Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/376

300 thrown down by a beggar woman. You shall lose your life for this."

"Nay, sir, I am to blame, and I apologize heartily for my rudeness."

"You may apologize as much as you please," roared he with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I will never forgive the insult you have offered me."

At that moment the village headman, an old man named Tokuyémon, appeared on the scene, accompanied by his servant. He earnestly begged the governor not to be so harsh with Hatsuhana; but Mizoguchi shrugged his shoulders, and said:

"I will never pardon her. You see, the moment she caught sight of me, she fell in love with me, and she wooed me desperately. When I indignantly rejected her, on account of her disgusting appearance, she was offended, and seizing my arm, she roughly threw me down to the ground. I can never forgive her violence! In my position as daikwan it is impossible for me to do so."

"That is a lie!" broke in Hatsuhana impatiently. "It is the governor who made shameful proposals to me. I did nothing."

"Silence, girl!" interrupted Tokuyémon. "I