The other was frightened out of his wits.
“Oh! do you say there’s a gift of a thousand rio for me in this packet? Isn’t it empty?”
“No, it’s not empty. Lift it and see.”
Whereupon Seihachi tried to lift it and said: “Truly, it’s too heavy; I can’t lift it! Isn’t this a dream?” said he, as he pinched his knee.
Bunzayemon laughed. “It is not a dream. It’s a reward to you, sure and certain, and you had better take it home with you.”
“Really, I thank you, sir. In the time of the fire I carried charity bento only three times, for I was working at other things; therefore I’m not worthy of so great a reward!”
“It isn’t a reward for that.”
“Then for the inclosure which I did for Sendai Sama, the daimio; for that work my assistants came late, so I couldn’t finish it till late in the evening. The work ought to have been finished much earlier.”
“It isn’t for that.”
“Not for that, either? For what is it, then, sir?”