Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/401

Rh  When he unfolds the paper and displays it
 * Kuheiji claps his hands in recollection.

Yes, it’s my seal all right. Oh, Tokubei, I never thought that you would do such a thing, not even if you were starving and forced to eat dirt. Know then, that on the twenty-fifth of last month I lost a wallet containing my seal. I put up notices everywhere advertising for it, but without any success, so as of this month—as I’ve already informed these gentlemen—I changed my seal. Could I possibly have affixed my seal to a paper on the twenty-eighth when I lost it on the twenty-fifth? No—what happened was that you picked it up, wrote a promissory note, and then put my seal to it. And now you are trying to extort money from me. That makes you a worse criminal than a forger. You would do better, Tokubei, to commit out-and-out robbery. You deserve to have your head cut off, but for old times’ sake, I’ll forgive you. Now see if you can get any money out of this.

He throws the note in Tokubei’s face
 * And glares at him in feigned innocence.
 * Tokubei is filled with rage and cries aloud.

You’ve been damned clever. You’ve put one over on me. Oh, what mortification! What am I to do? Am I supposed to let you get away shamelessly with my money? You’ve planned everything so cleverly that even if I go to court I’m sure to lose. I’ll take it back with my fists!

Look here! You’re dealing with Tokubei of the firm of Hirano, a man with a sense of honor. Do you get me? I’m not someone to cheat a friend out of his money. Come on, let’s have it out!

He seizes hold of Kuheiji.

You insolent little apprentice! I’ll knock that out of you.

Kuheiji grabs him by the front of his kimono,
 * And they exchange some hard and heavy blows.
 * Ohatsu, barefoot, rushes up to them.

I beg you everybody, help stop them! I think I know the men who are fighting. Where are my chair-bearers? Why doesn’t somebody stop them? Oh—it’s Tokubei!