"The latter struggled in vain; Nagato bore him from the house. I then approached the balustrade, and saw the crowd collected outside, dispersed by the runners preceding a magnificent procession,--music, banners, palanquins, all bearing the Prince's arms. The norimonos stopped at the door, and Nagato stuffed his father-in-law into one of them, which he closed and fastened with a pad-lock. I saw what I was to do; I clutched the old woman and settled her in another palanquin, while Nagato went back to got the girl. Two norimonos received us, and the procession set out, while the music sounded gayly. We soon reached a charming establishment in the midst of the prettiest garden I ever saw. Everything was lighted up; orchestras hidden among the foliage played softly; busy servants ran to and fro. "'What is this enchanting palace?' said I to Nagato. "'Oh! a trifle,' he answered scornfully; 'it is a little house which I bought for my new wife.' "'He is crazy,' thought I, 'and will utterly ruin himself; but that's not my affair.' "We were led into a room, where we put on splendid dresses; then we went down into the banquet-hall, where we met all Nagato's young friends, Satake, Foungo, Aki, and many others. They received us with enthusiastic shouts. Soon the bride, superbly dressed, entered, followed by her father and mother, stumbling over the folds of their silken robes. The father seemed quite calm, the mother was flurried, and the young girl so astounded that she kept her pretty mouth wide open. Nagato declared that he took her for his wife, and the marriage ceremony was complete. I never saw so merry a one. The feast was most delicate, everybody was soon drunk, and I among the rest; but I had myself carried hack to the palace about three o'clock for a brief rest, for I wanted to be present this morning at the Regent's levee." "That is the most absurd story I ever heard," said the Prince of Figo. "There is certainly no one like Nagato for knowing how to carry out a joke." "And he is really married?" asked another lord. "Very really," said the Prince of Tosa; "the marriage is legal, in spite of the woman's low rank." "The Prince invents new follies every day, and gives splendid feasts; he must come to an end of his vast fortune ere long." "If he is ruined, it will please the Regent, who does not love him over much." "Yes; but it will grieve the Shogun, who is exceedingly fond of him, and who will never let him want for money." "Hollo!" cried the Prince of Tosa, "there comes Nagato back to the palace." A procession was indeed passing through the gardens. On the banners and on the norimono, borne by twenty men, were visible the insignia of the Prince,--a black bolt surmounting three balls in pyramidal form. The _cortége_ marched quite near the veranda which sheltered the nobles, and through the curtains of the norimono they saw the young Prince dozing on his cushions.