Was it charity, or revenge, that prompted Hideyoshi?
Coming down, suggested he, to Ieyasu, no doubt triumphantly, but none the less mercifully—putting into his mouth the words that he had floundered so bitterly to command or riddle.
Shame overcame any better impulse, and turning upon his adversary, Ieyasu half whined, half scowled:
Perhaps you yourself had best drink the toast.
To-morrow, I may; or, perchance, it shall not be until the next day; thank you, replied Hideyoshi, not the least perturbed.
CHAPTER XIII
All the powers of earth could not have tried the princess more; she realized now that she had, out of zeal, overtaxed Ieyasu, and in that opened the way for Hideyoshi perhaps successfully to pit a wit against her lovers returning steadfastness.
Oh, it isnt much, after all, and—I can propose another, stammered she, though composedly, in some vain way to stem the tide and save still the man she adored; just why, she could not tell nor would others surmise.