The boy flushed slightly as an eager delight betrayed for a moment his pleasure in Mori’s words.
“Have you, then, missed me?” he began, in a warm voice, to break off abruptly as a forced coldness took possession of him. “I have been much engaged, my lord,” he said, without enthusiasm.
“Ah!” said Mori, quietly, noting his flushing face; “and I am ready to wager it was with a maiden.”
“It was, my lord.”
“Ah!—thou, too, Jiro,” said Mori, sadly. “A youth, thou hast come to the gates of love, to enter paradise—or hell.”
“It was not an affair of love, my lord.”
“No?”
“I have been endeavoring to right the wrongs of a woman—a very near kinswoman. But I find that I am without power to proceed further.”
“Nay, tell me, Jiro, thy troubles, and those of thy kinswoman. I am not without power now, and may assist thee.”
Mori smiled pitifully at thought of his power and the poor satisfaction it held, now that its great consummation had been crowned.