Hieyas looked at her fixedly with an expression on his face which would have alarmed any one who knew the man. The maiden, however, raised her head, and an undaunted spirit was apparent in her eyes,--a sort of self-renunciation. "It was you who betrayed us," said Hieyas in a dull, heavy voice. "Yes," said she. "What does this mean?" cried the Prince of Owari with a start. "It means that the plot so carefully contrived within these castle walls, so mysteriously concealed from all, was surprised and revealed by her." "Wretch!" cried the Prince raising his clenched fist against his daughter. "A woman,--a child,--to ruin a political conspiracy!" continued Hieyas. "A vile pebble, to make you stumble, and hurl you headlong to the ground! It is a mockery!" "I will kill you!" yelled Owari. "Kill me! what will it matter?" said the girl. "I have saved the King. Is not his life worth mine? I have long awaited your vengeance." "You shall wait no longer!" said the Prince, seizing her by the throat. "No; do not kill her!" said Hieyas. "I will take her punishment into my own hands." "So be it!" said Owari; "I abandon her to you." "It is well!" said Hieyas, signing to Faxibo not to lose sight of the young girl. "But let us leave what is past and gone; let us look towards the future. Are you still devoted to me?" "Can you doubt it, master? And must I not now struggle to repair the wrong done you by one of my family without my knowledge?" "Listen, then. A conspiracy has suddenly wrested the power from my hands. I contrived to escape the death that threatened me, and fled in the direction of my principality of Mikawa. Your domains lie between Osaka and my province. Your fortress overlooks the sea, and can bar the passage of soldiers coming from Osaka; that is why I stopped here, to bid you collect your troops as quickly as possible and put your country in a state of defence. Guard your castle well. I will stay here, where I am safe from sudden attack, while my faithful comrade, Ino-Kamo-No-Kami" (Hieyas pointed to a nobleman in his escort, who bowed low to the Prince of Owari, the latter returning his salute), "proceeds to the castle of Mikawa, fortifies the whole province, and gives the alarm to all the princes my allies." "I am your slave, master; dispose of me." "Give orders to your soldiers at once." The Prince of Owari left the courtyard. Servants ushered their master's guests into cool, airy apartments, and served them with tea, sweetmeats, and a light meal. Soon Ino-Kamo-No-Kami took leave of Hieyas, who gave him his final instructions; and taking with him two of the lords who had accompanied them thither, he remounted his horse and left the castle. Hieyas then called Faxibo. The latter was engaged in devouring a honey-cake, never taking his eyes from Omiti, as she sat in a corner of the room. "Can you disguise yourself so that none shall know you?" he asked him. "So that you yourself would not know me," said Faxibo.