BUZEN. [_Pushing forward._] As I was saying, oh Prince, His eyes never closed. During the Reign of the Rat He heard, in this room, O Toyo Tossing and moaning As if in great fear of something She could not escape from. Even at the same moment As the beginnings of her moanings Came a cat-call from the garden-- Then nearer--then ghostly paddings As of padded claws on matting, And an evil presence seemed hovering And lurking near in the darkness. O Toyo gave a low scream--than all was silence. Soon she came stealthily Through the shoji--cat-like her step-- Glassy her eyes-- Claw-like her hands-- Bent she over you with curled lips-- Then she turned, even as you have said, And, seeing a waking watcher, Left as she came. RUITEN. [_Comes down._] The second night of Ito Soda's watching She threatened him in low words But he made as to stab her And she melted before him Laughing a little. And he heard the rustle of her garments As she regained this room Though he saw not her passage hither. PRINCE. Thicker with each word the horror about me. [_Turns away to R._] Doubts to beliefs--beliefs to actions-- Love unto hate. [_Turns to them almost pleadingly._] Tell me it is not O Toyo. BUZEN. I questioned her maid, Kashiku, And found that O Toyo's couch Was empty even at the time Of the weird visit to thee. PRINCE. [_Overwhelmed._] So, it was O Toyo! In the soul of a flower, a demon-- On the sweet lips, poison. BUZEN. There is only one course-- RUITEN. The one road-- PRINCE. And I take it! BUZEN. [_Moves toward door L._] The samurai are gathered. PRINCE. Summon Ito Soda. [BUZEN _exits L._] RUITEN. Hard is the fate of man Here on this dark earth. Many the shapes and the shadows Stalking abroad. Yet ever the gentle Buddha From the Lotus Fields watches And guards every life that lives. PRINCE. [_Puts one hand on_ RUITEN'S _shoulder._] Priest, have not many Vampires bleeding them And dream it is another thing? RUITEN. The soul is often a vampire to the body. PRINCE. And that evil thing must we kill. ITO SODA. [_Enters L., kneels before the_ PRINCE. RUITEN _takes up R. a little and_ BUZEN _re-entering after_ ITO SODA _goes up C._] Honorable Prince, humbly I answer thy summons. PRINCE. Rise, Ito Soda. Faithful beyond words art thou, This know I as all hath been told me. No longer call thyself a common soldier But a samurai of the Prince of Hizen. And the two swords will I give thee on the morrow. ITO SODA. On my knees I humbly thank thee. [_Rises._] PRINCE. Now time presses. O Toyo will be coming In from the garden. As usual shall the hundred sleepy samurai Guard my couch. Let Ito Soda Remain here hidden and watchful. When O Toyo rises to enter my chamber-- Your dirk is sharp, Ito Soda? ITO SODA. [_Draws dirk._] As a moonbeam on a cold night. PRINCE. And you know how to use it.