Ieyasu again hesitated. He had set Yodogima aside and accepted Saji out of respect for a well-grounded belief, had invoked self-denial to the point of distraction, and bought peace at the cost of manhood, but to surrender a birthright and abandon every defense seemed more than he could do, even in the face of rigid necessity. This man then would rule and not ruin. Had Yodogima judged him more accurately than he had done? Would she succeed? Pride urged him now, forced the aggressive, hence prompted him to answer: "At Odawara." "No. I know a place, farther away, called Yedo (Tokio). There is where you shall live." "Very well, my lord," replied Ieyasu, determined now, whereas before he had provokingly waited. CHAPTER XIV In the meantime there had developed within the ranks, and outside as well, no inconsiderable speculation as to what further to expect. Hitherto Hideyoshi had found ample employment for all his talents; from the beginning it had been one constant, absorbing grind, but now that all the barons worth the while had been subdued, the last man who could in any manner check or hinder him apparently disposed with, he more restless than ever, Hojo made an example of, and Yodogima undoubtedly his keep, they might well conjecture. Already some ugly rumors had started, and circulated (Esyo came and went at leisure), causing Yodogima to ponder, no less made the master furious. "Eigh? A subordinate question his superior? Crucify the culprit," commanded he, intending quite another example. "No," interposed Yodogima, complacently. "Well," replied Hideyoshi, to the officer, after a moment's reflection, "as the villain did not utter the speech in my presence you may instead cut off his head." "No," repeated Yodogima, more positively. "Ah," ventured Hideyoshi, vainly cogitating some sort of excuse, "seeing he is a samurai, you had better tell him to commit harakiri." "No," commanded Yodogima, now wholly conscious. "Promote him, then, for having done me a service," directed he, still set upon some voice in the matter. "Not you, but me," retorted Yodogima, now fully determined upon her part. "Why you; I am master, am I not?" "Not of me; and, I am going to see that you prove yourself something more than a head-chopper." "You have heard?" "Yes; Esyo just now told me all about it." "Women will talk," sighed Hideyoshi, mindful of a hundred battle fields, and no one woman that he had ever conquered. "And I'll show you that they can do more," threatened she, without a change to suggest an advantage. Yodogima had taken desperate chances in calling Hideyoshi to account as done, but she had studied him well and believed herself capable--not that she might have need to combat any mean advantage; but gossip, vain assumption, had compelled now the assertion and maintenance of a womanhood; which otherwise had not been questioned.