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was there. Simply because there were people, insolent people, like Ukon and Sadayū, every one of those past triumphs was now tainted with an aura of impurity. He felt himself beginning to hate Ukon and Sadayū.

But the wound went deeper. Even the glory he had won three months ago on the Osaka battlefield seemed now no longer wholly credible. And as he recalled that fine title which had been his pride, ‘the Fan Kuai of Japan’, he began to wonder whether even this did not carry with it the sort of exaggeration which makes a man ridiculous. He had been humoured like a child by his retainers. Had he also been played like a puppet by his grandfather? At this thought Lord Tadanao’s eyes began at last to dim with tears.

The banquet continued informally long after Lord Tadanao departed, but when the castle bell tolled the hour of midnight all the young warriors accepted it as the signal to rise and prepare to retire. At this moment, however, a chamberlain came hurrying into the hall from the lord’s apartments.

“Gentlemen!” he cried, raising both arms for silence. “Your attention please! His lordship has this moment ordered a change in the plans for tomorrow. In place of the hunt which he had previously announced there will be tomorrow, just as today, a great tournament of spearmanship. The time and the combat arrangements are to be as before.”

There were some who felt a little disgruntled at the prospect. There were some, too, who smiled to themselves. His lordship, it seemed, was eager to enjoy today’s triumph in duplicate. But the majority, pleasantly exhilarated by the wine, accepted the change with great good humour.

“Let it go on for days and days,” they cried. “All the more wine to celebrate on! Tomorrow, again, we can get gloriously drunk.”

On the following day the castle drill-hall was once more swept spotlessly clean, and white and red awnings were draped