“Is it error to speak highly of the august lord who saved your master’s daughter from the shame of ronin capture? The presence of Woroto Sama honors the garden.”
“The black ships of the barbarians glide up the bay against wind and tide, propelled by evil magic!” cried another hatamoto. “In the morning they will destroy all Yedo with their cannon. This tojin is their spy, august lady. Give him to us!”
“That is a double lie,” I rejoined, “a lie born of cowardice. Every man among you knows that the black ships cannot approach near enough to Yedo to throw a cannon ball into the city.”
“Spy!” hissed the mob. “The court found you guilty!”
“And the Shogun annulled the sentence! Find Gengo, and learn the truth.”
“There is no need, my lord,” said Azai, and she bowed low to the kneeling hatamotos. “Permission is given to withdraw.”
The men upon the bank kowtowed. Those in the water waded ashore. All set off across the garden, without so much as a murmur.