"And I kill dragons which frighten little wives," laughed her husband, without fear. "Besides," he said, "it is well to remember that otherwise we shall not have the money for the passage when my call comes! You will go? Yes, you will go. Let us make a friend of this Jones."
Suddenly Hoshiko saw the hand of the gods in this, also, and went to Jones. Was not this a part of the way she had prayed to be shown? And she had impiously rebelled! Because of her rebellion she went with a certain alacrity.
Jones smiled often at Hoshiko. So often that Arisuga could not but notice it.
"The yellow dragon of Hanayama covets the dove of Arisuga," he laughed. "Yet doves are not good for dragons. This will be better."
He handed her the small toilet sword which Japanese women carry.
"I have heard," said Jones to Shijiro one day, "that Japanese husbands often rent their wives to pay their debts."
"That is true, lord," bowed his little butler.
"For a year, don't you know, or six months, or something like that?"
"It is true, lord," repeated the butler.
"And that the wives really like it?"