Hitherto Ieyasu had held peace to be well gained at any price, but now that love possessed him, burned and coaled deep into the heart-chords, he had given up the future, sold his soul for the loan of a force with which to fight reasonably a single combat. Recalling the occasion, he would have thrust Hideyoshi through at the cost of a bushido: remembering Katsutoya's warning, the barest conception of a laggard wit startled him into the first really energizing confession that he had ever made: "I am unworthy of her." Everywhere around, men with less opportunity were rising as if metalled to accomplish anything. He, too, must do something to prove himself worth the confidence of a true love--why not trust Esyo? Designing to poison him against Yodogima, she had paved the way only to a more questionable undertaking--that of betrayal. Ieyasu answered the message kindly, inclosing therewith another to Yodogima (also intercepted), informing her of his intentions and asking that she make ready. Upon the arrival of the letter, Yodogima said: "I am going to confide in you, Esyo; you are a sister--next to me--and have never proven false: I just must have the confidence of someone; it is killing me, this terrible suspense. Will you listen, dear?" Esyo nestled close to Yodogima's side, and looking submissively into her face, begged: "Let us trust each other, Yodogima; otherwise how can we bear the awful burden of this horrid place?" "Ieyasu is coming; he has arranged it, and I am going away from here, to be his wife, never to part again." "How nice that will be--but the castle! Had you forgotten that?" "Yes; it shall then be yours; and you, a more gracious queen." The bare thought of gaining such preferment only at the will of a much sought after sister, and that, too, for the sake of serving rather her convenience, stung Esyo as no words could have done. She would fight out, now, the course sooner determined upon; hence Hideyoshi, on the very next day, found it agreeable to dispatch, without any compunction upon his part, an invitation to Ieyasu forthwith to come to Azuchi, there to pay respects and claim his intended bride. Other advice went along, however, as Jokoin well knew, which was neither intercepted nor answered, advising him to do no such thing, but to prepare himself at once for defense. CHAPTER IX In the meantime Ieyasu had concluded it wise to listen to the proposals of Nobukatsu, his nearest neighbor at the west and the eldest living son of Nobunaga: pretender to the father's estates and brother to Nobutaka, a recently defeated ally of Shibata.