[Illustration:  JIUYEMON PUNISHES HIS WIFE AND THE WRESTLER.]

On the following day, he sent in a report of what he had done to the governor of Osaka, and buried the corpses; and from that time forth he remained a single man, and pursued his trade as a seller of perfumery and such-like wares; and his leisure hours he continued to spend as before, at the house of his patron, Kajiki Tozayemon.

One day, when Jiuyemon went to call upon Kajiki Tozayemon, he was told by the servant-maid, who met him at the door, that her master was out, but that her young master, Tonoshin, was at home; so, saying that he would go in and pay his respects to the young gentleman, he entered the house; and as he suddenly pushed open the sliding-door of the room in which Tonoshin was sitting, the latter gave a great start, and his face turned pale and ghastly.

“How now, young sir!” said Jiuyemon, laughing at him, “surely you are not such a coward as to be afraid because the sliding-doors are opened?  That is not the way in which a brave Samurai should behave.”

“Really I am quite ashamed of myself,” replied the other, blushing at the reproof; “but the fact is that I had some reason for being startled.  Listen to me, Sir Jiuyemon, and I will tell you all about it.  To-day, when I went to the academy to study, there were a great number of my fellow-students gathered together, and one of them said that a ruinous old shrine, about two miles and a half to the east of this place, was the nightly resort of all sorts of hobgoblins, who have been playing pranks and bewitching the people for some time past; and he proposed that we should all draw lots, and that the one upon whom the lot fell should go to-night and exorcise those evil beings; and further that, as a proof of his having gone, he should write his name upon a pillar in the shrine.  All the rest agreed that this would be very good sport; so I, not liking to appear a coward, consented to take my chance with the rest; and, as ill luck would have it, the lot fell upon me.  I was thinking over this as you came in, and so it was that when you suddenly opened the door, I could not help giving a start.”

“If you only think for a moment,” said Jiuyemon, “you will see that there is nothing to fear.  How can beasts[45] and hobgoblins exercise any power over men?  However, do not let the matter trouble you.  I will go in your place to-night, and see if I cannot get the better of these goblins, if any there be, having done which, I will write your name upon the pillar, so that everybody may think that you have been there.”

[Footnote 45:  Foxes, badgers, and cats.  See the stories respecting their tricks.]

“Oh! thank you:  that will indeed be a service.  You can dress yourself up in my clothes, and nobody will be the wiser.  I shall be truly grateful to you.”