MOTHER. What of it? You may try to hide it; but the all-seeing Heaven reveals it. And the money for which you killed the old man, for whom was it intended? Yes, I see. You thought that your father-in-law, being poor, would keep back a half of the money for which he sold his daughter, and not give you the whole of it; and so you killed him and took it all. How it galls me to think that until this very day we were deceived and believed you to be an upright man, you inhuman monster! I am so astonished that tears refuse to flow. Oh, poor Yoichibei, you did not know what a brute your son is; in your wish to restore him to the samurai’s rank, you ran about, old man as you were, in Kyoto without taking a night’s rest, and at expense to yourself, you helped him; and all this has led to your own undoing, and you are bitten by the dog that you have been feeding. How could you have killed him in this cruel manner, you devil, you serpent? Return me father, restore to life my old man. RECITATIVE. In her fury, she seizes him by the hair, and pulling him towards her, beats his head on the floor. MOTHER. My anger would not be satisfied even if I tortured you to death inch by inch. RECITATIVE. With revengeful words, she lays her face on the floor and gives way to tears. For his misdeed, Kanpei feels his whole body covered with boiling sweat; he clings to the mat, and he knows that the punishment of Heaven has come upon him. At this moment arrive two samurai, wearing deep wicker hats. [Illustration: Two standing men wearing wicker hats] SAMURAI. Is Hayano Kanpei at home? Hara Goemon and Senzaki Yagoro beg to see him. RECITATIVE. It is an inopportune moment; but Kanpei takes his sword and with bent hips, goes forth to meet them. KANPEI. You are welcome, gentlemen. I thank you for thus honouring my humble home. RECITATIVE. He bows to them. GOEMON. I see there is some trouble in the house. KANPEI. Nay, it is but a slight house-household matter. Pray, do not mind it, but walk straight in. GOEMON. Then, by your leave, we will do so. RECITATIVE. They go straight in and take their seats; and Kanpei lays both his hands on the mat in front of them. KANPEI. It was a serious fault of mine that I failed to be present when the great misfortune befell our lord; and for it I have not a word to say in excuse. But I humbly beg you, gentlemen, to intercede for me so that my offence may be pardoned and I may be permitted to attend on the anniversary of our lord’s demise, together with others of our clan. RECITATIVE. He speaks in humble supplication. GOEMON. Master Yuranosuke was first much pleased that you, a _ronin_ without any means, should have offered so much money towards the cost of the monument; but the monument is to be placed in our lord’s burial-ground, and as it was felt that it would not please our lord’s spirit to use for building the monument the money of one who has been disloyal and faithless to him, the money is returned to you unopened.