Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/491

Rh of entering the courtyard. In one of the apartments there, to his great joy, he found his mother safe and sound. He sprang up, and cutting her free from the cords, presented himself before Kanki.

"You are General Kanki, I believe," he said in angry tones. "I sent my mother into the castle to ask for your assistance. When you bear in mind that your wife is my sister, you should willingly and gladly support me. Give me an immediate answer!"

"Humph!" replied Kanki, disdainfully. "If you appeal to me through my affection for my wife, I am still more determined to refuse your request. I am not so poor-spirited that I allow a woman to influence me! Leave me! I wish to have no further communication with you!"

Then both heroes hurled expressions of defiance at each other, and prepared to fight, when Kinsho staggered into the room, holding a blood-stained dagger in her hand. "Stop! Stop!" she cried. "See from where I obtained the rouge which I poured into the water. Let that settle your quarrel."

After saying those words, she bared her breast from which the blood was flowing freely.