[Footnote 5:  Samurai, a man belonging to the Buke or military class, entitled to bear arms.]

[Illustration:  THE SATSUMA MAN INSULTS OISHI KURANOSUKE.]

And he trod on Kuranosuke’s face as he slept, and spat upon him; but when Kotsuke no Suke’s spies reported all this at Yedo, he was greatly relieved at the news, and felt secure from danger.

One day Kuranosuke’s wife, who was bitterly grieved to see her husband lead this abandoned life, went to him and said:  “My lord, you told me at first that your debauchery was but a trick to make your enemy relax in watchfulness.  But indeed, indeed, this has gone too far.  I pray and beseech you to put some restraint upon yourself.”

“Trouble me not,” replied Kuranosuke, “for I will not listen to your whining.  Since my way of life is displeasing to you, I will divorce you, and you may go about your business; and I will buy some pretty young girl from one of the public-houses, and marry her for my pleasure.  I am sick of the sight of an old woman like you about the house, so get you gone—­the sooner the better.”

So saying, he flew into a violent rage, and his wife, terror-stricken, pleaded piteously for mercy.

“Oh, my lord! unsay those terrible words!  I have been your faithful wife for twenty years, and have borne you three children; in sickness and in sorrow I have been with you; you cannot be so cruel as to turn me out of doors now.  Have pity! have pity!”

“Cease this useless wailing.  My mind is made up, and you must go; and as the children are in my way also, you are welcome to take them with you.”

When she heard her husband speak thus, in her grief she sought her eldest son, Oishi Chikara, and begged him to plead for her, and pray that she might be pardoned.  But nothing would turn Kuranosuke from his purpose, so his wife was sent away, with the two younger children, and went back to her native place.  But Oishi Chikara remained with his father.

The spies communicated all this without fail to Kotsuke no Suke, and he, when he heard how Kuranosuke, having turned his wife and children out of doors and bought a concubine, was grovelling in a life of drunkenness and lust, began to think that he had no longer anything to fear from the retainers of Takumi no Kami, who must be cowards, without the courage to avenge their lord.  So by degrees he began to keep a less strict watch, and sent back half of the guard which had been lent to him by his father-in-law, Uyesugi Sama.  Little did he think how he was falling into the trap laid for him by Kuranosuke, who, in his zeal to slay his lord’s enemy, thought nothing of divorcing his wife and sending away his children!  Admirable and faithful man!