +mother without the child--and then, the lot of one's favoured child in +the house of strangers and under their cold glances? Sampei himself +could not part with Jumatsu. Easy was it for him to cut belly--and leave +mother and child in this desolate condition. Meanwhile his uneasiness of +mind at their present outlook was driving him to delusions. + +Taking off his wet outer garments he stole into the bedroom. Now it was +very late in the night; he would not disturb the child. To his surprise +he found him sitting up on the quilts, shivering and weeping. +"Bo[u]chan! What's gone wrong?" He took the child's hands, anxious to +note any sign of distress or fever. But Jumatsu made answer in his +turn--"Mother has just been here. She was crying. She said--'Bo[u], the +parting is for long. Never again will the mother be seen. Grow up, +Bo[u]; grow up to be a fine man.' Then she cried more than ever." A hand +seemed to grasp the heart of Sampei--"Mother here, Bo[u]chan!" Surely +the child could not lie, even make up the story at this age, so fitting +into his own uneasy vision. Continued the little fellow mid his +tears--"It was not her fault. Someone broke the holly hock plate and +charged mother with the crime. Then the Tono Sama killed her. He wanted +her for his concubine; and so came to hate her and easily took the tale. +It was not her fault. She said this--then went away."--"Whither?" +Sampei's tone was so abrupt and harsh to startle the child into +quiescence. He pointed to the house altar on its stand--"Mother just +went away; into the Butsudan.... And she hasn't come back--to +Bo[u]chan." He ended in a wail and childish weeping. Ah! The hands now +grasping at Sampei were of ice. Slowly he approached the Butsudan. +Startled he saw the snow within it. This wild tale was taking the hold +of certainty on his mind. He lit first one light, then the other in the +altar stand. Then sharply of itself rang the little bell. A cold sweat +stood out on Sampei's body--"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!" +Earnest the prayer for some departed soul. Unconvinced, yet feeling the +truth of the impression he passed the night with eyes wide open. With +dawn he would go forth to make inquiries at the Bancho[u] _yashiki_. +This would be the fifteenth day. Anyhow Kiku would be expecting him. + +He set out early, carrying the boy on his back. Humbly and with +experience of such places he approached the gateman. "An inquiry to +make."--"What is it?"--"At this _yashiki_ is there not a woman +labouring, one O'Kiku?" The man eyed him with the contemptuous tolerance +of him who knows--"Woman labouring? In the _yashiki_ there are two score +and more. Of Kiku more than one; although those of the men's quarters +have nothing to do with such matters. Perhaps the slave girl Kiku is +intended.... See her! Good fellow, are you mad? One under condemnation +is not to be seen.... You have come far? Even if you had come from +O[u]shu[u] or Kyu[u]shu[u] you could not see her.... But all the way +from Honjo[u]; it's too bad." The man looked at him with more +benevolence. After all he had some heart, and many distressed people +came to this _yashiki_; entered into it. "Are you thirsty?... No? In +that case entrance there is none; although the water of the well in the +_yashiki_ is said to be superior to all other, sovereign to cure +thirst.... Ah! You have been dying with thirst all night. Your tongue +cleaves to the roof of the mouth. Then the case is altered. For the +silver thanks are felt. Just enter. Perhaps some maid will come to the +well to draw water. Perhaps this Kiku herself. One so ready--of +tongue--can easily excuse his presence and this Yo[u]zaémon, if there be +question." + +With humble thanks and joy Sampei followed the instructions. The well +was at the corner of the larger paved space and from it he could see +into the inner garden and the greater privacy of the establishment. Here +he could note more life at this early hour, and even the stir of +excitement. People were running to and fro as under some unusual +stimulus. Slowly he drank, delayed as long as he could, unnoticed and +unquestioned. He could not thus act too long. Indeed as he moved off a +foot soldier (_ashigaru_) passing asked his business. He gave excuse as +on mission to a servant, whose name he picked up from one just gone by. +As the man had taken a message outside his answer was a safe one. +Sharply the _ashigaru_ repeated the fact of absence, and Sampei had no +excuse not to leave. The excitement now was spreading to the front +quarters of the _yashiki_. Fragments of talk showed him that his visit +was most inopportune. Her ladyship had just died, and the household was +in a buzz. When he would again speak to the gateman, the functionary's +manner did not encourage it, Sampei took the hint of his cold +unrecognizing eye and bowed in humble acknowledgment to all in going out +the gate. "Chu[u]dayu Dono--where is Aikawa Sama to be found?"--"The +honoured chamberlain? He left the _yashiki_ last night in the other +watch. There has been no return during this of Yozaémon." So much he +caught in passing. + +Slowly Sampei passed down the Gomizaka and along the moat of the castle. +It was with greatest reluctance he left this place. The child began to +whimper. "_Otosan_ (father), this Jumatsu is hungry." The little +fellow's whimper turned to genuine tears. The father heartened him. Just +ahead, on the Kudanzaka, all that should be remedied. Of the number of +small shops Sampei noted the sign of the Kikkyo[u]ya--the House of the +Full Well Bucket. Bending under the curtain strips hanging at the front +he entered the cook shop. "Deign to come up here.... For food? Of the +best: clam soup, a stew of vegetables and fish, hot boiled _to[u]fu_ ... +and _saké_, none better." The place did not promise much despite the +advertisement. Avoiding the doubtful stew Sampei ordered wine for +himself and hot boiled bean paste (_to[u]fu_) for Jumatsu. As he fed the +child, and at opportunity sipped his wine, a blind shampooer entered; in +this tiny place to take a seat close by. Apparently he was well known +thereabouts. In bringing wine the host sat down beside him to +talk--almost into the ear of Sampei.--"Toku no Ichi San, you are early +abroad. Does illness or luxurious idleness summon the honoured _Amma +San_ to the couch?... But yourself, you do not look well. Work late +into the night goes not with early rising. This is going to excess." The +man coughed and drank, turned his sightless eyes on Sampei. What he said +made this latter all attention. + +"It is no early call brings out this Ichibei. Ah! What a night this +last!"--"Truly so," replied the matter of fact host. "And no sign of the +storm's cessation." He looked out for a moment on the flakes of snow, +again coming down thick and heavy. "Drink your wine, Ichibei Dono. In +truth you are as white as yonder falling flakes which you do not see. +And 'tis said your kind cannot see ghosts."--"See them; no. To those +whose eyes are darkened by the night of blindness the gods have granted +grace against such visions. But alas! Other faculties have been +sharpened. He who cannot see, can hear. Listen Jiro[u]bei San. Last +night this Ichibei was called to the _yashiki_ of O[u]kubo Sama. The +_okugata_ was in pain and needed his treatment for the limbs. It is a +kindly house, one good to go to. The storm kept Ichibei in the +_yashiki_: Food and the mat was granted, for his lordship would not send +a cur, once granted shelter, out into storm and darkness. But next door +it is very different. Here is the _yashiki_ of Aoyama Shu[u]zen +Sama--the Yakujin of Edo. Jiro[u]bei San knows of him. His lordship took +the _yashiki_ for the old well of the Yoshida Goten. 'Tis said at nights +he takes wine and pipe, sits by the well, and in his hardiness and +defiance of weather and season challenges the ghosts to appear. Last +night.... Ah! The scene rung into the ears appears before the eyes even +of the blind. It was the sound of blows--as of a wet cloth striking bare +flesh. A woman plead for mercy. 'Vile wench.... Kiku.' These words were +heard. Then such a scream--'Kiya!' as of rending silk--that yet it rings +into the ears of this Ichibei; to banish sleep and peace of mind for the +rest of the night. What could it be? Had the ghosts appeared? Or had +some maid displeased the Tono Sama, and hence suffered death at his hand +(_te-uchi_)? He is not one to spare suffering.... Ah! How she suffered! +All night Ichibei has lain awake and suffered with her. It seems as if +her cry never would depart from these ears. With dawn I fled--without +food, and doubtless to the astonishment of all. Feeling faint, your +shop offered refreshment."--"Another bottle?... O'Kabé! At once: for +Toku no Ichi San.... Honoured guest, thanks. Deign again the honoured +patronage. Sixty _mon_ the price, _sayonara_." + +Sampei paid the scot, and with Jumatsu carefully wrapped up against the +storm passed out into the open air. Now he was himself again; the +_samurai_ of Kai, with the old traditions of his province and his +liegeship to the great Takéda House. Against this Aoyama double was the +vendetta--for Jinnai, for his wife Kiku. His ears had drunk in the +convincing tale of the blind shampooer. His decision was as ready. His +steps now were bent to the Miuraya in the Yoshiwara. At his name the +_banto[u]_ expressed surprise. "The _oiran_ was about to send a message; +most opportune the honoured coming. Deign for the moment to wait." +Related to their great attraction Sampei had every attention. Shortly +the sound of _zo[u]ri_ was heard, and O'Yui entered the room. Jumatsu +viewed her beauty and splendour with grave approval, astonishment, and +fear. "Obasan (auntie)? But she is young; beautiful, just like mother. +Oh! Just like the pictures of the great Tayu." The two elders listened, +preoccupied and with pained smile. "What book; and where seen?... Oya! +Oya! In the priest's room at the Fukuganji? That should not be. Priest +and _oiran_ are not of kin." O'Yui's laugh was so silvery that Jumatsu +in admiration pressed close to her knee. Clasping him she spoke to +Sampei. Ah! How great was her anxiety. As she told her tale the heart of +Sampei was filled with wrath and certainty--"This Chu[u]dayu is such a +strange fellow. The weather still holds him to the place. Hence by good +luck it was possible to ask for a consultation. Has not some injury +befallen the person of Ne[e]san? The ravings of this man in his drunken +sleep, the vision of the sister, the face and garments all dyed with +blood, cannot these find confirmation or disproof? In the embrace of +this man Yui shudders." She wept. + +With growing weight and terror at heart she noted the increasing gloom +of Sampei's face. "Kiku is no longer of this world. It is true. Herself +she told the tale to Jumatsu. At the _yashiki_ all is confusion with the +death of the lady of the House. By accident Jumatsu's vision is +corroborated by the blind shampooer, led into the cook shop of Kudanzaka +by the same hand which led Chu[u]dayu to the arms of the _oiran_ O'Yodo. +The evidence is complete for this Sampei. To-night--at the first +opportunity--Sampei kills this Aoyama Shu[u]zen; then cuts belly. As for +Chu[u]dayu, Kiku has brought him to O'Yui San. Deign to accept the +charge. Last night he has been the lover, and the chance of the weather +and the charms of O'Yui have kept him here. Let the coming night be his +last." He put a restraining hand on the sleeve of O'Yui. In vengeance at +once she would have rushed off to poniard this obscene fellow. Be once +more the object of his embraces? Alas! Hers indeed was "the bitter +toil," which led her to the arms of this scoundrel dripping with a +sister's blood. But she listened to the cold and cautious counsel of +Sampei, and nodded comprehension and assent. When she re-entered the +room where Chu[u]dayu was drinking and roistering there was not a sign +of any emotion. Once again she was the harlot, to charm and inveigle him +into remaining with her. Ha! Ha! The gods had granted his prayer. "Kiku? +She was a beauty--and the impression of childhood would be corroborated +by her later appearance. But even thus she is a faded old woman to the +honoured _oiran_. A bag of bones!" He roared with drunken laughter; and +O'Yui fingered the handle of the dagger in her bosom, in frenzy at the +vile jest. "Come now! Kiku has been the object of Chu[u]dayu's love. He +confesses it. But now--away with such an O'Baké. He seeks the greater +solace of O'Yodo's arms." The wine nearly choked him. His eyes stood +out. He gasped and choked. Anxiously the _oiran_ nursed him back to +breath. + +Late that night he had gone to bed very drunk. The ninth hour struck (1 +A.M.). O'Yodo, who had sought temporary excuse, entered. Chu[u]dayu again +was dreaming, horribly. Ah! This vision would never pass. O'Kiku was +standing by him. At first faint, then loud came the voice, and Chu[u]dayu +counted with her--"One"--"One"--"Two"--"Two"--"Three"--"Three".... On +went the count. Now she was astride of him, pressing him down, throttling +him. "O'Kiku Dono! It was not Chu[u]dayu. The treachery was his; but the +Tono Sama gave the blow." He writhed and struggled in his sleep. Then +O'Yui dealt the thrust, straight downward. "Yai! Yai! Ah!" The scream +rang out, startling all around. Alas! A little misdirected the dagger +glanced from the bone and pierced the shoulder. As the man rolled her off +the girl made one desperate effort. Deep she thrust the blade into his +right side, ripped it up and side ways. "Kiya!" Chu[u]dayu staggered and +rolled over, hands to his side to hold in the severed liver and guts. +When she would strike again her hands were held. The bawd (_yarité_), +aroused and passing, saw the shadow of the raised dagger. The _banto[u]_ +had come to her aid. While some sought to aid the desperately wounded +man, others drew away O'Yodo, again the woman and overcome with tears of +regret at her failure. + +Jinzaémon of the Miuraya questioned her. Was it _shinju[u]_--a mutual +suicide to insure happiness together in the next life? Had she really +known the man before, and not pretended new acquaintance? Then, without +mention of Sampei, she told the story of her vision, her certainty that +inquiry would establish the truth of its accusation. Jinzaémon had no +recourse. The Yoshiwara _bugyo[u]_, with _do[u]shin_, was soon at hand. +"To kill a man on such evidence...." But before applying torture he +would question the victim. Chu[u]dayu's case was hopeless. The liver was +almost severed. Death was but a matter of an hour or two. During that +time his ravings in delirium, his confession in lucid moments, added a +new and momentous phase to the case in corroborating the tale of the +_oiran_ as to the strange vision. The _bugyo[u]_ did not dare to go +further. He must consult those higher in authority. A _hatamoto_ of the +land was involved; one just favoured with appointment as _tsukaiban_ +(staff officer) to the suzerain. The _machibugyo[u]_ himself had no +power in this case. Hence the affair--its nature and its proof--must be +submitted to the _waka-toshiyori_, the officer of State in immediate +charge of the _hatamoto_, their control and interests. Meanwhile the +affair must be smothered and strict search made for the recent visitor +Sampei, who had completely disappeared. Jumatsu readily was traced to +the care of the house master (_iyenushi_) at Koumé. His tenant, on plea +of business in Kai, had left the child with him. Thus they went astray, +and thus failed to act. Meanwhile Shinano no Kami at last determined to +send for and question Aoyama Shu[u]zen. The seventh day following the +retribution was reached--to the great enlightenment of these puzzled +magistrates.[33] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AOYAMA WINS HIS SUIT + + +Aoyama's _yashiki_ blazed with light. The guests looked around, at the +many lamps, the waiting-women in dainty attire, the ornament of service +and of substance; and then looked into each other's faces. The +unseemliness of the thing was on the minds of all these dozen to twenty +gentlemen. The body of the wife had hardly been carried from the house +to the funeral pyre. It was true that grief was to be given no display +in the _samurai_ code. The new promotion offered excuse for its +celebration. But on the whole this feast seemed an indecent exhibition +of rejoicing. "Aoyama Uji is not the Shu[u]zen of old. What has got into +the man this past month?" Thus Okumura Shu[u]zen spoke of his namesake. +"Bah! It is the shadow of Kiku, the 'sewing girl.' Aoyama rejoices in +thus replacing old material. May he get a better heir on her than his +last. 'Tis said to be a monster!" Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon whispered, +half in jest and half in a savage earnest of disapproval. + +O[u]kubo Hikoroku first broached the matter openly at table. "Aoyama +Uji, is this not a strange meeting? Here we are, all members of the +Gaman Kwai; as _hatamoto_, men close to the suzerain's knee and ready +for the call to battle. But this--with the glitter of apparel in +substance and women, it is show and feast for _kugé_ (court nobles), a +meeting to view the moon and its light upon the snow. Deign to explain." +Aoyama smiled. He might have made some formal excuse for this +eccentricity. Saburo[u]zaémon spoke out for him--"Don't be obtuse, +O[u]kubo Uji. The one lacking here is the cause of the feast. O'Kiku +Dono still delays. Is it not so, Aoyama Uji?" He spoke with cold +certainty, a curious intonation in voice. Aoyama was black with a fury +about to burst forth when O[u]kubo sprang up. He looked around. "Just +so! Wait but a moment. We'll have her here." Aoyama was turned aside, +and would have detained him. "Hikoroku Dono, it is useless. Kiku is not +in the _yashiki_." To the dubious look of astonishment--"It is fact. She +was a vile disloyal woman. Breaking the holly hock plate, the trust gift +of the To[u]sho[u]gu, this Aoyama put her to death. This shall be +apology to the suzerain's House." O[u]kubo sat down again in pure +amazement--"For what is said one feels regret. The apology is made; but +surely...." Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon laughed outright. He seemed with +intention to egg him on. O[u]kubo turned indignantly. "Why laugh, +Endo[u] Uji? Is the life of a human being to be put against a piece of +porcelain?"--"Saburo[u]zaémon laughs at your credulity, O[u]kubo Dono. +It is but a ruse to put us from the search. Kiku certainly is not far +off." + +O[u]kubo danced up in a fury. This time he was not to be kept. "'Tis +true! But the badger's lurking hole, the place where he keeps her, is +known. Soon she shall be here." Defying Shu[u]zen's wrath he and Endo[u] +left the room. O[u]kubo was ahead. Throwing open the _sho[u]ji_ of the +maid's room he looked within. Ah! Standing by the closet in the dim +light was the figure of O'Kiku. "Kiku, why are you here, not joining in +the feast? The beauty and the lady, whose love seduces so stern a man as +Shu[u]zen to soft ways, is not to neglect the guests. Come to the +banquet hall." He seized her sleeve. Said Saburo[u]zaémon from the +_ro[u]ka_--"Whom do you address, O[u]kubo Uji?" He looked around the +room. "There is no one here.... Kiku? You grasp a garment hanging on the +clothes rack." It was true. Dazed and somewhat upset O[u]kubo returned +to the banquet room. Aoyama met defiantly the hard look of Endo[u], the +inquiring question of O[u]kubo--"Is it true Aoyama? Did you really value +a human life against a plate, and kill her?"--"It is plain fact," was +the answer. + +Again the strange looks passed between the guests. Some shrugged their +shoulders. Others looked at him and whispered. Some laughed, with +glances at the frightened faces of the waiting women. "It's not to be +believed," said the emphatic tones of O[u]kubo. Suddenly a breath seemed +to go round the room. Every light went out; except the one before +Hikoroku. Dimly outlined by Shu[u]zen's side could be seen the figure of +O'Kiku. The wan face amid the long disordered dangling hair; the gore +smeared face, and neck, and bosom, sent a thrill and shudder through +those present. At the exclamations Shu[u]zen turned. He saw her--"Vile +jade! You too would reproach Shu[u]zen. A cut for you!" He sprang up, +dagger in hand to cut her down. Then followed a wild scene with the +raving man. The maids sought to avoid death; happily with success beyond +trifling injuries, for sight of a woman made him frantic. Surrounding +Shu[u]zen the men drew him on. From behind O[u]kubo, Okumura, Endo[u] +rushed upon him. Overpowered he was secured. With the madness of the +host the banquet came to an end. As they left O[u]kubo said to Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaémon--"Really Endo[u] Uji, why so rough in speech with +Aoyama? With those of one band quarrels are not to be sought."--"Nor +will be," answered Saburo[u]zaémon with a slight tinge of contempt. Then +he added slowly--"There is a strange affair in Yoshiwara. The +chamberlain of Shu[u]zen, one Chu[u]dayu, is involved; and Shu[u]zen +with him. This matter of Kiku threatens grave issue with the +_waka-toshiyori_. It is said that the two murdered the woman--because +both wanted her for concubine." He laughed harshly--"Why tell these +facts to neighbour O[u]kubo?" Said Hikoroku, with his blunt truth--"The +sounds and sights from Shu[u]zen's _yashiki_ are not always pleasant. +There are tales in the household of a night--that on which Shu[u]zen's +wife died. All there was in confusion. It is for fellow-members to +protect the reputation of each other." Endo[u] was rebuked in turn. + +Shu[u]zen was himself again. With the passing of the wine, the guests, +the confusion, he was the cold, collected, dreaded master of a few hours +ago. Respectfully the _kerai_ withdrew. Left to himself he pondered the +events of these hours. He recognized and measured the concentrated +dislike expressed in the words and actions of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon, +egging on O[u]kubo, irritating himself to desperation. To Shu[u]zen it +was a question as to just what was meant. At his age even in his caste +men did not seek each other out to draw the sword. The issue was much +more serious, involving disgrace. He would like to get at the inner +motive of this fellow's action. How invaluable the aid of Chu[u]dayu, +who knew the ins and outs of the _yashiki_ of all Edo, and particularly +of his lord's intimates. But he had disappeared--as if the earth had +swallowed him. Shu[u]zen had condoned too many instances of the +chamberlain's free use of his lord's funds, to come upon him harshly for +any peculation. The man had been useful in many dubious actions; in +bribery, solicitation, pimping, as a useful and facile witness. +Chu[u]dayu would worm himself to the bottom of this matter in short +order. + +Thus he went to rest. Despite disordered brain his sleep was sound. It +was Gekkeiji's bell striking the ninth hour (1 A.M.) which roused; or +else the throat fouled and dried his mouth. He was parched beyond +measure; his tongue seemed to fill the whole cavity. Impatiently he +called--"Heigh there! Water! Is there no one to attend?"--"At the lord's +service...." The gentle tones of a woman made answer. She knelt at his +pillow. The water pitcher was offered. He took it and drank greedily. +Then--"What maid is this? Does she seek Shu[u]zen's bed? He is in no +humour for such favour." And the girl wailed in answer--"Ah! Ah! Harsh +his lordship's tone, harsh his words. Has not long since his command +been issued? The fault lies not with Kiku. A lying officer stands +between the Tono Sama and his handmaid." Shu[u]zen sat bolt upright, +glaring. Framed by the long trailing hair there appeared to his eyes the +wan, blood smeared face of O'Kiku. With a yell he was on one +knee--"Wretched woman! Does Kiku still pursue and solicit Shu[u]zen? +Make ready! Again a cut!" He sprang to his feet, grasped and drew the +pillow sword. With smothered cry of terror and anguish the figure turned +to flee; but he cut her down from shoulder to pap. As he did so the +_sho[u]ji_ were flung wide apart. The moonlight from the opened _amado_ +flooded the room and lighted up the intruder. + +Rage and hate growled in the tones of Shu[u]zen--"A bandit thief and +doubtful fellow, thus to push himself into the presence of a _hatamoto_ +of the land! Fellow, name yourself: who thus by night breaks into +Shu[u]zen's presence, intrudes upon his pleasure." Harsh and insulting +the laugh of Sampei. He pointed with his drawn sword to the bleeding +prostrate corpse of the unfortunate waiting maid, cut down by Shu[u]zen +in belief of the apparition of her namesake. "More than one Kiku +harbours in the lair of Aoyama. Would he slay them all in sacrifice to +his lust? Wataru Sampei comes to ask account of his wife Kiku, daughter +of Jinnai, _ro[u]nin_ of Takéda Ke of Kai, as is himself. Now--to the +contest! God of the bow and feathered shaft, favour this +Sampei!"--"Favour this Shu[u]zen!" Both men made invocation almost in +the same breath as they sprang at each other. Sampei was pushed on by +rage and vengeance; Aoyama by a savage joy in combat. Here was a worthy +antagonist, a true taste of old of the battle field. If Sampei was the +younger man, he was also in worse training than Shu[u]zen; and in his +poor condition hardly a match for the practised soldier. However +Shu[u]zen was compelled to admire a resourcefulness in parrying his own +fierce attack, the beauty of his enemy's Muramasa blade, which seemed +itself to act and seek his life. "Shu[u]zen's prize--the sword of +Sampei!" He shouted in exultation. Sampei was forced back to the +_ro[u]ka_. At the sill he tripped and fell. "Now off with you--to Meido +and the Yellow Fountain, to join wife and parent thief." Shu[u]zen in +joy swung high his blade for the fatal blow. Sampei without sword was +helpless at his feet. But the blade did not descend. Shu[u]zen's arm was +held fast. By the outraged wife, O'Kiku, as later tradition would +assert? At this pass Sampei used his dagger. Plunged straight into the +belly of Shu[u]zen with it he disembowelled him. Abandoning hold on his +weapon, with a screech Aoyama fell, twisting and writhing in the pool of +his blood. When the _kerai_, roused by the disturbance, the shouts and +the clashing of swords, fell on Sampei, to disarm and make short work of +him, the _karo[u]_ Makishima Gombei prevented them. With difficulty he +dragged Shu[u]zen's sword out from the deep cut it had made in the beam +of the partition. "Stain not good weapons with the blood of a rascal and +thief, who shall undergo the torture and the disgrace of the execution +ground. Be sure his lordship will be well avenged. It is better so." + +Thus with bitter regret Sampei found himself avenged, but still in life. +The next day, with the presence of the messengers from Shinano no Kami, +the situation changed. With the report from Makishima was demanded the +person of Wataru Sampei, whose story fitted into present evidence +obtained. Deeper and deeper went the investigation into Aoyama's house +affairs. Here was great disorder--harshness, lust, ill discipline. On +this latter charge--lack of discipline--official displeasure gladly +fell. The tale of the monster, obviously unfit for any service to the +suzerain, came out. The _kaieki_ of the House--deprivation of rank and +income--followed. As far as posthumous action could disgrace, so far did +Shu[u]zen suffer. + +Much better was the fate of Sampei. The case of the Bancho[u] _yashiki_ +no longer could be hid under a bushel. It was the affair of a +_hatamoto_, so hated by the _daimyo[u]_. Satsuma no Kami sought and +obtained his charge. During the weeks which followed Sampei was the +object of respect and solicitude of those who had the care of him. As +_ro[u]nin_ of the Takéda House this was all the greater in this +_yashiki_ where the Tokugawa were held in no great affection. The +breaking into the _yashiki_ of a _hatamoto_, the slaying of its lord, +could not be condoned. The official world was glad to combine this with +the lack of discipline decision. When the inevitable order came to cut +belly it was a chamberlain of Satsuma no Kami who acted as _kaishaku_ +(second); and Sampei knew that to this man would fall the possession and +adoption of his little son. Thus came he to his end, and his House into +this brave heirship. Thus was disappointed the malice of Shu[u]zen, in +his last breath denouncing his slayer as the husband of O'Kiku. +Announced Horibé Izumi no Kami, the _machibugyo[u]_ who made final +disposition of the case--"Between Sampei and Kiku no marriage being +proved, the issue belonging to the man, the child Jumatsu is held +sinless; for the woman Yui detention for further examination of conduct +and condition." This examination never came; nor was intended to come. +For some months she was detained in the _yashiki_ of Horibé Sama. Then +the third Sho[u]gun died; a general pardon followed of all ordinary +offenders. Under this order she was released, and the Miuraya had the +hint or good sense not to press for renewed service. A nun, she cut off +the long and beautiful hair, to pray in this world for the souls of +father, sister, he who had acted as more than brother in the vengeance +taken. Thus through the long years to her final and irrevocable release +without any earthly condition. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE SARAYASHIKI + + +Again the site of the Yoshida Goten lapsed to waste land. Through the +years stood the _yashiki_ of Aoyama Shu[u]zen, in wall and roof and beam +gradually going to rot and ruin. Passing by on nights of storm wayfarers +saw most frightful visions--the sports and processions of spectres +issuing forth from the old well of the one time inner garden. Their +wailing cries and yells were heard. Conspicuous among them was the sight +of the unfortunate Kiku, her wan face framed in the long rank disordered +hair; the weird beauty frightful in its expression of horror, as with +the stumps of fingers she counted--"One, two, three ... four, five, six +... seven, eight, nine." Then came the haunting fearful cry--"Alas! +What's to be done? One lacks. Oh! Oh!" Sight, sound, glare went to the +hearts of the stoutest witnesses. Soon the ill fortune of those thus +favoured with the vision of the Lady of the Plates was rumoured abroad. +Wounds, money losses, even death fell on them or on their households. +Men no longer were curious. They fled the neighbourhood of this ill +omened gap in Earth's surface, unseemly exit for these foul spirits. On +nights of rain and storm none passed that way. Even by day the children +were rebuked and forbidden to approach the well. + +Many are the stories as to the place. To instance one of these: It was +Ho[u]ei third year (1706)--the approach of winter in this tenth month +(November). Then came to Edo town a wandering pilgrim (_shugenja_) and +his wife. Tramping the land all summer to Nippon's varied shrines and +sights, now they were on the return to their home in Michinoku +(O[u]shu[u]). Much had they heard of Edo, capital seat of Nippon's great +lord. Every day busied with its sights they returned wearied to their +inn in the Shitaya district. This day they had wandered far. Returning +from Renkeiji of Kawagoé they passed the Naito[u] Shinjuku quarter. +Almost as great, if of different kind, was the woman's curiosity at +sight of the caged beauties, waiting the summons of those far better +supplied with cash than her own spouse. Finally in indignation she +dragged away the loiterer; and muttering rebuke followed after the +jingle of the rings on his pilgrim's staff. They were passing through +the Go Bancho[u], along the long stretch of _yashiki_ wall. From a +postern gate came forth a woman. The light of her lantern fell on the +man and his equipment--"Oya! Oya! Good fortune indeed: honoured +_shugenja_, a moment's stay. To-night a memorial service is to be said +for the mansion's lord. Condescend to enter and grant service." +Willingly husband and wife heard the invitation to rest their wearied +bodies. Passing through the garden water was supplied to wash the feet. +Then they were seated before an ample feast fit for their kind; of +glutinous rice balls coated with the sweet bean paste (_botamochi_), of +macaroni the savour of which tickled the nostrils, _saké_ followed, in +generous quantity and of quality to match. + +Said the girl--"It is an all night service that is requested. Deign to +undertake the watch and prayer. Ample shall be the reward." Prostrate the +_shugenja_ spoke his thanks. The Butsuma, or room containing the little +shrine, was close at hand. Seating himself, his woman just behind, he +bowed and made reverence. "Thanks for the honoured entertainment so +generous and excellent. May the honoured spirit find rest, at once +entering Nirvana ... and now, the Hannya Shinkyo[u]--_Sutra_ of the +divine intelligence."[34] He began the recitation, accompanied by his +wife. Both intoned the _nembutsu_--"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! +Praise to Amida the Lord Buddha!" Again the recitation of the _Sutra_ was +begun. The hours of the night advanced. Man and wife became more and more +drowsy; slower and slower came the words of the sacred writing. Then the +man nodded off to sleep; as long before had the wife. The hour of the ox +struck at Gekkeiji, filling this whole district with its heavy boom. The +man woke with a start. What fearful shriek was that? Close by in the +next room a woman's voice began counting. But such a voice! "One, two, +three...." on it went to "nine.... Ah! Woe is me! One lacks. What's to be +done!" Shrill, blood chilling the cry of anguish which followed. +Curiosity overcame terror. The man stole to the screens and gently opened +the merest slit. Over his shoulder looked the startled wife. + +A shudder went through both at the sight. Wan, frail, the beautiful +anguished evil face of a girl could be seen through the long tangled +hair framing it. Slender to the emaciation of great suffering she knelt +before the pile of plates she was counting--"One, two, three, four, +five, six, seven, eight, nine...." The wild chilling scream froze man +and woman. For at the moment in sprang another female, in whose worn +emaciated face and figure was displayed such concentrated evil passion +of hatred and jealousy as rarely to be seen on human being. Like the +flying hateful god Idaten she sprang upon the girl, grasped her long +black hair, and hurled her to this side and that. Helpless the victim +held up the bloody stumps of fingers. Now the face was seen to be dyed +in blood, the garments dyed red with blood, the girl again agonizing in +a pool of blood. With horror the pilgrim and the woman hid their faces. +The man's hands trembled as he struck the bell and intoned the holy +recital. Thus in a daze, amid the counting, the cries and shouts, the +weeping and the wailing, he went on. The cry of the cock was heard. As +if by magic all the wild sounds ceased. The wanderers looked around in +amazement. The altar was the stone curb of a well. The _yashiki_ and its +magnificence stood close by; but the building was roofless and in ruins. +Chilled to the bone, half dead and half mad with fright, the two +fled--to reach their inn. + +At their tale host and those assembled shook their heads. "It is the +Sarayashiki of the Bancho[u], the well that of the old Yoshida Goten, +whence ghosts issue; unless by good fortune the vision be a trick of fox +or badger. Honoured Sir, have prayers said to avoid ill fortune." But a +merry, foul, cynical old fellow--peasant turned townsman--twinkled in +his laughter. "Then O'Kiku San has favoured the _shugenja_ and his +spouse with feast and gifts?"--"'Twas very strange," naively replied the +pilgrim. "Copious and splendid the entertainment. Of the reality there +can be no doubt. This Jubei did not feast in a dream on those dainties." +The host and other auditors broke into coarse laughter--"Feast! The +_botamochi_ was of horse dung, the macaroni was earth-worms, the +wine--was urine." All roared in their great joy. The unfortunate +pilgrims, much put out, made gesture of discomfiture and fright. Said +the peasant-townsman, in sly hit at the host--"Perchance O'Kiku brought +the viands from near-by inn or cook shop. Surely these furnish little +better." Laughing he left the now angry innkeeper to aid his wretched +guests, writhing and retching in all the pains, actual and imagined of +such a feast. + +Command went forth to the holy man--and from the Sho[u]gun Ke himself. A +halt must be brought to these unseemly proceedings so close to the +suzerain's dwelling. These priests of the Dendzu-In, in the shadow of +whose temple rested so many of the Tokugawa dead, were famed for +learning and for piety. The founder of the Hall, Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, +had set to his successors this standard as necessary accomplishment, +bequeathing to them perhaps the ability to meet the demand of his title +of Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin. Between his eyes was a mole in shape like to the +crescent moon of the third day. Hence the appellation and its meaning +application; for as the moon waxed to its full, so did the Sho[u]nin +with advancing years wax great in learning, and throw his increasing +light upon mankind. Of this first prior there is a tale. It was the +period of the Ashikaga wars, and the Sho[u]nin, for safety and on +business of his order, was resident for the nonce at Asonuma in Kotsuké +province. As he prayed and wrought in the night, without rose violent +sound of fighting and disturbance. Rising he looked forth. Two bands of +men at direst odds displayed the greatest cruelty to each other. But +what men! Emaciated to flesh and bone, weird and unhappy of face, the +Sho[u]nin saw that these were not of this world. His determination was +at once taken. Rosary in hand and intoning the _nembutsu_ he stepped +forth. The strife parted before him; its actors were prostrate in his +presence. "What means this fierceness of battle?" asked the prelate. +"Surely ye are not of the world, thus without mercy to strive to do such +pitiless cruelty."--"Not of this world," said one raising his head; "but +no more cruel than men in the flesh. In the Gempei wars, fighting we +lost our lives. Our bodies tumbled promiscuously into one common ditch, +without rites or worship, the grudge still continues through the +decades. Deign, honoured priest, the aid of prayers of one so holy, for +the rest of all." Gladly the prior grasped the opportunity--"For such +surely is the charm of the Sacred Name--the paper with the sacred +characters of the Nembutsu, Namu Amida Butsu. Not this ignorant foolish +cleric, but the vow of the Nyo[u]rai, Amida, relieves you from the Hell +of fighting (Shurado[u]). Deign to accept the charm and enter Nirvana." +Gladly the outstretched hands received it. Then all vanished in a mist. +On the following day with discretion and modesty the prior told his +experience to his open mouthed and credulous disciples. An ancient man +of the place was found to point out where tradition placed the burial +and its mound. The bones found on digging were sorted, and with rites +found burial. Never after were prior, disciples, or villagers troubled +with these visions. But the prior's reputation took an upward bound, to +the credit of his sect. + +Thus it was with his successor--himself a true Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin in +the illumination of his learning--"From his youth he had abandoned the +world, and all the scripture had passed under his eyes. At eighteen +years he knew all the _sutra_ and the doctrines of Shaka (Sakyamuni), +and books whether exoteric or esoteric. Moreover he understood +thoroughly astrology and almanacs, the poetry of Morokoshi (China) and +Nippon, and instrumental music. Truly once heard he knew ten times, so +clever he was." It was to this Saint, in his eighty-second year, that +the order came to lay the ghost of O'Kiku, to dispel the disorderly +spectres of the well of the Yoshida Goten. "A difficult, nay a severe +task; but one well within the power and mercy of the Buddha. To-night we +go forth to the attempt. Let all exert themselves." His subject clerics +bowed low--"Respectfully heard and obeyed." They liked it not. The +nights were cold; the place noted for bad company, and bad weather. But +the order of their head was not to be disobeyed. + +With the first watches of the stormy night the Sho[u]nin and some thirty +priests were assembled about the well curb. Earnestly the Sho[u]nin read +the sacred writing. Vigorously his followers made the responses. Louder +the voices and greater their confidence as the night progressed without +sign of visions. Then said the Sho[u]nin--"Surely great is the efficacy +of the _sutra_. Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! All evil visions and +spectres vanish; to seek the peace and oblivion of Nirvana. Let the +event prove the efficacy of the charm."--"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida +Butsu!" Loud the voices of the priests, but now in terror. The bell of +Gekkeiji was striking the hour of the ox (1 A.M.). Crouching and +shivering they saw the spectral lighting up of the well. The blue +glittering points began to dot its mouth. Then swarms of spectres began +to pour forth, obscene and horrible. Among them appeared the ghost of +O'Kiku. Stricken with fear the priests stopped all reading of the holy +writ. Flat on their faces, their buttocks elevated high for great +concealment, they crouched in a huddled mass. "Namu Amida Butsu! Namu +Amida Butsu! Spare us, good ghosts--thus disturbed most rudely in your +nightly haunt and revels. Ha! Ah! One's very marrow turns to ice. No +more! No more! Away!" But the Sho[u]nin held firm. Surrounded by the +jibing menacing mass of spirits, steadily and without fear he hung on to +his scroll, read the _sutra_, intoned the _nembutsu_. One by one his +company stole away; as did the spectres with approaching dawn. + +He did not reproach his flock. Said the prior to the shamed assembly--by +daylight: "Surely this is a very difficult undertaking. This curse of +the dead is no ordinary one. It is a soul without light, of some highly +debauched sinner, of some woman vowed to eternal hate. Deep the +malignancy; but deeper yet the efficacy of Mida's vow. Seven nights will +do it. Let all make every effort." He looked around, with trace of +gentle rebuke--"We are men who have left the world (_shukké_). Why then +fear the dead; when ye are part and parcel of them? Perhaps greater +company is needed." He sought it from his fellow priors. From Shiba to +Asakusa they swarmed. With fifty, with seventy, with a hundred and +seventy priests, all reciting the _Sutra_, intoning the _nembutsu_, the +noise and confusion rose high above the sound of storm and spectre. +Sleep was banished far and wide thereabouts. But this could not last. +"One, two, three, four...." with the counting of the plates the chilling +heart rending shriek, the wail of the unhappy girl, the stoutest +volunteers quailed and with their hands shut out the spectral vision. +These volunteers disappeared with the second week of recitation entered +on by the Sho[u]nin. Even his own band began to fail him. They sent +substitutes, in the shape of the temple servants, the lowest grade, the +Shoké Sama. When a third week was announced, as sure to accomplish the +exorcism, there was open rebellion. It was with sadness and admiration +that the Sho[u]nin saw his band thus reduced to a few faithful men, the +oldest of his flock, almost as old as himself--and these deaf, blind, +and almost dumb. "Ah! It is a tremendous affair. Deep the malignancy of +this curse. This foolish priest has overrated his reputation with the +Buddha. Great the discredit to the sect and temple at the wide heralded +failure." He felt as ill and out of sorts away from the presence of the +vision, as did his disciples in its presence. He was old and foolish and +over-confident. + +The prior slept on his cushion, his robes still wet with the storm and +rain of the previous night. Then came a woman, dressed in sombre garb. +Approaching the sleeping priest she wrote upon his sleeve the character +_ki_ [ki], bowed reverently, and disappeared. He awoke seeming to hear +her footsteps. How clear was this dream! The character _ki_, what did it +portend? The Buddha would not fail his priest. Taking himself to the +altar he prostrated himself before the seated figure. Then he prayed. +And as he prayed--perhaps resumed his nap--wonderful to say again the +character [ki] appeared, this time on the Buddha's sleeve. The Sho[u]nin +rubbed his eyes. Was he awake or dreaming? He did not know. "_Ki_," the +chance, the opportunity that the successful man in every undertaking +grasps, where others fail. He must apply it to his own calling and the +crisis. They exercised their brains; he was reputed to be well +furnished. This next night was the last of the third seven days. +Failing favourable issue he would take up his staff and depart to other +place, never to reappear in the beloved precincts of his hall. Thus +inspired he thought and thought. The grave, kindly, piercing eyes became +brighter and brighter. Then his monks came running in surprise and +alarm. The reverend prior was laughing--not in merriment, but with the +joy of him who has found the successful issue to be so plain and easy. + +This last and critical night in storm and riot proved to be the worst of +all. Said the Sho[u]nin with grave kindness--"This night the Sho[u]nin +goes; others need not accompany." All rejoiced--until they saw his +preparation to face the rain and cold. Then they weakened, and all plead +to accompany him. Splendid the train assembled around the well curb. +Again the reading of the _sutra_ began, the intonation of the +_nembutsu_. Again the clerics cursed their ill timed enthusiasm, which +brought them out in the storm and to such unseemly company. Again the +ghosts issued forth from the old well in their obscene riot. Jeering, +menacing they swarmed around the frightened priestly band. Immoveable +the prior. Natural and supernatural seemed to hang on the issue between +priest and spectres. The figure of O'Kiku, wan, sad, malignant appeared. +She counted--"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, +nine...."--"Ten!" shouted the Sho[u]nin, extending the Junen. "Ara! What +joy! None lack. Ah! By the Sho[u]nin's virtue this Kiku secures Nirvana. +Gratitude and obeisance are due." With the words the figure faded, the +spectres disappeared, the storm rumbled and passed off rapidly to the +distance, and the stars shone out on the cold clear sky of a perfect +fall night with its studded firmament. + +Thus did the Sho[u]nin find the secret in the _ten_ repetition of the +sacred formula--the _ju_ nen. On her finger stumps O'Kiku +counted--counted as does the successful man in the business of life. But +O'Kiku was maimed. The thumb was lacking. Hence the tale went but to +nine. The missing factor once supplied her count found completion. Long +had been accomplished her vow of indignant vengeance, but still the +plates remained to count for her own release, and this she could not +effect. Great was the reputation thus acquired to priest and temple. +Probably it was this feat which has confused him with his greater +predecessor, the founder of the temple; transferred most +anachronistically to this latter the tradition of the actual laying of +the ghost. + +There is an old book[35] in which the matter is discussed--"It was in +the old well that Kikujo[u] was drowned, says tradition in Sho[u]ho[u] +3rd year (1646). By the ability, merit, and power of Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin +her soul was saved, and at once she became a Buddha. Though such be the +story, by the temple register the founder of the Dendzu-In, Ryo[u]yo[u] +Sho[u]nin, entered the Hall in O[u]ei 22nd year 9th month 27th day (29th +October 1415). One smiles. Ho! The Sho[u]nin lived two hundred and +fifty-six years before, and dates do not amalgamate. How many +generations had the Sho[u]nin seen when Kikujo[u] became a Buddha! The +Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin becomes a bubble Sho[u]nin. The learning of this +Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin was notorious, and it has been banded down to people +of later generations in matters concerning Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin. Deign +to take a glance at facts here indicated. The 'Edo Bukkaku Ryakuden' +(Epitomised Record of Buddhist teaching in Edo) says under the heading +'Muryo[u]zan Jukyo[u]ji Dendzu-in'-- + + 'Koishikawa Ji-in: 600 _koku_ (income). The founder was + Yurensha Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, early in the Meitoku period + (1390-1393). This Sho[u]nin had between his eyebrows the + figure of the moon on the third day. Later people called him + Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin. Native of Jo[u]shu[u] he was the son of + the castle lord of Iwasé in Kujigo[u]ri, Shirayoshi Shima no + Kami Yoshimitsu. Through prayer at the Iwasé Myo[u]jin his + mother became pregnant. He was born Riaku-O[u] 4th year 1st + month 24th day (11th February 1311). Later his father was + killed in battle, and the mother took him to the + Jo[u]fukuji, at So[u]jiyama. Putting him in charge of + Sho[u]jitsu Sho[u]nin his head was shaved. At eight years + old he was received at the Mikkyo[u] (Shingon) Ho[u]don-In + Yuzon. Taishu[u] (secret cult) was learned through the + teaching of Shingen Ho[u]shi. The Zenshu[u] was taught by + the aged Tajima no Temmei and Gwatsuryu[u]. Shinto[u] by + Jibu no Tayu Morosuké. In the poetry of Nippon he followed + Tona, for ancient and modern example. He wrote ten books of + importance. Noted for learning, in Eiwa 4th year (1378) he + was transferred to Taitei-san O[u]sho[u]-in Nan-ryu[u]bo[u] + in Shimotsuké no Kuni. Here he taught the seed of the Law. + The son of Chiba Sadatané, Toku Sendai Maru, had a younger + brother. It was he who founded the Zo[u]jo[u]ji and became + Yu[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin. Ryo[u]yo[u] Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin died + in O[u]ei 27th year 9th month 27th day (3rd November 1420). + The San-en-zan Kwo[u]-do[u]-in Zo[u]jo[u]ji had to fief + 10540 _koku_. It is the chief seat of the Jo[u]do[u] sect in + the Kwanto[u], and its schools swarm with students.' + +The large hanging bell of this Zo[u]jo[u]ji (_tsurigané_) has the +thickness of a foot. At the time it was the largest of all bells. In the +temple record it says that the Sho[u]nin of Shiba San-en-zan, generation +following generation, were highly noted for learning. From Ryo[u]yo[u] +Sho[u]nin the predecessor the principles must have been inherited. Hence +in the foolish talk of people the honoured name of the Sho[u]nin was +borrowed and adopted into the affair of Kikujo[u], as of the noted and +erudite priest Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin; no matter of offence." + +But no such laboured explanation is required. The sanctity of learning, +the inheritance in these bishops and priors of the merits of those who +went before, has kept and keeps the appellation in the minds of the +generations of the Nipponese. Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, his merits and his +nickname, passed in the public mind to his successors. It is the +laboured and learned effort of these days which fastens on the prior of +Dendzu-in the tales of the long past founder of the temple. It was the +learned Osho[u] of the time of Tsunayoshi Ko[u], that fifth +Sho[u]gun--the Inu Kubo--basely devout and devoted to the Buddha's Law, +when to save the life of a dog (_inu_) the lives of men were sacrificed +on the execution ground.[36] The piety and learning of the great priest +surely is needed to counterbalance the cruel folly of his master. Both +qualities of this later cleric were the needed light in this period so +dark for men. In which the wife, more faithful to tradition and the +land, drove her dagger into the Sho[u]gun's heart, and kept from his +seat and succession the favoured person of his catamite.[37] To be sure +the little lady, of _kugé_ not _samurai_ stock, daughter of the Kwampaku +(Premier) Takatsukasa Fusasuké, of courage and truly noble stock, then +used the dagger on herself; and has kept busy ever since the historians +of Nippon, official and other kinds, in explanation of how "it didn't +happen." This is but a tale of outside scribes, to explain the taking +off between night and morning of a perfectly well man (or divinity)--not +sanctified with official and Tokugawal benediction; and no wonder. The +tale and the event was not one to brag of. And the lady died too--very +shortly. + +The eagerness to ascribe a local habitat to the story of the Sarayashiki +has led to-day to some curious confusions, dovetailing into each other. +To follow Ho[u]gyu[u]sha--in the far off quarter of Yanaka Sansaki, near +the Negishi cut of the Northern Railway, is the Nonaka well. Despite its +far removal this _pool_ is ascribed to O'Kiku, as the one time well of +the Yoshida Goten. As fact--in Sho[u]ho[u] a harlot, by name Kashiwaki, +ransomed by a guest here established herself. Death or desertion cut her +off from the lover, and she turned nun. The place at that time was mere +moorland, and the well near by the hut had the name of the Nonaka no +Ido--the well amid the moor. In time the lady and her frailty +disappeared, and the kindly villagers buried her close to the hut, scene +of her penance. + + "Vain the tranquil water mid the moor--mere surface; + Gone, nought remains--of the reflection." + +Her well? People call it now the _yobi-ido_, the calling well, a pool +furnished by springs and some thirty feet in diameter. Now only a few +_cho[u]_ (hundred yards) to the north of Sansaki, at the Komizo no Hashi +of Sakanoshita, is an old mound called the grave of O'Kiku. "Here a +small seven faced monument has been erected. But this is not the O'Kiku +of the Sarayashiki. This woman named Kiku died of an incurable disease. +As her dying wish she asserted that any who suffered pain from incurable +disease had but to pray to her to receive relief. With this vow she +died." It is the connection between this Kiku and the _yobi-ido_ which +has so transferred the well established site of this old story. + + * * * * * + +Thus comes to a finish these tales of the Edo Bancho[u], the story of +the Sarayashiki with its cruel fate of the unhappy Kikujo[u], the Lady +of the Plates. Long had the distressed figure of the wretched girl +ceased its wailing over the never completed tale of the porcelain +plates. But the memory of her misfortunes, of the ill-omened well of the +Yoshida Goten has remained for centuries in the mind, and thought, and +speech of Nippon. Up to the early years of Meiji the Ko[u]jimachi-ido +still existed, to be pointed out to the superstitious ever present in +this land. The Bancho[u], for many decades of years, had become the +crowded Bancho[u] of the proverb which asserts that one born and living +out life therein, yet could not be expected to know the windings and +intricacies of its many ways and byways. In time the _yashiki_ of +_hatamoto_ disappeared; in recent years to make way for a residential +quarter of prosperous tradesmen, minor officials; nay, for bigger fish +who swim in the troubled waters of court and politics. The old +Ko[u]jimachi village, with its bustling street and many shops, remains. +True the old well has gone the way of the ruined _yashiki_ of Aoyama +Shu[u]zen, of the waste land ([sarado]) on which at one time both stood. +But to this very day the tradition remains firm and clear. So much so +that those who leave their homes, to fail of reappearance ever after, +are spoken of as having met the fate of the unhappy victims of the +Ko[u]jimachi-ido. To quote again the very ancient poem in assertion of +the verity of its evil influence: + + "Yoshida: to passers by the token; + Long sleeves wave invitation." + +Yokohama--21st September to 14th November, 1916. + +--FINIS.-- + +To follow--The Hizakurige (To[u]kaido[u]) of Jippensha Ikku--in English. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Benincasa hispida (Brinkley).] + +[Footnote 2: Of about fifteen dollars in terms of present money.] + +[Footnote 3: Comments the scribe of Nippon (Matsubayashi Hakuen)--"This +kind is not the animal known as fox. There are foxes in human shape +which extort money. They dwell round about Yoshiwara and Shinagawa. +These are found in the Shin-Yoshiwara. In Meiji 33rd year 8th month +liberty was granted to give up their occupation. Blowing wide cast a fox +fever, the brothels of the Yoshiwara displayed a magnificent confusion. +In round terms Tokyo town was in an uncontrolled disorder. Among these +human foxes there was a guild, and this was the source of the tumult."] + +[Footnote 4: Mizuno Juro[u]zaémon Shigemoto, son of Hiuga no Kami +Katsunari. He was ordered to commit _seppuku_ (cut belly) for the +assassination of Bandzuin Cho[u]bei: Kwanbun 4 year 3 month 27 day (22 +April 1664).] + +[Footnote 5: _Kokorozashi wa matsu no ha to moshimasu_.] + +[Footnote 6: Second daughter of Hidétada; wife of the Prince of +Echizen.] + +[Footnote 7: At the severest cold, clad in breech clout, or thinnest of +white linen, the pilgrim after sunset makes his round of the temples for +worship.] + +[Footnote 8: The Pluto of Indian (Yama), Chinese and Japanese (Emma) +mythology. Dai-O[u] (Great King). Cf. Eitel's "Chinese Buddhism," p. +207.] + +[Footnote 9: Other accounts say that these heroes used--pith bullets.] + +[Footnote 10: He was of great strength, and is said to have carried the +Sho[u]gun in his palanquin on his shoulders himself back to Edo in the +flight from Suzume no Miya. With the approval of Iyemitsu he forced his +way into the castle gate, thereby incurring official censure and +banishment to an island--to Hitotsu no Jima, or the present Ishikawa +Jima at the mouth of the Sumidagawa! The sentence was purely formal. His +favour with Iyemitsu was very high owing to this Tsuritenjo[u] (hanging +ceiling) affair.] + +[Footnote 11: These stories were not likely to be published under a +paternal Government; except in the mouths and tales of the people. Too +many scandals have been "excerpted" from the official histories and +records of Nippon to have a robust confidence in what is left. The +_ko[u]dan_ lecturers and writers make the Senhimégimi, eldest daughter +of Hidétada, the heroine of the scandals emanating from the Yoshida +Goten. History refers them to the Takata no Kata. But this lady left +powerful issue. Not so the Senhimégimi (Princess Sen), in ways a +splendid woman. Better known as the Tenju-in-Den she lies buried under a +most imposing monument at the Dendzu-in in Tokyo. Tenju-in-Den lived to +over eighty years; the Takata no Kata died, aged seventy-two years.] + +[Footnote 12: _Itsuwari to omoi sutenaba ikani sen; Sue kakete chigiri +mo aru wo afu yo sae; Iku sue to fuku chigiru makoto wo._ (1) _Hedatsu +koro mono urami to zo omou._ (2)] + +[Footnote 13: Burned down a few years ago: a fire disastrous to the +temple records.] + +[Footnote 14: Dosanbashi is the site facing the castle and lying just +north of the wide avenue facing the main entrance to To[u]kyo[u] +station. It ran north to Kanda bridge. It formed part of the +Daimyo[u]-koji, which extended from Kandabashi to the Hibiyabashi and +the Sukiyabashi at the south. Roughly speaking this Daimyo[u]-koji was +the district between the inner and outer moat and the bridges mentioned, +now traversed by the elevated railway from Shimbashi to the To[u]kyo[u] +station. The Dosan bridge crossed a wide canal which connected the inner +and outer moats with the Sumida river. The street running from +Gofukubashi to the castle moat covers the site of this canal, and the +bridge itself was about where the spur of the elevated railway crosses +the present highway (1916). The Embukasané inspired the famous tale of +Encho[u]--the "Shinkasané-ga-fuchi"--and, like many Nipponese stories, +is founded on actual occurrence.] + +[Footnote 15: Also called, Naomori, or Narimasa, or Nariyuki.] + +[Footnote 16: There was great opposition to the introduction of _Kugé_ +(court noble) influence into the Sho[u]gun's household at this time. The +same reasons of course did not apply to marriage of Tokugawa women into +the Kyo[u]to circle. The Sho[u]gunal Court was to be ruled by _samurai_ +code and influence.] + +[Footnote 17: Marriages at that date were performed in daytime. Note in +the original.] + +[Footnote 18: + _Ume ka ka wo sakura no hana ni motase tsutsu; + Yanagi no eda ni sakashite zo min._] + +[Footnote 19: Momogawa Jo[u]en: _ko[u]danshi_ differ in their treatment +of such detail. Some emphasize it, after the manner of the chronicle; +others do not.] + +[Footnote 20: The _Daikwan_ was the chief representative of the feudal +lord in the particular circumscribed district. His authority rarely +passed beyond a few miles. Note the Daikwanzaka and the site of his +_yashiki_ in Yokohama (_Motomachi_).] + +[Footnote 21: Momokawa Jo[u]en.] + +[Footnote 22: Shukké, one who has left the world--turned +priest--"Honoured Mr. Recluse."] + +[Footnote 23: The Nipponese "watches" covered two hours. Hence he had +been aroused between 3-5 A.M., not 5-7 A.M. as expected.] + +[Footnote 24: _Dentatsu_--"Jimbei, mata 'fukeru' to itta na. Nan no +kotta (kotoba) sono 'fukeru' to iu no wa." _Jimbei_--"Yai! Yai! Bo[u]zu" +etc. To the erudite is left closer approximation to _fukeru_ (in +_kana_). This story is told, following the details of Koganei Koshu[u] +("Yui Sho[u]setsu"). Gion, equally known for its _hetairai_.] + +[Footnote 25: In the vernacular.] + +[Footnote 26: The first--Yamaguchi etc.--are place names, from +Kyu[u]shu[u] to O[u]shu[u]; widely scattered. Otherwise--"Bloody Spear" +(Chiyari), "Iron Chin," "Wolf," "Fox-heart," "Iron head," "Monkey +hand."] + +[Footnote 27: He has played on the ideographs--[kyoku-sui no en] and +[kyoku-sui no en], _kyoku-sui no en_; the last meaning--"Winding water +entertainment," cf. "Benkei" Vol. II. p. 195.] + +[Footnote 28: The _yoriki_ is hard to place--"commanding officer." He +was not of the office, yet as of rank was chosen to lead these more +dangerous and trying expeditions, or to act in more important arrests.] + +[Footnote 29: In the conspiracy of Sho[u]setsu such did exist, directed +to the house of one of his followers, placed not far off in another +street. [But recently such a tunnel was discovered under the garden of +Baron Sakatani at Haramachi, Koishikawa, To[u]kyo[u]; believed to belong +to the Hakusan Goten, and dating 250 years back. 20th May, 1917].] + +[Footnote 30: Brinkley's Dictionary gives it--_Ichiju no kagé ni yadori, +ichiga no nagare wo kumu mo, mina kore tasho[u] no en narubeshi_.] + +[Footnote 31: Sho[u]ho[u] 3rd year the New Year fell on 16th February +(1646) of the modern calendar.] + +[Footnote 32: _Rangiku ya: kitsuné ni no se yo[u] kono sugata. Rangiku_ += Caryopteris mastachantus.] + +[Footnote 33: In Buddhist theology the seventh day is one of the +important dates of the _hotokés_ (deceased spirit) sojourn upon Earth.] + +[Footnote 34: Pradjna--"highest of the six pâramitâ, principal means of +attaining Nirvana, knowledge of the illusory character of all +existence." Eitel--p. 119.] + +[Footnote 35: The quotation and what follows is from Ho[u]gyu[u]sha +To[u]ko[u]--"Bancho[u] Sarayashiki." The exactness of these old temple +registers in essential dates is worth noting.] + +[Footnote 36: Tsunayoshi 1646-1709. A vassal of Akita Danjo[u] killed a +swallow. He was executed; his children were executed; and he and his are +but one case out of many.] + +[Footnote 37: Or son, by the more respectful account. Yanagizawa +Yoshiyasu took the name of Matsudaira. His son Yoshishige, said really +to be the son of Tsunayoshi by the wife of Yoshiyasu, was to be adopted +by Echizen no Kami Tadanao, brother and heir to the Sho[u]gun. Tadanao +"removed," left the field open to the success (and succession) of the +powerful premier. Yanagizawa as _tairo[u]_ (premier) was an irregularity +in itself.] + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page v: The modern kanji character has been used for | + | yeast (_ko[u]ji_) | + | Page 11: crysanthemum amended to chrysanthemum | + | Page 22: masterhand amended to master hand; rotten | + | amended to rotted | + | Page 26: embarassment amended to embarrassment | + | Page 29: on amended to an | + | Page 41: missing /s/ in gesture added | + | Page 47: made amended to make; pallour amended to pallor | + | Page 51: villanious amended to villainous | + | Page 57: dependant amended to dependent | + | Page 59: state raft amended to statecraft | + | Page 63: circumambiant amended to circumambient | + | Page 69: spoken off amended to spoken of | + | Page 73: milklivered amended to milk livered | + | Page 95: gallopping amended to galloping | + | Page 102: herhaps amended to perhaps | + | Page 105 et seq.: superintendant amended to | + | superintendent | + | Page 132: preceded amended to proceeded | + | Page 140: lead amended to led | + | Page 143: Aoyoma amended to Aoyama; embarassment amended | + | to embarrassment | + | Page 147: exhilirating amended to exhilarating | + | Page 169: astonishly amended to astonishingly | + | Page 171: mits amended to mitts | + | Page 173: he amended to be | + | Page 175: quid amended to squid | + | Page 176: multidinous amended to multitudinous | + | Page 182: peel amended to peal | + | Page 192: exhuberant amended to exuberant | + | Page 212: condescenscion amended to condescension; | + | effiminacy amended to effeminacy | + | Page 213: icely amended to icily | + | Page 214: maccaroni amended to macaroni | + | Page 221: conferrence sic, meaning conferring | + | Page 227: squshing amended to squishing | + | Page 232: yashihi amended to yashiki; impertinance | + | amended to impertinence | + | Page 239: Ototsan replaced with Otosan | + | Page 241: feint amended to faint | + | Page 252: maccaroni amended to macaroni | + | Page 254: maccaroni amended to macaroni; apellation | + | amended to appellation | + | Page 260: apellation amended to appellation | + | | + | Where two different spellings occur an equal number of | + | times in the text, both spellings have been retained | + | (Koshigeyatsu/Koshigayatsu; Surugadai/Suragadai). | + | | + | Where there is an equal number of instances of a word | + | occurring as hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens | + | have been retained: Ban-gashira/Bangashira; | + | fire-ward/fireward; go-kenin/gokenin; | + | Kanda-bashi/Kandabashi; Mita-mura/Mitamura; | + | new-comer/new comer; overlord/over-lord; | + | raincoat/rain-coat; Tayasu-mura/Tayasumura; | + | wheel-wright/wheelwright; | + | yatsu-ho[u]ko[u]nin/yatsuho[u]ko[u]nin. | + | | + | The Senhimégimi: Hyphenation and/or word separation, as | + | well as italicisation, is varied. The variations of Sen | + | himégimi, himégimi and Senhimé have been retained as they | + | appear in the text. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House), 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: Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House) + Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 2 (of 2) + +Author: James S. De Benneville + +Release Date: November 28, 2006 [EBook #19945] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BAKEMONO YASHIKI *** + + + + +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. Shigenari/Shigénari, Uesugi/Uésugi).</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>The letter e with a macron is represented as ē.</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="EDO WAN (TOKYO BAY)" title="" /></a> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="LEGEND" id="LEGEND"></a>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%;" /> + +<h4>[NIROKUDŌ ISSUES]</h4> + +<h3>TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA II</h3> + +<h1>BAKÉMONO YASHIKI</h1> + +<h1>(THE HAUNTED HOUSE)</h1> + +<h4>RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS</h4> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE</h3> + +<div class="epigraph"> +"Woman's greatest need,<br /> +The base of all governance,<br /> +Is governance; Seldom found,<br /> +And rarely applied."<br /> +<p class="right">—<i>Seishin</i><br /></p> +</div> + +<p class="center">YOKOHAMA<br /> +1921 <br /></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>In 1590 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> the Hōjō were overthrown at Odawara by the +Taikō Hidéyoshi, and the provinces once under their sway were +intrusted to his second in command, Tokugawa Iyeyasu. This latter, on +removing to the castle of Chiyoda near Edo, at first paid main attention +to strengthening his position in the military sense. From his fief in +Tōtōmi and Suruga he had brought with him a band of noted +captains, devoted to his service through years of hardest warfare. He +placed them around his castle ward, from East to South in a great +sweeping arc of detached fortresses, extending from Shimōsa province +to that of Sagami. Koga was the chief stronghold on the North, against +what was left of the Uésugi power. The most devoted of his captains, +Honda Tadakatsu, was established at Kawagoé. Odawara, under an Ōkubo, +as always, blocked the way from the Hakoné and Ashigara passes. In the +hands of Iyeyasu and his captains, the formidable garrison here +established was not likely to offer opportunity of a second "Odawara +conference," during which dalliance with compromise and surrender would +bring sudden attack and disaster. At this period there is no sign that +in his personal service Prince Iyeyasu made changes from the system +common to the great military Houses of the time. The castle ward and +attendance always were divided up among the immediate vassals of the +lord. The basis was strictly military, not domestic. Even the beautiful +<i>kami-shimo</i> (X), or butterfly hempen cloth garb of ceremonial +attendance was an obvious reminder of the armour worn in the field.</p> + +<p>Great statesman and warrior that he was, the Taikō Hidéyoshi must +have realised the difficulties confronting his House. The formidable +power he had created in the North was no small part of them. On several +occasions he sought a quarrel with Iyeyasu;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> sought to humiliate him in +small ways, to lower his prestige and provoke an outbreak. Such was the +trifling incident of the lavish donation required of Iyeyasu to the +Hachiman shrine at Kamakura. But Hidéyoshi, as with Elizabeth of +England, looked rather to the balance of cost against result, always +with possibility of failure in view. When he died in 1598, and left +Tokugawa Iyeyasu practically regent of the land, his expectation can be +judged to be, either that the loyal members of the council of regency +would at least balance the Tokugawa power for their own sakes, or that +the majority of his son Hidéyori, then a mere infant, would witness no +question of supremacy. In the one event the glory and prestige of his +House would stand. In the second case the safety of his posterity would +be assured. With his experience, and belief in the over-riding power of +Nobunaga and himself, the first was as likely to happen as the second; +and the influence of the Toyotomi House was the means necessary to +insure to Iyeyasu the position already secured, against the jealousy of +the other lords. Time showed that he granted a perspicuity and energy to +the members of his council which Iyeyasu alone possessed.</p> + +<p>With Sekigahara (1600) the situation was definitely changed. In 1603 +Iyeyasu was made Shōgun, and the first steps were to organize the +Eastern capital at Edo on an Imperial scale. The modest proportions of +the Chiyoda castle of Hōjō times—the present inner keep—had +already grown to the outer moat. Around these precincts were thrown the +vassals of the Shōgun. The distribution at first was without much +method, beyond the establishment of greater lords in close proximity to +the person of the Shōgun. This feature was accentuated in the time of +the third Shōgun Iyemitsu. Immediately allied Houses and vassals +occupied the castle ward between the inner and outer moats, from the +Hitotsubashi gate on the North, sweeping East and South to the Hanzō +gate on the West. The Nishimaru, or western inclosure of the castle, +faced this Hanzō Gomon. From this gate to a line drawn diagonally +north eastward from the Kanda-bashi Gomon to the Sujikae Gomon, the +section of the circle was devoted to the <i>yashiki</i> (mansions) of the +<i>hatamoto</i> or minor lords in immediate vassalage of the Shōgun's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span> +service. Kanda, Banchō, Kōjimachi (within the outer moat), the +larger parts of Asakusa, Shitaya, Hongō, Koishikawa, Ushigomé +(Ichigaya), Yotsuya, Akasaka, Azabu, and Shiba, were occupied by +<i>yashiki</i> of <i>hatamoto</i> and <i>daimyō</i>—with an ample proportion of +temple land. It would seem that there was little left for commercial +Edo. Such was the case. The scattered towns of Kanda, Tayasu, +Kōjichō, several score of villages on the city outskirts, are +found in this quarter. The townsmen's houses were crowded into the made +ground between the outer moat of the castle and the <i>yashiki</i> which +lined the Sumida River between Shiba and the Edogawa. In 1624 the +reclaimed ground extended almost to the present line of the river. The +deepening of the beds of the Kanda and Edo Rivers had drained the +marshes. The use of the waters of the Kandagawa for the castle moat had +made dry land of the large marsh just to the south of the present Ueno +district. Thus Hongō, in its more particular sense, became a building +site.</p> + +<p>With elaboration of the outer defences went elaboration of the immediate +service on the Shōgun. There was no sudden change. The military forms +of the camp stiffened into the etiquette of the palace. The +<i>Shōinban</i> or service of the audience chamber, the <i>Kōshōgumi</i> +or immediate attendants, these were the most closely attached to the +Shōgun's person. To be added to these are the Ōbangumi or palace +guard, the <i>Kojuningumi</i> and the Kachigumi which preceded and surrounded +the prince on his outside appearances. These "sections" formed the Go +Banshū, the <i>honoured</i> bodyguard. In the time of Iyemitsu a sixth +<i>kumi</i> or section was formed, to organize the service of the women +attendants of the palace, of the <i>oku</i> or private apartments in +distinction from the <i>omoté</i> or public (men's) apartments, to which the +Go Banshū were attached. Given the name of <i>Shinban</i> (New) this +<i>kumi</i> was annexed to the Banshū. This aroused instant protest. The +then lords of the Go Ban inherited their position through the merits of +men who had fought on the bloody fields of war. Now "luck, not service," +was to be the condition of deserving. The protest was made in form, and +regarded. Iyemitsu gave order that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> Shinbangumi retain its name, but +without connection with the Banshū.</p> + +<p>At this point the confusion of terms is to be explained. All through the +rule of the first three Shōgun a gradual sifting had been taking +place. Into Edo were crowding the <i>daimyō</i> who sought proximity to +the great man of the land. Then came the order of compulsory residence, +issued by Iyemitsu himself; seconded by the mighty lords of Sendai and +Satsuma, who laid hands on sword hilts, and made formal statement that +he who balked nourished a treacherous heart. The support of one of them +was at least unexpected. The acquiescence of both cut off all +opposition. Most of the ground now within the outer moat was devoted to +the greater lords in immediate service on the Tokugawa House. The +<i>hatamoto</i> were removed to the outer sites in Koishikawa, Ushigomé, +Yotsuya; to the Banchō, the only closer ward they retained; or across +the river to Honjō and Fukagawa. Those in immediate service were +placed nearest to the palace. From the beginning the favoured residence +site had been just outside the Hanzō and Tayasu Gomon, across the +inner moat from the palace. Hence the district got the name of +Banchō. <i>Go Ban</i> (御番) in popular usage was confused with +(五番)—"five" instead of "honoured." In course of time the +constant removals to this district made it so crowded, its ways so +intricate, that one who lived in the Banchō (Ban ward) was not +expected to know the locality; a wide departure from the original +checker board design on which it had been laid out, and hence the +characters 盤町 (Banchō) used at one time. This, however, was +when Edo had expanded from its original 808 <i>chō</i> (20200 acres) to +2350 <i>chō</i> (58750 acres). The original Banchō included all the +ground of Iidamachi, and extended to the Kōjimachi road. Kōjimachi +(the <i>mura</i> or village) was then in the Banchō, and known as <i>samurai +kōjimachi</i> 小路 (by-way), not the present 麴 (yeast). In +the time of the third Shōgun the Banchō was as yet a lonely +place—to the west of the city and on its outskirts. The filling in +process, under the Government pressure for ground, was just under way. +Daimyō-kōji, between the inner and outer moats, through the heart +of which runs the railway spur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span> from Shimbashi to Tōkyō station, +was being created by elimination of the minor lords. At the close of +Kwanei (1624 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>) all the Daimyō-koji was very solid +ground; an achievement of no little note when the distance from the +Sumidagawa is considered. At Iyeyasu's advent to Edo the shore line ran +close to the inner moat of the castle. The monastery of Zōjōji +then situated close to the site of the present Watagaru gate, was +converted by him into the great establishment at Shiba; and placed as +close to the waters of the bay as the present Seikenji of Okitsu in +Suruga—its fore-bear in the material and ecclesiastical sense.</p> + +<p>The same rapid development of the town took place on the eastern side of +the river. Honjō and Fukagawa became covered by the <i>yashiki</i> sites, +interspersed with the numerous and extensive temple grounds. Iyeyasu was +as liberal to the material comforts of his ghostly advisers, as he was +strict in their supervision. One fifth of Edo was ecclesiastical. One +eighth of it, perhaps, was given over to the needed handicrafts and +tradesmen of the Kyōbashi and Nihonbashi wards along the river, with a +moiety of central Honjō—and to the fencing rooms. The balance of the +city site was covered by the <i>yashiki</i>. Thus matters remained until the +Meiji period swept away feudalism, and substituted for the military town +the modern capital of a living nation. So much for the Edo with which we +have to deal, apart from its strange legends and superstitions, its +malevolent and haunting influences, working ill to the invaders, daring to +encroach upon the palace itself and attack the beloved of the Shōgun +and his heir, only to be quelled by the divine majesty of his look—as +expounded in such tangle of verities as the Honjō-Nana-fushigi (seven +marvels of Honjō), the Azabu Nana-fushigi, the Fukagawa Nana-fushigi, +the Banchō Nana-fushigi, the Okumura Kiroku, the temple scrolls and +traditions, and many kindred volumes.</p> + +<p>In reference to the Banchō: the stories outlined in the present +volume date from the period of the puppet shows and strolling reciters, +men who cast these tales into their present lines, thus reducing popular +tradition to the form in which it could be used by the <i>kōdanshi</i> or +lecturers on history, or by those diving into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> old tales and +scandals connected with the <i>yashiki</i> of Edo town. In the present volume +main reliance for the detail has been placed on the following +<i>kōdan</i>:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Banchō Nana-fushigi" of Matsubayashi Hakuen.</p> + +<p>"The Banchō Sarayashiki" of Momogawa Jōen.</p> + +<p>"The Banchō Sarayashiki" of Byōhaku Hakuchi, in the +"Kwaidan-shū" published by the Hakubunkwan.</p> + +<p>"The Banchō Sarayashiki" of Hōgyūsha Tōko.</p> + +<p>"Yui Shōsetsu" of Kōganei Koshū.</p></div> + +<p>These references could be extended. The story of the Sarayashiki figures +in most of the collections of wonder tales. The Gidayu of the "Banshū +Sarayashiki" by Tamenaga Tarōbei and Asada Itchō finds no +application. It deals with Himeji in Harima. As for the stories from an +esoteric point of view, as illustrations of the period they have a +value—to be continued in those more historical, and which deal with the +lives and deeds of men of greater note and influence in this early +Tokugawa court. The present volume instances the second class of wonder +tales referred to in the preface to the Yotsuya Kwaidan.</p> + +<p>Ōmarudani,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">14th November, 1916.</span></p><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'></td><td align='left'></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Preface</td><td align='right'></td><td align='left'></td><td align='right'><span class="smcap"><a href="#Page_v">v</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Map of Edo</td><td align='right'></td><td align='left'></td><td align='right'><i>Facing</i> <span class="smcap"><a href="#Page_xii">xii</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='4'>PART I.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Tales of the Edo Banchō:<br /><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who Aoyama Shūzen was</span></span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chapter</td><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'>The Chūgen Rokuzo</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'>The Bakémono Yashiki</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'>Nakakawachi Shūzen</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'>The O'kagé Sama</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'>The Report to the Tono Sama</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'>The Shrine of the O'Inari Sama</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'>The Luck of Okumura Shūzen</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'>Aoyama Shūzen</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'>Shūzen meets Shūzen</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'>The Meeting of the Gaman Kwai</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center' colspan='4'>PART II.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Banchō Sarayashiki:<br /><span style="margin-left: 1em;">What Aoyama Shūzen became</span></span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Chapter</td><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'>The Yoshida Goten</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'>The Kōjimachi Well</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'>The Sen Himégimi (Princess Sen)</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'>Shūzen Adolescens</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'>The God favours Shūzen</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='4'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'>The Affair of the Asakusa Kwannon</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'>Emma Dai-Ō gives Judgment</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'>Kosaka Jinnai</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'>A Matter of Pedestrianism</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'>The Affair of Kishū Ke</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'>If old Acquaintance be forgot</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'>The Shrine of the Jinnai bashi</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'>A Winter Session</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'>The Tiger at the front Gate; the Wolf at the Postern</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXV.</td><td align='left'>Chūdayu wins his Suit</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXVI.</td><td align='left'>Sampei Dono</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXVII.</td><td align='left'>Aoyama wins his Suit</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>XXVIII.</td><td align='left'>The Sarayashiki</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PART_I" id="PART_I"></a>PART I</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> +<h3>TALES OF THE EDO BANCHŌ<br /> +WHO AOYAMA SHŪZEN WAS.</h3> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The</span> <i>Chūgen</i> <span class="smcap">Rokuzo</span></h3> + + +<p>Rokuzo the <i>chūgen</i> sighed as he faced the long slope leading to the +Kudanzaka. Pleasant had been his journey to this point. From his master's +<i>yashiki</i> in Ichigaya to the shop of the sandal maker Sukébei in lower +Kanda it had been one long and easy descent. Sukébei had gratified Rokuzo +with the desired and well established commission or "squeeze." Orders for +sandals in the <i>yashiki</i> of a nobleman were no small item. Rokuzo was +easily satisfied. Though of a scant thirty years in age he had not the +vice of women, the exactions of whom were the prime source of rascality in +the sphere of <i>chūgen</i>, as well as in the glittering train of the +palace. At the turn of the road ahead Rokuzo could eye the massive walls +of the moat, which hid the fortress and seraglio built up by the skilful +hands of Kasuga no Tsubone in her earnest efforts to overcome the woman +hating propensities of the San-dai-ke, the third prince of the Tokugawa +line, Iyemitsu Kō. Rokuzo was a <i>chūgen</i>, servant in attendance on +his master Endō Saburōzaémon, <i>hatamoto</i> or immediate vassal of the +commander-in-chief, the Shōgun or real ruler in the land of Nippon +since the long past days of Taira Kiyomori.</p> + +<p>Rokuzo had no great lady in charge of his domestic arrangements, one +whose obsession it was to overcome his dislike of man's natural mate. +Nor had he such mate to administer reproof for his decided liking for +the sherry-like rice wine called <i>saké</i>. Sukébei had rigidly performed +his part in the matter of the "squeeze"; but Rokuzo considered him +decidedly stingy in administration of the wine bottle—or bottles. +Willingly would he have sacrificed the commission for an amplitude of +the wine. But even <i>chūgen</i> had their formulae of courtesy, and such +reflection on his host would have been too gross. With a sigh therefore +he had set out from the shop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> of the sandal maker, eyeing the wine shops +passed from time to time, but not fortunate enough to chance upon any +acquaintance whose services he could call upon in facing him over a +glass. Rokuzo had the virtue of not drinking alone.</p> + +<p>Kanda village once passed, the <i>yashiki</i> walls hemmed in the highway +which ran through a district now one of the busiest quarters of the +city. This sloping ground was popularly known as Ichimenhara, to +indicate its uniformity of surface. There was not a hint of the great +university, the long street of book-stores close packed side by side for +blocks. Their site was covered by the waters of the marsh, almost lake, +of the Kanda River, then being slowly drained into the castle moats. The +top of the hill reached, at what is now South Jimbochō, the shops and +houses of the one village hereabouts, Tayasu-mura, offered a last chance +for diversion. The steep slope of the Kudan hill was now before Rokuzo, +and beyond he had to pass through the lonely wood which harboured a +temple to the war god Hachiman, and which covered the site of the +present Shōkonsha or shrine to the spirits of the soldiers killed in +Nippon's wars. This road ran through the San-Banchō, then a lonely +quarter in which stood isolated from each other <i>yashiki</i> of the +<i>hatamoto</i>. The district was filling up, under press of the needs of the +castle service for space immediately round about. But the process was a +slow one, and the district one much suspected by the lower classes.</p> + +<p>Rokuzo was not fat. He was short, thick necked, sturdy with a +barrel-like roundness, and, owing to his drinking propensities, endowed +with legs the thinness of which found the conveyance of the upper +massiveness no mean task. Hence he stopped at the foot of the hill to +wipe the sweat from his face. He eyed with envy a low caste being, a +<i>heimin</i> and labourer. Clad in a breech-clout the fellow swung rapidly +down the hill with his load of charcoal balanced at each end of the +carrying pole. It was etiquette, not modesty, which confined Rokuzo to +the livery of his master. He was compelled to a coat which, light and +thin as it was, cut off all the breeze from his muscular shoulders. +Well! Up the hill he must get. The rolling down was a matter of the +past. The <i>yashiki</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> the house officer (<i>kyūnin</i>) to whom report was +to be made, lay beyond. About to make the start a voice spoke in his +ear. Though soft and gentle it would have had no particular attraction +for the now thirsty Rokuzo. But apart from thirst Rokuzo was of the +thoroughly good natured kind. He was surprised at the beauty of the face +on which his eyes rested; still more so at the size of the bundle she +was trying to carry, and which plainly was far beyond her strength. The +rashness of benevolence overcame the not too energetic Rokuzo. Sigh as +he did over the conveyance of his carcass up the steep hill, he sighed +still more at thought of this fragile creature attempting to carry such +a burden.</p> + +<p>She followed his eyes to the bundle. "Alas! Honoured Sir, what is to be +done? The <i>furoshiki</i> is far beyond one's poor strength. Though the +distance is not great—only to Go Banchō—yet it could as well be a +pilgrimage to Isé. Surely the hills of Hakoné and Iga are no steeper +than this Kudanzaka." She sighed; and apart from a weariness of voice +there was a suspicion of moisture in her eyes. The more Rokuzo looked at +her, the greater waxed his pity and benevolence. Barely of eighteen +years she was a beautiful girl; not a servant, yet not one of the +secluded and guarded daughters of a noble House. Perhaps she was the +young wife of some soldier, and he was surprised at her being +unattended. She noted this, and readily explained the fact. There were +purchases yet to make, close by in Tayasu. Here a servant was to be at +hand, but wearied by waiting the woman had made off. "To offer a wage, +good sir, seems impolite; yet the way being the same deign to grant the +favour of your strength." In the petition her face was wreathed in +admiring smiles at Rokuzo's fine figure of a man. A light in the eyes, +captious and coquettish, the furtive glances at his broad shoulders and +stout neck, betrayed him into the indiscretion of volunteering a service +promptly accepted. This done, the lady, without losing sight of display +of her charm of manner, was all business.</p> + +<p>Rokuzo had much to learn, and he was not one to profit much by his +lessons. If he was virtuous, he was by nature a very Simple Simon. A +greater liking for women might by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> contact have sharpened wits rather +dulled by drinking. As it was, anyone in the <i>yashiki</i>, who wished to +shift some unpleasant obligation, found in Rokuzo the one to be +impressed by the most specious excuse, and the one whose kindness of +heart undertook and carried out the purpose of avoidance by assumption +of the task. Instead of concocting some pretext to carry off Sukébei, or +one, or all, of his apprentices to the neighbouring street and a grog +shop, his inexperience and diffidence had carried him away still +thirsty. Instead of bumping into some passing fellow <i>chūgen</i> on the +street, and wiping out the insult with wine, he had idled along, leaving +to every man his share of the roadway, and to the thirsty with burdens +more than their share. Hence this uncongenial company of thirst and a +woman. She had halted at a grocer's shop, and his eyes were soon agog at +sight of her investments—mushrooms, not of much weight, but in bulk +forming almost a mound; the dried sliced gourd called <i>kambyoku</i>, of +which she seemed very fond; marrow, <i>tōgan</i> (gourd-melon),<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> the new +and expensive potato (<i>imo</i>), for money was no object in her purchases. +A second shop close by caught her eye. Here were added to the pile the +long string beans, doubtless to roast in the pod for an afternoon's +amusement and repast, <i>kabocha</i> or squashes, large stalks of <i>daikon</i> +(radish) two feet in length, <i>gōbō</i> or burdock, and a huge +watermelon. The list is too long to quote except for the report of a +produce exchange. Indeed it was rather a case of what she did not buy, +on a scale to furnish forth a <i>yashiki</i>. Then she made her way to a +confection and fruit shop just opposite the scene of her last purchases. +Pears were coming into season—weighty in measure and on the stomach. +But the lady was not frightened. She bought for yesterday, to-day, and +to-morrows, in fruit and cakes of all kinds. Conveyed by the divers +attendants her goods lay piled up at the last source of supply. Puzzled, +she regarded the huge mass; then took eye measure of the shoulders of +Rokuzo. They inspired confidence. She laid a gentle and admiring hand on +his massiveness. She looked into his face with enticing smile. There was +a silvery little laugh in her voice. Concealing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> their grins the shop +attendants fled to their different haunts. Here they smothered cries and +roars of coarse merriment; and one man nearly smothered himself by +sticking his head in the brine cask. This <i>chūgen</i> was no servant of +the lady. He was a volunteer conveyancer caught by a pretty face. They +knew her.</p> + +<p>Rokuzo had more than sturdy shoulders. He stuck to his bargain. Plainly +something must be done; and the lady did it. In a trice she haled him to +a draper's shop. "A five-fold <i>furoshiki</i>—at once." The draper gaped +not; he obeyed. The cloth was produced, and his several apprentices were +engaged in sewing together one of those square package cloths, so +convenient in the conveyance of scattered parcels. It was a portentous +product, a very sheet. Obsequiously offered and accepted, the draper +watched his customers depart with curious eyes. It was not the first of +its kind bought by the lady. He hoped it would not be the last; for his +own sake and that of his fellow traders. The money at least was always +good. The girl must be popular and rich. A number of <i>chūgen</i> were +employed in her service. Never did she bring the same man. Then the +purchases were piled into one bundle. At this both Rokuzo and the +dispenser of sweets were skilled hands. The lady looked anxiously up and +down the road. She tripped into this place and that. Finally she came +back to the bundle, looking as if about to cry. Of the servant's return +there was no sign. Stolidly the shop-keeper maintained his pose. His +shop could not be left to itself; the lady could not wait. Outside was +the blazing sun of the sixth month (July), then at its hottest period of +the hour of the ape (after 3 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>). She looked at Rokuzo. He +twisted uneasily.</p> + +<p>His good nature yielded again to the caressing glance. "Come! As boy +this Rokuzo has carried many a farmer's frame of grass from the mountain +to Shibukawa village. Nay; many a sick man has he shouldered on the +hills leading to the healing springs of Ikao and Kusatsu." He ran an eye +over the bundle. "Ah! A terrific bundle; one to cause fright. There is +nothing else to do." He would have liked to measure strength with this +truant servant; doubtless a terrific female. The confectioner puffed and +blew, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> straining, swelling neck. The <i>furoshiki</i> at last was on the +shoulders of the unhappy Rokuzo. Fortunately the shops of Nippon have no +doors. A most mountainous and monstrous wrestler, a very Daniel Lambert, +can be carried forth feet first from such a front. The shop keeper +followed the pair with his eyes. He passed his hand over the money. Then +he looked again. The lady went lightly up the hill. Puffing and blowing +at last Rokuzo was compelled to zig-zag on its steepness. Then she +followed after his movements, gently encouraging him with words, and a +cheerful pleased giggle that was a very goad in his rear. The grocer +crossed to consultation with the baker. "Bah! He has a ring in his +nose." Said the man of confections—"He is Rokuzo, <i>chūgen</i> of +Endō Sama. But the other day it was Isuké, <i>chūgen</i> of Okumura +Sama, who did her service. And so with others. Truly entertainment at +Yoshiwara costs less effort and wage. These cats are all one colour in +the dark." The philosophic and cynical shop-keepers, each departed to +his own place, arguing more shrewdness in a <i>chūgen</i>, and the greater +freedom, if less honour, implied in the gains and amusements of the +townsman. Again and again the baker inspected his coin. There were still +houses for women in the Kōjimachi road. This satisfied his doubts.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by the lady Rokuzo reached the top of the Kudan hill. In all +his experience of burden bearing never before had he shouldered the +like. It seemed at times as if the lady herself had floated up on its +broad surface, to deposit a weight far beyond her appearance. Perhaps +she did; for Rokuzo, blinded by the pouring sweat, hardly knew what +occurred. From time to time the sweet voice gave direction. Skirting the +castle moat she led him up the short slope of the Gomizaka. A fitting +name, thought Rokuzo. There were more than "five flavours" on his back, +without counting the nasty taste in a very dry mouth. His journey was +almost at an end. At least he had so determined, when suddenly the +destination was reached. The lady knocked at the side door of a splendid +gate set in a long stretch of wall. So much Rokuzo could see through the +damp stream from his brow; and that the surroundings were very rural. A +rattling of the bar and he turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> eagerly to the gate. Its opening gave +a vision of beauty. Clean swept was the ground beneath the splendid pine +trees; graceful the curves of the roofs of the villa seen beyond; and +still more beautiful, and little more mature than his companion, was the +figure of the girl framed in the doorway.</p> + +<p>Forgetful of his burden Rokuzo gaged. Forgetful of etiquette the girl +stared. She scanned Rokuzo from head to foot. The squat and sturdy +figure of the man, in combination with the huge burden, turned him into +some new and useful kind of beast. Astonishment passed into a smile; the +smile into a mad burst of laughter in which the other girl more +discreetly joined. "Nēsan (elder sister) the hour is late, but to-day +the opportunity of assistance was slow to appear. With such sturdy +support it was thought well to make ample provision."—"Provision +indeed! Merry will be the feast. Truly sister, great has been the good +fortune. Honoured Sir, deign to furnish forth the entertainment." Again +came the merry peal, this time from both the girls. Rokuzo hardly +appreciated such reward of his efforts. He had a strong suspicion that +this merriment was directed at him; that the courtesy and gentle voices +were on the surface. There was a snappy nasal sneering ring in the +laughter, most unpleasant and savouring of derision. However there was +certain to be something at the end of the task. Why neglect to take the +reward now close to hand? He passed through the large gate, opened by +the elder maiden to admit the size of his burden. Under her guidance he +struggled along past the corner of the house and into the more removed +privacy. Of this he could note the carefully kept inner garden, the +massive old well curb standing in its centre, and the scent and strange +beauty of the flowering plants. Attention was attracted by the conduct +of his three employers; for another and older girl now made her +appearance at the <i>rōka</i> (verandah). She too gave the same short +sharp exclamation of amusement at the sight of the porter and his +portentous load. She leaped down quickly from the verandah and ran up to +peer into his face. Then she went off into the same mad peal of +laughter, in which she was joined without stint by her sisters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rokuzo was now angry beyond measure; yet as a man and good natured he +found it difficult of expression with such beautiful women. All the +terms of revilement came to his lips—rude rascals (<i>burei na yatsu</i>), +scoundrels (<i>berabōmé</i>), vile beasts (<i>chikushōmé</i>). These were +freely loaded on himself in time of displeasure of master or fellows. +But somehow now they stayed in his throat. "Rude"—yes; "rascals"—yes. +These words reached to a murmur. But the crowning insult of calling +these beautiful women "beasts" stuck in his gorge and he nearly choked. +Said the oldest girl—and she was not over twenty years—"Sister, you +are wearied by the heat and your efforts. Deign to enter the bath. All +is ready. Come! We will enter it together." Hand in hand the three were +about to depart. Rokuzo found speech. He stuttered in his +indignation—"Honoured ladies! Heigh there! This bundle—how now? Truly +it is as if this Rokuzo had been carrying a child. His back is wet +through. It is very unpleasant. Where is the package to be bestowed? +Deign to indicate." At the sharpness of his tone the elder girl turned +in surprise. His anger dropped before the attraction of smile and +address. Truly these creatures had attention but for the passing moment. +"Ah! In joy at the sister's return the burden and its bearer have been +completely forgotten. This is to be very rude. Aré! Honoured Sir, you +are melting away with heat. Place the burden here. At the well yonder is +water. Deign to wipe off the sweat which pours from your honoured +person."</p> + +<p>At once with more than relief he deposited the huge package on the +<i>rōka</i>. Pending its disposition Rokuzo devoted himself to his +ablutions with decent slowness, to allow the idea of remuneration to +filter into the somewhat fat wits of these ladies. At first he was +inclined thoroughly to sluice himself inwardly. The water was +deliciously cool to the outer person on this hot day. But on approaching +the bucket to his mouth there was an indefinable nauseating something +about it that made him hesitate. Again he tried to drink. Decidedly it +was bad, this water; offensive for drinking. With a sigh he diverted the +stream from his gullet to his shoulders. So pleased was Rokuzo with the +experience that he repeated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> it again and again from the inexhaustible +coolness of the well. Then with his head towel he began to wipe the +nudity of his person, taking in at leisure his surroundings as he did +so. Oya! Oya! It was indeed an extraordinarily beautiful place, this +which he had entered. The care lavished upon plants and ornamentation +was carried to extravagance. The eyes of Rokuzo opened wider and wider. +Here was a splendid cherry tree in the full magnificence of its bloom. +The square of this inner garden was completed by half a dozen plum trees +laden with the scented blossoms, although the fruit hung heavy from the +branches. At the opposite corner the polished red of the ripe persimmons +made the mouth water. Beyond these trees and the house was a large and +splendid bed of iris, the curious and variegated bloom counterfeiting +some patterned screen. From the <i>rōka</i> extended a wide trellis heavy +with the blossoms of the wisteria. Lotus was in flower in the pond. +Wherever he turned his eyes the affection of these ladies for colour and +scent showed itself. Jinjōki, hibiscus, pyrus spectabilis, +chrysanthemum, peonies, ayamé or the early iris, all were in mad bloom +to please the eye. With growing fright Rokuzo gazed from side to side. +What could be the social condition of these women, thus treated so +familiarly by a mere <i>chūgen</i>? The gardener surely was an +extraordinary genius, such as would serve none but the truly great. This +was a suspicious place.</p> + +<p>These thoughts were interrupted. Abruptly he approached the part of the +house that seemed a sort of kitchen. The huge bundle had disappeared. +The elder sister showed herself. The two younger girls held back +diffidently in the rear. All showed amusement, but the freshness of the +bath had wrought a change in manner, and made them still more lovely +than before. Said the elder—"Thanks are due for the kindness shown. +Though ashamed, deign to accept this trifling acknowledgment as porter's +wage." She held out to Rokuzo a <i>hana-furi-kin</i>. This gold coin, worth a +<i>bu</i> (the quarter of a <i>ryō</i>) was an extravagant fee.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> Somewhat +strange withal; struck off in the Taikō's day the savour of +disloyalty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> was compensated by the "raining flowers" stamped in the +gold. Rokuzo was still more frightened. Ladies of course were ignorant +of values. Plainly these were ladies, of but little contact with the +world. As an honest and somewhat simple fellow he would have refused the +over-payment. But he was not eloquent in explanation, and the acceptance +meant the speedier departure. Prostrate with extended hands he gave +thanks. Then he thrust the coin into his bosom and rose in good earnest +to depart. Here follows the fall of Rokuzo from the grace of good +behaviour.</p> + +<p>On her way to a room at the end of the garden passed the youngest of the +sisters. She was bearing a tray, the burden of which was <i>saké</i> bottles. +In the other hand was the heating apparatus, flask included. Rokuzo's +nostrils opened wide at the delicious perfume. He stood stock still. As +in some surprise the elder sister regarded him. Thereupon the wine +bearer halted, in her pose holding the grateful steam directly under his +nose. Said the first girl—"Is the wage insufficient? If so...." +Rokuzo's nostrils twitched. The younger sister stopped a movement as of +further bestowal. "Ah! This honoured Sir can carry more than burdens." +She broke into a merry laugh. Said the sister—"Is that so? The <i>saké</i> +is object of desire." Beauty was now enhanced a thousand times by the +benevolence of their demeanor. With tongue at last eloquent—"Ah, +ladies! This Rokuzo is dying of thirst. The well here offers no means to +quench it. But for the honoured encounter at Kudanzaka long since would +the company at the wine shop of Ichigaya have been sought. For reward +deign wine rather than coin." He made a movement as if to restore the +gold, but the elder girl stopped him. "So then, Rokuzo likes wine. He +shall have both wine and coin, and entertainment in addition." With the +request from him their manner had changed. It was now more sedate and +purposeful. Rokuzo hardly understood the further course of his +experiences. Emerged from the bath he found himself seated before a +plentiful repast. The viand contents of the monumental burden together +with what sea and hill could provide—these figured. Rokuzo drank first, +and plentifully. Never had he tasted such delicious wine. He knew that +the Tono Sama drank no better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> <i>saké</i>; nor did his master occupy a more +splendid apartment than this one of the wine feast. The silken figured +<i>fusuma</i> (screens), the fretwork crowning them, the many lamps—it was +now dark—in bronze and precious metals, dazzled his small +understanding.</p> + +<p>The women acted as attendants. Rokuzo sat long, now thoroughly fuddled. +He listened to an orchestral theme, interpreted by <i>koto</i>, <i>fué</i>, +<i>biwa</i>, or the <i>taiko</i> (drum). Perhaps there were better voices. Even in +their singing the three girls had that sharp, derisive, unpleasant, +nasal twang. But Rokuzo was past criticism. To their questioning he told +who and what he was; a <i>chūgen</i> in the service of his lord, Endō +Saburōzaémon, <i>hatamoto</i> in the land, and now in office at the +fireward of the palace. Had he a wife? A <i>chūgen</i> is not one to have +a wife. At this all the women seemed very pleased. They exchanged +glances.</p> + +<p>The elder girl now came close to him. She nestled by his side and took +his arm, looking coquettishly and smilingly into his face. "Rokuzo Dono +has done much for three lonely women. Will he not do more? Why not +remain as now, perform the tasks of this house? Does not the change of +masters attract?" Rokuzo's latest remembrance of encounter with the +honoured house officer (<i>kyūnin</i>) of his master was the six days turn +in the <i>yashiki</i> prison, on very scant fare. His face was long at the +thought. He was very remiss on this present occasion. What would happen? +In the haze of his wine the voice of the girl continued. Her face was +very close as she pressed on him. "Rokuzo Dono, deign to serve this +house, meet its difficulties." For a moment Rokuzo broke the spell. +"Difficulties? Of luxurious living and a splendid home? Such +'difficulties' make one laugh."—"Yet there are real difficulties. Three +women—they have their difficulties. Be the man of the house; the man in +the house. Condescend the favour." Restraint was thrown off. She held +him in her arms and drew him close. Rokuzo's brain was in a whirl. +Women? Women? Ah! The wine! His lips eagerly sought the cup she held to +them. When she rose he allowed her gentle persuasion. The two other +girls busied themselves in the preparations for the night. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +whispered to each other; and there seemed to be some ground of division, +but the elder had her way. She and Rokuzo were left alone.</p> + +<p>If Rokuzo sought solace in the arms of his mistress he certainly failed +to find it. Never had such a nightmare descended on his slumbers. +Through the night he was battling with most fearful visions, seeking to +avoid tortures of hell. He had pursued his beauty into some huge cave. +Now possession was secure. From this there was no escape. But it was no +escape for Rokuzo. Now she turned into a huge obscene object, a very +<i>rokurokubi</i>, one of those hideous monsters with lengthy neck, gleaming +teeth, and distorted human-like face. Again there was change. He lay +supine and helpless; and extended full length over him was a fox of +portentous size. The sharp, yelping, nasal voice sounded in his ears. +"Coin, wine, then lechery: Rokuzo would drink, then play the beast. The +porter's wage is insufficient. Now let him pay the beast's wage." The +sharp gleaming teeth were at his throat. The foul breath filled his +lungs. Rokuzo struggled for air, shouted for an aid not at hand. +"Drunkard; lecher." By a final effort he would free himself from the +succubus—"Liar!... Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Holy the Lord +Buddha!"</p> + +<p>A heavy chill went through his body, shaking him from head to foot. He +opened his eyes. In amazement he looked around him. The magnificent +apartment, the women, the garden, the feast, nothing remained of his +night's experience. It was the chill of early dawn, and he was lying on +the bare ground, in the midst of a wild grass grown and deserted moor. A +tree root was his pillow. He rose to find the waters of the Kanda marsh +under his eyes. He was still on the Ichimenhara. The Kudanzaka was yet +to be climbed. Ah! He had been foxed, bewitched by reynard or <i>tanuki</i> +(badger). Then remembrance of the <i>hana-furi-kin</i> came to mind. Here +would be proof. He thrust a hand into his bosom—to draw out the leaf of +a tree. There was no doubt about it. And the banquet? At the very +thought of the viands Rokuzo squirmed. He made a gesture of nausea and +disgust. The <i>saké</i>—was excrement. The food—worse yet. He felt very +ill.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>His aching limbs and heavy head accompanied him to his lord's <i>yashiki</i> +in Ichigaya. Rokuzo took to his bed. At the porter's lodge the +<i>kyūnin</i>, Naitō Kyūsaburō, inspected the tickets of the +<i>chūgen</i>. At last Rokuzo had made his appearance; and had made no +report. He was not long in reaching the <i>chūgen's</i> bedside. With +severe face he questioned him as to his absence and neglect. "Gluttonous +fellow! Something eaten is the cause of the sickness. Rascal that you +are, a good purge is the thing. Then a fast in the jail will restore the +stomach. This the punishment, if great your good luck. Otherwise—it +will be the garden front. Report is to be made." He turned to go. Rokuzo +detained him. He spoke with timidity, but under spur of the greater +retribution. He admitted his fault. "But...."—"But what?" impatiently +interjected Naitō. "Is not the food furnished by his lordship ample +supply for the belly? Does a <i>chūgen</i> question his lord's generosity? +What banquet tempted this rascal...?"—"Indeed it was a banquet." Rokuzo +went into details. Kyūsaburō's rage increased. "You are lying. Or +does illness follow food partaken in a dream? Perhaps the rascal Sukébei +has not been paid. Is Rokuzo a thief?" Rokuzo groaned in pain and +discomfiture. He would make a clean breast of it; confess to more than +mere food. And he did. "Nor is Rokuzo the only victim. Isuké, +<i>chūgen</i> of Okumura Sama of the Banchō, nearly lost his life. +Others have been trapped; and others knew enough to refuse service and +run away. Truly this Rokuzo is a fool. Condescend the honoured +intercession. Ah, that banquet!" He shuddered at the thoughts aroused. +At sight of the receipt of Sukébei perforce Naitō Kyūsaburō +believed. He pitied Rokuzo, administered the stoutest purges in his +pharmacy, and left him somewhat relieved in mind and body. The tale was +soon known all over the <i>yashiki</i>—to the profit of all and the +amusement of most. With gleeful malice Rokuzo would be asked to describe +his meal, the superlative flavour of the wine, for past fact and present +fancy became strangely mixed in his recital. Thus, through the report of +the <i>kyūnin</i>, Naitō Kyūsaburō, the experience of his +<i>chūgen</i> Rokuzo came to the ears of Endō Saburōzaémon, +<i>hatamoto</i> of the land, of four hundred <i>koku</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> income, and officer in +charge of the Hiban or fire-ward at the Ushigomé gate.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The</span> <i>Bakémono Yashiki</i></h3> + + +<p>Endō Saburōzaémon heard the report of his officer. A slight frown +puckered his brow, and he contemplated the big toe of his immaculately +white <i>tabi</i> (sock). "A vexatious matter! <i>Hatamoto</i> of the land, +official duty gives occupation enough. Yet for such things to take +place, and so close to the person of the suzerain, this is not to be +permitted. Beyond his love for wine Rokuzo has shown himself +trustworthy. He is not lying?" Kyūsaburō bowed low—"As your +lordship says. Of his illness there is no question; and that not merely +from a drunken debauch. Rokuzo is not one to be tempted by women; and to +those beyond his station he dares not raise his eyes. It was the wine +which tempted him beyond discretion. He has tried all patience, been +most disloyal. The honoured dismissal or severe punishment at the least +is his due. The Tono Sama summoning him to the garden front, and +deigning the kindness of putting him to death (<i>te-uchi</i>) ... yet...." +Hesitating he brought out the once <i>hana-furi-kin</i>, wage of the +unfortunate Rokuzo, now in such danger of drastic remedy for his aching +head. Respectfully pushing forward a knee the <i>kyūnin</i> presented it +to his lord. Saburōzaémon examined it with much curiosity. "And +this?"—"The wage for his porter's work," answered the officer, his face +respectfully wrinkled with the trace of a smile. "Though one could say +from his exhaustion that he received other favour than coin. The very +thought of his filthy repast drives the rascal to most fearful +retchings. He is in a parlous way, and if your lordship deign +forbearance...."—"Heigh!" He was interrupted by the exclamation of +Saburōzaémon, now examining the leaf most intently. "I say now! An +oak leaf, the broad reminder of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> <i>kiri</i> (paulownia imperialis), such +might come from last year's fall. This leaf never sprang from Nippon's +soil."—"Just so," replied the <i>kyūnin</i>. "Hence petition for delay in +administering punishment."—"And of course the fellow is useless. Ill, +and besides he knows not whither he went, and came to himself on the +Ichimenhara."—"Yet, while still in his five senses, he recognized Go +Banchō; and it is fact that the <i>chūgen</i> of Okumura Dono suffered +likewise in the Banchō."—"Of Kakunai and the strange horse this +Saburōzaémon has heard. And the other man?"—"One Isuké, a stout +fellow, but in good fortune the twin brother of this rascal Rokuzo."</p> + +<p>Endō Saburōzaémon rose to his feet with an elasticity and snap +denoting decision. His wife standing close by laid hand upon his arm. He +turned to meet her frightened questioning look. He spoke reassuringly. +"Don't be afraid. Such things so near the suzerain's honoured dwelling +are not to be permitted. This Saburōzaémon goes to learn the facts as +to this suspicious house. The <i>samurai</i> has no fear of apparitions; and +less of thieves, as is likely to be the case. Let the rascals look to +themselves if they would avoid the taste of Saburōzaémon's sword. +Kyūsaburō is to see that the <i>Yashiki</i> is well guarded. To-night +Ōkubo Hikoroku Dono holds the fire ward. The occasion fits." At once +he was busied with his preparations for out door service. His wife, +granddaughter of old Nagasaki Chiyari Kurō—he of the "bloody +spear"—was the <i>samurai</i> woman, to aid her lord in his duty, not to +hold him back with tears and plaints. The pair were admirable specimens +of their caste. Endō Saburōzaémon's grand-father had been a +retainer of that hard hitting Asai Nagamasa who had to bow the head +before the sword of Hidéyoshi. The son Kiémon perforce had served the +Taikō, and well. It was with more than readiness that he had appeared +in the army of the Tokugawa at Sekigahara, to be killed in all loyalty +before Ōsaka in Genwa 1st year (1618). Saburōzaémon was then but +five years old. But the early Tokugawa did not forget loyal service. +When of age he was summoned to Edo from his native province of Ōmi, +given duty in the palace service, to become with years a <i>hatamato</i> with +income<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> of four hundred <i>koku</i> and a <i>yashiki</i> in Ichigaya, just beyond +the Gomon or great gate at the outer moat.</p> + +<p>In the present matter night must be awaited. When the bell of the +Gekkeiji, the huge temple of the district, struck the watch of the pig +(9-11 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>) Endō prepared to set forth. "In case of +necessity ask the aid of Hikoroku Dono, of Jurōzaémon."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> This to +his wife. "At least one attendant? Kyūsaburō is old enough to know +that these rascals never deal with more than one human." This to the old +<i>kyūnin</i>, who with anxiety watched him depart into the darkness. With +a sigh the officer shut fast the outer gate. Then, sword over his knees, +he squatted himself at the house entrance, to slumber and await his +lord's return.</p> + +<p>As officer of the fire ward Saburōzaémon met with little difficulty +in passing the Ichigaya gate, beyond which lay the suspected district of +the Banchō. To the sharp hail and protest at his appearance without a +lantern he sought the service of those of the guard. Surprise and abject +apology followed the bringing of face and equipment into their light. As +on urgent mission to the palace he explained the one and disregarded the +other. For form he borrowed a lantern at the guard house, to leave it in +a hedge close by, to hand for his return if in the darkness. Straight +ahead he walked for some distance. Now he was in the very centre of the +Banchō. It was a most lonely place. The district had been set apart +for the <i>yashiki</i> of <i>hatamoto</i> and the houses of <i>gokenin</i> who showed +no haste to apply for its ample space. Its highways and byways showed +lines of bamboo fences, plaster walls, broken at intervals by gates. +Between the far <i>yashiki</i> there was much waste land. Suspicious were its +precincts in these days when the haunting spirits and apparitions, +attendant on once owners and their wars, were being driven out by the +advent and aggression of the new lords from the South. Still fresh in +men's minds was the wondrous <i>mami-ana</i> of Azabu—the cave of the +<i>tanuki</i> (badger)—with the implied curse on the Tokugawa. The cohorts +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> apparitions, driven northward to the land of savages, had suffered +severely at the hands of Ii Naomasa on the banks of the Ueno Toshima +ferry. Thus the curse came down the centuries on the Tokugawa House.</p> + +<p>Once in the heart of the district Saburōzaémon stood uncertain. All +sense of locality was lost. The Banchō by day and by night greatly +differed. The wind sighed through the great pine trees and whispered in +the long <i>suzuki</i> grass. He thought to reach the neighbourhood of the +Gomizaka. The noise and bustle of the Kōjimachi would give direction. +Just then a lantern came in sight at the turning in the lane. As it drew +near it was seen that to all appearance the bearer was a <i>chūgen</i>. +Endō drew back into the shadow. He would take a good look at him. He +allowed the man to pass. Then from behind—"Heigh! Wait!" Instead of +waiting the fellow took to his heels. Endō pursued and soon caught +him. In terror the fellow sank on his knees before the two sworded man. +"Deign, honoured sir, to spare the cutting test. This Isuké is yet +young. He loves life. Condescend not to cut short his breath." +Saburōzaémon was struck by the name fresh to his ears. Coldly he +looked the man over; played on his terror—"Yet you are fat; just of the +girth to give fair test to a new blade."—"Nay! Your lordship can deign +to observe it. Isuké is stuffed out with a recent meal. It would be but +a case of tripes. His bones are young and soft, his muscles wasted by +mere feeding. It would be as cutting <i>tōfu</i> (bean paste). Deign to +spare him."</p> + +<p>Said Saburōzaémon. "'Tis no cutting test. Thus passing carelessly at +the side that fat paunch was an easy mark. Be more careful +henceforth.... You live hereabouts?"—"Honoured Sir, 'tis so. Isuké is +<i>chūgen</i> at the <i>yashiki</i> of Okumura Sama."—"Ah! Then you know the +haunted house (<i>bakémono yashiki</i>) of the Banchō."—"Just beyond? +Isuké knows it too well."—"Life spared, act as guide thither." The +man's knees bent under him. He plead for forbearance. Plainly he must +die. Only to this dreadful sentence and sight of Endō's sword did he +yield. Reluctantly he went ahead of the <i>samurai</i>, as far as a gate the +massiveness of which attracted attention. Saburōzaémon looked it +over, then carefully considered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> his guide. He held out a coin. The +fellow respectfully drew back. Said Endō with impatience—"As lord of +this mansion the money of guidance is offered. Accept it without +question. Here lies my purpose." This was but addition to obvious +terror. With wabbling knees the fellow persisted in refusal. "Honoured +lord, deign forbearance. Already has this Isuké accepted entertainment +here, with fearful results; nearly quaffing the waters of the Yellow +Fountain in Meido." Said Saburōzaémon sourly—"What has the purpose +to do with a low fellow's entertainment? Take the coin, and be off with +you. Darkness acts as screen." The man did but whimper, "With purpose in +hand: truly darkness the screen, upside down; the balsam an incense, the +sticks to hand in the clay dishes. This? 'Twill turn out but the leaf of +a tree, to bring sorrow on Isuké. Your lordship has said it."—"It is +good coin," replied Endō briefly. Then with some curiosity—"But what +has a tree leaf to do with purpose?"—"Pine leaves denote purpose, and +are so named."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a>—"A clever fellow after all! No wonder he escaped.... +But be off with you. The coin shall ring true with daylight. So much is +promised on the word of a <i>samurai</i>. Fear the living man, not the +inanimate object; and say nothing of meeting the donor. Otherwise Isuké +ends badly. Now—off with you!" The voice was very human, the peremptory +gesture surely that of a two sworded man. The <i>chūgen</i> took +confidence in the fact that he could not help himself. Whatever doubts +he possessed, these he kept with the coin in his bosom. With scant +thanks cut short by fear he obeyed the order to depart into the shades. +Gathering impetus with distance he fairly took to his heels.</p> + +<p>Saburōzaémon waited for the lantern to disappear. Then he turned to +inspect the gate. There was no entrance through its solidity. It was a +<i>yashiki mon</i>, almost house, with two posterns. He must get a look +within. A long high plaster wall ran on both sides into the distance. +The moonlight, flooding the scene, showed him a breach opened by long +neglect. Once within he felt convinced that he was on the scene of +Rokuzo's experience. But the pine grove was anything but swept clean. +Branches torn off by storm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> and wind, fallen trees, lay scattered +everywhere. It was a very winding course which took him to the eaves of +the building some distance off. Plainly the once occupant had been a +person of position, perhaps a minor <i>daimyō</i>. At the corner of the +structure he found himself in the garden more particularly attached to +the house. An exclamation of regret at sight of such desolation came to +the lips of Saburōzaémon. A master hand had laid out this beautiful +piece of work; but trees and plants, no longer trained and trimmed by +man's hand, had run wild. In the centre was a wide well curb rising some +three feet from the ground. A single stone step allowed easier access +for those drawing water. The well-sweep had rotted off and lay upon the +ground. There was no bucket. Saburōzaémon leaned over. From the still +surface of the water came an indefinable putrescent odour, perhaps from +the decaying plants, or refuse blown into the depths. He drew away, +disgusted and convinced. Carefully he made the round of this pleasaunce. +At the bottom of the garden near the confines of the well, was an +artificial mound—a <i>tsukiyama</i> or moon viewing hill. Before this was a +little lake, for fish and lotus, of perhaps a couple of hundred feet in +length by narrow width. In places he could jump across it; and elsewhere +stepping stones offered passage. An Inari shrine in a plum grove offered +no particular interest, beyond recent inclosure showing a neighbour's +hand. There was swampy ground for the <i>shobu</i> or iris and beds of peony +plants. In front of the line of towering pines was a row of Yoshino +cherry trees, all broken and neglected. The one time owner had loved +flowers. Endō turned to the house.</p> + +<p>The moon was pouring full on the closed <i>amado</i> (rain doors), its cold +silver globe lighting up the scene. "Solitary is the moon of winter +glorious that of autumn." This was the tranquil moon of summer, +pacifying yet saddening men's hearts, as does all moonlight. It was +plain there was no entrance on this side of the house, unless unseemly +force was used. This was unnecessary. Endō noticed the lattice work +of the bath-room. A few strokes of his dagger, and the frame was lifted +out. Then it was easy to draw back the heavy wooden panels and allow the +moonlight to flood these exposed chambers. Carefully he scanned his +immediate surroundings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> The paper of the <i>shōji</i> was torn and eaten +by the rats. In places the frayed <i>tatami</i> (mats) bent under his feet, +evidence of decay of the supporting floor. There was the mouldy damp +smell common to places long closed to the freedom of the outer air. It +sent a chill to the bone; which Endō noted with surprise as he turned +to the dark inner rooms. He must have some kind of light. Almost the +first step into the semi-obscurity offered the means to hand. Stumbling +over an object at his feet he picked up a staff. On examination it +proved to be one of those <i>kongo</i> canes, the support to feet and belly +of the devout in their long pilgrimages, sign manual of the pious intent +of the bearer. He had taken a candle from his pocket, and, with small +respect to the "six worlds" of its rings, used the spiked end to +improvise a torch. Then an unexpected voice caught his ear; a sad, +wailing cry which chilled the heart. Then followed low, rapid, +disorderly speech, the meaning of which rendered indistinct by distance +could not be made out. Then came the unearthly startling shriek which +rang through the whole mansion.</p> + +<p>Endō Saburōzaémon now had his torch fastened and blazing. Loosing +his sword in the scabbard promptly he set forth into the darkness +beyond. The candle cast a feeble light, making the darkness still more +apparent. However, he could see the splendour of these once inhabited +rooms. Screens worked in silk were dirty and frayed, but they were by +master hands, and still showed the outlines of beautiful designing. The +<i>rama-shōji</i>—the fret work between the rooms—was broken in places, +yet it displayed the erratic course of Nature's handiwork, the most +bizarre and effective of all. And always just before him went the +shuffling drag of sandals—as of some one on the <i>rōka</i>, further on, +at the room beyond. He sprang forward in haste, to fling back the closed +screens, but still the object eluded him; always there, yet never seen. +Thus it led him from room to room—reception rooms, sitting rooms, the +women's apartments; all gorgeous, all unfurnished, not a single object +of the value to tempt stray visitor or intentional thief. Even the +kitchen was stripped bare of equipment. Not even the stones to support +the furnace had been left. Thieves, or others, had long since accounted +for all movables.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dumbfounded Saburōzaémon stood at the foot of the stairway. Patter, +patter the footsteps had led him to this point. The width was coated +thickly with dust, swept by breezes from without, and from the +disintegrating plaster (<i>kabé</i>) walls. The webs of spiders were woven +across it; across the aperture. Yet—again came the wild sounds of riot +above. This time the voices were distinct and close at hand. A woman was +struggling, pleading under torture. "Alas! Alas! Deign to show pity. +What has been the offence, thus to inflict punishment. Condescend the +honoured pity. Ah! Pardon there is none. The child is consigned from the +darkness of the womb to the darkness of death. Alas! Most harsh and +unkind! How avoid the eternal grudge? Unending the hate of...." The +voice, like to the sharp rending of silk, ended in the fearful shriek, +chilling, heart rending, paralysing even the stout heart of Endō +Saburōzaémon. "Ki-i-i!" There followed the ineffectual gurgling +wailing cries of one struggling for breath. Drawn sword in hand +Saburōzaémon sprang up the stairway. Nothing! The <i>amado</i> thrown back +in haste light enough was given to show the emptiness of the room. Still +the voice was heard. He passed beyond. As before—nothing; except the +voice, now plain, as at his very side.</p> + +<p>Saburōzaémon was now assured of some witchery. "This is Endō +Saburōzaémon Takékiyo, <i>hatamoto</i> of the land. Whoever, or whatever, +be present, assume the proper shape. Fox or <i>tanuki</i> (badger), strip off +all disguise; stand to the test of Saburōzaémon's blade." But the sad +wailing voice made answer—"Unkind the words of Endō Sama. This is no +trick of fox or badger. Meeting an untimely end, the Spirit now wanders +as an unworshipped demon; as one deprived of all honour in the grave. +Brave has been the deed of Endō Dono. Others have come; to depart in +fright. He alone stays to challenge. For so much, thanks. Deign worship +to my spirit, the security of rest from its wanderings." Saburōzaémon +in amazement looked around. The voice was clearly heard, and close to +him; yet naught was to be seen. "Whoever you be, if wronged the sword of +Saburōzaémon is here to avenge the wrong. If in life, the perpetrator +shall pay the penalty of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> misdeed; yourself shall secure worship. +Such is the office of a <i>bushi</i>—to aid the helpless. But cannot the +shape be seen? Why this concealment from the eyes of Saburōzaémon?" +And the voice made answer—"Has Endō Sama no eyes? Concentrate the +thoughts. Here! Here!" Carefully and long Saburōzaémon scrutinized +every spot. Following the voice he sought to get nearer and nearer. Thus +he was brought right before the <i>tokonoma</i> (alcove). For a moment he +shielded his eyes with his hands, then boldly removed the screen and +faced the spectre in the plaster. At first faint, then more strongly +outlined was the vision of a young girl. At one time the face perhaps +had had great beauty. Now there was a weird expression of life amid the +wasting and decay of death. The living eyes gleamed a deadly hate and +distress which showed the torment of the spirit. Framed in the wild +disordered masses of long black hair the face of the apparition sought +to plunge its own unhappiness into the soul of its visitor. It was a +strange vision; one to rouse the desire for the beautiful woman in man's +heart, the wish to shield; together with repulsion toward the most evil +passions of a malice which inspires fear. Long and steadily the man +gazed; the woman answered the challenge. Then again Endō was the +<i>samurai</i>. "On with the tale. To the wronged Endō Saburōzaémon +gives right and worship. A <i>samurai</i>, he has passed his word, not to be +broken." He would have taken seat before the alcove. Said the +voice—"Honoured Sir, the tale is long. On the <i>rōka</i> without is a +stool. The <i>tatami</i> are dangerous with the wet. Later deign the honoured +hearing." With surprise Endō followed these household directions. At +the room close by he found the object indicated. Here met his eye a sign +unmistakeable. In the very centre of the <i>tatami</i> was a huge +red-brownish stain; by the verandah a second stain; at the further +entrance a third of kindred character. Plainly the tale he would hear +was of no peaceful exit from life. To the tragedy of death had been +added violence. Thus fortified he returned, to take his seat before the +vision in the alcove; steadily, with the harsh official manner of his +caste, to meet the evil, strangely seductive, malice of its look and +suggestion. Then it spoke:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Nakakawachi Shūzen</span></h3> + + +<p>Honoured sir, long past the source of this offence. It was the +fourteenth year of Kwanei (1637). As now, the summer heat was stifling. +To seek relief this Shimo had left the house, to stroll the +neighbourhood close by. Thus idly engaged, listening to the song of the +<i>suzumushi</i>, watching the fireflies flitting over the tops of the +<i>suzuki</i> grass, and bending to cull a few lilies to arrange in the +<i>hanaike</i>, the presence of a stranger was felt. Ah! He was indeed a +handsome man. Not too young to seem a callow youth to the eyes of +Shimo's sixteen years; not too old to look on her merely as one of +different sex. Indeed he was not yet thirty years, a soldier, carrying +his two swords and his person most nobly. At very sight of him Shimo was +carried into the gust of the love passion. Her cheeks were "dashed with +the maple leaf, her heart swelled as the noon-tide." Her confusion did +not escape the notice of one already surprised at sight of a girl so +young strolling alone on the byways of the Banchō. At once he spoke, +with the confidence of one who has the right to question—"And who may +this little beauty be, unaccompanied, with night so close at hand? The +Banchō is said to be no safe place with coming of darkness. If on +some mission and belated, this Shūzen will protect from harm. Or +perhaps, though young in years, this is some new wife. Or is it a lover +who is in question?" He spoke with kindness and authority, coming very +close to get his answer, his eyes fastened on my person, to the greater +increase of embarrassment. Vain was the attempt to throw some +indignation into the reply. Lover there was none. Of but sixteen years, +Shimo was in the hands of father and mother. To admit a lover would be +unfilial.... The father? Kawasaki Chōbei, attached to the palace +stables. Humble was his rank in the minor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> office he held; but a one +time <i>ashigaru</i> (common soldier) his service had entitled him to the +position and the suzerain's stipend of twenty <i>koku</i>. Hence he was of +some consequence among his neighbours. At this information, given with +some heat, the <i>samurai</i> smiled and praised my father's service.</p> + +<p>He did more than praise; on this night, and other nights. Frequent were +the meetings. Yet never did this Shimo pass the bounds of propriety. +Carried away by the gust of passion, incited by the lover's presence and +solicitation, yet Shimo's filial duty kept her person pure. A night came +when he failed at the rendezvous. So with the next, and following +nights. He had laughed at parting, and said that where was the will, +there a means would be found. Plainly the will was lacking, and he was +too proud and too highly placed even to endure the presence of Shimo at +his side. With these thoughts, and overcome by love and vexation, I +sickened. Great was the anxiety of the parents. Doctors were called in; +the priest's charms were sought. They were of no avail. It was the +advice of the wise old Saitō Sensei to leave me to myself and time. +"It is her years," said he. "Time will effect the cure; unless she +herself sooner indicates the means." Laughing he departed, as one +convinced that the cure was a simple one. Long had the determination +been held to tell all to the mother; always put off at sight of the +kindly anxious face. With such a lover she would have felt alarmed and +helpless.</p> + +<p>Time brought the cure. The summer heats were nearly past; the eighth +month (September) close at hand. One day came a <i>chūgen</i> to the +house, bearing a message. At once all was in confusion. Nakakawachi Dono +was a <i>fudai daimyō</i> of twelve thousand <i>koku</i> income. He was a +new-comer in the district, and known to be held in high favour at the +palace. A goodly portion of the site of the former Yoshida Goten in +Banchō Kōjimachi had recently been assigned to him. With the +removal of the Takata no Kata<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> to quarters closer to the castle the +greater portion of the palace had been removed to build the prior's hall +of the Iinuma Kugyōji. The villa part (<i>bessō</i>) of the structure +had been left intact,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> and with much of the park and garden had been +secured by favour to Nakakawachi Sama. For such a great lord in his +passage to condescend to rest at the humble house of a mere <i>go-kenin</i> +caused much disturbance. The limited household staff was put +energetically to work at cleaning and making all preparations for the +honoured visit. Treading with cat's paw my parents went from room to +room, to see that all was befitting. The articles of greatest value were +set forth for his lordship's view. An instinct set dancing my barely +restored nerves. Why did this great lord, so near home in his +progress—his fief was in Kōshū—deign thus to rest? What command +would he urge? His name was Nakakawachi Shūzen. The <i>samurai</i> lover +of the Banchō spoke of himself as Shūzen. Thus was the watching +and waiting, in a flutter of trepidation and newly aroused passion.</p> + +<p>Then he came. My parents prostrated themselves on the ground in his +presence. "With your permission—" Haughty he swept on, to be ushered to +the inner rooms. Even the officer in charge remained at a distance. +Prostrate at the sill my father gave thanks for the honour of this +unexpected presence, for his lordship's deigning to halt the palanquin. +On command Shimo served the tea, not daring to raise face from the +<i>tatami</i> under the satisfied scrutiny of this honoured guest, exercising +all her self control, which yet did not prevent a trembling of the +fingers in presenting the salver with the cup. In due course, on +withdrawal of the service, he noted the one who served, and indicated +his wishes. He was a new-comer in the district. He would have his +service therefrom, at the hands of those close by. No girl was better +spoken of than the daughter of Chōbei San. He would ask that Shimo be +sent to the <i>yashiki</i> to attend as <i>koshimoto</i> (maid in waiting) to her +ladyship. His short stay in this house he regarded as most fortunate. He +spoke through his chamberlain, now present; but followed the officer's +words with close attention. My father was overwhelmed by the honour. +Profuse and earnest were his astonished thanks. Shimo was the only child +of people now entering into the coldness of age. This was of small +moment. But there had been no opportunity to give her the training +required for such service.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Beyond an awkward touch on <i>samisen</i>, mainly +due to her own practice, she was a moor girl, a very rustic. She could +keep house—yes; like a wardsman's daughter. Polite accomplishments she +lacked. Deign in this instance his lordship's honoured forbearance. The +girl was too young and awkward for such service.</p> + +<p>Polite was the withdrawal; without knowledge of his lordship's +disposition and previous acquaintance. Shūzen Dono was not so easily +balked. All the objections were brushed aside. Youth was everything in +my favour. His eyes twinkled with inward amusement as he spoke. All the +easier came the practice which everyone must go through. If Shimo was +incurably awkward she would not be dismembered, but dismissed. Great +would be the forbearance. That she had everything to learn pleased him +all the more. She would be the more readily moulded to his service. At +the <i>yashiki</i> youth was an object, and not the experience of long time +service which had left the adept far too experienced. Such women had +their lord's service little at heart. Shimo had youth and beauty. These +were a girl's treasures and accomplishments. He had never seen one +better fitted for entrance on such service. All this the chamberlain +conveyed with an authority which put aside opposition. The lord's will +was spoken. First the mother gave thanks for the honour condescended to +one so insignificant. She claimed the promised forbearance of his +lordship to any faults. My father followed her example, and gave his +thanks. Such entertainment as the humble house afforded was now +produced. After partaking his lordship departed in state. The neighbours +had been agape at the great lord's train stationed at the gate. For them +and for the curious and discreet questioning, the congratulations at +such promotion in the world, this Shimo cared little. His lordship's +will had prevailed. Henceforth Shimo would live close to his side.</p> + +<p>I had fled to the little working room, as one taking refuge amid the +constant household sewing. But needle could not be seen through the veil +of tears. "What joy! What joy!" Thoughtless the words were spoken out +loud. The mother's hand was laid on my shoulder. The look was kind, yet +with some reproach at this unfilial rejoicing. Apology was made. To her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +doubts eager was the answer. "How else succeed in life? Service at the +<i>yashiki</i>, its life always under eye, its etiquette, even its +dangers—this experience alone can teach how to meet its requirements; +and so close at hand, near to home and parents. Others had succeeded in +such promotion. Why not Shimo, thus offered the chance to rise from the +status of a wardsman's daughter, or not much more, to become an +attendant in a lord's <i>yashiki</i>?" Sadly my mother smiled. Grave would be +her anxieties concerning one so inexperienced. "The child thinks but of +self and pleasure. The mother thinks but of the child, and sees the +dangers." This in lower tones—"If Shimo becomes the favourite of her +lord, how is such inexperience to meet the evil passions roused in those +around her? Always place her ladyship first. Resist the solicitation of +Shūzen Dono; unless the <i>okusama</i> chooses to favour what would be but +a transient passion. Keep this well in mind.... And now—to the +preparation of what is needed." She had detected the motive of his +lordship's summons, thought him captivated by a pretty face and figure +come across by accident. Thus she understood the inner feeling of this +Shimo. With the words of advice she turned to the subject of my needs. +Willingly this was left to her skilled hands; and the advice received as +little attention. To speak of resistance to his lordship, to one who +hungered for his presence, was but to set the brain devising all the +means to secure his favour. Thus outwardly busied with needle and +garments, the self was existing as in a dream. The preparations in any +event could not be elaborate. Shūzen Dono was urgent. A lucky day was +chosen, and with my modest equipment I entered on the service of the +<i>yashiki</i> of Nakakawachi Sama.</p> + +<p>Introduction to the immediate presence of her ladyship, O'Hagi was +anything but pleasing. Seated with her were two maids, O'Tsugi and +O'Han. The first named was a buxom masculine woman of nearly thirty +years. The girl O'Han was a recent promotion from the scullery; and, as +was learned later, she owed the favour to the goodwill of the +chamberlain (<i>yōnin</i>) Nishioka Shintarō, a cold, smooth spoken, +evil eyed man, mainly notable for the uncompromising readiness with +which he carried out the wishes of her ladyship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> Over them all, of +greatest influence with O'Hagi Dono, was an old woman, O'Saku. She had +accompanied her ladyship from the original House, was utterly +unscrupulous in her service, and her sharp voice, like that of a file +scratching glass, sent shivers down the spine as I prostrated myself +before the group. Cold was the reception. "A likely wench! Plainly his +lordship's choice, without reference to your ladyship. But time will +show.... Meanwhile no service as yet is assigned. With this girl his +lordship's orders are first to be heard. O'Han, show the new comer to +the quarters of the <i>koshimoto</i>, that she stand in no necessity or +likelihood of forgetting where they are. For to-day there is remission +of service." Thus spoke the harsh voice of O'Saku, passing over my head. +The cold, knife like glances of all were like steel plunged into my +body. With obeisance I withdrew, to follow O'Han, who gave no greater +welcome and was no kinder than the rest. Almost at once she left me, and +several days were passed in solitude awaiting a summons. This came one +evening. With evil dubious smile O'Han presented herself. "His lordship +summons O'Shimo Dono to his service this night. You are to attend. Deign +not to forget the good services of this Han." She laughed, with a bitter +suggestiveness. What would anyone have done, thus treated at start as +evil doer, as intruder? With joy his lordship's command was heard. The +whole person of Shimo showed a well restrained love and joy. He was +pleased at the effect wrought on me by his presence. Small the +experience, beyond what love's attention could afford. The night's +banquet was plainly not the dullest of its kind. At its close O'Shimo +had command to accompany him. With morning I was a woman.</p> + +<p>In the period which followed every night came the summons to attend my +lord. Foolish and inexperienced, in this whirlwind of passion Shimo was +but a leaf driven by the storm. The assignment to duty in the <i>yashiki</i> +never came. There was the daily report for duty at her ladyship's +rising, the cold and curt reception, the quick dismissal. O'Hagi Dono +was past her thirtieth year. Of the great Doi House, she brought to her +husband a dower of influence and prestige. Older than her husband the +love passion had never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> taken root. An ugly woman, there was small +chance for other good qualities to secure a fictitious esteem with a man +so easily captivated by beauty as Shūzen Sama. Furthermore her +ladyship did not possess such amiable traits. She was a proud, hard, +jealous woman; with the natural graft of a bad temper. Soon abandoned to +a lonely bed she was no longer treated as a wife. Though the marriage +had endured some five years there was no child, and little prospect of +one. On occasions of ceremony the <i>okugata</i> presided at his lordship's +wine feasts, attended by her band of furies. With the exception of +O'Han, who possessed the freshness of youth, none of them had any +pretence to good looks. Outwardly all due respect was paid to his +lordship, but the private apartments (<i>oku</i>) were in league against him. +For weeks the contact was through the <i>yōnin</i>, Nishioka Shintarō, +who acted as messenger of his lord's commands, and conveyed to his +lordship any intimation of the wishes of her ladyship. Hence Shūzen +Sama knew and cared little as to what passed in the inner apartments of +his wife. She knew everything which passed in those of his lordship. +This tacit divorce appeared welcome to both.</p> + +<p>The object of his lordship's passion, in a household in which one side +or the other of the existing feud must be taken, the position of this +Shimo was quickly determined. Not by her, for short experience of her +ladyship inspired a terror which would even have counselled cooler +treatment from his lordship in one more experienced. The other girls +were all honey, to disguise the bitterness of gall. There was not one of +them who would not gladly have obeyed her lord's call to Shimo's place. +Hence to partisanship was added jealousy. At the daily tasks there was +but one topic of conversation—O'Shimo's favour with her lord. The +charms she used were evident enough, for Nature had been lavish with the +kind to meet his lordship's wishes. How was it their own parents had +spawned such incapacity? "Deign, O'Shimo Dono, to teach the art so sadly +lacking. How bring to prominence such meagre gifts of proportion as one +does possess? In turn shall be taught the art of the <i>hanaike</i>—the +arrangement of flowers, of the <i>koto</i> and the <i>biwa</i> in accompaniment of +old songs of heroes and their ladies, the ceremonial grace so necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +in attendance, the conduct of a lady. From a wardsman's daughter little +is expected, beyond good looks. Alas! O'Shimo Dono is the <i>yamabuki</i>, +the yellow rose, beautiful in its out of season bloom (April), but only +too likely to be nipped by the frost. Deign to enlighten, O'Shimo Dono. +Beauty soon wanes, and pregnancy kills good looks as completely as the +chill wind does the flowers." Then they all broke into mad laughter; and +whispered to each other.</p> + +<p>Their suspicions were correct. The constant companionship of his +lordship had the natural effect. When told great was his pleasure. If a +boy, the child should be acknowledged as heir of the House. If a girl, +it should be the solace of his years. So great was his joy and pride +that he spoke to the retainers as if it was the <i>okugata</i> herself who +was at issue. Thus the news must have reached her ladyship's ears with +the first telling, for Nishioka usually was present at his lord's +repast. He was the black cloud hanging over all. A tall, gaunt, suave, +determined man of nearly forty years, the smile he cast upon this Shimo +chilled her. Always courteous in his lordship's presence, elsewhere his +courtesy conveyed a threat and insult which made me as the bird before +the snake. I feared the man; and feared him all the more when one day, +with small disguise of malice, he told me that his lordship had departed +in all haste for the fief in Kōshū, not to return for some weeks. +Considering the state of affairs, this should inconvenience me but +little. This open reference to the pregnancy was a first alarm. It +showed how well known it was to the whole household. Indeed concealment +now was impossible. The fifth month had been entered upon; the +supporting band had become a necessity. But the climax was at hand.</p> + +<p>That very day—toward noon—the summons came through the girl O'Han. +With sinking heart I took my way to her ladyship's sitting room. What +was going to take place. Passing the <i>chūgen</i> Jisuké on the <i>rōka</i> +he called to someone in the garden—"His lordship's absence gives the +chance to clean out the house." Covertly glancing below—there was no +one. Was it in malice, or as warning? Probably the latter. Jisuké always +had been active in little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> services; often the chosen messenger of my +lord. His look in passing conveyed no insolence; rather kind intention. +It took away the exhibition of surprise at my reception. Her ladyship +was seated at the upper end of the room. The maids O'Tsugi and O'Han +stood close by. Nishioka Shintarō was just behind her ladyship. The +old hag O'Saku was seated at the front. She motioned me to make +salutation. The <i>okugata</i> spoke harshly, with contempt and dislike of +the one thus brought before her at the white sand of judicial process. +"The affair at issue is a simple one. Shimo is to answer the +questions—without tergiversation or lying. To Saku is left the matter +of the examination."</p> + +<p>The old woman bowed with respect and smiling gratitude at the pleasing +task. The smile conveyed to her ladyship promise of satisfaction, even +amusement, in the torture of a forced confession from this child who +would play the woman. Turning to me her face, with cheeks fallen in, +long sharp nose, hard bright glittering eyes of a bird of prey, the +snowy hair piled high around the temples, it was that of one keenly +searching out the tenderest spot into which to drive the knife. Her +first words were all flattery. "Much has been heard, and little seen, of +O'Shimo Dono since her entrance into the <i>yashiki</i>. What has been heard +is all to her advantage. Her devotion to the service of his lordship has +been carried to the utmost—even, some say, to extremes. Of that there +can be no criticism. His lordship's wishes are paramount. The action of +O'Shimo Dono contains nothing but merit. It is for the malice of others +to say that O'Shimo has sought and stolen the fruit belonging to her +ladyship; that her cat's eyes have been quick to fasten upon the place +of the mistress of the house; that it is she who would furnish forth an +heir to his lordship. Such is not to be believed. But the truth is to be +told. An heir to his lordship is a matter for her ladyship. No child has +fallen to her lot. If O'Shimo Dono be the first to give birth to a child +in the <i>yashiki</i>, it must be between the knees of her ladyship. Deign +then to make full confession.... Ah! There is no need to beg for mercy +and reprieve from the examination. Saku is old. Her ladyship is a +married woman. Both possess experience. On refusal personal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> examination +is to be made. O'Tsugi, O'Han, are to aid." The two women had come +forward and passed behind me. Seized and thrown down the clenched fist +of O'Tsugi was roughly pressed into my abdomen. In fright and pain, in +dread for the unborn child, I cried out. Then the violent old woman +dragged out the confession of all that had passed with his lordship. +Minute and shameful the details to be told in the presence of a man. But +Shimo was an animal with powers of speech, and must tell all. With the +confession the old woman's smoothness departed. "Vile slut! A townsman's +brat, sprung from the stable dung, you would play the adulteress, take +her ladyship's place, and supplant her with an heir got by some +stranger's seed.... She is gone to the sixth month? High time for +interference. She shall be kept here, until the separation of persons +takes place. No wonder his lordship abandoned the shameless hussy—for +some fresh country wench in Kōshū. For such loose jades to please +the taste of the Tono Sama causes surprise. But off with her, to the +room for confinement. There she is to lie, until her affair is settled." +At a sign O'Tsugi and O'Han seized hold of me. Clothes torn and in +disorder, the person vilely exposed, roughly I was dragged over to this +barred and retired apartment. Always I made effort to preserve my body +and its fruit from their harsh violence. O'Tsugi roared with laughter at +the feeble resistance. The woman was strong as a horse. To O'Han—"Look +at her big belly. Ah! Her ladyship is none too wise. Let the matter but +be left to Tsugi, and the midwife soon would be needed." She raised a +massive leg with suggestive gesture. In some fright O'Han stopped her, +on plea of no such orders. The girl was young, of full figure and not +without attraction. Perhaps she harboured hopes, and would not in a +rival's person set precedent for her own. O'Tsugi spun me around, as a +child would a top with the cord. Then suddenly she released me. With a +crash my body fell against the wall. Sick and faint I tried to rise, and +failed. They watched me for a time as I grovelled and retched in +sickness. Then the bar fell on the outer passage and my imprisonment.</p> + +<p>The day light waned. The sound of the birds going to roost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> came to the +ears. It was now spring, the gladsome period of the year. The cooing and +chirping brought no charm to the prisoner's ear. These birds were as the +birds of Shidéyama (in Hell). Mournful the dirge they sang. Filled with +foreboding, with dread for self and the passing from the darkness of the +womb to the darkness of death for the unborn child, faintness of heart +was made worse by the faintness of hunger. I sank into a kind of +slumber, more racking than the working hours. Then the harsh cries of +the crows aroused me. Daylight was again streaming through the window +bars. At a corner of the sill was a jar. The water in it was stale and +foul smelling. None other was to hand. A <i>mimitarai</i> (hand basin) was +found in the closet. Thus was the nauseating ablution performed. Near +mid-day, when ready to cry out with hunger, for sake of child not self, +the door opened. It was O'Han who brought me food. One strip of +<i>takuan</i>, the bitter pickled radish; for drink, ice cold water. Such was +the meal. At night some pickled greens replaced the radish. On my knees +I plead with O'Han, besought her mercy for the unborn child. She laughed +at my misery. "Good living on forbidden fruits has made O'Shimo Dono +fat. Her big belly is perchance to be reduced by diet. Such are the +orders of the <i>okugata</i>. Han can do nothing; and would do nothing if she +could. What a fool! Cannot one please his lordship, all night and every +night, without promise of an heir to the House? Condescend the vacancy +and leave such matter to this Han...." Perhaps she felt that she had +said too much. Abruptly she turned and left the room.</p> + +<p>I was not long alone. At least it seemed not so, for the light slumbers +were disturbed by the pangs of hunger. Then came a hand fingering the +outside bar. It was done stealthily. In aid or menace? A deadly fear +came over me. With wild staring eyes, loosened hair framing an anguished +and distorted figure I faced the object without, seeking its entrance. +The terror was not relieved by the appearance of the chamberlain, +Nishioka Shintarō. His face was set and drawn, as of a man who has a +problem to work out, as of one who would carry out the purpose with +certainty and expedition. He closed the door, set the lamp carefully on +the floor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> in a distant corner. Not a word was spoken. Eyes bright with +terror I watched his movements. He carried something in one hand. Shaken +loose it was allowed to trail behind him. His preparations made he came +toward me with decision. Retreating before his advance the wall was +reached. By this time he was on me. Then I saw what it was he held; a +slender rope, its dreadful meaning plain. I screamed in terror. Roughly +he silenced me, one hand on open mouth. In stifled tones I plead for +mercy. Then failing sign of respite, by desperate effort my struggles +called for all his strength. My screams resounded loud in the room. +"Aré! Aré! Murder! Deep the grudge, to seven lives! Nishioka San! The +grudge of one dying against Nishioka! Against man and woman who would +cut off the life of Shimo and her child. Ah! Her ladyship! The grudge!" +The cord had tightened round my throat. The ends were in the strong +hands of Nishioka Shintarō. I mocked and stuck out my tongue at him. +I know I did so, as the breath came with greater and greater difficulty. +His face, that of a demon, grew to huge proportions, bright scarlet. Now +heart and lungs were bursting with fullness. Dreadful the agony, +dreadful the grudge for this ill deed. Thus I died. Then followed the +ruin of the House of Nakakawachi Shūzen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The O'Kagé Sama</span></h3> + + +<p>On the following night all were gathered in the apartments of her +ladyship. O'Tsugi was engaged in putting back the <i>koto</i> (harp) into its +cover. O'Hagi Dono touched the instrument with no mean skill, and on +this night had deigned to please herself and those who heard her. O'Han +was engaged in heating the <i>saké</i> bottles. Rarely did her ladyship +retire without this indulgence. The old woman, O'Saku, aimlessly moved +about the room. She seemed to be awaiting some news. A sound of steps in +the corridor, and with pleased countenance she made sign to her +ladyship. A moment later and Nishioka Shintarō entered the room. +There was not a trace of difference from the ordinary in his composed +harsh reverential manner to her ladyship. The latter gave a look at +O'Saku. The old women asked the momentous question. "The matter in +hand—has all gone well? The wench no longer troubles the peace and +future of the <i>okugata</i>?"—"Everything to perfection: the <i>chūgen</i> +and servants were given tasks to take them far removed. There was barely +a struggle. By the hands of this Shintarō the affair was soon carried +to completion." With complacence he displayed two lean strong hands, +regarded with fondness and admiration by her ladyship. They could bestow +a more tender embrace than that suffered by the unfortunate <i>koshimoto</i>. +"And later; the traces of the deed, these are to be removed?"—"There +are none. The time was waited until the body grew cold. It was safe to +do so. The weather is yet raw, the room one seldom entered, and the bar +key in the hands of Shintarō. But just now the task of dismemberment +and disposal has been completed. On pretext of repairs to the <i>ashigaru</i> +quarters much plaster was obtained. With this the severed fragments of +the hussy and her foetus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> were mingled, and thus concealed in the wall +of the <i>tokonoma</i>. The whole new surfaced no trace of the deed appears; +nor is there fear of stench from the corpse. Her ladyship can be assured +that all is well. O'Shimo no longer will give trouble with her +pretensions to his lordship's fondness. In a few days Shintarō will +notify the father that the girl has run off with some lover. A worthless +jade, thus dismissed the <i>yashiki</i>, he will be too ashamed to make +inquiry here; and his searches elsewhere are not likely to bear +fruit.... How strange!" He brushed away a firefly which had flown into +his face. With surprise those present watched the bug flitting here and +there in the darkness of the corners and the open corridor. It was +barely the middle of the third month (April), and no season for the +appearance of those insects of the hottest period of the year. Failing +to catch it, O'Tsugi drove it into the outer darkness. Then closed the +screens.</p> + +<p>More lights were brought. Her ladyship would take wine, and talk of +nothing but the joy and relief. "For life this deed shall not be +forgotten. Always in the ready courage and resource of Nishioka has +support been found; many awkward corners turned. If he finds favour with +his lord, still greater the regard of this Hagi. A cup—Shintarō!" +Herself she offered it, leaning fondly toward him. Her hand trembled in +her passion as he took it, with purposed glance and pressure. Always +formal in outward seeming, the intimate relations of the pair for past +months were more than understood by these immediate attendants and +abettors. Nishioka Shintarō long had been the honoured substitute of +his lord—the shadow, the O'Kagé Sama, of Nakakawachi Dono. In this case +the shadow was the substance. This ugly virile woman was boiling over +with passion. In the old O'Saku she had a bawd to her service. She had +entered this House as friend or enemy, according as the event would turn +out. Neglected by Shūzen, unable to rule him by will or personal +attraction, she sought to do so by substitution, to the satisfaction of +both. Hence she made Nishioka Shintarō her lover. He was nephew of +O'Saku and foster brother of O'Hagi. Once introduced into the house he +easily made his way into the confidence of Shūzen Dono, by taking all +cares off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> his shoulders, beyond those of ceremonial attendance and +pleasure. The minutest details of everything were looked to by Nishioka. +This pleased Shūzen, who placed confidence in the readiness and +proved resourcefulness of the man. Nishioka was an infallible guide in +all minutiae of the palace service and intrigue; his knowledge gained by +a long experience in attendance on the great Doi House. Here he had +risen from <i>chūgen</i> to <i>kyūnin</i> (house officer). When he came to +the <i>yashiki</i> of Shūzen he soon replaced the <i>karō</i> (minister) of +the fief in his lord's intimacy, and the latter official found +honourable banishment in continued occupation and residence at the fief +in Kōshū, where Shūzen played the rôle of a castle lord +(<i>jōshū</i>), a <i>fudai daimyō</i>, a subordinate and spy on his +greater neighbours. The new comer was source of congratulation to her +ladyship. As O'Saku—and perhaps O'Hagi Dono intended, revenge was +sought on Shūzen by promptly throwing the mistress into the arms of +Nishioka. Behind the impenetrable shield of the inner apartments—a +place that Shūzen only sought to avoid—they could live as husband +and wife. Other arrangement now was met by the cold reception meted out +to her lord by the lady of the House. Any compunction Shūzen might +feel as to what he thought to be the enforced sterility of O'Hagi thus +was salved.</p> + +<p>Merry almost to madness was the progress of the wine feast. Her ladyship +went beyond the bonds even of a decent veil of sobriety. Her loving +attitude to Nishioka found more open expression than usual in the +presence of the others. Her abandonment was undisguised. All rejoiced +with her; congratulated the strong man on his ready energy. Only the +girl O'Han showed some lack of spirit, which she attributed to headache. +In kindness her ladyship forbade further concern with the service of the +wine, with the aggravation of its fumes; but she had too little +consideration for those about her to relieve the suffering girl from +attendance. Then the hour came to retire. According to the decent +formula in practice, Nishioka, notified of the fact, rose to take his +leave—to the next chamber. Here the O'Kagé Sama did his disrobing. The +girl O'Tsugi was the first to leave her ladyship, on some mission. She +came behind Shintarō, to administer a rousing slap between the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +shoulders which brought him almost to his knees. Grumbling and gasping +he turned to meet her admiring looks. "A fine figure of a man! And one +to act as well as pose. For us his lordship has but pretty words. +O'Shimo alone profited otherwise. But the O'Kagé Sama of his lordship is +of another kind. Deign to favour this Tsugi from time to time." +Shintarō volunteered a grimace which could pass for a consenting +smile. His shoulders burned under the heat of the lady's passion. In +search for a reply the screens again parted, and O'Saku made her +appearance. O'Tsugi at once took to flight, somewhat in derision. The +old woman followed her with eyes of suspicion. Then she marched straight +up to Nishioka—"An impudent jade! Shintarō is to place no confidence +in her or her words. She brings nothing but shame, and perhaps worse. +There is not a serving man in the <i>yashiki</i> who does not know her. And +remember this well. It is this Saku who holds the string of her +ladyship's favour. O'Hagi Dono is not so far enamoured as not to accept +a substitute at Saku's hands.... But he is a fine figure of a man! Too +fine to be spoiled by his lordship's hand." To avoid the threatening +lascivious gleam in the eyes of this withered branch Nishioka made +pretence of trouble with a knot in his girdle. The whispered invitation +grazed a negligent ear, to be interrupted by the sound of her ladyship's +voice. O'Saku was in no haste to leave or to say more. O'Han was the +last to appear. There were anger and tears in her eyes as the girl +stopped a few feet from him. She spoke half turned away, as ready to +take flight at expected interruption. "Nishioka Dono keeps faith with +her ladyship! Does he keep faith with Han? Earnest was the promise that +at all events Han should share his favour with O'Hagi Dono. Nearly a +month has passed since he has deigned a visit. Surely her ladyship is +not so exacting. Give fair answer. Is will or power lacking?" She waited +the reply, eyes cast down on the <i>tatami</i>, for she at least had some +remains of modesty. Thus the almost despairing gesture of Shintarō +escaped her. He spoke in low voice, with emphasis, to this fairest of +his bevy of fair ones—"As for the <i>okugata</i>, O'Han knows her almost as +well as this Shintarō. What would be the fate of both if their +treachery were suspected?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> Deign to be patient. The fountain of plenty +has not run dry. Shintarō would go but so far. In this horde of women +he must look to himself. The dependence now is on her ladyship and +O'Saku Dono. Shūzen Sama is cajoled by having thought for nothing. +The <i>karō</i> now is very old. This Shintarō surely will take his +place. A break then with her ladyship finds punishment in exile to +Kōshū. Then comes the time for O'Han openly to join Shintarō, +for the happy bond of two lives." The girl's lips barely moved. Both +were startled at peremptory call from the neighbouring room. She spoke +rapidly—"'Tis small matter, even with her ladyship. But from time to +time a visit to this Han? Condescend it."—"Agreed!" was the impatient +answer. "But with O'Hagi Dono, O'Tsugi, O'Han.... O'Saku, the occasions +must be limited." He suddenly seized her in his arms and silenced her +protest in an embrace. Then with hasty steps he passed to her ladyship's +bed-chamber, leaving O'Han with wide staring eyes which shifted from the +room of the lovers to the door through which she had witnessed the old +woman's departure.</p> + +<p>Such was the vileness of the life in which was engaged Nishioka +Shintarō. A week had barely elapsed. There was occasion to make +purchases for the <i>yashiki</i>. The <i>chūgen</i> Jisuké remained +respectfully prostrate before the officer. Nishioka again ran over the +list required. "These are to be got at the Owariya in Mikawachō. The +month's settlement is yet far off. The order stands sufficient. Now off +with you." The man did not budge. Rising to a sitting posture he looked +fixedly in the face of Nishioka. "What now?" grumbled the <i>yōnin</i>. +Answered the <i>chūgen</i> with respect—"Something of a tip will be +well."—"A tip!" said Nishioka in astonishment. "For what is the month's +wage paid to a <i>chūgen</i>? Is he to be given drink money for carrying +out his duties? Take the <i>furoshiki</i>; and now out with it and yourself." +"'Out with it'; just so." Such the answer; but the fellow did not budge. +The steady insolence of his attitude made Nishioka straighten up as by a +shock. He was too surprised to speak. The <i>chūgen</i> spoke for him. +"Yes—out with it. Ah! It is quite private with Shintarō. Jisuké can +speak at ease. Drink money is just the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> thing for Jisuké. Jisuké Dono is +fond of drink. The O'Kagé Sama will supply the coin, three <i>ryō</i>, in +return for the silence of Jisuké."</p> + +<p>At the suggestive nickname, known only to the few in the secrets of the +<i>oku</i> Nishioka fairly gasped. Jisuké did not give time for answer. He +drove the matter home. "'Heaven knows, Earth knows, Man knows.' So does +this Jisuké, of the doings of Shintarō with the Okusama. Naruhodo! No +strange sight. When the honoured Sun (Tentō Sama) disappears toward +Kōshū, the honoured Moon (Tsuki Sama) appears in the ascendant in +Musashi. The matter is a most important one, not to be brought to an end +by a gesture. Bring the Okusama on the head and shoulders of Jisuké; and +Jisuké tells all to his lordship. The proof is easy, and this Jisuké the +fitting messenger between these lovers.... Oh! Don't lay hand to sword. +Jisuké is active, and the way of retreat is open. The honoured Jisuké is +not one to perish by the hand of the low fellow (<i>yarō</i>) Shintarō. +In plain terms, the rascal is male concubine of her ladyship; who knows +little of the even balance with which her paramour shares his favours +with her women. Surely Shintarō was born under the sign of the goat. +But that is not all. The very walls can talk. At least that in which the +unhappy O'Shimo, seven months gone with child, stands walled in. +Naruhodo! Such punishment is inflicted on bugs, and worms, and creeping +things; not on human beings. How does Jisuké know? Go question the +plaster, you coward; or learn that Jisuké is, and has been, everywhere +present at council and at deeds. But a word to Chōbei Dono, and +Nishioka crouches at the white sand for confession."</p> + +<p>At first astonishment and incredulity, then wrath, now dismay filled the +heart of Nishioka Shintarō. The fellow's insolence, the honorifics +bestowed on Jisuké, the vile terms heaped on himself, showed the secure +ground on which Jisuké stood in his full knowledge of events. For whom +was he spy? He must find out. Jisuké, however, volunteered the +information. "Spy? Jisuké Dono is spy for no one's interest but that of +Jisuké Sama. He would have warned O'Shimo Dono, but repented in time to +have all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> more completely in his hands. She passed on to her death, +carried out under the eyes of Jisuké, and at the hands—Yes, the hands +of the low fellow Shintarō. Ah! Did beautiful eyebrows inspire this +deed? Was it the love for O'Hagi now, or love for O'Han hereafter? As +rival to his lordship the rascal Shintarō had no chance with O'Shimo +Dono. The clothes prop is the most useful instrument of the house. It +brings things long unseen to light and sight. Jisuké Dono will be the +clothes prop for this completed wickedness—unless his silence be well +bought. Come! Fifty <i>ryō</i>: not down: but ten suffices for the +occasion.... Come and demand it of the Okusama? No indeed! Before her +ladyship the prescribed etiquette demands obeisance, and off is whipped +the head of Jisuké. It is money and—a sword cut. On the contrary, off +with Shintarō to beg the needed sum. The tongue of Jisuké Sama is +silenced only by the coin which secures his absence."</p> + +<p>Nishioka could not help himself. "Jisuké is right. It is a matter of +importance. But her ladyship alone can supply the sum. Remain here, +where safety has been so well secured." Then he betook himself to the +inner apartments. At his tale O'Hagi was aghast. She touched the root of +the matter at once. "The man must have the money demanded. And +afterward...." Nishioka smiled grimly at the kindred thought. "Into the +<i>oku</i> he is not to be inveigled. Leave the matter to this Shintarō. +After all he is but a <i>chūgen</i>, plainly a fellow with two eyes; but +despite his long experience he must leave the <i>yashiki</i> or conform to +the etiquette of the service. He will not leave a place where lies his +future mine of gold, no matter what his insolence in private. All will +be well. His ignorance and position offer chance to play upon. +Shintarō surely will find a way to kill him." With this solace and +the coin he took his way back to the waiting Jisuké. "I say now! His +lordship's shadow indeed! This rascal Shintarō has but to shake the +tree and the golden fruit falls into his hands. The kind of friend to +possess! Ask; and one receives. Sheet metal too! A very thief, he is +more generous than the Tono Sama! So far thanks. And now—<i>sayonara</i>! +Jisuké Dono is off to the pleasant land—the Amatsuki of Fushimichō, +the land of reed plains (Yoshiwara).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> The knave Jisuké, values higher +than the knave (<i>yarō</i>) Shintarō. The Honoured Sir pays for the +favours of his queen; his queen pays the <i>yarō</i> Shintarō." With +this parting shot Jisuké was up and out into the open. With some +surprise he halted for a moment. Nishioka had received the sally in good +part. He was laughing, half in amusement, half in vexation. Thought +Jisuké—"Truly this rascal of a <i>yōnin</i> matches even the honoured +Jisuké. Both spring from the farm, and the jest touches him, and not his +rank. Between the two, lord and lady are like to pay dear."</p> + +<p>Nishioka returned slowly to the inner apartments, to make report as to +this rather doubtful progress. For several days nothing was seen of +Jisuké. For a time, as one satisfied, he resumed his duties in the old +respectful rôle. Only a sly veiled jest would show the wolf lying in +wait. Then came further demands, promptly responded to by Nishioka. He +began to be curious as to the adventures of Jisuké. He made the +<i>chūgen</i> talk; whose experiences were painted in glowing colours. +With a sigh Nishioka handed over the cash demanded, granted the leave of +absence. Grumbled Jisuké—"'Tis like digging the metal from the ground. +Few are the miners of another's hoard. Why grudge this Jisuké what costs +Shintarō nothing!" Nishioka grasped at the opening. "What costs +nothing, carries no grudge. But Jisuké has the cash at the cost of this +Shintarō, only obtained in the company of an ugly old woman. With +this coin it is Jisuké who commands the selected beauty of Nippon. Come! +There has been enough of this. To-night Shintarō takes Jisuké as +guide. He too will take his pleasure amid the beauties of the +Yoshiwara." He spoke expansively, with far off smile and look, as if the +beauties were ranged before his vision. Jisuké stood with mouth wide +open. "What! Not even the whole private apartments of a <i>daimyō</i> +satisfies this lecher? Ah! The rascal would plant horns on the Okusama. +Husband and wife alike adorned! How now: is not her ladyship already +something of a demon? Nishioka Dono will be impaled on one or the +other." With mock respect he gave advice and bowed before his officer. +His interest in this rebellion was plain. Nishioka was seen to hesitate. +He looked doubtfully at Jisuké, as if seeking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> counsel in this +questionable matter. To Jisuké the matter was a jest; thus to involve +all three victims in a common treachery to one another. The temptation +was great, and he was a match for any underhand design on the part of +Nishioka. No safer place for him than Yoshiwara, in which his enemy +might be still more involved. <i>Samurai</i> were particularly marked in the +place. Meanwhile the chamberlain would be his butt for the evening. +Jisuké's hints as to his source of revenue were broad enough to the +companions of his evening pleasures. They would be delighted at a sight +of this generous official.</p> + +<p>Hence he urged objections to his company, and himself found answers. +Said Nishioka—"It is agreed. To-night all is propitious. The old girl +has taken cold. She intends a sweating. Such the notice to this +Shintarō. It is his time to be fickle. He accompanies Jisuké." His +mind was made up, with some evident tear and reluctance. Jisuké aided +him in his preparations. Wearing <i>zukin</i> (hood) he passed out the gate +with Jisuké. The latter handed in two <i>chūgen</i> tickets to the +<i>momban</i>, and none knew that the honoured <i>yōnin</i> had left the +<i>yashiki</i>. In merry company they descended the Gomizaka. Shintarō was +as a boy just out of school, so merry was he. He lagged behind, then +went ahead. At the top of the Kudanzaka he halted. "On with you, Jisuké. +Shintarō stops here a moment." He passed to the side of the road. +Jisuké in turn halted. He was standing in the moonlight. Said he, with a +touch of his usual insolent jesting—"How explain to the ladies the +presence of the honoured chamberlain? Shintarō <i>yarō</i> wears two +swords. Jisuké Dono is but a <i>chūgen</i>. Odd company! Notable will be +the compliment."—"No explanation is required." Terrible the voice from +the shadow beside him. "Ei!" Quick as a flash Jisuké made a spring +forward, not too soon to prevent arm and back being ripped open by the +keen weapon.—"Ah! The low fellow Shintarō is not the one to kill the +honoured Jisuké. He has already said it.... The beast! He has cut me. +The devil lies between Jisuké and the lights of the Ōmon. With +Chōbei San is found safety and vengeance." With all speed he fled up +the Ushinakizaka to seek safety in the darkness of its wood. Nishioka +pursued with determination. The rip of cloth and flesh showed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> him that +he had reached his man. Loss of blood would bring him down. Jisuké aimed +for the middle of the grove, for the Hachiman shrine, now the site of +the Shōkonsha. Under the dark shadow of the trees he hoped to escape +the pursuer. Alas! A tree root caught his foot and threw him on his +face. As he rose the sword ran him through from back to breast. +Staggering, grasping at air, he turned on Nishioka; spitting out his +grudge with the clots of blood. His last words of hate were mingled with +the rumblings of the storm close over head. The moon's brightness had +disappeared. Heavy clouds rolled up, illuminated time and again by a +glare of dismal light. Big gouts of rain began to wet the clothes of +living and of dead in this solitude. For surety Nishioka gave the final +thrust through the throat. Just then the bell of Ichigaya Gekkeiji +reverberated through the thick wood. In the night hour it sounded sharp +and sudden, like a harsh call to men to rise and witness. Nishioka wiped +his sword on the dead man's dress. A flash of lightning lit the face, +horrible and mocking in the death agony. As the chamberlain leaned over +the corpse a voice spoke behind him, harsh and as if half stifled with +the blood filling gorge and lungs—"Yai! Shintarō has his way. He +murders Jisuké—not once, but twice. Deep the grudge! Deep the grudge!" +Then it broke into a wail, chilling in the helplessness of the malice +expressed. Nishioka sprang to his feet and whirled around. In the +uncertain light close by stood Jisuké. His hair in wild disorder, cheeks +fallen in and corpse like with the bluishness of clay, the <i>chūgen</i> +grinned and threatened. The living man could match him with his pallor. +"Namu Amida Butsu! Get you hence vile spectre, or stay the test of +Nishioka's sword." He made a sweep with the weapon. The figure +disappeared. A mocking laugh resounded far and wide, followed by the +same chilling hopeless wail. In haste, and pursued by the wild laughter, +stumbling over stones and roots, Nishioka fled the wood, to make report +at the feet of her ladyship. For long the figure of the <i>chūgen</i>, +crying, wailing in baffled malice, haunted the wood of the Ushinakizaka. +Men hastened to pass by, none would enter; and in time the apparition +became one of the seven marvels (the Nana-Fushigi) of the Banchō.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Report to the Tono Sama</span></h3> + + +<p>On the dull evening of the rainy season (June) Nakakawachi Shūzen sat +looking out on the dripping plants and trees. The home coming had +brought no pleasure. The treachery of the favoured Shimo was assured. +The father himself admitted the search made for the lover; wept and +grovelled in shame and apology. O'Saku had seen him in person, when he +came to the <i>yashiki</i> several weeks before the flight. O'Tsugi had heard +him call—"choi! choi!" had overheard O'Shimo's surprised +exclamation—"my lover! my lover!" After several mysterious absences, on +excuse to see her father lying ill, she had disappeared. On inquiry it +was found that Chōbei had never known a day of illness. The excuse +was all a lie. "A case of the wild duck; the cock had come." Whose was +the child she bore? O'Hagi laughed, and her attendant woman smiled, at +his credulity.</p> + +<p>Shūzen never suspected the deceit. Something of a <i>dilettante</i> for +the period he was learned in the Chinese tradition. Seventeen years, and +a woman has no heart. This Shimo was a debauched wench. Truly she had +foxed him with her superficial charms, picked him up thus easily in the +Banchō. With gesture of weariness and disgust he turned to the papers +and scrolls on the desk before him. They were house accounts submitted +by Nishioka, and none too pleasing. A round sum was missing on the +person of the <i>chūgen</i> Jisuké. Sent out to make important payment, he +had run off with the money, leaving no sign of his whereabouts. Just +then the bell of Gekkeiji struck the hour of the pig (9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>). +With impatience Shūzen swept the papers together. Her ladyship as +companion of his wine feasts chilled the bottles with freezing glance. +The monotonous talk of debts and expenses, exchanged with those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> around, +added a bitter flavour. Always demands, or hints of demands, which made +the meal a very time of penance.</p> + +<p>With some slowness he rose to attend the repast. Then from the garden +side came a sad wailing voice. "Grateful the honoured return, so long +delayed. Fond the thoughts of the past long weeks. Deep the longing for +the honoured presence. Report is to be made to his lordship. Alas! +Alas!" A chill went to the very heart of Shūzen. Lamentable and +grievous as was the sound, he had no difficulty in recognizing the voice +of O'Shimo. Startled he turned in indignant anger to the <i>rōka</i> +whence the sound had come. He looked out into the darkness of the +dripping night. Nothing was to be seen. Plainly he had thought too much +of the girl, of her condition and the disappointment. He gave his body a +violent shake to throw off this cold oppression and foreboding. Then +slowly he took his way to the wine feast. The <i>saké</i> would bring warmth. +This was not the case. Freely as he drank, it added to powers of vision. +His mind now always on the missing girl, the familiarity between spouse +and chamberlain seemed strange for the relation between mistress and +servant. As usual, with the finish of the last bottle, Nishioka +accompanied him to his retirement. Shūzen spoke sharply of the large +increase in the expenses of the inner apartments. To meet these the +revenues would have to be forestalled, the income anticipated. The +smooth fellow met him more than half way in agreement. His lordship was +too estranged from the <i>okugata</i>. Greater familiarity toward the women's +apartments would be the needed restraint. Deign his presence this very +night. Nishioka Shintarō spoke in no hypocrisy. The O'Kagé Sama now +was longing for the rightful substitution. His nest well feathered, he +would seek safer quarters with the softer charms of O'Han. On +Shūzen's abrupt gesture and refusal he took his departure, almost +betraying his own disgruntlement. Comical was his despairing gesture as +he took his way to the bed of her ladyship.</p> + +<p>The temple bell struck the seventh hour (3 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>). It roared and +reverberated through the room. Shūzen opened his eyes. He was +tormented with the thirst inspired by his copious libations. His head +was heavy and whirling. He took a long draft from the jar close<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> by his +pillow. Then he rose to tread the corridor. On his return he sought to +wash his hands. Turning to find the towel, close by him he saw a woman. +Dressed all in white, slender to emaciation, her face concealed by the +long hair which hung in heavy disordered masses over shoulders and +bosom, she presented to him the desired article. As he would take the +towel he spoke in surprise—"Who may this be, awake at this late hour +for Shūzen's service?" Again the sad lamentable voice made +reply—"Fond the thoughts of his lordship. Long waited his return. +Report is to be made." At sight of her face he gave a cry—"Shimo!" At +the words the figure faded away. The outstretched towel fell to the +ground. A slight rustle of the breeze swept the corridor. "Shimo! +Shimo!" In amaze and suspicion came the words. Something had gone wrong +here. Shūzen pressed the towel to his lips, as to get rid of the +nauseating taste in his mouth. Then came the voice from the garden. With +hasty movement he threw back the <i>amado</i>. The wind sighed through the +pines; a gentle patter of rain came in gusts. Close by the voice spoke +again—as from a <i>yukimidōro</i>, one of those broad capped stone +lanterns, like to some squat figure of a gnome, and so beautiful an +ornament with white snow cap or glistening with the dripping mirror of +the rain.</p> + +<p>"Report is to be made. Long has Shimo waited her lord's return. In this +Shimo was no treachery of heart. Devoted was her service to her lord. By +the hand of Nishioka Shintarō, by the malice of O'Hagi Dono, Shimo +and her unborn babe met a miserable end. Nor has the ill deed ended +there. Go now to the chamber of the wife, and witness the adulterous +deed. Deign to learn the truth from Shimo." The voice ceased. Shūzen +passed a hand over his wine heated brow. Fox or badger? Did some over +bold and infamous apparition seek to delude him? With a bound he sought +his chamber and the sword at his pillow. He would deal harshly with such +lies. Then came a second thought. Why not ascertain the fact? He was the +husband. His presence was a right. Softly he made his way to the inner +apartments. At the outer ward he stumbled in the darkness against some +object. "Aré! The Tono Sama!" With a cry of alarm up sprang the sleeping +O'Han.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> She would have outstripped him in a race to the inner rooms, but +Shūzen was too quick for her. With hand over mouth he dragged her to +the garden side. She would have cried out, and made resistance. Then he +changed her tune. Lacking confession he held her flat and prostrate +under him. Firmly grasping both wrists tight together, he forced his +dagger between the hands, and began to twist the keen blade. Unable to +resist the torture she soon told all she knew, confessed her own part of +watch and ward in the offense. This done, he drove the weapon through +her throat and left her pinned to where she lay, the limbs feebly +twitching in the last throes.</p> + +<p>Assured of his suspicions Shūzen now sought to surprise the lovers. +Cautiously he approached the sleeping room of her ladyship from the +inner side. There was no doubt of it. In the very throes of her passion +O'Hagi was without disguise. Shūzen threw back the screens on this +vileness. "Lechers! For this disloyalty Shūzen finds revenge! Make +ready!" Nishioka Shintarō sprang to his feet, only to sink down in a +pool of blood which soaked the bed he had dishonoured. Severed from +shoulder to pap he died forthwith. With wild screams O'Hagi fled to the +corridor. As she reached it the point of the weapon was thrust through +her back, to come out at the navel. As she writhed and twisted on the +floor, Shūzen measured the blow and nearly cut the body in twain. +"Ah! In good season the old bawd presents herself." In fright the old +woman's head had been thrust between the screens into the room close by +the master. An easy mark it fell severed to the ground, the blood +spouting its powerful streams from the arteries as from a pump. The +woman O'Tsugi was a sterner task. Aroused by the noise she came stalking +into the middle of the room, still rubbing eyes confused by sleep. "Ah! +The villainous cuckold. He has murdered these, and now would add the +next (<i>tsugi</i>). Not so!" With her wild jest she threw herself upon him. +Trained soldier as he was Shūzen found the contest no easy one +against this virile woman. Getting the worst of it, she fastened her +teeth deep into his hand. Grunting with pain Shūzen flung her off, +and quickly brought down the sword. Prostrate she lay, the blood stream +pouring over the real lord of this harem.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>With a long breath Shūzen surveyed his work. It was complete. Then he +went to the outer ward of the apartments. To his call no one came. +Repeated, in the distance of the <i>rōka</i> appeared from the outer ward +(<i>omoté</i>) the old and faithful Nakamura Saisuké. At sight of his lord, +dyed in blood from head to foot, he threw up his hands. Without undue +haste or any words Shūzen led him to the scene of the punishment. +Respectfully Saisuké brought a cushion. Then prostrate he waited for his +lord to speak. Long endured the silence. Then said Shūzen +briefly—"Caught in the act of adultery this Shūzen has put to death +the guilty. The results are most important. The lack of discipline in +the House is sure to lead to the honoured punishment by the suzerain. +From this there is no escape." Saisuké surveyed the scene with the calm +eye of experience. "Be in no haste, my lord. This Saisuké in his long +experience has seen many deeds of violence. For the present this matter +need not be published. Of the outer apartments (<i>omoté</i>), the +<i>chūgen</i> and servants need know nothing. In any case they do not +count, and can be sent away. The others are not curious; moreover they +are loyal, as <i>samurai</i>.... Of the inner apartments—a very clean sweep +has been made. Deign to leave matters for the present to this Saisuké." +With approval the old man examined the handiwork of his lord. It was +most thorough, even to the eye of this remnant of the battle field. Then +he went to work. The bodies he conveyed to the side of the artificial +mound in the garden. Digging out part of the hill, here he buried them; +forced in, dove-tailed together, in the smallest space; the old man +grumbling at the ground they occupied. Then with water he washed out the +blood stains on the wood work. When dry he would plane out tell-tale +marks. Meanwhile he would serve his lord, to the exclusion of all +others. Would the Tono Sama deign to rest? With sad misgivings the +<i>kyūnin</i> (house officer) watched Shūzen as he retired to his room. +Himself he mounted guard at the women's entrance, to prevent all +intrusion.</p> + +<p>Nakamura Saisuké's heart was pure. His age beyond recall. For two days +he struggled, alone in his task. On one pretext or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> another the +<i>samurai</i> were sent off, one here one there, on lengthy missions. +Perhaps the old man's efforts had been too great. In the course of the +day a <i>chūgen</i>, come on some affair, found him flat on his belly, +groaning with pain as in the very last extremities. To the man's +inquiries he could but cry out with colic and distress. Aid was brought, +but only to find him dead. Then a second discovery was made. Report was +necessary to his lordship. Here all was found closed against reception. +On making their way into the inner room Shūzen was found, clad all in +white, the bloody dirk in hand, the body fallen forward on the +ceremonial mats. He had cut his belly open, on retiring for the night. +All now was in confusion. Should the <i>karō</i> be awaited. None knew +this exile to the Kōshū fief, beyond his reputed morose severity. +Official there was none to whom to make report. They were afraid, and +took their own part. With everything of value they could lay their hands +on they fled in different directions. The open gate and abandonment +attracted attention. The dead body of Shūzen was proved a voluntary +<i>seppuku</i> (cut belly) for some cause; that of the old man required no +explanation. The inquiry set on foot led only to confusion, and was soon +lost in the greater question of the heirship. Placed in charge of Yamada +Dono, a caretaker was sought for the <i>yashiki</i>. A property tangled in a +long dispute, this would seem a pleasing task and one to summon many +applicants. But this was not the case. Successful candidacy was followed +by early exodus. None could endure the frightful sounds heard every +night; the cries of pleasure followed by the screams of those in the +agony of a painful dying. Spectral lights were seen, the old well in the +garden poured forth its confined spirits, all the evil influence of the +place was rejuvenated in the minds of people by this last disaster. +"Thus the matter rests. 'Tis not this Shimo who is the cause of these +nightly scenes of strife and pain. In mad chase Shūzen Dono, the +Okusama, the villainous Nishioka and his concubines, act the scene of +their cutting off. Shimo has but her part, to find Nirvana in the +worship of the upright. Deign this act of kindness." At the fierceness +of the voice Endō Saburōzaémon started. The red light of dawn was +pouring into the open room. All sight of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> dreadful vision had faded +from the wall before him. Vision, or fact? It had been too vivid to +doubt. Yet as he came to the mound he passed around it. On the side next +to the lake now he noticed that it was all caved in, an obvious +depression. The tale then had truth. Thus he took his way from the +haunted precincts, determined to secure the <i>yashiki</i> as his own, and +the future rest and peace of Nirvana to the unhappy O'Shimo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Shrine of the O'Inari Sama</span></h3> + + +<p>Something has been already said of the <i>chūgen</i> Isuké, unwilling +guide of Endō Saburōzaémon to the haunted house of the Go +Banchō. Thus is the second person of the name of Shūzen introduced +into the traditions and history of the Banchō. Of him and his +experiences with its denizens something is to be said.</p> + +<p>Okumura Shūzen had distinguished himself in the Amakusa uprising of +1637-8. A retainer of Matsudaira Nobutsuna he had not been the last man +to force his way into the blazing ruins of Arima castle. He did his very +best amid the struggling mass of halt, maimed, and blind, after the real +defenders of the castle had died weapons in hand. He was able to present +himself before his lord with a reasonable number of his own company with +heads on their shoulders; and a phenomenal number of heads minus +shoulders, of all ages and sexes—men, women, and children—of the +castle inmates. Against the once owners Shūzen had little grudge. So +much was to be said of him. In private he railed against the bad rule +which had brought him and his fellows into the field against the +embattled farmers. But this was a thing to be endured; not cured, except +by time. Rebellion against the liege lord, under the leadership of +<i>samurai</i> once retainers of the cowardly Konishi Yukinaga, added edge to +his sword and point to his spear. His service brought him in the train +of his lord's progress to Edo. In the report made Okumura Shūzen +figured so well, that request—amounting to command—transferred him to +the Tokugawa over-lord. Made <i>hatamoto</i> with fief of four hundred <i>koku</i> +he was as well liked by his greater lord as when in the humbler service +of a <i>daimyō</i>. Five years of faithful work, and the necessities of +Government for his <i>yashiki</i> site in Mita received the reward of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +liberal grant of another site in the Go Banchō, together with the +thousand <i>ryō</i> of costs of removal.</p> + +<p>The work of transfer was pushed forward. The more modest abode of a lord +of moderate income, and the massive gateway with its supporting walls +and fence of closely woven, sharp pointed, bamboo retiring into the +distance now were ready to shut in Shūzen to the privacy of his share +in the suzerain's defence. Plainly Shūzen Dono put more confidence in +his own prowess, or insignificance, than in the strength of outer +defences against sudden attack of those at feud with him. Part of his +tract inclosed a shrine of the Inari goddess. This had still its +worshippers. On his inspection Shūzen noted the loneliness of the +building, its desolation. Yet it was clean swept and kept, and a money +box for offerings was proof of attendance at the shrine. Whether this +was of man or beast was not so easy to determine, for traces of the +latter were plain to the eye. Their tracks swarmed about the building +itself. As Shūzen stood in some uncertainty, a woman of the middle +class appeared. To inquiries she admitted that the care of the shrine +was due to herself and her piety; a care gladly rendered to its +efficacy. It had returned to her a son once sent adrift to the +provinces; and to her affection a husband who had gone astray much +closer home, for the intruding female was a minor member of her own +household. Finding excuse in some domestic misdeed, the worthy cit had +sent forth the damsel into the wilderness of the world with the fruit of +her experience. The relief of this incubus, and the return of a more +rightful heir than promised, the good lady attributed to the virtue of +her prayers to the Inari Sama. She was urgent to bring support to her +views in the general opinion of all the neighbourhood, mainly of the +Kōjimachi village. These corroborated what she said as to the +shrine's efficacy and petitioned for its continued support. Made the +tutelary shrine of the <i>yashiki</i>, separated therefrom by a mere +brushwood fence, this Inari Jinja of the Banchō continued to exist +for the good of the public and the annoyance of the amiable Okumura +Shūzen. Its <i>kannushi</i> (Shinto priest) he could never find. The woman +and others said that he lived at Ushinakizaka. At least the money +contributions were always accounted for, although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> they had never seen +his face. A few days before the formal opening of the <i>yashiki</i> the +<i>chūgen</i> Isuké and the workmen stood with puzzled faces before a hole +discovered underneath the flooring of the shrine. It led to some passage +or cave. None were in humour to investigate, perhaps to the annoyance of +the O'Inari Sama. At Isuké's direction, and with difficulty in the +cramped space, it was found possible to shove into place the massive +granite slab which fitted tightly into the aperture, and plainly +belonged to it. "A one time store house of the god," quoth Isuké. With +that he and the others betook themselves to their divers tasks of +finishing the clearing up of building and surroundings. In the +excitement and confusion of moving in there was little thought of the +cavity in this twelfth month of Kwanei twentieth year (January 1644), +and the idea of making report was lost sight of until other conditions +brought up again the subject.</p> + +<p>The ceremonial visits of the New Year, the congratulations and presents, +were to be made to the suzerain by his attendant <i>hatamoto</i> and the +<i>daimyō</i> then in Edo town. Every <i>yashiki</i> was in a turmoil of +excitement and confusion. Even in the greater <i>yashiki</i> there was demand +for outsiders to carry the <i>hakomochi</i> or long boxes, for the +<i>rokushaku</i> (six footers) or tall fellows to carry the sedan chair, for +others to bear the <i>kappakago</i> or rain-coat boxes. <i>Samurai</i>, +<i>ashigaru</i>, spearholders, <i>chūgen</i>, <i>zōri</i> holders—these were +attendant in the <i>yashiki</i>. But the minor establishments were mainly +dependent on outside aid to swell the lord's train. Hence the rôle of +Bandzuin Chōbei and his successors was no sinecure, in addition to +the exercise of the art of arranging time and place so that the inferior +lords would be least inconvenienced by the necessary and often +humiliating deference to their superiors in rank. The guild patron +looked well to the interests of his employers—<i>daimyō</i>—with small +regard to those who shifted for themselves; which was one of the causes +of grudge by the <i>hatamoto</i> against Chōbei, later removed from the +scene by assassination.</p> + +<p>Every horse in Edo, destined for the morrow's ceremony, underwent the +pampered treatment that the groom Kakunai devoted to his master's nag. +On the preceding day Kagé (Fawn colour) had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> been treated to all the +luxuries of horse diet. He must eat for to-day and for to-morrow, and +perform all the offices connected there with beforehand. Said +Kakunai—"Kagé, be circumspect and constipated. To-morrow the master +offers congratulations at the castle. Kagé is stuffed beyond measure +to-day, that he be able to fast to-morrow. Show no discontent. For the +passage of the sun there is to be no eating, and but a modicum of +drinking. Halt not the procession for unseemly purposes." He stroked the +horse, and the pleased animal purred and whinnied with the contentment +of a cat at being petted. Then harshly said a voice in the ear of the +bending Kakunai—"For this feed of the year's end thanks are rendered. +Though not exactly of the kind desired, the intent has been good and the +stomach filled. Hence congratulations in turn for the New Year season."</p> + +<p>Kakunai jumped as if some one had thrust the unblunted end of a spear +into his posteriors. He looked around, and over, and under the horse. +"Who speaks? Where from? And what concerning?... Yai! Yai! It's Kagé!... +Is no one hiding hereabouts, to make a fool of Kakunai?" With eyes +bolting out he backed away in terror. The horse grinned broadly, showing +its ugly yellow teeth in attempt at graciousness—"It is true. Kagé, +addresses the honoured <i>bettō</i> Kakunai, gives congratulations to his +friend." Kakunai did not wait to receive them. Now he bolted forth in +person, to burst into the room of the <i>chūgen</i> Isuké, just then +struggling to arrange garments and hair for attendance on his lord's +progress. Head throbbing from not unliberal potations due to the seasons +festivities this was no pleasant task. To Kakunai's report the answer +was prompt and sour—"Kakunai is a liar or a fool; or if he would play a +jest on Isuké, his own head shall ache as badly." Kakunai accepted the +challenge and asseverated the truth of his report. Not at all convinced, +and with a gloomy satisfaction of the idea of having it out with Kakunai +on failure of the proof, Isuké accompanied the groom to the stable. +Kakunai gingerly made up to the horse—"Kakunai has been friend to Kagé. +Hence he is called liar or fool or mountebank. Deign to prove his truth, +Kagé Dono." Respectfully he bowed to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> horse. The latter at once +turning to the <i>chūgen</i>, brayed into his face—"'Tis fact. Kagé is at +least as human as these his brothers. He speaks to whom he wills. Not so +with Isuké and Kakunai. A word to the Tono Sama, and Kagé will kill and +eat these his friends. Keep his good will by friendship." Gently the +horse raised a front hoof. The voice was harsh; and the push, though +gentle—for a horse—sent Isuké flat, with reminder of Kagé thus closely +applied. Without a word the <i>chūgen</i> wallowed from the floor, none +too clean, and took to flight. Kakunai followed after, holding his nose. +In the privacy of the <i>chūgen's</i> room Isuké changed to sweeter garb +and discussed the matter with Kakunai. Should his lordship be informed? +Kakunai, as immediate attendant and in greatest danger, earnestly +protested. Isuké at any time might be brought into closest contact with +Kagé in his office of <i>chūgen</i> attending his master. They agreed that +it would be very disagreeable to be killed and eaten, especially with +such evidences of Kagé's powers of disposition. Hence nothing was to be +said; or rather each agreed to leave the matter of report to the other.</p> + +<p>Great was the crush and excitement on this day of the year. Long and +continuous were the processions (<i>gyōretsu</i>) of <i>daimyō</i> and +<i>hatamoto</i> making their way to and from the castle. The rule of the day +was to avoid unnecessary collision, as far as possible; not only in the +matter of precedence, but of order. Commoners, male and female, old and +young, <i>rōnin</i>, <i>samurai</i>, according to their caste squatted or +prostrated themselves in reverential attitude as the palanquin of some +lord passed by. Caustic or benign, generally malicious, the comment of +the Kidahachi and Yajirōbei—"Ōkubo Hikoroku Dono; 'tis true he +possesses influence, and the roughness of Hikoza Sama, but the keen wit +of the honoured father lacks."—"Yet the lord Ōkubo has much kindness +beneath his roughness. The latter is passport to the favour of the +suzerain." Iyeyasu Kō ruled by statecraft; Hidétada Kō by +benevolence; the third Shōgun Iyemitsu Kō, by rough energy. Such +the tradition of the personality of these three men handed down in +Nippon's history. With the passage of Tadamune Kō, of the great +Sendai fief, heads went very low. Great his wealth, and greater still +was his influence with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> the Suzerain. Tadamune swept proudly on; the +future disasters represented in the boy who rode close to the palanquin, +and whose licentious life later threatened to wreck the wealth and +position of the great house.</p> + +<p>At the dismount notice (<i>geba-fuda</i>) Okumura Shūzen, accompanied by +two pages, donned <i>zōri</i> (sandals) and betook himself to the palace. +He was a small figure in this crush of great nobles, but as <i>hatamoto</i> +had his right and duty of being present at the palace; both rigidly +enforced, and assuredly with greater regard and welcome than most of the +men of much greater rank, always regarded with suspicion. The modest +train of a four hundred <i>koku</i> lord was squeezed into a corner of this +mass of underlings waiting the return of their masters from audience. +Close companion to his beloved and now feared Kagé, the groom Kakunai +was well satisfied with his insignificance. Great was his consternation +to hear the harsh voice of his equine friend in his ear. A whisper to +Kagé meant a roar to the crowd—"Naruhodo! The stench of these humans +excels even that of the stable. One is as much confined here as there. +His lordship has now departed. Deign, Kakunai San, to indulge in +amusement. Let's be off—to the Kwannon of Asakusa, to the Yoshiwara. +Here there is naught but press and riot. In the pleasure quarter both +convey diversion. Deign so to regard it." With wide open mouths those +around turned to the quarter whence came these uncomplimentary terms. +Kakunai was sweating with fear—"Shut up!... Rude? Then deign to be +silent. Great the press. To withdraw is difficult; to desert his +lordship impossible. Silence is the part of the inferior." At this +exercise of authority the horse grumbled loudly—"Away from the stinking +stable one feels gay and at ease. Quicksilver runs in the veins. At +Yoshiwara the <i>hatsudochū</i> will be in progress. Following the +processions of the honoured <i>oiran</i>, liberal will be the <i>saké</i> offered +at the tea houses. Deign, Kakunai San, to reconsider your purpose to +remain."</p> + +<p>At this Kakunai almost melted into the icy puddle on the ground. He +shivered as he wiped the cold sweat dripping from his forehead. At first +voices said—"Who is speaking in these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> ribald terms? Kakunai San is it +not? Who the companion?... Oya! 'Tis the horse which talks! Asakusa and +Yoshiwara? What say the women to the presence of the beast? Eh! Off with +you, Kakunai San, to show which is horse and which groom." They crowded +around the pair, not daring to come close. Kakunai felt extremely +unwell. He could not deny the fact. "Like boys, he boasts beyond his +powers. The power of speech runs loose. Yet as a horse it is a wise +beast, the treasure of a four hundred <i>koku yashiki</i>, since none other +possesses his like. Deign to note his own proclamation of his tastes." +This was to throw the consequences of discovery on the animal, to file +the sharpness of teeth against the promised mauling of Kakunai's flesh. +Then he waxed eloquent and proud—"A fine horse indeed! Such a horse in +battle is unequalled. Is it not so, Kagé?" And Kagé promptly answered to +his friend's praise. "A horse of noble quality, with good deeds to his +credit, gains reputation. At the astonishment of the foe the rider runs +them through with the spear. Hence gain of heads, and reputation to both +steed and master." Kagé spun round, letting fly hoofs in all directions, +shaking his head and biting savagely. At this display of battle fire +those too close fled in disorder. At a safe distance wonder and advice +was expressed. "Deign to be off, Kakunai San. Truly the animal is foxed, +and foxes enough are to be found in Yoshiwara. He will find company +without fail." Kakunai, as he restrained the beast, now full at +ease—"Of that we are assured. Alas! He cannot squat. In that he is +clumsy, as is the red haired, green-eyed western barbarian. Otherwise it +is not Kakunai who would bring coin to Nakanochō, but convey money +hence." Some agreed, and some disagreed, and all congratulated. Thus did +horse and groom get much advertisement at the Ōte-mon, to the +subsequent profit of both.</p> + +<p>Shūzen, audience granted, appeared at the castle gate. Respectfully +the crowd drew apart, and watched the lord depart with his train. Never +had one of the minor <i>hatamoto</i> attracted greater attention; and of +these many were notable men for personal exploits. Entirely unconscious +of this notice Shūzen rode off to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> <i>yashiki</i>. In the course of +the succeeding days many visits were to be paid, and the wondrous fact +had chance to spread from the under world to the surface. At the +<i>yashiki</i> of Abé Shirōgorō the salutations were exchanged; the +spiced <i>saké</i> to preserve life—the <i>tōso</i>—was brought forth. +Shūzen detected in his host a quizzical, even amused attitude. Said +Shirōgorō—"Shūzen Uji, did he deign to ride, or mount the +<i>kago</i> (palanquin)." The question was abrupt, and seemed not over +courteous. A <i>hatamoto</i> of four hundred <i>koku</i> possessed steed and +spearmen. Abé Shirōgorō was a great lord, and Shūzen answered +smoothly, seeking any source of offense. To his affirmative, said the +host—"Then Shūzen Dono perhaps deigned to mount the favourite and +talking horse.... Surely he knows of the animal's great gift.... +Congratulations are due, for what is the talk of the castle precincts." +Shūzen's astonishment was too great not to be genuine. He was the +first to propose to Abé Dono the taking of a look at the noted beast. He +was eager to inspect an animal, which, it seemed, he had as yet never +seen. The two lords came forth to the <i>genkwan</i> (house entrance). On +summons Kakunai brought forward the horse, expecting his lord to mount, +not exactly understanding the presence of the lord of the mansion. +Shūzen's first words enlightened him unpleasantly. With some +severity—"Kakunai, does this horse talk?" Thunderstruck Kakunai did not +know what answer to make. Kagé could bite. His master could do worse, if +enough angered. He hesitated—"Hai!" Quoth Shūzen—"'Hai' is no +answer. Has the horse power of human speech?" Kakunai put his hand to +his head, then turned to Kagé, who was obstinately silent. He gave him +as hard a blow on the neck as he dared, without result. "The Tono Sama +has heard the tale; as has this Kakunai. His head in a whirl, Kakunai +knows not whether it be true or not. By an humble groom such matters are +not understood. To report idle gossip or the illusions of one's brain, +savours of impudence. Deign the question in person. Kagé refuses answer +to this Kakunai."</p> + +<p>Thus skilfully he lied. Kagé eyed him with approval; Shūzen with some +doubt. He turned to the horse—"Kagé, it is said you speak. Shūzen is +the master. Answer without lying." Kagé<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> spoke, indifferent to rank and +without circumlocution of polite society—"'Tis so; and just as does a +human being. Truly Shūzen Sama has supplied a most foul smelling +place to learn the art." Abé Shirōgorō snickered—"Kagé Dono is +too precise. Would he learn the art of converse over his master's +wine?"—"Not unwillingly," replied the nag. "But in any case he would +have Isuké and this lazy groom make better and more frequent use of +broom and bucket. The good offices of Abé Dono are requested." By this +retort courteous the two noblemen were silenced and amused. Uncertain as +to the course of further converse with the beast Okumura made +salutation, mounted and departed homewards. As he gave the horse into +the groom's charge he said—"It is for Kakunai to keep in mind the words +of Kagé." As he vigorously applied broom and water to the stall and +vicinity of the favoured animal, Kakunai mentally determined that on the +whole Shūzen Dono was the more dangerous of the two. Hence-forward he +would be careful to remember all that Kagé said—and make report.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Luck of Okumura Shūzen</span></h3> + + +<p>The first efforts of Shūzen at solving this mystery were not overly +successful. A <i>samurai</i>, he betook himself to the highest exponent of +the caste cult. In search of illumination he hit upon Hayashi Daigaku no +Kami Dono. This man, learned in all the lore of Morokoshi (China), head +of the certified institute of letters—the University—could but confess +his ignorance—vicariously. Rats nesting in the tails of horses formed +part of the experience of books, but not of that of men. Of talking +horses there was no authenticated case. The whole matter remained +without proof. He had never heard of such. Shūzen squatted in a +drowsy stupefaction as an incomprehensible learning was poured into his +ear. He choked with the dust raised from the ancient volumes, tenderly +and reverently pawed over by the learned doctor, who seemed dust-proof. +Finally through the mist he heard the asseveration that it must be the +work of fox or badger. It was matter for the diviner, not the divinity +of the learned. With this Hayashi Dono gave the pile of dusty script +before him a mighty thump, and disappeared behind the cloud he had +raised.</p> + +<p>Okumura Shūzen sought the open air and respiration. Where now should +he go for counsel? He would sell the beast. Kakunai sought mercy. He was +but a groom, and death was easy at his master's hand. At all events +easier than the one promised by Kagé, if Kakunai should lead him out to +the market, and with fluent lies send him forth to earn the cruel +livelihood of his kind between the shafts of a cart. Shūzen was a +kindly man; the horse one deserving better treatment. The groom's terror +and the beast's threat added a new and interesting element to this +search into the unknown. On the next day was to be heard memorial +service for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> the ancestral tablets. This was to be performed in person +by the abbot of the Seishōji of Shiba, Bankei Oshō known to fame. +Shūzen snoozed and exercised patience as the abbot read and expounded +the lengthy <i>sutra</i> scroll. Over the subsequent repast he broached the +subject of the talk of beasts, and his own particular difficulties. +Bankei Oshō was most interested. All animals had speech and memory +according to their kind. Food, a master's kindness, their own particular +concerns, were matters of great intelligence among them. Why then should +speech be aught else than to possess the organ? Such was the case with +parrots. Monkeys evidently understood each other well, understood the +gestures of men. As to the horse, there were very ancient records of the +speech of such; so dim in the memory of men that probably they were mere +talk of ignorance. But he would see this wondrous beast. Deign that +guidance be supplied.</p> + +<p>Shūzen grasped at the offer. The abbot spoke with an ease and +glibness that only the ecclesiastic on his own ground can show to those +ignorant of his subject. He wrapped his lore, made easy for the +beginner, in such technical phraseology, that Shūzen could grasp at +the meaning without knowing anything about what the abbot said, and +hence had all the greater respect for the immense truth which he could +see and not understand. Appreciation is as good as knowing—for the one +who would pose—and soon Shūzen and the cleric stood at the house +entrance, waiting the production of the horse. Isuké in haste had +carried the message to Kakunai. Kakunai, assured of his master's +forbearance and Kagé's accomplishments, had been none too sober since +that happy day. Said he aloud—"A horse is not an ass; and a talking +horse is one of his kind. Tip money to see the wondrous beast has flowed +into the stable; and wine has flowed into Kakunai. For Kagé there has +been soft rice paste (<i>mochi</i>) and dumpling (<i>dango</i>) in unstinted +quantities. The pastry cook has been overworked. Kagé, now seize the +opportunity. Speak with fluency and argument. Ah! If you had but the +taste of this Kakunai! Wine would be an inspiration."—"Just try me!" +chimed in the brute's voice. "Follow up the wine with rice cakes in +syrup (<i>shiruko</i>). Otherwise Kagé<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> opens not his mouth, except to bite. +Grievous is it to exercise speech, and to witness the benefits accruing +to the human hog. Henceforth Kakunai must share alike with Kagé." At +this rebellion Kakunai was dumbfounded—"Nay, Kagé! <i>Shiruko</i> and <i>saké</i> +for a beast? Never would such come to the inside of the belly (mind) of +Kakunai. If you did but know its content...."—"Shut up!" was the nag's +discourteous response. "Kagé knows it well. You have eaten <i>takuan</i> +(pickled radish), and it smells none too sweet. A little further off, +good Sir: now—who is this would be interviewer?"</p> + +<p>Reduced to proper proportion Kakunai made humble reply. "Most fitting +company for the honoured Kagé Sama. The abbot Bankei deigns his +presence." The horse gave a violent snort, and plunged back to the limit +of his halter. "Kagé talks not with a priest, nor henceforth with +anyone." Kakunai was all consternation—"But Kagé Dono ... the tips! +This refusal is terrific. Why not favour the curiosity of the Oshō +Sama? Deign to reconsider. The dainties of Kagé, the wine of Kakunai, +are at stake. Silent before the Oshō, the Danna Sama in anger will +strike off the head of Kagé. Kakunai loses friend and fortune at a +blow." The animal duly mused. "It is so. Shūzen Dono of late has been +short tempered. It cannot be avoided. Better had it been for Kakunai to +take this Kagé and depart to country fairs and towns; to pick up much +coin for wine and dainties. However, all may go well. Delay not past the +coming night to join yourself with Kagé. Between the service of +Shūzen and that of Kagé this low fellow (<i>yarō</i>) Kakunai must not +hesitate."—"Just so," agreed the groom. "It is mere matter of gambling +anyhow that any ill occurs. Drinking wine, does Kagé also gamble?" A +shudder went through the frame of the horse—"Why speak thus? Of horses' +bones the dice are made. Would Kagé trifle with the relics of his kind? +Make answer, Kakunai." He spoke with a fierce earnestness. Kakunai +stammering sought answer. Just then Isuké appeared, to urge all speed.</p> + +<p>With lowered heads man and beast appeared at the house entrance. Kakunai +touched three fingers to the ground. To insure due reverence Kakunai had +haltered Kagé so that he could talk, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> hardly move a limb. At sight +of the beast Bankei Oshō took his most severe ecclesiastical pose. +Dressed in violet robes, the gold embroidered stole (<i>kesa</i>) over his +shoulders, the rosary of crystal beads in hand, he approached the horse. +With the brush of long white hair which clears away the dust of the +world's offences (<i>hossu</i>) he swept the circumambient air. Long he +observed the nag. Then coming close to it he grasped the forelock. Kagé +raised his head, with open mouth as if about to snap. The abbot +continued his recitation of the holy <i>sutra</i>. Mouth still wide open, +clumsily the horse sank on his knees before the priest. Then suddenly +and deftly Bankei thrust a bolus into the open mouth, which closed as +moved by springs. Sweeping the air with <i>hossu</i> and his rescued +arm—"Acquire the heart of virtue. Assume the true nature, and seek +Nirvana." He kept on stroking the beast's head with the rosary. Once or +twice Kagé opened his mouth as if to speak. Then incontinently the body +rolled over lifeless. The bystanders looked on with fear and amazement. +Without speaking the abbot took the arm of Shūzen and accompanied him +within.</p> + +<p>Kakunai, left to himself, rolled to the ground as speechless as his four +legged charge. Tears of sorrow and anger flowed copiously. "Ah! He is +dead! Kagé is dead! Wise was he to advise flight. Alas! This beast of a +<i>bōzu</i> (priest), what purge did he use, thus to cut off at once the +breath of Kagé? No more gambling, no more wine, with Kagé nicely bedded +and asleep in his stable, and Kakunai with equal luck asleep in the +pleasure quarter! Alas! Alas! Kagé is no better now than a dead +ass—while Kakunai still lives." Thus he vented his grief, to the +amusement of his fellows who had shared but little in his fortunes. +Meanwhile Shūzen and the abbot were otherwise engaged. Said +Bankei—"Deign to relate something of how Shūzen Dono came to this +<i>yashiki</i>. Honoured Sir, was not the former site in Mita? How came the +change?" Shūzen explained the conditions and the time of change to +his new site and experiences. If there was aught of grudge, it attached +rather to place than person. To this Bankei Oshō was agreed. "The +fact of the case is plain to Bankei. The spirit directing the actions of +the horse is not the spirit of the animal. The possession brought to an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +end by the exorcism, the alien spirit departed, and the carcass of the +animal deprived of this influence, it fell to the ground an inert mass, +like to the abandoned shell of the cicada. But the malevolent influence +is to be found. This is the task of Shūzen Dono. Deign, honoured sir, +then to have memorial rites performed by this Bankei, and no longer will +the <i>yashiki</i> be haunted by such unusual and unseemly performance.... +Daigaku no Sensei? He is but a Confucianist, bound to the letter of +material substance. Nor would he confess the ignorance of the spiritual +world he undoubtedly is gifted with, of the law of punishment for deeds +performed in a past existence (<i>ingwai</i>) as taught by the Lord Buddha. +The materialist has his nose to earth, and can see naught else. The +idiot has his nose to heaven, and can see naught else. The Buddha's Law +comprehends Heaven and Earth. Hence its truth." With this expression of +the <i>odium theologicum</i> the worthy abbot departed templewards, +accompanied, as gage for further proceedings and profit, by the carcass +of the horse. Bankei had this inhumed in the ground behind the main hall +of the temple. Kakunai superintended these last obsequies. The abbot's +words, as to the malevolence of the influence involved, was proved to +Shūzen the next day, when report was brought that the groom had +hanged himself at the gratings of the stall once occupied by Kagé. Moved +by this strong hint, Kakunai was sent to join his equine friend in one +common grave.</p> + +<p>Warned by the unusual nature of these events Shūzen determined at +once to trace out the source of this evil influence. It was his duty as +a <i>samurai</i> to suppress such manifestations occurring so close to the +suzerain's dwelling. It was to his own interest to free the <i>yashiki</i> +from such noxious vapours. The <i>karō</i>, Beita Heima, set on foot an +investigation. Then it was that Isuké the <i>chūgen</i> had thought of the +hole detected under the shrine of the O'Inari Sama. On Shūzen's order +the <i>karō</i> undertook the task of examining this suspicious adjunct to +the <i>yashiki</i>. Torches in hand several <i>chūgen</i>, under the direction +of the <i>samurai</i>, were appointed to the work. The men hesitated a little +to violate the precincts of the shrine. Growled Beita—"The carpenters +did not hesitate to build it. What they put up, men can destroy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> Up +with the boarding. Thus the stone easily will be raised." The directions +were carried out. There were many tracks of beasts, all of which seemed +to converge to this spot. With removal of flooring and joists, soon the +massive lid of granite was raised on edge. With a thud and cloud of dust +it fell to one side. The men drew away, not only checked by the dark +aperture exposed, but by the foul odour which poured up from the +confined space. Holding his nose the <i>karō</i> took a lighted torch for +further inspection of depth and means of entrance. "Um! A shallow place; +not more than a <i>jō</i> (10 feet). Who volunteers to enter? Come! Don't +be backward on his lordship's service. Isuké, eh?"</p> + +<p>Isuké came forward readily enough at the call. He was a brave man, and +moreover a little angered at the fate of his one time friend, Kakunai. +If the beast of a horse, or the spirit beast, held occupancy here, Isuké +would deal with him. The kick of spiritual hoofs and the bite of +immaterial teeth had no terrors for Isuké. Carefully inspecting his +ground he took the leap. A lighted torch was lowered to him. With this +he marched off, the light growing quickly faint in the darkness. "Oya! +Oya! 'Tis strange. The stench—it is unendurable. The darkness too thick +even for the torch. It fails to burn." For a time his voice was heard +rumbling off with increasing distance. To repeated shouts no answer was +returned. Said Heima—"Isuké has gone too far, out of range. Some other +must bear him aid.... What! All milk livers? You, Gensuké, love the wine +cellar. Its care would seem to be your calling. Now down with you! Here +is one made to hand for the <i>yashiki</i>. Make report of the discovery to +his lordship." Gensuké was most unwilling, but his comrades loudly +applauded the choice. He was lowered into the hole by hands energetic to +lend him assistance in reaching its depths. Provided with a light he too +started off on his march into the darkness. "Iya! Iya! What stench! 'Tis +past endurance. Ah! There is a loud roaring yonder. Gensuké will +investigate. Deign support in necessity." His voice also faded off with +the distance. Then all was silence. Those outside now could hear the +faint reverberation spoken of. To their shouts there was no answer. All +were much alarmed. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> looked into each others' faces. At the +<i>karō's</i> order there was now no hesitation, though there was some +grumbling at the rashness of those who risked the wrath of the O'Inari +Sama by the heedless undertaking.</p> + +<p>Three or four men at once jumped down into the hole. With dimly burning +torches, and holding each other by the hand, they made their way into +the blackness of the cavern. Almost at once came a cry, answered by +others. Those above leaned eagerly over the aperture. Some took the +leap. Soon the men appeared, dragging along the limp and helpless body +of Gensuké. The trouble now was clear. The men had been overcome by the +vicious air of the cave. Soon Isuké also was brought to the upper air. +With the removal all the roar and reverberation was transferred to the +surface. The two men lay unconscious, breathing noisily, and to all +appearance in great extremity. Beita San at once ordered local aid. +While friction and cold water was being applied, the leech summoned, +Saitō Sensei, came on the ground. Heima questioned anxiously as to +the men's condition. The Sensei reassured him—"It is but the noxious +air of the cavern which has overcome them. A day or two, and they will +be as good as ever." The old man wrinkled his face and chuckled a little +as he surveyed the victims of the O'Inari Sama. Greatly was the +reputation of the shrine for efficacy added to in this punishment. "Boy +and man this aging Saitō Genan has known the place. Evil its repute. +The cave is very ancient, and in the past much feared by people round +about. Failure to worship has been followed by misfortune. Horse or cow +has disappeared, house been burned down, or pregnant wife frightened +into miscarriage by apparitions. Young girls attending at the shrine +have disappeared. Its reputation is as evil as that of the Kōjimachi +well yonder." He jerked a finger in the direction indicated, at the +neighbouring site beyond the bamboo fence. "A bolus, and these fellows +are restored to consciousness." From his wallet he prepared the drug. +Gensuké showed signs of life, opened his eyes, uneasily moving first +this limb, and then that. Isuké sat bolt upright, with most stentorian +snort. He waved both arms with a violence which sent his two supporters +to the ground. In wrath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> he sprang up, but the malign effect was still +too powerful. His legs wavered under him, and they had to come again to +his aid. However, it was necessary to carry off Gensuké limp and +helpless; with the support of the arms on each side of him, Isuké made +his way back to the <i>yashiki</i> on his own legs.</p> + +<p>Heima made report to his lord of what had passed, of the history of the +place as reported by Saitō Sensei. Shūzen pursed his lips, and +inquired as to the condition of Isuké. The <i>chūgen</i> was a favoured +attendant; one much trusted. At the end of a week he was summoned to his +lord's presence. "And Katai (tough) Isuké, his experience has gone +beyond his powers?" Shūzen spoke with that slight jeering condolence +which arouses obstinacy. Isuké, prostrate on his hands, expressed +gratitude for his lord's reproof. The fault was not his. Overcome by the +foul air he became giddy, then lost all sensation of time or place. "And +the roaring and noises, these did not frighten Isuké into his +faint?"—"Roaring, noise, there were none; beyond the gentle drip of +water often heard in such places. The roaring heard must have been due +to the snoring of Gensuké. The cowardly fellow still clings to the bed, +sucking in the dainty fare of the invalid; not so, Isuké." Shūzen had +an idea. All the others were too struck by fear to be of aid—"Then +Isuké fears not the work of fox or badger. He will again make the +venture?"—"For the Tono Sama; though none too willingly," was the +<i>chūgen's</i> reply. "Fox or badger? Let them but come under the knife +of Isuké, and he will make soup of them; a better soup than they supply +otherwise. But the stench!"—"And the foxes of Nakano (Shinjuku)?" Isuké +blushed. His master was far too knowing.</p> + +<p>At Shūzen's order that night Isuké met his lord at the steps of the +Inari Shrine. The adventure pleased Shūzen. He was still young enough +to delight in exposure and difficulties. Plainly old Beita was not the +man for this task. His retainers readily would obey their lord's +direction. But Shūzen hungered for a more direct credit. He stripped +to his loin cloth in the cold winter night. Isuké followed his lord's +example. The job would be no clean one. Then the two men dropped to the +floor of the cavern. Isuké spoke in surprise. "Naruhodo!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> At night the +place seems much brighter than by day." He looked around in some +suspicion and astonishment. Then his eye rested on the torches. "Oya! +The torch burns brightly, not dimly as before. Pfu! The stench is +unaltered, but the air at least is breathable." Preceding his master by +some ten paces, Shūzen heard him give a shout. Hastening up, with +Isuké he bent over the aperture of what seemed to be a well. What was +its depth? "In with you, Isuké," said Shūzen. The <i>chūgen</i> +protested—"Nay! The Tono Sama deigns to jest. Is Isuké a bat +(<i>kōmori</i>), one to fly off into the darkness.... Ah! The depth is +terrific. The light hardly shows the blackness of the place. It may +reach down to Meido itself." Shūzen lit a second torch, then cast it +down into the cavity. He broke into a laugh. The light continued to burn +brightly. "Meido then is not far off. The bottom of the well lies not +five <i>shaku</i> (feet) below. Now in with you!" Anticipating the +<i>chūgen</i> he sprang down himself.</p> + +<p>Isuké spoke, holding his nose—"Heigh! Tono Sama, deign to go no +further. The stink passes beyond measurement. It increases with distance +gone. Peugh! It blows from yonder." He pointed to a low aperture in one +corner of the roundish space in which they stood. Shūzen could +understand better now. The whole cave was due to water; had been formed +by water in the loose volcanic soil. The well was a mere passage way by +which it once had risen, and been drained off again. Isuké was right. +With decuple vigour the stench now rose close to hand. "In with you," +was the peremptory order. "Anything found in way of gold and silver +belongs to Isuké; and caves are always rich in such finds."—"Is that +so?" said the <i>chūgen</i>—"It is the tale of old books; which often +lie. But in with you, and find out." Under spur of avarice and command +Isuké crawled into the passage. He had gone but a bare ten feet when +Shūzen heard a most fearful yell, saw the rapid progress outwards of +the posteriors of Isuké. The man's face was chalk white—"Deign, Danna +Sama, to go no further." He choked for utterance. "How now!" said +Shūzen in pretended astonishment. "Fox or badger? They were to be +converted into soup for Katai Isuké, soft food for his grinders."—"For +fox or badger Isuké<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> cares not. He invites their presence.... Kiya!" +Shūzen in sport had placed a cold wet hand on his neck. "Ah! The +Danna jests. Of fox and badger soup is made. With human stench it is not +savoured. There is a dead body within. Hence the frightful odour."</p> + +<p>Shūzen at once began to twist his head towel around his nose. With +feeblest protest Isuké saw him take the torch and disappear into the +passage. Soon his voice was heard. "Isuké! Isuké! Is he milk livered? +How about the gold and silver? Would Isuké abandon it?" Isuké would not. +In a trice he was on hands and knees, to rejoin his master who was +roaring with laughter. "Gold and silver may be here," Shūzen +explained. "Otherwise Isuké would have backed out of the undertaking, +all the way to the cave's entrance. Turn the body over. See whether it +is of man or woman." Much put out Isuké did as he was bid. "Pfugh! +Stirring does no good. The very flesh is melting from the bones. The +hair of the beard and head show it to be a man." Shūzen turned to a +wider passage, plainly due in part to hand. By crouching he could enter +into a larger chamber. In wonder and admiration he called to Isuké. In +so far, the <i>chūgen</i> would pursue the venture. Besides would he not +follow his master to Meido itself? "Look, Isuké! Such groining of the +roof is only made by Nature's hand. The cave of Fudō Sama at Meguro +shows no finer sight." He pointed to the mass of interlacing roots of +some huge <i>ichō</i> rising from the ground above. Isuké grumbled assent, +without much vigour. He was getting tired of this adventure. It was a +satisfaction they could go no further. Shūzen meanwhile was rummaging +the place, which evidently had been a kind of dwelling. In a closet were +found some coarse cooking utensils and crockery for food. A supply of +firewood in one corner, and a box, completed the furniture. With +curiosity Shūzen turned over the books in the box. A cry brought +Isuké to his side. "Your share, Isuké." He pointed to three shining +silver <i>ryō</i> which lay below the scrolls. Isuké looked incredulous at +the find. Then he prostrated himself before his master in deepest +gratitude. With joy he pocketed the coin and shouldered the scrolls. +There was nothing more to do. They sought the open air.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>The strange sight reported to him, Beita Heima the <i>karō</i> appeared +before his master. In the early morning light Shūzen was pouring +buckets of cold water over Isuké, having himself undergone the same +treatment at the <i>chūgen's</i> hands. "Kan mairi, Heima,"<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> said +Shūzen with a laugh. Then he explained matters to the astonished +<i>karō</i>. Isuké's further ablutions were left to other hands. The +affair now was cleared up. The removal of the slab, the fresh air +penetrating the cavern, made the removal of the body easy. This was to +be sent to Bankei's care for proper burial and rites. Meanwhile +Shūzen with interest and increasing gravity examined his prize. The +books were all on war. One was in the suspected script of the western +barbarian. From its plates, it was a work on fortification, and the art +of attack and defence. Shūzen did not understand the Dutch words, but +he regarded the find as of importance, at least as adding to his own +merit. So likewise did Abé Bungo no Kami, minister for the month, and +with a great liking for Shūzen. He saw to it that the affair was to +the latter's profit. The <i>Ometsuké</i> inspected the books, inspected the +cave, drank Shūzen's wine, and commended the vigilance and energy of +the <i>hatamoto</i>. The report was worth an added hundred <i>koku</i> to his +modest income. Isuké also counted his gains with joy; a means of +continued defiance and pursuit of the foxes of the Nakano pleasure +quarter.</p> + +<p>As to Bankei—the funeral rites had been performed, the <i>sutra</i> read, +the body inhumed in the same mound with those of Kakunai and the horse. +Liberal had been the gift of Okumura Shūzen for all these divers +interments, and great the unction of Bankei at the accomplishment and +solution of the mystery of the cave in the Banchō. But one thing +rested uneasily on his mind. What the identity of the evil spirit which +caused these wonders? That night, as the abbot rested in his bed, there +appeared at his pillow a man of some thirty odd years, tall, gaunt, +hairy, ugly, and much dejected. "His eyes were prominent in his head, +his lofty nose showed ability, he had the mouth of a shark." Plainly +very great had been his wickedness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> Prostrate the apparition gave +thanks to the saint. All the spice and joy of evil doing had been +exchanged for the insipidity of Paradise. Now he was threatened with +Nirvana through the prayers of the saintly abbot. In life he had been +the wicked Sōja Mushuku (lodgeless). A famous thief, he was the +source of the raids on purse and person, on <i>yashiki</i> in particular and +the common people in general, which had caused much fear and distress in +Edo. The cave of the Inari, a lucky discovery, had been his safe haunt +from pursuit. None could betray him, for none of his band knew his lair. +He would betray no one; but he would tell the abbot of his fate. It was +Isuké who had sealed him up in the cave by thrusting into place the +heavy cover. Here he passed miserable days in hunger until the poisonous +air, gradually accumulating, had put an end to him. His spirit, however, +had haunted the place, with no disposition to leave. With the +opportunity he had entered the body of Kagé, in search of human +requirements and enjoyments. Betrayed by appetite he had been driven +forth by the prayers of the abbot, and solaced by his petitions for the +future life. Deign to let the matter rest there, and not pursue him into +the inanity, the nothingness of Nirvana. To this the practiced ear of +the holy Bankei gave deep thought. This fellow already had forced the +unhappy Kakunai to follow in his tracks. What might he not do to others +in whom the abbot had far greater interest? "To such wickedness the gift +of Nirvana is not likely. Bankei wastes his breath, and Shūzen Dono +his substance. Deign to enter Meido, be wholly purified of wickedness, +and in a second birth, if in human form, be of a virtuous House. For +present and past sins atonement is to be made. For those still living +Bankei holds not his lips silent. Off with you at once to these insipid +joys." He thrust the rosary of crystal beads into the vision's face. At +once it disappeared, and Bankei woke amid a nauseating odour. He +stretched himself in weariness—"A dream? Tribulation of the Five +Viscera?" Yet he would report it to Shūzen, and on the uncertainty of +the truth secure further aid for man and horse. Hence the monument of +the Batō (horse-headed) Kwannon, which long stood on its mound behind +the <i>hondō</i> of the Seishōji of Shiba.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Aoyama Shūzen</span></h3> + + +<p>These events could not fail to cause comment. It was in the general room +of the <i>hiban</i>, the fire guard of the castle, that the discussion came +to a head. There were a number of these guards for different quarters of +the castle inclosure; and for better drill and coordination the officers +met, apart from the site of their particular duties. This made the +office of the <i>hiban</i> a sort of club of the <i>hatamoto</i>, bringing +together the members of the more particular cliques, known respectively +as the Shiratsukagumi (white handle club), the Kingingumi (gold and +silver clubs), the members of which knocked out a conspicuous tooth, +replacing it with the metal ensign of their affiliation, and the Kubo no +Shiro-oshigumi. These organizations, something like the Otokodaté of the +townsmen in the closeness of the relations of their members, had by no +means the same worthy object. They were often merely a way of ruffling +it through the town, particularly at the amusement quarter of Asakusa; +seeking quarrels with <i>rōnin</i>, abusing women, and literally +gravelling the discomfited townsmen, not seldom left on the ground, +subsequently to be put into it. The Otokodaté, or chivalrous band, were +indeed needed in this state of early Edo. They could hold their own, +inasmuch as the <i>samurai</i> involved dared not bring a quarrel to light. +He had the advantage of his training; and by the rules of his caste did +not hesitate to have assassinated a plebeian he could not overcome, and +chose to regard as impertinent. Collisions with these, however, were +rare. <i>Rōnin</i> were the particular object of dislike of the Tokugawa +adherents. It was the great exception made, when Hida no Kami (Yagyū +Matajurō) admitted Kumé no Heinai to his fencing room and +discipleship. The <i>rōnin</i>, of course, deserved the proscription, +being often the devoted adherents of a lost cause—Hoōjō or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +Toyotomi—and unwilling to transfer their fealty to a second lord. The +most noted and hated of the <i>rōnin</i>, though free from any taint of +rebellion to the Tokugawa, was this Heinaibei; the vilest assassination, +that of his friend Bandzuin Chōbei by Mizuno Jurōzaémon aided by +other members of the Shiratsukagumi.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p><p>Endō Saburōzaémon had related the mishap of his <i>chūgen</i>, his +own experience in pursuing the offenders. The old fellows, heroes of the +Genwa and Kwanei periods, were gathered close to a <i>hibachi</i>. Despite +the season age sought pretence of warmth or closer company. Said the +veteran Matsudaira Montarō—"Ōkubo, what think you? Surely the ice +water of gathering years runs in our veins. Such happenings, so close to +the dwelling of the Ue Sama, never would have taken place in former +days. But we are old. The stiffened joints and the wrinkles would not +deceive such miscreants. 'Twould be a palpable fraud, our +presentation."—"True," growled Shichinosuké; "but ice water runs in +other veins than those who are old." Kondō Noborinosuké, verging +toward his fifties, now chimed in—"Naruhodo! The talk of these young +chaps infects one with their own complaints. This one can but thump +himself on the chest and speculate as to whether he has one lung, or two +of the kind. This other limps and dreams of <i>kakké</i>. His tongue hangs +out a yard, that he can better inspect its colour; and his legs are +black and blue from efforts to detect a dropsy. A third excuses himself +by a flux, which he would cure with hot wine; and a fourth is assured of +a cold, to lead to all these and other ailments, and hence steeps +himself night and day in the hot bath, the one to be most easily +excused. Emma Dai-Ō in Hell<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> could not afflict these fellows more +than they grieve over themselves. Only in talk of their ailments do they +find company. Plasters and medicaments for their persons, instead of +armour and the quietus of the foe, these are the objects of their +quest." The two old rascals, and their middle aged abettor, looked slyly +over each other's heads at the younger men grouped in the rear, then at +each other. Thus it was with these violent fellows of the actual +battlefield. They would stir someone to action.</p> + +<p>"Heigh! Heigh! Not Endō Uji: he at least has proved his mettle. The +pressing offices of the day do not call for sleep all night. He is of +the stock of Kiémon Dono. Old Hikoza never tired of tales of his +father's prowess." Kondō chuckled as he continued—"The old fellow +(<i>oyaji</i>) spoke well of the dead. The living had need to take care of +his praise of them. Witness Torii Dono and Akiyama Dono, at the two +extremes of age. Good luck, as well as management, extricated them from +the results of a commendation like to cost them much. Alas! His place is +not to be filled." Ōkubo Hikozaémon, governor of these wild fellows, +keeper of the suzerain's conscience, had left his seat vacant these past +five years. Sorrow for his loss did not prevent Noborinosuké bringing a +bright and beady eye on Aoyama Shūzen. Ōkubo Shichinosuké followed +the look. All of the old ones fastened Shūzen with inquisitive glare. +The object of their attention neither quailed nor showed undue +eagerness. "The honoured ancients favour this Shūzen with the task." +His laugh was so cold and purposeful, his look so derisive and +comprehending, that the old fellows in some confusion sought comfort in +each other. This Aoyama Shūzen was a very devil of a fellow. He had a +perspicacity in finesse that the plain, keen, and honest bluntness of +former days could not deceive. Aoyama was not one to charge with +effeminacy in any form. He had a wife—whom he neglected. He had a page, +whom he favoured. He had all the harsh vices and capabilities of the +warrior age. Turning to Endō Saburōzaémon—"Endō Uji has seen +the vision, not fox or <i>tanuki</i>. This has been the experience of the +<i>chūgen</i>?" Saburōzaémon did not like the connection; nor did he +like Shūzen. "It is fact. Rokuzo was bewitched, not Endō. See to +it that Aoyama Dono has better luck." Thus tacitly he would force the +mission on Shūzen. The latter suppressed his anger at the assumption. +"Endō Dono, as with this Shūzen, is <i>hatamoto</i> of the land. Such +vile rascals as these do not make them object of their tricks."—"Don't +be too sure of that," replied Endō. "Neither fox nor <i>tanuki</i> would +care for the company of the vision. This Saburōzaémon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> does but seek +to give it rest—and himself." He spoke with some gloom. Said Aoyama +with decision—"Agreed! What may be the reward?" A chorus of protest +went up. "Reward! Reward!... The applause of all.... The interest in the +tale, as with that of Endō Dono, just recited." But Shūzen smiled +and shook his head—"Endō Dono seeks the good will of an unworshipped +demon." Saburōzaémon shot a glance at him. "Shūzen too has his +object. Otherwise, let others volunteer." The force of what he said was +made plain by the silence of the company. The stories told, none longed +for the experience. Thought Montarō testily—"This fellow always has +something in his sleeve." With hesitation—"Endō deserves reward, and +claims it not. Aoyama would have it in advance. How now: a sword?" All +looked inquisitively at Shūzen. They were surprised and disgruntled +at his gesture of dissent. He knew the ancients, and could suspect a +trap. "Shūzen knows the kind. As with buying radishes at Yanagibara; +one good for nothing, and bringing anything but honour.... Shūzen +selects his own weapon, nor asks reward apart from the issue." Kondō +Noborinosuké clapped his hands. The younger man was a favourite and +kindred spirit of his own, near enough in age to be congenial. "The +presiding chair at the Endurance Society meeting. We are <i>samurai</i>, +<i>hatamoto</i> of the land. Gold is not to the purpose. A sword is bought +with gold. Let Aoyama Uji make report to the meeting, and on that hang +the office." Shūzen was the first to nod eager assent. All agreed; +with no great joy at prospect of the coming test, yet afraid of his +refusal. Thus the company separated, committed to a meeting of the Gaman +Kwai at the house of Noborinosuké, to hear the report of Aoyama +Shūzen's venture into the Banchō.</p> + +<p>His preparations made, the next night, at the hour of the rat (11-1 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span>), saw Aoyama in his turn climbing the slope of the +Gomizaka. Attached to the immediate service of the palace, the place was +very desolate and strange to him. At a loss where to look for the +objects of his search he sauntered at random, attention drawn to footing +in this darkness. Thus it was that the Gekkeiji bell sounded over the +moorland, striking the first watch of the hour of the ox (3 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span>).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> He stopped to listen his eye fixed at the time on the +long line of wall and fine gate of a <i>bessō-yashiki</i> (country villa), +evidently of a great lord. He had passed from here some little distance, +to the turning of the wall, when hasty steps and the hard breathing of +one who had just breasted the hill struck his ear. Shūzen standing at +the corner was almost knocked down by the dark bulk which bounded out of +the shadow. Both parties sprang back in attitude of watchfulness. +Shūzen had never seen such a fellow. At least seven feet in height, +hairy of arms and legs and face, his eyes shone like bright mirrors. +Bulging forth these made him like to the ghost of some huge dragon fly. +Did he not have an eye in the middle of his forehead? Shūzen could +not have denied it. Of size to inspire fear, decidedly the rascal was to +be suspected. Shūzen was the first to question. "Who and where from? +Answer at once, or this Aoyama deigns the death cut." The man, or +monster, merely opened and shut the plate like eye holes. Then with a +roaring derisive lip—"Ha! Ha! This is Tanuki-baké, come hither to find +and fetch Aoyama."</p> + +<p>"Ya! Ya!" Aoyama was in a great rage. In the act of drawing his sword he +would cut the rascal down. Thus to insult a <i>hatamoto</i> of the land, lord +of twelve hundred <i>koku</i>! "Make ready!" Apparition or not, at a bound +the man was some ten feet off. Then followed a space, during which +Shūzen made every effort known to the fencing room. He would have +impaled a real dragon fly more readily. Without attempt to flee the +object merely darted hither and thither. Shūzen was dripping with +perspiration. He felt badly and discouraged. For a moment he would +rest—"To see this Aoyama?" He grunted. "Just so," was the reply. "Fools +at close quarters give entertainment. Aoyama is not the clever one to +cut down the <i>tanuki-baké</i> (badger-ghost). Get you hence to your quilts, +good sir; to your fool companions who wear summer garb in depth of +winter, and triple garments in the heats of the sixth and seventh +months; stuff themselves with hot food and wine in summer, and freeze +the viands and <i>saké</i> in winter. Get you hence to your companions of the +Gaman Kwai (Endurance Society). Make report to them of Aoyama's venture, +and bray and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> brag to them of spending a night outside the sheets." +Shūzen strove to be calm on receipt of these insults to his kind. In +haughty condescension he explained—"Those of the Gaman Kwai wear +<i>katabira</i> (light summer wear) in winter, triple gear in summer, to +undergo the hardships of the battlefield. In war one regards not heat or +cold. He drinks from the puddle on the field, and cooks the rice straw +for food in his helmet. This is the great time of peace. The experiences +and the hardships of the battlefield are lacking. It is as substitute +for these...." He was interrupted by a mighty burst of impolite +merriment from the heavy man, who held his sides as like to split from +laughter. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Naruhodo! These chitterlings; stuffed +sausages! 'Sufferings of the battlefield; hardships'! They are not to +encountered in such childish sport. He who would face these must +practise the art of the inner belly (mind). It is by hardening the belly +that the trials of war are met. You fellows practise but the outer cult. +Of the inner and secret precepts you are ignorant. Degraded fools +(<i>bakéyarō</i>)!"—"Shut up!" roared Shūzen. He could take the fellow +at a disadvantage in his fit of outrageous merriment. Close to hand he +leaped on him. In effort to avoid the blow the miscreant tumbled head +over heels into the close deep waving <i>suzuki</i> grass. With satisfaction +Aoyama felt the sword sink deep into the resisting substance. Great his +disgust to find that he had cleft an old and hidden stump to the very +root. He seated himself upon it.</p> + +<p>At least he was in the centre of disturbance. Should he await further +encounter, or depart elsewhere to find it. He had a mind to abandon the +lanes and plunge into the waste land. Just then screams and cries were +heard; the sound of rapid flying feet coming in his direction. A young +woman in flight was now close at hand. Her hair unbound streamed behind +her. She was in night clothes, and the knot of the narrow <i>obi</i> or band +come loose in her flight, exposed a figure all attraction. On reaching +Aoyama she threw herself at his feet, clasping his knees. "Aid! Aid from +the honoured <i>samurai</i>! Thieves breaking in threaten with death and +pillage. Deign, honoured sir, to aid." Shūzen was very willing to do +so. The lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> was very urgent and very beautiful. He himself was +uncertain as to goal, and the matter of the ghost could wait on her +extremity. To his inquiry she made reply—"Just yonder." With her he +retraced his steps. To his surprise the gate of the <i>yashiki</i>, already +noticed, was wide open. In all haste she urged him to the entrance, yet +in his rapid passage he seemed to have seen this place before. The girl +gave a call, then another. Shūzen joined her in chorus and the +search. The mansion was thrown wide open and abandoned. Not a soul was +to be seen. All had either been killed, or had fled. The wailing of the +girl brought him to her side. Prostrate she lay on the bodies of an old +man and old woman, who had been put to death without mercy by the +miscreants. Great was the pity of Aoyama. "The bodies still smoke in +blood; the perpetrators cannot be far off. It would be well to seize +them. This lantern ... how now? Is it of the house?" The girl raised her +head to observe it. "No," she said. "The house lanterns have not the bow +handle. This is of the thieves.... What's that?" A noise was heard +above. Aoyama, hand on his sword, sprang to the stairway. The girl, all +smiles at the prospective vengeance, followed him.</p> + +<p>Three fellows were busy at the closets and chests. The contents were +scattered over the floor, evidently for purpose of selection. Aoyama +burst upon them. "Heigh-ho! Vile rascals! Submit your necks at once to +the blow, your arms to the cord." At first the pillagers were greatly +astonished and put out. "A <i>samurai</i>! Our work is interfered with. Alas! +We must away." Said the leader, a determined looking fellow—"Umph! 'Tis +nothing but a board wages <i>samurai</i> (<i>sampin</i>). He is alone. Kick him +down. Teach him the lesson of interference." With yells all made for +Shūzen. Disregarding those at the side he delivered his blow at the +man in front. Kiya! He split him in two as one would green bamboo. +Shūzen drew back with a side sweep which cut another clean across the +girdle. He stopped to rub his eyes with amazement. Was it not +witchcraft? Not three, but five men now confronted him; and lively +rascals they were. Strive as he would Aoyama's blows seemed but to +multiply his foes. He was but one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> man. A kick to this side sent a +rascal flying to the wall; an elbow shot sent another through the +screens. Then all took to flight. One closely pursued sought the roof, +the drying frame its heights. Aoyama was about to cut him down, when the +fellow sprang off into the darkness like a flying bird. At the same time +came most urgent and piteous cries from below. "Danna Sama! Honoured +<i>Samurai</i> Sama! Deign rescue. The thieves! They force me to +extremities." Reluctant Shūzen turned back. On reaching the lower +stair he came upon the rascals who were gathered round the girl. At +sight of him all took to flight. To Shūzen's astonishment the girl in +her turn fled in pursuit. Out of the house rushed the whole band, +Shūzen joining in the mad race. Down the slope went all. Then +dobun!... Shūzen's foot caught in a hole, or root, or some obstacle. +Head first he went into the ditch. Struggling, gasping, spitting out the +dirty water of the drain, Aoyama scrambled up on the bank. He looked +around in amazement. The white light of dawn illuminated the scene; the +ill fated tree stump and the dirty drain close by. House there was none. +Girl and thieves had disappeared. He stood on the moor, shivering in +Nippon's always cool dawn and dripping wet with the filthy fluid of the +ditch or stream flowing through these fields and the valley. With +discomfiture he took his long way homewards to the Dōsanbashi. +Plainly he had been bewitched and derided. So believing, he was startled +to find himself again before the <i>yashiki</i> gate; but in the light of day +it showed the obvious neglect of years. Shūzen at once sought +entrance, not by the gate, but over the wall for lack of other means. He +recognized the scene of last night's exploit, and its description as +given by Endō Saburōzaémon. Besides, he recognized the place in +his own experience of long past years, the favour and support of one to +whom he was much indebted. Ah! Truly these were dangerous rascals he had +encountered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Shūzen meets Shūzen</span></h3> + + +<p>Aoyama Shūzen was not likely to brag of this exploit. All day he sat +biting his thumbs, and drinking wine to obviate the effect of his nasty +bath. An idea began to crystallize in his brain. But this matter +pressed. The preparations for the night were to be made. He hoped for +better luck in his vengeance on the miscreants. The watch of the rat +again saw him skirting the Ushigafuchi on his way to the Banchō. He +had just started up the slope of the Gomizaka when he heard steps behind +him. Oya! Oya! Two <i>chūgen</i> and a lady. About these there was nothing +suspicious. But the lantern they carried? It was marked with the +<i>mitsuba-aoi</i>, or triple leaf holly hock crest of the suzerain's House. +Plainly the bearers were on mission from one of the San Ke (Princes of +the Blood), or perhaps from the palace itself. Reverence must be done to +the lantern. On his present mission, and thus arrayed, Aoyama sought to +avoid notice. He disappeared into the long <i>suzuki</i> grass at the road +side. He could hear the lady express her anxiety and haste. Then with +curiosity Aoyama watched their strange behavior. A bare sixty feet +beyond they came to a halt. The lady shrank back as in terror. Haténa! +Aoyama recognized him by his size, the antagonist and critic of the +previous night. Without delay, or giving time for flight, the huge +ruffian with one hand grasped the bosom of the lady's dress, with the +other the arm of a <i>chūgen</i>. A kick sent the other fellow very +willingly to the ground. Tremendous was the apparition as he towered +over his victims. He seemed taller than ever. His hair stood out like +iron wire. His mouth grinned open wide from ear to ear; and now Aoyama +could see distinctly the horns sprouting from his temples. Did he not +have claws? Aoyama could not remember.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>He would rescue the lady, beautiful of course. Rapidly passing through +the grass Aoyama burst out upon the group. He took aim at the knave's +breast bone. "Yai!" The fellow let go. The two prisoners, thrust +violently into the knees of Shūzen, brought him to the ground. When +he had recovered balance the rascal had disappeared. The lady was in a +dead faint. One <i>chūgen</i> seemed to be dead. The other was squatting +at some distance, eyes saucer like in fright. He regarded Aoyama with +grave suspicion. The <i>samurai</i> called to him. "Here you! Your mistress +has fainted. Water at once!" But the fellow did nothing but answer "Hei! +Hei!" without sign of motion. "Don't sit and purr like a cat," roared +Shūzen. "Off with you, and fetch water." At last the man took courage +to approach. "Alas! Danna Sama, this Banchō, where the thieves are +apparitions, and apparitions turn to women, frightens this +Isuké."—"Fear or no fear, water must be had. Such milk livered fellows +are not for man's work. Weakness of loins won't do. Off with you."—"But +how?"—"In your scabbard, fool." For answer the <i>chūgen</i> made a wry +face and tugged at his weapon. As often the case with those men, it was +of wood. Shūzen laughed. Then he gave his own scabbard to the +<i>chūgen</i>. Off the fellow crawled, with gait and speed of a maimed +insect.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile what was to be done. Shūzen put his hand into the bosom of +the lady, and rummaged. Women were always dosing and fainting. Doubtless +she was provided for such contingency. Surely a perfume reached his +nostrils. Ah! Here it was. He drew out the fragrant package. Medicine +without doubt. The drug savoured strongly of musk. At last the fellow +was on hand with the liquid. Shūzen made a pellet from the drug. +"Raise up your mistress. Take her in your arms." But the man drew away +in horror. He prostrated himself flat on the ground. "Deign forbearance. +To touch with a finger one of the ladies of the palace is not to be +ventured."—"Ah! Is that so?" grunted Shūzen. "Circumstances of +course don't alter cases. He who will not touch a woman is usually a +most lecherous rascal." With this comment he roughly shoved aside the +awkward efforts of this meticulous attendant. Taking the operation upon +himself, he gently pressed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> back of the lady's neck, forcing her to +open her mouth. Inserting the drug he poured in water from the scabbard. +A sudden slap on the back and down went the bolus. The lady opened and +shut her eyes. Then they remained open. "Be firm," commented Aoyama +Sensei. "Thanks," replied the dame. "Ah! What fright! With hand on +dagger was this Banchō entered on. So near, how suspect misfortune at +hand? Truly honoured sir, great your trouble and inconvenience."</p> + +<p>Aoyama accepted the thanks, to satisfy curiosity. "But so late abroad +... and doubtless of the honoured San Ke...." Replied the lady—"The +mission was of Kishū Ke, said to be of grave import. Hence the late +hour of the night. This insignificant person is lady in waiting at the +San no Ma of the palace; Takigawa by name. The <i>yashiki</i> of Okumura +Shūzen, my father, lies close at hand. Great the cowardice shown by +this Taki." Shūzen grasped the whole affair. Between Kishū Ke and +the parent House the feeling in those days was none too good. Grave +suspicion on the part of one, angry resentment on that of the other. He +would see more of the matter. It was his duty as <i>hatamoto</i>. "To go +abroad with <i>chūgen</i> is no safe thing. At this hour and place +<i>samurai</i> could well have been taken as company. As for courage—of that +kind it is not expected of a woman. Valour was shown in undertaking the +mission. And this fellow...." He turned sharply to the <i>chūgen</i> and +pointed to his fellow. "Mujina-také."—"What!" roared Shūzen. He +looked from <i>chūgen</i> to lady, and from lady to <i>chūgen</i>. They +seemed surprised. Stammered the man in fright—"It is but a nickname. +His name is Také, and he is very worthless. Hence he is called +Tanuki-také. I am called Yōkai Isuké (Apparition Isuké), being +nothing but wind." Aoyama grunted a ready assent to this self critic. +The fellow's ignorance and cowardice was as gross as the material flesh +which Shūzen tested with a well applied kick in the buttocks, +bringing Isuké in position to render first aid to his companion. This +was done by passing on the application. A vigorous snort followed the +thump on the back administered to Mujina. He sat up and regarded his +mate with astonishment. "Ah! The Yōkai.... No<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> more of that. 'Tis +Mujina's turn." This, when his fellow proposed a second application. The +return came sooner than anticipated. A terrific sneeze followed. Up came +his head sharply, and the <i>yōkai</i> rolled over backwards on the +ground. He rose in fury, holding his jaw. Shūzen was laughing, the +lady smiling. "The distance is but short? Plainly those fellows are next +to worthless. This Shūzen will act as guard." Thus did Aoyama go in +company to the <i>yashiki</i> of Okumura Shūzen; and thus was his second +night's venture brought to naught.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the Ojōsama (lady daughter) in company with Aoyama +caused much excitement. Okumura was of five hundred <i>koku</i>; Aoyama of +twelve hundred <i>koku</i>. The latter was at once ushered to the inner +apartments. The lady wife of Okumura came forward to urge his stay for +some entertainment. Aoyama in turn was curious to know more of this +mission in connection with a <i>hatamoto</i> like himself. He spoke gravely +of the dangers in this neighbourhood, apart from the strange tales told. +Okumura Shūzen heartily agreed. The charge being to Kishū Ke was +not to be declined. Himself he had many strange tales to relate. Though +the hour was late, every effort was made. Aoyama Shūzen was gratified +with a beautiful repast. The wine was served in person by Takigawa Dono. +The talk passed from personal affairs to tales of war. Here Aoyama was +in his element, both from experience and the tales of others heard in +the <i>hiban</i> and at the meetings of the Gaman Kwai. This was a first +meeting, not to be too long drawn out. Okumura was a new comer in the +Banchō, his service was in connection with the public works. Aoyama +had been of the palace staff until very recently. Both expressed deepest +gratification at their encounter. As he took his way home in the morning +light, Aoyama Shūzen could but contrast with pleasure his present +arrival with that of the previous morning. He had feasted well, and made +an acquaintance of some value.</p> + +<p>The following day he would make his acknowledgments. Aping no great +style he walked accompanied by a page and two <i>chūgen</i>. Inquiry soon +brought him to the <i>yashiki</i>. Inquiry soon introduced him to a sitting +room. "Lucky fellow!" thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> Aoyama. "The influence of Matsudaira +Kō lands him in affluence. A modest income; a double <i>yashiki</i>!" This +part of the house was different from that of his last night's +introduction. Then he stated his business to the <i>karō</i>. The night +before he had accompanied the Ojōsan to the <i>yashiki</i>. He would make +acknowledgment of the courtesy then received. The face of old Beita +Heima was a puzzle. Deep the respect due to twelve hundred <i>koku</i> +Aoyama, but had he been drunk or dreaming?—"Has not your lordship +mistaken the <i>yashiki</i>?" Aoyama was a little severe at what seemed +gratuitous assumption. "You were not on the guard last night." Beita +spoke, prostrate and with great respect, but with an earnestness and +obstinacy not to be mistaken. He had been on the guard—from sunset to +dawn. Aoyama began to feel uncomfortable. Veiling the sharpness—"Is +this not the <i>yashiki</i> of Okumura Dono?" Heima gulped assent. "Is not +Takigawa Dono, of the San no Ma, the Ojōsan of the House?" Here Heima +was on sure ground. "Ojōsan of the House there is none. It is very +rude; but surely there is mistake as to the <i>yashiki</i>." Aoyama now was +beginning to see light. He felt very hot and uncomfortable. He ventured +a last question for surety. "And Okumura Dono?"—"The Tono Sama absent +in Shimosa, the <i>yashiki</i> has been in this Heima's charge for this past +month's course." With such grace as he could in his discomfiture Aoyama +Shūzen took his leave. The astonished page and <i>chūgen</i>, still +retaining the intended presents of acknowledgment, with difficulty kept +up with their master. Ah! The beasts again had scored. Detestable! +Shūzen thought with horror of his repast of the previous night. He +had no better fare than Rokuzo the <i>chūgen</i>. In rage he sought his +room, and swallowed all the purges and emetics to hand. Occupied in +retching, and thinking, and other matters germane to his condition, he +concocted the plan by which he hoped to bring the foe to book, and +himself to the presiding chair which surely he had earned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Meeting of the Gaman Kwai</span></h3> + + +<p>With the fall of Ōsaka castle (1615), and the culmination of the +uneasy movements of the years following in the conspiracy of Honda +Masazumi, the country entered on a long peace—the Tokugawa Taihei. The +Arima rebellion after all was but an affair of farming folk, in far off +Kyūshū. Masazumi struck right at the person of the Shōgun +himself. A special ceiling was constructed in his castle at Utsunomiya. +This was to collapse on the sleeping Iyemitsu Kō sheltered beneath +it. Caught between the heavy boulders above and beneath the couch, the +Shōgun was to be sent to rest with, not worship of, his divinized +grandfather at Nikkō. Iyemitsu slept the night at Edo castle, owing +to the valour and strength of Ishikawa Hachiémon. Masazumi had failed, +and the set field of battle between the factions of the <i>samurai</i> was a +thing of the past. The duel, forbidden in theory and compulsory in +practice, was to take its place. The substitute always had existed. It +tried men's courage, not the sustained endurance of campaigning. How +then was the old spirit of the warrior to be maintained? The desire to +emulate their sires worked on the younger generation. The relics of the +Tenshō, Keichō and Genwa periods (1573-1623) Ōkubo Hikozaémon, +Matsudaira Montarō, Nagasaki Chiyari Kurō, were heroes who could +boast of having stood before the horse of Iyeyasu in his earlier trials +of battles, trials in which the veteran commander would pound with his +fist the pommel of the saddle until it was red with the blood from his +bruised knuckles. Their tales of actual war, the sly jeers at the +softening manners, spurred on younger members to find ways by which to +simulate practical experience of campaigning. The result was curious. +One of the organizations was the Undameshi Kwai, or Fortune Testing +Society. Loaded firelocks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> were stacked in the middle of the room of +meeting. Around them sat the members of the club, squeezed into full +armour, from helmet to the warriors shoes of skin. The match was set. +The weapons were exploded, sending a shower of balls in every direction. +"Ah! Ha! The bullet grazed my helmet."—"The gorgelet caught it."—"The +corselet has saved me."—"Congratulations are in order. Surely your +pension will be increased during the year."—"Oya! Oya! And Genzaémon +Uji?" The unfortunate Genzaémon had not fared so well in the mimic war. +At all events he sat the meeting out—if he could. To be reported dead, +in the course of duty; or be overcome with regrets at showing such +clumsiness in being wounded; or, if actually incapacitated, to go home +and die of "illness" (cut belly).<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>The Gaman Kwai, or Endurance Society, was another form the movement +took. In the season of great cold its meetings were held as if in the +height of the <i>doyō</i> or dog days; vice-versa with the time of great +heat. It was the beginning of the seventh month (first half of August). +The heat was intense, and had been for the past weeks. The farmer +watched the steamy vapour rising from the rice fields and rejoiced. The +plants were growing luxuriantly, the leaves of the willow trees were +hanging yellow and wilted. Passers by on city or village streets sought +the shade under the buildings, walking with languid lagging step, and, +home once reached, removing every garment which etiquette—not +decency—had hitherto compelled. Great was the dismay of the weaker +members of the Gaman Kwai on receipt of a circular letter couched much +as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In this season of great cold the continuance of the +honoured health is observed with joy. On the seventeenth day +it is desired to make offering of a cup of indifferent wine. +It is begged that the use of the honoured <i>kago</i> (palanquin) +be condescended. This the purport of the missive. With +reverence and respect.</p> + +<div class='right'><span class="smcap">Kondō Noborinosuké.</span></div> + +<p>To...."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>The weaker allowed this missive to float gently and despairingly +earthwards. Gasping for breath in the stifling heat they sought to fan +themselves into a semi consciousness. "Terrific! Terrific! Yet refusal +is out of the question. Ah! This Kondō is a doubtful sort of rascal. +He is of the cruel kind. No mercy is to be expected of him. Yet if one +fails to attend there will be but jeers and taunts of cowardice. One +could not appear in public. Alas! Alas!" The stronger received it with +equal impatience, but with the purpose to put in the evil hours with the +best possible face, and score on the host—if they could. All left +strict orders at home for a cold bath to be in readiness for the return. +To this rash step the weaker groaned and yielded. The Nipponese fear and +detest cold water—even for drink.</p> + +<p>Thus they sallied forth—from Ichigaya to Honjō Kameidochō, from +Shitaya to Shinagawa; some on horseback, some in <i>kago</i>; all arrayed in +triple set of thickly wadded winter garments, in <i>hakama</i>, or trousers +with double folds, in shirts and leggings, and fur shoes of the warrior +on winter campaign. The gate keeper of the <i>yashiki</i> in Owarichō +called their names on arrival—"Ōkubo Hikoroku Dono, Endō +Saburōzaémon Dono, Abé Shirōgorō Dono, Matsudaira Montarō +Dono, Ōkubo Shichinosuké Dono, Mizuno Jurōzaémon Dono, Ishikawa +Hachiémon Dono,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> Okumura Shūzen Dono, Kusé Sanshichirō Dono, +Aoyama Shūzen Dono...." The list was a long one. One and all were met +by Kondō Noborinosuké in person at the entrance. Over his triple +winter garb he wore a wadded coat or <i>kosodé</i>. Others had donned the +longer <i>kataginu</i>. These were of the weaker kind. It did not fit so +closely; pressed the warmth of its tissue less lovingly to the person. +All complained of the intense cold. "Never was such cold felt," blandly +agreed Noborinosuké. "An old fellow of the gardeners says that for sixty +years such cold has not been experienced. It is a marvellous cold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> year. +The ground will not be thawed this season. Deign to enter. Warmth is +provided against this intensity of cold." And his hearers bowed and +offered thanks, as well as their unwieldy wrappings would allow. At all +events in the room yonder there would be the breeze from the garden +side. They knew the place and its delights. Kondō was of the age to +provide himself with quiet comforts. With eager stride the banquet room +was sought.</p> + +<p>"Oya! Oya!" The speaker gasped in dismay and for breath. They had been +introduced into a furnace. Explained Kondō gently—"Everything has +been done to shut out the intense cold. The <i>amado</i> are tight closed, +the braziers well supplied.... Heigh-ho! Allow none of these to get +dark. More charcoal! More fuel!" The attendants obeyed, urging the fires +before each guest. Seated close together to conserve the heat, the sweat +poured off in streams. Unable to get breath some groaned and grunted—to +pass it off as due to the intensity of cold. Soon they "would be thawed +out with the genial warmth." Kondō and Aoyama were immensely pleased +in their assent and at their sufferings. But the more discontented +sought the fly in the ointment of the content of their hosts. Aoyama +really was such. He was the one responsible for the call; Kondō his +ready abettor. Said one—"Intense the cold, yet how explain the freaks +of Nature. If it were not so freezing the blue clusters hanging in +Kondō Dono's garden, just traversed, could well pass for wisteria." +They laughed at him—"Wisteria in the seventh month? That would be as +great a marvel as the cold."—"Not so the grape," replied another. +"Kondō Uji long since promised sight of the new plant. To be sure the +barbarian fruits are as ill trained and uncouth as the denizens of the +land they grow in. They flower and fruit in winter season. If not +wisteria the clusters must be of the grape."—"Not so," promptly put in +Aoyama. "Truly it is the green eye of jealousy which colours the vision. +They are icicles; and no seasoning for the repast or the conversation of +this cold occasion."—"Which brings the sweat to the face of Aoyama +Uji." Aoyama turned calmly on the rash interloper. "It is not sweat; +'tis mucous. The intense cold causes flow of mucous. Are not others so +affected?" He looked around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> grimly on the steaming shining faces before +him. "Mucous?" questioned a doubter. "Yes: face mucous," was the calm +rejoinder.</p> + +<p>All turned to Kondō Noborinosuké who would explain the more +particular purport of the meeting. There was report to make, a new +member to introduce. All turned with respect and salutation to Okumura +Shūzen. It was a long and painful ceremony in the bulky winter garb. +But they were in relays, took turns. Ah! If it was but Aoyama, thus long +bent double, murmuring apology and compliment. Then Aoyama Shūzen +made his report. He made it as one sure to please his hearers, many of +whom regarded him with no particular liking. In fact at the tale of his +discomfiture there was some joy, and tendency to show it. "Then, as with +us, Aoyama Uji meets Okumura Dono for the first time." Aoyama nodded an +amused assent. Said one more malicious, "And the repast? Surely the +<i>hatamoto</i> was as well entertained as the <i>chūgen</i>?" Shūzen +skilfully dodged the issue. "The hour was very late. Such could hardly +be expected or offered to this Shūzen without raising doubts. +Fortunately it was thus." Said one more persistent—"At least a cup of +wine...."—"Without fire or heating? More than rude the +implication!"—"Yet beasts know but little of etiquette; and if fox or +badger...." Kondō Noborinosuké came in with—"That shall be at once +determined. It is time for the repast. The <i>tanuki</i> killed by Aoyama Uji +furnishes the soup." At a sign the retainers brought the beast in his +own skin. All rose in marvel at the sight. Truly it was a huge fellow. +"An old rascal, too. See! The hair on the back is of different colour +from that on the rest of the body."—"Showing the great age and +wickedness. Many are those he has gulled to their destruction. Now in +turn he furnishes forth the repast." Said Kondō—"How did Aoyama Uji +secure the beast."</p> + +<p>"This Shūzen was much put out. Plainly by no ordinary means could +these miscreants be eliminated. How meet them in true shape? Against the +usual weapons they were secure in their transformations. Only the flying +bullet could reach such mark; and the discharge of a gun in Edo town +means banishment at the least. Then an idea came to Shūzen. At the +hour of the ox again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> the Banchō was sought. Position of great +dejection and weariness was taken, on a stone amid its greatest +desolation. The wait was not long. Unexpectedly the sound of a gunshot +was heard. This was surprising, for the reasons given. Hardly believing +in an apparition, thinking it rather due to some rascally outlaw, his +coming was awaited. Slouching along appeared a man in hunter's garb. He +carried a fowling piece, and evidently was the criminal. Taught however +by past events this Shūzen took no action. Merely hailing him, his +purpose and game was inquired. He was ready in answer as to both. Yonder +on Matsuyama harboured a huge and dangerous boar. It was this boar he +sought. Kindly he gave warning, and advised return to safer quarters. On +my part great enthusiasm was expressed for the sport; his company was +sought. At this he jeered; then denied attendance as lacking a gun. 'Not +so,' quoth I. With these words the punk carried in the hand was touched +to the fuse of the fire crackers concealed at one side. 'Kiya!' So +startled was he that his gun fell to the ground and he took his proper +shape. At once this Shūzen in the act of drawing cut him into two +parts. Thus he died. Awaiting dawn another beast appeared, this time in +true form. Approaching the prostrate body it wept and wailed. This too +'twas sought to slay, but the beast had the advantage of being +forewarned. For the time it has escaped. Meanwhile, returning from its +pursuit, was found an admiring crowd of plebeians gathered round the +slaughtered <i>tanuki</i>. The priest for his exorcisms took cash; the +<i>samurai</i> were the ones to act. Their joy and wonder was turned to good +account. Under penalty of sharing the fate of the beast two of them +shouldered it to the <i>yashiki</i>. Such the tale of Shūzen. And now for +the results!"</p> + +<p>Kondō gave a sign, and the gaping wonder of the assembly at the deed +was stifled in the wave of heat which poured in from the neighbouring +room. "Ah! Truly these are cruel fellows!" Here a furnace had been +erected for the cooking of the <i>tanuki</i>. It sent its streams of hot air +into the already crowded and stifling room. Aoyama in person supervised +the cooking. The animal was cut into small portions. Smoking hot the +viands were placed under the noses of the gasping guests. With the great +age of the beast it had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> accumulated great toughness. The younger +members had the consolation of their jibes at the old fellows. They tore +at, struggled with, the leathery fragments. But the latter had no teeth, +and the malicious Aoyama would see to it that it stuck in their throats. +"How, now, ancients? Is not the meat of this <i>tanuki</i> tender beyond +measure? Truly one cannot call this engaging in the practice of war; to +enjoy such a delightful mess."—"Just so," grunted Montarō. "One can +then eat the knobs off one's helmet. The flesh of this fellow is so +tender it sticks in one's throat, as unwilling to allow it passage.... +G'up! G'up! G'up!"</p> + +<p>Said another—"The wine thus steaming hot, the viands sizzling, truly +the feed is most beneficial. One even sweats in this intensity of +cold."—"Of course," was the matter of fact reply of the wise. "Thus +does the heat of spring thaw out the cold ground into a perspiration; +thus does the frozen body burst into a sweat with the hot food and +drink." All accepted the explanation without argument. They were in +haste to end this meeting, even at cost of swallowing whole the <i>tanuki</i> +and Aoyama Shūzen with it. Despite the prospect of attendance at his +<i>yashiki</i> all rapturously agreed. Aoyama was an original. He would not +repeat the experiment of Kondō. They had nearly a six month's respite +before them. With this the entertainment was brought to a close. In +almost unceremonious haste the guests took their leave, fairly galloping +out of the entrance, hanging out of the <i>kago</i> or over the horse's neck, +urging attendants to full speed homeward. Here the stifling garments +were torn off, the plunge into the cold tub followed; and many paid for +this rashness with an illness of days. Meanwhile Aoyama Shūzen had +learned one important fact. Endō Saburōzaémon in application for +the <i>bakémono yashiki</i> had met with flat refusal. The field was open to +himself. Moreover he had said nothing of the fact that, in the exercise +of his new office as magistrate for the apprehension of thieves and +fire-bugs, he was in fair way to suppress forever and in great torments +the Mujina-baké and his fellows, residuary legatees of the prowess and +field of action of the late Sōja Mushuku.</p> + +<h3>END OF PART I</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<h2>PART II</h2> + +<h3>THE BANCHŌ SARAYASHIKI<br /></h3> +<h4>OR<br /></h4> +<h3>THE LADY OF THE PLATES<br /> +WHAT AOYAMA SHŪZEN BECAME.</h3> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Yoshida Goten</span></h3> + + +<p>When Prince Iyeyasu consolidated his power at Edo, more particularly on +his becoming Sei-i-tai-Shōgun, some provision had to be made for the +great <i>daimyō</i> brought by the necessities of occasion to personal +interview with their chief and suzerain. In the suburbs rose beautiful +structures devoted to the entertainment of these <i>kyakubun</i>—or +guests—as the greater <i>daimyō</i> were then termed. The Yatsuyama +Goten, the Hakuzan Goten, the Kosugé Goten, the Yoshida Goten, other and +elegant, if minor, palaces arose. Their first use disappeared with the +compulsory residence of the <i>daimyō</i> under Iyemitsu Kō, but some +were still maintained as places of resort and entertainment for the +Shōgun in his more relaxed moments. Others were devoted to the +residences of favoured members of his family. Others were maintained for +the entertainment of State or Church dignitaries, on occasion of +particular mission from the court in Kyōto to that of Edo. Others +were destroyed, or put to temporal uses, or their use granted to +favoured retainers or church purposes.</p> + +<p>One of the most beautiful of these was the Yoshida Goten in the +Banchō. The site originally had been covered by the <i>yashiki</i> of +Yoshida Daizen no Suké. One of those nobles favouring the Tokugawa +against Ishida Mitsunari, as their designs became clearer with the years +following Sekigahara, at the attack on Osaka castle he was found within +its walls. Thus the "Overseer of the kitchen" fell under the wrath of +his suzerain. Hidétada Kō was a man of much kind temperament, but he +was a strict disciplinarian and a rough soldier. Whether or not the +dishes furnished for his consumption and digestion had anything to do +with the matter, there was serious cause enough. With many others the +Daizen no Suké was ordered to cut belly, and his tribe suffered +extinction—of rank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> and rations (<i>kaieki</i>). Such the reward of this +turn-coat. His disappearance from the scene was followed by other +removals. Daizen no Suké was head of the Kōshōgumi. With the +confiscation of his <i>yashiki</i> site five other Houses of the "company" +were ordered to remove to other sites at Akasaka. Thus 2,500 <i>tsubo</i> of +ground (24 acres) were obtained for the building of a new <i>kyakubun +goten</i>. Erected on the ground of Yoshida's old mansion, now waste +(更), it got the name of Sarayashiki. Time confused this +character 更 with the events which there took place; and it was +written Sara (皿) yashiki or Mansion of the Plates. Thus was the +unhappy tale of O'Kiku written into the history of Edo and the Yoshida +Goten.</p> + +<p>The second daughter of Hidédata Kō, the Nidai Shōgun, had been +married to the lord of Echizen, Matsudaira Tadanao. At the time of the +Osaka campaign Tadanao sulked. Prince Iyeyasu was very angry with him. +However, when finally Echizen Ke did appear, he acted with such bravery, +and to such effect in the campaign, that the old captain's anger was +dispelled in his appreciation. To this connected House of the Tokugawa +he thought to be liberal enough; not to meet the inflated scale of the +ideas of Tadanao, who spent the next half dozen years in so misgoverning +his lordly fief as to render necessary an adviser, planted at his side +by his powerful cousin in Edo. In Genwa ninth year Tadanao +rebelled—with the usual result to him who acts too late. He was +suppressed, largely by the aid of his own vassals, and exiled to Hita in +Bungo province. Here he shaved his head, took the name of Ichihaku. It +was of no avail. Promptly he died. It seemed to be a dispensation of +Providence—or dispensation of some kind—that exiles usually and early +developed alarming symptoms; in the shortest possible time removing +themselves and all cause of irritation to the overlord by their transfer +to another sphere.</p> + +<p>The Tokugawa Shōgun was generous to his relations. The exit of +Tadanao was promptly followed by the induction of his infant son +Mitsunaga into his fief. However, for the child to govern the great +district of 750,000 <i>koku</i> appeared to be a doubtful step. Its +government actually being invested in the <i>daimyō</i>, it was not to be +made a breeding ground for trouble through the action of subordinates.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +Hence the main fief with the seat at Kita no Shō (Fukui) was given to +the uncle. Fukui to-day is a dull provincial town, and excellent +stopping place for those who would have eyes opened as to the great +wealth and wide flat expanse of these three provinces of Kaga, Etchū, +and Echizen. Their lord was a mighty chieftain, entrenched behind +mountain barriers; and the great campaigns, which figure in pre-Tokugawa +history, were fought for a great object. The Maéda House, however, had +had their wings clipped, and were confined to Kaga. The Matsudaira were +established in Echizen. Etchū was much divided up. The reduction of +the fief of Echizen Ke to 500,000 <i>koku</i> brought him within reasonable +bounds, and he could well be left to ride with his hawks along the +pretty Ashibagawa, or to take his pleasure outing on the crest of +Asuwayama, the holy place of the city suburbs, and where Hidéyoshi +nearly lost life and an umbrella by a stray shot. Then would follow the +return, the ride across the wide moat, its waters dotted with the fowl +he went elsewhere to shoot, but safe within these precincts. Whether he +returned to any better entertainment than that of the present day +Tsuki-mi-ro or Moon viewing inn, one can doubt. He certainly did not +have the pretty outlook from its river bordered garden front.</p> + +<p>Sen-chiyo-maru, later Mitsunaga, was relegated to Takata castle in +Echigo, with the minor income of 250,000 <i>koku</i>. Perhaps this fact, +together with his youth, and the more entertaining expenditure of the +income at an Edo <i>yashiki</i>, rather than in a mountain castle town, +brought the Takata no Kata to the capital. Takata Dono, or the Takata no +Kata, so named from the fief, is not known to fame or history under +other appellation. She is said to have possessed all the beauty of her +elder sister, the Senhimégimi, wife of Hidéyori Kō, son of the +Taikō, he who fell at Osaka castle. Furthermore, with the training of +the <i>samurai</i> woman, the greatness of her position and personal +attraction, she possessed all the obstinacy and energy of the male +members of her family, with few of the restraints imposed on them by +public service. Takata Dono frankly threw herself into all the pleasures +she could find at the capital. Established in the Yoshida Goten, the +younger <i>samurai</i> of the <i>hatamoto</i> quickly came under her influence. +There was a taint of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> license in her blood, perhaps inherited from the +father who was most unbridled in his passions. The result was a sad +falling off from the precepts of Bushidō in herself and her +paramours. The Bakufu (Shōgunal Government) was compelled to look on, +so great was her power at the castle. In the earlier days sentence of +<i>seppuku</i> (cut belly) was a common reward for open misconduct. A word +from Takata Dono, and the disgraceful quarrels over her favours were +perforce condoned; and her lavish expenditures on her favourites were +promptly met. Alas! Alas! The up to date histories of Nippon sigh over +and salve these matters. "They were the inventions of a later age; were +not current in her life-time." Nor likely to be put too bluntly by those +tender of their skins. But an old poem has come down to express the +popular belief:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>Yoshida tōreba nikai kara maneku;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Shikamo kano ko no furisode de.</i>"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Somewhat irregular, like the lady's conduct, but which can be +interpreted,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Passing Yoshida, from above the signal;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Furthermore, the waving of long sleeves."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of little deer (or dears) for the style of sleeve, the <i>kano ko</i>, can be +read young deer. Bah! Was there not a "parc aux cerfs" half way round +the world? Nor were such confined to the capital cities of Edo and +Paris.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>The poem refers to the unbridled licentiousness the little lady +developed on her translation from her provincial residence; though +locally she had not failed to distinguish herself. What follows is part +of the tales current. At the time the <i>himégimi</i> (princess) was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> thrown +on her own devices in Takata-jō the <i>karō</i> or chief officer of the +household was one Hanai Iki. This fellow owed his position entirely to +his good looks and her ladyship's favour. This favour he met, not in the +spirit of a loyal vassal, but in that of a professed and bold lady +killer. As <i>karō</i> his attendance on her ladyship was constant and +intimate, and it took no particular acumen to find out that the intimacy +was of a more peculiar relation. Hence great was the under current of +comment, and regret at the unbridled conduct of the lady. None, however, +dared to interfere with the caprices of one so highly placed; and the +only means was to work on the decent feelings of Iki himself. Thus the +tale was brought to his wife's ears. It is to be said that with her all +jealousy was suppressed. It was for her to find the cure for her +husband's unbridled conduct. As Hanai Iki was a mere official, and with +no great claim to unusual or able services, it was hoped that his +removal or reform in conduct would bring back the <i>himégimi</i> to a +befitting conduct. There was no suspicion that her passion was a disease +raging in her very blood, and that it was the man, not his personality +she sought.</p> + +<p>The wife first adopted the orthodox method of formal remonstrance. +Without chiding, with a smile and great indulgence of one at no +particular fault himself, she enlarged upon the subject in the service +of the tea. "It is not a matter between Iki Dono and this Chiyo. There +is no unseemly jealousy in the wife to bring forward the complaint. In +fact the marital relation is not in question. As the husband pleases, so +should the wife submit. But great is the talk aroused at these too +private meetings with the <i>himégimi</i>. It is the House which is at stake. +Its influence and prestige is threatened by a mere retainer. This in a +short time can but lead to ruin. The caprice of a woman is well known. +In some cooler moment the eyes of her ladyship will see another colour. +The one to suffer will be Iki Dono, for now he has no other support but +in his mistress. Deign to regain the confidence of the household, and no +great harm can result beyond neglect. Honoured sir, you stretch out for +what is far beyond reach; and in the end can but fail. Deign to be +circumspect." If there was any tone of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> contempt and depreciation in the +protest it was in the last few words. At all events the eyes of Iki were +opened to the fact that it was sought to reach him through the wife's +remonstrance. He expressed surprise and discomfiture at what he asserted +had no real basis in fact. His office brought him in close contact with +her ladyship; the more so as the management of the fief was in her +hands. Matters were to be discussed which necessitated the exclusion of +all others. However, if such was the talk of the palace, or even beyond +its walls, he could but give thanks for the kindness of the +remonstrance. Henceforth he would be more careful, and would trust to +her good feeling to believe in his good faith.</p> + +<p>With joy the wife heard what he said. With all good will she made +herself the apostle of this explanation. No one believed her and facts +soon belied words. Her ladyship, just entering on her passion, became +more exigent in her calls for the <i>karō's</i> attendance. Iki now seldom +appeared at his home. Long absences from the castle town, pressing +business, any excuse to hand came to the alarmed ears of the wife. All +the rumours gathered were sure to reach her in exaggerated form. Hanai +Dono was the constant companion of her ladyship's wine feasts. He was +her acknowledged paramour, and lived in the private apartments of the +castle as in his own house. All talked—except the ladies in waiting of +the <i>himégimi</i>. These were selected and trained by her; selected for +beauty and trained to discretion. She would have no ugly thing about +her; and all was to be for her use. Iki was handsome, and discreet. To +her he was an object; as were the maids; the same apart from sex. He +filled his rôle admirably, never introduced his favour with her ladyship +into the public affairs of the House, or solicited for such personal +advancement as made toward outward display. But circumspection of +conduct never yet closed the mouth of gossip. There were those who were +jealous of what he might do; and jealous of a favour they would gladly +share themselves. The <i>himégimi</i> was the prize which all coveted, and +which no one should possess to the exclusion of others.</p> + +<p>Hence the buzz of talk rose loud, and the criticism stung the wife. She +determined herself to learn the truth of these tales.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> Hitherto they +were but the scandalous talk of people. Wife of the <i>karō</i>, naturally +her ladyship did not require her attendance; but as such she had ready +access and an intimate acquaintance with the palace routine. Her mind +made up, she presented herself on some trifling pretext. Certainly in +her manner there was nothing to arouse comment. Received in the inner +apartments (<i>oku</i>), her plea, the introduction of a page into the +service, was readily granted. On retiring she would speak with the +superintendent of the <i>oku</i>, the old and experienced lady in waiting in +charge of the <i>himégimi's</i> service. Thus she found the opportunity to +wander the inner precincts, to disappear and to slip into the bed room +of the <i>himégimi</i>. Here she stepped into a closet, pulled to the screen, +and crouched down behind the heaped up quilts. For the companionship of +her wandering lord she did not have long to wait; nor for proof of his +inconstancy. Iki came into the room, holding by the hand and drawing +after him one of palace ladies in waiting, Takeo by name. The girl was +by no means unwilling. Her blushes and confusion added to the great +beauty which made her the favoured attendant on the <i>himégimi</i>. Iki +pressed her close and openly. The girl plead ignorance and inexperience. +She was ashamed. Iki laughed. "Does not her ladyship set the example for +others to follow? Deign...." The plea of his relations with the mistress +came quite fit to the coarse feeling of Iki. Not so to the girl, who was +warmed into some indignation, and drew all the more from him. He would +persist; but just then her ladyship called from the next room—"Takeo! +Takeo!" The voice was impatient, as of one in haste. Iki had time to +thrust a letter into the girl's hand, which she quickly transferred to +her bosom. All the boldness of O'Chiyo was at stake as the maid came to +the closet. Close down she crouched; but Takeo had one eye on Iki, and +only one careless eye on the heap of <i>futon</i>, of which she drew from the +top. Iki made a grimace, for the benefit of the one he really loved. Her +ladyship's appearance was received with the warm and flattering +affection of the favoured lover; and O'Chiyo had proof positive that the +relations of the two were kind indeed.</p> + +<p>The suicide of the wife, the letter of protest she left behind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> had +more influence on the public than on the conduct of Hanai Iki. It simply +removed the last restraint and means of reaching him. All now depended +on her ladyship's infatuation. Old vassals sighed with joy when they +heard of the proposed removal to Edo. As <i>karō</i> Hanai Iki would be +left in charge of the fief. Not so: it was soon learned that his name +headed the list of those transferred for household service. The +grumbling was as open as it dared to be. The fief was to be contented +with the service of two vice-<i>karō</i>; no great loss, except in matter +of prestige in dealing with other Houses. The <i>karō</i> became a kind of +male superintendent of the <i>oku</i>! But at all events the fief was rid of +him. Nor was Iki particularly pleased. He had been feathering his nest +in the material sense. The severance of the connection, without loss of +esteem, meant to him a quicker consummation of his wishes with Takeo +Dono, whom he would ask for as wife. Their relations had gone forward at +a wild pace. Once thrown into the whirl of passion Takeo sought but to +meet the wishes of her lover. The passion of the <i>himégimi</i> stood +between them.</p> + +<p>Established in Edo, at the Yoshida Goten, all went mad with content in +their beautiful surroundings. The palace gardens were noted. A hint of +the fine construction of the buildings is found to-day at the Kugyōji +of Iinuma, built subsequently from the materials. For the use of the +Shōgun Ke in entertainment of his visitors, every art had been +exhausted in its adornment. The screens were objects of beauty, and +separated the large rooms with their fine pillars and ceilings of +grained and polished woods. The <i>rama-shōji</i> were carved by Nature's +handiwork, and the polished lacquer and brass reflected a thousand times +the beauties roundabout. Whether the garden be viewed from the +apartments, or both from the <i>tsukiyama</i> or artificial hill beside the +little lake, it was a scene of balanced beauty, showing every nicety of +man's hand in Nature's own proportion, and not guided into the +geometrical designs of a carpet square or a surveyor's working table. +Instead of the dry dullness of a provincial town, in which themselves +they had to fill the stage to give it life and pompousness, Edo was +close at hand, and they were part of, and actors in, the luxury and +magnificence of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> Shōgun's court. It is not surprising that the +<i>himégimi</i> returned to all this glitter and activity as one long +banished from its seductions to a wilderness; added her own dissipation +and lavish entertainment to the constant round of festivity and luxury +rapidly supplanting the hard military discipline of the first +Shōgun's camp; a luxury itself to crystallize into a gorgeous rigid +formalism, as deadly to the one not meeting its requirements as the +lined and spotted beauty of some poisonous serpent.</p> + +<p>The wine feast was at its height. The cup passed more freely in this +chilly season of the year; and in the tightly closed apartments the +warmth of association and the table's cheer were sought. The <i>himégimi</i> +was more expansive than usual under the influence of the wine. Iki was +positively drunk, and in his state over-estimated the condition of her +ladyship. Takeo was serving the wine. Beyond stolen interviews of +moments the lovers had found no opportunity for the longed for clinging +of soul to soul, of person to person, during the night's long hours. The +girl's hands trembled with passion as furtively she sought those of her +lover in the passing of the wine cup. Iki was absolutely careless. Her +ladyship too far gone to note his conduct? He seized the arms of Takeo +and drew her to his side. The display of amorous emotion on the part of +both was too open to escape notice. The <i>himégimi</i> rose to her feet as +on springs. The beautiful flushed face took on a deeper tint as she +scowled on the guilty and now frightened pair. Her breath came hard and +with difficulty. Then reaching down she wound the long tresses of Takeo +in her hand, and dragged her to her knee. Twisting and twisting, until +the agony made the girl cry out, she berated her—"Ah! Wicked jade! Thou +too have eyes for a man's person. Disloyal wench, would you aim to make +the beloved of your mistress partner of your bed?... What's this?" From +the girl's hand she tore the answer to the lover's plaint. The sharp +eyes of her ladyship sought the maid's person. A nervous hand fumbled +the folds of her <i>obi</i> (sash). "Ah! The treasure house is not far off. +Such valued gems are carried on the person." Thrusting her hand into the +gentle bosom the <i>himégimi</i> drew forth the guilty complement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wrote Iki—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"How act to drop the mask;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Many the pledges breathed in truth."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And the girl made answer:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ah! The night of meeting, love's consummation;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The hindrance, thing or person, object of hate."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The words were too plain. There was a certain savage tone of exulting +wrath as the <i>himégimi</i> read out loud the contents of the missives. It +chilled the hearts of those who heard her. She spoke: at first in low +concentrated tones of bitter jesting hate. "Ha! Ha! Disloyalty goes +beyond mere thought; would strike at the person of its lord. What +lascivious slut is this, who thus would creep into the mistress' bed, to +take her place?... Look up! Naruhodo! In that face is too much beauty. +Vile huzzy, you would seek the favour of my lover. Hence forth neither +he nor any man shall look on you, except with loathing." Close beside +her was the <i>hibachi</i>, its burden of the hard burning charcoal from +Ikéda now a bright cherry red. Dragging the girl to the brazier, +twisting both hands more firmly in the long black hair, she forced her, +face downwards, into the heated mass, pressing into the back with her +knee. In terror the other girls looked away, or hid their faces in their +sleeves. Before the towering anger of the princess none dared apology or +intercession. The smell of burning flesh rose sickening. Takeo feebly +moaned, and writhed a little under the nervous pressure of those +delicate powerful hands. Then she was silent. The inhuman punishment had +reached its end. Roughly her ladyship threw her aside, face upward on +the <i>tatami</i>. Those who took a hasty glance turned away in horror from +the face, black here, red and swollen there, the mouth filled with +ashes, the eyes—one totally destroyed.</p> + +<p>The <i>himégimi</i> was on her feet. "Iki—here with you!" In fear the man +prostrated himself before the vision. "Not yet did the demon's horns +sprout from her head; but the eyes injected with blood, the hair +standing up to Heaven, converted her ladyship into a veritable demon." +In slow and measured wrath she spoke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>—"Ah, the fool! Admitted to the +favour of his mistress, the long continued object of her affection, with +all at his command and service, he would sacrifice these for the +embraces of a serving wench. Truly the man has gone mad with lust; or +rather it is a man's face and a beast's mind. Thus before my very eyes +he would dally with his whore and make me cuckold. Of such miscreants +one feels no jealousy. Hate and punishment follow the insult." A quick +movement backward and her halberd hanging at the wall was in her hand. +The scabbard stripped from the shining blade was held over head. "Namu +San! Holy the three sacred things!" Iki sprang to his feet, coward and +fool he sought not to grapple with her, but to flee. The command of the +<i>himégimi</i> rang sharp—"He is not to escape!" In this company of her +maids, all <i>samurai</i> women, the discipline was complete. If they would +not suffer the punishment of Takeo, they must respond. Whatever the +backbiting and division among themselves, in her ladyship's service they +would sacrifice life itself. Besides, more than one hated Iki with the +heart-whole hate of neglected love and advances. Takeo had been more +favoured than her companions, not through any fault of theirs in seeking +this lady killer. Hence the alarm was quickly given. Iki was beset by +this female army, every one armed, himself with but his dagger. There +was no outlet for escape. Then they came to close quarters. The boldest +threw themselves on him. Dragged to the ground, bound fast, he was +pulled and pushed into the garden. Breathless and dishevelled the female +horde parted to allow the approach of the <i>himégimi</i>—"Such open insult +and vile conduct is difficult to overlook. The disloyalty intended is +past pardon. For this, too great the grudge." The keen blade flashed, +and the head of Iki rolled some feet distant. Without a glance in the +direction of the miserable Takeo, the princess took her way back to her +apartment. At last some attention could be given to the suffering and +disfigured girl. She was paying the penalty for her treachery and +disloyal thoughts. The pains which followed were aggravated by neglect. +The face and chest one mass of burns, the wounds soon became putrid. The +stench was so frightful that none would go near her. They brought her +food; then fled her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> presence in disgust. As she grew weaker, unable to +feed herself, the pangs of starvation were added to her woes. The +continued cries of agony grew feebler and feebler, became a mere low +moaning; then ceased altogether. "Thus trifles lead to death, and +lechery finds its punishment." The bodies of the guilty pair, thrown +into the garden well, there found the only interment.</p> + +<p>Her ladyship was not to escape. Following this scene her passions broke +out of all bounds. She took no new lover; it was lovers. Men were +beckoned to the Yoshida Goten as to a brothel—with waving sleeves from +the upper story. For a night, for a week, for a month they would be +entertained. The weaker sort soon displeased her, and were dismissed; to +find their end in the well of the willow, the Yanagi no Ido, of the +inner garden of the palace. It would seem as if some wicked demon had +entered the person of Takata Dono, to lead her into this course of +debauchery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Kōjimachi Well</span></h3> + + +<p>One day a toilet dealer came through the Banchō. The sun was already +on its decline as he passed the front of the Yoshida Goten on his way to +his home in Kanda. It shone, however, on a fellow who at once attracted +the attention of the look-out maid. She gave an exclamation—"Ma! Ma! +What a handsome man! Such a loveable fellow! Her ladyship...." Then a +feeling of pity seemed to close her mouth. But further speech was +useless. The <i>himégimi</i> lacked company for her night's feast. Herself +she responded to the incomplete summons. A glance and—"Bring him here; +without delay. Such a fine specimen is not to be allowed to escape." It +could not be helped. At once the beauty, all smiles and gestures, with +waving sleeves sought to attract the attention of the itinerant trader. +The district was new to him, his sales had been poor. This summons was +the direct favour of the Buddha. From this great mansion surely his pack +would be much lighter on return. Timidly he approached the <i>samurai</i> at +the gate, fearing harsh repulse. The officer, however, was very +amenable, transferring him at once to the guidance of the maid already +waiting close by. Thus was he brought to the women's apartments; to be +surrounded by a bevy of the sex, of a beauty of which he had had no +experience. They began looking negligently over his poor stock, and +closely over his own person. Then—"'Tis at her ladyship's order that +the summons is made. Come this way." At this unusual conduct in a +<i>yashiki</i> he had some misgivings. His hesitation met with small +consideration. The crowd of women surrounded him and pushed him forward, +exercising a violence which astonished and paralysed resistance at being +thus exalted above his sphere. Protesting he was taken to the bath. This +office completed amid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> admiring comment, he was dressed in <i>hakama</i> +(trousers) and blouse, of stuff perfumed and of silky softness, which +made him feel as if he moved in some dream. Thus purified and arrayed he +was led through a long range of magnificent rooms, the sight of which +sent his heart further and further into his heels. Finally he was +introduced into an apartment of no great size, but with dais and bamboo +blind. Led before this, his guides drew apart and prostrated themselves +in obeisance. The toilet dealer followed the excellent example.</p> + +<p>The screen slowly rose and the Takata Dono appeared in all her beauty. +At this period she was barely thirty years, in the full development of +her charms. To the eyes of the poor toilet dealer it seemed as if Benten +Sama, the goddess of love, was thus gravely regarding and measuring +every line of face and body. Finally she seemed satisfied with this +close inspection. A sign and the formality of the scene vanished. "Come +closer.... The <i>saké</i> cup!" Anxiously wriggling himself to her very +presence, she then questioned him as to age, business, habits. Her voice +was as silvery gentle as her face was beautiful. Soon he found himself +looking up into it with confidence, as well as with awed respect. The +<i>saké</i> utensils brought, she condescended herself to fill the cup. This +was filled again; and yet again. When the liquor began to show its +influence her manner became more familiar. With a quick movement, which +surprised him by the latent strength shown, she drew him close to her +side, began openly to show her favour for him. "Such fine figure of a +man is no such fool as not to know he can please a woman. The very trade +leads him to study women's taste. Now sir: for test of your +qualities...." But frightened the toilet dealer disengaged himself, and +springing back a little he prostrated himself flat on the ground. "Deign +not an unseemly jest. Close to the person of a great lady, such as is +the honoured presence, the poor artisan finds but distress. His wares +have no market amid this magnificence. Dependent on him for means of +life are two aged parents. A bare subsistence is secured for them. +Condescend his dismissal, that he may return to relieve their +anxieties."</p> + +<p>The speech met with but poor reception. Gentle was the laugh of the +<i>himégimi</i>, yet a little wrinkle knitted her brow. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> seemed to regard +him in a somewhat strange light. "Have no misgivings as to their fate. +An ample sum shall be sent to assure them against need. Meanwhile Nature +and the occasion has furnished forth the toilet dealer—for the lady's +toilet.... Now for the wine feast." In the scene of riot and merriment +which followed the one thought of the unfortunate trader was to escape. +There was no strict order in the banquet, no formality. The idea of the +<i>himégimi</i> was to get the greatest pleasure out of everything to her +hand, and all vied with each other, by song and art, with voice and +musical accompaniment, by a minute attention to needs of host and guest +to make the sensual effect of the scene complete. There was not a +jarring element in the well trained bevy of women devoted to pleasure. +The toilet dealer was free, yet bound. If he would seek occasion to +leave his place, to move uneasily hither and thither in these wide +rooms, as did the women with their carelessness and ease, always he +found himself balked by their presence. Escape there was none. Soon he +found himself again by her ladyship's side, to be plied with the wine +until sense and caution gave way before the spell of the beautiful +woman. To her it was an amusing game, a stimulant to her passion, the +conquest of this reluctance in a man found to lack the brazenness and +vulgarity of his caste. In the end he could but murmur at her feet that +he was hers—to do with as she would. "Would that this dream could last +forever! In this Paradise of the wondrous Presence."</p> + +<p>The scene was changed. Her ladyship rose. In the company of a few of the +women he was led still further into the recesses of the palace. Here he +was arrayed for the night, amid the merry jesting and admiring criticism +of his attendants. Accompanied to the bed chamber the <i>fusuma</i> (screens) +were closed, and he could hear the fall of the bars in the outer +passages. Submission now was easy, as inevitable, as taken by the storm +of this woman's passion. With but short intervals of dozing she would +draw him to her embrace, and intoxicate him with her caresses. "When the +poison be taken—let the plate be full." With clearing brain, though +under the spell of her beauty he never lost sight of the purpose to flee +this doubtful snare. When at dawn she really slept, he rose to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> seek +exit; to run into the ever vigilant guard. "Naruhodo! Truly an early +riser the honoured guest. But all has been made ready. The bath is at +hand. Deign to enter." Thus surrounded and compelled he began the second +day. As the maid dressed him after the bath she broke out in admiration +of his physical presence. "The handsome fellow! No wonder her ladyship +was seized by the love wind." In the evening's entertainment he had +proved himself no fool in interesting anecdote of the town, and a quaint +and naive description of the view the lowly take of those who call +themselves the great. Under the skilful questioning of one or other this +simple fellow—of keen wit and observation—had shown a phase of life +unknown to them, beyond the careless view afforded from between the +blinds of the curtains of the palanquin. The vulgar boldness of his +predecessors was conspicuously lacking, as was the tedious talk of war +and discussion of court etiquette of noble and more formal guests. Not +only her ladyship, but the maids thoroughly enjoyed him.</p> + +<p>His astonishment and fearful protest at the gorgeous robe put on him +turned them from pity to amusement. Said a bolder wench—"Take and enjoy +the gifts of her ladyship as offered. The chance is not likely again to +present itself. Put aside all thought of past; seek pleasure in the +present, without regard to the future." Though spoken with a smile which +showed the whole row of beautiful teeth, there was a menace in the words +which came home to him. If he had had some suspicions of his +whereabouts, he felt sure of it now. There were but rumours and +suspicions, slanders of course, of which he seemed destined to prove the +truth. The knowledge seemed to add dignity to his pose. He would await +her ladyship's exit from the bath. Conducted to the garden he strolled +its beautiful inclosure, noted the high roofs on every side. Standing by +the <i>tsukiyama</i> he heard the shuffling of sandals. Turning he prostrated +himself before the <i>himégimi</i>. Rosy, with sparkling eyes, long flowing +black hair, regal presence, she was indeed the goddess Benten Sama in +human flesh and blood. Without rising the toilet dealer made +request—"Deign the honoured pity. To spend one's life in the service of +the honoured Presence, this has been said; and for the words regret +there is none. It is for those dependent. Condescend that no harm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> come +to them, no distress from this visitation of gods and the Buddha. +Willingly the price is paid for the delicious dream, no grudge felt for +what is to follow."</p> + +<p>The <i>himégimi</i> stopped short. For some time she was lost in thought. +This man was keen enough of wit to know the price at which her favours +were bought; brave enough not to flinch, or to make abortive effort to +avoid his fate. Her whole experience brought feeling of disgust toward +men, when once satiated. With this man the chord of pity was touched. +The honoured sleeves were wet with the honoured tears as she made answer +to the plea. Without slightest effort to deny her once purpose she +consoled and reassured him. "It was determined, that granted favour you +should never leave this place." Her brow darkened for a moment at the +ominous words; than cleared radiant. "Those who enter here ascribe to +their good fortune the pleasures they enjoy. Instead of modest gratitude +they show the arrogance of possession. Purpose was first shaken by the +filial love expressed for those who gave you being, the tender care and +anxiety for their welfare. A man like you, one is assured of his faith +and silence. At night you shall depart from here unharmed." She took him +by the hand, and when he would show respect, with familiarity drew him +along with her. Thus they walked the gardens, talking of varying +subjects; she listening to his explanations and instances of life in the +common world, and questioning him adroitly as to his past and future. +Then the return was made to the inner apartments of the palace. From +this stray honey bee the little lady sucked the last juices of its +nature. The day was spent in the same riotous merriment and feasting. At +the order of the <i>himégimi</i> he had withdrawn for the moment from her +presence. When the maid came toward him, it was with expectation of +another summons that he followed after. She took him to a little room. +Here were his coarse garments and his pack. To these were added the +gifts heaped on him by her ladyship. The change of garb completed +suddenly the girl took him in her embrace, pressing the now soft +perfumed hair and warm moist skin of his neck. "Ah! You lucky fellow! +But know that silence is golden." With this she as suddenly seized his +hand and led him swiftly along the dark corridor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> At its end an <i>amado</i> +was slipped back, and they were in the garden. To a postern gate she +fitted the key. Pack adjusted he would turn to make salutation. Two +slender firm hands laid on his shoulders sent him flying into the +roadway. The gate closed with a sharp bang, and all sign of this fairy +palace disappeared.</p> + +<p>Every day the toilet dealer had prayed to <i>kami</i> and Buddha, made his +offering of "cash" at the favoured shrines, performed such pilgrimages +(<i>sankei</i>) as his limited means and scanty time permitted. To this alone +is to be ascribed his escape. Not so with others: to turn the page to a +second instance—One day a maid from above called to the gate +guard—"Stop that man!"—"Who?" The guard was at loss, not what to do, +but whom to stop. Promptly the highway was roped off. None were allowed +to move until inspection was made. As the plebeians lay prostrate with +noses on the backs of their hands they marvelled and spoke to each +other. "Truly a wondrous event! Some great rascal must have been +detected. Thanks to the <i>kami</i> and the Buddhas the heart of this +Tarōbei is clean."—"And of this Jimbei. To pay the debt to the +<i>saké</i> shop he has not hesitated to contract Tama to the Yoshidaya of +Yoshiwara."—"Well done!" quoth his friend. "Then credit at the Echigoya +is good?"—"Deign to come and drink a glass of poor wine, to the +pleasure and good luck of Jimbei." The edifying conversation was +interrupted by call for inspection. All passers by but men were +summarily motioned on. A maid stood by—"No, not this one ... nor this +one ... nor that.... Ah! That big brown fellow, with huge calves. He is +the man." At once the "big brown man" with enlarged pediments was cut +out from the heap of humanity, with whispering fear and looks the others +went about their business. "Truly his crime must be very great. Yet who +would suspect it! He is not an ill looking fellow by any means." Others +shook their heads as they went away, vowing never again to take this +road to work, or home, or pleasure.</p> + +<p>Before the <i>yakunin</i> the prisoner fell on his knees. "Deign the honoured +pardon. Doubtless grave is the offence; but of it there is no +remembrance. An humble wheel-wright of Kanda, this worthless fellow is +known as Gonjurō. It is work at Nakano<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> which brings him hither." He +turned from one officer to the other. They disregarded his prayers, and +delivered him over to the maid, directing him to obey her orders, or +suffer for it. In dumbfounded surprise and gathering confidence he +followed after. Surrounded by the army of maids he more than readily +submitted to their ministrations. The freedom of the bath, the donning +of the gorgeous robe, pleased him beyond measure. To their quips and +words of double meaning he made ready answer, meeting them more than +half way with the obscenity of the Yoshiwara. "Tarōbei is tricked out +like an actor." At this all the greater was their merriment and +boisterousness. Introduced into the presence of her ladyship, his first +confusion at the magnificence of the surroundings was quickly removed by +his cordial reception. The <i>himégimi</i> laughed at sight of him; laughed +still louder at his uncouthness. Then she passed to more earnest +measures; praised his thickness of limb, the sturdy robustness of neck +and loins. To his apologies—she urged him not to be frightened or +backward. Pushing the thick shock of hair back from his eyes he eyed her +with growing comprehension. After all a woman was a woman. "'Tis no +fault of this Tarōbei. The <i>yakunin</i> compelled his presence. For such +a noble lady he would make any sacrifice." He spoke with bold look and +manner, thoroughly understanding now the nature of his summons at the +caprice of some great lady. Had he not suffered equal good fortune with +the beauties of Yoshiwara? He treated lady and maids with the same free +familiarity and sportive roughness as if in one of his favoured haunts.</p> + +<p>All the more was the <i>himégimi</i> amused at his extravagance. She made no +sign of displeasure, and the girls made little resistance to the +fellow's boisterous manifestations as he tousled them. Always her +ladyship had eyes of the greatest appreciation on this splendid animal. +The feast set before him he looked on with small favour. "What then +tickles the palate of Jurō?" She leaned toward him, her face flushed +with this struggle to cage her latest prize. The silvery and enticing +voice had for answer—"Také (bamboo); just plain boiled, with syrup and +<i>shōyu</i>." Then timidly, as he sought her good will—"Just a little +wine; two <i>go</i> (a pint) ...<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> say five <i>go</i>." She laughed with good +humour. His choice among this bevy of beauties at last had fallen +spontaneously on herself. The conquest pleased her. Then he was well +stuffed with coarse foods, hunted out of the supplies for the grooms and +stablemen in the palace kitchen, with <i>saké</i> of a harsh and burning +kind—"which had some taste to it." Indeed never had he drank such! The +<i>himégimi</i> sipped a drop or two of the acrid liquor, made a wry face, +and sought to bring the scene to its climax.</p> + +<p>With the bath next day he was all grumbling and exigencies. The maids +bore this with patience, and glances interchanged. Her ladyship had +promised him breakfast to restore exhausted Nature—"And such was +promised as that this Tarōbei would never need another." He roared +his dissatisfaction. The hint was taken up at once. "This way: it is for +the <i>yakunin</i> to carry out her ladyship's order, and to stop your +gullet." The brusqueness of the <i>samurai</i> was poor exchange for the +noisy amorous atmosphere of the inner palace. With indignation the +worthy wheelwright obeyed the order to march ahead. "Ah! Just wait my +fine fellow. A word to the lady of the mansion, and you shall learn the +cost of insult to the man she favours. This <i>yarō</i> Gonjurō has no +other wife. Her ladyship takes him as adopted husband." The officer +winked and blushed a little at this very crude specimen. By this time he +had led the man to the well curb in the inner garden. Harshly—"Now down +with you. Favoured by the gods and Buddhas you cannot even hold your +tongue. Ladies like not boasting of their favours. 'Tis now the time to +express pity for you. Make ready!" Deftly he tripped him up, to send him +an all fours. The sword flashed, and the wheelwright's head rolled on +the ground. Just as it was the body was cast into the well.</p> + +<p>Such was the fate of those who found favour with the <i>himégimi</i>. More +and more suspicious became people of the strange disappearances traced +to the precincts of the palace. Strange tales went around, to gather +force with numbers. Kwanei 8th year (1635), whether for closer +supervision of the lady or actual necessity, she was removed to the +castle precincts, and there given quarters. Time doubtless it was, that +tempered these crazy outbursts of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> <i>himégimi</i>. She lived until +Kwambun 12th year. On the 2nd month 21st day (12th September 1672) she +died at the age of seventy two years. Grand were the obsequies of one so +favoured by the Shōgun. The <i>daimyō</i> went up in long processions +to condole with the suzerain at the death of a rich aunt, and +congratulate him on the possessions seized. On the 24th day the lord of +the land sent lavish incense and a thousand pieces of silver, by the +hand of Inaba Mimasaka no Kami Masamori, to Matsudaira Echigo Ke the son +and heir, doubtless glad enough to get this much out of his lady +mother's rich furniture and dower. From the Midai-dokoro, the +Shōgun's consort, by the Bangashira (Superintendent) of the women's +apartments of the Shōgunal palace, he secured another thousand pieces +of silver. All was treasure trove toward the heavy expense of the +imposing funeral. On the seventh day of the decease—the 27th day (18th +September)—the obsequies took place at the Tentokuji of Shiba, where +she was to rest, well weighted down by massive sandstone and an +interminable epitaph—of which the posthumous name of Tensō-in can be +remembered. The Shōgun Ke was present in his proxy of Tsuchiya Tajima +no Kami Kazunao.</p> + +<p>The Yoshida Goten had shorter shrift than its once occupant. The +<i>daimyō</i> were moving into <i>yashiki</i> under the compulsory residence +edict. The <i>kyakubun</i> were still met at the outskirts of the city, but +the many different palaces for their entertainment became superfluous. +The main part of the Yoshida Goten was pulled down, and its magnificent +timbers and decoration went to the equipment of the prior's hall of the +Kugyōji of Iinuma. This great temple, situate one <i>ri</i> (2-1/2 miles) +to the north of Midzukaido-machi, in the plain at the base of +Tsukuba-san, is one of the eighteen holy places of the Kwantō, and +under the charge of the Jōdō sect of Buddhists. In former days the +notice board was posted at the Chūmon (middle gate), ordering all +visitors to dismount from horse or <i>kago</i>. The <i>bushi</i> removed their +swords on presenting themselves for worship. The temple itself is of +moderately ancient foundation, being established in Oei 21st year (1414) +by the two Hanyu lords, Tsunésada and Yoshisada, who built the castles +of Yokosomé and Hanyu, close by here in Shimosa. Grand is the <i>hondō</i> +(main hall);<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> and grand the magnificent old pines and cedars which +surround it and line its avenues. These are set off by the girdle of the +flowering cherry, famed among the ancient seven villages of Iimura. +Moreover it was the scene of the early labours in youth of the famous +bishop—Yūten Sōjō; who solved so successfully the blending of +the pale maple colour of its cherry blossoms that he gave the name +<i>myōjō no sakura</i>, a new transcript of the "six characters." Here +he grappled with and prevailed over the wicked spirit of the Embukasané. +In later writers there is a confusion as to the tale of the Yoshida +Goten. The palace material was used for the construction of the prior's +hall.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> In the Genwa period (1615-23) the Senhimégimi, eldest daughter +of Hidétada Kō the second shōgun, cut <i>short</i> her beautiful hair +and assumed the name of the Tenju-in-Den (as nun). The hair was buried +here under an imposing monument; and later one of the ladies-in-waiting +of the princess—the Go-tsuboné Iiguchi Hayao. (The name of the princess +Tsuruhimé in <i>kana</i> is probably a later and mistaken addition.) Thus +were the many adventures of the Takata Dono transferred to her equally +well known and beautiful elder sister. The Senhimé, wife of Hidéyori, +suffered and did quite enough herself for which to make answer. +Meanwhile the site of the Yoshida Goten in the Banchō became more +than suspected. Jack-o-lanterns, the ghosts of the victims of the +<i>himégimi</i>, came forth from the old well to haunt and frighten +passers-by. Nor were subsequent attempts to use it encouraging. Thus the +ground lay idle and uncalled for, with no one to occupy it until the +grant of a large tract in Dosanbashi as site for the <i>yashiki</i> of +Matsudaira Higo no Kami compelled removal of several of the <i>hatamoto</i>. +Among these were Ōkubo Hikoroku and Aoyama Shūzen.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Sen-Himégimi</span> (Princess Sen)</h3> + + +<p>The Sen-<i>himégimi</i>, eldest daughter of Hidétada the second Shōgun, +figures little in our story; enough so, however, to necessitate the +telling of one of the not least striking episodes in a life full of +event. Married at the mature age of six years to the Udaijin Hidéyori, +son of the Taikō Hidéyoshi and lord of Ōsaka castle, those +childish years were the happiest of that period. Clouds were rising +between Toyotomi and Tokugawa as the princess approached nubile years. +On her the Yodogimi, mother of the Udaijin, visited the more personal +effects of her resentment. For the growing girl it was a period of tears +and affliction. In truth she well knew the weight of her mother-in-law's +hand. So wretched was her life that there was some fear of her killing +herself. A powerful influence in screening her in these later years was +that of the famous Kimura Nagato no Kami. Shigenari and his wife Aoyagi +were the guides and friends of the <i>himégimi</i> during this trying period; +her councillors to forestall cause of the Yodogimi's wrath. Moreover the +pleasant relations between the young husband and wife were an incentive +to bear a burden patiently, which time might remove. Nevertheless the +Yodogimi was inexorable. The night screens were set up in different +chambers. When the Sen-himégimi made her escape from Ōsaka castle +she was sixteen years old, and in all likelihood a virgin.</p> + +<p>As to the stories of her escape from the besieged castle, then in the +very throes of the final vigorous and successful assault by the three +hundred thousand men surrounding it, these vary. According to one +account Iyeyasu Kō, brows knit with anxiety as he watched his men +pressing to the attack, thumped his saddle bow as vigorously as waning +years now permitted—"The Senhimé to wife, to him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> who brings her safe +from the castle!" Not a man in his train moved. They looked at the +blazing mass before them, the flying missiles—and staid where they +were. Then came forward a Tozama <i>daimyō</i>, Sakasaki Dewa no Kami +Takachika.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> Prostrating himself he announced his purpose to make the +attempt. Making his way into the blazing pile of the burning castle he +found the Senhimé amid her frightened maids. Wrapping her up carefully +he took her in his arms, and with great regard for her person, and none +for his own, he sought her rescue. The last chance was through the +blazing mass of the great gate. Just as he was about to clear it, down +came the tottering superincumbent structure almost on their heads. The +red hot tiles, the sparks like a fiery deluge, the blazing fragments of +wood carried and tossed by the air currents, surrounded them as in a +furnace. Nearly all the train perished in the attempt. Dewa no Kami +succeeded in presenting himself before the Ōgoshō (Iyeyasu). Even +the old captain could but turn with pity from the hideously disfigured +man. The Senhimé in all her beauty was saved. Bitter was her resentment +against all—father, grandfather, their partisans—who had refused the +gift of life to the young husband. Rescue or no rescue, she absolutely +refused to carry out the agreement and become the wife of this—mask.</p> + +<p>Other tales are less romantic. The most prosaic sends Dewa no Kami to +Kyōto, on orders of Hidétada Kō. For the princess a second bed was +to be found among the Sekké (the five great <i>kugé</i> Houses of the +imperial court). The mission was not unsuccessful, but by the time the +messenger returned Hidétada had changed his mind.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Brusquely he +offered her to Dewa no Kami. The Senhimé got wind of these movements. +Her resentment toward the Tokugawa House determined her hostile stand. +She would not be an instrument to their advancement. Family relations +were taken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> very seriously. It is to be remembered that her uncle +Hidéyasu, adopted into the Toyotomi, was so fiercely loyal to that House +that his natural father, the Ōgoshō Iyeyasu, poisoned him, by his +own hand and a gift of cakes, it is said. Those likely to hitch and +hamper the movement against Ōsaka, such as the famous Katō +Kiyomasa, found short shrift in the soup bowl. At all events the insult +of refusal fell on Dewa no Kami. After all, by the most authentic tale, +he seems to have deserved no particular credit. As to the actual escape +from Ōsaka-Jō either of the following versions can be accepted. As +suicide was the inevitable issue for the defeated, the Yodogimi, with +some reluctance, had announced her purpose; and her intent to involve +the <i>himégimi</i> in the fate of herself and son. This was but the ethics +of the time; and was neither cruel nor unusual. It was thoroughly +constitutional. Fortunately the fears of the Lady Dowager made her +add—"the time is not yet propitious." She left the keep, intending to +ascertain in person how matters went on outside, before going on with +the ceremony inside. The maids of the Senhimé at once surrounded her and +urged flight. Overpowering any resistance, moral and physical, these +energetic <i>samurai</i> women bundled their mistress well into <i>futon</i> +(quilts). Then with no particular gentleness they lowered her over the +castle wall. Others followed her—to destruction or better luck, without +<i>futon</i>. Some twenty of them risked the descent. Horiuchi Mondō, a +gentleman of Kishū Kumano, noticed the unusual group. They besought +an aid for the princess he readily gave. Dewa no Kami happened to come +on the scene, and promptly took the responsibility of the safety of the +princess on his own shoulders.</p> + +<p>Here the two versions join, for by the other Ono Shuri, captain of the +defense and hence most seriously involved, sought the safety of his own +daughter. The princess therefore was sent from the castle, under the +care of his <i>karō</i> Yonemura Gonémon, to plead for the lives of the +Udaijin and his mother the Yodogimi. Ono was careful to include his +daughter in the train, and the <i>karō</i> followed his illustrious +example. Dewa no Kami met the party outside the castle, and grasped the +chance of being agreeable by escorting it to the camp of the +Ōgoshō. Honda Sado no Kami here was in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> charge. His mission to the +grandfather was eminently successful. Iyeyasu, overjoyed at the escape +of the beloved grandchild, consented; provided that of the actual +Shōgun be obtained. All rejoiced, with little thought of Hidétada's +harsh feeling. Perhaps the message expressed this; perhaps it was spoken +to cover refusal, for he had deep affection for his children. But as in +greatest wrath he made answer—"The thing is not to be spoken of. Why +did she not die together with Hidéyori?" The Senhimé was safe enough now +in his camp; and he did not purpose the escape of his rival Hidéyori, to +be a permanent danger to his House. The princess, worn out by many days +of suffering, went to sleep in the shed which furnished her with +quarters, and never woke until high noon on the following day. By that +time she could choose between the tales of her husband's escape to +Satsuma; or his suicide and her widowhood, the only proof of which was +the finding of the hereditary sword of the Toyotomi House. She clung to +the former story, despite the ascertained suicide of the Yodogimi, who +hardly would have allowed the escape of the son and her own destruction. +Thus disgruntled, later the <i>himégimi</i> was removed to Kyōto, fiercely +hostile to all the Kwantō influence.</p> + +<p>A word in conclusion as to the fate of the attendants, thus skilfully +foisted on her. The daughter of Ono Shuri had escaped, with all the +sufferings and passions aroused by family disaster. When subsequently +the princess was removed to Edo she went in her train. They were +companions in misfortune. In the hostile atmosphere she was taken with a +consumption, long to undergo its torments. Overcome by homesickness she +would return to former scenes, and worship at her father's grave. +Permission was now granted. Yonémura accompanied the dying girl to the +capital. Here Ono Shuri had lost his head in the bed of the Kamogawa +(the execution ground). Here at Kyōto the daughter found her tortured +end. Gloomy the old vassal prepared the funeral pyre of his mistress. As +the flames shot high and wrapped the corpse, a woman's figure darted +forward and sprang into the midst. Unable to distinguish the bones of +his daughter from those of the honoured mistress, Gonémon placed the +remains of both within the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> same casket, to rest at the last beneath the +pines and cedars of the holy mountain of Kōya.</p> + +<p>On June 4th (1615) the castle had fallen. The date is important in +connection with one of the current scandals. Later the Senhimé was +escorted down to Edo by Honda Mino no Kami Tadamasa, in whose train was +his handsome son Tōnosuké (Tadatoki). He is said to have been like +enough in appearance to the Udaijin Hidéyori to act as his substitute in +the most intimate sense. The fierce little lady fell violently in love +with him. By the time Edo was reached she ought to have married Honda, +and in the passage of the months and days would have to. At all events +this rather disproportionate marriage was early proposed to the council +of the Bakufu, and after some discussion accepted. This decision was not +reached until Genwa 2nd year 9th month (October 1616), or more than a +full year after the fall of the castle. The failure to carry out the +agreement with Dewa no Kami afforded ample reason for the extremity to +which this latter's rage was carried. By all accounts he had lost a +bride, the acknowledged beauty of the land, apart from the great +influence of the connection. Perhaps his own hideous disfigurement was +involved. He determined to lie in wait for the journey down to Himeji, +Honda's fief; and kill or carry off the lady. The Shōgun's Government +got wind of the purpose. The lords were storming with wrath, and a +public fracas was feared. All composition had been refused. Dewa refused +to see his friend Yagyū Munénori, sent to him as messenger of +greatest influence. Secret orders then were sent that Dewa no Kami must +be induced to cut belly, or—his vassals ought to send his head to Edo. +The Shōgun's word and bond must be saved. The vassals knew their +lord, and had not loyalty enough to act otherwise than to sever his +head, as he lay sleeping off a drunken fit in broad daylight. It was +against rewarding this disloyal act that Honda Masazumi showed open +opposition to the council's decision; and Hidétada Kō himself +disapproved enough not to inflict extinction (<i>kaieki</i>) on the family of +the dead lord, the usual process. The continuance of the succession was +permitted on the Shōgun's order. All these matters were so public +that little credit is to be given to the rôle assigned to Sakasaki<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> Dewa +no Kami in the event about to be described; the issue of which was so +unfortunate in the carrying out, that Sakasaki, in command of the bridal +cortege and keenly feeling the disgrace, cut open his belly in +expiation; and that the Government, to hush up talk as to attack on the +train of the princess, put forward as explanation the proposed treachery +and resultant death of Dewa no Kami.</p> + +<p>As to the event itself: with greatest reluctance, uncertain as to her +former husband's fate, the Senhimé had been forced into agreement with +the Honda marriage. From the Nishimaru (western) palace the bridal +cortege took its way to the <i>yashiki</i> of Honda near the Hitotsubashi +Gomon. Time was at a discount in those days, and by no means was the +shortest route to anything taken. The procession filed out of the +Sakurada Gomon, to circle with its pompous glitter the outer moat. All +went very well. The <i>yashiki</i> walls bordering Tayasumura were slipping +by. Then the steadily accumulating clouds poured forth their contents. +It was a downpour, blinding in effect. The <i>rokushaku</i> of the +Kurokwagumi—stout and tall palanquin bearers, "six footers"—floundered +and staggered in the mud. The heavy palanquin came to the ground. Great +was the rage of the princess at this unseemly precedent for such an +occasion. "Rude ruffians! By this very hand this scum shall die!" +<i>Te-uchi</i> was to be the lot of the miserable fellows prostrate in +obeisance and seeking pardon in the blinding storm from the lady's +dagger, menacing them from the open door of the palanquin. The Lady of +Ōsaka was quite capable of carrying out her threat. Abé +Shirōgorō, later the famous Bungo no Kami, was equal to the +occasion. With soft words he would soothe her. "Congratulations to the +<i>Himégimi</i>! May her highness deign to accept the so happy augury of +present ill luck bringing good fortune throughout a long and happy life. +Deign to regard with future favour the words of Shirōgorō." He got +as near the mud as he dared in his respectful salutation. The lady's +face softened. She was appeased.</p> + +<p>Then she held up the hand, with the dagger still ready for action. +Shirōgorō sprang to his feet. Something else than storm was in +progress. In the escort ahead there were other sounds than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> the rumbling +and sharp crash of the thunder, the swishing of rain wind driven. The +flashes of lightning showed that the cortege was the object of a most +determined attack, which sought to make its way to the palanquin of the +princess. Abé Shirōgorō would have leaped forward, but the +flashing eyes and presence of the <i>himégimi</i> held him to her nearer +defence. The number of the assailants could not be ascertained in this +darkness like to night.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> The tower of defence was Yagyū Tajima no +Kami, greatest master of the sword in Nippon. He had the support of the +younger Ōkubo, of Kondō Noborinosuké, of Mizuno Jurōzaémon even +then noted as expert with the spear. In general command was the beloved +superintendent of the <i>hatamoto</i>, Ōkubo Hikozaémon. In daylight the +affair would have been easy. But in this darkness they had to stand to +their defence. That it was an attack by Ōsaka <i>rōnin</i>, enraged at +the marriage of the princess, there was no doubt. But what their +numbers? So far the defense was impregnable. There was nothing to fear. +Three of the leaders of the <i>rōnin</i> lay on the ground. Their chief, +visible in the lightning flashes, could not hope for success. It was the +old and still active Hikozaémon, the <i>oyaji</i> (old chap), the hardened +warrior of Iyeyasu, who scented out the threatening move. He sprang off +into the dark wood, almost as the crack of the musket was heard. They +would seek the life of the <i>himégimi</i> with deadly missiles! How +contemptible; for great as yet was the scorn of such use. Vigorous was +the old man's pursuit of a foe, seeking to ascertain his success and +reluctant to flee. "Ah! Ah! Rascal! Just wait! Wait for this +Hikozaémon!" The fellow did wait, a little too long. Noting the +lessening darkness, the discomfiture of his train, he turned to flee in +real earnest. As he did so, Hikozaémon, despairing of success, hurled +his dirk. Deep into the fellow's shoulder it went. "Atsu!" Savagely he +turned on the old man. Hikozaémon was skilled in defence, but stiffening +with age. His opponent showed himself an able warrior. "Ah! Ha! 'Tis +Hikozaémon Dono. With him there is no quarrel. Deign to receive a +wound." The old fellow's sword dropped helpless under a sharp rap over +the wrist from the back of the blade. This was enough for the man's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +purpose. With laughing and respectful salutation, of short duration, he +turned to a more successful flight.</p> + +<p>The storm cleared away, the cortege was re-formed; to enter in state the +<i>yashiki</i> of Honda Sama. It was said that he got but a cold bride—one +on whom only "the bed quilt lay light." Time, the ascertained fact of +Hidéyori's death, worked a change in the insanity simulated by the +princess. Then she was so taken with her lord that she proved fatal to +him. He died at the age of thirty-one years, was buried in his castle +town of Himeji, leaving but one daughter as issue by the princess. The +lady returned to residence at the Takébashi Goten, to be a disgruntling +influence in her brother's court. But Honda Ke had not done badly. This +consort made him a minister in the Shōgun's household (Nakatsukasa no +Tayu), a more likely promotion than one at the age of sixteen years, at +this date of the Shōgunate. From 10,000 <i>koku</i> his fief was raised to +150,000 <i>koku</i>; and he secured a wife so beautiful that his exodus to +the houris of Paradise was a bad exchange. Meanwhile what was the cause +of objection, thus expressed by force of arms, to the conduct and +nuptials of the Sen-himégimi?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Shūzen Adolescens</span></h3> + + +<p>The struggle between Toyotomi and Tokugawa was of that embittered +character which follows from two diverse theories of political +structure. The Taikō Hidéyoshi, by force of military genius and +constructive statesmanship, had assumed the pre-eminent position in the +land. In doing so he had drawn to himself a sturdy band of followers +whose whole faith and devotion lay in the Toyotomi. Such were the "seven +captains," so conspicuous in the defence of Ōsaka-Jō in later +years. Such were the doughty fighters Susukita Kanéyasu (Iwami +Jūtarō) and Ban Danémon. The latter unceremoniously shook off +allegiance to his lord on the latter's treachery at Sekigahara, and +turned <i>rōnin</i>. Such were great recalcitrant nobles thumped into +complete submission, granted unexpected and favourable terms in their +capitulation, devoted henceforth to the Toyotomi House, and of whom the +Chōsōkabé of Tosa are representative. It is the fashion of modern +historians to regard and speak of these brave men as irreconcileables +and swashbucklers; thus tamely following after the Tokugawa writers of +contemporary times, and imperialistic writers of to-day, to whom all +opposition to the favoured "Ins" is high treason. As matter of fact, if +men like the Ono were lukewarm and seeking their own advantage; if Obata +Kambei Kagemori was a mere traitorous spy of the Tokugawa; Sanada +Yukimura and Kimura Nagato no Kami, and in humbler sense Susukita +Kanéyasu and Ban Danémon, if they had much to gain by the victory of +their lord, yet were willing to endure hardship, face a defeat early +seen, and accept the inevitable death which was meted out to him who +refused the attempts at bribery and corruption of the victor. The +"<i>rōnin</i>," of whom the then Tokugawa chronicles and captains spoke so +contemptuously,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> were in the bulk not only "the outs," as opposed to +"the ins," but they were too devoted to their party tamely to accept +service with the enemy. Large were the bribes actually offered to Sanada +and Kimura; and any or all of the seven captains could have made terms +of advantage—to themselves.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The scent of the plum, with the flower of the cherry;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Blooming on branch of willow 'tis seen."<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Iyemitsu Kō hung this poem on the flowering plum tree to which he +gave the name of Kimura no Ume; a conscious tribute to the chivalry of +Shigénari. And Ōkubo Hikozaémon risked life and favour in the +destruction of the plant, and rebuke of the bad taste shown to men who +had lost fathers, brothers, gone down before the deadly spear of the +young captain.</p> + +<p>The fall of Ōsaka-Jō decided the fate of the Toyotomi House. Not +at once, for the rumour of the Udaijin's escape to Kyūshū kept +alive hopeful resentment in the minds of the scattered <i>samurai</i> whose +captains had perished in the battles around Ōsaka, had died or cut +belly in the final assault, or had lost their heads by the executioner's +sword in the bed of the Kamogawa. Among those who found refuge in the +hills of Iga was a certain Ogita Kurōji; a retainer of Nagato no +Kami. This man gathered a band of kindred spirits, among whom his +favoured lieutenant was Mōri Munéoki, although he much leaned to the +astonishing acumen of Kosaka Jinnai, a mere boy in years, but hiding in +his short and sturdy form a toughness and agility, with expertness in +all feats of arms, which discomfited would be antagonists. In the +discussions as to future movements there was wide difference of opinion. +Munéoki, the true partisan, proposed to rejoin Hidéyori in Satsuma. "The +prince is now harboured by Higo no Kami; Shimazu Dono of Satsuma, close +at hand, will never permit the entrance of the Tokugawa into his +borders. It is at Kagoshima-Jō that the prince will reorganize his +party; and thither duty calls." But Kosaka Jinnai was equally positive +in the opposite sense. He turned Munéoki's own argument against the +proposal. The prince could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> well be left to organize the West. It was +for others to see how affairs went in the North. Therefore the first +thing was to hasten to Edo, to ascertain the position of Daté Masamuné +and the great northern lords at this final triumph of the Tokugawa, when +at last their jealousy and fear might be aroused to opposition.</p> + +<p>Adventurous inclination, the desire to meet rather than run away from +the enemy, turned the scale to Edo. Reluctantly Munéoki agreed. With +Jinnai he proceeded, to learn the state of affairs as to the great +northern House, so devoted to the new creed of Yaso (Jesus) as certain +to be angry and alarmed at the savage persecution now entered on by the +second Shōgun. They returned to meet Ogita and the other captains at +Odawara, and with unpleasant news. Masamuné Kō, luckily for his would +be interviewers, was absent at Sendai. However there was no difficulty +in finding out that far from dreaming of further embassies to Rome from +the Prince of Ōshū, he had and was acting so vigorously that +probably in no quarter of Nippon was the hostile and treacherous creed +so thoroughly stamped out. The watch and ward of the north country was +practically left to a loyalty of which the Tokugawa felt assured. +Munéoki made this report with bitter joy, and Jinnai could not say him +nay. Then the former carried out his first plan. He made his way to +Kyūshū, to learn the truth as to the Udaijin's fate. Assured of +this he harboured with the malcontents of Higo and Hizen, to take his +part and perish some years later in the Amakusa uprising.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the tartness of Mori's criticism made his company unacceptable. +Ogita preferred to follow the urging of Jinnai and his own inclination +to observe how matters were going in Edo. Most of the company followed +him, to establish themselves as best they could in the confusion of the +growing town, rendered a thousand times worse by the settlement of the +later troubles and the flocking of all classes to this eastern capital. +Ogita set up as a doctor in Daikuchō (carpenters' street) of the +Nihonbashi ward, under the name of Gita Kyūan. His chief lieutenant, +Jinnai, settled close to his leader in Kurémasachō, figuring as a +physiognomist, of near enough relation to excite no comment in the +companionship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> with the older man. His own years were disguised by an +ample growth of hair and the past experience of an accomplished rascal. +Jinnai could have passed himself off for a man of thirty odd years. The +house of a physiognomist was overrun with visitors, whom Jinnai knew how +to sift, and who had no particular wish to encounter each other. Hence +the presence of the leaders, with his own particular followers, Watanabé +Mondo, Ashizuké Tōsuké, Yokoyama Daizō, Hyūchi Tōgorō, +excited no comment among the neighbours. The question of the marriage of +the Senhimé, the honoured widow of the Udaijin Kō, soon was stirring +up a ferment in higher circles than these in Edo town. Sakai Uta no Kami +and Doi Oi no Kami of the <i>rōjū</i> (council of state) were keen to +urge the match. She was young, and they plead the cruelty of forcing +celibacy on her. She was the centre of the ill disposed and most +willingly so. The stern old soldier Aoyama Hoki no Kami took the +opposite ground. It was for her to cut short her hair and pray for the +soul of the husband perished in the flames of Ōsaka-Jō. Such was +the precedent, and, he hinted with good ground, the disposition of the +princess, then coquetting with Toshitsuné lord of the great Maéda House +of Kaga. Besides he knew that Kasuga no Tsuboné, powerful influence in +the private apartments of the palace, was urging on the match. The mere +fact of her constant interference in the public affairs irritated Hoki +no Kami beyond measure. He was acting through sentiment and +conservatism. Kasuga and her allies were acting on political motives. +They carried the day; to the great indignation of Hoki no Kami, and of +an assistance he never dreamed of.</p> + +<p>Among the band of <i>rōnin</i> the matter was discussed with all the +greater heat and bitterness of purpose, inasmuch as they had to do so +mouth to ear. Ogita expressed their feeling when he summed up the matter +as an outrageous breach of chastity on the part of a princess, who could +not positively know whether the husband was yet living, or really had +died at Ōsaka—"Hence she is doubly guilty, of treachery and +pollution of her living lord; or of shameful lechery in this open +neglect of his memory and seeking another bed. Moreover to put her to +death will strike terror into the partisans of the Tokugawa,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> and give +courage to all the adherents of the cause, of whom thousands are +gathered here in Edo. A display of vigour will maintain those inclined +to the new service true to the cause." All rapturously agreed. The +occasion of the marriage and procession was settled upon for the attack, +in which the leaders and some eighty men were engaged. The result, as +told, was disastrous to them. Watanabe and Ashizuké were killed by +Tajima no Kami's own hand. Kondō Noborinosuké thrust his spear +through the belly of Yokoyama Daizō. Jinnai brought off in safety the +bulk of the party. Ogita had tried to bring down the lady princess by a +gun shot. In the straggle with Hikōzaémon he purposely did the old +man as little injury as possible. Respect for the grand old warrior, an +amused interest in one whose influence lay in plain speaking, held his +hand. If Ōkubo Dono was entitled freely to express his opinion of the +Shōgun Ke, Kurōji took it as no insult to endure the same himself. +He reached his home with a painful but not dangerous wound in the +shoulder, to grunt over the infliction and this latest discomfiture.</p> + +<p>His nurse was not at all to the taste of Kosaka Jinnai. O'Yoshi was a bare +twenty-three years in age. She was a beauty and a flirt. Ogita indulged in +the greatest expansion with her; as would the man of fifty years to the +girl, a mistress young enough to be a daughter. The months and weeks +passed following the attempt on the Senhimé. The effort to hunt out the +perpetrators had been given up in despair. The population of Edo as yet +was too fluid and shifting to take very exact account of its movements. +Doubtless they were <i>rōnin</i>, and had promptly scattered on failure of +the attack. Then the constant attempts at incendiarism, in many cases +successful, began to attract attention. The two <i>machibugyō</i>, together +with the particular office for detection of thieves and incendiaries, were +at their wits end to trace out this gang of fire bugs. One day O'Yoshi was +just leaving the bath house in Daikuchō called the Chōsenya, when +she met with an adventure. A young <i>samurai</i> coming along the street +attracted her admiring attention. He was barely twenty years of age, of +good height and commanding presence. In black garb and wearing <i>hakama</i>, +his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> two swords tucked in his girdle, and his cue trimmed high, attended +by a <i>dōshin</i> and several <i>yakunin</i>, the procession greatly flattered a +woman's feeling. She tripped along, towel in hand, and her eyes anywhere +but on her footing. Suddenly the strap of her clog broke. She was pitched +forward, just able to keep her balance. The <i>samurai</i> trod sharply on the +discarded <i>geta</i>. A cry of pain followed, and O'Yoshi was all discomfiture +at sight of the blood staining the white <i>tabi</i> of the young lord. At once +she was humble apology for her awkwardness, very badly received by the +<i>dōshin</i> who scolded her most severely—"Careless wench! Such rudeness +is not to be pardoned." He would have laid rough hands on her, but Aoyama +Shūzen interfered. The woman was pretty, the injury painful, and he was +young. "Don't scold her. It was by accident.... Don't be alarmed.... Ah! +It hurts!..." He looked around, as seeking a place to rest.</p> + +<p>O'Yoshi was very solicitous over the handsome young man. "Deign to +pardon the careless action. Alas! The foot of the young master is sadly +injured. My husband is a doctor, Gita Kyūan, of wondrous skill in the +Dutch practice. Condescend to enter the poor house close by here, and +allow drugs to be applied to the wound." Shūzen really was suffering +inconvenience and pain from his wound. Besides, as attached to the +office of the <i>machibugyō</i>, he sought all means of contact with the +class whose offences were to be dealt with. He at once agreed. Ogita was +absent when they entered. O'Yoshi tended the wound herself. The salve +really had wonderful effect. Flow of blood and pain ceased. Cakes and +tea, for refreshment, were placed before Shūzen. O'Yoshi entertained +him with amusing talk of the wardsmen of Nihonbashi, not the most stupid +in Nippon. She retailed the bath house gossip, and Aoyama carefully took +in costume, manners, and the conversation of the beauty, which did not +at all accord with her station in life. If she was connected with a +doctor now, at some time she had been intimate with men of affairs in +his own caste. He thanked her graciously and would have forced lavish +payment on her. O'Yoshi was all pained surprise and refusal. That her +reluctance was genuine he could easily see. "I am Aoyama Shūzen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> and +live in the <i>yashiki</i> at Surugadai. The kindness shown is not to be +forgotten, and perhaps some day this Shūzen can serve his hostess." +With compliments he took his leave. O'Yoshi watched the handsome youth +well out of sight. She could not hear the remark of Shūzen to the +<i>dōshin</i>—"A suspicious house; no frowsy doctor shows such favour to +his dame. Dress, manners, language, betray contact with the <i>samurai</i>." +The officer nodded admiring assent to his young lord's acumen.</p> + +<p>Ogita Kurōji came limping home, to find O'Yoshi—Chōsenburō +Yoshi, as this adventure dubbed her—overflowing with her experience. At +first he was rather pleased at such addition to his acquaintance. +O'Yoshi was a bait to all but Jinnai, who would detach him from her. The +others sought his favour to secure hers with greater ease. At mention of +the <i>dōshin</i>, subordinate officials of the legal machinery, the +official grade of the visitor, his brows knit. "Of official rank—that +will never do! Deign Yoshi to be careful in relations with this man, if +he should again appear. Engaged as is this Kurōji, the slightest +hint, a suspicion, would be most disastrous."—"Then the affair of the +Senhimégimi did not block matters? This Yoshi yet is to ride in +palanquin, to be a <i>daimyō's</i> wife?" The tone was a little jeering, +and the laugh as of one sceptical. With thoughts on this new love the +reference to this futile scheming annoyed her. She would push this +acquaintance to the full effect of her charms. Ogita took some offence. +He spoke braggingly, but disastrously to the point—"Assuredly 'tis +Yoshi who shall be the lady of a <i>daimyō</i> of high place, not of a +meagre fifteen or twenty thousand <i>koku</i>. Kaga Ke, Maéda Toshitsuné, is +grinding his sword. The great Houses in the west—Hosokawa, Bizen, +Katō, Mōri, Satsuma, will follow him. Give them but the +opportunity in the disorder of Edo, and the sword will be drawn. In a +month, Edo, fired at a hundred points will lie in ashes. Then...." He +stopped a little frightened. But she feigned the greatest indifference, +teased him into opposition. Sitting down before the wine she got out of +him the whole affair. Reverting to the accident—"But yourself, an +accident has been deigned. Has another Yoshi encountered Kurōji +Dono?" To the tender solicitude half laughing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> he made jesting answer. +"A Yoshi with beard and wearing two swords. To-day the contract was +signed by all with the blood seal. The wine feast followed. The talk was +earnest, some of it rash. Interposing in the quarrel, the dagger +intended for the belly of one, was sheathed in the thigh of this +Kurōji. A trifling flesh wound; well in a day or two, at present rest +is needed."—"A dangerous affair; if it gives rise so easily to +dispute." Such her comment. "Not so," answered the infatuated veteran. +"They are too far in to withdraw." Before her eyes he unrolled the +scroll. Her eye quickly ran along the crowded columns of the names—by +the score. Here was indeed a big affair. Out of the corner of one eye +she watched him put it away.</p> + +<p>The salve Ogita Kurōji used for his wound had no such benefit as that +offered Aoyama Shūzen; and perhaps O'Yoshi could have told the reason +of its failure. By the next day the wound was inflamed enough to make +movement difficult. Feeling the necessity of repair, Kurōji left all +matters to his mistress, and sought early recuperation in complete rest. +On plea of needed articles O'Yoshi was out of the house and on her +hurried way to the Aoyama <i>yashiki</i> at Suragadai. The distance was +short; yet her plan was already laid. Her dislike for the ageing Ogita +was sharpened into hate by her love for the handsome young <i>samurai</i>. +Close to the <i>yashiki</i> on pretext she entered the shop of a tradesman. +To her delight she learned that the Waka Dono, Aoyama Shūzen, as yet +had no wife. She had a hundred yards to go, and her purpose and ambition +had expanded widely in that short distance. Her application for an +interview with his lordship was quickly granted. She had often been +subject of talk and comment between Shūzen and his subordinate +officer. The <i>dōshin</i> happened to be present, and the attendant +announced her at once. Passed to the inner apartment she found Shūzen +as if he had been eagerly awaiting her coming for hours. Her reception +was flattering. The ordinary salutations over they passed to most +familiar talk, as of oldest friends between man and woman. When +Shūzen would go further, and in love making press still greater +intimacy, her refusal was of that kind which sought compliance. Said she +with a smile—"Make Yoshi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> the wife of the Waka Dono and she will make +the fortune even of one so highly placed as Aoyama Dono." To his +incredulity and astonishment she would say no more. Shūzen now was +determined not to let her go. He feigned consent, agreement to +everything, with much regard for her, and small regard for the promotion +at which he jested. Now they were in the very heigh-day of love. She +resented his scepticism, and in the heat of her passion gave him +everything—including the contract. His mistress by his side, seated in +the confidence of an accomplished love affair he listened to her stream +of revelation. This "doctor" and "husband" was neither doctor nor +husband. His name was Ogita Kurōji, an Ōsaka <i>rōnin</i>. With +Kosaka Jinnai and others of the same kidney he had been the head and +front of the attempted rape of the Senhimé. Shūzen knew enough to +discount all the talk as to Maéda Kō, of the Hosokawa, and other +great Houses. They were beyond his sphere. But here in his hands lay the +web of a most important affair; so important that it frightened him a +little. As his brows knit O'Yoshi too grew a little frightened; +regretted that she had told so much all at once. She had babbled beyond +measure in her transport. She had misgivings. Shūzen reassured her. +For her to return to Daikuchō would never do. A breath of suspicion, +and Ogita's sword would deprive him of his mistress. Safe quarters were +to be found in the <i>yashiki</i>. He called the <i>dōshin</i>, one Makishima +Gombei, and put her in his charge. The two men exchanged glances as she +was led away.</p> + +<p>The office of the south <i>machibugyō</i> was in a ferment when Aoyama +made his report. All available <i>yakunin</i> were at once gathered. The list +was carefully gone over with the minister for the month, Hoki no Kami. +Despatched on their various missions the squads departed. To Shūzen +was assigned the capture of Ogita Kurōji, leader of the conspiracy. +This latter was chafing at the prolonged absence of O'Yoshi. Some +accident must have happened to her. Then he remembered. She had gone to +Hachōbori. Here lived a sister, whose delivery was daily expected. +Doubtless this commonplace event, yet surpassing in interest to every +woman, detained her. A confusion outside attracted his attention. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +was a crowd, and some disturbance. Hatsu! The people were being kept +back by <i>yakunin</i>. "The thoughts of Kurōji were those of the wicked." +At once he attributed their presence to himself. A look out at the rear +and he quickly shot to the wooden bar. Between the bamboo of the fence +men could be seen passing to and fro in numbers; and they were +<i>yakunin</i>. He had been betrayed. The counsel of Jinnai came to mind, and +he ground his teeth as he stood with drawn sword before the empty drawer +of the cabinet. The scarlet of the <i>obi</i> of his false mistress flashed +before his eyes. He had to die unavenged. "On his lordship's business! +On his lordship's business!" The harsh voices sounded at the front. +Those who would enter uninvited found themselves face to face in the +narrow space with the old Kurōji, the man who had fought from Sagami +to Tosa, from Chōsen to Kyūshū. The more incautious fell +severed with a cut from shoulder to pap. A second man put his hand to +his side, and rolled over to breathe his last in a pool of blood. +Visions of "Go-ban" Tadanobu came to mind. Kurōji would die, but he +would leave his mark on the foe. Shūzen's men could make no progress, +except to swell the death roll or their wounds. In rage their lord +sprang to the encounter. Shūzen was young, but it is doubtful if the +issue would have been successful with this man turned demon by the +double injury and treachery. But Ogita amid this horde of assailants had +suffered in his turn. In a parry his sword broke off short near the +hilt. With a yell he sprang to close quarters, dealing Shūzen a blow +with the hilt that sent him reeling senseless to the ground. Then, +unable to accomplish more, and taking advantage of the respite caused by +the rescue of his foe, he sprang to the ladder leading above. Once on +the roof he saw that escape was hopeless. Already they were breaking +into the rear. Men were approaching over the neighbouring houses. In the +old style of ages past he waved them back with drawn dagger. There was +no Shūzen to give command—"Take him alive!" They were only too glad +to halt and let him do his will. Stripping to his girdle, before the +assembled crowd he thrust his dagger into his left side and drew it +across his belly. Then he made the cross cut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> through the navel. +"Splendid fellow! A true <i>bushi</i>!" Admiring voices rose in the crowd. +The body of Kurōji fell forward and down into the street. Thus he +died.</p> + +<p>This affair had ended in a way to redound greatly to the credit of +Aoyama Shūzen. Others had not been so successful. Of nearly two +hundred names only eighteen prisoners were secured. Shūzen stamped +with impatience on learning of the escape of Kosaka Jinnai. He had +learned much about him from the hate of O'Yoshi. "That man is the real +leader of the band, the inspiration of Ogita Kurōji. Ah! Why could +not this Shūzen be in two places at once!" Older officials bowed low, +and smiled to themselves and each other at youth's self confidence. +O'Yoshi now found short entertainment. Shūzen had no further use for +the woman, for the means of his promotion. One day a <i>chūgen</i> led her +to the postern gate of the <i>yashiki</i>, put a paper containing a silver +<i>ryō</i> in her hand, and unceremoniously shoved her into the roadway. +The gate closed behind her. At first she hardly comprehended the meaning +of this treatment. Then, as it filtered into her mind, her rage passed +all measure. "Ah! The beast and liar! Yoshi was not fit to be the wife; +nay, not even the female companion of this arrogant lord?" She had been +juggled out of the secret of such value to him, then cast forth with the +wages of a prostitute summoned to the <i>yashiki</i>. The woman was helpless. +Broken in spirit she dragged herself off, to undergo a severe illness +brought on by despite. Her foul rôle ascertained, friends and family +would have nothing to do with her. Once recovered, she found herself +deprived of all means of subsistence, even that of beauty, by her +disease. Never more would she deal with the noble class, to be left with +such a legacy. She would pray for the salvation of the man she had +betrayed. On her way to the Asakusa Kwannon she passed the jail, then +near the Torigoébashi. Stumbling along just here she raised her head, to +confront the long line of rotting heads there set forth. Just facing her +was that of her ex-lover Ogita Kurōji. It took on life. The eyes +opened and glared fierce hate. The lips moved, and the teeth ground +together. Then the other heads made measured movements. "Atsu!" With the +cry she fell fainting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> to the ground, and it was difficult to restore +her to consciousness. For several years the half crazed beggar woman +sought alms near the jail, to act as guide and comment on the fresh +heads exposed, until as nuisance she was driven off by the guard. Then +the shameful swollen corruption of the body was drawn from the canal +close by; thus to end on the refuse heap the treachery of Chōsenburo +no O'Yoshi.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The God favours Shūzen</span></h3> + + +<p>The influence of a House close to the person of the Shōgun was no +drawback to the close attention Aoyama Shūzen gave to official duty +throughout his career. The Aoyama stood high in the council of the +governing power. Even an old blunderbuss like Hoki no Kami could not +shake this influence. When Yukinari tore the mirror from the hands of +the young Shōgun Iyemitsu Kō, berated him roundly for effeminacy, +and dashed the offending object to pieces on the stones of the garden, +this wanton treatment of the prince could not be overlooked. "Invited" +to cut belly by his intimates and opponents in the council +(<i>rōjū</i>) he defied them, laid hand to sword, and swore they should +join him in a "dog's death." The timely entrance of Ōkubo Hikozaémon +prevented the unseemly spectacle of three old soldiers and statesmen +enjoying the fierce and deadly pastime of one of the duels of Keichō +(1596-1614). Hoki no Kami in his own way was right—and knew it; and he +had the tacit approval of Hidétada Kō. The result was not <i>harakiri</i>, +but the offending noble was consigned to the care of his brother. He and +his were "extinguished"; for the time being, and to the greater glory of +his other relatives near the Shōgun's person. Such was the rough +discipline in Hidétada's camp of Edo. The second Shōgun, now retired +(Ōgoshō—<i>inkyō</i>), never lost the manners or the methods of the +battle field.</p> + +<p>The career of Aoyama Shūzen therefore was a steady rise in the +Government service; in younger years attached to the immediate train of +the prince, in greater maturity to the enforcement of the edicts through +the legal machinery of the Bakufu. At this time he ruffled it bravely +with the other young blades. The younger <i>hatamoto</i> on their part +opposed to the <i>otokodaté</i> of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> townsmen the far more splendid +<i>Jingumi</i> or divine bands. Yamanaka Gonzaémon knocked out several front +teeth and inserted in their places gold ones. Hence the rise of the +<i>Kingumi</i> or Gold Band. Aoyama Shūzen did likewise with substitution +of silver. Hence the <i>Gingumi</i>. They were all of the Mikawa <i>bushi</i>; +that is, drawn from the native province and closely affiliated to the +Tokugawa House. Hence these <i>hatamoto</i> carried themselves high even +against the greater <i>daimyō</i>, sure of support from their over-lord +the Shōgun. As for the town, they did as they pleased, seeking +quarrels, distributing blows, and only restrained by wholesome reprisals +of <i>rōnin</i> or the <i>otokodaté</i> of the townsmen, who in turn relied on +such <i>daimyō</i> as Daté Kō and Maéda Kō, valued allies of the +Tokugawa House, yet showing no particular liking for the encroachments +of the palace clique on their own privileges.</p> + +<p>The necessity of moving quarters was equally an embarrassment to Aoyama +Shūzen and to his intimate and neighbour Ōkubo Hikoroku. Ōkubo +suggested Honjō—"The water lies close by. Hence in winter the place +is warm, in summer cool."—"And of mosquitoes swarms," interjected the +practical Aoyama. "If the hillside be cold, it surely is no drawback to +Hikoroku Uji." The one named made something of a wry face, and Aoyama +smiled apart. He knew that Hikoroku was not so affectioned to the +meetings of the Gaman Kwai as himself. However, smoothly—"This matter +of the Yoshida Goten coming up offers fair opportunity. The failure of +Endō Uji need not discourage Ōkubo Dono and this Aoyama." Both +smiled a little. They could put palace influences better to work. "It is +two thousand <i>tsubo</i>," said Shūzen. "Just the thing: moreover, it is +close to palace duty. On this point Honjō is not in the running. +Besides, the site has its own attraction. Of course Shūzen takes the +well, in the division." Ōkubo interposed a lively objection, the +shallowness of which Shūzen could detect. He humoured his friend's +obstinacy. "Leave it to the lots." In haste the slips were +prepared—"Hachiman, god of the bow and feathered shaft, grant your +divine aid and bestow the old well ghost haunted on this Aoyama." Okubo +laughed at his earnestness. "Aoyama Uji leaves this Ōkubo no resort +but in the Buddha. Good fortune to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> Ōkubo, and may the will of the +Lord Buddha be done.... Naruhodo! 'Tis yours after all. The shaft of the +war god is stronger than the Buddha's staff." He took his disappointment +so well as to be the more urgent in securing the transfer. This was +granted, with expenses of removal.</p> + +<p>Aoyama Shūzen superintended in person the preparation of his new +residence. This was soon in readiness as little was to be done. Ōkubo +took cash and construction. The former villa, fallen to Shūzen's +part, needed mainly air and light, and repairs to its rotten woodwork. +When it was time to think of the water supply Aoyama ordered the +cleaning out of the old well. The workmen began to talk—"'Tis the old +well of the inner garden, the Yanagi-ido of the Yoshida Goten. Danna +Sama, deign to order exorcism made, and that the well be filled up and +covered from men's sight." The Danna laughed at them, and was obstinate +in his purpose. He took upon himself all the wrath of the disturbed and +angered spirits. He hoped that they would not furnish material for more. +To hearten them, he and his men descended to the level of the water. +With headshakes and misgivings the chief ordered his men to the +task—"Pfu! It stinks of ghosts, or something. Surely there will be dead +men's bones for harvest; and perhaps those of the living. The old well +has not seen its last ill deed." As for the dead men's bones, the well +refuse was laid aside, and on Aoyama's order buried with no particular +reverence in the bowels of the <i>tsukiyama</i> close by. "Let all the +spirits of the place find company together," he jeered. The <i>yashiki</i> of +Komiyasan in Honjō had its processions of marvels—dead men, frogs, +<i>tanuki</i>, and fox—to shake its <i>amado</i> at night and divert the monotony +of those who lived therein. The portentous foot perhaps he could not +match, but he would share in this contest with ghostly visions. Chance +had offered him the opportunity. All was prepared. Shūzen had +established himself. Nightly with his camp stool he took his seat by the +old well, to smoke his pipe and drink his wine—"Now! Out with you, +ghosts! Here present is Aoyama Shūzen, <i>hatamoto</i> of the land. He +would join in your revels. Deign to hasten.... What! The ghosts would +rest this night?" Thus night after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> night passed with his jeering and no +sign of the supernatural objects, not thus to be conjured. Time made the +pastime stale—as stale as the waters of the Yanagi-ido which never +furnished supply for the house or its tasks. Aoyama had the excuse of +drinking wine. As for the household, the women would not even use the +water for washing. They said it stunk too badly. In so far Shūzen +failed.</p> + +<p>It was about the time of his entrance on this new possession that more +good fortune came to Shūzen. He was made the magistrate whose office +covered the detection and punishment of thieves and incendiaries. It +showed the estimation in which he was held, and satisfied both the +vanity and the hard cold temper of Aoyama Shūzen. Looking to results, +more than method, the selection was most satisfactory; if return of the +number of criminals was the index assumed. Until a method attracted +unfavourable attention by some scandal, only results were regarded by +the Bakufu. But his household could not regard with any easiness a +devotion of his lordship to the wine cup, which turned his court into a +wine feast. Up to this time Aoyama Shūzen in all official duty had +shown himself hard, unbending, callous, conscientious. Now the element +of cruelty appeared, to develop rapidly with exercise until it was the +predominant tone. Some illustrations are to be given from events +occurring in these first three years of Shōhō (1644-6).</p> + +<p>Aoyama would show himself the strict disciplinarian. His chamberlain +(<i>yōnin</i>) Aikawa Chūdayu close beside him, his <i>dōshin</i> seated +at either hand, he gave his orders and rebuke to the assembled +constables. He scowled at them. Then with voice harsh from the contents +of the big wine cup beside him he commanded—"Diligence is to be +expected of all. He who fails to make many arrests shows sloth or ill +will to his lord. Anyone against whom there is the slightest suspicion, +even if he or she be abroad late at night, is to be brought to the jail. +No explanation is to be allowed. There must be many arrests. Examination +in the court is to follow; and many crimes, discovered under the +torture, will be brought to punishment.... Heigh! Call up that old +fellow there.... Who? That Ryūsuké." At Shūzen's order Ryūsuké<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +forthwith came close to the <i>rōka</i>. "You, fellow ... what manner of +man to act as constable are you? Days pass without a single prisoner +being brought in. This jade, found in the street at the hour of the rat +(11 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>) pleads excuse of illness and the doctor. This lurking +scoundrel, seeking to set half the town on fire, pleads drunkenness as +keeping him abroad. Thus many of these villainous characters, whores and +fire bugs, find field for their offenses. No more of such leniency. +Failure to arrest means dismissal from the service and punishment as an +ill-wisher. Oldest and most experienced, the greatest number of +prisoners is to be expected at your hands. Shūzen shows mercy. Your +age remits the punishment, but dismissal shall afford example to the +rest as to the wisdom of showing energy." Thus he cast forth without +pity an ageing officer whose only offense was an experience which sought +the mission of the night straggler, and allowed the harmless to go free. +Ryūsuké went forth from the office of the <i>bugyō</i> stripped of the +means of living and of reputation, and assured of the unforgiving +character of his lord. That night he cut belly, recommending his family +to mercy. This was soon found—in debt and the debtor's slavery allowed +by the harsh code. Thus was the jail kept full, with the innocent and a +sprinkling of the guilty. No one dared to be lax; for life hung on +salary, and on zeal the continuance of the salary. Moreover all revelled +in the reward of the wine cup liberally bestowed for zealous +service—and the more liberally as Shūzen took his turn with his big +cup, every time he sent down the <i>saké</i> to his underling.</p> + +<p>In Bakurachō lived one Zeisuké, a poor but honest fellow who made his +living by peddling the smaller kinds of fish and the salted varieties, +for his trifling resources allowed no larger outlay for his trays. In +this way with greatest difficulty he managed to support an old mother, a +wife, a young child. Locally he was known as "Honest Zeisuké" for the +not often found quality of representing the antiquity and character of +his wares much as they were. When bad weather forbade the opening of the +fish market, Zeisuké readily found some task at day labour by which a +few <i>mon</i> could be secured, and for which his character for honest +service recommended him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> One night, when on his way homeward, he was +passing the Asakusa Gomon just as the cry of fire was raised. Knowing +the alarm of his aged mother Zeisuké at once bolted towards home. When +all were running toward the fire this at once attracted attention. By +the law it was the strict duty of the citizen to betake himself to his +ward, and to be ready for service in preventing spread of the often +disastrous conflagration. His action was noted by the ever present +myrmidons of Shūzen. In a moment they were after him. Surrounded he +was quickly caught. His explanation was not heard. "Say your say at the +white sand, under the strokes of the <i>madaké</i>," was the rough answer. +Thus he was dragged off to the jail.</p> + +<p>The next day Aoyama's first motion was to reward the captors with the +wine cup. Harsh was the vinous scowl he cast on Zeisuké now cringing at +the white sand. "Ha! Ah! A notable criminal; a firebug caught in the +act, and attempting to escape. Make full confession. Thus much suffering +is escaped, and the execution ground soon reached." Zeisuké had no +confession to make, and to his explanation Aoyama turned a deaf ear. +"Obstinacy is to be over-ruled." He made a sign. At once Zeisuké was +seized. His head drawn downward two stout fellows now began to apply in +rhythm the <i>madaké</i>—strips of bamboo to the thickness of an inch +tightly wound together with hempen cord, and making an exceedingly +flexible and painful scourge. The blood quickly was spurting from his +shoulders. Aoyama and his chamberlain sat enjoying the scene immensely. +At the seventieth blow the peddler fainted. "A wicked knave! Off with +him until restored." Then he settled himself for the day's pastime; for +the torture had come to have the zest of an exhilarating sport. The +cries of pain, the distortions of agony under the stones, or the +lobster, or suspension, the noting of the curious changes of flesh +colour and expression under these punishments, the ready assent to +absurdly illogical questions, all this not only amused, but interested +Shūzen. The naivété and obstinacy of the fisherman was just of the +kind to furnish the best material. The fellow was sturdy of frame, and +under skilled hands readily submitted to this dalliance for days without +bending from his truth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile things went on very badly at the house in Bakurachō. The +disaster of the arrest fell like a thunderbolt on the wretched little +household. Day after day, hoping for the acquittal and release, one +article after another went to the pawn shop. Reduced to absolute misery +the house owner and the neighbours came to the rescue with a small sum +raised among them. The long continued official suspicion affected even +these toward the "Honest Zeisuké," and their support grew cold. Then +came the news that Zeisuké had died in the jail under the torture. +Tearless, aghast, deprived of all support, the wife and mother long +looked in each other's faces. Said the old woman—"Alas! Alas! Neither +gods nor the Buddha exist. Faithful and devoted was Zeisuké to this old +mother. Unfortunate in his life, he has been equally unlucky in death. +What now is to be done!" She put her sleeves over the old and wrinkled +face, and bending low concealed tears and a long farewell to the beloved +in the person of her grandchild.</p> + +<p>The wife was in little better case, but had to soothe this grief. A few +coins remained. She would buy the necessaries for the evening meal. "But +a moment, honoured mother. The return is quick. 'Tis but for the needed +meal." Taking the child on her back she started off into the darkness. +For a moment she turned to look at the mother. The old woman was +following her with eyes tear dimmed in the sunken hollows. Thus they +parted. For a moment the wife halted on the bridge over the Edogawa. The +dark slimy waters were a solution, but she put it aside in the face of a +higher duty. Soon she was on her way back. To her surprise the house was +in darkness. Surely a little oil was left in the bottom of the jar. She +called, without getting an answer. In alarm she groped her way in the +darkness, to stumble over the body of the old woman, lying limp and +helpless. Something wet her hand. Now she was in all haste for a light. +"Ah! Ah! The honoured mother! What has occurred? Has not ill fortune +enough fallen upon the home of Zeisuké?" Alas! the hand was stained with +blood. The old woman had intended the parting salute to be the last. +Left alone she had bit off her tongue, and thus had died. Rigid, as one +stupified, the wife sat; without tears, but thinking.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> Now she was left +alone. But what as to the child? A girl too? Ah! There were enough of +her sex in this hard world. She reached out a hand to the long +triangular sharp blade close by. She touched edge and point of the +<i>debabōchō</i> (kitchen knife) with the finger.</p> + +<p>Here was the solution. Rapidly she loosed the child and lowered it to +the ground. It took but a moment to open the little dress and expose the +breast. Then knife in hand she leaned over it. As she did so the child +opened its eyes, smiled, then laughing began to finger her bosom seeking +sustenance. The feelings of the mother came over the woman. She put +aside the knife to give the babe the breast. Alas! Starvation afforded +but scant milk. Failing its supply the child cried peevishly. This last +stroke of poverty was too much. The original purpose came back in full +sway. With quick motion she put the child beside her and held it firmly +down. The sharp pointed knife was thrust clean through the little body. +A whimpering cry, the spurting of the blood, and the face began to take +on the waxen tint. With the same short energetic movements the mother +now sought her own end. Guiding its course with the fingers the knife +was now thrust deep into her own throat. Both hands on the heavy handle +she tore it downward; then fell forward on the mats. The wardsmen made +report.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Affair of the Asakusa Kwannon</span></h3> + + +<p>Aoyama Shūzen stalked forward to his cushion near the <i>rōka</i>. +Carefully adjusting his robes he scowled—most heavily; mainly at the +almost boy crouched before him at the white sand. Expectant the +<i>yakunin</i> stood by. Their leader stated the case against this outrageous +criminal captured in the dead of night on the very steps of the +Jizōdō, in the very shadow of the great temple of the Asakusa +Kwannon. The sacred structure, object of his nefarious design guarded +his slumbers; the healing Yakushi Nyōrai, Jizō the god of youth +and childhood, casting stony glances of benevolence through the closed +lattices. "A most hardened wretch, an evident firebug, and probable +thief; at once make full confession of the offence. Thus the torture is +to be avoided, the punishment in so far mitigated." The voice was harsh +and unrelenting, admitting of no explanation. The look accompanying it +was without trace of pity, but full of the official scorn and dislike +which would anticipate the turns and doubles of its quarry. The hare in +this case but thought how best to meet this unforeseen and disastrous +turn to events. He had heard much of the Yakujin—the god of disease and +pestilence—under which pet name Aoyama Shūzen was known by a certain +element of Edo town. He would tell the truth, with the certainty that in +the effort enough lie would slip in to make out a good case.</p> + +<p>The story at root was a simple one. Great of reputation for beauty and +attraction in the Yoshiwara was "Little Chrysanthemum"—Kogiku. In +company with friends this Masajirō, second son of the wealthy +Iwakuniya of Kanda Konyachō, (dyers street), had met and loved the +<i>oiran</i>. He had been favoured in turn by the great lady of the pleasure +quarter. Hence the displeasure of his father, who learned the fact by +the unanticipated and unpleasant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> presentation of bills he thought had +been settled long before by the diligence of Masajirō. Hence the +preceding night, on the boy's return from dalliance with his mistress, +he had been summarily turned out.... "Ha! Ah!" roared Shūzen. "A self +confessed vagrant; a thief! Gentle the face and wicked the heart it +conceals. Plainly a case for the jail and torture. The truth is to be +learned. The scourges will bring it out. Make full confession...." A +sign, and the attendants with their <i>madaké</i> stood forward. In his +terror Masajirō crawled toward the <i>rōka</i>. "Confession! +Confession!" he bawled out. With grim smile Shūzen signed a halt. The +<i>dōshin</i> prepared the scroll.</p> + +<p>Yes: he had been turned out, but not as vagrant. The mother, so severe +in the presence of the father, had fondled and wept over him. The +Bantō Shōbei had grave and kindly words of admonition. All would +be well, and forgiveness follow in time. He was to go at once to his +nurse at Koshigeyatsu. Such effects as were needed would follow him. +Money he was better without; beyond the little needed for the short +journey. The father's anger was not to be aggravated. Soon he would +enter for his night's draught, so haste was to be made. Thus he was +bundled forth, to make his way in the darkness to the distant country +village. The Baya's kind aid in the little conspiracy was assured at +sight of her once ward. Overwhelmed with advice and woe he departed into +the night, his step growing slower and slower with separation from his +home. No money! That meant no Kogiku. The idea of never again seeing her +face made his stomach turn. It did turn the direction of his footsteps, +which now was toward the Yoshiwara.</p> + +<p>Kogiku was overjoyed at sight of him. He had but just left her, and now +returned to her side. What greater proof of love could she have? The +favouritism of the Go-Tayu found favour for her lover's presence. Seated +together she soon noticed his gloom, which all her efforts failed to +lighten. Somewhat nettled she showed displeasure, charged him with the +fickleness of satiation. Then he took her hands, and told her that this +was the final interview. His dissipated life, the discovery of their +relations, had so angered his father that under sentence of banishment +from Edo he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> had come for a last look at her face. "What's to be done! +What's to be done!" The lady wrung her hands in genuine grief over the +handsome youth thus torn away. She had welcomed his presence as means of +escape from her own difficulties. But a few hours before the master of +the Uedaya had announced her sale and transfer to a wealthy farmer of +Chiba. Ransomed by this country magnate she was to leave the gay life +and glitter of the Yoshiwara, for a country life and the veiled +hardships of a farm. In exchange for the twenty years of +Masajirō—she obtained this settlement and a master passing fifty +odd. She was in despair. The brilliant beauty, thus to sink in a few +year's course into a farm wench, felt the sacrifice too great. Finding +no aid in the boy lover, long she lay weeping, her head on his knees, +hands pressed against her temples.</p> + +<p>Masajirō was at no happier pass. "Up to the arrow point in love" his +idea at bottom had been of a temporary separation. To find another +Kogiku, a petted <i>oiran</i>, whose fame and beauty flattered any lover, was +a stroke of good fortune not likely to occur. His own expression showed +how little real idea of separation was in his mind. She noted it. +Looking steadily in his face—"Constant the vows of this Kogiku, met by +the love of Masa San. No matter how remote the prospect, the bond is +that of husband and wife. With this old suburban drake Kogiku pollutes +not her charms. Condescend to agree to a mutual suicide. Thus the +obligation is avoided. Together the lovers pass to Meido (Hades) to +wander its shades until the next and happier existence unites them in +the flesh." In amazement and discomfiture Masajirō hung down his +head. He would conceal the shock to his boyish timidity this proposal +gave. His mind was full of such stories. He knew the earnestness of +Kogiku. Then and there would she not draw her dagger to accomplish the +deed? He was dreadfully frightened. Never would he have sought her +presence, if such result had been anticipated. Now he must accompany her +in death, or endure her grudge if successful in escaping her insistence. +He temporized. Pointing to his plain disordered garb—"As to +that—heartily agreed. But there is a seemliness about such procedure. A +more befitting, a holiday costume, is to be sought. Then together, as on +a joyful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> occasion, Masajirō and the Oiran will consummate the vows +of husband and wife in a joint death." She looked him over, and was +easily pacified by the evident truth and good sense. Again herself, in +prospect of this avoidance of the unpleasant future she sought to +entertain her lover with all the skill and charm she was so noted for. +At midnight he left her, to secure an interview with Shōbei on plea +of forgotten needs; then he would return in more fitting garb.</p> + +<p>His course lay through the now silent precincts of the great temple. +More than the sun's circuit passed in these excesses, physical and +mental, weighed upon him. He would rest a moment and consider his course +amid the holy surroundings. Yakushi? The god was the physical healer in +his theology and his services the strong and healthy youth did not need. +Jizō Sama, or the six Jizō Sama, but a little way off? Probably +the gentle divinity no longer regarded him as under tutelage. But the +Lady Merciful—Kwannon Sama—why not make his petition to her? It was an +inspiration, and earnest was the prayer which followed it—"Lady of +Mercy, deign to regard with pity the unfortunate lovers. Grant that some +exit be found for their woes, less harsh than the severance of the vital +knot, offence to the Lord Buddha. Kwannon Sama! Kwannon Sama!... may the +Buddha's will be done!" As he spoke a heavy object fell from above, to +graze his shoulder and land at his feet. He stooped and picked it up. +With astonished delight he noted the glittering coin within the bag. Ah! +Ah! Away with all ideas of self destruction. Here was the means to +escape the guilty consequence. Here was the ransom of Kogiku. He had +shuddered at thought of return to the side of that woman, in death to +wander the paths of Shidéyama (in Hell) with the unhappy ghost—bald +headed! Here now was the solution, in wine and the flesh and blood of +the living long-tressed Kogiku, a very different person. His thought now +turned to Yoshiwara. But—Naruhodo! Here was a second petitioner at this +extraordinary hour. With amazement he saw a girl come flying across the +tree and lantern dotted space before the great temple. There was +something in gait and manner that he recognized, despite the deep +<i>kōsō-zukin</i> concealing her features. From the shadow of the steps +he sprang forward to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> confront her. It was so! The face beneath the +<i>zukin</i> was that of O'Somé the beloved of his brother Minosuké. The +great dye house of the Iwakuniya sent much work to the minor +establishment of Aizawaya in Honjō. His brother had such matters in +his charge. At sight of Masajirō the face of the sixteen year old +O'Somé was dyed like unto the maple. "O'Somé San! Here; and at this +hour! Is it some visit to the shrine that in such haste...." In place of +answer she wrung her hands and plead to be released. She must die. The +river was not far off; there to end her woes. The scandal caused in the +affair between herself and Minosuké had brought her to shame. Solemn had +been the vows passed between them, tender the acknowledgments. By some +retribution from a past existence thus she had found pollution with a +beast. The heart yet was pure, and there was nothing to do but die. +Deign forthwith to release her.</p> + +<p>In his amazement he nearly did so. Alas! All these young girls, at least +the desirable ones, wanted only to die. To become a divinity by +death—<i>Shingami</i>—seemed to the feminine brain in youth the height of +fashion. Very well: but he would seek to dissuade her. His pockets full +of gold the present beauty of O'Somé dimmed the past charms of Kogiku. +She yielded to force and his urgency in so far as to accompany him to a +refreshment stand just opening with the dawn. The mistress greeted them +with kindness and affection. She showed them to an inner room. Here he +urged his suit; flight and a home with the devoted nurse at +Koshigayatsu. But O'Somé was unwilling. She had been "foxed"—herself +was but a mere moor-fox. Deign to leave her to her own sad fate. It was +the brother that she loved. Since she was deprived of him, she would +seek the embraces only of the waters of the river. She urged and plead +so prettily that her sadness and gloom entered into his own heart. She +should be his companion. Kogiku in despite would join them. Thus the +three together would find comfort in the shadow land of Meido. He gave +up all attempt to persuade the girl. Briefly and almost harshly—"Be it +so. Then we will die together. This Masajirō is under contract to +die; and too tired to walk so far to find a partner. Condescend to await +the night. Then we will take the shortest course to the river."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>To this O'Somé joyfully agreed. The day was passed in such harmless +dalliance and favour as a young girl can show, who has had her own way; +with a young man willing to dispense with thought during the intervening +space of time before a not overly agreeable ending; and under the +auspices of an honoured hostess fee'd by the glitter of coin into a +consenting obtuseness. With the night they set forth in the rain. The +river bank was not far off, but such vulgar plunge from the edge of the +coarse promiscuity of Hanagawadō was not to the taste of either. +Then, as now, a ferry not far from the Adzuma bridge crossed to the +pretty sounding "Eight hundred Pines." <i>Yashiki</i> then surrounded, a +palace to-day covers the site. They watched the ferryman pushing off +into the river's darkness. Then hand in hand they strolled up the bank +of the stream, under the gloomy trees, seeking the favoured spot of +their undoing. Suddenly O'Somé stopped; sank at the feet of Masajirō. +His hand sought the handle of the dagger. The weapon raised he was about +to plunge it into the tender neck. Then a shout startled his ear. "Rash +youths—Wait! Wait!" A powerful grasp was on his arm. With a shiver he +came to consciousness. O'Somé, the river, the bag of gold in his bosom, +all had disappeared. He was lying on the steps of the Jizōdō, +surrounded by the <i>yakunin</i>. All had been a dream!</p> + +<p>With open mouths the <i>yakunin</i> in the court looked at each other. Lo! +They had nabbed a mere dreamer. How would his lordship take it? One more +quick witted and thirstier than the rest answered for all—"Ha! Ah! A +wretched fellow! Not only thief and firebug, but murderer also!" To the +astonished and stammering protest of Masajirō there was the answering +scowl of a very Emma Dai-Ō on the bench. "Miserable wretch! What is +in the heart at best comes to the lips. This matter is to be sifted to +the dregs, the witnesses examined. For offence so far disclosed he can +take the lash. Then off with him to the jail." Masajirō, his back +torn to ribbons and bloody with the fifty blows, was supported out of +the court. Then the wine cup was condescended to the energy and +acuteness of his captors. Enlivened by the morning's entertainment and +his own big cup Aoyama Shūzen rose and departed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Emma Dai-Ō gives Judgment</span></h3> + + +<p>Great was the excitement and lamentable the experience of the Aizawaya. +The matter of O'Somé had been under discussion with the Iwakuniya. +Beyond good words and cold courtesy little satisfaction could be +obtained; nor could it be expected. The offence had been the work of a +fox, and the jewel of a girl's reputation had been trodden in the mire. +Returned to the saddened home, the nurse of O'Somé was found awaiting +them. At the news she had hastened from the country to console her old +mistress and to take her one time charge in her arms. "Alas! Alas! Is +the matter so beyond remedy? Surely with a good dower the +Iwakuniya...."—"'Tis no such affair," answered the mistress, wiping +away her tears. "As fact the girl is a wretched wench, disregardless of +the parents. The little fool fell madly in love with the figure of the +eldest son of the dye-shop. It seems that daily she made pilgrimage and +prayer to the Ushi no Gozen, to the Gentoku Inari. What more malign +influence could be invoked! One day Minosuké came on a mission to the +shop. She followed him to the street, and for hours her whereabouts was +unknown, until this return in disgrace. Accompanying him to Asakusa, +there she exchanged vows and pillows with him at a convenient +assignation house. Alas! On the return he was taken with a fit in the +street. The prior of the Kido-ku-In, the great priest of the Shūgenja +(Yamabushi), was passing. His aid invoked, at once he recognized the +rascal's disguise. Under the charms recited by the priest the true +appearance was assumed, and a huge fox with a long tail darted away from +the gathered crowd. No reputation has the girl gained by consorting with +such a mate."</p> + +<p>The nurse listened with amazed horror, turning first to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> mother, +then intently regarding the damasked face of O'Somé, dyed red at the +story of her shame. "Oya! Oya! Possessed by a fox! Alas! Truly it is +almost irreparable. If it were mere defloration by the young master of +Iwakuniya, that could be endured. But a fox mixed up in the matter.... +Truly it would be well to take her off somewhere, to some hot spring in +Idzu. There the influence can be removed, and O'Somé San at least +restored in mind." With this advice and gossip, with whispered +consolation and laughing cheer—"'Tis no great matter after all; in the +country—will be found girls a'plenty, quite as lucky or otherwise"—the +kind and jovial dame took her leave.</p> + +<p>The advice as to the hot spring seemed so good that preparations were +under way in all haste. The straw baskets with their convenient deep +covers to fit the larger or smaller needs of travel (<i>kōri</i>), the +<i>furoshiki</i> or large square wrapping cloths, lay in the middle of the +room, amid the pile of wraps and clothing for daily and more formal use. +Skilled hands of maids and youths (<i>wakashū-kozō</i>) employed in the +house were fast packing these latter into convenient parcels. Then to the +hustle and bustle within the house was added the more unusual murmur of +voices and tread of many feet without. The house owner (<i>ienushi</i>), +accompanied by the head of the house block (<i>gumigashira</i>), entered in +haste. Close at their heels followed the land owner (<i>jinushi</i>), the two +bails (<i>jiuki</i> and <i>tanauki</i>). All looked with surprise and suspicion at +these hurried preparations for departure. "Oya! Oya! This will never do. +Honoured Sir of Aizawaya, the <i>yakunin</i> are now at hand from the office of +Aoyama Sama. Your daughter in summoned to the white sand. Remove at once +these signs of what looks like a flight." Eyes agog the frightened parents +watched their neighbours and the servants hustle goods and parcels into +the closets. They had hardly done so when the <i>dōshin</i>, followed by +several constables, burst into the room. "The girl Somé, where is she? +Don't attempt to lie, or conceal her whereabouts." Eyes ferreting +everywhere, the parents too frightened to move, the <i>yakunin</i> soon +entered, dragging along the weeping O'Somé. "Heigh! Heigh! The rope! At +once she is to be bound and dragged before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> honoured presence." Amid +the bawling and the tumult at last the father found opportunity to make +himself heard. He prostrated himself at the feet of the <i>dōshin</i>, so +close to O'Somé that the process of binding and roping necessarily +included his own ample person. "Deign, honoured official, to forbear the +rope. There is no resistance. The girl is very young, and ill. We +accompany her to the presence of his lordship." Weeping he preferred the +request. Iyenushi, Jinushi, Gumi-gashira, in pity added their own petition +to the officer. This latter surveyed the slight figure of this fearful +criminal. Besides, notoriously she had been foxed. He grumbled and +conceded. "The rope can be forborne; not so as to the hands, which must be +securely tied to prevent escape. The affair is most important. Delay there +cannot be. His lordship is not to be kept waiting." Then he swept them all +into his net. <i>Dōshin</i>, <i>Yakunin</i>, <i>Jinushi</i>, <i>Iyenushi</i>, +<i>Gumi-gashira</i>, <i>Ban-gashira</i>, <i>Jiuki</i>, <i>Tanauki</i>, debtors, creditors, all +and every in the slightest degree connected with the Aizawaya fell into +the procession. But Edo town was growing used to these. 'Twas merely +another haul of the active officers of the honoured Yakujin. "Kimyō +Chōrai"—may the Buddha's will be done, but spare this Tarōbei, +Jizaémon, Tasuké, or whoever the petitioner chanced to be.</p> + +<p>Aoyama Shūzen stalked slowly forward to the <i>rōka</i>. Scowling he +ran his eye over the crowd, taking in each and every. Then his eyes +fell—first on Kogiku, the harlot of the Uedaya; then on the shrinking +beauty of O'Somé of the Aizawaya. Shūzen was improving in these days. +The Ue-Sama (Shōgun) spoke harshly of those retainers who made no +provision for issue to support loyally the fortune of his House. Let him +who would seek his lord's favour furnish forth such noble and lusty +issue as in the Kamakura days, when Hōjō Tokimasa, Wada Yoshimori +Hatakeyama Shigetada, the Kajiwara, Miura, Doi, attended the hunting +field of their suzerain followed by a dozen lusty heirs of the +line—direct and indirect. Hence of late Shūzen had renewed his +matrimonial venture, and taken to his bed a second partner. For side +issue and attendance on his household affairs, his office was a fruitful +field. The families of those condemned suffered with them, and the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +favoured served in Aoyama's household, in all offices, from that of +ladies in waiting to menial service—down to the <i>yatsuhōkōnin</i>. +These latter, slaves for life, were more fortunate than their sisters +<i>yatsu yūjō</i>, who were condemned to be sold for life service as +harlots in the Yoshiwara. It was a hard law; but it was the law of the +Tokugawa, of before the days of the ruling House. Shūzen profited +greatly by it in the domestic sense. The harlot and the girl budding +into womanhood would be acceptable addition to the companionship of his +then bachelor existence.</p> + +<p>His manner softened as he took his seat. His robes were more carefully +adjusted. His cue bristled more erect. He was strikingly good looking. +Dismissing all minor offenders he took up at once the great case of the +day. The wretched Masajirō, his back bloodily marked by the scourge, +was crouching in shame at the white sand before him. Shūzen gave him +one savage glare, which added terror to his confusion before those once +friends and relations. Then Shūzen began carefully and insistently to +scan the faces of the girls. They were well worth attention. O'Somé, +sixteen and a beauty, had these aids to her other charms—a <i>kimono</i> of +the fine striped silk of Izu, made in the neighbouring island of +Hachijō by girls well fitted themselves to give grace to the +beautiful tissue, an <i>obi</i> (sash) of fawn and scarlet into which was +woven the shadowy figure, here and there, of a landscape—sketchy but +suggestive. The belt which girded it within was of egg coloured crape, +and the orange tissue broadened and hung down to add its touch of +carefully contrasted colour. The hair was built high in the +<i>taka-shimada</i> style, tied on top with a five coloured knot of thick +crape. The combs and other hair ornaments were beautiful, and befitting +the cherished daughter of the well-to-do townsman. Then Shūzen's look +wandered to the harlot. Kogiku, Little Chrysanthemum, was noted in Edo +town. Her beauty was more experienced, but hardly more mature than that +of the town girl. Sedately she met the look, and without movement eyes +plead smilingly for gentle treatment. She was dressed<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> in a robe of +gauzy water coloured silk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> The sleeves were widely patterned—as with +her class—but worked with rare harmony into the light grey colour of +the robe. The long outer robe thrown over the inner garment (<i>uchikaku</i>) +in these brilliant colours, in its tamer shades yet harmonized. Taken +with the broad sash of the <i>obi</i> it made her rival the peacock in his +grandest display. Her hair dressed high, was a bewildering harmony of +the costly tortoise shell combs and pins (<i>kanzashi</i>) arrayed in +crab-like eccentricity. The gold ornamentation glistened and sparkled +amid the dark tresses. Truly Shūzen was puzzled in this claim for +priority between the unrivalled beauty and the fresher and naiver charms +of inexperience. Ah! Both should be the cup-bearers. But the sequel! +Benten Sama alone could guide the lot.</p> + +<p>It was ordered that the confession be read. Once more the judge, +Shūzen carefully watched the faces before him of those most +concerned. It was not difficult to detect amid the confusion of O'Somé, +the growing wrath of Kogiku, an unfeigned astonishment. With some +satisfaction he noted this evident discrepancy in the plea. Suave, yet +still somewhat harsh, he addressed O'Somé. "The confession of this +wicked fellow has been heard. What has Somé to say in answer thereto." +For a moment the girl raised her head to that of this Emma Dai-Ō. +Then in confusion she half turned as seeking support—"Mother! Mother!" +It was all she could say in her fright, and more than the mother could +stand. She was the townswoman; self-assured in her way. She boldly +advanced a knee. "With fear and respect: the girl is but of sixteen +years, and the white sand has paralysed her thought and utterance. +Deign, honoured lord, to pardon the mother's speech." Then she went into +details as to the late unfortunate occurrence. With indignant looks at +the crushed and unfortunate Masajirō, she gave her own testimony +which rang with truth. "Well he knows all this matter. For the past six +days the girl has not left home or parents caring for her afflicted +body. 'Tis only this fellow Masajirō who claims to be the lover, to +take the place of his brother Minosuké; a poor exchange in either case, +with fellows who do but run after the harlots of Yoshiwara, to the +bewitching of innocent girls." Tenderly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> she took the now weeping O'Somé +in her mother arms, and added her own tears to the soothing.</p> + +<p>Shūzen slowly leaked a smile. He left the pair to themselves and +turned to Kogiku. "And you?" Kogiku was not so easily confused. Readily +she confessed to the contract between herself and Masajirō. "This +affair of the rich purchaser from Kazusa came up suddenly. There seemed +no outlet but suicide—if the dreary life away from Edo was to be +avoided." Shūzen took her up harshly—"Bound to the Uedaya for a term +of years then you would cheat your master out of the money he expended +on you. This is theft, and most reprehensible. For such it is hard to +find excuse." His roughness puzzled and frightened even the experience +of Kogiku. She became confused. Shūzen was satisfied with the +impression. He was unwilling further to delay his own prospects. Sending +the matter over to the next sitting for final settlement he remanded all +the accused—Masajirō to the jail and repeated scourgings for the +lies contained in his confession; the girls to his own care. His +experiences for the time being would largely condition the final +judgment.</p> + +<p>Shūzen was regular in his irregularities. Promptly, the case again +convened, he gave judgment. There was none of the customary roughness in +his manner. Even the official harshness was smoothed down. He dilated on +the importance of the case, the necessity of making an example of this +evident depravity of manners and morals affecting Edo town—"As for the +girl Somé, it is matter of question with whom she is involved, +Masajirō or Minosuké; both well could be her lovers. Thus she has +fallen under strange influences and been foxed. Such a girl is not to be +allowed to wander at random. As act of benevolence henceforth charge is +continued as in the present conditions. Kogiku is still more +reprehensible. The attempt to cheat her master being so brazenly +confessed is hard to overlook. Owing to her previous life perhaps the +feelings have become blunted. The same benevolence and punishment is +awarded to her—with hope of future amendment." The master of the +Uedaya, crouching close to his head clerk made a wry face. The two men +exchanged glances, and the clerk opened a very big round<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> eye for his +master to observe. The latter sighed. Continued Shūzen severely—"As +for this Masajirō, he is not only liar, but would-be firebug and +thief. What is harboured in the mind he would put into deed. It is but +chance which has saved the life and purse of the passing citizen, and +the sacred structures from the flames. To him the severest punishment is +meet. However benevolence shall still hold its sway. Instead of the +sword, banishment to the islands for the term of life, to serve as slave +therein to the Eta—such his sentence. To this judgment there is no +appeal." Abruptly he rose. The weeping father and mother were baffled by +the nonchalance of the daughter, who had no chance to give them comfort, +but was at once removed in company with the willing lady of pleasure and +experience. The huddled form of Masajirō was hustled roughly out with +the kicks and blows to which he was becoming accustomed. Two or three +years, under the rough charge of his new masters, were pretty sure to +witness his body cast out on the moorland to the kites—or into the sea +for fishes to knaw.</p> + +<p>It was the <i>bantō</i> (clerk), faint with the hunger of long waiting, +who led the parents into the first cook shop encountered on the way. +Here over greens and cold water the father sighed, the mother wept +apart, the clerk eyed biliously the meagre fare. Then in poured the +company of Kogiku—a noisy, merry crowd. There were expressions of +amused discomfiture, caught by the sharp ears of the clerk; suggestive +references. He watched them; heard the lavish orders for food and +wine—"Plenty of wine, and piping hot"—"Respectfully heard and +understood." The waiting girls were at their wit's end. The feast in +progress the <i>bantō</i> came boldly forward. "Honoured sirs, deign to +note these parents here, deprived of their daughter. Your honoured +selves have lost a girl of much value to your master. How is it then +that you thus deign to rejoice? Plainly the grief of these must be out +of place." The man addressed more directly looked him over coldly; then +cast an eye on the distressed father and mother, at their meagre fare. +His manner changed. He became more cordial. "Good sir, the affair is not +to be taken thus! Sentence has been given, but...." He laughed—"it can +be revoked. Already in the inner room the master is in consultation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +with the agent of Takai Yokubei San (Mr. Highly Covetous), Aikawa +Dono,—the honoured <i>yōnin</i> of Aoyama Sama. A round bribe, and the +girl will be released...." The words were not out of his mouth when the +father was on his feet. Led by the <i>bantō</i> he made the rounds of +all—pimps, bawds, and bouncers—soliciting their influence—"Honoured +gentlemen of the Yoshiwara, deign to interfere in the matter, to plead +with the master of the Uedaya. House, lands, goods, all these are +nothing if the cherished daughter be restored." He wept; and they took +pity on his inexperience. The first speaker at once sprang up and went +to the inner room. The master of the Uedaya cordially desired their +presence. Added funds were no drawback to his own petition in the +dealings with Yokubei San. The parents introduced he told them—"It is +but a matter of cash. Kogiku, within the next three days, must be +delivered to the <i>gōshi</i> of Kazusa, or else a large forfeit paid. She +can kill herself on the day following. 'Tis no affair of the Uedaya. Add +your gift of a hundred <i>ryō</i> to the bribe of the Uedaya, and Saisuké +San, here present, can assure success. Aikawa Dono surely has not left +the court. He awaits report, with as great anxiety as your honoured +selves. As for the Tono Sama, he has had the presence of the girls for +the six days, and will be all the more easily worked on. But from all +accounts the honoured daughter had little to lose in the experience. She +would make a splendid Go-Tayu." Seeing no sign of acquiescence he +shrugged his shoulders, and continued to the honoured Saisuké San—"A +most annoying affair: a hundred <i>ryō</i> to this shark, and only the +premium and the debts of the <i>oiran</i> will be paid. But he will take no +less?... Be sure she shall learn the use of the <i>seméba</i> (punishment +cell) before she finds her new master." Saisuké San with slow smile made +answer—"Be sure that by night she will be in your hands, ready for the +experience."</p> + +<p>Rejoicing the parents gave thanks, and betook themselves to their home. +Half ruined, again O'Somé would gladden their hearts. But the mother had +an eye to the expense, and promised a reception hardly better than that +awaiting Little Chrysanthemum. Why show favouritism? There was small +difference between the two.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> But this the father energetically denied. +Meanwhile Aoyama Shūzen was preparing for his wine feast, one of a +pleasant succession extended over this interval. With misgiving and no +pleasure he saw the entrance of Aikawa Chūdayu. The chamberlain +brought with him the account books. Shūzen's experience, however, +noted past profit as salve to annoyance. He was a bitter hard man in +domestic administration; cutting down food, and by fines the wages, of +those more regularly employed in the household. This made the threatened +loss of women serving by compulsion the more severe. Chūdayu knew how +to deal with his master. Affairs in the household were not going well, +under the free indulgence of Shūzen toward himself and his pleasures. +Besides he was about to deprive him of his new favourites. At a sign +Kogiku and O'Somé, already present by the lord's favour, withdrew. The +younger girl had aged ten years in experience with this companionship of +the week. Chūdayu watched them depart. Then sighed heavily. "Ah! Ha! +So it's <i>that</i>." Shūzen moved testily, as sharply he regarded his +satellite. "Acting under the instructions of your lordship, the box of +cakes has duly been received from Saisuké. The affairs of the household +require a large sum. Her ladyship's confinement is to be considered, the +entertainments required by custom for the expected heir. To return the +gift means to your lordship—the sacrifice of two hundred <i>ryō</i>. May +the Tono Sama deign to consider a moment. Such double good fortune is +rare—and the messenger waits upon this trifling sacrifice of a pleasure +for which substitutes easily can be found." He drew the <i>furoshiki</i> from +the box. Shūzen sighed; but did not hesitate. "Hasten Saisuké off at +once; with the exchange." He placed the box in a closet close by. "As +for the wine feast, Chūdayu shall be the cup-bearer. Shūzen is in +an ill humour." He had an ugly look. Chūdayu, however, did not draw +back. Leaning forward with a smile—"This Chūdayu would make report, +to the pleasure of the Tono Sama."—"Of what?" asked Aoyama, in some +surprise at his chamberlain's earnest manner. "Of the whereabouts and +close proximity of Kosaka Jinnai."—"Ah!" The tone of voice had the +depth of years of expectant hate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Kosaka Jinnai</span></h3> + + +<p>When Takéda Shingen swept down upon the lower provinces in 1571, fought +a rear guard action at Mikatagahara, in which he nearly extinguished +Tokugawa Iyeyasu, with a taste of the latter's remarkable powers of +recuperation, he went on to his real aim of a trial of strength with the +main Oda forces in Mikawa and Ōmi. The great captain lost his life by +a stray bullet before Noda castle. His death for long kept secret, until +the northern forces had withdrawn into the fastnesses of Kai, the war +languished, to be renewed with greater activity under the rash and +ignorant leadership of his son. Katsuyori and his tribe cut belly at +Temmoku-zan, the last and successful bid of Iyeyasu against his former +enemies. Then the Tokugawa standard was planted from Suruga to Mikawa, +and Iyeyasu became indisputably the first of Nobunaga's vassals—and one +never thoroughly trusted.</p> + +<p>Among the twenty-four captains of Takéda Shingen was a Kosaka Danjō +no Chūden. His son Heima inherited the devotion, as well as the fief, +of the father. Unlike many of the Takéda vassals in Kai he clung to +Katsuyori Kō through all the bad weather of that unlucky prince. Kai +was no longer a safe place for vassals true to the native House. Better +luck could be assured with the old enemies, the Uesugi in the North. But +Heima would not seek other service than that of his once lord. He only +sought a place to live.</p> + +<p>When the ex-soldier appeared with his wife in the village of +Nishi-Furutsuka at the base of Tsukuba, the people thereabouts had more +than strong suspicion that he who came so quietly into their midst was +not of their kind. However his presence was accepted. His willingness to +take up farm labour and another status, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> become a <i>gōshi</i> or +gentleman farmer, his valued aid and leadership in the troubled times +which followed, were much appreciated. The year 1599 found the old fox +Iyeyasu Kō planted in Edo castle; and Jisuké, as Heima now called +himself, leaning over the cradle of a boy just born—a very jewel. +Jisuké's wife was now over forty years in age. Hence this unexpected +offspring was all the dearer. In the years there had been losses and +distress. The new-comer surely was the gift from the Kwannondō +nestled on the slopes of the mountain far above the village. To the Lady +Merciful many the prayers for such aid.</p> + +<p>The child grew and prospered. A farmer's boy, yet he was the <i>bushi's</i> +son; made plain in every action. Under the tutelage of the priests of +the neighbouring Zen temple he learned all that they chose to teach, far +outstripped his fellows, and in class room and in sport was their +natural leader. Sport was the better test. With years Jinnosuké tired of +the clerical teaching. The leader of the village band he was its +mainstay in the wars with boys of rival hamlets thereabouts. These were +soon driven away, and their own precincts invaded at will. The mountain +became distinctively the property of Jinnosuké and his youthful +companions, whose whole sport was devoted to mimic warfare. Their +leader, thus unchallenged, became more and more reckless; more and more +longed to distinguish himself by some feat beyond mere counterfeit war. +One day, under his direction, in the storming of the hill which +represented the enemy's castle, much brushwood and dried leaves were +gathered. "Now then! Set the fire! The foe, blinded by the smoke, +perishes under our blows. On! On!" The other children eagerly obeyed. +The blazing mass towered up and up. The trees now were on fire. The wind +blowing fiercely drove the fire directly on to the Kwannondō, which +stood for the citadel of the besieged. Soon the temple itself was in +flames. Greatly excited the boys swarmed amid the smoke and confusion as +if in real battle. "Now—for the plunder!" At Jinnosuké's order the +furniture of the temple was made the object of loot, heaped up at a safe +distance for future division.</p> + +<p>Thus engaged loud shouts met their ears. In fright the band<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> of +youngsters turned to meet the presence of the enraged incumbent, the +<i>dōmori</i>. The temple was his charge and residence. His small +necessities were supplied by visits to the villages below. "Oi! Oi! +wretched little villains! Thus to fire the temple in your sport is most +scandalous. Surely your heads shall be wrung off—one by one. Terrible +the punishment—from Heaven and the Daikwan."<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> The boys in confusion +began to slink away. Then the voice of Jinnosuké rose above the tumult. +"On! On! This priest stinks of blood. Be not cowards! The commander of +the castle would frighten with words. 'Tis he who is afraid. It is his +part to cut belly in defeat and die amid the ruins." In a trice the +whole pack had faced around. Boldly with staves they set upon the +priest. Numbers brought him helpless to the ground. There was a large +stone lying close by. Heaving it to his shoulder Jinnosuké stood over +the prostrate man. "According to rule the matter is thus to be +conducted. This fellow is to be given the finishing stroke; then buried +in the castle ruins." He cast down the heavy block with all his force. +The priest's brains were spattered on the ground. Under the direction of +Jinnosuké the body with feebly twitching limbs was thrown into the now +blazing mass of the temple. Then forming in line, and raising the shout +of victory, the youthful band of heroes marched off to the village. +Under pain of his displeasure—which meant much—Jinnosuké forbade any +bragging or reference to the affair. Wisely: a day or two after a +peasant came on the scene. In fright the man hastened to make report. At +once buzz was most tremendous. Was it accident or the work of thieves, +this disaster? Said one man sagely—"The <i>dōmori</i> was a great +drunkard. Deign to consider. The temple furniture is untouched. Thieves +would have carried it off. He carried it out to safety, to fall a victim +in a further attempt at salvage. The offence lies with the priest, not +with the villagers." The report pleased all, none too anxious to offend +the bands of robbers ranging the mountain mass and the neighbouring +villages. Thus report was made by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> village council to the Daikwan's +office. The temple authorities had a severe reprimand for allowing such +a drunkard to be in charge of the shrine. Jinnosuké stuck his tongue in +his cheek. "Trust to the valour and skill of this Jinnosuké. These +constables are fools." But his companions were a little frightened with +this late exploit. Their numbers fell off. Many of them now came to the +age fit for farm work. Jinnosuké was not long in finding substitutes in +the real thieves who haunted the neighbourhood. Their spy, and often +engaged in their raids, yet in his own district he was only known as a +bad and dissipated boy.</p> + +<p>Something of this had to come to the ears of Jisuké; but not the full +extent of his son's wickedness. He sought a remedy for what he thought +mere wild behaviour. Now in the town, years ago, there had lived a poor +farmer and his wife; "water drinkers," in the local expression for +bitter poverty. The man laboured at day tasks, and the wife laboured as +hard with him, bearing her baby girl on her back. Jisuké aided as he +could, and as was his wont, and when the pair were taken down and died +with a prevailing epidemic disease, it was Jisuké and his wife who took +the child to themselves, to bring her up as their own. O'Ichi San grew +into a beautiful girl, and at this time Jisuké and his wife trusted to +her favour and influence to bring Jinnosuké to the sedateness and +regularity of a farmer's life. The girl blushed and looked down as she +listened to what was more than request, though put in mildest form. "One +so humble is hardly likely to please the young master. Filial duty bids +this Ichi to obey, and yield her person at command." The mother was more +than gratified at the assent and modesty—"Dutiful you have always been. +We parents have no eyes. The whole matter is left to you. If Jinnosuké +can be taken by your person, perchance he will devote his time to home +and the farm work, now so irksome to his father. Where he goes in these +long absences is not known; they can be for no good purpose." Thus the +arrangement was made. The girl now busied herself about and with +Jinnosuké. She was the one to attend to all his comforts, to await his +often late return. Thus used to her he soon began to look on her with +anything but brotherly eyes. Was she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> not the daughter of old +Tarōbei, the water drinker? He knew the story well. Thus one night he +took O'Ichi to himself. She pleased him—as with the parents. No +objection was anywhere raised to the connection; a village of Nippon has +cognizance of such matters; and in short order public notice was given +of the marriage.</p> + +<p>The influence was not of long duration. With his wife's pregnancy +Jinnosuké disappeared. From the age of thirteen years he had been hand +in glove with all the rough fellows of the district. These were stirring +times in the south. There was something to pick up. After all was not he +a <i>samurai's</i> son. Jinnosuké was too late for action. Although but +seventeen years old his short sturdy and astonishingly active frame and +skill with weapons was a welcome addition to the band that Ogita +Kurōji had gathered after the fall of Ōsaka-jō. Now Jinnosuké +figured as Kosaka Jinnai. Here first he came in contact with the law and +Aoyama Shūzen. On this failure he betook himself at once to the +disguise of his native village; to enter it as quietly as if he never +had left it, to find himself the father of a baby girl, Kikujō, and +to procreate another on his patient wife. But before this second girl, +O'Yui, was born Jinnosuké, as the village still knew him, had again +disappeared. This was in strict accordance with his principle, of which +something is to be said.</p> + +<p>Of these Ōsaka <i>rōnin</i>, determined not to take another master, +there were three Jinnai. In council over past failure, said Tomizawa +Jinnai.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> "The ambition of this Tomizawa?" He laughed. Jinnai was no +distinctive term in this gathering. "It is to collect all the beautiful +costumes of Nippon."—"Admirable indeed!" chimed in Shōji Jinnai (or +Jinémon, as he called himself). "But why stop at the surface? As you +know, the ambition of this Shōji had long been to see gathered +together all the most beautiful women of Nippon. And you, Kosaka?"—"To +see all distinction done away with between other men's property and my +own."—"Splendid indeed! But don't poach on our ground." The two others +clapped their hands and laughed. Kosaka Jinnai did not. "Well then—to +put the matter to the test," said he callously. Tomizawa Jinnai +forthwith took up the collection of old clothing and costumes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> of divers +sorts. He can be said to be the ancestor of the old clothes trade of +Edo—Tōkyō; and the Tomizawachō at Ningyōchō no +Yokochō, the place of his residence, is his memorial. To this day it +is a centre for old clothes shops. Shōji Jinnai pressed the petition +he had once put in (Keichō 17th year—1612) as Jinémon before being +finally convinced of the righteousness of a Tokugawa world. He was lucky +enough to find oblivion and reward in the permit for a harlot quarter. +As its bailiff (<i>nanushi</i>) he assembled three thousand beautiful women +for the service of the Yoshiwara, then at Fukiyachō near Nihonbashi, +and of which Ōmondori is the chief relic. Kosaka Jinnai, under such +encouragement and auspices, betook himself more vigorously than ever to +robbery; enhanced by a mighty idea which the years gradually brought to +ripeness in his mind. From being a sandal bearer Hidéyoshi the Taikō +had risen to rule. He, Jinnai, would emulate the example and rise to +rule from being a bandit. He was not, and would not be, the only one of +the kind in the political world. Hence his wide travels through the +provinces, his seeking out all the most desperate and villainous +characters, for he had "trust" in few others, his weaving together of a +vast conspiracy of crime, not to be equalled in any time but the closing +days of the Ashikaga Shōgunate—and that not so far off. Of this +period of Jinnai's life there is a tale to relate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Matter of Pedestrianism</span></h3> + + +<p>Up to the very recent days of Meiji the precincts of the Shiba +San-en-zan Zōjōji, now known more particularly as the most +accessible of the burial places of the Tokugawa Shōgun, were an +excellent example of the old monastic establishments. The main temple +with its wide grounds was completely girdled by a succession of halls or +monastic foundations, some of which were famed through the land for +their theological teaching of the principles of the Jōdō sect. +Conspicuous among these were the Tenjingatani and the Mushigatani, +seminaries widely sought for the erudition of the professors. In all +nearly three thousand students attended the halls, with an eye to an +ecclesiastical future.</p> + +<p>On the dawn of a cold winter morning a priestly clad man, a <i>shoké</i> or +one of the lowest clerical order, mainly notable for the vastness and +robustness of his proportions, could have been seen leaving the gate of +the Tokuchō-in. His size alone would have attracted attention, for +the mouse coloured <i>kimono</i>, the white leggings and mitts (<i>tekkō</i>), +the double soled <i>waraji</i> (sandals) fastened on a pair of big feet, were +usual travelling equipment of his kind, made sure by the close woven +<i>ajiro</i> or mushroom hat covering his head; admirable shelter against +heat in summer, and a canopy—umbrella like—against falling snow in +winter. By somewhat devious route he strode along a narrow lane, crossed +the Gokurakubashi and halted before the Chūmon on the broad avenue +leading up to the temple. A glance thither satisfied him for a +leave-taking, which yet displayed some sentiment. A few moments carried +him without the entrance gate, and but few more saw him crossing +Kanésujibashi, evidently on some long tramp, if the steady swing of a +practised walker, in no haste and conserving his strength, is any test.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>The road in those days passed through a long succession of village +houses, the <i>chō</i> of Shiba village, broken very occasionally by a +<i>yashiki</i> wall. It was not until he reached the barrier at Takanawa, +Kurumachō, that he came full out on the bay just lighting up with the +coming day—a beautiful stretch of water, now spoiled by the ugliness of +the railway and the filling in which has turned the haunt of thousands +of wild fowl into a prairie, soon to be covered by hideous factories and +other sites of man's superfluous toil. Close by the little saddle at +Shinagawa, now a railway cutting, a stream came into the bay from the +west. On the bridge the priest Dentatsu stopped for a moment. +Throughout, from the time of leaving Kanésujibashi, he had had a feeling +of being followed. Now he determined to get a good look at his pursuer, +it was not particularly satisfying. "Iya! An ill looking chap—with an +eye like a knife." The object of these remarks had halted with him, at +the further side of the bridge. He was contemplating the water with one +eye, the priest with the other. A short sturdy man of forty odd years, +Dentatsu noted the good but thin upper garment, the close fitting +leggings, the well chosen <i>waraji</i>, the copper handled dagger in his +girdle. Furthermore he noted a cold decision in the glance of the eye +that he liked least of all in the fellow's equipment.</p> + +<p>This was a man he would not choose for companion—"Bah! Short Legs, this +Dentatsu will soon leave your stumps in the rear. A little speed, and +this doubtful fellow is left behind beyond hope." So off started his +reverence at the full pace of his huge legs and really great endurance. +Through Ōmori and Kamata, crossing in the same boat at the Rokugo +ferry, through Kawasaki and Tsurumigi—totsu-totsu-totsu the stranger's +legs kept easy pace with those of the priest. "A most extraordinary +fellow," thought Dentatsu. "He moves as on springs. It would be well to +settle matters at once with him." Halting he waited for this pursuer to +close up the few score feet maintained between them. His frowning manner +had a genial greeting. "Ah! Ha! Truly the Go Shukké Sama<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> is no mean +walker. But even then company on the road is good. From<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> the +Zōjōji; by that <i>kesa</i> (stole), dress, and carriage? Probably the +honoured priest has a long journey before him—to the capital?" Dentatsu +duly scanned his company—"To the Chion-In, the parent temple, and none +too fond of companionship on the road. Deign, good sir, to spare yours; +with such short legs the task of precedence would be out of the +question. Drop the useless effort of this pursuit, which becomes an +annoyance."</p> + +<p>Dentatsu's manner was truculent, his grasp on his stick even +threatening. The fellow met this rough greeting with the suavest +determination. "Oya! Oya! Naruhodo, Go Shukké Sama! A very rude speech +indeed! After all the highway is free to all, and I too travel the +Tōkaidō toward the capital. Deign to grant your company and the +entertainment will be all the better. Don't be deceived by length, or +lack of length, in one's legs. The promise will be kept not to detain +you.... That you came from Zōjōji is plain from your garb, if you +had not been seen to turn into Tōkaidō from the temple avenue.... +I too travel Kyōto way.... See! In our talk already Hodogaya town is +passed. This climb.... here is the top of the Yakimochizaka. The mark +stands here to bound Sagami and Musashi. Ha! Ha! The Go Shukké Sama has +splendid legs, but he is handicapped by his weight. Surely it cannot be +less than two thousand <i>ryō</i> in coin that he carries in the pack on +his shoulders. That contains no bills on the Shōshidai (Governor) of +the capital."</p> + +<p>Ah! The matter now was fully lighted. The fellow then had known his +mission from Zōjōji to the parent temple, to remit this sum to the +capital. Dentatsu had not anticipated difficulty so early in his +journey, nor did he much care for the contest which was offered him. He +judged the man by his legs, and these were almost miraculous in +swiftness, activity, and strength. "Alas! A dangerous fellow indeed. The +luck of this Dentatsu is bad. What now is to be done?" The cold sweat at +his responsibility gently bedewed his forehead. Yet Dentatsu was a brave +man. The tradesman—or robber—laughed lightly. "Don't look so queer, so +put out, honoured Shukké Sama. Truth is told in saying there is business +on Tōkaidō. Even if highwayman, the last thing thought of would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +be to meddle with the funds of the honoured Hotoké Sama (Buddha). Be +reassured; and as such be more assured in having a companion. The coin? +Pure guess, and from the small size of the parcel and the evident +difficulty found in carrying it. It weighs too much on one shoulder. +Trust not only the thief, but the trader to know the signs of cash.... +You would breakfast at Totsuka town? Did they send you forth with empty +belly? Surely the monastery kitchen has no such reputation for +stinginess among the vulgar." His manner was so reassuring that Dentatsu +gained confidence in him and his profession. Gladly now he accepted this +failure to relieve him of his precious burden, and this offer of +company. He resented however the reflection on the monastery +kitchen—"Not so! Nor is this foolish priest so at odds with the cook as +not to find a bit of mountain whale (flesh) in the soup. Repletion is +the aim and object of a monastic existence."—"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed the +fellow. "Yet the honoured Shukké Sama would breakfast so close to Edo +town! Good sir, deign to leave the matter to me. Both are in haste—you +to the capital; I almost as far.... This Fujisawa is a wondrous place. +As priest you know its temple and its wandering prior, the precious +relics of the Hangwan, but the woman Teruté of course the priest +despises; yet Oguri owed much to her—life and success in his vendetta. +Besides in a copse, just over yonder hill, is the shrine of the other +Hangwan—Yoshitsuné. A prayer to his head there buried brings success in +warlike adventure, no great affair for cleric or tradesman.... Already +the Banyū ferry is close at hand. Surely if we would reach Sumpu +(Shizuoka) this day there can be no lunching short of Odawara town."</p> + +<p>Dentatsu would have stopped short, if such halt had not involved the +rapid disappearance of this elastic and now entertaining companion. As +it was both had to slow pace to let him get breath taken away by pure +amazement. "Odawara town! Sumpu before night! Tradesman, have you gone +mad? To Sumpu it is full forty-eight <i>ri</i> (120 miles). You talk like a +fool. Who is there, to walk such a stage in a day?"—"The honoured +Shukké Sama and this tradesman. In talk and argument the ground flies +under the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> feet of such walkers, and the promise to keep pace will be +maintained. Just see—this is Kodzu town; yonder the waters of +Sakawagawa. 'Tis early yet, but time can be spared for food. For +exercise belly timber is needed. A good lining of wine and food to the +inwards is the tonic to more talk and exertion. Now in with you, to this +broad space leading to the castle—the keep of Ōkubo Kaga no Kami, +with his hundred thousand <i>koku</i> and the trust of the suzerain worth all +his other honours. Ah! Here is the eight roofed Minoya, best of its kind +in the town. And what a town. Between wine, food, and singing girls, one +loiters as long as a second Odawara conference; at times to one's +ruin.... Ah! Ha! A stop for the mid-day meal. Nēsan, no more delay +than needed. Speed is urgent, yet food and wine of the best. The +honoured Shukké Sama is affected toward vegetable food.... What! The +Buddha called wine <i>hannyato</i>—hot water bringing wisdom? Nēsan, the +honoured Shukké Sama is a man of sense, no ascetic when unsatiated—or +on a journey. He would wear out belly and <i>waraji</i> (sandals) on the same +service. Fish boiled with a little salt, <i>sashimi</i> (sliced raw +fish)—and <i>don't</i> forget the <i>kamaboku</i> (fish paste). Two bottles for +each, with as much more heating. Bring a large bowl, empty. Never mind +the change.... And now, honoured Shukké Sama, deign at least to the +uninitiated the basis of this wondrous argument." Dentatsu could not +take offence at his merry humour. Himself he smiled, as he poured from +the second bottle of the wine. "Yes; the Buddha has called wine +<i>hannyato</i>, thus permitting its use to the initiated; just as stronger +foods, properly labelled, are fit for the belly. Thus by the mouth is +purified what goes into the belly. If the mouth can perform lustration +in the one case, it can do so by its exercise in another and more +intimate fashion." The fellow was immensely pleased. Leaning over he had +drunk in the countenance of the priest in the course of his +argument—"Naruhodo! A big body: 'twas feared the mind would be small. +Deign, honoured sir, to wait a moment; a purchase to make...." Off he +bolted with the <i>domburi</i> or large bowl, something of a mystery to the +priest. It was soon solved by his reappearance with the vessel filled +with the small salted squid (<i>ika</i>).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> "There! Honoured Shukké Sama, +sample the best of Odawara town, noted for <i>kamaboku</i> and its small +fish-salted; and of these the <i>ika</i> is unsurpassed." As they drank the +wine, urged on by the savoury relish, he gave few and brief directions. +The food was wrapped up by the <i>nēsan</i>, several bottles of wine put +in the package, for use in a journey that must be pressed. "Now—the +bill; for you, <i>nēsan</i>, what is left over. Honoured Shukké Sama, a +gentle pace for the time being. The belly full, one loiters to let it do +its work. From here to Yumoto is a <i>ri</i> (2-1/2 miles), of most gentle +rise. And what a pretty scene; the valley narrowing to its clinging +hills hiding the strange and beautiful scenes beyond, yet which cause a +little fear even to the stoutest hearts. This river seems alive, +twisting, and turning, and pouring in multitudinous and minute falls +over the rounded boulders. The greater falls are naught else—on the +larger scale. All day one could watch the twists and turns of one spot +in a rivulet, white, green, almost black, yet never the same.... Note +how the pass narrows. This is Hata, beyond is the monkey's clinging +hill—well named. More than one rock from the steep above has torn away +the traveller's grasp and crushed a skull as if an egg shell." They +breasted the steep hills through forest, came out on the gentler upper +slopes covered with the long bamboo grass through which could be seen +the rough heaped up surface of volcanic debris. The trader came to a +halt. "A request to make."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Now the fellow's mask is off—in this lonely spot.... He shall have +a tussle for it." Dentatsu was as much enraged as scared. Grasping his +staff he faced the townsman with harshness and visible irritation. Said +the latter testily—"Put off the honoured scowl. Truly the distrust of +the Shukké Sama is most uncomplimentary. But—as priest of Zōjōji, +and on its mission, there is a passport. Women or guns with such, and +those unfurnished, cannot pass the barrier. I am unfurnished." Dentatsu +showed his amazement—"Yet you would journey to the capital! +And...."—"Started in great haste, without time even for equipment, as +can be seen—in a way. Deign to grant the request of entering in +'companion.' With this favour all will be well, and the obligation +greater." Said the priest gravely—"True: and companions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> for the day, +breaking food together, it is no great matter. But a townsman as +company—the barrier guards would certainly make question."—"Write the +matter in; write the matter in. They shall have answer.... For whom? The +name is Jimbei, of Kanda ward; but just now a servant of Zōjōji. +Jimbei will be a credit to the honoured Shukké Sama. Write it in." His +manner was so peremptory that the priest drew forth his writing +materials. With one hand grinding his tablet of ink, with one eye +watching Jimbei, he saw him disappear into the bushes. With misgiving +the characters were added to the passport, a gentle forgery easy to the +cleric in mind and hand. Who would not cheat barrier and customs, and +feel all the better for the deed? To the misgivings were added a gasp of +astonishment. From the bush appeared Jimbei clad in full raiment of a +temple servant, carrying pole and the two boxes (<i>ryōgaké</i>) on his +shoulders, and so like to the rôle that Dentatsu felt as travelling in +the style of his betters. "But ... in this lonely place how effect such +change? How...." Jimbei quietly removed the document dangling from his +fingers. "How—and why—and which—and where—all these are for later +explanation. Time presses if Sumpu is to be reached at night. Jimbei +answers for the credit of the Go Shukké Sama. Now, honoured sir—down +the hill with you." They were standing on the crest overlooking the lake +far below. Jimbei set the example by starting off at a rapid pace. Never +had priest better attendant, or one more skilled in dealing with barrier +curiosity. He was loquacious, without giving information. The matter was +clear, and Jimbei gave hint as to the mission and the burden. Dentatsu +was given early clearance. At the top of Mukōzaka Jimbei loyally +restored to him the precious burden until then assumed. "Now, sir +priest, be assured of Jimbei Dono's good faith. The favour has been +great. The acknowledgment shall be as great. In this life the Go Shukké +Sama and this Jimbei are bound in brotherhood." If Dentatsu felt +grateful, he also felt a little chilled.</p> + +<p>"A wonderful fellow! Such legs on such a small body have never been +seen.... Nor such an eye. This man is as much brains as bulk. Every +member is intelligence—Extraordinary!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> He kept this opinion to +himself. Aloud—"This Dentatsu admits his inferiority. He is worn out. +Since Jimbei balks Mishima town, from there onward this foolish priest +takes nag or <i>kago</i>." Was he speaking truth, or trying to get rid of +him? Jimbei stopped and observed him keenly. Bah! His was the master +mind over this poor cleric. "The Shukké Sama already has had test of +Jimbei's wit and talk. Deign not to spit folly. Leave the matter to +Jimbei, and be assured that the passage of time and space will go +unobserved." Nor did the priest find it otherwise. The leagues passed on +apace. At this rest shed they stopped awhile for tea, and to consume +provision. At another Jimbei halted to order <i>saké</i> for himself and +companion. The sun was far down as the ferrymen landed them on the +further side of the Fujikawa. Okitsu? Mio no Matsubara? No indeed: +passing under the walls of the Seikenji, Jimbei spoke with enthusiasm of +the place famed for eatables—Sumpu town. Tōtōmi-wan, Suruga-wan, +furnished the fish, unsurpassed; the <i>tai</i> (bream) of Okitsu, famed for +<i>sashimi</i>—all these, including the best <i>saké</i> in Nippon. Dentatsu +sighed with weariness and anticipated pleasure of the table set. Passing +through the darkness of full night the mass of a castle bulk could be +made out. Then they came into the blaze of such light as a large +provincial town afforded. Said Jimbei, with some exultation—"Sumpu +town, and its inns of note. Eh! Honoured Shukké Sama!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Affair of Kishū Ke</span></h3> + + +<p>Jimbei, as of one born and bred in the town, at once led his companion +off from the castle precincts. The many lanterns hung out in the narrow +streets showed this Jinshukuchō to be the lodging quarter of the +town. Approaching the entrance of one more conspicuous—"The +Yorozuya.... Ah! Shelter for the night." The maids kneeling at the +entrance chorused their welcome. Keenly they took in the prospective +guests, garb mainly, possessions less conspicuous. All Nipponese travel +light, and tea money is to be judged by outward appearance. "Deign to +enter;" the usual mechanical and none too enthusiastic greeting. Jimbei +was at home—"And the eight mat room over looking the street?... Oh! +Nēsan is without memory." The girl, a little puzzled, admitted the +defect and made apology. Alas! The room had been taken for one of the +train of Kishū Ke. They were <i>samurai</i>, on their lord's business, and +would have no near neighbours. Another room of size and suitability was +available. "Honoured Shukké Sama, water for the feet." Deftly he +stripped off the sandals of Dentatsu, acted the servant to perfection, +and attended to his own purification with practised swiftness. Then +under the guidance of the maid the room was sought. The host appeared +almost as soon with the inn register. "Dentatsu, <i>shoké</i> of +Jōjōji; one companion—from Mishima this day." With grave face +Jimbei made the entry; and Dentatsu gave all the approval of an outraged +weariness.</p> + +<p>"And now—the bath? Nēsan, the Danna Sama is large of body and +liberal of needs. No vegetation as repast for him. Just a...." Jimbei +went into a huge order of food and wine to repair their tired bodies. +The girl sighed in relief—"The honoured <i>bōzu</i>-san (sir priest) is +most considerate. He asks but what is easily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> supplied." To Jimbei's +supposed inquiry—"To furnish out of the usual course is never easy. The +honoured priests often give trouble." A serving man stuck his nose +within the <i>shōji</i>. "For the honoured guests the bath...."—"Danna, +the bath." The girl stood expectant. Following her guidance the weary +Dentatsu, under the manipulation of his more active companion, underwent +this partial renovation. Before the <i>zen</i>, well covered with the +eatables, Dentatsu sighed—"Ah! Ha! This Dentatsu is weary beyond +measure. To-morrow he will rest here. The distance...." Jimbei cut him +short—"The Danna deigns to jest. The rest of a night, and all the +weariness departs. Wine and food, sleep, will show the folly of such +thought. Besides, the temple's important affair...." Dentatsu did not +seem to be so solicitous concerning temple matters as his attendant. +Jimbei gave him little chance to show it. He prattled and talked, had +much to ask of <i>nēsan</i>. This shortly, and as decided—"With an early +start let the beds be laid at once." Off he dragged the unwilling +Dentatsu. When they returned from preparation for the night the beds +were laid. Dentatsu tumbled incontinently into one, and in a moment was +snoring. Jimbei sat smoking, watching him and the girl making the final +preparation of the chamber for the night. As she passed close to him +suddenly he seized her and drew her down to him—"Ara! Danna, this won't +do at all. A maid in the inn, such service must be refused. Condescend +to loosen." But Jimbei did not let her go. He drew her very close.—"Ha! +Ah! Indeed one is much in love. However don't be alarmed. It is another +affair. The Go Shukké Sama has a little soul in a big body. He is +wearied beyond measure; yet the temple affairs require an early start. +Deign to call us at the seventh hour, but be sure to say it is the +sixth. Is it agreed?... For a hair ornament." The maid understood the +coin and the innocent deception. Dimming the night light she took her +departure. An inn of Nippon never sleeps.</p> + +<p>Dentatsu was aroused, to find the lamp still burning brightly in the +room. The maid, somewhat frightened, was vigorously shaking him. "Oya! +Oya! To shake up such a big Danna, 'tis terrific. He may deign to bestow +a beating." Said Jimbei, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> calm philosophy—"For the <i>kerai</i> to +inconvenience his master is not to be permitted. You are of the inn +service. Hence not to be reproved by strangers. It is your function to +arouse."—"The sixth hour!" grumbled Dentatsu. He rubbed his eyes as one +who had just gone to sleep. Jimbei carried him off to the cleaning +processes of early morn. The return found the table laid with the meal. +With quietness and despatch Jimbei settled all matters with the aplomb +of the practised traveller. Before he was well awake Dentatsu found +himself following after through the dark streets. "Surely the maid has +mistaken the hour.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> 'Tis yet the darkness of night."—"Not likely," +interjected Jimbei, as swiftly he urged him on. "The girl sees to +departure every day in the year. It is the darkness of bad weather, and +all the more need for haste." He looked around in surprise. They had +reached the ferry at the Tegoé crossing of the Abégawa, at the edge of +the town. "Naruhodo! Not a coolie has yet appeared. There is no one to +carry us across the river. How now! Has the girl really mistaken the +hour?... Return? Why so? That would be to look ridiculous, and the woman +is not worth scolding. However, this Jimbei knows...." With misgiving +and protest Dentatsu followed him a little up stream, toward the +Ambai-nai or Nitta crossing. Here the broad middle space is usually left +bare of flood. Jimbei began to strip.</p> + +<p>"Naruhodo! Townsman, surely the crossing is not to be trod without the +practised guidance of the coolies? This Dentatsu budges not a +step...."—"Deign to be silent," was the reply. Jimbei was already in +the water; with the priest's luggage and his own. With fright and +interest Dentatsu watched him feel his way through the stream. Surely he +was a most surprising fellow. On the other bank doubtless he would +disappear at once. The big legs of Dentatsu trembled under him. He had +thoughts of entrance, but the impossibility of overtaking these legs of +quicksilver prevented him. "Ora pro nobis"; these departing treasures. +No! Now he was returning. "Now, Go Shukké Sama, up with you." He made a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +back for Dentatsu, but the big man backed away. "Jimbei! Are you mad? Is +Jimbei one to carry the big...."—"Body in which is lodged such a small +soul? Be sure, sir priest, this Jimbei easily could shift double the +weight. Up with you!... Don't put the hands over my eyes. A little +higher: that's it." Off he started into the flood. The first channel was +easy; barely to the thigh. Dentatsu walked across the intervening sand, +with more confidence and not a word of doubting protest. Again, and +readily, he mounted this surprising conveyance. The second attempt was +another affair. The river flowed swift. The legs of Dentatsu were wound +around the neck of Jimbei, now in water to his chest. He looked in +fright and some pleasure at the waves, flicked here and there with +white. Jimbei halted—"A fine sight, sir priest. Note the deep blue. It +shows depth, yet this is the ford. Just below it runs far over man's +head, with swift undercurrent. He who once is caught in it rises not +again until the crossing is reached, far below." Said Dentatsu, scared +and annoyed—"Why loiter then in such a dangerous place?"—"Because just +now the world is Jimbei's world." The tone of voice, the look up he +gave, froze the soul of Dentatsu.</p> + +<p>"Just consider, sir priest. A movement, and the honoured Go Shukké Sama +is food for fishes. His disappearance accounted for, his luggage, the +two thousand <i>ryō</i> of the temple, pass to Jimbei as his heir, and +none to make report. The honoured Shukké Sama, is he prepared?" Dentatsu +was no fool. This man was in earnest for the moment. With all the +calmness of a desperate position he made terms—"Life is everything. +Deign to place this foolish priest on solid ground. Jimbei takes the +coin, goes unscathed, without word now or hereafter. The priest's word +for it—and surely Jimbei fears not for himself." He clung fast to +Jimbei's neck. The latter had gone off into a most outrageous peal of +laughter which almost shook his freight from the perch aloft. Then +slowly and carefully he proceeded into the shallows, set down his charge +on the further bank—"A magnificent compliment: but no more of this. +Perhaps now the Go Shukké Sama will have trust in Jimbei, submit to his +guidance. For once in earnest, the escape was a narrow one....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Ah! Ha! +Ha! Ha! How scared!" Dentatsu did not deny it—"More than frightened; +thoroughly scared." He scanned his companion. "A most surprising fellow! +Surely...." He was perplexed. But Jimbei paid no attention to his +questioning deferential manner. He was plainly the master—"Come now! +All haste is to be made." Urging the pace soon they were amid the hills. +The white light of dawn was approaching as they were reaching the top of +a difficult climb. "The Utsunoya-tōge (pass)," said Jimbei. A +peculiar vibration in his voice made Dentatsu look at him with surprise. +His mouth was set. His eyes shone colder than ever. Every faculty of the +man was awake and alert. Silent he halted, put down the pack on the +steps of a little wayside shrine, drew out his pipe to smoke. "Beyond is +the Tsuta no Hosomichi, running along the mountain side for some +<i>chō</i>; the 'slender road of Ivy,' for it is no wider than a +creeper."—"A bad place!" mechanically murmured Dentatsu. "A very bad +place!" was the grave reply.</p> + +<p>Then the sound of steps was heard. A man, puffing, came up on the run. +He addressed himself with respect to Jimbei—"Honoured chief, they enter +on the pass."—"Good: now—vamoose; but be at hand." The man saluted, to +Jimbei and the priest, and disappeared in the direction whence he came. +"Vamoose? Vamoose? What and why this word vamoose?"—"Shut up!" was the +emphatic reply of Jimbei. His eye turned to wayside shrine, close by at +the summit of the pass. "Now, in with you, sir priest. No word or +motion, if life be valued.... In with you." Dentatsu looked him all +over. In resentment? If he felt it, he did not dare to show it. +Mechanically he turned and huddled himself within the grating. Jimbei +forced it in on him, for the space would but hold the big body of the +priest. He had hardly done so when another man came running up, almost +breathless—"Chief! They are at hand."—"Good: vamoose."—"Again +'vamoose'", grumbled Dentatsu openly.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> "Why such strange words; and +at least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> why not explain them?"—"Ah! Ha! A noisy priest; these clerics +can do nothing but clack, clack, like a parcel of geese or women. Even +the best of them—who thus consorts with Jimbei. Remember, +Bōzu—silence, or the Go Shukké Sama finds Nirvana—not Gion; or was +it Chion." With a silent ferocious laugh, or expression of such, he +disappeared into the bushes.</p> + +<p>But few moments passed. Dentatsu wriggled uneasily in his robes, the +only motion space permitted. Then was heard the merry sound of bells. A +pack train appeared; or rather two horses, one as carrier. A <i>samurai</i> +rode in front; another followed on foot. Four or five grooms were in +attendance. Close by the shrine, at the top of the ascent, they halted +to get wind after this last steep pull. "What a splendid sight! +Naruhodo, Gemba Dono! The sun rises from the bosom of the waters. How +blue they seem! The hills take shape in the dawn's light. Truly the +start, so inconveniently early, is repaid in part. One could stay here +forever ... what call you this place?... Tsuta no Hosomichi? And the +resort of highwaymen. But the <i>samurai</i> has his sword. Such fellows are +not of the kind to trouble. Much more so a <i>tanka</i> couplet to celebrate +the beauty of the spot." He laughed, and his companion swaggered to the +front of the shrine, with that peculiar hip motion of his caste. +Dentatsu held his breath. The grooms chanted the few lines of a +song—"The eight <i>ri</i> of Hakoné—the horse's pack; the Oigawa—its wide +flood, not so." Slowly they rose to follow the masters. He who walked +preceded. The pack horse followed. The rider was well engaged in the +narrow way. The grooms were preparing to follow. Then a man burst forth +from the bushes at the roadside. "Atsu!" The <i>samurai</i> had but hand on +his sword hilt when his assailant had cut deep into shoulder and pap. +His companion tried to turn. Then Dentatsu saw the animal he rode +stagger and fall. The rider had but time to throw himself to the ground. +Before he could rise his head rolled off a dozen paces, then bounded +down the steep slope. Striding over the body smoking in blood, Jimbei +grasped the rein of the pack horse. The grooms, who had looked on eyes +agog, took to flight down the pass as they had come. The whole affair +had not taken two minutes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gasping with fright Dentatsu allowed himself to be dragged from the +shrine. "Ah! Ha! Ha! A surprising fellow! Such activity was never shown +by man. Truly Jimbei is of the hobgoblin kind." Jimbei was once more +transformed. His costume of priests' attendant had been resumed. The +carrying boxes, now much heavier, were ready to shoulder. Gravely he +indicated the burden. "Four thousand <i>ryō</i> there; a thousand <i>ryō</i> +to be carried elsewhere. But now there is need for great haste. Neither +Jimbei nor the Go Shukké Sama is to be found in these parts. On with +you, sir priest."—"Ah! Jimbei! Jimbei! A strange fellow indeed! What +manner of company has this Dentatsu fallen in with?"—"This is no time +for questions—or answers," was Jimbei's stern reply. "The relation +evidently is for life. Jimbei recognizes it.... Yes, the crest is that +of Kishū Ke; the money, funds remitted to his treasury. Hence all the +greater need to hasten." Speed they did, by paths and shorter ways +unknown to Dentatsu as frequent traveller of this road, and which spared +the Hamana bight and rest at the tea sheds of the Tōkaidō. Fright +urged on Dentatsu without protest; settled purpose hastened Jimbei. Thus +Yoshida post town was reached in good time to inn, for the priest was +half dead with fatigue.</p> + +<p>Jimbei surveyed his charge, critically and with much kindness, as one +does what has been of greatest use to him. "Not a step further can this +Dentatsu go." It was not refusal; it was plain assertion of fact; and +Jimbei agreed. "There is no longer need for haste. Two, three days +stoppage, with the best of food and wine shall be the reward of the +honoured Shukké Sama. Nay, until thoroughly restored." They had come +from the bath and were seated at a table loaded with wine and food. +Dentatsu prepared to eat. Just then the landlord stuck his head in +between the <i>shōji</i>. His face was anxious and frightened. "Regret is +felt. On Utsunoyama, at the crossing of the pass, the honoured money +train of Kishū Ke has been held up and robbed. 'Tis a great affair; +by some notable robber! At Yoshida none are allowed exit or entrance +during the next six days. People and strangers are to undergo strict +examination. Deign the honoured pardon, but ... after all the charges +are to be met for the detention." The morsel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> then being conveyed to the +mouth of Dentatsu stopped short. A warning look from Jimbei nearly made +him choke. The townsman was all suavity and glee—"How fortunate! The +honoured Shukké Sama, foot sore, would rest several days. And at no +expense! The generosity of Matsudaira Kō passes measure. Are we not +lucky, Danna?" To the host—"So it makes no difference. But at this +distance...." The host shrugged his shoulders. "It would seem so; but +the order is official. The notice came by boat from Oigawa. The whole +Tōkaidō is up—from Yoshida to Numazu town."—"And why not to Edo +and the capital (Kyōto)," Jimbei laughed. The host laughed too. Well +satisfied with his guests' satisfaction he withdrew. Dentatsu did but +blink.</p> + +<p>The meal removed Jimbei sat in apparent thought. "A boat—and Yoshida! Who +would have thought it? Ah! The wicked are not to escape punishment. Three +feet nearer Heaven—on a stake; and one's belly full of wind holes—from +the spears. Go Shukké Sama, the crime was a dastardly one. Five thousand +<i>ryō</i>! Surely it means crucifixion on the embankment. We will furnish +poles for plover—to roost upon."<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> Dentatsu made a sign of frightened +repulsion. He could not speak. Jimbei seemed to catch an idea. "Nēsan! +Nēsan! keep the honoured Shukké Sama company over his wine. There is a +purchase to make.... By the house? No such trouble asked. It is for +<i>waraji</i>, with cloth in front and rear, indispensable.... Not found here? +Nay, these eyes saw them on entering the town. Someone will get ahead in +the purchase—with great regret. The place was seen, but not knowing the +streets it is not to be described." When the girl carried out the dishes, +to bring in more wine, Dentatsu raised heavy reproachful eyes—"Then +Jimbei would run away, leave the priest in the lurch." He cast a look at +the hateful <i>ryōgaké</i>, stuffed with recent spoil. Jimbei froze him into +silence—"From the town there is no escape. Leave the matter to Jimbei. +Drink: even if the liquor chokes."—"A means of escape will be +found?"—"Truly a big body and a cowardly heart. Why, man this but a +difficult place. Jimbei leaves, to find an exit."—"Just so!" was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +gloomy answer of the priest. He put his head in his hands. Meanwhile +Jimbei betook himself to the front. To avoid annoyance he borrowed an inn +lantern. With its broad mark of "Masuya," the name of the inn, he sallied +out into the darkness.</p> + +<p>He was gone nearly a whole watch. Dentatsu, assured of his desertion, +was in despair. He had relied on the fertile mind of this scamp. Ah! +What a predicament this fellow had got him into. Then the voice of +Jimbei sounded at his shoulder. Dentatsu almost leaped up. Instead he +gulped down the <i>saké</i>, until then barely touched, to the maid's great +astonishment. "Surely the Danna Sama must be ill."—"More likely tired, +than unwell. But the wine will make it pass. The <i>waraji</i>? Here they +are." He laughed as he drew them from his bosom. The girl was all +astonishment. They were just as described; such as were never seen west +of Hakoné. Truly a sharp-sighted guest! When alone Jimbei spoke +briefly—"Take courage. The matter is arranged." Said Dentatsu, +heavy-eyed—"The mission settled? Has some other lost his life at +Jimbei's hand?" Jimbei laughed; then frowned. "Neither blood nor coin +does Jimbei spill for mere pastime. He has purpose." He handled the +<i>waraji</i>. Said Dentatsu in some amaze—"Where did you get them?"—"In +Odawara."—"Has Jimbei been to Odawara?"—"Just so: but not now. Jimbei +is no Tengu Sama. Did not the Go Shukké Sama take food at Odawara? This +kind are only found there; and pretexts are always needed to range a +town in darkness. The mission is performed. Be assured that before day +these very people will urge departure.... How so? Jimbei is not without +friends; and has done his own part as well. The train is laid, and in +all quarters of Yoshida town the fire will break out. The wind blows +strong, and ... 'tis them or us." His look was so cold as to freeze. +Dentatsu, in ecstasy of gratitude did but seize his hands and +murmur—"Wonderful man—truly a great captain!" For the first time +Jimbei looked a genuine benevolence.</p> + +<p>Dentatsu pushed the covers partly away and sat up in bed. Severe had +been the chiding of Jimbei—"Honoured Shukké Sama, such conduct will +never do. Fortunate it is that the event is postponed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> but an hour or +so. Nēsan surely is amazed at the sudden abstinence of the Go Shukké +Sama from food and drink. Moreover there is work to be done. The body +unnourished, it gives way. Deign to rest. Be assured the urging will +come from others." These the final words before the townsman-bandit had +himself dropped off into soundest slumbers. Dentatsu watched him, with +confidence and some awe. Smoothed out in sleep and under the influence +of some pleasant dream, Jimbei was as harmless looking as one of the +doves in the temple of the war god Hachiman. He leaned over and would +wake him. "<i>Urusai!</i> Annoying fellow! Ah! This <i>bōzu</i> is part hare, +part ass, part swine. When not braying, he is stuffing, or ears up in +fright. Deign to rest, honoured priest. Legs and body will soon have +enough to do." Again he turned over; and again the snores rose loud. +Dentatsu could not sleep. He lay awake, listening to the diminishing +sounds of inn life.</p> + +<p>The temple bells were striking the sixth hour. The sound was a strange +one. The strokes of the hour ran into one continued roar. +Jan-jan-jan—pon-pon—gon-gon—cries of men, the racket of wooden +clappers and of drums, were now added to the uproar. For a few moments +Dentatsu stood the increasing excitement. Through the cracks of the +closed <i>amado</i> he could see a reddish glare, becoming brighter and +brighter. He sat up and roughly shook Jimbei by the shoulder. "Oh! This +rascally cleric. Nothing will satisfy his stupidity, but to carry it to +extremes. Honoured Shukké Sama, wait the urgency of others; don't supply +it. We at least lack not preparation.... Ah!" The <i>shōji</i> were thrown +hastily back. The host of the inn appeared, his face pale and lips +trembling. "Honoured guests! Still in bed? Deign at once to flee. The +town is in a blaze. Every quarter has its conflagration which walks +apace; and in this gale hopeless to overcome...."—"Don't talk folly," +sleepily answered Jimbei. "Is not the town in ward for these six days. +Why disturb oneself? Let all burn together?" The host wrung his +hands—"Honoured sirs, the blame and punishment falls on this Masuya if +injury befall its guests. All lies wide open. Deign at once to leave.... +Naruhodo!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> His mouth was wide open. Jimbei and Dentatsu rose as on +springs, full clad, <i>waraji</i> on their feet. The way "lies wide open." +This was the watchword to Jimbei. "Edokko (sons of Edo) always are +ready, and need no urging." With this genial explanation he and Dentatsu +shouldered past the astonished landlord. If the latter would have had +suspicions they were thwarted or postponed by the cries which rose +below. His own main house was now in flames. Hands to head in this +confusion of ideas he abandoned all thought of his guests and rushed +down below. As if in his own home, with no guide but the outer glare +Jimbei passed to the inn rear. In the darkness of the passage he had +stopped, leaned down and struck a light. The precious <i>ryōgaké</i> on +his shoulders, with the priest he took to the fieldpaths in the rear of +the town. The ground was level; the land rich rice field with its +interspersed and picturesque clumps of trees and bamboo, its verdure +bowered villages. From time to time they looked back at the sky, flaming +red, and in its darker outer parts a mass of glittering flying sparks +"like the gold dashes on aventurine lacquer ware."</p> + +<p>For two days they had lain at Okazaki town, Dentatsu incapable of +movement after the mad run along the classic highway in the darkness of +that fearful night. As refugees from the stricken town they met with +kind reception. The greater part of Yoshida town lay in ashes; and so +great the disaster, so unsuspected the cause, that men looked rather to +the hand of Heaven than of human kind for the source of such punishment. +Jimbei spoke gravely as the two stood on the long bridge leading to +Yahagi across the river. "The luck of one, the misfortune of +another—'twas the life of the Go Shukké Sama and of this Jimbei against +the lives and fortunes of those wretched people. And is there aught to +outweigh life?" The priest nodded a lugubrious and pleased assent to +this plain doctrine. "It is just as well the host of Masuya lost life as +well as goods. He might have made plaint, and had too long a tongue.... +Jimbei could not foresee such weakness in so huge a body." He looked +Dentatsu over with a little kindly contempt. "And so the honoured Shukké +Sama would ask the name of this Jimbei? Honoured sir, the favour of your +ears—for Kosaka Jinnai, son of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> Heima of that name, descendant of the +Kosaka known to fame in service with Shingen Kō of Kai. Times have +changed, and misfortune driven Jinnai to seek revenge for his lord's +undoing." He mocked a little; the tone was too unctuously hypocritical. +Then abruptly—"Sir priest, here we part. Your way lies ahead to Gifu +town. Delay not too much, until the lake (Biwa-ko) is reached. Travel in +company, for Jinnai, though his men are numbered by the thousand, +controls not all the craft. A priest can scent a true priest. Seek out +your kind.... Ha! You make a face.... Here: two hundred <i>ryō</i>. The +monastery is none too generous, and would have you live—abroad. <i>Sutra</i> +and prayers are not amusing. By face and years the honoured Shukké Sama +loves the sex as well as the best of his kind. The very shadow of a +monastery is prolific. More merriment is to be found with the girls of +Gion than with those who dance the <i>kagura</i> (sacred dances) at +Higashiyama. Besides, these are for your betters. If further off—seek +Shimabara (the noted pleasure quarter). Go buy a Tayu; the funds are +ample and not to be hoarded.... There need be no hesitation. 'Tis money +of no thief. The prince robs the public; and Jinnai robs the princely +thief. No trader ever has hung himself from the house beam for act of +Jinnai; and more than one owes credit and freedom from a debtor's +slavery to his aid."</p> + +<p>It was with thanks, the parting with a man famed by deed before one's +eyes, that Dentatsu slowly passed on to the bridge. From its further end +he could see the road leading into the Nakasendō hills. Long he +waited until a diminutive figure, hastening along it, appeared from time +to time between scattered houses on the outskirts of Okazaki town. Then +in earnest he took his own way, partly impelled by fright and anxiety at +loss of his companion and being thrown on the resources of his own wits. +He felt for a time as a blind man deprived of his staff. It was years +after that Yoshida Hatsuémon, he who died so bravely at Ōsaka, +accompanied Marubashi Chūya to the new fencing room opened at Aoyama +Edo by the teacher of the <i>yawatori</i>—a new style of wrestling +introduced from Morokoshi (China)—of spear exercise (<i>sōjutsu</i>), of +jūjutsu. Marubashi Chūya had tried the new exponent of these arts, +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> found him master in all but that of the spear, in which himself he +was famed as teacher. At this time (Shōhō 3rd year—1646) the +crisis of Jinnai's fate and the conspiracy of the famous Yui Shōsetsu +were both approaching issue. To his amazement Hatsuémon recognized in +Osada Jinnai the one time Jimbei of the days when he had journeyed the +Tōkaidō in priestly robe and under the name of Dentatsu. The +recognition was mutual, its concealment courteously discreet on the part +of both men. Shōsetsu appreciated the merits, the audacity, and the +certain failure ahead of Jinnai's scheme. The better remnants he would +gather to himself. Yui Shōsetsu Sensei aimed to pose as a new +Kusunoki Masashigé, whose picture was the daily object of his prayers +and worship. All was grist to the mill of his designs; but not +association with such a chief—or lieutenant—as Kosaka Jinnai. +Forewarned Marubashi and Yoshida (Dentatsu) held coldly off and sought +no intimacy. Thus watched by keen wits of greater comprehension Jinnai +rushed on his course into the claws of Aoyama Shūzen and the meshes +of the Tokugawa code for criminals of his class.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">If old Acquaintance be forgot</span></h3> + + +<p>Thus Kosaka Jinnai, under the name of Osada, at the beginning of +Shōhō 2nd year (1645) was established at Aoyama Harajuku-mura. For +a gentleman of such abilities his pretensions were modest. It is true +that he hung out a gilt sign before his fencing hall, with no boasting +advertisement of his qualities as teacher. Yet his fame quickly became +such that students flocked to him by the score. In a few months, on plea +of being over-stocked, he was turning away all who would seek his +instruction. Some he could not refuse—retainers of <i>yashiki</i> in his +vicinity. But the generality of his disciples were a very rough lot; and +this finer quality of his flock were carefully segregated, came and went +at their appointed time apart from the common herd; and as matter of +fact profited much from their teacher, and knew very little about him. +Which was exactly the aim of Jinnai. This was remembered of him later.</p> + +<p>There is but one domestic episode connected with this period, so short +and purposely obscure in its duration. About the time of his first +establishment a villager, on visit to Edo town, chanced upon the +practice hour of Jinnai. The years had passed, yet the rustic had no +difficulty in recognizing in the Sensei the one time Jinnosuké. When +later he sought a more personal interview the great man was found +courteous but freezing cold in the reception. The news from Tsukuba +district was of that mixed character not to afford any exuberant +pleasure. His reputation for bad company had gone abroad, though no +great deeds of wickedness had been attributed to him. With the devotion +of a daughter his wife had nourished the old folk, brought up her two +daughters. On her shoulders during all these years had rested the +management of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> small affairs. The girls grew toward womanhood. +When O'Kiku was in her seventeenth year Jisuké had died—unconsoled at +the ill turn fortune had played him in this unfilial son. These +grandparents had lingered out the years, crippled and helpless, urging a +re-marriage on O'Ichi—always refused on the plea that such relation was +for two lives. Jisuké Dono had united them, and he alone could separate +her from Jinnai. She sought no second relation herself and plead against +it; and Jisuké would not force it on this filial daughter, who thus +would block the disinheritance of the son. Thus the farm stood, ready +for the master on his return. Truly the whole village wondered, and +admired her filial conduct.</p> + +<p>To most of this Jinnai listened with indifference. "These girls—their +looks and age?" Replied the man—"O'Kiku now is seventeen years; O'Yui +Dono has fifteen years. Truly they are the village beauties, and rarely +found in such life, for they would spare the mother all labour." He +spoke with enthusiasm. "Then the mother lives?" The man shook his +head—"The grave mound yet is very fresh. When she died she spoke no +word of Jinnosuké Dono." Boldly he looked in rebuke at the unfilial man. +Jinnai, if anything, showed annoyance. The old woman alive would have +kept the inconvenient wife—the three women—at the distance of +Tsukuba's slopes. His plans admitted of no possible descent on him at +Aoyama Harajuku. Briefly he made request for the favour of bearing a +message. Gladly the mission was accepted. With a discouraging cordiality +in the leave taking the old acquaintance took his way back to the +village. With something of a flutter O'Ichi opened and ran out the +scroll he brought—"Unexpected and gratifying the meeting with +Tarōbei San. The news of the village, not pleasing, is subject of +condolence. Deign to observe well the instructions here given. The time +will come when a summons to Edo town will be in order. At present the +establishment is new and tender, and stands not the presence of +strangers to the town. Condescend to show the same care in the present +as in the past. The farm and its tenure is left to the hands of Ichi. As +for these girls, look well to their care. They are said to be handsome +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> reputed the daughters of this Jinnai. Obey then his command. These +are no mares for the public service, or for the private delectation of +some rich plebeian. Service in a <i>yashiki</i> need not be refused, and +jumps more with the plans and purposes of Jinnai. Keep this well in +mind, and await the ripeness of time. With salutation...." Such the cold +greeting through the years. "Reputed the daughters of this Jinnai." Ah! +He thought and knew the years turned the beauty Ichi into the worn and +wrinkled country hag of nearly forty years, only too ready to market her +girls for her own necessities. She was ill and worn in her service. Here +Jinnai was to be recognized. He was the man of his caste, with contempt +for the plebeian he turned to his uses, but who must have no intimate +contact with him or his.</p> + +<p>Edo town was in a turmoil. North, East, South of the town the lives and +purses of men who walked were at hazard. Plainly some band was operating +in these quarters of the town. Aoyama Shūzen was hard put to it. His +arrests, outrageous and barbarous, increased with his difficulties. Some +specimens have been instanced. His bands of <i>yakunin</i> lay out in a wide +net around the threatened quarters of the city. On the outskirts of +Honjō a country mansion would be fired and plundered. In Ōkubo a +temple (the Jishō-in) was clean gutted of its treasury—without +notice to its neighbours. Not a sign of the spoil could be traced until +the Shōshidai of Kyōto sent as present to the suzerain a most +valued hanging picture (<i>kakémono</i>) of Shūbun, picked up for him in +Ōsaka town, and worthy of being seen by the eyes of Edo's ruler. +Murder and rape were the common accompaniments of these crimes, the +doers of which left no witness, if resisted. <i>Tsujikiri</i>, cutting down +wayfarers merely to test the value of a sword blade, found revival. Such +murders in the outward wards of the city were of nightly occurrence. Yet +they all centred in Aoyama's own precinct; starting forth from the +fencing hall of Osada Jinnai. What a band they were! At this long +distant date the names read with that tinge of the descriptive which +such nomenclature gives—Yamaguchi Chiyari, Kanagawa Koni, Sendai no +Ōkami, Okayama Koshin, Kumamoto<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> Kondō, Tsukuba Endé;<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> their +great chief being Kosaka Jinnai.</p> + +<p>The eleventh month (December) was closing its first decade. The wine +shop at Shiba Nihon Enoki was celebrating a first opening, a feast in +progress for some hours, and to be maintained for the few ensuing days. +The enthusiasm was at its height, and the wine flowed like water. Some +few guests, who could, tottered home at midnight. Clerks and +domestics—there is little difference in Nipponese practice—shut up the +premises as well as their drunken state permitted. Those who had still +some trace of sobriety proceeded to guzzle what was left in the opened +casks. When the hour of the ox (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) struck, not a man in +the place knew front from rear. They lay sprawled out dead drunk—as +were some of the women. This was the hour watched for and chosen by +Jinnai. Such of the females as could give the alarm were bound and +gagged by the masked invaders. Then they gutted place and store-houses. +With bending backs they betook themselves over the hills the short +distance to Harajuku. Here Jinnai, in the unwise benevolence of the +bandit chieftain, gave rein to the licentiousness of these favourites of +his mature age, to these lieutenants and agents in the great movement +for which all this loot was gathered. The circuit was formed. The heads +of wine barrels just stolen were broached. The grizzled, tousled member +who officiated as cook, and as such had been left behind to his own +offices, produced the feast of fish and delicacies in celebration of the +great deed and accomplishment. "Now is the turn of this company," said +Jinnai in pleasant reference to the victims of the raid. "A real banquet +of extreme intoxication.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> Alas! We have no <i>tabo</i>.... Too dangerous a +loot," commented Jinnai amid the roar of laughter and approval. "Use and +abuse go together; and the necessity to slit the throats of such +chattering parrots. For this company the remains would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> give trouble, +and might bring unexpected visitors about our ears. Be virtuous—and +spare not the wine." The advice was followed to the letter. Soon the +house of Jinnai was a match for that of the looted wine shop.</p> + +<p>With the light of the December dawn a metal dealer (<i>doguya</i>) was +trudging his way over the sifted cover of an early snow fall. He lived +thereabouts; often had had small jobs of mending the weapons and +implements of this sturdy establishment of Jinnai, hence had some good +will to its owner, which was more than could be said of most of the +neighbours. To his surprise he noted the wide open gate to Jinnai's +entrance, the many tracks leading within. Strange sounds were heard. He +would venture on a look. "Oya! Oya!" The man stood stock still, half in +fright and half in a wondering concupiscence of curiosity, as he took in +the riotous vision of the fencing hall. Some twenty men lay scattered in +different postures—all dead drunk. The noise arose from their wide open +snoring mouths and nostrils. A score of wine casks lay tumbled, the +liquor spilled on the <i>tatami</i>. Mingled with the remains of food and +vomit were stained cups and dirty plates. More suggestive to his +frightened eyes was the heap of packages laid out at the side. Some of +them had been opened, and displayed the varied assortment of the +contents. Most conspicuous was Jinnai, who had gone to sleep with the +bag of all the coin found in the wine shop as pillow. Ah! Ha! The scene +needed no interpreter. This was a mere band of thieves, the house their +den. The man stole to the kitchen. He knew his ground, and that in these +bachelor quarters no women would be stirring. Jinnai was a +misogynist—on business principles. Hearing a stir he would have fled at +the rear, but the body of the drunken cook, the intermediary of their +dealings, lay square across the exit. Fearful he made his return. As he +passed out the front—"Alas! Alas! What is to be done? The Sensei, so +just and prompt in his dealings, so kind in his patronage, is a mere +thief. Report is to be made. As witness this Sentarō will send the +Sensei to the execution ground. But the honoured mother—no trouble is +to be brought on her. By other discovery ... and perchance someone has +seen this entrance! What's to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> done? What's to be done?" He did one +thing in his perplexity. He shut the outside door, closed fast the big +gate, and departed by the service gate. Thus no others should intrude on +this rash man; and likewise Jinnai had no inkling of his visit. Then the +<i>doguya</i> fled to his home, so blue in the face and overcome as to +frighten the household. They gathered round the unhappy man with hot +water to drink as restorative. "Had he seen a ghost?"</p> + +<p>All day he pondered. Then he told his story to Aikawa Chūdayu. The +officer was indebted to Sentarō; for many a hint in his operations. +"Deign somehow, honoured <i>yōnin</i>, that the Sensei be allowed to +escape. For this Sentarō to appear as witness will bring down the +curse of one sure to be visited with execution. Condescend this favour." +Chūdayu looked on him with approval, but shook his head in +doubt—"Never mind the curse of one dead. The service to the suzerain is +most opportune. Thus surely there will be reward, not punishment. For +the present you cannot be allowed to leave, but the mother shall suffer +no anxiety. There is much serious matter against this man; perchance no +testimony will be called for.... Strange he should be caught thus; on +both sides, and in accordance." He looked over the scroll he held in his +hands, and with it took his way to his master's apartment. Thus it was +he could spring on Shūzen the greater affair concerning the long +missing man. Making his report of the tale of the <i>doguya</i> he passed +over the scroll he held in his hand—"The fellow is caught in both +quarters. There are three of these <i>rōnin</i>, most intimate. Of this +Marubashi Chūya little favourable is known, but he has the support of +Yui Sensei, the noted master of the Ushigomé Enoki fencing room, and +favourite of all but Hida no Kami, whom he would rival in attainment. +Shibata Saburōbei and this Katō Ichiémon seem honourable men, of +clean lives and reputation beyond the fact of being <i>rōnin</i>. All +experts at arms they live by teaching one form or other of the practice. +Curiosity led Chūya to the encounter of this Osada at his fencing +hall, to find him more than his match at everything but his favourite +art of the spear. But here lies the point. Later he returned, in company +with a one time <i>shoké</i> of the Zōjōji. As Dentatsu the priest had +met with Jinnai,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> and nearly suffered at his hands. In what way he did +not say, but told Chūya that the man's real name was Kosaka—of the +stock of Kosaka Danshō no Chūden of Kai; of him your lordship +already has had experience in early days. At last he comes into the net +and under such fair terms."</p> + +<p>Aoyama did know his man; even after all these years. He had ripened +much. Why not Jinnai? He would have gone himself, and chafed at not +doing so; but his satellites showed him the lack of dignity in such +procedure. The magistrate in person to take a common thief! Darkness +offered chance of escape; so with dawn a host of <i>yakunin</i> was sent +under a <i>yoriki</i><a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> and several <i>dōshin</i>. Aikawa Chūdayu himself +volunteered. Jinnai and his men were not yet up. On the previous day +awaking amid the unseemly debris of the night's debauch, with no clear +recollection of its progress and ending, the chief's first alarm had +been dissipated by finding the outer gate locked. The unbarred wicket +was attributed to an oversight which hardly would attract notice from +the outside. Indeed he had not been the first to rise and take tale of +his companions, to ascertain which one had occasion to open it and go +without. With such a chief few would admit negligence. The day passed +without notice. Confidence was restored. Now from the outside was heard +a hum of voices. "On his lordship's business! On his lordship's +business!" The cries came together with an irruption of <i>yakunin</i> into +the entrance hall, Jinnai and his men promptly sprang to arms. A +scattered fight began, with none too great stomach of the officers +before the stout resistance offered. It was no great matter to reach a +ladder to the loft. Jinnai was the last man up. The more daring to +follow was laid low with an arrow shot from above, and the ladder +disappeared heavenward. Panels now were thrust back, short bows brought +into use, and almost before they had thought to fight or flee the +constables had five of their men stretched out on the <i>tatami</i>.</p> + +<p>Before the shower of missiles they could but retreat. At the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> request +for aid Aoyama Shūzen was in a rage. There was now no preventing his +departure. Mounting his horse off he rode from Kanda-mura toward +Harajuku-mura. But it had taken some little time for the messenger to +come; and more for Aoyama with his staff to go. Meanwhile much had taken +place. The ward constables had joined the <i>yakunin</i> of Shūzen. The +place completely surrounded, <i>tatami</i> were taken from the neighbouring +houses for use as shields against the arrows. Then on signal a concerted +rush of the hardiest was made. Pouring in, with ladders raised aloft; +tumbling each other into the ditches, in the confusion pummelling each +other with mighty blows, and in consequence securing stout whacks from +the enraged recipients; the unlucky constables were soon +indistinguishable in their coating of mud and blood. The outrageous +ruffians, however, were soon tumbled from the posts of vantage and +precise aim by well directed thrusts. A dozen men poured up the ladders +and through broken panels into the loft above. Here in the uncertain +light they hesitated. The figures of the foe could be seen, armed and +ready for an arrow flight. Then a shout was raised from below. Stifling +smoke poured up from every quarter. The scene was illuminated by the +blazing figures of the archers, for these were old armour and weapons, +lay figures stuffed with straw and meant but to gain precious moments of +respite. The <i>yakunin</i> now had themselves to save. The retreat was as +disorderly as at their first advent, but their rear was not galled by +aught but flying sparks and burning timbers. Discomfited they watched +the blazing mass of Jinnai's once establishment; watched it until it was +a mere mass of ashes and charred beams.</p> + +<p>Jinnai had been long prepared for such an adventure. The <i>yakunin</i> at +first driven back he followed his company through the tunnel<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> leading +to beneath a subsidiary shrine in the grounds of the neighbouring temple +of the Zenkwōji. Here he dismissed them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> with hasty division of the +raided coin, and instructions to their chiefs to meet him at the +festival of the Owari no Tsushima in the fifth month (June). Himself he +would go north, to give notice and gather his recruits. Thus exposed at +Edo, the great uprising now must centre in Ōsaka. They scattered to +their different courses; and thus Jinnai failed to meet the enraged +Aoyama Shūzen, now present on the scene. But even the harsh +discipline of their master had to yield to the piteous appearance of his +men in their discomfiture. Aikawa Chūdayu bent low in most humble +apology. They had underestimated the man, had virtually allowed him to +escape—"Naruhodo! The figures were of straw, and no wonder yielded so +readily to the spear. Only the sight of the flames rising amid the +armour betrayed the deceit in the gloom of the loft. Deign to excuse the +negligence this once." A <i>dōshin</i>, an old and experienced officer, +spoke almost with tears. Aoyama gave a "humph!" Then looking over this +mud stained, blear eyed, bloody nosed, ash dusted band of his +confederates he began to chuckle at the battered and ludicrous +composition. All breathed again. But when he had re-entered his +<i>yashiki</i>, and was left to himself, without concubine for service, or +Jinnai for prospective amusement, then indeed he stamped his feet, his +belly greatly risen. Alas! Alas! How could Yokubei Sama find a +substitute for the one; and secure the real presence of the other?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Shrine of the Jinnai-bashi</span></h3> + + +<p>It was one of those small Fudō temples, tucked away on a shelf of the +hillside just above the roadway, embowered in trees, with its tiny fall +and rock basin for the enthusiastic sinner bathing in the waters of this +bitterly cold day. The whole construction of shrine, steep stone steps, +and priestly box for residence, so compactly arranged with the +surrounding Nature as to be capable of very decent stowage into a +case—much like those of the dolls of the third or fifth month. The +nearest neighbour was the Shichimen-shi—the seven faced Miya—in this +district so dotted even to day with ecclesiastical remnants, from +Takénotsuka to Hanabatakémura on the north edge of Edo—Tōkyō. +However it was not one of their resident priests who stood at the +<i>rōka</i> of the incumbent cleric seeking a night's lodging. The kindly +oldish <i>dōmori</i> (temple guardian) looked him over. Nearly fifty years +of age, two teeth lacking in the front, his head shaved bald as one of +the stones from the bed of the Tonégawa, a tired hard eye, thin cruel +and compressed lips added nothing to the recommendation of the rosary +(<i>juzu</i>) and pilgrim's staff (<i>shakujō</i>) grasped in hand; and indeed +the whole air of the man savoured of the weariness of debauch, and of +strife with things of this world rather than of battles against its +temptations. Yet the wayfarer was greeted with kindness, his tale of woe +heard. His own quarters—a flourishing tribute to the mercies of the +eleven-faced Kwannon, with a side glance at Amida—had gone up in smoke +the day before. Naught remained but the store-house, with its treasure +of <i>sutra</i> scrolls and hastily removed <i>ihai</i> of deceased parishioners. +The disaster was not irreparable. His enthusiastic followers already +sought to make good the damage. Himself he would find aid from the cult +in Edo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>Kosaka Jinnai, for the unfortunate cleric was none else, seated himself +in the comfortable quarters of the <i>dōmori</i>, to earn his shelter by a +talk which in interest richly repaid the meagre fare, and made amends +for no prepossessing exterior. On his pleading weariness the <i>dōmori</i> +got out <i>futon</i> and spread a couch for the guest. This suited Jinnai's +real purpose, which was not to loiter close to Edo and Aoyama's claws, +but to push on that night toward Tsukuba and old friends, and recent +ones he knew he would find on its none too savoury slopes. But Heaven +does not permit the wicked a continued license in ill deeds. The +weariness and indisposition pleaded, in part genuine, rapidly grew +worse. The chilled feeling passed into its palpable and physical +exposition. With alarm the <i>dōmori</i> watched the progress of this +ailment. His hot drinks and solicitude would not produce the needed +perspiration. Instead the chill was followed by high fever and delirium. +The medical man, summoned from the village, was taking leave—"A plain +case of ague from Shimosa's swamps. Is he friend or relative of the +honoured Shukké Sama? No?... Alas! A case of resting under the shade of +the same tree; of drinking from the same stream.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Deign to have a +care with this fellow. He says strange things, and raves of robbery and +strife—'I am Kosaka Jinnai; the famous Jinnai.' Truly you are to be +pitied at being saddled with such a guest. Doubtless it is affliction +for some deed committed in a previous life, a connection of two worlds +between the honoured Shukké Sama and this doubtful guest."</p> + +<p>The <i>dōmori</i> was an old and foolish fellow; but still able to catch +the warning tone and manner of the leech. With anxiety he went to his +guest. Jinnai was sleeping under influence of the draught administered, +and on the word of the medical man was insured for some hours +unconsciousness under the drug. Placing food and drink close to hand, +out into the darkness went the sturdy old chap. The day saw him at +Harajuku-mura, wandering around the site of ashes and charred beams of +the late conflagration. No sign of renovation was there found. For +satisfaction and a meal he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> turned to the benches of a near-by eating +shed. His inquiries confirmed his own fears and aroused the suspicions +of others. "Truly the honoured Bōzu San must live far from this part +of Edo. These ruins are of no temple. Here stood the fencing room of one +Osada Jinnai, a <i>rōnin</i>. This fellow turned out to be a famous bandit +and escaped criminal; no less a person than the Kosaka Jinnai engaged in +the attempt of years ago to carry off or slay the Tenju-in-Den of the +suzerain's House. Heaven's vengeance long since visited the others. Now +Aoyama Dono seeks this fellow. Is he friend or relative that thus +inquiry is made?" The <i>dōmori</i> in fright cut short his meal and +questions. Paying his scot he made off in a hurry. Soon after one of +Shūzen's spies passing, he was informed of the matter. Then the hue +and cry was raised through the ranks to find this suspicious cleric.</p> + +<p>From Jinnai the <i>dōmori</i> got little satisfaction on return at dark. +He found him sitting, with natural and restored presence, smoking, and +measuring him with the cold cynical glance which froze the marrow in his +spine. "Ha! Ah! The honoured Shukké Sama wanders far and long." The +priest did not attempt to conceal fright or mission—"Honoured guest, +the poor quarters of this foolish cleric are open to the afflicted of +his kind. But Kosaka Dono, deign at once to remove from here. Already +the <i>yakunin</i> are on the trail. Yourself, in the mad fits, you make no +concealment of name and exploits. Found here, discredit is brought upon +the Buddha, and ruin to this his follower. Condescend at once to seek +other quarters." He looked earnestly and pleadingly at the bandit chief, +with squawking groan to lower his head almost to the <i>tatami</i>. Jinnai's +eye went through him in his cold wrath—"Be assured of it; that I am +Kosaka Jinnai; and hence one without fear. Let the <i>yakunin</i> come—to +their own destruction. These quarters just suit this Jinnai—for the +time. Cowardly and foolish cleric, you would prattle and bring trouble +on yourself with that wheel of a tongue. Then get you hence. This Jinnai +undertakes the charge and exercise of the weapons of the furious god. +Bah! They are but of wood." To the horror of the priest he gave the +wooden Fudō which adorned the chamber such a whack that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +unfortunate and flawed divinity parted into its aged fragments. "What! +You still delay!" A hand of iron was laid on the old fellow's neck. +Jinnai bent him to the ground. He looked around for implement. None was +better to hand than part of the outraged god. Holding firm his victim, +and raising his robes, a vigorous hand applied to the priest's cushions +such a drubbing as he had not had since childhood's days. Then grasping +him neck and thigh Jinnai cast him out onto the <i>rōka</i> and down the +steps which led to it. The old fellow heard the <i>amado</i> close tight with +noise. Thus the unwilling god entered on the service of this new +satellite.</p> + +<p>The hue and cry was loud. In the cold of the night the <i>dōmori</i> +wandered, afraid in his shame and trouble to approach parishioners; +afraid in the chill outside air to sleep. A hail came to his ears—"Sir +priest, have you not dropped coin?" Ah! Here was a stranger; and his +tale he did unfold. Parlous his case; and for him the sky was upside +down. "Most lucky! At our place to-day a prayer of <i>hyakumanban</i> +(memorial service) is to be held. Food, sleep, and counsel, wide enough +for this weariness and distress are offered. Deign to go in company." +Thus the spy led him to his officer, a <i>yoriki</i> established at +Fuchiémura in the attempt to net this desperate fellow. With joy the +news of Jinnai's close proximity was heard. Entrusting the tired and +barely conscious priest to the village head-man, officer, <i>dōshin</i>, +and <i>yakunin</i> set out. Jinnai had overrated his capacity. Again the fit +was strong on him. He shook and shivered, helpless under the weight of +every covering he could find, and dared not move or turn in fear of the +chill aroused. Then at the outside came the shout—"His lordship's +business! Make no resistance; submit at once to the rope, in hope to +secure grace." The <i>yakunin</i> roughly broke down the doors of the +priest's house. They found Jinnai on foot. Growled he—"You are not the +kind to face Jinnai. A rush—to freedom; with such of you as stand for +carrion." He boasted overmuch. His fit was too strong even for such iron +resolution. The crisis of the fever was at hand, and his legs bent under +him. A shove from behind sent him weakly sprawling in a heap. Then they +all fell on him, bound him hand and foot, and carried him to the +village.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>The cortege halted on its way to Edo town. Loud had been the lamentation +of the unfortunate <i>dōmori</i>. He was a ruined priest. At best a +witness, perhaps to be regarded and tortured as the accomplice of this +desperate villain; jail or the execution ground awaited him. He plead +with this one and with that. With sympathy they heard, but in stolid +silence. The spy, who had accosted him, knew the old man well—holy, +pure, somewhat simple and guileless of mind, he was object of reverence +and gentle derision of the parishioners who sought his service in every +trouble. The man spoke to the <i>dōshin</i>, explained the matter. The +<i>dōshin</i> took him to the <i>yoriki</i> seated beneath a tea shed. The +officer nodded; then called for the report. "There is an error of +transcription." Thus he altered the characters 辻堂 to 辻捕. +Instead of <i>tsujidō</i> a cross road temple, now it read "taken at the +cross roads"—"Call the old man here." To the priest—"Through no fault +of yours has this man visited you. Be better advised as to other +guests.... But now—take this coin. This man's course is run. He surely +will be ordered to the execution ground. Great has been his wickedness, +and his grudge is not to be visited on others. Prayers are to be said +for his soul in the next world. The <i>dōmori</i> of the Fudō, his zeal +and honesty, his purity of heart and manners are vouched for by those +who know. Pray for him.... Now—get you hence!" He put a gold <i>koban</i> in +the priest's hand, allowed the joyful reverence, and cut short the +protests of inconvenient gratitude. The <i>dōshin</i> shoved him off to +the rear. The friendly spy carried him apart and pointed to a path +running through the fields behind the houses of the hamlet. None cared +to observe his departure. Thus Jinnai came to Edo, minus his ghostly +purveyor.</p> + +<p>First carefully was his body nourished for the coming entertainment. +With clement genial smile Aoyama Shūzen claimed the acquaintance of +this one time antagonist. As to the past and recent events there was no +doubt. Aoyama had hazy, but little confirmed, ideas of greater objects; +knowing as he did the early nature and history of Jinnai. But the +Tokugawa were now so firmly seated. Confession was to be secured in the +first place, to legalize the execution; and information in the second +place, if such existed. Of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> confession there was none; not even answer. +Jinnai closed tight his lips in scorn. Then first he was scourged; the +scourging of he who is already condemned. The stout fellows stood +forward with their <i>madaké</i>; those thin slips of rattan, two feet in +length, wrapped into a bundle an inch in thickness with stout hempen +cord. Ah! How flexible and painful! As they laid on quickly the welts +and bloody stripes appeared. At the hundred and fiftieth blow the +medical man and legal procedure demanded forbearance. He was removed. +"Cure his back!" roared Shūzen. "Rub salt into the cuts. Next time +the tender surface will force at least words from his lips." But he +underestimated his man. Bound to a stake, with arms behind, kneeling on +the sharp grids, Jinnai hugged the stones—five, six, seven—Chūdayu +leaped down to aid the <i>dōshin</i> in pressing down the weight of nearly +eight hundred pounds resting between chin and doubled hams. The body of +Jinnai grew lobster red, his lips were tinged with bloody foam and gouts +appeared. The hours passed. The black colour of the feet rose upwards. +Then the sign was given and the man taken away in a dead faint, without +the utterance of word or groan.</p> + +<p>Thus the game went on. Now it was the lobster. Aoyama would not go to +the prison, nor miss the sight. For a whole morning with curiosity he +watched the progress of the torture. Jinnai lay on a mat. Arms pulled +tight to the shoulders and behind the back, the legs drawn together in +the front and dragged up to the chin. The body at first had the dark red +of a violent fever, but the sweat which covered it was cold as ice. Then +the colour darkened to a purple, changed to an ominous blackish green. +Suddenly it began to whiten. In alarm the doctor ordered relief. With +wrath Shūzen rose from his camp chair close by; still no confession.</p> + +<p>What was suspension to this? Jinnai hung limp as a dangling fish from +the beam. Arms drawn behind his back and upward to the shoulders, a +weight added to the feet made any movement of the limbs agony to the +whole body. It was a sort of prolonged crucifixion. When blood began to +ooze from the toes again removal was ordered. Of the latter part of the +torture Jinnai knew little. He was unconscious. This hardy body of his +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> adding to his torments. Even Shūzen could not help admiring this +obstinate courage. He would try one other means—flattery; genuine in +its way. "Useless the torture, Jinnai, as is well known with such a +brave man. But why prolong this uselessness? Done in the performance of +official duty, yet it is after all to our entertainment. Make confession +and gain the due meed of the fear of future generations, their +admiration and worship of such thorough paced wickedness. Surely Jinnai +is no ordinary thief. Shūzen never can be brought to believe him +such." He spoke the last somewhat in scorn. At last Jinnai was touched +with anger. He opened eyes, and, for the first time, mouth—"Aoyama Dono +speaks truth. But why regret past failure? My followers? They number +thousands. Why rouse envy or show favour by giving name of this or that +lusty fellow? The object? As to that exercise your wits. Fat wits; which +in these twenty years could not hunt out this Jinnai. Ah! 'Twas but this +unexpected illness which played this evil trick; else Jinnai never would +have faced Shūzen; except sword in hand. This Jinnai is a thief, a +bandit; the tongue grudges to say. Such is his confession. Not a word +more—to Aoyama Uji." He closed his eyes and mouth. Enraged at the +failure and familiarity Aoyama shouted out—"The wooden horse! The water +torture!" They mounted the man on the sharp humped beast. Lungs, belly, +abdomen wide distended, in every physical agony, his body could but +writhe, to add to the torture of his seat as they dragged down on his +legs. Eyes starting wildly from his head, gasping for air, the +unfortunate wretch was given the chance to belch forth the liquid. +"Atsu!" The cry was between a sigh and a yelp of agony. Then he fainted. +With chagrin at his failure Aoyama Shūzen put official seal to the +confession bearing the thumb print of Kosaka Jinnai. Thus ended this +phase of the contest between the two men.</p> + +<p>Jinnai's body was too racked by the torture for immediate sentence. When +he was brought in the court Aoyama Shūzen had another wicked surprise +to spring upon him. Jinnai's rejuvenating eye noted the band of +peasants, the two beautiful girls brought captive in their midst. He +knew at once who they were; even if the viciously triumphant look in +Shūzen's eyes, the piteous fright<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> and affectionate sympathy in +theirs, had not enlightened him. The presence of O'Kiku and O'Yui was +due to an ill freak played by fortune. In the fall of the year an +illness of the mother—cold?—came to its end and herself with it. What +was to be done with farm and girls? To the villagers this question was +of serious debate. Of one thing they were in dense ignorance. Three +years before a new farm hand appeared in Jisuké's household, and men +could well wonder at the favour he found with the old man. With some +misgivings they had warned him against recklessly introducing a strange +<i>muko</i>, without first consent of the village. Jisuké assured them +against what was actual fact. Wataru Sampei was a <i>samurai</i>, of +<i>samurai</i> stock, and liegeman to his own old masters of Kai province. It +was with the consent and approval of the dying man that O'Kiku was +united to him. The household in Nippon is adamant in its secrets to the +outside world—and that against the most prying curiosity anywhere +found. O'Kiku lay in of her child and nursed the babe in her own nurse's +house. Thus in full ignorance the council met to consider the request +made by the girls to communicate with Jinnai—Osada Sensei—at the +famous <i>yashiki</i> of Aoyama.</p> + +<p>Most of them were ready to consent. Then rose one Jinémon, smarting +under the sense of having fields adjacent, coupled with flat refusal to +his son of the simple girl O'Kiku. He suspected this virginity of nearly +twenty years; and with an ill turn to this obstacle might do himself a +good one. "Take heed, good sirs, what counsel ye come to. News fresh +from Edo couples the name of Osada Sensei with Kosaka Jinnai; makes him +out a violent bandit and would be ravisher years ago of the +Tenju-in-Den. Surely his fate will be hard. Send them to the <i>yashiki</i> +of Aoyama—but to that of Aoyama Shūzen Dono. Thus their request is +met; and no blame incurred. The honoured <i>bugyō</i> (magistrate) answers +for the district (Aoyama), and the girls will not suspect the +destination. Otherwise, look well to yourselves. Aoyama Sama is known as +the Yakujin. Great his influence in Edo, and sour his wrath as that of +Emma Dai-Ō. It will fall heavy on you." This intimation, that he +would do what they would avoid, soured all the milk of human<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> kindness. +Wataru Sampei, departed in all haste to Edo, returned in fright to +announce his discovery of the state of affairs. The father Jinnai then +was undergoing the harsh tortures of Shūzen. He found the farm in +charge of Jinémon and his son; the two girls already sent in all +ignorance to the <i>yashiki</i> of Aoyama. Receiving a harsh dismissal he +dared not punish, from the house and tears of the old nurse he received +as if by theft his infant son. With him he took his way to Edo; to +establish himself as gardener at Honjō Koumé; or at Narihira, some +say.</p> + +<p>In daily rounds of the jail the <i>dōshin</i> stood over Jinnai. In three +days this man was to go to Torigoébashi. Here he was to be crucified and +speared—"with many spears" ran the sentence, to indicate the +prolongation of the torture. "Jinnai, you have shown yourself brave, +have refused to name even one associate. The time passes. Perhaps some +wish, not incompatible with duty, comes to mind." Jinnai opened his eyes +at the unexpected kindly tone and words. It was as if one soldier looked +into the eyes of his compeer on the battle field, as well could be the +case with this man older and of more regular experience than himself. +The answer came with the measured slowness of an earnest thanks and +appreciation—"The offer comes from a kind heart, shown on previous +occasions.... There are women held here." He hesitated. "Deign the last +cup of cold water at their hands." The officer did not refuse. O'Kiku +and O'Yui knelt beside the couch on which lay the broken body of the +father. Said Jinnai—"The end is most unseemly; words grudge to speak +that mere accident thus should determine the fate of Kosaka Jinnai; he +who sought to determine the fate of Tokugawa Ke. A dagger would have +secured the fitting ending, that you two should not bear the public +service of the town, a certain fate. This remedy Jinnai now forbids. +With life changes occur; old scores are wiped out. Hearken well: live +with patience; serve well to the hour. Now the last cup of life is to be +drained; this first meeting brought to an end." Tears running down her +face O'Yui, mere child budding into womanhood, presented to her sister +the vessel never used as yet and filled with the cold liquid. From the +hand of O'Kiku it was accepted. Jinnai drank, looked long and earnestly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +into the face of both, then with a wave of the hand dismissed them. He +had had his say. The hardness of the man returned, and all his courage +with it.</p> + +<p>Three days later—Shōhō 2nd year 12th month 1st day (17th January +1646)—the procession was formed to move to the execution ground at +Torigoébashi. The assembled cits marvelled at sight of the man and +rumour of his extraordinary wickedness. There was a concentration of +mind and energy in the face of Jinnai, which under any condition would +attract attention. The centre of the scene, he bore himself splendidly. +Despite the pain he suffered no incapacity was pleaded. Thus he forced +nature. The costume of the famed robber at this noted execution in Edo's +annals? He wore—"a wadded coat (<i>kosodé</i>) of fine silk from Hachijō +in Izu, and that of quintuple stripe. The <i>obi</i> (sash) was seamless and +of a purple crape. Into brick coloured leggings was twisted bias white +thread, and his straw sandals (<i>waraji</i>) matched them." The jail had +given to a naturally fair colour a somewhat livid greenish tint, +rendered more commanding and terrible by the piercing cold eyes. Those +far off said—"How mild looking! How tranquil!" Those near at hand +shuddered and were glad at the removal of such wickedness. The +<i>yoriki</i>—informed of the purport—let him speak. Jinnai turned to the +crowd. His voice reached far. "Brought to contempt and a punishment +words grudge to mention, this Jinnai holds not evil thoughts against +those who carry out the law. The ill fortune of unexpected disease made +capture easy, and has brought about this vile ending. Hence on death +Jinnai will not leave this place; but as an evil spirit remain to answer +those who pray for relief from the mischance of this ill disease. Those +afflicted with <i>okori</i> (malaria) shall find sure answer to their +prayers. Held now in no respect, this later will be bestowed. The last +purposes of those about to die are carried out." He ceased speaking. A +sign and he was stripped and raised on the implement of torture +キ ill described as a cross. For hours he hung, revived from +time to time with vinegar. Then signal was given for the end. First one, +then another, <i>yakunin</i> thrust a spear into his belly, seeking least +injury and greatest torture. As he approached the utter prostration of a +dissolution the <i>yoriki</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> gave sign. The spear point thrust into the +vitals showed through the left shoulder. And Jinnai died.</p> + +<p>To the north, just beyond the present Torigoébashi, is the Jinnaibashi, +relic of this episode. On the north, close by the Torigoé Jinja stands +the shrine to Jinnai, the god granting cure to sufferers from ague. No +mean resort is it; nor modest the offerings of wine to his service. +There it has endured through these hundreds of years. Jinnaibashi, +Jigokubashi (Hell Bridge) is a relic of the place of execution soon +abandoned. After the fifth year of the period the jail was removed to +Temmachō; the execution ground to Kotsukabara.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Winter Session</span></h3> + + +<p>Aoyama Shūzen was in conference with Chūdayu. Preparations were to +be made. It was with something like dismay that the members of the +Endurance Society received the missive—"At this season of the great +heat your honoured health is matter of solicitude. More and more may it +thrive. Hence the condescension of the honoured (your) litter is +requested on the coming sixteenth day. The wish is expressed to offer a +cup of inferior wine. With fear and respect:—</p> + +<p>To...."</p> + +<p>Alas! Alas! If they could have but reached the ceremonies of the New +Year.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> This rascal Aoyama would have been too occupied with the +official visits to press his right to a meeting in the season of extreme +cold (the <i>tai-kan</i>). But now—on the 16th day of the 12th month (2nd +February): Ah! Ha! He was a wicked fellow. The grudge properly lay +against Kondō Noborinosuké who had sweated the juice out of them in +the intense heat of the hot season. Now Aoyama proposed to freeze it on +the surface of their bodies. But to refuse was out of the question. +Charged with weakness and effeminacy one would be laughed at as a fool; +be unable to show his face. After all perhaps one could escape the +ordeal with life.</p> + +<p>The 15th day, on which the invitations were issued, was threatening. The +16th day fulfilled the promise. Cold blew the blasts down from snow clad +Tsukuba, with full sweep across the Shimosa plain. As it caught the +unfortunates crossing the Ryōgokubashi in their progress toward the +Banchō, they shook and shivered with more than anticipation. An +occasional flake of snow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> heralded the heavier fall. At the <i>yashiki</i> of +Aoyama all was in readiness to welcome the guests. Shūzen stood at +the house entrance to greet them. With thin open silken robe thrown over +his <i>katabira</i> or summer robe, lacking shirt, and wearing the wide woven +grass cloth <i>hakama</i> (trousers) which sought every breeze, he carried a +fan in his hand. The <i>kerai</i> met the guests with ice cold water for such +as cared to dip the hands—and none dared refuse. Shūzen fanned +himself vigorously; and his guests were zealously supplied with fans, or +the heat inspired by their progress was dissipated in the draught raised +over them by energetic hands. The door-man (<i>toritsugi</i>) monotonously +sang out the new arrivals—"Abé Shirogorō Sama, Kondō Noborinosuké +Sama, Ōkubo Hikoroku Sama, Yamanaka Genzaémon Sama, Ōkubo Jizaémon +Sama, Endō Saburōzaémon Sama, Kanématsu Matashirō Sama, Okumura +Shūzen Sama..."; and Shūzen had greeting for all. "Ah! Ha! Such +terrific heat! Not for sixty years has such been experienced. An old +fellow in the <i>yashiki</i> will answer for it. But be sure all has made +ready for comfort. Truly the honoured presence in these dog days in a +gratification. The viands, the drink, all have been carefully cooled. +Deign to come within, to a cooler place, away from this desolating heat. +Condescend to notice how the very leaves have been withered off the +trees."</p> + +<p>With inward groans, their teeth chattering and their bodies shivering, +they followed this merciless fellow. "Ha! Ha! For tobacco there will be +fire in the braziers. At least one's fingers are assured of warmth." +They smirked at the anticipated pleasure. Warm fingers and the heated +<i>saké</i>! But—Oya! Oya! Bare were swept and wide open thrown the rooms. +Screens (inner and outer) had all been taken away. From the garden came +the cold blast, blowing icily through this wide bare space. For +cushions—the straw <i>zabuton</i>; for fire in the braziers—punk! Explained +Shūzen in all kindness and suavity—"Fires in the braziers in this +heat were too terrific even to think of; so punk (<i>hinawa</i>) has been +substituted.... No need for thanks; the mere duty of the host. And +now—no ceremony: off with the garments of all. A middle cloth answers +purposes of decency. Deign the trial. Here is cold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> water to cool the +heated body." Promptly he stripped to the skin. The <i>kerai</i> were +bringing to the verandah black lacquered basins filled with water in +which ice floated. Before this terrific fellow there could be no +hesitation. They followed his example in being soused from head to foot. +In the wiping—"Let the rag hang loose. Don't wipe with knotted towel. +Stupid fellows! The cool wetness clinging to the skin gives a shiver of +delight." Thus shouted Shūzen to his officiating satellites. Then all +the guests took seats. The mucous was running from the noses of the old +fellows who had fought campaigns at Odawara, Sekigahara, Ōsaka. +Aoyama noted it with delight; and even Kondō felt a grudge against +him, yet was compelled to laugh.</p> + +<p>The viands were brought—to send a chill down the spines of all; +macaroni in cold water (<i>hiyamugi</i>), and the equally heating sea ear in +frozen salt water (<i>mizugai</i>). Shūzen urged the latter, as better +fitted for the season. As piles of <i>sashimi</i> (sliced raw fish), resting +on neat beds of shaven ice, were brought eyes looked to heaven—to hide +the expression. When the wine appeared, the bottles immersed to the neck +in tubs filled with salted ice, the more recondite parts of the room +echoed groans. Even Shūzen smiled with complacence. He felt he had +scored success. It was Endō Saburōzaémon who showed no sign of +discomfiture. "Naruhodo! Aoyama Uji, in this great heat how explain a +thing so strange? Deign, honoured sir, to look. This white substance +falling from the sky; if it were not so hot, one would call it snow." +Said Aoyama undisturbed—"Not so, Endō Uji. It is but from wild geese +fighting in the sky, their feathers; or perchance <i>kanro</i>—the sweet dew +which falls from heaven when a virtuous lord condescends to rule. Who +more virtuous than the honoured suzerain?" All bowed in heartfelt +enthusiasm and respect. Then said Saburōzaémon—"'Tis a thing to note +closer at hand; a stroll in the garden, to seek its coolness in this +heat." He leaped down into the fast accumulating snow.</p> + +<p>Others too stole away, at least to get protection from the outrageously +cold blasts of the exposed rooms, and the further exactions to be +anticipated from the ingenuity of their host. Growled Kanématsu—"It is +the value of one's life risked with such a fellow as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> Aoyama. Where +Kanématsu sits the snow drifts in on his shoulders. He is without +consideration or mercy."—"For any: his women must find service in such +a <i>yashiki</i> a substitute for the torments of Emma Dai-Ō."—"Not so," +sneered Kondō. "Even the wife is but a wooden figure; much like +Kondō's fingers." An idea seemed to come to him. He left them for the +time being. The others stood sheltered from the wind, to talk and +shiver, Endō joined them from his garden stroll. Seeing Kondō on +his return, said Abé Shirōgorō—"Eh! Naruhodo! The smile of pain +relieved! Kondō Uji, has he found means to unbend, to thaw out those +fingers? Ha! The rascally fellow knows the way about. There is hot water +at hand. Deign to give the hint, Kondō Dono." Kondō leaked a +smile, then snickered—"It was but an idea. Hot water in this <i>yashiki</i> +on such a day there is none. But it is always to hand for the effort. +The fingers of Kondō were turning white, were in danger, and so...." +He held out his fingers for inspection. Abé looked with envy. "They +fairly steam!" Then suddenly putting his fingers to his nose—"Oh! Oh! +The filthy fellow! Kondō Uji! Deign to wash your hands. Indeed hot +water is always carried on one's person. But...." All grasped their +nasal members and protested. Noborinosuké laughed outright, and +submitted to the ablution. Abé in malice gave the hands a copious +libation. For the nonce his fingers had been saved and Kondō was +satisfied with the outcome.</p> + +<p>A woman dressed in the summer garb for service came from a room close +by. The opening and closing of the <i>shōji</i> gave Endō +Saburōzaémon a glimpse. At once—"This way...." His tone commanded +attention. Abé Shirōgorō, Kanématsu Matashirō, Ōkubo +Hikoroku followed him. It was the maids' sleeping room they entered. +"Aré! Aré! Have not the honoured sirs made a mistake? Deign to return to +the other apartment. This is the maids' dressing room."—"And in no +better place can one be," grumbled Shirōgorō. His eyes took in the +room with avid curiosity. Here the girls quickly slipped into winter +garb, until called to the banquet hall for service. But it was not the +glimpse of shoulders of the one so engaged at the moment, as the brazier +covered by a quilt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> and placed in the centre of the room. From this the +girls had emerged in confusion. Said he reprovingly—"Eh! Eh! In this +great heat to have a brazier—it is more than out of season. Surely it +is against the order of the master of the house." The girls, uneasy and +at a loss, had but for answer—"It was the idea of O'Kiku...." The +beauty, still flushed with the suddenness of her effort, came forward +smiling. The attention of all was riveted. A little taller than the +average of her sex, very fair of skin, the sparkling eyes in the pure +oval of the face framed in tresses reaching almost to her feet, the tiny +feet and long fingers appearing from the edge of the robe, the +incomparable poise of head and neck, this woman was a beauty, to be +rivalled by few in Edo town. The voice too was as musical as were her +words to the frozen men—"It is but a water <i>kotatsu</i>; so that one can +be cooled in this extreme of heat.... Within? Ice—of course. Deign to +enter." The suppressed groan of Abé was cut short. He looked fixedly at +the bright laughing face before him. The smile was pained and +stereotyped, but the sympathy was evident. He understood. "Ho! Ho! +Endō, Kanématsu, Ōkubo, deign to try this delicious coolness. Ah! +Ha! This water <i>kotatsu</i> is a splendid idea. In this great heat it +restores one to life. Truly Kiku is as clever as she is beautiful; one +apart from all the others." The men crowded together under the +<i>kotatsu</i>—"More ice! More ice! The <i>hibachi</i> grows warm." Laughing +O'Kiku brought the necessary supply with the tongs, blew it into life +with a little bellows.</p> + +<p>All the time Endō observed her closely. To Abé—"Truly she is a +beauty.... Your name is Kiku.... And age?... Twenty years only!... So +Kiku is sempstress in the house of Aoyama Uji. So! So!" He and Abé +regarded her attentively. They praised her beauty. The crimson blush +spread over face and neck, adding to her charm. Thoroughly warmed the +men left the room. Said Endō—"Oh, the liar! This Aoyama poses as a +misogynist, takes a wife—perforce, and charges those of us who like +women with effeminacy. Ōkubo, how about this Kiku.... The Sempstress? +Oh, you stupid fellow! Why—there is no more beautiful woman in Edo. She +is the mistress of Aoyama; who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> deceives and mocks us all. And now—to +bring him to open shame." Aoyama Shūzen, quick to note their absence, +and the return so refreshed, was much put out. "Where have these fellows +been?"</p> + +<p>Endō Saburōzaémon was not slow in the attack. "Truly, Aoyama Uji, +words do not fit deeds. Are you not a bit of a rascal?"—"Why so?" was +the calm reply of Shūzen, always ready to a quarrel. "You pretend to +hate women; you charge us with effeminacy who have wives; and take your +own but on compulsion. Yet in this very house there is not only a wife, +but the most beautiful woman in Edo for concubine." Shūzen's +astonishment was too manifest. "Who?" said Endō, with some misgiving +that he had missed fire. "This Kiku; would you deny it?"—"Surely so," +was Shūzen's assured reply. Then seeing the curiosity of those around +he added with courtesy—"This Kiku is a slave girl, a criminal under +judgment, a <i>yatsu-hōkōnin</i> by favour. Would you know about her? +She is daughter to the robber Jinnai, not long since put to death. The +law may be harsh, yet it condemns the line of such men to extinction, +and sends their issue to the execution ground. Whether through good +will, or mistaking the Aoyama Harajuku, the resort of this Jinnai, for +this <i>yashiki</i>, the villagers brought the two girls Kiku and Yui from +near Tsukuba. In pity one was taken into the life service of the +<i>yashiki</i>. For his business Jinzaémon of the Yoshiwara Miuraya +considered the younger Yui as more fitting. To him she was bound as +<i>yatsu-yūjō</i>.... Husband? No: and thus all posterity of the robber +is stamped out. Yui serves for life as harlot in the Yoshiwara, with no +recognized issue. Kiku serves for life at the <i>yashiki</i>. The case is a +pitiable one." All present echoed what he said. "It is the offence, not +the person, which is to be hated. Truly it is a hard lot." They were +curious to see her. Said Shūzen—"Surely she has been rated too high, +but—summon Kiku here." As the girl stood in the midst for all to +observe, blushing and panting a little with fright at all these eyes +upon her, there was no gaze more intent than that of Aoyama Shūzen. +The pity expressed and the praises lavished reached his ears. He studied +her from head to foot, heard the caustic criticisms—"Such a beauty, and +a serving wench! Aoyama is a fool."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Tiger at the front Gate; the Wolf at the Postern</span></h3> + +<p>Thus it came about that O'Kiku was an inmate of Aoyama's <i>yashiki</i>. He +had told the tale, the fatal error drawn by the mother from the +peasant's message. It was her own deed. Thus "evil seed produces evil +fruit. In one's posterity is punishment found." All knew Kiku's story. +Promptly with her appearance in the household she was named +Shioki—O'Shioki San, O'Shioki San; when not addressing her these +companions called it to each other for her to hear. Shioki? It means +"the execution ground."</p> + +<p>A flower blooms but to wither; and this flowering branch was to be +tended by the master's hand. Now she was faced with a new and terrible +danger. O'Kiku was quick to note the state of Shūzen's household. Of +the <i>koshimoto</i>, two were the favoured concubines during the +incapacitation of the wife. The lowliness of her own position—menial +servant and mere serving wench—would seem to protect her. Moreover she +was not brought into contact with the house master. But after all she +was the <i>bushi's</i> daughter, brought up by a mother trained from youth at +the hand of the <i>samurai</i> grandmother. Thus dragged out into the light +by indiscreet curiosity the tiger's eye had fallen upon her. Shūzen +marvelled at his stupidity, his oversight. This woman was indeed a +beauty, the concubine for long sought, and to hand free of her charms. +He stood adjusting his robes; then lost in thought. There were +obstacles—in the girl's position. But that night O'Kiku was ordered to +serve the wine. The intelligence and training, corresponding to the +outward physical charms, aroused in him a very fury for possession. +Abrupt, blunt, overbearing he approached her in the coarsest way—"Kiku, +first pity and now love has seized upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> the heart of Shūzen. With +women all his relations have been those of cold formality—the business +of connection or the necessity of an heir. Now an entirely different +feeling is aroused. The very sight of Kiku's figure inspires fondness, +an exclusion of all others of her sex. 'Tis Kiku alone who remains the +object, all others are mere lay figures. You are a woman, and by nature +know of such things. Is not this truly love? Consent to become the +concubine of Shūzen. Let this very night seal the union."</p> + +<p>He attempted to draw her close to him, but she shrank away in confusion +and fright. Shūzen was amazed—"What! You refuse?... Ah! Then it is +hate of this Shūzen which is felt. Most unreasonable hate, for he +acted but as <i>bugyō</i> of the land. It is a disloyal hate." In his mad +and thwarted lust his lips trembled. The girl humbly remained +prostrate—"Condescend the honoured forbearance. Such could not be the +case. Great the favour of Heaven, of your lordship as its agent, in +saving this Kiku from the final punishment, the coarse assault of +menials. But deign to consider. Kiku is the daughter of Jinnai. She is a +reprieved criminal in the land, can be naught else but of lowest status. +Kind the honoured words, great the gratitude inspired; but is not the +summons unseemly. Deign forbearance; add not to the offence of Kiku." In +her mind was the last scene with her father Jinnai; the tortured, +distorted, suffering body of the condemned bandit. Pollute her body with +this man who had thus played with the one to whom she owed life and +duty; to the man who had sent the father to the execution ground? She +would have used her dagger first on herself, rather than on him. His +words did inspire uncertainty. He was the officer in the land, the +representative of the suzerain, hence guiltless. But that made not the +idea of his embraces less repulsive, though she wavered in thoughts of +vendetta—between filial duty and loyal service to the suzerain. Her +attitude puzzled Aoyama. The unusualness of his proposition he put +aside. Her claim to loyalty, in his hopes as the successful lecher, he +was disposed to accept. Was there not something deeper?</p> + +<p>Then the battle began between them, to last for those weeks of the +winter months. Force matters he would not. There was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> zest in this +pursuit, far apart from any mere sensual gratification. The desire he +felt for her person was all cruel. It was joined to the desire to humble +her, to force her to consent by her own lips and motion and against +reason, to grant the gift of herself even if unwilling. There was an +enjoyment in soiling the body and mind of this beauty. Thus with refusal +love began slowly to turn to a hatred full of malice. One night Aikawa +Chūdayu was present. O'Kiku as usual served the wine. Shūzen +turned to him impatiently—"The speech of the overlord is without +effect. Chūdayu, try your hand, and bend Kiku to consent to my +wishes, to become my concubine." Shamed before the whole household? +O'Kiku had grown used to this grossness in the determined pursuit of +Shūzen. Now openly addressed before the chamberlain and others she +looked down; a little flushed, and hearing with astonishment the words +which came from such a quarter. Chūdayu spoke slowly; addressed her +with a severity of tone which belied his intent. "O'Kiku Dono, why are +not thanks given for such condescension on the part of the Tono Sama? +Apart from his rank is not the experience of his fifty years, on the +battle field of war and love, to count in his favour? Most imposing and +strong his figure, despite his age. All bow in respect before the lines +marked by the wisdom of years in his lordships face. Why refuse to +follow the example of the other women of the household—and share with +them? These are indeed <i>koshimoto</i>; your promotion to the position, from +the vilest status, but a caprice and kindness. You should obey the order +of the Tono Sama. His face alone would inspire fear. All regard it with +awe, as if in contemplation of that of Emma Dai-Ō. And who refuses to +obey the mandate of the king of hell? Answer—who?" He leaned far over +toward her. O'Kiku looked at him; then hid her face in her hands.</p> + +<p>These were not her only trials in this Jigoku <i>yashiki</i> (Hell mansion). +There was her ladyship to take into account. Says the proverb of the +Nipponese—"dabble in vermilion, and one is stained red." Contact with +Shūzen had developed all the harsher traits in this stern <i>samurai</i> +dame. She despised the former character of her husband, and now was mad +with jealousy at his unrestrained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> lechery. However there was some +consolation in this new pursuit. Promiscuous in his intercourse with all +and every other of her household, she could do but little. These were +women of more or less position. Now he threatened to turn all devotion +in the one direction of this beautiful girl, to condescend to a serving +wench.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The Rangiku: it has a fox's shape."<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Thus sneered her fellows. O'Kiku now was punished as scapegoat for all +the others. The natural harshness of her ladyship's character turned to +barbarity. This "slave"—O'Shioki—in no way could satisfy her. The +slightest fault, of self or other, was visited on O'Kiku. One day her +ladyship in her rage seized her and dragged her by the hair over her +knees. A short baton of bamboo was to hand, and with this before all she +put the girl to the shame of childhood's punishment, and with a malice +and heartiness of will and muscle which left O'Kiku lame, and thus +victim in other derelictions of duty. This so pleased the <i>okugata</i> that +it became a favourite pastime, whenever the girl was at hand and her own +arm had rested. She would have starved her, but the rest contributed of +their store out of mere fellowship. Her ladyship recognized the +uselessness. She did not dare deface her beauty. Believing in +Shūzen's love her vengeance was confined in its exercise. With +despair she regarded her bloated disfigured person, the wan faded aspect +due to her advanced pregnancy. Ah! If she could but fasten some offence +upon her. She would bring about this interloper's death. With delight +she noted the signs of dislike and malice in Shūzen. Surely the tales +were true that the beauty was holding out for the price of her charms. +It should be a case where beauty would not secure pardon.</p> + +<p>It was at this time that, with Shūzen's consent, she put O'Kiku in +charge of ten plates condescended in trust to the House by the +Tōshōgū (Iyeyasu). It was a bid of Shūzen, the mark of the +conferrence of position as <i>koshimoto</i> in his household. Only in the +madness of love—or lust—would he have risked such impropriety. The +regular time for counting had arrived. O'Kiku carefully replaced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> the +beautiful objects, marked with holly hock crest, into their lacquered +box. Again Shūzen importuned her with his suit. Then in +vexation—"Ah! Truly a rebellious and wicked grudge is held by this +Kiku. Attempt at denial is useless, it is not only rebellion against the +master, but against the decree of the master of all. Decide at once. +Either be the concubine of Shūzen; or suffer the sword cut." Again +she plead with him, and Shūzen's eyes opened wide with astonishment. +"Condescend the honoured hearing. Kiku has plead as one no longer of +this world. 'Tis true. But before now she has already taken the vow of +two worlds."—"What!" said Shūzen in amazement. His mind lighted up +as she proceeded—"It is true. Under guise of farm hand at the village +lived Wataru Sampei, a <i>samurai</i> and <i>rōnin</i> of the Takéda House of +Kai. By him there is a child—now three years old. Alas! The father +lives in direst poverty. Twice in the month—the 15th day when the +festival of the Ichigaya Hachiman shrine is held, the 25th day when that +of the Hirakawa Tenjin Sama is held—with the child Jumatsu he is to +pass. A wave of the hand—'Is it Kiku?... Is it mother?' The +relationship longed for and regarded as enduring to the whiteness of the +hair thus is reduced to the wave of a hand. The chaste wife suffers not +the embrace of two men. Oh! Husband! Son!" Weeping O'Kiku hid her face +in her sleeves as she made her plea.</p> + +<p>Harsh and triumphant was the voice of Shūzen as he pressed on this +newly discovered weakness. "Then you lied; Jinnai lied, in calling you a +maid. This Sampei and Jumatsu rightly are gallows-birds, doomed to the +execution ground. Shūzen has but to say the word. Seized they are put +to the torture; the child to know the bitterness of the scourge. Such a +tiny body will be cut to ribbons. Listen well! Obey the command of this +Shūzen. 'Tis the choice between the jewelled palanquin of the +favoured mistress, or torture for these two. The kind offices of the bed +for Shūzen, or the rottenness of the jail for these two criminals. +The gift of Kiku's chastity secures for them oblivion.... You would ask +time? To-morrow night, after the counting of the plates, the answer will +be received." He ceased—to turn to Chūdayu, who for a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> time +had stood by, as one waiting on a matter of business. O'Kiku, face white +and drawn, tottered away to her room.</p> + +<p>She had played false, and at a cast lost all. Gloomy, the long hair +framing the distraught and unhappy face, she sat. "Unhappy the lot of +this Kiku. The sisters left without a father's sanction, to witness the +shadow on the mother's life; to know that father but as criminal ready +to be sent to the execution ground; and now, by rashness of the tongue, +to condemn husband and infant son to such a hideous fate! Remedy there +is none. Perchance the life of this Kiku in sacrifice for both arouses +kindness to pardon; or at least secures them in ignorance." Now she was +all decision. Rapidly she loosed the girdle of her sash. The safety of +her beloved was at stake, and no father's command held. The feet bound +she seated herself before the mirror, took up the dagger and felt its +keen point, then the morbid soft flesh of the neck. As she raised her +arm it was seized at her side. Noiseless Chūdayu had entered and +acted in prevention. With a grunt he bent down and severed the sash cord +which restrained her. Then holding the dagger daintily he spoke his +will—"Is not this madness, O'Kiku Dono? The Tono Sama has issued his +summons, and the heart does not conform. The secret thought is known to +this Chūdayu. Turn therefore to a friend. Safety is not to be sought +by the drastic method of the steel. Look to flight. Chūdayu aids—nay +goes in company. Against him there can be no grudge. If Sampei and this +boy exist, they are not to be met within the <i>yashiki</i> of Aoyama +Shūzen—either by submission and riding in the jewelled palanquin, or +by the argument of the dagger. It is an easy matter for Chūdayu. An +error confessed in conducting of the accounts, and with purse well lined +with the gold of Shūzen this <i>yashiki</i> is abandoned. O'Kiku Dono goes +in company. Between the two known connection there is none, and without +the wife this Sampei and Jumatsu go unharmed. In the relationship with +Jinnai the link is missing and Edo too wide a mark to pick them out. So +much can Chūdayu answer for."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" At times a Buddha is met in Hell itself. With astonishment and +reverence O'Kiku regarded this saintly apparition. Noting the impression +made Chūdayu sat close by her. A little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> disturbed and restive she +moved away. "The words of Chūdayu Dono are more than kind; never to +be forgotten in this world. By such means are Sampei and Jumatsu really +to be saved?"—"Most assuredly," was the smooth reply. "Chūdayu acts +at once. Deign but the required pledge...."—"The pledge?" O'Kiku spoke +now with misgiving filtering into a sinking heart. Said Chūdayu with +impatience—"Pledge: don't feign innocence, O'Kiku Dono. Does Chūdayu +sacrifice all for the mere amusement of the affair. Amusement there is +indeed for him. O'Kiku must consent to accept this Chūdayu. Deign to +change ox for horse. Failing Sampei, it is to Chūdayu she grants her +favours. This is to be agreed—and right now, as pledge, a proof offered +of her sincerity." Now there was no mistaking the words in invitation +made plain by eye and gesture. She wrenched away the detaining hands +laid upon her; sprang up. "Ah! Villainous man! You would rob your lord, +deceive and betray this Kiku. Such speech is pollution to the ears; the +touch of such a creature is loathsome. Chūdayu has the weapon of +Kiku; but Kiku can still cry out and bring the household about your +ears. Beast—away from here!" Armed as he was Chūdayu was +afraid—"'Pollution'—'beast'? Ha! The woman's thought rises after all +to the surface in her hate. For this you shall pay. Just wait." He left +the room in haste, to betake himself at once to the apartments of the +<i>okugata</i>. O'Kiku crouched on the <i>tatami</i>, her eyes wide open, fastened +on the texture of the straw surface, saw nothing but this new and +terrible position. She could not die; she could not live; and yet the +tiger was at the gate, the wolf at the postern.</p> + +<p>A maid came to summon her to Shūzen's presence. Knowing her position, +her feelings, the solidarity of sex had veered to kindliness for this +unwilling rival. The girl was shocked at sight of her. "O'Kiku Dono! Tis +but for the counting of the plates—as usual." She aided her to don the +ceremonial costume. In all the magnificence of her apparel, with hair +dressed high, she followed after the girl. In her beauty a splendid sight, +in her heart "she was as the sheep going to the butcher." Her ladyship sat +close beside Shūzen. Other <i>koshimoto</i>, with Chūdayu and several +retainers, were present.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> Despite the customary nature of this vicarious +reverence to the spirit of the Tōshō Shinkun (Iyeyasu) there was an +oppression, a suppressed interest, which seemed to fasten every eye on +O'Kiku as slowly and gracefully she bore the box before her lord, made +salutation. "Open;" the word from Shūzen's lips came dry and +harsh—"One"—"Um"—"Two"—"Um"—"Three, four"—"Um"—"Five"—"Um"—"Six, +seven"—"Um"—"Eight"—"Um"—"Nine.... Oya! Oya!" Then in fright—"What +shall I do!" With horror O'Kiku gazed at the fragments of the tenth plate +lying at the bottom. Shūzen, all moved by his wrath and excitement, +leaned forward. The holly hock crest ground to powder was almost +indistinguishable. Hardly able to believe her eyes O'Kiku mechanically +began to finger the pile of porcelain—One, two, three ... they followed +up to nine.... "What shall I do!"</p> + +<p>The malice and ferocity of Shūzen's tone sent a thrill through those +present—"Vicious jade! This is a sample of Kiku's hatred to this +Shūzen, through him of her disloyalty to the revered House. What +explanation can be offered? What expiation?" Slowly and in despair +O'Kiku raised her head. She caught the triumphant glance passed between +the <i>okugata</i> and Chūdayu. All was illuminated. This was Chūdayu's +threatened vengeance. As of one dying her voice—"This is not the deed +of Kiku. Daughter of the criminal Jinnai she holds no grudge against +lord or suzerain; would but pray in this world for oblivion of those +offences in a future existence. Deign, my lord to believe this Kiku. +Malice acts here. But a short time ago Chūdayu...." The man sprang +forward—"Lying hussy!... Tono Sama, this woman would save herself by +slander. Plain has been her ill feeling against the honoured lord in +refusal to obey his summons. Here lies the proof of ill intent and +rebellion against the suzerain's House. Surely there is no punishment +for such but death!"—"Surely there is no punishment for this but +death!" The harsh voice of the <i>okugata</i> was heard in repetition.</p> + +<p>Shūzen spoke—"'A twig broken on the flowering branch of plum, and +the whole is to be cut off.' Such the words of Kurō<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> Hangwan +Yoshitsuné. Kiku, you are a vile, treacherous woman; undeserving of +Heaven's favour and the kindness shown by Shūzen. Now you lie—with +the fancy tale of child and husband, in order to escape the bed of +Shūzen; with slanderous insinuation to throw your crime against +others.... Here!" At the command the <i>kerai</i> came forward and dragged +her within reach. Shūzen seized a hand. "Ten the plates: one broken, +the tale destroyed. Apology is to be made. Make full confession. No? For +the one, ten are due." There was a <i>hibachi</i> close by his side. He +dragged her arm over the brazier, drew his dagger—"One." At the middle +joint the finger fell severed into the ashes. "Two"—"Two," faintly +answered O'Kiku. "Three"—"Three"—"Four"—"Four"—"Five"—"Five." +Shūzen laughed. "Kiku cannot hold grudge as being maimed. The stumps +remain." Chūdayu sprang forward at Shūzen's sign. Roughly holding +the bleeding stumps he pressed them into the harsh cautery of living +coals. A suppressed wailing cry from Kiku, a shuddering and turning away +of the frightened women; her ladyship laughed out loud. Kiku raised her +head and gave her a long look. Shūzen grasped the other arm. The +punishment went on. "Six.... No confession?" One by one the remaining +joints fell. Only the thumb remained. Like a demon the <i>okugata</i> sprang +forward. She snatched away the keen weapon, and pressing down the edge +of the blade triumphant raised the severed digit torn away to the wrist. +Shūzen himself rose in astonishment at the act. All were in a wild +excitement. The violent woman strove to shriek, but choked in her rage +and utterance. They surrounded her and bore her off to her own +apartment.</p> + +<p>A wave of the hand and all but Chūdayu had departed. Shūzen was +divided between his hate and the certainty of having been deceived. +Besides, only the body was maimed, and in the malice of his heart he +would soil this woman's soul. He leaned over the helpless figure. "Your +own deed, Kiku: make confession and submission. There is yet life to +plead for. Ha! 'Tis true. Vicious wench, you would seek the destruction +of Shūzen by temptation; the grudge is to be carried to the end." +From far off came the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> answer—"Alas! To this Kiku are imputed the wet +garments. A lie destroys her to whom life is displeasing. Aye! The +grudge is to be carried to the end. Against this treacherous Chūdayu, +against Aoyama and his House the grudge. Remember well!" In fury +Shūzen sprang to his feet—"Chuūdayu, take hold of this woman. Out +with her to the garden!" With practised hand the chamberlain bound hands +and feet. Then following after Shūzen he dragged her through the snow +to the old well. "'Tis here," said Shūzen briefly. Removing the +bucket the rope was tied under the arms of O'Kiku. "Your own act and +deed, Kiku. In your punishment apology is made to the suzerain House. Go +join your father Jinnai at the Yellow Fountain (Kwōsen) in Hell.... +Chūdayu, kill her by inches." Seeing the chamberlain's hesitation +Shūzen gave the body a push. Swift the descent. The splash of the +water was heard. "Heave up!" With eager energy Chūdayu brought O'Kiku +to the curb. "No confession yet?"—"Aye! Grudge the last thought; grudge +against Chūdayu; against this Aoyama, him and his." The long wet hair +hanging about the chalk white face, the bulging glaring eyes, the +disordered saturated garments of the half drowned girl, were too much +for Chūdayu. The man now was struck with fright. He sought to save +her. "Tono Sama, is not the purpose satisfied? A request...."—"Coward! +Are you afraid of the ghost? Surely Kiku will visit the couch of +Chūdayu—as perhaps to his desire." But Chūdayu now openly was +afraid and not ashamed. "Deign to spare her, Tono Sama.... O'Kiku Dono, +this is no affair of Chūdayu. As ghost deign to haunt the Tono Sama. +'Tis the Tono Sama who kills you." He plead; but inexorable the +whispering voice—"The grudge! Against Chūdayu...." Then in terror +Chūdayu sought the end—"Ah! Vile bitch!... Tono Sama, deign to cut +short the curse, and with it the breath of this hussy."—"Your act and +deed, Chūdayu...." Shūzen took up the rest of the sentence. "Pass +your sword into her belly, Chūdayu; the lord's order." Chūdayu +hesitated. Then looking away he thrust—once, twice. There was a +squishing sound, as of steel entering something soft. A heart rending +scream rang through the air. It was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> like the ripping apart of silk. +Shūzen stepped to the curb, looked into the agonized staring eyes. +Then he gave the final thrust of his dagger into the windpipe, and cast +the weapon to Chūdayu to cleanse. As if an automaton the man went +through his task: brought the heavy stone to bind into the long trailing +garment. Seeing his helplessness Shūzen shrugged his shoulders with +contempt. With his dagger he severed the rope. <i>Dobun!</i> A final splash +of water at the end.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Chūdayu wins his Suit</span></h3> + + +<p>Chūdayu's legs bent under him. "Ah! My lord! O'Kiku grasps my neck!" +A cold hand laid upon him he shrieked in fear. Shūzen turned—"Fool! +'Tis a clod of snow from the tree above, fallen on your collar. Off with +you to bed. Truly in these days such fellows are good for nothing." Off +he strode to the <i>rōka</i>. For a moment he looked out—on the heavy +flakes coming down like cotton wadding, at the figure of Chūdayu +staggering like a drunken man to his quarters. With a laugh he closed +the <i>amado</i>, seated himself before the heated wine. Yet the woman would +not get out of his thoughts. "What a fool! A matter of no import would +have given her position with others and influence with this +Shūzen.... Ha! Ha! How frightened was Chūdayu! It is not the +shadowy fingers of the dead which do good or ill, but the flesh clad +muscles of the living. As to your ghosts...." He snapped his fingers and +drank wine in derision. Thus he spent the early hours of the night.</p> + +<p>"What's that!" He put the bottle down at the sound of voices in +excitement, of running feet. Soon an officer appeared. The <i>okugata</i> was +threatened with premature delivery. A physician was to be had at once. +Shūzen shrugged his shoulders with indifference. Five months—seven +months—nine months—what a matter to trouble a man with! So angry was +he that they dared not tell him more. Matters were going very badly with +her ladyship. In her delirium she raved over the past scene of the +punishment. The tortures of this present delivery were added to an +hundred fold by the disorders of the over-wrought brain. Then the child +was born. The assembled women whispered to each other. A very monster +had seen light: perfect in its main parts, but with the face of Emma +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>Dai-Ō as a foetus—with the fingers lacking on the hands. They dared +not let the sick woman see it. She detected their confusion, asked to +see the child. She grew more and more excited with refusal, and they +were at a loss what to do. Finally the child was brought, to her +distress and confusion. Then—as from the ceiling—"Shame on the House +of Aoyama Shūzen. A maimed child, a monster is born as its issue." +And the voice began to count, followed by the moving lips of her +ladyship—"One"—"One"—"Two"—"Two"—"Three"—"Three"—monotonously it +went on to—"Nine.... Ah! What shall I do! One is missing. Wa! Wa!" So +lamentable the crying voice that a chill went to the hearts of all. +Again the count went on; again the failure and the lamentable cry and +weeping. Her ladyship sat up. They strove to restrain her, but in her +madness she shouted back in answer to the counting—"One, two, three, +four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.... Ha! One is missing! Vile slut! +Thus to maim the child in malice." She raved and tore at the covering. +From the disordered hair streaming around face and bust looked out at +them the wan face of O'Kiku. In disorder the women fled. Driven back by +the necessity of their duty they found her lying dead in a pool of +blood. As for the maimed and deformed monster, he took well to the +nurse's breast. Such they always do.</p> + +<p>Where was Chūdayu in all this confusion? Shūzen had men hunting +him high and low. Angered at his absence, his own dislike and suspicion +of him as possible rival grew with the night and the hours, rendered +bitter by these household scenes. He would settle matters with +Chūdayu. "Yokubei" he had heard him called; and covetousness turns +not only to gold and such like. As fact Chūdayu had good excuse for +absence. Much out of sorts he had betaken himself to his own rooms and +the care of the old woman in charge, his only female companion in lieu +of wife. Ah! What weather! The snow changed to sleet and rain drove into +and chilled to the marrow those out in the storm. The <i>baya</i> (old woman) +at his entrance was all astonishment—"Danna Sama! The garments are wet +through. Condescend at once to make a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> change." Gruffly Chūdayu +accepted her aid. Stripping off first one and then another of the outer +garments he too grumbled in his turn—"What a fool the woman was! To +lose life against the sacrifice of such a trifling thing. Ah! She was a +maddening beauty; of the kind to drive the blood to boiling heat. Never +again.... What's that?" Pon-pon: the sound of someone knocking ashes +from a pipe into the receiver came from the inner room. The <i>baya</i> was +laughing—"Ha! Ah! The Danna Sama is a sly one. He is the one to make +friends with the beauties. The lady regretted the Danna's absence, said +that she would wait the honoured return.... Who? 'Tis she so sought by +the Tono Sama himself; and who instead favours the Danna. O'Kiku +Dono...." Before the wild stare of Chūdayu, the clutch on her wrist, +the old woman stopped in fright. Then from within came the +counting—"One, two, three, four, five"—"Six," Chūdayu mechanically +joined in. "Seven"—"Seven"—"Eight"—"Eight"—"Nine"—"Nine"—the +words were followed by the chilling lamentable wail of a soul in agony. +"What shall I do! What shall I do!" With a yell Chūdayu dashed to the +<i>shōji</i> and threw them back. No one! With astonishment and terror the +old woman gazed at him as seeking an explanation which did not come. +"The lights in the Butsudan! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Praise +to Amida, the Lord Buddha!... Wine! Wine, and much of it; very hot!"</p> + +<p>He sat, his head in hands, watching the flickering light in the altar +stand. "Ha! 'A woman and a man of small comprehension: these are hard to +govern.' Kōshi (Confucius) says it. This Chūdayu has played the +fool to the Tono Sama's extravagances." The bell of Gekkeiji began to +strike the hour of the watch. It came clear and mournful across the +snow. "How like a woman's nature," says the native scribe. +"One"—"One"—"Two"—"Two"—"Three"—"Three." ... Chūdayu went on, +mechanically following the blows hammered into his brain. Then came the +heart rending hopeless wail which chilled his very soul. The old woman +in amazement and pain gave a howl as the hot wine ran over hands and +fingers. Chūdayu on his feet stupidly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> gazed at the bottle rolling to +the end of the room. "'Tis of no import," he muttered. "Now—to get +hence. Close up all. To-night Chūdayu returns not."—"But Danna Sama! +Condescend to consider! The Danna Sama is not himself. Truly he will be +ill. Deign the honoured couch." The couch in that room! He shuddered all +over. The old woman wrung and wiped her scalded fingers, and would +persuade him to seek rest. She simpered in her blandishment. "Where +could she possibly have gone, for <i>baya</i> saw no exit? Perhaps the lady +comes again; and in the <i>yashiki</i> there is no greater beauty than O'Kiku +Dono. Fortunate the Danna...." Truly she thought him gone mad. "Shut +up!" roared Chūdayu. His eyes blazing under the heat of the quantity +of his hot stimulant he thrust her, a heap huddled into a corner of the +room. Trembling hands adjusted what garments he could lay eyes upon. +Over all he threw a long wool cloak with hood and eyelets against the +snow. Turning to the entrance he glowered at her, hand on his +dagger—"More words of that vile jade, and <i>baya</i> joins her own beneath +the stone. This Chūdayu goes to Nakachō, to a public woman. If +that O'Baké comes again.... Ha! Ha!... Let her lie with Baya.... Why! +She's not even rotten yet!" He left the old woman stupefied and quaking, +himself to leap out into the storm and darkness.</p> + +<p>Outside the gate he had a shock. In the shadow he ran into a woman +standing by, who turned at his greeting. O'Kiku's face? With clenched +fist he would have struck, but the vision faded. "Truly the <i>baya</i> is not +wrong. Chūdayu is mad, or drunk." His knuckles had near encounter with +the brazen crest fastened into the post. This brought him to himself. +Rapid was his descent of Gomizaka. At its foot was a <i>kago</i> stand. "The +Danna Sama from the Aoyama <i>yashiki</i>—he condescends the <i>kago</i>. One all +closed? The Danna Sama will lie as snug as in a <i>koshi</i> (<i>kwanoké</i> = +hearse)." Chūdayu took the joke badly. The fellow sprawled on the +ground under the blow—"Is this a funeral procession? Truly the night +itself is bad enough—without the joke."—"A scurvy knave," humbly +explained the <i>kago</i> chief. "A country recruit, just to hand. Deign to +pardon his impertinence." He edged the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> fellow off, called up another +man—"The Danna stands not on the fare? Truly 'tis such a night as rarely +has been seen. With wind and sleet the men can barely stand. But the +Danna is in haste. Surely a woman is at the journey's end.... Not a +palanquin but with mats." Chūdayu was neatly bundled into the litter. +The mats were lowered at the sides and covered with oiled paper. "To +Nakanochō; and at good round pace." He hardly heard the functionary's +words. "Ah! How she hated this Chūdayu! How she glared into the Tono +Sama's eyes as he dealt the blow into her pap!... A vicious jade; yet a +beauty. Where could such beauty be encountered? May the <i>kami</i> (gods) +grant Chūdayu the same good fortune this night!" More pleasing vision +soothed him. He was filled with hot wine and fast grew dazed and sleepy. +The gentle motion of the <i>kago</i> rocked him as in a cradle. Yet he could +not get sleep. Her voice was in his ears; without, in talk with the +<i>kago</i> men? He raised a corner of the mat. With surprise—"Heigh, +<i>kagoya</i>! What place is this?" He was passing the moat on his right not +left; the hill sloped down, not up toward Nakano (Shinjuku). "Danna Sama, +it is Suidōbashi."—"Suidōbashi! And does one go to Nakanochō by +Suidōbashi? Knaves! About with you, and to the right course as +directed."</p> + +<p>The men, after their kind, grumbled; but to themselves; and in a way +their fare should hear. "Naruhodo! What a beast of a night is this! +Mate, it is to Nakanochō; but Nakanochō whither? The Danna Sama is +testy. He is not to be questioned. He might give a cut. Jubei is lucky. +He has changed head for rear. A care there! A care there! What? Again +around? What a night, and what a Danna to deal with!" The unconscious +Chūdayu was borne onward. Again the vinous fumes passed off. To his +amazement be saw the water on the left; but not what he sought. "Heigh! +Heigh! <i>Kago</i> men, whither now? What place yonder?"—"Yanagibara, Danna +Sama." Chūdayu's voice was big with wrath. "True <i>kago</i> men as +guides! Does one go to Yanagibara to go to Nakanochō of +Shinjuku."—"Oya! Oya! The Danna always tells us to go this way, that +way. Nakanochō, Nakachō—is it Yoshiwara, or Fukagawa, or Naitō +Shinjuku to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> which the Danna goes? 'Tis but the lady at the pole who has +a clear head and forces us to go this way.... Danna, never mind the fare +money. Condescend to alight. It is a hard night; too hard for such a +baffling task.... Here is your pretty friend again!"</p> + +<p>Chūdayu raised the mat and looked out. Vaguely outlined in the again +whirling snowy darkness stood O'Kiku. With wild cry he sprang out, sword +drawn. The <i>kago</i> men dropped the litter and took to their heels. Dazed +Chūdayu looked around him. Ah! He was drunk with wine, and visions +haunted him. Yanagibara? Let it be Yoshiwara then. Stalking through the +Ōmon he made his way to the Nagatoya, a tea house at which he was +known. "Oya! The honoured Danna Sama of the Banchō <i>yashiki</i>. In good +season Aikawa Dono; the lady awaits the honoured <i>buké-sama</i>."—"A lady +waiting? Fool! Who brings a woman to this market where he comes to +purchase?" The <i>bantō</i> (clerk) of the tea house insisted. "Aikawa +Sama, is it not fact? She is barely of twenty years; outstripping in +beauty the greatest of the Go Tayu.... Her name? O'Kiku San...." In his +amazement the man rose from his kneeling salutation, craned his neck to +watch the flying figure of Chūdayu disappear. Perhaps the Danna had +gone mad. Surely he was mad; and not one to come on foot on such a night +and all the way from the Banchō. He sighed at loss of such an eager +customer.</p> + +<p>Chūdayu walked into the first tea house to hand when he had stopped +for breath. A first visit, his tea money (<i>chadai</i>) was munificent. Such +a customer deserved good treatment from the Izuzuya. Hence the attendant +guided him to the Miuraya, where was bespoken the presence of the +brilliant <i>oiran</i> O'Yodo. The hour was late. The <i>oiran</i> was detained. +Chūdayu was sleepy and demanded his room. Hardly had he taken to his +couch to await her presence than he was asleep. Leaving her other guest +O'Yodo pushed open the <i>shōji</i> and entered. She deserved her +reputation for beauty. A splendid girl, for she was not more than woman +yet. A little tall for her sex; fair and with but little powder, an oval +face, long trailing hair, and shapely hands and feet for all this +business. <i>Batan-batan</i> the sound of the <i>zōri</i> (sandals). She +dropped these on the outside. The stranger was asleep. Sitting beside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +him she gathered the folds of her crape night robe about her bare feet. +With a deft touch she adjusted the knot of the pink sash which confined +it; then turned attention to the long silver chased pipe and the face of +the sleeping man. Some feeling was aroused she could not understand. +There was much she did not yet understand in this bitter toil of hers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p><p>Chūdayu began to speak; at first in halting and broken sentences; then in +a continued flood—"Ah! Ha! That look of hate! Chūdayu acted most foully. +'Twas he who took the plate, to secure his safety and O'Kiku's death. Deign +to pardon. It was not Chūdayu; 'twas the Tono Sama who dealt the fatal +blow.... What? The suffering?... Ah! But the suffering of mind.... Now she +begins—one—two—three—four—five—six—seven—eight—nine.... Kiya!" The +shriek rang through the room, bringing O'Yodo to her feet. Crouched beside +the <i>andon</i> was outlined vaguely the figure of her sister O'Kiku. +"Nēsan! Here! And what...." At the words she turned to meet the wide +open frighted gaze of Chūdayu. The matter of fact, gentle tones calmed +him. "A first meeting with the honoured guest. Deign to pardon the +awkwardness of Yodo." Chūdayu came out of his sleep reassured. He had +dreamed; a frightful dream. She told him so, and pressed him curiously as +to why he had called out. "The honoured <i>samurai</i> (<i>buké-sama</i>), who then +favours Yodo?" He spoke, as being again himself—the military man, and no +less a person than the chamberlain of Aoyama Shūzen Sama, <i>hatamoto</i> +with a <i>yashiki</i> in the Banchō. "Perhaps then a serving maid called +O'Kiku is known to the honoured sir." Again Chūdayu's doubts were raised +at evident resemblance—to be reassured. "No kin: we knew each other well +in early life. The father was a great criminal, and O'Kiku, it was heard, +was condemned to be a slave for life. Entered in this business nothing has +been seen of each other. She is well—in mind and body?" The question was +timid, and Chūdayu did not notice the unnatural eagerness. "In Kiku's +place mind and body are assured their lot; to undergo no change." +Captivated by this beauty he was now eager for his good fortune. Reluctant +and with misgiving she allowed him to draw her close.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Sampei Dono</span></h3> + + +<p>He was poor; coarsely and scantily clad as he came on his return through +the darkness and snowflakes now coming down wet and moist, whirling and +twisting under the increasing gale and gradually turning into a +penetrating chilling sleet against which the straw raincoat was poor +protection. In this guise Wataru Sampei was the gardener, making a +precarious living at which his skill was accidental and vicarious. In +his shabby home he was the <i>samurai</i>, his two swords treasured, +carefully wrapped and put away in the closet; struggling to live in +order to bring up this boy Jumatsu in his own cult, to better times and +retribution on the upstarts from the South. This night too had been part +of his <i>samurai's</i> duty, in its <i>sankei</i> or pilgrimage to the Asakusa +Kwannon. O'Kiku believed in efficacy of prayer to the goddess of mercy. +A hasty word, implied rather than spoken, as to a passer by during the +first sight of her, and the gesture of acquiescence on his part who had +little faith. But the gesture was as strong in its obligation as an oath +written and signed in blood.</p> + +<p>On approaching his home with surprise he noted a woman by the door. She +seemed to be in the act of coming or going. Surely he could not mistake +that figure; nay, throwing the light of his lantern ahead a glimpse of +the white wan face startled him. His heart leaped within him—"Is it +Kiku? How comes the wife here at this hour? How has exit from the +<i>yashiki</i> been permitted?" But the woman answered not. Instead she moved +away from him, into the darkness. More and more astonished Sampei called +after her and followed. Always she eluded him. Thus he was led away two +hundred, three hundred yards. There she was, halted beneath the willow +tree on the river bank. His<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> pace broke into a run. Now she did not move +or attempt to elude him, but as he came up the figure was but a stela to +point the way to a near-by shrine. Sampei passed his hand over his brow. +Kiku was too much on his mind; this forced widowerhood with charge of a +toddling boy. Ah! If pity and affection would but allow him to transfer +the child to others! Better would it be for both. But how face the +mother without the child—and then, the lot of one's favoured child in +the house of strangers and under their cold glances? Sampei himself +could not part with Jumatsu. Easy was it for him to cut belly—and leave +mother and child in this desolate condition. Meanwhile his uneasiness of +mind at their present outlook was driving him to delusions.</p> + +<p>Taking off his wet outer garments he stole into the bedroom. Now it was +very late in the night; he would not disturb the child. To his surprise +he found him sitting up on the quilts, shivering and weeping. +"Bōchan! What's gone wrong?" He took the child's hands, anxious to +note any sign of distress or fever. But Jumatsu made answer in his +turn—"Mother has just been here. She was crying. She said—'Bō, the +parting is for long. Never again will the mother be seen. Grow up, +Bō; grow up to be a fine man.' Then she cried more than ever." A hand +seemed to grasp the heart of Sampei—"Mother here, Bōchan!" Surely +the child could not lie, even make up the story at this age, so fitting +into his own uneasy vision. Continued the little fellow mid his +tears—"It was not her fault. Someone broke the holly hock plate and +charged mother with the crime. Then the Tono Sama killed her. He wanted +her for his concubine; and so came to hate her and easily took the tale. +It was not her fault. She said this—then went away."—"Whither?" +Sampei's tone was so abrupt and harsh to startle the child into +quiescence. He pointed to the house altar on its stand—"Mother just +went away; into the Butsudan.... And she hasn't come back—to +Bōchan." He ended in a wail and childish weeping. Ah! The hands now +grasping at Sampei were of ice. Slowly he approached the Butsudan. +Startled he saw the snow within it. This wild tale was taking the hold +of certainty on his mind. He lit first one light, then the other in the +altar stand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> Then sharply of itself rang the little bell. A cold sweat +stood out on Sampei's body—"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!" +Earnest the prayer for some departed soul. Unconvinced, yet feeling the +truth of the impression he passed the night with eyes wide open. With +dawn he would go forth to make inquiries at the Banchō <i>yashiki</i>. +This would be the fifteenth day. Anyhow Kiku would be expecting him.</p> + +<p>He set out early, carrying the boy on his back. Humbly and with +experience of such places he approached the gateman. "An inquiry to +make."—"What is it?"—"At this <i>yashiki</i> is there not a woman +labouring, one O'Kiku?" The man eyed him with the contemptuous tolerance +of him who knows—"Woman labouring? In the <i>yashiki</i> there are two score +and more. Of Kiku more than one; although those of the men's quarters +have nothing to do with such matters. Perhaps the slave girl Kiku is +intended.... See her! Good fellow, are you mad? One under condemnation +is not to be seen.... You have come far? Even if you had come from +Ōshū or Kyūshū you could not see her.... But all the way +from Honjō; it's too bad." The man looked at him with more +benevolence. After all he had some heart, and many distressed people +came to this <i>yashiki</i>; entered into it. "Are you thirsty?... No? In +that case entrance there is none; although the water of the well in the +<i>yashiki</i> is said to be superior to all other, sovereign to cure +thirst.... Ah! You have been dying with thirst all night. Your tongue +cleaves to the roof of the mouth. Then the case is altered. For the +silver thanks are felt. Just enter. Perhaps some maid will come to the +well to draw water. Perhaps this Kiku herself. One so ready—of +tongue—can easily excuse his presence and this Yōzaémon, if there be +question."</p> + +<p>With humble thanks and joy Sampei followed the instructions. The well +was at the corner of the larger paved space and from it he could see +into the inner garden and the greater privacy of the establishment. Here +he could note more life at this early hour, and even the stir of +excitement. People were running to and fro as under some unusual +stimulus. Slowly he drank, delayed as long as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> he could, unnoticed and +unquestioned. He could not thus act too long. Indeed as he moved off a +foot soldier (<i>ashigaru</i>) passing asked his business. He gave excuse as +on mission to a servant, whose name he picked up from one just gone by. +As the man had taken a message outside his answer was a safe one. +Sharply the <i>ashigaru</i> repeated the fact of absence, and Sampei had no +excuse not to leave. The excitement now was spreading to the front +quarters of the <i>yashiki</i>. Fragments of talk showed him that his visit +was most inopportune. Her ladyship had just died, and the household was +in a buzz. When he would again speak to the gateman, the functionary's +manner did not encourage it, Sampei took the hint of his cold +unrecognizing eye and bowed in humble acknowledgment to all in going out +the gate. "Chūdayu Dono—where is Aikawa Sama to be found?"—"The +honoured chamberlain? He left the <i>yashiki</i> last night in the other +watch. There has been no return during this of Yozaémon." So much he +caught in passing.</p> + +<p>Slowly Sampei passed down the Gomizaka and along the moat of the castle. +It was with greatest reluctance he left this place. The child began to +whimper. "<i>Otosan</i> (father), this Jumatsu is hungry." The little +fellow's whimper turned to genuine tears. The father heartened him. Just +ahead, on the Kudanzaka, all that should be remedied. Of the number of +small shops Sampei noted the sign of the Kikkyōya—the House of the +Full Well Bucket. Bending under the curtain strips hanging at the front +he entered the cook shop. "Deign to come up here.... For food? Of the +best: clam soup, a stew of vegetables and fish, hot boiled <i>tōfu</i> ... +and <i>saké</i>, none better." The place did not promise much despite the +advertisement. Avoiding the doubtful stew Sampei ordered wine for +himself and hot boiled bean paste (<i>tōfu</i>) for Jumatsu. As he fed the +child, and at opportunity sipped his wine, a blind shampooer entered; in +this tiny place to take a seat close by. Apparently he was well known +thereabouts. In bringing wine the host sat down beside him to +talk—almost into the ear of Sampei.—"Toku no Ichi San, you are early +abroad. Does illness or luxurious idleness summon the honoured <i>Amma +San</i> to the couch?... But yourself, you do not look well. Work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> late +into the night goes not with early rising. This is going to excess." The +man coughed and drank, turned his sightless eyes on Sampei. What he said +made this latter all attention.</p> + +<p>"It is no early call brings out this Ichibei. Ah! What a night this +last!"—"Truly so," replied the matter of fact host. "And no sign of the +storm's cessation." He looked out for a moment on the flakes of snow, +again coming down thick and heavy. "Drink your wine, Ichibei Dono. In +truth you are as white as yonder falling flakes which you do not see. +And 'tis said your kind cannot see ghosts."—"See them; no. To those +whose eyes are darkened by the night of blindness the gods have granted +grace against such visions. But alas! Other faculties have been +sharpened. He who cannot see, can hear. Listen Jirōbei San. Last +night this Ichibei was called to the <i>yashiki</i> of Ōkubo Sama. The +<i>okugata</i> was in pain and needed his treatment for the limbs. It is a +kindly house, one good to go to. The storm kept Ichibei in the +<i>yashiki</i>: Food and the mat was granted, for his lordship would not send +a cur, once granted shelter, out into storm and darkness. But next door +it is very different. Here is the <i>yashiki</i> of Aoyama Shūzen +Sama—the Yakujin of Edo. Jirōbei San knows of him. His lordship took +the <i>yashiki</i> for the old well of the Yoshida Goten. 'Tis said at nights +he takes wine and pipe, sits by the well, and in his hardiness and +defiance of weather and season challenges the ghosts to appear. Last +night.... Ah! The scene rung into the ears appears before the eyes even +of the blind. It was the sound of blows—as of a wet cloth striking bare +flesh. A woman plead for mercy. 'Vile wench.... Kiku.' These words were +heard. Then such a scream—'Kiya!' as of rending silk—that yet it rings +into the ears of this Ichibei; to banish sleep and peace of mind for the +rest of the night. What could it be? Had the ghosts appeared? Or had +some maid displeased the Tono Sama, and hence suffered death at his hand +(<i>te-uchi</i>)? He is not one to spare suffering.... Ah! How she suffered! +All night Ichibei has lain awake and suffered with her. It seems as if +her cry never would depart from these ears. With dawn I fled—without +food, and doubtless to the astonishment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> of all. Feeling faint, your +shop offered refreshment."—"Another bottle?... O'Kabé! At once: for +Toku no Ichi San.... Honoured guest, thanks. Deign again the honoured +patronage. Sixty <i>mon</i> the price, <i>sayonara</i>."</p> + +<p>Sampei paid the scot, and with Jumatsu carefully wrapped up against the +storm passed out into the open air. Now he was himself again; the +<i>samurai</i> of Kai, with the old traditions of his province and his +liegeship to the great Takéda House. Against this Aoyama double was the +vendetta—for Jinnai, for his wife Kiku. His ears had drunk in the +convincing tale of the blind shampooer. His decision was as ready. His +steps now were bent to the Miuraya in the Yoshiwara. At his name the +<i>bantō</i> expressed surprise. "The <i>oiran</i> was about to send a message; +most opportune the honoured coming. Deign for the moment to wait." +Related to their great attraction Sampei had every attention. Shortly +the sound of <i>zōri</i> was heard, and O'Yui entered the room. Jumatsu +viewed her beauty and splendour with grave approval, astonishment, and +fear. "Obasan (auntie)? But she is young; beautiful, just like mother. +Oh! Just like the pictures of the great Tayu." The two elders listened, +preoccupied and with pained smile. "What book; and where seen?... Oya! +Oya! In the priest's room at the Fukuganji? That should not be. Priest +and <i>oiran</i> are not of kin." O'Yui's laugh was so silvery that Jumatsu +in admiration pressed close to her knee. Clasping him she spoke to +Sampei. Ah! How great was her anxiety. As she told her tale the heart of +Sampei was filled with wrath and certainty—"This Chūdayu is such a +strange fellow. The weather still holds him to the place. Hence by good +luck it was possible to ask for a consultation. Has not some injury +befallen the person of Nēsan? The ravings of this man in his drunken +sleep, the vision of the sister, the face and garments all dyed with +blood, cannot these find confirmation or disproof? In the embrace of +this man Yui shudders." She wept.</p> + +<p>With growing weight and terror at heart she noted the increasing gloom +of Sampei's face. "Kiku is no longer of this world. It is true. Herself +she told the tale to Jumatsu. At the <i>yashiki</i> all is confusion with the +death of the lady of the House. By accident<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> Jumatsu's vision is +corroborated by the blind shampooer, led into the cook shop of Kudanzaka +by the same hand which led Chūdayu to the arms of the <i>oiran</i> O'Yodo. +The evidence is complete for this Sampei. To-night—at the first +opportunity—Sampei kills this Aoyama Shūzen; then cuts belly. As for +Chūdayu, Kiku has brought him to O'Yui San. Deign to accept the +charge. Last night he has been the lover, and the chance of the weather +and the charms of O'Yui have kept him here. Let the coming night be his +last." He put a restraining hand on the sleeve of O'Yui. In vengeance at +once she would have rushed off to poniard this obscene fellow. Be once +more the object of his embraces? Alas! Hers indeed was "the bitter +toil," which led her to the arms of this scoundrel dripping with a +sister's blood. But she listened to the cold and cautious counsel of +Sampei, and nodded comprehension and assent. When she re-entered the +room where Chūdayu was drinking and roistering there was not a sign +of any emotion. Once again she was the harlot, to charm and inveigle him +into remaining with her. Ha! Ha! The gods had granted his prayer. "Kiku? +She was a beauty—and the impression of childhood would be corroborated +by her later appearance. But even thus she is a faded old woman to the +honoured <i>oiran</i>. A bag of bones!" He roared with drunken laughter; and +O'Yui fingered the handle of the dagger in her bosom, in frenzy at the +vile jest. "Come now! Kiku has been the object of Chūdayu's love. He +confesses it. But now—away with such an O'Baké. He seeks the greater +solace of O'Yodo's arms." The wine nearly choked him. His eyes stood +out. He gasped and choked. Anxiously the <i>oiran</i> nursed him back to +breath.</p> + +<p>Late that night he had gone to bed very drunk. The ninth hour +struck (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>). O'Yodo, who had sought temporary excuse, +entered. Chūdayu again was dreaming, horribly. Ah! This +vision would never pass. O'Kiku was standing by him. At first +faint, then loud came the voice, and Chūdayu counted with +her—"One"—"One"—"Two"—"Two"—"Three"—"Three".... On went the +count. Now she was astride of him, pressing him down, throttling him. +"O'Kiku Dono! It was not Chūdayu.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> The treachery was his; but the +Tono Sama gave the blow." He writhed and struggled in his sleep. Then +O'Yui dealt the thrust, straight downward. "Yai! Yai! Ah!" The scream +rang out, startling all around. Alas! A little misdirected the dagger +glanced from the bone and pierced the shoulder. As the man rolled her +off the girl made one desperate effort. Deep she thrust the blade into +his right side, ripped it up and side ways. "Kiya!" Chūdayu +staggered and rolled over, hands to his side to hold in the severed +liver and guts. When she would strike again her hands were held. The +bawd (<i>yarité</i>), aroused and passing, saw the shadow of the raised +dagger. The <i>bantō</i> had come to her aid. While some sought to aid +the desperately wounded man, others drew away O'Yodo, again the woman +and overcome with tears of regret at her failure.</p> + +<p>Jinzaémon of the Miuraya questioned her. Was it <i>shinjū</i>—a mutual +suicide to insure happiness together in the next life? Had she really +known the man before, and not pretended new acquaintance? Then, without +mention of Sampei, she told the story of her vision, her certainty that +inquiry would establish the truth of its accusation. Jinzaémon had no +recourse. The Yoshiwara <i>bugyō</i>, with <i>dōshin</i>, was soon at hand. +"To kill a man on such evidence...." But before applying torture he +would question the victim. Chūdayu's case was hopeless. The liver was +almost severed. Death was but a matter of an hour or two. During that +time his ravings in delirium, his confession in lucid moments, added a +new and momentous phase to the case in corroborating the tale of the +<i>oiran</i> as to the strange vision. The <i>bugyō</i> did not dare to go +further. He must consult those higher in authority. A <i>hatamoto</i> of the +land was involved; one just favoured with appointment as <i>tsukaiban</i> +(staff officer) to the suzerain. The <i>machibugyō</i> himself had no +power in this case. Hence the affair—its nature and its proof—must be +submitted to the <i>waka-toshiyori</i>, the officer of State in immediate +charge of the <i>hatamoto</i>, their control and interests. Meanwhile the +affair must be smothered and strict search made for the recent visitor +Sampei, who had completely disappeared. Jumatsu readily was traced to +the care of the house master (<i>iyenushi</i>) at Koumé. His tenant, on plea +of business in Kai, had left the child<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> with him. Thus they went astray, +and thus failed to act. Meanwhile Shinano no Kami at last determined to +send for and question Aoyama Shūzen. The seventh day following the +retribution was reached—to the great enlightenment of these puzzled +magistrates.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Aoyama wins his Suit</span></h3> + + +<p>Aoyama's <i>yashiki</i> blazed with light. The guests looked around, at the +many lamps, the waiting-women in dainty attire, the ornament of service +and of substance; and then looked into each other's faces. The +unseemliness of the thing was on the minds of all these dozen to twenty +gentlemen. The body of the wife had hardly been carried from the house +to the funeral pyre. It was true that grief was to be given no display +in the <i>samurai</i> code. The new promotion offered excuse for its +celebration. But on the whole this feast seemed an indecent exhibition +of rejoicing. "Aoyama Uji is not the Shūzen of old. What has got into +the man this past month?" Thus Okumura Shūzen spoke of his namesake. +"Bah! It is the shadow of Kiku, the 'sewing girl.' Aoyama rejoices in +thus replacing old material. May he get a better heir on her than his +last. 'Tis said to be a monster!" Endō Saburōzaémon whispered, +half in jest and half in a savage earnest of disapproval.</p> + +<p>Ōkubo Hikoroku first broached the matter openly at table. "Aoyama +Uji, is this not a strange meeting? Here we are, all members of the +Gaman Kwai; as <i>hatamoto</i>, men close to the suzerain's knee and ready +for the call to battle. But this—with the glitter of apparel in +substance and women, it is show and feast for <i>kugé</i> (court nobles), a +meeting to view the moon and its light upon the snow. Deign to explain." +Aoyama smiled. He might have made some formal excuse for this +eccentricity. Saburōzaémon spoke out for him—"Don't be obtuse, +Ōkubo Uji. The one lacking here is the cause of the feast. O'Kiku +Dono still delays. Is it not so, Aoyama Uji?" He spoke with cold +certainty, a curious intonation in voice. Aoyama was black with a fury +about to burst forth when Ōkubo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> sprang up. He looked around. "Just +so! Wait but a moment. We'll have her here." Aoyama was turned aside, +and would have detained him. "Hikoroku Dono, it is useless. Kiku is not +in the <i>yashiki</i>." To the dubious look of astonishment—"It is fact. She +was a vile disloyal woman. Breaking the holly hock plate, the trust gift +of the Tōshōgu, this Aoyama put her to death. This shall be +apology to the suzerain's House." Ōkubo sat down again in pure +amazement—"For what is said one feels regret. The apology is made; but +surely...." Endō Saburōzaémon laughed outright. He seemed with +intention to egg him on. Ōkubo turned indignantly. "Why laugh, +Endō Uji? Is the life of a human being to be put against a piece of +porcelain?"—"Saburōzaémon laughs at your credulity, Ōkubo Dono. +It is but a ruse to put us from the search. Kiku certainly is not far +off."</p> + +<p>Ōkubo danced up in a fury. This time he was not to be kept. "'Tis +true! But the badger's lurking hole, the place where he keeps her, is +known. Soon she shall be here." Defying Shūzen's wrath he and Endō +left the room. Ōkubo was ahead. Throwing open the <i>shōji</i> of the +maid's room he looked within. Ah! Standing by the closet in the dim +light was the figure of O'Kiku. "Kiku, why are you here, not joining in +the feast? The beauty and the lady, whose love seduces so stern a man as +Shūzen to soft ways, is not to neglect the guests. Come to the +banquet hall." He seized her sleeve. Said Saburōzaémon from the +<i>rōka</i>—"Whom do you address, Ōkubo Uji?" He looked around the +room. "There is no one here.... Kiku? You grasp a garment hanging on the +clothes rack." It was true. Dazed and somewhat upset Ōkubo returned +to the banquet room. Aoyama met defiantly the hard look of Endō, the +inquiring question of Ōkubo—"Is it true Aoyama? Did you really value +a human life against a plate, and kill her?"—"It is plain fact," was +the answer.</p> + +<p>Again the strange looks passed between the guests. Some shrugged their +shoulders. Others looked at him and whispered. Some laughed, with +glances at the frightened faces of the waiting women. "It's not to be +believed," said the emphatic tones of Ōkubo. Suddenly a breath seemed +to go round the room. Every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> light went out; except the one before +Hikoroku. Dimly outlined by Shūzen's side could be seen the figure of +O'Kiku. The wan face amid the long disordered dangling hair; the gore +smeared face, and neck, and bosom, sent a thrill and shudder through +those present. At the exclamations Shūzen turned. He saw her—"Vile +jade! You too would reproach Shūzen. A cut for you!" He sprang up, +dagger in hand to cut her down. Then followed a wild scene with the +raving man. The maids sought to avoid death; happily with success beyond +trifling injuries, for sight of a woman made him frantic. Surrounding +Shūzen the men drew him on. From behind Ōkubo, Okumura, Endō +rushed upon him. Overpowered he was secured. With the madness of the +host the banquet came to an end. As they left Ōkubo said to Endō +Saburōzaémon—"Really Endō Uji, why so rough in speech with +Aoyama? With those of one band quarrels are not to be sought."—"Nor +will be," answered Saburōzaémon with a slight tinge of contempt. Then +he added slowly—"There is a strange affair in Yoshiwara. The +chamberlain of Shūzen, one Chūdayu, is involved; and Shūzen +with him. This matter of Kiku threatens grave issue with the +<i>waka-toshiyori</i>. It is said that the two murdered the woman—because +both wanted her for concubine." He laughed harshly—"Why tell these +facts to neighbour Ōkubo?" Said Hikoroku, with his blunt truth—"The +sounds and sights from Shūzen's <i>yashiki</i> are not always pleasant. +There are tales in the household of a night—that on which Shūzen's +wife died. All there was in confusion. It is for fellow-members to +protect the reputation of each other." Endō was rebuked in turn.</p> + +<p>Shūzen was himself again. With the passing of the wine, the guests, +the confusion, he was the cold, collected, dreaded master of a few hours +ago. Respectfully the <i>kerai</i> withdrew. Left to himself he pondered the +events of these hours. He recognized and measured the concentrated +dislike expressed in the words and actions of Endō Saburōzaémon, +egging on Ōkubo, irritating himself to desperation. To Shūzen it +was a question as to just what was meant. At his age even in his caste +men did not seek each other out to draw the sword. The issue was much +more serious, involving disgrace. He would like to get at the inner +motive of this fellow's action.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> How invaluable the aid of Chūdayu, +who knew the ins and outs of the <i>yashiki</i> of all Edo, and particularly +of his lord's intimates. But he had disappeared—as if the earth had +swallowed him. Shūzen had condoned too many instances of the +chamberlain's free use of his lord's funds, to come upon him harshly for +any peculation. The man had been useful in many dubious actions; in +bribery, solicitation, pimping, as a useful and facile witness. +Chūdayu would worm himself to the bottom of this matter in short +order.</p> + +<p>Thus he went to rest. Despite disordered brain his sleep was sound. It +was Gekkeiji's bell striking the ninth hour (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>) which +roused; or else the throat fouled and dried his mouth. He was parched +beyond measure; his tongue seemed to fill the whole cavity. Impatiently +he called—"Heigh there! Water! Is there no one to attend?"—"At the +lord's service...." The gentle tones of a woman made answer. She knelt +at his pillow. The water pitcher was offered. He took it and drank +greedily. Then—"What maid is this? Does she seek Shūzen's bed? He is +in no humour for such favour." And the girl wailed in answer—"Ah! Ah! +Harsh his lordship's tone, harsh his words. Has not long since his +command been issued? The fault lies not with Kiku. A lying officer +stands between the Tono Sama and his handmaid." Shūzen sat bolt +upright, glaring. Framed by the long trailing hair there appeared to his +eyes the wan, blood smeared face of O'Kiku. With a yell he was on one +knee—"Wretched woman! Does Kiku still pursue and solicit Shūzen? +Make ready! Again a cut!" He sprang to his feet, grasped and drew the +pillow sword. With smothered cry of terror and anguish the figure turned +to flee; but he cut her down from shoulder to pap. As he did so the +<i>shōji</i> were flung wide apart. The moonlight from the opened <i>amado</i> +flooded the room and lighted up the intruder.</p> + +<p>Rage and hate growled in the tones of Shūzen—"A bandit thief and +doubtful fellow, thus to push himself into the presence of a <i>hatamoto</i> +of the land! Fellow, name yourself: who thus by night breaks into +Shūzen's presence, intrudes upon his pleasure." Harsh and insulting +the laugh of Sampei. He pointed with his drawn sword to the bleeding +prostrate corpse of the unfortunate waiting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> maid, cut down by Shūzen +in belief of the apparition of her namesake. "More than one Kiku +harbours in the lair of Aoyama. Would he slay them all in sacrifice to +his lust? Wataru Sampei comes to ask account of his wife Kiku, daughter +of Jinnai, <i>rōnin</i> of Takéda Ke of Kai, as is himself. Now—to the +contest! God of the bow and feathered shaft, favour this +Sampei!"—"Favour this Shūzen!" Both men made invocation almost in +the same breath as they sprang at each other. Sampei was pushed on by +rage and vengeance; Aoyama by a savage joy in combat. Here was a worthy +antagonist, a true taste of old of the battle field. If Sampei was the +younger man, he was also in worse training than Shūzen; and in his +poor condition hardly a match for the practised soldier. However +Shūzen was compelled to admire a resourcefulness in parrying his own +fierce attack, the beauty of his enemy's Muramasa blade, which seemed +itself to act and seek his life. "Shūzen's prize—the sword of +Sampei!" He shouted in exultation. Sampei was forced back to the +<i>rōka</i>. At the sill he tripped and fell. "Now off with you—to Meido +and the Yellow Fountain, to join wife and parent thief." Shūzen in +joy swung high his blade for the fatal blow. Sampei without sword was +helpless at his feet. But the blade did not descend. Shūzen's arm was +held fast. By the outraged wife, O'Kiku, as later tradition would +assert? At this pass Sampei used his dagger. Plunged straight into the +belly of Shūzen with it he disembowelled him. Abandoning hold on his +weapon, with a screech Aoyama fell, twisting and writhing in the pool of +his blood. When the <i>kerai</i>, roused by the disturbance, the shouts and +the clashing of swords, fell on Sampei, to disarm and make short work of +him, the <i>karō</i> Makishima Gombei prevented them. With difficulty he +dragged Shūzen's sword out from the deep cut it had made in the beam +of the partition. "Stain not good weapons with the blood of a rascal and +thief, who shall undergo the torture and the disgrace of the execution +ground. Be sure his lordship will be well avenged. It is better so."</p> + +<p>Thus with bitter regret Sampei found himself avenged, but still in life. +The next day, with the presence of the messengers from Shinano no Kami, +the situation changed. With the report from Makishima was demanded the +person of Wataru Sampei,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> whose story fitted into present evidence +obtained. Deeper and deeper went the investigation into Aoyama's house +affairs. Here was great disorder—harshness, lust, ill discipline. On +this latter charge—lack of discipline—official displeasure gladly +fell. The tale of the monster, obviously unfit for any service to the +suzerain, came out. The <i>kaieki</i> of the House—deprivation of rank and +income—followed. As far as posthumous action could disgrace, so far did +Shūzen suffer.</p> + +<p>Much better was the fate of Sampei. The case of the Banchō <i>yashiki</i> +no longer could be hid under a bushel. It was the affair of a +<i>hatamoto</i>, so hated by the <i>daimyō</i>. Satsuma no Kami sought and +obtained his charge. During the weeks which followed Sampei was the +object of respect and solicitude of those who had the care of him. As +<i>rōnin</i> of the Takéda House this was all the greater in this +<i>yashiki</i> where the Tokugawa were held in no great affection. The +breaking into the <i>yashiki</i> of a <i>hatamoto</i>, the slaying of its lord, +could not be condoned. The official world was glad to combine this with +the lack of discipline decision. When the inevitable order came to cut +belly it was a chamberlain of Satsuma no Kami who acted as <i>kaishaku</i> +(second); and Sampei knew that to this man would fall the possession and +adoption of his little son. Thus came he to his end, and his House into +this brave heirship. Thus was disappointed the malice of Shūzen, in +his last breath denouncing his slayer as the husband of O'Kiku. +Announced Horibé Izumi no Kami, the <i>machibugyō</i> who made final +disposition of the case—"Between Sampei and Kiku no marriage being +proved, the issue belonging to the man, the child Jumatsu is held +sinless; for the woman Yui detention for further examination of conduct +and condition." This examination never came; nor was intended to come. +For some months she was detained in the <i>yashiki</i> of Horibé Sama. Then +the third Shōgun died; a general pardon followed of all ordinary +offenders. Under this order she was released, and the Miuraya had the +hint or good sense not to press for renewed service. A nun, she cut off +the long and beautiful hair, to pray in this world for the souls of +father, sister, he who had acted as more than brother in the vengeance +taken. Thus through the long years to her final and irrevocable release +without any earthly condition.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Sarayashiki</span></h3> + + +<p>Again the site of the Yoshida Goten lapsed to waste land. Through the +years stood the <i>yashiki</i> of Aoyama Shūzen, in wall and roof and beam +gradually going to rot and ruin. Passing by on nights of storm wayfarers +saw most frightful visions—the sports and processions of spectres +issuing forth from the old well of the one time inner garden. Their +wailing cries and yells were heard. Conspicuous among them was the sight +of the unfortunate Kiku, her wan face framed in the long rank disordered +hair; the weird beauty frightful in its expression of horror, as with +the stumps of fingers she counted—"One, two, three ... four, five, six +... seven, eight, nine." Then came the haunting fearful cry—"Alas! +What's to be done? One lacks. Oh! Oh!" Sight, sound, glare went to the +hearts of the stoutest witnesses. Soon the ill fortune of those thus +favoured with the vision of the Lady of the Plates was rumoured abroad. +Wounds, money losses, even death fell on them or on their households. +Men no longer were curious. They fled the neighbourhood of this ill +omened gap in Earth's surface, unseemly exit for these foul spirits. On +nights of rain and storm none passed that way. Even by day the children +were rebuked and forbidden to approach the well.</p> + +<p>Many are the stories as to the place. To instance one of these: It was +Hōei third year (1706)—the approach of winter in this tenth month +(November). Then came to Edo town a wandering pilgrim (<i>shugenja</i>) and +his wife. Tramping the land all summer to Nippon's varied shrines and +sights, now they were on the return to their home in Michinoku +(Ōshū). Much had they heard of Edo, capital seat of Nippon's great +lord. Every day busied with its sights they returned wearied to their +inn in the Shitaya district.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> This day they had wandered far. Returning +from Renkeiji of Kawagoé they passed the Naitō Shinjuku quarter. +Almost as great, if of different kind, was the woman's curiosity at +sight of the caged beauties, waiting the summons of those far better +supplied with cash than her own spouse. Finally in indignation she +dragged away the loiterer; and muttering rebuke followed after the +jingle of the rings on his pilgrim's staff. They were passing through +the Go Banchō, along the long stretch of <i>yashiki</i> wall. From a +postern gate came forth a woman. The light of her lantern fell on the +man and his equipment—"Oya! Oya! Good fortune indeed: honoured +<i>shugenja</i>, a moment's stay. To-night a memorial service is to be said +for the mansion's lord. Condescend to enter and grant service." +Willingly husband and wife heard the invitation to rest their wearied +bodies. Passing through the garden water was supplied to wash the feet. +Then they were seated before an ample feast fit for their kind; of +glutinous rice balls coated with the sweet bean paste (<i>botamochi</i>), of +macaroni the savour of which tickled the nostrils, <i>saké</i> followed, in +generous quantity and of quality to match.</p> + +<p>Said the girl—"It is an all night service that is requested. Deign to +undertake the watch and prayer. Ample shall be the reward." Prostrate the +<i>shugenja</i> spoke his thanks. The Butsuma, or room containing the little +shrine, was close at hand. Seating himself, his woman just behind, he +bowed and made reverence. "Thanks for the honoured entertainment so +generous and excellent. May the honoured spirit find rest, at once +entering Nirvana ... and now, the Hannya Shinkyō—<i>Sutra</i> of the divine +intelligence."<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> He began the recitation, accompanied by his wife. Both +intoned the <i>nembutsu</i>—"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Praise to +Amida the Lord Buddha!" Again the recitation of the <i>Sutra</i> was begun. The +hours of the night advanced. Man and wife became more and more drowsy; +slower and slower came the words of the sacred writing. Then the man +nodded off to sleep; as long before had the wife. The hour of the ox +struck at Gekkeiji, filling this whole district with its heavy boom. The +man woke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> with a start. What fearful shriek was that? Close by in the next +room a woman's voice began counting. But such a voice! "One, two, +three...." on it went to "nine.... Ah! Woe is me! One lacks. What's to be +done!" Shrill, blood chilling the cry of anguish which followed. Curiosity +overcame terror. The man stole to the screens and gently opened the merest +slit. Over his shoulder looked the startled wife.</p> + +<p>A shudder went through both at the sight. Wan, frail, the beautiful +anguished evil face of a girl could be seen through the long tangled +hair framing it. Slender to the emaciation of great suffering she knelt +before the pile of plates she was counting—"One, two, three, four, +five, six, seven, eight, nine...." The wild chilling scream froze man +and woman. For at the moment in sprang another female, in whose worn +emaciated face and figure was displayed such concentrated evil passion +of hatred and jealousy as rarely to be seen on human being. Like the +flying hateful god Idaten she sprang upon the girl, grasped her long +black hair, and hurled her to this side and that. Helpless the victim +held up the bloody stumps of fingers. Now the face was seen to be dyed +in blood, the garments dyed red with blood, the girl again agonizing in +a pool of blood. With horror the pilgrim and the woman hid their faces. +The man's hands trembled as he struck the bell and intoned the holy +recital. Thus in a daze, amid the counting, the cries and shouts, the +weeping and the wailing, he went on. The cry of the cock was heard. As +if by magic all the wild sounds ceased. The wanderers looked around in +amazement. The altar was the stone curb of a well. The <i>yashiki</i> and its +magnificence stood close by; but the building was roofless and in ruins. +Chilled to the bone, half dead and half mad with fright, the two +fled—to reach their inn.</p> + +<p>At their tale host and those assembled shook their heads. "It is the +Sarayashiki of the Banchō, the well that of the old Yoshida Goten, +whence ghosts issue; unless by good fortune the vision be a trick of fox +or badger. Honoured Sir, have prayers said to avoid ill fortune." But a +merry, foul, cynical old fellow—peasant turned townsman—twinkled in +his laughter. "Then O'Kiku San has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> favoured the <i>shugenja</i> and his +spouse with feast and gifts?"—"'Twas very strange," naively replied the +pilgrim. "Copious and splendid the entertainment. Of the reality there +can be no doubt. This Jubei did not feast in a dream on those dainties." +The host and other auditors broke into coarse laughter—"Feast! The +<i>botamochi</i> was of horse dung, the macaroni was earth-worms, the +wine—was urine." All roared in their great joy. The unfortunate +pilgrims, much put out, made gesture of discomfiture and fright. Said +the peasant-townsman, in sly hit at the host—"Perchance O'Kiku brought +the viands from near-by inn or cook shop. Surely these furnish little +better." Laughing he left the now angry innkeeper to aid his wretched +guests, writhing and retching in all the pains, actual and imagined of +such a feast.</p> + +<p>Command went forth to the holy man—and from the Shōgun Ke himself. A +halt must be brought to these unseemly proceedings so close to the +suzerain's dwelling. These priests of the Dendzu-In, in the shadow of +whose temple rested so many of the Tokugawa dead, were famed for +learning and for piety. The founder of the Hall, Ryōyō Shōnin, +had set to his successors this standard as necessary accomplishment, +bequeathing to them perhaps the ability to meet the demand of his title +of Mikatsuki Shōnin. Between his eyes was a mole in shape like to the +crescent moon of the third day. Hence the appellation and its meaning +application; for as the moon waxed to its full, so did the Shōnin +with advancing years wax great in learning, and throw his increasing +light upon mankind. Of this first prior there is a tale. It was the +period of the Ashikaga wars, and the Shōnin, for safety and on +business of his order, was resident for the nonce at Asonuma in Kotsuké +province. As he prayed and wrought in the night, without rose violent +sound of fighting and disturbance. Rising he looked forth. Two bands of +men at direst odds displayed the greatest cruelty to each other. But +what men! Emaciated to flesh and bone, weird and unhappy of face, the +Shōnin saw that these were not of this world. His determination was +at once taken. Rosary in hand and intoning the <i>nembutsu</i> he stepped +forth. The strife parted before him; its actors were prostrate in his +presence. "What means this fierceness of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> battle?" asked the prelate. +"Surely ye are not of the world, thus without mercy to strive to do such +pitiless cruelty."—"Not of this world," said one raising his head; "but +no more cruel than men in the flesh. In the Gempei wars, fighting we +lost our lives. Our bodies tumbled promiscuously into one common ditch, +without rites or worship, the grudge still continues through the +decades. Deign, honoured priest, the aid of prayers of one so holy, for +the rest of all." Gladly the prior grasped the opportunity—"For such +surely is the charm of the Sacred Name—the paper with the sacred +characters of the Nembutsu, Namu Amida Butsu. Not this ignorant foolish +cleric, but the vow of the Nyōrai, Amida, relieves you from the Hell +of fighting (Shuradō). Deign to accept the charm and enter Nirvana." +Gladly the outstretched hands received it. Then all vanished in a mist. +On the following day with discretion and modesty the prior told his +experience to his open mouthed and credulous disciples. An ancient man +of the place was found to point out where tradition placed the burial +and its mound. The bones found on digging were sorted, and with rites +found burial. Never after were prior, disciples, or villagers troubled +with these visions. But the prior's reputation took an upward bound, to +the credit of his sect.</p> + +<p>Thus it was with his successor—himself a true Mikatsuki Shōnin in +the illumination of his learning—"From his youth he had abandoned the +world, and all the scripture had passed under his eyes. At eighteen +years he knew all the <i>sutra</i> and the doctrines of Shaka (Sakyamuni), +and books whether exoteric or esoteric. Moreover he understood +thoroughly astrology and almanacs, the poetry of Morokoshi (China) and +Nippon, and instrumental music. Truly once heard he knew ten times, so +clever he was." It was to this Saint, in his eighty-second year, that +the order came to lay the ghost of O'Kiku, to dispel the disorderly +spectres of the well of the Yoshida Goten. "A difficult, nay a severe +task; but one well within the power and mercy of the Buddha. To-night we +go forth to the attempt. Let all exert themselves." His subject clerics +bowed low—"Respectfully heard and obeyed." They liked it not. The +nights were cold; the place noted for bad company, and bad weather. But +the order of their head was not to be disobeyed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the first watches of the stormy night the Shōnin and some thirty +priests were assembled about the well curb. Earnestly the Shōnin read +the sacred writing. Vigorously his followers made the responses. Louder +the voices and greater their confidence as the night progressed without +sign of visions. Then said the Shōnin—"Surely great is the efficacy +of the <i>sutra</i>. Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! All evil visions and +spectres vanish; to seek the peace and oblivion of Nirvana. Let the +event prove the efficacy of the charm."—"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida +Butsu!" Loud the voices of the priests, but now in terror. The bell of +Gekkeiji was striking the hour of the ox (1 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>). Crouching +and shivering they saw the spectral lighting up of the well. The blue +glittering points began to dot its mouth. Then swarms of spectres began +to pour forth, obscene and horrible. Among them appeared the ghost of +O'Kiku. Stricken with fear the priests stopped all reading of the holy +writ. Flat on their faces, their buttocks elevated high for great +concealment, they crouched in a huddled mass. "Namu Amida Butsu! Namu +Amida Butsu! Spare us, good ghosts—thus disturbed most rudely in your +nightly haunt and revels. Ha! Ah! One's very marrow turns to ice. No +more! No more! Away!" But the Shōnin held firm. Surrounded by the +jibing menacing mass of spirits, steadily and without fear he hung on to +his scroll, read the <i>sutra</i>, intoned the <i>nembutsu</i>. One by one his +company stole away; as did the spectres with approaching dawn.</p> + +<p>He did not reproach his flock. Said the prior to the shamed assembly—by +daylight: "Surely this is a very difficult undertaking. This curse of +the dead is no ordinary one. It is a soul without light, of some highly +debauched sinner, of some woman vowed to eternal hate. Deep the +malignancy; but deeper yet the efficacy of Mida's vow. Seven nights will +do it. Let all make every effort." He looked around, with trace of +gentle rebuke—"We are men who have left the world (<i>shukké</i>). Why then +fear the dead; when ye are part and parcel of them? Perhaps greater +company is needed." He sought it from his fellow priors. From Shiba to +Asakusa they swarmed. With fifty, with seventy, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> hundred and +seventy priests, all reciting the <i>Sutra</i>, intoning the <i>nembutsu</i>, the +noise and confusion rose high above the sound of storm and spectre. +Sleep was banished far and wide thereabouts. But this could not last. +"One, two, three, four...." with the counting of the plates the chilling +heart rending shriek, the wail of the unhappy girl, the stoutest +volunteers quailed and with their hands shut out the spectral vision. +These volunteers disappeared with the second week of recitation entered +on by the Shōnin. Even his own band began to fail him. They sent +substitutes, in the shape of the temple servants, the lowest grade, the +Shoké Sama. When a third week was announced, as sure to accomplish the +exorcism, there was open rebellion. It was with sadness and admiration +that the Shōnin saw his band thus reduced to a few faithful men, the +oldest of his flock, almost as old as himself—and these deaf, blind, +and almost dumb. "Ah! It is a tremendous affair. Deep the malignancy of +this curse. This foolish priest has overrated his reputation with the +Buddha. Great the discredit to the sect and temple at the wide heralded +failure." He felt as ill and out of sorts away from the presence of the +vision, as did his disciples in its presence. He was old and foolish and +over-confident.</p> + +<p>The prior slept on his cushion, his robes still wet with the storm and +rain of the previous night. Then came a woman, dressed in sombre garb. +Approaching the sleeping priest she wrote upon his sleeve the character +<i>ki</i> 機, bowed reverently, and disappeared. He awoke seeming to +hear her footsteps. How clear was this dream! The character <i>ki</i>, what +did it portend? The Buddha would not fail his priest. Taking himself to +the altar he prostrated himself before the seated figure. Then he +prayed. And as he prayed—perhaps resumed his nap—wonderful to say +again the character 機 appeared, this time on the Buddha's +sleeve. The Shōnin rubbed his eyes. Was he awake or dreaming? He did +not know. "<i>Ki</i>," the chance, the opportunity that the successful man in +every undertaking grasps, where others fail. He must apply it to his own +calling and the crisis. They exercised their brains; he was reputed to +be well furnished. This next night was the last of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> the third seven +days. Failing favourable issue he would take up his staff and depart to +other place, never to reappear in the beloved precincts of his hall. +Thus inspired he thought and thought. The grave, kindly, piercing eyes +became brighter and brighter. Then his monks came running in surprise +and alarm. The reverend prior was laughing—not in merriment, but with +the joy of him who has found the successful issue to be so plain and +easy.</p> + +<p>This last and critical night in storm and riot proved to be the worst of +all. Said the Shōnin with grave kindness—"This night the Shōnin +goes; others need not accompany." All rejoiced—until they saw his +preparation to face the rain and cold. Then they weakened, and all plead +to accompany him. Splendid the train assembled around the well curb. +Again the reading of the <i>sutra</i> began, the intonation of the +<i>nembutsu</i>. Again the clerics cursed their ill timed enthusiasm, which +brought them out in the storm and to such unseemly company. Again the +ghosts issued forth from the old well in their obscene riot. Jeering, +menacing they swarmed around the frightened priestly band. Immoveable +the prior. Natural and supernatural seemed to hang on the issue between +priest and spectres. The figure of O'Kiku, wan, sad, malignant appeared. +She counted—"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, +nine...."—"Ten!" shouted the Shōnin, extending the Junen. "Ara! What +joy! None lack. Ah! By the Shōnin's virtue this Kiku secures Nirvana. +Gratitude and obeisance are due." With the words the figure faded, the +spectres disappeared, the storm rumbled and passed off rapidly to the +distance, and the stars shone out on the cold clear sky of a perfect +fall night with its studded firmament.</p> + +<p>Thus did the Shōnin find the secret in the <i>ten</i> repetition of the +sacred formula—the <i>ju</i> nen. On her finger stumps O'Kiku +counted—counted as does the successful man in the business of life. But +O'Kiku was maimed. The thumb was lacking. Hence the tale went but to +nine. The missing factor once supplied her count found completion. Long +had been accomplished her vow of indignant vengeance, but still the +plates remained to count for her own release, and this she could not +effect. Great was the reputation thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> acquired to priest and temple. +Probably it was this feat which has confused him with his greater +predecessor, the founder of the temple; transferred most +anachronistically to this latter the tradition of the actual laying of +the ghost.</p> + +<p>There is an old book<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> in which the matter is discussed—"It was in +the old well that Kikujō was drowned, says tradition in Shōhō +3rd year (1646). By the ability, merit, and power of Mikatsuki Shōnin +her soul was saved, and at once she became a Buddha. Though such be the +story, by the temple register the founder of the Dendzu-In, Ryōyō +Shōnin, entered the Hall in Ōei 22nd year 9th month 27th day (29th +October 1415). One smiles. Ho! The Shōnin lived two hundred and +fifty-six years before, and dates do not amalgamate. How many +generations had the Shōnin seen when Kikujō became a Buddha! The +Mikatsuki Shōnin becomes a bubble Shōnin. The learning of this +Mikatsuki Shōnin was notorious, and it has been banded down to people +of later generations in matters concerning Ryōyō Shōnin. Deign +to take a glance at facts here indicated. The 'Edo Bukkaku Ryakuden' +(Epitomised Record of Buddhist teaching in Edo) says under the heading +'Muryōzan Jukyōji Dendzu-in'—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Koishikawa Ji-in: 600 <i>koku</i> (income). The founder was +Yurensha Ryōyō Shōnin, early in the Meitoku period +(1390-1393). This Shōnin had between his eyebrows the +figure of the moon on the third day. Later people called him +Mikatsuki Shōnin. Native of Jōshū he was the son of +the castle lord of Iwasé in Kujigōri, Shirayoshi Shima no +Kami Yoshimitsu. Through prayer at the Iwasé Myōjin his +mother became pregnant. He was born Riaku-Ō 4th year 1st +month 24th day (11th February 1311). Later his father was +killed in battle, and the mother took him to the +Jōfukuji, at Sōjiyama. Putting him in charge of +Shōjitsu Shōnin his head was shaved. At eight years +old he was received at the Mikkyō (Shingon) Hōdon-In +Yuzon. Taishū (secret cult) was learned through the +teaching of Shingen Hōshi.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> The Zenshū was taught by +the aged Tajima no Temmei and Gwatsuryū. Shintō by +Jibu no Tayu Morosuké. In the poetry of Nippon he followed +Tona, for ancient and modern example. He wrote ten books of +importance. Noted for learning, in Eiwa 4th year (1378) he +was transferred to Taitei-san Ōshō-in Nan-ryūbō +in Shimotsuké no Kuni. Here he taught the seed of the Law. +The son of Chiba Sadatané, Toku Sendai Maru, had a younger +brother. It was he who founded the Zōjōji and became +Yūyō Shōnin. Ryōyō Mikatsuki Shōnin died +in Ōei 27th year 9th month 27th day (3rd November 1420). +The San-en-zan Kwō-dō-in Zōjōji had to fief +10540 <i>koku</i>. It is the chief seat of the Jōdō sect in +the Kwantō, and its schools swarm with students.'</p></div> + +<p>The large hanging bell of this Zōjōji (<i>tsurigané</i>) has the +thickness of a foot. At the time it was the largest of all bells. In the +temple record it says that the Shōnin of Shiba San-en-zan, generation +following generation, were highly noted for learning. From Ryōyō +Shōnin the predecessor the principles must have been inherited. Hence +in the foolish talk of people the honoured name of the Shōnin was +borrowed and adopted into the affair of Kikujō, as of the noted and +erudite priest Mikatsuki Shōnin; no matter of offence."</p> + +<p>But no such laboured explanation is required. The sanctity of learning, +the inheritance in these bishops and priors of the merits of those who +went before, has kept and keeps the appellation in the minds of the +generations of the Nipponese. Ryōyō Shōnin, his merits and his +nickname, passed in the public mind to his successors. It is the +laboured and learned effort of these days which fastens on the prior of +Dendzu-in the tales of the long past founder of the temple. It was the +learned Oshō of the time of Tsunayoshi Kō, that fifth +Shōgun—the Inu Kubo—basely devout and devoted to the Buddha's Law, +when to save the life of a dog (<i>inu</i>) the lives of men were sacrificed +on the execution ground.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> The piety and learning of the great priest +surely is needed to counterbalance the cruel folly of his master. Both +qualities of this later cleric were the needed light in this period so +dark for men. In which the wife, more faithful to tradition and the +land, drove her dagger into the Shōgun's heart, and kept from his +seat and succession the favoured person of his catamite.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> To be sure +the little lady, of <i>kugé</i> not <i>samurai</i> stock, daughter of the Kwampaku +(Premier) Takatsukasa Fusasuké, of courage and truly noble stock, then +used the dagger on herself; and has kept busy ever since the historians +of Nippon, official and other kinds, in explanation of how "it didn't +happen." This is but a tale of outside scribes, to explain the taking +off between night and morning of a perfectly well man (or divinity)—not +sanctified with official and Tokugawal benediction; and no wonder. The +tale and the event was not one to brag of. And the lady died too—very +shortly.</p> + +<p>The eagerness to ascribe a local habitat to the story of the Sarayashiki +has led to-day to some curious confusions, dovetailing into each other. +To follow Hōgyūsha—in the far off quarter of Yanaka Sansaki, near +the Negishi cut of the Northern Railway, is the Nonaka well. Despite its +far removal this <i>pool</i> is ascribed to O'Kiku, as the one time well of +the Yoshida Goten. As fact—in Shōhō a harlot, by name Kashiwaki, +ransomed by a guest here established herself. Death or desertion cut her +off from the lover, and she turned nun. The place at that time was mere +moorland, and the well near by the hut had the name of the Nonaka no +Ido—the well amid the moor. In time the lady and her frailty +disappeared, and the kindly villagers buried her close to the hut, scene +of her penance.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Vain the tranquil water mid the moor—mere surface;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Gone, nought remains—of the reflection."<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>Her well? People call it now the <i>yobi-ido</i>, the calling well, a pool +furnished by springs and some thirty feet in diameter. Now only a few +<i>chō</i> (hundred yards) to the north of Sansaki, at the Komizo no Hashi +of Sakanoshita, is an old mound called the grave of O'Kiku. "Here a +small seven faced monument has been erected. But this is not the O'Kiku +of the Sarayashiki. This woman named Kiku died of an incurable disease. +As her dying wish she asserted that any who suffered pain from incurable +disease had but to pray to her to receive relief. With this vow she +died." It is the connection between this Kiku and the <i>yobi-ido</i> which +has so transferred the well established site of this old story.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Thus comes to a finish these tales of the Edo Banchō, the story of +the Sarayashiki with its cruel fate of the unhappy Kikujō, the Lady +of the Plates. Long had the distressed figure of the wretched girl +ceased its wailing over the never completed tale of the porcelain +plates. But the memory of her misfortunes, of the ill-omened well of the +Yoshida Goten has remained for centuries in the mind, and thought, and +speech of Nippon. Up to the early years of Meiji the Kōjimachi-ido +still existed, to be pointed out to the superstitious ever present in +this land. The Banchō, for many decades of years, had become the +crowded Banchō of the proverb which asserts that one born and living +out life therein, yet could not be expected to know the windings and +intricacies of its many ways and byways. In time the <i>yashiki</i> of +<i>hatamoto</i> disappeared; in recent years to make way for a residential +quarter of prosperous tradesmen, minor officials; nay, for bigger fish +who swim in the troubled waters of court and politics. The old +Kōjimachi village, with its bustling street and many shops, remains. +True the old well has gone the way of the ruined <i>yashiki</i> of Aoyama +Shūzen, of the waste land (皿土) on which at one time both +stood. But to this very day the tradition remains firm and clear. So +much so that those who leave their homes, to fail of reappearance ever +after, are spoken of as having met the fate of the unhappy victims of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> Kōjimachi-ido. To quote again the very ancient poem in assertion +of the verity of its evil influence:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yoshida: to passers by the token;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Long sleeves wave invitation."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Yokohama—21st September to <br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">14th November, 1916.</span></p> + +<p class="center">—<span class="smcap">Finis.—</span></p> + +<p class="center">To follow—The Hizakurige (Tōkaidō) of Jippensha<br /> Ikku—in English.</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> Benincasa hispida (Brinkley).</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> Of about fifteen dollars in terms of present money.</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> Comments the scribe of Nippon (Matsubayashi Hakuen)—"This +kind is not the animal known as fox. There are foxes in human shape +which extort money. They dwell round about Yoshiwara and Shinagawa. +These are found in the Shin-Yoshiwara. In Meiji 33rd year 8th month +liberty was granted to give up their occupation. Blowing wide cast a fox +fever, the brothels of the Yoshiwara displayed a magnificent confusion. +In round terms Tokyo town was in an uncontrolled disorder. Among these +human foxes there was a guild, and this was the source of the tumult."</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> Mizuno Jurōzaémon Shigemoto, son of Hiuga no Kami +Katsunari. He was ordered to commit <i>seppuku</i> (cut belly) for the +assassination of Bandzuin Chōbei: Kwanbun 4 year 3 month 27 day (22 +April 1664).</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> <i>Kokorozashi wa matsu no ha to moshimasu</i>.</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> Second daughter of Hidétada; wife of the Prince of +Echizen.</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> At the severest cold, clad in breech clout, or thinnest of +white linen, the pilgrim after sunset makes his round of the temples for +worship.</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 Pluto of Indian (Yama), Chinese and Japanese (Emma) +mythology. Dai-Ō (Great King). Cf. Eitel's "Chinese Buddhism," p. +207.</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> Other accounts say that these heroes used—pith bullets.</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> He was of great strength, and is said to have carried the +Shōgun in his palanquin on his shoulders himself back to Edo in the +flight from Suzume no Miya. With the approval of Iyemitsu he forced his +way into the castle gate, thereby incurring official censure and +banishment to an island—to Hitotsu no Jima, or the present Ishikawa +Jima at the mouth of the Sumidagawa! The sentence was purely formal. His +favour with Iyemitsu was very high owing to this Tsuritenjō (hanging +ceiling) affair.</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> These stories were not likely to be published under a +paternal Government; except in the mouths and tales of the people. Too +many scandals have been "excerpted" from the official histories and +records of Nippon to have a robust confidence in what is left. The +<i>kōdan</i> lecturers and writers make the Senhimégimi, eldest daughter +of Hidétada, the heroine of the scandals emanating from the Yoshida +Goten. History refers them to the Takata no Kata. But this lady left +powerful issue. Not so the Senhimégimi (Princess Sen), in ways a +splendid woman. Better known as the Tenju-in-Den she lies buried under a +most imposing monument at the Dendzu-in in Tokyo. Tenju-in-Den lived to +over eighty years; the Takata no Kata died, aged seventy-two years.</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> <i>Itsuwari to omoi sutenaba ikani sen; Sue kakete chigiri +mo aru wo afu yo sae; Iku sue to fuku chigiru makoto wo.</i> (1) <i>Hedatsu +koro mono urami to zo omou.</i> (2)</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> Burned down a few years ago: a fire disastrous to the +temple records.</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> Dosanbashi is the site facing the castle and lying just +north of the wide avenue facing the main entrance to Tōkyō +station. It ran north to Kanda bridge. It formed part of the +Daimyō-koji, which extended from Kandabashi to the Hibiyabashi and +the Sukiyabashi at the south. Roughly speaking this Daimyō-koji was +the district between the inner and outer moat and the bridges mentioned, +now traversed by the elevated railway from Shimbashi to the Tōkyō +station. The Dosan bridge crossed a wide canal which connected the inner +and outer moats with the Sumida river. The street running from +Gofukubashi to the castle moat covers the site of this canal, and the +bridge itself was about where the spur of the elevated railway crosses +the present highway (1916). The Embukasané inspired the famous tale of +Enchō—the "Shinkasané-ga-fuchi"—and, like many Nipponese stories, +is founded on actual occurrence.</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> Also called, Naomori, or Narimasa, or Nariyuki.</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> There was great opposition to the introduction of <i>Kugé</i> +(court noble) influence into the Shōgun's household at this time. The +same reasons of course did not apply to marriage of Tokugawa women into +the Kyōto circle. The Shōgunal Court was to be ruled by <i>samurai</i> +code and influence.</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> Marriages at that date were performed in daytime. Note in +the original.</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></p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p><span class="i0"><i>Ume ka ka wo sakura no hana ni motase tsutsu;</i><br/> </span> +<span class="i0"><i>Yanagi no eda ni sakashite zo min.</i><br/></span> +</p></div></div> +</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> Momogawa Jōen: <i>kōdanshi</i> differ in their treatment +of such detail. Some emphasize it, after the manner of the chronicle; +others do not.</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> The <i>Daikwan</i> was the chief representative of the feudal +lord in the particular circumscribed district. His authority rarely +passed beyond a few miles. Note the Daikwanzaka and the site of his +<i>yashiki</i> in Yokohama (<i>Motomachi</i>).</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> Momokawa Jōen.</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> Shukké, one who has left the world—turned +priest—"Honoured Mr. Recluse."</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> The Nipponese "watches" covered two hours. Hence he had +been aroused between 3-5 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, not 5-7 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> as +expected.</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> <i>Dentatsu</i>—"Jimbei, mata 'fukeru' to itta na. Nan no +kotta (kotoba) sono 'fukeru' to iu no wa." <i>Jimbei</i>—"Yai! Yai! Bōzu" +etc. To the erudite is left closer approximation to <i>fukeru</i> (in +<i>kana</i>). This story is told, following the details of Koganei Koshū +("Yui Shōsetsu"). Gion, equally known for its <i>hetairai</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> In the vernacular.</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> The first—Yamaguchi etc.—are place names, from +Kyūshū to Ōshū; widely scattered. Otherwise—"Bloody Spear" +(Chiyari), "Iron Chin," "Wolf," "Fox-heart," "Iron head," "Monkey +hand."</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> He has played on the ideographs—極醉の宴 and 曲水の宴, +<i>kyoku-sui no en</i>; the last meaning—"Winding water entertainment," cf. +"Benkei" Vol. II. p. 195.</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>yoriki</i> is hard to place—"commanding officer." He +was not of the office, yet as of rank was chosen to lead these more +dangerous and trying expeditions, or to act in more important arrests.</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> In the conspiracy of Shōsetsu such did exist, directed +to the house of one of his followers, placed not far off in another +street. [But recently such a tunnel was discovered under the garden of +Baron Sakatani at Haramachi, Koishikawa, Tōkyō; believed to belong +to the Hakusan Goten, and dating 250 years back. 20th May, 1917].</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> Brinkley's Dictionary gives it—<i>Ichiju no kagé ni yadori, +ichiga no nagare wo kumu mo, mina kore tashō no en narubeshi</i>.</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> Shōhō 3rd year the New Year fell on 16th February +(1646) of the modern calendar.</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> <i>Rangiku ya: kitsuné ni no se yō kono sugata. Rangiku</i> += Caryopteris mastachantus.</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> In Buddhist theology the seventh day is one of the +important dates of the <i>hotokés</i> (deceased spirit) sojourn upon Earth.</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> Pradjna—"highest of the six pâramitâ, principal means of +attaining Nirvana, knowledge of the illusory character of all +existence." Eitel—p. 119.</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> The quotation and what follows is from Hōgyūsha +Tōkō—"Banchō Sarayashiki." The exactness of these old temple +registers in essential dates is worth noting.</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> Tsunayoshi 1646-1709. A vassal of Akita Danjō killed a +swallow. He was executed; his children were executed; and he and his are +but one case out of many.</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> Or son, by the more respectful account. Yanagizawa +Yoshiyasu took the name of Matsudaira. His son Yoshishige, said really +to be the son of Tsunayoshi by the wife of Yoshiyasu, was to be adopted +by Echizen no Kami Tadanao, brother and heir to the Shōgun. Tadanao +"removed," left the field open to the success (and succession) of the +powerful premier. Yanagizawa as <i>tairō</i> (premier) was an irregularity +in itself.</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_v">v</a>: The modern kanji character has been used for yeast (<i>kōji</i>)</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_11">11</a>: crysanthemum amended to chrysanthemum</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_22">22</a>: masterhand amended to master hand; rotten amended to rotted</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_26">26</a>: embarassment amended to embarrassment</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_29">29</a>: on amended to an</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_41">41</a>: missing /s/ in gesture added</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_47">47</a>: made amended to make; pallour amended to pallor</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_51">51</a>: villanious amended to villainous</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_57">57</a>: dependant amended to dependent</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_59">59</a>: state raft amended to statecraft</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_63">63</a>: circumambiant amended to circumambient</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_69">69</a>: spoken off amended to spoken of</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_73">73</a>: milklivered amended to milk livered</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_95">95</a>: gallopping amended to galloping</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_102">102</a>: herhaps amended to perhap</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_105">105</a> et seq.: superintendant amended to superintendent</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_132">132</a>: preceded amended to proceeded</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_140">140</a>: lead amended to led</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_143">143</a>: Aoyoma amended to Aoyama; embarassment amended to embarrassment</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_147">147</a>: exhilirating amended to exhilarating</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_169">169</a>: astonishly amended to astonishingly</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_171">171</a>: mits amended to mitts</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_173">173</a>: he amended to be</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_175">175</a>: quid amended to squid</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_176">176</a>: multidinous amended to multitudinous</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_182">182</a>: peel amended to peal</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_192">192</a>: exhuberant amended to exuberant</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_212">212</a>: condescenscion amended to condescension; effiminacy amended to effeminacy</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_213">213</a>: icely amended to icily</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_214">214</a>: maccaroni amended to macaroni</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_221">221</a>: conferrence sic, meaning conferring</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_227">227</a>: squshing amended to squishing</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_232">232</a>: yashihi amended to yashiki; impertinance amended to impertinence</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_239">239</a>: Ototsan replaced with Otosan</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_241">241</a>: feint amended to faint</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_252">252</a>: maccaroni amended to macaroni </p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_254">254</a>: maccaroni amended to macaroni; apellation amended to appellation</p> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_260">260</a>: apellation amended to appellation</p> + +<p>Where two different spellings occur an equal number of times in the +text, both spellings have been retained (Koshigeyatsu/Koshigayatsu; +Surugadai/Suragadai).</p> + +<p>Where there is an equal number of instances of a word occurring as +hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens have been retained: +Ban-gashira/Bangashira; fire-ward/fireward; go-kenin/gokenin; +Kanda-bashi/Kandabashi; Mita-mura/Mitamura; new-comer/new comer; +overlord/over-lord; raincoat/rain-coat; Tayasu-mura/Tayasumura; +wheel-wright/wheelwright; +yatsu-hōkōnin/yatsuhōkōnin.</p> + +<p>The Senhimégimi: Hyphenation and/or word separation, as well as italicisation, is varied. The variations of Sen +himégimi, himégimi and Senhimé have been retained as they +appear in the text.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House), by +James S. De Benneville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BAKEMONO YASHIKI *** + +***** This file should be named 19945-h.htm or 19945-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/9/4/19945/ + +Produced by Clare Boothby and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House) + Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 2 (of 2) + +Author: James S. De Benneville + +Release Date: November 28, 2006 [EBook #19945] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BAKEMONO YASHIKI *** + + + + +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. Shigenari/Shigenari, Uesugi/Uesugi). | + | | + | The letter o with a macron is represented as o[u]. | + | The letter u with a macron is represented as u[u]. | + | The letter e with a macron is represented as e[e]. | + | | + | Kanji and hiragana characters in the original book are | + | shown enclosed in square brackets: for example, [sara]. | + | | + | The italicisation of Japanese words has been standardised. | + | | + | Hyphenation and capitalisation has been standardised. | + | | + | Punctuation and obvious printer's errors have been | + | corrected. For a complete list, please see the bottom | + | of this document. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: EDO WAN (TOKYO BAY)] + + + + +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." + +[NIROKUDO[U] ISSUES] + +TALES OF THE TOKUGAWA II + +BAKEMONO YASHIKI + +(THE HAUNTED HOUSE) + + + +RETOLD FROM THE JAPANESE ORIGINALS + +BY + +JAMES S. DE BENNEVILLE + + + "Woman's greatest need, + The base of all governance, + Is governance; Seldom found, + And rarely applied."--_Seishin_ + +YOKOHAMA + +1921 + + + + +PREFACE + + +In 1590 A.D. the Ho[u]jo[u] were overthrown at Odawara by the Taiko[u] +Hideyoshi, and the provinces once under their sway were intrusted to his +second in command, Tokugawa Iyeyasu. This latter, on removing to the +castle of Chiyoda near Edo, at first paid main attention to +strengthening his position in the military sense. From his fief in +To[u]to[u]mi and Suruga he had brought with him a band of noted +captains, devoted to his service through years of hardest warfare. He +placed them around his castle ward, from East to South in a great +sweeping arc of detached fortresses, extending from Shimo[u]sa province +to that of Sagami. Koga was the chief stronghold on the North, against +what was left of the Uesugi power. The most devoted of his captains, +Honda Tadakatsu, was established at Kawagoe. Odawara, under an O[u]kubo, +as always, blocked the way from the Hakone and Ashigara passes. In the +hands of Iyeyasu and his captains, the formidable garrison here +established was not likely to offer opportunity of a second "Odawara +conference," during which dalliance with compromise and surrender would +bring sudden attack and disaster. At this period there is no sign that +in his personal service Prince Iyeyasu made changes from the system +common to the great military Houses of the time. The castle ward and +attendance always were divided up among the immediate vassals of the +lord. The basis was strictly military, not domestic. Even the beautiful +_kami-shimo_ (X), or butterfly hempen cloth garb of ceremonial +attendance was an obvious reminder of the armour worn in the field. + +Great statesman and warrior that he was, the Taiko[u] Hideyoshi must +have realised the difficulties confronting his House. The formidable +power he had created in the North was no small part of them. On several +occasions he sought a quarrel with Iyeyasu; sought to humiliate him in +small ways, to lower his prestige and provoke an outbreak. Such was the +trifling incident of the lavish donation required of Iyeyasu to the +Hachiman shrine at Kamakura. But Hideyoshi, as with Elizabeth of +England, looked rather to the balance of cost against result, always +with possibility of failure in view. When he died in 1598, and left +Tokugawa Iyeyasu practically regent of the land, his expectation can be +judged to be, either that the loyal members of the council of regency +would at least balance the Tokugawa power for their own sakes, or that +the majority of his son Hideyori, then a mere infant, would witness no +question of supremacy. In the one event the glory and prestige of his +House would stand. In the second case the safety of his posterity would +be assured. With his experience, and belief in the over-riding power of +Nobunaga and himself, the first was as likely to happen as the second; +and the influence of the Toyotomi House was the means necessary to +insure to Iyeyasu the position already secured, against the jealousy of +the other lords. Time showed that he granted a perspicuity and energy to +the members of his council which Iyeyasu alone possessed. + +With Sekigahara (1600) the situation was definitely changed. In 1603 +Iyeyasu was made Sho[u]gun, and the first steps were to organize the +Eastern capital at Edo on an Imperial scale. The modest proportions of +the Chiyoda castle of Ho[u]jo[u] times--the present inner keep--had +already grown to the outer moat. Around these precincts were thrown the +vassals of the Sho[u]gun. The distribution at first was without much +method, beyond the establishment of greater lords in close proximity to +the person of the Sho[u]gun. This feature was accentuated in the time of +the third Sho[u]gun Iyemitsu. Immediately allied Houses and vassals +occupied the castle ward between the inner and outer moats, from the +Hitotsubashi gate on the North, sweeping East and South to the Hanzo[u] +gate on the West. The Nishimaru, or western inclosure of the castle, +faced this Hanzo[u] Gomon. From this gate to a line drawn diagonally +north eastward from the Kanda-bashi Gomon to the Sujikae Gomon, the +section of the circle was devoted to the _yashiki_ (mansions) of the +_hatamoto_ or minor lords in immediate vassalage of the Sho[u]gun's +service. Kanda, Bancho[u], Ko[u]jimachi (within the outer moat), the +larger parts of Asakusa, Shitaya, Hongo[u], Koishikawa, Ushigome +(Ichigaya), Yotsuya, Akasaka, Azabu, and Shiba, were occupied by +_yashiki_ of _hatamoto_ and _daimyo[u]_--with an ample proportion of +temple land. It would seem that there was little left for commercial +Edo. Such was the case. The scattered towns of Kanda, Tayasu, +Ko[u]jicho[u], several score of villages on the city outskirts, are +found in this quarter. The townsmen's houses were crowded into the made +ground between the outer moat of the castle and the _yashiki_ which +lined the Sumida River between Shiba and the Edogawa. In 1624 the +reclaimed ground extended almost to the present line of the river. The +deepening of the beds of the Kanda and Edo Rivers had drained the +marshes. The use of the waters of the Kandagawa for the castle moat had +made dry land of the large marsh just to the south of the present Ueno +district. Thus Hongo[u], in its more particular sense, became a building +site. + +With elaboration of the outer defences went elaboration of the immediate +service on the Sho[u]gun. There was no sudden change. The military forms +of the camp stiffened into the etiquette of the palace. The +_Sho[u]inban_ or service of the audience chamber, the _Ko[u]sho[u]gumi_ +or immediate attendants, these were the most closely attached to the +Sho[u]gun's person. To be added to these are the O[u]bangumi or palace +guard, the _Kojuningumi_ and the Kachigumi which preceded and surrounded +the prince on his outside appearances. These "sections" formed the Go +Banshu[u], the _honoured_ bodyguard. In the time of Iyemitsu a sixth +_kumi_ or section was formed, to organize the service of the women +attendants of the palace, of the _oku_ or private apartments in +distinction from the _omote_ or public (men's) apartments, to which the +Go Banshu[u] were attached. Given the name of _Shinban_ (New) this +_kumi_ was annexed to the Banshu[u]. This aroused instant protest. The +then lords of the Go Ban inherited their position through the merits of +men who had fought on the bloody fields of war. Now "luck, not service," +was to be the condition of deserving. The protest was made in form, and +regarded. Iyemitsu gave order that the Shinbangumi retain its name, but +without connection with the Banshu[u]. + +At this point the confusion of terms is to be explained. All through the +rule of the first three Sho[u]gun a gradual sifting had been taking +place. Into Edo were crowding the _daimyo[u]_ who sought proximity to +the great man of the land. Then came the order of compulsory residence, +issued by Iyemitsu himself; seconded by the mighty lords of Sendai and +Satsuma, who laid hands on sword hilts, and made formal statement that +he who balked nourished a treacherous heart. The support of one of them +was at least unexpected. The acquiescence of both cut off all +opposition. Most of the ground now within the outer moat was devoted to +the greater lords in immediate service on the Tokugawa House. The +_hatamoto_ were removed to the outer sites in Koishikawa, Ushigome, +Yotsuya; to the Bancho[u], the only closer ward they retained; or across +the river to Honjo[u] and Fukagawa. Those in immediate service were +placed nearest to the palace. From the beginning the favoured residence +site had been just outside the Hanzo[u] and Tayasu Gomon, across the +inner moat from the palace. Hence the district got the name of +Bancho[u]. _Go Ban_ ([go ban]) in popular usage was confused with ([go +ban])--"five" instead of "honoured." In course of time the constant +removals to this district made it so crowded, its ways so intricate, +that one who lived in the Bancho[u] (Ban ward) was not expected to know +the locality; a wide departure from the original checker board design on +which it had been laid out, and hence the characters [bancho[u]] +(Bancho[u]) used at one time. This, however, was when Edo had expanded +from its original 808 _cho[u]_ (20200 acres) to 2350 _cho[u]_ (58750 +acres). The original Bancho[u] included all the ground of Iidamachi, and +extended to the Ko[u]jimachi road. Ko[u]jimachi (the _mura_ or village) +was then in the Bancho[u], and known as _samurai ko[u]jimachi_ +[ko[u]jimachi] (by-way), not the present [ko[u]ji] (yeast). In the time +of the third Sho[u]gun the Bancho[u] was as yet a lonely place--to the +west of the city and on its outskirts. The filling in process, under the +Government pressure for ground, was just under way. Daimyo[u]-ko[u]ji, +between the inner and outer moats, through the heart of which runs the +railway spur from Shimbashi to To[u]kyo[u] station, was being created +by elimination of the minor lords. At the close of Kwanei (1624 A.D.) +all the Daimyo[u]-koji was very solid ground; an achievement of no +little note when the distance from the Sumidagawa is considered. At +Iyeyasu's advent to Edo the shore line ran close to the inner moat of +the castle. The monastery of Zo[u]jo[u]ji then situated close to the +site of the present Watagaru gate, was converted by him into the great +establishment at Shiba; and placed as close to the waters of the bay as +the present Seikenji of Okitsu in Suruga--its fore-bear in the material +and ecclesiastical sense. + +The same rapid development of the town took place on the eastern side of +the river. Honjo[u] and Fukagawa became covered by the _yashiki_ sites, +interspersed with the numerous and extensive temple grounds. Iyeyasu was +as liberal to the material comforts of his ghostly advisers, as he was +strict in their supervision. One fifth of Edo was ecclesiastical. One +eighth of it, perhaps, was given over to the needed handicrafts and +tradesmen of the Kyo[u]bashi and Nihonbashi wards along the river, with a +moiety of central Honjo[u]--and to the fencing rooms. The balance of the +city site was covered by the _yashiki_. Thus matters remained until the +Meiji period swept away feudalism, and substituted for the military town +the modern capital of a living nation. So much for the Edo with which we +have to deal, apart from its strange legends and superstitions, its +malevolent and haunting influences, working ill to the invaders, daring to +encroach upon the palace itself and attack the beloved of the Sho[u]gun +and his heir, only to be quelled by the divine majesty of his look--as +expounded in such tangle of verities as the Honjo[u]-Nana-fushigi (seven +marvels of Honjo[u]), the Azabu Nana-fushigi, the Fukagawa Nana-fushigi, +the Bancho[u] Nana-fushigi, the Okumura Kiroku, the temple scrolls and +traditions, and many kindred volumes. + +In reference to the Bancho[u]: the stories outlined in the present +volume date from the period of the puppet shows and strolling reciters, +men who cast these tales into their present lines, thus reducing popular +tradition to the form in which it could be used by the _ko[u]danshi_ or +lecturers on history, or by those diving into the old tales and +scandals connected with the _yashiki_ of Edo town. In the present volume +main reliance for the detail has been placed on the following +_ko[u]dan_:-- + + "The Bancho[u] Nana-fushigi" of Matsubayashi Hakuen. + + "The Bancho[u] Sarayashiki" of Momogawa Jo[u]en. + + "The Bancho[u] Sarayashiki" of Byo[u]haku Hakuchi, in the + "Kwaidan-shu[u]" published by the Hakubunkwan. + + "The Bancho[u] Sarayashiki" of Ho[u]gyu[u]sha To[u]ko. + + "Yui Sho[u]setsu" of Ko[u]ganei Koshu[u]. + +These references could be extended. The story of the Sarayashiki figures +in most of the collections of wonder tales. The Gidayu of the "Banshu[u] +Sarayashiki" by Tamenaga Taro[u]bei and Asada Itcho[u] finds no +application. It deals with Himeji in Harima. As for the stories from an +esoteric point of view, as illustrations of the period they have a +value--to be continued in those more historical, and which deal with the +lives and deeds of men of greater note and influence in this early +Tokugawa court. The present volume instances the second class of wonder +tales referred to in the preface to the Yotsuya Kwaidan. + +O[u]marudani, 14th November, 1916. + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE + + Preface v + + Map of Edo _Facing_ xii + + PART I. + + TALES OF THE EDO BANCHO[U]: + WHO AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN WAS 1 + + Chapter I. The Chu[u]gen Rokuzo 3 + + II. The Bakemono Yashiki 17 + + III. Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen 26 + + IV. The O'kage Sama 38 + + V. The Report to the Tono Sama 48 + + VI. The Shrine of the O'Inari Sama 55 + + VII. The Luck of Okumura Shu[u]zen 64 + + VIII. Aoyama Shu[u]zen 76 + + IX. Shu[u]zen meets Shu[u]zen 84 + + X. The Meeting of the Gaman Kwai 89 + + + PART II. + + BANCHO[U] SARAYASHIKI: + WHAT AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN BECAME 97 + + Chapter XI. The Yoshida Goten 99 + + XII. The Ko[u]jimachi Well 111 + + XIII. The Sen Himegimi (Princess Sen) 122 + + XIV. Shu[u]zen Adolescens 130 + + XV. The God favours Shu[u]zen 142 + + XVI. The Affair of the Asakusa Kwannon 150 + + XVII. Emma Dai-O[u] gives Judgment 156 + + XVIII. Kosaka Jinnai 165 + + XIX. A Matter of Pedestrianism 171 + + XX. The Affair of Kishu[u] Ke 179 + + XXI. If old Acquaintance be forgot 192 + + XXII. The Shrine of the Jinnai-bashi 201 + + XXIII. A Winter Session 212 + + XXIV. The Tiger at the front Gate; the Wolf at + the Postern 218 + + XXV. Chu[u]dayu wins his Suit 229 + + XXVI. Sampei Dono 236 + + XXVII. Aoyama wins his Suit 245 + + XXVIII. The Sarayashiki 251 + + + + + + + + +PART I + + +TALES OF THE EDO BANCHO[U] + +WHO AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN WAS. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE _Chu[u]gen_ ROKUZO + + +Rokuzo the _chu[u]gen_ sighed as he faced the long slope leading to the +Kudanzaka. Pleasant had been his journey to this point. From his master's +_yashiki_ in Ichigaya to the shop of the sandal maker Sukebei in lower +Kanda it had been one long and easy descent. Sukebei had gratified Rokuzo +with the desired and well established commission or "squeeze." Orders for +sandals in the _yashiki_ of a nobleman were no small item. Rokuzo was +easily satisfied. Though of a scant thirty years in age he had not the +vice of women, the exactions of whom were the prime source of rascality in +the sphere of _chu[u]gen_, as well as in the glittering train of the +palace. At the turn of the road ahead Rokuzo could eye the massive walls +of the moat, which hid the fortress and seraglio built up by the skilful +hands of Kasuga no Tsubone in her earnest efforts to overcome the woman +hating propensities of the San-dai-ke, the third prince of the Tokugawa +line, Iyemitsu Ko[u]. Rokuzo was a _chu[u]gen_, servant in attendance on +his master Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon, _hatamoto_ or immediate vassal of the +commander-in-chief, the Sho[u]gun or real ruler in the land of Nippon +since the long past days of Taira Kiyomori. + +Rokuzo had no great lady in charge of his domestic arrangements, one +whose obsession it was to overcome his dislike of man's natural mate. +Nor had he such mate to administer reproof for his decided liking for +the sherry-like rice wine called _sake_. Sukebei had rigidly performed +his part in the matter of the "squeeze"; but Rokuzo considered him +decidedly stingy in administration of the wine bottle--or bottles. +Willingly would he have sacrificed the commission for an amplitude of +the wine. But even _chu[u]gen_ had their formulae of courtesy, and such +reflection on his host would have been too gross. With a sigh therefore +he had set out from the shop of the sandal maker, eyeing the wine shops +passed from time to time, but not fortunate enough to chance upon any +acquaintance whose services he could call upon in facing him over a +glass. Rokuzo had the virtue of not drinking alone. + +Kanda village once passed, the _yashiki_ walls hemmed in the highway +which ran through a district now one of the busiest quarters of the +city. This sloping ground was popularly known as Ichimenhara, to +indicate its uniformity of surface. There was not a hint of the great +university, the long street of book-stores close packed side by side for +blocks. Their site was covered by the waters of the marsh, almost lake, +of the Kanda River, then being slowly drained into the castle moats. The +top of the hill reached, at what is now South Jimbocho[u], the shops and +houses of the one village hereabouts, Tayasu-mura, offered a last chance +for diversion. The steep slope of the Kudan hill was now before Rokuzo, +and beyond he had to pass through the lonely wood which harboured a +temple to the war god Hachiman, and which covered the site of the +present Sho[u]konsha or shrine to the spirits of the soldiers killed in +Nippon's wars. This road ran through the San-Bancho[u], then a lonely +quarter in which stood isolated from each other _yashiki_ of the +_hatamoto_. The district was filling up, under press of the needs of the +castle service for space immediately round about. But the process was a +slow one, and the district one much suspected by the lower classes. + +Rokuzo was not fat. He was short, thick necked, sturdy with a +barrel-like roundness, and, owing to his drinking propensities, endowed +with legs the thinness of which found the conveyance of the upper +massiveness no mean task. Hence he stopped at the foot of the hill to +wipe the sweat from his face. He eyed with envy a low caste being, a +_heimin_ and labourer. Clad in a breech-clout the fellow swung rapidly +down the hill with his load of charcoal balanced at each end of the +carrying pole. It was etiquette, not modesty, which confined Rokuzo to +the livery of his master. He was compelled to a coat which, light and +thin as it was, cut off all the breeze from his muscular shoulders. +Well! Up the hill he must get. The rolling down was a matter of the +past. The _yashiki_, the house officer (_kyu[u]nin_) to whom report was +to be made, lay beyond. About to make the start a voice spoke in his +ear. Though soft and gentle it would have had no particular attraction +for the now thirsty Rokuzo. But apart from thirst Rokuzo was of the +thoroughly good natured kind. He was surprised at the beauty of the face +on which his eyes rested; still more so at the size of the bundle she +was trying to carry, and which plainly was far beyond her strength. The +rashness of benevolence overcame the not too energetic Rokuzo. Sigh as +he did over the conveyance of his carcass up the steep hill, he sighed +still more at thought of this fragile creature attempting to carry such +a burden. + +She followed his eyes to the bundle. "Alas! Honoured Sir, what is to be +done? The _furoshiki_ is far beyond one's poor strength. Though the +distance is not great--only to Go Bancho[u]--yet it could as well be a +pilgrimage to Ise. Surely the hills of Hakone and Iga are no steeper +than this Kudanzaka." She sighed; and apart from a weariness of voice +there was a suspicion of moisture in her eyes. The more Rokuzo looked at +her, the greater waxed his pity and benevolence. Barely of eighteen +years she was a beautiful girl; not a servant, yet not one of the +secluded and guarded daughters of a noble House. Perhaps she was the +young wife of some soldier, and he was surprised at her being +unattended. She noted this, and readily explained the fact. There were +purchases yet to make, close by in Tayasu. Here a servant was to be at +hand, but wearied by waiting the woman had made off. "To offer a wage, +good sir, seems impolite; yet the way being the same deign to grant the +favour of your strength." In the petition her face was wreathed in +admiring smiles at Rokuzo's fine figure of a man. A light in the eyes, +captious and coquettish, the furtive glances at his broad shoulders and +stout neck, betrayed him into the indiscretion of volunteering a service +promptly accepted. This done, the lady, without losing sight of display +of her charm of manner, was all business. + +Rokuzo had much to learn, and he was not one to profit much by his +lessons. If he was virtuous, he was by nature a very Simple Simon. A +greater liking for women might by contact have sharpened wits rather +dulled by drinking. As it was, anyone in the _yashiki_, who wished to +shift some unpleasant obligation, found in Rokuzo the one to be +impressed by the most specious excuse, and the one whose kindness of +heart undertook and carried out the purpose of avoidance by assumption +of the task. Instead of concocting some pretext to carry off Sukebei, or +one, or all, of his apprentices to the neighbouring street and a grog +shop, his inexperience and diffidence had carried him away still +thirsty. Instead of bumping into some passing fellow _chu[u]gen_ on the +street, and wiping out the insult with wine, he had idled along, leaving +to every man his share of the roadway, and to the thirsty with burdens +more than their share. Hence this uncongenial company of thirst and a +woman. She had halted at a grocer's shop, and his eyes were soon agog at +sight of her investments--mushrooms, not of much weight, but in bulk +forming almost a mound; the dried sliced gourd called _kambyoku_, of +which she seemed very fond; marrow, _to[u]gan_ (gourd-melon),[1] the new +and expensive potato (_imo_), for money was no object in her purchases. +A second shop close by caught her eye. Here were added to the pile the +long string beans, doubtless to roast in the pod for an afternoon's +amusement and repast, _kabocha_ or squashes, large stalks of _daikon_ +(radish) two feet in length, _go[u]bo[u]_ or burdock, and a huge +watermelon. The list is too long to quote except for the report of a +produce exchange. Indeed it was rather a case of what she did not buy, +on a scale to furnish forth a _yashiki_. Then she made her way to a +confection and fruit shop just opposite the scene of her last purchases. +Pears were coming into season--weighty in measure and on the stomach. +But the lady was not frightened. She bought for yesterday, to-day, and +to-morrows, in fruit and cakes of all kinds. Conveyed by the divers +attendants her goods lay piled up at the last source of supply. Puzzled, +she regarded the huge mass; then took eye measure of the shoulders of +Rokuzo. They inspired confidence. She laid a gentle and admiring hand on +his massiveness. She looked into his face with enticing smile. There was +a silvery little laugh in her voice. Concealing their grins the shop +attendants fled to their different haunts. Here they smothered cries and +roars of coarse merriment; and one man nearly smothered himself by +sticking his head in the brine cask. This _chu[u]gen_ was no servant of +the lady. He was a volunteer conveyancer caught by a pretty face. They +knew her. + +Rokuzo had more than sturdy shoulders. He stuck to his bargain. Plainly +something must be done; and the lady did it. In a trice she haled him to +a draper's shop. "A five-fold _furoshiki_--at once." The draper gaped +not; he obeyed. The cloth was produced, and his several apprentices were +engaged in sewing together one of those square package cloths, so +convenient in the conveyance of scattered parcels. It was a portentous +product, a very sheet. Obsequiously offered and accepted, the draper +watched his customers depart with curious eyes. It was not the first of +its kind bought by the lady. He hoped it would not be the last; for his +own sake and that of his fellow traders. The money at least was always +good. The girl must be popular and rich. A number of _chu[u]gen_ were +employed in her service. Never did she bring the same man. Then the +purchases were piled into one bundle. At this both Rokuzo and the +dispenser of sweets were skilled hands. The lady looked anxiously up and +down the road. She tripped into this place and that. Finally she came +back to the bundle, looking as if about to cry. Of the servant's return +there was no sign. Stolidly the shop-keeper maintained his pose. His +shop could not be left to itself; the lady could not wait. Outside was +the blazing sun of the sixth month (July), then at its hottest period of +the hour of the ape (after 3 P.M.). She looked at Rokuzo. He twisted +uneasily. + +His good nature yielded again to the caressing glance. "Come! As boy +this Rokuzo has carried many a farmer's frame of grass from the mountain +to Shibukawa village. Nay; many a sick man has he shouldered on the +hills leading to the healing springs of Ikao and Kusatsu." He ran an eye +over the bundle. "Ah! A terrific bundle; one to cause fright. There is +nothing else to do." He would have liked to measure strength with this +truant servant; doubtless a terrific female. The confectioner puffed and +blew, with straining, swelling neck. The _furoshiki_ at last was on the +shoulders of the unhappy Rokuzo. Fortunately the shops of Nippon have no +doors. A most mountainous and monstrous wrestler, a very Daniel Lambert, +can be carried forth feet first from such a front. The shop keeper +followed the pair with his eyes. He passed his hand over the money. Then +he looked again. The lady went lightly up the hill. Puffing and blowing +at last Rokuzo was compelled to zig-zag on its steepness. Then she +followed after his movements, gently encouraging him with words, and a +cheerful pleased giggle that was a very goad in his rear. The grocer +crossed to consultation with the baker. "Bah! He has a ring in his +nose." Said the man of confections--"He is Rokuzo, _chu[u]gen_ of +Endo[u] Sama. But the other day it was Isuke, _chu[u]gen_ of Okumura +Sama, who did her service. And so with others. Truly entertainment at +Yoshiwara costs less effort and wage. These cats are all one colour in +the dark." The philosophic and cynical shop-keepers, each departed to +his own place, arguing more shrewdness in a _chu[u]gen_, and the greater +freedom, if less honour, implied in the gains and amusements of the +townsman. Again and again the baker inspected his coin. There were still +houses for women in the Ko[u]jimachi road. This satisfied his doubts. + +Encouraged by the lady Rokuzo reached the top of the Kudan hill. In all +his experience of burden bearing never before had he shouldered the +like. It seemed at times as if the lady herself had floated up on its +broad surface, to deposit a weight far beyond her appearance. Perhaps +she did; for Rokuzo, blinded by the pouring sweat, hardly knew what +occurred. From time to time the sweet voice gave direction. Skirting the +castle moat she led him up the short slope of the Gomizaka. A fitting +name, thought Rokuzo. There were more than "five flavours" on his back, +without counting the nasty taste in a very dry mouth. His journey was +almost at an end. At least he had so determined, when suddenly the +destination was reached. The lady knocked at the side door of a splendid +gate set in a long stretch of wall. So much Rokuzo could see through the +damp stream from his brow; and that the surroundings were very rural. A +rattling of the bar and he turned eagerly to the gate. Its opening gave +a vision of beauty. Clean swept was the ground beneath the splendid pine +trees; graceful the curves of the roofs of the villa seen beyond; and +still more beautiful, and little more mature than his companion, was the +figure of the girl framed in the doorway. + +Forgetful of his burden Rokuzo gaged. Forgetful of etiquette the girl +stared. She scanned Rokuzo from head to foot. The squat and sturdy +figure of the man, in combination with the huge burden, turned him into +some new and useful kind of beast. Astonishment passed into a smile; the +smile into a mad burst of laughter in which the other girl more +discreetly joined. "Ne[e]san (elder sister) the hour is late, but to-day +the opportunity of assistance was slow to appear. With such sturdy +support it was thought well to make ample provision."--"Provision +indeed! Merry will be the feast. Truly sister, great has been the good +fortune. Honoured Sir, deign to furnish forth the entertainment." Again +came the merry peal, this time from both the girls. Rokuzo hardly +appreciated such reward of his efforts. He had a strong suspicion that +this merriment was directed at him; that the courtesy and gentle voices +were on the surface. There was a snappy nasal sneering ring in the +laughter, most unpleasant and savouring of derision. However there was +certain to be something at the end of the task. Why neglect to take the +reward now close to hand? He passed through the large gate, opened by +the elder maiden to admit the size of his burden. Under her guidance he +struggled along past the corner of the house and into the more removed +privacy. Of this he could note the carefully kept inner garden, the +massive old well curb standing in its centre, and the scent and strange +beauty of the flowering plants. Attention was attracted by the conduct +of his three employers; for another and older girl now made her +appearance at the _ro[u]ka_ (verandah). She too gave the same short +sharp exclamation of amusement at the sight of the porter and his +portentous load. She leaped down quickly from the verandah and ran up to +peer into his face. Then she went off into the same mad peal of +laughter, in which she was joined without stint by her sisters. + +Rokuzo was now angry beyond measure; yet as a man and good natured he +found it difficult of expression with such beautiful women. All the +terms of revilement came to his lips--rude rascals (_burei na yatsu_), +scoundrels (_berabo[u]me_), vile beasts (_chikusho[u]me_). These were +freely loaded on himself in time of displeasure of master or fellows. +But somehow now they stayed in his throat. "Rude"--yes; "rascals"--yes. +These words reached to a murmur. But the crowning insult of calling +these beautiful women "beasts" stuck in his gorge and he nearly choked. +Said the oldest girl--and she was not over twenty years--"Sister, you +are wearied by the heat and your efforts. Deign to enter the bath. All +is ready. Come! We will enter it together." Hand in hand the three were +about to depart. Rokuzo found speech. He stuttered in his +indignation--"Honoured ladies! Heigh there! This bundle--how now? Truly +it is as if this Rokuzo had been carrying a child. His back is wet +through. It is very unpleasant. Where is the package to be bestowed? +Deign to indicate." At the sharpness of his tone the elder girl turned +in surprise. His anger dropped before the attraction of smile and +address. Truly these creatures had attention but for the passing moment. +"Ah! In joy at the sister's return the burden and its bearer have been +completely forgotten. This is to be very rude. Are! Honoured Sir, you +are melting away with heat. Place the burden here. At the well yonder is +water. Deign to wipe off the sweat which pours from your honoured +person." + +At once with more than relief he deposited the huge package on the +_ro[u]ka_. Pending its disposition Rokuzo devoted himself to his +ablutions with decent slowness, to allow the idea of remuneration to +filter into the somewhat fat wits of these ladies. At first he was +inclined thoroughly to sluice himself inwardly. The water was +deliciously cool to the outer person on this hot day. But on approaching +the bucket to his mouth there was an indefinable nauseating something +about it that made him hesitate. Again he tried to drink. Decidedly it +was bad, this water; offensive for drinking. With a sigh he diverted the +stream from his gullet to his shoulders. So pleased was Rokuzo with the +experience that he repeated it again and again from the inexhaustible +coolness of the well. Then with his head towel he began to wipe the +nudity of his person, taking in at leisure his surroundings as he did +so. Oya! Oya! It was indeed an extraordinarily beautiful place, this +which he had entered. The care lavished upon plants and ornamentation +was carried to extravagance. The eyes of Rokuzo opened wider and wider. +Here was a splendid cherry tree in the full magnificence of its bloom. +The square of this inner garden was completed by half a dozen plum trees +laden with the scented blossoms, although the fruit hung heavy from the +branches. At the opposite corner the polished red of the ripe persimmons +made the mouth water. Beyond these trees and the house was a large and +splendid bed of iris, the curious and variegated bloom counterfeiting +some patterned screen. From the _ro[u]ka_ extended a wide trellis heavy +with the blossoms of the wisteria. Lotus was in flower in the pond. +Wherever he turned his eyes the affection of these ladies for colour and +scent showed itself. Jinjo[u]ki, hibiscus, pyrus spectabilis, +chrysanthemum, peonies, ayame or the early iris, all were in mad bloom +to please the eye. With growing fright Rokuzo gazed from side to side. +What could be the social condition of these women, thus treated so +familiarly by a mere _chu[u]gen_? The gardener surely was an +extraordinary genius, such as would serve none but the truly great. This +was a suspicious place. + +These thoughts were interrupted. Abruptly he approached the part of the +house that seemed a sort of kitchen. The huge bundle had disappeared. +The elder sister showed herself. The two younger girls held back +diffidently in the rear. All showed amusement, but the freshness of the +bath had wrought a change in manner, and made them still more lovely +than before. Said the elder--"Thanks are due for the kindness shown. +Though ashamed, deign to accept this trifling acknowledgment as porter's +wage." She held out to Rokuzo a _hana-furi-kin_. This gold coin, worth a +_bu_ (the quarter of a _ryo[u]_) was an extravagant fee.[2] Somewhat +strange withal; struck off in the Taiko[u]'s day the savour of +disloyalty was compensated by the "raining flowers" stamped in the +gold. Rokuzo was still more frightened. Ladies of course were ignorant +of values. Plainly these were ladies, of but little contact with the +world. As an honest and somewhat simple fellow he would have refused the +over-payment. But he was not eloquent in explanation, and the acceptance +meant the speedier departure. Prostrate with extended hands he gave +thanks. Then he thrust the coin into his bosom and rose in good earnest +to depart. Here follows the fall of Rokuzo from the grace of good +behaviour. + +On her way to a room at the end of the garden passed the youngest of the +sisters. She was bearing a tray, the burden of which was _sake_ bottles. +In the other hand was the heating apparatus, flask included. Rokuzo's +nostrils opened wide at the delicious perfume. He stood stock still. As +in some surprise the elder sister regarded him. Thereupon the wine +bearer halted, in her pose holding the grateful steam directly under his +nose. Said the first girl--"Is the wage insufficient? If so...." +Rokuzo's nostrils twitched. The younger sister stopped a movement as of +further bestowal. "Ah! This honoured Sir can carry more than burdens." +She broke into a merry laugh. Said the sister--"Is that so? The _sake_ +is object of desire." Beauty was now enhanced a thousand times by the +benevolence of their demeanor. With tongue at last eloquent--"Ah, +ladies! This Rokuzo is dying of thirst. The well here offers no means to +quench it. But for the honoured encounter at Kudanzaka long since would +the company at the wine shop of Ichigaya have been sought. For reward +deign wine rather than coin." He made a movement as if to restore the +gold, but the elder girl stopped him. "So then, Rokuzo likes wine. He +shall have both wine and coin, and entertainment in addition." With the +request from him their manner had changed. It was now more sedate and +purposeful. Rokuzo hardly understood the further course of his +experiences. Emerged from the bath he found himself seated before a +plentiful repast. The viand contents of the monumental burden together +with what sea and hill could provide--these figured. Rokuzo drank first, +and plentifully. Never had he tasted such delicious wine. He knew that +the Tono Sama drank no better _sake_; nor did his master occupy a more +splendid apartment than this one of the wine feast. The silken figured +_fusuma_ (screens), the fretwork crowning them, the many lamps--it was +now dark--in bronze and precious metals, dazzled his small +understanding. + +The women acted as attendants. Rokuzo sat long, now thoroughly fuddled. +He listened to an orchestral theme, interpreted by _koto_, _fue_, +_biwa_, or the _taiko_ (drum). Perhaps there were better voices. Even in +their singing the three girls had that sharp, derisive, unpleasant, +nasal twang. But Rokuzo was past criticism. To their questioning he told +who and what he was; a _chu[u]gen_ in the service of his lord, Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaemon, _hatamoto_ in the land, and now in office at the +fireward of the palace. Had he a wife? A _chu[u]gen_ is not one to have +a wife. At this all the women seemed very pleased. They exchanged +glances. + +The elder girl now came close to him. She nestled by his side and took +his arm, looking coquettishly and smilingly into his face. "Rokuzo Dono +has done much for three lonely women. Will he not do more? Why not +remain as now, perform the tasks of this house? Does not the change of +masters attract?" Rokuzo's latest remembrance of encounter with the +honoured house officer (_kyu[u]nin_) of his master was the six days turn +in the _yashiki_ prison, on very scant fare. His face was long at the +thought. He was very remiss on this present occasion. What would happen? +In the haze of his wine the voice of the girl continued. Her face was +very close as she pressed on him. "Rokuzo Dono, deign to serve this +house, meet its difficulties." For a moment Rokuzo broke the spell. +"Difficulties? Of luxurious living and a splendid home? Such +'difficulties' make one laugh."--"Yet there are real difficulties. Three +women--they have their difficulties. Be the man of the house; the man in +the house. Condescend the favour." Restraint was thrown off. She held +him in her arms and drew him close. Rokuzo's brain was in a whirl. +Women? Women? Ah! The wine! His lips eagerly sought the cup she held to +them. When she rose he allowed her gentle persuasion. The two other +girls busied themselves in the preparations for the night. They +whispered to each other; and there seemed to be some ground of division, +but the elder had her way. She and Rokuzo were left alone. + +If Rokuzo sought solace in the arms of his mistress he certainly failed +to find it. Never had such a nightmare descended on his slumbers. +Through the night he was battling with most fearful visions, seeking to +avoid tortures of hell. He had pursued his beauty into some huge cave. +Now possession was secure. From this there was no escape. But it was no +escape for Rokuzo. Now she turned into a huge obscene object, a very +_rokurokubi_, one of those hideous monsters with lengthy neck, gleaming +teeth, and distorted human-like face. Again there was change. He lay +supine and helpless; and extended full length over him was a fox of +portentous size. The sharp, yelping, nasal voice sounded in his ears. +"Coin, wine, then lechery: Rokuzo would drink, then play the beast. The +porter's wage is insufficient. Now let him pay the beast's wage." The +sharp gleaming teeth were at his throat. The foul breath filled his +lungs. Rokuzo struggled for air, shouted for an aid not at hand. +"Drunkard; lecher." By a final effort he would free himself from the +succubus--"Liar!... Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Holy the Lord +Buddha!" + +A heavy chill went through his body, shaking him from head to foot. He +opened his eyes. In amazement he looked around him. The magnificent +apartment, the women, the garden, the feast, nothing remained of his +night's experience. It was the chill of early dawn, and he was lying on +the bare ground, in the midst of a wild grass grown and deserted moor. A +tree root was his pillow. He rose to find the waters of the Kanda marsh +under his eyes. He was still on the Ichimenhara. The Kudanzaka was yet +to be climbed. Ah! He had been foxed, bewitched by reynard or _tanuki_ +(badger). Then remembrance of the _hana-furi-kin_ came to mind. Here +would be proof. He thrust a hand into his bosom--to draw out the leaf of +a tree. There was no doubt about it. And the banquet? At the very +thought of the viands Rokuzo squirmed. He made a gesture of nausea and +disgust. The _sake_--was excrement. The food--worse yet. He felt very +ill. + +His aching limbs and heavy head accompanied him to his lord's _yashiki_ +in Ichigaya. Rokuzo took to his bed. At the porter's lodge the +_kyu[u]nin_, Naito[u] Kyu[u]saburo[u], inspected the tickets of the +_chu[u]gen_. At last Rokuzo had made his appearance; and had made no +report. He was not long in reaching the _chu[u]gen's_ bedside. With +severe face he questioned him as to his absence and neglect. "Gluttonous +fellow! Something eaten is the cause of the sickness. Rascal that you +are, a good purge is the thing. Then a fast in the jail will restore the +stomach. This the punishment, if great your good luck. Otherwise--it +will be the garden front. Report is to be made." He turned to go. Rokuzo +detained him. He spoke with timidity, but under spur of the greater +retribution. He admitted his fault. "But...."--"But what?" impatiently +interjected Naito[u]. "Is not the food furnished by his lordship ample +supply for the belly? Does a _chu[u]gen_ question his lord's generosity? +What banquet tempted this rascal...?"--"Indeed it was a banquet." Rokuzo +went into details. Kyu[u]saburo[u]'s rage increased. "You are lying. Or +does illness follow food partaken in a dream? Perhaps the rascal Sukebei +has not been paid. Is Rokuzo a thief?" Rokuzo groaned in pain and +discomfiture. He would make a clean breast of it; confess to more than +mere food. And he did. "Nor is Rokuzo the only victim. Isuke, +_chu[u]gen_ of Okumura Sama of the Bancho[u], nearly lost his life. +Others have been trapped; and others knew enough to refuse service and +run away. Truly this Rokuzo is a fool. Condescend the honoured +intercession. Ah, that banquet!" He shuddered at the thoughts aroused. +At sight of the receipt of Sukebei perforce Naito[u] Kyu[u]saburo[u] +believed. He pitied Rokuzo, administered the stoutest purges in his +pharmacy, and left him somewhat relieved in mind and body. The tale was +soon known all over the _yashiki_--to the profit of all and the +amusement of most. With gleeful malice Rokuzo would be asked to describe +his meal, the superlative flavour of the wine, for past fact and present +fancy became strangely mixed in his recital. Thus, through the report of +the _kyu[u]nin_, Naito[u] Kyu[u]saburo[u], the experience of his +_chu[u]gen_ Rokuzo came to the ears of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon, +_hatamoto_ of the land, of four hundred _koku_ income, and officer in +charge of the Hiban or fire-ward at the Ushigome gate.[3] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE _Bakemono Yashiki_ + + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon heard the report of his officer. A slight frown +puckered his brow, and he contemplated the big toe of his immaculately +white _tabi_ (sock). "A vexatious matter! _Hatamoto_ of the land, +official duty gives occupation enough. Yet for such things to take +place, and so close to the person of the suzerain, this is not to be +permitted. Beyond his love for wine Rokuzo has shown himself +trustworthy. He is not lying?" Kyu[u]saburo[u] bowed low--"As your +lordship says. Of his illness there is no question; and that not merely +from a drunken debauch. Rokuzo is not one to be tempted by women; and to +those beyond his station he dares not raise his eyes. It was the wine +which tempted him beyond discretion. He has tried all patience, been +most disloyal. The honoured dismissal or severe punishment at the least +is his due. The Tono Sama summoning him to the garden front, and +deigning the kindness of putting him to death (_te-uchi_) ... yet...." +Hesitating he brought out the once _hana-furi-kin_, wage of the +unfortunate Rokuzo, now in such danger of drastic remedy for his aching +head. Respectfully pushing forward a knee the _kyu[u]nin_ presented it +to his lord. Saburo[u]zaemon examined it with much curiosity. "And +this?"--"The wage for his porter's work," answered the officer, his face +respectfully wrinkled with the trace of a smile. "Though one could say +from his exhaustion that he received other favour than coin. The very +thought of his filthy repast drives the rascal to most fearful +retchings. He is in a parlous way, and if your lordship deign +forbearance...."--"Heigh!" He was interrupted by the exclamation of +Saburo[u]zaemon, now examining the leaf most intently. "I say now! An +oak leaf, the broad reminder of the _kiri_ (paulownia imperialis), such +might come from last year's fall. This leaf never sprang from Nippon's +soil."--"Just so," replied the _kyu[u]nin_. "Hence petition for delay in +administering punishment."--"And of course the fellow is useless. Ill, +and besides he knows not whither he went, and came to himself on the +Ichimenhara."--"Yet, while still in his five senses, he recognized Go +Bancho[u]; and it is fact that the _chu[u]gen_ of Okumura Dono suffered +likewise in the Bancho[u]."--"Of Kakunai and the strange horse this +Saburo[u]zaemon has heard. And the other man?"--"One Isuke, a stout +fellow, but in good fortune the twin brother of this rascal Rokuzo." + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon rose to his feet with an elasticity and snap +denoting decision. His wife standing close by laid hand upon his arm. He +turned to meet her frightened questioning look. He spoke reassuringly. +"Don't be afraid. Such things so near the suzerain's honoured dwelling +are not to be permitted. This Saburo[u]zaemon goes to learn the facts as +to this suspicious house. The _samurai_ has no fear of apparitions; and +less of thieves, as is likely to be the case. Let the rascals look to +themselves if they would avoid the taste of Saburo[u]zaemon's sword. +Kyu[u]saburo[u] is to see that the _Yashiki_ is well guarded. To-night +O[u]kubo Hikoroku Dono holds the fire ward. The occasion fits." At once +he was busied with his preparations for out door service. His wife, +granddaughter of old Nagasaki Chiyari Kuro[u]--he of the "bloody +spear"--was the _samurai_ woman, to aid her lord in his duty, not to +hold him back with tears and plaints. The pair were admirable specimens +of their caste. Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon's grand-father had been a +retainer of that hard hitting Asai Nagamasa who had to bow the head +before the sword of Hideyoshi. The son Kiemon perforce had served the +Taiko[u], and well. It was with more than readiness that he had appeared +in the army of the Tokugawa at Sekigahara, to be killed in all loyalty +before O[u]saka in Genwa 1st year (1618). Saburo[u]zaemon was then but +five years old. But the early Tokugawa did not forget loyal service. +When of age he was summoned to Edo from his native province of O[u]mi, +given duty in the palace service, to become with years a _hatamato_ with +income of four hundred _koku_ and a _yashiki_ in Ichigaya, just beyond +the Gomon or great gate at the outer moat. + +In the present matter night must be awaited. When the bell of the +Gekkeiji, the huge temple of the district, struck the watch of the pig +(9-11 P.M.) Endo[u] prepared to set forth. "In case of necessity ask the +aid of Hikoroku Dono, of Juro[u]zaemon."[4] This to his wife. "At least +one attendant? Kyu[u]saburo[u] is old enough to know that these rascals +never deal with more than one human." This to the old _kyu[u]nin_, who +with anxiety watched him depart into the darkness. With a sigh the +officer shut fast the outer gate. Then, sword over his knees, he +squatted himself at the house entrance, to slumber and await his lord's +return. + +As officer of the fire ward Saburo[u]zaemon met with little difficulty +in passing the Ichigaya gate, beyond which lay the suspected district of +the Bancho[u]. To the sharp hail and protest at his appearance without a +lantern he sought the service of those of the guard. Surprise and abject +apology followed the bringing of face and equipment into their light. As +on urgent mission to the palace he explained the one and disregarded the +other. For form he borrowed a lantern at the guard house, to leave it in +a hedge close by, to hand for his return if in the darkness. Straight +ahead he walked for some distance. Now he was in the very centre of the +Bancho[u]. It was a most lonely place. The district had been set apart +for the _yashiki_ of _hatamoto_ and the houses of _gokenin_ who showed +no haste to apply for its ample space. Its highways and byways showed +lines of bamboo fences, plaster walls, broken at intervals by gates. +Between the far _yashiki_ there was much waste land. Suspicious were its +precincts in these days when the haunting spirits and apparitions, +attendant on once owners and their wars, were being driven out by the +advent and aggression of the new lords from the South. Still fresh in +men's minds was the wondrous _mami-ana_ of Azabu--the cave of the +_tanuki_ (badger)--with the implied curse on the Tokugawa. The cohorts +of apparitions, driven northward to the land of savages, had suffered +severely at the hands of Ii Naomasa on the banks of the Ueno Toshima +ferry. Thus the curse came down the centuries on the Tokugawa House. + +Once in the heart of the district Saburo[u]zaemon stood uncertain. All +sense of locality was lost. The Bancho[u] by day and by night greatly +differed. The wind sighed through the great pine trees and whispered in +the long _suzuki_ grass. He thought to reach the neighbourhood of the +Gomizaka. The noise and bustle of the Ko[u]jimachi would give direction. +Just then a lantern came in sight at the turning in the lane. As it drew +near it was seen that to all appearance the bearer was a _chu[u]gen_. +Endo[u] drew back into the shadow. He would take a good look at him. He +allowed the man to pass. Then from behind--"Heigh! Wait!" Instead of +waiting the fellow took to his heels. Endo[u] pursued and soon caught +him. In terror the fellow sank on his knees before the two sworded man. +"Deign, honoured sir, to spare the cutting test. This Isuke is yet +young. He loves life. Condescend not to cut short his breath." +Saburo[u]zaemon was struck by the name fresh to his ears. Coldly he +looked the man over; played on his terror--"Yet you are fat; just of the +girth to give fair test to a new blade."--"Nay! Your lordship can deign +to observe it. Isuke is stuffed out with a recent meal. It would be but +a case of tripes. His bones are young and soft, his muscles wasted by +mere feeding. It would be as cutting _to[u]fu_ (bean paste). Deign to +spare him." + +Said Saburo[u]zaemon. "'Tis no cutting test. Thus passing carelessly at +the side that fat paunch was an easy mark. Be more careful +henceforth.... You live hereabouts?"--"Honoured Sir, 'tis so. Isuke is +_chu[u]gen_ at the _yashiki_ of Okumura Sama."--"Ah! Then you know the +haunted house (_bakemono yashiki_) of the Bancho[u]."--"Just beyond? +Isuke knows it too well."--"Life spared, act as guide thither." The +man's knees bent under him. He plead for forbearance. Plainly he must +die. Only to this dreadful sentence and sight of Endo[u]'s sword did he +yield. Reluctantly he went ahead of the _samurai_, as far as a gate the +massiveness of which attracted attention. Saburo[u]zaemon looked it +over, then carefully considered his guide. He held out a coin. The +fellow respectfully drew back. Said Endo[u] with impatience--"As lord of +this mansion the money of guidance is offered. Accept it without +question. Here lies my purpose." This was but addition to obvious +terror. With wabbling knees the fellow persisted in refusal. "Honoured +lord, deign forbearance. Already has this Isuke accepted entertainment +here, with fearful results; nearly quaffing the waters of the Yellow +Fountain in Meido." Said Saburo[u]zaemon sourly--"What has the purpose +to do with a low fellow's entertainment? Take the coin, and be off with +you. Darkness acts as screen." The man did but whimper, "With purpose in +hand: truly darkness the screen, upside down; the balsam an incense, the +sticks to hand in the clay dishes. This? 'Twill turn out but the leaf of +a tree, to bring sorrow on Isuke. Your lordship has said it."--"It is +good coin," replied Endo[u] briefly. Then with some curiosity--"But what +has a tree leaf to do with purpose?"--"Pine leaves denote purpose, and +are so named."[5]--"A clever fellow after all! No wonder he escaped.... +But be off with you. The coin shall ring true with daylight. So much is +promised on the word of a _samurai_. Fear the living man, not the +inanimate object; and say nothing of meeting the donor. Otherwise Isuke +ends badly. Now--off with you!" The voice was very human, the peremptory +gesture surely that of a two sworded man. The _chu[u]gen_ took +confidence in the fact that he could not help himself. Whatever doubts +he possessed, these he kept with the coin in his bosom. With scant +thanks cut short by fear he obeyed the order to depart into the shades. +Gathering impetus with distance he fairly took to his heels. + +Saburo[u]zaemon waited for the lantern to disappear. Then he turned to +inspect the gate. There was no entrance through its solidity. It was a +_yashiki mon_, almost house, with two posterns. He must get a look +within. A long high plaster wall ran on both sides into the distance. +The moonlight, flooding the scene, showed him a breach opened by long +neglect. Once within he felt convinced that he was on the scene of +Rokuzo's experience. But the pine grove was anything but swept clean. +Branches torn off by storm and wind, fallen trees, lay scattered +everywhere. It was a very winding course which took him to the eaves of +the building some distance off. Plainly the once occupant had been a +person of position, perhaps a minor _daimyo[u]_. At the corner of the +structure he found himself in the garden more particularly attached to +the house. An exclamation of regret at sight of such desolation came to +the lips of Saburo[u]zaemon. A master hand had laid out this beautiful +piece of work; but trees and plants, no longer trained and trimmed by +man's hand, had run wild. In the centre was a wide well curb rising some +three feet from the ground. A single stone step allowed easier access +for those drawing water. The well-sweep had rotted off and lay upon the +ground. There was no bucket. Saburo[u]zaemon leaned over. From the still +surface of the water came an indefinable putrescent odour, perhaps from +the decaying plants, or refuse blown into the depths. He drew away, +disgusted and convinced. Carefully he made the round of this pleasaunce. +At the bottom of the garden near the confines of the well, was an +artificial mound--a _tsukiyama_ or moon viewing hill. Before this was a +little lake, for fish and lotus, of perhaps a couple of hundred feet in +length by narrow width. In places he could jump across it; and elsewhere +stepping stones offered passage. An Inari shrine in a plum grove offered +no particular interest, beyond recent inclosure showing a neighbour's +hand. There was swampy ground for the _shobu_ or iris and beds of peony +plants. In front of the line of towering pines was a row of Yoshino +cherry trees, all broken and neglected. The one time owner had loved +flowers. Endo[u] turned to the house. + +The moon was pouring full on the closed _amado_ (rain doors), its cold +silver globe lighting up the scene. "Solitary is the moon of winter +glorious that of autumn." This was the tranquil moon of summer, +pacifying yet saddening men's hearts, as does all moonlight. It was +plain there was no entrance on this side of the house, unless unseemly +force was used. This was unnecessary. Endo[u] noticed the lattice work +of the bath-room. A few strokes of his dagger, and the frame was lifted +out. Then it was easy to draw back the heavy wooden panels and allow the +moonlight to flood these exposed chambers. Carefully he scanned his +immediate surroundings. The paper of the _sho[u]ji_ was torn and eaten +by the rats. In places the frayed _tatami_ (mats) bent under his feet, +evidence of decay of the supporting floor. There was the mouldy damp +smell common to places long closed to the freedom of the outer air. It +sent a chill to the bone; which Endo[u] noted with surprise as he turned +to the dark inner rooms. He must have some kind of light. Almost the +first step into the semi-obscurity offered the means to hand. Stumbling +over an object at his feet he picked up a staff. On examination it +proved to be one of those _kongo_ canes, the support to feet and belly +of the devout in their long pilgrimages, sign manual of the pious intent +of the bearer. He had taken a candle from his pocket, and, with small +respect to the "six worlds" of its rings, used the spiked end to +improvise a torch. Then an unexpected voice caught his ear; a sad, +wailing cry which chilled the heart. Then followed low, rapid, +disorderly speech, the meaning of which rendered indistinct by distance +could not be made out. Then came the unearthly startling shriek which +rang through the whole mansion. + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon now had his torch fastened and blazing. Loosing +his sword in the scabbard promptly he set forth into the darkness +beyond. The candle cast a feeble light, making the darkness still more +apparent. However, he could see the splendour of these once inhabited +rooms. Screens worked in silk were dirty and frayed, but they were by +master hands, and still showed the outlines of beautiful designing. The +_rama-sho[u]ji_--the fret work between the rooms--was broken in places, +yet it displayed the erratic course of Nature's handiwork, the most +bizarre and effective of all. And always just before him went the +shuffling drag of sandals--as of some one on the _ro[u]ka_, further on, +at the room beyond. He sprang forward in haste, to fling back the closed +screens, but still the object eluded him; always there, yet never seen. +Thus it led him from room to room--reception rooms, sitting rooms, the +women's apartments; all gorgeous, all unfurnished, not a single object +of the value to tempt stray visitor or intentional thief. Even the +kitchen was stripped bare of equipment. Not even the stones to support +the furnace had been left. Thieves, or others, had long since accounted +for all movables. + +Dumbfounded Saburo[u]zaemon stood at the foot of the stairway. Patter, +patter the footsteps had led him to this point. The width was coated +thickly with dust, swept by breezes from without, and from the +disintegrating plaster (_kabe_) walls. The webs of spiders were woven +across it; across the aperture. Yet--again came the wild sounds of riot +above. This time the voices were distinct and close at hand. A woman was +struggling, pleading under torture. "Alas! Alas! Deign to show pity. +What has been the offence, thus to inflict punishment. Condescend the +honoured pity. Ah! Pardon there is none. The child is consigned from the +darkness of the womb to the darkness of death. Alas! Most harsh and +unkind! How avoid the eternal grudge? Unending the hate of...." The +voice, like to the sharp rending of silk, ended in the fearful shriek, +chilling, heart rending, paralysing even the stout heart of Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaemon. "Ki-i-i!" There followed the ineffectual gurgling +wailing cries of one struggling for breath. Drawn sword in hand +Saburo[u]zaemon sprang up the stairway. Nothing! The _amado_ thrown back +in haste light enough was given to show the emptiness of the room. Still +the voice was heard. He passed beyond. As before--nothing; except the +voice, now plain, as at his very side. + +Saburo[u]zaemon was now assured of some witchery. "This is Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaemon Takekiyo, _hatamoto_ of the land. Whoever, or whatever, +be present, assume the proper shape. Fox or _tanuki_ (badger), strip off +all disguise; stand to the test of Saburo[u]zaemon's blade." But the sad +wailing voice made answer--"Unkind the words of Endo[u] Sama. This is no +trick of fox or badger. Meeting an untimely end, the Spirit now wanders +as an unworshipped demon; as one deprived of all honour in the grave. +Brave has been the deed of Endo[u] Dono. Others have come; to depart in +fright. He alone stays to challenge. For so much, thanks. Deign worship +to my spirit, the security of rest from its wanderings." Saburo[u]zaemon +in amazement looked around. The voice was clearly heard, and close to +him; yet naught was to be seen. "Whoever you be, if wronged the sword of +Saburo[u]zaemon is here to avenge the wrong. If in life, the perpetrator +shall pay the penalty of the misdeed; yourself shall secure worship. +Such is the office of a _bushi_--to aid the helpless. But cannot the +shape be seen? Why this concealment from the eyes of Saburo[u]zaemon?" +And the voice made answer--"Has Endo[u] Sama no eyes? Concentrate the +thoughts. Here! Here!" Carefully and long Saburo[u]zaemon scrutinized +every spot. Following the voice he sought to get nearer and nearer. Thus +he was brought right before the _tokonoma_ (alcove). For a moment he +shielded his eyes with his hands, then boldly removed the screen and +faced the spectre in the plaster. At first faint, then more strongly +outlined was the vision of a young girl. At one time the face perhaps +had had great beauty. Now there was a weird expression of life amid the +wasting and decay of death. The living eyes gleamed a deadly hate and +distress which showed the torment of the spirit. Framed in the wild +disordered masses of long black hair the face of the apparition sought +to plunge its own unhappiness into the soul of its visitor. It was a +strange vision; one to rouse the desire for the beautiful woman in man's +heart, the wish to shield; together with repulsion toward the most evil +passions of a malice which inspires fear. Long and steadily the man +gazed; the woman answered the challenge. Then again Endo[u] was the +_samurai_. "On with the tale. To the wronged Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon +gives right and worship. A _samurai_, he has passed his word, not to be +broken." He would have taken seat before the alcove. Said the +voice--"Honoured Sir, the tale is long. On the _ro[u]ka_ without is a +stool. The _tatami_ are dangerous with the wet. Later deign the honoured +hearing." With surprise Endo[u] followed these household directions. At +the room close by he found the object indicated. Here met his eye a sign +unmistakeable. In the very centre of the _tatami_ was a huge +red-brownish stain; by the verandah a second stain; at the further +entrance a third of kindred character. Plainly the tale he would hear +was of no peaceful exit from life. To the tragedy of death had been +added violence. Thus fortified he returned, to take his seat before the +vision in the alcove; steadily, with the harsh official manner of his +caste, to meet the evil, strangely seductive, malice of its look and +suggestion. Then it spoke: + + + + +CHAPTER III + +NAKAKAWACHI SHU[U]ZEN + + +Honoured sir, long past the source of this offence. It was the +fourteenth year of Kwanei (1637). As now, the summer heat was stifling. +To seek relief this Shimo had left the house, to stroll the +neighbourhood close by. Thus idly engaged, listening to the song of the +_suzumushi_, watching the fireflies flitting over the tops of the +_suzuki_ grass, and bending to cull a few lilies to arrange in the +_hanaike_, the presence of a stranger was felt. Ah! He was indeed a +handsome man. Not too young to seem a callow youth to the eyes of +Shimo's sixteen years; not too old to look on her merely as one of +different sex. Indeed he was not yet thirty years, a soldier, carrying +his two swords and his person most nobly. At very sight of him Shimo was +carried into the gust of the love passion. Her cheeks were "dashed with +the maple leaf, her heart swelled as the noon-tide." Her confusion did +not escape the notice of one already surprised at sight of a girl so +young strolling alone on the byways of the Bancho[u]. At once he spoke, +with the confidence of one who has the right to question--"And who may +this little beauty be, unaccompanied, with night so close at hand? The +Bancho[u] is said to be no safe place with coming of darkness. If on +some mission and belated, this Shu[u]zen will protect from harm. Or +perhaps, though young in years, this is some new wife. Or is it a lover +who is in question?" He spoke with kindness and authority, coming very +close to get his answer, his eyes fastened on my person, to the greater +increase of embarrassment. Vain was the attempt to throw some +indignation into the reply. Lover there was none. Of but sixteen years, +Shimo was in the hands of father and mother. To admit a lover would be +unfilial.... The father? Kawasaki Cho[u]bei, attached to the palace +stables. Humble was his rank in the minor office he held; but a one +time _ashigaru_ (common soldier) his service had entitled him to the +position and the suzerain's stipend of twenty _koku_. Hence he was of +some consequence among his neighbours. At this information, given with +some heat, the _samurai_ smiled and praised my father's service. + +He did more than praise; on this night, and other nights. Frequent were +the meetings. Yet never did this Shimo pass the bounds of propriety. +Carried away by the gust of passion, incited by the lover's presence and +solicitation, yet Shimo's filial duty kept her person pure. A night came +when he failed at the rendezvous. So with the next, and following +nights. He had laughed at parting, and said that where was the will, +there a means would be found. Plainly the will was lacking, and he was +too proud and too highly placed even to endure the presence of Shimo at +his side. With these thoughts, and overcome by love and vexation, I +sickened. Great was the anxiety of the parents. Doctors were called in; +the priest's charms were sought. They were of no avail. It was the +advice of the wise old Saito[u] Sensei to leave me to myself and time. +"It is her years," said he. "Time will effect the cure; unless she +herself sooner indicates the means." Laughing he departed, as one +convinced that the cure was a simple one. Long had the determination +been held to tell all to the mother; always put off at sight of the +kindly anxious face. With such a lover she would have felt alarmed and +helpless. + +Time brought the cure. The summer heats were nearly past; the eighth +month (September) close at hand. One day came a _chu[u]gen_ to the +house, bearing a message. At once all was in confusion. Nakakawachi Dono +was a _fudai daimyo[u]_ of twelve thousand _koku_ income. He was a +new-comer in the district, and known to be held in high favour at the +palace. A goodly portion of the site of the former Yoshida Goten in +Bancho[u] Ko[u]jimachi had recently been assigned to him. With the +removal of the Takata no Kata[6] to quarters closer to the castle the +greater portion of the palace had been removed to build the prior's hall +of the Iinuma Kugyo[u]ji. The villa part (_besso[u]_) of the structure +had been left intact, and with much of the park and garden had been +secured by favour to Nakakawachi Sama. For such a great lord in his +passage to condescend to rest at the humble house of a mere _go-kenin_ +caused much disturbance. The limited household staff was put +energetically to work at cleaning and making all preparations for the +honoured visit. Treading with cat's paw my parents went from room to +room, to see that all was befitting. The articles of greatest value were +set forth for his lordship's view. An instinct set dancing my barely +restored nerves. Why did this great lord, so near home in his +progress--his fief was in Ko[u]shu[u]--deign thus to rest? What command +would he urge? His name was Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen. The _samurai_ lover +of the Bancho[u] spoke of himself as Shu[u]zen. Thus was the watching +and waiting, in a flutter of trepidation and newly aroused passion. + +Then he came. My parents prostrated themselves on the ground in his +presence. "With your permission--" Haughty he swept on, to be ushered to +the inner rooms. Even the officer in charge remained at a distance. +Prostrate at the sill my father gave thanks for the honour of this +unexpected presence, for his lordship's deigning to halt the palanquin. +On command Shimo served the tea, not daring to raise face from the +_tatami_ under the satisfied scrutiny of this honoured guest, exercising +all her self control, which yet did not prevent a trembling of the +fingers in presenting the salver with the cup. In due course, on +withdrawal of the service, he noted the one who served, and indicated +his wishes. He was a new-comer in the district. He would have his +service therefrom, at the hands of those close by. No girl was better +spoken of than the daughter of Cho[u]bei San. He would ask that Shimo be +sent to the _yashiki_ to attend as _koshimoto_ (maid in waiting) to her +ladyship. His short stay in this house he regarded as most fortunate. He +spoke through his chamberlain, now present; but followed the officer's +words with close attention. My father was overwhelmed by the honour. +Profuse and earnest were his astonished thanks. Shimo was the only child +of people now entering into the coldness of age. This was of small +moment. But there had been no opportunity to give her the training +required for such service. Beyond an awkward touch on _samisen_, mainly +due to her own practice, she was a moor girl, a very rustic. She could +keep house--yes; like a wardsman's daughter. Polite accomplishments she +lacked. Deign in this instance his lordship's honoured forbearance. The +girl was too young and awkward for such service. + +Polite was the withdrawal; without knowledge of his lordship's +disposition and previous acquaintance. Shu[u]zen Dono was not so easily +balked. All the objections were brushed aside. Youth was everything in +my favour. His eyes twinkled with inward amusement as he spoke. All the +easier came the practice which everyone must go through. If Shimo was +incurably awkward she would not be dismembered, but dismissed. Great +would be the forbearance. That she had everything to learn pleased him +all the more. She would be the more readily moulded to his service. At +the _yashiki_ youth was an object, and not the experience of long time +service which had left the adept far too experienced. Such women had +their lord's service little at heart. Shimo had youth and beauty. These +were a girl's treasures and accomplishments. He had never seen one +better fitted for entrance on such service. All this the chamberlain +conveyed with an authority which put aside opposition. The lord's will +was spoken. First the mother gave thanks for the honour condescended to +one so insignificant. She claimed the promised forbearance of his +lordship to any faults. My father followed her example, and gave his +thanks. Such entertainment as the humble house afforded was now +produced. After partaking his lordship departed in state. The neighbours +had been agape at the great lord's train stationed at the gate. For them +and for the curious and discreet questioning, the congratulations at +such promotion in the world, this Shimo cared little. His lordship's +will had prevailed. Henceforth Shimo would live close to his side. + +I had fled to the little working room, as one taking refuge amid the +constant household sewing. But needle could not be seen through the veil +of tears. "What joy! What joy!" Thoughtless the words were spoken out +loud. The mother's hand was laid on my shoulder. The look was kind, yet +with some reproach at this unfilial rejoicing. Apology was made. To her +doubts eager was the answer. "How else succeed in life? Service at the +_yashiki_, its life always under eye, its etiquette, even its +dangers--this experience alone can teach how to meet its requirements; +and so close at hand, near to home and parents. Others had succeeded in +such promotion. Why not Shimo, thus offered the chance to rise from the +status of a wardsman's daughter, or not much more, to become an +attendant in a lord's _yashiki_?" Sadly my mother smiled. Grave would be +her anxieties concerning one so inexperienced. "The child thinks but of +self and pleasure. The mother thinks but of the child, and sees the +dangers." This in lower tones--"If Shimo becomes the favourite of her +lord, how is such inexperience to meet the evil passions roused in those +around her? Always place her ladyship first. Resist the solicitation of +Shu[u]zen Dono; unless the _okusama_ chooses to favour what would be but +a transient passion. Keep this well in mind.... And now--to the +preparation of what is needed." She had detected the motive of his +lordship's summons, thought him captivated by a pretty face and figure +come across by accident. Thus she understood the inner feeling of this +Shimo. With the words of advice she turned to the subject of my needs. +Willingly this was left to her skilled hands; and the advice received as +little attention. To speak of resistance to his lordship, to one who +hungered for his presence, was but to set the brain devising all the +means to secure his favour. Thus outwardly busied with needle and +garments, the self was existing as in a dream. The preparations in any +event could not be elaborate. Shu[u]zen Dono was urgent. A lucky day was +chosen, and with my modest equipment I entered on the service of the +_yashiki_ of Nakakawachi Sama. + +Introduction to the immediate presence of her ladyship, O'Hagi was +anything but pleasing. Seated with her were two maids, O'Tsugi and +O'Han. The first named was a buxom masculine woman of nearly thirty +years. The girl O'Han was a recent promotion from the scullery; and, as +was learned later, she owed the favour to the goodwill of the +chamberlain (_yo[u]nin_) Nishioka Shintaro[u], a cold, smooth spoken, +evil eyed man, mainly notable for the uncompromising readiness with +which he carried out the wishes of her ladyship. Over them all, of +greatest influence with O'Hagi Dono, was an old woman, O'Saku. She had +accompanied her ladyship from the original House, was utterly +unscrupulous in her service, and her sharp voice, like that of a file +scratching glass, sent shivers down the spine as I prostrated myself +before the group. Cold was the reception. "A likely wench! Plainly his +lordship's choice, without reference to your ladyship. But time will +show.... Meanwhile no service as yet is assigned. With this girl his +lordship's orders are first to be heard. O'Han, show the new comer to +the quarters of the _koshimoto_, that she stand in no necessity or +likelihood of forgetting where they are. For to-day there is remission +of service." Thus spoke the harsh voice of O'Saku, passing over my head. +The cold, knife like glances of all were like steel plunged into my +body. With obeisance I withdrew, to follow O'Han, who gave no greater +welcome and was no kinder than the rest. Almost at once she left me, and +several days were passed in solitude awaiting a summons. This came one +evening. With evil dubious smile O'Han presented herself. "His lordship +summons O'Shimo Dono to his service this night. You are to attend. Deign +not to forget the good services of this Han." She laughed, with a bitter +suggestiveness. What would anyone have done, thus treated at start as +evil doer, as intruder? With joy his lordship's command was heard. The +whole person of Shimo showed a well restrained love and joy. He was +pleased at the effect wrought on me by his presence. Small the +experience, beyond what love's attention could afford. The night's +banquet was plainly not the dullest of its kind. At its close O'Shimo +had command to accompany him. With morning I was a woman. + +In the period which followed every night came the summons to attend my +lord. Foolish and inexperienced, in this whirlwind of passion Shimo was +but a leaf driven by the storm. The assignment to duty in the _yashiki_ +never came. There was the daily report for duty at her ladyship's +rising, the cold and curt reception, the quick dismissal. O'Hagi Dono +was past her thirtieth year. Of the great Doi House, she brought to her +husband a dower of influence and prestige. Older than her husband the +love passion had never taken root. An ugly woman, there was small +chance for other good qualities to secure a fictitious esteem with a man +so easily captivated by beauty as Shu[u]zen Sama. Furthermore her +ladyship did not possess such amiable traits. She was a proud, hard, +jealous woman; with the natural graft of a bad temper. Soon abandoned to +a lonely bed she was no longer treated as a wife. Though the marriage +had endured some five years there was no child, and little prospect of +one. On occasions of ceremony the _okugata_ presided at his lordship's +wine feasts, attended by her band of furies. With the exception of +O'Han, who possessed the freshness of youth, none of them had any +pretence to good looks. Outwardly all due respect was paid to his +lordship, but the private apartments (_oku_) were in league against him. +For weeks the contact was through the _yo[u]nin_, Nishioka Shintaro[u], +who acted as messenger of his lord's commands, and conveyed to his +lordship any intimation of the wishes of her ladyship. Hence Shu[u]zen +Sama knew and cared little as to what passed in the inner apartments of +his wife. She knew everything which passed in those of his lordship. +This tacit divorce appeared welcome to both. + +The object of his lordship's passion, in a household in which one side +or the other of the existing feud must be taken, the position of this +Shimo was quickly determined. Not by her, for short experience of her +ladyship inspired a terror which would even have counselled cooler +treatment from his lordship in one more experienced. The other girls +were all honey, to disguise the bitterness of gall. There was not one of +them who would not gladly have obeyed her lord's call to Shimo's place. +Hence to partisanship was added jealousy. At the daily tasks there was +but one topic of conversation--O'Shimo's favour with her lord. The +charms she used were evident enough, for Nature had been lavish with the +kind to meet his lordship's wishes. How was it their own parents had +spawned such incapacity? "Deign, O'Shimo Dono, to teach the art so sadly +lacking. How bring to prominence such meagre gifts of proportion as one +does possess? In turn shall be taught the art of the _hanaike_--the +arrangement of flowers, of the _koto_ and the _biwa_ in accompaniment of +old songs of heroes and their ladies, the ceremonial grace so necessary +in attendance, the conduct of a lady. From a wardsman's daughter little +is expected, beyond good looks. Alas! O'Shimo Dono is the _yamabuki_, +the yellow rose, beautiful in its out of season bloom (April), but only +too likely to be nipped by the frost. Deign to enlighten, O'Shimo Dono. +Beauty soon wanes, and pregnancy kills good looks as completely as the +chill wind does the flowers." Then they all broke into mad laughter; and +whispered to each other. + +Their suspicions were correct. The constant companionship of his +lordship had the natural effect. When told great was his pleasure. If a +boy, the child should be acknowledged as heir of the House. If a girl, +it should be the solace of his years. So great was his joy and pride +that he spoke to the retainers as if it was the _okugata_ herself who +was at issue. Thus the news must have reached her ladyship's ears with +the first telling, for Nishioka usually was present at his lord's +repast. He was the black cloud hanging over all. A tall, gaunt, suave, +determined man of nearly forty years, the smile he cast upon this Shimo +chilled her. Always courteous in his lordship's presence, elsewhere his +courtesy conveyed a threat and insult which made me as the bird before +the snake. I feared the man; and feared him all the more when one day, +with small disguise of malice, he told me that his lordship had departed +in all haste for the fief in Ko[u]shu[u], not to return for some weeks. +Considering the state of affairs, this should inconvenience me but +little. This open reference to the pregnancy was a first alarm. It +showed how well known it was to the whole household. Indeed concealment +now was impossible. The fifth month had been entered upon; the +supporting band had become a necessity. But the climax was at hand. + +That very day--toward noon--the summons came through the girl O'Han. +With sinking heart I took my way to her ladyship's sitting room. What +was going to take place. Passing the _chu[u]gen_ Jisuke on the _ro[u]ka_ +he called to someone in the garden--"His lordship's absence gives the +chance to clean out the house." Covertly glancing below--there was no +one. Was it in malice, or as warning? Probably the latter. Jisuke always +had been active in little services; often the chosen messenger of my +lord. His look in passing conveyed no insolence; rather kind intention. +It took away the exhibition of surprise at my reception. Her ladyship +was seated at the upper end of the room. The maids O'Tsugi and O'Han +stood close by. Nishioka Shintaro[u] was just behind her ladyship. The +old hag O'Saku was seated at the front. She motioned me to make +salutation. The _okugata_ spoke harshly, with contempt and dislike of +the one thus brought before her at the white sand of judicial process. +"The affair at issue is a simple one. Shimo is to answer the +questions--without tergiversation or lying. To Saku is left the matter +of the examination." + +The old woman bowed with respect and smiling gratitude at the pleasing +task. The smile conveyed to her ladyship promise of satisfaction, even +amusement, in the torture of a forced confession from this child who +would play the woman. Turning to me her face, with cheeks fallen in, +long sharp nose, hard bright glittering eyes of a bird of prey, the +snowy hair piled high around the temples, it was that of one keenly +searching out the tenderest spot into which to drive the knife. Her +first words were all flattery. "Much has been heard, and little seen, of +O'Shimo Dono since her entrance into the _yashiki_. What has been heard +is all to her advantage. Her devotion to the service of his lordship has +been carried to the utmost--even, some say, to extremes. Of that there +can be no criticism. His lordship's wishes are paramount. The action of +O'Shimo Dono contains nothing but merit. It is for the malice of others +to say that O'Shimo has sought and stolen the fruit belonging to her +ladyship; that her cat's eyes have been quick to fasten upon the place +of the mistress of the house; that it is she who would furnish forth an +heir to his lordship. Such is not to be believed. But the truth is to be +told. An heir to his lordship is a matter for her ladyship. No child has +fallen to her lot. If O'Shimo Dono be the first to give birth to a child +in the _yashiki_, it must be between the knees of her ladyship. Deign +then to make full confession.... Ah! There is no need to beg for mercy +and reprieve from the examination. Saku is old. Her ladyship is a +married woman. Both possess experience. On refusal personal examination +is to be made. O'Tsugi, O'Han, are to aid." The two women had come +forward and passed behind me. Seized and thrown down the clenched fist +of O'Tsugi was roughly pressed into my abdomen. In fright and pain, in +dread for the unborn child, I cried out. Then the violent old woman +dragged out the confession of all that had passed with his lordship. +Minute and shameful the details to be told in the presence of a man. But +Shimo was an animal with powers of speech, and must tell all. With the +confession the old woman's smoothness departed. "Vile slut! A townsman's +brat, sprung from the stable dung, you would play the adulteress, take +her ladyship's place, and supplant her with an heir got by some +stranger's seed.... She is gone to the sixth month? High time for +interference. She shall be kept here, until the separation of persons +takes place. No wonder his lordship abandoned the shameless hussy--for +some fresh country wench in Ko[u]shu[u]. For such loose jades to please +the taste of the Tono Sama causes surprise. But off with her, to the +room for confinement. There she is to lie, until her affair is settled." +At a sign O'Tsugi and O'Han seized hold of me. Clothes torn and in +disorder, the person vilely exposed, roughly I was dragged over to this +barred and retired apartment. Always I made effort to preserve my body +and its fruit from their harsh violence. O'Tsugi roared with laughter at +the feeble resistance. The woman was strong as a horse. To O'Han--"Look +at her big belly. Ah! Her ladyship is none too wise. Let the matter but +be left to Tsugi, and the midwife soon would be needed." She raised a +massive leg with suggestive gesture. In some fright O'Han stopped her, +on plea of no such orders. The girl was young, of full figure and not +without attraction. Perhaps she harboured hopes, and would not in a +rival's person set precedent for her own. O'Tsugi spun me around, as a +child would a top with the cord. Then suddenly she released me. With a +crash my body fell against the wall. Sick and faint I tried to rise, and +failed. They watched me for a time as I grovelled and retched in +sickness. Then the bar fell on the outer passage and my imprisonment. + +The day light waned. The sound of the birds going to roost came to the +ears. It was now spring, the gladsome period of the year. The cooing and +chirping brought no charm to the prisoner's ear. These birds were as the +birds of Shideyama (in Hell). Mournful the dirge they sang. Filled with +foreboding, with dread for self and the passing from the darkness of the +womb to the darkness of death for the unborn child, faintness of heart +was made worse by the faintness of hunger. I sank into a kind of +slumber, more racking than the working hours. Then the harsh cries of +the crows aroused me. Daylight was again streaming through the window +bars. At a corner of the sill was a jar. The water in it was stale and +foul smelling. None other was to hand. A _mimitarai_ (hand basin) was +found in the closet. Thus was the nauseating ablution performed. Near +mid-day, when ready to cry out with hunger, for sake of child not self, +the door opened. It was O'Han who brought me food. One strip of +_takuan_, the bitter pickled radish; for drink, ice cold water. Such was +the meal. At night some pickled greens replaced the radish. On my knees +I plead with O'Han, besought her mercy for the unborn child. She laughed +at my misery. "Good living on forbidden fruits has made O'Shimo Dono +fat. Her big belly is perchance to be reduced by diet. Such are the +orders of the _okugata_. Han can do nothing; and would do nothing if she +could. What a fool! Cannot one please his lordship, all night and every +night, without promise of an heir to the House? Condescend the vacancy +and leave such matter to this Han...." Perhaps she felt that she had +said too much. Abruptly she turned and left the room. + +I was not long alone. At least it seemed not so, for the light slumbers +were disturbed by the pangs of hunger. Then came a hand fingering the +outside bar. It was done stealthily. In aid or menace? A deadly fear +came over me. With wild staring eyes, loosened hair framing an anguished +and distorted figure I faced the object without, seeking its entrance. +The terror was not relieved by the appearance of the chamberlain, +Nishioka Shintaro[u]. His face was set and drawn, as of a man who has a +problem to work out, as of one who would carry out the purpose with +certainty and expedition. He closed the door, set the lamp carefully on +the floor in a distant corner. Not a word was spoken. Eyes bright with +terror I watched his movements. He carried something in one hand. Shaken +loose it was allowed to trail behind him. His preparations made he came +toward me with decision. Retreating before his advance the wall was +reached. By this time he was on me. Then I saw what it was he held; a +slender rope, its dreadful meaning plain. I screamed in terror. Roughly +he silenced me, one hand on open mouth. In stifled tones I plead for +mercy. Then failing sign of respite, by desperate effort my struggles +called for all his strength. My screams resounded loud in the room. +"Are! Are! Murder! Deep the grudge, to seven lives! Nishioka San! The +grudge of one dying against Nishioka! Against man and woman who would +cut off the life of Shimo and her child. Ah! Her ladyship! The grudge!" +The cord had tightened round my throat. The ends were in the strong +hands of Nishioka Shintaro[u]. I mocked and stuck out my tongue at him. +I know I did so, as the breath came with greater and greater difficulty. +His face, that of a demon, grew to huge proportions, bright scarlet. Now +heart and lungs were bursting with fullness. Dreadful the agony, +dreadful the grudge for this ill deed. Thus I died. Then followed the +ruin of the House of Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE O'KAGE SAMA + + +On the following night all were gathered in the apartments of her +ladyship. O'Tsugi was engaged in putting back the _koto_ (harp) into its +cover. O'Hagi Dono touched the instrument with no mean skill, and on +this night had deigned to please herself and those who heard her. O'Han +was engaged in heating the _sake_ bottles. Rarely did her ladyship +retire without this indulgence. The old woman, O'Saku, aimlessly moved +about the room. She seemed to be awaiting some news. A sound of steps in +the corridor, and with pleased countenance she made sign to her +ladyship. A moment later and Nishioka Shintaro[u] entered the room. +There was not a trace of difference from the ordinary in his composed +harsh reverential manner to her ladyship. The latter gave a look at +O'Saku. The old women asked the momentous question. "The matter in +hand--has all gone well? The wench no longer troubles the peace and +future of the _okugata_?"--"Everything to perfection: the _chu[u]gen_ +and servants were given tasks to take them far removed. There was barely +a struggle. By the hands of this Shintaro[u] the affair was soon carried +to completion." With complacence he displayed two lean strong hands, +regarded with fondness and admiration by her ladyship. They could bestow +a more tender embrace than that suffered by the unfortunate _koshimoto_. +"And later; the traces of the deed, these are to be removed?"--"There +are none. The time was waited until the body grew cold. It was safe to +do so. The weather is yet raw, the room one seldom entered, and the bar +key in the hands of Shintaro[u]. But just now the task of dismemberment +and disposal has been completed. On pretext of repairs to the _ashigaru_ +quarters much plaster was obtained. With this the severed fragments of +the hussy and her foetus were mingled, and thus concealed in the wall +of the _tokonoma_. The whole new surfaced no trace of the deed appears; +nor is there fear of stench from the corpse. Her ladyship can be assured +that all is well. O'Shimo no longer will give trouble with her +pretensions to his lordship's fondness. In a few days Shintaro[u] will +notify the father that the girl has run off with some lover. A worthless +jade, thus dismissed the _yashiki_, he will be too ashamed to make +inquiry here; and his searches elsewhere are not likely to bear +fruit.... How strange!" He brushed away a firefly which had flown into +his face. With surprise those present watched the bug flitting here and +there in the darkness of the corners and the open corridor. It was +barely the middle of the third month (April), and no season for the +appearance of those insects of the hottest period of the year. Failing +to catch it, O'Tsugi drove it into the outer darkness. Then closed the +screens. + +More lights were brought. Her ladyship would take wine, and talk of +nothing but the joy and relief. "For life this deed shall not be +forgotten. Always in the ready courage and resource of Nishioka has +support been found; many awkward corners turned. If he finds favour with +his lord, still greater the regard of this Hagi. A cup--Shintaro[u]!" +Herself she offered it, leaning fondly toward him. Her hand trembled in +her passion as he took it, with purposed glance and pressure. Always +formal in outward seeming, the intimate relations of the pair for past +months were more than understood by these immediate attendants and +abettors. Nishioka Shintaro[u] long had been the honoured substitute of +his lord--the shadow, the O'Kage Sama, of Nakakawachi Dono. In this case +the shadow was the substance. This ugly virile woman was boiling over +with passion. In the old O'Saku she had a bawd to her service. She had +entered this House as friend or enemy, according as the event would turn +out. Neglected by Shu[u]zen, unable to rule him by will or personal +attraction, she sought to do so by substitution, to the satisfaction of +both. Hence she made Nishioka Shintaro[u] her lover. He was nephew of +O'Saku and foster brother of O'Hagi. Once introduced into the house he +easily made his way into the confidence of Shu[u]zen Dono, by taking all +cares off his shoulders, beyond those of ceremonial attendance and +pleasure. The minutest details of everything were looked to by Nishioka. +This pleased Shu[u]zen, who placed confidence in the readiness and +proved resourcefulness of the man. Nishioka was an infallible guide in +all minutiae of the palace service and intrigue; his knowledge gained by +a long experience in attendance on the great Doi House. Here he had +risen from _chu[u]gen_ to _kyu[u]nin_ (house officer). When he came to +the _yashiki_ of Shu[u]zen he soon replaced the _karo[u]_ (minister) of +the fief in his lord's intimacy, and the latter official found +honourable banishment in continued occupation and residence at the fief +in Ko[u]shu[u], where Shu[u]zen played the role of a castle lord +(_jo[u]shu[u]_), a _fudai daimyo[u]_, a subordinate and spy on his +greater neighbours. The new comer was source of congratulation to her +ladyship. As O'Saku--and perhaps O'Hagi Dono intended, revenge was +sought on Shu[u]zen by promptly throwing the mistress into the arms of +Nishioka. Behind the impenetrable shield of the inner apartments--a +place that Shu[u]zen only sought to avoid--they could live as husband +and wife. Other arrangement now was met by the cold reception meted out +to her lord by the lady of the House. Any compunction Shu[u]zen might +feel as to what he thought to be the enforced sterility of O'Hagi thus +was salved. + +Merry almost to madness was the progress of the wine feast. Her ladyship +went beyond the bonds even of a decent veil of sobriety. Her loving +attitude to Nishioka found more open expression than usual in the +presence of the others. Her abandonment was undisguised. All rejoiced +with her; congratulated the strong man on his ready energy. Only the +girl O'Han showed some lack of spirit, which she attributed to headache. +In kindness her ladyship forbade further concern with the service of the +wine, with the aggravation of its fumes; but she had too little +consideration for those about her to relieve the suffering girl from +attendance. Then the hour came to retire. According to the decent +formula in practice, Nishioka, notified of the fact, rose to take his +leave--to the next chamber. Here the O'Kage Sama did his disrobing. The +girl O'Tsugi was the first to leave her ladyship, on some mission. She +came behind Shintaro[u], to administer a rousing slap between the +shoulders which brought him almost to his knees. Grumbling and gasping +he turned to meet her admiring looks. "A fine figure of a man! And one +to act as well as pose. For us his lordship has but pretty words. +O'Shimo alone profited otherwise. But the O'Kage Sama of his lordship is +of another kind. Deign to favour this Tsugi from time to time." +Shintaro[u] volunteered a grimace which could pass for a consenting +smile. His shoulders burned under the heat of the lady's passion. In +search for a reply the screens again parted, and O'Saku made her +appearance. O'Tsugi at once took to flight, somewhat in derision. The +old woman followed her with eyes of suspicion. Then she marched straight +up to Nishioka--"An impudent jade! Shintaro[u] is to place no confidence +in her or her words. She brings nothing but shame, and perhaps worse. +There is not a serving man in the _yashiki_ who does not know her. And +remember this well. It is this Saku who holds the string of her +ladyship's favour. O'Hagi Dono is not so far enamoured as not to accept +a substitute at Saku's hands.... But he is a fine figure of a man! Too +fine to be spoiled by his lordship's hand." To avoid the threatening +lascivious gleam in the eyes of this withered branch Nishioka made +pretence of trouble with a knot in his girdle. The whispered invitation +grazed a negligent ear, to be interrupted by the sound of her ladyship's +voice. O'Saku was in no haste to leave or to say more. O'Han was the +last to appear. There were anger and tears in her eyes as the girl +stopped a few feet from him. She spoke half turned away, as ready to +take flight at expected interruption. "Nishioka Dono keeps faith with +her ladyship! Does he keep faith with Han? Earnest was the promise that +at all events Han should share his favour with O'Hagi Dono. Nearly a +month has passed since he has deigned a visit. Surely her ladyship is +not so exacting. Give fair answer. Is will or power lacking?" She waited +the reply, eyes cast down on the _tatami_, for she at least had some +remains of modesty. Thus the almost despairing gesture of Shintaro[u] +escaped her. He spoke in low voice, with emphasis, to this fairest of +his bevy of fair ones--"As for the _okugata_, O'Han knows her almost as +well as this Shintaro[u]. What would be the fate of both if their +treachery were suspected? Deign to be patient. The fountain of plenty +has not run dry. Shintaro[u] would go but so far. In this horde of women +he must look to himself. The dependence now is on her ladyship and +O'Saku Dono. Shu[u]zen Sama is cajoled by having thought for nothing. +The _karo[u]_ now is very old. This Shintaro[u] surely will take his +place. A break then with her ladyship finds punishment in exile to +Ko[u]shu[u]. Then comes the time for O'Han openly to join Shintaro[u], +for the happy bond of two lives." The girl's lips barely moved. Both +were startled at peremptory call from the neighbouring room. She spoke +rapidly--"'Tis small matter, even with her ladyship. But from time to +time a visit to this Han? Condescend it."--"Agreed!" was the impatient +answer. "But with O'Hagi Dono, O'Tsugi, O'Han.... O'Saku, the occasions +must be limited." He suddenly seized her in his arms and silenced her +protest in an embrace. Then with hasty steps he passed to her ladyship's +bed-chamber, leaving O'Han with wide staring eyes which shifted from the +room of the lovers to the door through which she had witnessed the old +woman's departure. + +Such was the vileness of the life in which was engaged Nishioka +Shintaro[u]. A week had barely elapsed. There was occasion to make +purchases for the _yashiki_. The _chu[u]gen_ Jisuke remained +respectfully prostrate before the officer. Nishioka again ran over the +list required. "These are to be got at the Owariya in Mikawacho[u]. The +month's settlement is yet far off. The order stands sufficient. Now off +with you." The man did not budge. Rising to a sitting posture he looked +fixedly in the face of Nishioka. "What now?" grumbled the _yo[u]nin_. +Answered the _chu[u]gen_ with respect--"Something of a tip will be +well."--"A tip!" said Nishioka in astonishment. "For what is the month's +wage paid to a _chu[u]gen_? Is he to be given drink money for carrying +out his duties? Take the _furoshiki_; and now out with it and yourself." +"'Out with it'; just so." Such the answer; but the fellow did not budge. +The steady insolence of his attitude made Nishioka straighten up as by a +shock. He was too surprised to speak. The _chu[u]gen_ spoke for him. +"Yes--out with it. Ah! It is quite private with Shintaro[u]. Jisuke can +speak at ease. Drink money is just the thing for Jisuke. Jisuke Dono is +fond of drink. The O'Kage Sama will supply the coin, three _ryo[u]_, in +return for the silence of Jisuke." + +At the suggestive nickname, known only to the few in the secrets of the +_oku_ Nishioka fairly gasped. Jisuke did not give time for answer. He +drove the matter home. "'Heaven knows, Earth knows, Man knows.' So does +this Jisuke, of the doings of Shintaro[u] with the Okusama. Naruhodo! No +strange sight. When the honoured Sun (Tento[u] Sama) disappears toward +Ko[u]shu[u], the honoured Moon (Tsuki Sama) appears in the ascendant in +Musashi. The matter is a most important one, not to be brought to an end +by a gesture. Bring the Okusama on the head and shoulders of Jisuke; and +Jisuke tells all to his lordship. The proof is easy, and this Jisuke the +fitting messenger between these lovers.... Oh! Don't lay hand to sword. +Jisuke is active, and the way of retreat is open. The honoured Jisuke is +not one to perish by the hand of the low fellow (_yaro[u]_) Shintaro[u]. +In plain terms, the rascal is male concubine of her ladyship; who knows +little of the even balance with which her paramour shares his favours +with her women. Surely Shintaro[u] was born under the sign of the goat. +But that is not all. The very walls can talk. At least that in which the +unhappy O'Shimo, seven months gone with child, stands walled in. +Naruhodo! Such punishment is inflicted on bugs, and worms, and creeping +things; not on human beings. How does Jisuke know? Go question the +plaster, you coward; or learn that Jisuke is, and has been, everywhere +present at council and at deeds. But a word to Cho[u]bei Dono, and +Nishioka crouches at the white sand for confession." + +At first astonishment and incredulity, then wrath, now dismay filled the +heart of Nishioka Shintaro[u]. The fellow's insolence, the honorifics +bestowed on Jisuke, the vile terms heaped on himself, showed the secure +ground on which Jisuke stood in his full knowledge of events. For whom +was he spy? He must find out. Jisuke, however, volunteered the +information. "Spy? Jisuke Dono is spy for no one's interest but that of +Jisuke Sama. He would have warned O'Shimo Dono, but repented in time to +have all more completely in his hands. She passed on to her death, +carried out under the eyes of Jisuke, and at the hands--Yes, the hands +of the low fellow Shintaro[u]. Ah! Did beautiful eyebrows inspire this +deed? Was it the love for O'Hagi now, or love for O'Han hereafter? As +rival to his lordship the rascal Shintaro[u] had no chance with O'Shimo +Dono. The clothes prop is the most useful instrument of the house. It +brings things long unseen to light and sight. Jisuke Dono will be the +clothes prop for this completed wickedness--unless his silence be well +bought. Come! Fifty _ryo[u]_: not down: but ten suffices for the +occasion.... Come and demand it of the Okusama? No indeed! Before her +ladyship the prescribed etiquette demands obeisance, and off is whipped +the head of Jisuke. It is money and--a sword cut. On the contrary, off +with Shintaro[u] to beg the needed sum. The tongue of Jisuke Sama is +silenced only by the coin which secures his absence." + +Nishioka could not help himself. "Jisuke is right. It is a matter of +importance. But her ladyship alone can supply the sum. Remain here, +where safety has been so well secured." Then he betook himself to the +inner apartments. At his tale O'Hagi was aghast. She touched the root of +the matter at once. "The man must have the money demanded. And +afterward...." Nishioka smiled grimly at the kindred thought. "Into the +_oku_ he is not to be inveigled. Leave the matter to this Shintaro[u]. +After all be is but a _chu[u]gen_, plainly a fellow with two eyes; but +despite his long experience he must leave the _yashiki_ or conform to +the etiquette of the service. He will not leave a place where lies his +future mine of gold, no matter what his insolence in private. All will +be well. His ignorance and position offer chance to play upon. +Shintaro[u] surely will find a way to kill him." With this solace and +the coin he took his way back to the waiting Jisuke. "I say now! His +lordship's shadow indeed! This rascal Shintaro[u] has but to shake the +tree and the golden fruit falls into his hands. The kind of friend to +possess! Ask; and one receives. Sheet metal too! A very thief, he is +more generous than the Tono Sama! So far thanks. And now--_sayonara_! +Jisuke Dono is off to the pleasant land--the Amatsuki of Fushimicho[u], +the land of reed plains (Yoshiwara). The knave Jisuke, values higher +than the knave (_yaro[u]_) Shintaro[u]. The Honoured Sir pays for the +favours of his queen; his queen pays the _yaro[u]_ Shintaro[u]." With +this parting shot Jisuke was up and out into the open. With some +surprise he halted for a moment. Nishioka had received the sally in good +part. He was laughing, half in amusement, half in vexation. Thought +Jisuke--"Truly this rascal of a _yo[u]nin_ matches even the honoured +Jisuke. Both spring from the farm, and the jest touches him, and not his +rank. Between the two, lord and lady are like to pay dear." + +Nishioka returned slowly to the inner apartments, to make report as to +this rather doubtful progress. For several days nothing was seen of +Jisuke. For a time, as one satisfied, he resumed his duties in the old +respectful role. Only a sly veiled jest would show the wolf lying in +wait. Then came further demands, promptly responded to by Nishioka. He +began to be curious as to the adventures of Jisuke. He made the +_chu[u]gen_ talk; whose experiences were painted in glowing colours. +With a sigh Nishioka handed over the cash demanded, granted the leave of +absence. Grumbled Jisuke--"'Tis like digging the metal from the ground. +Few are the miners of another's hoard. Why grudge this Jisuke what costs +Shintaro[u] nothing!" Nishioka grasped at the opening. "What costs +nothing, carries no grudge. But Jisuke has the cash at the cost of this +Shintaro[u], only obtained in the company of an ugly old woman. With +this coin it is Jisuke who commands the selected beauty of Nippon. Come! +There has been enough of this. To-night Shintaro[u] takes Jisuke as +guide. He too will take his pleasure amid the beauties of the +Yoshiwara." He spoke expansively, with far off smile and look, as if the +beauties were ranged before his vision. Jisuke stood with mouth wide +open. "What! Not even the whole private apartments of a _daimyo[u]_ +satisfies this lecher? Ah! The rascal would plant horns on the Okusama. +Husband and wife alike adorned! How now: is not her ladyship already +something of a demon? Nishioka Dono will be impaled on one or the +other." With mock respect he gave advice and bowed before his officer. +His interest in this rebellion was plain. Nishioka was seen to hesitate. +He looked doubtfully at Jisuke, as if seeking counsel in this +questionable matter. To Jisuke the matter was a jest; thus to involve +all three victims in a common treachery to one another. The temptation +was great, and he was a match for any underhand design on the part of +Nishioka. No safer place for him than Yoshiwara, in which his enemy +might be still more involved. _Samurai_ were particularly marked in the +place. Meanwhile the chamberlain would be his butt for the evening. +Jisuke's hints as to his source of revenue were broad enough to the +companions of his evening pleasures. They would be delighted at a sight +of this generous official. + +Hence he urged objections to his company, and himself found answers. +Said Nishioka--"It is agreed. To-night all is propitious. The old girl +has taken cold. She intends a sweating. Such the notice to this +Shintaro[u]. It is his time to be fickle. He accompanies Jisuke." His +mind was made up, with some evident tear and reluctance. Jisuke aided +him in his preparations. Wearing _zukin_ (hood) he passed out the gate +with Jisuke. The latter handed in two _chu[u]gen_ tickets to the +_momban_, and none knew that the honoured _yo[u]nin_ had left the +_yashiki_. In merry company they descended the Gomizaka. Shintaro[u] was +as a boy just out of school, so merry was he. He lagged behind, then +went ahead. At the top of the Kudanzaka he halted. "On with you, Jisuke. +Shintaro[u] stops here a moment." He passed to the side of the road. +Jisuke in turn halted. He was standing in the moonlight. Said he, with a +touch of his usual insolent jesting--"How explain to the ladies the +presence of the honoured chamberlain? Shintaro[u] _yaro[u]_ wears two +swords. Jisuke Dono is but a _chu[u]gen_. Odd company! Notable will be +the compliment."--"No explanation is required." Terrible the voice from +the shadow beside him. "Ei!" Quick as a flash Jisuke made a spring +forward, not too soon to prevent arm and back being ripped open by the +keen weapon.--"Ah! The low fellow Shintaro[u] is not the one to kill the +honoured Jisuke. He has already said it.... The beast! He has cut me. +The devil lies between Jisuke and the lights of the O[u]mon. With +Cho[u]bei San is found safety and vengeance." With all speed he fled up +the Ushinakizaka to seek safety in the darkness of its wood. Nishioka +pursued with determination. The rip of cloth and flesh showed him that +he had reached his man. Loss of blood would bring him down. Jisuke aimed +for the middle of the grove, for the Hachiman shrine, now the site of +the Sho[u]konsha. Under the dark shadow of the trees he hoped to escape +the pursuer. Alas! A tree root caught his foot and threw him on his +face. As he rose the sword ran him through from back to breast. +Staggering, grasping at air, he turned on Nishioka; spitting out his +grudge with the clots of blood. His last words of hate were mingled with +the rumblings of the storm close over head. The moon's brightness had +disappeared. Heavy clouds rolled up, illuminated time and again by a +glare of dismal light. Big gouts of rain began to wet the clothes of +living and of dead in this solitude. For surety Nishioka gave the final +thrust through the throat. Just then the bell of Ichigaya Gekkeiji +reverberated through the thick wood. In the night hour it sounded sharp +and sudden, like a harsh call to men to rise and witness. Nishioka wiped +his sword on the dead man's dress. A flash of lightning lit the face, +horrible and mocking in the death agony. As the chamberlain leaned over +the corpse a voice spoke behind him, harsh and as if half stifled with +the blood filling gorge and lungs--"Yai! Shintaro[u] has his way. He +murders Jisuke--not once, but twice. Deep the grudge! Deep the grudge!" +Then it broke into a wail, chilling in the helplessness of the malice +expressed. Nishioka sprang to his feet and whirled around. In the +uncertain light close by stood Jisuke. His hair in wild disorder, cheeks +fallen in and corpse like with the bluishness of clay, the _chu[u]gen_ +grinned and threatened. The living man could match him with his pallor. +"Namu Amida Butsu! Get you hence vile spectre, or stay the test of +Nishioka's sword." He made a sweep with the weapon. The figure +disappeared. A mocking laugh resounded far and wide, followed by the +same chilling hopeless wail. In haste, and pursued by the wild laughter, +stumbling over stones and roots, Nishioka fled the wood, to make report +at the feet of her ladyship. For long the figure of the _chu[u]gen_, +crying, wailing in baffled malice, haunted the wood of the Ushinakizaka. +Men hastened to pass by, none would enter; and in time the apparition +became one of the seven marvels (the Nana-Fushigi) of the Bancho[u]. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE REPORT TO THE TONO SAMA + + +On the dull evening of the rainy season (June) Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen sat +looking out on the dripping plants and trees. The home coming had +brought no pleasure. The treachery of the favoured Shimo was assured. +The father himself admitted the search made for the lover; wept and +grovelled in shame and apology. O'Saku had seen him in person, when he +came to the _yashiki_ several weeks before the flight. O'Tsugi had heard +him call--"choi! choi!" had overheard O'Shimo's surprised +exclamation--"my lover! my lover!" After several mysterious absences, on +excuse to see her father lying ill, she had disappeared. On inquiry it +was found that Cho[u]bei had never known a day of illness. The excuse +was all a lie. "A case of the wild duck; the cock had come." Whose was +the child she bore? O'Hagi laughed, and her attendant woman smiled, at +his credulity. + +Shu[u]zen never suspected the deceit. Something of a _dilettante_ for +the period he was learned in the Chinese tradition. Seventeen years, and +a woman has no heart. This Shimo was a debauched wench. Truly she had +foxed him with her superficial charms, picked him up thus easily in the +Bancho[u]. With gesture of weariness and disgust he turned to the papers +and scrolls on the desk before him. They were house accounts submitted +by Nishioka, and none too pleasing. A round sum was missing on the +person of the _chu[u]gen_ Jisuke. Sent out to make important payment, he +had run off with the money, leaving no sign of his whereabouts. Just +then the bell of Gekkeiji struck the hour of the pig (9 P.M.). With +impatience Shu[u]zen swept the papers together. Her ladyship as +companion of his wine feasts chilled the bottles with freezing glance. +The monotonous talk of debts and expenses, exchanged with those around, +added a bitter flavour. Always demands, or hints of demands, which made +the meal a very time of penance. + +With some slowness he rose to attend the repast. Then from the garden +side came a sad wailing voice. "Grateful the honoured return, so long +delayed. Fond the thoughts of the past long weeks. Deep the longing for +the honoured presence. Report is to be made to his lordship. Alas! +Alas!" A chill went to the very heart of Shu[u]zen. Lamentable and +grievous as was the sound, he had no difficulty in recognizing the voice +of O'Shimo. Startled he turned in indignant anger to the _ro[u]ka_ +whence the sound had come. He looked out into the darkness of the +dripping night. Nothing was to be seen. Plainly he had thought too much +of the girl, of her condition and the disappointment. He gave his body a +violent shake to throw off this cold oppression and foreboding. Then +slowly he took his way to the wine feast. The _sake_ would bring warmth. +This was not the case. Freely as he drank, it added to powers of vision. +His mind now always on the missing girl, the familiarity between spouse +and chamberlain seemed strange for the relation between mistress and +servant. As usual, with the finish of the last bottle, Nishioka +accompanied him to his retirement. Shu[u]zen spoke sharply of the large +increase in the expenses of the inner apartments. To meet these the +revenues would have to be forestalled, the income anticipated. The +smooth fellow met him more than half way in agreement. His lordship was +too estranged from the _okugata_. Greater familiarity toward the women's +apartments would be the needed restraint. Deign his presence this very +night. Nishioka Shintaro[u] spoke in no hypocrisy. The O'Kage Sama now +was longing for the rightful substitution. His nest well feathered, he +would seek safer quarters with the softer charms of O'Han. On +Shu[u]zen's abrupt gesture and refusal he took his departure, almost +betraying his own disgruntlement. Comical was his despairing gesture as +he took his way to the bed of her ladyship. + +The temple bell struck the seventh hour (3 A.M.). It roared and +reverberated through the room. Shu[u]zen opened his eyes. He was +tormented with the thirst inspired by his copious libations. His head +was heavy and whirling. He took a long draft from the jar close by his +pillow. Then he rose to tread the corridor. On his return he sought to +wash his hands. Turning to find the towel, close by him he saw a woman. +Dressed all in white, slender to emaciation, her face concealed by the +long hair which hung in heavy disordered masses over shoulders and +bosom, she presented to him the desired article. As he would take the +towel he spoke in surprise--"Who may this be, awake at this late hour +for Shu[u]zen's service?" Again the sad lamentable voice made +reply--"Fond the thoughts of his lordship. Long waited his return. +Report is to be made." At sight of her face he gave a cry--"Shimo!" At +the words the figure faded away. The outstretched towel fell to the +ground. A slight rustle of the breeze swept the corridor. "Shimo! +Shimo!" In amaze and suspicion came the words. Something had gone wrong +here. Shu[u]zen pressed the towel to his lips, as to get rid of the +nauseating taste in his mouth. Then came the voice from the garden. With +hasty movement he threw back the _amado_. The wind sighed through the +pines; a gentle patter of rain came in gusts. Close by the voice spoke +again--as from a _yukimido[u]ro_, one of those broad capped stone +lanterns, like to some squat figure of a gnome, and so beautiful an +ornament with white snow cap or glistening with the dripping mirror of +the rain. + +"Report is to be made. Long has Shimo waited her lord's return. In this +Shimo was no treachery of heart. Devoted was her service to her lord. By +the hand of Nishioka Shintaro[u], by the malice of O'Hagi Dono, Shimo +and her unborn babe met a miserable end. Nor has the ill deed ended +there. Go now to the chamber of the wife, and witness the adulterous +deed. Deign to learn the truth from Shimo." The voice ceased. Shu[u]zen +passed a hand over his wine heated brow. Fox or badger? Did some over +bold and infamous apparition seek to delude him? With a bound he sought +his chamber and the sword at his pillow. He would deal harshly with such +lies. Then came a second thought. Why not ascertain the fact? He was the +husband. His presence was a right. Softly he made his way to the inner +apartments. At the outer ward he stumbled in the darkness against some +object. "Are! The Tono Sama!" With a cry of alarm up sprang the sleeping +O'Han. She would have outstripped him in a race to the inner rooms, but +Shu[u]zen was too quick for her. With hand over mouth he dragged her to +the garden side. She would have cried out, and made resistance. Then he +changed her tune. Lacking confession he held her flat and prostrate +under him. Firmly grasping both wrists tight together, he forced his +dagger between the hands, and began to twist the keen blade. Unable to +resist the torture she soon told all she knew, confessed her own part of +watch and ward in the offense. This done, he drove the weapon through +her throat and left her pinned to where she lay, the limbs feebly +twitching in the last throes. + +Assured of his suspicions Shu[u]zen now sought to surprise the lovers. +Cautiously he approached the sleeping room of her ladyship from the +inner side. There was no doubt of it. In the very throes of her passion +O'Hagi was without disguise. Shu[u]zen threw back the screens on this +vileness. "Lechers! For this disloyalty Shu[u]zen finds revenge! Make +ready!" Nishioka Shintaro[u] sprang to his feet, only to sink down in a +pool of blood which soaked the bed he had dishonoured. Severed from +shoulder to pap he died forthwith. With wild screams O'Hagi fled to the +corridor. As she reached it the point of the weapon was thrust through +her back, to come out at the navel. As she writhed and twisted on the +floor, Shu[u]zen measured the blow and nearly cut the body in twain. +"Ah! In good season the old bawd presents herself." In fright the old +woman's head had been thrust between the screens into the room close by +the master. An easy mark it fell severed to the ground, the blood +spouting its powerful streams from the arteries as from a pump. The +woman O'Tsugi was a sterner task. Aroused by the noise she came stalking +into the middle of the room, still rubbing eyes confused by sleep. "Ah! +The villainous cuckold. He has murdered these, and now would add the +next (_tsugi_). Not so!" With her wild jest she threw herself upon him. +Trained soldier as he was Shu[u]zen found the contest no easy one +against this virile woman. Getting the worst of it, she fastened her +teeth deep into his hand. Grunting with pain Shu[u]zen flung her off, +and quickly brought down the sword. Prostrate she lay, the blood stream +pouring over the real lord of this harem. + +With a long breath Shu[u]zen surveyed his work. It was complete. Then he +went to the outer ward of the apartments. To his call no one came. +Repeated, in the distance of the _ro[u]ka_ appeared from the outer ward +(_omote_) the old and faithful Nakamura Saisuke. At sight of his lord, +dyed in blood from head to foot, he threw up his hands. Without undue +haste or any words Shu[u]zen led him to the scene of the punishment. +Respectfully Saisuke brought a cushion. Then prostrate he waited for his +lord to speak. Long endured the silence. Then said Shu[u]zen +briefly--"Caught in the act of adultery this Shu[u]zen has put to death +the guilty. The results are most important. The lack of discipline in +the House is sure to lead to the honoured punishment by the suzerain. +From this there is no escape." Saisuke surveyed the scene with the calm +eye of experience. "Be in no haste, my lord. This Saisuke in his long +experience has seen many deeds of violence. For the present this matter +need not be published. Of the outer apartments (_omote_), the +_chu[u]gen_ and servants need know nothing. In any case they do not +count, and can be sent away. The others are not curious; moreover they +are loyal, as _samurai_.... Of the inner apartments--a very clean sweep +has been made. Deign to leave matters for the present to this Saisuke." +With approval the old man examined the handiwork of his lord. It was +most thorough, even to the eye of this remnant of the battle field. Then +he went to work. The bodies he conveyed to the side of the artificial +mound in the garden. Digging out part of the hill, here he buried them; +forced in, dove-tailed together, in the smallest space; the old man +grumbling at the ground they occupied. Then with water he washed out the +blood stains on the wood work. When dry he would plane out tell-tale +marks. Meanwhile he would serve his lord, to the exclusion of all +others. Would the Tono Sama deign to rest? With sad misgivings the +_kyu[u]nin_ (house officer) watched Shu[u]zen as he retired to his room. +Himself he mounted guard at the women's entrance, to prevent all +intrusion. + +Nakamura Saisuke's heart was pure. His age beyond recall. For two days +he struggled, alone in his task. On one pretext or another the +_samurai_ were sent off, one here one there, on lengthy missions. +Perhaps the old man's efforts had been too great. In the course of the +day a _chu[u]gen_, come on some affair, found him flat on his belly, +groaning with pain as in the very last extremities. To the man's +inquiries he could but cry out with colic and distress. Aid was brought, +but only to find him dead. Then a second discovery was made. Report was +necessary to his lordship. Here all was found closed against reception. +On making their way into the inner room Shu[u]zen was found, clad all in +white, the bloody dirk in hand, the body fallen forward on the +ceremonial mats. He had cut his belly open, on retiring for the night. +All now was in confusion. Should the _karo[u]_ be awaited. None knew +this exile to the Ko[u]shu[u] fief, beyond his reputed morose severity. +Official there was none to whom to make report. They were afraid, and +took their own part. With everything of value they could lay their hands +on they fled in different directions. The open gate and abandonment +attracted attention. The dead body of Shu[u]zen was proved a voluntary +_seppuku_ (cut belly) for some cause; that of the old man required no +explanation. The inquiry set on foot led only to confusion, and was soon +lost in the greater question of the heirship. Placed in charge of Yamada +Dono, a caretaker was sought for the _yashiki_. A property tangled in a +long dispute, this would seem a pleasing task and one to summon many +applicants. But this was not the case. Successful candidacy was followed +by early exodus. None could endure the frightful sounds heard every +night; the cries of pleasure followed by the screams of those in the +agony of a painful dying. Spectral lights were seen, the old well in the +garden poured forth its confined spirits, all the evil influence of the +place was rejuvenated in the minds of people by this last disaster. +"Thus the matter rests. 'Tis not this Shimo who is the cause of these +nightly scenes of strife and pain. In mad chase Shu[u]zen Dono, the +Okusama, the villainous Nishioka and his concubines, act the scene of +their cutting off. Shimo has but her part, to find Nirvana in the +worship of the upright. Deign this act of kindness." At the fierceness +of the voice Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon started. The red light of dawn was +pouring into the open room. All sight of the dreadful vision had faded +from the wall before him. Vision, or fact? It had been too vivid to +doubt. Yet as he came to the mound he passed around it. On the side next +to the lake now he noticed that it was all caved in, an obvious +depression. The tale then had truth. Thus he took his way from the +haunted precincts, determined to secure the _yashiki_ as his own, and +the future rest and peace of Nirvana to the unhappy O'Shimo. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SHRINE OF THE O'INARI SAMA + + +Something has been already said of the _chu[u]gen_ Isuke, unwilling +guide of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon to the haunted house of the Go +Bancho[u]. Thus is the second person of the name of Shu[u]zen introduced +into the traditions and history of the Bancho[u]. Of him and his +experiences with its denizens something is to be said. + +Okumura Shu[u]zen had distinguished himself in the Amakusa uprising of +1637-8. A retainer of Matsudaira Nobutsuna he had not been the last man +to force his way into the blazing ruins of Arima castle. He did his very +best amid the struggling mass of halt, maimed, and blind, after the real +defenders of the castle had died weapons in hand. He was able to present +himself before his lord with a reasonable number of his own company with +heads on their shoulders; and a phenomenal number of heads minus +shoulders, of all ages and sexes--men, women, and children--of the +castle inmates. Against the once owners Shu[u]zen had little grudge. So +much was to be said of him. In private he railed against the bad rule +which had brought him and his fellows into the field against the +embattled farmers. But this was a thing to be endured; not cured, except +by time. Rebellion against the liege lord, under the leadership of +_samurai_ once retainers of the cowardly Konishi Yukinaga, added edge to +his sword and point to his spear. His service brought him in the train +of his lord's progress to Edo. In the report made Okumura Shu[u]zen +figured so well, that request--amounting to command--transferred him to +the Tokugawa over-lord. Made _hatamoto_ with fief of four hundred _koku_ +he was as well liked by his greater lord as when in the humbler service +of a _daimyo[u]_. Five years of faithful work, and the necessities of +Government for his _yashiki_ site in Mita received the reward of a +liberal grant of another site in the Go Bancho[u], together with the +thousand _ryo[u]_ of costs of removal. + +The work of transfer was pushed forward. The more modest abode of a lord +of moderate income, and the massive gateway with its supporting walls +and fence of closely woven, sharp pointed, bamboo retiring into the +distance now were ready to shut in Shu[u]zen to the privacy of his share +in the suzerain's defence. Plainly Shu[u]zen Dono put more confidence in +his own prowess, or insignificance, than in the strength of outer +defences against sudden attack of those at feud with him. Part of his +tract inclosed a shrine of the Inari goddess. This had still its +worshippers. On his inspection Shu[u]zen noted the loneliness of the +building, its desolation. Yet it was clean swept and kept, and a money +box for offerings was proof of attendance at the shrine. Whether this +was of man or beast was not so easy to determine, for traces of the +latter were plain to the eye. Their tracks swarmed about the building +itself. As Shu[u]zen stood in some uncertainty, a woman of the middle +class appeared. To inquiries she admitted that the care of the shrine +was due to herself and her piety; a care gladly rendered to its +efficacy. It had returned to her a son once sent adrift to the +provinces; and to her affection a husband who had gone astray much +closer home, for the intruding female was a minor member of her own +household. Finding excuse in some domestic misdeed, the worthy cit had +sent forth the damsel into the wilderness of the world with the fruit of +her experience. The relief of this incubus, and the return of a more +rightful heir than promised, the good lady attributed to the virtue of +her prayers to the Inari Sama. She was urgent to bring support to her +views in the general opinion of all the neighbourhood, mainly of the +Ko[u]jimachi village. These corroborated what she said as to the +shrine's efficacy and petitioned for its continued support. Made the +tutelary shrine of the _yashiki_, separated therefrom by a mere +brushwood fence, this Inari Jinja of the Bancho[u] continued to exist +for the good of the public and the annoyance of the amiable Okumura +Shu[u]zen. Its _kannushi_ (Shinto priest) he could never find. The woman +and others said that he lived at Ushinakizaka. At least the money +contributions were always accounted for, although they had never seen +his face. A few days before the formal opening of the _yashiki_ the +_chu[u]gen_ Isuke and the workmen stood with puzzled faces before a hole +discovered underneath the flooring of the shrine. It led to some passage +or cave. None were in humour to investigate, perhaps to the annoyance of +the O'Inari Sama. At Isuke's direction, and with difficulty in the +cramped space, it was found possible to shove into place the massive +granite slab which fitted tightly into the aperture, and plainly +belonged to it. "A one time store house of the god," quoth Isuke. With +that he and the others betook themselves to their divers tasks of +finishing the clearing up of building and surroundings. In the +excitement and confusion of moving in there was little thought of the +cavity in this twelfth month of Kwanei twentieth year (January 1644), +and the idea of making report was lost sight of until other conditions +brought up again the subject. + +The ceremonial visits of the New Year, the congratulations and presents, +were to be made to the suzerain by his attendant _hatamoto_ and the +_daimyo[u]_ then in Edo town. Every _yashiki_ was in a turmoil of +excitement and confusion. Even in the greater _yashiki_ there was demand +for outsiders to carry the _hakomochi_ or long boxes, for the +_rokushaku_ (six footers) or tall fellows to carry the sedan chair, for +others to bear the _kappakago_ or rain-coat boxes. _Samurai_, +_ashigaru_, spearholders, _chu[u]gen_, _zo[u]ri_ holders--these were +attendant in the _yashiki_. But the minor establishments were mainly +dependent on outside aid to swell the lord's train. Hence the role of +Bandzuin Cho[u]bei and his successors was no sinecure, in addition to +the exercise of the art of arranging time and place so that the inferior +lords would be least inconvenienced by the necessary and often +humiliating deference to their superiors in rank. The guild patron +looked well to the interests of his employers--_daimyo[u]_--with small +regard to those who shifted for themselves; which was one of the causes +of grudge by the _hatamoto_ against Cho[u]bei, later removed from the +scene by assassination. + +Every horse in Edo, destined for the morrow's ceremony, underwent the +pampered treatment that the groom Kakunai devoted to his master's nag. +On the preceding day Kage (Fawn colour) had been treated to all the +luxuries of horse diet. He must eat for to-day and for to-morrow, and +perform all the offices connected there with beforehand. Said +Kakunai--"Kage, be circumspect and constipated. To-morrow the master +offers congratulations at the castle. Kage is stuffed beyond measure +to-day, that he be able to fast to-morrow. Show no discontent. For the +passage of the sun there is to be no eating, and but a modicum of +drinking. Halt not the procession for unseemly purposes." He stroked the +horse, and the pleased animal purred and whinnied with the contentment +of a cat at being petted. Then harshly said a voice in the ear of the +bending Kakunai--"For this feed of the year's end thanks are rendered. +Though not exactly of the kind desired, the intent has been good and the +stomach filled. Hence congratulations in turn for the New Year season." + +Kakunai jumped as if some one had thrust the unblunted end of a spear +into his posteriors. He looked around, and over, and under the horse. +"Who speaks? Where from? And what concerning?... Yai! Yai! It's Kage!... +Is no one hiding hereabouts, to make a fool of Kakunai?" With eyes +bolting out he backed away in terror. The horse grinned broadly, showing +its ugly yellow teeth in attempt at graciousness--"It is true. Kage, +addresses the honoured _betto[u]_ Kakunai, gives congratulations to his +friend." Kakunai did not wait to receive them. Now he bolted forth in +person, to burst into the room of the _chu[u]gen_ Isuke, just then +struggling to arrange garments and hair for attendance on his lord's +progress. Head throbbing from not unliberal potations due to the seasons +festivities this was no pleasant task. To Kakunai's report the answer +was prompt and sour--"Kakunai is a liar or a fool; or if he would play a +jest on Isuke, his own head shall ache as badly." Kakunai accepted the +challenge and asseverated the truth of his report. Not at all convinced, +and with a gloomy satisfaction of the idea of having it out with Kakunai +on failure of the proof, Isuke accompanied the groom to the stable. +Kakunai gingerly made up to the horse--"Kakunai has been friend to Kage. +Hence he is called liar or fool or mountebank. Deign to prove his truth, +Kage Dono." Respectfully he bowed to the horse. The latter at once +turning to the _chu[u]gen_, brayed into his face--"'Tis fact. Kage is at +least as human as these his brothers. He speaks to whom he wills. Not so +with Isuke and Kakunai. A word to the Tono Sama, and Kage will kill and +eat these his friends. Keep his good will by friendship." Gently the +horse raised a front hoof. The voice was harsh; and the push, though +gentle--for a horse--sent Isuke flat, with reminder of Kage thus closely +applied. Without a word the _chu[u]gen_ wallowed from the floor, none +too clean, and took to flight. Kakunai followed after, holding his nose. +In the privacy of the _chu[u]gen's_ room Isuke changed to sweeter garb +and discussed the matter with Kakunai. Should his lordship be informed? +Kakunai, as immediate attendant and in greatest danger, earnestly +protested. Isuke at any time might be brought into closest contact with +Kage in his office of _chu[u]gen_ attending his master. They agreed that +it would be very disagreeable to be killed and eaten, especially with +such evidences of Kage's powers of disposition. Hence nothing was to be +said; or rather each agreed to leave the matter of report to the other. + +Great was the crush and excitement on this day of the year. Long and +continuous were the processions (_gyo[u]retsu_) of _daimyo[u]_ and +_hatamoto_ making their way to and from the castle. The rule of the day +was to avoid unnecessary collision, as far as possible; not only in the +matter of precedence, but of order. Commoners, male and female, old and +young, _ro[u]nin_, _samurai_, according to their caste squatted or +prostrated themselves in reverential attitude as the palanquin of some +lord passed by. Caustic or benign, generally malicious, the comment of +the Kidahachi and Yajiro[u]bei--"O[u]kubo Hikoroku Dono; 'tis true he +possesses influence, and the roughness of Hikoza Sama, but the keen wit +of the honoured father lacks."--"Yet the lord O[u]kubo has much kindness +beneath his roughness. The latter is passport to the favour of the +suzerain." Iyeyasu Ko[u] ruled by statecraft; Hidetada Ko[u] by +benevolence; the third Sho[u]gun Iyemitsu Ko[u], by rough energy. Such +the tradition of the personality of these three men handed down in +Nippon's history. With the passage of Tadamune Ko[u], of the great +Sendai fief, heads went very low. Great his wealth, and greater still +was his influence with the Suzerain. Tadamune swept proudly on; the +future disasters represented in the boy who rode close to the palanquin, +and whose licentious life later threatened to wreck the wealth and +position of the great house. + +At the dismount notice (_geba-fuda_) Okumura Shu[u]zen, accompanied by +two pages, donned _zo[u]ri_ (sandals) and betook himself to the palace. +He was a small figure in this crush of great nobles, but as _hatamoto_ +had his right and duty of being present at the palace; both rigidly +enforced, and assuredly with greater regard and welcome than most of the +men of much greater rank, always regarded with suspicion. The modest +train of a four hundred _koku_ lord was squeezed into a corner of this +mass of underlings waiting the return of their masters from audience. +Close companion to his beloved and now feared Kage, the groom Kakunai +was well satisfied with his insignificance. Great was his consternation +to hear the harsh voice of his equine friend in his ear. A whisper to +Kage meant a roar to the crowd--"Naruhodo! The stench of these humans +excels even that of the stable. One is as much confined here as there. +His lordship has now departed. Deign, Kakunai San, to indulge in +amusement. Let's be off--to the Kwannon of Asakusa, to the Yoshiwara. +Here there is naught but press and riot. In the pleasure quarter both +convey diversion. Deign so to regard it." With wide open mouths those +around turned to the quarter whence came these uncomplimentary terms. +Kakunai was sweating with fear--"Shut up!... Rude? Then deign to be +silent. Great the press. To withdraw is difficult; to desert his +lordship impossible. Silence is the part of the inferior." At this +exercise of authority the horse grumbled loudly--"Away from the stinking +stable one feels gay and at ease. Quicksilver runs in the veins. At +Yoshiwara the _hatsudochu[u]_ will be in progress. Following the +processions of the honoured _oiran_, liberal will be the _sake_ offered +at the tea houses. Deign, Kakunai San, to reconsider your purpose to +remain." + +At this Kakunai almost melted into the icy puddle on the ground. He +shivered as he wiped the cold sweat dripping from his forehead. At first +voices said--"Who is speaking in these ribald terms? Kakunai San is it +not? Who the companion?... Oya! 'Tis the horse which talks! Asakusa and +Yoshiwara? What say the women to the presence of the beast? Eh! Off with +you, Kakunai San, to show which is horse and which groom." They crowded +around the pair, not daring to come close. Kakunai felt extremely +unwell. He could not deny the fact. "Like boys, he boasts beyond his +powers. The power of speech runs loose. Yet as a horse it is a wise +beast, the treasure of a four hundred _koku yashiki_, since none other +possesses his like. Deign to note his own proclamation of his tastes." +This was to throw the consequences of discovery on the animal, to file +the sharpness of teeth against the promised mauling of Kakunai's flesh. +Then he waxed eloquent and proud--"A fine horse indeed! Such a horse in +battle is unequalled. Is it not so, Kage?" And Kage promptly answered to +his friend's praise. "A horse of noble quality, with good deeds to his +credit, gains reputation. At the astonishment of the foe the rider runs +them through with the spear. Hence gain of heads, and reputation to both +steed and master." Kage spun round, letting fly hoofs in all directions, +shaking his head and biting savagely. At this display of battle fire +those too close fled in disorder. At a safe distance wonder and advice +was expressed. "Deign to be off, Kakunai San. Truly the animal is foxed, +and foxes enough are to be found in Yoshiwara. He will find company +without fail." Kakunai, as he restrained the beast, now full at +ease--"Of that we are assured. Alas! He cannot squat. In that he is +clumsy, as is the red haired, green-eyed western barbarian. Otherwise it +is not Kakunai who would bring coin to Nakanocho[u], but convey money +hence." Some agreed, and some disagreed, and all congratulated. Thus did +horse and groom get much advertisement at the O[u]te-mon, to the +subsequent profit of both. + +Shu[u]zen, audience granted, appeared at the castle gate. Respectfully +the crowd drew apart, and watched the lord depart with his train. Never +had one of the minor _hatamoto_ attracted greater attention; and of +these many were notable men for personal exploits. Entirely unconscious +of this notice Shu[u]zen rode off to his _yashiki_. In the course of +the succeeding days many visits were to be paid, and the wondrous fact +had chance to spread from the under world to the surface. At the +_yashiki_ of Abe Shiro[u]goro[u] the salutations were exchanged; the +spiced _sake_ to preserve life--the _to[u]so_--was brought forth. +Shu[u]zen detected in his host a quizzical, even amused attitude. Said +Shiro[u]goro[u]--"Shu[u]zen Uji, did he deign to ride, or mount the +_kago_ (palanquin)." The question was abrupt, and seemed not over +courteous. A _hatamoto_ of four hundred _koku_ possessed steed and +spearmen. Abe Shiro[u]goro[u] was a great lord, and Shu[u]zen answered +smoothly, seeking any source of offense. To his affirmative, said the +host--"Then Shu[u]zen Dono perhaps deigned to mount the favourite and +talking horse.... Surely he knows of the animal's great gift.... +Congratulations are due, for what is the talk of the castle precincts." +Shu[u]zen's astonishment was too great not to be genuine. He was the +first to propose to Abe Dono the taking of a look at the noted beast. He +was eager to inspect an animal, which, it seemed, he had as yet never +seen. The two lords came forth to the _genkwan_ (house entrance). On +summons Kakunai brought forward the horse, expecting his lord to mount, +not exactly understanding the presence of the lord of the mansion. +Shu[u]zen's first words enlightened him unpleasantly. With some +severity--"Kakunai, does this horse talk?" Thunderstruck Kakunai did not +know what answer to make. Kage could bite. His master could do worse, if +enough angered. He hesitated--"Hai!" Quoth Shu[u]zen--"'Hai' is no +answer. Has the horse power of human speech?" Kakunai put his hand to +his head, then turned to Kage, who was obstinately silent. He gave him +as hard a blow on the neck as he dared, without result. "The Tono Sama +has heard the tale; as has this Kakunai. His head in a whirl, Kakunai +knows not whether it be true or not. By an humble groom such matters are +not understood. To report idle gossip or the illusions of one's brain, +savours of impudence. Deign the question in person. Kage refuses answer +to this Kakunai." + +Thus skilfully he lied. Kage eyed him with approval; Shu[u]zen with some +doubt. He turned to the horse--"Kage, it is said you speak. Shu[u]zen is +the master. Answer without lying." Kage spoke, indifferent to rank and +without circumlocution of polite society--"'Tis so; and just as does a +human being. Truly Shu[u]zen Sama has supplied a most foul smelling +place to learn the art." Abe Shiro[u]goro[u] snickered--"Kage Dono is +too precise. Would he learn the art of converse over his master's +wine?"--"Not unwillingly," replied the nag. "But in any case he would +have Isuke and this lazy groom make better and more frequent use of +broom and bucket. The good offices of Abe Dono are requested." By this +retort courteous the two noblemen were silenced and amused. Uncertain as +to the course of further converse with the beast Okumura made +salutation, mounted and departed homewards. As he gave the horse into +the groom's charge he said--"It is for Kakunai to keep in mind the words +of Kage." As he vigorously applied broom and water to the stall and +vicinity of the favoured animal, Kakunai mentally determined that on the +whole Shu[u]zen Dono was the more dangerous of the two. Hence-forward he +would be careful to remember all that Kage said--and make report. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE LUCK OF OKUMURA SHU[U]ZEN + + +The first efforts of Shu[u]zen at solving this mystery were not overly +successful. A _samurai_, he betook himself to the highest exponent of +the caste cult. In search of illumination he hit upon Hayashi Daigaku no +Kami Dono. This man, learned in all the lore of Morokoshi (China), head +of the certified institute of letters--the University--could but confess +his ignorance--vicariously. Rats nesting in the tails of horses formed +part of the experience of books, but not of that of men. Of talking +horses there was no authenticated case. The whole matter remained +without proof. He had never heard of such. Shu[u]zen squatted in a +drowsy stupefaction as an incomprehensible learning was poured into his +ear. He choked with the dust raised from the ancient volumes, tenderly +and reverently pawed over by the learned doctor, who seemed dust-proof. +Finally through the mist he heard the asseveration that it must be the +work of fox or badger. It was matter for the diviner, not the divinity +of the learned. With this Hayashi Dono gave the pile of dusty script +before him a mighty thump, and disappeared behind the cloud he had +raised. + +Okumura Shu[u]zen sought the open air and respiration. Where now should +he go for counsel? He would sell the beast. Kakunai sought mercy. He was +but a groom, and death was easy at his master's hand. At all events +easier than the one promised by Kage, if Kakunai should lead him out to +the market, and with fluent lies send him forth to earn the cruel +livelihood of his kind between the shafts of a cart. Shu[u]zen was a +kindly man; the horse one deserving better treatment. The groom's terror +and the beast's threat added a new and interesting element to this +search into the unknown. On the next day was to be heard memorial +service for the ancestral tablets. This was to be performed in person +by the abbot of the Seisho[u]ji of Shiba, Bankei Osho[u] known to fame. +Shu[u]zen snoozed and exercised patience as the abbot read and expounded +the lengthy _sutra_ scroll. Over the subsequent repast he broached the +subject of the talk of beasts, and his own particular difficulties. +Bankei Osho[u] was most interested. All animals had speech and memory +according to their kind. Food, a master's kindness, their own particular +concerns, were matters of great intelligence among them. Why then should +speech be aught else than to possess the organ? Such was the case with +parrots. Monkeys evidently understood each other well, understood the +gestures of men. As to the horse, there were very ancient records of the +speech of such; so dim in the memory of men that probably they were mere +talk of ignorance. But he would see this wondrous beast. Deign that +guidance be supplied. + +Shu[u]zen grasped at the offer. The abbot spoke with an ease and +glibness that only the ecclesiastic on his own ground can show to those +ignorant of his subject. He wrapped his lore, made easy for the +beginner, in such technical phraseology, that Shu[u]zen could grasp at +the meaning without knowing anything about what the abbot said, and +hence had all the greater respect for the immense truth which he could +see and not understand. Appreciation is as good as knowing--for the one +who would pose--and soon Shu[u]zen and the cleric stood at the house +entrance, waiting the production of the horse. Isuke in haste had +carried the message to Kakunai. Kakunai, assured of his master's +forbearance and Kage's accomplishments, had been none too sober since +that happy day. Said he aloud--"A horse is not an ass; and a talking +horse is one of his kind. Tip money to see the wondrous beast has flowed +into the stable; and wine has flowed into Kakunai. For Kage there has +been soft rice paste (_mochi_) and dumpling (_dango_) in unstinted +quantities. The pastry cook has been overworked. Kage, now seize the +opportunity. Speak with fluency and argument. Ah! If you had but the +taste of this Kakunai! Wine would be an inspiration."--"Just try me!" +chimed in the brute's voice. "Follow up the wine with rice cakes in +syrup (_shiruko_). Otherwise Kage opens not his mouth, except to bite. +Grievous is it to exercise speech, and to witness the benefits accruing +to the human hog. Henceforth Kakunai must share alike with Kage." At +this rebellion Kakunai was dumbfounded--"Nay, Kage! _Shiruko_ and _sake_ +for a beast? Never would such come to the inside of the belly (mind) of +Kakunai. If you did but know its content...."--"Shut up!" was the nag's +discourteous response. "Kage knows it well. You have eaten _takuan_ +(pickled radish), and it smells none too sweet. A little further off, +good Sir: now--who is this would be interviewer?" + +Reduced to proper proportion Kakunai made humble reply. "Most fitting +company for the honoured Kage Sama. The abbot Bankei deigns his +presence." The horse gave a violent snort, and plunged back to the limit +of his halter. "Kage talks not with a priest, nor henceforth with +anyone." Kakunai was all consternation--"But Kage Dono ... the tips! +This refusal is terrific. Why not favour the curiosity of the Osho[u] +Sama? Deign to reconsider. The dainties of Kage, the wine of Kakunai, +are at stake. Silent before the Osho[u], the Danna Sama in anger will +strike off the head of Kage. Kakunai loses friend and fortune at a +blow." The animal duly mused. "It is so. Shu[u]zen Dono of late has been +short tempered. It cannot be avoided. Better had it been for Kakunai to +take this Kage and depart to country fairs and towns; to pick up much +coin for wine and dainties. However, all may go well. Delay not past the +coming night to join yourself with Kage. Between the service of +Shu[u]zen and that of Kage this low fellow (_yaro[u]_) Kakunai must not +hesitate."--"Just so," agreed the groom. "It is mere matter of gambling +anyhow that any ill occurs. Drinking wine, does Kage also gamble?" A +shudder went through the frame of the horse--"Why speak thus? Of horses' +bones the dice are made. Would Kage trifle with the relics of his kind? +Make answer, Kakunai." He spoke with a fierce earnestness. Kakunai +stammering sought answer. Just then Isuke appeared, to urge all speed. + +With lowered heads man and beast appeared at the house entrance. Kakunai +touched three fingers to the ground. To insure due reverence Kakunai had +haltered Kage so that he could talk, but hardly move a limb. At sight +of the beast Bankei Osho[u] took his most severe ecclesiastical pose. +Dressed in violet robes, the gold embroidered stole (_kesa_) over his +shoulders, the rosary of crystal beads in hand, he approached the horse. +With the brush of long white hair which clears away the dust of the +world's offences (_hossu_) he swept the circumambient air. Long he +observed the nag. Then coming close to it he grasped the forelock. Kage +raised his head, with open mouth as if about to snap. The abbot +continued his recitation of the holy _sutra_. Mouth still wide open, +clumsily the horse sank on his knees before the priest. Then suddenly +and deftly Bankei thrust a bolus into the open mouth, which closed as +moved by springs. Sweeping the air with _hossu_ and his rescued +arm--"Acquire the heart of virtue. Assume the true nature, and seek +Nirvana." He kept on stroking the beast's head with the rosary. Once or +twice Kage opened his mouth as if to speak. Then incontinently the body +rolled over lifeless. The bystanders looked on with fear and amazement. +Without speaking the abbot took the arm of Shu[u]zen and accompanied him +within. + +Kakunai, left to himself, rolled to the ground as speechless as his four +legged charge. Tears of sorrow and anger flowed copiously. "Ah! He is +dead! Kage is dead! Wise was he to advise flight. Alas! This beast of a +_bo[u]zu_ (priest), what purge did he use, thus to cut off at once the +breath of Kage? No more gambling, no more wine, with Kage nicely bedded +and asleep in his stable, and Kakunai with equal luck asleep in the +pleasure quarter! Alas! Alas! Kage is no better now than a dead +ass--while Kakunai still lives." Thus he vented his grief, to the +amusement of his fellows who had shared but little in his fortunes. +Meanwhile Shu[u]zen and the abbot were otherwise engaged. Said +Bankei--"Deign to relate something of how Shu[u]zen Dono came to this +_yashiki_. Honoured Sir, was not the former site in Mita? How came the +change?" Shu[u]zen explained the conditions and the time of change to +his new site and experiences. If there was aught of grudge, it attached +rather to place than person. To this Bankei Osho[u] was agreed. "The +fact of the case is plain to Bankei. The spirit directing the actions of +the horse is not the spirit of the animal. The possession brought to an +end by the exorcism, the alien spirit departed, and the carcass of the +animal deprived of this influence, it fell to the ground an inert mass, +like to the abandoned shell of the cicada. But the malevolent influence +is to be found. This is the task of Shu[u]zen Dono. Deign, honoured sir, +then to have memorial rites performed by this Bankei, and no longer will +the _yashiki_ be haunted by such unusual and unseemly performance.... +Daigaku no Sensei? He is but a Confucianist, bound to the letter of +material substance. Nor would he confess the ignorance of the spiritual +world he undoubtedly is gifted with, of the law of punishment for deeds +performed in a past existence (_ingwai_) as taught by the Lord Buddha. +The materialist has his nose to earth, and can see naught else. The +idiot has his nose to heaven, and can see naught else. The Buddha's Law +comprehends Heaven and Earth. Hence its truth." With this expression of +the _odium theologicum_ the worthy abbot departed templewards, +accompanied, as gage for further proceedings and profit, by the carcass +of the horse. Bankei had this inhumed in the ground behind the main hall +of the temple. Kakunai superintended these last obsequies. The abbot's +words, as to the malevolence of the influence involved, was proved to +Shu[u]zen the next day, when report was brought that the groom had +hanged himself at the gratings of the stall once occupied by Kage. Moved +by this strong hint, Kakunai was sent to join his equine friend in one +common grave. + +Warned by the unusual nature of these events Shu[u]zen determined at +once to trace out the source of this evil influence. It was his duty as +a _samurai_ to suppress such manifestations occurring so close to the +suzerain's dwelling. It was to his own interest to free the _yashiki_ +from such noxious vapours. The _karo[u]_, Beita Heima, set on foot an +investigation. Then it was that Isuke the _chu[u]gen_ had thought of the +hole detected under the shrine of the O'Inari Sama. On Shu[u]zen's order +the _karo[u]_ undertook the task of examining this suspicious adjunct to +the _yashiki_. Torches in hand several _chu[u]gen_, under the direction +of the _samurai_, were appointed to the work. The men hesitated a little +to violate the precincts of the shrine. Growled Beita--"The carpenters +did not hesitate to build it. What they put up, men can destroy. Up +with the boarding. Thus the stone easily will be raised." The directions +were carried out. There were many tracks of beasts, all of which seemed +to converge to this spot. With removal of flooring and joists, soon the +massive lid of granite was raised on edge. With a thud and cloud of dust +it fell to one side. The men drew away, not only checked by the dark +aperture exposed, but by the foul odour which poured up from the +confined space. Holding his nose the _karo[u]_ took a lighted torch for +further inspection of depth and means of entrance. "Um! A shallow place; +not more than a _jo[u]_ (10 feet). Who volunteers to enter? Come! Don't +be backward on his lordship's service. Isuke, eh?" + +Isuke came forward readily enough at the call. He was a brave man, and +moreover a little angered at the fate of his one time friend, Kakunai. +If the beast of a horse, or the spirit beast, held occupancy here, Isuke +would deal with him. The kick of spiritual hoofs and the bite of +immaterial teeth had no terrors for Isuke. Carefully inspecting his +ground he took the leap. A lighted torch was lowered to him. With this +he marched off, the light growing quickly faint in the darkness. "Oya! +Oya! 'Tis strange. The stench--it is unendurable. The darkness too thick +even for the torch. It fails to burn." For a time his voice was heard +rumbling off with increasing distance. To repeated shouts no answer was +returned. Said Heima--"Isuke has gone too far, out of range. Some other +must bear him aid.... What! All milk livers? You, Gensuke, love the wine +cellar. Its care would seem to be your calling. Now down with you! Here +is one made to hand for the _yashiki_. Make report of the discovery to +his lordship." Gensuke was most unwilling, but his comrades loudly +applauded the choice. He was lowered into the hole by hands energetic to +lend him assistance in reaching its depths. Provided with a light he too +started off on his march into the darkness. "Iya! Iya! What stench! 'Tis +past endurance. Ah! There is a loud roaring yonder. Gensuke will +investigate. Deign support in necessity." His voice also faded off with +the distance. Then all was silence. Those outside now could hear the +faint reverberation spoken of. To their shouts there was no answer. All +were much alarmed. They looked into each others' faces. At the +_karo[u]'s_ order there was now no hesitation, though there was some +grumbling at the rashness of those who risked the wrath of the O'Inari +Sama by the heedless undertaking. + +Three or four men at once jumped down into the hole. With dimly burning +torches, and holding each other by the hand, they made their way into +the blackness of the cavern. Almost at once came a cry, answered by +others. Those above leaned eagerly over the aperture. Some took the +leap. Soon the men appeared, dragging along the limp and helpless body +of Gensuke. The trouble now was clear. The men had been overcome by the +vicious air of the cave. Soon Isuke also was brought to the upper air. +With the removal all the roar and reverberation was transferred to the +surface. The two men lay unconscious, breathing noisily, and to all +appearance in great extremity. Beita San at once ordered local aid. +While friction and cold water was being applied, the leech summoned, +Saito[u] Sensei, came on the ground. Heima questioned anxiously as to +the men's condition. The Sensei reassured him--"It is but the noxious +air of the cavern which has overcome them. A day or two, and they will +be as good as ever." The old man wrinkled his face and chuckled a little +as he surveyed the victims of the O'Inari Sama. Greatly was the +reputation of the shrine for efficacy added to in this punishment. "Boy +and man this aging Saito[u] Genan has known the place. Evil its repute. +The cave is very ancient, and in the past much feared by people round +about. Failure to worship has been followed by misfortune. Horse or cow +has disappeared, house been burned down, or pregnant wife frightened +into miscarriage by apparitions. Young girls attending at the shrine +have disappeared. Its reputation is as evil as that of the Ko[u]jimachi +well yonder." He jerked a finger in the direction indicated, at the +neighbouring site beyond the bamboo fence. "A bolus, and these fellows +are restored to consciousness." From his wallet he prepared the drug. +Gensuke showed signs of life, opened his eyes, uneasily moving first +this limb, and then that. Isuke sat bolt upright, with most stentorian +snort. He waved both arms with a violence which sent his two supporters +to the ground. In wrath he sprang up, but the malign effect was still +too powerful. His legs wavered under him, and they had to come again to +his aid. However, it was necessary to carry off Gensuke limp and +helpless; with the support of the arms on each side of him, Isuke made +his way back to the _yashiki_ on his own legs. + +Heima made report to his lord of what had passed, of the history of the +place as reported by Saito[u] Sensei. Shu[u]zen pursed his lips, and +inquired as to the condition of Isuke. The _chu[u]gen_ was a favoured +attendant; one much trusted. At the end of a week he was summoned to his +lord's presence. "And Katai (tough) Isuke, his experience has gone +beyond his powers?" Shu[u]zen spoke with that slight jeering condolence +which arouses obstinacy. Isuke, prostrate on his hands, expressed +gratitude for his lord's reproof. The fault was not his. Overcome by the +foul air he became giddy, then lost all sensation of time or place. "And +the roaring and noises, these did not frighten Isuke into his +faint?"--"Roaring, noise, there were none; beyond the gentle drip of +water often heard in such places. The roaring heard must have been due +to the snoring of Gensuke. The cowardly fellow still clings to the bed, +sucking in the dainty fare of the invalid; not so, Isuke." Shu[u]zen had +an idea. All the others were too struck by fear to be of aid--"Then +Isuke fears not the work of fox or badger. He will again make the +venture?"--"For the Tono Sama; though none too willingly," was the +_chu[u]gen's_ reply. "Fox or badger? Let them but come under the knife +of Isuke, and he will make soup of them; a better soup than they supply +otherwise. But the stench!"--"And the foxes of Nakano (Shinjuku)?" Isuke +blushed. His master was far too knowing. + +At Shu[u]zen's order that night Isuke met his lord at the steps of the +Inari Shrine. The adventure pleased Shu[u]zen. He was still young enough +to delight in exposure and difficulties. Plainly old Beita was not the +man for this task. His retainers readily would obey their lord's +direction. But Shu[u]zen hungered for a more direct credit. He stripped +to his loin cloth in the cold winter night. Isuke followed his lord's +example. The job would be no clean one. Then the two men dropped to the +floor of the cavern. Isuke spoke in surprise. "Naruhodo! At night the +place seems much brighter than by day." He looked around in some +suspicion and astonishment. Then his eye rested on the torches. "Oya! +The torch burns brightly, not dimly as before. Pfu! The stench is +unaltered, but the air at least is breathable." Preceding his master by +some ten paces, Shu[u]zen heard him give a shout. Hastening up, with +Isuke he bent over the aperture of what seemed to be a well. What was +its depth? "In with you, Isuke," said Shu[u]zen. The _chu[u]gen_ +protested--"Nay! The Tono Sama deigns to jest. Is Isuke a bat +(_ko[u]mori_), one to fly off into the darkness.... Ah! The depth is +terrific. The light hardly shows the blackness of the place. It may +reach down to Meido itself." Shu[u]zen lit a second torch, then cast it +down into the cavity. He broke into a laugh. The light continued to burn +brightly. "Meido then is not far off. The bottom of the well lies not +five _shaku_ (feet) below. Now in with you!" Anticipating the +_chu[u]gen_ he sprang down himself. + +Isuke spoke, holding his nose--"Heigh! Tono Sama, deign to go no +further. The stink passes beyond measurement. It increases with distance +gone. Peugh! It blows from yonder." He pointed to a low aperture in one +corner of the roundish space in which they stood. Shu[u]zen could +understand better now. The whole cave was due to water; had been formed +by water in the loose volcanic soil. The well was a mere passage way by +which it once had risen, and been drained off again. Isuke was right. +With decuple vigour the stench now rose close to hand. "In with you," +was the peremptory order. "Anything found in way of gold and silver +belongs to Isuke; and caves are always rich in such finds."--"Is that +so?" said the _chu[u]gen_--"It is the tale of old books; which often +lie. But in with you, and find out." Under spur of avarice and command +Isuke crawled into the passage. He had gone but a bare ten feet when +Shu[u]zen heard a most fearful yell, saw the rapid progress outwards of +the posteriors of Isuke. The man's face was chalk white--"Deign, Danna +Sama, to go no further." He choked for utterance. "How now!" said +Shu[u]zen in pretended astonishment. "Fox or badger? They were to be +converted into soup for Katai Isuke, soft food for his grinders."--"For +fox or badger Isuke cares not. He invites their presence.... Kiya!" +Shu[u]zen in sport had placed a cold wet hand on his neck. "Ah! The +Danna jests. Of fox and badger soup is made. With human stench it is not +savoured. There is a dead body within. Hence the frightful odour." + +Shu[u]zen at once began to twist his head towel around his nose. With +feeblest protest Isuke saw him take the torch and disappear into the +passage. Soon his voice was heard. "Isuke! Isuke! Is he milk livered? +How about the gold and silver? Would Isuke abandon it?" Isuke would not. +In a trice he was on hands and knees, to rejoin his master who was +roaring with laughter. "Gold and silver may be here," Shu[u]zen +explained. "Otherwise Isuke would have backed out of the undertaking, +all the way to the cave's entrance. Turn the body over. See whether it +is of man or woman." Much put out Isuke did as he was bid. "Pfugh! +Stirring does no good. The very flesh is melting from the bones. The +hair of the beard and head show it to be a man." Shu[u]zen turned to a +wider passage, plainly due in part to hand. By crouching he could enter +into a larger chamber. In wonder and admiration he called to Isuke. In +so far, the _chu[u]gen_ would pursue the venture. Besides would he not +follow his master to Meido itself? "Look, Isuke! Such groining of the +roof is only made by Nature's hand. The cave of Fudo[u] Sama at Meguro +shows no finer sight." He pointed to the mass of interlacing roots of +some huge _icho[u]_ rising from the ground above. Isuke grumbled assent, +without much vigour. He was getting tired of this adventure. It was a +satisfaction they could go no further. Shu[u]zen meanwhile was rummaging +the place, which evidently had been a kind of dwelling. In a closet were +found some coarse cooking utensils and crockery for food. A supply of +firewood in one corner, and a box, completed the furniture. With +curiosity Shu[u]zen turned over the books in the box. A cry brought +Isuke to his side. "Your share, Isuke." He pointed to three shining +silver _ryo[u]_ which lay below the scrolls. Isuke looked incredulous at +the find. Then he prostrated himself before his master in deepest +gratitude. With joy he pocketed the coin and shouldered the scrolls. +There was nothing more to do. They sought the open air. + +The strange sight reported to him, Beita Heima the _karo[u]_ appeared +before his master. In the early morning light Shu[u]zen was pouring +buckets of cold water over Isuke, having himself undergone the same +treatment at the _chu[u]gen's_ hands. "Kan mairi, Heima,"[7] said +Shu[u]zen with a laugh. Then he explained matters to the astonished +_karo[u]_. Isuke's further ablutions were left to other hands. The +affair now was cleared up. The removal of the slab, the fresh air +penetrating the cavern, made the removal of the body easy. This was to +be sent to Bankei's care for proper burial and rites. Meanwhile +Shu[u]zen with interest and increasing gravity examined his prize. The +books were all on war. One was in the suspected script of the western +barbarian. From its plates, it was a work on fortification, and the art +of attack and defence. Shu[u]zen did not understand the Dutch words, but +he regarded the find as of importance, at least as adding to his own +merit. So likewise did Abe Bungo no Kami, minister for the month, and +with a great liking for Shu[u]zen. He saw to it that the affair was to +the latter's profit. The _Ometsuke_ inspected the books, inspected the +cave, drank Shu[u]zen's wine, and commended the vigilance and energy of +the _hatamoto_. The report was worth an added hundred _koku_ to his +modest income. Isuke also counted his gains with joy; a means of +continued defiance and pursuit of the foxes of the Nakano pleasure +quarter. + +As to Bankei--the funeral rites had been performed, the _sutra_ read, +the body inhumed in the same mound with those of Kakunai and the horse. +Liberal had been the gift of Okumura Shu[u]zen for all these divers +interments, and great the unction of Bankei at the accomplishment and +solution of the mystery of the cave in the Bancho[u]. But one thing +rested uneasily on his mind. What the identity of the evil spirit which +caused these wonders? That night, as the abbot rested in his bed, there +appeared at his pillow a man of some thirty odd years, tall, gaunt, +hairy, ugly, and much dejected. "His eyes were prominent in his head, +his lofty nose showed ability, he had the mouth of a shark." Plainly +very great had been his wickedness. Prostrate the apparition gave +thanks to the saint. All the spice and joy of evil doing had been +exchanged for the insipidity of Paradise. Now he was threatened with +Nirvana through the prayers of the saintly abbot. In life he had been +the wicked So[u]ja Mushuku (lodgeless). A famous thief, he was the +source of the raids on purse and person, on _yashiki_ in particular and +the common people in general, which had caused much fear and distress in +Edo. The cave of the Inari, a lucky discovery, had been his safe haunt +from pursuit. None could betray him, for none of his band knew his lair. +He would betray no one; but he would tell the abbot of his fate. It was +Isuke who had sealed him up in the cave by thrusting into place the +heavy cover. Here he passed miserable days in hunger until the poisonous +air, gradually accumulating, had put an end to him. His spirit, however, +had haunted the place, with no disposition to leave. With the +opportunity he had entered the body of Kage, in search of human +requirements and enjoyments. Betrayed by appetite he had been driven +forth by the prayers of the abbot, and solaced by his petitions for the +future life. Deign to let the matter rest there, and not pursue him into +the inanity, the nothingness of Nirvana. To this the practiced ear of +the holy Bankei gave deep thought. This fellow already had forced the +unhappy Kakunai to follow in his tracks. What might he not do to others +in whom the abbot had far greater interest? "To such wickedness the gift +of Nirvana is not likely. Bankei wastes his breath, and Shu[u]zen Dono +his substance. Deign to enter Meido, be wholly purified of wickedness, +and in a second birth, if in human form, be of a virtuous House. For +present and past sins atonement is to be made. For those still living +Bankei holds not his lips silent. Off with you at once to these insipid +joys." He thrust the rosary of crystal beads into the vision's face. At +once it disappeared, and Bankei woke amid a nauseating odour. He +stretched himself in weariness--"A dream? Tribulation of the Five +Viscera?" Yet he would report it to Shu[u]zen, and on the uncertainty of +the truth secure further aid for man and horse. Hence the monument of +the Bato[u] (horse-headed) Kwannon, which long stood on its mound behind +the _hondo[u]_ of the Seisho[u]ji of Shiba. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN + + +These events could not fail to cause comment. It was in the general room +of the _hiban_, the fire guard of the castle, that the discussion came +to a head. There were a number of these guards for different quarters of +the castle inclosure; and for better drill and coordination the officers +met, apart from the site of their particular duties. This made the +office of the _hiban_ a sort of club of the _hatamoto_, bringing +together the members of the more particular cliques, known respectively +as the Shiratsukagumi (white handle club), the Kingingumi (gold and +silver clubs), the members of which knocked out a conspicuous tooth, +replacing it with the metal ensign of their affiliation, and the Kubo no +Shiro-oshigumi. These organizations, something like the Otokodate of the +townsmen in the closeness of the relations of their members, had by no +means the same worthy object. They were often merely a way of ruffling +it through the town, particularly at the amusement quarter of Asakusa; +seeking quarrels with _ro[u]nin_, abusing women, and literally +gravelling the discomfited townsmen, not seldom left on the ground, +subsequently to be put into it. The Otokodate, or chivalrous band, were +indeed needed in this state of early Edo. They could hold their own, +inasmuch as the _samurai_ involved dared not bring a quarrel to light. +He had the advantage of his training; and by the rules of his caste did +not hesitate to have assassinated a plebeian he could not overcome, and +chose to regard as impertinent. Collisions with these, however, were +rare. _Ro[u]nin_ were the particular object of dislike of the Tokugawa +adherents. It was the great exception made, when Hida no Kami (Yagyu[u] +Matajuro[u]) admitted Kume no Heinai to his fencing room and +discipleship. The _ro[u]nin_, of course, deserved the proscription, +being often the devoted adherents of a lost cause--Hoo[u]jo[u] or +Toyotomi--and unwilling to transfer their fealty to a second lord. The +most noted and hated of the _ro[u]nin_, though free from any taint of +rebellion to the Tokugawa, was this Heinaibei; the vilest assassination, +that of his friend Bandzuin Cho[u]bei by Mizuno Juro[u]zaemon aided by +other members of the Shiratsukagumi. + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon had related the mishap of his _chu[u]gen_, his +own experience in pursuing the offenders. The old fellows, heroes of the +Genwa and Kwanei periods, were gathered close to a _hibachi_. Despite +the season age sought pretence of warmth or closer company. Said the +veteran Matsudaira Montaro[u]--"O[u]kubo, what think you? Surely the ice +water of gathering years runs in our veins. Such happenings, so close to +the dwelling of the Ue Sama, never would have taken place in former +days. But we are old. The stiffened joints and the wrinkles would not +deceive such miscreants. 'Twould be a palpable fraud, our +presentation."--"True," growled Shichinosuke; "but ice water runs in +other veins than those who are old." Kondo[u] Noborinosuke, verging +toward his fifties, now chimed in--"Naruhodo! The talk of these young +chaps infects one with their own complaints. This one can but thump +himself on the chest and speculate as to whether he has one lung, or two +of the kind. This other limps and dreams of _kakke_. His tongue hangs +out a yard, that he can better inspect its colour; and his legs are +black and blue from efforts to detect a dropsy. A third excuses himself +by a flux, which he would cure with hot wine; and a fourth is assured of +a cold, to lead to all these and other ailments, and hence steeps +himself night and day in the hot bath, the one to be most easily +excused. Emma Dai-O[u] in Hell[8] could not afflict these fellows more +than they grieve over themselves. Only in talk of their ailments do they +find company. Plasters and medicaments for their persons, instead of +armour and the quietus of the foe, these are the objects of their +quest." The two old rascals, and their middle aged abettor, looked slyly +over each other's heads at the younger men grouped in the rear, then at +each other. Thus it was with these violent fellows of the actual +battlefield. They would stir someone to action. + +"Heigh! Heigh! Not Endo[u] Uji: he at least has proved his mettle. The +pressing offices of the day do not call for sleep all night. He is of +the stock of Kiemon Dono. Old Hikoza never tired of tales of his +father's prowess." Kondo[u] chuckled as he continued--"The old fellow +(_oyaji_) spoke well of the dead. The living had need to take care of +his praise of them. Witness Torii Dono and Akiyama Dono, at the two +extremes of age. Good luck, as well as management, extricated them from +the results of a commendation like to cost them much. Alas! His place is +not to be filled." O[u]kubo Hikozaemon, governor of these wild fellows, +keeper of the suzerain's conscience, had left his seat vacant these past +five years. Sorrow for his loss did not prevent Noborinosuke bringing a +bright and beady eye on Aoyama Shu[u]zen. O[u]kubo Shichinosuke followed +the look. All of the old ones fastened Shu[u]zen with inquisitive glare. +The object of their attention neither quailed nor showed undue +eagerness. "The honoured ancients favour this Shu[u]zen with the task." +His laugh was so cold and purposeful, his look so derisive and +comprehending, that the old fellows in some confusion sought comfort in +each other. This Aoyama Shu[u]zen was a very devil of a fellow. He had a +perspicacity in finesse that the plain, keen, and honest bluntness of +former days could not deceive. Aoyama was not one to charge with +effeminacy in any form. He had a wife--whom he neglected. He had a page, +whom he favoured. He had all the harsh vices and capabilities of the +warrior age. Turning to Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon--"Endo[u] Uji has seen +the vision, not fox or _tanuki_. This has been the experience of the +_chu[u]gen_?" Saburo[u]zaemon did not like the connection; nor did he +like Shu[u]zen. "It is fact. Rokuzo was bewitched, not Endo[u]. See to +it that Aoyama Dono has better luck." Thus tacitly he would force the +mission on Shu[u]zen. The latter suppressed his anger at the assumption. +"Endo[u] Dono, as with this Shu[u]zen, is _hatamoto_ of the land. Such +vile rascals as these do not make them object of their tricks."--"Don't +be too sure of that," replied Endo[u]. "Neither fox nor _tanuki_ would +care for the company of the vision. This Saburo[u]zaemon does but seek +to give it rest--and himself." He spoke with some gloom. Said Aoyama +with decision--"Agreed! What may be the reward?" A chorus of protest +went up. "Reward! Reward!... The applause of all.... The interest in the +tale, as with that of Endo[u] Dono, just recited." But Shu[u]zen smiled +and shook his head--"Endo[u] Dono seeks the good will of an unworshipped +demon." Saburo[u]zaemon shot a glance at him. "Shu[u]zen too has his +object. Otherwise, let others volunteer." The force of what he said was +made plain by the silence of the company. The stories told, none longed +for the experience. Thought Montaro[u] testily--"This fellow always has +something in his sleeve." With hesitation--"Endo[u] deserves reward, and +claims it not. Aoyama would have it in advance. How now: a sword?" All +looked inquisitively at Shu[u]zen. They were surprised and disgruntled +at his gesture of dissent. He knew the ancients, and could suspect a +trap. "Shu[u]zen knows the kind. As with buying radishes at Yanagibara; +one good for nothing, and bringing anything but honour.... Shu[u]zen +selects his own weapon, nor asks reward apart from the issue." Kondo[u] +Noborinosuke clapped his hands. The younger man was a favourite and +kindred spirit of his own, near enough in age to be congenial. "The +presiding chair at the Endurance Society meeting. We are _samurai_, +_hatamoto_ of the land. Gold is not to the purpose. A sword is bought +with gold. Let Aoyama Uji make report to the meeting, and on that hang +the office." Shu[u]zen was the first to nod eager assent. All agreed; +with no great joy at prospect of the coming test, yet afraid of his +refusal. Thus the company separated, committed to a meeting of the Gaman +Kwai at the house of Noborinosuke, to hear the report of Aoyama +Shu[u]zen's venture into the Bancho[u]. + +His preparations made, the next night, at the hour of the rat (11-1 +A.M.), saw Aoyama in his turn climbing the slope of the Gomizaka. +Attached to the immediate service of the palace, the place was very +desolate and strange to him. At a loss where to look for the objects of +his search he sauntered at random, attention drawn to footing in this +darkness. Thus it was that the Gekkeiji bell sounded over the moorland, +striking the first watch of the hour of the ox (3 A.M.). He stopped to +listen his eye fixed at the time on the long line of wall and fine gate +of a _besso[u]-yashiki_ (country villa), evidently of a great lord. He +had passed from here some little distance, to the turning of the wall, +when hasty steps and the hard breathing of one who had just breasted the +hill struck his ear. Shu[u]zen standing at the corner was almost knocked +down by the dark bulk which bounded out of the shadow. Both parties +sprang back in attitude of watchfulness. Shu[u]zen had never seen such a +fellow. At least seven feet in height, hairy of arms and legs and face, +his eyes shone like bright mirrors. Bulging forth these made him like to +the ghost of some huge dragon fly. Did he not have an eye in the middle +of his forehead? Shu[u]zen could not have denied it. Of size to inspire +fear, decidedly the rascal was to be suspected. Shu[u]zen was the first +to question. "Who and where from? Answer at once, or this Aoyama deigns +the death cut." The man, or monster, merely opened and shut the plate +like eye holes. Then with a roaring derisive lip--"Ha! Ha! This is +Tanuki-bake, come hither to find and fetch Aoyama." + +"Ya! Ya!" Aoyama was in a great rage. In the act of drawing his sword he +would cut the rascal down. Thus to insult a _hatamoto_ of the land, lord +of twelve hundred _koku_! "Make ready!" Apparition or not, at a bound +the man was some ten feet off. Then followed a space, during which +Shu[u]zen made every effort known to the fencing room. He would have +impaled a real dragon fly more readily. Without attempt to flee the +object merely darted hither and thither. Shu[u]zen was dripping with +perspiration. He felt badly and discouraged. For a moment he would +rest--"To see this Aoyama?" He grunted. "Just so," was the reply. "Fools +at close quarters give entertainment. Aoyama is not the clever one to +cut down the _tanuki-bake_ (badger-ghost). Get you hence to your quilts, +good sir; to your fool companions who wear summer garb in depth of +winter, and triple garments in the heats of the sixth and seventh +months; stuff themselves with hot food and wine in summer, and freeze +the viands and _sake_ in winter. Get you hence to your companions of the +Gaman Kwai (Endurance Society). Make report to them of Aoyama's venture, +and bray and brag to them of spending a night outside the sheets." +Shu[u]zen strove to be calm on receipt of these insults to his kind. In +haughty condescension he explained--"Those of the Gaman Kwai wear +_katabira_ (light summer wear) in winter, triple gear in summer, to +undergo the hardships of the battlefield. In war one regards not heat or +cold. He drinks from the puddle on the field, and cooks the rice straw +for food in his helmet. This is the great time of peace. The experiences +and the hardships of the battlefield are lacking. It is as substitute +for these...." He was interrupted by a mighty burst of impolite +merriment from the heavy man, who held his sides as like to split from +laughter. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Naruhodo! These chitterlings; stuffed +sausages! 'Sufferings of the battlefield; hardships'! They are not to +encountered in such childish sport. He who would face these must +practise the art of the inner belly (mind). It is by hardening the belly +that the trials of war are met. You fellows practise but the outer cult. +Of the inner and secret precepts you are ignorant. Degraded fools +(_bakeyaro[u]_)!"--"Shut up!" roared Shu[u]zen. He could take the fellow +at a disadvantage in his fit of outrageous merriment. Close to hand he +leaped on him. In effort to avoid the blow the miscreant tumbled head +over heels into the close deep waving _suzuki_ grass. With satisfaction +Aoyama felt the sword sink deep into the resisting substance. Great his +disgust to find that he had cleft an old and hidden stump to the very +root. He seated himself upon it. + +At least he was in the centre of disturbance. Should he await further +encounter, or depart elsewhere to find it. He had a mind to abandon the +lanes and plunge into the waste land. Just then screams and cries were +heard; the sound of rapid flying feet coming in his direction. A young +woman in flight was now close at hand. Her hair unbound streamed behind +her. She was in night clothes, and the knot of the narrow _obi_ or band +come loose in her flight, exposed a figure all attraction. On reaching +Aoyama she threw herself at his feet, clasping his knees. "Aid! Aid from +the honoured _samurai_! Thieves breaking in threaten with death and +pillage. Deign, honoured sir, to aid." Shu[u]zen was very willing to do +so. The lady was very urgent and very beautiful. He himself was +uncertain as to goal, and the matter of the ghost could wait on her +extremity. To his inquiry she made reply--"Just yonder." With her he +retraced his steps. To his surprise the gate of the _yashiki_, already +noticed, was wide open. In all haste she urged him to the entrance, yet +in his rapid passage he seemed to have seen this place before. The girl +gave a call, then another. Shu[u]zen joined her in chorus and the +search. The mansion was thrown wide open and abandoned. Not a soul was +to be seen. All had either been killed, or had fled. The wailing of the +girl brought him to her side. Prostrate she lay on the bodies of an old +man and old woman, who had been put to death without mercy by the +miscreants. Great was the pity of Aoyama. "The bodies still smoke in +blood; the perpetrators cannot be far off. It would be well to seize +them. This lantern ... how now? Is it of the house?" The girl raised her +head to observe it. "No," she said. "The house lanterns have not the bow +handle. This is of the thieves.... What's that?" A noise was heard +above. Aoyama, hand on his sword, sprang to the stairway. The girl, all +smiles at the prospective vengeance, followed him. + +Three fellows were busy at the closets and chests. The contents were +scattered over the floor, evidently for purpose of selection. Aoyama +burst upon them. "Heigh-ho! Vile rascals! Submit your necks at once to +the blow, your arms to the cord." At first the pillagers were greatly +astonished and put out. "A _samurai_! Our work is interfered with. Alas! +We must away." Said the leader, a determined looking fellow--"Umph! 'Tis +nothing but a board wages _samurai_ (_sampin_). He is alone. Kick him +down. Teach him the lesson of interference." With yells all made for +Shu[u]zen. Disregarding those at the side he delivered his blow at the +man in front. Kiya! He split him in two as one would green bamboo. +Shu[u]zen drew back with a side sweep which cut another clean across the +girdle. He stopped to rub his eyes with amazement. Was it not +witchcraft? Not three, but five men now confronted him; and lively +rascals they were. Strive as he would Aoyama's blows seemed but to +multiply his foes. He was but one man. A kick to this side sent a +rascal flying to the wall; an elbow shot sent another through the +screens. Then all took to flight. One closely pursued sought the roof, +the drying frame its heights. Aoyama was about to cut him down, when the +fellow sprang off into the darkness like a flying bird. At the same time +came most urgent and piteous cries from below. "Danna Sama! Honoured +_Samurai_ Sama! Deign rescue. The thieves! They force me to +extremities." Reluctant Shu[u]zen turned back. On reaching the lower +stair he came upon the rascals who were gathered round the girl. At +sight of him all took to flight. To Shu[u]zen's astonishment the girl in +her turn fled in pursuit. Out of the house rushed the whole band, +Shu[u]zen joining in the mad race. Down the slope went all. Then +dobun!... Shu[u]zen's foot caught in a hole, or root, or some obstacle. +Head first he went into the ditch. Struggling, gasping, spitting out the +dirty water of the drain, Aoyama scrambled up on the bank. He looked +around in amazement. The white light of dawn illuminated the scene; the +ill fated tree stump and the dirty drain close by. House there was none. +Girl and thieves had disappeared. He stood on the moor, shivering in +Nippon's always cool dawn and dripping wet with the filthy fluid of the +ditch or stream flowing through these fields and the valley. With +discomfiture he took his long way homewards to the Do[u]sanbashi. +Plainly he had been bewitched and derided. So believing, he was startled +to find himself again before the _yashiki_ gate; but in the light of day +it showed the obvious neglect of years. Shu[u]zen at once sought +entrance, not by the gate, but over the wall for lack of other means. He +recognized the scene of last night's exploit, and its description as +given by Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon. Besides, he recognized the place in +his own experience of long past years, the favour and support of one to +whom he was much indebted. Ah! Truly these were dangerous rascals he had +encountered. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SHU[U]ZEN MEETS SHU[U]ZEN + + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen was not likely to brag of this exploit. All day he sat +biting his thumbs, and drinking wine to obviate the effect of his nasty +bath. An idea began to crystallize in his brain. But this matter +pressed. The preparations for the night were to be made. He hoped for +better luck in his vengeance on the miscreants. The watch of the rat +again saw him skirting the Ushigafuchi on his way to the Bancho[u]. He +had just started up the slope of the Gomizaka when he heard steps behind +him. Oya! Oya! Two _chu[u]gen_ and a lady. About these there was nothing +suspicious. But the lantern they carried? It was marked with the +_mitsuba-aoi_, or triple leaf holly hock crest of the suzerain's House. +Plainly the bearers were on mission from one of the San Ke (Princes of +the Blood), or perhaps from the palace itself. Reverence must be done to +the lantern. On his present mission, and thus arrayed, Aoyama sought to +avoid notice. He disappeared into the long _suzuki_ grass at the road +side. He could hear the lady express her anxiety and haste. Then with +curiosity Aoyama watched their strange behavior. A bare sixty feet +beyond they came to a halt. The lady shrank back as in terror. Hatena! +Aoyama recognized him by his size, the antagonist and critic of the +previous night. Without delay, or giving time for flight, the huge +ruffian with one hand grasped the bosom of the lady's dress, with the +other the arm of a _chu[u]gen_. A kick sent the other fellow very +willingly to the ground. Tremendous was the apparition as he towered +over his victims. He seemed taller than ever. His hair stood out like +iron wire. His mouth grinned open wide from ear to ear; and now Aoyama +could see distinctly the horns sprouting from his temples. Did he not +have claws? Aoyama could not remember. + +He would rescue the lady, beautiful of course. Rapidly passing through +the grass Aoyama burst out upon the group. He took aim at the knave's +breast bone. "Yai!" The fellow let go. The two prisoners, thrust +violently into the knees of Shu[u]zen, brought him to the ground. When +he had recovered balance the rascal had disappeared. The lady was in a +dead faint. One _chu[u]gen_ seemed to be dead. The other was squatting +at some distance, eyes saucer like in fright. He regarded Aoyama with +grave suspicion. The _samurai_ called to him. "Here you! Your mistress +has fainted. Water at once!" But the fellow did nothing but answer "Hei! +Hei!" without sign of motion. "Don't sit and purr like a cat," roared +Shu[u]zen. "Off with you, and fetch water." At last the man took courage +to approach. "Alas! Danna Sama, this Bancho[u], where the thieves are +apparitions, and apparitions turn to women, frightens this +Isuke."--"Fear or no fear, water must be had. Such milk livered fellows +are not for man's work. Weakness of loins won't do. Off with you."--"But +how?"--"In your scabbard, fool." For answer the _chu[u]gen_ made a wry +face and tugged at his weapon. As often the case with those men, it was +of wood. Shu[u]zen laughed. Then he gave his own scabbard to the +_chu[u]gen_. Off the fellow crawled, with gait and speed of a maimed +insect. + +Meanwhile what was to be done. Shu[u]zen put his hand into the bosom of +the lady, and rummaged. Women were always dosing and fainting. Doubtless +she was provided for such contingency. Surely a perfume reached his +nostrils. Ah! Here it was. He drew out the fragrant package. Medicine +without doubt. The drug savoured strongly of musk. At last the fellow +was on hand with the liquid. Shu[u]zen made a pellet from the drug. +"Raise up your mistress. Take her in your arms." But the man drew away +in horror. He prostrated himself flat on the ground. "Deign forbearance. +To touch with a finger one of the ladies of the palace is not to be +ventured."--"Ah! Is that so?" grunted Shu[u]zen. "Circumstances of +course don't alter cases. He who will not touch a woman is usually a +most lecherous rascal." With this comment he roughly shoved aside the +awkward efforts of this meticulous attendant. Taking the operation upon +himself, he gently pressed the back of the lady's neck, forcing her to +open her mouth. Inserting the drug he poured in water from the scabbard. +A sudden slap on the back and down went the bolus. The lady opened and +shut her eyes. Then they remained open. "Be firm," commented Aoyama +Sensei. "Thanks," replied the dame. "Ah! What fright! With hand on +dagger was this Bancho[u] entered on. So near, how suspect misfortune at +hand? Truly honoured sir, great your trouble and inconvenience." + +Aoyama accepted the thanks, to satisfy curiosity. "But so late abroad +... and doubtless of the honoured San Ke...." Replied the lady--"The +mission was of Kishu[u] Ke, said to be of grave import. Hence the late +hour of the night. This insignificant person is lady in waiting at the +San no Ma of the palace; Takigawa by name. The _yashiki_ of Okumura +Shu[u]zen, my father, lies close at hand. Great the cowardice shown by +this Taki." Shu[u]zen grasped the whole affair. Between Kishu[u] Ke and +the parent House the feeling in those days was none too good. Grave +suspicion on the part of one, angry resentment on that of the other. He +would see more of the matter. It was his duty as _hatamoto_. "To go +abroad with _chu[u]gen_ is no safe thing. At this hour and place +_samurai_ could well have been taken as company. As for courage--of that +kind it is not expected of a woman. Valour was shown in undertaking the +mission. And this fellow...." He turned sharply to the _chu[u]gen_ and +pointed to his fellow. "Mujina-take."--"What!" roared Shu[u]zen. He +looked from _chu[u]gen_ to lady, and from lady to _chu[u]gen_. They +seemed surprised. Stammered the man in fright--"It is but a nickname. +His name is Take, and he is very worthless. Hence he is called +Tanuki-take. I am called Yo[u]kai Isuke (Apparition Isuke), being +nothing but wind." Aoyama grunted a ready assent to this self critic. +The fellow's ignorance and cowardice was as gross as the material flesh +which Shu[u]zen tested with a well applied kick in the buttocks, +bringing Isuke in position to render first aid to his companion. This +was done by passing on the application. A vigorous snort followed the +thump on the back administered to Mujina. He sat up and regarded his +mate with astonishment. "Ah! The Yo[u]kai.... No more of that. 'Tis +Mujina's turn." This, when his fellow proposed a second application. The +return came sooner than anticipated. A terrific sneeze followed. Up came +his head sharply, and the _yo[u]kai_ rolled over backwards on the +ground. He rose in fury, holding his jaw. Shu[u]zen was laughing, the +lady smiling. "The distance is but short? Plainly those fellows are next +to worthless. This Shu[u]zen will act as guard." Thus did Aoyama go in +company to the _yashiki_ of Okumura Shu[u]zen; and thus was his second +night's venture brought to naught. + +The arrival of the Ojo[u]sama (lady daughter) in company with Aoyama +caused much excitement. Okumura was of five hundred _koku_; Aoyama of +twelve hundred _koku_. The latter was at once ushered to the inner +apartments. The lady wife of Okumura came forward to urge his stay for +some entertainment. Aoyama in turn was curious to know more of this +mission in connection with a _hatamoto_ like himself. He spoke gravely +of the dangers in this neighbourhood, apart from the strange tales told. +Okumura Shu[u]zen heartily agreed. The charge being to Kishu[u] Ke was +not to be declined. Himself he had many strange tales to relate. Though +the hour was late, every effort was made. Aoyama Shu[u]zen was gratified +with a beautiful repast. The wine was served in person by Takigawa Dono. +The talk passed from personal affairs to tales of war. Here Aoyama was +in his element, both from experience and the tales of others heard in +the _hiban_ and at the meetings of the Gaman Kwai. This was a first +meeting, not to be too long drawn out. Okumura was a new comer in the +Bancho[u], his service was in connection with the public works. Aoyama +had been of the palace staff until very recently. Both expressed deepest +gratification at their encounter. As he took his way home in the morning +light, Aoyama Shu[u]zen could but contrast with pleasure his present +arrival with that of the previous morning. He had feasted well, and made +an acquaintance of some value. + +The following day he would make his acknowledgments. Aping no great +style he walked accompanied by a page and two _chu[u]gen_. Inquiry soon +brought him to the _yashiki_. Inquiry soon introduced him to a sitting +room. "Lucky fellow!" thought Aoyama. "The influence of Matsudaira +Ko[u] lands him in affluence. A modest income; a double _yashiki_!" This +part of the house was different from that of his last night's +introduction. Then he stated his business to the _karo[u]_. The night +before he had accompanied the Ojo[u]san to the _yashiki_. He would make +acknowledgment of the courtesy then received. The face of old Beita +Heima was a puzzle. Deep the respect due to twelve hundred _koku_ +Aoyama, but had he been drunk or dreaming?--"Has not your lordship +mistaken the _yashiki_?" Aoyama was a little severe at what seemed +gratuitous assumption. "You were not on the guard last night." Beita +spoke, prostrate and with great respect, but with an earnestness and +obstinacy not to be mistaken. He had been on the guard--from sunset to +dawn. Aoyama began to feel uncomfortable. Veiling the sharpness--"Is +this not the _yashiki_ of Okumura Dono?" Heima gulped assent. "Is not +Takigawa Dono, of the San no Ma, the Ojo[u]san of the House?" Here Heima +was on sure ground. "Ojo[u]san of the House there is none. It is very +rude; but surely there is mistake as to the _yashiki_." Aoyama now was +beginning to see light. He felt very hot and uncomfortable. He ventured +a last question for surety. "And Okumura Dono?"--"The Tono Sama absent +in Shimosa, the _yashiki_ has been in this Heima's charge for this past +month's course." With such grace as he could in his discomfiture Aoyama +Shu[u]zen took his leave. The astonished page and _chu[u]gen_, still +retaining the intended presents of acknowledgment, with difficulty kept +up with their master. Ah! The beasts again had scored. Detestable! +Shu[u]zen thought with horror of his repast of the previous night. He +had no better fare than Rokuzo the _chu[u]gen_. In rage he sought his +room, and swallowed all the purges and emetics to hand. Occupied in +retching, and thinking, and other matters germane to his condition, he +concocted the plan by which he hoped to bring the foe to book, and +himself to the presiding chair which surely he had earned. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE MEETING OF THE GAMAN KWAI + + +With the fall of O[u]saka castle (1615), and the culmination of the +uneasy movements of the years following in the conspiracy of Honda +Masazumi, the country entered on a long peace--the Tokugawa Taihei. The +Arima rebellion after all was but an affair of farming folk, in far off +Kyu[u]shu[u]. Masazumi struck right at the person of the Sho[u]gun +himself. A special ceiling was constructed in his castle at Utsunomiya. +This was to collapse on the sleeping Iyemitsu Ko[u] sheltered beneath +it. Caught between the heavy boulders above and beneath the couch, the +Sho[u]gun was to be sent to rest with, not worship of, his divinized +grandfather at Nikko[u]. Iyemitsu slept the night at Edo castle, owing +to the valour and strength of Ishikawa Hachiemon. Masazumi had failed, +and the set field of battle between the factions of the _samurai_ was a +thing of the past. The duel, forbidden in theory and compulsory in +practice, was to take its place. The substitute always had existed. It +tried men's courage, not the sustained endurance of campaigning. How +then was the old spirit of the warrior to be maintained? The desire to +emulate their sires worked on the younger generation. The relics of the +Tensho[u], Keicho[u] and Genwa periods (1573-1623) O[u]kubo Hikozaemon, +Matsudaira Montaro[u], Nagasaki Chiyari Kuro[u], were heroes who could +boast of having stood before the horse of Iyeyasu in his earlier trials +of battles, trials in which the veteran commander would pound with his +fist the pommel of the saddle until it was red with the blood from his +bruised knuckles. Their tales of actual war, the sly jeers at the +softening manners, spurred on younger members to find ways by which to +simulate practical experience of campaigning. The result was curious. +One of the organizations was the Undameshi Kwai, or Fortune Testing +Society. Loaded firelocks were stacked in the middle of the room of +meeting. Around them sat the members of the club, squeezed into full +armour, from helmet to the warriors shoes of skin. The match was set. +The weapons were exploded, sending a shower of balls in every direction. +"Ah! Ha! The bullet grazed my helmet."--"The gorgelet caught it."--"The +corselet has saved me."--"Congratulations are in order. Surely your +pension will be increased during the year."--"Oya! Oya! And Genzaemon +Uji?" The unfortunate Genzaemon had not fared so well in the mimic war. +At all events he sat the meeting out--if he could. To be reported dead, +in the course of duty; or be overcome with regrets at showing such +clumsiness in being wounded; or, if actually incapacitated, to go home +and die of "illness" (cut belly).[9] + +The Gaman Kwai, or Endurance Society, was another form the movement +took. In the season of great cold its meetings were held as if in the +height of the _doyo[u]_ or dog days; vice-versa with the time of great +heat. It was the beginning of the seventh month (first half of August). +The heat was intense, and had been for the past weeks. The farmer +watched the steamy vapour rising from the rice fields and rejoiced. The +plants were growing luxuriantly, the leaves of the willow trees were +hanging yellow and wilted. Passers by on city or village streets sought +the shade under the buildings, walking with languid lagging step, and, +home once reached, removing every garment which etiquette--not +decency--had hitherto compelled. Great was the dismay of the weaker +members of the Gaman Kwai on receipt of a circular letter couched much +as follows: + + "In this season of great cold the continuance of the + honoured health is observed with joy. On the seventeenth day + it is desired to make offering of a cup of indifferent wine. + It is begged that the use of the honoured _kago_ (palanquin) + be condescended. This the purport of the missive. With + reverence and respect. + + KONDO[U] NOBORINOSUKE. + + To...." + +The weaker allowed this missive to float gently and despairingly +earthwards. Gasping for breath in the stifling heat they sought to fan +themselves into a semi consciousness. "Terrific! Terrific! Yet refusal +is out of the question. Ah! This Kondo[u] is a doubtful sort of rascal. +He is of the cruel kind. No mercy is to be expected of him. Yet if one +fails to attend there will be but jeers and taunts of cowardice. One +could not appear in public. Alas! Alas!" The stronger received it with +equal impatience, but with the purpose to put in the evil hours with the +best possible face, and score on the host--if they could. All left +strict orders at home for a cold bath to be in readiness for the return. +To this rash step the weaker groaned and yielded. The Nipponese fear and +detest cold water--even for drink. + +Thus they sallied forth--from Ichigaya to Honjo[u] Kameidocho[u], from +Shitaya to Shinagawa; some on horseback, some in _kago_; all arrayed in +triple set of thickly wadded winter garments, in _hakama_, or trousers +with double folds, in shirts and leggings, and fur shoes of the warrior +on winter campaign. The gate keeper of the _yashiki_ in Owaricho[u] +called their names on arrival--"O[u]kubo Hikoroku Dono, Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaemon Dono, Abe Shiro[u]goro[u] Dono, Matsudaira Montaro[u] +Dono, O[u]kubo Shichinosuke Dono, Mizuno Juro[u]zaemon Dono, Ishikawa +Hachiemon Dono,[10] Okumura Shu[u]zen Dono, Kuse Sanshichiro[u] Dono, +Aoyama Shu[u]zen Dono...." The list was a long one. One and all were met +by Kondo[u] Noborinosuke in person at the entrance. Over his triple +winter garb he wore a wadded coat or _kosode_. Others had donned the +longer _kataginu_. These were of the weaker kind. It did not fit so +closely; pressed the warmth of its tissue less lovingly to the person. +All complained of the intense cold. "Never was such cold felt," blandly +agreed Noborinosuke. "An old fellow of the gardeners says that for sixty +years such cold has not been experienced. It is a marvellous cold year. +The ground will not be thawed this season. Deign to enter. Warmth is +provided against this intensity of cold." And his hearers bowed and +offered thanks, as well as their unwieldy wrappings would allow. At all +events in the room yonder there would be the breeze from the garden +side. They knew the place and its delights. Kondo[u] was of the age to +provide himself with quiet comforts. With eager stride the banquet room +was sought. + +"Oya! Oya!" The speaker gasped in dismay and for breath. They had been +introduced into a furnace. Explained Kondo[u] gently--"Everything has +been done to shut out the intense cold. The _amado_ are tight closed, +the braziers well supplied.... Heigh-ho! Allow none of these to get +dark. More charcoal! More fuel!" The attendants obeyed, urging the fires +before each guest. Seated close together to conserve the heat, the sweat +poured off in streams. Unable to get breath some groaned and grunted--to +pass it off as due to the intensity of cold. Soon they "would be thawed +out with the genial warmth." Kondo[u] and Aoyama were immensely pleased +in their assent and at their sufferings. But the more discontented +sought the fly in the ointment of the content of their hosts. Aoyama +really was such. He was the one responsible for the call; Kondo[u] his +ready abettor. Said one--"Intense the cold, yet how explain the freaks +of Nature. If it were not so freezing the blue clusters hanging in +Kondo[u] Dono's garden, just traversed, could well pass for wisteria." +They laughed at him--"Wisteria in the seventh month? That would be as +great a marvel as the cold."--"Not so the grape," replied another. +"Kondo[u] Uji long since promised sight of the new plant. To be sure the +barbarian fruits are as ill trained and uncouth as the denizens of the +land they grow in. They flower and fruit in winter season. If not +wisteria the clusters must be of the grape."--"Not so," promptly put in +Aoyama. "Truly it is the green eye of jealousy which colours the vision. +They are icicles; and no seasoning for the repast or the conversation of +this cold occasion."--"Which brings the sweat to the face of Aoyama +Uji." Aoyama turned calmly on the rash interloper. "It is not sweat; +'tis mucous. The intense cold causes flow of mucous. Are not others so +affected?" He looked around grimly on the steaming shining faces before +him. "Mucous?" questioned a doubter. "Yes: face mucous," was the calm +rejoinder. + +All turned to Kondo[u] Noborinosuke who would explain the more +particular purport of the meeting. There was report to make, a new +member to introduce. All turned with respect and salutation to Okumura +Shu[u]zen. It was a long and painful ceremony in the bulky winter garb. +But they were in relays, took turns. Ah! If it was but Aoyama, thus long +bent double, murmuring apology and compliment. Then Aoyama Shu[u]zen +made his report. He made it as one sure to please his hearers, many of +whom regarded him with no particular liking. In fact at the tale of his +discomfiture there was some joy, and tendency to show it. "Then, as with +us, Aoyama Uji meets Okumura Dono for the first time." Aoyama nodded an +amused assent. Said one more malicious, "And the repast? Surely the +_hatamoto_ was as well entertained as the _chu[u]gen_?" Shu[u]zen +skilfully dodged the issue. "The hour was very late. Such could hardly +be expected or offered to this Shu[u]zen without raising doubts. +Fortunately it was thus." Said one more persistent--"At least a cup of +wine...."--"Without fire or heating? More than rude the +implication!"--"Yet beasts know but little of etiquette; and if fox or +badger...." Kondo[u] Noborinosuke came in with--"That shall be at once +determined. It is time for the repast. The _tanuki_ killed by Aoyama Uji +furnishes the soup." At a sign the retainers brought the beast in his +own skin. All rose in marvel at the sight. Truly it was a huge fellow. +"An old rascal, too. See! The hair on the back is of different colour +from that on the rest of the body."--"Showing the great age and +wickedness. Many are those he has gulled to their destruction. Now in +turn he furnishes forth the repast." Said Kondo[u]--"How did Aoyama Uji +secure the beast." + +"This Shu[u]zen was much put out. Plainly by no ordinary means could +these miscreants be eliminated. How meet them in true shape? Against the +usual weapons they were secure in their transformations. Only the flying +bullet could reach such mark; and the discharge of a gun in Edo town +means banishment at the least. Then an idea came to Shu[u]zen. At the +hour of the ox again the Bancho[u] was sought. Position of great +dejection and weariness was taken, on a stone amid its greatest +desolation. The wait was not long. Unexpectedly the sound of a gunshot +was heard. This was surprising, for the reasons given. Hardly believing +in an apparition, thinking it rather due to some rascally outlaw, his +coming was awaited. Slouching along appeared a man in hunter's garb. He +carried a fowling piece, and evidently was the criminal. Taught however +by past events this Shu[u]zen took no action. Merely hailing him, his +purpose and game was inquired. He was ready in answer as to both. Yonder +on Matsuyama harboured a huge and dangerous boar. It was this boar he +sought. Kindly he gave warning, and advised return to safer quarters. On +my part great enthusiasm was expressed for the sport; his company was +sought. At this he jeered; then denied attendance as lacking a gun. 'Not +so,' quoth I. With these words the punk carried in the hand was touched +to the fuse of the fire crackers concealed at one side. 'Kiya!' So +startled was he that his gun fell to the ground and he took his proper +shape. At once this Shu[u]zen in the act of drawing cut him into two +parts. Thus he died. Awaiting dawn another beast appeared, this time in +true form. Approaching the prostrate body it wept and wailed. This too +'twas sought to slay, but the beast had the advantage of being +forewarned. For the time it has escaped. Meanwhile, returning from its +pursuit, was found an admiring crowd of plebeians gathered round the +slaughtered _tanuki_. The priest for his exorcisms took cash; the +_samurai_ were the ones to act. Their joy and wonder was turned to good +account. Under penalty of sharing the fate of the beast two of them +shouldered it to the _yashiki_. Such the tale of Shu[u]zen. And now for +the results!" + +Kondo[u] gave a sign, and the gaping wonder of the assembly at the deed +was stifled in the wave of heat which poured in from the neighbouring +room. "Ah! Truly these are cruel fellows!" Here a furnace had been +erected for the cooking of the _tanuki_. It sent its streams of hot air +into the already crowded and stifling room. Aoyama in person supervised +the cooking. The animal was cut into small portions. Smoking hot the +viands were placed under the noses of the gasping guests. With the great +age of the beast it had accumulated great toughness. The younger +members had the consolation of their jibes at the old fellows. They tore +at, struggled with, the leathery fragments. But the latter had no teeth, +and the malicious Aoyama would see to it that it stuck in their throats. +"How, now, ancients? Is not the meat of this _tanuki_ tender beyond +measure? Truly one cannot call this engaging in the practice of war; to +enjoy such a delightful mess."--"Just so," grunted Montaro[u]. "One can +then eat the knobs off one's helmet. The flesh of this fellow is so +tender it sticks in one's throat, as unwilling to allow it passage.... +G'up! G'up! G'up!" + +Said another--"The wine thus steaming hot, the viands sizzling, truly +the feed is most beneficial. One even sweats in this intensity of +cold."--"Of course," was the matter of fact reply of the wise. "Thus +does the heat of spring thaw out the cold ground into a perspiration; +thus does the frozen body burst into a sweat with the hot food and +drink." All accepted the explanation without argument. They were in +haste to end this meeting, even at cost of swallowing whole the _tanuki_ +and Aoyama Shu[u]zen with it. Despite the prospect of attendance at his +_yashiki_ all rapturously agreed. Aoyama was an original. He would not +repeat the experiment of Kondo[u]. They had nearly a six month's respite +before them. With this the entertainment was brought to a close. In +almost unceremonious haste the guests took their leave, fairly galloping +out of the entrance, hanging out of the _kago_ or over the horse's neck, +urging attendants to full speed homeward. Here the stifling garments +were torn off, the plunge into the cold tub followed; and many paid for +this rashness with an illness of days. Meanwhile Aoyama Shu[u]zen had +learned one important fact. Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon in application for +the _bakemono yashiki_ had met with flat refusal. The field was open to +himself. Moreover he had said nothing of the fact that, in the exercise +of his new office as magistrate for the apprehension of thieves and +fire-bugs, he was in fair way to suppress forever and in great torments +the Mujina-bake and his fellows, residuary legatees of the prowess and +field of action of the late So[u]ja Mushuku. + +END OF PART I + + + + +PART II + + +THE BANCHO[U] SARAYASHIKI + +OR + +THE LADY OF THE PLATES + +WHAT AOYAMA SHU[U]ZEN BECAME. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE YOSHIDA GOTEN + + +When Prince Iyeyasu consolidated his power at Edo, more particularly on +his becoming Sei-i-tai-Sho[u]gun, some provision had to be made for the +great _daimyo[u]_ brought by the necessities of occasion to personal +interview with their chief and suzerain. In the suburbs rose beautiful +structures devoted to the entertainment of these _kyakubun_--or +guests--as the greater _daimyo[u]_ were then termed. The Yatsuyama +Goten, the Hakuzan Goten, the Kosuge Goten, the Yoshida Goten, other and +elegant, if minor, palaces arose. Their first use disappeared with the +compulsory residence of the _daimyo[u]_ under Iyemitsu Ko[u], but some +were still maintained as places of resort and entertainment for the +Sho[u]gun in his more relaxed moments. Others were devoted to the +residences of favoured members of his family. Others were maintained for +the entertainment of State or Church dignitaries, on occasion of +particular mission from the court in Kyo[u]to to that of Edo. Others +were destroyed, or put to temporal uses, or their use granted to +favoured retainers or church purposes. + +One of the most beautiful of these was the Yoshida Goten in the +Bancho[u]. The site originally had been covered by the _yashiki_ of +Yoshida Daizen no Suke. One of those nobles favouring the Tokugawa +against Ishida Mitsunari, as their designs became clearer with the years +following Sekigahara, at the attack on Osaka castle he was found within +its walls. Thus the "Overseer of the kitchen" fell under the wrath of +his suzerain. Hidetada Ko[u] was a man of much kind temperament, but he +was a strict disciplinarian and a rough soldier. Whether or not the +dishes furnished for his consumption and digestion had anything to do +with the matter, there was serious cause enough. With many others the +Daizen no Suke was ordered to cut belly, and his tribe suffered +extinction--of rank and rations (_kaieki_). Such the reward of this +turn-coat. His disappearance from the scene was followed by other +removals. Daizen no Suke was head of the Ko[u]sho[u]gumi. With the +confiscation of his _yashiki_ site five other Houses of the "company" +were ordered to remove to other sites at Akasaka. Thus 2,500 _tsubo_ of +ground (24 acres) were obtained for the building of a new _kyakubun +goten_. Erected on the ground of Yoshida's old mansion, now waste +([sara]), it got the name of Sarayashiki. Time confused this character +[sara] with the events which there took place; and it was written Sara +([sara]) yashiki or Mansion of the Plates. Thus was the unhappy tale of +O'Kiku written into the history of Edo and the Yoshida Goten. + +The second daughter of Hidedata Ko[u], the Nidai Sho[u]gun, had been +married to the lord of Echizen, Matsudaira Tadanao. At the time of the +Osaka campaign Tadanao sulked. Prince Iyeyasu was very angry with him. +However, when finally Echizen Ke did appear, he acted with such bravery, +and to such effect in the campaign, that the old captain's anger was +dispelled in his appreciation. To this connected House of the Tokugawa +he thought to be liberal enough; not to meet the inflated scale of the +ideas of Tadanao, who spent the next half dozen years in so misgoverning +his lordly fief as to render necessary an adviser, planted at his side +by his powerful cousin in Edo. In Genwa ninth year Tadanao +rebelled--with the usual result to him who acts too late. He was +suppressed, largely by the aid of his own vassals, and exiled to Hita in +Bungo province. Here he shaved his head, took the name of Ichihaku. It +was of no avail. Promptly he died. It seemed to be a dispensation of +Providence--or dispensation of some kind--that exiles usually and early +developed alarming symptoms; in the shortest possible time removing +themselves and all cause of irritation to the overlord by their transfer +to another sphere. + +The Tokugawa Sho[u]gun was generous to his relations. The exit of +Tadanao was promptly followed by the induction of his infant son +Mitsunaga into his fief. However, for the child to govern the great +district of 750,000 _koku_ appeared to be a doubtful step. Its +government actually being invested in the _daimyo[u]_, it was not to be +made a breeding ground for trouble through the action of subordinates. +Hence the main fief with the seat at Kita no Sho[u] (Fukui) was given to +the uncle. Fukui to-day is a dull provincial town, and excellent +stopping place for those who would have eyes opened as to the great +wealth and wide flat expanse of these three provinces of Kaga, Etchu[u], +and Echizen. Their lord was a mighty chieftain, entrenched behind +mountain barriers; and the great campaigns, which figure in pre-Tokugawa +history, were fought for a great object. The Maeda House, however, had +had their wings clipped, and were confined to Kaga. The Matsudaira were +established in Echizen. Etchu[u] was much divided up. The reduction of +the fief of Echizen Ke to 500,000 _koku_ brought him within reasonable +bounds, and he could well be left to ride with his hawks along the +pretty Ashibagawa, or to take his pleasure outing on the crest of +Asuwayama, the holy place of the city suburbs, and where Hideyoshi +nearly lost life and an umbrella by a stray shot. Then would follow the +return, the ride across the wide moat, its waters dotted with the fowl +he went elsewhere to shoot, but safe within these precincts. Whether he +returned to any better entertainment than that of the present day +Tsuki-mi-ro or Moon viewing inn, one can doubt. He certainly did not +have the pretty outlook from its river bordered garden front. + +Sen-chiyo-maru, later Mitsunaga, was relegated to Takata castle in +Echigo, with the minor income of 250,000 _koku_. Perhaps this fact, +together with his youth, and the more entertaining expenditure of the +income at an Edo _yashiki_, rather than in a mountain castle town, +brought the Takata no Kata to the capital. Takata Dono, or the Takata no +Kata, so named from the fief, is not known to fame or history under +other appellation. She is said to have possessed all the beauty of her +elder sister, the Senhimegimi, wife of Hideyori Ko[u], son of the +Taiko[u], he who fell at Osaka castle. Furthermore, with the training of +the _samurai_ woman, the greatness of her position and personal +attraction, she possessed all the obstinacy and energy of the male +members of her family, with few of the restraints imposed on them by +public service. Takata Dono frankly threw herself into all the pleasures +she could find at the capital. Established in the Yoshida Goten, the +younger _samurai_ of the _hatamoto_ quickly came under her influence. +There was a taint of license in her blood, perhaps inherited from the +father who was most unbridled in his passions. The result was a sad +falling off from the precepts of Bushido[u] in herself and her +paramours. The Bakufu (Sho[u]gunal Government) was compelled to look on, +so great was her power at the castle. In the earlier days sentence of +_seppuku_ (cut belly) was a common reward for open misconduct. A word +from Takata Dono, and the disgraceful quarrels over her favours were +perforce condoned; and her lavish expenditures on her favourites were +promptly met. Alas! Alas! The up to date histories of Nippon sigh over +and salve these matters. "They were the inventions of a later age; were +not current in her life-time." Nor likely to be put too bluntly by those +tender of their skins. But an old poem has come down to express the +popular belief: + + "_Yoshida to[u]reba nikai kara maneku; + Shikamo kano ko no furisode de._" + +Somewhat irregular, like the lady's conduct, but which can be +interpreted, + + "Passing Yoshida, from above the signal; + Furthermore, the waving of long sleeves." + +Of little deer (or dears) for the style of sleeve, the _kano ko_, can be +read young deer. Bah! Was there not a "parc aux cerfs" half way round +the world? Nor were such confined to the capital cities of Edo and +Paris.[11] + +The poem refers to the unbridled licentiousness the little lady +developed on her translation from her provincial residence; though +locally she had not failed to distinguish herself. What follows is part +of the tales current. At the time the _himegimi_ (princess) was thrown +on her own devices in Takata-jo[u] the _karo[u]_ or chief officer of the +household was one Hanai Iki. This fellow owed his position entirely to +his good looks and her ladyship's favour. This favour he met, not in the +spirit of a loyal vassal, but in that of a professed and bold lady +killer. As _karo[u]_ his attendance on her ladyship was constant and +intimate, and it took no particular acumen to find out that the intimacy +was of a more peculiar relation. Hence great was the under current of +comment, and regret at the unbridled conduct of the lady. None, however, +dared to interfere with the caprices of one so highly placed; and the +only means was to work on the decent feelings of Iki himself. Thus the +tale was brought to his wife's ears. It is to be said that with her all +jealousy was suppressed. It was for her to find the cure for her +husband's unbridled conduct. As Hanai Iki was a mere official, and with +no great claim to unusual or able services, it was hoped that his +removal or reform in conduct would bring back the _himegimi_ to a +befitting conduct. There was no suspicion that her passion was a disease +raging in her very blood, and that it was the man, not his personality +she sought. + +The wife first adopted the orthodox method of formal remonstrance. +Without chiding, with a smile and great indulgence of one at no +particular fault himself, she enlarged upon the subject in the service +of the tea. "It is not a matter between Iki Dono and this Chiyo. There +is no unseemly jealousy in the wife to bring forward the complaint. In +fact the marital relation is not in question. As the husband pleases, so +should the wife submit. But great is the talk aroused at these too +private meetings with the _himegimi_. It is the House which is at stake. +Its influence and prestige is threatened by a mere retainer. This in a +short time can but lead to ruin. The caprice of a woman is well known. +In some cooler moment the eyes of her ladyship will see another colour. +The one to suffer will be Iki Dono, for now he has no other support but +in his mistress. Deign to regain the confidence of the household, and no +great harm can result beyond neglect. Honoured sir, you stretch out for +what is far beyond reach; and in the end can but fail. Deign to be +circumspect." If there was any tone of contempt and depreciation in the +protest it was in the last few words. At all events the eyes of Iki were +opened to the fact that it was sought to reach him through the wife's +remonstrance. He expressed surprise and discomfiture at what he asserted +had no real basis in fact. His office brought him in close contact with +her ladyship; the more so as the management of the fief was in her +hands. Matters were to be discussed which necessitated the exclusion of +all others. However, if such was the talk of the palace, or even beyond +its walls, he could but give thanks for the kindness of the +remonstrance. Henceforth he would be more careful, and would trust to +her good feeling to believe in his good faith. + +With joy the wife heard what he said. With all good will she made +herself the apostle of this explanation. No one believed her and facts +soon belied words. Her ladyship, just entering on her passion, became +more exigent in her calls for the _karo[u]'s_ attendance. Iki now seldom +appeared at his home. Long absences from the castle town, pressing +business, any excuse to hand came to the alarmed ears of the wife. All +the rumours gathered were sure to reach her in exaggerated form. Hanai +Dono was the constant companion of her ladyship's wine feasts. He was +her acknowledged paramour, and lived in the private apartments of the +castle as in his own house. All talked--except the ladies in waiting of +the _himegimi_. These were selected and trained by her; selected for +beauty and trained to discretion. She would have no ugly thing about +her; and all was to be for her use. Iki was handsome, and discreet. To +her he was an object; as were the maids; the same apart from sex. He +filled his role admirably, never introduced his favour with her ladyship +into the public affairs of the House, or solicited for such personal +advancement as made toward outward display. But circumspection of +conduct never yet closed the mouth of gossip. There were those who were +jealous of what he might do; and jealous of a favour they would gladly +share themselves. The _himegimi_ was the prize which all coveted, and +which no one should possess to the exclusion of others. + +Hence the buzz of talk rose loud, and the criticism stung the wife. She +determined herself to learn the truth of these tales. Hitherto they +were but the scandalous talk of people. Wife of the _karo[u]_, naturally +her ladyship did not require her attendance; but as such she had ready +access and an intimate acquaintance with the palace routine. Her mind +made up, she presented herself on some trifling pretext. Certainly in +her manner there was nothing to arouse comment. Received in the inner +apartments (_oku_), her plea, the introduction of a page into the +service, was readily granted. On retiring she would speak with the +superintendent of the _oku_, the old and experienced lady in waiting in +charge of the _himegimi's_ service. Thus she found the opportunity to +wander the inner precincts, to disappear and to slip into the bed room +of the _himegimi_. Here she stepped into a closet, pulled to the screen, +and crouched down behind the heaped up quilts. For the companionship of +her wandering lord she did not have long to wait; nor for proof of his +inconstancy. Iki came into the room, holding by the hand and drawing +after him one of palace ladies in waiting, Takeo by name. The girl was +by no means unwilling. Her blushes and confusion added to the great +beauty which made her the favoured attendant on the _himegimi_. Iki +pressed her close and openly. The girl plead ignorance and inexperience. +She was ashamed. Iki laughed. "Does not her ladyship set the example for +others to follow? Deign...." The plea of his relations with the mistress +came quite fit to the coarse feeling of Iki. Not so to the girl, who was +warmed into some indignation, and drew all the more from him. He would +persist; but just then her ladyship called from the next room--"Takeo! +Takeo!" The voice was impatient, as of one in haste. Iki had time to +thrust a letter into the girl's hand, which she quickly transferred to +her bosom. All the boldness of O'Chiyo was at stake as the maid came to +the closet. Close down she crouched; but Takeo had one eye on Iki, and +only one careless eye on the heap of _futon_, of which she drew from the +top. Iki made a grimace, for the benefit of the one he really loved. Her +ladyship's appearance was received with the warm and flattering +affection of the favoured lover; and O'Chiyo had proof positive that the +relations of the two were kind indeed. + +The suicide of the wife, the letter of protest she left behind, had +more influence on the public than on the conduct of Hanai Iki. It simply +removed the last restraint and means of reaching him. All now depended +on her ladyship's infatuation. Old vassals sighed with joy when they +heard of the proposed removal to Edo. As _karo[u]_ Hanai Iki would be +left in charge of the fief. Not so: it was soon learned that his name +headed the list of those transferred for household service. The +grumbling was as open as it dared to be. The fief was to be contented +with the service of two vice-_karo[u]_; no great loss, except in matter +of prestige in dealing with other Houses. The _karo[u]_ became a kind of +male superintendent of the _oku_! But at all events the fief was rid of +him. Nor was Iki particularly pleased. He had been feathering his nest +in the material sense. The severance of the connection, without loss of +esteem, meant to him a quicker consummation of his wishes with Takeo +Dono, whom he would ask for as wife. Their relations had gone forward at +a wild pace. Once thrown into the whirl of passion Takeo sought but to +meet the wishes of her lover. The passion of the _himegimi_ stood +between them. + +Established in Edo, at the Yoshida Goten, all went mad with content in +their beautiful surroundings. The palace gardens were noted. A hint of +the fine construction of the buildings is found to-day at the Kugyo[u]ji +of Iinuma, built subsequently from the materials. For the use of the +Sho[u]gun Ke in entertainment of his visitors, every art had been +exhausted in its adornment. The screens were objects of beauty, and +separated the large rooms with their fine pillars and ceilings of +grained and polished woods. The _rama-sho[u]ji_ were carved by Nature's +handiwork, and the polished lacquer and brass reflected a thousand times +the beauties roundabout. Whether the garden be viewed from the +apartments, or both from the _tsukiyama_ or artificial hill beside the +little lake, it was a scene of balanced beauty, showing every nicety of +man's hand in Nature's own proportion, and not guided into the +geometrical designs of a carpet square or a surveyor's working table. +Instead of the dry dullness of a provincial town, in which themselves +they had to fill the stage to give it life and pompousness, Edo was +close at hand, and they were part of, and actors in, the luxury and +magnificence of the Sho[u]gun's court. It is not surprising that the +_himegimi_ returned to all this glitter and activity as one long +banished from its seductions to a wilderness; added her own dissipation +and lavish entertainment to the constant round of festivity and luxury +rapidly supplanting the hard military discipline of the first +Sho[u]gun's camp; a luxury itself to crystallize into a gorgeous rigid +formalism, as deadly to the one not meeting its requirements as the +lined and spotted beauty of some poisonous serpent. + +The wine feast was at its height. The cup passed more freely in this +chilly season of the year; and in the tightly closed apartments the +warmth of association and the table's cheer were sought. The _himegimi_ +was more expansive than usual under the influence of the wine. Iki was +positively drunk, and in his state over-estimated the condition of her +ladyship. Takeo was serving the wine. Beyond stolen interviews of +moments the lovers had found no opportunity for the longed for clinging +of soul to soul, of person to person, during the night's long hours. The +girl's hands trembled with passion as furtively she sought those of her +lover in the passing of the wine cup. Iki was absolutely careless. Her +ladyship too far gone to note his conduct? He seized the arms of Takeo +and drew her to his side. The display of amorous emotion on the part of +both was too open to escape notice. The _himegimi_ rose to her feet as +on springs. The beautiful flushed face took on a deeper tint as she +scowled on the guilty and now frightened pair. Her breath came hard and +with difficulty. Then reaching down she wound the long tresses of Takeo +in her hand, and dragged her to her knee. Twisting and twisting, until +the agony made the girl cry out, she berated her--"Ah! Wicked jade! Thou +too have eyes for a man's person. Disloyal wench, would you aim to make +the beloved of your mistress partner of your bed?... What's this?" From +the girl's hand she tore the answer to the lover's plaint. The sharp +eyes of her ladyship sought the maid's person. A nervous hand fumbled +the folds of her _obi_ (sash). "Ah! The treasure house is not far off. +Such valued gems are carried on the person." Thrusting her hand into the +gentle bosom the _himegimi_ drew forth the guilty complement. + +Wrote Iki-- + + "How act to drop the mask; + Many the pledges breathed in truth." + +And the girl made answer: + + "Ah! The night of meeting, love's consummation; + The hindrance, thing or person, object of hate."[12] + +The words were too plain. There was a certain savage tone of exulting +wrath as the _himegimi_ read out loud the contents of the missives. It +chilled the hearts of those who heard her. She spoke: at first in low +concentrated tones of bitter jesting hate. "Ha! Ha! Disloyalty goes +beyond mere thought; would strike at the person of its lord. What +lascivious slut is this, who thus would creep into the mistress' bed, to +take her place?... Look up! Naruhodo! In that face is too much beauty. +Vile huzzy, you would seek the favour of my lover. Hence forth neither +he nor any man shall look on you, except with loathing." Close beside +her was the _hibachi_, its burden of the hard burning charcoal from +Ikeda now a bright cherry red. Dragging the girl to the brazier, +twisting both hands more firmly in the long black hair, she forced her, +face downwards, into the heated mass, pressing into the back with her +knee. In terror the other girls looked away, or hid their faces in their +sleeves. Before the towering anger of the princess none dared apology or +intercession. The smell of burning flesh rose sickening. Takeo feebly +moaned, and writhed a little under the nervous pressure of those +delicate powerful hands. Then she was silent. The inhuman punishment had +reached its end. Roughly her ladyship threw her aside, face upward on +the _tatami_. Those who took a hasty glance turned away in horror from +the face, black here, red and swollen there, the mouth filled with +ashes, the eyes--one totally destroyed. + +The _himegimi_ was on her feet. "Iki--here with you!" In fear the man +prostrated himself before the vision. "Not yet did the demon's horns +sprout from her head; but the eyes injected with blood, the hair +standing up to Heaven, converted her ladyship into a veritable demon." +In slow and measured wrath she spoke--"Ah, the fool! Admitted to the +favour of his mistress, the long continued object of her affection, with +all at his command and service, he would sacrifice these for the +embraces of a serving wench. Truly the man has gone mad with lust; or +rather it is a man's face and a beast's mind. Thus before my very eyes +he would dally with his whore and make me cuckold. Of such miscreants +one feels no jealousy. Hate and punishment follow the insult." A quick +movement backward and her halberd hanging at the wall was in her hand. +The scabbard stripped from the shining blade was held over head. "Namu +San! Holy the three sacred things!" Iki sprang to his feet, coward and +fool he sought not to grapple with her, but to flee. The command of the +_himegimi_ rang sharp--"He is not to escape!" In this company of her +maids, all _samurai_ women, the discipline was complete. If they would +not suffer the punishment of Takeo, they must respond. Whatever the +backbiting and division among themselves, in her ladyship's service they +would sacrifice life itself. Besides, more than one hated Iki with the +heart-whole hate of neglected love and advances. Takeo had been more +favoured than her companions, not through any fault of theirs in seeking +this lady killer. Hence the alarm was quickly given. Iki was beset by +this female army, every one armed, himself with but his dagger. There +was no outlet for escape. Then they came to close quarters. The boldest +threw themselves on him. Dragged to the ground, bound fast, he was +pulled and pushed into the garden. Breathless and dishevelled the female +horde parted to allow the approach of the _himegimi_--"Such open insult +and vile conduct is difficult to overlook. The disloyalty intended is +past pardon. For this, too great the grudge." The keen blade flashed, +and the head of Iki rolled some feet distant. Without a glance in the +direction of the miserable Takeo, the princess took her way back to her +apartment. At last some attention could be given to the suffering and +disfigured girl. She was paying the penalty for her treachery and +disloyal thoughts. The pains which followed were aggravated by neglect. +The face and chest one mass of burns, the wounds soon became putrid. The +stench was so frightful that none would go near her. They brought her +food; then fled her presence in disgust. As she grew weaker, unable to +feed herself, the pangs of starvation were added to her woes. The +continued cries of agony grew feebler and feebler, became a mere low +moaning; then ceased altogether. "Thus trifles lead to death, and +lechery finds its punishment." The bodies of the guilty pair, thrown +into the garden well, there found the only interment. + +Her ladyship was not to escape. Following this scene her passions broke +out of all bounds. She took no new lover; it was lovers. Men were +beckoned to the Yoshida Goten as to a brothel--with waving sleeves from +the upper story. For a night, for a week, for a month they would be +entertained. The weaker sort soon displeased her, and were dismissed; to +find their end in the well of the willow, the Yanagi no Ido, of the +inner garden of the palace. It would seem as if some wicked demon had +entered the person of Takata Dono, to lead her into this course of +debauchery. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE KO[U]JIMACHI WELL + + +One day a toilet dealer came through the Bancho[u]. The sun was already +on its decline as he passed the front of the Yoshida Goten on his way to +his home in Kanda. It shone, however, on a fellow who at once attracted +the attention of the look-out maid. She gave an exclamation--"Ma! Ma! +What a handsome man! Such a loveable fellow! Her ladyship...." Then a +feeling of pity seemed to close her mouth. But further speech was +useless. The _himegimi_ lacked company for her night's feast. Herself +she responded to the incomplete summons. A glance and--"Bring him here; +without delay. Such a fine specimen is not to be allowed to escape." It +could not be helped. At once the beauty, all smiles and gestures, with +waving sleeves sought to attract the attention of the itinerant trader. +The district was new to him, his sales had been poor. This summons was +the direct favour of the Buddha. From this great mansion surely his pack +would be much lighter on return. Timidly he approached the _samurai_ at +the gate, fearing harsh repulse. The officer, however, was very +amenable, transferring him at once to the guidance of the maid already +waiting close by. Thus was he brought to the women's apartments; to be +surrounded by a bevy of the sex, of a beauty of which he had had no +experience. They began looking negligently over his poor stock, and +closely over his own person. Then--"'Tis at her ladyship's order that +the summons is made. Come this way." At this unusual conduct in a +_yashiki_ he had some misgivings. His hesitation met with small +consideration. The crowd of women surrounded him and pushed him forward, +exercising a violence which astonished and paralysed resistance at being +thus exalted above his sphere. Protesting he was taken to the bath. This +office completed amid admiring comment, he was dressed in _hakama_ +(trousers) and blouse, of stuff perfumed and of silky softness, which +made him feel as if he moved in some dream. Thus purified and arrayed he +was led through a long range of magnificent rooms, the sight of which +sent his heart further and further into his heels. Finally he was +introduced into an apartment of no great size, but with dais and bamboo +blind. Led before this, his guides drew apart and prostrated themselves +in obeisance. The toilet dealer followed the excellent example. + +The screen slowly rose and the Takata Dono appeared in all her beauty. +At this period she was barely thirty years, in the full development of +her charms. To the eyes of the poor toilet dealer it seemed as if Benten +Sama, the goddess of love, was thus gravely regarding and measuring +every line of face and body. Finally she seemed satisfied with this +close inspection. A sign and the formality of the scene vanished. "Come +closer.... The _sake_ cup!" Anxiously wriggling himself to her very +presence, she then questioned him as to age, business, habits. Her voice +was as silvery gentle as her face was beautiful. Soon he found himself +looking up into it with confidence, as well as with awed respect. The +_sake_ utensils brought, she condescended herself to fill the cup. This +was filled again; and yet again. When the liquor began to show its +influence her manner became more familiar. With a quick movement, which +surprised him by the latent strength shown, she drew him close to her +side, began openly to show her favour for him. "Such fine figure of a +man is no such fool as not to know he can please a woman. The very trade +leads him to study women's taste. Now sir: for test of your +qualities...." But frightened the toilet dealer disengaged himself, and +springing back a little he prostrated himself flat on the ground. "Deign +not an unseemly jest. Close to the person of a great lady, such as is +the honoured presence, the poor artisan finds but distress. His wares +have no market amid this magnificence. Dependent on him for means of +life are two aged parents. A bare subsistence is secured for them. +Condescend his dismissal, that he may return to relieve their +anxieties." + +The speech met with but poor reception. Gentle was the laugh of the +_himegimi_, yet a little wrinkle knitted her brow. She seemed to regard +him in a somewhat strange light. "Have no misgivings as to their fate. +An ample sum shall be sent to assure them against need. Meanwhile Nature +and the occasion has furnished forth the toilet dealer--for the lady's +toilet.... Now for the wine feast." In the scene of riot and merriment +which followed the one thought of the unfortunate trader was to escape. +There was no strict order in the banquet, no formality. The idea of the +_himegimi_ was to get the greatest pleasure out of everything to her +hand, and all vied with each other, by song and art, with voice and +musical accompaniment, by a minute attention to needs of host and guest +to make the sensual effect of the scene complete. There was not a +jarring element in the well trained bevy of women devoted to pleasure. +The toilet dealer was free, yet bound. If he would seek occasion to +leave his place, to move uneasily hither and thither in these wide +rooms, as did the women with their carelessness and ease, always he +found himself balked by their presence. Escape there was none. Soon he +found himself again by her ladyship's side, to be plied with the wine +until sense and caution gave way before the spell of the beautiful +woman. To her it was an amusing game, a stimulant to her passion, the +conquest of this reluctance in a man found to lack the brazenness and +vulgarity of his caste. In the end he could but murmur at her feet that +he was hers--to do with as she would. "Would that this dream could last +forever! In this Paradise of the wondrous Presence." + +The scene was changed. Her ladyship rose. In the company of a few of the +women he was led still further into the recesses of the palace. Here he +was arrayed for the night, amid the merry jesting and admiring criticism +of his attendants. Accompanied to the bed chamber the _fusuma_ (screens) +were closed, and he could hear the fall of the bars in the outer +passages. Submission now was easy, as inevitable, as taken by the storm +of this woman's passion. With but short intervals of dozing she would +draw him to her embrace, and intoxicate him with her caresses. "When the +poison be taken--let the plate be full." With clearing brain, though +under the spell of her beauty he never lost sight of the purpose to flee +this doubtful snare. When at dawn she really slept, he rose to seek +exit; to run into the ever vigilant guard. "Naruhodo! Truly an early +riser the honoured guest. But all has been made ready. The bath is at +hand. Deign to enter." Thus surrounded and compelled he began the second +day. As the maid dressed him after the bath she broke out in admiration +of his physical presence. "The handsome fellow! No wonder her ladyship +was seized by the love wind." In the evening's entertainment he had +proved himself no fool in interesting anecdote of the town, and a quaint +and naive description of the view the lowly take of those who call +themselves the great. Under the skilful questioning of one or other this +simple fellow--of keen wit and observation--had shown a phase of life +unknown to them, beyond the careless view afforded from between the +blinds of the curtains of the palanquin. The vulgar boldness of his +predecessors was conspicuously lacking, as was the tedious talk of war +and discussion of court etiquette of noble and more formal guests. Not +only her ladyship, but the maids thoroughly enjoyed him. + +His astonishment and fearful protest at the gorgeous robe put on him +turned them from pity to amusement. Said a bolder wench--"Take and enjoy +the gifts of her ladyship as offered. The chance is not likely again to +present itself. Put aside all thought of past; seek pleasure in the +present, without regard to the future." Though spoken with a smile which +showed the whole row of beautiful teeth, there was a menace in the words +which came home to him. If he had had some suspicions of his +whereabouts, he felt sure of it now. There were but rumours and +suspicions, slanders of course, of which he seemed destined to prove the +truth. The knowledge seemed to add dignity to his pose. He would await +her ladyship's exit from the bath. Conducted to the garden he strolled +its beautiful inclosure, noted the high roofs on every side. Standing by +the _tsukiyama_ he heard the shuffling of sandals. Turning he prostrated +himself before the _himegimi_. Rosy, with sparkling eyes, long flowing +black hair, regal presence, she was indeed the goddess Benten Sama in +human flesh and blood. Without rising the toilet dealer made +request--"Deign the honoured pity. To spend one's life in the service of +the honoured Presence, this has been said; and for the words regret +there is none. It is for those dependent. Condescend that no harm come +to them, no distress from this visitation of gods and the Buddha. +Willingly the price is paid for the delicious dream, no grudge felt for +what is to follow." + +The _himegimi_ stopped short. For some time she was lost in thought. +This man was keen enough of wit to know the price at which her favours +were bought; brave enough not to flinch, or to make abortive effort to +avoid his fate. Her whole experience brought feeling of disgust toward +men, when once satiated. With this man the chord of pity was touched. +The honoured sleeves were wet with the honoured tears as she made answer +to the plea. Without slightest effort to deny her once purpose she +consoled and reassured him. "It was determined, that granted favour you +should never leave this place." Her brow darkened for a moment at the +ominous words; than cleared radiant. "Those who enter here ascribe to +their good fortune the pleasures they enjoy. Instead of modest gratitude +they show the arrogance of possession. Purpose was first shaken by the +filial love expressed for those who gave you being, the tender care and +anxiety for their welfare. A man like you, one is assured of his faith +and silence. At night you shall depart from here unharmed." She took him +by the hand, and when he would show respect, with familiarity drew him +along with her. Thus they walked the gardens, talking of varying +subjects; she listening to his explanations and instances of life in the +common world, and questioning him adroitly as to his past and future. +Then the return was made to the inner apartments of the palace. From +this stray honey bee the little lady sucked the last juices of its +nature. The day was spent in the same riotous merriment and feasting. At +the order of the _himegimi_ he had withdrawn for the moment from her +presence. When the maid came toward him, it was with expectation of +another summons that he followed after. She took him to a little room. +Here were his coarse garments and his pack. To these were added the +gifts heaped on him by her ladyship. The change of garb completed +suddenly the girl took him in her embrace, pressing the now soft +perfumed hair and warm moist skin of his neck. "Ah! You lucky fellow! +But know that silence is golden." With this she as suddenly seized his +hand and led him swiftly along the dark corridor. At its end an _amado_ +was slipped back, and they were in the garden. To a postern gate she +fitted the key. Pack adjusted he would turn to make salutation. Two +slender firm hands laid on his shoulders sent him flying into the +roadway. The gate closed with a sharp bang, and all sign of this fairy +palace disappeared. + +Every day the toilet dealer had prayed to _kami_ and Buddha, made his +offering of "cash" at the favoured shrines, performed such pilgrimages +(_sankei_) as his limited means and scanty time permitted. To this alone +is to be ascribed his escape. Not so with others: to turn the page to a +second instance--One day a maid from above called to the gate +guard--"Stop that man!"--"Who?" The guard was at loss, not what to do, +but whom to stop. Promptly the highway was roped off. None were allowed +to move until inspection was made. As the plebeians lay prostrate with +noses on the backs of their hands they marvelled and spoke to each +other. "Truly a wondrous event! Some great rascal must have been +detected. Thanks to the _kami_ and the Buddhas the heart of this +Taro[u]bei is clean."--"And of this Jimbei. To pay the debt to the +_sake_ shop he has not hesitated to contract Tama to the Yoshidaya of +Yoshiwara."--"Well done!" quoth his friend. "Then credit at the Echigoya +is good?"--"Deign to come and drink a glass of poor wine, to the +pleasure and good luck of Jimbei." The edifying conversation was +interrupted by call for inspection. All passers by but men were +summarily motioned on. A maid stood by--"No, not this one ... nor this +one ... nor that.... Ah! That big brown fellow, with huge calves. He is +the man." At once the "big brown man" with enlarged pediments was cut +out from the heap of humanity, with whispering fear and looks the others +went about their business. "Truly his crime must be very great. Yet who +would suspect it! He is not an ill looking fellow by any means." Others +shook their heads as they went away, vowing never again to take this +road to work, or home, or pleasure. + +Before the _yakunin_ the prisoner fell on his knees. "Deign the honoured +pardon. Doubtless grave is the offence; but of it there is no +remembrance. An humble wheel-wright of Kanda, this worthless fellow is +known as Gonjuro[u]. It is work at Nakano which brings him hither." He +turned from one officer to the other. They disregarded his prayers, and +delivered him over to the maid, directing him to obey her orders, or +suffer for it. In dumbfounded surprise and gathering confidence he +followed after. Surrounded by the army of maids he more than readily +submitted to their ministrations. The freedom of the bath, the donning +of the gorgeous robe, pleased him beyond measure. To their quips and +words of double meaning he made ready answer, meeting them more than +half way with the obscenity of the Yoshiwara. "Taro[u]bei is tricked out +like an actor." At this all the greater was their merriment and +boisterousness. Introduced into the presence of her ladyship, his first +confusion at the magnificence of the surroundings was quickly removed by +his cordial reception. The _himegimi_ laughed at sight of him; laughed +still louder at his uncouthness. Then she passed to more earnest +measures; praised his thickness of limb, the sturdy robustness of neck +and loins. To his apologies--she urged him not to be frightened or +backward. Pushing the thick shock of hair back from his eyes he eyed her +with growing comprehension. After all a woman was a woman. "'Tis no +fault of this Taro[u]bei. The _yakunin_ compelled his presence. For such +a noble lady he would make any sacrifice." He spoke with bold look and +manner, thoroughly understanding now the nature of his summons at the +caprice of some great lady. Had he not suffered equal good fortune with +the beauties of Yoshiwara? He treated lady and maids with the same free +familiarity and sportive roughness as if in one of his favoured haunts. + +All the more was the _himegimi_ amused at his extravagance. She made no +sign of displeasure, and the girls made little resistance to the +fellow's boisterous manifestations as he tousled them. Always her +ladyship had eyes of the greatest appreciation on this splendid animal. +The feast set before him he looked on with small favour. "What then +tickles the palate of Juro[u]?" She leaned toward him, her face flushed +with this struggle to cage her latest prize. The silvery and enticing +voice had for answer--"Take (bamboo); just plain boiled, with syrup and +_sho[u]yu_." Then timidly, as he sought her good will--"Just a little +wine; two _go_ (a pint) ... say five _go_." She laughed with good +humour. His choice among this bevy of beauties at last had fallen +spontaneously on herself. The conquest pleased her. Then he was well +stuffed with coarse foods, hunted out of the supplies for the grooms and +stablemen in the palace kitchen, with _sake_ of a harsh and burning +kind--"which had some taste to it." Indeed never had he drank such! The +_himegimi_ sipped a drop or two of the acrid liquor, made a wry face, +and sought to bring the scene to its climax. + +With the bath next day he was all grumbling and exigencies. The maids +bore this with patience, and glances interchanged. Her ladyship had +promised him breakfast to restore exhausted Nature--"And such was +promised as that this Taro[u]bei would never need another." He roared +his dissatisfaction. The hint was taken up at once. "This way: it is for +the _yakunin_ to carry out her ladyship's order, and to stop your +gullet." The brusqueness of the _samurai_ was poor exchange for the +noisy amorous atmosphere of the inner palace. With indignation the +worthy wheelwright obeyed the order to march ahead. "Ah! Just wait my +fine fellow. A word to the lady of the mansion, and you shall learn the +cost of insult to the man she favours. This _yaro[u]_ Gonjuro[u] has no +other wife. Her ladyship takes him as adopted husband." The officer +winked and blushed a little at this very crude specimen. By this time he +had led the man to the well curb in the inner garden. Harshly--"Now down +with you. Favoured by the gods and Buddhas you cannot even hold your +tongue. Ladies like not boasting of their favours. 'Tis now the time to +express pity for you. Make ready!" Deftly he tripped him up, to send him +an all fours. The sword flashed, and the wheelwright's head rolled on +the ground. Just as it was the body was cast into the well. + +Such was the fate of those who found favour with the _himegimi_. More +and more suspicious became people of the strange disappearances traced +to the precincts of the palace. Strange tales went around, to gather +force with numbers. Kwanei 8th year (1635), whether for closer +supervision of the lady or actual necessity, she was removed to the +castle precincts, and there given quarters. Time doubtless it was, that +tempered these crazy outbursts of the _himegimi_. She lived until +Kwambun 12th year. On the 2nd month 21st day (12th September 1672) she +died at the age of seventy two years. Grand were the obsequies of one so +favoured by the Sho[u]gun. The _daimyo[u]_ went up in long processions +to condole with the suzerain at the death of a rich aunt, and +congratulate him on the possessions seized. On the 24th day the lord of +the land sent lavish incense and a thousand pieces of silver, by the +hand of Inaba Mimasaka no Kami Masamori, to Matsudaira Echigo Ke the son +and heir, doubtless glad enough to get this much out of his lady +mother's rich furniture and dower. From the Midai-dokoro, the +Sho[u]gun's consort, by the Bangashira (Superintendent) of the women's +apartments of the Sho[u]gunal palace, he secured another thousand pieces +of silver. All was treasure trove toward the heavy expense of the +imposing funeral. On the seventh day of the decease--the 27th day (18th +September)--the obsequies took place at the Tentokuji of Shiba, where +she was to rest, well weighted down by massive sandstone and an +interminable epitaph--of which the posthumous name of Tenso[u]-in can be +remembered. The Sho[u]gun Ke was present in his proxy of Tsuchiya Tajima +no Kami Kazunao. + +The Yoshida Goten had shorter shrift than its once occupant. The +_daimyo[u]_ were moving into _yashiki_ under the compulsory residence +edict. The _kyakubun_ were still met at the outskirts of the city, but +the many different palaces for their entertainment became superfluous. +The main part of the Yoshida Goten was pulled down, and its magnificent +timbers and decoration went to the equipment of the prior's hall of the +Kugyo[u]ji of Iinuma. This great temple, situate one _ri_ (2-1/2 miles) +to the north of Midzukaido-machi, in the plain at the base of +Tsukuba-san, is one of the eighteen holy places of the Kwanto[u], and +under the charge of the Jo[u]do[u] sect of Buddhists. In former days the +notice board was posted at the Chu[u]mon (middle gate), ordering all +visitors to dismount from horse or _kago_. The _bushi_ removed their +swords on presenting themselves for worship. The temple itself is of +moderately ancient foundation, being established in Oei 21st year (1414) +by the two Hanyu lords, Tsunesada and Yoshisada, who built the castles +of Yokosome and Hanyu, close by here in Shimosa. Grand is the _hondo[u]_ +(main hall); and grand the magnificent old pines and cedars which +surround it and line its avenues. These are set off by the girdle of the +flowering cherry, famed among the ancient seven villages of Iimura. +Moreover it was the scene of the early labours in youth of the famous +bishop--Yu[u]ten So[u]jo[u]; who solved so successfully the blending of +the pale maple colour of its cherry blossoms that he gave the name +_myo[u]jo[u] no sakura_, a new transcript of the "six characters." Here +he grappled with and prevailed over the wicked spirit of the Embukasane. +In later writers there is a confusion as to the tale of the Yoshida +Goten. The palace material was used for the construction of the prior's +hall.[13] In the Genwa period (1615-23) the Senhimegimi, eldest daughter +of Hidetada Ko[u] the second sho[u]gun, cut _short_ her beautiful hair +and assumed the name of the Tenju-in-Den (as nun). The hair was buried +here under an imposing monument; and later one of the ladies-in-waiting +of the princess--the Go-tsubone Iiguchi Hayao. (The name of the princess +Tsuruhime in _kana_ is probably a later and mistaken addition.) Thus +were the many adventures of the Takata Dono transferred to her equally +well known and beautiful elder sister. The Senhime, wife of Hideyori, +suffered and did quite enough herself for which to make answer. +Meanwhile the site of the Yoshida Goten in the Bancho[u] became more +than suspected. Jack-o-lanterns, the ghosts of the victims of the +_himegimi_, came forth from the old well to haunt and frighten +passers-by. Nor were subsequent attempts to use it encouraging. Thus the +ground lay idle and uncalled for, with no one to occupy it until the +grant of a large tract in Dosanbashi as site for the _yashiki_ of +Matsudaira Higo no Kami compelled removal of several of the _hatamoto_. +Among these were O[u]kubo Hikoroku and Aoyama Shu[u]zen.[14] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE SEN-HIMEGIMI (Princess Sen) + + +The Sen-_himegimi_, eldest daughter of Hidetada the second Sho[u]gun, +figures little in our story; enough so, however, to necessitate the +telling of one of the not least striking episodes in a life full of +event. Married at the mature age of six years to the Udaijin Hideyori, +son of the Taiko[u] Hideyoshi and lord of O[u]saka castle, those +childish years were the happiest of that period. Clouds were rising +between Toyotomi and Tokugawa as the princess approached nubile years. +On her the Yodogimi, mother of the Udaijin, visited the more personal +effects of her resentment. For the growing girl it was a period of tears +and affliction. In truth she well knew the weight of her mother-in-law's +hand. So wretched was her life that there was some fear of her killing +herself. A powerful influence in screening her in these later years was +that of the famous Kimura Nagato no Kami. Shigenari and his wife Aoyagi +were the guides and friends of the _himegimi_ during this trying period; +her councillors to forestall cause of the Yodogimi's wrath. Moreover the +pleasant relations between the young husband and wife were an incentive +to bear a burden patiently, which time might remove. Nevertheless the +Yodogimi was inexorable. The night screens were set up in different +chambers. When the Sen-himegimi made her escape from O[u]saka castle she +was sixteen years old, and in all likelihood a virgin. + +As to the stories of her escape from the besieged castle, then in the +very throes of the final vigorous and successful assault by the three +hundred thousand men surrounding it, these vary. According to one +account Iyeyasu Ko[u], brows knit with anxiety as he watched his men +pressing to the attack, thumped his saddle bow as vigorously as waning +years now permitted--"The Senhime to wife, to him who brings her safe +from the castle!" Not a man in his train moved. They looked at the +blazing mass before them, the flying missiles--and staid where they +were. Then came forward a Tozama _daimyo[u]_, Sakasaki Dewa no Kami +Takachika.[15] Prostrating himself he announced his purpose to make the +attempt. Making his way into the blazing pile of the burning castle he +found the Senhime amid her frightened maids. Wrapping her up carefully +he took her in his arms, and with great regard for her person, and none +for his own, he sought her rescue. The last chance was through the +blazing mass of the great gate. Just as he was about to clear it, down +came the tottering superincumbent structure almost on their heads. The +red hot tiles, the sparks like a fiery deluge, the blazing fragments of +wood carried and tossed by the air currents, surrounded them as in a +furnace. Nearly all the train perished in the attempt. Dewa no Kami +succeeded in presenting himself before the O[u]gosho[u] (Iyeyasu). Even +the old captain could but turn with pity from the hideously disfigured +man. The Senhime in all her beauty was saved. Bitter was her resentment +against all--father, grandfather, their partisans--who had refused the +gift of life to the young husband. Rescue or no rescue, she absolutely +refused to carry out the agreement and become the wife of this--mask. + +Other tales are less romantic. The most prosaic sends Dewa no Kami to +Kyo[u]to, on orders of Hidetada Ko[u]. For the princess a second bed was +to be found among the Sekke (the five great _kuge_ Houses of the +imperial court). The mission was not unsuccessful, but by the time the +messenger returned Hidetada had changed his mind.[16] Brusquely he +offered her to Dewa no Kami. The Senhime got wind of these movements. +Her resentment toward the Tokugawa House determined her hostile stand. +She would not be an instrument to their advancement. Family relations +were taken very seriously. It is to be remembered that her uncle +Hideyasu, adopted into the Toyotomi, was so fiercely loyal to that House +that his natural father, the O[u]gosho[u] Iyeyasu, poisoned him, by his +own hand and a gift of cakes, it is said. Those likely to hitch and +hamper the movement against O[u]saka, such as the famous Kato[u] +Kiyomasa, found short shrift in the soup bowl. At all events the insult +of refusal fell on Dewa no Kami. After all, by the most authentic tale, +he seems to have deserved no particular credit. As to the actual escape +from O[u]saka-Jo[u] either of the following versions can be accepted. As +suicide was the inevitable issue for the defeated, the Yodogimi, with +some reluctance, had announced her purpose; and her intent to involve +the _himegimi_ in the fate of herself and son. This was but the ethics +of the time; and was neither cruel nor unusual. It was thoroughly +constitutional. Fortunately the fears of the Lady Dowager made her +add--"the time is not yet propitious." She left the keep, intending to +ascertain in person how matters went on outside, before going on with +the ceremony inside. The maids of the Senhime at once surrounded her and +urged flight. Overpowering any resistance, moral and physical, these +energetic _samurai_ women bundled their mistress well into _futon_ +(quilts). Then with no particular gentleness they lowered her over the +castle wall. Others followed her--to destruction or better luck, without +_futon_. Some twenty of them risked the descent. Horiuchi Mondo[u], a +gentleman of Kishu[u] Kumano, noticed the unusual group. They besought +an aid for the princess he readily gave. Dewa no Kami happened to come +on the scene, and promptly took the responsibility of the safety of the +princess on his own shoulders. + +Here the two versions join, for by the other Ono Shuri, captain of the +defense and hence most seriously involved, sought the safety of his own +daughter. The princess therefore was sent from the castle, under the +care of his _karo[u]_ Yonemura Gonemon, to plead for the lives of the +Udaijin and his mother the Yodogimi. Ono was careful to include his +daughter in the train, and the _karo[u]_ followed his illustrious +example. Dewa no Kami met the party outside the castle, and grasped the +chance of being agreeable by escorting it to the camp of the +O[u]gosho[u]. Honda Sado no Kami here was in charge. His mission to the +grandfather was eminently successful. Iyeyasu, overjoyed at the escape +of the beloved grandchild, consented; provided that of the actual +Sho[u]gun be obtained. All rejoiced, with little thought of Hidetada's +harsh feeling. Perhaps the message expressed this; perhaps it was spoken +to cover refusal, for he had deep affection for his children. But as in +greatest wrath he made answer--"The thing is not to be spoken of. Why +did she not die together with Hideyori?" The Senhime was safe enough now +in his camp; and he did not purpose the escape of his rival Hideyori, to +be a permanent danger to his House. The princess, worn out by many days +of suffering, went to sleep in the shed which furnished her with +quarters, and never woke until high noon on the following day. By that +time she could choose between the tales of her husband's escape to +Satsuma; or his suicide and her widowhood, the only proof of which was +the finding of the hereditary sword of the Toyotomi House. She clung to +the former story, despite the ascertained suicide of the Yodogimi, who +hardly would have allowed the escape of the son and her own destruction. +Thus disgruntled, later the _himegimi_ was removed to Kyo[u]to, fiercely +hostile to all the Kwanto[u] influence. + +A word in conclusion as to the fate of the attendants, thus skilfully +foisted on her. The daughter of Ono Shuri had escaped, with all the +sufferings and passions aroused by family disaster. When subsequently +the princess was removed to Edo she went in her train. They were +companions in misfortune. In the hostile atmosphere she was taken with a +consumption, long to undergo its torments. Overcome by homesickness she +would return to former scenes, and worship at her father's grave. +Permission was now granted. Yonemura accompanied the dying girl to the +capital. Here Ono Shuri had lost his head in the bed of the Kamogawa +(the execution ground). Here at Kyo[u]to the daughter found her tortured +end. Gloomy the old vassal prepared the funeral pyre of his mistress. As +the flames shot high and wrapped the corpse, a woman's figure darted +forward and sprang into the midst. Unable to distinguish the bones of +his daughter from those of the honoured mistress, Gonemon placed the +remains of both within the same casket, to rest at the last beneath the +pines and cedars of the holy mountain of Ko[u]ya. + +On June 4th (1615) the castle had fallen. The date is important in +connection with one of the current scandals. Later the Senhime was +escorted down to Edo by Honda Mino no Kami Tadamasa, in whose train was +his handsome son To[u]nosuke (Tadatoki). He is said to have been like +enough in appearance to the Udaijin Hideyori to act as his substitute in +the most intimate sense. The fierce little lady fell violently in love +with him. By the time Edo was reached she ought to have married Honda, +and in the passage of the months and days would have to. At all events +this rather disproportionate marriage was early proposed to the council +of the Bakufu, and after some discussion accepted. This decision was not +reached until Genwa 2nd year 9th month (October 1616), or more than a +full year after the fall of the castle. The failure to carry out the +agreement with Dewa no Kami afforded ample reason for the extremity to +which this latter's rage was carried. By all accounts he had lost a +bride, the acknowledged beauty of the land, apart from the great +influence of the connection. Perhaps his own hideous disfigurement was +involved. He determined to lie in wait for the journey down to Himeji, +Honda's fief; and kill or carry off the lady. The Sho[u]gun's Government +got wind of the purpose. The lords were storming with wrath, and a +public fracas was feared. All composition had been refused. Dewa refused +to see his friend Yagyu[u] Munenori, sent to him as messenger of +greatest influence. Secret orders then were sent that Dewa no Kami must +be induced to cut belly, or--his vassals ought to send his head to Edo. +The Sho[u]gun's word and bond must be saved. The vassals knew their +lord, and had not loyalty enough to act otherwise than to sever his +head, as he lay sleeping off a drunken fit in broad daylight. It was +against rewarding this disloyal act that Honda Masazumi showed open +opposition to the council's decision; and Hidetada Ko[u] himself +disapproved enough not to inflict extinction (_kaieki_) on the family of +the dead lord, the usual process. The continuance of the succession was +permitted on the Sho[u]gun's order. All these matters were so public +that little credit is to be given to the role assigned to Sakasaki Dewa +no Kami in the event about to be described; the issue of which was so +unfortunate in the carrying out, that Sakasaki, in command of the bridal +cortege and keenly feeling the disgrace, cut open his belly in +expiation; and that the Government, to hush up talk as to attack on the +train of the princess, put forward as explanation the proposed treachery +and resultant death of Dewa no Kami. + +As to the event itself: with greatest reluctance, uncertain as to her +former husband's fate, the Senhime had been forced into agreement with +the Honda marriage. From the Nishimaru (western) palace the bridal +cortege took its way to the _yashiki_ of Honda near the Hitotsubashi +Gomon. Time was at a discount in those days, and by no means was the +shortest route to anything taken. The procession filed out of the +Sakurada Gomon, to circle with its pompous glitter the outer moat. All +went very well. The _yashiki_ walls bordering Tayasumura were slipping +by. Then the steadily accumulating clouds poured forth their contents. +It was a downpour, blinding in effect. The _rokushaku_ of the +Kurokwagumi--stout and tall palanquin bearers, "six footers"--floundered +and staggered in the mud. The heavy palanquin came to the ground. Great +was the rage of the princess at this unseemly precedent for such an +occasion. "Rude ruffians! By this very hand this scum shall die!" +_Te-uchi_ was to be the lot of the miserable fellows prostrate in +obeisance and seeking pardon in the blinding storm from the lady's +dagger, menacing them from the open door of the palanquin. The Lady of +O[u]saka was quite capable of carrying out her threat. Abe +Shiro[u]goro[u], later the famous Bungo no Kami, was equal to the +occasion. With soft words he would soothe her. "Congratulations to the +_Himegimi_! May her highness deign to accept the so happy augury of +present ill luck bringing good fortune throughout a long and happy life. +Deign to regard with future favour the words of Shiro[u]goro[u]." He got +as near the mud as he dared in his respectful salutation. The lady's +face softened. She was appeased. + +Then she held up the hand, with the dagger still ready for action. +Shiro[u]goro[u] sprang to his feet. Something else than storm was in +progress. In the escort ahead there were other sounds than the rumbling +and sharp crash of the thunder, the swishing of rain wind driven. The +flashes of lightning showed that the cortege was the object of a most +determined attack, which sought to make its way to the palanquin of the +princess. Abe Shiro[u]goro[u] would have leaped forward, but the +flashing eyes and presence of the _himegimi_ held him to her nearer +defence. The number of the assailants could not be ascertained in this +darkness like to night.[17] The tower of defence was Yagyu[u] Tajima no +Kami, greatest master of the sword in Nippon. He had the support of the +younger O[u]kubo, of Kondo[u] Noborinosuke, of Mizuno Juro[u]zaemon even +then noted as expert with the spear. In general command was the beloved +superintendent of the _hatamoto_, O[u]kubo Hikozaemon. In daylight the +affair would have been easy. But in this darkness they had to stand to +their defence. That it was an attack by O[u]saka _ro[u]nin_, enraged at +the marriage of the princess, there was no doubt. But what their +numbers? So far the defense was impregnable. There was nothing to fear. +Three of the leaders of the _ro[u]nin_ lay on the ground. Their chief, +visible in the lightning flashes, could not hope for success. It was the +old and still active Hikozaemon, the _oyaji_ (old chap), the hardened +warrior of Iyeyasu, who scented out the threatening move. He sprang off +into the dark wood, almost as the crack of the musket was heard. They +would seek the life of the _himegimi_ with deadly missiles! How +contemptible; for great as yet was the scorn of such use. Vigorous was +the old man's pursuit of a foe, seeking to ascertain his success and +reluctant to flee. "Ah! Ah! Rascal! Just wait! Wait for this +Hikozaemon!" The fellow did wait, a little too long. Noting the +lessening darkness, the discomfiture of his train, he turned to flee in +real earnest. As he did so, Hikozaemon, despairing of success, hurled +his dirk. Deep into the fellow's shoulder it went. "Atsu!" Savagely he +turned on the old man. Hikozaemon was skilled in defence, but stiffening +with age. His opponent showed himself an able warrior. "Ah! Ha! 'Tis +Hikozaemon Dono. With him there is no quarrel. Deign to receive a +wound." The old fellow's sword dropped helpless under a sharp rap over +the wrist from the back of the blade. This was enough for the man's +purpose. With laughing and respectful salutation, of short duration, he +turned to a more successful flight. + +The storm cleared away, the cortege was re-formed; to enter in state the +_yashiki_ of Honda Sama. It was said that he got but a cold bride--one +on whom only "the bed quilt lay light." Time, the ascertained fact of +Hideyori's death, worked a change in the insanity simulated by the +princess. Then she was so taken with her lord that she proved fatal to +him. He died at the age of thirty-one years, was buried in his castle +town of Himeji, leaving but one daughter as issue by the princess. The +lady returned to residence at the Takebashi Goten, to be a disgruntling +influence in her brother's court. But Honda Ke had not done badly. This +consort made him a minister in the Sho[u]gun's household (Nakatsukasa no +Tayu), a more likely promotion than one at the age of sixteen years, at +this date of the Sho[u]gunate. From 10,000 _koku_ his fief was raised to +150,000 _koku_; and he secured a wife so beautiful that his exodus to +the houris of Paradise was a bad exchange. Meanwhile what was the cause +of objection, thus expressed by force of arms, to the conduct and +nuptials of the Sen-himegimi? + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SHU[U]ZEN ADOLESCENS + + +The struggle between Toyotomi and Tokugawa was of that embittered +character which follows from two diverse theories of political +structure. The Taiko[u] Hideyoshi, by force of military genius and +constructive statesmanship, had assumed the pre-eminent position in the +land. In doing so he had drawn to himself a sturdy band of followers +whose whole faith and devotion lay in the Toyotomi. Such were the "seven +captains," so conspicuous in the defence of O[u]saka-Jo[u] in later +years. Such were the doughty fighters Susukita Kaneyasu (Iwami +Ju[u]taro[u]) and Ban Danemon. The latter unceremoniously shook off +allegiance to his lord on the latter's treachery at Sekigahara, and +turned _ro[u]nin_. Such were great recalcitrant nobles thumped into +complete submission, granted unexpected and favourable terms in their +capitulation, devoted henceforth to the Toyotomi House, and of whom the +Cho[u]so[u]kabe of Tosa are representative. It is the fashion of modern +historians to regard and speak of these brave men as irreconcileables +and swashbucklers; thus tamely following after the Tokugawa writers of +contemporary times, and imperialistic writers of to-day, to whom all +opposition to the favoured "Ins" is high treason. As matter of fact, if +men like the Ono were lukewarm and seeking their own advantage; if Obata +Kambei Kagemori was a mere traitorous spy of the Tokugawa; Sanada +Yukimura and Kimura Nagato no Kami, and in humbler sense Susukita +Kaneyasu and Ban Danemon, if they had much to gain by the victory of +their lord, yet were willing to endure hardship, face a defeat early +seen, and accept the inevitable death which was meted out to him who +refused the attempts at bribery and corruption of the victor. The +"_ro[u]nin_," of whom the then Tokugawa chronicles and captains spoke so +contemptuously, were in the bulk not only "the outs," as opposed to +"the ins," but they were too devoted to their party tamely to accept +service with the enemy. Large were the bribes actually offered to Sanada +and Kimura; and any or all of the seven captains could have made terms +of advantage--to themselves. + + "The scent of the plum, with the flower of the cherry; + Blooming on branch of willow 'tis seen."[18] + +Iyemitsu Ko[u] hung this poem on the flowering plum tree to which he +gave the name of Kimura no Ume; a conscious tribute to the chivalry of +Shigenari. And O[u]kubo Hikozaemon risked life and favour in the +destruction of the plant, and rebuke of the bad taste shown to men who +had lost fathers, brothers, gone down before the deadly spear of the +young captain. + +The fall of O[u]saka-Jo[u] decided the fate of the Toyotomi House. Not +at once, for the rumour of the Udaijin's escape to Kyu[u]shu[u] kept +alive hopeful resentment in the minds of the scattered _samurai_ whose +captains had perished in the battles around O[u]saka, had died or cut +belly in the final assault, or had lost their heads by the executioner's +sword in the bed of the Kamogawa. Among those who found refuge in the +hills of Iga was a certain Ogita Kuro[u]ji; a retainer of Nagato no +Kami. This man gathered a band of kindred spirits, among whom his +favoured lieutenant was Mo[u]ri Muneoki, although he much leaned to the +astonishing acumen of Kosaka Jinnai, a mere boy in years, but hiding in +his short and sturdy form a toughness and agility, with expertness in +all feats of arms, which discomfited would be antagonists. In the +discussions as to future movements there was wide difference of opinion. +Muneoki, the true partisan, proposed to rejoin Hideyori in Satsuma. "The +prince is now harboured by Higo no Kami; Shimazu Dono of Satsuma, close +at hand, will never permit the entrance of the Tokugawa into his +borders. It is at Kagoshima-Jo[u] that the prince will reorganize his +party; and thither duty calls." But Kosaka Jinnai was equally positive +in the opposite sense. He turned Muneoki's own argument against the +proposal. The prince could well be left to organize the West. It was +for others to see how affairs went in the North. Therefore the first +thing was to hasten to Edo, to ascertain the position of Date Masamune +and the great northern lords at this final triumph of the Tokugawa, when +at last their jealousy and fear might be aroused to opposition. + +Adventurous inclination, the desire to meet rather than run away from +the enemy, turned the scale to Edo. Reluctantly Muneoki agreed. With +Jinnai he proceeded, to learn the state of affairs as to the great +northern House, so devoted to the new creed of Yaso (Jesus) as certain +to be angry and alarmed at the savage persecution now entered on by the +second Sho[u]gun. They returned to meet Ogita and the other captains at +Odawara, and with unpleasant news. Masamune Ko[u], luckily for his would +be interviewers, was absent at Sendai. However there was no difficulty +in finding out that far from dreaming of further embassies to Rome from +the Prince of O[u]shu[u], he had and was acting so vigorously that +probably in no quarter of Nippon was the hostile and treacherous creed +so thoroughly stamped out. The watch and ward of the north country was +practically left to a loyalty of which the Tokugawa felt assured. +Muneoki made this report with bitter joy, and Jinnai could not say him +nay. Then the former carried out his first plan. He made his way to +Kyu[u]shu[u], to learn the truth as to the Udaijin's fate. Assured of +this he harboured with the malcontents of Higo and Hizen, to take his +part and perish some years later in the Amakusa uprising. + +Perhaps the tartness of Mori's criticism made his company unacceptable. +Ogita preferred to follow the urging of Jinnai and his own inclination +to observe how matters were going in Edo. Most of the company followed +him, to establish themselves as best they could in the confusion of the +growing town, rendered a thousand times worse by the settlement of the +later troubles and the flocking of all classes to this eastern capital. +Ogita set up as a doctor in Daikucho[u] (carpenters' street) of the +Nihonbashi ward, under the name of Gita Kyu[u]an. His chief lieutenant, +Jinnai, settled close to his leader in Kuremasacho[u], figuring as a +physiognomist, of near enough relation to excite no comment in the +companionship with the older man. His own years were disguised by an +ample growth of hair and the past experience of an accomplished rascal. +Jinnai could have passed himself off for a man of thirty odd years. The +house of a physiognomist was overrun with visitors, whom Jinnai knew how +to sift, and who had no particular wish to encounter each other. Hence +the presence of the leaders, with his own particular followers, Watanabe +Mondo, Ashizuke To[u]suke, Yokoyama Daizo[u], Hyu[u]chi To[u]goro[u], +excited no comment among the neighbours. The question of the marriage of +the Senhime, the honoured widow of the Udaijin Ko[u], soon was stirring +up a ferment in higher circles than these in Edo town. Sakai Uta no Kami +and Doi Oi no Kami of the _ro[u]ju[u]_ (council of state) were keen to +urge the match. She was young, and they plead the cruelty of forcing +celibacy on her. She was the centre of the ill disposed and most +willingly so. The stern old soldier Aoyama Hoki no Kami took the +opposite ground. It was for her to cut short her hair and pray for the +soul of the husband perished in the flames of O[u]saka-Jo[u]. Such was +the precedent, and, he hinted with good ground, the disposition of the +princess, then coquetting with Toshitsune lord of the great Maeda House +of Kaga. Besides he knew that Kasuga no Tsubone, powerful influence in +the private apartments of the palace, was urging on the match. The mere +fact of her constant interference in the public affairs irritated Hoki +no Kami beyond measure. He was acting through sentiment and +conservatism. Kasuga and her allies were acting on political motives. +They carried the day; to the great indignation of Hoki no Kami, and of +an assistance he never dreamed of. + +Among the band of _ro[u]nin_ the matter was discussed with all the +greater heat and bitterness of purpose, inasmuch as they had to do so +mouth to ear. Ogita expressed their feeling when he summed up the matter +as an outrageous breach of chastity on the part of a princess, who could +not positively know whether the husband was yet living, or really had +died at O[u]saka--"Hence she is doubly guilty, of treachery and +pollution of her living lord; or of shameful lechery in this open +neglect of his memory and seeking another bed. Moreover to put her to +death will strike terror into the partisans of the Tokugawa, and give +courage to all the adherents of the cause, of whom thousands are +gathered here in Edo. A display of vigour will maintain those inclined +to the new service true to the cause." All rapturously agreed. The +occasion of the marriage and procession was settled upon for the attack, +in which the leaders and some eighty men were engaged. The result, as +told, was disastrous to them. Watanabe and Ashizuke were killed by +Tajima no Kami's own hand. Kondo[u] Noborinosuke thrust his spear +through the belly of Yokoyama Daizo[u]. Jinnai brought off in safety the +bulk of the party. Ogita had tried to bring down the lady princess by a +gun shot. In the straggle with Hiko[u]zaemon he purposely did the old +man as little injury as possible. Respect for the grand old warrior, an +amused interest in one whose influence lay in plain speaking, held his +hand. If O[u]kubo Dono was entitled freely to express his opinion of the +Sho[u]gun Ke, Kuro[u]ji took it as no insult to endure the same himself. +He reached his home with a painful but not dangerous wound in the +shoulder, to grunt over the infliction and this latest discomfiture. + +His nurse was not at all to the taste of Kosaka Jinnai. O'Yoshi was a bare +twenty-three years in age. She was a beauty and a flirt. Ogita indulged in +the greatest expansion with her; as would the man of fifty years to the +girl, a mistress young enough to be a daughter. The months and weeks +passed following the attempt on the Senhime. The effort to hunt out the +perpetrators had been given up in despair. The population of Edo as yet +was too fluid and shifting to take very exact account of its movements. +Doubtless they were _ro[u]nin_, and had promptly scattered on failure of +the attack. Then the constant attempts at incendiarism, in many cases +successful, began to attract attention. The two _machibugyo[u]_, together +with the particular office for detection of thieves and incendiaries, were +at their wits end to trace out this gang of fire bugs. One day O'Yoshi was +just leaving the bath house in Daikucho[u] called the Cho[u]senya, when +she met with an adventure. A young _samurai_ coming along the street +attracted her admiring attention. He was barely twenty years of age, of +good height and commanding presence. In black garb and wearing _hakama_, +his two swords tucked in his girdle, and his cue trimmed high, attended +by a _do[u]shin_ and several _yakunin_, the procession greatly flattered a +woman's feeling. She tripped along, towel in hand, and her eyes anywhere +but on her footing. Suddenly the strap of her clog broke. She was pitched +forward, just able to keep her balance. The _samurai_ trod sharply on the +discarded _geta_. A cry of pain followed, and O'Yoshi was all discomfiture +at sight of the blood staining the white _tabi_ of the young lord. At once +she was humble apology for her awkwardness, very badly received by the +_do[u]shin_ who scolded her most severely--"Careless wench! Such rudeness +is not to be pardoned." He would have laid rough hands on her, but Aoyama +Shu[u]zen interfered. The woman was pretty, the injury painful, and he was +young. "Don't scold her. It was by accident.... Don't be alarmed.... Ah! +It hurts!..." He looked around, as seeking a place to rest. + +O'Yoshi was very solicitous over the handsome young man. "Deign to +pardon the careless action. Alas! The foot of the young master is sadly +injured. My husband is a doctor, Gita Kyu[u]an, of wondrous skill in the +Dutch practice. Condescend to enter the poor house close by here, and +allow drugs to be applied to the wound." Shu[u]zen really was suffering +inconvenience and pain from his wound. Besides, as attached to the +office of the _machibugyo[u]_, he sought all means of contact with the +class whose offences were to be dealt with. He at once agreed. Ogita was +absent when they entered. O'Yoshi tended the wound herself. The salve +really had wonderful effect. Flow of blood and pain ceased. Cakes and +tea, for refreshment, were placed before Shu[u]zen. O'Yoshi entertained +him with amusing talk of the wardsmen of Nihonbashi, not the most stupid +in Nippon. She retailed the bath house gossip, and Aoyama carefully took +in costume, manners, and the conversation of the beauty, which did not +at all accord with her station in life. If she was connected with a +doctor now, at some time she had been intimate with men of affairs in +his own caste. He thanked her graciously and would have forced lavish +payment on her. O'Yoshi was all pained surprise and refusal. That her +reluctance was genuine he could easily see. "I am Aoyama Shu[u]zen, and +live in the _yashiki_ at Surugadai. The kindness shown is not to be +forgotten, and perhaps some day this Shu[u]zen can serve his hostess." +With compliments he took his leave. O'Yoshi watched the handsome youth +well out of sight. She could not hear the remark of Shu[u]zen to the +_do[u]shin_--"A suspicious house; no frowsy doctor shows such favour to +his dame. Dress, manners, language, betray contact with the _samurai_." +The officer nodded admiring assent to his young lord's acumen. + +Ogita Kuro[u]ji came limping home, to find O'Yoshi--Cho[u]senburo[u] +Yoshi, as this adventure dubbed her--overflowing with her experience. At +first he was rather pleased at such addition to his acquaintance. +O'Yoshi was a bait to all but Jinnai, who would detach him from her. The +others sought his favour to secure hers with greater ease. At mention of +the _do[u]shin_, subordinate officials of the legal machinery, the +official grade of the visitor, his brows knit. "Of official rank--that +will never do! Deign Yoshi to be careful in relations with this man, if +he should again appear. Engaged as is this Kuro[u]ji, the slightest +hint, a suspicion, would be most disastrous."--"Then the affair of the +Senhimegimi did not block matters? This Yoshi yet is to ride in +palanquin, to be a _daimyo[u]'s_ wife?" The tone was a little jeering, +and the laugh as of one sceptical. With thoughts on this new love the +reference to this futile scheming annoyed her. She would push this +acquaintance to the full effect of her charms. Ogita took some offence. +He spoke braggingly, but disastrously to the point--"Assuredly 'tis +Yoshi who shall be the lady of a _daimyo[u]_ of high place, not of a +meagre fifteen or twenty thousand _koku_. Kaga Ke, Maeda Toshitsune, is +grinding his sword. The great Houses in the west--Hosokawa, Bizen, +Kato[u], Mo[u]ri, Satsuma, will follow him. Give them but the +opportunity in the disorder of Edo, and the sword will be drawn. In a +month, Edo, fired at a hundred points will lie in ashes. Then...." He +stopped a little frightened. But she feigned the greatest indifference, +teased him into opposition. Sitting down before the wine she got out of +him the whole affair. Reverting to the accident--"But yourself, an +accident has been deigned. Has another Yoshi encountered Kuro[u]ji +Dono?" To the tender solicitude half laughing he made jesting answer. +"A Yoshi with beard and wearing two swords. To-day the contract was +signed by all with the blood seal. The wine feast followed. The talk was +earnest, some of it rash. Interposing in the quarrel, the dagger +intended for the belly of one, was sheathed in the thigh of this +Kuro[u]ji. A trifling flesh wound; well in a day or two, at present rest +is needed."--"A dangerous affair; if it gives rise so easily to +dispute." Such her comment. "Not so," answered the infatuated veteran. +"They are too far in to withdraw." Before her eyes he unrolled the +scroll. Her eye quickly ran along the crowded columns of the names--by +the score. Here was indeed a big affair. Out of the corner of one eye +she watched him put it away. + +The salve Ogita Kuro[u]ji used for his wound had no such benefit as that +offered Aoyama Shu[u]zen; and perhaps O'Yoshi could have told the reason +of its failure. By the next day the wound was inflamed enough to make +movement difficult. Feeling the necessity of repair, Kuro[u]ji left all +matters to his mistress, and sought early recuperation in complete rest. +On plea of needed articles O'Yoshi was out of the house and on her +hurried way to the Aoyama _yashiki_ at Suragadai. The distance was +short; yet her plan was already laid. Her dislike for the ageing Ogita +was sharpened into hate by her love for the handsome young _samurai_. +Close to the _yashiki_ on pretext she entered the shop of a tradesman. +To her delight she learned that the Waka Dono, Aoyama Shu[u]zen, as yet +had no wife. She had a hundred yards to go, and her purpose and ambition +had expanded widely in that short distance. Her application for an +interview with his lordship was quickly granted. She had often been +subject of talk and comment between Shu[u]zen and his subordinate +officer. The _do[u]shin_ happened to be present, and the attendant +announced her at once. Passed to the inner apartment she found Shu[u]zen +as if he had been eagerly awaiting her coming for hours. Her reception +was flattering. The ordinary salutations over they passed to most +familiar talk, as of oldest friends between man and woman. When +Shu[u]zen would go further, and in love making press still greater +intimacy, her refusal was of that kind which sought compliance. Said she +with a smile--"Make Yoshi the wife of the Waka Dono and she will make +the fortune even of one so highly placed as Aoyama Dono." To his +incredulity and astonishment she would say no more. Shu[u]zen now was +determined not to let her go. He feigned consent, agreement to +everything, with much regard for her, and small regard for the promotion +at which he jested. Now they were in the very heigh-day of love. She +resented his scepticism, and in the heat of her passion gave him +everything--including the contract. His mistress by his side, seated in +the confidence of an accomplished love affair he listened to her stream +of revelation. This "doctor" and "husband" was neither doctor nor +husband. His name was Ogita Kuro[u]ji, an O[u]saka _ro[u]nin_. With +Kosaka Jinnai and others of the same kidney he had been the head and +front of the attempted rape of the Senhime. Shu[u]zen knew enough to +discount all the talk as to Maeda Ko[u], of the Hosokawa, and other +great Houses. They were beyond his sphere. But here in his hands lay the +web of a most important affair; so important that it frightened him a +little. As his brows knit O'Yoshi too grew a little frightened; +regretted that she had told so much all at once. She had babbled beyond +measure in her transport. She had misgivings. Shu[u]zen reassured her. +For her to return to Daikucho[u] would never do. A breath of suspicion, +and Ogita's sword would deprive him of his mistress. Safe quarters were +to be found in the _yashiki_. He called the _do[u]shin_, one Makishima +Gombei, and put her in his charge. The two men exchanged glances as she +was led away. + +The office of the south _machibugyo[u]_ was in a ferment when Aoyama +made his report. All available _yakunin_ were at once gathered. The list +was carefully gone over with the minister for the month, Hoki no Kami. +Despatched on their various missions the squads departed. To Shu[u]zen +was assigned the capture of Ogita Kuro[u]ji, leader of the conspiracy. +This latter was chafing at the prolonged absence of O'Yoshi. Some +accident must have happened to her. Then he remembered. She had gone to +Hacho[u]bori. Here lived a sister, whose delivery was daily expected. +Doubtless this commonplace event, yet surpassing in interest to every +woman, detained her. A confusion outside attracted his attention. There +was a crowd, and some disturbance. Hatsu! The people were being kept +back by _yakunin_. "The thoughts of Kuro[u]ji were those of the wicked." +At once he attributed their presence to himself. A look out at the rear +and he quickly shot to the wooden bar. Between the bamboo of the fence +men could be seen passing to and fro in numbers; and they were +_yakunin_. He had been betrayed. The counsel of Jinnai came to mind, and +he ground his teeth as he stood with drawn sword before the empty drawer +of the cabinet. The scarlet of the _obi_ of his false mistress flashed +before his eyes. He had to die unavenged. "On his lordship's business! +On his lordship's business!" The harsh voices sounded at the front. +Those who would enter uninvited found themselves face to face in the +narrow space with the old Kuro[u]ji, the man who had fought from Sagami +to Tosa, from Cho[u]sen to Kyu[u]shu[u]. The more incautious fell +severed with a cut from shoulder to pap. A second man put his hand to +his side, and rolled over to breathe his last in a pool of blood. +Visions of "Go-ban" Tadanobu came to mind. Kuro[u]ji would die, but he +would leave his mark on the foe. Shu[u]zen's men could make no progress, +except to swell the death roll or their wounds. In rage their lord +sprang to the encounter. Shu[u]zen was young, but it is doubtful if the +issue would have been successful with this man turned demon by the +double injury and treachery. But Ogita amid this horde of assailants had +suffered in his turn. In a parry his sword broke off short near the +hilt. With a yell he sprang to close quarters, dealing Shu[u]zen a blow +with the hilt that sent him reeling senseless to the ground. Then, +unable to accomplish more, and taking advantage of the respite caused by +the rescue of his foe, he sprang to the ladder leading above. Once on +the roof he saw that escape was hopeless. Already they were breaking +into the rear. Men were approaching over the neighbouring houses. In the +old style of ages past he waved them back with drawn dagger. There was +no Shu[u]zen to give command--"Take him alive!" They were only too glad +to halt and let him do his will. Stripping to his girdle, before the +assembled crowd he thrust his dagger into his left side and drew it +across his belly. Then he made the cross cut through the navel. +"Splendid fellow! A true _bushi_!" Admiring voices rose in the crowd. +The body of Kuro[u]ji fell forward and down into the street. Thus he +died. + +This affair had ended in a way to redound greatly to the credit of +Aoyama Shu[u]zen. Others had not been so successful. Of nearly two +hundred names only eighteen prisoners were secured. Shu[u]zen stamped +with impatience on learning of the escape of Kosaka Jinnai. He had +learned much about him from the hate of O'Yoshi. "That man is the real +leader of the band, the inspiration of Ogita Kuro[u]ji. Ah! Why could +not this Shu[u]zen be in two places at once!" Older officials bowed low, +and smiled to themselves and each other at youth's self confidence. +O'Yoshi now found short entertainment. Shu[u]zen had no further use for +the woman, for the means of his promotion. One day a _chu[u]gen_ led her +to the postern gate of the _yashiki_, put a paper containing a silver +_ryo[u]_ in her hand, and unceremoniously shoved her into the roadway. +The gate closed behind her. At first she hardly comprehended the meaning +of this treatment. Then, as it filtered into her mind, her rage passed +all measure. "Ah! The beast and liar! Yoshi was not fit to be the wife; +nay, not even the female companion of this arrogant lord?" She had been +juggled out of the secret of such value to him, then cast forth with the +wages of a prostitute summoned to the _yashiki_. The woman was helpless. +Broken in spirit she dragged herself off, to undergo a severe illness +brought on by despite. Her foul role ascertained, friends and family +would have nothing to do with her. Once recovered, she found herself +deprived of all means of subsistence, even that of beauty, by her +disease. Never more would she deal with the noble class, to be left with +such a legacy. She would pray for the salvation of the man she had +betrayed. On her way to the Asakusa Kwannon she passed the jail, then +near the Torigoebashi. Stumbling along just here she raised her head, to +confront the long line of rotting heads there set forth. Just facing her +was that of her ex-lover Ogita Kuro[u]ji. It took on life. The eyes +opened and glared fierce hate. The lips moved, and the teeth ground +together. Then the other heads made measured movements. "Atsu!" With the +cry she fell fainting to the ground, and it was difficult to restore +her to consciousness. For several years the half crazed beggar woman +sought alms near the jail, to act as guide and comment on the fresh +heads exposed, until as nuisance she was driven off by the guard. Then +the shameful swollen corruption of the body was drawn from the canal +close by; thus to end on the refuse heap the treachery of Cho[u]senburo +no O'Yoshi. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE GOD FAVOURS SHU[U]ZEN + + +The influence of a House close to the person of the Sho[u]gun was no +drawback to the close attention Aoyama Shu[u]zen gave to official duty +throughout his career. The Aoyama stood high in the council of the +governing power. Even an old blunderbuss like Hoki no Kami could not +shake this influence. When Yukinari tore the mirror from the hands of +the young Sho[u]gun Iyemitsu Ko[u], berated him roundly for effeminacy, +and dashed the offending object to pieces on the stones of the garden, +this wanton treatment of the prince could not be overlooked. "Invited" +to cut belly by his intimates and opponents in the council +(_ro[u]ju[u]_) he defied them, laid hand to sword, and swore they should +join him in a "dog's death." The timely entrance of O[u]kubo Hikozaemon +prevented the unseemly spectacle of three old soldiers and statesmen +enjoying the fierce and deadly pastime of one of the duels of Keicho[u] +(1596-1614). Hoki no Kami in his own way was right--and knew it; and he +had the tacit approval of Hidetada Ko[u]. The result was not _harakiri_, +but the offending noble was consigned to the care of his brother. He and +his were "extinguished"; for the time being, and to the greater glory of +his other relatives near the Sho[u]gun's person. Such was the rough +discipline in Hidetada's camp of Edo. The second Sho[u]gun, now retired +(O[u]gosho[u]--_inkyo[u]_), never lost the manners or the methods of the +battle field. + +The career of Aoyama Shu[u]zen therefore was a steady rise in the +Government service; in younger years attached to the immediate train of +the prince, in greater maturity to the enforcement of the edicts through +the legal machinery of the Bakufu. At this time he ruffled it bravely +with the other young blades. The younger _hatamoto_ on their part +opposed to the _otokodate_ of the townsmen the far more splendid +_Jingumi_ or divine bands. Yamanaka Gonzaemon knocked out several front +teeth and inserted in their places gold ones. Hence the rise of the +_Kingumi_ or Gold Band. Aoyama Shu[u]zen did likewise with substitution +of silver. Hence the _Gingumi_. They were all of the Mikawa _bushi_; +that is, drawn from the native province and closely affiliated to the +Tokugawa House. Hence these _hatamoto_ carried themselves high even +against the greater _daimyo[u]_, sure of support from their over-lord +the Sho[u]gun. As for the town, they did as they pleased, seeking +quarrels, distributing blows, and only restrained by wholesome reprisals +of _ro[u]nin_ or the _otokodate_ of the townsmen, who in turn relied on +such _daimyo[u]_ as Date Ko[u] and Maeda Ko[u], valued allies of the +Tokugawa House, yet showing no particular liking for the encroachments +of the palace clique on their own privileges. + +The necessity of moving quarters was equally an embarrassment to Aoyama +Shu[u]zen and to his intimate and neighbour O[u]kubo Hikoroku. O[u]kubo +suggested Honjo[u]--"The water lies close by. Hence in winter the place +is warm, in summer cool."--"And of mosquitoes swarms," interjected the +practical Aoyama. "If the hillside be cold, it surely is no drawback to +Hikoroku Uji." The one named made something of a wry face, and Aoyama +smiled apart. He knew that Hikoroku was not so affectioned to the +meetings of the Gaman Kwai as himself. However, smoothly--"This matter +of the Yoshida Goten coming up offers fair opportunity. The failure of +Endo[u] Uji need not discourage O[u]kubo Dono and this Aoyama." Both +smiled a little. They could put palace influences better to work. "It is +two thousand _tsubo_," said Shu[u]zen. "Just the thing: moreover, it is +close to palace duty. On this point Honjo[u] is not in the running. +Besides, the site has its own attraction. Of course Shu[u]zen takes the +well, in the division." O[u]kubo interposed a lively objection, the +shallowness of which Shu[u]zen could detect. He humoured his friend's +obstinacy. "Leave it to the lots." In haste the slips were +prepared--"Hachiman, god of the bow and feathered shaft, grant your +divine aid and bestow the old well ghost haunted on this Aoyama." Okubo +laughed at his earnestness. "Aoyama Uji leaves this O[u]kubo no resort +but in the Buddha. Good fortune to O[u]kubo, and may the will of the +Lord Buddha be done.... Naruhodo! 'Tis yours after all. The shaft of the +war god is stronger than the Buddha's staff." He took his disappointment +so well as to be the more urgent in securing the transfer. This was +granted, with expenses of removal. + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen superintended in person the preparation of his new +residence. This was soon in readiness as little was to be done. O[u]kubo +took cash and construction. The former villa, fallen to Shu[u]zen's +part, needed mainly air and light, and repairs to its rotten woodwork. +When it was time to think of the water supply Aoyama ordered the +cleaning out of the old well. The workmen began to talk--"'Tis the old +well of the inner garden, the Yanagi-ido of the Yoshida Goten. Danna +Sama, deign to order exorcism made, and that the well be filled up and +covered from men's sight." The Danna laughed at them, and was obstinate +in his purpose. He took upon himself all the wrath of the disturbed and +angered spirits. He hoped that they would not furnish material for more. +To hearten them, he and his men descended to the level of the water. +With headshakes and misgivings the chief ordered his men to the +task--"Pfu! It stinks of ghosts, or something. Surely there will be dead +men's bones for harvest; and perhaps those of the living. The old well +has not seen its last ill deed." As for the dead men's bones, the well +refuse was laid aside, and on Aoyama's order buried with no particular +reverence in the bowels of the _tsukiyama_ close by. "Let all the +spirits of the place find company together," he jeered. The _yashiki_ of +Komiyasan in Honjo[u] had its processions of marvels--dead men, frogs, +_tanuki_, and fox--to shake its _amado_ at night and divert the monotony +of those who lived therein. The portentous foot perhaps he could not +match, but he would share in this contest with ghostly visions. Chance +had offered him the opportunity. All was prepared. Shu[u]zen had +established himself. Nightly with his camp stool he took his seat by the +old well, to smoke his pipe and drink his wine--"Now! Out with you, +ghosts! Here present is Aoyama Shu[u]zen, _hatamoto_ of the land. He +would join in your revels. Deign to hasten.... What! The ghosts would +rest this night?" Thus night after night passed with his jeering and no +sign of the supernatural objects, not thus to be conjured. Time made the +pastime stale--as stale as the waters of the Yanagi-ido which never +furnished supply for the house or its tasks. Aoyama had the excuse of +drinking wine. As for the household, the women would not even use the +water for washing. They said it stunk too badly. In so far Shu[u]zen +failed. + +It was about the time of his entrance on this new possession that more +good fortune came to Shu[u]zen. He was made the magistrate whose office +covered the detection and punishment of thieves and incendiaries. It +showed the estimation in which he was held, and satisfied both the +vanity and the hard cold temper of Aoyama Shu[u]zen. Looking to results, +more than method, the selection was most satisfactory; if return of the +number of criminals was the index assumed. Until a method attracted +unfavourable attention by some scandal, only results were regarded by +the Bakufu. But his household could not regard with any easiness a +devotion of his lordship to the wine cup, which turned his court into a +wine feast. Up to this time Aoyama Shu[u]zen in all official duty had +shown himself hard, unbending, callous, conscientious. Now the element +of cruelty appeared, to develop rapidly with exercise until it was the +predominant tone. Some illustrations are to be given from events +occurring in these first three years of Sho[u]ho[u] (1644-6). + +Aoyama would show himself the strict disciplinarian. His chamberlain +(_yo[u]nin_) Aikawa Chu[u]dayu close beside him, his _do[u]shin_ seated +at either hand, he gave his orders and rebuke to the assembled +constables. He scowled at them. Then with voice harsh from the contents +of the big wine cup beside him he commanded--"Diligence is to be +expected of all. He who fails to make many arrests shows sloth or ill +will to his lord. Anyone against whom there is the slightest suspicion, +even if he or she be abroad late at night, is to be brought to the jail. +No explanation is to be allowed. There must be many arrests. Examination +in the court is to follow; and many crimes, discovered under the +torture, will be brought to punishment.... Heigh! Call up that old +fellow there.... Who? That Ryu[u]suke." At Shu[u]zen's order Ryu[u]suke +forthwith came close to the _ro[u]ka_. "You, fellow ... what manner of +man to act as constable are you? Days pass without a single prisoner +being brought in. This jade, found in the street at the hour of the rat +(11 P.M.) pleads excuse of illness and the doctor. This lurking +scoundrel, seeking to set half the town on fire, pleads drunkenness as +keeping him abroad. Thus many of these villainous characters, whores and +fire bugs, find field for their offenses. No more of such leniency. +Failure to arrest means dismissal from the service and punishment as an +ill-wisher. Oldest and most experienced, the greatest number of +prisoners is to be expected at your hands. Shu[u]zen shows mercy. Your +age remits the punishment, but dismissal shall afford example to the +rest as to the wisdom of showing energy." Thus he cast forth without +pity an ageing officer whose only offense was an experience which sought +the mission of the night straggler, and allowed the harmless to go free. +Ryu[u]suke went forth from the office of the _bugyo[u]_ stripped of the +means of living and of reputation, and assured of the unforgiving +character of his lord. That night he cut belly, recommending his family +to mercy. This was soon found--in debt and the debtor's slavery allowed +by the harsh code. Thus was the jail kept full, with the innocent and a +sprinkling of the guilty. No one dared to be lax; for life hung on +salary, and on zeal the continuance of the salary. Moreover all revelled +in the reward of the wine cup liberally bestowed for zealous +service--and the more liberally as Shu[u]zen took his turn with his big +cup, every time he sent down the _sake_ to his underling. + +In Bakuracho[u] lived one Zeisuke, a poor but honest fellow who made his +living by peddling the smaller kinds of fish and the salted varieties, +for his trifling resources allowed no larger outlay for his trays. In +this way with greatest difficulty he managed to support an old mother, a +wife, a young child. Locally he was known as "Honest Zeisuke" for the +not often found quality of representing the antiquity and character of +his wares much as they were. When bad weather forbade the opening of the +fish market, Zeisuke readily found some task at day labour by which a +few _mon_ could be secured, and for which his character for honest +service recommended him. One night, when on his way homeward, he was +passing the Asakusa Gomon just as the cry of fire was raised. Knowing +the alarm of his aged mother Zeisuke at once bolted towards home. When +all were running toward the fire this at once attracted attention. By +the law it was the strict duty of the citizen to betake himself to his +ward, and to be ready for service in preventing spread of the often +disastrous conflagration. His action was noted by the ever present +myrmidons of Shu[u]zen. In a moment they were after him. Surrounded he +was quickly caught. His explanation was not heard. "Say your say at the +white sand, under the strokes of the _madake_," was the rough answer. +Thus he was dragged off to the jail. + +The next day Aoyama's first motion was to reward the captors with the +wine cup. Harsh was the vinous scowl he cast on Zeisuke now cringing at +the white sand. "Ha! Ah! A notable criminal; a firebug caught in the +act, and attempting to escape. Make full confession. Thus much suffering +is escaped, and the execution ground soon reached." Zeisuke had no +confession to make, and to his explanation Aoyama turned a deaf ear. +"Obstinacy is to be over-ruled." He made a sign. At once Zeisuke was +seized. His head drawn downward two stout fellows now began to apply in +rhythm the _madake_--strips of bamboo to the thickness of an inch +tightly wound together with hempen cord, and making an exceedingly +flexible and painful scourge. The blood quickly was spurting from his +shoulders. Aoyama and his chamberlain sat enjoying the scene immensely. +At the seventieth blow the peddler fainted. "A wicked knave! Off with +him until restored." Then he settled himself for the day's pastime; for +the torture had come to have the zest of an exhilarating sport. The +cries of pain, the distortions of agony under the stones, or the +lobster, or suspension, the noting of the curious changes of flesh +colour and expression under these punishments, the ready assent to +absurdly illogical questions, all this not only amused, but interested +Shu[u]zen. The naivete and obstinacy of the fisherman was just of the +kind to furnish the best material. The fellow was sturdy of frame, and +under skilled hands readily submitted to this dalliance for days without +bending from his truth. + +Meanwhile things went on very badly at the house in Bakuracho[u]. The +disaster of the arrest fell like a thunderbolt on the wretched little +household. Day after day, hoping for the acquittal and release, one +article after another went to the pawn shop. Reduced to absolute misery +the house owner and the neighbours came to the rescue with a small sum +raised among them. The long continued official suspicion affected even +these toward the "Honest Zeisuke," and their support grew cold. Then +came the news that Zeisuke had died in the jail under the torture. +Tearless, aghast, deprived of all support, the wife and mother long +looked in each other's faces. Said the old woman--"Alas! Alas! Neither +gods nor the Buddha exist. Faithful and devoted was Zeisuke to this old +mother. Unfortunate in his life, he has been equally unlucky in death. +What now is to be done!" She put her sleeves over the old and wrinkled +face, and bending low concealed tears and a long farewell to the beloved +in the person of her grandchild. + +The wife was in little better case, but had to soothe this grief. A few +coins remained. She would buy the necessaries for the evening meal. "But +a moment, honoured mother. The return is quick. 'Tis but for the needed +meal." Taking the child on her back she started off into the darkness. +For a moment she turned to look at the mother. The old woman was +following her with eyes tear dimmed in the sunken hollows. Thus they +parted. For a moment the wife halted on the bridge over the Edogawa. The +dark slimy waters were a solution, but she put it aside in the face of a +higher duty. Soon she was on her way back. To her surprise the house was +in darkness. Surely a little oil was left in the bottom of the jar. She +called, without getting an answer. In alarm she groped her way in the +darkness, to stumble over the body of the old woman, lying limp and +helpless. Something wet her hand. Now she was in all haste for a light. +"Ah! Ah! The honoured mother! What has occurred? Has not ill fortune +enough fallen upon the home of Zeisuke?" Alas! the hand was stained with +blood. The old woman had intended the parting salute to be the last. +Left alone she had bit off her tongue, and thus had died. Rigid, as one +stupified, the wife sat; without tears, but thinking. Now she was left +alone. But what as to the child? A girl too? Ah! There were enough of +her sex in this hard world. She reached out a hand to the long +triangular sharp blade close by. She touched edge and point of the +_debabo[u]cho[u]_ (kitchen knife) with the finger. + +Here was the solution. Rapidly she loosed the child and lowered it to +the ground. It took but a moment to open the little dress and expose the +breast. Then knife in hand she leaned over it. As she did so the child +opened its eyes, smiled, then laughing began to finger her bosom seeking +sustenance. The feelings of the mother came over the woman. She put +aside the knife to give the babe the breast. Alas! Starvation afforded +but scant milk. Failing its supply the child cried peevishly. This last +stroke of poverty was too much. The original purpose came back in full +sway. With quick motion she put the child beside her and held it firmly +down. The sharp pointed knife was thrust clean through the little body. +A whimpering cry, the spurting of the blood, and the face began to take +on the waxen tint. With the same short energetic movements the mother +now sought her own end. Guiding its course with the fingers the knife +was now thrust deep into her own throat. Both hands on the heavy handle +she tore it downward; then fell forward on the mats. The wardsmen made +report. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE AFFAIR OF THE ASAKUSA KWANNON + + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen stalked forward to his cushion near the _ro[u]ka_. +Carefully adjusting his robes he scowled--most heavily; mainly at the +almost boy crouched before him at the white sand. Expectant the +_yakunin_ stood by. Their leader stated the case against this outrageous +criminal captured in the dead of night on the very steps of the +Jizo[u]do[u], in the very shadow of the great temple of the Asakusa +Kwannon. The sacred structure, object of his nefarious design guarded +his slumbers; the healing Yakushi Nyo[u]rai, Jizo[u] the god of youth +and childhood, casting stony glances of benevolence through the closed +lattices. "A most hardened wretch, an evident firebug, and probable +thief; at once make full confession of the offence. Thus the torture is +to be avoided, the punishment in so far mitigated." The voice was harsh +and unrelenting, admitting of no explanation. The look accompanying it +was without trace of pity, but full of the official scorn and dislike +which would anticipate the turns and doubles of its quarry. The hare in +this case but thought how best to meet this unforeseen and disastrous +turn to events. He had heard much of the Yakujin--the god of disease and +pestilence--under which pet name Aoyama Shu[u]zen was known by a certain +element of Edo town. He would tell the truth, with the certainty that in +the effort enough lie would slip in to make out a good case. + +The story at root was a simple one. Great of reputation for beauty and +attraction in the Yoshiwara was "Little Chrysanthemum"--Kogiku. In +company with friends this Masajiro[u], second son of the wealthy +Iwakuniya of Kanda Konyacho[u], (dyers street), had met and loved the +_oiran_. He had been favoured in turn by the great lady of the pleasure +quarter. Hence the displeasure of his father, who learned the fact by +the unanticipated and unpleasant presentation of bills he thought had +been settled long before by the diligence of Masajiro[u]. Hence the +preceding night, on the boy's return from dalliance with his mistress, +he had been summarily turned out.... "Ha! Ah!" roared Shu[u]zen. "A self +confessed vagrant; a thief! Gentle the face and wicked the heart it +conceals. Plainly a case for the jail and torture. The truth is to be +learned. The scourges will bring it out. Make full confession...." A +sign, and the attendants with their _madake_ stood forward. In his +terror Masajiro[u] crawled toward the _ro[u]ka_. "Confession! +Confession!" he bawled out. With grim smile Shu[u]zen signed a halt. The +_do[u]shin_ prepared the scroll. + +Yes: he had been turned out, but not as vagrant. The mother, so severe +in the presence of the father, had fondled and wept over him. The +Banto[u] Sho[u]bei had grave and kindly words of admonition. All would +be well, and forgiveness follow in time. He was to go at once to his +nurse at Koshigeyatsu. Such effects as were needed would follow him. +Money he was better without; beyond the little needed for the short +journey. The father's anger was not to be aggravated. Soon he would +enter for his night's draught, so haste was to be made. Thus he was +bundled forth, to make his way in the darkness to the distant country +village. The Baya's kind aid in the little conspiracy was assured at +sight of her once ward. Overwhelmed with advice and woe he departed into +the night, his step growing slower and slower with separation from his +home. No money! That meant no Kogiku. The idea of never again seeing her +face made his stomach turn. It did turn the direction of his footsteps, +which now was toward the Yoshiwara. + +Kogiku was overjoyed at sight of him. He had but just left her, and now +returned to her side. What greater proof of love could she have? The +favouritism of the Go-Tayu found favour for her lover's presence. Seated +together she soon noticed his gloom, which all her efforts failed to +lighten. Somewhat nettled she showed displeasure, charged him with the +fickleness of satiation. Then he took her hands, and told her that this +was the final interview. His dissipated life, the discovery of their +relations, had so angered his father that under sentence of banishment +from Edo he had come for a last look at her face. "What's to be done! +What's to be done!" The lady wrung her hands in genuine grief over the +handsome youth thus torn away. She had welcomed his presence as means of +escape from her own difficulties. But a few hours before the master of +the Uedaya had announced her sale and transfer to a wealthy farmer of +Chiba. Ransomed by this country magnate she was to leave the gay life +and glitter of the Yoshiwara, for a country life and the veiled +hardships of a farm. In exchange for the twenty years of +Masajiro[u]--she obtained this settlement and a master passing fifty +odd. She was in despair. The brilliant beauty, thus to sink in a few +year's course into a farm wench, felt the sacrifice too great. Finding +no aid in the boy lover, long she lay weeping, her head on his knees, +hands pressed against her temples. + +Masajiro[u] was at no happier pass. "Up to the arrow point in love" his +idea at bottom had been of a temporary separation. To find another +Kogiku, a petted _oiran_, whose fame and beauty flattered any lover, was +a stroke of good fortune not likely to occur. His own expression showed +how little real idea of separation was in his mind. She noted it. +Looking steadily in his face--"Constant the vows of this Kogiku, met by +the love of Masa San. No matter how remote the prospect, the bond is +that of husband and wife. With this old suburban drake Kogiku pollutes +not her charms. Condescend to agree to a mutual suicide. Thus the +obligation is avoided. Together the lovers pass to Meido (Hades) to +wander its shades until the next and happier existence unites them in +the flesh." In amazement and discomfiture Masajiro[u] hung down his +head. He would conceal the shock to his boyish timidity this proposal +gave. His mind was full of such stories. He knew the earnestness of +Kogiku. Then and there would she not draw her dagger to accomplish the +deed? He was dreadfully frightened. Never would he have sought her +presence, if such result had been anticipated. Now he must accompany her +in death, or endure her grudge if successful in escaping her insistence. +He temporized. Pointing to his plain disordered garb--"As to +that--heartily agreed. But there is a seemliness about such procedure. A +more befitting, a holiday costume, is to be sought. Then together, as on +a joyful occasion, Masajiro[u] and the Oiran will consummate the vows +of husband and wife in a joint death." She looked him over, and was +easily pacified by the evident truth and good sense. Again herself, in +prospect of this avoidance of the unpleasant future she sought to +entertain her lover with all the skill and charm she was so noted for. +At midnight he left her, to secure an interview with Sho[u]bei on plea +of forgotten needs; then he would return in more fitting garb. + +His course lay through the now silent precincts of the great temple. +More than the sun's circuit passed in these excesses, physical and +mental, weighed upon him. He would rest a moment and consider his course +amid the holy surroundings. Yakushi? The god was the physical healer in +his theology and his services the strong and healthy youth did not need. +Jizo[u] Sama, or the six Jizo[u] Sama, but a little way off? Probably +the gentle divinity no longer regarded him as under tutelage. But the +Lady Merciful--Kwannon Sama--why not make his petition to her? It was an +inspiration, and earnest was the prayer which followed it--"Lady of +Mercy, deign to regard with pity the unfortunate lovers. Grant that some +exit be found for their woes, less harsh than the severance of the vital +knot, offence to the Lord Buddha. Kwannon Sama! Kwannon Sama!... may the +Buddha's will be done!" As he spoke a heavy object fell from above, to +graze his shoulder and land at his feet. He stooped and picked it up. +With astonished delight he noted the glittering coin within the bag. Ah! +Ah! Away with all ideas of self destruction. Here was the means to +escape the guilty consequence. Here was the ransom of Kogiku. He had +shuddered at thought of return to the side of that woman, in death to +wander the paths of Shideyama (in Hell) with the unhappy ghost--bald +headed! Here now was the solution, in wine and the flesh and blood of +the living long-tressed Kogiku, a very different person. His thought now +turned to Yoshiwara. But--Naruhodo! Here was a second petitioner at this +extraordinary hour. With amazement he saw a girl come flying across the +tree and lantern dotted space before the great temple. There was +something in gait and manner that he recognized, despite the deep +_ko[u]so[u]-zukin_ concealing her features. From the shadow of the steps +he sprang forward to confront her. It was so! The face beneath the +_zukin_ was that of O'Some the beloved of his brother Minosuke. The +great dye house of the Iwakuniya sent much work to the minor +establishment of Aizawaya in Honjo[u]. His brother had such matters in +his charge. At sight of Masajiro[u] the face of the sixteen year old +O'Some was dyed like unto the maple. "O'Some San! Here; and at this +hour! Is it some visit to the shrine that in such haste...." In place of +answer she wrung her hands and plead to be released. She must die. The +river was not far off; there to end her woes. The scandal caused in the +affair between herself and Minosuke had brought her to shame. Solemn had +been the vows passed between them, tender the acknowledgments. By some +retribution from a past existence thus she had found pollution with a +beast. The heart yet was pure, and there was nothing to do but die. +Deign forthwith to release her. + +In his amazement he nearly did so. Alas! All these young girls, at least +the desirable ones, wanted only to die. To become a divinity by +death--_Shingami_--seemed to the feminine brain in youth the height of +fashion. Very well: but he would seek to dissuade her. His pockets full +of gold the present beauty of O'Some dimmed the past charms of Kogiku. +She yielded to force and his urgency in so far as to accompany him to a +refreshment stand just opening with the dawn. The mistress greeted them +with kindness and affection. She showed them to an inner room. Here he +urged his suit; flight and a home with the devoted nurse at +Koshigayatsu. But O'Some was unwilling. She had been "foxed"--herself +was but a mere moor-fox. Deign to leave her to her own sad fate. It was +the brother that she loved. Since she was deprived of him, she would +seek the embraces only of the waters of the river. She urged and plead +so prettily that her sadness and gloom entered into his own heart. She +should be his companion. Kogiku in despite would join them. Thus the +three together would find comfort in the shadow land of Meido. He gave +up all attempt to persuade the girl. Briefly and almost harshly--"Be it +so. Then we will die together. This Masajiro[u] is under contract to +die; and too tired to walk so far to find a partner. Condescend to await +the night. Then we will take the shortest course to the river." + +To this O'Some joyfully agreed. The day was passed in such harmless +dalliance and favour as a young girl can show, who has had her own way; +with a young man willing to dispense with thought during the intervening +space of time before a not overly agreeable ending; and under the +auspices of an honoured hostess fee'd by the glitter of coin into a +consenting obtuseness. With the night they set forth in the rain. The +river bank was not far off, but such vulgar plunge from the edge of the +coarse promiscuity of Hanagawado[u] was not to the taste of either. +Then, as now, a ferry not far from the Adzuma bridge crossed to the +pretty sounding "Eight hundred Pines." _Yashiki_ then surrounded, a +palace to-day covers the site. They watched the ferryman pushing off +into the river's darkness. Then hand in hand they strolled up the bank +of the stream, under the gloomy trees, seeking the favoured spot of +their undoing. Suddenly O'Some stopped; sank at the feet of Masajiro[u]. +His hand sought the handle of the dagger. The weapon raised he was about +to plunge it into the tender neck. Then a shout startled his ear. "Rash +youths--Wait! Wait!" A powerful grasp was on his arm. With a shiver he +came to consciousness. O'Some, the river, the bag of gold in his bosom, +all had disappeared. He was lying on the steps of the Jizo[u]do[u], +surrounded by the _yakunin_. All had been a dream! + +With open mouths the _yakunin_ in the court looked at each other. Lo! +They had nabbed a mere dreamer. How would his lordship take it? One more +quick witted and thirstier than the rest answered for all--"Ha! Ah! A +wretched fellow! Not only thief and firebug, but murderer also!" To the +astonished and stammering protest of Masajiro[u] there was the answering +scowl of a very Emma Dai-O[u] on the bench. "Miserable wretch! What is +in the heart at best comes to the lips. This matter is to be sifted to +the dregs, the witnesses examined. For offence so far disclosed he can +take the lash. Then off with him to the jail." Masajiro[u], his back +torn to ribbons and bloody with the fifty blows, was supported out of +the court. Then the wine cup was condescended to the energy and +acuteness of his captors. Enlivened by the morning's entertainment and +his own big cup Aoyama Shu[u]zen rose and departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +EMMA DAI-O[U] GIVES JUDGMENT + + +Great was the excitement and lamentable the experience of the Aizawaya. +The matter of O'Some had been under discussion with the Iwakuniya. +Beyond good words and cold courtesy little satisfaction could be +obtained; nor could it be expected. The offence had been the work of a +fox, and the jewel of a girl's reputation had been trodden in the mire. +Returned to the saddened home, the nurse of O'Some was found awaiting +them. At the news she had hastened from the country to console her old +mistress and to take her one time charge in her arms. "Alas! Alas! Is +the matter so beyond remedy? Surely with a good dower the +Iwakuniya...."--"'Tis no such affair," answered the mistress, wiping +away her tears. "As fact the girl is a wretched wench, disregardless of +the parents. The little fool fell madly in love with the figure of the +eldest son of the dye-shop. It seems that daily she made pilgrimage and +prayer to the Ushi no Gozen, to the Gentoku Inari. What more malign +influence could be invoked! One day Minosuke came on a mission to the +shop. She followed him to the street, and for hours her whereabouts was +unknown, until this return in disgrace. Accompanying him to Asakusa, +there she exchanged vows and pillows with him at a convenient +assignation house. Alas! On the return he was taken with a fit in the +street. The prior of the Kido-ku-In, the great priest of the Shu[u]genja +(Yamabushi), was passing. His aid invoked, at once he recognized the +rascal's disguise. Under the charms recited by the priest the true +appearance was assumed, and a huge fox with a long tail darted away from +the gathered crowd. No reputation has the girl gained by consorting with +such a mate." + +The nurse listened with amazed horror, turning first to the mother, +then intently regarding the damasked face of O'Some, dyed red at the +story of her shame. "Oya! Oya! Possessed by a fox! Alas! Truly it is +almost irreparable. If it were mere defloration by the young master of +Iwakuniya, that could be endured. But a fox mixed up in the matter.... +Truly it would be well to take her off somewhere, to some hot spring in +Idzu. There the influence can be removed, and O'Some San at least +restored in mind." With this advice and gossip, with whispered +consolation and laughing cheer--"'Tis no great matter after all; in the +country--will be found girls a'plenty, quite as lucky or otherwise"--the +kind and jovial dame took her leave. + +The advice as to the hot spring seemed so good that preparations were +under way in all haste. The straw baskets with their convenient deep +covers to fit the larger or smaller needs of travel (_ko[u]ri_), the +_furoshiki_ or large square wrapping cloths, lay in the middle of the +room, amid the pile of wraps and clothing for daily and more formal use. +Skilled hands of maids and youths (_wakashu[u]-kozo[u]_) employed in the +house were fast packing these latter into convenient parcels. Then to +the hustle and bustle within the house was added the more unusual murmur +of voices and tread of many feet without. The house owner (_ienushi_), +accompanied by the head of the house block (_gumigashira_), entered in +haste. Close at their heels followed the land owner (_jinushi_), the two +bails (_jiuki_ and _tanauki_). All looked with surprise and suspicion at +these hurried preparations for departure. "Oya! Oya! This will never do. +Honoured Sir of Aizawaya, the _yakunin_ are now at hand from the office +of Aoyama Sama. Your daughter in summoned to the white sand. Remove at +once these signs of what looks like a flight." Eyes agog the frightened +parents watched their neighbours and the servants hustle goods and +parcels into the closets. They had hardly done so when the _do[u]shin_, +followed by several constables, burst into the room. "The girl Some, +where is she? Don't attempt to lie, or conceal her whereabouts." Eyes +ferreting everywhere, the parents too frightened to move, the _yakunin_ +soon entered, dragging along the weeping O'Some. "Heigh! Heigh! The +rope! At once she is to be bound and dragged before the honoured +presence." Amid the bawling and the tumult at last the father found +opportunity to make himself heard. He prostrated himself at the feet of +the _do[u]shin_, so close to O'Some that the process of binding and +roping necessarily included his own ample person. "Deign, honoured +official, to forbear the rope. There is no resistance. The girl is very +young, and ill. We accompany her to the presence of his lordship." +Weeping he preferred the request. Iyenushi, Jinushi, Gumi-gashira, in +pity added their own petition to the officer. This latter surveyed the +slight figure of this fearful criminal. Besides, notoriously she had +been foxed. He grumbled and conceded. "The rope can be forborne; not so +as to the hands, which must be securely tied to prevent escape. The +affair is most important. Delay there cannot be. His lordship is not to +be kept waiting." Then he swept them all into his net. _Do[u]shin_, +_Yakunin_, _Jinushi_, _Iyenushi_, _Gumi-gashira_, _Ban-gashira_, +_Jiuki_, _Tanauki_, debtors, creditors, all and every in the slightest +degree connected with the Aizawaya fell into the procession. But Edo +town was growing used to these. 'Twas merely another haul of the active +officers of the honoured Yakujin. "Kimyo[u] Cho[u]rai"--may the Buddha's +will be done, but spare this Taro[u]bei, Jizaemon, Tasuke, or whoever +the petitioner chanced to be. + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen stalked slowly forward to the _ro[u]ka_. Scowling he +ran his eye over the crowd, taking in each and every. Then his eyes +fell--first on Kogiku, the harlot of the Uedaya; then on the shrinking +beauty of O'Some of the Aizawaya. Shu[u]zen was improving in these days. +The Ue-Sama (Sho[u]gun) spoke harshly of those retainers who made no +provision for issue to support loyally the fortune of his House. Let him +who would seek his lord's favour furnish forth such noble and lusty +issue as in the Kamakura days, when Ho[u]jo[u] Tokimasa, Wada Yoshimori +Hatakeyama Shigetada, the Kajiwara, Miura, Doi, attended the hunting +field of their suzerain followed by a dozen lusty heirs of the +line--direct and indirect. Hence of late Shu[u]zen had renewed his +matrimonial venture, and taken to his bed a second partner. For side +issue and attendance on his household affairs, his office was a fruitful +field. The families of those condemned suffered with them, and the more +favoured served in Aoyama's household, in all offices, from that of +ladies in waiting to menial service--down to the _yatsuho[u]ko[u]nin_. +These latter, slaves for life, were more fortunate than their sisters +_yatsu yu[u]jo[u]_, who were condemned to be sold for life service as +harlots in the Yoshiwara. It was a hard law; but it was the law of the +Tokugawa, of before the days of the ruling House. Shu[u]zen profited +greatly by it in the domestic sense. The harlot and the girl budding +into womanhood would be acceptable addition to the companionship of his +then bachelor existence. + +His manner softened as he took his seat. His robes were more carefully +adjusted. His cue bristled more erect. He was strikingly good looking. +Dismissing all minor offenders he took up at once the great case of the +day. The wretched Masajiro[u], his back bloodily marked by the scourge, +was crouching in shame at the white sand before him. Shu[u]zen gave him +one savage glare, which added terror to his confusion before those once +friends and relations. Then Shu[u]zen began carefully and insistently to +scan the faces of the girls. They were well worth attention. O'Some, +sixteen and a beauty, had these aids to her other charms--a _kimono_ of +the fine striped silk of Izu, made in the neighbouring island of +Hachijo[u] by girls well fitted themselves to give grace to the +beautiful tissue, an _obi_ (sash) of fawn and scarlet into which was +woven the shadowy figure, here and there, of a landscape--sketchy but +suggestive. The belt which girded it within was of egg coloured crape, +and the orange tissue broadened and hung down to add its touch of +carefully contrasted colour. The hair was built high in the +_taka-shimada_ style, tied on top with a five coloured knot of thick +crape. The combs and other hair ornaments were beautiful, and befitting +the cherished daughter of the well-to-do townsman. Then Shu[u]zen's look +wandered to the harlot. Kogiku, Little Chrysanthemum, was noted in Edo +town. Her beauty was more experienced, but hardly more mature than that +of the town girl. Sedately she met the look, and without movement eyes +plead smilingly for gentle treatment. She was dressed[19] in a robe of +gauzy water coloured silk. The sleeves were widely patterned--as with +her class--but worked with rare harmony into the light grey colour of +the robe. The long outer robe thrown over the inner garment (_uchikaku_) +in these brilliant colours, in its tamer shades yet harmonized. Taken +with the broad sash of the _obi_ it made her rival the peacock in his +grandest display. Her hair dressed high, was a bewildering harmony of +the costly tortoise shell combs and pins (_kanzashi_) arrayed in +crab-like eccentricity. The gold ornamentation glistened and sparkled +amid the dark tresses. Truly Shu[u]zen was puzzled in this claim for +priority between the unrivalled beauty and the fresher and naiver charms +of inexperience. Ah! Both should be the cup-bearers. But the sequel! +Benten Sama alone could guide the lot. + +It was ordered that the confession be read. Once more the judge, +Shu[u]zen carefully watched the faces before him of those most +concerned. It was not difficult to detect amid the confusion of O'Some, +the growing wrath of Kogiku, an unfeigned astonishment. With some +satisfaction he noted this evident discrepancy in the plea. Suave, yet +still somewhat harsh, he addressed O'Some. "The confession of this +wicked fellow has been heard. What has Some to say in answer thereto." +For a moment the girl raised her head to that of this Emma Dai-O[u]. +Then in confusion she half turned as seeking support--"Mother! Mother!" +It was all she could say in her fright, and more than the mother could +stand. She was the townswoman; self-assured in her way. She boldly +advanced a knee. "With fear and respect: the girl is but of sixteen +years, and the white sand has paralysed her thought and utterance. +Deign, honoured lord, to pardon the mother's speech." Then she went into +details as to the late unfortunate occurrence. With indignant looks at +the crushed and unfortunate Masajiro[u], she gave her own testimony +which rang with truth. "Well he knows all this matter. For the past six +days the girl has not left home or parents caring for her afflicted +body. 'Tis only this fellow Masajiro[u] who claims to be the lover, to +take the place of his brother Minosuke; a poor exchange in either case, +with fellows who do but run after the harlots of Yoshiwara, to the +bewitching of innocent girls." Tenderly she took the now weeping O'Some +in her mother arms, and added her own tears to the soothing. + +Shu[u]zen slowly leaked a smile. He left the pair to themselves and +turned to Kogiku. "And you?" Kogiku was not so easily confused. Readily +she confessed to the contract between herself and Masajiro[u]. "This +affair of the rich purchaser from Kazusa came up suddenly. There seemed +no outlet but suicide--if the dreary life away from Edo was to be +avoided." Shu[u]zen took her up harshly--"Bound to the Uedaya for a term +of years then you would cheat your master out of the money he expended +on you. This is theft, and most reprehensible. For such it is hard to +find excuse." His roughness puzzled and frightened even the experience +of Kogiku. She became confused. Shu[u]zen was satisfied with the +impression. He was unwilling further to delay his own prospects. Sending +the matter over to the next sitting for final settlement he remanded all +the accused--Masajiro[u] to the jail and repeated scourgings for the +lies contained in his confession; the girls to his own care. His +experiences for the time being would largely condition the final +judgment. + +Shu[u]zen was regular in his irregularities. Promptly, the case again +convened, he gave judgment. There was none of the customary roughness in +his manner. Even the official harshness was smoothed down. He dilated on +the importance of the case, the necessity of making an example of this +evident depravity of manners and morals affecting Edo town--"As for the +girl Some, it is matter of question with whom she is involved, +Masajiro[u] or Minosuke; both well could be her lovers. Thus she has +fallen under strange influences and been foxed. Such a girl is not to be +allowed to wander at random. As act of benevolence henceforth charge is +continued as in the present conditions. Kogiku is still more +reprehensible. The attempt to cheat her master being so brazenly +confessed is hard to overlook. Owing to her previous life perhaps the +feelings have become blunted. The same benevolence and punishment is +awarded to her--with hope of future amendment." The master of the +Uedaya, crouching close to his head clerk made a wry face. The two men +exchanged glances, and the clerk opened a very big round eye for his +master to observe. The latter sighed. Continued Shu[u]zen severely--"As +for this Masajiro[u], he is not only liar, but would-be firebug and +thief. What is harboured in the mind he would put into deed. It is but +chance which has saved the life and purse of the passing citizen, and +the sacred structures from the flames. To him the severest punishment is +meet. However benevolence shall still hold its sway. Instead of the +sword, banishment to the islands for the term of life, to serve as slave +therein to the Eta--such his sentence. To this judgment there is no +appeal." Abruptly he rose. The weeping father and mother were baffled by +the nonchalance of the daughter, who had no chance to give them comfort, +but was at once removed in company with the willing lady of pleasure and +experience. The huddled form of Masajiro[u] was hustled roughly out with +the kicks and blows to which he was becoming accustomed. Two or three +years, under the rough charge of his new masters, were pretty sure to +witness his body cast out on the moorland to the kites--or into the sea +for fishes to knaw. + +It was the _banto[u]_ (clerk), faint with the hunger of long waiting, +who led the parents into the first cook shop encountered on the way. +Here over greens and cold water the father sighed, the mother wept +apart, the clerk eyed biliously the meagre fare. Then in poured the +company of Kogiku--a noisy, merry crowd. There were expressions of +amused discomfiture, caught by the sharp ears of the clerk; suggestive +references. He watched them; heard the lavish orders for food and +wine--"Plenty of wine, and piping hot"--"Respectfully heard and +understood." The waiting girls were at their wit's end. The feast in +progress the _banto[u]_ came boldly forward. "Honoured sirs, deign to +note these parents here, deprived of their daughter. Your honoured +selves have lost a girl of much value to your master. How is it then +that you thus deign to rejoice? Plainly the grief of these must be out +of place." The man addressed more directly looked him over coldly; then +cast an eye on the distressed father and mother, at their meagre fare. +His manner changed. He became more cordial. "Good sir, the affair is not +to be taken thus! Sentence has been given, but...." He laughed--"it can +be revoked. Already in the inner room the master is in consultation +with the agent of Takai Yokubei San (Mr. Highly Covetous), Aikawa +Dono,--the honoured _yo[u]nin_ of Aoyama Sama. A round bribe, and the +girl will be released...." The words were not out of his mouth when the +father was on his feet. Led by the _banto[u]_ he made the rounds of +all--pimps, bawds, and bouncers--soliciting their influence--"Honoured +gentlemen of the Yoshiwara, deign to interfere in the matter, to plead +with the master of the Uedaya. House, lands, goods, all these are +nothing if the cherished daughter be restored." He wept; and they took +pity on his inexperience. The first speaker at once sprang up and went +to the inner room. The master of the Uedaya cordially desired their +presence. Added funds were no drawback to his own petition in the +dealings with Yokubei San. The parents introduced he told them--"It is +but a matter of cash. Kogiku, within the next three days, must be +delivered to the _go[u]shi_ of Kazusa, or else a large forfeit paid. She +can kill herself on the day following. 'Tis no affair of the Uedaya. Add +your gift of a hundred _ryo[u]_ to the bribe of the Uedaya, and Saisuke +San, here present, can assure success. Aikawa Dono surely has not left +the court. He awaits report, with as great anxiety as your honoured +selves. As for the Tono Sama, he has had the presence of the girls for +the six days, and will be all the more easily worked on. But from all +accounts the honoured daughter had little to lose in the experience. She +would make a splendid Go-Tayu." Seeing no sign of acquiescence he +shrugged his shoulders, and continued to the honoured Saisuke San--"A +most annoying affair: a hundred _ryo[u]_ to this shark, and only the +premium and the debts of the _oiran_ will be paid. But he will take no +less?... Be sure she shall learn the use of the _semeba_ (punishment +cell) before she finds her new master." Saisuke San with slow smile made +answer--"Be sure that by night she will be in your hands, ready for the +experience." + +Rejoicing the parents gave thanks, and betook themselves to their home. +Half ruined, again O'Some would gladden their hearts. But the mother had +an eye to the expense, and promised a reception hardly better than that +awaiting Little Chrysanthemum. Why show favouritism? There was small +difference between the two. But this the father energetically denied. +Meanwhile Aoyama Shu[u]zen was preparing for his wine feast, one of a +pleasant succession extended over this interval. With misgiving and no +pleasure he saw the entrance of Aikawa Chu[u]dayu. The chamberlain +brought with him the account books. Shu[u]zen's experience, however, +noted past profit as salve to annoyance. He was a bitter hard man in +domestic administration; cutting down food, and by fines the wages, of +those more regularly employed in the household. This made the threatened +loss of women serving by compulsion the more severe. Chu[u]dayu knew how +to deal with his master. Affairs in the household were not going well, +under the free indulgence of Shu[u]zen toward himself and his pleasures. +Besides he was about to deprive him of his new favourites. At a sign +Kogiku and O'Some, already present by the lord's favour, withdrew. The +younger girl had aged ten years in experience with this companionship of +the week. Chu[u]dayu watched them depart. Then sighed heavily. "Ah! Ha! +So it's _that_." Shu[u]zen moved testily, as sharply he regarded his +satellite. "Acting under the instructions of your lordship, the box of +cakes has duly been received from Saisuke. The affairs of the household +require a large sum. Her ladyship's confinement is to be considered, the +entertainments required by custom for the expected heir. To return the +gift means to your lordship--the sacrifice of two hundred _ryo[u]_. May +the Tono Sama deign to consider a moment. Such double good fortune is +rare--and the messenger waits upon this trifling sacrifice of a pleasure +for which substitutes easily can be found." He drew the _furoshiki_ from +the box. Shu[u]zen sighed; but did not hesitate. "Hasten Saisuke off at +once; with the exchange." He placed the box in a closet close by. "As +for the wine feast, Chu[u]dayu shall be the cup-bearer. Shu[u]zen is in +an ill humour." He had an ugly look. Chu[u]dayu, however, did not draw +back. Leaning forward with a smile--"This Chu[u]dayu would make report, +to the pleasure of the Tono Sama."--"Of what?" asked Aoyama, in some +surprise at his chamberlain's earnest manner. "Of the whereabouts and +close proximity of Kosaka Jinnai."--"Ah!" The tone of voice had the +depth of years of expectant hate. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +KOSAKA JINNAI + + +When Takeda Shingen swept down upon the lower provinces in 1571, fought +a rear guard action at Mikatagahara, in which he nearly extinguished +Tokugawa Iyeyasu, with a taste of the latter's remarkable powers of +recuperation, he went on to his real aim of a trial of strength with the +main Oda forces in Mikawa and O[u]mi. The great captain lost his life by +a stray bullet before Noda castle. His death for long kept secret, until +the northern forces had withdrawn into the fastnesses of Kai, the war +languished, to be renewed with greater activity under the rash and +ignorant leadership of his son. Katsuyori and his tribe cut belly at +Temmoku-zan, the last and successful bid of Iyeyasu against his former +enemies. Then the Tokugawa standard was planted from Suruga to Mikawa, +and Iyeyasu became indisputably the first of Nobunaga's vassals--and one +never thoroughly trusted. + +Among the twenty-four captains of Takeda Shingen was a Kosaka Danjo[u] +no Chu[u]den. His son Heima inherited the devotion, as well as the fief, +of the father. Unlike many of the Takeda vassals in Kai he clung to +Katsuyori Ko[u] through all the bad weather of that unlucky prince. Kai +was no longer a safe place for vassals true to the native House. Better +luck could be assured with the old enemies, the Uesugi in the North. But +Heima would not seek other service than that of his once lord. He only +sought a place to live. + +When the ex-soldier appeared with his wife in the village of +Nishi-Furutsuka at the base of Tsukuba, the people thereabouts had more +than strong suspicion that he who came so quietly into their midst was +not of their kind. However his presence was accepted. His willingness to +take up farm labour and another status, to become a _go[u]shi_ or +gentleman farmer, his valued aid and leadership in the troubled times +which followed, were much appreciated. The year 1599 found the old fox +Iyeyasu Ko[u] planted in Edo castle; and Jisuke, as Heima now called +himself, leaning over the cradle of a boy just born--a very jewel. +Jisuke's wife was now over forty years in age. Hence this unexpected +offspring was all the dearer. In the years there had been losses and +distress. The new-comer surely was the gift from the Kwannondo[u] +nestled on the slopes of the mountain far above the village. To the Lady +Merciful many the prayers for such aid. + +The child grew and prospered. A farmer's boy, yet he was the _bushi's_ +son; made plain in every action. Under the tutelage of the priests of +the neighbouring Zen temple he learned all that they chose to teach, far +outstripped his fellows, and in class room and in sport was their +natural leader. Sport was the better test. With years Jinnosuke tired of +the clerical teaching. The leader of the village band he was its +mainstay in the wars with boys of rival hamlets thereabouts. These were +soon driven away, and their own precincts invaded at will. The mountain +became distinctively the property of Jinnosuke and his youthful +companions, whose whole sport was devoted to mimic warfare. Their +leader, thus unchallenged, became more and more reckless; more and more +longed to distinguish himself by some feat beyond mere counterfeit war. +One day, under his direction, in the storming of the hill which +represented the enemy's castle, much brushwood and dried leaves were +gathered. "Now then! Set the fire! The foe, blinded by the smoke, +perishes under our blows. On! On!" The other children eagerly obeyed. +The blazing mass towered up and up. The trees now were on fire. The wind +blowing fiercely drove the fire directly on to the Kwannondo[u], which +stood for the citadel of the besieged. Soon the temple itself was in +flames. Greatly excited the boys swarmed amid the smoke and confusion as +if in real battle. "Now--for the plunder!" At Jinnosuke's order the +furniture of the temple was made the object of loot, heaped up at a safe +distance for future division. + +Thus engaged loud shouts met their ears. In fright the band of +youngsters turned to meet the presence of the enraged incumbent, the +_do[u]mori_. The temple was his charge and residence. His small +necessities were supplied by visits to the villages below. "Oi! Oi! +wretched little villains! Thus to fire the temple in your sport is most +scandalous. Surely your heads shall be wrung off--one by one. Terrible +the punishment--from Heaven and the Daikwan."[20] The boys in confusion +began to slink away. Then the voice of Jinnosuke rose above the tumult. +"On! On! This priest stinks of blood. Be not cowards! The commander of +the castle would frighten with words. 'Tis he who is afraid. It is his +part to cut belly in defeat and die amid the ruins." In a trice the +whole pack had faced around. Boldly with staves they set upon the +priest. Numbers brought him helpless to the ground. There was a large +stone lying close by. Heaving it to his shoulder Jinnosuke stood over +the prostrate man. "According to rule the matter is thus to be +conducted. This fellow is to be given the finishing stroke; then buried +in the castle ruins." He cast down the heavy block with all his force. +The priest's brains were spattered on the ground. Under the direction of +Jinnosuke the body with feebly twitching limbs was thrown into the now +blazing mass of the temple. Then forming in line, and raising the shout +of victory, the youthful band of heroes marched off to the village. +Under pain of his displeasure--which meant much--Jinnosuke forbade any +bragging or reference to the affair. Wisely: a day or two after a +peasant came on the scene. In fright the man hastened to make report. At +once buzz was most tremendous. Was it accident or the work of thieves, +this disaster? Said one man sagely--"The _do[u]mori_ was a great +drunkard. Deign to consider. The temple furniture is untouched. Thieves +would have carried it off. He carried it out to safety, to fall a victim +in a further attempt at salvage. The offence lies with the priest, not +with the villagers." The report pleased all, none too anxious to offend +the bands of robbers ranging the mountain mass and the neighbouring +villages. Thus report was made by the village council to the Daikwan's +office. The temple authorities had a severe reprimand for allowing such +a drunkard to be in charge of the shrine. Jinnosuke stuck his tongue in +his cheek. "Trust to the valour and skill of this Jinnosuke. These +constables are fools." But his companions were a little frightened with +this late exploit. Their numbers fell off. Many of them now came to the +age fit for farm work. Jinnosuke was not long in finding substitutes in +the real thieves who haunted the neighbourhood. Their spy, and often +engaged in their raids, yet in his own district he was only known as a +bad and dissipated boy. + +Something of this had to come to the ears of Jisuke; but not the full +extent of his son's wickedness. He sought a remedy for what he thought +mere wild behaviour. Now in the town, years ago, there had lived a poor +farmer and his wife; "water drinkers," in the local expression for +bitter poverty. The man laboured at day tasks, and the wife laboured as +hard with him, bearing her baby girl on her back. Jisuke aided as he +could, and as was his wont, and when the pair were taken down and died +with a prevailing epidemic disease, it was Jisuke and his wife who took +the child to themselves, to bring her up as their own. O'Ichi San grew +into a beautiful girl, and at this time Jisuke and his wife trusted to +her favour and influence to bring Jinnosuke to the sedateness and +regularity of a farmer's life. The girl blushed and looked down as she +listened to what was more than request, though put in mildest form. "One +so humble is hardly likely to please the young master. Filial duty bids +this Ichi to obey, and yield her person at command." The mother was more +than gratified at the assent and modesty--"Dutiful you have always been. +We parents have no eyes. The whole matter is left to you. If Jinnosuke +can be taken by your person, perchance he will devote his time to home +and the farm work, now so irksome to his father. Where he goes in these +long absences is not known; they can be for no good purpose." Thus the +arrangement was made. The girl now busied herself about and with +Jinnosuke. She was the one to attend to all his comforts, to await his +often late return. Thus used to her he soon began to look on her with +anything but brotherly eyes. Was she not the daughter of old +Taro[u]bei, the water drinker? He knew the story well. Thus one night he +took O'Ichi to himself. She pleased him--as with the parents. No +objection was anywhere raised to the connection; a village of Nippon has +cognizance of such matters; and in short order public notice was given +of the marriage. + +The influence was not of long duration. With his wife's pregnancy +Jinnosuke disappeared. From the age of thirteen years he had been hand +in glove with all the rough fellows of the district. These were stirring +times in the south. There was something to pick up. After all was not he +a _samurai's_ son. Jinnosuke was too late for action. Although but +seventeen years old his short sturdy and astonishingly active frame and +skill with weapons was a welcome addition to the band that Ogita +Kuro[u]ji had gathered after the fall of O[u]saka-jo[u]. Now Jinnosuke +figured as Kosaka Jinnai. Here first he came in contact with the law and +Aoyama Shu[u]zen. On this failure he betook himself at once to the +disguise of his native village; to enter it as quietly as if he never +had left it, to find himself the father of a baby girl, Kikujo[u], and +to procreate another on his patient wife. But before this second girl, +O'Yui, was born Jinnosuke, as the village still knew him, had again +disappeared. This was in strict accordance with his principle, of which +something is to be said. + +Of these O[u]saka _ro[u]nin_, determined not to take another master, +there were three Jinnai. In council over past failure, said Tomizawa +Jinnai.[21] "The ambition of this Tomizawa?" He laughed. Jinnai was no +distinctive term in this gathering. "It is to collect all the beautiful +costumes of Nippon."--"Admirable indeed!" chimed in Sho[u]ji Jinnai (or +Jinemon, as he called himself). "But why stop at the surface? As you +know, the ambition of this Sho[u]ji had long been to see gathered +together all the most beautiful women of Nippon. And you, Kosaka?"--"To +see all distinction done away with between other men's property and my +own."--"Splendid indeed! But don't poach on our ground." The two others +clapped their hands and laughed. Kosaka Jinnai did not. "Well then--to +put the matter to the test," said he callously. Tomizawa Jinnai +forthwith took up the collection of old clothing and costumes of divers +sorts. He can be said to be the ancestor of the old clothes trade of +Edo--To[u]kyo[u]; and the Tomizawacho[u] at Ningyo[u]cho[u] no +Yokocho[u], the place of his residence, is his memorial. To this day it +is a centre for old clothes shops. Sho[u]ji Jinnai pressed the petition +he had once put in (Keicho[u] 17th year--1612) as Jinemon before being +finally convinced of the righteousness of a Tokugawa world. He was lucky +enough to find oblivion and reward in the permit for a harlot quarter. +As its bailiff (_nanushi_) he assembled three thousand beautiful women +for the service of the Yoshiwara, then at Fukiyacho[u] near Nihonbashi, +and of which O[u]mondori is the chief relic. Kosaka Jinnai, under such +encouragement and auspices, betook himself more vigorously than ever to +robbery; enhanced by a mighty idea which the years gradually brought to +ripeness in his mind. From being a sandal bearer Hideyoshi the Taiko[u] +had risen to rule. He, Jinnai, would emulate the example and rise to +rule from being a bandit. He was not, and would not be, the only one of +the kind in the political world. Hence his wide travels through the +provinces, his seeking out all the most desperate and villainous +characters, for he had "trust" in few others, his weaving together of a +vast conspiracy of crime, not to be equalled in any time but the closing +days of the Ashikaga Sho[u]gunate--and that not so far off. Of this +period of Jinnai's life there is a tale to relate. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A MATTER OF PEDESTRIANISM + + +Up to the very recent days of Meiji the precincts of the Shiba +San-en-zan Zo[u]jo[u]ji, now known more particularly as the most +accessible of the burial places of the Tokugawa Sho[u]gun, were an +excellent example of the old monastic establishments. The main temple +with its wide grounds was completely girdled by a succession of halls or +monastic foundations, some of which were famed through the land for +their theological teaching of the principles of the Jo[u]do[u] sect. +Conspicuous among these were the Tenjingatani and the Mushigatani, +seminaries widely sought for the erudition of the professors. In all +nearly three thousand students attended the halls, with an eye to an +ecclesiastical future. + +On the dawn of a cold winter morning a priestly clad man, a _shoke_ or +one of the lowest clerical order, mainly notable for the vastness and +robustness of his proportions, could have been seen leaving the gate of +the Tokucho[u]-in. His size alone would have attracted attention, for +the mouse coloured _kimono_, the white leggings and mitts (_tekko[u]_), +the double soled _waraji_ (sandals) fastened on a pair of big feet, were +usual travelling equipment of his kind, made sure by the close woven +_ajiro_ or mushroom hat covering his head; admirable shelter against +heat in summer, and a canopy--umbrella like--against falling snow in +winter. By somewhat devious route he strode along a narrow lane, crossed +the Gokurakubashi and halted before the Chu[u]mon on the broad avenue +leading up to the temple. A glance thither satisfied him for a +leave-taking, which yet displayed some sentiment. A few moments carried +him without the entrance gate, and but few more saw him crossing +Kanesujibashi, evidently on some long tramp, if the steady swing of a +practised walker, in no haste and conserving his strength, is any test. + +The road in those days passed through a long succession of village +houses, the _cho[u]_ of Shiba village, broken very occasionally by a +_yashiki_ wall. It was not until he reached the barrier at Takanawa, +Kurumacho[u], that he came full out on the bay just lighting up with the +coming day--a beautiful stretch of water, now spoiled by the ugliness of +the railway and the filling in which has turned the haunt of thousands +of wild fowl into a prairie, soon to be covered by hideous factories and +other sites of man's superfluous toil. Close by the little saddle at +Shinagawa, now a railway cutting, a stream came into the bay from the +west. On the bridge the priest Dentatsu stopped for a moment. +Throughout, from the time of leaving Kanesujibashi, he had had a feeling +of being followed. Now he determined to get a good look at his pursuer, +it was not particularly satisfying. "Iya! An ill looking chap--with an +eye like a knife." The object of these remarks had halted with him, at +the further side of the bridge. He was contemplating the water with one +eye, the priest with the other. A short sturdy man of forty odd years, +Dentatsu noted the good but thin upper garment, the close fitting +leggings, the well chosen _waraji_, the copper handled dagger in his +girdle. Furthermore he noted a cold decision in the glance of the eye +that he liked least of all in the fellow's equipment. + +This was a man he would not choose for companion--"Bah! Short Legs, this +Dentatsu will soon leave your stumps in the rear. A little speed, and +this doubtful fellow is left behind beyond hope." So off started his +reverence at the full pace of his huge legs and really great endurance. +Through O[u]mori and Kamata, crossing in the same boat at the Rokugo +ferry, through Kawasaki and Tsurumigi--totsu-totsu-totsu the stranger's +legs kept easy pace with those of the priest. "A most extraordinary +fellow," thought Dentatsu. "He moves as on springs. It would be well to +settle matters at once with him." Halting he waited for this pursuer to +close up the few score feet maintained between them. His frowning manner +had a genial greeting. "Ah! Ha! Truly the Go Shukke Sama[22] is no mean +walker. But even then company on the road is good. From the +Zo[u]jo[u]ji; by that _kesa_ (stole), dress, and carriage? Probably the +honoured priest has a long journey before him--to the capital?" Dentatsu +duly scanned his company--"To the Chion-In, the parent temple, and none +too fond of companionship on the road. Deign, good sir, to spare yours; +with such short legs the task of precedence would be out of the +question. Drop the useless effort of this pursuit, which becomes an +annoyance." + +Dentatsu's manner was truculent, his grasp on his stick even +threatening. The fellow met this rough greeting with the suavest +determination. "Oya! Oya! Naruhodo, Go Shukke Sama! A very rude speech +indeed! After all the highway is free to all, and I too travel the +To[u]kaido[u] toward the capital. Deign to grant your company and the +entertainment will be all the better. Don't be deceived by length, or +lack of length, in one's legs. The promise will be kept not to detain +you.... That you came from Zo[u]jo[u]ji is plain from your garb, if you +had not been seen to turn into To[u]kaido[u] from the temple avenue.... +I too travel Kyo[u]to way.... See! In our talk already Hodogaya town is +passed. This climb.... here is the top of the Yakimochizaka. The mark +stands here to bound Sagami and Musashi. Ha! Ha! The Go Shukke Sama has +splendid legs, but he is handicapped by his weight. Surely it cannot be +less than two thousand _ryo[u]_ in coin that he carries in the pack on +his shoulders. That contains no bills on the Sho[u]shidai (Governor) of +the capital." + +Ah! The matter now was fully lighted. The fellow then had known his +mission from Zo[u]jo[u]ji to the parent temple, to remit this sum to the +capital. Dentatsu had not anticipated difficulty so early in his +journey, nor did he much care for the contest which was offered him. He +judged the man by his legs, and these were almost miraculous in +swiftness, activity, and strength. "Alas! A dangerous fellow indeed. The +luck of this Dentatsu is bad. What now is to be done?" The cold sweat at +his responsibility gently bedewed his forehead. Yet Dentatsu was a brave +man. The tradesman--or robber--laughed lightly. "Don't look so queer, so +put out, honoured Shukke Sama. Truth is told in saying there is business +on To[u]kaido[u]. Even if highwayman, the last thing thought of would +be to meddle with the funds of the honoured Hotoke Sama (Buddha). Be +reassured; and as such be more assured in having a companion. The coin? +Pure guess, and from the small size of the parcel and the evident +difficulty found in carrying it. It weighs too much on one shoulder. +Trust not only the thief, but the trader to know the signs of cash.... +You would breakfast at Totsuka town? Did they send you forth with empty +belly? Surely the monastery kitchen has no such reputation for +stinginess among the vulgar." His manner was so reassuring that Dentatsu +gained confidence in him and his profession. Gladly now he accepted this +failure to relieve him of his precious burden, and this offer of +company. He resented however the reflection on the monastery +kitchen--"Not so! Nor is this foolish priest so at odds with the cook as +not to find a bit of mountain whale (flesh) in the soup. Repletion is +the aim and object of a monastic existence."--"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed the +fellow. "Yet the honoured Shukke Sama would breakfast so close to Edo +town! Good sir, deign to leave the matter to me. Both are in haste--you +to the capital; I almost as far.... This Fujisawa is a wondrous place. +As priest you know its temple and its wandering prior, the precious +relics of the Hangwan, but the woman Terute of course the priest +despises; yet Oguri owed much to her--life and success in his vendetta. +Besides in a copse, just over yonder hill, is the shrine of the other +Hangwan--Yoshitsune. A prayer to his head there buried brings success in +warlike adventure, no great affair for cleric or tradesman.... Already +the Banyu[u] ferry is close at hand. Surely if we would reach Sumpu +(Shizuoka) this day there can be no lunching short of Odawara town." + +Dentatsu would have stopped short, if such halt had not involved the +rapid disappearance of this elastic and now entertaining companion. As +it was both had to slow pace to let him get breath taken away by pure +amazement. "Odawara town! Sumpu before night! Tradesman, have you gone +mad? To Sumpu it is full forty-eight _ri_ (120 miles). You talk like a +fool. Who is there, to walk such a stage in a day?"--"The honoured +Shukke Sama and this tradesman. In talk and argument the ground flies +under the feet of such walkers, and the promise to keep pace will be +maintained. Just see--this is Kodzu town; yonder the waters of +Sakawagawa. 'Tis early yet, but time can be spared for food. For +exercise belly timber is needed. A good lining of wine and food to the +inwards is the tonic to more talk and exertion. Now in with you, to this +broad space leading to the castle--the keep of O[u]kubo Kaga no Kami, +with his hundred thousand _koku_ and the trust of the suzerain worth all +his other honours. Ah! Here is the eight roofed Minoya, best of its kind +in the town. And what a town. Between wine, food, and singing girls, one +loiters as long as a second Odawara conference; at times to one's +ruin.... Ah! Ha! A stop for the mid-day meal. Ne[e]san, no more delay +than needed. Speed is urgent, yet food and wine of the best. The +honoured Shukke Sama is affected toward vegetable food.... What! The +Buddha called wine _hannyato_--hot water bringing wisdom? Ne[e]san, the +honoured Shukke Sama is a man of sense, no ascetic when unsatiated--or +on a journey. He would wear out belly and _waraji_ (sandals) on the same +service. Fish boiled with a little salt, _sashimi_ (sliced raw +fish)--and _don't_ forget the _kamaboku_ (fish paste). Two bottles for +each, with as much more heating. Bring a large bowl, empty. Never mind +the change.... And now, honoured Shukke Sama, deign at least to the +uninitiated the basis of this wondrous argument." Dentatsu could not +take offence at his merry humour. Himself he smiled, as he poured from +the second bottle of the wine. "Yes; the Buddha has called wine +_hannyato_, thus permitting its use to the initiated; just as stronger +foods, properly labelled, are fit for the belly. Thus by the mouth is +purified what goes into the belly. If the mouth can perform lustration +in the one case, it can do so by its exercise in another and more +intimate fashion." The fellow was immensely pleased. Leaning over he had +drunk in the countenance of the priest in the course of his +argument--"Naruhodo! A big body: 'twas feared the mind would be small. +Deign, honoured sir, to wait a moment; a purchase to make...." Off he +bolted with the _domburi_ or large bowl, something of a mystery to the +priest. It was soon solved by his reappearance with the vessel filled +with the small salted squid (_ika_). "There! Honoured Shukke Sama, +sample the best of Odawara town, noted for _kamaboku_ and its small +fish-salted; and of these the _ika_ is unsurpassed." As they drank the +wine, urged on by the savoury relish, he gave few and brief directions. +The food was wrapped up by the _ne[e]san_, several bottles of wine put +in the package, for use in a journey that must be pressed. "Now--the +bill; for you, _ne[e]san_, what is left over. Honoured Shukke Sama, a +gentle pace for the time being. The belly full, one loiters to let it do +its work. From here to Yumoto is a _ri_ (2-1/2 miles), of most gentle +rise. And what a pretty scene; the valley narrowing to its clinging +hills hiding the strange and beautiful scenes beyond, yet which cause a +little fear even to the stoutest hearts. This river seems alive, +twisting, and turning, and pouring in multitudinous and minute falls +over the rounded boulders. The greater falls are naught else--on the +larger scale. All day one could watch the twists and turns of one spot +in a rivulet, white, green, almost black, yet never the same.... Note +how the pass narrows. This is Hata, beyond is the monkey's clinging +hill--well named. More than one rock from the steep above has torn away +the traveller's grasp and crushed a skull as if an egg shell." They +breasted the steep hills through forest, came out on the gentler upper +slopes covered with the long bamboo grass through which could be seen +the rough heaped up surface of volcanic debris. The trader came to a +halt. "A request to make." + +"Ah! Now the fellow's mask is off--in this lonely spot.... He shall have +a tussle for it." Dentatsu was as much enraged as scared. Grasping his +staff he faced the townsman with harshness and visible irritation. Said +the latter testily--"Put off the honoured scowl. Truly the distrust of +the Shukke Sama is most uncomplimentary. But--as priest of Zo[u]jo[u]ji, +and on its mission, there is a passport. Women or guns with such, and +those unfurnished, cannot pass the barrier. I am unfurnished." Dentatsu +showed his amazement--"Yet you would journey to the capital! +And...."--"Started in great haste, without time even for equipment, as +can be seen--in a way. Deign to grant the request of entering in +'companion.' With this favour all will be well, and the obligation +greater." Said the priest gravely--"True: and companions for the day, +breaking food together, it is no great matter. But a townsman as +company--the barrier guards would certainly make question."--"Write the +matter in; write the matter in. They shall have answer.... For whom? The +name is Jimbei, of Kanda ward; but just now a servant of Zo[u]jo[u]ji. +Jimbei will be a credit to the honoured Shukke Sama. Write it in." His +manner was so peremptory that the priest drew forth his writing +materials. With one hand grinding his tablet of ink, with one eye +watching Jimbei, he saw him disappear into the bushes. With misgiving +the characters were added to the passport, a gentle forgery easy to the +cleric in mind and hand. Who would not cheat barrier and customs, and +feel all the better for the deed? To the misgivings were added a gasp of +astonishment. From the bush appeared Jimbei clad in full raiment of a +temple servant, carrying pole and the two boxes (_ryo[u]gake_) on his +shoulders, and so like to the role that Dentatsu felt as travelling in +the style of his betters. "But ... in this lonely place how effect such +change? How...." Jimbei quietly removed the document dangling from his +fingers. "How--and why--and which--and where--all these are for later +explanation. Time presses if Sumpu is to be reached at night. Jimbei +answers for the credit of the Go Shukke Sama. Now, honoured sir--down +the hill with you." They were standing on the crest overlooking the lake +far below. Jimbei set the example by starting off at a rapid pace. Never +had priest better attendant, or one more skilled in dealing with barrier +curiosity. He was loquacious, without giving information. The matter was +clear, and Jimbei gave hint as to the mission and the burden. Dentatsu +was given early clearance. At the top of Muko[u]zaka Jimbei loyally +restored to him the precious burden until then assumed. "Now, sir +priest, be assured of Jimbei Dono's good faith. The favour has been +great. The acknowledgment shall be as great. In this life the Go Shukke +Sama and this Jimbei are bound in brotherhood." If Dentatsu felt +grateful, he also felt a little chilled. + +"A wonderful fellow! Such legs on such a small body have never been +seen.... Nor such an eye. This man is as much brains as bulk. Every +member is intelligence--Extraordinary!" He kept this opinion to +himself. Aloud--"This Dentatsu admits his inferiority. He is worn out. +Since Jimbei balks Mishima town, from there onward this foolish priest +takes nag or _kago_." Was he speaking truth, or trying to get rid of +him? Jimbei stopped and observed him keenly. Bah! His was the master +mind over this poor cleric. "The Shukke Sama already has had test of +Jimbei's wit and talk. Deign not to spit folly. Leave the matter to +Jimbei, and be assured that the passage of time and space will go +unobserved." Nor did the priest find it otherwise. The leagues passed on +apace. At this rest shed they stopped awhile for tea, and to consume +provision. At another Jimbei halted to order _sake_ for himself and +companion. The sun was far down as the ferrymen landed them on the +further side of the Fujikawa. Okitsu? Mio no Matsubara? No indeed: +passing under the walls of the Seikenji, Jimbei spoke with enthusiasm of +the place famed for eatables--Sumpu town. To[u]to[u]mi-wan, Suruga-wan, +furnished the fish, unsurpassed; the _tai_ (bream) of Okitsu, famed for +_sashimi_--all these, including the best _sake_ in Nippon. Dentatsu +sighed with weariness and anticipated pleasure of the table set. Passing +through the darkness of full night the mass of a castle bulk could be +made out. Then they came into the blaze of such light as a large +provincial town afforded. Said Jimbei, with some exultation--"Sumpu +town, and its inns of note. Eh! Honoured Shukke Sama!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE AFFAIR OF KISHU[U] KE + + +Jimbei, as of one born and bred in the town, at once led his companion +off from the castle precincts. The many lanterns hung out in the narrow +streets showed this Jinshukucho[u] to be the lodging quarter of the +town. Approaching the entrance of one more conspicuous--"The +Yorozuya.... Ah! Shelter for the night." The maids kneeling at the +entrance chorused their welcome. Keenly they took in the prospective +guests, garb mainly, possessions less conspicuous. All Nipponese travel +light, and tea money is to be judged by outward appearance. "Deign to +enter;" the usual mechanical and none too enthusiastic greeting. Jimbei +was at home--"And the eight mat room over looking the street?... Oh! +Ne[e]san is without memory." The girl, a little puzzled, admitted the +defect and made apology. Alas! The room had been taken for one of the +train of Kishu[u] Ke. They were _samurai_, on their lord's business, and +would have no near neighbours. Another room of size and suitability was +available. "Honoured Shukke Sama, water for the feet." Deftly he +stripped off the sandals of Dentatsu, acted the servant to perfection, +and attended to his own purification with practised swiftness. Then +under the guidance of the maid the room was sought. The host appeared +almost as soon with the inn register. "Dentatsu, _shoke_ of +Jo[u]jo[u]ji; one companion--from Mishima this day." With grave face +Jimbei made the entry; and Dentatsu gave all the approval of an outraged +weariness. + +"And now--the bath? Ne[e]san, the Danna Sama is large of body and +liberal of needs. No vegetation as repast for him. Just a...." Jimbei +went into a huge order of food and wine to repair their tired bodies. +The girl sighed in relief--"The honoured _bo[u]zu_-san (sir priest) is +most considerate. He asks but what is easily supplied." To Jimbei's +supposed inquiry--"To furnish out of the usual course is never easy. The +honoured priests often give trouble." A serving man stuck his nose +within the _sho[u]ji_. "For the honoured guests the bath...."--"Danna, +the bath." The girl stood expectant. Following her guidance the weary +Dentatsu, under the manipulation of his more active companion, underwent +this partial renovation. Before the _zen_, well covered with the +eatables, Dentatsu sighed--"Ah! Ha! This Dentatsu is weary beyond +measure. To-morrow he will rest here. The distance...." Jimbei cut him +short--"The Danna deigns to jest. The rest of a night, and all the +weariness departs. Wine and food, sleep, will show the folly of such +thought. Besides, the temple's important affair...." Dentatsu did not +seem to be so solicitous concerning temple matters as his attendant. +Jimbei gave him little chance to show it. He prattled and talked, had +much to ask of _ne[e]san_. This shortly, and as decided--"With an early +start let the beds be laid at once." Off he dragged the unwilling +Dentatsu. When they returned from preparation for the night the beds +were laid. Dentatsu tumbled incontinently into one, and in a moment was +snoring. Jimbei sat smoking, watching him and the girl making the final +preparation of the chamber for the night. As she passed close to him +suddenly he seized her and drew her down to him--"Ara! Danna, this won't +do at all. A maid in the inn, such service must be refused. Condescend +to loosen." But Jimbei did not let her go. He drew her very close.--"Ha! +Ah! Indeed one is much in love. However don't be alarmed. It is another +affair. The Go Shukke Sama has a little soul in a big body. He is +wearied beyond measure; yet the temple affairs require an early start. +Deign to call us at the seventh hour, but be sure to say it is the +sixth. Is it agreed?... For a hair ornament." The maid understood the +coin and the innocent deception. Dimming the night light she took her +departure. An inn of Nippon never sleeps. + +Dentatsu was aroused, to find the lamp still burning brightly in the +room. The maid, somewhat frightened, was vigorously shaking him. "Oya! +Oya! To shake up such a big Danna, 'tis terrific. He may deign to bestow +a beating." Said Jimbei, with calm philosophy--"For the _kerai_ to +inconvenience his master is not to be permitted. You are of the inn +service. Hence not to be reproved by strangers. It is your function to +arouse."--"The sixth hour!" grumbled Dentatsu. He rubbed his eyes as one +who had just gone to sleep. Jimbei carried him off to the cleaning +processes of early morn. The return found the table laid with the meal. +With quietness and despatch Jimbei settled all matters with the aplomb +of the practised traveller. Before he was well awake Dentatsu found +himself following after through the dark streets. "Surely the maid has +mistaken the hour.[23] 'Tis yet the darkness of night."--"Not likely," +interjected Jimbei, as swiftly he urged him on. "The girl sees to +departure every day in the year. It is the darkness of bad weather, and +all the more need for haste." He looked around in surprise. They had +reached the ferry at the Tegoe crossing of the Abegawa, at the edge of +the town. "Naruhodo! Not a coolie has yet appeared. There is no one to +carry us across the river. How now! Has the girl really mistaken the +hour?... Return? Why so? That would be to look ridiculous, and the woman +is not worth scolding. However, this Jimbei knows...." With misgiving +and protest Dentatsu followed him a little up stream, toward the +Ambai-nai or Nitta crossing. Here the broad middle space is usually left +bare of flood. Jimbei began to strip. + +"Naruhodo! Townsman, surely the crossing is not to be trod without the +practised guidance of the coolies? This Dentatsu budges not a +step...."--"Deign to be silent," was the reply. Jimbei was already in +the water; with the priest's luggage and his own. With fright and +interest Dentatsu watched him feel his way through the stream. Surely he +was a most surprising fellow. On the other bank doubtless he would +disappear at once. The big legs of Dentatsu trembled under him. He had +thoughts of entrance, but the impossibility of overtaking these legs of +quicksilver prevented him. "Ora pro nobis"; these departing treasures. +No! Now he was returning. "Now, Go Shukke Sama, up with you." He made a +back for Dentatsu, but the big man backed away. "Jimbei! Are you mad? Is +Jimbei one to carry the big...."--"Body in which is lodged such a small +soul? Be sure, sir priest, this Jimbei easily could shift double the +weight. Up with you!... Don't put the hands over my eyes. A little +higher: that's it." Off he started into the flood. The first channel was +easy; barely to the thigh. Dentatsu walked across the intervening sand, +with more confidence and not a word of doubting protest. Again, and +readily, he mounted this surprising conveyance. The second attempt was +another affair. The river flowed swift. The legs of Dentatsu were wound +around the neck of Jimbei, now in water to his chest. He looked in +fright and some pleasure at the waves, flicked here and there with +white. Jimbei halted--"A fine sight, sir priest. Note the deep blue. It +shows depth, yet this is the ford. Just below it runs far over man's +head, with swift undercurrent. He who once is caught in it rises not +again until the crossing is reached, far below." Said Dentatsu, scared +and annoyed--"Why loiter then in such a dangerous place?"--"Because just +now the world is Jimbei's world." The tone of voice, the look up he +gave, froze the soul of Dentatsu. + +"Just consider, sir priest. A movement, and the honoured Go Shukke Sama +is food for fishes. His disappearance accounted for, his luggage, the +two thousand _ryo[u]_ of the temple, pass to Jimbei as his heir, and +none to make report. The honoured Shukke Sama, is he prepared?" Dentatsu +was no fool. This man was in earnest for the moment. With all the +calmness of a desperate position he made terms--"Life is everything. +Deign to place this foolish priest on solid ground. Jimbei takes the +coin, goes unscathed, without word now or hereafter. The priest's word +for it--and surely Jimbei fears not for himself." He clung fast to +Jimbei's neck. The latter had gone off into a most outrageous peal of +laughter which almost shook his freight from the perch aloft. Then +slowly and carefully he proceeded into the shallows, set down his charge +on the further bank--"A magnificent compliment: but no more of this. +Perhaps now the Go Shukke Sama will have trust in Jimbei, submit to his +guidance. For once in earnest, the escape was a narrow one.... Ah! Ha! +Ha! Ha! How scared!" Dentatsu did not deny it--"More than frightened; +thoroughly scared." He scanned his companion. "A most surprising fellow! +Surely...." He was perplexed. But Jimbei paid no attention to his +questioning deferential manner. He was plainly the master--"Come now! +All haste is to be made." Urging the pace soon they were amid the hills. +The white light of dawn was approaching as they were reaching the top of +a difficult climb. "The Utsunoya-to[u]ge (pass)," said Jimbei. A +peculiar vibration in his voice made Dentatsu look at him with surprise. +His mouth was set. His eyes shone colder than ever. Every faculty of the +man was awake and alert. Silent he halted, put down the pack on the +steps of a little wayside shrine, drew out his pipe to smoke. "Beyond is +the Tsuta no Hosomichi, running along the mountain side for some +_cho[u]_; the 'slender road of Ivy,' for it is no wider than a +creeper."--"A bad place!" mechanically murmured Dentatsu. "A very bad +place!" was the grave reply. + +Then the sound of steps was heard. A man, puffing, came up on the run. +He addressed himself with respect to Jimbei--"Honoured chief, they enter +on the pass."--"Good: now--vamoose; but be at hand." The man saluted, to +Jimbei and the priest, and disappeared in the direction whence he came. +"Vamoose? Vamoose? What and why this word vamoose?"--"Shut up!" was the +emphatic reply of Jimbei. His eye turned to wayside shrine, close by at +the summit of the pass. "Now, in with you, sir priest. No word or +motion, if life be valued.... In with you." Dentatsu looked him all +over. In resentment? If he felt it, he did not dare to show it. +Mechanically he turned and huddled himself within the grating. Jimbei +forced it in on him, for the space would but hold the big body of the +priest. He had hardly done so when another man came running up, almost +breathless--"Chief! They are at hand."--"Good: vamoose."--"Again +'vamoose'", grumbled Dentatsu openly.[24] "Why such strange words; and +at least why not explain them?"--"Ah! Ha! A noisy priest; these clerics +can do nothing but clack, clack, like a parcel of geese or women. Even +the best of them--who thus consorts with Jimbei. Remember, +Bo[u]zu--silence, or the Go Shukke Sama finds Nirvana--not Gion; or was +it Chion." With a silent ferocious laugh, or expression of such, he +disappeared into the bushes. + +But few moments passed. Dentatsu wriggled uneasily in his robes, the +only motion space permitted. Then was heard the merry sound of bells. A +pack train appeared; or rather two horses, one as carrier. A _samurai_ +rode in front; another followed on foot. Four or five grooms were in +attendance. Close by the shrine, at the top of the ascent, they halted +to get wind after this last steep pull. "What a splendid sight! +Naruhodo, Gemba Dono! The sun rises from the bosom of the waters. How +blue they seem! The hills take shape in the dawn's light. Truly the +start, so inconveniently early, is repaid in part. One could stay here +forever ... what call you this place?... Tsuta no Hosomichi? And the +resort of highwaymen. But the _samurai_ has his sword. Such fellows are +not of the kind to trouble. Much more so a _tanka_ couplet to celebrate +the beauty of the spot." He laughed, and his companion swaggered to the +front of the shrine, with that peculiar hip motion of his caste. +Dentatsu held his breath. The grooms chanted the few lines of a +song--"The eight _ri_ of Hakone--the horse's pack; the Oigawa--its wide +flood, not so." Slowly they rose to follow the masters. He who walked +preceded. The pack horse followed. The rider was well engaged in the +narrow way. The grooms were preparing to follow. Then a man burst forth +from the bushes at the roadside. "Atsu!" The _samurai_ had but hand on +his sword hilt when his assailant had cut deep into shoulder and pap. +His companion tried to turn. Then Dentatsu saw the animal he rode +stagger and fall. The rider had but time to throw himself to the ground. +Before he could rise his head rolled off a dozen paces, then bounded +down the steep slope. Striding over the body smoking in blood, Jimbei +grasped the rein of the pack horse. The grooms, who had looked on eyes +agog, took to flight down the pass as they had come. The whole affair +had not taken two minutes. + +Gasping with fright Dentatsu allowed himself to be dragged from the +shrine. "Ah! Ha! Ha! A surprising fellow! Such activity was never shown +by man. Truly Jimbei is of the hobgoblin kind." Jimbei was once more +transformed. His costume of priests' attendant had been resumed. The +carrying boxes, now much heavier, were ready to shoulder. Gravely he +indicated the burden. "Four thousand _ryo[u]_ there; a thousand _ryo[u]_ +to be carried elsewhere. But now there is need for great haste. Neither +Jimbei nor the Go Shukke Sama is to be found in these parts. On with +you, sir priest."--"Ah! Jimbei! Jimbei! A strange fellow indeed! What +manner of company has this Dentatsu fallen in with?"--"This is no time +for questions--or answers," was Jimbei's stern reply. "The relation +evidently is for life. Jimbei recognizes it.... Yes, the crest is that +of Kishu[u] Ke; the money, funds remitted to his treasury. Hence all the +greater need to hasten." Speed they did, by paths and shorter ways +unknown to Dentatsu as frequent traveller of this road, and which spared +the Hamana bight and rest at the tea sheds of the To[u]kaido[u]. Fright +urged on Dentatsu without protest; settled purpose hastened Jimbei. Thus +Yoshida post town was reached in good time to inn, for the priest was +half dead with fatigue. + +Jimbei surveyed his charge, critically and with much kindness, as one +does what has been of greatest use to him. "Not a step further can this +Dentatsu go." It was not refusal; it was plain assertion of fact; and +Jimbei agreed. "There is no longer need for haste. Two, three days +stoppage, with the best of food and wine shall be the reward of the +honoured Shukke Sama. Nay, until thoroughly restored." They had come +from the bath and were seated at a table loaded with wine and food. +Dentatsu prepared to eat. Just then the landlord stuck his head in +between the _sho[u]ji_. His face was anxious and frightened. "Regret is +felt. On Utsunoyama, at the crossing of the pass, the honoured money +train of Kishu[u] Ke has been held up and robbed. 'Tis a great affair; +by some notable robber! At Yoshida none are allowed exit or entrance +during the next six days. People and strangers are to undergo strict +examination. Deign the honoured pardon, but ... after all the charges +are to be met for the detention." The morsel then being conveyed to the +mouth of Dentatsu stopped short. A warning look from Jimbei nearly made +him choke. The townsman was all suavity and glee--"How fortunate! The +honoured Shukke Sama, foot sore, would rest several days. And at no +expense! The generosity of Matsudaira Ko[u] passes measure. Are we not +lucky, Danna?" To the host--"So it makes no difference. But at this +distance...." The host shrugged his shoulders. "It would seem so; but +the order is official. The notice came by boat from Oigawa. The whole +To[u]kaido[u] is up--from Yoshida to Numazu town."--"And why not to Edo +and the capital (Kyo[u]to)," Jimbei laughed. The host laughed too. Well +satisfied with his guests' satisfaction he withdrew. Dentatsu did but +blink. + +The meal removed Jimbei sat in apparent thought. "A boat--and Yoshida! +Who would have thought it? Ah! The wicked are not to escape punishment. +Three feet nearer Heaven--on a stake; and one's belly full of wind +holes--from the spears. Go Shukke Sama, the crime was a dastardly one. +Five thousand _ryo[u]_! Surely it means crucifixion on the embankment. +We will furnish poles for plover--to roost upon."[25] Dentatsu made a +sign of frightened repulsion. He could not speak. Jimbei seemed to catch +an idea. "Ne[e]san! Ne[e]san! keep the honoured Shukke Sama company over +his wine. There is a purchase to make.... By the house? No such trouble +asked. It is for _waraji_, with cloth in front and rear, +indispensable.... Not found here? Nay, these eyes saw them on entering +the town. Someone will get ahead in the purchase--with great regret. The +place was seen, but not knowing the streets it is not to be described." +When the girl carried out the dishes, to bring in more wine, Dentatsu +raised heavy reproachful eyes--"Then Jimbei would run away, leave the +priest in the lurch." He cast a look at the hateful _ryo[u]gake_, +stuffed with recent spoil. Jimbei froze him into silence--"From the town +there is no escape. Leave the matter to Jimbei. Drink: even if the +liquor chokes."--"A means of escape will be found?"--"Truly a big body +and a cowardly heart. Why, man this but a difficult place. Jimbei +leaves, to find an exit."--"Just so!" was the gloomy answer of the +priest. He put his head in his hands. Meanwhile Jimbei betook himself to +the front. To avoid annoyance he borrowed an inn lantern. With its broad +mark of "Masuya," the name of the inn, he sallied out into the darkness. + +He was gone nearly a whole watch. Dentatsu, assured of his desertion, +was in despair. He had relied on the fertile mind of this scamp. Ah! +What a predicament this fellow had got him into. Then the voice of +Jimbei sounded at his shoulder. Dentatsu almost leaped up. Instead he +gulped down the _sake_, until then barely touched, to the maid's great +astonishment. "Surely the Danna Sama must be ill."--"More likely tired, +than unwell. But the wine will make it pass. The _waraji_? Here they +are." He laughed as he drew them from his bosom. The girl was all +astonishment. They were just as described; such as were never seen west +of Hakone. Truly a sharp-sighted guest! When alone Jimbei spoke +briefly--"Take courage. The matter is arranged." Said Dentatsu, +heavy-eyed--"The mission settled? Has some other lost his life at +Jimbei's hand?" Jimbei laughed; then frowned. "Neither blood nor coin +does Jimbei spill for mere pastime. He has purpose." He handled the +_waraji_. Said Dentatsu in some amaze--"Where did you get them?"--"In +Odawara."--"Has Jimbei been to Odawara?"--"Just so: but not now. Jimbei +is no Tengu Sama. Did not the Go Shukke Sama take food at Odawara? This +kind are only found there; and pretexts are always needed to range a +town in darkness. The mission is performed. Be assured that before day +these very people will urge departure.... How so? Jimbei is not without +friends; and has done his own part as well. The train is laid, and in +all quarters of Yoshida town the fire will break out. The wind blows +strong, and ... 'tis them or us." His look was so cold as to freeze. +Dentatsu, in ecstasy of gratitude did but seize his hands and +murmur--"Wonderful man--truly a great captain!" For the first time +Jimbei looked a genuine benevolence. + +Dentatsu pushed the covers partly away and sat up in bed. Severe had +been the chiding of Jimbei--"Honoured Shukke Sama, such conduct will +never do. Fortunate it is that the event is postponed but an hour or +so. Ne[e]san surely is amazed at the sudden abstinence of the Go Shukke +Sama from food and drink. Moreover there is work to be done. The body +unnourished, it gives way. Deign to rest. Be assured the urging will +come from others." These the final words before the townsman-bandit had +himself dropped off into soundest slumbers. Dentatsu watched him, with +confidence and some awe. Smoothed out in sleep and under the influence +of some pleasant dream, Jimbei was as harmless looking as one of the +doves in the temple of the war god Hachiman. He leaned over and would +wake him. "_Urusai!_ Annoying fellow! Ah! This _bo[u]zu_ is part hare, +part ass, part swine. When not braying, he is stuffing, or ears up in +fright. Deign to rest, honoured priest. Legs and body will soon have +enough to do." Again he turned over; and again the snores rose loud. +Dentatsu could not sleep. He lay awake, listening to the diminishing +sounds of inn life. + +The temple bells were striking the sixth hour. The sound was a strange +one. The strokes of the hour ran into one continued roar. +Jan-jan-jan--pon-pon--gon-gon--cries of men, the racket of wooden +clappers and of drums, were now added to the uproar. For a few moments +Dentatsu stood the increasing excitement. Through the cracks of the +closed _amado_ he could see a reddish glare, becoming brighter and +brighter. He sat up and roughly shook Jimbei by the shoulder. "Oh! This +rascally cleric. Nothing will satisfy his stupidity, but to carry it to +extremes. Honoured Shukke Sama, wait the urgency of others; don't supply +it. We at least lack not preparation.... Ah!" The _sho[u]ji_ were thrown +hastily back. The host of the inn appeared, his face pale and lips +trembling. "Honoured guests! Still in bed? Deign at once to flee. The +town is in a blaze. Every quarter has its conflagration which walks +apace; and in this gale hopeless to overcome...."--"Don't talk folly," +sleepily answered Jimbei. "Is not the town in ward for these six days. +Why disturb oneself? Let all burn together?" The host wrung his +hands--"Honoured sirs, the blame and punishment falls on this Masuya if +injury befall its guests. All lies wide open. Deign at once to leave.... +Naruhodo!" His mouth was wide open. Jimbei and Dentatsu rose as on +springs, full clad, _waraji_ on their feet. The way "lies wide open." +This was the watchword to Jimbei. "Edokko (sons of Edo) always are +ready, and need no urging." With this genial explanation he and Dentatsu +shouldered past the astonished landlord. If the latter would have had +suspicions they were thwarted or postponed by the cries which rose +below. His own main house was now in flames. Hands to head in this +confusion of ideas he abandoned all thought of his guests and rushed +down below. As if in his own home, with no guide but the outer glare +Jimbei passed to the inn rear. In the darkness of the passage he had +stopped, leaned down and struck a light. The precious _ryo[u]gake_ on +his shoulders, with the priest he took to the fieldpaths in the rear of +the town. The ground was level; the land rich rice field with its +interspersed and picturesque clumps of trees and bamboo, its verdure +bowered villages. From time to time they looked back at the sky, flaming +red, and in its darker outer parts a mass of glittering flying sparks +"like the gold dashes on aventurine lacquer ware." + +For two days they had lain at Okazaki town, Dentatsu incapable of +movement after the mad run along the classic highway in the darkness of +that fearful night. As refugees from the stricken town they met with +kind reception. The greater part of Yoshida town lay in ashes; and so +great the disaster, so unsuspected the cause, that men looked rather to +the hand of Heaven than of human kind for the source of such punishment. +Jimbei spoke gravely as the two stood on the long bridge leading to +Yahagi across the river. "The luck of one, the misfortune of +another--'twas the life of the Go Shukke Sama and of this Jimbei against +the lives and fortunes of those wretched people. And is there aught to +outweigh life?" The priest nodded a lugubrious and pleased assent to +this plain doctrine. "It is just as well the host of Masuya lost life as +well as goods. He might have made plaint, and had too long a tongue.... +Jimbei could not foresee such weakness in so huge a body." He looked +Dentatsu over with a little kindly contempt. "And so the honoured Shukke +Sama would ask the name of this Jimbei? Honoured sir, the favour of your +ears--for Kosaka Jinnai, son of Heima of that name, descendant of the +Kosaka known to fame in service with Shingen Ko[u] of Kai. Times have +changed, and misfortune driven Jinnai to seek revenge for his lord's +undoing." He mocked a little; the tone was too unctuously hypocritical. +Then abruptly--"Sir priest, here we part. Your way lies ahead to Gifu +town. Delay not too much, until the lake (Biwa-ko) is reached. Travel in +company, for Jinnai, though his men are numbered by the thousand, +controls not all the craft. A priest can scent a true priest. Seek out +your kind.... Ha! You make a face.... Here: two hundred _ryo[u]_. The +monastery is none too generous, and would have you live--abroad. _Sutra_ +and prayers are not amusing. By face and years the honoured Shukke Sama +loves the sex as well as the best of his kind. The very shadow of a +monastery is prolific. More merriment is to be found with the girls of +Gion than with those who dance the _kagura_ (sacred dances) at +Higashiyama. Besides, these are for your betters. If further off--seek +Shimabara (the noted pleasure quarter). Go buy a Tayu; the funds are +ample and not to be hoarded.... There need be no hesitation. 'Tis money +of no thief. The prince robs the public; and Jinnai robs the princely +thief. No trader ever has hung himself from the house beam for act of +Jinnai; and more than one owes credit and freedom from a debtor's +slavery to his aid." + +It was with thanks, the parting with a man famed by deed before one's +eyes, that Dentatsu slowly passed on to the bridge. From its further end +he could see the road leading into the Nakasendo[u] hills. Long he +waited until a diminutive figure, hastening along it, appeared from time +to time between scattered houses on the outskirts of Okazaki town. Then +in earnest he took his own way, partly impelled by fright and anxiety at +loss of his companion and being thrown on the resources of his own wits. +He felt for a time as a blind man deprived of his staff. It was years +after that Yoshida Hatsuemon, he who died so bravely at O[u]saka, +accompanied Marubashi Chu[u]ya to the new fencing room opened at Aoyama +Edo by the teacher of the _yawatori_--a new style of wrestling +introduced from Morokoshi (China)--of spear exercise (_so[u]jutsu_), of +ju[u]jutsu. Marubashi Chu[u]ya had tried the new exponent of these arts, +and found him master in all but that of the spear, in which himself he +was famed as teacher. At this time (Sho[u]ho[u] 3rd year--1646) the +crisis of Jinnai's fate and the conspiracy of the famous Yui Sho[u]setsu +were both approaching issue. To his amazement Hatsuemon recognized in +Osada Jinnai the one time Jimbei of the days when he had journeyed the +To[u]kaido[u] in priestly robe and under the name of Dentatsu. The +recognition was mutual, its concealment courteously discreet on the part +of both men. Sho[u]setsu appreciated the merits, the audacity, and the +certain failure ahead of Jinnai's scheme. The better remnants he would +gather to himself. Yui Sho[u]setsu Sensei aimed to pose as a new +Kusunoki Masashige, whose picture was the daily object of his prayers +and worship. All was grist to the mill of his designs; but not +association with such a chief--or lieutenant--as Kosaka Jinnai. +Forewarned Marubashi and Yoshida (Dentatsu) held coldly off and sought +no intimacy. Thus watched by keen wits of greater comprehension Jinnai +rushed on his course into the claws of Aoyama Shu[u]zen and the meshes +of the Tokugawa code for criminals of his class. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT + + +Thus Kosaka Jinnai, under the name of Osada, at the beginning of +Sho[u]ho[u] 2nd year (1645) was established at Aoyama Harajuku-mura. For +a gentleman of such abilities his pretensions were modest. It is true +that he hung out a gilt sign before his fencing hall, with no boasting +advertisement of his qualities as teacher. Yet his fame quickly became +such that students flocked to him by the score. In a few months, on plea +of being over-stocked, he was turning away all who would seek his +instruction. Some he could not refuse--retainers of _yashiki_ in his +vicinity. But the generality of his disciples were a very rough lot; and +this finer quality of his flock were carefully segregated, came and went +at their appointed time apart from the common herd; and as matter of +fact profited much from their teacher, and knew very little about him. +Which was exactly the aim of Jinnai. This was remembered of him later. + +There is but one domestic episode connected with this period, so short +and purposely obscure in its duration. About the time of his first +establishment a villager, on visit to Edo town, chanced upon the +practice hour of Jinnai. The years had passed, yet the rustic had no +difficulty in recognizing in the Sensei the one time Jinnosuke. When +later he sought a more personal interview the great man was found +courteous but freezing cold in the reception. The news from Tsukuba +district was of that mixed character not to afford any exuberant +pleasure. His reputation for bad company had gone abroad, though no +great deeds of wickedness had been attributed to him. With the devotion +of a daughter his wife had nourished the old folk, brought up her two +daughters. On her shoulders during all these years had rested the +management of these small affairs. The girls grew toward womanhood. +When O'Kiku was in her seventeenth year Jisuke had died--unconsoled at +the ill turn fortune had played him in this unfilial son. These +grandparents had lingered out the years, crippled and helpless, urging a +re-marriage on O'Ichi--always refused on the plea that such relation was +for two lives. Jisuke Dono had united them, and he alone could separate +her from Jinnai. She sought no second relation herself and plead against +it; and Jisuke would not force it on this filial daughter, who thus +would block the disinheritance of the son. Thus the farm stood, ready +for the master on his return. Truly the whole village wondered, and +admired her filial conduct. + +To most of this Jinnai listened with indifference. "These girls--their +looks and age?" Replied the man--"O'Kiku now is seventeen years; O'Yui +Dono has fifteen years. Truly they are the village beauties, and rarely +found in such life, for they would spare the mother all labour." He +spoke with enthusiasm. "Then the mother lives?" The man shook his +head--"The grave mound yet is very fresh. When she died she spoke no +word of Jinnosuke Dono." Boldly he looked in rebuke at the unfilial man. +Jinnai, if anything, showed annoyance. The old woman alive would have +kept the inconvenient wife--the three women--at the distance of +Tsukuba's slopes. His plans admitted of no possible descent on him at +Aoyama Harajuku. Briefly he made request for the favour of bearing a +message. Gladly the mission was accepted. With a discouraging cordiality +in the leave taking the old acquaintance took his way back to the +village. With something of a flutter O'Ichi opened and ran out the +scroll he brought--"Unexpected and gratifying the meeting with +Taro[u]bei San. The news of the village, not pleasing, is subject of +condolence. Deign to observe well the instructions here given. The time +will come when a summons to Edo town will be in order. At present the +establishment is new and tender, and stands not the presence of +strangers to the town. Condescend to show the same care in the present +as in the past. The farm and its tenure is left to the hands of Ichi. As +for these girls, look well to their care. They are said to be handsome +and reputed the daughters of this Jinnai. Obey then his command. These +are no mares for the public service, or for the private delectation of +some rich plebeian. Service in a _yashiki_ need not be refused, and +jumps more with the plans and purposes of Jinnai. Keep this well in +mind, and await the ripeness of time. With salutation...." Such the cold +greeting through the years. "Reputed the daughters of this Jinnai." Ah! +He thought and knew the years turned the beauty Ichi into the worn and +wrinkled country hag of nearly forty years, only too ready to market her +girls for her own necessities. She was ill and worn in her service. Here +Jinnai was to be recognized. He was the man of his caste, with contempt +for the plebeian he turned to his uses, but who must have no intimate +contact with him or his. + +Edo town was in a turmoil. North, East, South of the town the lives and +purses of men who walked were at hazard. Plainly some band was operating +in these quarters of the town. Aoyama Shu[u]zen was hard put to it. His +arrests, outrageous and barbarous, increased with his difficulties. Some +specimens have been instanced. His bands of _yakunin_ lay out in a wide +net around the threatened quarters of the city. On the outskirts of +Honjo[u] a country mansion would be fired and plundered. In O[u]kubo a +temple (the Jisho[u]-in) was clean gutted of its treasury--without +notice to its neighbours. Not a sign of the spoil could be traced until +the Sho[u]shidai of Kyo[u]to sent as present to the suzerain a most +valued hanging picture (_kakemono_) of Shu[u]bun, picked up for him in +O[u]saka town, and worthy of being seen by the eyes of Edo's ruler. +Murder and rape were the common accompaniments of these crimes, the +doers of which left no witness, if resisted. _Tsujikiri_, cutting down +wayfarers merely to test the value of a sword blade, found revival. Such +murders in the outward wards of the city were of nightly occurrence. Yet +they all centred in Aoyama's own precinct; starting forth from the +fencing hall of Osada Jinnai. What a band they were! At this long +distant date the names read with that tinge of the descriptive which +such nomenclature gives--Yamaguchi Chiyari, Kanagawa Koni, Sendai no +O[u]kami, Okayama Koshin, Kumamoto Kondo[u], Tsukuba Ende;[26] their +great chief being Kosaka Jinnai. + +The eleventh month (December) was closing its first decade. The wine +shop at Shiba Nihon Enoki was celebrating a first opening, a feast in +progress for some hours, and to be maintained for the few ensuing days. +The enthusiasm was at its height, and the wine flowed like water. Some +few guests, who could, tottered home at midnight. Clerks and +domestics--there is little difference in Nipponese practice--shut up the +premises as well as their drunken state permitted. Those who had still +some trace of sobriety proceeded to guzzle what was left in the opened +casks. When the hour of the ox (1 A.M.) struck, not a man in the place +knew front from rear. They lay sprawled out dead drunk--as were some of +the women. This was the hour watched for and chosen by Jinnai. Such of +the females as could give the alarm were bound and gagged by the masked +invaders. Then they gutted place and store-houses. With bending backs +they betook themselves over the hills the short distance to Harajuku. +Here Jinnai, in the unwise benevolence of the bandit chieftain, gave +rein to the licentiousness of these favourites of his mature age, to +these lieutenants and agents in the great movement for which all this +loot was gathered. The circuit was formed. The heads of wine barrels +just stolen were broached. The grizzled, tousled member who officiated +as cook, and as such had been left behind to his own offices, produced +the feast of fish and delicacies in celebration of the great deed and +accomplishment. "Now is the turn of this company," said Jinnai in +pleasant reference to the victims of the raid. "A real banquet of +extreme intoxication.[27] Alas! We have no _tabo_.... Too dangerous a +loot," commented Jinnai amid the roar of laughter and approval. "Use and +abuse go together; and the necessity to slit the throats of such +chattering parrots. For this company the remains would give trouble, +and might bring unexpected visitors about our ears. Be virtuous--and +spare not the wine." The advice was followed to the letter. Soon the +house of Jinnai was a match for that of the looted wine shop. + +With the light of the December dawn a metal dealer (_doguya_) was +trudging his way over the sifted cover of an early snow fall. He lived +thereabouts; often had had small jobs of mending the weapons and +implements of this sturdy establishment of Jinnai, hence had some good +will to its owner, which was more than could be said of most of the +neighbours. To his surprise he noted the wide open gate to Jinnai's +entrance, the many tracks leading within. Strange sounds were heard. He +would venture on a look. "Oya! Oya!" The man stood stock still, half in +fright and half in a wondering concupiscence of curiosity, as he took in +the riotous vision of the fencing hall. Some twenty men lay scattered in +different postures--all dead drunk. The noise arose from their wide open +snoring mouths and nostrils. A score of wine casks lay tumbled, the +liquor spilled on the _tatami_. Mingled with the remains of food and +vomit were stained cups and dirty plates. More suggestive to his +frightened eyes was the heap of packages laid out at the side. Some of +them had been opened, and displayed the varied assortment of the +contents. Most conspicuous was Jinnai, who had gone to sleep with the +bag of all the coin found in the wine shop as pillow. Ah! Ha! The scene +needed no interpreter. This was a mere band of thieves, the house their +den. The man stole to the kitchen. He knew his ground, and that in these +bachelor quarters no women would be stirring. Jinnai was a +misogynist--on business principles. Hearing a stir he would have fled at +the rear, but the body of the drunken cook, the intermediary of their +dealings, lay square across the exit. Fearful he made his return. As he +passed out the front--"Alas! Alas! What is to be done? The Sensei, so +just and prompt in his dealings, so kind in his patronage, is a mere +thief. Report is to be made. As witness this Sentaro[u] will send the +Sensei to the execution ground. But the honoured mother--no trouble is +to be brought on her. By other discovery ... and perchance someone has +seen this entrance! What's to be done? What's to be done?" He did one +thing in his perplexity. He shut the outside door, closed fast the big +gate, and departed by the service gate. Thus no others should intrude on +this rash man; and likewise Jinnai had no inkling of his visit. Then the +_doguya_ fled to his home, so blue in the face and overcome as to +frighten the household. They gathered round the unhappy man with hot +water to drink as restorative. "Had he seen a ghost?" + +All day he pondered. Then he told his story to Aikawa Chu[u]dayu. The +officer was indebted to Sentaro[u]; for many a hint in his operations. +"Deign somehow, honoured _yo[u]nin_, that the Sensei be allowed to +escape. For this Sentaro[u] to appear as witness will bring down the +curse of one sure to be visited with execution. Condescend this favour." +Chu[u]dayu looked on him with approval, but shook his head in +doubt--"Never mind the curse of one dead. The service to the suzerain is +most opportune. Thus surely there will be reward, not punishment. For +the present you cannot be allowed to leave, but the mother shall suffer +no anxiety. There is much serious matter against this man; perchance no +testimony will be called for.... Strange he should be caught thus; on +both sides, and in accordance." He looked over the scroll he held in his +hands, and with it took his way to his master's apartment. Thus it was +he could spring on Shu[u]zen the greater affair concerning the long +missing man. Making his report of the tale of the _doguya_ he passed +over the scroll he held in his hand--"The fellow is caught in both +quarters. There are three of these _ro[u]nin_, most intimate. Of this +Marubashi Chu[u]ya little favourable is known, but he has the support of +Yui Sensei, the noted master of the Ushigome Enoki fencing room, and +favourite of all but Hida no Kami, whom he would rival in attainment. +Shibata Saburo[u]bei and this Kato[u] Ichiemon seem honourable men, of +clean lives and reputation beyond the fact of being _ro[u]nin_. All +experts at arms they live by teaching one form or other of the practice. +Curiosity led Chu[u]ya to the encounter of this Osada at his fencing +hall, to find him more than his match at everything but his favourite +art of the spear. But here lies the point. Later he returned, in company +with a one time _shoke_ of the Zo[u]jo[u]ji. As Dentatsu the priest had +met with Jinnai, and nearly suffered at his hands. In what way he did +not say, but told Chu[u]ya that the man's real name was Kosaka--of the +stock of Kosaka Dansho[u] no Chu[u]den of Kai; of him your lordship +already has had experience in early days. At last he comes into the net +and under such fair terms." + +Aoyama did know his man; even after all these years. He had ripened +much. Why not Jinnai? He would have gone himself, and chafed at not +doing so; but his satellites showed him the lack of dignity in such +procedure. The magistrate in person to take a common thief! Darkness +offered chance of escape; so with dawn a host of _yakunin_ was sent +under a _yoriki_[28] and several _do[u]shin_. Aikawa Chu[u]dayu himself +volunteered. Jinnai and his men were not yet up. On the previous day +awaking amid the unseemly debris of the night's debauch, with no clear +recollection of its progress and ending, the chief's first alarm had +been dissipated by finding the outer gate locked. The unbarred wicket +was attributed to an oversight which hardly would attract notice from +the outside. Indeed he had not been the first to rise and take tale of +his companions, to ascertain which one had occasion to open it and go +without. With such a chief few would admit negligence. The day passed +without notice. Confidence was restored. Now from the outside was heard +a hum of voices. "On his lordship's business! On his lordship's +business!" The cries came together with an irruption of _yakunin_ into +the entrance hall, Jinnai and his men promptly sprang to arms. A +scattered fight began, with none too great stomach of the officers +before the stout resistance offered. It was no great matter to reach a +ladder to the loft. Jinnai was the last man up. The more daring to +follow was laid low with an arrow shot from above, and the ladder +disappeared heavenward. Panels now were thrust back, short bows brought +into use, and almost before they had thought to fight or flee the +constables had five of their men stretched out on the _tatami_. + +Before the shower of missiles they could but retreat. At the request +for aid Aoyama Shu[u]zen was in a rage. There was now no preventing his +departure. Mounting his horse off he rode from Kanda-mura toward +Harajuku-mura. But it had taken some little time for the messenger to +come; and more for Aoyama with his staff to go. Meanwhile much had taken +place. The ward constables had joined the _yakunin_ of Shu[u]zen. The +place completely surrounded, _tatami_ were taken from the neighbouring +houses for use as shields against the arrows. Then on signal a concerted +rush of the hardiest was made. Pouring in, with ladders raised aloft; +tumbling each other into the ditches, in the confusion pummelling each +other with mighty blows, and in consequence securing stout whacks from +the enraged recipients; the unlucky constables were soon +indistinguishable in their coating of mud and blood. The outrageous +ruffians, however, were soon tumbled from the posts of vantage and +precise aim by well directed thrusts. A dozen men poured up the ladders +and through broken panels into the loft above. Here in the uncertain +light they hesitated. The figures of the foe could be seen, armed and +ready for an arrow flight. Then a shout was raised from below. Stifling +smoke poured up from every quarter. The scene was illuminated by the +blazing figures of the archers, for these were old armour and weapons, +lay figures stuffed with straw and meant but to gain precious moments of +respite. The _yakunin_ now had themselves to save. The retreat was as +disorderly as at their first advent, but their rear was not galled by +aught but flying sparks and burning timbers. Discomfited they watched +the blazing mass of Jinnai's once establishment; watched it until it was +a mere mass of ashes and charred beams. + +Jinnai had been long prepared for such an adventure. The _yakunin_ at +first driven back he followed his company through the tunnel[29] leading +to beneath a subsidiary shrine in the grounds of the neighbouring temple +of the Zenkwo[u]ji. Here he dismissed them, with hasty division of the +raided coin, and instructions to their chiefs to meet him at the +festival of the Owari no Tsushima in the fifth month (June). Himself he +would go north, to give notice and gather his recruits. Thus exposed at +Edo, the great uprising now must centre in O[u]saka. They scattered to +their different courses; and thus Jinnai failed to meet the enraged +Aoyama Shu[u]zen, now present on the scene. But even the harsh +discipline of their master had to yield to the piteous appearance of his +men in their discomfiture. Aikawa Chu[u]dayu bent low in most humble +apology. They had underestimated the man, had virtually allowed him to +escape--"Naruhodo! The figures were of straw, and no wonder yielded so +readily to the spear. Only the sight of the flames rising amid the +armour betrayed the deceit in the gloom of the loft. Deign to excuse the +negligence this once." A _do[u]shin_, an old and experienced officer, +spoke almost with tears. Aoyama gave a "humph!" Then looking over this +mud stained, blear eyed, bloody nosed, ash dusted band of his +confederates he began to chuckle at the battered and ludicrous +composition. All breathed again. But when he had re-entered his +_yashiki_, and was left to himself, without concubine for service, or +Jinnai for prospective amusement, then indeed he stamped his feet, his +belly greatly risen. Alas! Alas! How could Yokubei Sama find a +substitute for the one; and secure the real presence of the other? + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE SHRINE OF THE JINNAI-BASHI + + +It was one of those small Fudo[u] temples, tucked away on a shelf of the +hillside just above the roadway, embowered in trees, with its tiny fall +and rock basin for the enthusiastic sinner bathing in the waters of this +bitterly cold day. The whole construction of shrine, steep stone steps, +and priestly box for residence, so compactly arranged with the +surrounding Nature as to be capable of very decent stowage into a +case--much like those of the dolls of the third or fifth month. The +nearest neighbour was the Shichimen-shi--the seven faced Miya--in this +district so dotted even to day with ecclesiastical remnants, from +Takenotsuka to Hanabatakemura on the north edge of Edo--To[u]kyo[u]. +However it was not one of their resident priests who stood at the +_ro[u]ka_ of the incumbent cleric seeking a night's lodging. The kindly +oldish _do[u]mori_ (temple guardian) looked him over. Nearly fifty years +of age, two teeth lacking in the front, his head shaved bald as one of +the stones from the bed of the Tonegawa, a tired hard eye, thin cruel +and compressed lips added nothing to the recommendation of the rosary +(_juzu_) and pilgrim's staff (_shakujo[u]_) grasped in hand; and indeed +the whole air of the man savoured of the weariness of debauch, and of +strife with things of this world rather than of battles against its +temptations. Yet the wayfarer was greeted with kindness, his tale of woe +heard. His own quarters--a flourishing tribute to the mercies of the +eleven-faced Kwannon, with a side glance at Amida--had gone up in smoke +the day before. Naught remained but the store-house, with its treasure +of _sutra_ scrolls and hastily removed _ihai_ of deceased parishioners. +The disaster was not irreparable. His enthusiastic followers already +sought to make good the damage. Himself he would find aid from the cult +in Edo. + +Kosaka Jinnai, for the unfortunate cleric was none else, seated himself +in the comfortable quarters of the _do[u]mori_, to earn his shelter by a +talk which in interest richly repaid the meagre fare, and made amends +for no prepossessing exterior. On his pleading weariness the _do[u]mori_ +got out _futon_ and spread a couch for the guest. This suited Jinnai's +real purpose, which was not to loiter close to Edo and Aoyama's claws, +but to push on that night toward Tsukuba and old friends, and recent +ones he knew he would find on its none too savoury slopes. But Heaven +does not permit the wicked a continued license in ill deeds. The +weariness and indisposition pleaded, in part genuine, rapidly grew +worse. The chilled feeling passed into its palpable and physical +exposition. With alarm the _do[u]mori_ watched the progress of this +ailment. His hot drinks and solicitude would not produce the needed +perspiration. Instead the chill was followed by high fever and delirium. +The medical man, summoned from the village, was taking leave--"A plain +case of ague from Shimosa's swamps. Is he friend or relative of the +honoured Shukke Sama? No?... Alas! A case of resting under the shade of +the same tree; of drinking from the same stream.[30] Deign to have a +care with this fellow. He says strange things, and raves of robbery and +strife--'I am Kosaka Jinnai; the famous Jinnai.' Truly you are to be +pitied at being saddled with such a guest. Doubtless it is affliction +for some deed committed in a previous life, a connection of two worlds +between the honoured Shukke Sama and this doubtful guest." + +The _do[u]mori_ was an old and foolish fellow; but still able to catch +the warning tone and manner of the leech. With anxiety he went to his +guest. Jinnai was sleeping under influence of the draught administered, +and on the word of the medical man was insured for some hours +unconsciousness under the drug. Placing food and drink close to hand, +out into the darkness went the sturdy old chap. The day saw him at +Harajuku-mura, wandering around the site of ashes and charred beams of +the late conflagration. No sign of renovation was there found. For +satisfaction and a meal he turned to the benches of a near-by eating +shed. His inquiries confirmed his own fears and aroused the suspicions +of others. "Truly the honoured Bo[u]zu San must live far from this part +of Edo. These ruins are of no temple. Here stood the fencing room of one +Osada Jinnai, a _ro[u]nin_. This fellow turned out to be a famous bandit +and escaped criminal; no less a person than the Kosaka Jinnai engaged in +the attempt of years ago to carry off or slay the Tenju-in-Den of the +suzerain's House. Heaven's vengeance long since visited the others. Now +Aoyama Dono seeks this fellow. Is he friend or relative that thus +inquiry is made?" The _do[u]mori_ in fright cut short his meal and +questions. Paying his scot he made off in a hurry. Soon after one of +Shu[u]zen's spies passing, he was informed of the matter. Then the hue +and cry was raised through the ranks to find this suspicious cleric. + +From Jinnai the _do[u]mori_ got little satisfaction on return at dark. +He found him sitting, with natural and restored presence, smoking, and +measuring him with the cold cynical glance which froze the marrow in his +spine. "Ha! Ah! The honoured Shukke Sama wanders far and long." The +priest did not attempt to conceal fright or mission--"Honoured guest, +the poor quarters of this foolish cleric are open to the afflicted of +his kind. But Kosaka Dono, deign at once to remove from here. Already +the _yakunin_ are on the trail. Yourself, in the mad fits, you make no +concealment of name and exploits. Found here, discredit is brought upon +the Buddha, and ruin to this his follower. Condescend at once to seek +other quarters." He looked earnestly and pleadingly at the bandit chief, +with squawking groan to lower his head almost to the _tatami_. Jinnai's +eye went through him in his cold wrath--"Be assured of it; that I am +Kosaka Jinnai; and hence one without fear. Let the _yakunin_ come--to +their own destruction. These quarters just suit this Jinnai--for the +time. Cowardly and foolish cleric, you would prattle and bring trouble +on yourself with that wheel of a tongue. Then get you hence. This Jinnai +undertakes the charge and exercise of the weapons of the furious god. +Bah! They are but of wood." To the horror of the priest he gave the +wooden Fudo[u] which adorned the chamber such a whack that the +unfortunate and flawed divinity parted into its aged fragments. "What! +You still delay!" A hand of iron was laid on the old fellow's neck. +Jinnai bent him to the ground. He looked around for implement. None was +better to hand than part of the outraged god. Holding firm his victim, +and raising his robes, a vigorous hand applied to the priest's cushions +such a drubbing as he had not had since childhood's days. Then grasping +him neck and thigh Jinnai cast him out onto the _ro[u]ka_ and down the +steps which led to it. The old fellow heard the _amado_ close tight with +noise. Thus the unwilling god entered on the service of this new +satellite. + +The hue and cry was loud. In the cold of the night the _do[u]mori_ +wandered, afraid in his shame and trouble to approach parishioners; +afraid in the chill outside air to sleep. A hail came to his ears--"Sir +priest, have you not dropped coin?" Ah! Here was a stranger; and his +tale he did unfold. Parlous his case; and for him the sky was upside +down. "Most lucky! At our place to-day a prayer of _hyakumanban_ +(memorial service) is to be held. Food, sleep, and counsel, wide enough +for this weariness and distress are offered. Deign to go in company." +Thus the spy led him to his officer, a _yoriki_ established at +Fuchiemura in the attempt to net this desperate fellow. With joy the +news of Jinnai's close proximity was heard. Entrusting the tired and +barely conscious priest to the village head-man, officer, _do[u]shin_, +and _yakunin_ set out. Jinnai had overrated his capacity. Again the fit +was strong on him. He shook and shivered, helpless under the weight of +every covering he could find, and dared not move or turn in fear of the +chill aroused. Then at the outside came the shout--"His lordship's +business! Make no resistance; submit at once to the rope, in hope to +secure grace." The _yakunin_ roughly broke down the doors of the +priest's house. They found Jinnai on foot. Growled he--"You are not the +kind to face Jinnai. A rush--to freedom; with such of you as stand for +carrion." He boasted overmuch. His fit was too strong even for such iron +resolution. The crisis of the fever was at hand, and his legs bent under +him. A shove from behind sent him weakly sprawling in a heap. Then they +all fell on him, bound him hand and foot, and carried him to the +village. + +The cortege halted on its way to Edo town. Loud had been the lamentation +of the unfortunate _do[u]mori_. He was a ruined priest. At best a +witness, perhaps to be regarded and tortured as the accomplice of this +desperate villain; jail or the execution ground awaited him. He plead +with this one and with that. With sympathy they heard, but in stolid +silence. The spy, who had accosted him, knew the old man well--holy, +pure, somewhat simple and guileless of mind, he was object of reverence +and gentle derision of the parishioners who sought his service in every +trouble. The man spoke to the _do[u]shin_, explained the matter. The +_do[u]shin_ took him to the _yoriki_ seated beneath a tea shed. The +officer nodded; then called for the report. "There is an error of +transcription." Thus he altered the characters [tsujido[u]] to +[tsujido[u]]. Instead of _tsujido[u]_ a cross road temple, now it read +"taken at the cross roads"--"Call the old man here." To the +priest--"Through no fault of yours has this man visited you. Be better +advised as to other guests.... But now--take this coin. This man's +course is run. He surely will be ordered to the execution ground. Great +has been his wickedness, and his grudge is not to be visited on others. +Prayers are to be said for his soul in the next world. The _do[u]mori_ +of the Fudo[u], his zeal and honesty, his purity of heart and manners +are vouched for by those who know. Pray for him.... Now--get you hence!" +He put a gold _koban_ in the priest's hand, allowed the joyful +reverence, and cut short the protests of inconvenient gratitude. The +_do[u]shin_ shoved him off to the rear. The friendly spy carried him +apart and pointed to a path running through the fields behind the houses +of the hamlet. None cared to observe his departure. Thus Jinnai came to +Edo, minus his ghostly purveyor. + +First carefully was his body nourished for the coming entertainment. +With clement genial smile Aoyama Shu[u]zen claimed the acquaintance of +this one time antagonist. As to the past and recent events there was no +doubt. Aoyama had hazy, but little confirmed, ideas of greater objects; +knowing as he did the early nature and history of Jinnai. But the +Tokugawa were now so firmly seated. Confession was to be secured in the +first place, to legalize the execution; and information in the second +place, if such existed. Of confession there was none; not even answer. +Jinnai closed tight his lips in scorn. Then first he was scourged; the +scourging of he who is already condemned. The stout fellows stood +forward with their _madake_; those thin slips of rattan, two feet in +length, wrapped into a bundle an inch in thickness with stout hempen +cord. Ah! How flexible and painful! As they laid on quickly the welts +and bloody stripes appeared. At the hundred and fiftieth blow the +medical man and legal procedure demanded forbearance. He was removed. +"Cure his back!" roared Shu[u]zen. "Rub salt into the cuts. Next time +the tender surface will force at least words from his lips." But he +underestimated his man. Bound to a stake, with arms behind, kneeling on +the sharp grids, Jinnai hugged the stones--five, six, seven--Chu[u]dayu +leaped down to aid the _do[u]shin_ in pressing down the weight of nearly +eight hundred pounds resting between chin and doubled hams. The body of +Jinnai grew lobster red, his lips were tinged with bloody foam and gouts +appeared. The hours passed. The black colour of the feet rose upwards. +Then the sign was given and the man taken away in a dead faint, without +the utterance of word or groan. + +Thus the game went on. Now it was the lobster. Aoyama would not go to +the prison, nor miss the sight. For a whole morning with curiosity he +watched the progress of the torture. Jinnai lay on a mat. Arms pulled +tight to the shoulders and behind the back, the legs drawn together in +the front and dragged up to the chin. The body at first had the dark red +of a violent fever, but the sweat which covered it was cold as ice. Then +the colour darkened to a purple, changed to an ominous blackish green. +Suddenly it began to whiten. In alarm the doctor ordered relief. With +wrath Shu[u]zen rose from his camp chair close by; still no confession. + +What was suspension to this? Jinnai hung limp as a dangling fish from +the beam. Arms drawn behind his back and upward to the shoulders, a +weight added to the feet made any movement of the limbs agony to the +whole body. It was a sort of prolonged crucifixion. When blood began to +ooze from the toes again removal was ordered. Of the latter part of the +torture Jinnai knew little. He was unconscious. This hardy body of his +was adding to his torments. Even Shu[u]zen could not help admiring this +obstinate courage. He would try one other means--flattery; genuine in +its way. "Useless the torture, Jinnai, as is well known with such a +brave man. But why prolong this uselessness? Done in the performance of +official duty, yet it is after all to our entertainment. Make confession +and gain the due meed of the fear of future generations, their +admiration and worship of such thorough paced wickedness. Surely Jinnai +is no ordinary thief. Shu[u]zen never can be brought to believe him +such." He spoke the last somewhat in scorn. At last Jinnai was touched +with anger. He opened eyes, and, for the first time, mouth--"Aoyama Dono +speaks truth. But why regret past failure? My followers? They number +thousands. Why rouse envy or show favour by giving name of this or that +lusty fellow? The object? As to that exercise your wits. Fat wits; which +in these twenty years could not hunt out this Jinnai. Ah! 'Twas but this +unexpected illness which played this evil trick; else Jinnai never would +have faced Shu[u]zen; except sword in hand. This Jinnai is a thief, a +bandit; the tongue grudges to say. Such is his confession. Not a word +more--to Aoyama Uji." He closed his eyes and mouth. Enraged at the +failure and familiarity Aoyama shouted out--"The wooden horse! The water +torture!" They mounted the man on the sharp humped beast. Lungs, belly, +abdomen wide distended, in every physical agony, his body could but +writhe, to add to the torture of his seat as they dragged down on his +legs. Eyes starting wildly from his head, gasping for air, the +unfortunate wretch was given the chance to belch forth the liquid. +"Atsu!" The cry was between a sigh and a yelp of agony. Then he fainted. +With chagrin at his failure Aoyama Shu[u]zen put official seal to the +confession bearing the thumb print of Kosaka Jinnai. Thus ended this +phase of the contest between the two men. + +Jinnai's body was too racked by the torture for immediate sentence. When +he was brought in the court Aoyama Shu[u]zen had another wicked surprise +to spring upon him. Jinnai's rejuvenating eye noted the band of +peasants, the two beautiful girls brought captive in their midst. He +knew at once who they were; even if the viciously triumphant look in +Shu[u]zen's eyes, the piteous fright and affectionate sympathy in +theirs, had not enlightened him. The presence of O'Kiku and O'Yui was +due to an ill freak played by fortune. In the fall of the year an +illness of the mother--cold?--came to its end and herself with it. What +was to be done with farm and girls? To the villagers this question was +of serious debate. Of one thing they were in dense ignorance. Three +years before a new farm hand appeared in Jisuke's household, and men +could well wonder at the favour he found with the old man. With some +misgivings they had warned him against recklessly introducing a strange +_muko_, without first consent of the village. Jisuke assured them +against what was actual fact. Wataru Sampei was a _samurai_, of +_samurai_ stock, and liegeman to his own old masters of Kai province. It +was with the consent and approval of the dying man that O'Kiku was +united to him. The household in Nippon is adamant in its secrets to the +outside world--and that against the most prying curiosity anywhere +found. O'Kiku lay in of her child and nursed the babe in her own nurse's +house. Thus in full ignorance the council met to consider the request +made by the girls to communicate with Jinnai--Osada Sensei--at the +famous _yashiki_ of Aoyama. + +Most of them were ready to consent. Then rose one Jinemon, smarting +under the sense of having fields adjacent, coupled with flat refusal to +his son of the simple girl O'Kiku. He suspected this virginity of nearly +twenty years; and with an ill turn to this obstacle might do himself a +good one. "Take heed, good sirs, what counsel ye come to. News fresh +from Edo couples the name of Osada Sensei with Kosaka Jinnai; makes him +out a violent bandit and would be ravisher years ago of the +Tenju-in-Den. Surely his fate will be hard. Send them to the _yashiki_ +of Aoyama--but to that of Aoyama Shu[u]zen Dono. Thus their request is +met; and no blame incurred. The honoured _bugyo[u]_ (magistrate) answers +for the district (Aoyama), and the girls will not suspect the +destination. Otherwise, look well to yourselves. Aoyama Sama is known as +the Yakujin. Great his influence in Edo, and sour his wrath as that of +Emma Dai-O[u]. It will fall heavy on you." This intimation, that he +would do what they would avoid, soured all the milk of human kindness. +Wataru Sampei, departed in all haste to Edo, returned in fright to +announce his discovery of the state of affairs. The father Jinnai then +was undergoing the harsh tortures of Shu[u]zen. He found the farm in +charge of Jinemon and his son; the two girls already sent in all +ignorance to the _yashiki_ of Aoyama. Receiving a harsh dismissal he +dared not punish, from the house and tears of the old nurse he received +as if by theft his infant son. With him he took his way to Edo; to +establish himself as gardener at Honjo[u] Koume; or at Narihira, some +say. + +In daily rounds of the jail the _do[u]shin_ stood over Jinnai. In three +days this man was to go to Torigoebashi. Here he was to be crucified and +speared--"with many spears" ran the sentence, to indicate the +prolongation of the torture. "Jinnai, you have shown yourself brave, +have refused to name even one associate. The time passes. Perhaps some +wish, not incompatible with duty, comes to mind." Jinnai opened his eyes +at the unexpected kindly tone and words. It was as if one soldier looked +into the eyes of his compeer on the battle field, as well could be the +case with this man older and of more regular experience than himself. +The answer came with the measured slowness of an earnest thanks and +appreciation--"The offer comes from a kind heart, shown on previous +occasions.... There are women held here." He hesitated. "Deign the last +cup of cold water at their hands." The officer did not refuse. O'Kiku +and O'Yui knelt beside the couch on which lay the broken body of the +father. Said Jinnai--"The end is most unseemly; words grudge to speak +that mere accident thus should determine the fate of Kosaka Jinnai; he +who sought to determine the fate of Tokugawa Ke. A dagger would have +secured the fitting ending, that you two should not bear the public +service of the town, a certain fate. This remedy Jinnai now forbids. +With life changes occur; old scores are wiped out. Hearken well: live +with patience; serve well to the hour. Now the last cup of life is to be +drained; this first meeting brought to an end." Tears running down her +face O'Yui, mere child budding into womanhood, presented to her sister +the vessel never used as yet and filled with the cold liquid. From the +hand of O'Kiku it was accepted. Jinnai drank, looked long and earnestly +into the face of both, then with a wave of the hand dismissed them. He +had had his say. The hardness of the man returned, and all his courage +with it. + +Three days later--Sho[u]ho[u] 2nd year 12th month 1st day (17th January +1646)--the procession was formed to move to the execution ground at +Torigoebashi. The assembled cits marvelled at sight of the man and +rumour of his extraordinary wickedness. There was a concentration of +mind and energy in the face of Jinnai, which under any condition would +attract attention. The centre of the scene, he bore himself splendidly. +Despite the pain he suffered no incapacity was pleaded. Thus he forced +nature. The costume of the famed robber at this noted execution in Edo's +annals? He wore--"a wadded coat (_kosode_) of fine silk from Hachijo[u] +in Izu, and that of quintuple stripe. The _obi_ (sash) was seamless and +of a purple crape. Into brick coloured leggings was twisted bias white +thread, and his straw sandals (_waraji_) matched them." The jail had +given to a naturally fair colour a somewhat livid greenish tint, +rendered more commanding and terrible by the piercing cold eyes. Those +far off said--"How mild looking! How tranquil!" Those near at hand +shuddered and were glad at the removal of such wickedness. The +_yoriki_--informed of the purport--let him speak. Jinnai turned to the +crowd. His voice reached far. "Brought to contempt and a punishment +words grudge to mention, this Jinnai holds not evil thoughts against +those who carry out the law. The ill fortune of unexpected disease made +capture easy, and has brought about this vile ending. Hence on death +Jinnai will not leave this place; but as an evil spirit remain to answer +those who pray for relief from the mischance of this ill disease. Those +afflicted with _okori_ (malaria) shall find sure answer to their +prayers. Held now in no respect, this later will be bestowed. The last +purposes of those about to die are carried out." He ceased speaking. A +sign and he was stripped and raised on the implement of torture [ki] ill +described as a cross. For hours he hung, revived from time to time with +vinegar. Then signal was given for the end. First one, then another, +_yakunin_ thrust a spear into his belly, seeking least injury and +greatest torture. As he approached the utter prostration of a +dissolution the _yoriki_ gave sign. The spear point thrust into the +vitals showed through the left shoulder. And Jinnai died. + +To the north, just beyond the present Torigoebashi, is the Jinnaibashi, +relic of this episode. On the north, close by the Torigoe Jinja stands +the shrine to Jinnai, the god granting cure to sufferers from ague. No +mean resort is it; nor modest the offerings of wine to his service. +There it has endured through these hundreds of years. Jinnaibashi, +Jigokubashi (Hell Bridge) is a relic of the place of execution soon +abandoned. After the fifth year of the period the jail was removed to +Temmacho[u]; the execution ground to Kotsukabara. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A WINTER SESSION + + +Aoyama Shu[u]zen was in conference with Chu[u]dayu. Preparations were to +be made. It was with something like dismay that the members of the +Endurance Society received the missive--"At this season of the great +heat your honoured health is matter of solicitude. More and more may it +thrive. Hence the condescension of the honoured (your) litter is +requested on the coming sixteenth day. The wish is expressed to offer a +cup of inferior wine. With fear and respect:-- + +To...." + +Alas! Alas! If they could have but reached the ceremonies of the New +Year.[31] This rascal Aoyama would have been too occupied with the +official visits to press his right to a meeting in the season of extreme +cold (the _tai-kan_). But now--on the 16th day of the 12th month (2nd +February): Ah! Ha! He was a wicked fellow. The grudge properly lay +against Kondo[u] Noborinosuke who had sweated the juice out of them in +the intense heat of the hot season. Now Aoyama proposed to freeze it on +the surface of their bodies. But to refuse was out of the question. +Charged with weakness and effeminacy one would be laughed at as a fool; +be unable to show his face. After all perhaps one could escape the +ordeal with life. + +The 15th day, on which the invitations were issued, was threatening. The +16th day fulfilled the promise. Cold blew the blasts down from snow clad +Tsukuba, with full sweep across the Shimosa plain. As it caught the +unfortunates crossing the Ryo[u]gokubashi in their progress toward the +Bancho[u], they shook and shivered with more than anticipation. An +occasional flake of snow heralded the heavier fall. At the _yashiki_ of +Aoyama all was in readiness to welcome the guests. Shu[u]zen stood at +the house entrance to greet them. With thin open silken robe thrown over +his _katabira_ or summer robe, lacking shirt, and wearing the wide woven +grass cloth _hakama_ (trousers) which sought every breeze, he carried a +fan in his hand. The _kerai_ met the guests with ice cold water for such +as cared to dip the hands--and none dared refuse. Shu[u]zen fanned +himself vigorously; and his guests were zealously supplied with fans, or +the heat inspired by their progress was dissipated in the draught raised +over them by energetic hands. The door-man (_toritsugi_) monotonously +sang out the new arrivals--"Abe Shirogoro[u] Sama, Kondo[u] Noborinosuke +Sama, O[u]kubo Hikoroku Sama, Yamanaka Genzaemon Sama, O[u]kubo Jizaemon +Sama, Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon Sama, Kanematsu Matashiro[u] Sama, Okumura +Shu[u]zen Sama..."; and Shu[u]zen had greeting for all. "Ah! Ha! Such +terrific heat! Not for sixty years has such been experienced. An old +fellow in the _yashiki_ will answer for it. But be sure all has made +ready for comfort. Truly the honoured presence in these dog days in a +gratification. The viands, the drink, all have been carefully cooled. +Deign to come within, to a cooler place, away from this desolating heat. +Condescend to notice how the very leaves have been withered off the +trees." + +With inward groans, their teeth chattering and their bodies shivering, +they followed this merciless fellow. "Ha! Ha! For tobacco there will be +fire in the braziers. At least one's fingers are assured of warmth." +They smirked at the anticipated pleasure. Warm fingers and the heated +_sake_! But--Oya! Oya! Bare were swept and wide open thrown the rooms. +Screens (inner and outer) had all been taken away. From the garden came +the cold blast, blowing icily through this wide bare space. For +cushions--the straw _zabuton_; for fire in the braziers--punk! Explained +Shu[u]zen in all kindness and suavity--"Fires in the braziers in this +heat were too terrific even to think of; so punk (_hinawa_) has been +substituted.... No need for thanks; the mere duty of the host. And +now--no ceremony: off with the garments of all. A middle cloth answers +purposes of decency. Deign the trial. Here is cold water to cool the +heated body." Promptly he stripped to the skin. The _kerai_ were +bringing to the verandah black lacquered basins filled with water in +which ice floated. Before this terrific fellow there could be no +hesitation. They followed his example in being soused from head to foot. +In the wiping--"Let the rag hang loose. Don't wipe with knotted towel. +Stupid fellows! The cool wetness clinging to the skin gives a shiver of +delight." Thus shouted Shu[u]zen to his officiating satellites. Then all +the guests took seats. The mucous was running from the noses of the old +fellows who had fought campaigns at Odawara, Sekigahara, O[u]saka. +Aoyama noted it with delight; and even Kondo[u] felt a grudge against +him, yet was compelled to laugh. + +The viands were brought--to send a chill down the spines of all; +macaroni in cold water (_hiyamugi_), and the equally heating sea ear in +frozen salt water (_mizugai_). Shu[u]zen urged the latter, as better +fitted for the season. As piles of _sashimi_ (sliced raw fish), resting +on neat beds of shaven ice, were brought eyes looked to heaven--to hide +the expression. When the wine appeared, the bottles immersed to the neck +in tubs filled with salted ice, the more recondite parts of the room +echoed groans. Even Shu[u]zen smiled with complacence. He felt he had +scored success. It was Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon who showed no sign of +discomfiture. "Naruhodo! Aoyama Uji, in this great heat how explain a +thing so strange? Deign, honoured sir, to look. This white substance +falling from the sky; if it were not so hot, one would call it snow." +Said Aoyama undisturbed--"Not so, Endo[u] Uji. It is but from wild geese +fighting in the sky, their feathers; or perchance _kanro_--the sweet dew +which falls from heaven when a virtuous lord condescends to rule. Who +more virtuous than the honoured suzerain?" All bowed in heartfelt +enthusiasm and respect. Then said Saburo[u]zaemon--"'Tis a thing to note +closer at hand; a stroll in the garden, to seek its coolness in this +heat." He leaped down into the fast accumulating snow. + +Others too stole away, at least to get protection from the outrageously +cold blasts of the exposed rooms, and the further exactions to be +anticipated from the ingenuity of their host. Growled Kanematsu--"It is +the value of one's life risked with such a fellow as Aoyama. Where +Kanematsu sits the snow drifts in on his shoulders. He is without +consideration or mercy."--"For any: his women must find service in such +a _yashiki_ a substitute for the torments of Emma Dai-O[u]."--"Not so," +sneered Kondo[u]. "Even the wife is but a wooden figure; much like +Kondo[u]'s fingers." An idea seemed to come to him. He left them for the +time being. The others stood sheltered from the wind, to talk and +shiver, Endo[u] joined them from his garden stroll. Seeing Kondo[u] on +his return, said Abe Shiro[u]goro[u]--"Eh! Naruhodo! The smile of pain +relieved! Kondo[u] Uji, has he found means to unbend, to thaw out those +fingers? Ha! The rascally fellow knows the way about. There is hot water +at hand. Deign to give the hint, Kondo[u] Dono." Kondo[u] leaked a +smile, then snickered--"It was but an idea. Hot water in this _yashiki_ +on such a day there is none. But it is always to hand for the effort. +The fingers of Kondo[u] were turning white, were in danger, and so...." +He held out his fingers for inspection. Abe looked with envy. "They +fairly steam!" Then suddenly putting his fingers to his nose--"Oh! Oh! +The filthy fellow! Kondo[u] Uji! Deign to wash your hands. Indeed hot +water is always carried on one's person. But...." All grasped their +nasal members and protested. Noborinosuke laughed outright, and +submitted to the ablution. Abe in malice gave the hands a copious +libation. For the nonce his fingers had been saved and Kondo[u] was +satisfied with the outcome. + +A woman dressed in the summer garb for service came from a room close +by. The opening and closing of the _sho[u]ji_ gave Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaemon a glimpse. At once--"This way...." His tone commanded +attention. Abe Shiro[u]goro[u], Kanematsu Matashiro[u], O[u]kubo +Hikoroku followed him. It was the maids' sleeping room they entered. +"Are! Are! Have not the honoured sirs made a mistake? Deign to return to +the other apartment. This is the maids' dressing room."--"And in no +better place can one be," grumbled Shiro[u]goro[u]. His eyes took in the +room with avid curiosity. Here the girls quickly slipped into winter +garb, until called to the banquet hall for service. But it was not the +glimpse of shoulders of the one so engaged at the moment, as the brazier +covered by a quilt and placed in the centre of the room. From this the +girls had emerged in confusion. Said he reprovingly--"Eh! Eh! In this +great heat to have a brazier--it is more than out of season. Surely it +is against the order of the master of the house." The girls, uneasy and +at a loss, had but for answer--"It was the idea of O'Kiku...." The +beauty, still flushed with the suddenness of her effort, came forward +smiling. The attention of all was riveted. A little taller than the +average of her sex, very fair of skin, the sparkling eyes in the pure +oval of the face framed in tresses reaching almost to her feet, the tiny +feet and long fingers appearing from the edge of the robe, the +incomparable poise of head and neck, this woman was a beauty, to be +rivalled by few in Edo town. The voice too was as musical as were her +words to the frozen men--"It is but a water _kotatsu_; so that one can +be cooled in this extreme of heat.... Within? Ice--of course. Deign to +enter." The suppressed groan of Abe was cut short. He looked fixedly at +the bright laughing face before him. The smile was pained and +stereotyped, but the sympathy was evident. He understood. "Ho! Ho! +Endo[u], Kanematsu, O[u]kubo, deign to try this delicious coolness. Ah! +Ha! This water _kotatsu_ is a splendid idea. In this great heat it +restores one to life. Truly Kiku is as clever as she is beautiful; one +apart from all the others." The men crowded together under the +_kotatsu_--"More ice! More ice! The _hibachi_ grows warm." Laughing +O'Kiku brought the necessary supply with the tongs, blew it into life +with a little bellows. + +All the time Endo[u] observed her closely. To Abe--"Truly she is a +beauty.... Your name is Kiku.... And age?... Twenty years only!... So +Kiku is sempstress in the house of Aoyama Uji. So! So!" He and Abe +regarded her attentively. They praised her beauty. The crimson blush +spread over face and neck, adding to her charm. Thoroughly warmed the +men left the room. Said Endo[u]--"Oh, the liar! This Aoyama poses as a +misogynist, takes a wife--perforce, and charges those of us who like +women with effeminacy. O[u]kubo, how about this Kiku.... The Sempstress? +Oh, you stupid fellow! Why--there is no more beautiful woman in Edo. She +is the mistress of Aoyama; who deceives and mocks us all. And now--to +bring him to open shame." Aoyama Shu[u]zen, quick to note their absence, +and the return so refreshed, was much put out. "Where have these fellows +been?" + +Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon was not slow in the attack. "Truly, Aoyama Uji, +words do not fit deeds. Are you not a bit of a rascal?"--"Why so?" was +the calm reply of Shu[u]zen, always ready to a quarrel. "You pretend to +hate women; you charge us with effeminacy who have wives; and take your +own but on compulsion. Yet in this very house there is not only a wife, +but the most beautiful woman in Edo for concubine." Shu[u]zen's +astonishment was too manifest. "Who?" said Endo[u], with some misgiving +that he had missed fire. "This Kiku; would you deny it?"--"Surely so," +was Shu[u]zen's assured reply. Then seeing the curiosity of those around +he added with courtesy--"This Kiku is a slave girl, a criminal under +judgment, a _yatsu-ho[u]ko[u]nin_ by favour. Would you know about her? +She is daughter to the robber Jinnai, not long since put to death. The +law may be harsh, yet it condemns the line of such men to extinction, +and sends their issue to the execution ground. Whether through good +will, or mistaking the Aoyama Harajuku, the resort of this Jinnai, for +this _yashiki_, the villagers brought the two girls Kiku and Yui from +near Tsukuba. In pity one was taken into the life service of the +_yashiki_. For his business Jinzaemon of the Yoshiwara Miuraya +considered the younger Yui as more fitting. To him she was bound as +_yatsu-yu[u]jo[u]_.... Husband? No: and thus all posterity of the robber +is stamped out. Yui serves for life as harlot in the Yoshiwara, with no +recognized issue. Kiku serves for life at the _yashiki_. The case is a +pitiable one." All present echoed what he said. "It is the offence, not +the person, which is to be hated. Truly it is a hard lot." They were +curious to see her. Said Shu[u]zen--"Surely she has been rated too high, +but--summon Kiku here." As the girl stood in the midst for all to +observe, blushing and panting a little with fright at all these eyes +upon her, there was no gaze more intent than that of Aoyama Shu[u]zen. +The pity expressed and the praises lavished reached his ears. He studied +her from head to foot, heard the caustic criticisms--"Such a beauty, and +a serving wench! Aoyama is a fool." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE TIGER AT THE FRONT GATE; THE WOLF AT THE POSTERN + + +Thus it came about that O'Kiku was an inmate of Aoyama's _yashiki_. He +had told the tale, the fatal error drawn by the mother from the +peasant's message. It was her own deed. Thus "evil seed produces evil +fruit. In one's posterity is punishment found." All knew Kiku's story. +Promptly with her appearance in the household she was named +Shioki--O'Shioki San, O'Shioki San; when not addressing her these +companions called it to each other for her to hear. Shioki? It means +"the execution ground." + +A flower blooms but to wither; and this flowering branch was to be +tended by the master's hand. Now she was faced with a new and terrible +danger. O'Kiku was quick to note the state of Shu[u]zen's household. Of +the _koshimoto_, two were the favoured concubines during the +incapacitation of the wife. The lowliness of her own position--menial +servant and mere serving wench--would seem to protect her. Moreover she +was not brought into contact with the house master. But after all she +was the _bushi's_ daughter, brought up by a mother trained from youth at +the hand of the _samurai_ grandmother. Thus dragged out into the light +by indiscreet curiosity the tiger's eye had fallen upon her. Shu[u]zen +marvelled at his stupidity, his oversight. This woman was indeed a +beauty, the concubine for long sought, and to hand free of her charms. +He stood adjusting his robes; then lost in thought. There were +obstacles--in the girl's position. But that night O'Kiku was ordered to +serve the wine. The intelligence and training, corresponding to the +outward physical charms, aroused in him a very fury for possession. +Abrupt, blunt, overbearing he approached her in the coarsest way--"Kiku, +first pity and now love has seized upon the heart of Shu[u]zen. With +women all his relations have been those of cold formality--the business +of connection or the necessity of an heir. Now an entirely different +feeling is aroused. The very sight of Kiku's figure inspires fondness, +an exclusion of all others of her sex. 'Tis Kiku alone who remains the +object, all others are mere lay figures. You are a woman, and by nature +know of such things. Is not this truly love? Consent to become the +concubine of Shu[u]zen. Let this very night seal the union." + +He attempted to draw her close to him, but she shrank away in confusion +and fright. Shu[u]zen was amazed--"What! You refuse?... Ah! Then it is +hate of this Shu[u]zen which is felt. Most unreasonable hate, for he +acted but as _bugyo[u]_ of the land. It is a disloyal hate." In his mad +and thwarted lust his lips trembled. The girl humbly remained +prostrate--"Condescend the honoured forbearance. Such could not be the +case. Great the favour of Heaven, of your lordship as its agent, in +saving this Kiku from the final punishment, the coarse assault of +menials. But deign to consider. Kiku is the daughter of Jinnai. She is a +reprieved criminal in the land, can be naught else but of lowest status. +Kind the honoured words, great the gratitude inspired; but is not the +summons unseemly. Deign forbearance; add not to the offence of Kiku." In +her mind was the last scene with her father Jinnai; the tortured, +distorted, suffering body of the condemned bandit. Pollute her body with +this man who had thus played with the one to whom she owed life and +duty; to the man who had sent the father to the execution ground? She +would have used her dagger first on herself, rather than on him. His +words did inspire uncertainty. He was the officer in the land, the +representative of the suzerain, hence guiltless. But that made not the +idea of his embraces less repulsive, though she wavered in thoughts of +vendetta--between filial duty and loyal service to the suzerain. Her +attitude puzzled Aoyama. The unusualness of his proposition he put +aside. Her claim to loyalty, in his hopes as the successful lecher, he +was disposed to accept. Was there not something deeper? + +Then the battle began between them, to last for those weeks of the +winter months. Force matters he would not. There was a zest in this +pursuit, far apart from any mere sensual gratification. The desire he +felt for her person was all cruel. It was joined to the desire to humble +her, to force her to consent by her own lips and motion and against +reason, to grant the gift of herself even if unwilling. There was an +enjoyment in soiling the body and mind of this beauty. Thus with refusal +love began slowly to turn to a hatred full of malice. One night Aikawa +Chu[u]dayu was present. O'Kiku as usual served the wine. Shu[u]zen +turned to him impatiently--"The speech of the overlord is without +effect. Chu[u]dayu, try your hand, and bend Kiku to consent to my +wishes, to become my concubine." Shamed before the whole household? +O'Kiku had grown used to this grossness in the determined pursuit of +Shu[u]zen. Now openly addressed before the chamberlain and others she +looked down; a little flushed, and hearing with astonishment the words +which came from such a quarter. Chu[u]dayu spoke slowly; addressed her +with a severity of tone which belied his intent. "O'Kiku Dono, why are +not thanks given for such condescension on the part of the Tono Sama? +Apart from his rank is not the experience of his fifty years, on the +battle field of war and love, to count in his favour? Most imposing and +strong his figure, despite his age. All bow in respect before the lines +marked by the wisdom of years in his lordships face. Why refuse to +follow the example of the other women of the household--and share with +them? These are indeed _koshimoto_; your promotion to the position, from +the vilest status, but a caprice and kindness. You should obey the order +of the Tono Sama. His face alone would inspire fear. All regard it with +awe, as if in contemplation of that of Emma Dai-O[u]. And who refuses to +obey the mandate of the king of hell? Answer--who?" He leaned far over +toward her. O'Kiku looked at him; then hid her face in her hands. + +These were not her only trials in this Jigoku _yashiki_ (Hell mansion). +There was her ladyship to take into account. Says the proverb of the +Nipponese--"dabble in vermilion, and one is stained red." Contact with +Shu[u]zen had developed all the harsher traits in this stern _samurai_ +dame. She despised the former character of her husband, and now was mad +with jealousy at his unrestrained lechery. However there was some +consolation in this new pursuit. Promiscuous in his intercourse with all +and every other of her household, she could do but little. These were +women of more or less position. Now he threatened to turn all devotion +in the one direction of this beautiful girl, to condescend to a serving +wench. + + "The Rangiku: it has a fox's shape."[32] + +Thus sneered her fellows. O'Kiku now was punished as scapegoat for all +the others. The natural harshness of her ladyship's character turned to +barbarity. This "slave"--O'Shioki--in no way could satisfy her. The +slightest fault, of self or other, was visited on O'Kiku. One day her +ladyship in her rage seized her and dragged her by the hair over her +knees. A short baton of bamboo was to hand, and with this before all she +put the girl to the shame of childhood's punishment, and with a malice +and heartiness of will and muscle which left O'Kiku lame, and thus +victim in other derelictions of duty. This so pleased the _okugata_ that +it became a favourite pastime, whenever the girl was at hand and her own +arm had rested. She would have starved her, but the rest contributed of +their store out of mere fellowship. Her ladyship recognized the +uselessness. She did not dare deface her beauty. Believing in +Shu[u]zen's love her vengeance was confined in its exercise. With +despair she regarded her bloated disfigured person, the wan faded aspect +due to her advanced pregnancy. Ah! If she could but fasten some offence +upon her. She would bring about this interloper's death. With delight +she noted the signs of dislike and malice in Shu[u]zen. Surely the tales +were true that the beauty was holding out for the price of her charms. +It should be a case where beauty would not secure pardon. + +It was at this time that, with Shu[u]zen's consent, she put O'Kiku in +charge of ten plates condescended in trust to the House by the +To[u]sho[u]gu[u] (Iyeyasu). It was a bid of Shu[u]zen, the mark of the +conferrence of position as _koshimoto_ in his household. Only in the +madness of love--or lust--would he have risked such impropriety. The +regular time for counting had arrived. O'Kiku carefully replaced the +beautiful objects, marked with holly hock crest, into their lacquered +box. Again Shu[u]zen importuned her with his suit. Then in +vexation--"Ah! Truly a rebellious and wicked grudge is held by this +Kiku. Attempt at denial is useless, it is not only rebellion against the +master, but against the decree of the master of all. Decide at once. +Either be the concubine of Shu[u]zen; or suffer the sword cut." Again +she plead with him, and Shu[u]zen's eyes opened wide with astonishment. +"Condescend the honoured hearing. Kiku has plead as one no longer of +this world. 'Tis true. But before now she has already taken the vow of +two worlds."--"What!" said Shu[u]zen in amazement. His mind lighted up +as she proceeded--"It is true. Under guise of farm hand at the village +lived Wataru Sampei, a _samurai_ and _ro[u]nin_ of the Takeda House of +Kai. By him there is a child--now three years old. Alas! The father +lives in direst poverty. Twice in the month--the 15th day when the +festival of the Ichigaya Hachiman shrine is held, the 25th day when that +of the Hirakawa Tenjin Sama is held--with the child Jumatsu he is to +pass. A wave of the hand--'Is it Kiku?... Is it mother?' The +relationship longed for and regarded as enduring to the whiteness of the +hair thus is reduced to the wave of a hand. The chaste wife suffers not +the embrace of two men. Oh! Husband! Son!" Weeping O'Kiku hid her face +in her sleeves as she made her plea. + +Harsh and triumphant was the voice of Shu[u]zen as he pressed on this +newly discovered weakness. "Then you lied; Jinnai lied, in calling you a +maid. This Sampei and Jumatsu rightly are gallows-birds, doomed to the +execution ground. Shu[u]zen has but to say the word. Seized they are put +to the torture; the child to know the bitterness of the scourge. Such a +tiny body will be cut to ribbons. Listen well! Obey the command of this +Shu[u]zen. 'Tis the choice between the jewelled palanquin of the +favoured mistress, or torture for these two. The kind offices of the bed +for Shu[u]zen, or the rottenness of the jail for these two criminals. +The gift of Kiku's chastity secures for them oblivion.... You would ask +time? To-morrow night, after the counting of the plates, the answer will +be received." He ceased--to turn to Chu[u]dayu, who for a little time +had stood by, as one waiting on a matter of business. O'Kiku, face white +and drawn, tottered away to her room. + +She had played false, and at a cast lost all. Gloomy, the long hair +framing the distraught and unhappy face, she sat. "Unhappy the lot of +this Kiku. The sisters left without a father's sanction, to witness the +shadow on the mother's life; to know that father but as criminal ready +to be sent to the execution ground; and now, by rashness of the tongue, +to condemn husband and infant son to such a hideous fate! Remedy there +is none. Perchance the life of this Kiku in sacrifice for both arouses +kindness to pardon; or at least secures them in ignorance." Now she was +all decision. Rapidly she loosed the girdle of her sash. The safety of +her beloved was at stake, and no father's command held. The feet bound +she seated herself before the mirror, took up the dagger and felt its +keen point, then the morbid soft flesh of the neck. As she raised her +arm it was seized at her side. Noiseless Chu[u]dayu had entered and +acted in prevention. With a grunt he bent down and severed the sash cord +which restrained her. Then holding the dagger daintily he spoke his +will--"Is not this madness, O'Kiku Dono? The Tono Sama has issued his +summons, and the heart does not conform. The secret thought is known to +this Chu[u]dayu. Turn therefore to a friend. Safety is not to be sought +by the drastic method of the steel. Look to flight. Chu[u]dayu aids--nay +goes in company. Against him there can be no grudge. If Sampei and this +boy exist, they are not to be met within the _yashiki_ of Aoyama +Shu[u]zen--either by submission and riding in the jewelled palanquin, or +by the argument of the dagger. It is an easy matter for Chu[u]dayu. An +error confessed in conducting of the accounts, and with purse well lined +with the gold of Shu[u]zen this _yashiki_ is abandoned. O'Kiku Dono goes +in company. Between the two known connection there is none, and without +the wife this Sampei and Jumatsu go unharmed. In the relationship with +Jinnai the link is missing and Edo too wide a mark to pick them out. So +much can Chu[u]dayu answer for." + +"Ah!" At times a Buddha is met in Hell itself. With astonishment and +reverence O'Kiku regarded this saintly apparition. Noting the impression +made Chu[u]dayu sat close by her. A little disturbed and restive she +moved away. "The words of Chu[u]dayu Dono are more than kind; never to +be forgotten in this world. By such means are Sampei and Jumatsu really +to be saved?"--"Most assuredly," was the smooth reply. "Chu[u]dayu acts +at once. Deign but the required pledge...."--"The pledge?" O'Kiku spoke +now with misgiving filtering into a sinking heart. Said Chu[u]dayu with +impatience--"Pledge: don't feign innocence, O'Kiku Dono. Does Chu[u]dayu +sacrifice all for the mere amusement of the affair. Amusement there is +indeed for him. O'Kiku must consent to accept this Chu[u]dayu. Deign to +change ox for horse. Failing Sampei, it is to Chu[u]dayu she grants her +favours. This is to be agreed--and right now, as pledge, a proof offered +of her sincerity." Now there was no mistaking the words in invitation +made plain by eye and gesture. She wrenched away the detaining hands +laid upon her; sprang up. "Ah! Villainous man! You would rob your lord, +deceive and betray this Kiku. Such speech is pollution to the ears; the +touch of such a creature is loathsome. Chu[u]dayu has the weapon of +Kiku; but Kiku can still cry out and bring the household about your +ears. Beast--away from here!" Armed as he was Chu[u]dayu was +afraid--"'Pollution'--'beast'? Ha! The woman's thought rises after all +to the surface in her hate. For this you shall pay. Just wait." He left +the room in haste, to betake himself at once to the apartments of the +_okugata_. O'Kiku crouched on the _tatami_, her eyes wide open, fastened +on the texture of the straw surface, saw nothing but this new and +terrible position. She could not die; she could not live; and yet the +tiger was at the gate, the wolf at the postern. + +A maid came to summon her to Shu[u]zen's presence. Knowing her position, +her feelings, the solidarity of sex had veered to kindliness for this +unwilling rival. The girl was shocked at sight of her. "O'Kiku Dono! Tis +but for the counting of the plates--as usual." She aided her to don the +ceremonial costume. In all the magnificence of her apparel, with hair +dressed high, she followed after the girl. In her beauty a splendid sight, +in her heart "she was as the sheep going to the butcher." Her ladyship sat +close beside Shu[u]zen. Other _koshimoto_, with Chu[u]dayu and several +retainers, were present. Despite the customary nature of this vicarious +reverence to the spirit of the To[u]sho[u] Shinkun (Iyeyasu) there was an +oppression, a suppressed interest, which seemed to fasten every eye on +O'Kiku as slowly and gracefully she bore the box before her lord, made +salutation. "Open;" the word from Shu[u]zen's lips came dry and +harsh--"One"--"Um"--"Two"--"Um"--"Three, four"--"Um"--"Five"--"Um"--"Six, +seven"--"Um"--"Eight"--"Um"--"Nine.... Oya! Oya!" Then in fright--"What +shall I do!" With horror O'Kiku gazed at the fragments of the tenth plate +lying at the bottom. Shu[u]zen, all moved by his wrath and excitement, +leaned forward. The holly hock crest ground to powder was almost +indistinguishable. Hardly able to believe her eyes O'Kiku mechanically +began to finger the pile of porcelain--One, two, three ... they followed +up to nine.... "What shall I do!" + +The malice and ferocity of Shu[u]zen's tone sent a thrill through those +present--"Vicious jade! This is a sample of Kiku's hatred to this +Shu[u]zen, through him of her disloyalty to the revered House. What +explanation can be offered? What expiation?" Slowly and in despair +O'Kiku raised her head. She caught the triumphant glance passed between +the _okugata_ and Chu[u]dayu. All was illuminated. This was Chu[u]dayu's +threatened vengeance. As of one dying her voice--"This is not the deed +of Kiku. Daughter of the criminal Jinnai she holds no grudge against +lord or suzerain; would but pray in this world for oblivion of those +offences in a future existence. Deign, my lord to believe this Kiku. +Malice acts here. But a short time ago Chu[u]dayu...." The man sprang +forward--"Lying hussy!... Tono Sama, this woman would save herself by +slander. Plain has been her ill feeling against the honoured lord in +refusal to obey his summons. Here lies the proof of ill intent and +rebellion against the suzerain's House. Surely there is no punishment +for such but death!"--"Surely there is no punishment for this but +death!" The harsh voice of the _okugata_ was heard in repetition. + +Shu[u]zen spoke--"'A twig broken on the flowering branch of plum, and +the whole is to be cut off.' Such the words of Kuro[u] Hangwan +Yoshitsune. Kiku, you are a vile, treacherous woman; undeserving of +Heaven's favour and the kindness shown by Shu[u]zen. Now you lie--with +the fancy tale of child and husband, in order to escape the bed of +Shu[u]zen; with slanderous insinuation to throw your crime against +others.... Here!" At the command the _kerai_ came forward and dragged +her within reach. Shu[u]zen seized a hand. "Ten the plates: one broken, +the tale destroyed. Apology is to be made. Make full confession. No? For +the one, ten are due." There was a _hibachi_ close by his side. He +dragged her arm over the brazier, drew his dagger--"One." At the middle +joint the finger fell severed into the ashes. "Two"--"Two," faintly +answered O'Kiku. "Three"--"Three"--"Four"--"Four"--"Five"--"Five." +Shu[u]zen laughed. "Kiku cannot hold grudge as being maimed. The stumps +remain." Chu[u]dayu sprang forward at Shu[u]zen's sign. Roughly holding +the bleeding stumps he pressed them into the harsh cautery of living +coals. A suppressed wailing cry from Kiku, a shuddering and turning away +of the frightened women; her ladyship laughed out loud. Kiku raised her +head and gave her a long look. Shu[u]zen grasped the other arm. The +punishment went on. "Six.... No confession?" One by one the remaining +joints fell. Only the thumb remained. Like a demon the _okugata_ sprang +forward. She snatched away the keen weapon, and pressing down the edge +of the blade triumphant raised the severed digit torn away to the wrist. +Shu[u]zen himself rose in astonishment at the act. All were in a wild +excitement. The violent woman strove to shriek, but choked in her rage +and utterance. They surrounded her and bore her off to her own +apartment. + +A wave of the hand and all but Chu[u]dayu had departed. Shu[u]zen was +divided between his hate and the certainty of having been deceived. +Besides, only the body was maimed, and in the malice of his heart he +would soil this woman's soul. He leaned over the helpless figure. "Your +own deed, Kiku: make confession and submission. There is yet life to +plead for. Ha! 'Tis true. Vicious wench, you would seek the destruction +of Shu[u]zen by temptation; the grudge is to be carried to the end." +From far off came the answer--"Alas! To this Kiku are imputed the wet +garments. A lie destroys her to whom life is displeasing. Aye! The +grudge is to be carried to the end. Against this treacherous Chu[u]dayu, +against Aoyama and his House the grudge. Remember well!" In fury +Shu[u]zen sprang to his feet--"Chuu[u]dayu, take hold of this woman. Out +with her to the garden!" With practised hand the chamberlain bound hands +and feet. Then following after Shu[u]zen he dragged her through the snow +to the old well. "'Tis here," said Shu[u]zen briefly. Removing the +bucket the rope was tied under the arms of O'Kiku. "Your own act and +deed, Kiku. In your punishment apology is made to the suzerain House. Go +join your father Jinnai at the Yellow Fountain (Kwo[u]sen) in Hell.... +Chu[u]dayu, kill her by inches." Seeing the chamberlain's hesitation +Shu[u]zen gave the body a push. Swift the descent. The splash of the +water was heard. "Heave up!" With eager energy Chu[u]dayu brought O'Kiku +to the curb. "No confession yet?"--"Aye! Grudge the last thought; grudge +against Chu[u]dayu; against this Aoyama, him and his." The long wet hair +hanging about the chalk white face, the bulging glaring eyes, the +disordered saturated garments of the half drowned girl, were too much +for Chu[u]dayu. The man now was struck with fright. He sought to save +her. "Tono Sama, is not the purpose satisfied? A request...."--"Coward! +Are you afraid of the ghost? Surely Kiku will visit the couch of +Chu[u]dayu--as perhaps to his desire." But Chu[u]dayu now openly was +afraid and not ashamed. "Deign to spare her, Tono Sama.... O'Kiku Dono, +this is no affair of Chu[u]dayu. As ghost deign to haunt the Tono Sama. +'Tis the Tono Sama who kills you." He plead; but inexorable the +whispering voice--"The grudge! Against Chu[u]dayu...." Then in terror +Chu[u]dayu sought the end--"Ah! Vile bitch!... Tono Sama, deign to cut +short the curse, and with it the breath of this hussy."--"Your act and +deed, Chu[u]dayu...." Shu[u]zen took up the rest of the sentence. "Pass +your sword into her belly, Chu[u]dayu; the lord's order." Chu[u]dayu +hesitated. Then looking away he thrust--once, twice. There was a +squishing sound, as of steel entering something soft. A heart rending +scream rang through the air. It was like the ripping apart of silk. +Shu[u]zen stepped to the curb, looked into the agonized staring eyes. +Then he gave the final thrust of his dagger into the windpipe, and cast +the weapon to Chu[u]dayu to cleanse. As if an automaton the man went +through his task: brought the heavy stone to bind into the long trailing +garment. Seeing his helplessness Shu[u]zen shrugged his shoulders with +contempt. With his dagger he severed the rope. _Dobun!_ A final splash +of water at the end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CHU[U]DAYU WINS HIS SUIT + + +Chu[u]dayu's legs bent under him. "Ah! My lord! O'Kiku grasps my neck!" +A cold hand laid upon him he shrieked in fear. Shu[u]zen turned--"Fool! +'Tis a clod of snow from the tree above, fallen on your collar. Off with +you to bed. Truly in these days such fellows are good for nothing." Off +he strode to the _ro[u]ka_. For a moment he looked out--on the heavy +flakes coming down like cotton wadding, at the figure of Chu[u]dayu +staggering like a drunken man to his quarters. With a laugh he closed +the _amado_, seated himself before the heated wine. Yet the woman would +not get out of his thoughts. "What a fool! A matter of no import would +have given her position with others and influence with this +Shu[u]zen.... Ha! Ha! How frightened was Chu[u]dayu! It is not the +shadowy fingers of the dead which do good or ill, but the flesh clad +muscles of the living. As to your ghosts...." He snapped his fingers and +drank wine in derision. Thus he spent the early hours of the night. + +"What's that!" He put the bottle down at the sound of voices in +excitement, of running feet. Soon an officer appeared. The _okugata_ was +threatened with premature delivery. A physician was to be had at once. +Shu[u]zen shrugged his shoulders with indifference. Five months--seven +months--nine months--what a matter to trouble a man with! So angry was +he that they dared not tell him more. Matters were going very badly with +her ladyship. In her delirium she raved over the past scene of the +punishment. The tortures of this present delivery were added to an +hundred fold by the disorders of the over-wrought brain. Then the child +was born. The assembled women whispered to each other. A very monster +had seen light: perfect in its main parts, but with the face of Emma +Dai-O[u] as a foetus--with the fingers lacking on the hands. They dared +not let the sick woman see it. She detected their confusion, asked to +see the child. She grew more and more excited with refusal, and they +were at a loss what to do. Finally the child was brought, to her +distress and confusion. Then--as from the ceiling--"Shame on the House +of Aoyama Shu[u]zen. A maimed child, a monster is born as its issue." +And the voice began to count, followed by the moving lips of her +ladyship--"One"--"One"--"Two"--"Two"--"Three"--"Three"--monotonously it +went on to--"Nine.... Ah! What shall I do! One is missing. Wa! Wa!" So +lamentable the crying voice that a chill went to the hearts of all. +Again the count went on; again the failure and the lamentable cry and +weeping. Her ladyship sat up. They strove to restrain her, but in her +madness she shouted back in answer to the counting--"One, two, three, +four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.... Ha! One is missing! Vile slut! +Thus to maim the child in malice." She raved and tore at the covering. +From the disordered hair streaming around face and bust looked out at +them the wan face of O'Kiku. In disorder the women fled. Driven back by +the necessity of their duty they found her lying dead in a pool of +blood. As for the maimed and deformed monster, he took well to the +nurse's breast. Such they always do. + +Where was Chu[u]dayu in all this confusion? Shu[u]zen had men hunting +him high and low. Angered at his absence, his own dislike and suspicion +of him as possible rival grew with the night and the hours, rendered +bitter by these household scenes. He would settle matters with +Chu[u]dayu. "Yokubei" he had heard him called; and covetousness turns +not only to gold and such like. As fact Chu[u]dayu had good excuse for +absence. Much out of sorts he had betaken himself to his own rooms and +the care of the old woman in charge, his only female companion in lieu +of wife. Ah! What weather! The snow changed to sleet and rain drove into +and chilled to the marrow those out in the storm. The _baya_ (old woman) +at his entrance was all astonishment--"Danna Sama! The garments are wet +through. Condescend at once to make a change." Gruffly Chu[u]dayu +accepted her aid. Stripping off first one and then another of the outer +garments he too grumbled in his turn--"What a fool the woman was! To +lose life against the sacrifice of such a trifling thing. Ah! She was a +maddening beauty; of the kind to drive the blood to boiling heat. Never +again.... What's that?" Pon-pon: the sound of someone knocking ashes +from a pipe into the receiver came from the inner room. The _baya_ was +laughing--"Ha! Ah! The Danna Sama is a sly one. He is the one to make +friends with the beauties. The lady regretted the Danna's absence, said +that she would wait the honoured return.... Who? 'Tis she so sought by +the Tono Sama himself; and who instead favours the Danna. O'Kiku +Dono...." Before the wild stare of Chu[u]dayu, the clutch on her wrist, +the old woman stopped in fright. Then from within came the +counting--"One, two, three, four, five"--"Six," Chu[u]dayu mechanically +joined in. "Seven"--"Seven"--"Eight"--"Eight"--"Nine"--"Nine"--the words +were followed by the chilling lamentable wail of a soul in agony. "What +shall I do! What shall I do!" With a yell Chu[u]dayu dashed to the +_sho[u]ji_ and threw them back. No one! With astonishment and terror the +old woman gazed at him as seeking an explanation which did not come. +"The lights in the Butsudan! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Praise +to Amida, the Lord Buddha!... Wine! Wine, and much of it; very hot!" + +He sat, his head in hands, watching the flickering light in the altar +stand. "Ha! 'A woman and a man of small comprehension: these are hard to +govern.' Ko[u]shi (Confucius) says it. This Chu[u]dayu has played the +fool to the Tono Sama's extravagances." The bell of Gekkeiji began to +strike the hour of the watch. It came clear and mournful across the +snow. "How like a woman's nature," says the native scribe. +"One"--"One"--"Two"--"Two"--"Three"--"Three." ... Chu[u]dayu went on, +mechanically following the blows hammered into his brain. Then came the +heart rending hopeless wail which chilled his very soul. The old woman +in amazement and pain gave a howl as the hot wine ran over hands and +fingers. Chu[u]dayu on his feet stupidly gazed at the bottle rolling to +the end of the room. "'Tis of no import," he muttered. "Now--to get +hence. Close up all. To-night Chu[u]dayu returns not."--"But Danna Sama! +Condescend to consider! The Danna Sama is not himself. Truly he will be +ill. Deign the honoured couch." The couch in that room! He shuddered all +over. The old woman wrung and wiped her scalded fingers, and would +persuade him to seek rest. She simpered in her blandishment. "Where +could she possibly have gone, for _baya_ saw no exit? Perhaps the lady +comes again; and in the _yashiki_ there is no greater beauty than O'Kiku +Dono. Fortunate the Danna...." Truly she thought him gone mad. "Shut +up!" roared Chu[u]dayu. His eyes blazing under the heat of the quantity +of his hot stimulant he thrust her, a heap huddled into a corner of the +room. Trembling hands adjusted what garments he could lay eyes upon. +Over all he threw a long wool cloak with hood and eyelets against the +snow. Turning to the entrance he glowered at her, hand on his +dagger--"More words of that vile jade, and _baya_ joins her own beneath +the stone. This Chu[u]dayu goes to Nakacho[u], to a public woman. If +that O'Bake comes again.... Ha! Ha!... Let her lie with Baya.... Why! +She's not even rotten yet!" He left the old woman stupefied and quaking, +himself to leap out into the storm and darkness. + +Outside the gate he had a shock. In the shadow he ran into a woman +standing by, who turned at his greeting. O'Kiku's face? With clenched +fist he would have struck, but the vision faded. "Truly the _baya_ is not +wrong. Chu[u]dayu is mad, or drunk." His knuckles had near encounter with +the brazen crest fastened into the post. This brought him to himself. +Rapid was his descent of Gomizaka. At its foot was a _kago_ stand. "The +Danna Sama from the Aoyama _yashiki_--he condescends the _kago_. One all +closed? The Danna Sama will lie as snug as in a _koshi_ (_kwanoke_ = +hearse)." Chu[u]dayu took the joke badly. The fellow sprawled on the +ground under the blow--"Is this a funeral procession? Truly the night +itself is bad enough--without the joke."--"A scurvy knave," humbly +explained the _kago_ chief. "A country recruit, just to hand. Deign to +pardon his impertinence." He edged the fellow off, called up another +man--"The Danna stands not on the fare? Truly 'tis such a night as rarely +has been seen. With wind and sleet the men can barely stand. But the +Danna is in haste. Surely a woman is at the journey's end.... Not a +palanquin but with mats." Chu[u]dayu was neatly bundled into the litter. +The mats were lowered at the sides and covered with oiled paper. "To +Nakanocho[u]; and at good round pace." He hardly heard the functionary's +words. "Ah! How she hated this Chu[u]dayu! How she glared into the Tono +Sama's eyes as he dealt the blow into her pap!... A vicious jade; yet a +beauty. Where could such beauty be encountered? May the _kami_ (gods) +grant Chu[u]dayu the same good fortune this night!" More pleasing vision +soothed him. He was filled with hot wine and fast grew dazed and sleepy. +The gentle motion of the _kago_ rocked him as in a cradle. Yet he could +not get sleep. Her voice was in his ears; without, in talk with the +_kago_ men? He raised a corner of the mat. With surprise--"Heigh, +_kagoya_! What place is this?" He was passing the moat on his right not +left; the hill sloped down, not up toward Nakano (Shinjuku). "Danna Sama, +it is Suido[u]bashi."--"Suido[u]bashi! And does one go to Nakanocho[u] by +Suido[u]bashi? Knaves! About with you, and to the right course as +directed." + +The men, after their kind, grumbled; but to themselves; and in a way +their fare should hear. "Naruhodo! What a beast of a night is this! +Mate, it is to Nakanocho[u]; but Nakanocho[u] whither? The Danna Sama is +testy. He is not to be questioned. He might give a cut. Jubei is lucky. +He has changed head for rear. A care there! A care there! What? Again +around? What a night, and what a Danna to deal with!" The unconscious +Chu[u]dayu was borne onward. Again the vinous fumes passed off. To his +amazement be saw the water on the left; but not what he sought. "Heigh! +Heigh! _Kago_ men, whither now? What place yonder?"--"Yanagibara, Danna +Sama." Chu[u]dayu's voice was big with wrath. "True _kago_ men as +guides! Does one go to Yanagibara to go to Nakanocho[u] of +Shinjuku."--"Oya! Oya! The Danna always tells us to go this way, that +way. Nakanocho[u], Nakacho[u]--is it Yoshiwara, or Fukagawa, or Naito[u] +Shinjuku to which the Danna goes? 'Tis but the lady at the pole who has +a clear head and forces us to go this way.... Danna, never mind the fare +money. Condescend to alight. It is a hard night; too hard for such a +baffling task.... Here is your pretty friend again!" + +Chu[u]dayu raised the mat and looked out. Vaguely outlined in the again +whirling snowy darkness stood O'Kiku. With wild cry he sprang out, sword +drawn. The _kago_ men dropped the litter and took to their heels. Dazed +Chu[u]dayu looked around him. Ah! He was drunk with wine, and visions +haunted him. Yanagibara? Let it be Yoshiwara then. Stalking through the +O[u]mon he made his way to the Nagatoya, a tea house at which he was +known. "Oya! The honoured Danna Sama of the Bancho[u] _yashiki_. In good +season Aikawa Dono; the lady awaits the honoured _buke-sama_."--"A lady +waiting? Fool! Who brings a woman to this market where he comes to +purchase?" The _banto[u]_ (clerk) of the tea house insisted. "Aikawa +Sama, is it not fact? She is barely of twenty years; outstripping in +beauty the greatest of the Go Tayu.... Her name? O'Kiku San...." In his +amazement the man rose from his kneeling salutation, craned his neck to +watch the flying figure of Chu[u]dayu disappear. Perhaps the Danna had +gone mad. Surely he was mad; and not one to come on foot on such a night +and all the way from the Bancho[u]. He sighed at loss of such an eager +customer. + +Chu[u]dayu walked into the first tea house to hand when he had stopped +for breath. A first visit, his tea money (_chadai_) was munificent. Such +a customer deserved good treatment from the Izuzuya. Hence the attendant +guided him to the Miuraya, where was bespoken the presence of the +brilliant _oiran_ O'Yodo. The hour was late. The _oiran_ was detained. +Chu[u]dayu was sleepy and demanded his room. Hardly had he taken to his +couch to await her presence than he was asleep. Leaving her other guest +O'Yodo pushed open the _sho[u]ji_ and entered. She deserved her +reputation for beauty. A splendid girl, for she was not more than woman +yet. A little tall for her sex; fair and with but little powder, an oval +face, long trailing hair, and shapely hands and feet for all this +business. _Batan-batan_ the sound of the _zo[u]ri_ (sandals). She +dropped these on the outside. The stranger was asleep. Sitting beside +him she gathered the folds of her crape night robe about her bare feet. +With a deft touch she adjusted the knot of the pink sash which confined +it; then turned attention to the long silver chased pipe and the face of +the sleeping man. Some feeling was aroused she could not understand. +There was much she did not yet understand in this bitter toil of hers. + +Chu[u]dayu began to speak; at first in halting and broken sentences; +then in a continued flood--"Ah! Ha! That look of hate! Chu[u]dayu +acted most foully. 'Twas he who took the plate, to secure his +safety and O'Kiku's death. Deign to pardon. It was not Chu[u]dayu; +'twas the Tono Sama who dealt the fatal blow.... What? The +suffering?... Ah! But the suffering of mind.... Now she +begins--one--two--three--four--five--six--seven--eight--nine.... +Kiya!" The shriek rang through the room, bringing O'Yodo to her feet. +Crouched beside the _andon_ was outlined vaguely the figure of her sister +O'Kiku. "Ne[e]san! Here! And what...." At the words she turned to meet +the wide open frighted gaze of Chu[u]dayu. The matter of fact, gentle +tones calmed him. "A first meeting with the honoured guest. Deign to +pardon the awkwardness of Yodo." Chu[u]dayu came out of his sleep +reassured. He had dreamed; a frightful dream. She told him so, and +pressed him curiously as to why he had called out. "The honoured +_samurai_ (_buke-sama_), who then favours Yodo?" He spoke, as being again +himself--the military man, and no less a person than the chamberlain of +Aoyama Shu[u]zen Sama, _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in the Bancho[u]. +"Perhaps then a serving maid called O'Kiku is known to the honoured sir." +Again Chu[u]dayu's doubts were raised at evident resemblance--to be +reassured. "No kin: we knew each other well in early life. The father was +a great criminal, and O'Kiku, it was heard, was condemned to be a slave +for life. Entered in this business nothing has been seen of each other. +She is well--in mind and body?" The question was timid, and Chu[u]dayu +did not notice the unnatural eagerness. "In Kiku's place mind and body +are assured their lot; to undergo no change." Captivated by this beauty +he was now eager for his good fortune. Reluctant and with misgiving she +allowed him to draw her close. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +SAMPEI DONO + + +He was poor; coarsely and scantily clad as he came on his return through +the darkness and snowflakes now coming down wet and moist, whirling and +twisting under the increasing gale and gradually turning into a +penetrating chilling sleet against which the straw raincoat was poor +protection. In this guise Wataru Sampei was the gardener, making a +precarious living at which his skill was accidental and vicarious. In +his shabby home he was the _samurai_, his two swords treasured, +carefully wrapped and put away in the closet; struggling to live in +order to bring up this boy Jumatsu in his own cult, to better times and +retribution on the upstarts from the South. This night too had been part +of his _samurai's_ duty, in its _sankei_ or pilgrimage to the Asakusa +Kwannon. O'Kiku believed in efficacy of prayer to the goddess of mercy. +A hasty word, implied rather than spoken, as to a passer by during the +first sight of her, and the gesture of acquiescence on his part who had +little faith. But the gesture was as strong in its obligation as an oath +written and signed in blood. + +On approaching his home with surprise he noted a woman by the door. She +seemed to be in the act of coming or going. Surely he could not mistake +that figure; nay, throwing the light of his lantern ahead a glimpse of +the white wan face startled him. His heart leaped within him--"Is it +Kiku? How comes the wife here at this hour? How has exit from the +_yashiki_ been permitted?" But the woman answered not. Instead she moved +away from him, into the darkness. More and more astonished Sampei called +after her and followed. Always she eluded him. Thus he was led away two +hundred, three hundred yards. There she was, halted beneath the willow +tree on the river bank. His pace broke into a run. Now she did not move +or attempt to elude him, but as he came up the figure was but a stela to +point the way to a near-by shrine. Sampei passed his hand over his brow. +Kiku was too much on his mind; this forced widowerhood with charge of a +toddling boy. Ah! If pity and affection would but allow him to transfer +the child to others! Better would it be for both. But how face the +mother without the child--and then, the lot of one's favoured child in +the house of strangers and under their cold glances? Sampei himself +could not part with Jumatsu. Easy was it for him to cut belly--and leave +mother and child in this desolate condition. Meanwhile his uneasiness of +mind at their present outlook was driving him to delusions. + +Taking off his wet outer garments he stole into the bedroom. Now it was +very late in the night; he would not disturb the child. To his surprise +he found him sitting up on the quilts, shivering and weeping. +"Bo[u]chan! What's gone wrong?" He took the child's hands, anxious to +note any sign of distress or fever. But Jumatsu made answer in his +turn--"Mother has just been here. She was crying. She said--'Bo[u], the +parting is for long. Never again will the mother be seen. Grow up, +Bo[u]; grow up to be a fine man.' Then she cried more than ever." A hand +seemed to grasp the heart of Sampei--"Mother here, Bo[u]chan!" Surely +the child could not lie, even make up the story at this age, so fitting +into his own uneasy vision. Continued the little fellow mid his +tears--"It was not her fault. Someone broke the holly hock plate and +charged mother with the crime. Then the Tono Sama killed her. He wanted +her for his concubine; and so came to hate her and easily took the tale. +It was not her fault. She said this--then went away."--"Whither?" +Sampei's tone was so abrupt and harsh to startle the child into +quiescence. He pointed to the house altar on its stand--"Mother just +went away; into the Butsudan.... And she hasn't come back--to +Bo[u]chan." He ended in a wail and childish weeping. Ah! The hands now +grasping at Sampei were of ice. Slowly he approached the Butsudan. +Startled he saw the snow within it. This wild tale was taking the hold +of certainty on his mind. He lit first one light, then the other in the +altar stand. Then sharply of itself rang the little bell. A cold sweat +stood out on Sampei's body--"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!" +Earnest the prayer for some departed soul. Unconvinced, yet feeling the +truth of the impression he passed the night with eyes wide open. With +dawn he would go forth to make inquiries at the Bancho[u] _yashiki_. +This would be the fifteenth day. Anyhow Kiku would be expecting him. + +He set out early, carrying the boy on his back. Humbly and with +experience of such places he approached the gateman. "An inquiry to +make."--"What is it?"--"At this _yashiki_ is there not a woman +labouring, one O'Kiku?" The man eyed him with the contemptuous tolerance +of him who knows--"Woman labouring? In the _yashiki_ there are two score +and more. Of Kiku more than one; although those of the men's quarters +have nothing to do with such matters. Perhaps the slave girl Kiku is +intended.... See her! Good fellow, are you mad? One under condemnation +is not to be seen.... You have come far? Even if you had come from +O[u]shu[u] or Kyu[u]shu[u] you could not see her.... But all the way +from Honjo[u]; it's too bad." The man looked at him with more +benevolence. After all he had some heart, and many distressed people +came to this _yashiki_; entered into it. "Are you thirsty?... No? In +that case entrance there is none; although the water of the well in the +_yashiki_ is said to be superior to all other, sovereign to cure +thirst.... Ah! You have been dying with thirst all night. Your tongue +cleaves to the roof of the mouth. Then the case is altered. For the +silver thanks are felt. Just enter. Perhaps some maid will come to the +well to draw water. Perhaps this Kiku herself. One so ready--of +tongue--can easily excuse his presence and this Yo[u]zaemon, if there be +question." + +With humble thanks and joy Sampei followed the instructions. The well +was at the corner of the larger paved space and from it he could see +into the inner garden and the greater privacy of the establishment. Here +he could note more life at this early hour, and even the stir of +excitement. People were running to and fro as under some unusual +stimulus. Slowly he drank, delayed as long as he could, unnoticed and +unquestioned. He could not thus act too long. Indeed as he moved off a +foot soldier (_ashigaru_) passing asked his business. He gave excuse as +on mission to a servant, whose name he picked up from one just gone by. +As the man had taken a message outside his answer was a safe one. +Sharply the _ashigaru_ repeated the fact of absence, and Sampei had no +excuse not to leave. The excitement now was spreading to the front +quarters of the _yashiki_. Fragments of talk showed him that his visit +was most inopportune. Her ladyship had just died, and the household was +in a buzz. When he would again speak to the gateman, the functionary's +manner did not encourage it, Sampei took the hint of his cold +unrecognizing eye and bowed in humble acknowledgment to all in going out +the gate. "Chu[u]dayu Dono--where is Aikawa Sama to be found?"--"The +honoured chamberlain? He left the _yashiki_ last night in the other +watch. There has been no return during this of Yozaemon." So much he +caught in passing. + +Slowly Sampei passed down the Gomizaka and along the moat of the castle. +It was with greatest reluctance he left this place. The child began to +whimper. "_Otosan_ (father), this Jumatsu is hungry." The little +fellow's whimper turned to genuine tears. The father heartened him. Just +ahead, on the Kudanzaka, all that should be remedied. Of the number of +small shops Sampei noted the sign of the Kikkyo[u]ya--the House of the +Full Well Bucket. Bending under the curtain strips hanging at the front +he entered the cook shop. "Deign to come up here.... For food? Of the +best: clam soup, a stew of vegetables and fish, hot boiled _to[u]fu_ ... +and _sake_, none better." The place did not promise much despite the +advertisement. Avoiding the doubtful stew Sampei ordered wine for +himself and hot boiled bean paste (_to[u]fu_) for Jumatsu. As he fed the +child, and at opportunity sipped his wine, a blind shampooer entered; in +this tiny place to take a seat close by. Apparently he was well known +thereabouts. In bringing wine the host sat down beside him to +talk--almost into the ear of Sampei.--"Toku no Ichi San, you are early +abroad. Does illness or luxurious idleness summon the honoured _Amma +San_ to the couch?... But yourself, you do not look well. Work late +into the night goes not with early rising. This is going to excess." The +man coughed and drank, turned his sightless eyes on Sampei. What he said +made this latter all attention. + +"It is no early call brings out this Ichibei. Ah! What a night this +last!"--"Truly so," replied the matter of fact host. "And no sign of the +storm's cessation." He looked out for a moment on the flakes of snow, +again coming down thick and heavy. "Drink your wine, Ichibei Dono. In +truth you are as white as yonder falling flakes which you do not see. +And 'tis said your kind cannot see ghosts."--"See them; no. To those +whose eyes are darkened by the night of blindness the gods have granted +grace against such visions. But alas! Other faculties have been +sharpened. He who cannot see, can hear. Listen Jiro[u]bei San. Last +night this Ichibei was called to the _yashiki_ of O[u]kubo Sama. The +_okugata_ was in pain and needed his treatment for the limbs. It is a +kindly house, one good to go to. The storm kept Ichibei in the +_yashiki_: Food and the mat was granted, for his lordship would not send +a cur, once granted shelter, out into storm and darkness. But next door +it is very different. Here is the _yashiki_ of Aoyama Shu[u]zen +Sama--the Yakujin of Edo. Jiro[u]bei San knows of him. His lordship took +the _yashiki_ for the old well of the Yoshida Goten. 'Tis said at nights +he takes wine and pipe, sits by the well, and in his hardiness and +defiance of weather and season challenges the ghosts to appear. Last +night.... Ah! The scene rung into the ears appears before the eyes even +of the blind. It was the sound of blows--as of a wet cloth striking bare +flesh. A woman plead for mercy. 'Vile wench.... Kiku.' These words were +heard. Then such a scream--'Kiya!' as of rending silk--that yet it rings +into the ears of this Ichibei; to banish sleep and peace of mind for the +rest of the night. What could it be? Had the ghosts appeared? Or had +some maid displeased the Tono Sama, and hence suffered death at his hand +(_te-uchi_)? He is not one to spare suffering.... Ah! How she suffered! +All night Ichibei has lain awake and suffered with her. It seems as if +her cry never would depart from these ears. With dawn I fled--without +food, and doubtless to the astonishment of all. Feeling faint, your +shop offered refreshment."--"Another bottle?... O'Kabe! At once: for +Toku no Ichi San.... Honoured guest, thanks. Deign again the honoured +patronage. Sixty _mon_ the price, _sayonara_." + +Sampei paid the scot, and with Jumatsu carefully wrapped up against the +storm passed out into the open air. Now he was himself again; the +_samurai_ of Kai, with the old traditions of his province and his +liegeship to the great Takeda House. Against this Aoyama double was the +vendetta--for Jinnai, for his wife Kiku. His ears had drunk in the +convincing tale of the blind shampooer. His decision was as ready. His +steps now were bent to the Miuraya in the Yoshiwara. At his name the +_banto[u]_ expressed surprise. "The _oiran_ was about to send a message; +most opportune the honoured coming. Deign for the moment to wait." +Related to their great attraction Sampei had every attention. Shortly +the sound of _zo[u]ri_ was heard, and O'Yui entered the room. Jumatsu +viewed her beauty and splendour with grave approval, astonishment, and +fear. "Obasan (auntie)? But she is young; beautiful, just like mother. +Oh! Just like the pictures of the great Tayu." The two elders listened, +preoccupied and with pained smile. "What book; and where seen?... Oya! +Oya! In the priest's room at the Fukuganji? That should not be. Priest +and _oiran_ are not of kin." O'Yui's laugh was so silvery that Jumatsu +in admiration pressed close to her knee. Clasping him she spoke to +Sampei. Ah! How great was her anxiety. As she told her tale the heart of +Sampei was filled with wrath and certainty--"This Chu[u]dayu is such a +strange fellow. The weather still holds him to the place. Hence by good +luck it was possible to ask for a consultation. Has not some injury +befallen the person of Ne[e]san? The ravings of this man in his drunken +sleep, the vision of the sister, the face and garments all dyed with +blood, cannot these find confirmation or disproof? In the embrace of +this man Yui shudders." She wept. + +With growing weight and terror at heart she noted the increasing gloom +of Sampei's face. "Kiku is no longer of this world. It is true. Herself +she told the tale to Jumatsu. At the _yashiki_ all is confusion with the +death of the lady of the House. By accident Jumatsu's vision is +corroborated by the blind shampooer, led into the cook shop of Kudanzaka +by the same hand which led Chu[u]dayu to the arms of the _oiran_ O'Yodo. +The evidence is complete for this Sampei. To-night--at the first +opportunity--Sampei kills this Aoyama Shu[u]zen; then cuts belly. As for +Chu[u]dayu, Kiku has brought him to O'Yui San. Deign to accept the +charge. Last night he has been the lover, and the chance of the weather +and the charms of O'Yui have kept him here. Let the coming night be his +last." He put a restraining hand on the sleeve of O'Yui. In vengeance at +once she would have rushed off to poniard this obscene fellow. Be once +more the object of his embraces? Alas! Hers indeed was "the bitter +toil," which led her to the arms of this scoundrel dripping with a +sister's blood. But she listened to the cold and cautious counsel of +Sampei, and nodded comprehension and assent. When she re-entered the +room where Chu[u]dayu was drinking and roistering there was not a sign +of any emotion. Once again she was the harlot, to charm and inveigle him +into remaining with her. Ha! Ha! The gods had granted his prayer. "Kiku? +She was a beauty--and the impression of childhood would be corroborated +by her later appearance. But even thus she is a faded old woman to the +honoured _oiran_. A bag of bones!" He roared with drunken laughter; and +O'Yui fingered the handle of the dagger in her bosom, in frenzy at the +vile jest. "Come now! Kiku has been the object of Chu[u]dayu's love. He +confesses it. But now--away with such an O'Bake. He seeks the greater +solace of O'Yodo's arms." The wine nearly choked him. His eyes stood +out. He gasped and choked. Anxiously the _oiran_ nursed him back to +breath. + +Late that night he had gone to bed very drunk. The ninth hour struck (1 +A.M.). O'Yodo, who had sought temporary excuse, entered. Chu[u]dayu again +was dreaming, horribly. Ah! This vision would never pass. O'Kiku was +standing by him. At first faint, then loud came the voice, and Chu[u]dayu +counted with her--"One"--"One"--"Two"--"Two"--"Three"--"Three".... On +went the count. Now she was astride of him, pressing him down, throttling +him. "O'Kiku Dono! It was not Chu[u]dayu. The treachery was his; but the +Tono Sama gave the blow." He writhed and struggled in his sleep. Then +O'Yui dealt the thrust, straight downward. "Yai! Yai! Ah!" The scream +rang out, startling all around. Alas! A little misdirected the dagger +glanced from the bone and pierced the shoulder. As the man rolled her off +the girl made one desperate effort. Deep she thrust the blade into his +right side, ripped it up and side ways. "Kiya!" Chu[u]dayu staggered and +rolled over, hands to his side to hold in the severed liver and guts. +When she would strike again her hands were held. The bawd (_yarite_), +aroused and passing, saw the shadow of the raised dagger. The _banto[u]_ +had come to her aid. While some sought to aid the desperately wounded +man, others drew away O'Yodo, again the woman and overcome with tears of +regret at her failure. + +Jinzaemon of the Miuraya questioned her. Was it _shinju[u]_--a mutual +suicide to insure happiness together in the next life? Had she really +known the man before, and not pretended new acquaintance? Then, without +mention of Sampei, she told the story of her vision, her certainty that +inquiry would establish the truth of its accusation. Jinzaemon had no +recourse. The Yoshiwara _bugyo[u]_, with _do[u]shin_, was soon at hand. +"To kill a man on such evidence...." But before applying torture he +would question the victim. Chu[u]dayu's case was hopeless. The liver was +almost severed. Death was but a matter of an hour or two. During that +time his ravings in delirium, his confession in lucid moments, added a +new and momentous phase to the case in corroborating the tale of the +_oiran_ as to the strange vision. The _bugyo[u]_ did not dare to go +further. He must consult those higher in authority. A _hatamoto_ of the +land was involved; one just favoured with appointment as _tsukaiban_ +(staff officer) to the suzerain. The _machibugyo[u]_ himself had no +power in this case. Hence the affair--its nature and its proof--must be +submitted to the _waka-toshiyori_, the officer of State in immediate +charge of the _hatamoto_, their control and interests. Meanwhile the +affair must be smothered and strict search made for the recent visitor +Sampei, who had completely disappeared. Jumatsu readily was traced to +the care of the house master (_iyenushi_) at Koume. His tenant, on plea +of business in Kai, had left the child with him. Thus they went astray, +and thus failed to act. Meanwhile Shinano no Kami at last determined to +send for and question Aoyama Shu[u]zen. The seventh day following the +retribution was reached--to the great enlightenment of these puzzled +magistrates.[33] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +AOYAMA WINS HIS SUIT + + +Aoyama's _yashiki_ blazed with light. The guests looked around, at the +many lamps, the waiting-women in dainty attire, the ornament of service +and of substance; and then looked into each other's faces. The +unseemliness of the thing was on the minds of all these dozen to twenty +gentlemen. The body of the wife had hardly been carried from the house +to the funeral pyre. It was true that grief was to be given no display +in the _samurai_ code. The new promotion offered excuse for its +celebration. But on the whole this feast seemed an indecent exhibition +of rejoicing. "Aoyama Uji is not the Shu[u]zen of old. What has got into +the man this past month?" Thus Okumura Shu[u]zen spoke of his namesake. +"Bah! It is the shadow of Kiku, the 'sewing girl.' Aoyama rejoices in +thus replacing old material. May he get a better heir on her than his +last. 'Tis said to be a monster!" Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon whispered, +half in jest and half in a savage earnest of disapproval. + +O[u]kubo Hikoroku first broached the matter openly at table. "Aoyama +Uji, is this not a strange meeting? Here we are, all members of the +Gaman Kwai; as _hatamoto_, men close to the suzerain's knee and ready +for the call to battle. But this--with the glitter of apparel in +substance and women, it is show and feast for _kuge_ (court nobles), a +meeting to view the moon and its light upon the snow. Deign to explain." +Aoyama smiled. He might have made some formal excuse for this +eccentricity. Saburo[u]zaemon spoke out for him--"Don't be obtuse, +O[u]kubo Uji. The one lacking here is the cause of the feast. O'Kiku +Dono still delays. Is it not so, Aoyama Uji?" He spoke with cold +certainty, a curious intonation in voice. Aoyama was black with a fury +about to burst forth when O[u]kubo sprang up. He looked around. "Just +so! Wait but a moment. We'll have her here." Aoyama was turned aside, +and would have detained him. "Hikoroku Dono, it is useless. Kiku is not +in the _yashiki_." To the dubious look of astonishment--"It is fact. She +was a vile disloyal woman. Breaking the holly hock plate, the trust gift +of the To[u]sho[u]gu, this Aoyama put her to death. This shall be +apology to the suzerain's House." O[u]kubo sat down again in pure +amazement--"For what is said one feels regret. The apology is made; but +surely...." Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon laughed outright. He seemed with +intention to egg him on. O[u]kubo turned indignantly. "Why laugh, +Endo[u] Uji? Is the life of a human being to be put against a piece of +porcelain?"--"Saburo[u]zaemon laughs at your credulity, O[u]kubo Dono. +It is but a ruse to put us from the search. Kiku certainly is not far +off." + +O[u]kubo danced up in a fury. This time he was not to be kept. "'Tis +true! But the badger's lurking hole, the place where he keeps her, is +known. Soon she shall be here." Defying Shu[u]zen's wrath he and Endo[u] +left the room. O[u]kubo was ahead. Throwing open the _sho[u]ji_ of the +maid's room he looked within. Ah! Standing by the closet in the dim +light was the figure of O'Kiku. "Kiku, why are you here, not joining in +the feast? The beauty and the lady, whose love seduces so stern a man as +Shu[u]zen to soft ways, is not to neglect the guests. Come to the +banquet hall." He seized her sleeve. Said Saburo[u]zaemon from the +_ro[u]ka_--"Whom do you address, O[u]kubo Uji?" He looked around the +room. "There is no one here.... Kiku? You grasp a garment hanging on the +clothes rack." It was true. Dazed and somewhat upset O[u]kubo returned +to the banquet room. Aoyama met defiantly the hard look of Endo[u], the +inquiring question of O[u]kubo--"Is it true Aoyama? Did you really value +a human life against a plate, and kill her?"--"It is plain fact," was +the answer. + +Again the strange looks passed between the guests. Some shrugged their +shoulders. Others looked at him and whispered. Some laughed, with +glances at the frightened faces of the waiting women. "It's not to be +believed," said the emphatic tones of O[u]kubo. Suddenly a breath seemed +to go round the room. Every light went out; except the one before +Hikoroku. Dimly outlined by Shu[u]zen's side could be seen the figure of +O'Kiku. The wan face amid the long disordered dangling hair; the gore +smeared face, and neck, and bosom, sent a thrill and shudder through +those present. At the exclamations Shu[u]zen turned. He saw her--"Vile +jade! You too would reproach Shu[u]zen. A cut for you!" He sprang up, +dagger in hand to cut her down. Then followed a wild scene with the +raving man. The maids sought to avoid death; happily with success beyond +trifling injuries, for sight of a woman made him frantic. Surrounding +Shu[u]zen the men drew him on. From behind O[u]kubo, Okumura, Endo[u] +rushed upon him. Overpowered he was secured. With the madness of the +host the banquet came to an end. As they left O[u]kubo said to Endo[u] +Saburo[u]zaemon--"Really Endo[u] Uji, why so rough in speech with +Aoyama? With those of one band quarrels are not to be sought."--"Nor +will be," answered Saburo[u]zaemon with a slight tinge of contempt. Then +he added slowly--"There is a strange affair in Yoshiwara. The +chamberlain of Shu[u]zen, one Chu[u]dayu, is involved; and Shu[u]zen +with him. This matter of Kiku threatens grave issue with the +_waka-toshiyori_. It is said that the two murdered the woman--because +both wanted her for concubine." He laughed harshly--"Why tell these +facts to neighbour O[u]kubo?" Said Hikoroku, with his blunt truth--"The +sounds and sights from Shu[u]zen's _yashiki_ are not always pleasant. +There are tales in the household of a night--that on which Shu[u]zen's +wife died. All there was in confusion. It is for fellow-members to +protect the reputation of each other." Endo[u] was rebuked in turn. + +Shu[u]zen was himself again. With the passing of the wine, the guests, +the confusion, he was the cold, collected, dreaded master of a few hours +ago. Respectfully the _kerai_ withdrew. Left to himself he pondered the +events of these hours. He recognized and measured the concentrated +dislike expressed in the words and actions of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon, +egging on O[u]kubo, irritating himself to desperation. To Shu[u]zen it +was a question as to just what was meant. At his age even in his caste +men did not seek each other out to draw the sword. The issue was much +more serious, involving disgrace. He would like to get at the inner +motive of this fellow's action. How invaluable the aid of Chu[u]dayu, +who knew the ins and outs of the _yashiki_ of all Edo, and particularly +of his lord's intimates. But he had disappeared--as if the earth had +swallowed him. Shu[u]zen had condoned too many instances of the +chamberlain's free use of his lord's funds, to come upon him harshly for +any peculation. The man had been useful in many dubious actions; in +bribery, solicitation, pimping, as a useful and facile witness. +Chu[u]dayu would worm himself to the bottom of this matter in short +order. + +Thus he went to rest. Despite disordered brain his sleep was sound. It +was Gekkeiji's bell striking the ninth hour (1 A.M.) which roused; or +else the throat fouled and dried his mouth. He was parched beyond +measure; his tongue seemed to fill the whole cavity. Impatiently he +called--"Heigh there! Water! Is there no one to attend?"--"At the lord's +service...." The gentle tones of a woman made answer. She knelt at his +pillow. The water pitcher was offered. He took it and drank greedily. +Then--"What maid is this? Does she seek Shu[u]zen's bed? He is in no +humour for such favour." And the girl wailed in answer--"Ah! Ah! Harsh +his lordship's tone, harsh his words. Has not long since his command +been issued? The fault lies not with Kiku. A lying officer stands +between the Tono Sama and his handmaid." Shu[u]zen sat bolt upright, +glaring. Framed by the long trailing hair there appeared to his eyes the +wan, blood smeared face of O'Kiku. With a yell he was on one +knee--"Wretched woman! Does Kiku still pursue and solicit Shu[u]zen? +Make ready! Again a cut!" He sprang to his feet, grasped and drew the +pillow sword. With smothered cry of terror and anguish the figure turned +to flee; but he cut her down from shoulder to pap. As he did so the +_sho[u]ji_ were flung wide apart. The moonlight from the opened _amado_ +flooded the room and lighted up the intruder. + +Rage and hate growled in the tones of Shu[u]zen--"A bandit thief and +doubtful fellow, thus to push himself into the presence of a _hatamoto_ +of the land! Fellow, name yourself: who thus by night breaks into +Shu[u]zen's presence, intrudes upon his pleasure." Harsh and insulting +the laugh of Sampei. He pointed with his drawn sword to the bleeding +prostrate corpse of the unfortunate waiting maid, cut down by Shu[u]zen +in belief of the apparition of her namesake. "More than one Kiku +harbours in the lair of Aoyama. Would he slay them all in sacrifice to +his lust? Wataru Sampei comes to ask account of his wife Kiku, daughter +of Jinnai, _ro[u]nin_ of Takeda Ke of Kai, as is himself. Now--to the +contest! God of the bow and feathered shaft, favour this +Sampei!"--"Favour this Shu[u]zen!" Both men made invocation almost in +the same breath as they sprang at each other. Sampei was pushed on by +rage and vengeance; Aoyama by a savage joy in combat. Here was a worthy +antagonist, a true taste of old of the battle field. If Sampei was the +younger man, he was also in worse training than Shu[u]zen; and in his +poor condition hardly a match for the practised soldier. However +Shu[u]zen was compelled to admire a resourcefulness in parrying his own +fierce attack, the beauty of his enemy's Muramasa blade, which seemed +itself to act and seek his life. "Shu[u]zen's prize--the sword of +Sampei!" He shouted in exultation. Sampei was forced back to the +_ro[u]ka_. At the sill he tripped and fell. "Now off with you--to Meido +and the Yellow Fountain, to join wife and parent thief." Shu[u]zen in +joy swung high his blade for the fatal blow. Sampei without sword was +helpless at his feet. But the blade did not descend. Shu[u]zen's arm was +held fast. By the outraged wife, O'Kiku, as later tradition would +assert? At this pass Sampei used his dagger. Plunged straight into the +belly of Shu[u]zen with it he disembowelled him. Abandoning hold on his +weapon, with a screech Aoyama fell, twisting and writhing in the pool of +his blood. When the _kerai_, roused by the disturbance, the shouts and +the clashing of swords, fell on Sampei, to disarm and make short work of +him, the _karo[u]_ Makishima Gombei prevented them. With difficulty he +dragged Shu[u]zen's sword out from the deep cut it had made in the beam +of the partition. "Stain not good weapons with the blood of a rascal and +thief, who shall undergo the torture and the disgrace of the execution +ground. Be sure his lordship will be well avenged. It is better so." + +Thus with bitter regret Sampei found himself avenged, but still in life. +The next day, with the presence of the messengers from Shinano no Kami, +the situation changed. With the report from Makishima was demanded the +person of Wataru Sampei, whose story fitted into present evidence +obtained. Deeper and deeper went the investigation into Aoyama's house +affairs. Here was great disorder--harshness, lust, ill discipline. On +this latter charge--lack of discipline--official displeasure gladly +fell. The tale of the monster, obviously unfit for any service to the +suzerain, came out. The _kaieki_ of the House--deprivation of rank and +income--followed. As far as posthumous action could disgrace, so far did +Shu[u]zen suffer. + +Much better was the fate of Sampei. The case of the Bancho[u] _yashiki_ +no longer could be hid under a bushel. It was the affair of a +_hatamoto_, so hated by the _daimyo[u]_. Satsuma no Kami sought and +obtained his charge. During the weeks which followed Sampei was the +object of respect and solicitude of those who had the care of him. As +_ro[u]nin_ of the Takeda House this was all the greater in this +_yashiki_ where the Tokugawa were held in no great affection. The +breaking into the _yashiki_ of a _hatamoto_, the slaying of its lord, +could not be condoned. The official world was glad to combine this with +the lack of discipline decision. When the inevitable order came to cut +belly it was a chamberlain of Satsuma no Kami who acted as _kaishaku_ +(second); and Sampei knew that to this man would fall the possession and +adoption of his little son. Thus came he to his end, and his House into +this brave heirship. Thus was disappointed the malice of Shu[u]zen, in +his last breath denouncing his slayer as the husband of O'Kiku. +Announced Horibe Izumi no Kami, the _machibugyo[u]_ who made final +disposition of the case--"Between Sampei and Kiku no marriage being +proved, the issue belonging to the man, the child Jumatsu is held +sinless; for the woman Yui detention for further examination of conduct +and condition." This examination never came; nor was intended to come. +For some months she was detained in the _yashiki_ of Horibe Sama. Then +the third Sho[u]gun died; a general pardon followed of all ordinary +offenders. Under this order she was released, and the Miuraya had the +hint or good sense not to press for renewed service. A nun, she cut off +the long and beautiful hair, to pray in this world for the souls of +father, sister, he who had acted as more than brother in the vengeance +taken. Thus through the long years to her final and irrevocable release +without any earthly condition. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE SARAYASHIKI + + +Again the site of the Yoshida Goten lapsed to waste land. Through the +years stood the _yashiki_ of Aoyama Shu[u]zen, in wall and roof and beam +gradually going to rot and ruin. Passing by on nights of storm wayfarers +saw most frightful visions--the sports and processions of spectres +issuing forth from the old well of the one time inner garden. Their +wailing cries and yells were heard. Conspicuous among them was the sight +of the unfortunate Kiku, her wan face framed in the long rank disordered +hair; the weird beauty frightful in its expression of horror, as with +the stumps of fingers she counted--"One, two, three ... four, five, six +... seven, eight, nine." Then came the haunting fearful cry--"Alas! +What's to be done? One lacks. Oh! Oh!" Sight, sound, glare went to the +hearts of the stoutest witnesses. Soon the ill fortune of those thus +favoured with the vision of the Lady of the Plates was rumoured abroad. +Wounds, money losses, even death fell on them or on their households. +Men no longer were curious. They fled the neighbourhood of this ill +omened gap in Earth's surface, unseemly exit for these foul spirits. On +nights of rain and storm none passed that way. Even by day the children +were rebuked and forbidden to approach the well. + +Many are the stories as to the place. To instance one of these: It was +Ho[u]ei third year (1706)--the approach of winter in this tenth month +(November). Then came to Edo town a wandering pilgrim (_shugenja_) and +his wife. Tramping the land all summer to Nippon's varied shrines and +sights, now they were on the return to their home in Michinoku +(O[u]shu[u]). Much had they heard of Edo, capital seat of Nippon's great +lord. Every day busied with its sights they returned wearied to their +inn in the Shitaya district. This day they had wandered far. Returning +from Renkeiji of Kawagoe they passed the Naito[u] Shinjuku quarter. +Almost as great, if of different kind, was the woman's curiosity at +sight of the caged beauties, waiting the summons of those far better +supplied with cash than her own spouse. Finally in indignation she +dragged away the loiterer; and muttering rebuke followed after the +jingle of the rings on his pilgrim's staff. They were passing through +the Go Bancho[u], along the long stretch of _yashiki_ wall. From a +postern gate came forth a woman. The light of her lantern fell on the +man and his equipment--"Oya! Oya! Good fortune indeed: honoured +_shugenja_, a moment's stay. To-night a memorial service is to be said +for the mansion's lord. Condescend to enter and grant service." +Willingly husband and wife heard the invitation to rest their wearied +bodies. Passing through the garden water was supplied to wash the feet. +Then they were seated before an ample feast fit for their kind; of +glutinous rice balls coated with the sweet bean paste (_botamochi_), of +macaroni the savour of which tickled the nostrils, _sake_ followed, in +generous quantity and of quality to match. + +Said the girl--"It is an all night service that is requested. Deign to +undertake the watch and prayer. Ample shall be the reward." Prostrate the +_shugenja_ spoke his thanks. The Butsuma, or room containing the little +shrine, was close at hand. Seating himself, his woman just behind, he +bowed and made reverence. "Thanks for the honoured entertainment so +generous and excellent. May the honoured spirit find rest, at once +entering Nirvana ... and now, the Hannya Shinkyo[u]--_Sutra_ of the +divine intelligence."[34] He began the recitation, accompanied by his +wife. Both intoned the _nembutsu_--"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! +Praise to Amida the Lord Buddha!" Again the recitation of the _Sutra_ was +begun. The hours of the night advanced. Man and wife became more and more +drowsy; slower and slower came the words of the sacred writing. Then the +man nodded off to sleep; as long before had the wife. The hour of the ox +struck at Gekkeiji, filling this whole district with its heavy boom. The +man woke with a start. What fearful shriek was that? Close by in the +next room a woman's voice began counting. But such a voice! "One, two, +three...." on it went to "nine.... Ah! Woe is me! One lacks. What's to be +done!" Shrill, blood chilling the cry of anguish which followed. +Curiosity overcame terror. The man stole to the screens and gently opened +the merest slit. Over his shoulder looked the startled wife. + +A shudder went through both at the sight. Wan, frail, the beautiful +anguished evil face of a girl could be seen through the long tangled +hair framing it. Slender to the emaciation of great suffering she knelt +before the pile of plates she was counting--"One, two, three, four, +five, six, seven, eight, nine...." The wild chilling scream froze man +and woman. For at the moment in sprang another female, in whose worn +emaciated face and figure was displayed such concentrated evil passion +of hatred and jealousy as rarely to be seen on human being. Like the +flying hateful god Idaten she sprang upon the girl, grasped her long +black hair, and hurled her to this side and that. Helpless the victim +held up the bloody stumps of fingers. Now the face was seen to be dyed +in blood, the garments dyed red with blood, the girl again agonizing in +a pool of blood. With horror the pilgrim and the woman hid their faces. +The man's hands trembled as he struck the bell and intoned the holy +recital. Thus in a daze, amid the counting, the cries and shouts, the +weeping and the wailing, he went on. The cry of the cock was heard. As +if by magic all the wild sounds ceased. The wanderers looked around in +amazement. The altar was the stone curb of a well. The _yashiki_ and its +magnificence stood close by; but the building was roofless and in ruins. +Chilled to the bone, half dead and half mad with fright, the two +fled--to reach their inn. + +At their tale host and those assembled shook their heads. "It is the +Sarayashiki of the Bancho[u], the well that of the old Yoshida Goten, +whence ghosts issue; unless by good fortune the vision be a trick of fox +or badger. Honoured Sir, have prayers said to avoid ill fortune." But a +merry, foul, cynical old fellow--peasant turned townsman--twinkled in +his laughter. "Then O'Kiku San has favoured the _shugenja_ and his +spouse with feast and gifts?"--"'Twas very strange," naively replied the +pilgrim. "Copious and splendid the entertainment. Of the reality there +can be no doubt. This Jubei did not feast in a dream on those dainties." +The host and other auditors broke into coarse laughter--"Feast! The +_botamochi_ was of horse dung, the macaroni was earth-worms, the +wine--was urine." All roared in their great joy. The unfortunate +pilgrims, much put out, made gesture of discomfiture and fright. Said +the peasant-townsman, in sly hit at the host--"Perchance O'Kiku brought +the viands from near-by inn or cook shop. Surely these furnish little +better." Laughing he left the now angry innkeeper to aid his wretched +guests, writhing and retching in all the pains, actual and imagined of +such a feast. + +Command went forth to the holy man--and from the Sho[u]gun Ke himself. A +halt must be brought to these unseemly proceedings so close to the +suzerain's dwelling. These priests of the Dendzu-In, in the shadow of +whose temple rested so many of the Tokugawa dead, were famed for +learning and for piety. The founder of the Hall, Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, +had set to his successors this standard as necessary accomplishment, +bequeathing to them perhaps the ability to meet the demand of his title +of Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin. Between his eyes was a mole in shape like to the +crescent moon of the third day. Hence the appellation and its meaning +application; for as the moon waxed to its full, so did the Sho[u]nin +with advancing years wax great in learning, and throw his increasing +light upon mankind. Of this first prior there is a tale. It was the +period of the Ashikaga wars, and the Sho[u]nin, for safety and on +business of his order, was resident for the nonce at Asonuma in Kotsuke +province. As he prayed and wrought in the night, without rose violent +sound of fighting and disturbance. Rising he looked forth. Two bands of +men at direst odds displayed the greatest cruelty to each other. But +what men! Emaciated to flesh and bone, weird and unhappy of face, the +Sho[u]nin saw that these were not of this world. His determination was +at once taken. Rosary in hand and intoning the _nembutsu_ he stepped +forth. The strife parted before him; its actors were prostrate in his +presence. "What means this fierceness of battle?" asked the prelate. +"Surely ye are not of the world, thus without mercy to strive to do such +pitiless cruelty."--"Not of this world," said one raising his head; "but +no more cruel than men in the flesh. In the Gempei wars, fighting we +lost our lives. Our bodies tumbled promiscuously into one common ditch, +without rites or worship, the grudge still continues through the +decades. Deign, honoured priest, the aid of prayers of one so holy, for +the rest of all." Gladly the prior grasped the opportunity--"For such +surely is the charm of the Sacred Name--the paper with the sacred +characters of the Nembutsu, Namu Amida Butsu. Not this ignorant foolish +cleric, but the vow of the Nyo[u]rai, Amida, relieves you from the Hell +of fighting (Shurado[u]). Deign to accept the charm and enter Nirvana." +Gladly the outstretched hands received it. Then all vanished in a mist. +On the following day with discretion and modesty the prior told his +experience to his open mouthed and credulous disciples. An ancient man +of the place was found to point out where tradition placed the burial +and its mound. The bones found on digging were sorted, and with rites +found burial. Never after were prior, disciples, or villagers troubled +with these visions. But the prior's reputation took an upward bound, to +the credit of his sect. + +Thus it was with his successor--himself a true Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin in +the illumination of his learning--"From his youth he had abandoned the +world, and all the scripture had passed under his eyes. At eighteen +years he knew all the _sutra_ and the doctrines of Shaka (Sakyamuni), +and books whether exoteric or esoteric. Moreover he understood +thoroughly astrology and almanacs, the poetry of Morokoshi (China) and +Nippon, and instrumental music. Truly once heard he knew ten times, so +clever he was." It was to this Saint, in his eighty-second year, that +the order came to lay the ghost of O'Kiku, to dispel the disorderly +spectres of the well of the Yoshida Goten. "A difficult, nay a severe +task; but one well within the power and mercy of the Buddha. To-night we +go forth to the attempt. Let all exert themselves." His subject clerics +bowed low--"Respectfully heard and obeyed." They liked it not. The +nights were cold; the place noted for bad company, and bad weather. But +the order of their head was not to be disobeyed. + +With the first watches of the stormy night the Sho[u]nin and some thirty +priests were assembled about the well curb. Earnestly the Sho[u]nin read +the sacred writing. Vigorously his followers made the responses. Louder +the voices and greater their confidence as the night progressed without +sign of visions. Then said the Sho[u]nin--"Surely great is the efficacy +of the _sutra_. Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! All evil visions and +spectres vanish; to seek the peace and oblivion of Nirvana. Let the +event prove the efficacy of the charm."--"Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida +Butsu!" Loud the voices of the priests, but now in terror. The bell of +Gekkeiji was striking the hour of the ox (1 A.M.). Crouching and +shivering they saw the spectral lighting up of the well. The blue +glittering points began to dot its mouth. Then swarms of spectres began +to pour forth, obscene and horrible. Among them appeared the ghost of +O'Kiku. Stricken with fear the priests stopped all reading of the holy +writ. Flat on their faces, their buttocks elevated high for great +concealment, they crouched in a huddled mass. "Namu Amida Butsu! Namu +Amida Butsu! Spare us, good ghosts--thus disturbed most rudely in your +nightly haunt and revels. Ha! Ah! One's very marrow turns to ice. No +more! No more! Away!" But the Sho[u]nin held firm. Surrounded by the +jibing menacing mass of spirits, steadily and without fear he hung on to +his scroll, read the _sutra_, intoned the _nembutsu_. One by one his +company stole away; as did the spectres with approaching dawn. + +He did not reproach his flock. Said the prior to the shamed assembly--by +daylight: "Surely this is a very difficult undertaking. This curse of +the dead is no ordinary one. It is a soul without light, of some highly +debauched sinner, of some woman vowed to eternal hate. Deep the +malignancy; but deeper yet the efficacy of Mida's vow. Seven nights will +do it. Let all make every effort." He looked around, with trace of +gentle rebuke--"We are men who have left the world (_shukke_). Why then +fear the dead; when ye are part and parcel of them? Perhaps greater +company is needed." He sought it from his fellow priors. From Shiba to +Asakusa they swarmed. With fifty, with seventy, with a hundred and +seventy priests, all reciting the _Sutra_, intoning the _nembutsu_, the +noise and confusion rose high above the sound of storm and spectre. +Sleep was banished far and wide thereabouts. But this could not last. +"One, two, three, four...." with the counting of the plates the chilling +heart rending shriek, the wail of the unhappy girl, the stoutest +volunteers quailed and with their hands shut out the spectral vision. +These volunteers disappeared with the second week of recitation entered +on by the Sho[u]nin. Even his own band began to fail him. They sent +substitutes, in the shape of the temple servants, the lowest grade, the +Shoke Sama. When a third week was announced, as sure to accomplish the +exorcism, there was open rebellion. It was with sadness and admiration +that the Sho[u]nin saw his band thus reduced to a few faithful men, the +oldest of his flock, almost as old as himself--and these deaf, blind, +and almost dumb. "Ah! It is a tremendous affair. Deep the malignancy of +this curse. This foolish priest has overrated his reputation with the +Buddha. Great the discredit to the sect and temple at the wide heralded +failure." He felt as ill and out of sorts away from the presence of the +vision, as did his disciples in its presence. He was old and foolish and +over-confident. + +The prior slept on his cushion, his robes still wet with the storm and +rain of the previous night. Then came a woman, dressed in sombre garb. +Approaching the sleeping priest she wrote upon his sleeve the character +_ki_ [ki], bowed reverently, and disappeared. He awoke seeming to hear +her footsteps. How clear was this dream! The character _ki_, what did it +portend? The Buddha would not fail his priest. Taking himself to the +altar he prostrated himself before the seated figure. Then he prayed. +And as he prayed--perhaps resumed his nap--wonderful to say again the +character [ki] appeared, this time on the Buddha's sleeve. The Sho[u]nin +rubbed his eyes. Was he awake or dreaming? He did not know. "_Ki_," the +chance, the opportunity that the successful man in every undertaking +grasps, where others fail. He must apply it to his own calling and the +crisis. They exercised their brains; he was reputed to be well +furnished. This next night was the last of the third seven days. +Failing favourable issue he would take up his staff and depart to other +place, never to reappear in the beloved precincts of his hall. Thus +inspired he thought and thought. The grave, kindly, piercing eyes became +brighter and brighter. Then his monks came running in surprise and +alarm. The reverend prior was laughing--not in merriment, but with the +joy of him who has found the successful issue to be so plain and easy. + +This last and critical night in storm and riot proved to be the worst of +all. Said the Sho[u]nin with grave kindness--"This night the Sho[u]nin +goes; others need not accompany." All rejoiced--until they saw his +preparation to face the rain and cold. Then they weakened, and all plead +to accompany him. Splendid the train assembled around the well curb. +Again the reading of the _sutra_ began, the intonation of the +_nembutsu_. Again the clerics cursed their ill timed enthusiasm, which +brought them out in the storm and to such unseemly company. Again the +ghosts issued forth from the old well in their obscene riot. Jeering, +menacing they swarmed around the frightened priestly band. Immoveable +the prior. Natural and supernatural seemed to hang on the issue between +priest and spectres. The figure of O'Kiku, wan, sad, malignant appeared. +She counted--"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, +nine...."--"Ten!" shouted the Sho[u]nin, extending the Junen. "Ara! What +joy! None lack. Ah! By the Sho[u]nin's virtue this Kiku secures Nirvana. +Gratitude and obeisance are due." With the words the figure faded, the +spectres disappeared, the storm rumbled and passed off rapidly to the +distance, and the stars shone out on the cold clear sky of a perfect +fall night with its studded firmament. + +Thus did the Sho[u]nin find the secret in the _ten_ repetition of the +sacred formula--the _ju_ nen. On her finger stumps O'Kiku +counted--counted as does the successful man in the business of life. But +O'Kiku was maimed. The thumb was lacking. Hence the tale went but to +nine. The missing factor once supplied her count found completion. Long +had been accomplished her vow of indignant vengeance, but still the +plates remained to count for her own release, and this she could not +effect. Great was the reputation thus acquired to priest and temple. +Probably it was this feat which has confused him with his greater +predecessor, the founder of the temple; transferred most +anachronistically to this latter the tradition of the actual laying of +the ghost. + +There is an old book[35] in which the matter is discussed--"It was in +the old well that Kikujo[u] was drowned, says tradition in Sho[u]ho[u] +3rd year (1646). By the ability, merit, and power of Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin +her soul was saved, and at once she became a Buddha. Though such be the +story, by the temple register the founder of the Dendzu-In, Ryo[u]yo[u] +Sho[u]nin, entered the Hall in O[u]ei 22nd year 9th month 27th day (29th +October 1415). One smiles. Ho! The Sho[u]nin lived two hundred and +fifty-six years before, and dates do not amalgamate. How many +generations had the Sho[u]nin seen when Kikujo[u] became a Buddha! The +Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin becomes a bubble Sho[u]nin. The learning of this +Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin was notorious, and it has been banded down to people +of later generations in matters concerning Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin. Deign +to take a glance at facts here indicated. The 'Edo Bukkaku Ryakuden' +(Epitomised Record of Buddhist teaching in Edo) says under the heading +'Muryo[u]zan Jukyo[u]ji Dendzu-in'-- + + 'Koishikawa Ji-in: 600 _koku_ (income). The founder was + Yurensha Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, early in the Meitoku period + (1390-1393). This Sho[u]nin had between his eyebrows the + figure of the moon on the third day. Later people called him + Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin. Native of Jo[u]shu[u] he was the son of + the castle lord of Iwase in Kujigo[u]ri, Shirayoshi Shima no + Kami Yoshimitsu. Through prayer at the Iwase Myo[u]jin his + mother became pregnant. He was born Riaku-O[u] 4th year 1st + month 24th day (11th February 1311). Later his father was + killed in battle, and the mother took him to the + Jo[u]fukuji, at So[u]jiyama. Putting him in charge of + Sho[u]jitsu Sho[u]nin his head was shaved. At eight years + old he was received at the Mikkyo[u] (Shingon) Ho[u]don-In + Yuzon. Taishu[u] (secret cult) was learned through the + teaching of Shingen Ho[u]shi. The Zenshu[u] was taught by + the aged Tajima no Temmei and Gwatsuryu[u]. Shinto[u] by + Jibu no Tayu Morosuke. In the poetry of Nippon he followed + Tona, for ancient and modern example. He wrote ten books of + importance. Noted for learning, in Eiwa 4th year (1378) he + was transferred to Taitei-san O[u]sho[u]-in Nan-ryu[u]bo[u] + in Shimotsuke no Kuni. Here he taught the seed of the Law. + The son of Chiba Sadatane, Toku Sendai Maru, had a younger + brother. It was he who founded the Zo[u]jo[u]ji and became + Yu[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin. Ryo[u]yo[u] Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin died + in O[u]ei 27th year 9th month 27th day (3rd November 1420). + The San-en-zan Kwo[u]-do[u]-in Zo[u]jo[u]ji had to fief + 10540 _koku_. It is the chief seat of the Jo[u]do[u] sect in + the Kwanto[u], and its schools swarm with students.' + +The large hanging bell of this Zo[u]jo[u]ji (_tsurigane_) has the +thickness of a foot. At the time it was the largest of all bells. In the +temple record it says that the Sho[u]nin of Shiba San-en-zan, generation +following generation, were highly noted for learning. From Ryo[u]yo[u] +Sho[u]nin the predecessor the principles must have been inherited. Hence +in the foolish talk of people the honoured name of the Sho[u]nin was +borrowed and adopted into the affair of Kikujo[u], as of the noted and +erudite priest Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin; no matter of offence." + +But no such laboured explanation is required. The sanctity of learning, +the inheritance in these bishops and priors of the merits of those who +went before, has kept and keeps the appellation in the minds of the +generations of the Nipponese. Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, his merits and his +nickname, passed in the public mind to his successors. It is the +laboured and learned effort of these days which fastens on the prior of +Dendzu-in the tales of the long past founder of the temple. It was the +learned Osho[u] of the time of Tsunayoshi Ko[u], that fifth +Sho[u]gun--the Inu Kubo--basely devout and devoted to the Buddha's Law, +when to save the life of a dog (_inu_) the lives of men were sacrificed +on the execution ground.[36] The piety and learning of the great priest +surely is needed to counterbalance the cruel folly of his master. Both +qualities of this later cleric were the needed light in this period so +dark for men. In which the wife, more faithful to tradition and the +land, drove her dagger into the Sho[u]gun's heart, and kept from his +seat and succession the favoured person of his catamite.[37] To be sure +the little lady, of _kuge_ not _samurai_ stock, daughter of the Kwampaku +(Premier) Takatsukasa Fusasuke, of courage and truly noble stock, then +used the dagger on herself; and has kept busy ever since the historians +of Nippon, official and other kinds, in explanation of how "it didn't +happen." This is but a tale of outside scribes, to explain the taking +off between night and morning of a perfectly well man (or divinity)--not +sanctified with official and Tokugawal benediction; and no wonder. The +tale and the event was not one to brag of. And the lady died too--very +shortly. + +The eagerness to ascribe a local habitat to the story of the Sarayashiki +has led to-day to some curious confusions, dovetailing into each other. +To follow Ho[u]gyu[u]sha--in the far off quarter of Yanaka Sansaki, near +the Negishi cut of the Northern Railway, is the Nonaka well. Despite its +far removal this _pool_ is ascribed to O'Kiku, as the one time well of +the Yoshida Goten. As fact--in Sho[u]ho[u] a harlot, by name Kashiwaki, +ransomed by a guest here established herself. Death or desertion cut her +off from the lover, and she turned nun. The place at that time was mere +moorland, and the well near by the hut had the name of the Nonaka no +Ido--the well amid the moor. In time the lady and her frailty +disappeared, and the kindly villagers buried her close to the hut, scene +of her penance. + + "Vain the tranquil water mid the moor--mere surface; + Gone, nought remains--of the reflection." + +Her well? People call it now the _yobi-ido_, the calling well, a pool +furnished by springs and some thirty feet in diameter. Now only a few +_cho[u]_ (hundred yards) to the north of Sansaki, at the Komizo no Hashi +of Sakanoshita, is an old mound called the grave of O'Kiku. "Here a +small seven faced monument has been erected. But this is not the O'Kiku +of the Sarayashiki. This woman named Kiku died of an incurable disease. +As her dying wish she asserted that any who suffered pain from incurable +disease had but to pray to her to receive relief. With this vow she +died." It is the connection between this Kiku and the _yobi-ido_ which +has so transferred the well established site of this old story. + + * * * * * + +Thus comes to a finish these tales of the Edo Bancho[u], the story of +the Sarayashiki with its cruel fate of the unhappy Kikujo[u], the Lady +of the Plates. Long had the distressed figure of the wretched girl +ceased its wailing over the never completed tale of the porcelain +plates. But the memory of her misfortunes, of the ill-omened well of the +Yoshida Goten has remained for centuries in the mind, and thought, and +speech of Nippon. Up to the early years of Meiji the Ko[u]jimachi-ido +still existed, to be pointed out to the superstitious ever present in +this land. The Bancho[u], for many decades of years, had become the +crowded Bancho[u] of the proverb which asserts that one born and living +out life therein, yet could not be expected to know the windings and +intricacies of its many ways and byways. In time the _yashiki_ of +_hatamoto_ disappeared; in recent years to make way for a residential +quarter of prosperous tradesmen, minor officials; nay, for bigger fish +who swim in the troubled waters of court and politics. The old +Ko[u]jimachi village, with its bustling street and many shops, remains. +True the old well has gone the way of the ruined _yashiki_ of Aoyama +Shu[u]zen, of the waste land ([sarado]) on which at one time both stood. +But to this very day the tradition remains firm and clear. So much so +that those who leave their homes, to fail of reappearance ever after, +are spoken of as having met the fate of the unhappy victims of the +Ko[u]jimachi-ido. To quote again the very ancient poem in assertion of +the verity of its evil influence: + + "Yoshida: to passers by the token; + Long sleeves wave invitation." + +Yokohama--21st September to 14th November, 1916. + +--FINIS.-- + +To follow--The Hizakurige (To[u]kaido[u]) of Jippensha Ikku--in English. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Benincasa hispida (Brinkley).] + +[Footnote 2: Of about fifteen dollars in terms of present money.] + +[Footnote 3: Comments the scribe of Nippon (Matsubayashi Hakuen)--"This +kind is not the animal known as fox. There are foxes in human shape +which extort money. They dwell round about Yoshiwara and Shinagawa. +These are found in the Shin-Yoshiwara. In Meiji 33rd year 8th month +liberty was granted to give up their occupation. Blowing wide cast a fox +fever, the brothels of the Yoshiwara displayed a magnificent confusion. +In round terms Tokyo town was in an uncontrolled disorder. Among these +human foxes there was a guild, and this was the source of the tumult."] + +[Footnote 4: Mizuno Juro[u]zaemon Shigemoto, son of Hiuga no Kami +Katsunari. He was ordered to commit _seppuku_ (cut belly) for the +assassination of Bandzuin Cho[u]bei: Kwanbun 4 year 3 month 27 day (22 +April 1664).] + +[Footnote 5: _Kokorozashi wa matsu no ha to moshimasu_.] + +[Footnote 6: Second daughter of Hidetada; wife of the Prince of +Echizen.] + +[Footnote 7: At the severest cold, clad in breech clout, or thinnest of +white linen, the pilgrim after sunset makes his round of the temples for +worship.] + +[Footnote 8: The Pluto of Indian (Yama), Chinese and Japanese (Emma) +mythology. Dai-O[u] (Great King). Cf. Eitel's "Chinese Buddhism," p. +207.] + +[Footnote 9: Other accounts say that these heroes used--pith bullets.] + +[Footnote 10: He was of great strength, and is said to have carried the +Sho[u]gun in his palanquin on his shoulders himself back to Edo in the +flight from Suzume no Miya. With the approval of Iyemitsu he forced his +way into the castle gate, thereby incurring official censure and +banishment to an island--to Hitotsu no Jima, or the present Ishikawa +Jima at the mouth of the Sumidagawa! The sentence was purely formal. His +favour with Iyemitsu was very high owing to this Tsuritenjo[u] (hanging +ceiling) affair.] + +[Footnote 11: These stories were not likely to be published under a +paternal Government; except in the mouths and tales of the people. Too +many scandals have been "excerpted" from the official histories and +records of Nippon to have a robust confidence in what is left. The +_ko[u]dan_ lecturers and writers make the Senhimegimi, eldest daughter +of Hidetada, the heroine of the scandals emanating from the Yoshida +Goten. History refers them to the Takata no Kata. But this lady left +powerful issue. Not so the Senhimegimi (Princess Sen), in ways a +splendid woman. Better known as the Tenju-in-Den she lies buried under a +most imposing monument at the Dendzu-in in Tokyo. Tenju-in-Den lived to +over eighty years; the Takata no Kata died, aged seventy-two years.] + +[Footnote 12: _Itsuwari to omoi sutenaba ikani sen; Sue kakete chigiri +mo aru wo afu yo sae; Iku sue to fuku chigiru makoto wo._ (1) _Hedatsu +koro mono urami to zo omou._ (2)] + +[Footnote 13: Burned down a few years ago: a fire disastrous to the +temple records.] + +[Footnote 14: Dosanbashi is the site facing the castle and lying just +north of the wide avenue facing the main entrance to To[u]kyo[u] +station. It ran north to Kanda bridge. It formed part of the +Daimyo[u]-koji, which extended from Kandabashi to the Hibiyabashi and +the Sukiyabashi at the south. Roughly speaking this Daimyo[u]-koji was +the district between the inner and outer moat and the bridges mentioned, +now traversed by the elevated railway from Shimbashi to the To[u]kyo[u] +station. The Dosan bridge crossed a wide canal which connected the inner +and outer moats with the Sumida river. The street running from +Gofukubashi to the castle moat covers the site of this canal, and the +bridge itself was about where the spur of the elevated railway crosses +the present highway (1916). The Embukasane inspired the famous tale of +Encho[u]--the "Shinkasane-ga-fuchi"--and, like many Nipponese stories, +is founded on actual occurrence.] + +[Footnote 15: Also called, Naomori, or Narimasa, or Nariyuki.] + +[Footnote 16: There was great opposition to the introduction of _Kuge_ +(court noble) influence into the Sho[u]gun's household at this time. The +same reasons of course did not apply to marriage of Tokugawa women into +the Kyo[u]to circle. The Sho[u]gunal Court was to be ruled by _samurai_ +code and influence.] + +[Footnote 17: Marriages at that date were performed in daytime. Note in +the original.] + +[Footnote 18: + _Ume ka ka wo sakura no hana ni motase tsutsu; + Yanagi no eda ni sakashite zo min._] + +[Footnote 19: Momogawa Jo[u]en: _ko[u]danshi_ differ in their treatment +of such detail. Some emphasize it, after the manner of the chronicle; +others do not.] + +[Footnote 20: The _Daikwan_ was the chief representative of the feudal +lord in the particular circumscribed district. His authority rarely +passed beyond a few miles. Note the Daikwanzaka and the site of his +_yashiki_ in Yokohama (_Motomachi_).] + +[Footnote 21: Momokawa Jo[u]en.] + +[Footnote 22: Shukke, one who has left the world--turned +priest--"Honoured Mr. Recluse."] + +[Footnote 23: The Nipponese "watches" covered two hours. Hence he had +been aroused between 3-5 A.M., not 5-7 A.M. as expected.] + +[Footnote 24: _Dentatsu_--"Jimbei, mata 'fukeru' to itta na. Nan no +kotta (kotoba) sono 'fukeru' to iu no wa." _Jimbei_--"Yai! Yai! Bo[u]zu" +etc. To the erudite is left closer approximation to _fukeru_ (in +_kana_). This story is told, following the details of Koganei Koshu[u] +("Yui Sho[u]setsu"). Gion, equally known for its _hetairai_.] + +[Footnote 25: In the vernacular.] + +[Footnote 26: The first--Yamaguchi etc.--are place names, from +Kyu[u]shu[u] to O[u]shu[u]; widely scattered. Otherwise--"Bloody Spear" +(Chiyari), "Iron Chin," "Wolf," "Fox-heart," "Iron head," "Monkey +hand."] + +[Footnote 27: He has played on the ideographs--[kyoku-sui no en] and +[kyoku-sui no en], _kyoku-sui no en_; the last meaning--"Winding water +entertainment," cf. "Benkei" Vol. II. p. 195.] + +[Footnote 28: The _yoriki_ is hard to place--"commanding officer." He +was not of the office, yet as of rank was chosen to lead these more +dangerous and trying expeditions, or to act in more important arrests.] + +[Footnote 29: In the conspiracy of Sho[u]setsu such did exist, directed +to the house of one of his followers, placed not far off in another +street. [But recently such a tunnel was discovered under the garden of +Baron Sakatani at Haramachi, Koishikawa, To[u]kyo[u]; believed to belong +to the Hakusan Goten, and dating 250 years back. 20th May, 1917].] + +[Footnote 30: Brinkley's Dictionary gives it--_Ichiju no kage ni yadori, +ichiga no nagare wo kumu mo, mina kore tasho[u] no en narubeshi_.] + +[Footnote 31: Sho[u]ho[u] 3rd year the New Year fell on 16th February +(1646) of the modern calendar.] + +[Footnote 32: _Rangiku ya: kitsune ni no se yo[u] kono sugata. Rangiku_ += Caryopteris mastachantus.] + +[Footnote 33: In Buddhist theology the seventh day is one of the +important dates of the _hotokes_ (deceased spirit) sojourn upon Earth.] + +[Footnote 34: Pradjna--"highest of the six paramita, principal means of +attaining Nirvana, knowledge of the illusory character of all +existence." Eitel--p. 119.] + +[Footnote 35: The quotation and what follows is from Ho[u]gyu[u]sha +To[u]ko[u]--"Bancho[u] Sarayashiki." The exactness of these old temple +registers in essential dates is worth noting.] + +[Footnote 36: Tsunayoshi 1646-1709. A vassal of Akita Danjo[u] killed a +swallow. He was executed; his children were executed; and he and his are +but one case out of many.] + +[Footnote 37: Or son, by the more respectful account. Yanagizawa +Yoshiyasu took the name of Matsudaira. His son Yoshishige, said really +to be the son of Tsunayoshi by the wife of Yoshiyasu, was to be adopted +by Echizen no Kami Tadanao, brother and heir to the Sho[u]gun. Tadanao +"removed," left the field open to the success (and succession) of the +powerful premier. Yanagizawa as _tairo[u]_ (premier) was an irregularity +in itself.] + + * * * * * + + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page v: The modern kanji character has been used for | + | yeast (_ko[u]ji_) | + | Page 11: crysanthemum amended to chrysanthemum | + | Page 22: masterhand amended to master hand; rotten | + | amended to rotted | + | Page 26: embarassment amended to embarrassment | + | Page 29: on amended to an | + | Page 41: missing /s/ in gesture added | + | Page 47: made amended to make; pallour amended to pallor | + | Page 51: villanious amended to villainous | + | Page 57: dependant amended to dependent | + | Page 59: state raft amended to statecraft | + | Page 63: circumambiant amended to circumambient | + | Page 69: spoken off amended to spoken of | + | Page 73: milklivered amended to milk livered | + | Page 95: gallopping amended to galloping | + | Page 102: herhaps amended to perhaps | + | Page 105 et seq.: superintendant amended to | + | superintendent | + | Page 132: preceded amended to proceeded | + | Page 140: lead amended to led | + | Page 143: Aoyoma amended to Aoyama; embarassment amended | + | to embarrassment | + | Page 147: exhilirating amended to exhilarating | + | Page 169: astonishly amended to astonishingly | + | Page 171: mits amended to mitts | + | Page 173: he amended to be | + | Page 175: quid amended to squid | + | Page 176: multidinous amended to multitudinous | + | Page 182: peel amended to peal | + | Page 192: exhuberant amended to exuberant | + | Page 212: condescenscion amended to condescension; | + | effiminacy amended to effeminacy | + | Page 213: icely amended to icily | + | Page 214: maccaroni amended to macaroni | + | Page 221: conferrence sic, meaning conferring | + | Page 227: squshing amended to squishing | + | Page 232: yashihi amended to yashiki; impertinance | + | amended to impertinence | + | Page 239: Ototsan replaced with Otosan | + | Page 241: feint amended to faint | + | Page 252: maccaroni amended to macaroni | + | Page 254: maccaroni amended to macaroni; apellation | + | amended to appellation | + | Page 260: apellation amended to appellation | + | | + | Where two different spellings occur an equal number of | + | times in the text, both spellings have been retained | + | (Koshigeyatsu/Koshigayatsu; Surugadai/Suragadai). | + | | + | Where there is an equal number of instances of a word | + | occurring as hyphenated and unhyphenated, the hyphens | + | have been retained: Ban-gashira/Bangashira; | + | fire-ward/fireward; go-kenin/gokenin; | + | Kanda-bashi/Kandabashi; Mita-mura/Mitamura; | + | new-comer/new comer; overlord/over-lord; | + | raincoat/rain-coat; Tayasu-mura/Tayasumura; | + | wheel-wright/wheelwright; | + | yatsu-ho[u]ko[u]nin/yatsuho[u]ko[u]nin. | + | | + | The Senhimegimi: Hyphenation and/or word separation, as | + | well as italicisation, is varied. The variations of Sen | + | himegimi, himegimi and Senhime have been retained as they | + | appear in the text. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House), by +James S. De Benneville + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BAKEMONO YASHIKI *** + +***** This file should be named 19945.txt or 19945.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/9/4/19945/ + +Produced by Clare Boothby and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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