ng else was saved. They took her to the house
of Akiyama Cho[u]zaemon. Here she was tied hand and foot, and put in a
closet. The old man Yoemon stood by in despair, watching the progress of
events. Before the conflagration was extinguished his own and four other
houses were destroyed. He was a ruined man; responsible for all.

Myo[u]zen the priest had just set foot on the slope leading up from
Samegabashi to Yotsuya. A somewhat long retreat at Myo[u]honji,
attendance at the ceremonies held on the Saint's (Nichiren) birthday,
had kept him in ignorance of recent events in Yotsuya. In the dawn of
the beautiful day of earliest 3rd month (our April 13th) he had set out
from Kamakura. Sturdy as were the priest's limbs, yet he was a little
tired. He rested at the foot of the hill. Then his eyes grew big with
astonishment. In the waning afternoon a funeral came wending its way
downwards. But such a funeral! Two spearmen led the way. Then came a
long train of attendants. Three catafalques followed, the first a most
imposing bier. Then came the relatives. Kibei on horseback headed these.
The women rode in _kago_. That it was a ward funeral Myo[u]zen had no
doubt, both from its source and make up. He noted a parishioner in the
cortege. "Kamimura Uji!" The long-limbed, long-faced, long-tongued man
left the ranks and obsequiously greeted his spiritual father. At
Myo[u]zen's question he expressed gratified surprise, and unlimbered his
lingual member at once--"Whose honoured funeral this? Nay! It is a
triple funeral; that of Natsume Kyuzo[u], Imaizumi Jinzaemon, the Go
Inkyo[u], our ward-head. It is owing to this latter that there is such
an outpouring of the ward, with attendance of barrier guards and
firemen. Although the ending of Natsume and Jinzaemon was not edifying,
that of our honoured once head gratified still more the public
curiosity. Gnawed and eaten by the rats he died most horribly." He told
of the eventful night. "Hence delay in the burial. The deaths of Natsume
and Imaizumi were almost coincident. The body of the adulterous woman,
rejected by both families, was cast out on the moor." He noted with
satisfaction the great impression his tale made on the priest, as also
the clerical garb and rosary held in hand. "Pray join the band. A little
re-adjustment...." He bent down. With the baton he held in hand as
leader of his section he carefully dusted the robes. Adjusting the folds
he pronounced the results as most presentabl