THE PLOT DEVELOPS
For two days Iémon was maturing the preliminaries. He seemed unwell and
out of sorts. The third day he did not get up at all. O'Iwa was properly
anxious. Said she--"The change in the year is a sickly season.
Condescend to take some drug. Allow Suian Sensei to be summoned." Iémon
grumbled a dissent. She went on in her enthusiasm--"He is the very
prince of doctors. See: here is a salve he recommends; for skin and
nerves. O'Hana San, the beautiful concubine of Ito[u] Sama, uses nothing
else. He guarantees it on her praise, as means to remove blemishes of
any kind or source." Iémon looked up quickly. The connection puzzled and
did not please him. Perhaps he noted a puffiness about O'Iwa's face,
remembered a repulsion toward marital usages. The women should leave the
men to play their own game. He said gruffly--"Suian! A dealer in
cosmetics and charms. Have naught to do with his plasters and potions;
as cheats or something worse. As for O'Iwa, she is black as a farm hand
from Ryu[u]kyu[u] (Loo-choo). O'Hana is fair as the white _kiku_. Can
the pastes of Suian Sensei change black to white?" Startled, O'Iwa
looked round from the glass into which she was peering. She was taken by
surprise. In their personal relations Iémon had always been more than
considerate. For some weeks in secret she had been using this drug of
Suian Sensei. In childhood O'Iwa had shown something of an epileptic
tendency. This had worn off with time. Of late the recurrence had
alarmed her. The drug of Suian, at the time anyhow, made her less
conscious of the alarmed critical feeling which heralded the inception
of the attacks.
Iémon gave her but time to catch the meaning of his insult. He went
on--"Probably it is but a cold. Some eggs, with plenty of hot wine, will
obviate ill effects. Deign to see that they are prepared." The channel
of O'Iwa's thoughts changed. At once she was the housekeeper and nurse,
and all solicitude to make him at ease. In the course of the meal of
eggs with _saké_ in came Natsumé Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon. "Ah!
Iémon, pardon the intrusion. Probably the engagement of yesterday with
Kwaiba Sama was forgotten.... In bed! A cold? But such is no treatment
for the complaint. There should be a cheerful, lively atmosphere.... Ah!
Here is the dice box. One can shake dice as well lying down as sitting.
Deign to refresh the spirits with play as well as wine." Iémon saw to it
that both were available. With surprise at first, misgiving afterwards,
O'Iwa heated bottle after bottle of _saké_. The men did not pay the
slightest attention to her presence. Absorbed in their game, there was
but a rough call from time to time for wine, addressed to the air, a
servant, anybody. At the end of the play Natsumé rose to leave in high
spirits. Imaizumi and Tamiya were correspondingly depressed. This was
but a first day's procedure. Day after day, for the space of half the
month, the play was repeated. Iémon had long since recovered. One day he
stood with his hands shoved into the folds of his sash. He was very
sober and sour. "Iwa, is there money in the house?" She looked at him in
surprise. "Matters have not turned out at all well with Kyuzo[u] and
Jinzaémon. This Iémon is a hundred _ryo[u]_ to the bad. With spare cash
at hand an attempt can be made to repair the loss."
O'Iwa prostrated herself before him. "May the Danna deign to consider.
To Iwa this pastime of gambling seems a very ill one, particularly in a
man of official rank. It is fraught with peril; and the offence once
known rarely is pardoned. Condescend to hear and forgive the warning of
this Iwa." She stopped a little frightened. Iémon was looking at her in
greatest wrath and astonishment. "What! Is there argument from wife to
husband? This insolence of behaviour crowns the insult of refusal. The
very sight of your face is enough to make one sick at the stomach. Boors
and _bakémono_ are shut out at the Hakoné barrier. But you--the guards
have been put to sleep, and you have slipped through. Shut up! Get the
money, or...." O'Iwa crouched at the _sho[u]ji_, in terror and surprise.
The insulting words heaped on her pained and tortured. Now she felt the
sharp sting of a hand forcibly applied to her cheek. Without a word she
left the room. Returning she brought thirty _ryo[u]_ in gold on a
salver. Timidly prostrate she presented it to Iémon. "Condescend to
pardon Iwa. That she is ugly and incompetent she knows. Did not Iémon
accept her?" The man stuffed the gold in his girdle. In reply--"No:
Iémon was cheated by Kondo[u] and Cho[u]bei. A plain woman--perhaps; but
a monster, a worse than _rokurokubi_, was never thought of even in a
dream. Compensation is to be found. Iémon likes gambling. He will
gamble. Have a care to supply the needed funds; and don't interfere."
Roughly he shoved her out of the way, and left the house.
For long O'Iwa saw nothing of Iémon; but she heard from him. In fact he
was living in semi-secrecy at the house of Rokuro[u]bei. Now this
messenger, then that, would come to O'Iwa. "If there is no money--sell
something. The bearer will indicate. A supply must be found." Thus one
thing after another left the house--to be stored in the godown of
Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei, to whose clever suggestion was due this way of
stripping O'Iwa of all she possessed. With goods and clothes went the
servants. In the course of a few weeks O'Iwa was living in one room,
furnished with three _tatami_ in lieu of the usual twelve in number.
Hibachi, _andon_ (night lamp), the single garment she wore, this was all
she possessed in the house. Then at last she saw him. The light dawned
on a cold snowy morning of early March. O'Iwa rose, opened the _amado_,
and started her day. About the fourth hour (9 A.M.) the _sho[u]ji_ were
pushed aside and Iémon entered. He looked as if fresh from a night's
debauch. His garments were dirty and disordered. His face was sallow,
the eyes deep set and weary, his manner listless. O'Iwa gave him the
only cushion in the room. Seated before the _hibachi_ (brazier) after
some time he said--"A million pardons: the luck has been very bad....
Ah! The place here seems in disorder. It is not fit for a man to live
in." He looked around as one waking from a dream. "No wonder: yet all
can be restored. Iémon has surprised you?" Said O'Iwa timidly--"Matters
are a little at odds and ends. O'Iwa needs but little; a stalk of
_daikon_ (radish) and a handful of wheat (_mugi_). Does the Danna remain
here? If so...." There was a painful hitch in her voice, a puzzled look
on her face. She had one _bu_ in cash. In fact she was hoping for the
monthly visit of Yosuké the farmer; if there was a farm any longer. She
did not know.
"For the night," replied Iémon. "Sleep and food are the essentials of
good play. All has been lost in the gambling houses of Shinjuku and
Shinagawa, at the Nakanocho[u]. Is there no money in the house?...
Evidently not. Deign to secure some, no matter how." He took the silver
_bu_ she presented to him. "At least a bath and tobacco can be had. See
to it that a meal is ready at even; not much, _sashimi_ (sliced raw
fish) and wine. Iémon would play, not eat." With this he rose. O'Iwa
heard the sound of the closing gate. Long she remained, her face buried
in her knees. In this gloomy situation what was she to do? She looked
around. There was not a thing to sell; not even herself. Who would buy
the ugly O'Iwa? An idea came into her head. In a moment she was in the
street. Soon she stood at the door of her uncle, Yoémon. With this uncle
and aunt she had but little to do. Matazaémon had been at daggers drawn
with his brother, whom he accused of being a wretched miser, one
acquiring wealth by very questionable means for a _samurai_. In old days
Cho[u]bei had been a hired agent of Yoémon. The principal had escaped;
the second had to leave Yotsuya and its neighbourhood. The Obasan (aunt)
came out at O'Iwa's call. She greeted her niece with surprise. "Oya!
Oya! Iwa is a stranger to this house. It has been heard that a splendid
_muko_ was received at Tamiya." The old woman looked at O'Iwa shrewdly,
and not without kindness. O'Iwa took heart. She made answer--"It is
true; of late matters have not gone well. Just now Iwa would ask the
loan of a _sho[u]_ (1/5 peck) of rice, together with a _bu_ to buy eels
or _sashimi_.[24] It is very rude indeed...."--"Very rude indeed!" said
a harsh voice close by. O'Iwa shrank to the outer part of the doorway.
The aunt fled to the inner part of the house. Continued Yoémon--"And
what is Iwa doing at the house of Yoémon? That there is relationship
between them this Yoémon does not recognize. Yoémon never exchanged look
or word with his brother Matazaémon, nor does he desire to do so with
the issue. Let the Tamiya of Samoncho[u] look out for itself. A _muko_
was taken without aid or advice of Yoémon. A stranger, one practising
wayside divination, this fine fellow turns out a gambler and a debauched
man, to the ruin of the House. Iwa can look to him; ignorant and foolish
woman that she is. This Yoémon would contribute to the needs of a beggar
before granting even a single _mon_ to Iwa."
The grating rattled sharply as the angry old man pushed it to and let
fall the bar. O'Iwa looked into the dark recess with pained and startled
eyes. So much of a recluse she was learning that Iémon had long been the
talk of the ward. She turned, and slowly took her way back to
Samoncho[u]. Here the reaction came. Strong was the inclination to laugh
and weep; too strong for self-control. In alarm she ran to take from the
closet the potion of Suian. Its effect was the opposite of what she
expected--or perhaps it was taken too late. For an hour O'Iwa writhed,
screamed, laughed in her agony. Then she sank into slumber. On awakening
the sun was already well past the zenith. She sprang up in alarm. This
meal to prepare--the duty of the wife--and not a step taken. It could
not be helped. Just as she was, twisting a towel around her disordered
hair, she started out to the place of one Kuraya Jibei of the Asakusa
Kuramaé no Saka. This man was a lender on the notes from the rice
pensions of the _samurai_--a _fudasashi_ dealer, as these men were
called.
The distance was great. O'Iwa was tired out on her arrival. At the
entrance the _kozo[u]_ or "boy" hailed her sharply. He waved her off.
"No! No! Old girl, it won't do. Nothing is to be had here. Please come
back the day before yesterday." He barred the way. Said O'Iwa, shrinking
back--"Nothing is wanted of the honoured house. An interview with Jibei
San, an inquiry to make. Such the request." Something about tone or
manner, certainly not pity, made the fellow hesitate--"Jibei San! A
beggar woman wants an interview with Jibei San! How about it?"--"Nothing
to be had," answered the _banto[u]'s_ voice. "Tell her to read the white
tablet hung before the entrance. It is all the house has to give." In
speaking he edged around a little. O'Iwa raised the towel from her face.
At once he was on his feet. "Ah! For long the honoured lady of Tamiya
has not been seen. Many and profitable the dealings with Matazaémon
Dono. Condescend to pardon this senseless fellow. He outrivals his
companions in lack of brains. Deign to enter." The _kozo[u]_ was all
apology--"Condescend wholly to pardon. Deign to have pity on the
ignorance shown. With fear and respect...." Looking into O'Iwa's face he
was overcome by his feelings. Bursting with laughter he fled to the
front of the shop to stuff the dust rag into his mouth in mistake for a
towel. This slight error restored his equanimity. The _banto[u]_ looked
after him with some fellow feeling and much anger. "He is half idiot.
Condescend to disregard his rude speech and manner. After all he is but
a _kozo[u]_.... What can this Jibei do for the lady of Tamiya?"
"Knowing that the House has dealings with Jibei San, and there being
necessity for three _sho[u]_ of rice, it is ventured to ask the loan."
Thus spoke O'Iwa. Money, actual coin, was on the end of her tongue, but
somehow she could not get the words out. Jibei was not particularly
astonished. Since Iémon had taken charge of the affairs of Tamiya, its
income was usually discounted well beforehand. Moreover, the rumour of
Iémon's gambling was spreading among his connections. Neither Kwaiba nor
Akiyama, nor the others engaged, were men to lose sight of the
likelihood of fine pickings from the Tamiya. Jibei made prompt answer.
"Respectfully heard and understood. It shall be sent.... Ah! It is
required now? Matsu! Matsu! Put up three _sho[u]_ of rice for the lady
of Tamiya. Its conveyance is to be provided. Place a _bu_ in the parcel.
The distance to Yotsuya is great. The _kago_ (litter) men are exacting."
O'Iwa's heart leaped with gratitude at the perspicacity of Jibei. He
watched her departing figure as far as he could see it. Then he took out
a ledger; and against the name of Tamiya he placed a question mark.
It was dusk when O'Iwa entered the house at Samoncho[u]. She gave a
start on finding Iémon glumly seated before the fireless brazier. "A
fine hour for a woman to be gadding the street. And the meal!
Unprepared: excellent habits in a wife!----" "To the Danna apology is
due. This Iwa is much in the wrong. But for the meal money had first to
be secured...."--"Then there is money, or means to procure it? Where is
it? How much?"--"Nay, the rice is here. This _bu_ is enough to secure
eels, _sashimi_, some delicacy...." She hesitated before Iémon's
doubting glare. He was eyeing rice and money. The mark on the bag caught
his eye. "Whence was this rice had? And this money? From Jibei, the
_fudasashi_ dealer? A visit paid in such garb? Truly the House is
disgraced, not only by your ugliness, but by ill conduct. Who could
remain in such a den?" O'Iwa threw herself in his way as he rose to
leave the room. Clinging to his sleeve she pleaded for pardon, as only a
woman can do who has done no wrong. There was an ugly look on Iémon's
face as he turned on her. Frightened, she would have fled. Instead she
could only crouch like a dog under the blows he showered on her. Then
with a violent kick in the groin he rolled her over, and departed.
O'Iwa heard footsteps. Had Iémon returned? Despite the pain, she half
sat up in her dread. Kondo[u] Rokuro[u]bei appeared. The portly man held
up his hands in horror and benevolence at what he saw. "But O'Iwa--what
has occurred? Ah! Kondo[u] has heard rumours of what is going on. The
_tatami_ (mats), screens, drawers (_tansu_), clothes-baskets--the house
is completely stripped to satisfy the thirst for the money of others.
Now he has descended to blows! Truly he is a miserable fellow."
Kondo[u]'s voice grew loud in his wrath. "This must not go on.
Rokuro[u]bei is responsible to Tamiya, to the ancestors. To be subject
to a fellow like this will never do. A divorce is to be secured. Let him
depart with his plunder. Let him have everything; only to get rid of
him. He is husband, and head of Tamiya. But Kondo[u] will be too much
for him. A divorce shall be secured. Ito[u] Dono, the ward chief, is to
be interested in the affair. Pressure shall be put on Iémon to grant the
letter of divorce." Indignation choked the worthy man. O'Iwa spoke
slowly, with pain and effort. "Be in no such haste, Kondo[u] Sama. Iémon
has not been a good man. Much is known to this Iwa. He buys women at
Nakacho[u]. He buys _geisha_. He gambles. These are a man's vices. As to
these Iwa has nothing to say. She is the wife, for two lives to maintain
the house in good and ill fortune. A good wife does not look to divorce
to rectify mistakes. With such remedy Iwa has nothing to do. But is not
Kondo[u] Sama the _nako[u]do_? Was he not the mediator in the marriage
between Iémon and Iwa? Deign to speak as _nako[u]do_. Rebuke Iémon.
Cause this gambling to be brought to an end." Rokuro[u]bei could hardly
hear her to the end. His testy impatience was in evidence. He broke into
protest--"This is complete madness; utter folly. You allow this fellow
to ruin the House. He will dispose of the pension."--"The goods, the
House, Iwa, all belong to Iémon; to do with as he pleases. Iwa is the
wife. She must submit.... Ah! You refuse. Kondo[u] Sama is no longer the
friend of Iwa, to act as _nako[u]do_." What had come into the soul of
this gentle woman? Kondo[u] in fright shrank back from the look she gave
him--"A very demon! The mother, O'Mino, has returned to life. Oni! Oni!
You are not human. Kondo[u] assuredly will have nothing to do with
O'Iwa, or O'Iwa's affairs." He left her helpless in the middle of her
fit. Forgetting in his fright even his clogs, barefooted, he fled from
the house in Samoncho[u].