at the sliding window (_hikimado_) in the
roof made him look up. Oya! Oya! The face of O'Iwa filled the
aperture--round, white, flat; with puffed eyelids and a sightless glare.
With a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did so
slender attenuated hands groped downward. "Kakusuke! Kakusuke!"--"What
is it, Wakadono?"--"O'Iwa: she looks down through the _hikimado_! She
seeks the Inkyo[u]!" Kakusuke gave a look upward--"Bah! It's the cat. Is
the Wakadono, too, getting nerves? They are a poor investment."--"The
cat!" Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his
sword.

He turned round--to give a shout of surprise--"Kakusuke! Kakusuke! The
body of the Go Inkyo[u] is no longer here." As the astonished
_chu[u]gen_ came running to look into the empty tub, both men nearly
fell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyo[u] was whirling around
the neighbouring room in execution of a mad dance. Followed by Kakusuke,
his worthy son and heir sprang in pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba
and the pursuers into the darkness of the garden, into the rain and
storm. Kibei heard the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly
after them. "To lose his parent's body--this was against all rules of
Bushido[u]." Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all
the moral and physical atrocities except--failure in filial conduct to
parent and lord; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of Bushido[u].
Kakusuke soon lost his master in the darkness. Disconcerted and anxious
he returned to secure a lantern. The wind promptly blew it out; then
another, and a third. He stood on the _ro[u]ka_ in the darkness to wait
the return of the Wakadono. For the first time Kakusuke had noted
failing purpose in his young master. He was more solicitous over this
than over the strange disappearance of the Inkyo[u]'s body. Was the
Wakadono losing his nerve; as had the O'Dono?

In time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuke's inquiring glance--"Kibei
pursued to Myo[u]gyo[u]ji; then up the hill. Here sight was lost of the
Inkyo[u]. The darkness prevented further search. A lantern is next to
worthless in this gale. Kakusuke, go to the houses of Natsume and
Imaizumi close by. They are young and will aid Kibei in the search."
Kakusuke did not demur. Pulling his cape over his head, off he posted.
He asked but to come across the Inkyo[u]'s body, in O'Iwa's company or
not made no difference to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission