al was brought, under the same
supervision of this woman, as expert in all the technique of her craft
as she was ugly in feature; and that was saying much. Iemon watched her
movements in the room with curiosity, mixed with a little pain and
admiration. He was quick to note the skill with which she concealed the
slight limp, due to the shrinking of the sinews of one leg and causing
an unevenness of gait. It was a blemish in the little quick movements of
a woman of surpassing grace; who by art had conquered disease and an
ungainly figure.

O'Iwa had left the room for a moment to get flowers to place in the
vases, offering to the _hotoke_ (Spirits of the departed) in the
Butsudan. On his return Iemon held the _ihai_ (memorial tablets) in his
hands. A priest, these had at once attracted his notice. "Kangetsu
Shinshi; Kangetsu Shimmyo[u]; O'Iwa San, these people have died on the
same day of the month--and the year?"--"Is on the back of the _ihai_,"
replied O'Iwa. "No; it is not a case of suicide together." Then seeing
his evident curiosity she motioned him to sit as she poured tea, ready
for a long story. With its progress voice and manner grew more strained
and earnest. She never took her eyes from the _tatami_ (mats). "The
tablets are those of the father and mother of this Iwa. My mother's name
was Mino. Daughter of Tamiya she acted badly with my father Densuke, a
mere servant in the house. This Densuke was a good man, but his status
of _chu[u]gen_ made my grandfather very angry. He drove the twain from
the house. Thus deprived of means to live, my father took a position as
cook in the _yashiki_ of a great noble. Here he was frightened into
becoming the tool of a very wicked man. Having killed an usurer this man
forced my father to dispose of the body under penalty of death if he
refused. The body being placed in a cloth, my father had carried it to
his house. During his short absence my mother's curiosity led her into
untying the bundle. Her screams aroused the neighbourhood. As they
entered she was seized with convulsions, and gave birth to this Iwa,
thus brought into the world together with the exposure of the crime. My
father, doubtless warned by the crowd, fled from Edo. My mother had but
time to tell her story to the _kenshi_. Then she died. A year later to
the day my father's dead body was found floating in the castle moat,
near the town of Yu[u]ki in Shimosa. A beggar man, but little inquiry
was made into the crime