Page:Modern Japanese Stories.pdf/124

where he was, the blood slowly trickling down his pallid cheeks.

Lord Tadanao rose without a word and went straight to his quarters. A group of fellow-pages ran to Kannosuke’s assistance and gently raised him.

Kannosuke, excusing himself from further duty that night on a plea of sickness, retired to his lodgings, and before the dawn of the new day he committed suicide.

When Lord Tadanao heard the news he only smiled, sadly and bitterly.

Some ten days after this event Lord Tadanao was playing Gobang with his old family councillor, Koyama Tango. The old man and Lord Tanadao ranked equal in Gobang, but over the last two or three years the councillor had tended to lose his touch. Today he was defeated three times running.

“My lord,” he said, with a good-natured smile, “lately you have become exceedingly proficient. An old man like myself is no longer a match for you.”

Lord Tadanao had been in good spirits until now, apparently highly pleased at his run of victories, but at Tango’s words an expression of melancholy stole across his face; and then, suddenly, he rose and viciously kicked over the small Gobang table set between himself and his opponent. The white and black ivory pieces arrayed on the table flew off in all directions, and one or two struck Tango in the face.

Why his lord should burst into such a fury, especially when he was winning, was something which Tango was utterly unable to understand. As Lord Tadanao was stalking from the room the old man caught at the hem of his overskirts and addressed him in a voice which quavered uncontrollably.

“What are you doing? Is your lordship out of his mind? For what reason does he offer such insults to Tango?”

Indignation at the impropriety of this treatment blazed uncontrollably in the old man’s stubborn breast.

But Lord Tadanao was not in the least moved by the old