IF OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT
Matazaémon's illness justified all the predictions of Cho[u]bei. In the
course of the month it was plain that his last hold on life was rapidly
weakening. In that time Iémon had won golden opinions from household and
neighbours. His face was beautiful, and this they saw. His heart was
rotten to the core, and this he kept carefully concealed. The incentive
of his fear of O'Iwa kept up the outward signs of good-will. He found
this easier with the passage of the days. Plain as she was in face and
figure, no one could help being attracted by the goodness of O'Iwa's
disposition. Iémon, in his peculiar situation, placed great hopes on
this, even if discovery did take place. Day following day he began to
discount this latter contingency. To a feeling of half liking, half
repugnance, was added a tinge of contempt for one so wrapped in her
immediate surroundings, whose attention was so wholly taken up with the
matter in hand. She easily could be kept in ignorance, easily be
beguiled.
One day Iémon was summoned to the old man's bedside. He was shocked at
the change which had taken place in a few hours. Propped upon pillows
Matazaémon would speak a few last words. With a shade of his old
impertinent official smile and manner--"The Tamiya is to be
congratulated on its great good fortune in the entrance of one so well
qualified by appearance and manners to uphold its reputation. Deign,
honoured Muko San, to accept the thanks of this Matazaémon. All else has
been placed in the hands of Iémon--goods, reputation, granddaughter."
Iémon bowed flat in acknowledgment and protest at the good-will
expressed. Continued Matazaémon--"There is one matter close to the old
man's heart. Concerning that he would make his last request to the
admirable heart of Iémon. Iwa is a plain girl. The end of time for man,
and the carping comment of neighbours come to his ears, have opened the
eyes of Matazaémon to the truth. Great has been the favour in
disregarding this plainness and taking her to wife. Everything is in the
hands of Iémon San. Consider her happiness and deign to use her well.
Abstain if possible from taking a concubine. At all events conceal the
fact from Iwa, if it be deigned to keep such company. Plainness and
jealousy go together. Faithful and upright, such a disposition as hers
is not to be strained on that point. She would be very unhappy. Better
the light women of Shinjuku Nakacho[u], than one who takes the place of
the wife. Condescend to remember this last request of Tamiya
Matazaémon." He clasped the hand of Iémon, and tears were in his eyes as
he spoke. Iémon, too, was affected. It almost frightened him to be left
alone with O'Iwa. "Deign not to consider such unlikely contingency. The
amiability of O'Iwa is compensation for the greatest beauty. Who could
think of injuring her in any way? Perhaps a child soon will be the
issue. With this in mind condescend to put aside all gloomy thoughts.
Concentrate the honoured will on life, and complete recovery to health
will follow. Such, indeed, is the daily prayer of this Iémon at the
Myo[u]gyo[u]ji."
Matazaémon smiled faintly--with gratification or grimness? Perhaps
death unseals the vision. Often indeed did Iémon present himself at the
family temple; he the substitute for the Master of Tamiya. But as often
did his feet return by the diametrically opposite direction, running the
gauntlet of the charms of the frail beauties of Nakacho[u]. Iémon held
on to the hand of Matazaémon, swearing and forswearing himself with the
greatest earnestness and the best of intentions. Suddenly he raised his
head. The emotion aroused by the interview had been too much for the old
man's fluttering heart. His head had slipped down sideways on the
pillow. A little stream of dark bitter refuse flowed from the mouth and
choked him. He was dead.
Great was the grief of wife and grandchild; great was the importance of
Iémon, now in very fact Master of Tamiya. Whether or not he followed the
advice of Cho[u]bei, and gave the old woman _tokagé_ (lizard); whether
her constant small journeys to the houses of neighbours, reciting a
litany of praise of this wondrous son-in-law; whether the loss of the
companion of so many years wore out the feeble frame; it is fact that
O'Naka followed her lord before the maple leaf turned red. Again the
Tamiya was the scene of the funereal chanting of the priest. The corpse
removed with the provision for the guests and watchers at the wake, the
seventh night of the death observed, with this removal of the deceased
spirit from the scenes of its former activities Iémon could turn himself
without impediment to the life of the future. Outward change there was
none. He was the same kind and affectionate husband as of former days.
Neighbours, anticipating some change of manner, were still louder in
their praises. One day there appeared at Tamiya two intimates, Natsumé
Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. "Iémon Uji, a matter of importance
presses. We are on our way to the ward head, Ito[u] Kwaiba Dono. Deign
to go in company. You are known to be an expert at _go_,[20] a game at
which the old man prides himself for skill. He chafes at the presence of
this unknown rival, heard of but not yet tested. A dinner and wine are
at stake. Without Iémon Uji we do not dare to present ourselves.
Condescend to go in company. To know the great man of the ward, the
wealthy Ito[u] Kwaiba, is of advantage even to Tamiya." Iémon laughed
and assented. He was soon dressed for the greater ceremony of a first
visit. All three climbed down into their clogs, and set out for the
house of the Kumi-gashira near Samégabashi.
If Iémon had been impressed by the wealth of Tamiya, he felt
insignificant before that of the head of Yotsuya. Ito[u] Kwaiba was a
man of sixty-four years, retaining much of the vigour of his youth. For
the past ten years he had added _go_ to his twin passions for wine and
women, neither of which seemed to have made any impression on a keenness
of sight which could read the finest print by the scanty light of an
_andon_, teeth which could chew the hard and tough dried _mochi_ (rice
paste) as if bean confection, and an activity of movement never to be
suspected from his somewhat heavy frame. At the name of Tamiya he looked
up with much curiosity, and Iémon thought his greeting rather brusque.
He saluted with great respect--"Truly fear is inspired. For long no
visit has been paid to the honoured head. Coming thus without invitation
is very rude. Intrusion is feared."--"Nay! Nay!" replied Kwaiba,
apparently attracted by the splendid externals of Iémon. "The failure to
visit is reciprocal. In fact, Tamiya and this Kwaiba have been at odds
these many years. Visits had altogether ceased. This, however, is no
matter for the younger generation. But Iémon San is indeed a fine
fellow. So Kwaiba had heard from all he met. Ah! A fellow to put all the
girls in a flutter. He is the very image of this Kwaiba in younger
years. The husbands were little troubled when he was around. The fair
ones were attracted. Well, well: they all had their turn at Kwaiba; and
Kwaiba has stood the pace. He is as good to-day as ever; in some
ways.... And it is a man like Iémon San who has married the--lady of
Tamiya." Iémon knew the term "O'Baké" had nearly slipped out. Knowing
O'Iwa's attractiveness of temperament, feeling touched in his own
conceit, this astonished and satirical reception he met with on every
side nettled him more than a little. Perhaps Kwaiba noted it. With
greatest unction he urged a cushion and at once changed the subject.
"Iémon San is noted as a _go_ player. This Kwaiba is a mere amateur. It
is for him to ask odds in making request for a game.... Ho! Heigh! The
_go_ board and stones!"
Kwaiba and Iémon were the antagonists. Natsumé and Imaizumi sat at the
sides of the board. Kwaiba, confident in his powers, readily accepted
the deprecatory answer of Iémon at its face value. The game was to be on
even terms. Iémon really was an expert of the sixth grade; certainly of
several grades superiority to Kwaiba.[21] The latter's brows knit as his
position rapidly became imperilled. Natsumé was in a ferment. Fish or
wine? If Iémon sought Kwaiba's favour by a preliminary sound thrashing
at his favourite game, the prospects of either were small. He dropped
his tobacco pipe. In picking it up he gave the buttocks of Iémon a
direct and severe pinch. Iémon was too astonished to cry out. His ready
mind sought a motive for this unexpected assault and pain. The face of
Natsumé was unmoved, that of Imaizumi anxious. A glance at Kwaiba's
attitude enlightened him. Politeness and a dinner were at stake. Even
Natsumé and Imaizumi wondered and admired at what followed. The blunder
of Iémon was a stroke of genius, the inspiration of an expert player. It
was a slight blunder, not obvious to the crudeness of Kwaiba; but it
opened up the whole of Iémon's position and put the game in his
antagonist's hands. Kwaiba promptly seized the advantage. His triumphant
glance shifted continually from Iémon to the onlookers, as the former
struggled bravely with a desperate position. Kwaiba won this first game
somewhat easily. A second he lost by a bare margin. In the third he
scored success in a manner to make evident his superiority over a really
expert player. Confident in his championship of the ward, he was all
geniality as at the end he sorted and swept back the _go_ stones into
their polished boxes. "_Go-ishi_ of Shingu; soft as a woman's hands. But
never mind the sex. Now for fish and wine.... However, Hana can serve
the liquor for us." To the servant--"Heigh! Some refreshments for the
honoured guests; and convey the request of Kwaiba to O'Hana San, to be
present."
With the wine appeared O'Hana San. She was a beautiful girl. Of not
more than twenty years, on the graceful sloping shoulders was daintily
set a head which attracted attention and admiration. The face was a pure
oval--of the _uri_ or melon, as the Nipponese class it--with high brow,
and was framed in long hair gathered below the waist and reaching nearly
to her ankles with its heavy luxuriant mass. She was dressed for the hot
season of the year in a light coloured Akashi crape, set off by an _obi_
or broad sash of peach colour in which were woven indistinct and
delicate wavy designs. The sleeves, drawn a little back, showed the arms
well up to the shoulder. Glimpses of a beautifully moulded neck and
bosom appeared from time to time as she moved here and there in her
preparation of the service of the wine utensils. The delicate tissue of
the dress seemed to caress the somewhat narrow hips of a girlish figure.
Every movement was studied and graceful. This O'Hana had belonged to the
Fukadaya at Yagura no Shita of Fukagawa. She had been what is known as
an _obitsuké_ harlot, wearing the _obi_ in the usual form, without the
loose overrobe or _shikaké_ of the common women. "In the period of
Tempo[u] (1830-1843) all Fukagawa harlots were dressed in this manner."
Attracted by her beauty old Kwaiba had ransomed her and made her his
concubine. For nearly two years she had held this position in his house.
In serving the wine she came to the front and knelt before Iémon as
first to receive it. In handing him the tray with the cup she looked
into his face. The start on the part of both was obvious. Some of the
wine was spilled.
Said Kwaiba--"Then Iémon Uji, you know this woman?" His tone was hard
and truculent. It conveyed the suspicion of the jealous old male.
Iémon's former profession stood him in good stead. He had a glib tongue,
and no intention to deny what had been made perfectly obvious--"It is
fact, and nothing to be ashamed of on the part of Iémon; except as to
attendant conditions beyond control. I was a diviner on the public
highway."--"So 'twas heard," grumbled Kwaiba. "Without customers, and
with no use for the diviner's lens but to charr the rafters of the
garret in which you lived." Iémon did not care to notice the attack. He
merely said--"Deign not to find amusement in what really is a serious
matter to one who has to suffer poverty. While seated at the diviner's
stand attention was drawn by a girl coming down the Kuramaé. Slouching
along close by her was a drunken _samurai_. From time to time he lurched
entirely too close to her. Turning unexpectedly her sunshade caught in
his _haori_ (cloak), which thereby was slightly torn. At once he flew
into a great rage. Laying hands on her he showed no disposition to
accept her excuses. 'Careless wench! You have torn my dress. How very
impudent of you. Unless you at once accompany me to the tea house close
by, to serve the wine and please me, pardon, there is none; be sure of
that.' The people had gathered like a black mountain. Nothing was to be
seen but heads. O'Hana San was in the greatest embarrassment, unable to
free herself from the insults and importunities of the drunken fellow.
The _samurai_ was hid under the diviner's garb. Stepping from the stand
I interposed in the girl's behalf, making apology, and pointing out the
rudeness of his behaviour to the drunkard. Instead of becoming calm he
raised his fist and struck me in the face. His condition gave the
advantage without use of arms. Locking a leg in his tottering supports I
threw him down into the ditch. Then with a word to O'Hana San to flee at
once, we disappeared in different directions. The _samurai_ Iémon again
became the diviner. That part of his rôle this Iémon regrets; but a
weapon he could not draw in the quarrel. Later on meeting O'Hana San at
the Kwannon temple of Asakusa thanks were received, for what was a very
trivial service."--"And again renewed," said the beauty, raising her
downcast face to look direct into that of Iémon. Said Kwaiba--"Ah!
That's the tale, is it? A fortunate encounter, and a strange reunion;
but the world is full of such. O'Hana, it comes in most befitting that
opportunity is afforded to favour the rescuer with something of greater
value than thanks. Pray serve him with wine." Then did Kwaiba take the
matter as a man of the world. But he was no fool, "this old _tanuki_
(badger) of a thousand autumns' experience on hill and in dale." He
understood very well that between Iémon and O'Hana there had been a
closer connection than that of mere accident.