ce, to the astonishment of his hearers,
Kibei, accompanied by Kakusuke, started down Teramachi toward
Samegabashi. As they passed the Gwansho[u]ji attention was drawn by a
pack of dogs, fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white
object lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up a
grave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. There
lay the body of Ito[u] Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands of O'Iwa to
be torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. Thus was it that the
funerals of Ito[u] Kwaiba, Natsume Kyuzo[u], and Imaizumi Jinzaemon took
place in one cortege on the same day and at the same time. The
postponement in the first instance--was it providential?

CHAPTER XIX

TAMIYA YOEMON: WITH NEWS OF KONDO[U] ROKURO[U]BEI AND MYO[U]ZEN THE
PRIEST

Tamiya Yoemon was stumbling home in all haste from the funeral of Ito[u]
Kwaiba. He was full of news for the wife, O'Kame. The neighbours could
talk of nothing but the strange happenings in the ward, and details lost
nothing in the telling; perhaps gained somewhat by the process. Most
edifying was the reported conduct of the wife of the late Natsume
Kyuzo[u], the observed of all observers at the funeral, the object of
that solicitous congratulation which embodies the secret sigh of relief
of friends, neighbours, and relatives at the removal of a prospective
burden. Natsume had left behind him a wife, an old mother, an infant
child, and huge liabilities. To administer this legacy--and perhaps to
get rid of her mother-in-law--the wife had promptly and tearfully
sacrificed her status, and sold herself for a term of years to the
master of the Sagamiya, a pleasure house at Shinagawa post town. The sum
paid--one hundred _ryo[u]_--relieved the immediate future. The
neighbours derided the ignorance of the Sagamiya in accepting the
uncertain bail of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon. If the lady behaved badly, small
satisfaction was to be obtained of her security. "Ignorance is bliss."
Let the Sagamiya bask in both and the beauty of the prize. Meanwhile
their concern and admiration were for the lady destined to this post
town of the crowded To[u]kaido[u], the stopping place of high and low,
noble and riff-raff, entering Edo town. Of the inmates of the pleasure
quarters, the harlots of Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Itabashi, were held in
lowest esteem.

Arrived at his door Yoemon stopped short in surprise and alarm. To his
loud call of "Wife! Wife