The man checked himself at the threshold and bowed low, a tobacco pouch of fancy leather dangling from his right hand. Clad in a heavy, easy silk gown of finely meshed pattern and a short outer-coat of bluish dapple of minute design, a man of prosperous dimensions, smooth of manner and apparently of mind, befitting the description given before.
“Will you two there be just quiet? I’m in the thick of my concert, don’t you see?” Her expostulation was flung at them brusquely, just as the two men were about to enter into the ceremony of mutual introduction. But, without so much as giving them a glance, she played on.
“Sorry to disturb you, but you are wanted at once. Let me have a word with you downstairs—I shan’t keep you long.”
At this moment, his eyes sought hers with a peculiar gleam, evidently intent on conveying to her a covert message.
“I know what I am wanted for, but you couldn’t budge me with a sledge-hammer, to-night! Just think! Going with my dearest body left here alone?—No, and you feel for me, and say no more!”
“You are wrong. It is true there is that thing you remember about; but what I am now here for, concerns this very young man here, Shinsuké san.”
“How long have you kept yourself in here, anyhow?—that you should know Shin san by his name, when you’ve never seen him before?” She levelled her question, now laying her samisen aside.
“Just a moment ago,” he explained. “But hearing you downstairs call out ‘Shin san’ every now and then, it wasn’t such a hard guessing. To find you hale and strong like this after all hopes were lost,” he turned to the young man, “why, what could be better—mean more happiness for O-Tsuya?”
“So, not much of poking in your nose. Well, if you must have it your way, let me hear it here.”
“Aha! Why’s that? You’ve got all the time on your hand, now that your best man’s been caught. Why not a minute off—downstairs—and I’m not going to keep you longer than that.”