BOTCHAN
the world, who does not want his salary raised, or was he taken aback that I should come back so soon even if I wished to decline it, or was it both combined, he stood there silent with his mouth in a queer shape.
“I accepted your offer because I understood that Mr. Koga was being transferred by his own preference….”
“Mr. Koga is really going to be transferred by his own preference.”
“No, Sir. He would like to stay here. He doesn’t mind his present salary if he can stay.”
“Have you heard it from Mr. Koga himself?”
“No, not from him.”
“Then, from who?”
“The old lady in my boarding house told me what she heard from the mother of Mr. Koga.”
“Then the old woman in your boarding house told you so?”
“Well, that’s about the size of it.”
“Excuse me, but I think you are wrong. Ac-
–186–
