ith well-simulated interest he said--"Naruhodo! Kibei Dono
is indeed to be congratulated. As to our chief, since everything is to
his satisfaction, Iemon is but too glad to speak his pleasure, to offer
his congratulations."--"Nay! A little more than that, Iemon Uji. This
Kwaiba would seek his aid in another matter of importance. Kwaiba is
old. A woman no longer is an object to him. He cannot make a child. If
O'Hana should give birth to a child great would be the discomfiture,
knowing the truth. What is to be done in such a case?" He now was
looking with direct inquiry into the face of Iemon. The latter was much
confused. He stammered--"Just so: so indeed. O'Hana San is truly an
embarrassment. Doubtless she is also an obstacle to Kibei Dono. She...."
Sneered Kwaiba--"Tamiya, though young, is wise. He grasps the situation
at once. Deign, Iemon San, to take O'Hana yourself." Kwaiba raised his
voice a little. Kibei brought O'Hana with him from the next room. She
seemed alarmed and embarrassed. Said Kwaiba--"What have you there; the
inventory? Ah! A letter: and there is no one to read a letter like Iemon
San. Deign, Sir, to favour us. Iemon San alone can give the contents the
proper inflection." He handed it to Iemon. A glance showed the latter
that it was a letter from O'Hana, probably that of the previous night.
His pocket had been neatly picked by Kibei. It was plain. He had been
trapped. The pretended entertainment had been a plot in which the
passion of O'Hana had been given full chance to range. Even the
disinterested witness, the old fool Kondo[u], had been provided. He
caught a curious, mocking smile on the face of the girl O'Moto, just
then passing along the _ro[u]ka_.

Kwaiba allowed the silence to become oppressive. He seemed to await an
incriminating outburst on the part of O'Hana, plainly on the verge of
tears. However, the girl caught herself up. Instead she turned a calm,
inquiring look toward the three men. Iemon alone looked down, his gaze
on the letter the characters of which danced and waved before his eyes.
Sharp as he ordinarily was, before this vigorous and astute old man,
backed by the ruffianly prospective son with impertinent smile, the
cowardice of Iemon deprived him of all spirit. His faculties were
numbed. Kwaiba leaned over and removed the letter from his hands. "Since
Iemon San will not read the letter, Kwaiba will try to do so; a poor
substitute for the accomplished cleric." The old fellow seeme