In the meanwhile, Chokichi went off to Genzaburo’s house, and told him that O Koyo had been taken suddenly ill, and could not go to meet him, and begged him to wait patiently until she should send to tell him of her recovery.  Genzaburo, never suspecting the story to be false, waited for thirty days, and still Chokichi brought him no tidings of O Koyo.  At last he met Chokichi, and besought him to arrange a meeting for him with O Koyo.

“Sir,” replied Chokichi, “she is not yet recovered; so it would be difficult to bring her to see your honour.  But I have been thinking much about this affair, sir.  If it becomes public, your honour’s family will be plunged in ruin.  I pray you, sir, to forget all about O Koyo.”

“It’s all very well for you to give me advice,” answered Genzaburo, surprised; “but, having once bound myself to O Koyo, it would be a pitiful thing to desert her; I therefore implore you once more to arrange that I may meet her.”

However, he would not consent upon any account; so Genzaburo returned home, and, from that time forth, daily entreated Chokichi to bring O Koyo to him, and, receiving nothing but advice from him in return, was very sad and lonely.

One day Genzaburo, intent on ridding himself of the grief he felt at his separation from O Koyo, went to the Yoshiwara, and, going into a house of entertainment, ordered a feast to be prepared, but, in the midst of gaiety, his heart yearned all the while for his lost love, and his merriment was but mourning in disguise.  At last the night wore on; and as he was retiring along the corridor, he saw a man of about forty years of age, with long hair, coming towards him, who, when he saw Genzaburo, cried out, “Dear me! why this must be my young lord Genzaburo who has come out to enjoy himself.”

Genzaburo thought this rather strange; but, looking at the man attentively, recognized him as a retainer whom he had had in his employ the year before, and said—­

“This is a curious meeting:  pray, what have you been about since you left my service?  At any rate, I may congratulate you on being well and strong.  Where are you living now?”

“Well, sir, since I parted from you I have been earning a living as a fortune-teller at Kanda, and have changed my name to Kaji Sazen.  I am living in a poor and humble house; but if your lordship, at your leisure, would honour me with a visit—­”

“Well, it’s a lucky chance that has brought us together, and I certainly will go and see you; besides, I want you to do something for me.  Shall you be at home the day after to-morrow?”

“Certainly, sir, I shall make a point of being at home.”

“Very well, then, the day after to-morrow I will go to your house.”

“I shall be at your service, sir.  And now, as it is getting late, I will take my leave for to-night.”

“Good night, then.  We shall meet the day after to-morrow.”  And so the two parted, and went their several ways to rest.