Something jerked her out of sleep. The nightscapes vanished. Uneasily awake, she glanced at the door, half expecting to see him there. But he was not and she heard, faintly, his heavy, regular breathing, so she settled back in her pillows and thought, It was the wind or a banging shutter.

Mon Dieu, I'm tired, but what a lovely time I had at the dance. And what a lovely ring he gave me.

Humming the polka and envious of John Marlowe's success, and quite sure he could have done as well, Phillip Tyrer half danced up to the door of the House of the Three Carp in the tiny, deserted little alleyway and knocked with a flourish.

Here the Yoshiwara seemed to be slumbering, but not far away the houses and bars on Main Street were bubbling, the night young with the noise of men laughing and raucous singing, the occasional twang of samisen and laughter and pidgin mixed with it.

The door grill opened. "Mass'r, wat?"

"Please speak Japanese. I am Taira-san and I have a appointment."

"Ah, is that so?" the burly servant said.

"Taira-san, eh? I will inform the mama-san." The grill closed.

As he waited Tyrer's fingers drummed on the old wood. Yesterday and last night he had had to spend all his time with Sir William, explaining about Nakama and the Legation, arranging a modus vivendi for his newfound teacher--guilty he had not revealed the vital truth that the man could speak some English. But he had sworn, and an Englishman's word was his bond.

Sir William had finally agreed "Nakama" could be openly samurai--sons of samurai families had been attached to the French and British Legations for short periods in the past, just as Babcott had Japanese assistants. But Sir William had ordered he was not to wear or have swords within the Settlement fence. This same rule applied to all samurai, except Settlement guards under an officer on their rare, and prior-sanctioned patrols.

Further that Nakama was not to dress ostentatiously or go anywhere near the Customs House or guard house, and to keep out of sight as much as possible, that if he was discovered and claimed by the Bakufu it would be his fault and he would be handed over to them.

Tyrer had sent for Nakama and explained what Sir William had agreed. By this time he was too tired for Fujiko. "Now, Nakama, I need to send a message, and I want you to deliver it. Please write the characters for: "Please arrange..."

"'range, p'rease?"' "To fix or to make. "Please make an appointment for me tomorrow night with..." leave a blank for the name."

It had taken Hiraga a little time to understand exactly what was required of him and why. In desperation, Tyrer had found himself giving the name Fujiko and the House of the Three Carp. "Ah, Three Carp?"' Hiraga had said. "So ka! Give message mama-san, no mistake, arrange you see musume tomorrow, yes?"' "Yes, please."

Nakama had shown him how to write the characters and Tyrer copied them, very pleased with himself and signed the message carefully with the signature Hiraga had developed for him and now he was here at the gate.

"Come on, hurry up," he muttered, ready willing and able.

In time the door grill opened again.

By Raiko. "Ah, good evening, Taira-san, you want us to speak Japanese, certainly," she said with a smile and a little bow and followed with a flood of lilting Japanese which he did not catch, except the name of Fujiko several times, ended with, "So sorry."

"What? Oh, You sorry? Why sorry, Raiko-san? Good evening, I have appointment Fujiko... with Fujiko."

"Ah so sorry," she repeated patiently, "but Fujiko is not available this evening, and will not be free even for a short time. So sorry but there is nothing I can do, she sends her regrets of course and, so sorry, but all my other ladies are equally occupied. Very sorry."

Again he did not understand everything. The gist reached him. Crestfallen, Tyrer understood that Fujiko was not there, but not the reason. "But letter, yesterday --my message man, Nakama, he bring, yes?"

"Oh yes! Nakama-san brought it and as I told him I thought everything would be perfect but, so sorry, it is not now possible to accommodate you. So sorry, Taira-san, thank you for remembering us. Good night."

"Wait," Tyrer shouted in English as the grill began to close, then pleading, "you said she isn't there--here, yes? Wait, please, Raiko-san. Tomorrow--sorry--tomorrow, Fujiko, yes?"

Sadly Raiko shook her head. "Ah so sorry, tomorrow is not possible either, it really distresses me to have to say so. I do hope you do understand, so sorry."

Tyrer was aghast. "No tomorrow? Next day, yes?"

She hesitated, smiled, made another little bow: "Perhaps, Taira-san, perhaps but, so sorry I can promise nothing. Please ask Nakama-san to come here during the day and I will tell him. You understand? Send Nakama-san.

Good night."

Blankly Tyrer stared at the door, cursed bitterly, bunched his fists, wanting to smash something. It took him a moment to recover from his immense disappointment, then, despondently, he turned away.

Hiraga had been watching through a spy hole in the fence. When Tyrer vanished around the corner he went back along the meandering stone path through the garden, deep in thought. The garden was deceptively spacious with small bungalows, always with verandas, nestling in their own shrubbery.

But he avoided all of them, went into the shrubbery and knocked on a panel of fence.

It swung open noiselessly. The servant bowed and he nodded and went along a path, heading for a similar dwelling. Most Inns or Houses had secret exits and hiding places, or connections with the one next door, and those that dared to cater to shishi paid special attention to security--for their own safety. This part of the House of the Three Carp was for very special guests with different cooking facilities, maids but the same courtesans. On the veranda he kicked off his geta--clogs--slid back the shoji. "What did he do?" Ori asked.

"Meekly walked away. Weird."

Hiraga shook his head in wonder and sat opposite him, nodded a brief acknowledgment of Fujiko's deep bow. Yesterday, after delivering Tyrer's letter--with Raiko's amused compliance he had hired Fujiko for tonight.

"May I ask why, Hiraga-san?"' Raiko had said.

"Just to annoy Taira."

"Eeee, I think he left his virginity here, with Ako. Then he tried Meiko, then Fujiko. Fujiko made his eyes cross."

He had laughed with Raiko, liking her, but when he saw Fujiko he was bewildered that his enemy found the girl attractive. She was ordinary, hair ordinary, everything about her ordinary except her eyes that were unfashionably large. Nonetheless he hid his opinion and had complimented Raiko that she had acquired such a flower, who looked sixteen though she was thirty-one and fifteen years a courtesan.

"Thank you, Hiraga-san." Raiko had smiled. "Yes she's an asset, for some reason gai-jin like her. But please, don't forget the Taira is our client and that gai-jin are not like us. They tend to attach themselves to one lady only. Please encourage him, gai-jin are rich, and I hear he's an important official and may be here for some years." "Sonno-joi."

"That is for you to arrange. You take their heads, but promise me not here, meanwhile I take their wealth."

"You will permit Ori to stay?"' "Ori-san is a curious youth," she had said hesitantly, "very strong, very angry, very unsettled--a tinderbox. I'm afraid of him. I can hide him for a day or two but... but please, curb him while he's my guest? There is trouble enough in the Willow World without seeking it."

"Yes. Have you any news of my cousin, Akimoto?"' "He's safe at Hodogaya, Teahouse of the First Moon."

"Send for him." Hiraga had slid a gold oban from his secret pocket. He noted how her eyes glinted. "This will pay for any messenger, or expenses while Akimoto and Ori are here, and for Fujiko's services tomorrow of course."