"Ieyasu plans to wed Yodogima and substitute himself in authority over Hideyori: what we must do is to gain time. Let him take her as hostage, if he choose, but see to it that no marriage take place while the son is yet under age. Hideyori is an intelligent lad, and capable of crushing Hidetada or any other of Ieyasu's descendants, but in the meantime, we should let Ieyasu die; to go against him now, with the crushed and defeated Christians acknowledging Ozaka's protection, would be but to invite defeat; the daimyos and captains of established faith would, to a man, rally to the cause of Ieyasu." You reason well, Kitagira," replied Hayami, thereat approved in what he said by the remainder of the seven captains, "but Harunaga, as a man, could not recommend it, and his advice is paramount at court. Nor would, nor should the daimyos submit to Yodogima's virtual imprisonment; the taiko never contemplated any such irreverence, and I am sure that she, herself, to-day, with a voice unequalled by any other, among all classes, throughout the land, once able to resist Hideyoshi, himself, as she was, would hardly consent to a degradation of the sort you suggest, or so belittle herself and those dependent upon her as to fawn favors for or of anybody. I shall advise Harunaga of your plans and let him decide; he stands best in favor with Yodogima." And he did so, forthwith. "It is a make-believe," replied she, to Harunaga, who had related the proposal, truthfully and unreservedly; "Ieyasu is not so much to fear--yet I shall not dismiss Kitagira; he is a creature of Ieyasu's, and my best and only pawn. Does Ieyasu still refuse me a visit?" "Yes, my dear." "Please do not call me 'dear'; it is enough to retain one's confidence in men, without their overstepping bounds granted. But this Ieyasu: where is he now, that he can refuse?" "Inside the castle grounds, and not so very far distant, either, your ladyship." "Not 'your ladyship', Harunaga; I said it should be 'Yodogima'--I do believe the world itself shall sooner or later grow into a veritable machine." "Yodogima!" "That is more to my liking. Why everybody or anybody so impersonal? But Ieyasu: I shall go to him, he refusing to come to me: perhaps Kitagira may thus retain his head, and I my lover. What think you, Harunaga?" "I am at your service." "And I can trust you; results are the best sort of proof."