Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/358

282 You are very wrong to loiter about here, after your worship is finished. How foolish you are!"

When the girls had departed, he saluted Kōzuké politely, and said:

"I received a letter from you yesterday, Kōzuké, saying that you wished to see me on some business. This is a good opportunity for you to tell me what it is."

"Well, Shinzayémon, I have a favour to ask of you," said Kōzuké composedly, as if he had quite forgotten the shameless way in which he had accosted the girls. "You are a noted fencer, so you must be well versed in the secret principles of all the schools of fencing. I want you to give me instruction in the secrets of the art."

"Is that what you wanted to ask me?" answered Shinzayémon, feigning calmness. "Of course it would be discourteous of me to refuse the request of Kōzuké, honourable adviser to his Excellency Lord Hōjō. But it is a strict rule of my house never to teach the secrets of fencing to anybody who is not already proficient in the art. You must pardon me for saying so, but before I can give you my definite answer, I must witness your ability."