Okaru. The day will soon break, and you are not allowed to enter the gate. You will now go home and rest yourself.
Recitative. The servant obeys and goes home. She peeps within.
Okaru. What is Kanpei doing? I want to see him as I have a message.
Recitative. As she looks around, Kanpei sees her from behind.
Kanpei. Are you not Okaru?
Okaru. Master Kanpei, I wanted to see you. I am glad that you have come.
Kanpei. H’m, I cannot understand why you are here, alone and unattended at this time of night.
Okaru. Why, I sent back the servant who came with me, and I remained here alone, because I came on an errand from my lady. I was to see you and tell you to hand this letter-case to our lord and beg him to give it direct to Lord Moronao. But, she added, as he must be very busy, it might not reach my lord’s hand, and she had better not send it to-night. But I wanted to see you, and so I said to her that however busy our lord might be, he would surely have time to hand an ode or two to Lord Moronao. And so I hurried here, and I am quite out of breath.
Kanpei. Then, all that is needed is that our lord should himself hand this letter-case to Lord Moronao. Well, I will go and give it to our lord, and so wait for me.
Recitative. Suddenly, a voice is heard calling out within the gate.