“Oh, you know—you know of whom I speak.”
“Yes, yes—certainly; but how do you mean—escaped? He was our honored guest, was he not?”
“His prince is my father’s mortal enemy. My father has been my jailer for many days now, and I—I have been forced to cause him to betray his prince. Oh, will you not understand!”
“Hah! It is all quite plain! But why did you not inform me sooner?”
“Because until yesterday my father kept so constant a watch over me that I could make no movement he would not have perceived. But do not ask useless questions now, Gen. Help me. Tell me what to do—what to do.”
“You say he has escaped? When and how did he go?”
“Last night, Gen. I climbed down the vine of the casement here. See, it is strong. My father for the first time had not been near me all day, and I thought I was safe from observation, though indeed I could not be sure. But I went to him and warned him of the danger, and he has gone to Choshui.”
“That is very well, then.”
“But my father may know the truth and will track him through the woods. I cannot live for the fear, the august dread, of what may befall him.”
“Do not tremble so, my lady. Things are not so dark as they seem. It is quite impossible for your father to have overheard you; he left Catzu at noon yesterday.”