“To the dungeon!”

As she was being hurried from the house Tetsutaisho turned his back upon the one he had so long coveted, and hastened to his wife, nervously listening to her clear and unequivocal denunciation. She told him without a blush how she had come upon Kinsan while in the act of flinging the sleeping child into the dark crevice, and how she had suffered through all these years with fear, and how she had hesitated to disclose to him her knowledge of the awful deed because she believed his love for Kinsan would bring a punishment upon herself.

“You will forgive me, my most honourable husband, will you not?” said she, calmly and invitingly.

He did not deign to answer her, though his strong frame trembled as an ungoverned rage leaped to the fore and grew within him. For Nehachibana he had no compassion; nothing but regret. He mourned his lost son, and waxed hot with anger.

“She shall die, and that by the saw!” said he, in a half-crazed undertone.

“No, no; give me the chance; I’ll devise a torment!” said Nehachibana, quickly.

“You? And why you?”

Nehachibana stared blankly. She did not comprehend. She had no answer. He looked at her and for the first time realised the truth. He knew in a moment the awful consequences of his life. He would then have recalled Kinsan, but the loss of his only son was more than he could bear; without a thought of further inquiry he believed her guilty; if not of murder then of unfaithfulness, and according to his code either gave sufficient cause; her punishment must follow as the only lawful consequence.

Thus he parted with Nehachibana without further denial or assurance, and she felt happy and satisfied with her revenge; and when Daikomitsu called the next evening, she made haste to express her delight, offering no pretence of shielding Kinsan’s wicked fate. The prime minister was shocked at her lack of feeling, and listened to her with astonishment; she did not stop with revelling at Kinsan’s sorrow, but lauded the infant of whom she knew her husband to be the father, and flattered herself at the thought of its highborn mother.

Daikomitsu sat dumfoundered and full of pity until his informant volunteered to disclose the name of Sodachinojoi’s mother, then he started and with frightened voice said: