(_Enter Yazama Jutaro, Senzaki Yagoro, and Takemori Kitahachi_). JUTARO. Master Yagoro and Master Kitahachi, this is the tea-house Ichiriki, where Master Yuranosuke takes his pleasure. Oh, Heiyemon, we will call you when the time comes. Go and wait in the kitchen. HEIYEMON. Yes, sir. I beg you will speak for me. JUTARO. Will some one please come to the door? WAITRESS. Yes, sir; and who are you? JUTARO. Oh, we have come on business to Master Yuranosuke. Go in and tell him that we are Yazama Jutaro, Senzaki Yagoro, and Takemori Kitahachi; that though we sent messengers several times asking him to come to us, he would not return home and so we have all three repaired hither and beg him to see us as we have something on which we must consult him. Please, do not forget to tell him. WAITRESS. Then I am sorry for you, for he has kept drinking since the third of the moon and even if you saw him, you will find he is not in his senses. His usual spirit is gone. JUTARO. Do you hear that, Master Yagoro? YAGORO. Yes, I hear and am astonished. I thought at first that it was a scheme to put the enemy off the scent; but now he gives himself too much to pleasures and I cannot understand it. KITAHACHI. Is it not as I said? Has not his spirit changed completely? Let us break into his room and...... YAGORO. No, no, let us first speak to him. KITAHACHI. Very well; then we will wait here. JUTARO. Well, but please say to him as I told you. [Illustration: Blindfolded Yuranosuke and two women] WAITRESS. Yes, sir. WOMEN. Come where I clap my hands; here I clap them. YURANOSUKE. I’ll catch you; I’ll catch you. WOMEN. Not yet, not yet, Blindman Yura. YURANOSUKE. I’ll catch you and make you drink. Here, I’ve caught you. Now for wine. Bring the wine-holder. JUTARO. No, Master Yuranosuke, I am Yazama Jutaro. What are you going to do? YURANOSUKE. Great Heavens, I have made a mistake! WOMAN. Oh, we are sorry. What fierce-looking samurai they are, Miss Sakae! Are they his friends? SAKAE. I suppose so. They all look very dreadful. JUTARO. Ah, you women. We have come on business to Master Oboshi, and we should like you to leave us for a while. WOMAN. I thought it would be so. SAKAE. Master Yura, we will go in, and you will come soon. We leave you, sirs. JUTARO. Master Yuranosuke, I am Yazama Jutaro. KITAHACHI. And I, Takemori Kitahachi. YAGORO. And I, Senzaki Yagoro, wait upon you. Are you now awake? YURANOSUKE. You are all welcome, gentlemen. And why........ JUTARO. When shall we start for Kamakura? YURANOSUKE. Well, then it is an important thing you come to ask me. Says the song in _Tamba no Yosaku_:[2] “When you go to the City of Yedo....” Ha, ha, ha! Pardon me; I am talking foolishly. JUTARO. No, wine reveals a man’s true character. If you are not in your right senses, we three will make you sober.