"But that is a low trade," objected the Yoshiwara magnate.
"It is very secret; your name need never be spoken."
"And it is too scattered, too disorganised, it would be impossible to control."
"I do not think it would be so difficult. What might be proposed is a geisha trust."
"But even the Fujinami have not got enough money."
"Within one month I guarantee to find the right men, with the money and the experience and the influence."
"Then the business would no longer be the Fujinami only—"
"It would be as in America, a combine, something on a big scale. In Japan one is content with such small business. Indeed, we Japanese are a very small people."
"In America, perhaps, there is more confidence," said the elder man; "but in Japan we say, 'Beware of friends who are not also relatives,' There is, as you know, the temple of Inari Daimy[=o]jin in Asakusa. They say that if a man worships at that temple he becomes the owner of his friend's wealth. I fear that too many of us Japanese make pilgrimage to that temple after nightfall."
With those words, Mr. Fujinami picked up a newspaper to indicate that the audience was terminated; and Mr. Ito, after a series of prostrations, withdrew.