Hideyoshi began the shampooing as if wont to do a real service, and Shibata to hide his only too patent chagrin and sorrow at such defeat pretended to sleep. "It is only the friendship between us here assembled that restrains our enemies scattered everywhere around. If by surrendering Nagahama to Shibata I have strengthened: if by shampooing him I have cemented that bond, then Hideyoshi has done a good service--perhaps the end, if not the method, shall be deemed worthy, if not befitting." So saying, Hideyoshi left off further effort at conciliation, and withdrawing proceeded thence, toward Kyoto, with a visible escort of only some three hundred men. Sakuma would have followed, possibly to no small purpose, but there was one present, a small baron, hitherto unnoticed, who saw farther than Shibata divined. Ieyasu, a prince from Mikawa, advised that Hideyoshi be allowed to go his way unmolested. CHAPTER II Katsutoya, in whom Shibata was personally most deeply interested, had not put in an appearance: yet no pressing duties at Nagahama or elsewhere could possibly have kept him away. Though of no particular consequence, this young prince was generally conceded to be the clandestine son of Yoshiaki, the then de jure shogun, who had been, a number of years theretofore, deposed and exiled by Nobunaga, as was customary, to one of the many monasteries in the hills of Hiyeisan to the rear of Kyoto. Shibata, Nobunaga's chief captain, no doubt with an eye to the future, had early taken in the friendless youth and by adopting him as a son--with the rank and title of a captain--had given him respectable standing: perhaps intending him to be the possible means of later on obtaining a commission from the shogun, himself; thus legalizing his warfare against his neighbors--a thing every daimyo of consequence aspired above all else. Shibata, chafed at Katsutoya's omission or disobedience and Hideyoshi's keen eye, readily discerned the possibilities of so potent a failure. "Junkei?" commanded he, as he and his train approached, on the way to Kyoto, the recently surrendered castle of Nagahama. "Yes, my lord." "Tell Takiyama Hideyoshi would pay Katsutoya a visit, en route." "What!" "Fool! Control yourself; do as bid; and with a good face." "But Katsutoya is an enemy's favorite, and we have only a small guard." "Hence worth our while; and do you comprehend? Cease conjecturing; Hideyoshi knows. Nobunaga is dead: Yodogima, mine." They three met in council at the narrow pass leading to Katsutoya's new charge. It was dark, and Takiyama conjured new dangers. Hideyoshi bade him disarm and lead the way. "It is madness," whispered Takiyama, more thoughtful of himself than of his duty. "You, a Christian, would bear arms, visiting upon a neighbor? Is that your religion?"