"Yes; and who would be left to love me?" said Fide-Yori, sadly. "I am surrounded by devotion, not by affection like yours. But perhaps I am unjust," he added; "you are the only one I love, and doubtless that is why I think no one loves me but you."
Nagato raised his eyes gratefully to the Prince.
"You feel that you are forgiven, don't you?" said Fide-Yori, smiling. "But try to spare me the Regent's reproaches; you know how painful they are to me. Go and salute him; the hour of his levee is at hand; we will meet again in the council."
"Must I smile upon that ugly creature?" grumbled Nagato.
But he had his dismissal; he saluted the Shogun, and moved away with a sulky air.
Fide-Yori continued his walk along the avenue, but soon returned to the lemon grove. He paused to admire it once more, and plucked a slender twig loaded with flowers. But just then the foliage rustled as if blown by a strong breeze; an abrupt movement stirred the branches, and a young girl appeared among the blossoms.
The Shogun started violently, and almost uttered a cry; he fancied himself the prey to some hallucination.
"Who are you?" he exclaimed; "perhaps the guardian spirit of this grove?"
"Oh, no," said the girl in a trembling voice; "but I am a very bold woman."
She issued from the grove amidst a shower of snowy petals, and knelt on the grass, stretching out her hands to the King.