San. On the first will be visited any grudge."
Goemon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. "Here he lies. How did
he die? Goemon does not jest, and the argument of Akiyama San is rotten.
The master bids the servants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow
falls on them; not on him. How now Akiyama San?" Cho[u]zaemon turned
away discomfited. All three felt very bad--in mind and body.

The bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (1 A.M.). Just opposite, its
clangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly sound. In the depths of
night this inert mass of metal seemed a thing of life, casting its
influence into the lives of those present, rousing them to face grave
issues. Noting the absence of Natsume, the round-faced, round-eyed,
round-bodied Imaizumi followed after. Kibei came forth from the supper
room, to find his guests all flown. "Where have they gone to, Kakusuke?"
He looked around in amazement--"They were taken with pains in the belly.
With this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with a flux." The
_chu[u]gen_ answered in the dry and certain tone of one unconvinced.
Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "There is naught wrong with wine or
viands?"--"Nor with the guests," replied Kakusuke. "They are cowards,
who have caught some inkling as to the not over-nice death of the Go
Inkyo[u]."--"The latter day _bushi_ are not what the _bushi_ were of
old; at least this brand of them. Ah! These wretched little bureaucrats;
_bushi_ of the pen. Two men to eat a supper prepared for twelve sturdy
trenchers. Well: two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a hand
Kakusuke."--"Respectfully heard and obeyed," replied the _chu[u]gen_.

The white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. Secured
by Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy Ko[u]yasan, the
sacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kakusuke dragged a large
tub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was unswathed and placed in it.
Kakusuke eyed his late master with critical and unfavourable eye.
"Naruhodo! The Go Inkyo[u] is a strange object. No eyes: nose, ears,
lips gone; his expression is not a pleasant one.... Nay! The Wakadono is
awkward. Throw the water from head to feet.... Take care! Don't throw it
over Kakusuke. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono is wasteful. More
is needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kakusuke draws it from the well." He
opened the side door and went outside. Kibei drew a little apart from
the body. It stank. A noise