“My words are plain,” he said. “I have come to seek my wife.”
“She is not here.” The voice was raised angrily now. “Seek elsewhere, foreign devil!”
He ignored the insult and persisted doggedly.
“Where shall I seek?”
Some one laughed jeeringly within, and then the taunting words floated out:
“Ask of the gods, priest of the evil one.”
“I ask of you,” he said hoarsely. “I shall not leave your house till you reply.”
He heard the sound as of one moving with angry and impetuous haste within, pushing whatever stood in her path aside. Madame Yamada thrust aside the sliding shoji doors and stood in the opening.
Her words were mockingly sarcastic, and she bowed with extravagance.
“In what way can the humblest one serve the mightiest?”