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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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40 <strong>Japanese</strong> Miscellany<br />

possess it, let him pay me for it tlie sum <strong>of</strong> one<br />

hundred ryo <strong>of</strong> gold. With that amount <strong>of</strong><br />

money 1 should be able to eng-age in some pr<strong>of</strong>it-<br />

able business. Otherwise, I must refuse to give<br />

up the picture."<br />

Nobunaga did not seem to be pleased at this<br />

reply ; and he remained silent. Arakawa pres-<br />

ently whispered something in the ear <strong>of</strong> the lord,<br />

who nodded assent ; and Kwashin Koji was then<br />

dismissed, with a small present <strong>of</strong> money.<br />

But when the old man left the palace, Arakawa<br />

secretly followed him, — hoping for a chance to<br />

get the picture by foul means. The chance<br />

came ; for Kwashin Koji happened to take a road<br />

leading directly to the heights beyond the town.<br />

When he reached a certain lonesome spot at the<br />

foot <strong>of</strong> the hills, where the road made a sudden<br />

turn, he was seized by Arakawa, who said to<br />

him : — " Why were you so greedy as to ask a<br />

hundred ryo <strong>of</strong> gold for that picture ? Instead <strong>of</strong><br />

a hundred ryo <strong>of</strong> gold, I am now going to give<br />

you one piece <strong>of</strong> iron three feet long." Then<br />

Arakawa drew his sword, and killed the old<br />

man, and took the picture.

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