supposed to be the Rojo.


She said:--


"Although we had been assured that you were a very skillful player upon
the biwa, and without an equal in recitative, we did not know that any one
could be so skillful as you have proved yourself to-night. Our lord has
been pleased to say that he intends to bestow upon you a fitting reward.
But he desires that you shall perform before him once every night for the
next six nights -- after which time he will probably make his august
return-journey. To-morrow night, therefore, you are to come here at the
same hour. The retainer who to-night conducted you will be sent for you...
There is another matter about which I have been ordered to inform you. It
is required that you shall speak to no one of your visits here, during the
time of our lord's august sojourn at Akamagaseki. As he is traveling
incognito, [6] he commands that no mention of these things be made... You
are now free to go back to your temple."


After Hoichi had duly expressed his thanks, a woman's hand conducted him
to the entrance of the house, where the same retainer, who had before
guided him, was waiting to take him home. The retainer led him to the
verandah at the rear of the temple, and there bade him farewell.


It was almost dawn when Hoichi returned; but his absence from the temple
had not been observed,-- as the priest, coming back at a very late hour,
had supposed him asleep. During the day Hoichi was able to take some rest;