ctly
what was wanted. The evidence was mostly mere hearsay and conjecture. In
those days such testimony had a value not far below that of direct
statement. All pointed the way to the real criminal, who after all was
the star witness. Against Yoemon at first there was but little. However,
in his rage against Iemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei--Akiyama was out of
his reach--his tongue was too long. The faces of the magistrates grew
serious as his connection with the money lender Suzuki was made plain. A
_samurai_ loaning money on interest! and pressing men to ruin for
payment!! The stingy avaricious Yoemon appeared behind the usurer--until
in time his own heavy losses had made him a borrower, and placed him in
the hands of his once partner. Yoemon, together with the conspirators,
was not allowed to participate in the forced restitution made by Suzuki.
Nevertheless, at the time no great severity was shown the old man. He
was remanded to the custody of his bail, to be kept confined to one room
in the house.

The same leniency was shown toward Rokuro[u]bei. When he showed a
disposition to be recalcitrant, to equivocate, Homma gave sign to the
_do[u]shin_. Quickly the scourgers came forward with their fearful
instrument, the _madake_. Made of bamboo split into long narrow strips,
these tightly wrapped in twisted hempen cord to the thickness of a _sun_
(inch), with the convenient leverage of a couple of _shaku_ (feet), the
mere sight brought Kondo[u] to terms. As he entered he had seen them
lead away a _heimin_ (commoner) who had undergone the punishment. The
man's back, a mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, was vivid to mind. At
once he prostrated himself; made full confession. At last they were at
the source. Kondo[u] was a witness of the fact. He could and did tell of
the inception and progress of the whole plot against O'Iwa San, the
source of untold woe to Yotsuya. His story covered the period from the
entrance of Iemon into the ward up to the discovery of the body of
Kamimura Goemon. The role played by Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei was in part
dark to him. Of the disposition of O'Iwa to the Honjo[u] master of the
_Yo[u]taka_ he pleaded ignorance. Tatewaki Dono smiled as he counselled
indulgence on this point. He knew.

Kondo[u], however, was sent back to the jail. He was unquestionably a
principal. At last it was the turn of Iemon. The weeks had passed. The
body had been carefully nursed back to vigour. The mind was in
lamentable