, by desperate effort my struggles
called for all his strength. My screams resounded loud in the room.
"Are! Are! Murder! Deep the grudge, to seven lives! Nishioka San! The
grudge of one dying against Nishioka! Against man and woman who would
cut off the life of Shimo and her child. Ah! Her ladyship! The grudge!"
The cord had tightened round my throat. The ends were in the strong
hands of Nishioka Shintaro[u]. I mocked and stuck out my tongue at him.
I know I did so, as the breath came with greater and greater difficulty.
His face, that of a demon, grew to huge proportions, bright scarlet. Now
heart and lungs were bursting with fullness. Dreadful the agony,
dreadful the grudge for this ill deed. Thus I died. Then followed the
ruin of the House of Nakakawachi Shu[u]zen.

CHAPTER IV

THE O'KAGE SAMA

On the following night all were gathered in the apartments of her
ladyship. O'Tsugi was engaged in putting back the _koto_ (harp) into its
cover. O'Hagi Dono touched the instrument with no mean skill, and on
this night had deigned to please herself and those who heard her. O'Han
was engaged in heating the _sake_ bottles. Rarely did her ladyship
retire without this indulgence. The old woman, O'Saku, aimlessly moved
about the room. She seemed to be awaiting some news. A sound of steps in
the corridor, and with pleased countenance she made sign to her
ladyship. A moment later and Nishioka Shintaro[u] entered the room.
There was not a trace of difference from the ordinary in his composed
harsh reverential manner to her ladyship. The latter gave a look at
O'Saku. The old women asked the momentous question. "The matter in
hand--has all gone well? The wench no longer troubles the peace and
future of the _okugata_?"--"Everything to perfection: the _chu[u]gen_
and servants were given tasks to take them far removed. There was barely
a struggle. By the hands of this Shintaro[u] the affair was soon carried
to completion." With complacence he displayed two lean strong hands,
regarded with fondness and admiration by her ladyship. They could bestow
a more tender embrace than that suffered by the unfortunate _koshimoto_.
"And later; the traces of the deed, these are to be removed?"--"There
are none. The time was waited until the body grew cold. It was safe to
do so. The weather is yet raw, the room one seldom entered, and the bar
key in the hands of Shintaro[u]. But just now the task of dismemberment
and disposal has been complete