But Komurasaki—­who, having thus unexpectedly fallen in with her lover that she had yearned for, was divided between joy and shame—­answered, weeping—­

“Alas! my tale is a sad one, and would be long to tell.  After you left us last year, calamity and reverses fell upon our house; and when my parents became poverty-stricken, I was at my wits’ end to know how to support them:  so I sold this wretched body of mine to the master of this house, and sent the money to my father and mother; but, in spite of this, troubles and misfortunes multiplied upon them, and now, at last, they have died of misery and grief.  And, oh! lives there in this wide world so unhappy a wretch as I!  But now that I have met you again—­you who are so strong—­help me who am weak.  You saved me once—­do not, I implore you, desert me now!!” and as she told her piteous tale the tears streamed from her eyes.

“This is, indeed, a sad story,” replied Gompachi, much affected by the recital.  “There must have been a wonderful run of bad luck to bring such misfortune upon your house, which but a little while ago I recollect so prosperous.  However, mourn no more, for I will not forsake you.  It is true that I am too poor to redeem you from your servitude, but at any rate I will contrive so that you shall be tormented no more.  Love me, therefore, and put your trust in me.”  When she heard him speak so kindly she was comforted, and wept no more, but poured out her whole heart to him, and forgot her past sorrows in the great joy of meeting him again.

When it became time for them to separate, he embraced her tenderly and returned to Chobei’s house; but he could not banish Komurasaki from his mind, and all day long he thought of her alone; and so it came about that he went daily to the Yoshiwara to see her, and if any accident detained him, she, missing the accustomed visit, would become anxious and write to him to inquire the cause of his absence.  At last, pursuing this course of life, his stock of money ran short, and as, being a ronin and without any fixed employment, he had no means of renewing his supplies, he was ashamed of showing himself penniless at “The Three Sea-coasts.”  Then it was that a wicked spirit arose within him, and he went out and murdered a man, and having robbed him of his money carried it to the Yoshiwara.

From bad to worse is an easy step, and the tiger that has once tasted blood is dangerous.  Blinded and infatuated by his excessive love, Gompachi kept on slaying and robbing, so that, while his outer man was fair to look upon, the heart within him was that of a hideous devil.  At last his friend Chobei could no longer endure the sight of him, and turned him out of his house; and as, sooner or later, virtue and vice meet with their reward, it came to pass that Gompachi’s crimes became notorious, and the Government having set spies upon his track, he was caught red-handed and arrested; and his evil deeds having been fully proved against him, he was carried off to the execution ground at Suzugamori, the “Bell Grove,” and beheaded as a common male-factor.