CHAPTER XI.
THE CURSE BEGINS TO WORK.
And Sampei, what of him, under the new _regime_, inaugurated sounexpectedly? Could his mother have delved into his storm-riven soul,she would have won no comfort by her prayers. Never was lucklesswarrior so hedged about with difficulties, which might not bevanquished with the sword. His influence over No-Kami was proved to bepractically nil, for the latter was unable to comprehend his brother'scharacter any better than that of his wife. What good then was to begained by lingering at Tsu? The question had propounded itself before,to be set aside. Why shun it now? More than once Sampei determinedthat flight is in some cases the truest valour, and on every occasionthe haunting and ever-present face of his early love upbraided him forselfishness, in that he was her only champion.
It was a fine specimen of bravery, in sooth, to be self-elected "owntrue knight," and run away at the first appearance of the enemy. Thatthe new-comer would prove an enemy there was little room for doubt.Such a reproach should never be hurled at our young General, hedoughtily determined. The more he saw of the fair O'Kiku, the moreuneasy did he grow. There was no knowing how soon O'Tei might requireprotection from her. He might be of use. That was enough. Under thecircumstances, despite his mother's warnings, Sampei resolved tostay--moth dancing round a candle--and keep an eye upon the geisha.
The proceedings of that winsome fairy, when installed within thecastle, bade fair to set its inmates by the ears. With a vast paradeof prudery she insisted at first upon apartments being provided asremote as might be from my lord's. A series of pleading messages,mingled with threats, were required ere she would consent to appear inthe hall and perform graceful measures, or sing and play upon thesamisen. Her performance finished, she would smile, and bow, and kissher finger tips, and then flee like the timid hare. When No-Kami, who,tantalised, grew hourly more amorous, chid his guest for suspicion ofhis motives, she shrugged her shoulders, and imperiously demanded herkago. "I am detained here against my will," she would remark pouting."'Tis monstrous dull, and to return to delightful Kamakura is my mostardent wish." And then with distracting little sighs wrung from aplump heaving bosom, she would dilate upon the glories of the Shogun'scourt,--tell of the tiltings, the hawking parties--constant flow ofjocund gatherings--till the undisciplined Daimio clenched his nailsinto his palms with jealousy, and the lady laughed behind her fan.
Before many days had passed, it was announced that O'Kiku hadconsented to remain at Tsu, the acknowledged second wife; and thesamurai congratulated one another, looking forward to a period ofliveliness. As for their chatelaine, they thought no more of her; tookno heed of her incomings or outgoings; for she drew the curtains ofher litter close, and rarely went forth at all except on somecharitable errand. Really such mean-spirited conduct in a Hojo's wifewas a distinct besmirching of the name; and the younger and moreunruly of the warriors purposely turned their backs upon her kago, toavoid saluting its passage.
The Lady O'Tei, as proud as any of them, though they wist it not,marked their growing insolence, and stored their insults in herembittered heart; and more than ever loathed her lord, on account ofher false position, as well as his new favourite. From the moment ofthe latter's advent O'Tei abandoned for ever any idea of attempting toexert influence over him. On that last occasion when she bowed herpride and humbled herself to the very dust before No-Kami, the attemptwas crowned with disaster. It was decreed that she must live, mustbreathe the same air as he. What must be must; but she would look onhim in future as little as she might. That he should choose to take asecond wife, the first or legitimate one proving barren, was notsurprising. The latter had neither right nor desire to object; but itwas clearly his duty to see that the introduction of the second spousebrought no slight upon the first. Instead of demanding her rights, andboldly grappling at once with a situation that was ominous of evil,and so defining the geisha's place without more ado, O'Tei madeanother mistake. Haughtily she withdrew within herself and broodedover her wrongs, leaving to the intruder a clear field, of which shewas not slow to take advantage.
Having achieved the position for which she had so cleverly angled,O'Kiku threw down the mask, shook off her bashful ways. Wherever mylord could go, the damsel argued, so could she, for was she not youngand active? By his side in the chase she rode, untiring. When hereviewed his men within the outer moat, she stood beside him, and withamusing sharpness rated them all soundly for their awkwardness.Accustomed to a disdainful mistress who interested herself not at allin their doings, the warriors were surprised and enchanted. She wouldeven condescend to come down sometimes, looking so fresh and brightand cheery, into the outer hall, where the soldiery lounged, yawning,and administer reviving draughts. The throat of the soldier, she wouldlaughingly observe, is curiously parched, always yearning forsake,--quite a serious disease, and catching too; one which was commonin the army. And then she would familiarly take their swords fromthem--the swords which are the souls of the samurai--and closelyexamining the blades, demand the genealogy of each.
No-Kami was flattered when he observed what a favourite his choice wasbecoming with high and low alike. The men, one and all, adored her,some of them declaring that she was a sunbeam detached miraculouslyfrom the orb of life to illumine the darkness of their fortress.
At this moment the ambition of O'Kiku should have been satisfied, forshe could wind my lord and all his men around her finger, ruling themas she listed. She held in supremest contempt the real chatelaine, asan enemy not worthy of her steel--usurping her position and herduties; taking pleasure in exposing her to ridicule. Low born as shewas herself--sprung from the gutter--there was something particularlydelightful in insulting the heiress of Nara; but the sharp, tiny pinsdid not seem to rankle. This was annoying. Egged on little by little,piqued by O'Tei's attitude of scornful indifference, the concubinewent dangerously far. She gathered around her a bevy of maidens morenumerous and more splendidly attired than those of her superior; sheexacted from the soldiery special homage which was due to thelegitimate chatelaine alone; even presumed, after a time--culminatingimpertinence--to take unto herself the best litter, the one emblazonedwith the Hojo badge upon gold lacquer and the gilded poles andbrocaded curtains, declaring that since O'Tei chose to go only intothe low purlieus of the town, a less resplendent equipage was bettersuited to her degraded taste.
O'Kiku should have been quite happy. But when is a vulgar-minded,low-born woman happy who is consumed in the ratio of pampering byambition and greed and caprice? Having attained the summit of presentdesire as planned on her arrival, she set herself to gratify her fancyin another way. At first sight she had been smitten with Sampei; but,on discovering that, though the elder, he held the second place, hadprudently postponed his conquest until a more convenient period. Thatmoment was now come. She had abundant leisure for the task. Sure awarrior should be a willing slave of beauty. Yet when she warilyreconnoitred the ground, she marvelled at his coldness. Every inch asplendid young soldier, he should have been less chill. She madepurring advances, favoured him with a few of the arrows under whichhis brother had succumbed; and these shafts fell so short that sheguessed at once, with quick jealousy, that she had a rival. His heartwas not his to give. How provoking! for she had so cleverly arrangedthat the two--he and she--were to become such friends!
On his side, Sampei (an adept in such matters) was not slow to readher purpose, and, horrified at her calculating treachery, boldlyreviled her with rough words. She smarted and winced under the whip,and wished for him all the more. It was idle to feign, and her speechwas as plain as his. She did not love her husband--O'Tei herself didnot gauge his low worth more clearly--she loved him, Sampei, andgloried in it. See! For a caress she would be his slave, and fawn athis feet like a dog. No Eta could be more abject than she, if he wouldbut look on her with love. A little--a very little--and she would beso grateful, since, on her side, there was enough for both. Wreathingher white arms about him, while his body quivered
with disgust, shecooed and prayed and worshipped, and uttered a sharp cry of pain as,unable to endure the ordeal, he flung her rudely on the ground. _She_prate of love! he cried. How dared she defile the holy word with suchfoul lips as hers?
Furious--burning with shame at her repulse--she scoffed at him.
"_You_ talk big of virtue," she sneered, with cruel lines about hermouth, "not knowing that I can read your secret. Treachery? What is mytreachery to yours? I am but a concubine. You love your brother'swife--the mawkish doll of wax!--and she, as guilty as yourself, hasdoubtless fallen an easy prey, since 'tis plain that she hates mylord."
That shaft, at least, went home, for Sampei turned pale. Was itwritten so plainly on his face that all who ran might read? A usefulchampion--a true knight--whose faithful service it would be to guidehis mistress to her ruin. He must go away--far away--since histell-tale features could not keep the secret. And yet--to leave herhere at the mercy of this wicked woman!
O'Kiku perceived what was passing in his mind, and was for the momentsatisfied. She held revenge within her palm whenever she should chooseto use it. Sampei had spurned her. Well, she could afford to wait; forwhat he had been powerless to deny might prove an invaluablediscovery. Sampei and O'Tei loved each other. Judging others from herown standpoint, she had no doubt of their guilt. Perchance he wouldsoon tire of such an icicle, and she might woo and win him after all.If not, she could use her discovery to avenge the slight, and freeherself of the inconvenient presence of both wife and paramour. Itwould be so easy to open the eyes of the unsuspecting Daimio, and goadhim deftly on until the two brothers were at open enmity.
For a time she must abandon her designs upon the General, and lull thepangs of disappointment and injured vanity by drowning thought inexcitement. Since she had bared her spotted heart to him, there was nouse in assuming a mask. On the contrary, her recklessness would stinghim like a serpent's bite since, knowing what she knew, he dared notbetray her to No-Kami. It pleased O'Kiku, therefore, to abandonprudence, and cast shame aside. Secure of unlimited sway over theinfatuated despot, who would gladly accept such explanations as shevouchsafed, she selected lovers from among the soldiery as they struckher wanton fancy, disdaining to cloak her proceedings from the shockedSampei, who hourly grew more troubled and uneasy.
On which side lay his duty? How should he act? Were he to denounce thegeisha to his brother in the matter of her declaration to himself, shewould swear it was spitefully conceived, and No-Kami would refuse tobe convinced. 'Twas fortunate that O'Tei dwelt in such strictseclusion, enveloped in the armour of purity, innocent of guile. Butwhat was to be the upshot of it all? As the falling stone increases invelocity, so would the insolence of the concubine unchecked inshamelessness. The tempest growled on the horizon, and grew apace; thecloudlet was spreading over the heavens. Awe-stricken by the sinisterturn which, so rapidly, events were taking, the martyr's anathema rungin Sampei's ears. The house of Hojo was to fall. Already, in hismind's eye, could he see it reel, hear the crash of its disruption.For a long time past the conduct of the head of the clan had beenindefensible. Buddha, awakened by clamour, was angry--and no wonder!
In his perplexity and indignation an ensanguined mist passed acrossthe vision of Sampei. The hint thrown out by Nara some time sincefestered within his breast. The history of Japan teems with the enmityof brothers, he had said. Was it indeed written that the last of theHojos was to perish by a fraternal hand? For the honour of the namewhich they both bore, must the cord of an unworthy career be severed,and by him? It would be well for the suffering land that No-Kami'scatalogue of misdeeds should be closed, but not by the hand of abrother. Not murder! The honest soul of Sampei recoiled before theinsidious vision. It was vain to seek counsel of the Abbess, since sheconfessed herself as perplexed as he. _Wait_ was all she could advise.If the curse of Koshiu was to be accomplished, it would beaccomplished, whatever the efforts of the doomed. If his was decreedto be the avenging sword, was he not a helpless infant in the grip ofdestiny? The will of Heaven would be pronounced more clearly soon.Meanwhile, there was nothing for it but to wait. Peering sadly intothe dark-lined future, Sampei waited in suspense, gloomy on thethreshold of despair.
Tidings reached Masago in her dim retreat of what was passing, and shesighed. The finger of an outraged God was on them, that was becomingcertain. The fate of Hojo was to be a warning lesson to generationsyet unborn. By-and-by a rumour came, she could not tell from whence,that the Daimio was going mad. In sooth, he was never sane, and couldscarce be held accountable for his growing pile of crimes. Inaccordance with the rearing which befitted his rank and station, hehad scoffed with ribald laughter at a peasant's prophecy, treatingwith levity the wild words of one who had deservedly been punished.And yet there were moments when, though he fought against theillusion, he was haunted by the dying face,--when those glazing eyesthat reflected the sunset shone out of the dark like glowing coals, towither and scorch his soul. In the night he would wake, seeming tohear again louder than temple bell the words of evil omen, and then hewould hug so fiercely the form of the slumbering O'Kiku upon the matbeside him, that she would turn on him with peevish reproach.
The visions and the voices increased, till he was afraid to be leftalone. His brutish nature became yet more vindictive and morose, andthe geisha, vowing that as a companion, after his paroxysms ofunreasoning fear, he grew intolerable, freely dosed him with sake, tosubdue his importunate tremors. In his chamber she would leave himchained by drunken stupor, while she, with the favourite of the hour,caroused below. This proved so convenient an arrangement, that toobtain for herself a liberty of action yet more complete, she temptedher lord to increased potations, till there arrived at length a periodwhen he was scarcely ever sober.
But then constant inebriety has its intermittent moments of recoil,when the stomach sickens at the drink, yet craves for it, and at suchdismal times the smile would fade even from the brazen visage of thebaleful enchantress, for my lord would then pass without warning fromthe extreme of grovelling anguish to the fury of mania; and O'Kikuwondered, with blanched cheek, whether, perhaps, some day in one ofthese mad fits the Daimio would rise and slay her.
One evening he woke with chattering teeth, and finding himself alonein the quickly-gathering shadows, stumbled upon his feet, with curseson the concubine in that she deserted him in his extremity. Did shenot know how much he feared the darkness, and how necessary it was onmany counts to conceal his condition from his warriors? Had he notraised her up to be partner of his bed, giving her all she desired,gratifying her every whim? And yet what recked the selfish creature ofhis wishes, of his terrors, his requirements? Naught! Regardless ofhis agony, she could quietly go away and amuse herself, leaving herlord and benefactor a prey to goblins. Shivering, with swimming brain,he groped his way in search of her; and somehow found himself, ere hewas aware, upon the drawbridge that led beyond the moat.
A chill wind was blowing from the river that lapped the frowningwalls--a singing murmur seemed to whisper "Come!" Shuddering, obedientto a spell against which his will was powerless, he stumbled on. Howdismal dark it was! From the windows of the hall came a ruddy line oflight which served to intensify the black. There was a faint sound ofbrawling within, a clash of steel, a din of bandied threats, followedby the long rippling laugh of the geisha, and then the twang of hersamisen. "Always in that hall among the soldiers," No-Kami querulouslymuttered. "She loves me less and less--cares nothing for my trouble."Since her arrival, he reflected, there had been a gradual and grievousdecrease of discipline among the samurai,--a growing tendency toquarrel and snarl in open disrespect of _him_. Had she betrayed hissecret? Had she divulged the nameless horror, and the cowardice whichunnerved his arm, unsettled his reason, and undermined his strength?Impulse bade him turn and stride into the hall, and there asserthimself; and then the breeze, like clammy fingers, stroked his cheekand murmured, "Come!" Whither was he to proceed? Was it the water thatsummoned him? No! had not the farmer said that the river should ebbaway?
Folly! why, what was this? Was he, the head of the Hojos, asinfatuated as others? Did he believe in the threats of the martyr?On--on, away to the left--whither? To the dim belt of grim grey treesthat reared gnarled arms aloft, groaning and swaying in the wind. Theaccursed trees--home of malevolent ghosts! The trees that chanted evertheir loving call to ignominious death.
With beads of sweat upon his brow No-Kami listened, and, not knowingwhat he did, unwound his long silk sash. Then out of the dark shoneforth, like glowing coals, the eyes he knew too well, and then therepealed upon the night a mocking shout. Hist! what was that? The voiceof Futen, the wind imp? or Raiden, king of thunder, beating upon hisdrums? What was he doing with that sash?--he, the proud No-Kami?Horror! he, the head of the Hojos, was about to hang himself--todisgrace his line for ever!
With a growl of fear No-Kami sped away, his fingers in his ears, backtoward the light--and the saucy geisha, seeing a crouching shadowpass, complained of some unclean animal. With stealthy speed, born ofterror and shame, the Daimio crept away, nor stopped to draw breathtill, safe in the sanctuary of his chamber, he fell panting, prostrateon the mat. Another instant, and, unconscious of what he did, he wouldhave swung on the fateful tree. Strange that it should have been thewarning voice of Koshiu that had averted supreme disgrace. Why? Was hereserved for something yet more infamous? Better now, at once, to makean end of it--perish as a Daimio should when driven to bay by his ownwell-tempered steel. Groping with aspen hands for the sword-rack, hetook his dirk, and unsheathing it, passed a finger on its edge. Ablade of Sanjo's, a masterpiece. Yes. Here in the dark, alone, hewould perform the rites of harakiri, and join with unsmirched brow theline of haughty ancestors.
Footsteps, a yellow glimmer through the paper of the sliding doors.O'Kiku's tardy feet? No, the heavier footfall of a man. A panel waspushed aside. Sampei, shading with his hand the flickering flame of acandle. The latter peered in, and uttered a cry. The dirk, the bodybared, the kneeling posture. The intention of the Daimio was evident,though rising with a fierce curse he strove to conceal his purpose.
"I am glad I was in time," Sampei remarked, with cold composure."Would the chief of our clan commit harakiri without a second? Whereis he? I see no kaishaku. Pah! When all is lost 'tis time to think ofdying. If you wish it, and have courage, things are not yet pastremedy."
"What do you want?" snarled the Daimio, as with a scowl he retreatedinto a corner.
"My lord of Nara has arrived, and is now closeted with his daughter.Though you seem to have abdicated your dignities, it is right that youshould be informed of it.
"Sent for by her?" inquired No-Kami.
"No!" replied Sampei bitterly. "With all your arrogant parade, she ismore proud than you, and would never stoop to complain of your manycruelties."
"Sent for more like by _him!_--snake in the grass!" gibed a voicebehind, and the two brothers, turning, beheld the geisha, a frownpuckering her brow, a red spot of annoyance on either cheek bone."Yes, snake in the grass!" repeated she, lashed to imprudence byresentment. "He does well to play the part of the lady O'Tei'sinterpreter--he who knows her so much better than others!"
Sampei was silent, while the suspicious gaze of the Daimio was turnedto his brother from the concubine.
"O fool!" she laughed. "To be fooled by women is the lot of thehaughtiest among ye! I vow I pity such blindness. Know that the crustof a proud woman's nature often conceals a furnace. The lady O'Tei haskindled a fire on the altar of her heart in honour--well, not of you!"
"You lie!" cried the General, kindling, yet striving still to controlhimself for _her_ sake. "It was an evil day for the house of Hojo whenthis strumpet came among us!"
"We are not all so blind as my lord," gibed O'Kiku. "When my lady goesforth, in what direction do the bearers carry her? To the temple ofthe vixen Masago, to offer up prayers, of course. A curiouscoincidence! My lord Sampei, returning from the chase, pays dutifulvisits to his mother. A pattern son. There, there! be hoodwinked nomore. Stupid mole that you are, he loves O'Tei and she loves him. Lookin his face, man; is it not eloquent enough?"
The soul of No-Kami, already torn, writhed and quivered. Could it betrue, this dreadful thing? Mine already ruined, a mere pretty peasant,a passing fancy, suitable toy enough--and now O'Tei! Had the lawlesslibertine dared to aspire to the legitimate wife of his lord? The dirkwas still in the Daimio's grasp. Tottering forward a step, withheaving breast and distracted features, he narrowly scrutinised hisbrother.
"If I thought this was true," he slowly growled between his teeth, "Iwould have speedy and ample vengeance. Sampei, why do you lookconfused? Yonder, on the rack, is a sword!"
Again the mist of blood passed across the vision of the General. Itwas decreed. No-Kami rushed upon his fate. He himself pointed out theblade, lying so ready to the hand. A pass or two, and O'Tei, thelong-suffering, would be freed from her grinding bondage.Involuntarily he stretched forth his arm, while No-Kami stood waiting.He touched the sword; his hand recoiled, his arm dropped by his sideinert, for beyond the taunting visage of the geisha he seemed tobehold, tearless and pale, the shadowy figure of O'Tei. No, this was atrap deliberately set by that wicked woman for her undoing and his.If, in the combat, it was his lot to fall, her fair fame would be forever blasted. It would be skilfully bruited abroad by O'Kiku that theDaimio had avenged his honour. Forcing himself to calmness by strengthof will, aided by an all-absorbing love, Sampei crossed his arms uponhis labouring chest, and sadly shook his head.
"You are insane," he sighed,--"beguiled to frenzy by the glamour ofthis sorceress. You know, if you have power to think, that the dawn isno purer than your wife. What madness is it that has so mastered youthat you would rather believe this harlot--for she is a harlot, and ashameless one, as every one in the castle knows except yourself? Raveas you will, I shall not gratify her spleen by fighting with you.Should the necessity be forced on me, I will summon the samurai tobind you, for your own protection. Cudgel your distempered brain,my brother, and see the snare. Your father was mine beforeyou--unhappily--were born. The honour of our name is mine as well asyours, and for me it shall remain untarnished. Alas, we are under aban, indeed! I can surety trace the finger of the Eternal; thisharlot, the instrument of ruin."
Foiled spite and impotent rage leapt up and invaded the calculatingspirit of the geisha. That he, so hot and careless usually, should beable to school himself to prudence. How he must adore that pale-face!
It was humiliating to one who justly prided herself on cunning, to beoutwitted by truth and manhood. No doubt it was satisfactory to markhow firm was her hold upon No-Kami. He had hearkened to her accusationof his wife and brother, but the countercharge brought by the latteragainst herself had remained unnoticed. And yet Sampei had had thebest of it. She was obliged to confess with self-upbraiding that,exasperated by the appearance of Nara, whose unexpected arrival seemedlike to mar her plots and upset her calculations, she had beenprecipitate--led into a foolish error.
The moment chosen was curiously ill-timed for bringing about aquarrel. Not that she would have permitted blood to flow. Not so sillyas that. At the first onset she would have rushed out with clamour andshrill cries to summon the sleepy attendants,--have sworn that Sampeihad attacked his feudal lord,--have created such a coil as wouldhave led to the former's banishment. But, devoted to the paleface, hehad for her sake curbed his heat. Noble and severe in bearing, hisdark brow seamed by battle scars, he was just the man to master aturbulent plebeian woman of strong passions. As he stood, erect andself-possessed, O'Kiku adored yet hated him. His scathing antipathy toher he did not care to mask, and who should know as well as she howwell it was deserved. A man such as this might have wrought a miracleupon her nature. She could have hugged her gyves, glorying in histyranny. Could have! He had repulsed her,--shrunk with loathingundisguised as from a reptile, and all for love of the pale-face. Thedregs of her low nature bubbled to the surface in a rising surge ofabhorrence. At this moment, as she contemplated his still dignity, shecould have stabbed h
im to the heart with joy.
As schemes and combinations passed swiftly through her brain, thegeisha hotly blamed herself. A short-sighted novice! An awkwardbungler! The merest tyro could have warned her of the imprudence ofairing family feuds before outsiders. What a moment this, when thepowerful and astute noble of Nara was on the spot, to suggest chargesagainst his heiress. Well, well, it was for the best that Sampei hadkept his temper. The seed, dropped into the mind of No-Kami, wouldswell and burst and blossom by-and-by--the grain of suspicion which ata fitting season was to make of these brothers enemies. For thepresent it was best to drop the subject, to turn it off with a jest;then to make much of the illustrious visitor, and get rid of him assoon as possible.
O'Kiku, therefore, suddenly changed her tactics. With a careless laughand a wave of shapely arms she swept aside the dangerous topic, andremarked: "Perhaps I was wrong,--too prone to believe evil. Yourbrother was before me with the news. The Daimio of Nara is here, andmust be made welcome. If you will do him honour, I will see to thebestowing of his retinue. As you are her friend, Sampei--if reallynothing more--I trust you will beg his daughter to refrain fromtelling lies of us." With this, awaiting no reply, she vanished, and,resuming the demureness of the past and assuming a meek and graciousair that befitted the position of the concubine, proceeded to charmthe retainers of Nara as she had already conquered Hojo's.
What was he here for, this inconvenient guest? What could his objectbe in swooping down on Tsu? The question buzzed in her head as shemoved hither and thither, on hospitality intent. He must know that he,was little welcome. Had the chatelaine been goaded at last out of hersilence? Did the tiny pins at last lacerate her skin? Had she summonedher father to rescue her from a position that was unbearable?
What then? Would Nara, interfering on his child's behalf, insist uponthe prompt suppression of the second wife? And if he did, would hismandate be obeyed, or was No-Kami still strong enough to do battle forhis siren? The prestige of Japan's despot had not paled as yet, forthe secret of his peculiar mental condition was well kept. Suchprecautions had been taken that, though many knew the Daimio to beill, none but O'Kiku and Sampei were aware of his critical state. HadSampei, pursuing a tortuous game of his own, summoned Nara to council?The traitor! And what a simpleton she not to have foreseen and parriedsuch a stroke. Nara present and siding with Sampei--made aware ofNo-Kami's weakness--what easier for the twain than to seize the reinsand fling forth the offending concubine? Again was O'Kiku compelled toadmit with tingling cheeks how unskilfully she had developed planswhich at the start had seemed so promising. By pandering to his fears,and plying my lord with drink, she gained no doubt a measure of extraliberty, but purchased at what a cost! At a time when every man's handwas at his neighbour's throat, to lose your nerve was to lose respectand be toppled over in the fray. Execrated as she knew my lord to be,with myriad and lynx eyes watching for a cranny in his armour, why hadshe not foreseen that there would be traitors in the camp? O'Kiku hadbeen so careless because she reckoned on her rival's unpopularity. Nota swaggerer among the samurai--as she had long since learned--butlooked on his liege mistress with uncomprehending pity. To think thatbluff, single-minded Sampei--so skilful in the field, so blundering athome--should have had the inspiration to summon Nara! But had he? Surehis surprise on the arrival of the cavalcade was not feigned? If itwere, then was he a dangerous enemy indeed--concealing consummatecraft under an appearance of simplicity.
The more O'Kiku pondered and considered, the more nebulous grew theresult of her meditations, and on the morrow she was brought to thehighest stage of bewilderment by the departure of the Daimio of Naraas abruptly as he had arrived, and in a friendly manner too. Gazingthrough the hole made by a wetted finger in her paper-coveredcasement, she had striven to read on the faces of those concerned theresult of their interview: and her jaw dropped in sheer amazement. Wasthe lady O'Tei even more mean-spirited and craven than her rival hadsupposed? Fearful of retribution and ill-usage in the future, had shemasked her wounds from her parent, vowing she was well and happy, whenher very looks should betray the truth? In that case, neither she norher paramour had summoned Nara. Why then was he come? Could it havebeen of his own accord, so speedily to go away, with no result fromhis advent? The more she considered, the more knotty did the problemgrow--one that her low instincts could never fathom. She wist not thata proud nature, instead of crying out with shrill uproar, will concealstabs dealt in private by her legitimate lord from the scrutiny evenof a father; the more when her parent bears only the name, since hehas never won her love.
How surprised would the geisha have been could she have read theriddle aright. It was Masago, the Abbess, who had given the hint. She,who was but too well aware of the position of her favourite, could seethat she was dying slowly of a breaking heart, for each time that shevisited the temple O'Tei was more frail and wan, more spiritual inaspect; her step more slow and feeble. Moreover, over and abovepersonal affection for her, was it not the duty of the Abbess to givewarning to the lady's natural protector, lest her own dear boy Sampeishould be goaded to leap into the breach? Knowing all she knew, it wasa subject for marvel that Sampei should have refrained till now.School himself as he would, he could not conceal from a mother'sanxious gaze the canker that gnawed his entrails. So far as he wasconcerned, the arrows of O'Kiku had not missed their mark. He pinedwith sympathy,--was wrung with anguish at the drawn expression of thewistful face, the dimmed eyes that were once so bright, in which hopewas quite extinguished.
The Curse of Koshiu: A Chronicle of Old Japan Page 11
