“O Setsu San will believe that no rudeness was intended by the ignorant tojin” I said. “In his land courtesy requires a lord to offer his hand and assist a lady to rise.”
O Setsu San bowed to hide her amazement, and murmured to her mistress: “Grant permission for me to conduct the tojin lord from the enclosure. The presence of a stranger is not permissible.”
“Gengo the chamberlain brought me into this garden and left me at the summer-house yonder,” I explained, pointing towards the coppice. “My understanding was that he went to fetch the Shogun or some high official. Hardly had he gone when the hatamotos appeared and charged upon me without provocation.”
“They are the guard from the nearest gate,” said Azai. “Such rudeness may not be disregarded. Command will be sent them to commit hara-kiri.”
“No!” I protested. “They erred through overzealous loyalty, misled, I suspect, by the same plotters who set the ronins upon your cortege.”
“Keiki!” murmured O Setsu San, with subtle intuition.
“Keiki—and others. But I intrude upon the privacy of the Princess. Tell me which way I should go to leave the enclosure.”
“Had Gengo orders to bring you into the presence of my august father?” inquired Azai.
“He stated that my presence was required at the palace. Was I wrong in believing that the Shogun had sent for me?”
Azai looked earnestly at her lady-in-waiting.