I seated myself beside my friend, and waited with such patience as I could command. Yoritomo returned to his prayers. Presently a screen slipped open, and Yuki entered, dressed in new silk garments and already somewhat restored to strength by the food and skilful treatment. Though just roused from the midst of sleep, he came to us smiling, and kowtowed with courtly politeness.
“Ten thousand felicitous years to Yoritomo Sama and to the tojin lord!” he murmured. “Humble thanks are offered to the courageous swordsmen who saved from shame the daughter of Minamoto Iyeyoshi my lord!”
“The heart of the brave samurai is loyal even in disgrace!” commended Yoritomo. “Has Satsuma-no-kami yet offered to receive the ronin among his retainers?”
“Offer has not been made, my lord.”
“Your parents survive? You have an heir?”
Yuki bowed to each question. Yoritomo nodded and continued: “Blessed is the samurai who can give his life to lift his parents from beggary to honored affluence; whose heir has full cause to stand before the mortuary tablet of his father with grateful reverence! Offer is made to receive the family of Yuki the ronin into the service of Owari.”
Yuki kowtowed. “The condescension of my lord is above the acknowledgment of empty words. Command the ronin to return into the hands of the torturers! His gratitude may not be expressed by the sacrifice of mere life.”
“Service, not martyrdom, is required,” replied Yoritomo. He drew the revolver from his bosom and handed it to the ronin. “Bear this in hiding with the dirk of Satsuma. To-morrow, when we come from the court, be at hand. If we are led out to execution, follow. Whatever the strength of the executioner’s guard, your part is to strike when I call to you; to cut our bonds, and hold back the hatamotos while we make use of dirk and pistol.”
“There will be no mistake. Loyal service is the joy of a samurai,” responded Yuki.
Yoritomo crossed over to a small writing table, wrote swiftly, and marked the paper with his seal. He returned and handed the writing to the ronin. “At sunrise go with your family to the Superior Yashiki of Owari, and present this to my august father.”