"I shall be going to Tokyo in a few days, Takara, and I trust upon my return your heart will not have gone in Shibusawa's direction." "Foolish boy! You might sooner expect it yourself. However, I am going to invite them over, and I shall want you to carry the message." "And serve you at the door?" "Oh, no; I shall for that excuse you; it is the daimyos' call, not the princes'." "And when do you expect such a gathering?" "Not later than Tenno-Sai. It is a good time." "I would return even before that, should you wish it." "You are always kind, Daikomitsu." CHAPTER XXVIII THE DAIMYO'S ARREST Daikomitsu proceeded directly to Tokyo, and upon his arrival found the shogun's party considerably stirred up over what threatened to become a serious breach. It had been strongly hinted by some of Ikamon's enemies that the lord daimyo of Kanazawa had withdrawn in disgust, and for no other reason than a hearty dislike of his son-in-law's encouragement of everything foreign. There was also gaining ground a feeling that the crafty minister had used too much to his own advantage the powers of the shogun. Notwithstanding this latter charge, the real cause for dissension centred in the growing distrust of the foreigners. Here as in Kyoto it had already become the main issue, and strong overtures were being made to some of the leaders in the mikado's ranks for a coalition of all the anti-foreign forces. Upon Daikomitsu's return to the scene at Tokyo he was showered with every consideration. In fact some of the more ardent openly stated that he had come as the secret envoy of the mikado, for the express purpose of encouraging a friendly understanding between the two heads of government on that subject. Ikamon was not at all pleased with these friendly demonstrations, because things had so shaped themselves that he could not recede from the position taken had he so desired or thought best. He had used his influence with the shogunate to stamp approval only upon such foreign measures as he had been forced to concede, rather than involve the nation in open hostilities with the powers; which he knew full well would have been practical suicide. As a result of these several contentions there had sprung up, among a few of the more radical of the prime minister's foes, a demand for the regency of Hitotsubashi, and whisperings of Daikomitsu as a possible successor to Ikamon himself. It had already come to Ikamon's ears that even Tetsutaisho had listened to the rumors with indifference, whereupon the prime minister sought an interview with Daikomitsu and undertook to wrest from him a definite understanding. The easy-going scholar, of course, denied any such thought as disloyalty to a friend, and carelessly went so far as to suggest stringent measures.