“The _tojin_ speaks with an excess of heat,” murmured the Chief Counsellor. “Let him give proof that he is slandered.”
“First let my defamer give proof of the charge against me,” I retorted.
“You do not deny having taken the _ronin_ into your service,” said the Shogun.
“In the midst of my trial before the High Court, Your Highness, the Daimio of Satsuma interposed to save Yuki from further torture, and honored him with a priceless gift. Does Midzuano charge the Daimio with affronting Your Highness?”
“The Lord of Satsuma did not take the _ronin_ into his service.”
“For the reason, Your Highness, that I spoke first. Ask the Daimio if he does not regret his delay. Yet any thought of aspersion upon the justice of Your Highness was as far from my mind as from the Daimio’s. And in justice to a most loyal subject, I must declare that among all the _hatamotos_ there is none truer than Yuki. In the hour of humiliation the brave man bowed to the justice of his lord without a murmur. So devoted was his loyalty that he endured torture rather than testify against those who had saved the daughter of Your Highness from _ronin_ capture.”
The Shogun bent towards me with sudden deepening of his frown. “Insolent barbarian! do you dare speak of your artifice?”
“Can you deny that the attack of the _ronins_ was a prearranged plot by which you and Yoritomo profited?” demanded Midzuano.
The subtle intriguer was actually charging us with the villainy of his own party. The sudden springing of the snare caused me to hesitate.
“Answer!” cried the Shogun. “You and your accomplices knew beforehand of the plot.”
“We knew beforehand that Keiki had plotted the attack--”
“He set the Mito _ronins_ upon the cortege of the Princess, expecting to rescue her at the last moment, and so gain the favor of Your Highness.”
“Did I not foretell to Your Highness that they would seek to divert the charge of guilt from themselves by some such incredible tale?” murmured the Chief Counsellor. “Keiki Sama did not appear until after the massacre. But this _tojin_ and his fellow-spy followed the cortege in disguise from beyond the outer moat. If they knew beforehand of the intended attack and were innocent of complicity, why did they not warn the cortege?”