]_. In house
and land Iemon was secure. These belonged to the heirship of Tamiya as
long as the House maintained its status. The pension was long mortgaged.
The farms had disappeared. The trouble of Goemon pained him. He could
only refuse; palliating the refusal with vague promises as to the near
future. He would effect a loan. The debt of Suzuki repaid, all his goods
would be restored to Kamimura San. Goemon took this talk at its real
value. Shaking his fist he berated Iemon with violent words. "Ah! Shame
is brought to the House of Kamimura, wretchedness to his family--and by
this vile stranger. It is Iemon with his heartless wicked treatment of
O'Iwa San, who has wrought distress and ruin to the ward. For Goemon
there is neither food nor clothing? Wait! Time shall bring his vengeance
on Iemon and his House." Iemon would have detained him; sought in some
way to mollify him, at least get a hint as to how he purposed injury.
Goemon shook him off as one would a reptile. With a wild laugh he went
out naked as he was into the darkness.

He had no definite purpose in mind. However, as he passed the garden
gate of Tamiya his eye caught the factitious _sotoba_ standing white in
the fitful moonlight. He stood stock still; then clapped his hands in
mad joy and decision. Hastening to his home he sought out an old
battered mattock and a rusty spade. Soon he was back at the garden gate.
A blow and the bar fell. Goemon passed within. "She lies but four
_shaku_ deep. The task is quickly performed. None pass here at this
hour." The dirt flew under his nervous arms. Soon he had the box out on
the ground beside him. A peal of thunder; he must hasten, or stand a
ducking from the coming storm. He laughed. What had a naked man to fear
from getting wet? The clothes he wore would not spoil. Why did not man
dress in a towel, as after the bath; its use, to wipe the moisture from
the body. Now his eyes were fixed in curiosity on the bamboo staff
before him. The first few drops of the rainstorm fell on his bare
shoulders, but he disregarded them. "Naruhodo! How heavy it is! O'Iwa in
life hardly weighed more. Lady of Tamiya--show pity on this Goemon.
Iemon and O'Hana--those wicked voluptuaries--prosper and flourish, while
Goemon is brought to beggary and starvation. Deign to visit the wrath of
O'Iwa San on these vile wretches. Seize and kill them. Goemon sets O'Iwa
free." He seized the mattock. Raising it overhead he brought the edge
sharply down