Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

"You amaze me!" replied the other. "How could I, above all men, who
have so much to reproach myself with in my conduct towards you, accept
this money?"
"Nay; it was my dead daughter's wish. But since you reproach yourself
in the matter when you think of her, I will beg you to put up a prayer
and to cause masses to be said for her."
At last, Chokichi, after much persuasion, and greatly to his own distress,
was obliged to accept the money; and when Kihachi had carried
out all Sazen's instructions, he returned home, laughing in his sleeve.
Chokichi was sorely grieved to hear of O Koyo's death, and remained
thinking over the sad news; when all of a sudden looking about him, he
saw something like a letter lying on the spot where Kihachi had been sitting,
so he picked it up and read it; and, as luck would have it, it was the
very letter which contained Sazen's instructions to Kihachi, and in which
the whole story which had just affected him so much was made up.
When he perceived the trick that had been played upon him, he was
very angry, and exclaimed, "To think that I should have been so hoaxed
by that hateful old dotard, and such a fellow as Sazen! And Genzaburô,
too!—out of gratitude for the favours which I had received from him in
old days, I faithfully gave him good advice, and all in vain. Well, they've
gulled me once; but I'll be even with them yet, and hinder their game before
it is played out!" And so he worked himself up into a fury, and went
off secretly to prowl about Sazen's house to watch for O Koyo, determined
to pay off Genzaburô and Sazen for their conduct to him.
In the meanwhile Sazen, who did not for a moment suspect what had
happened, when the day which had been fixed upon by him and Genzaburô
arrived, made O Koyo put on her best clothes, smartened up his
house, and got ready a feast against Genzaburô's arrival. The latter came
punctually to his time, and, going in at once, said to the fortune-teller,
"Well, have you succeeded in the commission with which I entrusted
you?"
At first Sazen pretended to be vexed at the question, and said, "Well,
sir, I've done my best; but it's not a matter which can be settled in a
hurry. However, there's a young lady of high birth and wonderful
beauty upstairs, who has come here secretly to have her fortune told;
and if your lordship would like to come with me and see her, you can do
so."
But Genzaburô, when he heard that he was not to meet O Koyo, lost
heart entirely, and made up his mind to go home again. Sazen, however,
pressed him so eagerly, that at last he went upstairs to see this vaunted
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