the missing guests
by liveliness. There was a dance by Kibei, drinking as substitutes of
the absent, and competition in _uta_ (poetry). Handing in his own
effort--no mean one--Iemon left the room for a moment. As he came out on
the corridor, and was about to return to the guest room, he found the
maid O'Moto awaiting him with water and towel. A slight puckering frown
came over Iemon's face at this imprudence. Said the girl
pleadingly--"Danna Sama, deign to exercise patience. That of the
mistress is sorely tried. The absence of the other guests, the pursuit
of Kibei Dono, who only seeks to compromise her and secure her expulsion
from the house, or even death at the hand of Kwaiba Dono, has driven her
well nigh mad. A moment--in this room." Iemon drew back.--"A room
apart, and in darkness! The age of seven years once passed, and boy and
girl are never to be allowed alone together." He would have refused, but
a sudden push and he was within. The _sho[u]ji_ closed at once.

Kwaiba's voice called loudly--"Hana! Hana! What has become of the
girl? There is no one to serve the wine. If the ugliness of Kibei drives
her to cover, Tamiya's beauty should lure her out. Hana! Hana!" O'Hana
slipped hastily from the arms of Iemon. Passing through the garden she
entered the kitchen and snatched up a _sake_ bottle from the stove. She
did not notice that the fire had gone entirely out. She and Iemon
entered the sitting room together, from different sides. Rokuro[u]bei
looked sharply at Iemon. Kibei was engaged in hot talk with Kwaiba. Said
Kondo[u]--"Where have you been? Pressed by necessity? For such a lapse
of time! nonsense! Is rice powder found in such a place? 'Plaster'? It
does not leave the mark of a cheek on the sleeve." He laid a warning
hand on Iemon, skilfully removing the telltale mark in so doing. "What
has happened is clear enough. Fortunately Kwaiba and Kibei have got into
a dispute over the merits of Heinai and Sho[u]setsu as fencing masters;
both of them dead as the long ago quarrels of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa
Houses. Heinai was loyal, and Sho[u]setsu a traitor; but Kibei tries the
old man and officer by supporting the prowess of the latter. Besides the
_sake_ is cold and Kwaiba at start was in a very bad temper. He has
thought for naught but his drink and disappointment. Cajole him by
agreeing with him, but don't get into a quarrel with Kibei. He is expert
with the sword, has a temper as ugly as his face, and would will