GOEMON. Come, old mother, it is natural that you should cry; but Master Oboshi will be highly pleased when I tell him in detail how Kanpei died and hand the money he has offered. This money which I have here round my neck, a hundred _ryo_ in all, I give you to offer prayers and hold services for the repose of the souls of your husband and son-in-law. Now, farewell, fare you well. RECITATIVE. Tears in the eyes that gaze on and tears in the eyes that look back, they part, alas, in a flood of tears. [1] The God of Rice, whose messenger is the fox, to which popular superstition ascribes supernatural powers. [2] About ten o’clock. ACT VII. ACT VII. RECITATIVE. Would you amuse yourself with flowers, gather the fair ones of Gion. There, to the east, south, north, and west, it shines as brightly as if the Amida’s Paradise were gilded over and over again. The bright array of dancers and other women would deprive the genteelest of his senses and make him no better than a dunce. (_Enter Ono Kudayu and Sagisaka Bannai_). KUDAYU. Please, show me in. Is not the host in? Host, host. HOST. How busy I am kept! What fellow is it? Who is the gentleman? Ah, Master Ono Kudayu! You asking to be shown in, why, you surprise me. KUDAYU. No, I have brought a gentleman who comes here for the first time. You appear to be in great bustle. Have you a room that I can take the gentleman into? HOST. Oh, yes, sir. The wealthy Mr. Yura has this evening had all the well-known women brought together so that the rooms on the ground floor are completely occupied; but the out-room is vacant. KUDAYU. That, I suppose, is full of cobwebs. HOST. There you are, sarcastic as usual. KUDAYU. No, I mean that at my age I must take care not to be caught in women’s toils. HOST. Now that is too much. I cannot leave you down here; and so up the stairs with you. Hi, waitresses, bring lights, wine-cups, and tobacco-trays. RECITATIVE. As he calls out in a loud voice, the sounds of drums and _samisen_[1] are heard within. KUDAYU. What do you think, Master Bannai? Do you see how Yuranosuke is carrying on? BANNAI. Master Kudayu, I think he must be mad. Though we received many private reports from you, even my master Moronao did not believe he was so far gone as that and told me to come up to the Capital and inquire, and to let him know at once if there was any cause for suspicion Well, well, I am now quite convinced that you were right. And his son Rikiya, what has become of him? KUDAYU. The fellow comes here sometimes and is as dissipated as his father. What puzzles me is that they feel no reserve before each other. I came here this evening determined to get to the very bottom of the affair. I will speak to you privately. Now, let us go upstairs. BANNAI. After you. KUDAYU. Then, come this way. RECITATIVE. A song is heard within. “Though your heart is cold to me, Your lips that move in sweet pretence of love Are adept in flattery.”