the
days of his flight he had never rested; nor had these men in his
pursuit. Yet he was unexpected game. The Yotsuya affair was taking a
widening sweep. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei were under
examination. The death of a girl O'Haru at the brothel of Toemon of
Honjo[u] had unexpected effects. In the investigation which followed one
of the women, O'Take, had made full confession. The pedlar Mobei had
never left the house of Toemon; never escaped from the hospitality of
O'Matsu. His goods had aroused her cupidity. The man died by poison, and
was buried in the garden of Toemon's house. O'Haru knew of the deed.
This knowledge was the girl's destruction. The wife and her substitute
O'Kin hated O'Haru. Some remains of a first good looks, her youth, gave
her power with the master of the house. The two women worked on his
fears to gain consent for her destruction. A charge easily was trumped
up, and she was dragged off to the cell of punishment. Under the hands
of the wife and O'Kin she suffered so that she died in three days, not
without letting her mate O'Take into the secret. Promptly the Honjo[u]
police were at work; not more prompt than was the woman O'Kin to
disappear from Edo, almost a confession in itself. The rosary, found in
the hands of the rector of the Reiganji, was easily traced through
different mediators straight to O'Matsu herself. The man Toemon held
out, and died under the torture. The woman confessed; and in her
confession was comprehended the full story of O'Iwa's connection with
Toemon's house. Of her no more need be said. She rotted and died in the
jail. The girls were scattered to kindred houses. Two of the women,
hunting their pray on Warigesui toward the _yashiki_ quarter, had
witnessed the murder of Cho[u]bei three nights before. The police had
gone to secure the body. Tatewaki Dono was notified and had accompanied
them. To the surprise of all Iemon, then the object of earnest search,
was found on the spot.

The affair kept on spreading--to the very source of all these troubles.
Katada Tatewaki in the course of procedure had transmitted the Tamiya
case to the jurisdiction of the _machibugyo[u]_ of the North district of
Edo town, Homma Iga no Kami. With greatest interest the two men in
company poured over the innumerable documents now piling up in the case.
Old Tamiya Yoemon proved easy game. He readily confessed all he knew.
This brought in many witnesses from the wardsmen. It was not exa