Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/176

122 Hisamatsu dismissed on some false charge or other, in order to enable Sashirō to be successful in his love-affair, and also to receive a good sum from him in return. Now when he discovered Sashirō making hyakudo-mairi, his heart bounded with joy, for he thought the opportunity had come for him to satisfy his greed. He ran to the house of a fortune-teller who was living in front of the shrine. He whispered in the old diviner's ears all the details of Sashirō's affair, and suggested a plan by which they could extort money from the foolish suitor. The greedy old clairvoyant gave a ready consent, and Kosuké departed.

Kosuké then stealthily returned to the shrine, and watched Sashirō's doings. The young millionaire had by this time finished his hyakudo-mairi, and was now prostrated before the sanctuary and utterly ignorant of Kosuké's presence. He clapped his hands, and prayed with closed eyes:

"Namu Zama God! Grant that I may obtain O-Somé, daughter of the oil-shop keeper at Kawaraya-bashi, for my wife. Almighty God, cause her heart to be filled with love for me! Namu Shimmei God! Namu Inari God! Namu