that it was
his brother-in-law. He thought it was Suri-no-Kami, a great friend of
the lady. He did not wish to be seen by this man. He reproached her
for knowing that he was expected, but that she did not give him any
hint. Carrying his Naoshi on his arm, he hid himself behind a folding
screen. To-no-Chiujio, suppressing a laugh, advanced to the side of
the screen, and began to fold it from one end to the other, making a
crashing noise as he did so. The lady was in a dilemma, and stood
aloof. Genji would fain have run out, and concealed himself elsewhere,
but he could not get on his Naoshi, and his head-dress was all awry.
The Chiujio spoke not a word lest he should betray himself, but making
a pretended angry expostulation, he drew his sword. All at once the
lady threw herself at his feet, crying, "My lord! my lord!"
To-no-Chiujio could scarcely constrain himself from laughing. She was
a woman of about fifty seven, but her excitement was more like that of
a girl of twenty.

Genji gradually perceived that the man's rage was only simulated, and
soon became aware who it was that was there; so he suddenly rushed
out, and catching hold of To-no-Chiujio's sword-arm, pinched it
severely. To-no-Chiujio no longer maintained his disguise, but burst
into loud laughter.

"How are you my friend, were you in earnest?" exclaimed Genji,
jestingly--"but first let me put on my Naoshi." But To-no-Chiujio
caught it, and tried to prevent him putting it on.

"Then I will have yours," cried Genji, seizing the end of
To-no-Chiujio's sash, and beginning to unfasten it, while the latter
resisted. Then they both began to struggle, and their Naoshi soon
began to tear.

"Ah," cried To-no-Chiujio,

"Like the Naoshi to the eye,
Your secrets all discovered lie."

"Well," replied Genji,

"This secret if so well you know,
Why am I now disturbed by you?"

And they both quitted the room without much noticing the state of
their garments.

To-no-Chiujio proceeded to his official chamber, and Genji to his own
apartment. The sash and other things which they had left behind them
were soon afterwards sent to Genji by the lady.

The sash was that of To-no-Chiujio. Its color was somewhat deeper than
his own, and while he was looking at this, he suddenly noticed that
one end of a sleeve of his own Naoshi was wanting. "To-no-Chiujio, I
suppose, has carried it off, but I have him also, for here is his
sash!" A page boy from To-n