kusuke no
longer hesitated. He had no inclination to be a victim of one of the mad
outbreaks of the young man. Taking the roll humbly he backed out of the
room. His steps were heard a few minutes later passing the entrance. Then
the outer gate shut to with a clang.

For a long watch Kibei sat in meditation. He was as one who sleeps.
Then he rose with decision. "'Tis the last chance. Kakusuke is right.
The matter is to be brought to an end." Dressing for the street he left
the house. He opened the big gate; then went to the stable, and saddled
and bridled his horse. He led it outside, closed the gate, and mounting
he rode forth, to go to Honjo[u] Yokogawa and the _yashiki_ of his
father, Inagaki Sho[u]gen. Coming unaccompanied he was received with
surprise and some discomfiture, as he was quick to note. He was very
quick to note things in these days. Prostrating himself before his
mother--"Kibei presents himself. Honoured mother, deign to pardon the
intrusion. Fukutaro[u] would solicit her pity and influence." The lady
looked at him with amazement. "Fukutaro[u]! What then of Kibei? Is some
jest deigned at the mother's expense? It is in very bad taste.... But
the face of Kibei implies no jest. Pray put the matter plainly. Why does
her son come in petition to the mother?" Began Kibei--"The matter is
most serious...." He went into the full details; from the time of his
entrance into the Ito[u] House, through the course of dissipation and
illness of Kwaiba, down to the present ruined state of affairs. "All
this is due to the curse of O'Iwa San, to this plot in which Kibei
foolishly engaged." Of this he now fully felt the force. The events of
the past weeks had wrecked him in mind and body. One disaster after
another, in house and ward, had been visited on Kibei. The bitterness
and dislike of the people toward Kwaiba was visited on his
representative, who was held responsible. In his great mansion he lived
alone. No servant would enter it to attend to his wants. Was he to cook
and be valet for himself--and pose as the Kumi-gashira, the great chief
of the ward! The position was an impossible one. Deign to use a mother's
influence with Inagaki Dono. "Condescend to secure permission for the
return of this Kibei to his original House, for the cancellation of the
adoption."

The wife of Sho[u]gen sat frightened; at the tale, and at this radical
way of finding an exit from the situation. The mother's heart was full of
pity for th