n our own place, there is no use in
grieving. In a day or two the Gorojiu will be going to the castle; we
must wait for this opportunity, and following one of the litters,
thrust in our memorial. This is my opinion: what think you of it, my
masters?"

One and all, the assembled elders were agreed as to the excellence of
this advice; and having decided to act upon it, they returned to their
inn.

Then Sogoro held a secret consultation with Jiuyemon, Hanzo,
Rokurobei, Chinzo, and Kinshiro, five of the elders, and, with their
assistance, drew up the memorial; and having heard that on the 26th of
the month, when the Gorojiu should go to the castle, Kuze Yamato no
Kami would proceed to a palace under the western enclosure of the
castle, they kept watch in a place hard by. As soon as they saw the
litter of the Gorojiu approach, they drew near to it, and, having
humbly stated their grievances, handed in the petition; and as it was
accepted, the six elders were greatly elated, and doubted not that
their hearts' desire would be attained; so they went off to a
tea-house at Riyogoku, and Jiuyemon said--

"We may congratulate ourselves on our success. We have handed in our
petition to the Gorojiu, and now we may set our minds at rest; before
many days have passed, we shall hear good news from the rulers. To
Master Sogoro is due great praise for his exertions."

Sogoro, stepping forward, answered, "Although we have presented our
memorial to the Gorojiu, the matter will not be so quickly decided; it
is therefore useless that so many of us should remain here: let eleven
men stay with me, and let the rest return home to their several
villages. If we who remain are accused of conspiracy and beheaded, let
the others agree to reclaim and bury our corpses. As for the expenses
which we shall incur until our suit is concluded, let that be
according to our original covenant. For the sake of the hundred and
thirty-six villages we will lay down our lives, if needs must, and
submit to the disgrace of having our heads exposed as those of common
malefactors."

Then they had a parting feast together, and, after a sad leave-taking,
the main body of the elders went home to their own country; while the
others, wending their way to their quarters waited patiently to be
summoned to the Supreme Court. On the 2d day of the 12th month,
Sogoro, having received a summons from the residence of the Gorojiu
Kuze Yamato no Kami, proceeded to obey it, and