ast Iemon
looked up. The _do[u]shin_ placed under his eyes the fatal contract with
Cho[u]bei--agreement of exchange of the body of the woman in return for
five _ryo[u]_ duly received. It had been recovered from the dead pimp's
corpse. Carefully wrapped in oiled paper, Cho[u]bei had carried it--sewn
in what he called his dress. Iemon unwilling to recognize past services,
Cho[u]bei was sure to find it useful. Truly Iemon was young and
impatient, and Cho[u]bei was double his age. With bitterness the
survivor recognized this primal fact.

Iemon's eyes wandered from the paper to the thief under torture. The
dark green of the body was rapidly changing. The doctor present gave a
quick frightened sign. Skilful hands at once cast loose the bonds. Over
toppled the body. Iemon noted the white, almost livid, colour of death.
Restoratives were applied. All were busied with bringing the man back to
life. Then he was carried off, expression so unlike that of a human
being that the less hardened shuddered. Said Homma--"No confession yet?"
He raised his hand to make a sign. Iemon knew the quickness of response.
He almost screamed his appeal for further respite. The Law had
triumphed. As Iemon put his thumb seal to the confession of guilt to
insolence (_futodoki_) the magistrates rose and disappeared.
"Futodoki"--they and he knew that it meant the death sentence.[39]

Judgment was not delayed. The next day Homma, with Katada and an officer
of the Sho[u]gun's household present, gave sentence. Yoemon and
Rokuro[u]bei glared hate at Iemon who squatted with head bent to the
ground. The sword--that now was his only hope. The first words of Homma
showed that no mercy was to be dealt out in this case. Suzuki the
plebeian merely suffered stripes and banishment from Edo. He had to make
restitution to the amount of his property--such as was left after paying
the huge fine to Government. Tamiya Yoemon and Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei
underwent degradation from the caste. There was no disposition to
overlook the offence of usury. Beggary was to be the portion of Yoemon,
the destitution of the outcast. For some years the senile old man, the
virago of a woman once the wife of Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, were stationed
at the Nio[u]mon, to attract and amuse the worshippers passing up to the
great temple of the Asakusa Kwannon. Not for long could the woman hold
her tongue. Abuse passed with the sun's height to blows, and the
by-standers had to interfere and rescue