"And he is really married?" asked another lord.
"Very really," said the Prince of Tosa; "the marriage is legal, in spite of the woman's low rank."
"The Prince invents new follies every day, and gives splendid feasts; he must come to an end of his vast fortune ere long."
"If he is ruined, it will please the Regent, who does not love him over much."
"Yes; but it will grieve the Shogun, who is exceedingly fond of him, and who will never let him want for money."
"Hollo!" cried the Prince of Tosa, "there comes Nagato back to the palace."
A procession was indeed passing through the gardens. On the banners and on the norimono, borne by twenty men, were visible the insignia of the Prince,—a black bolt surmounting three balls in pyramidal form. The cortége marched quite near the veranda which sheltered the nobles, and through the curtains of the norimono they saw the young Prince dozing on his cushions.
"He surely won't come to the Regent's levee," said one lord; "he would run the risk of falling asleep on the shoulder of Hieyas."
"Nagato never comes to pay his respects to Hieyas; he detests him profoundly; he is his avowed enemy."
"Such an enemy is not much to be feared," said the Prince of Tosa. "On his return from these nightly escapades he is only fit for sleeping."