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314 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
tation as a man of integrity and public spirit was
so high, and since the liberal sura paid by him was
immediately applied to educational purposes by the
daimio, all parties were mutually pleased. Each
one of Mr. Asai's family was treated with respect,
and Honda Jiro's course highly approved ; few, however,
knowing the secret of "the Hour of the Ox."
Even Professor Koba himself, who had purposely
remained single until long past forty, thought
it was
high time for him to cease living
alone. He therefore
made a journey to his native province, and
there took to himself a wife a lovely and accomplished
lady, one among the many of that province
who were noted for their beauty and had brought
her to Fukui, where he was now living. He had
enlarged his circle of pupils and friends, who were
learning from him the glorious ethical studies of the
great Chinese masters, as well as receiving a new and
wonderful stimulus to both discussion and action.
For in Mr. Koba's lectures and conversations there
were many strange expressions and even ideas, which
somehow or other extremely interested the hearers
and provoked inquiry
;
but Mr. Koba did not tell the
origin of his thoughts. He enjoyed more than ever
the confidence of the daimio of the province, who
gave him more and more power in carrying out the
reforms which he desired to see effected.
Among other things he was exceedingly successful
in abolishing from the dominions of the daimio
every species of gambling;
so that the dreadful
vice, which was so prevalent in some other prov-