"I wonder what those little houses are where they pay their visits," Reggie said. "Oh, those are the _hikité chaya_" said Yaé glibly, "the Yoshiwara tea-houses." "Do they live there?" asked Asako. "Oh, no; rich men who come to the Yoshiwara do not go to the big houses where the _oiran_ live. They go to the tea-houses; and they order food and _geisha_ to sing, and the _oiran_ to be brought from the big house. It is more private. So the tea-houses are called _hikité chaya_, 'tea-houses which lead by the hand.'" "Yaé," said Reggie, "you know a lot about it." "Yes," said Miss Smith, "my brothers have told me. They tell me lots of things." After a stay of about half an hour, the _oiran_ left their tea-houses. The processions reformed; and they slowly tottered back to the places whence they had come. Across their path the cherry petals were already falling like snowflakes; for the cherry-blossom is the Japanese symbol of the impermanence of earthly beauty, and of all sweet things and pleasant. "By Jove!" said Geoffrey Harrington to the world in general, "that was an extraordinary sight. East is East and West is West, eh? I never felt that so strongly before. How often does this performance take place?" "This performance," said Reggie, "has taken place for three days every Spring for the last three hundred years. But it is more than doubtful whether it will ever happen again. It is called _Oiran Dochu_, the procession of the courtesans. Geoffrey, what you have seen to-day is nothing more or less than the Passing of Old Japan!" "But whom do these women belong to?" asked Geoffrey. "And who is making money out of all this filth?" "Various people and companies, I suppose, who own the different houses," answered Reggie. "A fellow once offered to sell me his whole establishment, bedding and six girls for £50 down. But he must have been having a run of bad luck. In most countries it is a most profitable form of investment. Do you remember 'Mrs. Warren's Profession'? Thirty-five per cent I think was the exact figure. I don't suppose Japan is any exception." "By Jove!" said Geoffrey, "The women, poor wretches, they can't help themselves; and the men who buy what they sell, one can't blame them either. But the creatures who make fortunes out of all this beastiness and cruelty, I say, they ought to be flogged round the place with a cat-o'-nine-tails till the life is beaten out of them. Let's get away from here!" As they left the beer-house a small round Japanese man bobbed up from the crowd, raised his hat, bowed and smiled. It was Tanaka. Geoffrey had left him behind on purpose, that his servants, at least, might not know where he was going. "I think--I meet Ladyship here," said the little man, "but for long time I do not spy her. I am very sorry." "Is anything wrong? Why did you come?" asked Geoffrey. "Good _samurai_ never leave Lordship's side. Of course, I come," was the reply.