Mobei quickly replaced the cover. "For
some great lady," sighed O'Haru--"Just so," replied Mobei, adjusting his
boxes. He had sold two wooden painted combs and a string of horn beads
in imitation of tortoise shell. He pocketed the hundred "cash," those
copper coins with a hole in the centre for stringing. Then briefly--"The
necklace is for no other than the Kashiku of the Yamadaya, the loved one
of Kibei Dono of Yotsuya. The comb (_kanzashi_) in tortoise shell and
gold is for the honoured lady wife of Iemon Dono, the _go kenin_. But
Mobei supplies not only the secular world. This--for one who has left
the world; for Myo[u]zen Osho[u] of Myo[u]gyo[u]ji, the gift of Ito[u]
Dono. For the custom of Mobei the Yotsuya stands first in order." He
took a box from his sleeve and showed them the rosary of pure crystal
beads. Even in the dull light of a lowering day the stones flashed and
sparkled. The women showed little interest. A priest to them was not a
man--ordinarily.

He shouldered his pack. "Mobei San--a comb with black spots, in
imitation of tortoise shell. Please don't fail me on the next visit."
Mobei nodded agreement. Then he halted and turned. One of the women had
called out in derision--"Here is O'Iwa San. Surely she wants to
purchase. Mobei San! Mobei San! A customer with many customers and a
full pocketbook." These women looked on O'Iwa's assignment to the
kitchen as the fall to the lowest possible state. At sight of the
newcomer Mobei gasped. O'Iwa on leaving the door of Toemon's house,
_miso_ (soup) strainers for repair in one hand, fifteen _mon_ for bean
paste (_to[u]fu_) tightly clasped in the other, came face to face with
the toilet dealer, "The lady of Tamiya--here!"--"The lady of Tamiya!"
echoed the astonished and curious women. Said O'Iwa quickly--"Mobei San
is mistaken. This is Iwa; but lady of Tamiya...." Hastily she pulled her
head towel over her face. In doing so the "cash" slipped from her hand.
A _mon_ missing meant no _to[u]fu_; result, a visit to the _semeba_. In
recovering the lost coin Mobei was left in no doubt. "'Tis indeed the
lady of Tamiya. It cannot be denied." O'Iwa no longer attempted the
impossible. She said--"It is Iwa of Tamiya. Mobei San, a word with you."
The women were whispering to each other. "He called her '_shinzo[u]_.'"
Said O'Haru--"There always was something about her to arouse suspicion;
so ugly, and with such grand airs. And how she endured the punishment!
Truly she must be