a _samurai_ woman." The minds of all reverted to their
master Toemon, and how he would take this news.

O'Iwa had drawn Mobei somewhat apart from the grating. With downcast
face she spoke--"Deign, Mobei San, to say nothing in the ward of this
meeting with Iwa." To Mobei's earnest gesture of comprehension--"Affairs
had gone badly with Tamiya. Iemon San was misled into gambling by
Natsume Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaemon. He was carried away by the
passion. It was no longer possible to stay in Samoncho[u]. Worse conduct
followed. In the kindness and advice of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama and
Kondo[u] Sama, this Iwa found support. But she disobeyed. She would not
follow the advice given. However, gratitude is felt by Iwa. One cannot
leave this place, or long since she would have paid the visit of
acknowledgment. A matter of importance arose. Cho[u]bei San came to
Iwa's aid, and saved the situation. This place is terrible, but the
consequences of not coming would have been more so. To Cho[u]bei
gratitude is felt. It was the opportunity offered the wife to show her
faith and courage." Now she looked bravely in Mobei's face. It was the
toilet dealer's turn to show confusion--"Honoured lady, is nothing
known?"--"Known?" answered O'Iwa in some surprise. "What is there to
know? When this Iwa left Samoncho[u] to be sure the house was cracking
apart everywhere. The light poured in as through a bamboo door.... Ah!
Have matters gone badly with the Danna in Iwa's absence?" Mobei shook
his head in dissent. "Alas! Ito[u] Sama, Akiyama or Kondo[u] San, has
misfortune come to them, without a word of condolence from Iwa? Perhaps
Cho[u]bei San, in his precarious life...." The poor isolated world of
the thoughts of this homely creature was limited to these friends in
need.

Mobei had sunk on his knees before her. He raised eyes in which stood
tears of pity and indignation. "The Ojo[u]san knows nothing of what has
occurred in Yotsuya? This Mobei will not keep silent. With the affairs
of Iemon Sama, of Ito[u] Dono and Akiyama San nothing has gone wrong.
The absence of the lady O'Iwa is otherwise related. She has abandoned
house and husband to run away with a plebeian, the _banto[u]_ at the
green-grocer's on Shinjuku road. Such is the story circulated." O'Iwa
drew away from him as from a snake--then: "Mobei, you lie! Why tell such
a tale to this Iwa? Are not the words of Ito[u] Dono, of Akiyama Sama,
of Cho[u]bei San still in Iwa's ears? What else