“I should return the cup to your lordship.”
“No, I will have it after her. Give it to Katsuno.”
Hachiya had no choice but to do as he was told, and accordingly offered the cup, into which he had poured more saké, to the maid-of-honour, who overcome with shyness, took and sipped it with difficulty.
“Give it to me.”
Nobuyuki drank off three cupfuls and then said with a sly laugh:—
“I am mightily glad you have thus exchanged the wine-cups of betrothal! Ha, ha! You have my hearty congratulations!”
The young lovers prostrated themselves in acknowledgment of his favour, but even as they did so the loud clang, clang of the alarm-bell broke the stillness of the night and caused them all to start up to listen.
“What can it be?” exclaimed Hachiya, opening the shōji to look out. No need to ask that question; the lurid sky, the quickly rising flames and showers of falling sparks proclaimed all too surely a house on fire!
“A fire, my lord! And not more than five chō beyond the pine-trees on the bank of the moat. I must go at once!”