“Why is that?”
“Because there are many who would see our rightful sovereign, our divine Emperor, upon the throne.”
“But, my lord, his Imperial Majesty is, indeed, already upon the throne, is he not?”
“Only nominally. I fear, my lady, that you have not read the Dai Nihon Shi of the Prince of Mori?”
“No, but I am much interested in it.”
“The history,” continued the young man, with vehement bitterness, “was purged repeatedly by the Yedo censor of the Shogun. It dared to speak the truth to the people. I do assure you it was not destroyed, however, before it had done its work well.”
“How? Pray do tell me all about it.”
“Have you never heard that pious—fanatical, if you will—cry, a barely half-muffled war-cry now, ‘Daigi Heibunor!’” [the King and the subject].
His voice rose with a growing passion. Into his eyes leaped the gleam of the patriot.
An exclamation escaped the lips of the young girl.