“It is not I who am the keeper of the outcast. You come to the wrong house, sei-yo-gin. Seek elsewhere.”
Still he held her, and she could not free herself, though she made effort to do so. Thus held, in angry durance she stood.
“You are her mother-in-law. You know where she is. I will not release you till you speak.”
“Go to Okido-sama, the Nakoda,” she said sullenly.
He let her arm go and she, free, pushed the shoji viciously closed, attempting to crush his hand in the opening.
“Okido-sama!” he repeated thoughtfully, “Okido-sama, the Nakoda!”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okido-sama, the Nakoda, was squatting comfortably upon his heels eating his warm rice and fish when Richard Verley came to his door. During the absence of the minister, Okido had apparently prospered. His house was new. His servants many and obsequious. The one who hastened to respond to the minister’s knock did not recognize him in the darkened rainy evening. He perceived only a barbarian and, knowing his master’s trade, saw in him a possible customer.
Verley was shown into the guest chamber. Shortly came Okido to the room, fat and oily, discreetly wiping the rice crumbs from his thick lips with the back of his hands. He was bowing grotesquely at every step as he came toward the minister, but when he finally lifted his head and saw who his guest was, he gave such a startled jump that he fell in a heap on the floor, and there he remained, trembling with fright. Instantly Verley was convinced that the man knew all about his wife, her whereabouts, the horrible fate that must have befallen her.
“Your wife!” stammered the cringing Okido. “What was her august name, Excellency?”
“Excellency is honorably mistaken. I do not know the name of the exalted one’s wife.”
Verley, with no effort at gentleness, seized him by the shoulder of his robe, and as he spoke shook the trembling wretch threateningly.
“You will answer my question. Understand.”
The Nakoda began to whimper, drawing his sleeve across his eyes and furtively looking about for a means of escape.
He was poor man, very poor, harmless man. Surely Excellency would not hurt him.
“So many people I know,” whimpered the Nakoda. “How I can remember one woman among them all.”