one pretext or another, to the
ward office troubled him. The _yakunin_ also made a practice of taking
in Tamiya en route to performance of their various missions. This he
knew was a practice as to men under observation. He went over his career
as known to Yotsuya. There was nothing in it to call for question.
Official censure does not rest its case on a ghost story. The famous
investigation of Echizen no Kami (O[u]oka) into the Yaeume case of
Yamada was matter of later days. Moreover, all his troubles were
lightened by the state of O'Hana, the devoted object of unwavering
affection. Ever since the Daiho[u]-in had mesmerized her, impressed his
will on her, the daily improvement could be marked. Now again she was
her normal self; sadly thin and worn in spirit, a woman tired out, but
yet the figure of O'Hana and in her right mind. To him she was the
beautiful tradition of the past and just as beautiful as ever in
actuality. Two weeks had passed since Shu[u]den's experiment. One night,
as the hour of the pig (9 P.M.) was striking, there came a knocking at
the door. O'Hana rose from her sewing. "Danna, Kamimura San would say a
word." Iemon made a gesture of annoyance. The long man had shadowed him,
ever since entering on the engagement of bail. He went to the door and
looked at his caller with amazement. Kamimura, his hair in confusion,
was stark naked except for his wife's under cloth--and she was almost a
dwarf. He stretched out a hand to Iemon, half in threat, half in
begging. "Iemon Uji, a word: condescend to grant this Goemon ten
_ryo[u]_ in silver, not in words. Suzuki the usurer has come on Goemon
as bail of Iemon, in the matter of the exorcism. To-day he stripped the
house of everything. Wife and children, hungry and almost naked, lie on
bare boards. When Goemon begged mercy, that he go to Tamiya, the
wretched fellow jeered. 'Tamiya? Tamiya has but _hibachi_ and three
mats; the clothes worn by himself and wife. The house and land of Tamiya
is but a reversion. Suzuki gets nothing at Tamiya but a lawsuit which
would not pay the office fees. Kamimura is rich; his house is well
supplied. One petition; and not only expenses, but the debt finds
payment. Hence Suzuki troubles not Tamiya.' With this off he went
deriding me. Deign the loan, Iemon San. Condescend at least the shelter
of clothes and food."

To the wretched fellow Iemon could make no reply. Ten _ryo[u]_!
Kamimura might as well have asked for ten thousand _ryo[u