ABSTRACT
Said a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip—“Ah! Is it Goémon San? It is said the Go Inkyō is to be congratulated.” Kamimura Goémon sniffed. He was a long man; with long face, long nose, long thin arms, long thin legs; a malicious man, who longed to give advice to his fellows which they much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe under the infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in good faith or temper—“The Go Inkyō is to be congratulated ? Escaping the troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse troubles in the next.” At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi Hambei showed surprise. Continued Goémon—“The Go Inkyō died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such an end hardly calls for con-gratulations.” Mizoguchi gasped, with round eyes and round face. “Extraordinary!”— “Not at all,” replied Kamikura, complacently tapping the palm of one hand with the elongated fingers of the other. “The Go Inkyō drove out O'Iwa San from Tamiya. He gave O'Hana in her stead to Iémon as wife. Hana the harlot! Cursed by O'Iwa in dying, he has met this frightful end. Aki-yama, Natsumé, Imaizumi will surely follow. As will all those involved in the affair.”—“But is O'Iwa San really the cause of the death? The Go Inkyō in life was not the most careful of men in conserving health.” This was timidly interjected by a third party. Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl—“Of course it is O'Iwa San. Has she not been seen? The women of the house answer for it. Only Kibei the sceptic, and Kakusuké who would face the devil in person, attempt to deny it.” He threw up a hand. With unction—“Ah! It inspires fear. Small is the profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who indulges in either…. How cold it is for the time of year!”
