Yoshi—"How annoying! The Otawaya San has lent me money. Dōmo! A meeting, 'tis bad news."
Man—"As nothing was said about it—go. Surely the return of the loan is not involved."
Yoshi—"It's not to be avoided. I'll go and see."
Opposite to the theatre was the tea house called the "Bairin." He went in.
Yoshi—"Good-day."
Maid—"Oya! Yoshi San. As the master of Otowaya is waiting upstairs for you, just condescend to go up."
Yoshi—"Ah! Is that so? Condescend to pardon."
Don, don, he climbed the stairs. At the end of a six-mat room was a man fanning himself. He was alone. It was Kikugorō, the third of the name. He had been noted as a handsome man. However, at this time he was an old man. The white summer garb of that very fine quality of cloth-grass known as jōfu was girded in by a chakenjō obi.[46] Of his profession there was not a hint.
Kikugorō—"Sa! Yoshi San, come here, please."
Yoshi—"The patron: dōmo! truly it has been rude not to come and see you. I have not crossed the threshold."