"Then I'll do it, and see you, each, that his spear is in order, for the battle shall be to the quick." Before Hideyori could at all respond; Jokoin snatched up the bugle, and running to the rampart's edge, blew a blast that brought the loyal speeding; no live man would fail a summons as vital: the one call that has lifted antiquity's veil, makes the day worth its enduring, and rouses better expectations of the future: Sanada shouted: "Let me fight; the princess foresees, and progression is her right," and Goto, Ono, the young and the vigorous, those patriots and their martyrs, Christian or Pagan, rallied to the defense of liberty. Only Kuroda, Fukushima, and the hirelings of content, their kind, refused accession to Yodogima's stand. "When you are as old as we, the wells of enthusiasm shall have dried," whined they, walking out at the gate--thrown open by Kyogoku, the instrument of Esyo--regretting only that their convenience and Yodogima's indiscretion made it more delectable for them to break an uncrossed faith than perform a sworn duty. They walked out, and others came in, in legion. The Christians responded, to a man, and no such stalwart soldiery had before gathered--in any cause. The edict against these Christians, on the one hand, and the attempt upon Hideyori, on the other, had brought to Yodogima's support a force and a promise that jarred for once the understanding of Ieyasu. Policy had been his stronghold, from the first; the one battle risked and fought, at Sekigahara, had been forced and won at the instance of Yodogima, and the reaper of its booty knew it, had extended his hand as recompense, and in the frenzy of madness brought about an unthought catastrophe, seemingly as needless as destructive. Only the pinched of face and sycophant at heart surrounded him now; men waxing corpulent, and others anxious to coddle them; the philosopher because he could afford to be one; possessors of endowed chairs at colleges, the gifts of one another; builders of libraries, in the hope of perpetuating doubtful memories; merchant princes, and financial jugglers, these and their like, who lap for favors, jostled each other in the crying of peace--that their interests might not be disturbed. Ieyasu looked them over. "And this is what Hideyoshi's democracy really developed! A war, and all the men at the enemy's beck and call. Had I Yodogima's strength I'd close these doors--but I can; I'll make the barons defend their own vested interests. Diplomacy shall yet avail the state," resolved he, cold and set. "Esyo?" "What is it," demanded she. "Tell Yodogima that Ieyasu would like to call, in conference, at her pleasure. Will you do me the kindness?" "Yes, honorable father-in-law. When, please?" "Forthwith, my good Esyo." Esyo went, but delivered instead an ultimatum. "I came to thank you for the loan of Kyogoku, Yodogima," said she, artfully. "But he played me a trick?" "Did you expect more?" "No; not of him; but of you."