[Illustration:  The well in which the head was washed.]

One night when his duties at the castle were ended, Kamei Sama returned to his own palace, and having summoned his councillors[4] to a secret conference, said to them:  “Kotsuke no Suke has insulted Takumi no Kami and myself during our service in attendance on the Imperial envoy.  This is against all decency, and I was minded to kill him on the spot; but I bethought me that if I did such a deed within the precincts of the castle, not only would my own life be forfeit, but my family and vassals would be ruined:  so I stayed my hand.  Still the life of such a wretch is a sorrow to the people, and to-morrow when I go to Court I will slay him:  my mind is made up, and I will listen to no remonstrance.”  And as he spoke his face became livid with rage.

[Footnote 4:  Councillor, lit. “elder.”  The councillors of daimios were of two classes:  the Karo, or “elder,” an hereditary office, held by cadets of the Prince’s family, and the Yonin, or “man of business,” who was selected on account of his merits.  These “councillors” play no mean part in Japanese history.]

Now one of Kamei Sama’s councillors was a man of great judgment, and when he saw from his lord’s manner that remonstrance would be useless, he said:  “Your lordship’s words are law; your servant will make all preparations accordingly; and to-morrow, when your lordship goes to Court, if this Kotsuke no Suke should again be insolent, let him die the death.”  And his lord was pleased at this speech, and waited with impatience for the day to break, that he might return to Court and kill his enemy.

But the councillor went home, and was sorely troubled, and thought anxiously about what his prince had said.  And as he reflected, it occurred to him that since Kotsuke no Suke had the reputation of being a miser he would certainly be open to a bribe, and that it was better to pay any sum, no matter how great, than that his lord and his house should be ruined.  So he collected all the money he could, and, giving it to his servants to carry, rode off in the night to Kotsuke no Suke’s palace, and said to his retainers:  “My master, who is now in attendance upon the Imperial envoy, owes much thanks to my Lord Kotsuke no Suke, who has been at so great pains to teach him the proper ceremonies to be observed during the reception of the Imperial envoy.  This is but a shabby present which he has sent by me, but he hopes that his lordship will condescend to accept it, and commends himself to his lordship’s favour.”  And, with these words, he produced a thousand ounces of silver for Kotsuke no Suke, and a hundred ounces to be distributed among his retainers.