. He was
dragged back. Turning--lo! 'twas O'Iwa San. Another creature, still
fouler than she, with sloping eyelid, bald head, and savage look, stood
by. Said O'Iwa San--'And Cho[u]bei would end all--with luxury before his
eyes! Cho[u]bei dies not but with the consent of Iwa. Get you to
Yotsuya; to Iemon and Hana, living in luxury and Tamiya. Aid will not be
refused you.' And so she brought me here. Deign to hear the prayer of
Cho[u]bei. Allow him to die in Yotsuya, upon the _tatami_; not on the
bare earth, to be thrown on the moor for dogs to gnaw. Grant him burial
in temple ground."

He changed his theme; the feeble quivering hands clasped his belly.
"Ah! This pinching hunger. Double Cho[u]bei's suffering; of mind and
body. Apply for alms or food, and the leper is repulsed. See! Two
fingers remain on this hand. Count of the rest fills out the tale for
but one member. O'Hana San, condescend a rice ball for this Cho[u]bei.
You, at least, know not the pinch of hunger.... Ah! She still possesses
some of that beauty and charm for which Iemon has brought ruin upon
all." Before the horrible lascivious leer of this object O'Hana fled.
Left alone Iemon spoke. He had been thinking--"Cho[u]bei has spoken
well. From Iemon he is entitled to relief. Cho[u]bei shall die on his
mat. But in such shape nothing can be done. Get you hence. Buy clothing
fit to appear before men's eyes. In the bath wash that pus-laden body.
Then come to Iemon. Relief shall be granted Cho[u]bei." Wrapping a
_ryo[u]_ in paper he passed it to the leper. It was the last coin he
possessed. O'Hana now returned with five or six rice balls savoured with
salt. Fascinated, the two watched the horrible diseased stumps awkwardly
shoving the food into the toothless mouth, cramming it in, and breaking
it up so as not to lose the savour of a grain. "Until to-morrow," said
Cho[u]bei. He picked up his stick. In silence the man and woman watched
him. "Leaning on his bamboo staff he crawled away like some insect."
O'Hana looked inquiringly at Iemon. He turned away his head.

Through the dusk Cho[u]bei crawled across the Ryo[u]gokubashi. The
words of the woman O'Take had come true. He had a sense of being
followed. He turned at the sound of footsteps. At sight of a _samurai_
in deep hat, mechanically he stretched out hands and self in the
roadway, begging an alms. The man drew apart, passing him in disgust and
haste. Cho[u]bei went on. He had no aim. It was with surprise that