, carrying fishing rod and basket, and followed by
Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon, burst into the room. All three
were more or less drunk. Dumfounded O'Iwa looked from one to the other.
Imaizumi carried a tub. Kyuzo[u] knocked it from his shoulders. Then
tumbled clumsily down on the cask. None of them had removed the dirty
_waraji_ (straw sandals) they wore. "Why do so in such a barn?"
hiccoughed Kyuzo[u]. "And this _sake_; Kyuzo[u] found it without, at the
kitchen door. Jinzaemon shouldered it. Whence does it come, Iemon San?
Faugh! It smells as if the cask had been placed for the convenience of
passers-by on the wayside. It stinks. That's what it does." He gave the
cask a kick, knocking out the bung. The filthy liquid poured out on the
floor.

Iemon appropriated the tub. He seated himself on it. "'Tis the fine
liquor of Tamiya. All the house possesses. Iemon is hungry." Opening his
basket he took out an eel. He began to skin it. A cry from O'Iwa
arrested him. His wife sank down before him in attitude of prayer.
"Importunate jade! What would you now? Further advice to a husband who
wants but to get rid of the sight of an ugly face? Bah! This lump of a
wench is neither good for child-bearing nor for house-keeping; she is
not even a good _rusu_ (care-taker)." His knife made a rip in the skin
of the squirming animal. O'Iwa laid a hand on his sleeve. With a voice
in which sobs mingled with the petition--"To-day is a memorial day of
the honoured _Hotoke Sama_. Deign to refrain from taking life in the
house; nay, before the very _ihai_ in the Butsudan. Such deed will cause
pain to the _Hotoke Sama_; bring disaster on the House, perhaps on this
Iwa and Iemon San." Iemon fairly roared as he sprang up from the
tub--"What! You noisy slut! Is this Iemon to go without food because the
_hotoke_ dislikes the smell of eels?... Jinzaemon, can you cook eels?"
Imaizumi had sought the _ro[u]ka_. His round featureless face showed his
fright and indecision before this critical quarrel of husband and wife.
Of all involved in the plot he was the most unwilling in performance of
his role. But he answered according to rote--"Iya! Iemon Uji, the office
of cook is a special one. Jinzaemon is no cook. He leaves that office to
his wife. Moreover the cooking of eels is an art in itself."--"And the
artist is here," chimed in the malignancy of Kyuzo[u]. "O'Iwa San is
noted for her skill."--"Right!" said Iemon. "Kyuzo[u] and Jinzaemon have
he