“I would return even before that, should you wish it.”

“You are always kind, Daikomitsu.”

CHAPTER XXVIII
THE DAIMYO’S ARREST

Daikomitsu proceeded directly to Tokyo, and upon his arrival found the shogun’s party considerably stirred up over what threatened to become a serious breach. It had been strongly hinted by some of Ikamon’s enemies that the lord daimyo of Kanazawa had withdrawn in disgust, and for no other reason than a hearty dislike of his son-in-law’s encouragement of everything foreign. There was also gaining ground a feeling that the crafty minister had used too much to his own advantage the powers of the shogun. Notwithstanding this latter charge, the real cause for dissension centred in the growing distrust of the foreigners. Here as in Kyoto it had already become the main issue, and strong overtures were being made to some of the leaders in the mikado’s ranks for a coalition of all the anti-foreign forces.

Upon Daikomitsu’s return to the scene at Tokyo he was showered with every consideration. In fact some of the more ardent openly stated that he had come as the secret envoy of the mikado, for the express purpose of encouraging a friendly understanding between the two heads of government on that subject.

Ikamon was not at all pleased with these friendly demonstrations, because things had so shaped themselves that he could not recede from the position taken had he so desired or thought best. He had used his influence with the shogunate to stamp approval only upon such foreign measures as he had been forced to concede, rather than involve the nation in open hostilities with the powers; which he knew full well would have been practical suicide. As a result of these several contentions there had sprung up, among a few of the more radical of the prime minister’s foes, a demand for the regency of Hitotsubashi, and whisperings of Daikomitsu as a possible successor to Ikamon himself. It had already come to Ikamon’s ears that even Tetsutaisho had listened to the rumors with indifference, whereupon the prime minister sought an interview with Daikomitsu and undertook to wrest from him a definite understanding. The easy-going scholar, of course, denied any such thought as disloyalty to a friend, and carelessly went so far as to suggest stringent measures.

“This unrest must be checked in some way,” said he to Ikamon, a day or so before he had fully made up his mind to return to Kyoto. “Why, it is rumoured that even Maido is in some way dissatisfied. Yet I should sooner think it his son, Shibusawa, were he in a position to speak.”

“I will admit a drag-net might surprise the most sanguine these days—still, Maido is beyond question. When he has proven false, then it is high time for such as you and I to indulge a quicker spirit. In the meantime let us not abstain too much from the liquor—this the golden wine that kissed the wood these forty years or more—and here is to ‘longer friendship’,” said Ikamon, as he raised the bowl to his own lips, then passed it to his guest.