d those of ceremonial attendance and
pleasure. The minutest details of everything were looked to by Nishioka.
This pleased Shu[u]zen, who placed confidence in the readiness and
proved resourcefulness of the man. Nishioka was an infallible guide in
all minutiae of the palace service and intrigue; his knowledge gained by
a long experience in attendance on the great Doi House. Here he had
risen from _chu[u]gen_ to _kyu[u]nin_ (house officer). When he came to
the _yashiki_ of Shu[u]zen he soon replaced the _karo[u]_ (minister) of
the fief in his lord's intimacy, and the latter official found
honourable banishment in continued occupation and residence at the fief
in Ko[u]shu[u], where Shu[u]zen played the role of a castle lord
(_jo[u]shu[u]_), a _fudai daimyo[u]_, a subordinate and spy on his
greater neighbours. The new comer was source of congratulation to her
ladyship. As O'Saku--and perhaps O'Hagi Dono intended, revenge was
sought on Shu[u]zen by promptly throwing the mistress into the arms of
Nishioka. Behind the impenetrable shield of the inner apartments--a
place that Shu[u]zen only sought to avoid--they could live as husband
and wife. Other arrangement now was met by the cold reception meted out
to her lord by the lady of the House. Any compunction Shu[u]zen might
feel as to what he thought to be the enforced sterility of O'Hagi thus
was salved.

Merry almost to madness was the progress of the wine feast. Her ladyship
went beyond the bonds even of a decent veil of sobriety. Her loving
attitude to Nishioka found more open expression than usual in the
presence of the others. Her abandonment was undisguised. All rejoiced
with her; congratulated the strong man on his ready energy. Only the
girl O'Han showed some lack of spirit, which she attributed to headache.
In kindness her ladyship forbade further concern with the service of the
wine, with the aggravation of its fumes; but she had too little
consideration for those about her to relieve the suffering girl from
attendance. Then the hour came to retire. According to the decent
formula in practice, Nishioka, notified of the fact, rose to take his
leave--to the next chamber. Here the O'Kage Sama did his disrobing. The
girl O'Tsugi was the first to leave her ladyship, on some mission. She
came behind Shintaro[u], to administer a rousing slap between the
shoulders which brought him almost to his knees. Grumbling and gasping
he turned to meet her admiring looks. "A fine figur