Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

That very night Sazen, after thinking over all that Genzaburô had told
him, laid his plans accordingly, and went off to the house of Kihachi, the
Eta chief, and told him the commission with which he had been
entrusted.
Kihachi was of course greatly astonished, and said, "Some time ago,
sir, Chokichi came here and said that my lord Genzaburô, having been
rebuked by his family for his profligate behaviour, had determined to
break off his connection with my daughter. Of course I knew that the
daughter of an Eta was no fitting match for a nobleman; so when Chokichi
came and told me the errand upon which he had been sent, I had no
alternative but to announce to my daughter that she must give up all
thought of his lordship. Since that time she has been fretting and pining
and starving for love. But when I tell her what you have just said, how
glad and happy she will be! Let me go and talk to her at once." And with
these words, he went to O Koyo's room; and when he looked upon her
thin wasted face, and saw how sad she was, he felt more and more pity
for her, and said, "Well, O Koyo, are you in better spirits to-day? Would
you like something to eat?"
"Thank you, I have no appetite."
"Well, at any rate, I have some news for you that will make you happy.
A messenger has come from my lord Genzaburô, for whom your heart
yearns."
At this O Koyo, who had been crouching down like a drooping flower,
gave a great start, and cried out, "Is that really true? Pray tell me all
about it as quickly as possible."
"The story which Chokichi came and told us, that his lordship wished
to break off the connection, was all an invention. He has all along been
wishing to meet you, and constantly urged Chokichi to bring you a message
from him. It is Chokichi who has been throwing obstacles in the
way. At last his lordship has secretly sent a man, called Kaji Sazen, a
fortune-teller, to arrange an interview between you. So now, my child,
you may cheer up, and go to meet your lover as soon as you please."
When O Koyo heard this, she was so happy that she thought it must
all be a dream, and doubted her own senses.
Kihachi in the meanwhile rejoined Sazen in the other room, and, after
telling him of the joy with which his daughter had heard the news, put
before him wine and other delicacies. "I think," said Sazen, "that the best
way would be for O Koyo to live secretly in my lord Genzaburô's house;
but as it will never do for all the world to know of it, it must be managed
very quietly; and further, when I get home, I must think out some plan to
134