17

The sun was high when Niou arose. The empress was again indis-posed, he said, changing to court dress, and he must inquire after her. Still consumed with curiosity, the governor's wife looked out through the same aperture. In formal dress he was incomparable. He sat dandling the child, clearly reluctant to leave; but finally, after a light breakfast, he made his way out. His escort had emerged from the barracks. Among them was one who, though dressed well enough (he had on a lined robe and wore a sword), had not one mark of real distinction. Indeed, he was rather homely. Before the prince he shrank to a cipher.

The women were talking.

“That's the lieutenant, the governor of Hitachi's son-in-law. He was supposed to marry our new guest, but he thought he'd do better for himself if he married one of the governor's daughters. So he got himself a little dwarf of a thing.”

“The lady hasn't said a word.”

“But we have our ways. We have our spies over there.”

Only half listening, the governor's wife was suddenly attentive, and startled. So that was who the man was! What a fool she had been to think him even remotely acceptable! She had only contempt for him now.

On hands and knees, the little prince was peering from under a blind. Niou came back and gave him another bouncing.

“If the empress is feeling better, I'll come straight home. Otherwise I suppose I'll have to stay until morning. I do hate to be away for even a single night.”

The governor's wife gazed on and on until finally he made his depar-ture, and when he was gone she was somehow lonely.