sappear. 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_ (_