formed, with lovely red lips; her eyebrows were long and fine; she had a profusion of long black hair; she spoke modestly, with a soft sweet voice; and when she smiled, two lovely dimples appeared in her cheeks; in all her movements she was gentle and refined.  Genzaburo fell in love with her at first sight; and she, seeing what a handsome man he was, equally fell in love with him; so that the woman that was with her, perceiving that they were struck with one another, led her away as fast as possible.

Genzaburo remained as one stupefied, and, turning to Chokichi, said, “Are you acquainted with those two women who came up just now?”

“Sir,” replied Chokichi, “those are two women of our people.  The elder woman is called O Kuma, and the girl, who is only sixteen years old, is named O Koyo.  She is the daughter of one Kihachi, a chief of the Etas.  She is a very gentle girl, besides being so exceedingly pretty; and all our people are loud in her praise.”

When he heard this, Genzaburo remained lost in thought for a while, and then said to Chokichi, “I want you to do something for me.  Are you prepared to serve me in whatever respect I may require you?”

Chokichi answered that he was prepared to do anything in his power to oblige his honour.  Upon this Genzaburo smiled and said, “Well, then, I am willing to employ you in a certain matter; but as there are a great number of passers-by here, I will go and wait for you in a tea-house at Hanakawado; and when you have finished your business here, you can join me, and I will speak to you.”  With these words Genzaburo left him, and went off to the tea-house.

When Chokichi had finished his work, he changed his clothes, and, hurrying to the tea-house, inquired for Genzaburo, who was waiting for him upstairs.  Chokichi went up to him, and began to thank him for the money which he had bestowed upon him.  Genzaburo smiled, and handed him a wine-cup, inviting him to drink, and said—­

“I will tell you the service upon which I wish to employ you.  I have set my heart upon that girl O Koyo, whom I met to-day upon the Adzuma Bridge, and you must arrange a meeting between us.”

When Chokichi heard these words, he was amazed and frightened, and for a while he made no answer.  At last he said—–­

“Sir, there is nothing that I would not do for you after the favours that I have received from you.  If this girl were the daughter of any ordinary man, I would move heaven and earth to comply with your wishes; but for your honour, a handsome and noble Hatamoto, to take for his concubine the daughter of an Eta is a great mistake.  By giving a little money you can get the handsomest woman in the town.  Pray, sir, abandon the idea.”

Upon this Genzaburo was offended, and said—­

“This is no matter for you to give advice in.  I have told you to get me the girl, and you must obey.”

Chokichi, seeing that all that he could say would be of no avail, thought over in his mind how to bring about a meeting between Genzaburo and O Koyo, and replied—­