Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/369

Rh several layers of white silk cloth, dyed scarlet with blood. Sawarabi and Hatsuhana rushed to him, and asked him in consternation: "Why have you killed yourself?"

Katsugorō stepped up to the dying man, and examining the wound carefully, exclaimed: "Your act of harakiri is indeed splendid, Shinzayémon. Your moments are numbered. I must confess the truth, and ask your forgiveness. You have guessed aright. I am Iinuma Katsugorō. For the last six years I have wandered throughout Japan in search of Satō Gōsuké, in order to revenge my brother's death. It was only for this purpose that I entered into your service. My reason for declining your kind proposal of marriage is because my great task is still undone. But I am filled with amazement at your suicide. Pray tell us your reason for it."

Shinzayémon gasped for breath. "Well," he said, "it did not take me long to perceive that the overbearing Takiguchi Kōzuké and Satō Gōsuké were one and the same man. On the occasion of your recent fencing bout with Gōsuké at Tsurugaoka, I perceived with astonishment from observing your methods of work, that you were none