Rich, with an income of thirty
_tawara_, a fine property in reversion, and but twenty-five years old.
The man therefore must be fit to pose as a _samurai_; able to read and
write, to perform official duty, he must be neither a boy nor a man so
old as to be incapable. Come now! Does no one come forward? _Ro[u]nin_
are to be had. A _ryo[u]_ for aid to this Cho[u]bei."--"Too cheap as an
offer," was Jinzaemon's retort. "A _ro[u]nin_ is one to be handled with
care. Those favoured with acquaintance of the honoured _bushi_ often
part with life and company at the same date. Those without lords are
equally testy as those in quarters." He spoke with the bluntness of the
true Edokko, the peculiar product of the capital; men who were neither
farmers nor provincials, but true descendants of the men of the guild of
Bandzuin Cho[u]bei. He jested, but the subject interested the crowd.
Said one--"Does Cho[u]bei San get the _ryo[u]_ out of groom or bride?
She is a bold wench, unmarried at that age; and none too chaste eh,
Cho[u]bei San? She will provide the husband with wife and child to hand,
or in the making. Or, are matters the other way? Has she been tried and
found wanting? Is she impotent, or deformed; or is Cho[u]bei making
fools of us?" Answered Cho[u]bei slowly--"No; she is a little ugly. The
face round and flat, shining, with black pock marks, making it look like
speckled pumice, rouses suspicion of leprosy. This, however, is not the
case. At all events she is a woman." All were now roaring with
laughter--"A very beauty indeed! Just the one for Cho[u]bei's trade! Too
honied was his speech. He would market anything. But in this market it
is a matter of hard cash; without credit. This is a bit of goods too
wilted. Even Cho[u]bei cannot sell it."--"You lie!" said Cho[u]bei in a
towering passion. "At the first hint of ill-fortune threatening wine
supply or pleasure, there is not one of you who would not turn to
Cho[u]bei to find the money needed. Sisters, daughters, wives, aunts ...
mothers are for sale." He was choking with rage. "Sell her? Cho[u]bei
can and will." Angered by the final item on his family list, a man
nearby gave him a sharp poke in the back. Others voiced resentment,
perhaps would have given it material form. The canal was spoken of.
Cho[u]bei took the hint. He did not wait for a ducking. At a sharp pace
he trotted off toward his tenement at Asakusa Hanagawado[u]. For a while
he would avoid the metal market. He regr