every spot. Following the voice he sought to get nearer and nearer. Thus
he was brought right before the _tokonoma_ (alcove). For a moment he
shielded his eyes with his hands, then boldly removed the screen and
faced the spectre in the plaster. At first faint, then more strongly
outlined was the vision of a young girl. At one time the face perhaps
had had great beauty. Now there was a weird expression of life amid the
wasting and decay of death. The living eyes gleamed a deadly hate and
distress which showed the torment of the spirit. Framed in the wild
disordered masses of long black hair the face of the apparition sought
to plunge its own unhappiness into the soul of its visitor. It was a
strange vision; one to rouse the desire for the beautiful woman in man's
heart, the wish to shield; together with repulsion toward the most evil
passions of a malice which inspires fear. Long and steadily the man
gazed; the woman answered the challenge. Then again Endo[u] was the
_samurai_. "On with the tale. To the wronged Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaemon
gives right and worship. A _samurai_, he has passed his word, not to be
broken." He would have taken seat before the alcove. Said the
voice--"Honoured Sir, the tale is long. On the _ro[u]ka_ without is a
stool. The _tatami_ are dangerous with the wet. Later deign the honoured
hearing." With surprise Endo[u] followed these household directions. At
the room close by he found the object indicated. Here met his eye a sign
unmistakeable. In the very centre of the _tatami_ was a huge
red-brownish stain; by the verandah a second stain; at the further
entrance a third of kindred character. Plainly the tale he would hear
was of no peaceful exit from life. To the tragedy of death had been
added violence. Thus fortified he returned, to take his seat before the
vision in the alcove; steadily, with the harsh official manner of his
caste, to meet the evil, strangely seductive, malice of its look and
suggestion. Then it spoke:

CHAPTER III

NAKAKAWACHI SHU[U]ZEN

Honoured sir, long past the source of this offence. It was the
fourteenth year of Kwanei (1637). As now, the summer heat was stifling.
To seek relief this Shimo had left the house, to stroll the
neighbourhood close by. Thus idly engaged, listening to the song of the
_suzumushi_, watching the fireflies flitting over the tops of the
_suzuki_ grass, and bending to cull a few lilies to arrange in the
_hanaike_, the presence of a stranger w