quette demands obeisance, and off is whipped
the head of Jisuke. It is money and--a sword cut. On the contrary, off
with Shintaro[u] to beg the needed sum. The tongue of Jisuke Sama is
silenced only by the coin which secures his absence."

Nishioka could not help himself. "Jisuke is right. It is a matter of
importance. But her ladyship alone can supply the sum. Remain here,
where safety has been so well secured." Then he betook himself to the
inner apartments. At his tale O'Hagi was aghast. She touched the root of
the matter at once. "The man must have the money demanded. And
afterward...." Nishioka smiled grimly at the kindred thought. "Into the
_oku_ he is not to be inveigled. Leave the matter to this Shintaro[u].
After all be is but a _chu[u]gen_, plainly a fellow with two eyes; but
despite his long experience he must leave the _yashiki_ or conform to
the etiquette of the service. He will not leave a place where lies his
future mine of gold, no matter what his insolence in private. All will
be well. His ignorance and position offer chance to play upon.
Shintaro[u] surely will find a way to kill him." With this solace and
the coin he took his way back to the waiting Jisuke. "I say now! His
lordship's shadow indeed! This rascal Shintaro[u] has but to shake the
tree and the golden fruit falls into his hands. The kind of friend to
possess! Ask; and one receives. Sheet metal too! A very thief, he is
more generous than the Tono Sama! So far thanks. And now--_sayonara_!
Jisuke Dono is off to the pleasant land--the Amatsuki of Fushimicho[u],
the land of reed plains (Yoshiwara). The knave Jisuke, values higher
than the knave (_yaro[u]_) Shintaro[u]. The Honoured Sir pays for the
favours of his queen; his queen pays the _yaro[u]_ Shintaro[u]." With
this parting shot Jisuke was up and out into the open. With some
surprise he halted for a moment. Nishioka had received the sally in good
part. He was laughing, half in amusement, half in vexation. Thought
Jisuke--"Truly this rascal of a _yo[u]nin_ matches even the honoured
Jisuke. Both spring from the farm, and the jest touches him, and not his
rank. Between the two, lord and lady are like to pay dear."

Nishioka returned slowly to the inner apartments, to make report as to
this rather doubtful progress. For several days nothing was seen of
Jisuke. For a time, as one satisfied, he resumed his duties in the old
respectful role. Only a sly veiled jest would show the wolf lying in
wa