sound of unbarring; and the twain passed on. They traversed a space of
garden, and halted again before some entrance; and the retainer cried in a
loud voice, "Within there! I have brought Hoichi." Then came sounds of feet
hurrying, and screens sliding, and rain-doors opening, and voices of womeni
n converse. By the language of the women Hoichi knew them to be domestics
in some noble household; but he could not imagine to what place he had been
conducted. Little time was allowed him for conjecture. After he had been
helped to mount several stone steps, upon the last of which he was told to
leave his sandals, a woman's hand guided him along interminable reaches of
polished planking, and round pillared angles too many to remember, and over
widths amazing of matted floor,-- into the middle of some vast apartment.
There he thought that many great people were assembled: the sound of the
rustling of silk was like the sound of leaves in a forest. He heard also a
great humming of voices,-- talking in undertones; and the speech was the
speech of courts.


Hoichi was told to put himself at ease, and he found a kneeling-cushion
ready for him. After having taken his place upon it, and tuned his
instrument, the voice of a woman -- whom he divined to be the Rojo, or
matron in charge of the female service -- addressed him, saying,--


"It is now required that the history of the Heike be recited, to the
accompaniment of the biwa."


Now the entire recital would have required a time of many nights:
therefore Hoichi ventured a question:--