et him
squarely--"What Iemon knew or did not know, this Kwaiba knows not. But
of this event he must know--and at once. Kakusuke, go in all haste to
the house of Tamiya Sama. Kwaiba would consult with him." Kibei
fidgetted and fumed. He walked up and down the room. Then
abruptly--"Condescend to pardon the presence of Kibei. The honoured
father having matters to discuss with the diviner--he finds no amusement
in the counsellor." As he was withdrawing Iemon entered. Their greeting
was cold to the extreme. Iemon knew that Kibei hated and despised him;
as much as he, Iemon, hated and feared Kibei. Kwaiba called sharply to
his genial son--"Pray be within call, if needed." He was glad to see the
surly fellow's exit. In some things Kwaiba felt fear. The stiff courage
of Kibei made him ashamed openly to air his weakness. He broke the news
at once to Iemon. "Kakusuke has seen O'Iwa." Iemon looked at him
curiously. Was Kwaiba frightened? Said the one-time priest--"What of
that? She lives in Edo. A meeting with her is quite likely; at least for
a man of the grade of Kakusuke." He smiled grimly--"But...," said
Kwaiba. He plunged into the story of the _chu[u]gen_ in its full
details. Iemon listened carefully. "Ah! She is likely to come
here."--"Come here!" bellowed Kwaiba. "Just so," answered Iemon. "If she
seeks vengeance on this Iemon, on Kwaiba, or the others, where else
would she come than Yotsuya. We cannot run away." Kwaiba gasped at his
coolness--"And Iemon Dono, does he open Tamiya to the presence of its
ex-lady and mistress?"--"A beggar, an outcast, importuning Tamiya; the
severed body will lie in the ditch, for the gatherers of offal to cast
as food to the dogs on the moor. Fear enters, but--honoured chief,
condescend to follow the example of Iemon."

The round eyes in the round face of Kwaiba stood out. He leaned over
and touched Iemon's sleeve. In astonishment Iemon noted the fright
depicted in his face. The blustering old man at bottom was an arrant
coward. Two knaves should understand each other--as did he and
Cho[u]bei. He felt that he had been gulled during the whole of his
intercourse with this old fool. He should have bluffed; and not been
bluffed. Said Kwaiba in lowered voice--"Kakusuke could see nothing of
her. She disappeared into the waters of Warigesui. Suppose O'Iwa appears
as a ghost, to take vengeance on Kwaiba...." He straightened up in
astonishment and some anger at the derisive smile playing over the face