He went first of all to her step-mother’s house. Here in the miserable, drizzling rain he stood outside the house, none bidding him enter in response to his knock. Yet all through the house he could hear the sounds of his coming announced.
A woman shrieked his name. Some one called back in a loud whisper which penetrated through the paper shoji walls:
Then he heard the pattering of hurried steps and the jabbering of voices. Soon he was conscious of the fact that eyes were regarding him from a dozen of wall holes. He knocked again, louder, and one within, unseen, called in insolent tone:
He told himself his ears deceived him. His knowledge of Japanese confused the language surely. He knocked again, and again, each time louder. Again the voice within:
“I am Verley-sama, your daughter’s husband. I have come to seek my wife.”
He repeated his words slowly, patiently, enunciating each Japanese syllable distinctly. But again came the reply:
He recognized now the voice. It was that of the step-mother of his wife, Madame Yamada. She had some reason for her lies. He was positive she understood his Japanese.
“My words are plain,” he said. “I have come to seek my wife.”
“She is not here.” The voice was raised angrily now. “Seek elsewhere, foreign devil!”
He ignored the insult and persisted doggedly.
Some one laughed jeeringly within, and then the taunting words floated out:
“Ask of the gods, priest of the evil one.”
“I ask of you,” he said hoarsely. “I shall not leave your house till you reply.”
He heard the sound as of one moving with angry and impetuous haste within, pushing whatever stood in her path aside. Madame Yamada thrust aside the sliding shoji doors and stood in the opening.
Her words were mockingly sarcastic, and she bowed with extravagance.
“In what way can the humblest one serve the mightiest?”
“My wife?” he demanded. “Speak, woman, where is she!”
She smiled inscrutably, but as he went nearer to her the sneering lines about her face deepened, revealing all her bitter detestation of the Kirishitan.
“You will be punished if you have injured her,” he said.
“What will the wise and mighty Excellency do?”
“I will have you arrested. You will be forced to answer.”
She drew in her breath with the hissing sound peculiar to the Japanese. Then she drew the skirt of her kimona closely about her, and turned to re-enter the house. He caught and held her by the sleeve and then she stood still, her eyes half closed.