Yoshi—"Once it showed itself beside the andon. The second time it was seen in the necessary. At evening it was seated at the entrance to the stairs. There is nothing to fear, unless it be the work of fox or badger. It would be bad for outsiders to get wind of it; so I would like to have the place cleaned."
Mikawaya—"Is it man or woman?"
Yoshi—"There is no doubt of its being a man, of small stature. His dress plainly is of grey cotton."
Mikawaya—"A dress of grey cotton—the man of small stature. Un! Jō! It is that low fellow."
Yoshi—"Oi! Oi! Danna, did you know him? Was he a wicked fellow? Setting up in the ghost way—pray excuse me."
Landlord—"Ma! Yoshi San, please hear what I have to say. The house that I rent to you originally was a brothel called the Yamashiroya. The landlord was an unrighteous fellow. One night an oiran lacked any guest.[49] He took her with him to the seméba—(punishment room) and treated her most cruelly. No one called the place 'the Yamashiroya.' It was known as the Onimisé (devil-shop) of Fushimichō. It was just this time last year that a wakashū (attendant) named Tokuzo fell in love with a woman named Kotsu no Wakataké. Pressed for money, to get it he had an eye to the pillows of the guests. From the low brothel mentioned perhaps he would get a bu—a couple of shū. A restitution privately effected would have been well. He was roped up and carried off to the town hall. In every way a low scoundrel he was sent to Temmachō. Soon after he died in the jail. Subsequently there were nothing but unpleasant happenings at the Yamashiroya. It was completely ruined. Later I bought it. Undecided about setting it up, I divided it into two houses and rented them out."
Yoshi—"Hei!"
Mikawaya—"That Tokuzo, as the wakashū was called, when sent to the town hall was dressed in the thin grey cotton robe given as present to him by an oiran. I knew Tokuzo. He was flighty and good natured; an interesting fellow. Of low stature, he was a good worker. Probably he failed to carry out his purpose."
Yoshi—"Is that the case? It is a wonderful affair. Anyhow condescend to make everything clean."
Mikawaya—"Agreed."