Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/189

Rh a little while before. I therefore abandoned my journey, and have come back to meet you, sir, I beg to thank you for having come from such a distance. O-Mitsu, serve tea to our honourable guest and also prepare some food or other for him. Please make yourself at home, sir"

"Oh, don't trouble yourself," interrupted the arrogant clerk. "How could my digestion endure food prepared in such a dirty house? Cease talking nonsense, and come to the point quickly. Will you repay the 150 ryō that Hisamatsu has purloined, or must I sue him? Answer me quickly, Kyūsaku."

He then proceeded to give a garbled and false account of Hisamatsu's loss of the money.

"Of course I'll pay the money," said Kyūsaku calmly, throwing a packet of money on the floor, after which he continued: "Here is your money. See if the amount is all right."

Kosuké picked the packet up wonderingly, and opened it. Several gold coins rolled with a jingle on the floor. He counted them, and found that the sum was indeed 150 ryō.

"Now that I have repaid the money," said Kyūsaku somewhat angrily, "you have nothing