On hearing of Hachiya’s death, Nobuyuki clenched his teeth, and Katsuno
was beside herself with grief.
A dagger—an excellent blade by Masamuné—was found near the body. Seeing
it, Nobuyuki slapped his thigh in delighted recognition, for it was a
well-known weapon which his elder brother Nobunaga, Lord of Owari, had
given to the elder brother of Shichiroyemon, Gemba Morimasa, one
of Nobunaga’s councillors. Except Morimasa nobody could have had it
but Shichiroyemon; therefore, Nobuyuki who knew of the terms between
his two followers, had no doubt but that his favourite councillor had
fallen a victim to the jealous malignancy of the man he had superseded
both in the favour of their master, and in the affection of the girl
on whom he had set his heart. Added to this, a man who had been
arrested on suspicion on Hachiya’s premises the night of the fire,
confessed after a strict examination that it was at the instigation of
Shichiroyemon that he had set fire to the house.
Evidence of his guilt being so strong, some sheriffs were despatched
to Shichiroyemon’s residence to arrest him; but the wily scoundrel
scenting danger had fled, and it was not till after a rigorous search
that it was found that he had taken refuge in the neighbouring province
of Mino in the castle of Inaba, belonging to Saitō Dōzō.
O-Tora-no-Kata also disappeared about this time, and rumour had it that
she was now in the mansion of Gemba Morimasa.
* * * * *
It was the seventh of January, and most people were enjoying the
New Year festivities. But to Nobuyuki, the season brought no joy; he
still brooded over Hachiya’s tragic end. Buried in thought as he leant
on his arm-rest, he did not notice the entrance of Katsuno, still pale
and emaciated she knelt before him.
“Ah, Katsuno, I am glad to see you,” he said, “I was thinking of
Hachiya, and of your great grief in losing your future husband just
after you had exchanged the cups of betrothal. I feel for you with all
my heart!”
“Thank you, my lord,” she replied sadly. “You are too good to me!”
“It is natural you should grieve,” went on Nobuyuki, after a pause.
“But mere sorrowing does no good to any one. Far wiser would it be to
devise some way to kill the base assassin and avenge Hachiya with all
speed.”
“You are right, my lord,—I think my husband in Hades would be pleased
to know that your lordship is willing to do so much for his honour. May
I ask what is the result of your negotiations with His Excellency, the
Lord of Owari?”
Nobuyuki’s brother, the Lord of Owari, being the son-in-law of Saitō
Dōzō, Nobuyuki had requested his brother to arrange for the delivery of
Shichiroyemon, but Dōzō had ill-naturedly refused.
“This puts difficulties in our way,” concluded the old lord
disconsolately.
“I have a favour to ask of your lordship; may I venture to speak?”
“By all means.”
“Permit me to go to Inaba, my lord.”
“To Inaba! You want to go to the castle of that Saitō Dōzō?”
“Yes, my lord. I wish to enter the castle in disguise, and avenge the
death of Hachiya on his murderer!”
“Not to be thought of, Katsuno!” Nobuyuki could not keep back a smile,
though he saw the girl was in deadly earnest. “A young woman, and
single handed!—absurd!”
“Not so, my lord, believe me!” Katsuno’s eyes gleamed, and her breath
came quick and fast. “I have thought it all out. I beseech you to let
me go!”
Nobuyuki argued with her in vain. Her mind was made up, and nothing
could shake her resolution. Therefore, he at length reluctantly gave
her the desired permission, at the same time handing her the Masamuné
dagger, to which reference has been made before, and saying:—
“This is the dagger with which our Hachiya was stabbed; thrust it up to
the hilt in the throat of his murderer, and avenge his death!”
“I will, or die in the attempt! My lord, I thank you, farewell,
fare....”
A burst of tears choked her utterance; she hastened from the room.
“May you have all success,” said Nobuyuki, as she disappeared, and then
he returned to his thoughts.