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without obtaining a clue to the whereabouts <strong>of</strong> his enemy, was sorely<br />
perplexed, and was driven to live by his wits as a fortune-teller. Work as<br />
he would, it was a hard matter for him to gain the price <strong>of</strong> his daily food,<br />
and, in spite <strong>of</strong> all his pains, his revenge seemed as far <strong>of</strong>f as ever, when<br />
he bethought him that the Yoshiwara was one <strong>of</strong> the most bustling<br />
places in the city, and that if he kept watch there, sooner or later he<br />
would be sure to fall in with Banzayémon. So be bought a hat <strong>of</strong> plaited<br />
bamboo, that completely covered his face, and lay in wait at the<br />
Yoshiwara.<br />
One day Banzayémon and two <strong>of</strong> Chôbei's apprentices Tôken Gombei<br />
and Shirobei, who, from his wild and indocile nature, was surnamed<br />
"the Colt," were amusing themselves and drinking in an upper storey <strong>of</strong><br />
a tea-house in the Yoshiwara, when Tôken Gombei, happening to look<br />
down upon the street below, saw a Samurai pass by, poorly clad in<br />
worn-out old clothes, but whose poverty-stricken appearance contrasted<br />
with his proud and haughty bearing.<br />
"Look there!" said Gombei, calling the attention <strong>of</strong> the others; "look at<br />
that Samurai. Dirty and ragged as his coat is, how easy it is to see that he<br />
is <strong>of</strong> noble birth! Let us wardsmen dress ourselves up in never so fine<br />
clothes, we could not look as he does."<br />
"Ay," said Shirobei, "I wish we could make friends with him, and ask<br />
him up here to drink a cup <strong>of</strong> wine with us. However, it would not be<br />
seemly for us wardsmen to go and invite a person <strong>of</strong> his condition."<br />
"We can easily get over that difficulty," said Banzayémon. "As I am a<br />
Samurai myself, there will be no impropriety in my going and saying a<br />
few civil words to him, and bringing him in."<br />
The other two having joyfully accepted the <strong>of</strong>fer, Banzayémon ran<br />
downstairs, and went up to the strange Samurai and saluted him,<br />
saying—<br />
"I pray you to wait a moment, Sir Samurai. My name is Fuwa Banzayémon<br />
at your service. I am a Rônin, as I judge from your appearance that<br />
you are yourself. I hope you will not think me rude if I venture to ask<br />
you to honour me with your friendship, and to come into this tea-house<br />
to drink a cup <strong>of</strong> wine with me and two <strong>of</strong> my friends."<br />
The strange Samurai, who was no other than Sanza, looking at the<br />
speaker through the interstices <strong>of</strong> his deep bamboo hat, and recognizing<br />
his enemy Banzayémon, gave a start <strong>of</strong> surprise, and, uncovering his<br />
head, said sternly—<br />
"Have you forgotten my face, Banzayémon?"<br />
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