They called for three rickshaws, whose runners seemed to know without instructions whither they had to go.

“Is it far from here?” asked Geoffrey.

“It is not so far,” said the Scotchman; “it is most conveniently situated.”

Noiselessly they sped down narrow twisting streets with the same unfamiliar lights and shadows, the glowing paper walls, and the luminous globes of the gate lamps.

From the distance came the beat of a drum.

Geoffrey had heard a drum sounded like that before in the Somali village at Aden, a savage primitive sound with a kind of marching rhythm, suggestive of the swing of hundreds of black bodies moving to some obscene festival.

But here, in Japan, such music sounded remote from the civilisation of the country, from the old as from the new.

“Chonkina, Chonkina,” it seemed to be beating.

The rickshaws turned into a broader street with houses taller and more commanding than any seen hitherto.  They were built of brown wood like big Swiss chalets, and were hung with red paper lanterns like huge ripe cherries.

Another stage-like entrance, more fluttering of women and low prostrations, a procession along shining corridors and up steep stairways like companion-ladders, everywhere a heavy smell of cheap scent and powder, the reek of the brothel.

The three guests were installed, squatting or lounging around a low table with beer and cakes.  There was a chorus of tittering and squeaking voices in the corridor.  The partition slid open, and six little women came running into the room.

“Patasan San!  Patasan San!” they cried, clapping their hands.

Here at last were the butterfly women of the traveller’s imagination.  They wore bright kimonos, red and blue, embroidered with gold thread.  Their faces were pale like porcelain with the enamelling effect of the liquid powder which they use.  Their black shiny hair, like liquorice, was arranged in fantastic volutes, which were adorned with silver bell-like ornaments and paper flowers.  Choking down Geoffrey’s admiration, a cloud of heavy perfume hung around them.

“Good day to you,” they squeaked in comical English, “How do you do?  I love you.  Please kiss me.  Dam! dam!”

Patterson introduced them by name as O Hana San (Miss Flower), O Yuki San (Miss Snow), O En San (Miss Affinity), O Toshi San (Miss Year), O Taka San (Miss Tall) and O Koma San (Miss Pony).

One of them, Miss Pony, put her arm around Geoffrey’s neck—­the little fingers felt like the touch of insects—­and said,—­

“My darling, you love me?”

The big Englishman disengaged himself gently.  It is Bad Form to be rough to women, even to Japanese courtesans.  He began to be sorry that he had come.