Kanpei. Ah, yes.
Mother. And where did you see him? And where did he go when he left you?
Kanpei. Well, we parted at...... let me see...... was it at Toba or Fushimi? Or Yodo or Takeda?
Recitative. While he speaks at random, Meppo Yahachi, Tanegashima no Roku, and Tanuki no Kakubei, three hunters of the neighbourhood, come in without ceremony, bearing on a shutter Yoichibei’s body, covered over with a straw rain-coat.
Yahachi. As we were coming home from the night’s work, we found your old man’s body, and so we have brought it here.
Recitative. The mother is amazed.
Mother. Whose deed was it? Tell me, my son, who is the murderer? Please, revenge his death. Oh, my husband, my husband!
Recitative. But her cries are in vain; there is naught but tears for her.
Hunters. Oh, how grieved you must be, old mother! Appeal to the Lord Deputy’s office and have the matter inquired into. We are very sorry for you.