After dark the priest and the acolyte went away; and Hoichi seated himself
on the verandah, according to the instructions given him. He laid his biwa
on the planking beside him, and, assuming the attitude of meditation,
remained quite still,-- taking care not to cough, or to breathe audibly.
For hours he stayed thus.


Then, from the roadway, he heard the steps coming. They passed the gate,
crossed the garden, approached the verandah, stopped -- directly in front
of him.


"Hoichi!" the deep voice called. But the blind man held his breath, and
sat motionless.


"Hoichi!" grimly called the voice a second time. Then a third time --
savagely:--


"Hoichi!"


Hoichi remained as still as a stone,-- and the voice grumbled:--


"No answer! -- that won't do!... Must see where the fellow is."...