“What sort of business where?”

“How should I know. Probably tracking down some rare object, hoping to cheat semiliterate monks so he could sell it in the capital for a fortune. That’s all he was good for, money. That’s why I let my little girl marry him. So she would have some of the better things in- life. Hah!” He made a choking sound, shook his head, and covered his eyes with one hand.

Akitada thought the show of emotion unconvincing. This Yasaburo was full of contradictions, playing many roles simultaneously. One moment he was the rustic hermit, then an eccentric academic, then again the grieving father or the worldly cynic. He was intensely curious about this man, but thought it better to let Kobe do the questioning, particularly since he was no longer a welcome visitor.

“Speaking of Nagaoka’s wealth,” continued Kobe, “how much blood money did he pay you?”

There was a startled pause; then Yasaburo growled, “Not enough!”

Kobe turned to Akitada. “Well, that explains what happened to the money. Not highway robbery, then.”

Yasaburo’s head came up. “He might have carried more. How do you know he was not killed for his money?”

“Did I mention he was killed?”

Yasaburo said angrily, “What else would a superintendent of police be doing here? Well, he deserved it. He is responsible for my daughter’s murder by that depraved brother of his. And how much do you think her life was worth to him? A mere eighteen bars of silver, that’s all! I told him what I thought of him, my wealthy son-in-law. He tried to excuse himself. Said business had been bad. Even had the nerve to claim Nobuko’s tastes had been expensive. Hah! The miser kept her locked up in his house day and night like a slave.” He paused, drank deeply from his cup, and slammed it down. “And then the cold fish sent her off with his randy brother. For all I know, he told the bastard to get her with child. When my poor girl fought the fellow off, he killed her. No, no, Superintendent, eighteen bars of silver is not enough for such an outrage!”

A brief silence followed that shrill outpouring of venom. Then Akitada said, “That is a scandalous accusation. And a cowardly one. It takes little courage to heap abuse on the head of the dead.”

“Spare me that drivel.” Yasaburo glared at Akitada, then asked Kobe, “Well, have you got what you came for?”

Kobe said, “Not quite. We have reason to believe that Nagaoka died here and was taken later to the place where he was found.”

Yasaburo stumbled to his feet. “What? When? He left here the way he arrived. Alive. On his horse. My boy can tell you. You’re not going to pin this on me.”

“Sit down! Let’s talk about his visit.”

Suddenly both strength and fight seemed to go out of the old man. He muttered, “I know nothing about Nagaoka’s death. He left here alive. Must have run into robbers on the way.”

“No. Tell me about the blood money.”

“Eighteen bars. He owed me more. We agreed on thirty-five bars when I went to see him in the capital. He gave me five bars then and promised me the rest later. But he brought only eighteen.”

Akitada interjected, “Why would he pay you? He did not believe in his brother’s guilt.”

Yasaburo sneered. “What difference what he believed? The police said he was guilty. The moment I heard about it, I went for my money. And Nagaoka did not refuse. Just asked for time.”

“Hmm,” said Kobe, scratching his short beard. “Let me get this story straight. You made certain demands on Nagaoka, he gave you a down payment, and was bringing the rest here in person?

“That’s what I said.”

“But he did not bring enough, and so you got angry, eh? Very angry, I would say.”

Yasaburo bit his lip. “I was not pleased and let him know it. He left right away.”

“What about refreshments? After a long, cold journey?” Kobe raised his cup. “Some of your hot wine? After all, the man was related to you by marriage.”

Was there a nervous flicker in Yasaburo’s eyes? He definitely hesitated before answering. “A cup of wine, that was all.”

“Ah!” Kobe nodded and smiled. “Do you keep poison? For the birds, perhaps?”

Yasaburo paled. He was clearly frightened now. “He was alive. I swear he was!”

Kobe clapped his hands. A thin boy with bulging eyes and open mouth appeared so instantly that he must have been eavesdropping. “Where are the other servants?” Kobe barked.

“There’s only me and Mr. Harada.” The boy was lost in amazed contemplation of his master, who sat wringing his hands and moaning into his beard.

“Do you remember a visitor a week ago?” asked Kobe. “Middle-aged. Thin. Came on a horse?”

“A horse?” The boy was still staring at Yasaburo, who had turned beseeching eyes on him.

“His name is Nagaoka. The antique dealer who married your master’s daughter.”

“Oh, him.”

“Pay attention!”

The boy reluctantly took his eyes off Yasaburo. “He came in the morning. On a horse. I took the horse. Then he came for his horse.” The boy frowned. “He was scared, maybe. Like there were demons after him.”

Yasaburo gave another moan and hid his face in his hands. “The boy’s a half-wit,” he mumbled. “Tell them that he rode away!” he cried.

Kobe glared at him and snapped, “Stay out of this!” Then he asked the boy, “Did he look ill? You know, like he needed to vomit or relieve himself ?”

The boy fell into a fit of giggles.

Kobe looked disgusted. “We had better call Harada!”

“Can’t. He’s gone,” the boy volunteered.

“Gone? What do you mean?”

“He took the master’s horse.”

Yasaburo cried, “The dissembling cheat has stolen my horse and run. No doubt with my money. Quick, after him!”

Kobe snapped, “Fetch my sergeant!”

The sergeant was sent in pursuit of the flighty Harada, and Kobe began pacing, muttering under his breath. The boy stood staring at Yasaburo and picking his nose. Akitada got up to wander about the room.

“You!” Kobe snapped suddenly at the boy. “Look at me! Who was here the day Nagaoka visited?”

The boy said, “She was here. With him. He gives me coppers.”

Yasaburo cried, “I told you the boy is slow. He is confused and remembers an earlier visit by my daughter and her husband.”

Akitada paused in his examination of the musical instruments to cast a surprised glance at Yasaburo. So the man had another daughter. Come to think of it, he had referred to daughters earlier. There was no reason why he should not, but neither Nagaoka nor his brother had mentioned this.

Kobe asked the boy, “Did they come the same day as Mr. Nagaoka?”

The boy thought. “It was before. He gave me five coppers.”

“A boat without oars,” Kobe muttered under his breath. He tried again, “Your master’s daughter and her husband, did they meet Mr. Nagaoka? Talk to him?”

But he had run out of luck. The boy shook his head. “Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t.”

“What about Mr. Nagaoka’s horse? Did he leave his horse behind?”

The boy grinned. “I was tending his horse.”

With a sigh, Kobe let him go. Yasaburo started up again about Harada’s duplicity. Kobe snapped, “Shut up! You’re in enough trouble,” and started pacing and muttering again.

After a while, Yasaburo tried again. “I confess I’m as surprised as you at Harada’s flight, Superintendent,” he said. “It must mean he is involved in this murder. Frankly, I never did like the man. With all his crazy talk, I always thought he was half-mad, but I never dreamed he would kill anyone. He knew about the eighteen bars of silver. No doubt he thought Nagaoka carried more. Harada drinks like a fish, and nobody knows what he does in the capital. Maybe he gambles.” Yasaburo glanced nervously at the dais, where Akitada was still looking at the instruments.

“I am curious, Professor Yasaburo,” Akitada asked him, “what made you employ a man as untrustworthy as Harada?”