"Are you very sure that the woman you saw was the one you are looking for?" said he. "Sure!" cried Fide-Yori. "I never saw her face but once; but my eyes can never forget it." "Then," said the Prince, "instead of being sad, rejoice. You only imagined that she lived in this city; now you are certain she does. So we are sure of finding her. You must give another entertainment, and she will be there." "You are right, friend," said Fide-Yori; "you shall help me; we will search the city. We will find her yet; she shall be my wife. Then my life, which has been but a series of sorrows and disillusions, will begin to brighten. Let us start to-morrow, eh? We'll open the campaign before a new festival can be arranged; we will study the city, district by district; we'll wrest her secret from her. Oh! you have given me fresh courage; you have almost made me happy!" Hope illumined the young Shogun's eyes, a smile trembled on his lips. All at once a cloud darkened his brow. "How cruel and selfish I am!" he exclaimed. "You, my best friend, my devoted brother, have just lost the woman whom you love; she died a frightful death. And I insult your grief by talking of my love and my hopes. How dare I be gay when you are wretched!" "Master," said Nagato, "I feel a deep regret for the woman who died for my sake; I cherished a brotherly affection for her. But my betrothed was not my beloved." "What do I hear?" cried Fide-Yori; "you lift a great weight from my heart. I supposed you were crushed forever. Then you may be happy yet, as well as I." Iwakura shook his head. "My love is made up of light and shade," said he. "I can never be entirely happy; it is composed half of celestial bliss, and half of utter misery. Such as it is, however, it is my whole life." "Whom do you love, then?" asked Fide-Yori. "Oh, Master!" said the Prince, covering his eyes with his hand, "do not ask me." "It is so sweet to talk of the loved one! See! since I made you my confidant, my trouble has diminished by half." "I am condemned to silence." "Even to me? Is it thus you love me? I regret that I opened my heart to you." "If I should confess the object of my love, you would shun the subject forever." "Is it my mother?" "No," said Nagato, smiling. "Who is it? Tell me, I beseech you!" "The Kisaki." "Unhappy man!" cried Fide-Yori; and, as the Prince had predicted, he added not another word.