ears at
your place."

_Yoshi_--"Who said such a thing?"

_Kikugoro[u]_--"Iya! It was heard, by accident. Is it true?"

_Yoshi_--"Hai! First it was seen beside the _andon_; then on the
stairway, and in the necessary."

_Kikugoro[u]_--"A strange matter! Is it man or woman?"

_Yoshi_--"_Do[u]mo!_ That I don't know. It was seen as in a mist.
Whether man or woman, I don't know."

_Kikugoro[u]_--"Are there male and female ghosts?"

_Yoshi_--"Male or female--I know nothing about it."

_Kikugoro[u]_--"What its nature? When it appears this time, condescend
to take a good look at it." He continued (then)--"The present drama of
the Yotsuya Kwaidan--as to my part, as you well know, O'Iwa and Kohei
before the very eyes must change places in an instant. For both to wear
the grey _kimono_ lacks interest. Which of them is to change? It is on
my mind. _Do[u]mo!_ Thought fails to solve the question. Hence the
request to you. What kind of dress does that ghost wear? That is what I
want to learn."

_Yoshi_--"Hei!"

_Kikugoro[u]_--"But Yoshi San: It is no mere request. I loaned you ten
_ryo[u]_."

_Yoshi_--"Patron, do you condescend still to remember it?"

_Kikugoro[u]_--"Deign not to jest. Who would forget such a rascal? I'll
wipe out that ten _ryo[u]_--and give you five _ryo[u]_ in addition. How
now? Condescend to observe."

_Yoshi_--"Thanks are felt. When it appears I'll take a good look at it."

_Kikugoro[u]_--"With the month's change the first representation takes
place. It must be ascertained in the intervening time. Probably in four
or five days it will be seen."

_Yoshi_--"That is so. _Do[u]mo!_ The opponent being a ghost, will it
appear to-night? Or has is ended by going away? That I don't know.
Having found out its dwelling place, I'll send a postal-card."

_Kikugoro[u]_--"Don't jest. As just said, I'll give you five _ryo[u]_.
Be careful; and please take a good look."

_Yoshi_--"Respectfully heard and understood. This time I'll get a good
look at it."

Thus agreed Tsutayoshi returned that night to the Yoshiwara.

_Yoshi_--"A pleasing thing! Ten _ryo[u]_ wiped off, and five _ryo[u]_
received in addition. Thanks: a fine bit of work. It will be well if the
rascal of a ghost comes to-night. Anyhow, just before the _Bon_ it
suffers distress beyond measure. For several days nothing has been seen
of it. Its purpose may have changed: Yai! If the ghost is to appear,
please show up at once. Don't it yet appear? Oi!