of Iemon. Indeed Iemon was more than amused. Not at the circumstances,
but at finding at last this weak spot in the man who had dominated him.
Conditions, however, controlled him. It was fact that the physical O'Iwa
might appear--to the distress and discomfiture of all concerned. They
must stand together. He spoke with severity--"Rich and afraid of ghosts!
Has not Ito[u] Dono two spearmen when he goes abroad? When he has an
interview with his lord does he tremble with fear? When the enemy in
life, with all physical powers, is not feared; why fear a disembodied
spirit deprived of all means of venting its wrath and spite? It is but
the imagination which works havoc. None are more helpless than the dead.
With them time and occasion has reached an end. If O'Iwa returns to
Yotsuya, it will be in her own person. With O'Iwa, the beggar and
night-hawk, our _Kumi-gashira_ knows how to deal."--"Then Iemon knew the
lot dealt out to O'Iwa."--"At first hand; from Cho[u]bei himself. The
lean knave has prospered by the affair. Iemon had no such desire to see
him, as to secure his costly presence at the dinner so unfortunately
witnessed by Mobei.... But deign to call for wine; drive out these
vapours with wine. Honoured chief, condescend to play the host to
Iemon." Iemon's manner was not wholly natural, as Kwaiba could have
detected if more himself. He felt immensely relieved. A priest--surely
he was one to know all about the nature of ghosts; was one to speak with
authority. Iemon was hardly to be regarded as in ecclesiastical good
odour. But Kwaiba was easily satisfied. He, too, roared--"Wine! Wine!
Bring wine!" As by magic Kibei appeared at the welcome sound. He
disliked Iemon, but he liked wine. The servants bustled around. The wine
was heated--again and again. A feast of fish--with more wine--followed.
It was late when Iemon left the house, the only sober member of the
party. Of his hosts, one was maudlin, the other asleep. The ample
resources of Tamiya, if not of benefit to his person, in these past two
years had given him the chance to harden his head; and he had grasped
it.

Iemon by no means had all the confidence he displayed before Kwaiba. He
was a priest, but environment influences everybody. There was a
possibility--discountenanced by experience, but existing. As he walked
slowly along Teramachi his thoughts strayed back into the past. "It was
an ill bond between this Iemon and O'Iwa San. Without question she has
drowned