_Yoshi_--"Though I considered it a vision of my own, as strange I
mention it."

_Friend_--"If you feel bad it will be well to stay away for to-night."

_Yoshi_--"I don't think I feel badly in any other way. To-night--for the
whole night--I'll make the test."

That day he returned to the Yoshiwara house. That night no one was seen.
But when he did see it, was the thing a matter of his own imagination?
The next day he came to the theatre. The friend was waiting for him.

_Friend_--"Yoshi San, did it appear at night?"

_Yoshi_--"Iya! At night it did not appear. In the middle of the night
opening my eyes I looked with especial care to the eight sides. Nothing
that could be considered suspicious was to be seen."

_Friend_--"Then it was as I said. It being at one time a brothel, would
not something appear in this house? Having this wholly in mind, the
thing presented itself to your eyes."

_Yoshi_--"Doubtless it is but that; a freak of the imagination."

That night returning to the Yoshiwara, nothing happened. A space of
five nights passed. His habit was to return early; and as his thin dress
was wet with sweat he would change it. Going upstairs he took out the
thin garment from the clothes-basket (_tsuzura_). With this in hand he
was about to descend. Now as at one time the place had been a brothel
the steps were broad and wide. Seated on the lower step, lying face
downward, was somebody.

_Yoshi_--"Ah! Has it come?"

Being a courageous fellow, while speaking he raised his leg.

_Yoshi_--"You're in the way."

Pon: he gave a kick. There was not the slightest resistance.
Forthwith--ha! it was gone.

_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ Remarkable: it is a strange occurrence."

While speaking he changed his robe and lit the fire. Making the water
boil, with Echizen peat he heated some wine he had bought on the road
and brought home with him. With _tsukudani_,[45] or something of that
kind to eat, he drank and thought.

_Yoshi_--"To-day it is no product of my imagination. Who can that rascal
be?"

Talking to himself, he drank the _sake_. Attending to preliminaries he
would go to bed. He went to the necessary and opened the door. Some one
stood there, with his back to him.

_Yoshi_--"Here again?"

At the words it disappeared. No matter how brave he was, that night he
felt badly and did not sleep. Awaiting dawn he was quick to go forth. On
coming to the theatre--

_Friend_--"Good day: how goes it with Yoshi San? Are yo