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 di