"Gai-jin have no honor."

"Disgusting." Another sip of tea. "In Yedo Castle there is much activity. They say the Shogun and the Imperial Princess plan to leave for Kyoto in a week or two."

"Why should they do that?" Hiraga asked, pretending uninterest that fooled neither of them.

The older man chuckled. "I do not know, Otami-san, but it is very curious that the Shogun should leave his lair now to travel many dangerous miles to visit the lair of many enemies when, since the beginning, he has always sent a flunky." The cat stretched and he tickled her stomach, adding thoughtfully, "The roju are increasing taxes in all Toranaga lands to pay for any amounts of cannon and weapons that can be bought--except by Satsuma, Tosa and Choshu."

Hiraga sensed the shoya's underlying anger, though none showed, or his own amusement: What are peasants and merchants for if not to pay taxes? "Unless the Son of Heaven can use his Heaven-granted power, the Bakufu will plunge Nippon into eternal civil war again."

"I agree."

Hiraga was thinking, I wonder how much you really agree, old man. He put that aside to ponder how to push the Bakufu and Toranaga Yoshi from their course. Akimoto should go at once to Yedo and the House of Wisteria, we haven't heard from Koiko or her mama-san for days--perhaps we should go togeth-- "Last, it seems your shishi friend, Ori-san, did not leave for Kyoto as planned," the shoya said conversationally.

Hiraga's eyes went flat, almost reptilian. The shoya suppressed a shudder.

Instantly aware, the cat was erect in one smooth movement, watching warily. Hiraga broke the silence. "Where is he?"

"In that part of the Settlement where the low-class gai-jin live, drink and fornicate."

Near midnight Andr`e Poncin knocked on the door of the House of the Three Carp. At once the doorkeeper admitted him. Raiko welcomed him and soon they were drinking sak`e, discussing the latest news of the Yoshiwara and Settlement--she was a source of much intelligence for him as he was for her--in their usual mixture of Japanese and English.

"... and the Enforcer Patrol searched every house, Furansu-san! As though we would hide criminals! It is against Yoshiwara rules.

We know how to keep our rice bowls full: by promoting peace and avoiding trouble. Enforcers are still at the main gate, glowering at every passerby."

Raiko fanned herself remembering her narrow escape and wished that she had never invited shishi to favor her house. It's time they all went elsewhere, she thought, Enforcers and shishi, however much I like Hiraga. "I wish they would go away."

"What criminals look for?" Andr`e asked.

"Traitors, ronin usually. But anyone who is against them is a traitor. Ronin, they are their usual prey."

"Bakufu? Can Bakufu be throw out?

Revolution?"

She laughed softly and emptied the flask and began another. "The Bakufu are like lice in a prison--you destroy a thousand and only make room for a hundred thousand more. No, the Bakufu and Shogunate are Nippon and with us forever."

"Tonight Taira-san here?"

She shook her head. "The girl he wanted was not available, I offered another but he refused and left. Curious, neh? A curious young man in many ways, though possibly a good customer.

Thank you for introducing him to my poor House."

"This Japanese Sensei, teacher, samurai Taira has find--who is he, Raiko?"

"I don't know, so sorry, but I've heard he's a Yedo-man and lives in the Settlement, in the village."

"Taira-san, he talk Fujiko about him?"

"She never mentioned it, but then I did not ask her. Next time, perhaps by next time I will know, Furansu-san."

Andr`e did not believe her, but never mind, he thought, when she's ready she'll tell me. "The medicine. It arranged?"

"Of course, whatever I can do to help a favored client is my purpose in life."

He took out the pair of pearl earrings and laid them on the table. Her eyes glittered.

She made no move to pick them up but he was sure she had instantly weighed them mentally, deciding on their quality, cost and resale value. "I asked to give these as present," he said pleasantly and she smiled prettily, pretending to be overwhelmed though already aware payment would be in jewelry which could not be offered for sale in Yokohama. Her fingers trembled as she reached for them. He forestalled her, picking them up and pretending to examine them closely.

His plan for Angelique had worked perfectly. Servants from the Noble House had scoured the streets to no avail. Her anxiety and tears had been genuine, and she had whispered privately: "Oh Andr`e, did I do the correct thing? Malcolm was really very upset-- I had no idea they were so expensive."

"But he told you just to sign for whatever you wanted, didn't he? Not your fault that you didn't ask the price--he liked his cuff links, didn't he?"' "Yes, but Andr`e..."

"There will be enough left over in case it's needed --a credit against any eventuality, Angelique."

Andr`e smiled to himself and turned his full attention to Raiko. "Value many times cost of medicine."

"The buying price, certainly. But I must send them to the Yedo or Nagasaki Yoshiwara.

A difficult sale, but please do not worry, I will help you to be rid of an unwanted child."

"Not mine," he said sharply.

"Ah so sorry, please excuse me," she said, believing him. Good, I was afraid it was his, she told herself, greatly relieved. I want no more complications with this man. "It is not my business."

"Just help for friend of friend. In Drunk Town."

"Please excuse me, so sorry."

He smiled without humor. "You know pearl. This value fifty times cost of medicine."

She kept her smile in place and her voice cooing but inside she was gnashing her teeth. "I will have them valued. Of course they are worth more than the cost of the medicine."

"Of course." He held his palm flat and she took them. The pearls were almost black, Sea Island pearls. She touched them to her teeth to feel if they were cold and carefully bit on them but they did not mar. Satisfied now that they were genuine and rich, she said lovingly, "The price, old friend?"

"Price is: all medicine, even if first time fail. What necessary if drink fail, understand?

What need... whatever need to stop child. Yes?"

"Yes," she agreed happily, knowing this to be a marvelous bargain. "A guaranteed... elimination, termination."

"Plus twenty gold oban," he added, and was delighted to see her face twist with real horror though this was less than a third of what she would squeeze from the sale--the setting was of little value but he had made sure the Chinese jeweler only used the finest pearls. She groaned and cursed and they bargained back and forth, both enjoying the encounter, both knowing that the real cost of the medicine and medical advice was hardly significant to a brothel mama-san. Soon they were close to making a deal and then, of a sudden, her mood changed and she stared at him strangely, liking him, so sad for him, and thought: Should I interfere with karma?

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

"Let me think a moment, Furansu-san."

Later, in an entirely different voice, warm and soft as in the old days when he had been her first customer and had lavishly wined and dined the whole House to celebrate their opening, she said, "Since we met, much water has flowed under many bridges, lots of good times and laughter in our Floating World and, as it is in this life, also sadness and a lake of tears, not of my choosing.

Suddenly I remembered the last time we bargained like this was over Hana's contract."

His face settled into a mask. "Not talk about Hana."

"Ah, so sorry, I would like to, please, because I may have a solution to her."

"There none," he said angrily. "No cure, Hana dead, Hana nothing do with pearls!"