but still within the house there was no stir. At last he dared to
lift a corner of the mosquito-net. But no sooner had he looked
beneath than he fled from the house, with a cry of horror.

Shinzaburo was dead--hideously dead;--and his face was the face
of a man who had died in the uttermost agony of fear;--and lying
beside him in the bed were the bones of a woman! And the bones of
the arms, and the bones of the hands, clung fast about his neck.


Xl

Hakuodo Yusai, the fortune-teller, went to view the corpse at the
prayer of the faithless Tomozo. The old man was terrified and
astonished at the spectacle, but looked about him with a keen
eye. He soon perceived that the o-fuda had been taken from the
little window at the back of the house; and on searching the body
of Shinzaburo, he discovered that the golden mamori had been
taken from its wrapping, and a copper image of Fudo put in place
of it. He suspected Tomozo of the theft; but the whole occurrence
was so very extraordinary that he thought it prudent to consult
with the priest Ryoseki before taking further action. Therefore,
after having made a careful examination of the premises, he
betook himself to the temple Shin-Banzui-In, as quickly as his
aged limbs could bear him.

Ryoseki, without waiting to hear the purpose of the old man's
visit, at once invited him into a private apartment.

"You know that you are always welcome here," said Ryoseki.