p in the ghost way--pray excuse me."

_Landlord_--"Ma! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. The house
that I rent to you originally was a brothel called the Yamashiroya. The
landlord was an unrighteous fellow. One night an _oiran_ lacked any
guest.[49] He took her with him to the _semeba_--(punishment room) and
treated her most cruelly. No one called the place 'the Yamashiroya.' It
was known as the Onimise (devil-shop) of Fushimicho[u]. It was just this
time last year that a _wakashu[u]_ (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love
with a woman named Kotsu no Wakatake. Pressed for money, to get it he
had an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low brothel mentioned
perhaps he would get a _bu_--a couple of _shu[u]_. A restitution
privately effected would have been well. He was roped up and carried off
to the town hall. In every way a low scoundrel he was sent to
Temmacho[u]. Soon after he died in the jail. Subsequently there were
nothing but unpleasant happenings at the Yamashiroya. It was completely
ruined. Later I bought it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it
into two houses and rented them out."

_Yoshi_--"Hei!"

_Mikawaya_--"That Tokuzo, as the _wakashu[u]_ was called, when sent to
the town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as present
to him by an _oiran_. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and good natured; an
interesting fellow. Of low stature, he was a good worker. Probably he
failed to carry out his purpose."

_Yoshi_--"Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow condescend
to make everything clean."

_Mikawaya_--"Agreed."

After this workmen came from the Mikawaya, and the cleaning up was
performed. Tsutayoshi at a subsequent meeting with Kikugoro[u] told him
the story of Tokuzo. It would be well to have a funeral service held. So
the memorial service for Tokuzo was conducted at the family temple of
Tsutayoshi. The figure was never again seen. Kikugoro[u] in the role of
ghost of the _wakato[u]_ Kohei came out dressed in a grey robe marked
with _kokumochi_ (the badge of the white disk figured on coloured
ground). Before one's very eyes he changed to O'Iwa. As ghost and
arrayed in the family crest it was restricted to the Kohei of the
"Yotsuya Kwaidan." The theatre was packed. Such was the crowd that the
upper gallery of the theatre collapsed. Even though an actor, everywhere
he (Kikugoro[u]) was spoken of as a great man. To favoured guests of
Kikugoro[u] the matter was so