“Then allow me to do to you what I choose and I will accept your apology.”
“By all means; do to me as you wish.”
“I will take that!” and he struck a blow at Shigenari’s cheek with all the force of his bare hand.
Shigenari smiled.
“Thank you for your chastisement!” he said, and went on his way.
Ryōkwan now strutted arrogantly about the castle, giving every one he met a highly-coloured account of what had occurred, and calling Shigenari “a white-livered samurai.” Those who were jealous of Shigenari’s promotion repeated the story in still more exaggerated terms, in consequence of which many samurai who had no real knowledge of the young officer’s character believed the tale and laughed to scorn his supposed pusillanimity. Shigenari knew all about this, but did not let it disturb him at all.
Not so his father-in-law, Yorikané. Being fiery-tempered and extremely punctilious concerning points of honour, he no sooner heard of the incident than he hurried to Shigenari’s residence and demanded to see him.
“Welcome, father-in-law,” said the young man composedly. “Pray sit down.”
“Sit down? No, I cannot sit down, and never again call me ‘father.’ I have come to tell you that you must divorce my daughter at once.”
“This is very sudden! What reason can you give for your strange request?”