A second tray was brought for the master, and a fresh bottle of
wine. Ume-ko sat motionless against the silver fusuma, an ivory image,
crowned and robed in shimmering gray.

The odor of good food attracted Tatsu's senses if not his eyes. He ate
greedily, hastily, not seeing what he ate. His manners were those of
an untutored mountain peasant.

"Dragon Maid," purred Kano, "weariness has come upon you. Retire, I
pray, and deign to rest."

"No!" said Tatsu, loudly. "She shall not leave this room."

"My concern is for the august maiden who has found favor in your
sight," replied Kano, with a deprecating gesture. "Here, Tatsu, let me
fill your cup."

Tatsu threw his cup face down to the floor, and put his lean, brown
hand upon it. "I drink no more until my cup of troth with the maiden
yonder."

Ume-ko's startled eyes flew to his. She trembled, and the blood slowly
ebbed from her face, leaving it pale and luminous with a sort of wonder.

"Go!" said Kano again, and, in a daze, the girl rose and vanished from
the room.

Tatsu had hurled himself toward her, but it was too late. He turned
angrily to his host. "She is mine! Why did you send her away?"

"Gently, gently," cooed the other. "In this incarnation she is called
my daughter."

"I believe it not!" cried Tatsu. "How came she under bondage to you?
Have I not sought her through a thousand lives? She is mine!"

"Even so, in this life I am her father, and it is my command that she
will obey."

Tatsu rocked and writhed in his place.

"She is a good daughter," pursued the other, amiably. "She has never
yet failed in docility and respect. Without my consent you shall not
touch her,--not even her sleeve."

"I have sought her through a thousand lives. I will slay him who tries
to keep her from me!" raved the boy.

"To kill her father would scarcely be a fortunate beginning," said
Kano, tranquilly. "Your hope lies in safer paths, dear youth. There
are certain social conventions attached even to a Dragon Maid. Now if
you will calm yourself and listen to reason----"

Tatsu sprang to his feet and struck himself violently upon the brow.
The hot wine was making a whirlpool of his brain. "Reason! convention!
safety! I hate them all! Oh, you little men of cities! Farmyard
fowls and swine, running always to one sty, following always one
lead,--doing things in the one way that other base creatures have
marked out----"

Kano laughed aloud. His w